Last Legs

“Demon shouldn’t be allowed to continue on like this. I won’t allow it!”

As Demen screamed out in rage he aimed the orbs towards them and sent everything flying with a flick of the wrist.

Purple orbs shot through the air at such a high speed that it created a jet like noise as they approached Kira. None of them seemed to be heading towards Arisa so Kira took the chance to avoid them by running off to the side.

As he sprinted along the edge of the destroyed mansion the orbs narrowly missed him and went flying into the rubble, setting off a chain of smaller explosions behind him.

Kira burst ahead towards Demen with his sword by his waist and dove forward with a wide swing but didn’t make any contact. By the time his blade reached Demen he had lifted an orb from his hand in defence.

The blade struck the orb and wedged itself halfway through before it began to swell and burst. The resulting explosion sent Kira tumbling backwards through the dirt.

He drove his sword into the ground to anchor himself in place and flipped his body around, which landed him on his feet again. Kira was crouched on the ground holding onto his sword while heaving long dry breaths.

Small twitches began to circle through his arms as he gripped to the blade, he was so focused on the fight, that he didn’t even notice the state he was in.

‘He still isn't slowing down; even if I see an opening he just breaks past my attack with those pesky orbs!’ Kira thought bitterly.

While deep in thought an orb flew towards him at lightning speed; he raised himself off his knee but suddenly a talisman flew past his shoulder and hit the orb directly. As the orb collided against the thin piece of paper it burst on the spot like a balloon without causing an explosion.

“I said I would help out, so don’t try and go in alone again!”

Kira turned back to Arisa who was brimming with confidence, he couldn't help smile as he replied. “Understood, now let’s take this asshole down!”

Kira rushed in with a wave of fire following along his blade, he dodged and slipped through a seemingly endless wave of attacks.

As each orb blew towards him a talisman was thrown to nullify it or just completely blasted away. Their advances were working and Kira was getting closer by the second, eventually he reached a suitable attack range and let his attack fly.

Demen shot forward like a beam of light but less than 3 meters away he fell forwards, crashing down against the ground. As he rolled forward uncontrollably he was left with a dumbfounded expression and lost focus from the battle.

A dark purple crack tore through his skin, within in seconds it started accelerating and spread throughout his body.

Flakes or pure white dust scattered out from the crevices of the cracks as his body crumbled away at a slow pace. The majority of his arm had already been decayed while a section of his chest followed.

“It’s now or never- Cover me!” Kira shouted.

‘My normal attacks won’t be able to cut through that hardened skin of his, I’ll have to raise the heat and melt my way through!’

Kira swiftly sprinted forward with his sword raised to his side, as he turned his body to Demen he twisted his foot with a powerful motion and delivered a large swing.

The fire surrounding his blade focused towards edge alone and created a solid blade of fire over the original metal, the heat was so strong that the oxygen around them began to thin out.

Kira clenched his teeth as he delivered the attack. ‘Don’t bother getting up from this one- Flash Fire!’

The blade broke through his shoulder and ran through down to his arm where it cut through like butter, his severed arm had been completely crumbled by the decaying white light and scattered into the air like dust.

Demen's expression was left in a state of utter dismay as his jaw dropped wide open and his eyes left blank. He sat upright on his knees while Kira stood over him exhausted, he had just delivered the attack and was out of breath.

With heavy pants of air he took a step forward and refused to drop his guard, even Arisa who had been providing support from the rear appeared alert.

“It’s over- you won’t hurt anyone anymore.” Kira said while raising his blade.

The grip in his hand began to feel lighter and realised that the move he had just performed was more draining than expected. The excessive use of his mana was beginning to tax on his body all at once which filled him with a wave a fatigue.

‘Not now- I can’t falter at this point! I have to finish this for every person that he hurt, for every person that he used… for hurting us!’

As Kira gazed into Demen's blank eyes with rage he saw the image of Ko in his head, he unintentionally began to imagine Ko on his knees before him. In that moment he swung down with all the force he had left.

(Clank)

Kira's sword bounced out of his hand after being hit by a surprise arrow from the distance. Both he and Arisa turned their direction to where it shot from and saw a dishevelled Kyosuke holding his battered bow.

He limped forward while holding his arm that was riddled in burn wounds and scratches; even with all the damage that he had suffered he was barely able to hold his bow upright. Through every step he took forward it seemed like it would be his last, he would stumble and nearly fall over from each step.

“Why is he here of all times…?” Kira muttered with shock.

“!”

Demen focused his attention to Kyosuke and reached out the remaining hand he had left with a desperate grasp through the air.

“Help…me, son-”