Chapter 329 - The last Favor

Kretos felt something was wrong and started running faster. He was already at the Northern Lands and needed a few more minutes to reach the Canyon. Kretos didn't like the feeling he was having, he didn't like it at all. It's as if something was pulling him to the scene. 

'Is this something like the pull of destiny?' Kretos quickened his pace. Even though Kretos was irritated by the feeling that someone was actually controlling his actions. he still went onward. 

...

Tsukiko used spell after spell but against Luke's spear, they were nothing. Each swing of the spear absorbed or negated Tsukiko's spells. She had no other options as she was a mage through and through. Even if she wanted to she knew she was no match against Luke in close quarters combat. 

So as Tsukiko continued to ward off Luke with a variety of spells, she was also trying to find a way to escape. The greatest disadvantage here was she was unable to use her spatial spells, which she could use to escape. 

"Didn't anyone tell you not to be distracted in a fight!" Luke came bursting out of the torrent of spells his spear aimed at Tsukiko's chest. 

...

Kretos was nearing the city when he spotted two people battling. Kretos immediately noticed that one of the fighters was Tsukiko, as he got near he saw that Tsukiko was on the ground, dying. Kretos saw that the man she was facing was about to finish her. 

...

Tsukiko was on the ground trying her hardest to breathe. There was a hole in the middle of her chest, and one at her stomach. Tsukiko's body was trying its hardest to close the wounds, but the wounds created by the ominous-looking spear were disrupting her mana flow making it difficult to regenerate. She was feeling weak as she tried her hardest to stand up and cast another spell. 

She looked at the slightly wounded Luke and gnashed her teeth. She was only able to deal that much damage to the enemy. If Kretos saw her now he might laugh at how weak she was. 

'To actually think about him as my life ends... Even if I were to die, I should die with dignity.' Tsukiko stood up and smiled as she looked at Luke unblinking, she wanted to bare witness to the final blow that will take her life.

Luke stared at the defeated demon lord and sighed in relief. The only reason he was able to survive this encounter was because of the traps he had set in advance, as well as this cursed spear he wielded. If not for all of these factors he would be the one dying again. 

As Luke was about to end his ill fate with Tsukiko, he suddenly felt an immense overpowering pressure assault him. He wanted to quickly strike Tsukiko to make sure she's dead and then flee. Yet the pressure had immobilized him for a second, when he regained his senses he was suddenly hit by a powerful force. 

Luke was blown a few meters away, he tried his hardest to stop himself from continuing to fly as he stabbed his spear onto the ground. Even with the spear stuck into the ground, Luke continued to fly backward. The moment he stopped flying through the air he tried to regain his balance. As he balanced himself and took a defensive stance Luke started to look for whoever attacked him, it was at that moment he felt something past by him. He wanted to turn around with his spear at hand but then he could no longer feel his arms.

Luke looked at his arms and saw that they were gone. Both of his arms were now on the ground, they had been cleanly sliced off. Luke wasn't even able to perceive that attack happening, nor was he able to see who attacked him. The slice was so clean he didn't even feel the pain of losing his arm.

Luke was dumbfounded by the sudden events but as his mind wandered off he felt bloodl.u.s.t from behind him. He quickly picked up the spear using his mouth and desperately tried to counterattack. Yet despite his efforts, he was easily stabbed in the heart. Luke clenched his teeth as he looked at the person who had stabbed him. 

A demon with two horns looked at Luke with emotionless eyes as he pulled his blade out of Luke's chest. Luke has never seen this demon before, but he could pretty much guess who it was. There was only one demon aside from Tsukiko and Namor who had this kind of heaven-defying strength. 

"Demon... Lord... Kretos..." Those were the only words Luke could say as he coughed up blood. He fell to the ground as his life was slowly fading, he was once again about to meet his end. Yet this time his end had meaning, he had achieved something and he wouldn't be forgotten as a nobody. 

'I got to live a different life this time, and I got what I wanted, and I have protected those that I swore to protect... I was able to change fate... I was able to have a wonderful dream...' Even though his life was nearing his end, and he once again died with no one beside him, Luke didn't feel as lonely as the first time. 

...

As the battle in Touma City was intensifying a loud voice echoed through the city. "All demons retreat!" 

When the demons heard this voice they immediately retreated without a second thought. They fled as if death was right behind them. Who in their right mind would hesitate to follow the orders of the strongest demon lord. 

The humans who saw the demons retreating were puzzled as they watched the fleeing demons. No one spoke a word as they couldn't comprehend what had just happened. After a few seconds of silence, somebody abruptly shouted, and as if everyone was infected by that shout the whole city was cheering. 

They all thought they had won when a beam of mana came out of nowhere and enveloped them. The whole city was annihilated just like that. The knights, mages, mercenaries, everyone in the city had died without any resistance, they even died with joy in their hearts as they thought they had won. 

The demons saw how easily the city was destroyed and gulped dryly. They couldn't move from their spots, as fear gripped their hearts. Even though Kretos was supposedly on their side, seeing what he did still frightened the demons who were glad that they had fled as fast as they could. 

The demon who first regained his senses quickly knelt in the direction where the beam of mana came from. The other demons followed suit and knelt as well. 

...

Kretos didn't bother with the kneeling demons and approached the dying Tsukiko. He knelt on the ground and lifted up her body. Seeing Kretos had dealt with the enemies so easily a beautiful smile appeared on Tsukiko's face. 

"As expected of you... Victory is once again in your grasp..." Kretos looked at the frail Tsukiko and felt a familiar yet unknown pain. 

"I warned you not to go but you didn't listen. Why didn't you listen?" 

"... I wanted to prove to you, that I was worthy to stand by your side," Tsukiko answered truthfully seeing as this might be the last time they could talk to each other. Hearing Tsukiko's answer Kretos was surprised and he bit his lips until they bled. 

"You fool, you were always worthy to stand by my side." Tears started to fall onto Tsukiko's face. Tsukiko looked up and was surprised to see the strongest demon lord, the slayer of demons and heroes, the battle junkie, the mighty Kretos was crying. The proud and arrogant Kretos was actually in tears. The Kretos she only saw smile brightly and viciously as a battle approached was crying in front of her.

Tsukiko lifted her weakened arms and wiped away Kretos's tears. She then lifted her head up and without warning kissed Kretos. 

Kretos was stunned by what Tsukiko did but he didn't resist and as their lips parted Kretos who had tears on his face looked at Tsukiko in confusion. 

"Demon Lord Kretos, I loved you. I loved how you always stood proud and tall... I loved how you were always so confident that it bordered into arrogance. I loved how you always single-mindedly did whatever you wanted to do, you were truly free from everything. You were what I aspired to be... I'm glad that I met you..." Despite her face becoming paler, Tsukiko showed an incredibly beautiful bright smile.

Kretos recovered from his confusion and looked at Tsukiko with a pained expression. He gripped Tsukiko's body which was growing colder by the second. Memories of their time together flashed in his mind. 

"I can't... Tsukiko without you... Without you teasing me, without you smiling beside me, without you taking a nap in the throne room... I can't..." 

Kretos couldn't form the words he wanted to say as this new feeling of helplessness and despair was drowning him. For someone like Kretos who had never felt much of anything, being bombarded by these various emotions proved to be too much to handle. Seeing Kretos like this made Tsukiko frown. 

"The Demon Lord Kretos I loved would never look so weak... I guess I can do one last favor for you. We met because of a favor you asked of me, and I guess it's only fitting that I do another favor as we part ways... I can only perform about four more spells..."

Kretos didn't hear Tsukiko's last line as she placed her hand on his forehead. Due to him unconsciously lowering his guard in front of Tsukiko, she was able to easily use a sleeping spell on him. As Kretos's consciousness was fading he heard Tsukiko's voice. 

"Goodbye my love, it has been fun..." 

...

Kretos woke up and was confused as to why he was sleeping in such a place. He looked around and so the dead body of a human. His memory was a bit fuzzy as he tried to remember why he was here. He then saw the ruined Touma City and the kneeling demons. 

'Oh right, I came to help my subordinates... I annihilated the enemies and then I think I fought a hero and... I guess I expended too much energy and fainted after the fight..." Kretos wasn't sure about his memory, in the battle with the hero something must have happened that messed with a part of his memory. 

Kretos then checked his body and then his mana circulation, everything seems to be okay. It was then he felt something on his face. Kretos touched his cheeks and saw that it was wet. He then looked at the sky, it was sunny. Kretos once again touched his face and finally noticed what was happening. 

"Why am I crying?" Kretos asked himself but no one was there to answer his question.