"Argghh!" Haruki screamed like a wild beast.
His disassembled corpse spread across the sands while small black tendrils of negative energy grew from his limbs, extending to join once again. However, it seemed the effect of the medicine couldn't restore his previous figure.
The monstrous male was replaced with a feeble and trembling Haruki in his original form.
"Impossible... I cannot lose... The goddess's magic should have destroyed Erika. How?"
He coughed up foul black goo, which seemed to have replaced his blood, a sticky tar almost as if his body were filled with cancer.
However, Erika stepped towards his frail body. Her eyes observed the disgusting and weak Haruki. She knew well his eyes were dull and his lips dry and cracked.
"Is this how you end up, after all that pathetic whining and bravado?" A cold voice, void of any compassion or care.
"E-E-Erika..."
Haruki attempted to roll over, yet her boot smashed into his face, forcing him to remain face down and unable to move, his arms flailing like a powerless child.
A small, twisted smile appeared on Erika's lips as she insulted him.
"I don't want to see your pathetic goods lick the ground like the insect you are."
Although in reality her grudge and feelings of hatred for the past were almost spent. Erika wasn't a cruel woman, and after crushing him like this. It was no longer important for her to keep kicking a fallen horse.
"Ugh... Lumina... you liar..."
The moment that Haruki whispered those words, a golden light appeared in the sky. Two beautiful white gates formed after a few moments, covered by mist.
[Ungrateful piece of garbage. You couldn't even defeat that boy's pathetic little whore!]
Haruki's body suddenly shot into the air, a cover of light hiding his body from view before hundreds of golden hands shot from the doors and wrapped around his body.
"No...no... it hurts.... stop!'"
They twisted, pulled, pried and tore his body. Over and over and over and over, as his black blood dissolved upon touching the light. Even Erika and Yumiko watched in shock at the horrifying death of Haruki.
"Argh! He....Help!"
Each time the hands killed him, he shrank and became more deformed and less human. Until finally, there was nothing left. A tiny, disgusting black worm fell from the gate.
However...
A single, massive golden foot stepped onto the worm and squished it into the sand.
"What the hell is going on?!" Yumiko muttered, her eyes opening wide as she watched the horrific sight, confused about why the crowd was cheering. 'Do they find this kind of thing amusing? A hero died!'
"Yumiko, we should help Ciela..."
"Ah, you're right. Let's crush that deformed monster!"
The doors began to close, and just as they shut, a beam of light shot towards Anne and penetrated her chest before it enveloped her in a golden light, repairing her bloody body and creating a pair of pure white wings from her back.
***
Meanwhile, in the VIP box two battles were being shown on the screens. On the left was a perfectly normal battle, where the heroes and Asmodeus split off and were still fighting evenly.
The explosions and excitement matched the crowd, while the right screen showed the brutal death of Haruki, causing Lord Qwass to turn pale and making Alan and his brother frown.
"The church messed with the barrier when they claimed they could help us repair it!" Avandar complained while looking to the right—a pair of bishops sat happily next to the Marquis Bacon.
'No, that's wrong... I want to fight him... to beat him, why kill...'
"Die! Die! Die, you fucking demon!"
The golden light covered her sword and body as a powerful aura filled the arena. It was at that moment she screamed, her eyes opening wide as she cut through his magical barrage of spears, and then her sword swung up towards his neck.
The moment the blade touched his neck, he blocked it with his palm covered in magic power. A powerful explosion of air flung the two figures across the arena, bouncing off the ground as the power of the blow shattered the stone.
Both Anne's and Asmodeus' bodies stopped, but Anne's body shook as she fell to one knee.
'Why am I trying to kill him?! I just wanted to win, but...'
"I... can't."
A sick, foul feeling invaded her soul.
"Why..."
Anne's movements changed. There was a lack of excitement and lust. Instead, she became like a perfect machine, each strike and movement calculated for the optimal chance of defeating him.
"Impossible... you're getting even stronger, aren't you?"
However, she ignored him, her blade cutting through his right arm. Asmodeus couldn't help but smile, his eyes beaming with excitement and joy as the pair continued to trade blows.
'You're like me. Someone who loves the thrill of battle and the rush of combat. Yet your emotions are dulled by something foreign. Your body was blessed with Lumina's power, yet your mind can't accept it. As expected of Alan's niece.'
Her body moved and fought without pause. A beautiful dance of blades. Each swing cut apart his barriers and flesh. Her technique was perfect and flawless.
"You're beautiful, Anne."
'That's why I cannot let you fall into that woman's hands!'
Asmodeus lowered his axe, he narrowed his eyes while forming dozens of barriers as Anne lunged towards him, her sword pointing towards his chest.
"I will save you from her darkness."
'Save me...'
Anne's power increased, her body glowing golden as her blade shattered every barrier like it was made of glass before the tip of her sword penetrated his chest.
Blood poured from the wound and spilt onto the floor. Asmodeus didn't make a move, and he didn't attack or struggle. His wings slowly flapped, while Anne's eyes and body faded, no longer gold, as she looked at him with shocked eyes.
Even though it took over her body and mind, she knew what happened and understood he let her strike him down.
"Am I dying...?"
"Why?!" Anne shouted, the scene on the two screens now showing an altered scene as the bishops celebrated.
He was happy, a warm feeling filling his heart.
"You fool... what will I tell Alan? What about your beloved woman?!"
She expected them to be screaming, crying and rushing to kill her, yet... All of them looked calm. No one seemed to be quite aware of what happened.
'Eh, why is Alice so close to the barrier?' A thought passed in her mind before Anne noticed Asmodeus looking at her with a grin, his cheeks swollen as blood seeped from between his lips.
However, before she could react, he kissed her and pushed a huge amount of a sweet and sticky-tasting fluid into her mouth...
His blood.