Axel stood up, shaking the dust from his clothes. He stretched his arms, yawning as if he had just woken up from a nap. Behind him, his minions silently retreated, forming a line. Their battle was over. Now, it was his fight alone.
From atop the statue, Sepheroth grinned. His excitement was unmistakable. He stepped forward, his wings vanishing the moment his feet touched the ground. He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he spoke. "It seems like we've hit a dead end."
Axel walked forward, calm and unbothered. A scythe materialized in his hand, its blade gleaming with an ominous glow. His grip tightened around the handle as he raised it slightly.
"I'm getting out of here today. If you're lucky, I might just take you with me."
Sepheroth let out a quiet chuckle. "You think you have a chance to beat me? Summoners are always the same. Weak in direct combat. That's why you rely on minions—different strengths, different abilities, all to make up for your lack of talent in battle."
Axel smirked, his expression almost mocking."Who said I'm a summoner?"
Sepheroth paused, momentarily surprised by the claim, but he quickly shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. You're still far from beating me, even with your little pets watching your back."
Axel tilted his head slightly. "So you won't attack them?"
Sepheroth smirked."I won't waste my time. Let's see if you can ignite the fire that has long been extinguished."
Axel exhaled, his stance shifting.
"Then let's not waste any more time."
His eyes flared Golden . The ground beneath him cracked as his aura erupted, an overwhelming pressure radiating from his body. In an instant, he launched forward, scythe raised.
At the same time, Sepheroth's sword sheath dissolved into a wisp of air. His speed was terrifying.
In an instant, Axel's golden Ghost Fire erupted around him, surrounding his body with a flickering red energy. The flames didn't just burn; they attacked the soul, weakening Sepheroth's resolve as the fire sizzled on his skin.
Sepheroth responded instantly, activating his Demonic Eyes. He could see through Axel's spiritual flame, negating its effect for the moment as he closed the gap. The red glow in his eyes sharpened, letting him anticipate Axel's next move.
With a flash of Speed, Sepheroth blurred forward, his Sword Mastery taking over as he executed a swift strike. Axel blocked with his scythe, the force of the impact shaking the ground beneath them, but Sepheroth's sword didn't falter. It slid effortlessly across the scythe's blade, striking Axel's arm.
Axel staggered, but with a swift motion, he used Soul Shake, destabilizing Sepheroth's energy. It wasn't much, but it caused Sepheroth to falter for a split second, just enough to land a quick cut across his side.
Sepheroth, now showing visible irritation, pushed back with a growl. His Asura Slash ignited, the sword glimmering with dark energy. The slash created a wave of energy that pushed Axel back several feet, leaving a deep burn on his chest.
Axel smirked, feeling the burn, but he was far from out of the fight. His eyes glowed with an eerie Golden light as he activated his Golden Pupils, locking onto Sepheroth. It wasn't just sight, it was a mental attack, threatening to distort Sepheroth's perception of reality, causing him to hesitate.
But Sepheroth wasn't easily rattled. He countered with Dark Binding, summoning dark tendrils that lashed out and wrapped around Axel's legs. Axel tried to break free, but the tendrils were infused with Demonic Aura, weakening his resistance as they held him in place.
Axel grinned, then summoned all of his remaining strength. Golden Ghost Fire erupted from his body in a powerful shockwave, burning through the chains and tendrils. He freed himself, his scythe cutting through the dark energy as he charged back into the fray.
Sepheroth was already in motion, moving with Demonic Speed, closing in on Axel with another deadly strike. Axel blocked, their weapons clashing with a loud crack, the force sending shockwaves across the field.
Both of them were slowing down now, their bodies covered in bruises and cuts. Sepheroth, though immensely strong and skilled, was beginning to feel the toll of Axel's relentless attacks. He activated Demonic Resilience, recovering slightly from his wounds, but it wasn't enough to prevent the inevitable,
He murmured" hahaha, look at the bright side, because most of my abilities are sealed I couldn't use fast recovery ".
Axel, breathing heavily, was also pushing past his limits. He raised his scythe again, this time with all the energy he had left. He swung in a wild arc, the blade slicing through the air, but Sepheroth countered with his Blackened Blade, enveloping his sword in demonic energy. The two forces collided, creating a shockwave that sent both of them sprawling to the ground.
The battlefield quieted for a moment. Both warriors lay there, bloodied and exhausted. Neither had the strength to press on. Their final clash had ended in mutual injury, both too worn down to continue.
Axel knew that warsouls are extremely powerful in the world, but a long sword? it's the most suitable weapon not to mention this demon how high ranked is he? he was far from competing. even if he's restricted by the tower seal. the combat experience gap is even more obvious it's only been a few months since he came to this world.
Sepheroth, looking at Axel, saw something he didn't expect. "You're not as arrogant as I thought."
Axel's breath was ragged. He looked at Sepheroth. "You had your chances. You could have ended this."
Sepheroth's eyes darkened. "It's not fair. If I were any other demon, you would have defeated me long ago. I resoect that, My fight ended the moment I was imprisoned here. It's time to let go." He looked out into the distance, lost in thought for a moment.
Sepheroth threw Axel with a last glance,"didn't expect it to be a quick fight.."
With one final gesture, Sepheroth raised his hand, and in an instant, he collapsed. It was as though his life had been snuffed out. No struggle, no final blow just death.
Axel stared at the body. His mind briefly wandered back to his own painful past the betrayal, the imprisonment. The loneliness. The realization hit him: they weren't so different, after all.
The air around them warped, and the battlefield disintegrated into a new reality. Before Axel was a room with a table. On it sat a cup with a note: "Congratulations. Completing the tower means there will be a powerful lord in the 9th domain in the future. I know you probably hate me but Make sure to return this cup to its rightful owner."
Beside it, a chest with another note: "The items here are my gift to you. Use them wisely."
Axel picked up the chest and the cup, placing them into his Soul Guide Storage. He turned to leave.
With the last of his mana, he placed his hand on Sepheroth's body. "Resurrection."
Sepheroth's body remained unchanged, breath returning, though he remained unconscious. He wasn't undead like the others, there was no mark on his forehead. He wasn't different just like when he was alive. This made Axel wonder"did it work?.. nevermind I have to get out of here quickly.. ".
Axel, struggling to remain upright, took back his minions, and the demon. The Undead Ape, barely alive, helped Axel stay on his feet.
They left the tower together.
--------
The color above the tower's gate turned red, the light was clear in the night. A moment of silence hung over the crowd before they erupted into cheers. The tension in the air disappeared, replaced by excitement.
An elf guard approached the luxurious cart, leaning in to whisper. "Your Highness, the tower is completed."
A young voice from inside the cart responded immediately. "What? Completed?"
"Yes, there's no mistake about it. The color changed just now," the elf guard confirmed.
There was a pause before the voice inside the cart spoke again. "Make sure you invite them to the palace under any excuse."
The guard nodded and stepped back.
Mat, Aeris, Mia, and Dario were watching from a distance. Mat clenched his fist. "I knew Axel would do it."
Nearby, the shrouded assassin who had been observing Axel earlier stood still, unable to believe what he just witnessed.
The massive tower started to dissolve. Its structure faded piece by piece, revealing two figures at its base Axel, barely standing, and the undead ape supporting him. Blood covered his clothes, his breath ragged.
Mat moved first, rushing toward Axel as the summoned ape vanished. Dario followed, grabbing Axel's other side. "He's in bad shape," he muttered.
Mia knelt beside them. "Lay him down." Without hesitation, she started casting every healing spell she knew.
Aeris pulled out a potion and tilted Axel's head. "Drink this. It should heal your body in a few hours." She poured the liquid into his mouth, forcing him to swallow.
The elf guard approached cautiously. Mat tensed, watching him closely.
"The palace invites you to meet the Elf King," the guard said. "Your friend will be safer with us."
Mat's eyes shifted between the guards and Axel's condition. He shook his head. "Thanks, but we'll handle this ourselves."
The elf guard hesitated. "It's better to..."
Before he could finish, a voice cut through.
"Move."
A woman walked past the guards. She wore a white robe, her long green hair flowing behind her. Two small horns protruded from her forehead.
Aeris gasped. "That's the King's personal healer!"
The elf woman ignored the others and placed her hands above Axel. She whispered a spell, and the entire area glowed green. A massive wave of vitality surged outward. Axel's wounds closed instantly. Even Mat's injuries from earlier faded.
The elf woman stood up. "His physical injuries are gone, but his mind is exhausted. He'll recover in a few hours. Let him rest. Once he wakes, he can meet the King."
Mat nodded. Without hesitation, Dario lifted Axel onto his shoulders. They left, heading toward Aeris' house.
The crowd watched them go. The tower was gone.
---------
In the grand palace, the Elf King sat before his desk,in adark room in the middle of the night, deep in thought. His personal healer, Nysera, stood across from him, her expression unreadable as she awaited his response. The air between them was heavy with the weight of their conversation.
The Elf King's eyes focused intently on Nysera. "Why didn't you bring them here, instead of just letting them go?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.
Nysera didn't hesitate. "I thought it was better to let them go. We don't want to force them, but if we do them a favor, they will owe us one. It's a more subtle approach, and it will work in the long run."
The Elf King pondered her words for a moment. "That's smart, indeed, but I doubt humans would feel grateful. They're not known for their gratitude."
Nysera remained composed, her gaze steady. "Don't judge a book by its cover. We both know that completing the trial wasn't easy. Anyone who managed to reach the final floor must have great vision and an unshakeable personality. And as for him… when I examined his body, I could tell his mental strength was exhausted. Yet, his endurance stopped me from reading his mind completely. He's strong stronger than you think."
The Elf King raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were the best at reading minds."
Nysera nodded, acknowledging the truth of his statement. "I am, but he's not like the others. There's something about him. I couldn't break through."
The Elf King leaned back in his chair, considering the implications of her words. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice softer but resolute. "If you say so, Nysera, then we will wait and see. The Holy Cup must be returned to its rightful place. We cannot let it go to waste."
Nysera's gaze drifted momentarily to the window, where the first light of dawn crept into the room. She didn't speak for a while, lost in thought. The King's words were final, but there was still much to consider.
"if thry decide not to give it back, there's nothing we can do" she muttered, half to herself.
The Elf King, sensing the conclusion of their discussion, stood from his desk. "I don't think they'll refuse to return it so, Let's not waste any more time. Prepare yourself. The Holy Cup's return is only the beginning, inform the academy to prepare the ancient cradle, once we finally achieve this, our kingdom will be far ahead of the other kingdoms". Then he turned and left.