Saravia vs Daytona
Daytona raised the Kōken behind her.
— Then let's… I want to awaken this Mark of the Beast before going to Paradise, and we'll see if you can force it out of me.
Spinning the Anchor faster:
— Shinkai Jakusari, Third Element… Pressure.
Saravia's eyes glowed blue as she spun her Anchor at an even greater speed, hurling it upward and pulling it back down to the ground. The impact shattered the entire hill, sending Daytona crashing down below.
— Shinkai Jakusari… seems more like a technique tied to the movement and manipulation of the Anchor she wields as a "sword," rather than an actual ability. I'll have to try using the eight forms of the Kōken Akakagami here…
From the dust of the destroyed hill, the Anchor shot toward Daytona at supersonic speed. To avoid the strike, Daytona unleashed the Fourth Form of the Kōken:
— Kōken Akakagami, Fourth Element… Copper and Thunder!
She spun her blade in a spiral of slashes that deflected the Anchor back toward Saravia. Saravia, however, caught it with one hand and landed gracefully on the ground.
— She can use the sword's abilities almost without moving… it feels more like a skill than a mere strike. Impressive… Saravia thought to herself.
— Kōken Akakagami, Second Element, Vacuum Point.
Daytona dashed at Saravia with overwhelming speed, attempting to cleave her body diagonally in half. Yet, just as Daytona's strike was about to land, Saravia vanished — teleporting away.
— She teleports when she's in real danger… that might be a problem, Daytona muttered to herself.
— When Leviathan understands an attack well enough, he can replicate it almost perfectly. Try making your strikes too confusing, or too fast for him — and this girl — to fully comprehend. Belzebub's voice echoed in Daytona's mind, strategic and serious.
— Are you going to fight for real, or just keep running? Daytona shouted toward Saravia, who was still close enough to hear.
— Shinkai Jakusari, Fifth Element, Chain.
Saravia unleashed her Fifth Form, swinging the Anchor in a specific motion. Its chains spiraled horizontally, closing around Daytona in a full encirclement.
Daytona's irises turned crimson as she lifted her blade with fiery resolve.
— Kōken Akakagami, First Element, Tail of Wrath!
Her katana erupted in black and crimson flames, shattering the chains that bound her before she charged at Saravia again, aiming a lethal strike at her neck.
But Saravia ducked swiftly, leaping high with such force that Daytona staggered back slightly. Midair, Saravia conjured dozens of water orbs, which appeared suddenly and swirled around her Anchor. With a single swing, she hurled them at Daytona — each orb exploding on impact, small but relentless.
— I'll have to use another form… something to keep these from hitting me! Daytona thought.
— Kōken Akakagami, Fifth Element, Caliber!
Moving at a speed far beyond light itself, Daytona slashed every orb to pieces without even seeming to move her blade.
Saravia's eyes widened in shock.
— She… cut through the orbs of my ability in the blink of an eye. This katana… it's still only a fragment of Paimon… For the first time in fifteen years, fear crept into her chest.
Daytona pressed forward, splitting into twelve clones of herself, confusing Saravia until she lashed out impulsively.
— Don't toy with me… Shinkai Jakusari, Seventh Element, Water's Reflection!
Saravia hurled her Anchor horizontally, instantly dispelling the twelve clones. But the real Daytona leapt onto the Anchor itself, using it as a springboard to launch toward Saravia.
Yet Saravia had anticipated this. In a blur of unpredictable motion, she ensnared Daytona with the Anchor's chains — chains that detached from the weapon itself.
Daytona struggled, trying to sever them with her Kōken, but the links wouldn't break. They were nearly 1,900 times harder than diamond.
— Impossible to cut… how do I get out of this?
Seizing the chance, Saravia unleashed her First Form.
— Shinkai Jakusari, First Element, Maritime Chain!
She hurled the Anchor at the bound Daytona, entwining it with water magic. With tremendous speed, Saravia spun both Daytona and the Anchor before flinging them hundreds of kilometers away — a strike that might have sealed her victory.
Resting the Anchor on her shoulder, Saravia whispered to herself:
— Victory is mine. A good fight… but it's over.
But before she could take a step, a violent roar tore across the battlefield, shaking the ground and splitting the sky. It was Daytona, cutting her way back through the Anel da Ira with a devastating surge of power.
— Kōken Akakagami, Sixth Element, Solar Storm!
Seven colossal strikes rained down from above, engulfing Saravia. She dodged them with difficulty — but managed to survive.
— Kōken Akakagami, Second Element, Vacuum Point. This ends now…!
Daytona launched her finishing blow, but before her katana could sever Saravia's head, another force intervened.
Paimon appeared, grasping the blade with one hand.
The battlefield fell silent, broken only by Saravia's ragged breathing and the crimson glow still flickering around Daytona's blade. The ground beneath them was torn, scarred, and blackened from their clash.
Paimon stood tall, his dark trench coat — yes, a bird in a trench coat — rippling in the wind. His eyes, blacker than Vantablack, fixed on Daytona with calm severity.
— Had I been two seconds later… one of you would no longer be here.
Daytona lowered her katana. The red glow faded as if the weapon itself understood the fight had ended. She sheathed the Akakagami across her back.
Saravia's eyes dimmed back to normal as she stowed away her massive Anchor.
— It was just… training, she muttered, out of breath.
Paimon gave her a sideways glance.
— Yes. And training that crossed the line of balance. The power you're beginning to touch does not forgive hesitation… and even less so, pride.
From a distance, Martin and Ghost finally approached.
— Are you two alright? Martin asked, resting a hand on Daytona's shoulder.
She nodded, her gaze still locked on Paimon.
The demon raised his hand. Floating above his palm was a small, translucent white crystal, shimmering like a star imprisoned in solid form.
— This is what will take you to Paradise, he said. — Not a portal, not a spell. An essence. A fragment of the veil between realms, crystallized.
Ghost narrowed his eyes. — Isn't that unstable?
— Extremely, Paimon replied. — That's why it can only be used once. And it must be done together, with minds focused and bodies aligned to the demonic marks you carry.
— But… we haven't awakened our Marks yet, Saravia said, frowning.
Paimon regarded her, as though this was the cue for his lesson.
— That is where it will happen. In Paradise. During, or even before a battle. If you can endure… you can awaken them. I can feel it.
He pressed the crystal into Daytona's katana.
— You'll have some time to rest. But once you use it, there will be no return. Paradise may be… infinitely more dangerous than Hell.
The group nodded, each in their own way. Ghost remained silent, eyes critical as they lingered on Daytona.
Later, inside the mansion, they gathered in the central hall. The ancient architecture seemed even more alive that night. The lights were dim, save for the bluish flames flickering in the hearth, dancing as though they too felt the crystal's hidden presence.
Martin stirred a hot drink in his mug, seated on the sofa. Ghost leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed. Saravia cleaned the last traces of dried blood from her arm, while Daytona stood by the window, staring at the fields outside.
— I felt it, she said suddenly. — During the fight. Something inside me… opening. Like a door with chains being ripped apart.
Saravia nodded, sitting on the back of the sofa.
— Same here. It was like my connection with Leviathan was… expanding, in silence, but deeper.
— That is the prelude of the Mark of the Beast, Paimon's voice emerged, as always, from a dark corner. — When it begins to manifest on its own, it no longer depends on battle. But on inner confrontation.
He stepped forward, pausing to study Daytona's reaction.
— You have forty-eight hours, he continued. — After that, you will use the crystal. Whatever fate awaits you in Paradise… will no longer be in my hands.
Daytona finally turned to him.
— And what about the angels?
— You'll meet them. One by one, Paimon replied with a faint smile. — But beware: they may see you as visitors… or as walking sins.
Silence weighed on the room.
At last, Ghost opened his eyes.
— Then prepare yourselves. Because even with all this power… you are still only larvae at the edge of the light.
Night fell.
And the next journey had already begun whispering among the stars.