"Listen to me carefully!" Dio's voice was firm, though tinged with exhaustion. "The one who took the form of Rika's mother is no human. It's a tree demon. It feeds on Rika's memories to deceive and steal human souls. Worse, it's been turning Rika into its puppet without her even knowing."
Arya, still panting and clutching his aching side, looked at Dio with doubt."Why should I trust you?" he muttered. Yet his eyes caught the faint, sinister glow radiating from the creature wearing Rika's mother's face. His conviction began to falter.
"That demon was born from mankind's desperate desire for shortcuts. Blood and sacrifices poured into its roots are what awakened it," Dio continued grimly. "If it isn't destroyed, it will devour more and more lives. That's why I have to end it."
Arya bit his lip, torn. Something deep inside him told him Dio wasn't lying."Then… what do you need me to do?" he asked, forcing himself to stand, though his body trembled with exhaustion.
Dio exhaled heavily."Leave this to me. You must return to the human world. Take the jasmine from the tree's core. It's the only way to weaken it. If you don't hurry, you won't survive here."
Arya narrowed his eyes, his vision already blurring."Fine. But you'd better not be playing with me."
With unsteady steps, Arya stumbled toward the tree's core while Dio drew a deep breath, readying himself for battle once more.
"Hey, little girl! Get out of there!" Dio shouted at Rika, who sat blankly beneath the massive tree.
But Rika didn't move. She just stared straight ahead, lifeless, like a doll with its battery drained.
"Damn it! She's already too far under its control," Dio cursed. With no other choice, he began chanting, his voice reverberating through the air. Golden light burst from his body, expanding with every line of the incantation, forming a shield around him.
But the demon, wearing Rika's mother's face, pierced through his barrier. Black tendrils slithered from its body, long and grotesque, creeping until they brushed against Rika's feet. In seconds, her eyes glowed a fiery red, her body cloaked in a dark aura.
"Hehehe… now it's my turn, filthy human," the demon hissed, its voice raspy, echoing with wicked laughter.
"Damn it! I need to separate it from the girl's body!" Dio barked, but before he could finish, Rika vanished in a flash—reappearing right before him and striking him hard. Dio was hurled backward, crashing into the ground as dirt and leaves erupted around him.
Now fully under the demon's control, Rika grinned with a cruel smirk."I'll make you mine," she whispered coldly, her tone deadly.
Dio staggered back to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But before Rika could lunge again, a crimson blur shot from the other side of the tree and slammed into her. The girl's small body flew, crashing against the trunk with brutal force.
"Are you weakening already, Dio?" a chilling voice echoed.
"Nagini?" Dio looked up, relief and surprise flashing across his face. "Do you always have to show up at the very last second?"
Clad in flowing red, Nagini fixed her sharp gaze on Rika."It's far too early for you to escape my watch, demon."
Arya, staggering toward the tree's core, froze as he caught sight of her. His eyes widened."That woman…" he whispered, barely able to stand.
Nagini glanced at him briefly, her voice dripping with disdain."This foolish boy… The demon is only toying with you. That little girl is nothing but a puppet. If you want to save her, act quickly."
Though his body was ready to collapse, Arya forced himself forward. Step by step, he approached Rika—now standing under the demon's full control."Rika… it's me, Arya," he said softly.
But Rika only smirked wickedly before dashing forward, seizing his throat with merciless strength.
"You think I'll let her go so easily?" the demon spoke through Rika's lips.
Choking, Arya managed a faint smile."Rika… we're friends, aren't we?" he whispered weakly, his eyes gazing at her with raw sincerity.
For a moment, she froze. The cruel smile flickered, fading from her face.
But before anything more could happen, Nagini lunged, unleashing her full power."Hold her tight, boy!" she shouted.
Without hesitation, Arya wrapped his arms around Rika, clinging with all his might despite his failing strength.
"BOOM!" Nagini's strike landed squarely against Rika's chest. A violent burst of energy ripped through them, hurling all three apart. Arya and Rika were flung deep into the tree's core, crashing through until they landed inside.
There, at the very heart of the tree, Arya and Rika lay facing each other. Slowly, their eyes fluttered open. Their faces hovered mere inches apart. Rika, seemingly herself again, blinked in confusion, her cheeks tinged with red.
"A-Arya…" she murmured faintly, stirring awake.
Startled, Arya tried to push back, fumbling for support. His hand brushed against something—and before he realized it, he had plucked a white jasmine blooming from the tree's heart.
The moment the flower was pulled free, blinding light engulfed them both. In an instant, they vanished.
Outside, Nagini, still clutching the demon's energy, released a surge of golden fire. The tree spirit shrieked in agony, its form shrinking like ice under the blazing sun.
"At last… it's over," Nagini exhaled, her grip loosening.
Dio staggered toward her, wincing from his wounds."The girl… where is she?"
Nagini froze. Her eyes widened in sudden realization.
"No… it can't be…" she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.