I shot forward, the gauntlet in my hand glowing darkly, absorbing the aura around me.
Without further ado, I delivered the first blow from above—
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath us.
The second followed from the side, then below, then in succession like a hellish storm that left no room for breath.
CLANG! WHOOSH! THUD!
Sylvene leaped back nimbly, her body like a moonbeam moving gracefully across the battlefield.
A soft light enveloped her, but in her eyes was a steely determination.
She raised her silver-glowing bow and shouted:
[Triple Shot]
FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!
Three arrows glowing bluish-silver shot out, each carrying a trace of pure moon magic.
The light from the projectiles sliced through the air—and headed straight for my chest.
I reached out.
GRAB! GRAB! GRAB!
I caught the three arrows midair—my hands shaking violently. The moon aura surrounding the arrows stung my skin like poison, like the sun burning a demon's flesh.
I stared at the arrows.
Their light pulsed, trying to burn away my aura.
"That moon magic, huh? That sweet poison that almost killed me."
I crushed the three arrows in my grip—their light extinguished, replaced by a dark aura that began to billow from my body.
I looked at Sylvene and smiled coldly.
"If that's your only attack, then you'll die too soon."
At my words, Sylvene's face hardened.
She stepped back, took a deep breath—then began firing arrow after arrow at a drastically increased rate.
WHIP! WHIP! WHIP-WHIP-WHIP!
A hail of moon magic arrows filled the air.
But I stepped lightly between them. Every movement was measured, precise, and without wasted movement.
I ducked, jumped, and tilted my body, the arrows passing just inches from my face.
"Now it's my turn," I said softly, my voice like thunder ready to explode.
I lowered my body, took a stance, and channeled aura into my gauntlet.
A dark aura mixed with fire enveloped my feet.
[Dragon Kick]
BOOM!
In an instant, I shot forward, my speed and power creating an explosion in the ground behind me—it was as if I'd disappeared from where I stood.
Sylvene tried to react, raising her bow staff as a makeshift shield.
CRASH!!
My kick landed hard.
A second later, Sylvene's body was sent flying like a doll—through the air and crashing into an elf house in the distance.
CRASH!!
The walls of the house cracked, debris scattered, and muffled groans rang out from the ruins.
I stood my ground, clenching my fists.
"Can you still stand, daughter of the Bow Hero?" I said, my voice filled with mockery and thick murderous intent.
Dust billowed wildly, clouding the air in a gray haze.
Beneath the haze, Sylvene lay limp—her mouth bloodied, her body scarred, and the wings of light on her back beginning to crack.
Her hands trembled as she reached for her bow, forcing herself to stand despite her trembling knees.
"Justice… will never be defeated" she said breathlessly, her eyes still burning with a waning belief.
I only smiled a faint smile, one that didn't hide the murderous intent behind it.
My steps were heavy but sure. Each step shook the ground, slowly approaching.
"Justice?" I said softly, almost a whisper,
"I am the end of all the false justice you exalt."
Sylvene raised her bow high, her magical aura surging wildly. It wasn't just magical power—deadly moon magic began to envelop the arrow in her hand.
The air seemed to vibrate with the pressure of the divine power she summoned.
She took a deep breath, her gaze piercing with determination.
[SUNRISE ARROW]
The arrow shot.
Golden light exploded from its tip—dazzling, pure, and utterly deadly to a demon like me.
But I didn't move.
I opened my arms, as if welcoming it.
"Show me how much your light can hurt the Dark King."
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the ground.
My body was thrown several steps back.
Smoke and dust billowed.
I lowered my head, slowly looking down at my now gaping hole in my stomach, black blood dripping profusely from the wound.
But my smile remained. It even grew wider.
"Huh, interesting," I muttered softly, "Your light isn't as weak as I thought."
Bruaagg!
A jet of black blood gushed from my stomach, staining the ground around me.
The pain stung brutally—but it wasn't agony I felt.
It was a pleasure.
I laughed softly, then louder.
"Hahahaha, it's been a long time since I've felt pain like this!"
Ah… so this is what you call determination?
My body trembled, not from pain, but from passion.
The true power of demons lies not in invulnerability but in regeneration.
We can heal any part of the body except the head.
The wound in my stomach began to close slowly, muscle and flesh reattaching, bones moving themselves back into place.
But this wound was deep.
I needed time.
I grinned—blood still dripping from my lips.
"Now it's my turn."
I took my stance. My right foot was slightly forward, my fist clenched, a pitch-black aura enveloping my gauntlet.
The air around me began to roil. The ground cracked beneath my feet.
I charged toward Sylvene,
determined to end this fight with absolute power.
[Sonic Wave]
I swung my fist through the air, and from my gauntlet, a shockwave shot out like an invisible blast of sound.
BOOM!!
The air split, and the ground shook.
Sylvene was sent flying like a doll thrown by a storm.
His body slammed into the large tree behind him—
CRAAAKK!
The sound was unmistakable: the sound of broken bones.
Her right arm fell limp.
It was a clean break.
I slowly walked toward her, each step sounding menacing among the rubble.
"Are you starting to feel the difference of true power?" I whispered, staring into her trembling eyes.
"How can a mere demon be this strong?" Sylvene said in a trembling voice, a hint of fear audible beneath her bravado.
I laughed softly, then leaned in closer, bending down until my face was only inches from her pale one.
"Huh? Who said I'm a mere demon?"
A sadistic smile spread across my face.
"I am the Demon King."
A dark aura exploded from my body, vibrating the air around it.
At that, Sylvene's eyes widened.
Her body trembled violently—
not from injury,
but from the fear that had crept into her very soul.
I looked away for a moment, staring at my demon army feasting in a sea of blood.
Zereth was tearing apart the body of one of the elven knights, ripping out its vital organs as he laughed with satisfaction—his teeth smeared with blood.
Meanwhile, Selena was torturing a female elf, breaking her bones one by one with a cold smile on her face.
The sound of screams, the sound of cracking bones, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
I glanced at Sylvene.
She, too, was looking at her troops—
And slowly, the color faded from her face.
Her face froze and paled.
Fear began to gnaw at her resolve.
"I'm sorry… Mother, Father… I'll use this technique," Sylvene whispered, her voice trembling but determined.
[MOON GATE OPEN]
Blinding moonlight exploded from her body—instantly creating a wave of energy that devastated everything around us. My body was thrown hard, hitting the ground, creating a crater.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
I stood slowly, steadying myself, and then looked ahead.
From behind the flash of moonlight, Sylvene emerged—her aura drastically changed. Lunar energy enveloped her entire body, from head to toe, shimmering like a goddess of punishment.
"With such powerful magic, there must be a price to pay," I said with a lopsided smile, my gaze tracing the trail of energy that burned the air.
"How long can you maintain it?"
"It doesn't matter," Sylvene said coldly, moonlight gathering in her eyes. "With this little time, I only need one chance to kill you!"
In an instant, she shot out like a flash of light. Before I could react, she was in front of me.
BRUGGHH!!!
Sylvene's hand pierced my stomach—through flesh and bone, striking my internal organs.
My black blood spurted out.