"Take this! All of my Essence!"
Akidou shot down from the white clouds at tremendous speed. His arm, wrapped in blazing red Essence, pointed straight toward Almond.
Almond looked up at him and let out a scornful laugh.
"Falling from White Cradle? How amusing!"
In the distance, Gumber was running with Lumber slung over his shoulder, a blood-soaked spear clutched in his free hand. He looked up at Akidou diving straight at Almond.
"That brat… he's going to take him head-on?"
Almond tightened his grip on his great blade and stomped the ground, cracking the earth beneath his feet.
"Empire Slash…"
Gumber sensed the danger immediately.
"No! If he swings that, the kid will be torn apart…"
Without hesitation, Gumber clenched the remaining half of his spear. Carrying his brother on his shoulder, he forced strength into his legs and spun around.
"I won't let you kill him!"
With a roar, he hurled the broken spear straight at Almond's wrist. The throw knocked Gumber off balance, sending both him and Lumber crashing to the ground. A Musheria warrior carrying Omelet stumbled in shock.
Almond was distracted. The spear struck his wrist, forcing the great blade from his grasp.
"Kid! I'm betting everything on you!"
Gumber shouted from the ground, his body aching from the throw.
"Got it!"
The spear hadn't pierced Almond's wrist, but it was strong enough to wound him. Blood spilled.
"Damn it!"
Almond lunged to retrieve his blade, but Akidou was already descending at terrifying speed.
"Die, Almond!"
Everyone was wagering their lives on Akidou. If this strike failed, they had nothing left to fight with.
"Hang in there, kid," Gumber muttered, struggling to stand.
Shinji, Lio, and Zoe watched from ahead.
"Come on, Akidou."
Alba was still falling from the sky.
"Hit him, Akidou!"
"Do it!"
Akidou understood. Everyone was placing their faith in him.
"Everyone… I understand. I won't let you down!"
Only seconds remained before his fist would connect. Almond crouched, snatching up his great blade at the last instant.
"Empire Slash—!"
"Strengthen Body—!"
Both attacks were unleashed at once. Whoever struck first would decide the battle.
Almond spun and slashed downward. A long fissure split the earth as blue light flashed violently.
But he wasn't faster than Akidou.
Like a cannonball, Akidou crashed into him.
"Iron Fist!"
The blazing red fist slammed into Almond's face. The great blade flew from his hand. A massive shockwave erupted, splitting the ground and hurling chunks of stone into the air.
"Die!"
Akidou poured every last drop of Essence into the punch. The red aura intensified.
Cracks spread across Almond's helmet.
"He… he did it!"
Almond clenched his fist, preparing to counter.
Akidou gathered the last of his strength and drove all remaining Essence into one final surge.
The helmet shattered completely.
The devastating force slammed into Almond's head. A shockwave exploded outward, dust and debris filling the air. The armor on his shoulders and chest burst apart.
Almond was hurled several meters away.
Akidou was thrown back as well.
Almond's massive body hit the ground, making the earth tremble.
Akidou lay there too, forcing himself upright. His hand had turned purple and swollen.
"Damn it! My arm's broken!"
Cheers erupted.
They had defeated a demon.
Shinji and Lio rushed to him.
"We won! Akidou!"
"My arm hurts!"
In the distance, Gumber collapsed with Lumber still over his shoulder.
"We… won…"
Akidou, having exhausted all his Essence, finally fell back down.
"Man… I'm beat. Good thing I reinforced my arm. Otherwise it would've been crushed."
The Musheria had won as well. The monster who had treated them as food for years had fallen.
They gathered the wounded—Gumber, Lumber, Omelet. Farther away, they struggled to move Alba, who had crashed too hard to stand.
"What happened down here? Everyone's severely injured,"
Akidou asked.
"It's a long story,"
Shinji replied.
"I'll tell you when we get back to Heavenfield."
Alba stepped forward—and froze. A familiar body lay before him.
"What…?"
Kriz's corpse. Headless.
"Kriz!"
After resting briefly, Akidou pushed himself up.
"Alright! Let's head back!"
Before their relief could settle in, Almond's massive body moved.
His giant hand slammed into the ground as he slowly rose again. Smoke poured from his body. His fangs lengthened.
Only the armor on his abdomen and legs remained. His eyes were pale white, blood spilling from his mouth.
The burn marks left by Lumber faded. His skin darkened to pitch black.
"Humans…"
He wasn't dead.
He stomped forward.
"This is bad… We don't have anyone left who can fight!"
Akidou struggled to stand.
Cracks spread across Almond's skin. Red fissures glowed between them, leaking blood and smoke.
His body swelled, growing larger with each tear of flesh.
"I will… kill you."
Each step shattered the earth. He doubled in size, nearly seven meters tall.
They stood frozen before the monster.
But instead of advancing, Almond turned.
Alba, holding Kriz's body, didn't know what to do.
Almond lumbered toward Cashew's body, which lay some distance away.
"Hey! Why are you standing there? Run!" Alba shouted.
No one moved.
They only watched.
Almond knelt and picked up Cashew's head, now small in his colossal hand.
He gently stroked her hair.
His body burned like fire.
Her hair ignited slowly.
Almond froze. He pulled his hand back—but the flames spread. Her entire head was consumed.
He stared at it with sorrow in his eyes.
He hugged it to his chest one last time.
The flames grew.
Almond did not move.
He sat there, eyes empty, as the grass around him caught fire from his heat. A gentle wind passed through Deepgreen. The sun was setting.
Almond… was dead.