A Demon's True Strength
The moment Kevin's smirk widened, Ashborn knew something was wrong. The air around the demon general grew heavier, and an ominous crimson glow radiated from his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked and crumbled, unable to withstand the raw pressure he was emitting.
"Enough playing around," Kevin muttered.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Ashborn barely had time to react before an immense force struck his gut, sending him hurling through the ruins of a nearby building. The impact rattled his bones, and before he could recover, Kevin appeared beside him—his spear already descending.
"Move!" Raphael's voice screamed in his mind.
Ashborn twisted his body just in time, the spear grazing his shoulder instead of impaling him completely. Blood splattered onto the broken stone, and a searing pain shot through his arm.
"He's too fast," Lida gasped, eyes wide as she gripped her sword.
Rick, gritting his teeth, launched his golden chains at Kevin once more. This time, the bindings wrapped around the demon general's arm, but Kevin only smirked.
"A useless attempt," Kevin said coldly.
With a simple flex of his muscles, the chains shattered like glass.
Rick's eyes widened.
"No way—"
Before he could react, Kevin blurred in front of him and drove his knee into Rick's stomach. The force of the impact sent Rick flying, crashing through several stone pillars before slamming into the city's central fountain.
Blood spilled from Rick's mouth.
"Damn… he's a monster," Rick coughed, struggling to stand.
Kevin turned his attention back to Ashborn.
"Tell me, hero," Kevin said mockingly. "Is this all the resistance you can muster? If so, I'm rather disappointed."
Ashborn wiped the blood from his lips, forcing himself to stand. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain.
"I'm not done yet."
He raised his sword, and dark energy crackled around him.
Kevin raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Oh? Show me, then."
Unleashing the Void Breaker
Ashborn vanished in an instant.
He reappeared directly above Kevin, his blade coated in black flames.
"Take this—Void Breaker!"
With a mighty slash, a massive crescent-shaped energy wave erupted from his sword, tearing through the battlefield and heading straight for Kevin.
The impact was cataclysmic.
The very ground beneath them split apart, and a shockwave rippled through the ruins, sending debris and shattered stone flying in every direction.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then…
Lida's eyes widened.
"No… it didn't work."
As the smoke cleared, Kevin stood unharmed, his spear glowing with a dark red aura. He had blocked the attack with a single hand.
"That was impressive," Kevin admitted, flicking his wrist to dissipate the residual energy. "But still too weak."
Then, without another word, he vanished.
The next thing Ashborn knew, Kevin's spear was already piercing through his stomach.
Pain exploded through his body.
"Guh—!" Ashborn gasped, blood spurting from his mouth.
Kevin's golden eyes gleamed as he twisted the spear slightly, causing even more agony.
"Did you really think you could defeat me?" Kevin whispered.
Ashborn gritted his teeth, grabbing the shaft of the spear to keep Kevin from pushing it in deeper.
"I… won't lose."
Kevin chuckled darkly, then kicked Ashborn away, sending him crashing through another wall.
Ashborn hit the ground hard, blood dripping from the wound in his stomach. His vision blurred, and his strength was fading fast.
"Damn it," he muttered, trying to force himself up.
But before Kevin could finish him off—
Golden chains shot out from behind, wrapping tightly around Kevin's body.
"Got you, bastard!" Rick yelled.
Kevin's smirk finally faltered.
"What—?"
Lida rushed forward, her sword shimmering with holy light.
"This is our chance!"
She slashed downward, aiming for Kevin's heart.
For the first time, Kevin looked genuinely surprised.
The blade cut deep.
A shockwave erupted as Kevin stumbled backward, blood spurting from his chest.
Ashborn, seizing the opportunity, pushed through the pain. His eyes burned with power, and his sword glowed with a deep, void-like energy.
"This ends now, Kevin!"
With his remaining strength, he launched himself forward, aiming for Kevin's head.
Kevin, despite his injury, smiled.
"Not bad, Ashborn," he murmured.
But before the final strike could land—
A massive explosion of red energy erupted from Kevin's body, sending everyone flying.
The ground tore apart as the city trembled beneath the force of Kevin's dying attack.
Ashborn hit the ground hard, his body barely able to move.
When the dust settled…
Kevin stood there, blood dripping from his chest.
He chuckled weakly.
"I suppose… I was too reckless."
Then, his body began to glow ominously.
Lida's face paled.
"No… he's activating a destruction spell!"
Ashborn's eyes widened.
Kevin smirked one last time.
"Let's see if you can survive this."
And then—
A crimson explosion, capable of wiping out an entire nation, erupted from Kevin's body.
To Be Continued…
---
Chapter 11 Preview: The Price of Victory
With Kevin's final act of defiance, a devastating explosion engulfs the battlefield.
Ashborn, barely alive, must find a way to shield Lida and Rick from the blast—even if it means sacrificing himself.
But even after Kevin's fall, the battle isn't over.
Because someone far more dangerous is watching from the shadows…