The golden rays that seemed to beam down on Askyros suddenly shifted. As he called for the celestial archive, the lights forged itself into blue flame.
"If I wish for it, make it so. Breathe yourself into being, Sidrouge." [Askyros]
The blue flames converged into his palm, quickly forming itself into a hammer alongside the ringing of metal against metal.
"That's… new." [Demon of Frenzy]
Askyros inspected the hammer. It was several times larger than the average, most likely to fit his stature. The head had a flat side, while the other side appeared to be built like an animal's horn. The handle was wooden, with grooves for the fingers to fit comfortably. It wasn't very long, for it was meant to be wielded in one hand. To sum it up, the hammer looked cheap.
"...I see." [Askyros]
He swung at the air, causing the hammer to glow. Within an instant, it vanished alongside a ringing sound.
"Hm." [Askyros]
Askyros motioned as if he was holding onto something in one hand, but the Demon of Frenzy couldn't see it.
"This will do." [Askyros]
He launched himself forward, causing his opponent to question his actions.
("Why is he coming towards me? His weapon is gone. My flames and ice will harm him. Close range isn't something that would be favorable.") [Demon of Frenzy]
Regardless, Askyros attacked.
"You're more insane than I am!" [Demon of Frenzy]
He raised his arms in preparation as Askyros raised an arm and swung.
("That fool-") [Demon of Frenzy]
His thoughts were interrupted from a sharp pain coming from his side. The boy's vision spun as the upper part of his torso was separated from his lower part.
"Huh?" [Demon of Frenzy]
Within the corner of his vision, he could see blood floating.
("Floating?") [Demon of Frenzy]
No, it was not floating he saw. It was something invisible coated with his blood.
"An invisible blade!" [Demon of Frenzy]
Askyros swung a few more times, cutting his opponent into several pieces.
"This is interesting!" [Demon of Frenzy]
He thrust out ice, in which Askyros responded by summoning the hammer again. The "floating" blood hit the ground, indicating that the invisible blade was no more.
"Your elements will no longer be a problem for me." [Askyros]
He slammed his hammer against the ice coming forward, causing it to suck into the hammer and change form. Within seconds, the hammer was now a shield forged from ice.
"What?" [Demon of Frenzy]
Was what he said before receiving the back end of the shield.
"Agh!" [Demon of Frenzy]
As he was flung away, his body tried to reattach itself. Surprisingly, it was much slower than before.
"Ah… That's funny." [Demon of Frenzy]
Bloodied, beaten, but not defeated. The boy laughed.
"What a neat tool you have there! It has divine power infused in it!" [Demon of Frenzy]
Askyros stood there as his opponent pieced himself together. He felt like he had all the time in the world.
"No more tricks up your sleeve, demon?" [Askyros]
The boy coughed up a little bit of blood before fully healing.
"When people are out of tricks, there is only one thing left." [Demon of Frenzy]
"Is it not death?" [Askyros]
The boy smiled.
"It is instinct." [Demon of Frenzy]
He pulled himself forward, grinning like a mad man.
"So it is death." [Askyros]
Askyros used the ice shield to smack away the first attack, quickly realizing another was grasping at his face.
"Explosion arts!" [Demon of Frenzy]
Raising the shield, it shattered on impact and returned to a hammer.
"So that's how it works!" [Demon of Frenzy]
He chained into a high kick, but Askyros reacted fast enough to duck under. He then smacked the earth with his hammer and forged a massive rocky mallet.
"Hrah!" [Askyros]
Letting out a loud grunt, he slammed it into his opponent.
"Urgh!" [Demon of Frenzy]
The boy withstood the blow. It appeared that he had dug his feet into the ground beforehand.
"Reverberating Strike." [Demon of Frenzy]
He punched the mallet, sending a shiver that shattered it. Its form returned back to that or a cheap hammer.
"Hm." [Askyros]
The Demon of Frenzy avoided using his elemental abilities. Instead, he mainly focused on his martial prowess.
"Threefold strike." [Demon of Frenzy]
Askyros raised an arm and a leg to block three blows. He could feel the weight behind it, which is something he hasn't felt in a while.
"What an unorthodox method of fighting." [Askyros]
Askyros attempted to fight back while trying to change his hammer's form, but the boy continuously smacked it away.
"Tsk!" [Askyros]
Clicking his tongue, Askyros dropped the hammer on his opponent's head.
"Rotating Shell Arts." [Demon of Frenzy]
With the flick of a wrist, Askyros' hammer was redirected back to his face. To some strange circumstance, it just bounced off harmlessly.
"Huh?" [Demon of Frenzy]
"Hmph." [Askyros]
He then headbutted his opponent.
"Ack!" [Demon of Frenzy]
Blood spewed from his nose. It appeared the regeneration was slowing.
"Have some too!" [Demon of Frenzy]
The boy retaliated by twisting his entire body and striking Askyros in the nose, also causing blood to rush out.
"Ngh…!" [Askyros]
Askyros switched his grip on his hammer and grasped the head. He then swung with the added weight into a punch.
"Agh!" [Demon of Frenzy]
He was struck in the ribs. However, he was able to absorb the energy from the blow and send a kick to Askyros' gut.
"Hrng!" [Askyros]
It had come to a point where neither cared about defense. Unwritten rules were in place, and both of them knew it.
("The one who falls first, loses.") [Askyros] [Demon of Frenzy]
They traded blows, causing blood to splatter. Bruises went from blue to purple. Minor injuries turned major.
"Come on." [Askyros]
"You first." [Demon of Frenzy]
They had exhausted all that they had. Neither had the energy to throw another attack. All they could do was stand there and stare at each other.
"Oh my! Look at you!" [???]
After hearing a feminine voice, a sudden light appeared above them. The light then died down, revealing a young girl sitting on a floating scythe.
"Hah! You look so terrible, Vincent! What happened to you?" [???]
The girl laughed at the Demon of Frenzy.
"...Hema. What are you doing here?" [Demon of Frenzy]
The girl looked at her nails casually.
"I finished up some business earlier than I expected. So, I decided to come see how my favorite mortal was doing." [Hema]
"The first thing you did was find me? It must be boring being a god." [Demon of Frenzy]
"A god…?" [Askyros]
It was the first time he had ever seen one. She had long white hair. The sides were braided a little bit, with a small golden skull as a brooch. She had relatively revealing clothing. Her shoulders and stomach were exposed. She had gloves that didn't fully cover her fingers. She wore shorts that didn't reach her thighs and some kind of thin cloth that barely went above her knees.
"Hm? This man…" [Hema]
She lowered herself to inspect Askyros slowly.
"Ah… what a strange fate." [Hema]
She then turned to the boy.
"Have you considered retreating?" [Hema]
"No. I will kill him once I heal." [Demon of Frenzy]
His wounds were indeed healing, albeit far slower than before.
"I can't have you do that. His fate lies elsewhere." [Hema]
"Do you think that would stop me?" [Demon of Frenzy]
The goddess tilted her head.
"I suppose not… How about I owe you a favor for letting him go?" [Hema]
"A favor? From a goddess?" [Demon of Frenzy]
The goddess leaned down and caressed the boy's face playfully.
"Of course. You know my word is stone." [Hema]
The boy remained silent.
"...Fine." [Demon of Frenzy]
After confirming his agreement, the goddess put on a smug look. She then turned back towards Askyros.
"Do not worry, you won't see this boy in your lifetime." [Hema]
She snapped her fingers, causing the boy to suddenly vanish. On the other hand, the goddess still remained.
"Before I go, I'd like to give you a word of advice. Vincent's ice and flames have a… corrosive effect. You may want to check on your friends before it's too late." [Hema]
Having said that, she vanished as well.