*
Her entire body glowed a fiery red, the pressure around her increased as much as possible. Truthfully, it felt like she simply returned to full power despite using up her last embers.
In this room that they've stood in for a while, the walls looked so huge as if they were caving in to crush them. The space here feels cramp, the lighting is dim and irritating for the eyes, the human party is tired beyond belief. Exhaustion took root in their bodies, making them feel like they were filled with lead.
In this tiny world, an ephemeral truth was born. A microcosm of a human relationship persists, king and hero, queen and saviour. Just for this short time, a dreamlike purity exists. Pure trust fills their souls, taking them to the other side of this lfie and death situation.
'.... My will to live wanes everything I think about those I've lost. I don't want to lose anymore... If I die, then I can't lose anymore...' (Kaede)
'But there are still those right in front of you. You're not the type to let me down. That is the simple feeling that you inspire in me. Sheer confidence.' (Ruby)
Their thoughts do not connect, they are not communicating but merely assuming what the other is thinking. In other words, they were talking to themselves. But for an instance, they resonate despite this gap in communication. Without synchronicity, proximity or any action necessary, they spoke the right words in their mind.
'That's right. I wanted to steal his magic pathways, but I couldn't find the opening to do so. He was that kind of enemy, simple but formidable beyond acceptability.
That's why there is my second plan. But... Even if the second plan ends, it will not be the end of this battle. I'll return it to you, Ruby. That trust.' (Kaede)
She took a deep breath as she stared at the growing brilliance of the energy summoned by Hikari. That would spell their end. But from the start, what was her specialty? Ranging from the very first time she awakened as a magical all the way up till now, Kaori's memories support her. This is undeniably Kaori's will, because it synchronised with her at this very moment. She is Kaori now, even if temporarily.
"TAKE IT I FULL FORCE!!!!!!!!" (Kaede)
A dark red light originating from the corridor phases through the throne room at the speed of light, shaving all magic down in the room once more. Anti magic. Because of the battle with Ray, the body was slightly resistant to antimagic, not much, but just enough that she could retain it. Because of Magia Retainment, she learned to retain insanely large amounts of magic. Combining these two experiences, she collected all the antimagic that she could and stored it in the corridor that the King couldn't see. Wizard's cloak was concealing it. Originally used it protect themselves, but also to conceal a weapon needed in harsh times.
It was a thick 1 metre wall of blood red light. The first 10 cm was enough to erase all external magic, the next 20 cm erased their augmentations, the next 40 cm cleared their wells. The last 30 cm was there for extra measure. Everything was thrown at the Demon King. Everyone was untransformed at that moment.
Kaede had returned to the form of Kaoru. Ruby was a beautiful brunette with a high ponytail. Wizard was unexpectedly blond, same as her transformed state. She was taller than the rest, with smooth long legs hidden under her tracksuit. Sease had short black hair and a small build. She had a sports bra, grey gloves and trousers. Karell... Was exactly the same as before. Karell blackish brown hair, she wore a cardigan over a grey dress with red highlights.
Lastly... Hikari was a girl with pure white hair and an elegant white dress. The dress as thin at the waist and sleeveless, the collar bones were covered with a military like rank pad and a string of achievements that shone like hanging fold and silver. The centre was buttoned down followed by 2 pockets under her modest breast. Her skirt was short and stout, spreading horizontally like drooping petals. Her shins were covered with knee highs and the distinct clacking of her heels resounded in a panicked symphony.
Now nobody had magic. Kaede in the form of Kaoru walked towards her. Before Hikari could react, he threw her a hard punch to the side of her cheek. However as a demon, she was still born a C grade. It meant that in the current moment, she was weaker than when she had been born. Her natural biology was disrupted by the antimagic, the excess of antimagic thrown at her had overpowered her resistances.
She staggered back, holding her cheek while glaring at her enemy. Now, things were finally at an equal stage. She slid her leg under, causing Kaede to trip and knock her head, then she kicked his waist and flipped him over as a result. He used that momentum to get onto his knees, then he pressed the ground to lift the rest of his body up, just to receive another punch to the gut.
"Ah~~~ haah!!!" (Kaede)
"kghhh haaaah!!" (Hikari)
They exchange blows, Hikari's fist slowly getting stronger as her biology gradually recovers back to her natural state. But Kaede doesn't falter, he throws another punch that was swiftly caught, then he launches a kick at her abdomen with all his strength. She falls back but quickly gets back on her feet. She throws a punch, Kaede fails to dodge it and resumes by throwing his own. His knuckles cry under the hardness of his target, but wouldn't give up here or ever.
He felt like crying, he felt like giving up. Just how many times has he felt like that? Enough that he couldn't count them all. Then there is no point going through this process over and over again. This time, he should just man up, grit his teeth, and throw the next punch. No more thinking about complicated matters, each time he would get back up and retaliate. No matter how many times he was knocked down.
The others recovered and joined in the fray, but Sease and Karell were quickly knocked out by a single punch, while Ruby and Wizard stood their ground. Ruby jumps in, which Hikari uses as an opportunity to swing her leg like a club, knocking Her and and Wizard out in one go.
Kaede then receives a devastating blow to the gut, his vision blurs and his legs are unsteady. He slams his foot down on the castle ground and slams his fist into her face. She staggers once more, but she's never going to let up. Seeing her resolve... He got inspired!!! He throws his left fist a little high followed by a hard left kick, but both were swiftly deflected.
The opponent slams their left fist into his face, causing him to black out for a moment. Perhaps he was simply more durable than the rest while untransformed. Or perhaps... He developed a higher resistance to antimagic at the last moment, his well was surely wiped out but he absorbed magic the fastest, even if subconsciously.
Both were recovering magic in tandem, but Hikari was unable to summon her armour and Kaede was unable to transform.
He feels his body about to be taken by inertia due to the countless hits he suffered, his body falls to the ground like a floating leaf. Before he falls, he cushions it with his arms and sent a high kick at her face. She wobbles backwards and fell on her butt. They both stand back up, ready to dish out more.
He holds his arms close to his body, he does not have the energy to keep them extended. His legs bend closer to the ground, it was easier to stay balance that way, he felt like squatting even lower, but then he would fall on his butt. They could feel each other's breath from this distance, but their eyes were only focused on the other's arms. He throws a feint with his right then throws a left cross, she extends her right hand slightly to block the feint, then twists her hips to block the other attack with the same hand.
His left arm was extended and presented a weakness, one that she wouldn't miss, her left arm grabs ahold of his left wrist. She twists her torso and uses her body weight to pull Kaede over her body. Kaede presses his right palm over her back forcefully, knocking Hikari off balance and disrupting her plan. He then throws his knee at her back, knocking her over while he steps back, clutching his left wrist to recover from the pain.
His body was covered with sweat, he might not have ever moved this much before while untransformed. The fatigue was taking a toil on his mind and body, his bones creak and cry abuse while his conscious is getting sleepier and sleepier. His eyelids were heavy, but he kept them open as Hikari swiftly lifts herself back up. He has to finish the job. Both were recovering at the same rate, but with this tempo, he would surely lose. After all, soon they'll be able to use their magic, and the result of a 1v1 between them would be no surprise.
"Aaaaahhhh~~!!!!!" (Kaede)
He works himself up with a war cry, charging his arm up for a powerful cross. She blocked it just in time, but the attack was enough to bruise her wrist and make it ache for a while. Kaede with his boosted recovery, Hikari with her naturally high recovery, they continue to compete. He follows up with a kick to her gut, his sweat and hair flew between his eyes, yet his view stays crystal clear due to his unadulterated focus on his goal.
His knuckles feel numb and his joints stretched so much that they were in pain and will continue to be in pain. There might have been blisters and cuts in his arms, but the pain overwhelms his fingers in their entirety that it wouldn't be possible to pinpoint where any of the blisters are. He clenches his teeth tighter, barely dodging the punch that Hikari threw. Hikari wasn't doing any better, her fist barely grazed his cheek but it did so with enough force to cut his cheek and push his face into the air.
She threw her arm too far, he retaliates with one final punch while she's busy with pulling back her arm.
"Reigning...~!!" (Kaede)
His throat screeches for him to stop, his body was overworked as is.
"Drill Cross...!!!!" (Kaede)
Her voice grew in volume and her arm flies off before she finishes naming it. She has used this move on countless opponents, enough to be confident that even the Demon King would know about it. So she throws her punch before finishing its name to catch Hikari off guard. After it connects...
"PUNCCCCHHHHHH~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (Kaede)
Her right fist slams into Hikari square in the face, for a moment he felt as if a power surged from his soul to his arm, channeling itself into his knuckles. The sound of a loud drum like collision echoed across the throne room. Her face caves in a blood pours out of her nose as her head flies back. It looks like neither of them were any good at close range combat, but there was a victor nonetheless.
"Haa~ haa~" (Kaede)
"This won't end just yet... You hear me...? I can not... Let it end... I am... The Demon King... Even disgusting beings like them... Deserve to live...
For there is beauty... In all life... You will accept us... Whether by force or not... " (Hikari)
"... I can't let you have your way. One of your kind killed one of my close friends... I know it's hypocritical, but just like you... My life is not my own. " (Kaede)
Her face cramps while she lays on the ground, pondering her next words. Was this the luxury of the strong? Why was Kaede giving her a chance to speak? In truth, Kaede could beat her until she passed out, but he didn't have the strength to kill her. Not the strength of heart, but physical strength. She was durable, his fists weren't. He was actually stalling for time. Maybe one of his companions would have recovered by now.
"For something like that...? You're not even their real king right? The God magical girls are...
You're but a mere low class magical girl... What fortune could you have that you would kill for? Don't joke with me about saving humanity, the greed is evident in your eyes. " (Hikari)
"... I... This is not my real body. I want to return it. " (Kaede)
"... Why?" (Hikari)
" Wh... Why...? Isn't it obvious? It's the right thing to do... I don't belong here... " (Kaede)
Her expression shifts into a sneer, pure ridicule lay waste to her beautiful complexion. She would have spat on the ground if she could. But she too was buying time to recover.
"... Is that really so bad? Have you found the real owner? Did the previous owner tell you they wanted it back?" (Hikari)