Honestly, I'm pissed.
I want to beat the absolute shit out of this motherfucker. I'm not even mad at the fact that he knew Maki but I was pissed at the fact that he used her. He spread lies and manipulated now, finally, holding her captive.
I'll defeat him and find out Maki's location.
[Calm down.]
Erebus' voice resonated within my mind.
I stared at Ragnarok, who seemed worse for wear while listening to Erebus.
[Remember what I told you, you need to get rid of any superfluous emotions if you want to beat this guy.]
(Yeah.)
I feel like he's too strong. What I mean is his sudden power-up. He's borrowing power but from who?
That's something I'd like to know but defeating him right now was my first priority. I edged closer before we both dashed.
In this situation, the first to attack would deal a fatal blow. I'm sure Ragnarok understood that too.
"Nhn."
He was a step ahead of me.
Spears of blood protruded from the ground, stabbing through the air at me. While that was happening, his eyes lit up as he sliced at me with blood weapons.
I took a deep breath in before softly breathing out.
[You ready?]
Erebus asked as shadows trickled from the back of his blade.
"Yeah."
At the moment before everything would intersect, I relaxed my muscles.
We were fighting as one. No, that's not accurate. We were one.
Like a stream of water, I guided my body down the best path. I countered the first two spears, which would pierce my chest. I then dodged the next ones and jumped over the spears, also dodging Ragnarok's slash.
I landed, seeing that the spears of blood I dodged bent and were still forging their way towards me.
I used Shadow Enhancement, shrouding a thick aura of darkness around Erebus.
Slicing the blood spears was easy, however, I slashed at Ragnarok, only for him to redirect my slash by whacking my wrist.
I clicked my tongue.
He swung his leg around and aimed for my face.
I transfigured Erebus into daggers so that I could shit my weight easier and dodge it. However, leaning backwards to dodge the kick was not the right choice, it was a trap.
Ragnarok swung a sword down, like a guillotine.
(Erebus!)
I called out to him desperately.
[Nightwalker.]
Erebus used my mana, and some of his, to cast Nightwalker.
I phased through the sword and appeared in the shadow behind Ragnarok.
I couldn't cast in time because I can't quick cast Nightwalker in a position where I was under a lot of pressure. Especially since I would've died if he didn't make it in time.
"Slippery little mongrel!"
He spoke as if he was higher than me, but he wasn't.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Ragnarok practically chanted.
His bloody dripping halo expanded rapidly, becoming a large crown behind Ragnarok. The red tattoos on his body flushed crimson and seeped blood. Blood leaked even from his eye sockets.
The symbol on his forehead became more intricate and shone scarlet.
Ragnarok spread his arms out; a red skull loomed from behind him.
A maniacal smile appeared on his face as he entered a fighting stance.
This reminded me of my battle against Chrysus. It was clear to me. He wanted to end this battle in one strike.
I raised my sword above my head.
I put all of my mana into Erebus, focusing all of it into the sharp edge of his blade. The bottom of my soles also seeped shadows.
Breathing out, I glared at Ragnarok.
"Let's go!"
Ragnarok yelled.
I ran and Ragnarok met me in between. The next moment, at the same time in which I cut down with Erebus, Ragnarok appeared in front of me with a powerful aura.
"Judgement!"
"Shadow Slayer!"
I sliced and he punched.
·———·
I coughed.
My whole body ached, especially my stomach. It seems like I lost consciousness after that final assault.
I touched my head before looking after my fingers. They were coated in blood. Seems like my whole body is bleeding.
I struggled to stand.
It took me time before I was able to walk steadily. The whole place was in shambles. I held my right arm and I couldn't see out of my left eye, blood clogged its view.
Did I get Ragnarok?
I looked around but I couldn't see him.
"Y-you're still around, huh?"
A quivering voice asked.
I turned.
"You..."
I was ready to get angry but my wrath soothed when I saw the condition of Ragnarok. He was in a worse condition than me. He was barely hanging onto a thread of his life.
From his left shoulder and torso, there was an intersection. Some of his bones were visible. He was battered and torn.
When he saw me, he gently smiled. A face I never imagined he would make.
"Why are you..."
"I was... jealous. Of you. I tried to steal your friendship but..."
Ragnarok staggered, falling forward.
"I... couldn't. I failed... because... I t-tried to be human..."
And he fell.
He died.
"I don't understand."
He... was jealous of me? Cut the bullshit. That low-level sympathy won't get to me...
But...
He died. I hated him so bad that I wanted him to die but he died. Ragnarok died. From fighting me.
I know killing is necessary at times but... the act itself is. The act of taking a human life is...
I covered my mouth as my stomach churned sternly. Shit... I think I'm losing consciousness again.
Ugh...
·———·
"So, what do you say, Principal Kamish?"
A young man asked the principal.
The principal scowled at the boy. She had her fist on her cheek.
"I don't have a say, even as a principal. I'm not an Emperor or anything. I can't deal with your family, who have the backing of a Mortal Sin."
She said.
"Wise choice."
He smiled.
The young man was ready to leave. He opened the door before Kamish stopped him.
"Alexander Darius King. What are you after?"
"Me? I need to collect my fiancé, Anastasia Kou Sabre Reishville."
He exited, shutting the door behind him.
The principal stared at the door before sighing, spinning on her chair.
"I wonder what Shoya's doing right now."
She muttered.
"I don't even think he can stop what's going to happen to the ones he loves. Both of them."