Andrew told me about how Catherine had went missing. He searched and searched only to find her with the 'Believers of Abyss', a cult that worshipped her power.
"Although most people hunted us, there were also twisted people with different beliefs," he added.
"…and her powers grew stronger?"
"Yeah…the cult created an artificial dark magic through sacrifices to support her powers. Soon enough, Catherine didn't even seem like herself anymore..."
"It's been years, is she still there?"
"No. Once, she lost her control and went… rampage. She killed everyone there and I barely escaped. After that…she's gone for good."
*Just where did she go?* I rubbed my throbbing temple.
"Why are you only telling me now?"
"…she doesn't want you to know back then. She had been hiding it but the side effect of her attribute had also spread… throughout her body," Andrew said, slumping over his shoulders. "So, I had decided to search for her on my own."
After all those years, this was the only news I've received and it's far from pleasant. To make things worse, the appearance of monsters spiked incredibly in mere days. The usually meek ones became aggressive. Many got attacked and people cowered in fear. Fortunately, I could still hold on against the monsters' attack. After a year, we adapted to the attacks and our defence grew significantly.
"Lord! The Foxeshires said that an Underworld portal had suddenly appeared. They're calling for an urgent support!" A knight reported, he was out of breath from running all the way.
When I lifted my head, I could see the shaken eyes of his. "…prepare for war," I ordered.
The troops moved. The knights of the other households were also dispatched in a hurry. The expedition was later named as 'The Scourge of Demon'. Now, our opponent is no longer human beings but beasts and monsters. The experiences gained by the knights from hunting the monsters played a big role as we got to know their weaknesses and reduced the damages on the troops.
*GURURURUK*
"S-something is emerging from the ground!" a female knight shouted as the ground shook vigorously.
"A castle! That must be where the demon king is!" A brunette man from the Foxeshires exclaimed, his sword was soaked with a Cerberus' blood that he had just taken down.
An emergency meeting was held from the news.
"Based on the scale of control, the demon king is not to be taken lightly," Eldest son of Hawkstone Duchy speaks.
"The Foxeshire knightage had been severely damaged, we cannot provide anymore aids," Duke of Foxeshire admitted regretfully.
"The Royal Army and the Imperial Knights will go," The Commander of the Imperial Knight sent by the Empire speaks.
"….Leonhart shall join," I said on the behalf of Leonhart
"Indeed. The light attribute of the Marquess Leonhart will definitely play a pivotal role. We will be of support to you, Marquess," Sir Alexander nodded
"Then, it is decided. We will attack tomorrow, as soon as the knights regained their strength," The Commander concluded.
The next day, or what we think as the next day came. We prepared the troops and marched towards the dark castle. As we got closer, the dark mana got even more concentrated. A few knights that couldn't bear the mana immediately slumped onto the ground. There were also a large number of monsters that surrounded the castle, as if protecting it.
"ROYAL KNIGHTS! CHARGEE!" Sir Alexander commanded.
"RAGHHHHHHH!" The knights immediately dashed to the front.
The archers also launched their attacks from the rear, causing it to be raining with arrows while the support team casted a spell to provide a long-ranged attacks.
The battlefield was spectacular. The Imperial Knights and knights of Leonhart also joined in the centre of the clashing.
"Marquess, go inside first!" Sir Alexander shouted as he took down a Serpento Mortus.
I nodded and dashed into the castle. As I passed through the battlefield, I could see the Imperial Knights struggling with the undead. Inside the castle, there were dozens more of monsters. However, I managed to break through it all the way to the throne room. That was when the real struggle began.
"Long time no see," the figure on the throne smiled.
Darkened skin with glowing purple veins. A pair of large black wings sprouted from the back. Ominous horns poking out from the head. The air around the figure screams 'evil'. The devilish smile and eyes filled with void, looking down at me like how a king would. Someone I had longed to see, but not like this.
"You looked quite roughed up already so what are you hesitating for?" She raised her hand and casted an attack spell.
"Cath, what happened to you?" I felt my voice breaking as I saw her like that. Her gaze was cold, her smile was sinister. It was as if she's no longer Catherine. Slashing through her attacks, I continued on to plead for her return.
"Foolish human, do you really think it is time for a leisurely conversation?" Catherine soared up with her wings and casted an even more powerful spell.
Multiple shadows emerged from the ground and trapped me below it. I immediately infused my sword with light mana and break through the grasp of the shadows. As soon as I slashed it off, dozens of dark blades flew my way. Half of it managed to slash my body.
"Rise, my slaves!" she summoned more of the undead. As the ghouls surrounded me, Catherine prepared a concentrated sphere of darkness.
*FWISHHHHH…*
The sound of the swirling mana filled the air. It seemed like the dark attribute had completely took control over her. The one I am fighting is not Catherine anymore, it's the demon king!
"Ah…light attributes are really such a nuisance. Back then and even now," the demon king sighed. The sphere of darkness in her hand continued to grow exponentially while I was still slashing through the never-ending ghouls.
*TAP…TAP…TAP!*
Sound of footsteps approaching was heard from the corridor.
"Marquess, leave it to us!" Sir Alexander finally arrived with a few other knights. They immediately fought with the ghouls and created an opening for me. The growls of the undead with the clashing sound of the swords and bones in the space was deafeningly loud.
Taking the chance, I began a spell and created a compressed sphere of light mana to intercept the demon king's. The light surrounded me but the space was already consumed with darkness. It was as if a sun is rising in the never-ending night.
"Hah, too late!" She snickered. The sphere of darkness she created had filled the dome of the throne room.
The sphere of light I had created was only half of that size. However, I had no other choice but to use it. If we were fortunate enough, I might be able to cancel out half of the impact. Just when I was about to force my mana out, the demon king launched the sphere to the ground.
*BOOOOOOMM!*
As the two magic spheres collided, a big explosion was made that pushed us away from the point of collision. The pressure was so strong that it blew out the windows, cracked the walls and destroyed the dome of a roof. I was thrown away from the impact and crashed onto one of the pillars. The explosion had caused me more damage compared to the demon king, who was stabilising herself from a concussion. Stumbling onto the ground, I heard a desperate yell.
"DIE, YOU DEMON!" Sir Alexander flew and slashed one of her wings, causing her to fall onto the ground.
The wing quickly got regenerated and the demon king furiously turned towards Alexander, who was already severely injured. Besides dealing with the undead, he had also been caught in the previous explosion. As he got the demon king distracted, I immediately took the chance and dashed towards her. This time, I was determined to properly neutralises her. While she was targeting Alexander, I infused my sword with light mana and slashed off both of her wings.
"YOU DARE!!" the demon king bared her teeth, fists balled up furiously.
Her wings got regenerated slower due to the light mana. Black blood gushed out from the severed spot. Menacingly, the demon king swung her fist towards me.
"That won't work the second time!" I enveloped my body in light mana and parred away her attack.
The demon king's breath was gradually shortened. Maybe she was starting to get exhausted, too. I returned the hit with a fist concentrated in light mana, adjusting the strength so that it won't injure her badly. Suddenly, the shadow plate shielding her abdomen disappeared and my fist landed a critical damage, instead.
*CRACKK—!*
"AHHCK—!" she flinched. The sensation of breaking bones was felt on my fist.
The demon king skidded back due to the momentum and dropped onto her knees. Her head slumped down and black blood was seen splattered onto the ground. She coughed exasperatedly, writhing in pain.
"Huh…?" I looked down at her in confusion.
"…..Not enough," she said. Her voice was weak and faint. "You have to stab me through the heart or it will heal again."
*No…don't tell me,* I grimaced.
"….C-Catherine?"
"Kill me…I can't stay on the surface for too long. It's pulling me back…"
I realized that her right eyes faintly showed a bit of light. Exasperated, I gritted my teeth at her request.
"I-I can't—"
"It's…painful, Lucius. So much….. yet it doesn't let me die. Please…. free me," she begged in between her breath.
Catherine looked up with a pained expression, as if she was being tortured. I was in a huge dilemma, whether to let her live in that painful state or….give her an immediate and painless death as she wished for.
"Ugh…"
I felt tears streamed down my cheeks. My pupils shook uncontrollably and my grip on the sword was loosening. I can't do it. How could I even think of taking her life away?
My sun, my light.
"KILL HER!!" The General yelled.
"DON'T HESITATE ANYMORE! SHE'S LOST HER MIND, KILL HER NOW!!" Sir Alexander yelled desperately as he held onto his broken arm.
I hesitantly raised my sword. Catherine looked like she's struggling yet I could see her lips curled up slightly. My vision was blurry, my heart was racing. I told her that I would never allow any harm near her. Yet, here I am. A liar. A betrayer.
My hands wrapped around the handle. It was trembling. I can't do it. But seeing Catherine's pleading eyes, I steeled my heart. "….I'll make it fast," I said.
The tears didn't stop even when I was right in front of her. Rather, the tears became unstoppable. My sight was distorted and my head spun. My heart was begging me to stop but my brain said otherwise. The desperate yell of Sir Alexander was gradually fading. I can't see nor hear properly anymore. It was so painful that I couldn't bear to exist.
*STAB…*
I bit my lips in agony as I thrust the light mana infused sword at her chest, piercing right through her heart.
"Ack…" Catherine's face distorted in pain, but her eyes showed hints of liberation.
The shadow shrouding Catherine slowly faded and she slumped down from the damage. She was so drained and vulnerable, like the sun that's losing its light. Just before she crashed onto the ground, I immediately caught her falling figure in my arms.