In an epic and fierce battle, Marshal and Abaguo clashed without either gaining an edge over the other. For now, Abaguo had no worries; he had become immortal, his soul and body shielded from angelic energy. Yet despite this, Marshal continued to assail him with all his might, slashing at him repeatedly. He pushed himself to his limits, drawing from the scant mana remaining within him to perform the Adaken.
"KEEP AT IT, MARSHAL! SO THAT I MAY WITNESS MY OWN STRENGTH IN FULL!"
"SHUT UP!"
Abaguo's response was a laugh, an otherworldly chuckle filled with intent, for he knew that if he was sliced ten times, he'd regenerate ten times. If cut a hundred times, he'd regenerate a hundred times. No matter the method or technique, he was as immortal as the Archdemons of Emotion.
"I'm not finished yet!"
"Well, show me what you've got, hahaha!"
Upon hearing Abaguo's sarcastic retort, Marshal took it seriously and unleashed a barrage of angelic spells on him:
[Angelic Magic: Divine Calm], [Angelic Magic: Eternal Rest], [Angelic Magic: Divine Miracle], [Angelic Magic: Superior Power], [Angelic Magic: Heavenly Strike], [Angelic Magic: Divine Light], [Angelic Magic: Wave of Peace], [Angelic Magic: Divine Flame], [Angelic Magic: Wisdom Aura], [Angelic Magic: Purifying Beam], [Angelic Magic: Glory Arrow], [Angelic Magic: Divine Bomb].
The spells flowed one after the other at a staggering pace. Each magic circle was promptly replaced by the next as Marshal overexerted himself, hoping to defeat Abaguo. But all attempts proved futile; nothing could harm him, absolutely nothing. And so, he continued to laugh heartily, looking down on his opponent, seeing him merely as a mere human.
Elsewhere, Yanis approached Gwendoline and Rogue, staring in horror at the scene unfolding before them. Both were terrified by Abaguo's newfound power, feeling as if their presence beside Marshal was now futile, leading them towards inevitable doom.
"Guys! What are you waiting for?!" Yanis shouted.
"I'm useless, I don't have any magic, and don't get me started on energy!" exclaimed Gwendoline.
"Rogue! Can't you at least use your power?"
"I... I... when I'm stressed or panicking, my power becomes... unusable."
Yanis studied his friends, baffled by their behavior, expecting them to show at least some fight for the sliver of hope they still held.
"Fine! You know what?! Stay put! I'll go help Marshal take this bastard down! For Garnal!"
In a surge of anger, Yanis immediately joined Marshal in his desperate fight, leaving them to ponder the battle's fate. As Rogue saw Yanis fighting valiantly beside Marshal, he clenched his fist, finding the courage to join them in aid.
"He's right, Gwendoline... We need to help them."
"Yeah, and I think I know how!"
While Abaguo took Marshal's blows with confidence, Gwendoline approached him with clenched fists and a determined smile.
Yanis and Rogue are right! Why am I only acting now? I have a powerful spell, I should use it...
Gwendoline took a deep breath, filling her lungs. Memories of her past life on Trillia juxtaposed with those from Earth flashed in her mind.
In my past life, I was worthless... I was as insignificant as I was useless... But now with powers, friends, a new world, mentors, and a mission, I feel alive again!
With renewed determination, Gwendoline reached out to Abaguo, who was enduring Marshal's blade. A relieved smile spread across her face.
Dad... Mom... Look at me! I've changed! I'm no longer the crybaby that darkened the room with melancholy, but the Gwendoline who aids and inspires others!
[Superior Magic: New Origin]
Looking up, everyone was taken aback to see another universe materializing in the sky. The universe sped towards Abaguo, shrinking before their eyes.
"What's this?!" he exclaimed.
As he voiced those last words, the universe entered Abaguo's body, and he glared at Gwendoline, his eyes filled with undeniable fury.
"And now, die, Abaguo!"
Gwendoline closed her hand with a sound that tore through space, vanishing Abaguo into oblivion. The silence, which had been shattered during their confrontation with Abaguo, once again enveloped the village district. Up until now, Gwendoline had struggled to assert herself, but she had successfully announced her presence and worth to others. Behind her, all eyes were on her, shocked at the sheer magnitude of her destructive power.
"It's beyond magic at this point..." Yanis quipped.
"So... is it over?" sighed Rogue.
"I was about to call in the other angelic humans to help us..." Marshal revealed.
"Your magic is incredibly powerful..." Alora remarked, "I wonder what kind of entity possesses such strength."
Jacob, rousing from unconsciousness and witnessing the battle's end, staggered over to Gwendoline. Drained from a significant loss of mana, he approached her with a proud smile, having observed his friend's growth. Placing a hand on her shoulder from behind, he said, "Well done... Gwendoline... You've become someone new. You should be proud."
"Thank you... I couldn't have done it without you all," she replied.
Meanwhile, Marshal collapsed to the ground, relieved yet exhausted from his battle with the transcendent archdemon. I can't believe what just happened in thirty minutes... But Garnal, you've been avenged... Rest in peace now... With his eyes fixed on the starry sky, tears streamed down Marshal's face, emotions of both sorrow and happiness evident.
Yet, as monumental as the night was in the annals of Trillia, Abaguo had managed to shatter the divine laws: demons and archdemons could now genuinely transcend their plane of existence.
"GWENDOLINE, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Alora shouted.
Suddenly, Gwendoline was violently thrust aside by Alora, narrowly escaping a lethal blow from Abaguo.
"ALORA!" she cried out.
Alora's head was cleanly severed by a horrifying blade, a grotesque fusion of Abaguo's right arm and some shadowy organic matter. The demonic-looking blade was a mesmerizing vortex of demonic mana, melded with both flesh and bone textures. It was a chilling sight.
Gwendoline, until that moment victorious and beaming, was now struck by the gruesome spectacle before her. Her face went from joy to utter shock and sadness, reflecting the weight of the emotion she felt.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO STOP ME, GIRL?"
Gwendoline remained still, paralyzed by the tragic and sudden loss of Alora. Her eyes mirrored the harrowing image of Alora's decapitation, blood streaming from the severed neck.
"I'M GOING TO SLICE EACH ONE OF YOU OPEN, STARTING WITH YOU, BRUNETTE!
"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Yanis's outburst, heavy with deep-rooted fury, echoed throughout the neighborhood like a primal roar of rage. His body moved with an untamable anger, and his swift, sharp actions spoke of the fervor burning inside him. He flung himself into the fight, clutching at violence with a bewildering intensity. His punches and kicks, akin to blazing streaks of fire, hit Abaguo's body with wild force, reminiscent of a tempest's wrath. All Abaguo did was absorb the blows, as Yanis's bestial rage made his martial sequences sharp and swift.
"YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR! YOU DAMNED DEMON! YOU'RE DEAD!"
"SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
Abaguo's organic sword, now where his arm once was, sliced through Yanis's legs, sending him crashing into the nearby ruined houses, and allowing him to close in on Gwendoline. As he relentlessly advanced, coding sequences trapped his feet. With a fierce glance, he looked over at Rogue, whose face bore a tense, fearful expression.
[Demonic Magic: Endless Flame]
The hand he extended became a conduit for a devastating spell aimed at Rogue. Red circles coiled around Rogue's face, relentlessly burning every inch of his skin, causing overwhelming, continuous pain. The glowing flames seemed to dance with unparalleled cruelty, instilling a depth of pain that was beyond understanding. They twirled around with hellish fervor, consuming both his skin and senses in an indescribable vortex of torment.
Rogue fell to the ground, caught in unyielding agony. He writhed, trapped under the flames' merciless grasp, panic consuming him like a dark curse. The contours of his tormented face mirrored the horror of the malevolent spell.
"ROGUE!" cried out Marshal.
"IT BURNS, HELP ME, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" screamed Rogue.
Rogue's hold on Abaguo loosened, letting him continue towards Gwendoline. Marshal was now the last one standing – Jacob was semi-conscious due to overusing his mana; Yanis was incapacitated; Alora was gone; and Rogue was tormented until the spell wore off.
With a surge of hope and vengeance, Marshal lunged at Abaguo, his body radiating with angelic energy so much that it formed an aura around him.
"ABAGUO!"
"BACK OFF, MARSHAL! I'LL DEAL WITH YOU LATER!"
With a mere wave of his hand, Abaguo unleashed demonic mana on Marshal in mid-air, sending him out of the fight's boundary. Now, Abaguo was face-to-face with Gwendoline, poised to end her. Just then, Igdifir materialized in a condensed pixel form, shielding Gwendoline from the impending doom.
"Igdifir, I'll give my life if I have to. Just protect my friends... Especially Gwendoline. She doesn't deserve to die again..."
With that heartfelt plea for his friend Gwendoline, Jacob slipped into unconsciousness again, teetering between life and death.
"Of course, master!" he asserted.
Without hesitation, Igdifir pierced Abaguo with his arm.
"Do you really think that can kill me?!"
"I'll do everything to stop you from harming Gwendoline Bourcier."
"Well, it's in vain!"
In a blinding flash, Abaguo severed Igdifir's head with a swift and mighty gesture, moving faster than light, much like he did with Alora. Igdifir's body disintegrated instantly, turning into a fine golden dust that swirled beautifully before coalescing into a mesmerizing display. This mysterious essence then morphed into a breathtaking sphere that enveloped Gwendoline with a protective aura. Its strength seemed impenetrable. This shield, impervious to any intrusion, was perfectly crafted to deflect the mightiest of strikes and ensure Gwendoline's safety against any threat that dared to approach.
"What?!"
As soon as Abaguo found himself confronting the shimmering shield surrounding Gwendoline, he set to work attempting to shatter it by any means. He began by unleashing torrents of demonic mana, trying to overwhelm the barrier with his dark, destructive magical power. However, no matter how intense his assaults were, the barrier remained steadfast, repelling the demonic mana like waves crashing against solid rock.
Undeterred, Abaguo turned to a more intricate and insidious form of demonic magic, seeking to corrupt and weaken the shield from within. Bolts of black magic swirled around the barrier, but they were powerless against the immaculate defense that stood before him.
Determined to push the shield's resistance to its limits, Abaguo demonstrated his raw power. He hammered at the barrier with his hands, releasing devastating energy with each strike. The air vibrated from the impact, yet the shield remained untouched.
Impressed and frustrated by the barrier's invulnerability, Abaguo realized he was up against an immeasurable power. He stepped back, assessing the situation carefully, realizing he would need to revise his strategy to overcome the enigmatic defense protecting Gwendoline. Then, an idea struck him when he caught sight of Rogue.
"Don't want to come out? Fine then!"
Blinded by rage, he approached Rogue, still engulfed by the flames of his spell. He grabbed Rogue violently by the hair and lifted him, forcing Gwendoline to witness the scene.
"Gwendoline! You have five seconds to come out! Or I'll make this kid suffer in the worst possible way!"
Frozen by Abaguo's unmatched violence and brutality, Gwendoline couldn't fathom the situation deteriorating this much. She had done everything to protect her loved ones.
"Gwendoline, no, don't come out!" Rogue shouted hopefully. "You're the only one who can defeat him! Let me die! I am nothing! Gwendoline, it shouldn't have been you who was to die that night, it should have been me!"
Tears of despair streamed down his burning face. Rogue and Gwendoline locked eyes as if it might be their last shared glance. One of them would have to die for the other...
Rogue, how can you say that? No one deserves to die tonight. Through you, I realized how cruel life can be. Yanis lost his love, Jacob blames himself for the despair of others, and Alora has endured terrible things.
Breaking from her protective barrier, tears streaming from her eyes, Gwendoline dashed toward him, resolved to sacrifice herself for his safety.
Rogue, you and I are the same. Only you didn't take that step that night...
As her hands reached out desperately toward Rogue, Abaguo readied his sword, preparing to end her life swiftly.
Both of us closed our eyes to life's challenges. Tonight, I finally understand that you too need a second chance.
The sharp sound of his blade revealed Gwendoline's severed head, falling to the ground. Abaguo had decapitated her. Rogue, left to witness the horrifying scene, released a cry of sorrow that echoed for miles.
"GWENDOLINE!"
Suddenly, Abaguo's organic blade reverted to its original form, resembling a simple human arm. But, despite its harmless look, that arm sealed Gwendoline's tragic fate. As if that wasn't enough, Abaguo chose to obliterate her body using a devastating veil of his demonic mana, vaporizing her like a star trapped by a gamma ray.
Rogue, make sure my death opens your eyes, just as Alora's and Garnal's deaths opened mine.