"How are you still alive, Satan?"
Those were the words Princess Mariana uttered as she fell on her knees in the greatest depth of hell.
Her obsidian-dark armor was torn. The purple cape on her back was shredded. The silver crown on her head was chipped. Her broken shield and sword were strewn beside her.
While gasping for air, the raven-haired lady gathered the little bit of strength she had remaining to speak some more. Words of utmost importance to her.
"The Descendant's Heel was complete… You're supposed to be dead after my final strike… So why... for the love of Einsof.... WHY ARE YOU STILL STANDING?"
The Princess's words echoed to all corners of hell. But she could not care less where else they went as she only wanted those words to be heard by the being in front of her.
A creature with human-like appearance but adorned with six beautiful wings on its back. The creature's handsome-yet-sinister face and its beautiful-yet-desecrated wings shown that this being was once a divine creation but had fallen from its grace.
The creature looked at the Princess and smiled as if it was staring at a child.
"You poor Chosen One of Einsof. So courageous and loving. A true champion of God's creations. Since the beginning of my existence, never have I seen a creation as great as you...other than myself, of course."
The beautiful being then walked to the Princess and held her chin, knowing very well she was helpless to deny the condescending gesture.
"All those battles you won against me... Those victories you claimed during our rivalry... Everything you have accomplished for the sake of the world of Bara that Einsof loves made me almost feel sorry for you… FOR I KNEW FROM BEGINNING THAT ALL THOSE ENDEAVORS WERE ALL IN VAIN!"
Princess Mariana's eyes widened. Angered by the creature's mockery.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MORNING STAR?!"
The creature's chuckled at the Princess's reaction.
"Your Descendant's Heel magic which was designed to kill me was actually not complete, Princess. The magic you painstakingly created and brought to my domain could never kill me."
"Nonsense! We've gathered all six magic fragments necessary for the Descendant's Heel formation. How could it not be complete?"
"Because you didn't acquire the last fragment. Correction, it's actually the first fragment which serves as the foundation of the Descendant's Heel magic."
The Princess gasped in disbelief at the winged-creature's words.
"There's a 7th Fragment? But no scriptures made a mention of its existence!"
"Well that's because I got rid of the 7th Fragment from the memories of all creations. I also influenced the ways of the world so that nobody would ever discover it."
There was a short pause before the Princess gave her reply. Her squinting cloudy gaze indicated how dumbfounded she found herself be.
"When did you do all that, Satan? Taking the 7th Fragment away from our reach?"
"I wiped the knowledge of the 7th Fragment from the memory of all creations many hundreds of years in the past, back when the world was still young. But I only managed to completely prevent its discovery just recently. Around 30 years ago."
Princess Mariana gasped when she heard '30 year ago.' She looked up in disbelief to Satan.
The fallen creature grinned so widely to the Princess's shocked reaction.
"That's right, Princess. By the time you were born, 15 years before you decided to raise your sword to defeat me, the 7th Fragment was already lost."
Satan then put his hand on the lady's head. An act of authority from Satan as one who emerged on top in this rivalry.
"My victory and your defeat was already sealed the moment you were born, Princess. Hence, when you decided to fight me and swore to kill me, you were only pledging yourself to a vain endeavor…. And that is why, I almost felt pity for you."
Fueled by fury, the Princess propelled her body towards Satan, making a desperate attempt to defy her great enemy one last time.
Unfortunately, the winged-creature stepped back to evade the lame assault and caused the Princess to fall completely to the ground.
As she was lying on the ground, the Princess desperately tilted her head up towards the smiling being who's staring at her with much amusement and satisfaction.
"Don't think this is over, Satan!" grunted the Princess as she glared the devil.
Satan laughed, "On the contrary, Your Highness! This is the end for you and a great beginning for me!"
The Princess chuckled at Satan's words.
"Hah! 'A Great Beginning.' You used a dirty trick to get rid of the 7th Fragment. Just like you always did in our rivalry!"
"'Dirty trick?' I'd rather say that I used everything in my disposal very effectively."
"Word it all you want. The fact that you interfered with the formation of the Descendant's Heel means that you were worried about God Einsof's Covenant."
The cheeriness in Satan's face faded in an instant. This invited another taunt by the Princess.
"Why, Morning Star? You're afraid His covenant will be fulfilled if you let things happened as declared in His promise recorded in the Holy Scriptures?"
Satan grabbed the Princess by the collar and flew up with its wings. The woman hanged on to the winged-creature by the devil's grasp.
"I'm NOT afraid of His words. Even if events leading up to the Age of Revelation were to happen as stated by the scriptures, I guarantee you, it would still be I who emerge victorious, Princess!"
Princess Mariana grinned, she thought of another taunt.
"A shame that we won't be able to prove that claim of yours, since at this point the dies have been casted and every moves have been played. If only we could start over…"
Satan nodded, "Indeed. If only we could start over. But that's not the reality we're living in, Princess."
Mariana leaned her head closer to Satan's ear and whispered.
"It really is a shame, Morning Star. After all, despite your cowardly interference, the world managed to survive your terror this long and this humble Chosen One of Einsof was able to break into your very dwelling and pointed her sword at your throat. Imagine how our rivalry would turn out if you had let everything ran its proper course."
After hearing her whisper, Satan chuckled. That chuckle turned into a giggle. That giggle then turned into a roar of laughter that echoed throughout hell and the world above.
"Did you also find that conjecture amusing, Lucifer?"
"Very... Very amusing, Princess..." Satan sighed and looked into the distance. "Oh I can't believe it.... I can't believe He won that bet..."
Mariana frowned upon what Satan said just now, "(A bet? What could this devil be talking about?)"
"Well, never mind! He can enjoy the win this time.... But no matter what He planned to throw at me next, I will still come out victorious in the end."
Princess Mariana could not understand the meaning behind Satan's recent words.
But before the Princess could question the devil, the demonic existence threw the Princess in the air and flew a spear made of the feather of his wings at her.
"So long, O Chosen One…"
Satan's attack pierced Princess Mariana's heart. She felt life draining away from her.
Her vision started to fade. Her other senses followed suit.
But before everything was lost, albeit vaguely, Mariana was able to hear what Satan spoke next.
"...till we meet again in our renewed rivalry."
As she was dying, Princess Mariana witnessed a bright light enveloped her body.