Kurosawa's first thought was one of surprise. The figure standing before her was neither human nor demon. Its clothing was human, but its body—dark as the night, with armor covering its torso and face—was something else entirely. As she grasped the gravity of the situation, she took a defensive stance, fists clenched and arms extended parallel to her body.
Ren, however, seemed more hesitant to regard the figure as an enemy. He was more confused than afraid.
"Perfect... two mage brats blocking my way. Damn it, if I don't get there soon..." Nako thought.
"Listen, kids, I've got more pressing matters to attend to, so if you let me pass, I won't kill you," Nako spoke with a barely restrained urgency. "But hurry, because my offer won't last long."
"It can talk? Then what the hell is it? It's neither demon nor human," Kurosawa questioned mentally.
Kurosawa held her defensive position, analyzing the figure before them. She knew they couldn't afford to let their guard down, especially with the battle raging around them.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Kurosawa demanded firmly, not lowering her fists.
Before Nako could respond, an explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the RailXen and causing all three to momentarily lose their balance. Nako seized the distraction, using his ability "Mina: Step" to slide forward in an attempt to evade the young mages.
Kurosawa reacted instantly, casting "Nami: Shield" to halt his advance. A wall of bright energy appeared before Nako, forcing him to stop.
"We won't let you pass without a good reason," Kurosawa said determinedly. "What are you planning?"
Nako gritted his teeth, aware that every second counted. He could feel the presence of the Demon Lord and his brother Vulture in danger. He had no time for games.
"You asked for this," he said, raising his hand vertically. "Dako: Slash."
A blade of magic shot from his hand toward them. Kurosawa dodged it, while Ren had to leap backward to avoid the cut. The RailXen was slightly damaged, and the recruits realized they were in the midst of a serious fight.
Regaining his composure, Ren shouted "Zako: Bird" summoning a nearly life-sized winged creature. It soared into the air, surveying the battlefield.
"An invoker, but it looks like a weak creature, more for reconnaissance than combat. The boy won't attack yet, but she…" Nako weighed his options.
Kurosawa hesitated momentarily. To her, intervening in a conflict to aid the alliance felt... repulsive. However, her role in the Magika Military would eventually compel her to fight. Steeling herself, she whispered "Yuha: Shadows" (placing both palms together and spreading her fingers). Two elongated, terrifying creatures emerged from her silhouette and stood beside her. That was her power.
Nako quickly assessed the situation, recognizing he was outnumbered, though his experience gave him an edge over the two young recruits. Time was pressing, and he couldn't afford a prolonged battle. Despite being the weakest of the Archdemons, the recruits were not particularly powerful or capable either. This fight would be decided by skill and cunning.
"I don't have time to play with you," he said, his deep voice resonating. He made a gesture with his hand, and a dark shadow began to envelop him.
Ren and Kurosawa braced for the next attack. Ren's creature, Zako, circled above, while Kurosawa's shadows moved restlessly around her, ready to strike.
But Nako had already anticipated their move. With a swift "Mina: Step" he disappeared from his position and reappeared behind Ren, who barely had time to turn before a blast of dark energy hurled him against the RailXen's ceiling. Kurosawa responded immediately, sending her shadows to attack Nako, but he moved with supernatural agility, dodging their strikes effortlessly.
"He's fast, very fast maybe," Kurosawa thought as she directed her shadows.
Nako raised a barrier of dark energy to block Kurosawa's attacks. Meanwhile, Zako seized the opportunity to dive at him from above, claws digging into his shoulder. Nako cried out in pain but managed to shake off the winged creature with a rough motion.
Realizing the need to change tactics, Nako thought, "If she controls shadows, I'll control the light." With a fluid motion, he extended his arms, and a blinding light emanated from his palms.
"Lumina: Expel!" he shouted, and the light intensified, filling the space and dispelling Kurosawa's shadows.
Kurosawa squinted against the sudden brightness, trying to adapt. The light had not only dispelled her shadows but also revealed Nako's true form. His dark skin now glowed with a bluish hue, and his eyes shone with an inner light.
Then Nako jumped off the carriage, using the inertia to position himself farther back to keep both of them in sight. He used Lumina again to keep them at bay while thinking of a way to escape.
"If we keep this up, he'll just learn more about our moves and find a way to counter them," Kurosawa said, looking at the now fatigued Ren.
"But how? I don't know any other useful invocations…"
"I have a plan. Do as I say," she said, taking her stance to cast "Fuha: Shadows" again.
Nako saw the movement and instantly knew she would attack from below, seeing the shadows move at his feet. Just as he prepared to use Lumina again, Ren's bird shot toward him. The bird seemed to plan a frontal attack, and Nako readied Dako. However, the invocation stopped short in front of him, confusing him. The bird turned and spread its wings wide, blocking Nako's view. He saw this as a distraction but soon realized the real trick. The bird's shadow blocked Lumina's light, preventing it from dispelling Kurosawa's shadows, allowing them to attack Nako fully.
Kurosawa's shadows moved swiftly and precisely, taking advantage of the shield the winged creature had created. The shadows emerged from the ground, elongating and wrapping around Nako before he could react. In an instant, they entwined around his legs and arms, immobilizing him.
Nako struggled, trying to free himself, but the shadows held with unyielding strength. Seeing her plan succeed, Kurosawa advanced cautiously, keeping her hands extended to maintain control over the shadows.
"Ren, keep Zako in position," she ordered, not taking her eyes off Nako.
Ren nodded, exhausted, and focused his energy on maintaining the bird's position, ensuring Lumina's light couldn't dispel Kurosawa's shadows.
"Now, you'll talk," Kurosawa said firmly, approaching Nako. "What are you planning? Why are you here?"
Nako, despite his predicament, let out a bitter laugh.
"Do you really think you can hold me like this?" he snapped, though the tension in his voice was evident. "You have no idea what you're facing."
Before Kurosawa could respond, a deep vibration coursed through the ground, followed by a series of distant explosions. The RailXen shook violently, causing all three to stagger. Nako took advantage of the distraction, concentrating all his energy in a final, desperate attempt.
"Mina!" he shouted while making a hand symbol, and an explosion of dark energy erupted from his body, breaking the shadows that held him.
Kurosawa was thrown back by the blast, hitting the ground hard. Ren fell to his knees, exhausted and dazed. Nako, freed but weakened, rose with difficulty, his eyes shining with fierce determination. Above them, energy blasts erupted as Kayn's battle with the Demon Lord intensified alarmingly. With no apparent distraction, Kayn could now fight with full force.
The battle between Kayn and the Demon Lord was escalating. Powerful beams of energy streaked across the sky, lighting it up with brilliant flashes. Kayn maneuvered skillfully, using his speed and reflexes to avoid the colossal Demon Lord's attacks. Luck was on his side, as he understood the Demon Lord was not as powerful as he could be in his own realm. This was due to the planet's and galaxy's different conditions. Thus, Kayn could fight in a way that wouldn't destroy the planet.
In a fluid motion, Kayn invoked a rain of magical projectiles aimed at his opponent with "Dante: Barrages." The Demon Lord responded with a thunderous roar, raising a wall of rock from the ground to deflect the projectiles with "Vako: Colossus." Rocks and debris flew in all directions as the projectiles struck.
Not losing momentum, Kayn channeled his power into a brilliant sphere of concentrated energy with "Toka: Deception" (raising his ring finger and curling it). He hurled the sphere with all his might toward the Demon Lord, who intercepted it with his massive hand. However, the force of the attack destabilized the Demon Lord, making him stagger.
Kayn seized the moment of weakness to launch himself into the attack, materializing an energy sword in his hand with "Light: Blade." He surged forward with a burst of speed, swinging the sword in a deadly arc. The Demon Lord recovered just in time to block the blow with his forearm, but the impact resonated with a thunderous boom that shook the ground.
The two titans clashed in a fierce exchange of blows, with Kayn dancing around the Demon Lord, seeking any opening in his defense. Each impact of Kayn's sword sent shockwaves through the air, causing the nearby RailXen carriages to tremble.
In a moment, the Demon Lord managed to land a devastating punch against Kayn, sending him flying backwards. Kayn crashed into one of the carriages, cracking the metal with the force of the impact. But he didn't give up, leaping to his feet and regrouping to continue the battle.
Kurosawa and Ren watched with concern as the intense battle unfolded above them. Nako, though weakened, didn't waste any time and took advantage of the distraction to attempt an escape.
"I can't waste any more time with you," he growled, preparing to use his ability "Mina: Step" again.
However, Kurosawa reacted quickly, extending her hand towards him. "Yuha!" she shouted, and a dark chain shot from her palm, wrapping around Nako's ankle.
Nako staggered, unable to teleport while bound. He glared at Kurosawa with fury in his glowing eyes. "Let me go right now!"
Kurosawa shook her head, maintaining her focus. "We can't let you interfere"
At that moment, Vulture appeared beside them, sensing his brother in danger. Seeing Nako trapped, his face darkened with rage. "Get away from my brother, insect!" he roared, raising a hand charged with dark energy.
Before he could attack, however, a blinding ray of light struck him full in the chest. Vulture screamed in pain as Kayn's sacred energy pierced him, disintegrating his physical form.
Nako watched in horror as his brother vanished into nothingness. "No!" he cried, desperately trying to free himself from Kurosawa's chains.
But it was too late. Kayn landed in front of them, his light sword glowing intensely. The Demon Lord, weakened by the fierce battle, tried to counterattack, but Kayn was quicker and delivered a crushing elbow strike to his face, sending him flying.
"It's too dangerous for you to be here! Both of you, get out!" Kayn shouted upon seeing Kurosawa and Ren's presence.
With Vulture's disappearance, Nako felt vengeance take root within him. "I swear I'll make everyone responsible pay," and with superhuman effort, he broke the dark chains binding him. In a flash of black light, he used "Mina: Step" and disappeared into the darkness of space, leaving only the echo of his vow behind.
The Demon Lord, though weakened, remained a formidable threat. Kayn knew that if the young recruits stayed on the battlefield, they would be in mortal danger.
"You have to leave now!" Kayn ordered. "I'll handle the Demon Lord."
Kurosawa and Ren exchanged looks, hesitant. As recruits, they had been trained to fight against such threats, but the magnitude of the Demon Lord's power was overwhelming.
"But... we can help," Ren insisted, clutching his hero's arm.
Kayn shook his head, his expression serious. "No, this battle is beyond your current capabilities. If you stay here, you'll only get yourselves killed."
At that moment, the Demon Lord recovered and let out an ear-splitting roar, shaking the surroundings with his power. Kayn turned to face him, raising his light sword in a defensive stance.
"Go now!" he shouted over the din. "That's an order!"
Kurosawa obeyed immediately, grabbing Ren by the shoulder. The young man clenched his fists, fighting against his desire to help. But deep down, he knew Kayn was right. He nodded reluctantly and left with a few tears.
As the two young recruits hurried away from the battlefield, Kayn prepared for his final confrontation with the Demon Lord. He knew the odds were against him, but he was willing to make any sacrifice to protect others.
"Kayn, we have evacuated three-quarters of the city's population," a voice sounded in his earpiece, which he recognized as Nikael's.
"Good, it seems everything is in order then," Kayn replied, exhausted as he continued to dodge energy blasts.
With a heart-wrenching scream, the Demon Lord charged at Kayn, his light sword shining intensely. Kayn responded with a devastating attack, launching energy blasts that shook the earth.
"How's the situation? Do you need us to send reinforcements? Nana is on her way, hold on a bit longer and..." Nikael asked.
"No... that won't be necessary, tell her to stay away, I don't want anyone here," he replied, knowing his end was near. "Hey, one question."
"Go ahead."
"Was it the Military who leaked the planet's location?"
Nikael was silent for a few seconds before responding.
"I can't tell you anything about that, but we had nothing to do with it," he replied, and Kayn detected a hint of cynicism in his words.
"I see... can you tell..." Before finishing his sentence, the Demon Lord attacked again, destroying the carriage where Kayn was standing.
As Kurosawa and Ren watched from a distance, they noticed an aura of energy emanating from Kayn. It was an overwhelming power, a force they had never witnessed before.
Kayn had made an unbreakable decision. He knew he couldn't completely defeat the Demon Lord, but he could still seal him away from the planet, even at the cost of his own life. Kayn recalled every moment of his life, from childhood to the present, and realized that in the end, he regretted nothing. He had fought with valor and determination, and he was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.
He summoned one of the forbidden symbols into his hands, "Kala: Life" (joining his index and middle fingers while interlacing the others), and knew the end was near. Around him, the RailXen continued its relentless march, while the greenery of the distant trees painted a serene landscape, oblivious to the impending chaos. Before invoking the spell, he turned his head and flashed a radiant smile at Kurosawa and Ren.
"Welcome to the Magika Military."
Kurosawa, whose eyes had become mirrors of awe and confusion, gazed at the scene. Kayn's bravery, his willingness to embrace the abyss, made her question the truths she had accepted. "Is this the true face of the alliance? Or is Kayn the exception that defies our perception?" she wondered, as a revelation formed in her mind: "So that's what it means to die with a purpose."
The Demon Lord, in a frenzy of terror, unleashed his fury upon Kayn. But the light of the spell, like a mantle of stars, enveloped them. A burst of pure energy, like the birth of a new constellation, shook the battlefield.
And when the light dissipated, the Demon Lord was nothing more than an echo in a forgotten realm. Kayn lay on the ground, his spirit ascending to eternity, but his face was bathed in celestial serenity, a smile marking the end of the greatest.