Asmodeus's voice slithered through the air like smoke. "Such hubris! Just lay the sword down, mortal. You've fought well. But it ends here."
Elias took a deep breath, the sword steady in his grip, pointed directly at his foe. As he exhaled, the warmth of Manna flooded his senses. The air around him shimmered, golden sparks dancing like embers against the mist of Asmodeus's wintry magic.
The Devourer's grin twisted into a scowl. "What is this?"
Elias smiled faintly, his mind sharp and clear. "This?" He raised the sword slightly, the glow intensifying. "This is something you could never understand."
The hum of Manna swelled, and the ground beneath them shifted. Glowing trees sprouted around the edges of the arena, their branches reaching skyward. The scent of ancient forests filled the air, and the sky glittered as if covered in a cascade of golden leaves unfurling before them.
Elias stepped forward, Manna swirling around him like a cloak, the essence of a lost world brought back to life through one who belonged to another.
Asmodeus stumbled back, his perfect smile cracking. The golden light burned against his skin, the power of life itself rejecting his corrupted essence. For the first time, uncertainty flickered in his golden eyes.
"You brought death to Earth," Elias said, his voice calm and deliberate. "But I brought life."
Asmodeus snarled, his composure slipping. "You think this will save you?!" He lunged forward, his dark blade slicing the air with violent precision.
Elias moved to meet him, his body flowing effortlessly, every motion guided by Manna. This time, it felt natural—a dance, not a struggle.
Their blades collided again, but now Elias felt no fear. Only clarity. Serenity.
And serenity shattered the Devourer's blade.
Asmodeus growled in frustration, summoning another weapon as the fight surged across the arena, their swords flashing in bursts of gold and black. Each clash sent ripples through the air, the hum of Manna growing louder with every strike.
Asmodeus fought harder, his movements wild and desperate, but Elias was no longer following Kairo's path. This was his fight, and he would see it through.
Asmodeus's snarl rang out, his pride cracking like glass. "You cannot win!"
Elias stepped inside the Devourer's guard, and with a single, fluid motion—one perfected through countless trials—he mirrored Victor's final strike.
The blade arced through the air, and for the first time, Elias drew blood. Asmodeus staggered, his arm severed in a clean slice.
Golden sparks danced along the edge of Elias's sword, Manna's hum pulsing with quiet purpose. Asmodeus's composure shattered entirely, rage twisting his face.
"You brat!" the Devourer hissed, his voice sharp with fury. "This will not end as you hope."
Elias met his gaze, calm and steady. "No?" he said softly. "Then tell me, mighty Asmodeus—why are your legs shaking?"
Asmodeus lunged again, but this time, his movements were slower, uncertain. His pride had turned reckless, and now it was his downfall.
Elias parried smoothly, moving with the rhythm of the fight as if the arena itself guided him. He was no longer fighting like a butcher. He was fighting like a warrior.
The golden light of Astravell swirled around him, as if celebrating the birth of its new champion. And for the first time, fear flickered in Asmodeus's eyes.