I could barely stand.
Pain roared through my body—ribs cracked, shoulder dislocated, chest torn open.Blood dripped from my wounds, pooling beneath me as my vision blurred.
Elias Vermillion, now in his true demonic form, loomed over me. His jagged grin stretched wide, sharp fangs glistening with malice.
"You fought well, Samuel," he said, mocking admiration in his tone. "But this is the end."
He lunged.
I exhaled. "Not yet."
At the last second, I sidestepped, ignoring the fire in my muscles. His claws slashed the air where I had stood, missing by inches.
Using the opening, I drove my knee into his gut—full force.
BAM!
His body lurched, but he barely flinched.
Instead, his clawed hand lashed out, piercing through my left side.
SHRRIP!
A sharp, unbearable agony exploded in my ribs as his claws tore through flesh and muscle.
I coughed up blood, staggering.
"Still standing?" he mused, his voice dripping amusement."Impressive. But pointless."
I smirked, even as pain burned through me like wildfire.
"Then let me make my last move count."
With a sharp twist**, I locked his arm in place, trapping him with his own attack.
His eyes widened.
"What—"
Before he could react—
I summoned every last ounce of strength I had left.
My right hand shot up, grabbing the back of his horned skull.
Then, with everything I had—
I slammed his head down onto my rising knee.
CRACK!
His skull caved in.
His body jerked violently, his claws finally retracting from my side.
I didn't let him recover.
I whirled behind him, ignoring the blood spilling from my wounds.
With one last push, I summoned the Gauntlets of Phantom, their dark steel wrapping around my fists in an instant.
Then, I drove both fists into his back.
BAM! BAM!
The force sent him flying across the destroyed ballroom.
He crashed through pillars, walls, and finally—
—straight out the window.
Glass shattered, and he plummeted stories down into the streets below.
I staggered, my entire body screaming in agony.
Blood poured freely from my wounds, soaking my clothes.
I barely had the strength to move.
Through hazy vision, I limped toward the shattered window, looking down.
Far below, in the wreckage, Elias lay motionless.
His body twitched once.
Then, with a final exhale, the last remnants of his demonic form dissolved into black mist.
He was dead.
I chuckled weakly, leaning against the wall for support.
"Guess I win."
Then, without warning—
Everything went black.
And I collapsed.