บท 65: loneliness part 2
Zadkiel stood over the lifeless body of the angel, a necromancer whose power had vanished before his arrival. The air around him felt charged, but not with the presence of the living; rather, it was thick with death and decay. He frowned, scanning the surroundings for any sign of the angel's killer.
Before he could process the situation, a dark figure emerged from the shadows. The demon was strikingly grotesque, its dark purple skin glistening under the dim light, and its black and red eyes seemed to glimmer with malevolence. With a crossbow slung over its shoulder and an axe in hand, it was a menacing sight.
The demon raised its weapon, a cruel smile forming on its lips. Without warning, it fired a spear made of dark, pulsating energy, the blood magic swirling ominously around it. The spear pierced through Zadkiel's skull, a violent shock coursing through him.
**Demon:** "Ha! Another one bites the dust!"
The demon laughed, reveling in the illusion of victory. But as it approached, the laughter faded, replaced by a look of shock. Zadkiel, unfazed by the attack, slowly pulled the spear from his skull, the wound closing as if it had never been there. His expression remained cold, almost bored, as he stared down the demon.
**Zadkiel:** "You'll regret that."
The words came out in a low, disinterested tone, but the threat behind them was palpable. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the spear aside, the sound of metal clattering against the ground echoing through the alley. The demon's bravado faltered, but it quickly regained its composure, aiming its crossbow at Zadkiel once more.
**Demon:** "I'll make you pay for that, freak!"
Zadkiel summoned a massive greatsword, its blade glinting ominously under the dim alleyway lights. The demon, undeterred, charged forward with feral rage, swinging its axe in a deadly arc. The two combatants clashed, metal ringing out as their weapons collided, sending shockwaves through the air.
**Zadkiel** swung his sword with precision, aiming for the demon's neck. The blade bit deep, severing flesh and muscle. But before the demon could react, it swiftly retaliated, swinging its axe down towards Zadkiel's shoulder. The weapon connected, cleaving into his flesh, but the wound began to heal almost immediately.
The two warriors were locked in a deadly dance, each one equally matched in skill and regeneration. With a fierce kick, Zadkiel sent the demon stumbling back. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward, driving his sword through the demon's abdomen. The blade pierced through its body, but the demon merely grinned, pulling the sword deeper as it twisted and slammed its fist into Zadkiel's face.
Zadkiel felt his nose break, but before he could recover, the demon ripped the sword from its own body and swung it with surprising speed. The blade connected, slicing off Zadkiel's left arm at the elbow. Blood sprayed across the alleyway, but even as the limb fell, he felt the familiar tingle of regeneration begin to knit the flesh back together.
**Zadkiel:** "You'll have to do better than that."
With a flick of his wrist, he sent his newly formed arm back into action, the greatsword now wielded with both hands. He charged again, this time feinting left before swinging right, catching the demon off-guard. The blade connected with its leg, severing it completely. The demon stumbled but instantly began to regenerate, growing a new limb as they continued to fight.
Both of them were drenched in blood, the alleyway transformed into a gruesome battlefield. The two warriors were locked in a brutal exchange, stabbing each other in the head, twisting their weapons to inflict maximum pain. Each wound was met with the sickening sound of bones crunching as they fought through their injuries, refusing to relent.
The demon managed to land a blow, stabbing its axe into Zadkiel's side. The blade dug deep, but once again, the wound began to close before their eyes. In retaliation, Zadkiel delivered a powerful upward slash, cleaving the demon's arm from its shoulder. It howled in fury, but the agony quickly faded as new tissue formed.
**Demon:** "You're tougher than I expected, but it won't last forever!"
Zadkiel gritted his teeth, his expression hardening. He felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the thrill of battle igniting a fire within him.
**Zadkiel:** "Neither will you."
He pressed the attack, spinning and thrusting his sword with deadly intent. Their limbs flew as they exchanged brutal blows, each cut, stab, and twist only fueling their determination to survive. The alleyway became a chaotic scene of violence, with both combatants utterly unwilling to yield.
Blood pooled beneath them, and the stench of iron filled the air as they continued their vicious duel, the outcome uncertain as each fought not just for victory, but for survival.
Zadkiel was completely restrained, the cold steel biting into his skin as he lay helplessly on the ground, the demon looming over him with a sinister grin. The demon raised its axe, poised to deliver the final blow.
**Demon:** "Such power wasted... Wasted on a fool."
The demon's eyes gleamed with malice as it leaned closer, savoring the moment.
**Demon:** "Say good night, now... You disgusting freak."
Just as the axe came down, a sharp twang echoed through the alley. The demon's hand jerked violently as an arrow embedded itself deep into its flesh, sending the axe clattering to the ground.
Victoria stepped into view, her red hair catching the dim light as she notched another arrow into her crossbow and took aim. Without hesitation, she fired again, this time striking the demon squarely in the head. The creature stumbled back, momentarily dazed, but before it could even begin to regenerate, Victoria moved swiftly, launching herself at the demon.
With expert precision, she restrained the demon, binding its limbs with enchanted chains that suppressed its regenerative abilities. The demon struggled, its snarls echoing in the alley, but it was no match for Victoria's fierce determination.
**Victoria:** "Not today."
Zadkiel, still recovering from the shock of being rescued, looked up at Victoria, a mix of gratitude and surprise in his eyes. The tension in the alley dissipated as Victoria stood over the defeated demon, ensuring it could no longer pose a threat.
Twenty minutes later, the alleyway lay shrouded in darkness, the only sounds the faint crackle of smoke and the occasional rustle of the restrained demon. Victoria stood against the wall, casually leaning back while drawing in a drag from her cigarette. Zadkiel sat on the floor, his demeanor cold and emotionless as always, his expression void of any warmth.
**Victoria:** "So... Who's talking first?"
Zadkiel remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, but after a moment, he finally broke his silence.
**Zadkiel:** "What are you going to do with him?"
**Victoria:** "Prime demon matters are usually dealt with by the council. They'll be taking him in for... interrogation."
She took another drag from her cigarette, the smoke curling up into the air.
**Victoria:** "You know—I seriously don't understand you, Zadkiel. All this time, what did you even want?"
Zadkiel paused, reflecting on her question before responding.
**Zadkiel:** "I... used to have a life a long time ago. But that life and everything that was considered precious... died. Torn away by devils in human skin."
His voice was low, laced with a quiet bitterness.
**Zadkiel:** "I made a promise to myself... to kill them all and rid this world of despair forever. But even after all of my hatred... did I even change anything?"
Victoria shifted her position, sitting down next to him, her expression softening as she listened intently.
**Victoria:** "A monster took away my family, not some beast with teeth and claws though," she said, pointing at the prime demon restrained nearby. "Just a scumbag like him."
She took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting a mix of pain and determination.
**Victoria:** "Evil and anguish... it'll always be a part of this world and our lives. But you have to move on from it before it eats us up whole. That's when you make a difference."
Zadkiel turned to her, his expression still stoic but his gaze slightly more contemplative.
**Victoria:** "But promise me you never forget that."
The air in the alleyway grew tense as Victoria's passionate words echoed in the dim light. She stood, frustration evident in her posture, while Zadkiel remained seated on the ground, his cold demeanor contrasting sharply with her fervor.
**Victoria:** "Instead of you being a mercenary for the Star Council, you should join as a member."
**Zadkiel:** "Why should I join?"
**Victoria:** "Let me ask you a question... If it were possible for everything to have a fresh clean start?"
**Zadkiel:** "What do you mean by that?"
**Victoria:** "Genocide on all worlds... Just imagine it. Peace and quiet forests, undisturbed lands full of beautiful nature."
She leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with a mix of hope and intensity.
**Victoria:** "When all life ceases to exist, new life will be reborn. But we would teach them the right way, program their minds so violent and negative thoughts don't even exist."
Zadkiel stood up, his indifference apparent as he turned his back on her.
**Victoria:** "God damn it! All you ever do is run away! You think you're strong, but you're weak."
He stopped, her words striking a nerve, but he remained silent, a stoic expression masking his internal turmoil.
**Victoria:** "Listen, the only thing we have in common is a second chance."
She took a deep breath, trying to convey her sincerity.
**Victoria:** "Look, don't try to read anything else into it, okay? Unlike you, I embrace the life that was given to me. If I throw it away and reject who I am, then they win."
Victoria's voice softened, but the determination was still there.
**Victoria:** "I intend to live my life, make my life mean something. Trust me, there's no revenge in the world sweeter than that... Look at yourself. You've been a victim all your life."
Zadkiel's expression darkened, the memories of his past flashing through his mind like a haunting specter.
**Victoria:** "And how do you get your revenge? By becoming your own victim. If you kill yourself doing the same thing you've always done, you'll be doing exactly what they want."
She stepped closer, her voice rising in urgency.
**Victoria:** "Stand up, be strong, and keep moving forward—regardless of how gruesome, regardless of the bloodshed, regardless of how much death and destruction you'll have to do to carve your own path."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of conviction.
**Victoria:** "So I ask you again, will you join the Star Council so we can achieve our goal of creating a beautiful world?"
Zadkiel turned to face her, his expression inscrutable as he weighed her words, the flicker of a decision flickering behind his cold gaze.
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