After Azkavan summoned the Star of Destruction into his body, Fey worked to give him the strength of Devan, the agility of Ilia, and her augmentation.
“Draconic Bones, Conjure,” said Azkavan as he raised his black want, and lights descended from the sky. Even though it was clear as day, a black star appeared in the blue.
Dark clouds began to gather in a whirlpool around the battlefield as if signifying the impending doom that one side would suffer. Amelio stared at the sky with interest before looking back at the mage, whose eyes were staring at the fallen god.
“I never imagined a human would be able to wield the strength of astral beings, even though partially,” said Amelio with a smile. “This world is a lot different than the one we live in. Nevertheless, conquering this city was the right thing to do.”
“Are you sure that such a lax attitude wouldn’t kill you?” smiled Azkavan as the bluish liquid gathered atop his wand. “I am not like the two before me. I strike to kill.”
“All strikes are to kill. Those that aren’t to kill are not strikes. To make it clear, I have never struck since I arrived in this world. If I wanted you to die, then you would have died.”
“Those are big words for someone riddled with injuries earlier,” said Azkavan as he waved his wand in circles. The bluish liquid turned into a circle before it left the wand and floated between the two of them. “Strike if you do not want to die.”
Amelio did not answer and simply took a stance. This was different from the ones before it, as there was no pressure behind it nor a manifestation of heaven waves. However, those who met Amelio’s eyes felt their hearts bleed with fear.
“What is this…?” muttered Fey as her body shook. “This bloodlust cannot come from a human but a starving beast. Is this a man made from flesh and blood?”
A shadow appeared behind Amelio that made the four defenders have goosebumps. It towered over the battlefield, stripping the day of its light. Finally, nothing but darkness was left, and the pair of blood-red eyes stared at the four.
“This is…” a hoarse voice came from Amelio as his body moved, “a strike to kill,” said the fallen god as his stance changed at a speed they could not see.
Azkavan pushed his wand through the bluish circle, making it expand. Then, the Star of Destruction exploded from within the circle toward Amelio, whose fist was facing them.
Boom!
From within the circle roared the star of destruction as it destroyed everything in its path. The target was Amelio, whose fist did no damage to anything even after several seconds from his strike.
“Is that a fist to kill?” frowned Azkavan as his pillar of destruction bent like a dragon before diving toward Amelio. Finally, however, the Fallen God released his stance and resumed standing in the face of the dragon of destruction.
“A fist to kill does not need to achieve more than that,” said Amelio as he faced the dragon. “Now, I want to see how far my body can withstand before breaking.”
Amelio spread his arms to receive the dragon. Azkavan seemed disturbed that the fallen god mentioned the killing strike before hearing the voices coming from behind him.
“Azk!”
“Sir Azkavan!”
Ilia Perli stared at the scene with fear before turning toward Amelio, who received the attack with a smile and open arms. He could not fathom how such a specific strike could be achieved, but the reality was such.
Azkavan turned toward them with confusion before he noticed that their gazes were looking at his torso. His eyes widened as he realized that there was a hole as big as a fist connecting his chest to his back.
The mage raised his trembling hand toward his chest, bleeding down his torso. The attack was so specific and destructive that his body failed to react to it in time. As a result, there was no trauma, just the destruction of his life force.
“I…” muttered Azkavan before his eyes lost focus, and he fell to the ground. Ilia Perli gritted his teeth before rushing toward the mage to prevent him from falling.
“This is absurd!” roared Major Perli as he carried Azkavan in time. The mage was trembling ever so slightly as the destruction struck Amelio, sending dust and debris all over the battlefields.
The Fallen God was spreading his arms with a smile as his skin was lacerated and his clothes were torn apart. Ilia stared at the madman with fear before turning toward Fey, who was shaken by the death of their comrade.
“Little girl, use the exchange!”
This battle style has been pre-arranged between the four in the case of a calamity. Papers were signed that waived the right to protest against the use of life force of any party involved.
Fey snapped from her daze before bringing her hands together. Even though Azkavan was dead, life and death could still be exchanged using her ability. If she takes a fraction from their life forces, she could keep the mage alive.
All three winced simultaneously as bright red mana left their bodies and entered Azkavan’s body. The corpse jerked before the mage took a deep breath as his wound began to heal. However, this was not a revival but an extension.
“I managed to give you a single day of life, sir mage,” Fey said with a pale face before falling to her knees. “However, before that day ends, we need to contact the Madam.”
“That fool,” muttered Devan as he gritted his teeth. Azkavan was still unconscious, but he was not dead. Despite their usual rivalry, Devan seemed more shaken than any of them. “I will not forgive him for dying in such a lame way.”
“The enemy is too strong,” said Ilia Perli with a shake of his hand. “Has any of you managed to see that attack?” asked the Major, but the rest shook their heads.
The dragon of destruction disappeared from the world after exhausting the mana offered. Standing amid the destruction was Amelio carrying the same smile as before, even with his lacerated body.
“An exchange of life and death,” smiled Amelio as he looked at the hole inside Azkavan being filled with a life force that stopped the bleeding and maintained the body. “You have an absurd ability, ancient woman.”
“Not as absurd as your stats,” smiled Fey as she rose from her spot. “Please, everyone, be careful. If any other one loses their lives, I cannot bring them back.”
The two of them nodded, and Major Ilia retreated with Azkavan as Devan began to shrink. Instead of the earlier size, his muscles grew more compact. Amelio stared at them with a satisfied smile after having withstood the attack.
Devan seemed enraged and did not try to hold back despite Fey’s warning. Instead, the Bloody King rushed forward to appear above Amelio, punching his head to flatten it with the ground. Amelio’s feet pointed toward the sky as his head was buried underground, but Devan was not done.
The ensuing trail of destruction followed the tracks of the strongest guild master, who seemed to have been enraged. The punches seemed infinite as he kept attacking Amelio over and over. Finally, despite the destruction, Amelio reached out toward Devan and held him by the throat.
“Are you done?” said Amelio to Devan, who struggled against his grip. “As I said, these attacks will not work on me. Let me show you… another killing strike.”
“Devan!” shouted Ilia Perli as he rushed forward. However, Amelio did not let go of Devan as he launched another attack. Fey raised her hands to replace the guild master, but there was no one to replace it with. All she could do was augment his stats lest he died.
The battlefield was filled with despair, both from the guild masters who were toyed with and the soldiers who had hoped earlier. Devan punched even while being held by the throat, but the attacks did not affect Amelio.
“You seem to be the type who relies on his strength,” said Amelio while retracting his hand. “A cub has no right to growl in front of the lion, kiddo.”
Ilia Perli appeared beside Amelio and struck with his spear of lightning. However, the fallen god seemed to have read the situation and struck in his way, sending the Major flying the way he came from.
Then, the same shadow appeared as earlier behind Amelio. His red eyes betrayed his intentions to kill Devan the same way he did with Azkavan, but there would be no saving this time. Ilia Perli gritted his teeth, wondering if his kingdom would lose one of its strongest guild masters.
“You better make this strike worth it, anomaly,” said Devan with a grin that was far from scared. Amelio grinned before he struck toward his chest, and the shadow plagued the world with darkness.
“This is enough, Amelio.”
