The Great Demon's Sacrifice

"Master... That thing doesn't look easy at all."

"Does that even make sense...?"

The fragments of the bead that had clearly been split in half began to gather into a single point. As if it had never happened, they reformed into Belhalm's original shape. A complete regression. It was a phenomenon that completely transcended the magic I knew.

"Impressive. I never imagined you'd force ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me to use this."

Belhalm looked down at me as if truly admiring me. Even on the verge of complete annihilation, he hadn't once considered the possibility of his own defeat. He was simply marveling at the me from moments ago.

"...That's a Star Manifestation-grade magic artifact."

"Why? Fascinated? Even in my final moments, I never reached that realm."

No matter how limited the target, a magic artifact that could rewind time simply couldn't exist. The only possibility was that the artifact itself deployed Star Manifestation-grade magic. Of course, no mage who hadn't attained Star Manifestation could ever create such a thing.

"Indeed. Even using a dragon's heart, world tree sap, and star fragments, it remained unfinished."

"…………."

"But trapped in that model, spending time absorbing the hearts of several demons—the foundation of magic. That's how I completed it."

It wasn't impossible. If he'd been confined to the Fallen Paradise, he would have encountered plenty of demons who followed the formless one.

"...Lilia. Can you reverse that magic, by any chance?"

No matter how much Star Manifestation-grade magic it was, if it could be reversed...

"No. Impossible. That's not magic with any rules—it's the phenomenon itself."

"Yeah. Figured as much."

I knew it. In magic, Star Manifestation meant...

Transcending mere mana calculations and theory to become the phenomenon itself. A phenomenon beyond logic couldn't be calculated logically.

"Figured it out, have you?"

"…………."

"You can never kill me."

Belhalm's other face stretched its lips wide in a creepy grin. A grotesque smile that looked more demonic than any demon. Just seeing it made bile rise in my throat.

"Gotta try to know for sure. That's how it's been so far."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Foolish. To challenge one who nears godhood."

"That's what myths are for. Turning the impossible possible."

I gritted my teeth and maxed out my demonic energy. The pain was beyond what my body could endure—like I could die any second. But it didn't matter. If I couldn't kill him now, I'd be the one dying.

"Hup...!!!!"

Clutching the last threads of reason. I swung my sword and wielded magic. Swing, swing, swing, swing, swing, swing, swing, swing. Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash, slash again.

I didn't want to die like this.

A single bolt of lightning struck from the sky.

—KRAAACKABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Pathetic. You think you can truly kill me?"

One bolt. Two. Three..., seven. I pushed my demonic energy to the max to shatter Belhalm's defenses somehow.

Dragon Slayer Style. First Form. Overlapping Scale Slash.

—CRRRACKCRACKCRACKCRACK!!

The moment even a split-second gap appeared, I wouldn't miss—slicing the bead clean.

"Child of gray, how colorless."

"You can't kill me like that."

"You'll never touch me."

Kill. Kill, kill, kill. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Kill again. Undoubtedly. I'd destroyed his heart countless times. Yet...

"Master!!! Any more and your body really can't take it!!!! Run now and live to fight another day...!"

What to say? It felt like dying. No matter how brilliant the talents, humans had limits. Had I exhausted nearly all the demonic energy from Lilia with this human body? The familiar sensations were slowly fading.

"Lilia."

"………Dante!!!! Stop and run!!! Even you will die if you keep—!!!!"

Only tinnitus rang in my ears. Even Lilia's voice was gone—my mind was truly breaking.

"Hoo…………."

Current erosion: 96%. Using the remaining 4% would almost certainly kill me.

'Belhalm's yapping something, but I can't hear shit.'

He seemed to be talking, but my ears were deaf. Fine. As long as I didn't die, there were ways to recover. So.

Just swing the sword once more.

—Kwachuk!!!!!

"...Guhk."

Before I could react, Belhalm's claw pierced my heart. While locked in combat, he'd nearly regained his full power—I couldn't even respond. Or maybe I had no strength left to react.

"Idiot."

Was he transmitting his voice directly into my mind with magic? It was Belhalm's voice.

"You knew a mere human couldn't survive using that much demonic energy."

"………."

I knew. No one could survive wielding this much. Why did I do it? After possessing this body, all I wanted was to graduate safely and live well. Why risk my life? No idea. Running would have been easier.

'Subconsciously, I thought I had to protect them.'

Luel, Belloa—I just felt I had to. Despite ten years of being ignored.

Who'd have thought I'd stake my life? Guess I'm a sucker for that.

"Yes. It was a fine experience after so long."

"Ah."

Lilia's figure gazing at me blurred before my eyes. With my heart pierced, I'd lasted pretty long.

"...Fuck, damn it."

*******

Lilia—or rather, the great demon Lilishbea—felt disoriented by the long-lost sensation of freedom.

'Since I was bound to Dante, I shouldn't vanish with him... right?'

Truthfully, she didn't fully understand subjugation either. Historically, only one human besides Dante had ever subjugated a demon. All she knew was eternal servitude—or annihilation if defied.

"...The restrictions are completely lifted."

Not a full manifestation yet, so her rank was low and demonic energy limited. But her state was freer than ever.

And that freedom meant one thing.

"Foolish man."

'Stupid human. I told him he'd die in that state.'

No matter how much he'd shown beyond-common-sense feats, he was human. Impressive handling high-level demonic energy with a human body, sure. But using it all? Different realm entirely. Humans and demons were fundamentally different.

"……………Dante."

The man lying dead with his heart pierced filled her vision. Unlike that figure from demon legends. In a way, like a little brother.

'No need to linger. Regain full power in the demon realm first...'

If she didn't recover soon, she'd become prey for others. Survival of the fittest was demon law. No reason to care for a dead man.

"Maybe I saw you as a companion."

Yet she couldn't move. She didn't know why. Just. For a demon who'd lived solitarily true to her nature her whole life. Dante, appearing as her master, might have been parent, sibling, lover.

"...You're a sinful man."

Never imagined he'd enchant even a demon.

Without finishing, Lilia slowly approached Dante.

"……What's this? Demonic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠energy from over there...?"

Belhalm was starting to notice her. But even if he did, it was too late.

'I'll give you everything. So live, no matter what.'

Vast demonic energy poured from Lilia's fingertips. Rank and power diminished, but her essence was great demon. The amount within was sea-like.

—Splash.

Pouring like ocean waves, flowing gentle as a stream. Softly, kindly. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Slowly entering Dante's body.

'Thank you for giving my life meaning. Master.'

With her final words.