Hero Leon lunged forward.
"Holy Sword Secret Art: Extreme Phosphorescence Slash!"
Having grown accustomed to the weapon, the Hero unleashed the strike hidden within the holy blade. The Demon King tried to block the blow with her right arm, but—
Clang!
The impact rang out with a sound unlike any before. Golden holy light erupted, and a visible wound appeared on the arm of the Vessel of the Demon King. It was shallow, but it was undeniable progress.
With this, we can win!
Just then, a new figure charged in, rushing straight for the Demon King.
"Enchant: White Light Blade!"
As she spoke, countless shimmering white slashes bit into the Demon King’s arm, gouging into the existing wound and tearing it open further. The girl then leveled her right hand at the Vessel.
"Spell: Great Flame Explosion!"
The Demon King was instantly swallowed by a massive, fiery blast. Illuminated by the crimson inferno stood a familiar girl with chestnut-colored hair. A rare talent capable of both master-level swordsmanship and advanced magic.
"...Luna?"
For Seraphina, the girl’s appearance was a shock. Luna had been traveling with Albert and his party, and they had been distant for a long time.
"The Demon King is the enemy I must kill," Luna said. "Will you fight with me?"
Albert and the others were nowhere to be seen. In this final hour, Luna had chosen Leon over Albert—she had chosen the Demon King Subjugation. Seraphina had no complaints. After all, the three of them had been brought together as children specifically to serve as the keys to the Demon King’s downfall.
"Once again, it’s the three of us."
Memories of their childhood training sessions resurfaced. Ending the story with the three of them—it felt like a marvelous stroke of divine providence.
The flames surrounding the Demon King were suddenly extinguished as she dissipated the magic with a surge of mana. It had been a powerful spell, yet it had dealt almost no damage.
"...Maybe cutting her is the way to go," Luna muttered, readying her blade.
Leon stepped forward. "The Void Barrier repels all attacks, but the Holy Sword can cut through it. I’ll open a path. Luna, strike when you see an opening."
"Got it!"
All three launched a relentless assault. Leon’s Holy Sword tore through the Void Barrier from the front, his slashes carving into the Demon King’s flesh and accumulating minor damage. Luna, having unleashed her Frenzy, lunged into the opening. She drove her blade into the gaps or hammered the Vessel with pinpoint Attack Magic.
The Demon King did not simply take the abuse; she retaliated with overwhelming power. Though Leon and Luna avoided the strikes with inhuman speed, some hits were unavoidable. It was Seraphina’s duty to sustain the two of them as they danced on the brink of death.
Like just now—the Demon King’s shockwave sent Luna hurtling back. She tumbled across the Schoolyard, bouncing off the ground before smashing into a wall. Blood painted the dirt red, and her left arm and leg were twisted at unnatural angles.
"Luna!"
Seraphina cast her healing magic instantly. Before the spell could even finish, Luna forced herself up. Her broken body stood even as it was still knitting back together.
"Ahahaha—hahaha!"
She laughed, coughing up blood from lungs that were still regenerating.
"Kill... I’ll kill you! Demon King! I swear it!"
The light in her eyes was no longer sane. Luna was intoxicated by the joy of fighting her hated nemesis.
How much time had passed? Seraphina had already cast over a hundred healing spells. She bit her lip.
My mana is reaching its limit.
Fatigue weighed on her, and her breathing grew labored. Her casting speed had slowed significantly; it now took twice as long to heal the same degree of injury. She clenched her trembling hands to steady them.
"God... please, give me strength one more time!"
The Demon King was not unscathed. Facing a Hero with the Holy Sword and a berserker of immense power had taken its toll. However...
My mana is going to run out first.
This was a battle of attrition they were destined to lose. The healing was failing to keep pace. Both Leon and Luna were now fighting through an accumulation of various wounds.
Not now... not me!
The breaking point arrived without mercy. The Demon King’s fist caught Luna in the abdomen. With a sickening thud, Luna was sent airborne. She tumbled across the ground and lay still on her back, a massive amount of blood erupting from her mouth.
Seraphina knew at a glance: ruptured internal organs and a shattered ribcage. She needed a full-power heal immediately.
"Luna!"
She tried to weave her most powerful spell, but her vision swam. Her focus shattered, and the magic failed to manifest.
"Kh... gah...!"
She tried to steady herself, but she couldn't. She had finally hit the bottom of her mana reserves. Even in her tattered state, Luna used her sword as a crutch to try and stand.
"I can still... fight... I’m not dead yet!"
Leon was also covered in wounds. The accumulated exhaustion and the injuries he was barely enduring had slowed his movements to an undeniable degree.
Annihilation was drawing near.
Terror took root in Seraphina’s heart—not of death, but of God’s prophecy failing.
If Lord Leon doesn't slay the Demon King, God’s word becomes a lie! That must never happen!
It would be her fault. Her laziness. Her failure as a Saint. She couldn't bear it.
God’s word is absolute!
Leon finally faltered. Blasted back by the Demon King’s magic, he hit the dirt. It wasn't a fatal wound, but he moved slowly, his body finally failing him. Seraphina desperately tried to cast a heal, but nothing happened—only a faint, useless glimmer of white light.
The Demon King formed Purple Energy Bullets in both hands, aiming them at the vulnerable Leon. If they hit, the Hero would die.
Ah, ah, ah, ah—!
Her mind went white. Seraphina ran. Leon was humanity’s hope, their trump card. He couldn't die here.
That's right... the one who should die here is...
The most useless person. The one with no more reason to live.
The Demon King fired.
Saint Seraphina threw herself in front of Hero Leon.
The one to die here should be the Saint who has finished her role and run out of mana!
Seraphina was consumed by an all-encompassing, searing pain.