The scene opens.
The Beheaded charged forward once more, its fists moving fast. But this time, Athena was ready. She met each blow with her sword, the clash of metal against metal echoing throughout the crater.
Lucia and Mary watched in awe as Athena held her ground against the demon.
But The Beheaded was tireless—its attacks relentless. It seemed to anticipate every move Athena made, parrying her strikes with ease.
Sweat dripped down her face as she fought, her arms aching from the effort.
The Beheaded pressed its advantage, forcing Athena back until she was cornered against the crater wall. Trapped. Directionless.
"This is the moment," it thought.
"The end of the line for you."
The demon lunged and clamped its iron grip around Athena's throat, lifting her into the air.
"U-ugh…" Athena grabbed its arm, her sword slipping from her grasp as she struggled against its crushing hold.
'Am I going to die here?' she thought. But then, the image of Amyra lying unconscious—and Lucia's desperate scream—ignited something in her mind.
'I'm a nobody… but I'm not a coward.'
With a sudden twist, Athena coiled her body and locked her legs around the demon's arm.
"Huh?" it growled, confused. Before Athena wrenched its limb in the opposite direction.
The grip on her throat loosened. Seeing her chance, Athena kicked The Beheaded in the ribs, sending it stumbling backward—giving her just enough space to break free!
The Beheaded staggered, clutching its injured arm.
It was shocked—and furious. "What trickery is this?" it snarled.
"Do you really think you can defeat me with such lowly human tactics?"
It prepared to strike again—but suddenly, a dragon-shaped blaze of fire came roaring toward it!
"Ugh!" The flames scorched its body, forcing it to retreat and brace itself. Athena turned and saw Lucia, her gun still aimed.
"Now!" Lucia shouted, continuing to unleash fire at the demon.
Seizing the moment, Athena dove for her sword and launched a powerful slash at The Beheaded's abdomen! A spray of dark purple blood burst from the wound.
The Beheaded staggered, clutching its stomach. It stared down at the bleeding gash, blood seeping through its fingers.
Then, it looked up at Athena—its eyes filled with disbelief, fury, and a reluctant trace of respect.
"Impossible," it rasped. "No human has ever defeated me!"
It stepped forward—then another step.
"No… I will not!!" it roared, unleashing a shockwave that tore through the air.
The cursed energy surrounding it flared, intensifying—blowing back Athena's hair as she stepped away, keeping her distance.
Suddenly, its torn black cloak began to morph—forming a pair of large, shadowy wings on its back. Its aura grew heavier. More menacing.
Phase Two.
The Beheaded now stood tall, wings unfurled in a menacing display. The purple shroud around its head expanded, flickering like flame caught in the wind.
Athena swallowed hard, gripping her sword tightly in both hands.
"Damn it… I can't lose here…" she muttered.
Without warning, The Beheaded charged at her with incredible speed!
Athena jumped up just in time as it dashed beneath her. She aimed to strike from above—but The Beheaded easily dodged her attack.
It spun midair, evading her blade with graceful precision. Landing lightly on the crater floor, it turned to face her with a wicked grin.
"Is that the best you can do?"
It spread its new demonic wings, the dark feathers glistening with an oily sheen.
Then it launched itself at her again, fists clenched.
"You're no challenger. You're just another fragment of a soul refusing to die!"
Lucia fired her weapon, but the bullets bounced off The Beheaded's armored skin.
"Athena!" she shouted. "back off!"
Athena gritted her teeth, gripping her sword tighter.
The demon dove at her again, its punch colliding with her defense—both of them clashing hard!
But The Beheaded quickly pulled back and struck again, this time shattering Athena's guard.
She was sent flying through the air. "Ugh…" Athena twisted midair and landed on her feet—
—but then.
The Beheaded teleported in front of her before she could react.
It kneed her in the stomach, launching her skyward. "Kh-!!"
It didn't stop there—The Beheaded flew up after her, driving its fist into her gut again.
Suspended in midair, Athena coughed up blood.
The Beheaded showed no mercy. It teleported above her body, aiming to smash down on her spine with an axe kick—
—but Athena spun around just in time and blocked the blow with her sword! The force hurled her toward the ground—
—but she managed to land on her feet, staggering back to Lucia's side.
"it hurts…" she muttered, standing next to Lucia, gripping her sword tightly, eyes never leaving the demon.
Lucia glanced at Athena. 'This girl is insane… how is she still standing after all that?' she thought.
The Beheaded landed gently before them, its purple aura glowing with dark power.
"Pathetic," it sneered.
"Is this the best the famed Adventurer Guild can muster? Two injured girls and a half-baked runt?"
Its eyes drifted toward Amyra's unconscious body in Mary's arms.
"You're not even worth finishing."
It spread its wings, sending out waves of cold, corrupted wind from its feathers.
"If you want to save your friends,"
The Beheaded growled,
"If you want to see the sunlight again… then you'll have to go through me."
"And that's a promise. Not a threat," it added.
Its wings rose high, blotting out the fading moonlight.
Athena could only tighten her grip on her sword.
And then.
the world fell silent.
Before the next storm.