"Lucia-san, we have to work together," Athena whispered. "I know… we're no match for it," she added.
"What are you two mumbling about, huh?!" With a furious roar, The Beheaded lunged forward, it's claws glowing like blades.
Lucia jumped back to create distance. Athena immediately blocked the incoming strike!
Lucia pulled the trigger. The bullet struck The Beheaded's armored body, but it simply bounced off. 'Tch…' she hissed.
The demon continued it's relentless assault on Athena, who panicked as she parried each attack, the metal-like skin clashing with sword.
"Keep dodging! Like a filthy little rat!" The Beheaded taunted.
Lucia focused her Arcane Force into her weapon—a force opposite of the cursed energy, positive and neutral in nature.
She fired an explosive-caliber bullet at The Beheaded! The demon didn't notice it in time, and it struck it's neck, exploding on impact!
Success! The demon staggered backward, it's barrier flickering—it was clearly enraged by the attack.
The cursed energy around it intensified. "You'll pay for that, little girl," It growled.
"I'll make you regret being born!"
It charged at Lucia, ignoring Athena's attempts to intercept it. Lucia fired again, but it's barrier deflected the barrage with ease.
"Useless!" The Beheaded roared.
It slashed Lucia with it's claws, sending her flying and crashing into the ground, rolling to avoid another blow.
"Lucia!" Athena screamed,
"Get up!"
But Lucia was slow to rise, her head spinning from the impact. The Beheaded loomed over her, it's claws dripping with her blood.
"No..." Athena whispered,
"This can't be happening..."
The Beheaded grabbed Lucia by the throat and lifted her, her legs swinging as she struggled, but she refused to let go of her weapon.
"Any last words?" The Beheaded sneered, tightening it's grip around her neck.
"D-Die!" Suddenly, without warning, Lucia aimed her weapon at the demon's neck, which was still wrapped in cursed energy.
Her gun glowed red, charged with Arcane Force! The flaming bullet fired and exploded point-blank!
"AAAGHHH!" The Beheaded screamed in agony!
It dropped Lucia, who collapsed to the ground.
"You little… bitch!!"
with fire still ablaze at the neck, The Beheaded furiously kicked Lucia's body with incredible force!
She was sent flying into the crater's edge! The impact shattered the wall behind her! Lucia hit the ground and passed out.
"Lucia!!" Athena cried out.
The Beheaded turned toward Athena, it's neck still smoldering from Lucia's attack.
"Your turn, girl," It growled.
"I'll make you suffer for this."
It staggered toward Athena, it's movements uneven. It's wounds clearly affected it, but it's rage overpowered the pain.
"You've pissed me off long enough," It growled.
"Now you'll pay the price."
Mary floated toward Athena, her tiny fists clenched.
"Athena..." she whispered,
"What are we going to do? It's too strong!"
"It indeed really too strong for us. I don't even know how we can to beat it from the start…" Athena whispered, her gaze sharpening and turning cold.
"Get in my pocket, Mary, because I'm going to beat it up," she said, voice chilling, tightening her grip on her sword.
Mary's eyes widened at Athena's words.
"Beat it up?" she squeaked. "Athena, are you sure about this?"
Athena's stare was like stone as she looked at The Beheaded approaching.
"Even if I'm unable, even if die in here, I have no regrets," Athena said, her expression is serious and determined.
She turned to Mary, her expression softening for a brief moment.
"Get in the pocket," she repeated,
"I want you to stay safe."
With a resigned sigh, Mary zipped into Athena's pocket, disappearing inside.
"Be careful," she whispered,
"I don't want to lose you."
The Beheaded extended it's hand.
Suddenly…
A long purple sword materialized, enveloped in the cursed energy of the Abyss!!
Athena's eyes widened.
'Did it have that sword hidden all this time?' she murmured.
"Prepare yourself, mortal," The Beheaded declared before suddenly—
It slashed the air horizontally with the sword!
Athena ducked reflexively!! The slash tore through the air, annihilating everything in its path!
"What the—" Athena gasped.
But it didn't stop there. The demon followed up with a vertical slash aimed at Athena! The blow ripped through the ground, destroying everything in its trajectory!
Athena quickly dodged to the side! The attack almost hit her!
She rolled across the ground before ending up on her knees, gripping her sword tightly and panting heavily.
"Hah… haah… ahh, that was close…"
The Beheaded laughed, the sound harsh and piercing.
"Is that all you can do?" It mocked,
"I haven't even started!"
Mary peeked from Athena's pocket, her face pale.
"Athena," she whispered,
"It's too fast and too strong. We can't keep this up."
"I know…" Athena replied.
Kneeling, her breath shallow, sweat dripped from her brow.
'it's… not just some demon. He's… a creature born from hatred itself,' she thought, eyes locked on the enemy before her.
Then suddenly…
The Beheaded teleported right in front of her! Startled, Athena barely managed to block it's sudden sword swing!
"HAHAHAHA!! Is that all you've got, little girl?!" It laughed maniacally.
"Tch…" Athena gritted her teeth.
The Beheaded pulled back it's sword, channeling cursed energy into it, and then—
Slash!!
A powerful, enhanced horizontal slash flew toward her! Athena bent backward to evade it!
She narrowly dodged as the slash obliterated the crater wall behind her.
Athena's eyes widened. In that moment, she realized something—
That she is no match for it.
It wasn't just a demon.
It was the reflection of humanity itself… when pride and hatred had consume the soul.