As I clashed with the demon, the very air around us trembled beneath the weight of our battle. Power surged through me like a storm, flames roared with every strike, and sparks of raw energy lit up the battlefield. The force of our collision shook the ground, creating tremors that spread like ripples through the broken terrain.
I was still locked in this violent struggle when I heard a voice—calm, resolute, and impossibly close. It was Fearlessness.
"You've finally begun to awaken your power," he said, his tone steady and proud.
Those words... they pierced through the chaos like sunlight breaking through dark clouds. I felt a surge of energy rush through me, more than I'd ever felt before. My body trembled—not with fear, but with something else. Joy. Hope. A burning fire deep in my chest. My lips curled into a wide, uncontrollable smile. I couldn't help it. I had never smiled like that before.
But that joy—so pure and powerful—also made me careless.
In that moment of elation, I failed to see it. The enemy—the demon—had raised his massive, burning hand. The fire around it pulsed violently, growing into a roaring inferno. Then, without warning, he unleashed a colossal beam of fire. A blinding torrent of destruction surged toward me.
There was no time to dodge.
The beam struck me head-on, consuming everything in its path. I felt my skin burn, my bones rattle, my spirit shatter. I was launched backward like a lifeless ragdoll, smashing hard against a jagged boulder. The impact shook the earth and sent cracks spiraling outward.
I collapsed, my body barely holding together. And yet… I didn't disintegrate. I didn't vanish into dust.
Because I was still in rage. My body refused to give in.
The demon laughed—a cold, cruel laugh that echoed through the battlefield like thunder.
"HAHAHAHA!" His voice boomed like a war drum. "I see you insects have grown a little stronger… but do you really believe that's enough to kill me?"
His eyes burned with twisted delight, his mouth twisted in madness. As he laughed manically, wooden tentacles burst from his back, slithering across the battlefield like snakes of death. They dug into the ground and flailed wildly, spreading chaos in every direction.
Everyone froze in confusion. The sudden shift in the battle stunned them.
Except for Kindness.
She had already rushed to my side. Her hands trembled as she reached out to heal me, golden light already flickering around her fingers.
The demon's laughter suddenly stopped.
His expression turned sharp—deadly serious.
"This..." he hissed, voice low and trembling with wrath. "...is only the beginning!"
Without warning, his wooden tentacles ignited, erupting into flames. The battlefield turned red as a massive explosion tore through the sky.
In that critical moment, Creativity moved.
With no hesitation, he used his own hair—elongated into tendrils of magical essence—to shield the others. His body took the full brunt of the explosion.
He didn't scream. He didn't hesitate.
He sacrificed himself.
And because of him, the others survived. Without his selfless act, they would have all been reduced to ashes.
As the explosion died down, only ash remained of him.
His ashes drifted into the wind, floating like fragile snowflakes across the field. The others stood frozen, eyes wide, mouths agape. The horror of what they had just witnessed struck deep.
Creativity… was gone.
And before anyone could process that loss, the demon struck again.
In a fraction of a second, his eyes flashed with an unnatural light. A pulse spread from them—dark, eerie, and full of malice. A hypnotic wave.
It consumed them all.
All—except Akira. I was already down, unconscious and broken.
The five remaining stood motionless, faces blank. Trapped. Ensnared in illusions built from their deepest desires.
The demon fell to his knees, breathing heavily. The exertion had cost him. Even he had his limits. His laughter was gone now, replaced with a strained silence.
But just when all seemed lost—Faith awoke.
Her eyes snapped open, fierce and bright. She had always walked the path of light, even when it was shrouded in darkness. She followed the voice of God, even when it was barely a whisper. Her body trembled, but not from fear. Her spirit blazed like a beacon in the night.
She could not fight him. She knew she was too weak for that.
But she could awaken the others.
She moved with purpose, sprinting across the field, dodging the writhing tentacles that lunged toward her. The demon, realizing her intent, roared, "NOOO!" and unleashed his fury.
One tentacle after another slashed at her, tearing the ground apart. Still she ran, weaving through the chaos like light slipping through cracks.
She reached Wisdom.
Wisdom stood dazed, caught in the hypnotic grasp of her desires.
Faith slapped her across the face—hard.
"Wake up!"
The spell shattered.
Wisdom gasped and fell back, blinking rapidly. Her eyes cleared—and then widened in horror.
Because she saw it.
Faith, still standing tall, was caught. A massive tentacle wrapped around her body, squeezing tight. She struggled—but it was too late.
"No… no… FAITH!" Wisdom screamed.
The demon grinned wide, his mouth opening unnaturally.
And then—he bit.
Faith's head vanished into his maw.
Wisdom froze.
Her scream echoed like a broken cry across the field.
"NOOOOO!"
Tears streamed down her face, her hands clenched into fists, her body trembling. Grief and rage twisted her features.
The battlefield was silent again—except for the crackle of fire, and the sound of hearts breaking.
The war… had only just begun.