The demon had a form—a very distinguishable form. It was definitely at least, no, it simply WAS a second stage manifestation. It had to be.
Daniel grunted loudly and pushed upwards with as much strength as he could, negating the claws with all his might. He gritted his teeth as he struggled, his feet pressing firmly on the ground.
"KIEKEEKEKEKE!"
"Tch!"
Daniel lowered himself very quickly and withdrew from the clash in a flash. He leapt backwards, still firmly gripping his weapons, with his eyes fixed on the titan before him.
Fitting for its size, the demon had absurd physical strength. During the short exchange, it didn't even look like he was trying.
"First of all…" Daniel's voice turned cold and fearsome, thickening with hate for the beast before him. "I'm going to rip off that grin."
But then the Owl raised its head and spoke. "Oh really?"
"....!"
Under my eyes, etched firmly into the eyesockets of my unmoving face, the demon vanished.
A dark blur stretched from its previous location, and immediately, a loud cackle resounded in my hearing. My eyes rolled over to Daniel's position…but he was also nowhere to be found.
CLANG!
Yet another overwhelming clash sparked off right in the centre of the field, and before I could see anything, a massive dust cloud had blanketed my view.
But I could feel them. The successive clashes.
Sounds of metal hitting and scraping metal echoed all over the place, and with each exchanged blow, a powerful pressure bore down on me. Vibrations swept through the ground—where I sat, and with the increasing intensity of each collision, a stronger force would wash over me.
I wanted to assist, but I was limited to nothing but a spectator.
How could I even help in such a battle?
My feet were shaking in my boots, against my volition. I wanted to stand up and do something, but my body refused to obey me.
Fear?
Why fear?
I can't keep watching!
Yes. I have to fight!
Ba-dum!
"Tch!"
This is pathetic honestly. I'm really pathetic.
My hands continued to fidget. And only after much stressing, could I regain control. Through the dust, my fingers dug, and I gripped as much sand as I could.
I did the same with my second hand and tried stabilising my breathing. My heart continued to thump loudly, and my breathing was erratic—so much, that it felt painful, like the type of pain felt when a needle runs through your lungs.
I couldn't bear it. Neither the physical pain, nor the emotional kind.
I couldn't stand it. This wasn't me.
I had to…I could….I would….I should….
What am I even saying?
I WILL!
Suddenly, a strange sense of confidence began to well up in me. It quickened my heart—not to fear, but to zeal. My blood rushed through my veins with intensity like never before, and I felt shaken—moved, from within.
Before I knew it, I was already on my feet.
Deciding to push out any lingering horror, I screamed in unison with my spirit. "I AM MORE THAN CONQUE-!"
BAM!
Before the words could completely leave my mouth, something—someone appeared before me.
However he wasn't attacking. Daniel was flung away by an unknown force.
"Kurgh!"
He crashed into me, and collectively pushed back, we both stumbled, rolling over and over on the ground before coming to a halt.
What happened?
I made sure to get to my feet as soon as possible, half moved by uncertainty, and half pushed by fear. As to what I was truly scared of, I couldn't place my finger on it.
Except, maybe, it was everything….
Daniel got up weakly beside me, holding his abdomen as he let out a low grunt. Blood trickled down his nostrils, and they slid the corner of his lips. His left leg appeared to be in bad shape, as I could spot a semblance of a fracture through his wounded ankle.
The dust cloud ahead was only starting to settle, but smoke was intertwined with the sand particles. I didn't know where it came from, but it rose like a fountain—a ladder up to the skies. From the unseen destruction beneath, it emerged. And through the unseen sandy blanket before us, a visible thing was carved.
A silhouette—now a lot smaller than the 8 feet titan steadily approached us. The shadow got increasingly larger as it paved through the dust, and increasingly more features could be seen.
Four eyes—two large ones from its face, and two smaller ones from the owl emitted a red light that blared like a nuclear siren. Footsteps, heavy ones, were heard. The familiar grin shewed itself, and the demon appeared.
"KIEKIEKIEKIE!"
It cackled loudly, and the hooing of an owl was laced underneath, creating a blend of atrocious sounds.
At that moment, I sensed it—we both did. A malevolent aura leaked away from its position, and everything seemed submerged in a purple dye. I felt them—seemingly tentacles, that rose from the deep purple vines littering the ground, and wound up my arms.
It clawed—at my heart. And I couldn't breathe.
The air became unusually thick, and it passively invaded my nostrils, making me feel as if I was inhaling lead. I couldn't breathe out however.
I couldn't do anything.
Daniel was faring much better. Although, he appeared to be seething with rage, yet fragile—like a glass full of many worries, on the verge of shattering into a million pieces.
"Listen here." He commanded, muttering under his breath. "You are to run as far away as you can."
"....b-but!"
"You're useless!"
"...!"
"I had to keep pushing the fight to myself, because I didn't want you getting caught up in this mess."
His voice grew even colder. "Even right now, you're still an obstacle."
"...."
"Leave!"
"...."
I see.
So even by doing nothing, I was still a hindrance.
This is great. This is just great.
"I SAID LEAVE!"
His sudden scream easily swept against the tides of my thoughts, driving them to a quick but abrupt end.
I was useless, apparently.
At least I could stop being an obstacle.
Wringing out every bit of pride in me, I pushed my feet backwards and turned to leave.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I was angry at everything, slightly at Daniel, but mostly at myself.
I had to run. I could do that much at least.
But then a malevolent voice whispered in my ears.
…..
"Too late."