With the challenge accepted, they ventured to the battlefield nestled within the confines of Satan's imposing castle, a vast expanse capable of hosting battles between five factions simultaneously. Despite the tension thick in the air, Lunasia met the prince's gaze with cool composure, her demeanor unwavering in the face of his mounting fury.
"What is the reason behind you challenging me to the death?" Lunasia questioned, observing as her father entered the arena, assuming his role as judge from his throne. His presence ensured a fair and impartial match where all could vie for victory on equal grounds.
"You slaughtered my family when they ventured into the human world in the seventeenth century," the prince retorted through clenched teeth, his words laced with bitterness. "Now, I stand as the sole survivor, destined to be the only ruler in the line of my heritage of my kingdom."
Lunasia's response was a nonchalant hum, her tone tinged with amusement. "And what, pray tell, have you been doing for an entire century? Why wait until now to face me? You could have reunited with your family much sooner if you had come seeking revenge a little earlier." A dark chuckle escaped her lips as she regarded the seething figure before her, his gaze ablaze with a potent mix of rage and abhor.
"SILENCE!"
Boomed Satan's voice, cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "We shall commence the death parade, where the victor shall be granted a wish, and the defeated shall offer something in the name of the victor!"
With a commanding presence, Satan took his place on his throne, fixing his gaze upon the prince. "Tell us," He demanded, "what is it you seek to gain should you emerge triumphant, and what shall you offer in the event of defeat?"
The prince drew a steadying breath, fixing his gaze upon the King as he spoke with unwavering resolve. "Should victory be mine," he declared, "I desire the death of your daughter, Princess Lunasia!And in defeat, I shall offer my entire kingdom to her reign."
Satan acknowledged the declaration with a solemn nod. "So be it," he responded, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Your wishes are now bound by my decree."
Satan shifted his attention to Lunasia, who stood with an intense gaze, her crimson eyes narrowed as if lost in contemplation. The prince's nod seemed to serve as a catalyst for her response.
"Tell us," He demanded, "what is it you seek to gain should you emerge triumphant, and what shall you offer in the event of defeat, Lunasia?" Satan's tone held a firmness that brooked no hesitation.
Lunasia met his gaze squarely before answering, her voice steady and unwavering.
"To ascend as a KING,"
she declared, her words ringing with ambition.
"KING of the entire world."
When asked again for 'what shall she offer in the event of defeat,' she fell silent for a moment, her expression inscrutable, before she shot back.
"NONE!"
Then, she finally added with a hint of supercilious defiance in her tone.
"Since... obliteration is not on my agenda."
While Satan found himself momentarily surprised by Lunasia's bold declaration, his favoritism toward his daughter outweighed any sense of astonishment he might have felt. With a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, he nodded in acknowledgment before responding, "So be it. Your wish is now under my decree."
And then, the Satan ultimately announced.
"LET THE DEATH PARADE BEGIN!"
Satan's proclamation echoed across the battlefield, signaling the commencement of the deadly duel without any nuisance.
In response, Lunasia seized hold of her necklace adorned with crimson jewels, ripping it from her neck with a fierce determination. The intricate motifs of the necklace scattered across the battlefield like fragments of a shattered dream, each piece a testament to the impending chaos. As she cast aside the adornment, her once muted crimson eyes now turned blazed with a fiery crimson shimmering color, reflecting a newfound intensity and a hint of murderous intent.
With a flick of her fingers, shimmering waves of crimson shadow materialized around Lunasia, wrapping around her dress and altering its form.
The fabric shifted and condensed, shortening to reveal her knees, for it was touching the ground earlier, and Lunasia found it uncomfortable for the fight, while the disappeared portion transformed into fingerless gloves encasing her hands. Using the surplus fabric from her transformed dress, Lunasia's sleek black heels morphed into lace-up high-top shoes, seamlessly adapting to the needs of the moment. Meanwhile, her half-tied hair, as white as freshly fallen snow, cascaded freely around her, adorned with jewels that scattered delicately all over the battlefield.
Having readied herself for battle, Lunasia turned her gaze toward the prince, who shed his coat with a flourish to the side and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt with royal blue embroidery. He then acknowledged the audience of the ravaged grand dinner, gesturing to them with a wave. Their cheers and hoots filled the air, a raucous chorus of support for the prince and none for the damned Princess.
In a striking transformation, his once-piercing blue eyes shifted to a fiery crimson hue, mirroring the intensity of his determination. As his auburn locks underwent a dramatic change, morphing into a hue resembling smoldering ash, he summoned forth his sword with a commanding call.
"VOIDREND! COME FORTH!"
"THE SWORD OF UNPARALLED DARKNESS!"
With his command, a swirling vortex of purple and blue hues erupted, causing the ground to tremble and the ceilings to quiver in response. From within this ethereal portal emerged a Ravenous Wolf, its gaze icy blue as it advanced toward the prince. With each step, the ground beneath its paws transformed into a frozen landscape, creating an icy path leading to Charles. Then, as if touched by an otherworldly light, the wolf began to glow with a radiant icy blue aura until it transformed into a simple yet formidable sword encased in ice, its blade shimmering with hues of blue and violet. And there it stood, tall and resolute, hovering before Charles with an undeniable strength.
As Charles reached out and clasped the sword in his grip, the icy shell surrounding it shattered, revealing the blade gleaming in the soft glow of the moonlight. With a resolute stance, the sword assumed its rightful position, poised and ready.
Only then did Lunasia, in response, summon forth her sword.
"KING! COME FORTH!"
"THE SWORD OF CALAMITY!"
The towering ceiling, expansive windows, and sturdy floor quaked violently, causing the ground beneath them to splinter and crack, unleashing torrents of flames.
A colossal black crown adorned with crimson jewels emerged from the earth amidst swirling flames and resembling the garden of blossoming roses. The spectacle captivated all who beheld it until the flames receded, veiling the crown in a cloak of shimmering crimson shadows. From within its depths emerged a striking black and golden sword, its blade adorned with intricate Victorian designs, ensconced within a smaller black crown atop its hilt, which housed a luminous crimson jewel.
Following the emergence of the sword, Lunasia strode purposefully towards the imposing crown, its sheer size dominating the space around it. With determined steps, she approached the ornate throne-like structure, where the sword had been firmly lodged into the ground, encircled by the majestic crown.
As Lunasia extracted the sword from its resting place, the smaller crown surrounding it dissipated into tendrils of shimmering crimson smoke. Simultaneously, the grand crown itself was engulfed in a swirling inferno of crimson flames and gradually fading away until nothing remained but a residue of glimmering crimson dust.
And Lunasia also took her position after tightening her grip around her sword.