A massive dark castle loomed on a floating island above the Demon Continent. Its black stone walls were cracked and broken, radiating a cold, oppressive presence.
Inside, the throne room was a ruin. Shattered pillars and chunks of stone had collapsed, tumbling into the endless abyss below. Dust and ash swirled in the air, thick with oppressive mana that weighed down every breath.
Lucius stood at the center of the destruction. Broken tiles crunched beneath his boots as he adjusted his footing on the uneven floor. His cloak clung to his back, stained with blood and soot. He drew in a slow, steady breath, then let it out with equal calm, forcing himself to remain steady while the castle crumbled around him.
In his hands rested the sword given to him by the goddess.
Blade of Celestial Judgment.
Its long, straight edge gleamed silver-white, untouched by the chaos around it. Faint divine symbols ran along the blade, glowing softly like embers trapped beneath glass.
Across from him, the Demon King moved.
The massive figure stepped forward, slowly like a predator closing in. His armor was jagged and dark, warped and fused by demonic power. Thin purple cracks glowed where Lucius had struck him before, leaking corrupted energy instead of blood.
The Demon King rolled his neck once. The sound echoed through the ruin.
"For a human to push me this far…" His voice was low and heavy, shaking the stone beneath them. "You are the strongest hero I have faced in centuries. But your fate will be no different from the rest."
His gaze sharpened. "You will be crushed."
Lucius raised his sword slightly, and gripped the hilt tighter.
"My strength is not mine alone," he said calmly. "It was given to me by the goddess Celestia—so that I may purge the evil that has corrupted this world."
"As my Goddess first and only apostle, I will purge all the filth corrupting this world."
The Demon King laughed.
The sound tore through the air, cracking the silence like breaking glass. "Then let us see whose will is stronger, Hero."
He moved first.
The distance between them vanished in an instant. The Demon King charged, his massive sword swinging down in a brutal arc meant to split Lucius in two. The force alone shattered the ground before it even landed.
Lucius met the attack head-on. His boots skidded across broken stone as he twisted his body, raising the Blade of Celestial Judgment to intercept the blow. The swords collided with a deafening crash. Sparks flew, and light exploded in a blinding flash.
The impact tore through his arms, into his shoulders, down his spine. His knees bent under the weight as cracks spread through the floor beneath him. Yet he did not falter.
"O Goddess Celestia," he murmured, his voice quiet yet filled with unwavering devotion. "Grant me the strength to deliver judgment upon those who have fallen to corruption."
He lifted his blade, exhaling slowly.
"I, Lucius—apostle of balance and judgment—will carry out your will."
The Blade of Celestial Judgment flared with blinding white light. Lucius moved first. He stepped in, redirecting the Demon King's descending sword, forcing it downward. The weapon slammed into the stone behind him, carving a deep trench.
He pivoted without hesitation. His sword cut through the air, light trailing in its wake. The strike ripped through demonic armor, sparks and blackened fragments flying.
The Demon King roared, driving his elbow down. The blow smashed into Lucius's shoulder, sending him skidding across the floor. He rolled once, then again, stone scraping against his cloak and skin, before jamming his sword into the ground to halt his momentum.
The Demon King raised his free hand.
Darkness swirled around his fingers, twisting and compressing before shooting forward as a spear of dense demonic mana. The attack screamed through the air, distorting everything in its path.
Lucius reacted immediately. He stepped forward, lifting the Blade of Celestial Judgment with both hands, and swung down. The spear shattered under the strike.
"Argh!" Lucius roared, pouring every ounce of his strength into the swing.
Light and shadow exploded outward on impact. The force tore through the ruined walls, sending stone and debris crashing from above. Lucius staggered, dust and heat washing over him, blurring his vision.
He wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up at the Demon King. A faint smirk formed despite the pain.
"As long as I draw breath," he said, voice firm, "my goddess will grant me strength."
His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Enough to kill you."
He surged forward.
The Demon King spread his tattered wings wide, a dark silhouette against the crumbling hall.
Lucius's eyes flared green—the mark of Celestia's blessing. With a powerful push, he launched into the air and brought his blade down like a falling star.
The clash shook the castle to its core. The force slammed Lucius into the ground, fractured stone exploding beneath him. Pain flared through his ribs, stealing his breath, but he forced air back into his lungs and held on. His arms trembled.
Across from him, the Demon King was driven to one knee in a massive crater. Black wings torn and battered, he looked up through the drifting dust. Lucius held his blade high, eyes locked on the dark figure.
But the Demon King did not show despair.
The sound was hoarse and broken, filled with disbelief and madness. "To think…" he said, voice shaking with bitter amusement. "To be brought to my knees by a human."
His laughter carried on, but his gaze had shifted. Beyond the ruined hall, past the dust and rubble, another battlefield unfolded.
Two figures stood far apart.
One was an elf. She struggled to stay upright, swaying as blood dripped from her lips. A deep gash tore across her abdomen, staining her shredded white dress a deep crimson. Her pale skin bore cuts and bruises, and her once-bright green eyes were dull and tired. Blood and sweat matted her white hair, sticking to her face and neck. She coughed violently, a mouthful of blood splattering onto the stone below
Across from her stood another woman.
The demon princess.
Though injured she stood tall and barely unscattered from the fight. Her long red hair flowed freely down her back, stained with blood that only added to her wild, demonic beauty. A pair of black horns curved from her head.
Her armor was dark and minimal, crafted more to display her seductive body than protection. Black metal framed her body, leaving much of her skin exposed. Her chest barely covered, her waist and thighs uncovered save for fitted, armored guards that hugged her legs like dark silk.
Her purple eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as she looked at the elf and smirked with arrogance
The Demon King watched the scene with twisted satisfaction.
"You see that, Hero?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "The one you love, the beautiful elf that stood with you throughout your journey"
His gaze flicked back to Lucius but with deep satisfaction.
"Tell me," he continued softly, "does your justice feel worth it—knowing my daughter will be the one to finish her?"
His laughter echoed once more through the ruined hall, heavy with venom and pride.