66 - The Demon King’s Fall

Blades clash over and over again, magic flies around everywhere, an ax is swung around like a rampaging horse.

One side in this battle only has a single girl; however, she is the Demon King.

The title isn’t for show. Dorothy came in as a party of four but Merle didn’t let a single one of them land a scratch on her.

“Eliza! Use the stigma!” Dorothy screams.

Eliza does not; she was saving The Sage’s trump card until the end, until it was time to kill Dorothy.

“You’re still so pathetically weak!” Merle cried. “I heard you got a new power and formed a party but you’re barely a match for me!”

“Shut up!” Eliza cried. “The blade of Justice won’t lose to Evil like you!”

She slashed at Merle, Merle deflected her sword with a shower of sparks.

“Stop with the Justice and Evil talk!” Merle cried. “At least I’m sure you’re not for Justice!”

“Let me show you, then!” Hawkins yelled.

He swung at Merle from behind, Merle dodges it by a hairsbreadth, spins around then kicks Hawkins in the face.

“You shouldn’t have missed!” she cried.

“Guh!”

Hawkins gasps as he staggers back.

Merle launches several more kicks at him till Hawkins goes flying.

He crashes into the wall and makes a gigantic crater in the wall; then, he pulls himself out by his ax and starts slashing at Merle in a frenzy.

As Dorothy and Hawkins came down on Merle from both sides, dark energy exploded out from her and blew them away.

“I’m done playing around!” Merle cried. “Witness the true power of my darkness! Some Heroes you all turned out to be, you fools!”

With the power of the previous Demon Kings, Merle’s strength grows exponentially; a dark aura constantly surrounds her body, her power and speed surge.

“Demon King!” Eliza cried as she struck at Merle’s front.

Merle caught her blade with Levantine, their faces were right before each other. However, while Eliza is gripping her sword with all her might, Merle holds Levantine in one hand with a leisurely look on her face.

“Demon King… I have something to ask of you,” Eliza whispered, only loud enough for Merle to hear her.

“Huh?” Merle asked.

“What happened to the people?” Eliza asked. “Why did you stop them from fighting us?”

“… I couldn’t let them,” Merle replied. “Who wants to make such senseless sacrifices?”

“–Who indeed?” Eliza says, smiling.

She was certain this Demon King could rule the world, Eliza could trust her.

“The Heroes and the Demons are a thing of the past,” Merle said. “Let’s finish this tragic story quickly.”

“Oh, certainly,” Eliza said. “Our lives will be enough.”

“This woman is prepared for death,” Merle realized.

Eliza is her enemy but she shares her values. Whether it’s because she was a warrior or because it sprouted within her during this war. Unlike Dorothy, she was trying to play the role of a True Hero. And they had the same dream, Merle was certain.

Hawkins lets out an animal roar as he strikes Merle from behind.

It was a decisive blow, perfectly-timed and powerful, it sliced straight into Merle’s back, grievously wounding her.

“You dropped your guard, Demon King!” Hawkins yelled. “This will be the end of you!”

Levantine fell from Merle’s hand as blood spilled from the wound, she collapses to her knees.

Hawkins roars in victory. “I defeated the Demon King!”

“Demon King…!” Eliza screamed, her voice echoing throughout the castle.