Logarius wastes no time in attacking me, throwing himself forward with blistering speed and ducking low beneath my own swing of the Rebellion, our blades clashing in a shower of sparks the moment I turn on my foot to slash at his back.
The blade is big, annoyingly so, almost as big as I am tall, matching the above average height of Logarius' gaunt frame. He uses that to his advantage, constantly sweeping low, making sluggish, heavy strikes and welding the blade with the strength of a thug, but the motion of a ballerina.
He practically dances through the room, always in the right place at the right time to block my next swing from the Rebellion, always matching the blade's force enough to leave him a window to make some distance.
Fighting a scythe wielder is, unfortunately, something you can never truly prepare for, but the range advantage he has means that I'll need to get up close and personal to-
Almost as soon as I have that thought Logarius pulls back for a brief moment, shifting his grip over the scythe and swinging it wildly in a circle around himself as he slowly advances.
I quickly Sonido above him in response, blade poised to skewer him through the back of the neck- only for his scythe to cleave through my arm the moment I come close, his stance having shifted enough in that fraction of a second to send me crashing into the wall across from him.
-977HP!
I barely have a moment to react in time as he then practically glides forward, weapon held low behind him and drawing sparks across the stone as he closes the distance.
Though, with a smug grin and a finger gun pointed his way, Logarius' advance is stopped dead in it's tracks before he can reach me by the Doppelganger, the winged beast's palm slamming into his chest with enough force to send him skidding back as I stand to full height.
"You're pretty good, for an old man. Pretty damn eager to kill me, too. Why is that?" I ask, stretching the joint of my arm a moment later as the Doppelganger moves to stand beside me.
Logarius opens his mouth to respond, a sneer on his lips, but I take that as an opportunity and close the distance between us with a Sonido that leaves him on the backfoot, his scythe barely able to keep up with the Rebellion's quick swings.
Sparks fly relentlessly between our steel, our bodies flickering across the room with each swing, Logarius' weapon shuddering in his grasp with every collision. His eyes damn near glow with derision as he stares down at me, his fingers snapping a moment later.
My next swing comes far slower than the ones before, my body feeling far more sluggish. Each movement feels like I'm trudging through oil, and so I'm not nearly fast enough to properly raise my guard when his scythe flicks out before I connect, the blade dragging down my arm and cutting my hand in half vertically.
-1920HP!
He twists his weapon just a half-second later, swinging fast enough to cleave the air itself as his blade draws closer to my neck with every passing second-
Gotcha.
My foot lifts in a high kick, the scythe immediately cutting through the boot and the soft flesh of my appendage. The pain is eye-watering, but with a sudden flick of my leg, his weapon is tossed across the room, clattering against the ground uselessly.
Logarius lifts a hand to recall the scythe back into his hand, but I'm not going to give him the chance. Casting a Prayer on myself, I immediately dash forward and stab the Rebellion's blade through his stomach, the Doppelganger matching my assault and skewering the Devil from behind.
Logarius, pained and infuriated, snaps his fingers once more.
The Doppelganger and I are immediately hit with that same wave of slowness, the effect worsening as Logarius' speed damn near multiplies a moment later after snapping his fingers a second time - the scythe then immediately flung into his grasp and swung down at my neck, forcing me to make some distance and pull my sword away before it cleaves my head in half.
His movements very soon become far too quick for my eyes to track, stuck relying on Instinct to guide my hand through every violent swing of his blade as the vicious clangs of our collisions echo in the cramped room, the difference in our speed only growing with each second.
Not wanting him to get the upper hand, I quickly form the blood I've spilt thus far into a series of spears at my side, forcing Logarius to flourish his scythe and rapidly spin it in hand to block the flurry of blood-spears being sent his way, giving me a moment of reprieve to form a plan.
"Cowardly wretch, fight me like a man!"
His aggrieved words are music to my ears, my grin widening ever so slightly as I toss the Rebellion into my other hand, choosing to give the man what he wants. I clench my fist as tightly as I can, power surging through the limb with each passing second, enough that wind begins to kick up around me.
Logarius' brows furrow, not wanting to take the risk of attacking me at the moment and keeping his weapon held close behind him, his eyes watching me with laser focus. Not caring about the hit to my Mana that this attack will incur, I let the Charge in my fist settle down, the limb now glowing violently.
Logarius finally realises what my play is, his fingers snapping once more to deepen the slurred effect of his Clan Trait, Time upon me, but it's not nearly enough to stop this.
-5390MP!
With the Doppelganger dashing forward, and my swordhand coated in the familiar glow of Gravity Magic to keep him stuck in place, Logarius can do nothing but watch my swift approach.
One Blink is all it takes.
The Doppelganger and I switch positions with less than an inch between itself and Logarius- then my fist crashesinto his chest with all the force of several hundred explosives going off at once.
His body damn near blurs as it careens through the air, crashing through the wall opposite us and shattering another one soon after. Not wanting to give him a moment of respite, I Sonido through the gap in the wall his body left behind and surge forward with the Rebellion raised high, deciding to come back later for the array of motionless Devils I'd seen prior.
Meters soon turn to inches, inches turn to mere millimeters, the steel of my sword tearing through the air, just a fraction of a second away from slicing into his neck with all the force of a moving train-
But then the world shifts.
A single second passes.
-4529HP!
Before I can even comprehend what the sudden wrongness I had felt was, my brain stutters as several blaring warnings from my Instinct kick in at once- only for me to realise exactly why that is when I look down at my chest, and the man-sized blade embedded inside of it, Logarius stood behind me now.
The words I might have said are blocked out by the sudden spillage of blood into my mouth, the taste both a familiar and infuriating one. I barely have a second to try and swallow it down before the Doppelganger surges forward and tries to attack Logarius while his scythe is stuck in my chest.
The old bastard doesn't even hesitate- he twists the scythe within my chest, the pain both agonising and liberating, before dragging it out from the side, damn near cutting me in half as he stops the Doppelganger's vicious strike.
-4139HP!
Through several deep, shuddering breaths from my place against the floor, I decide that I've gone too soft on this miserly old prick, slamming my fist against the ground and lifting myself high a moment later.
The familiar warmth of a Prayer over my skin is like kindling to a flame, the Rebellion once again drawn and raised as I damn near pounce towards Logarius, the blood in my mouth seeping out to form a second blade in my free hand, one I quickly use to make the old bastard work for his survival.
Logarius stutters at the relentless offense, his fingers struggling to find a long enough moment to snap and use his Clan Trait once again, his attention solely focused on the Doppelganger and I as we continue to dart across the room.
Furniture, tables, bookshelves, every inch of the place is destroyed by the ensuing clash- only for Logarius' body to once again slam into another wall after my Doppelganger got a quick strike against his collar.
With distance put between us, Logarius can finally snap his fingers again, stopping time-
-a door opens and closes, the sound of heavy footsteps echoing in the stairway that Logarius flees through. His every breath is panted with exhaustion, and with a distinct sense of indignation (or triumph?) I realise that he's running away from me.
...this sneaky prick.
Not wasting a moment of time, I follow him through the stairway, my body crashing against the walls as I throw caution to the wind. My wing is drawn out a moment later to make me move faster, the endless flight of stairs only seeming to continue on forever.
Finally, after what feels like almost a minute straight, I burst through an open doorway waiting at the top- only to pause at the sight before me. Logarius and I now stand on the rooftops of the Castle Cainhurst, our feet resting atop shingled material.
He stands with his back turned, resting his hands atop the absurdly large blade of his scythe, heaving each breath. The burning sky is darker than usual, enough so that I'm almost certain it's soon to rain.
Finally, after several seconds spent standing and catching his breath, Logarius turns to me. In his free hand is a single empty vial, once that I'm certain housed a Phenex Tear.
"You're quite the tenacious little rat, aren't you?" He says, a streak of blood being wiped from his lip, that same hand dragging across the holes in his chest a moment later as they begin to rapidly heal.
"Comes with the territory. I am, after all, vermin." I say, smirking now as I walk towards him, the Rebellion held over my shoulder.
"I gotta say, you're quite the innovative man. A Clan Trait like that, control over Time itself... and you use it to run away from me? Must be the first of your kind. And to think, you had the gall to call me a wretch."
Logarius huffs out a short, rueful laugh, running the gathered blood in his palm across the blade of his scythe, staining the weapon red as he then lifts it to the air, holding it beside him. In the dim light of the burning sky, it almost seems to glow.
"You overestimate us Agares, Demi-fiend. We have control over Time, yes... but very, very limited in scope."
I hum, taking those words with a grain of salt and making sure to not get caught by any more of his time-stopping bullshit. Or, at least, to be prepared for it. It can't be a very long window, maybe one or two seconds at most, but that's more than enough to turn the tide of a battle.
"I'll keep that in mind." I say, lifting the Rebellion to point it at him as I continue.
"Now... are you quite done running away from me, Logarius? I told you that I'd be taking this Castle, after all. Nothing you do can stop that from happening."
He opens his mouth to respond, a grin on his lips, but once again I Sonido forward and cut him off before he can give a response.
My boot slams into his chest hard enough to send him skidding towards the edge of the rooftops, his wings drawn a moment later as he lifts to the air and throws himself down at me, spinning like a drill.
I dash forward again to meet him mid-spin, Parry activating and causing him to stutter for a moment, his momentum halted.
The Doppelganger, taking the opportunity, leaps at him from over my head, clawed fist slamming into his jaw, Logarius landing on the ground with barely a moment to spare before I switch places with the spectral clone and continue the assault.
Several seconds of relentless clashes pass, steel biting down against steel, our bodies now flickering across the rooftops of the Castle Cainhurst, several sections below us destroyed or downright ruined by my lonesome siege just minutes earlier. Logarius is barely keeping up, his body heaving with exhaustion and each breath coming in hurried gasps.
Just a moment later, after another Blink leaves him faltering and off balance, Logarius' foot slips against the shingled roof. Before he can fly up again with his wings, I Sonido forward and close the distance between us in the blink of an eye, my sword-
-parried aside by his own, the sword drawn from the back of his hip and batting aside the Rebellion, our dance of steel on steel continuing with renewed fervour almost immediately after as Logarius duel wields the odd combination of weapons.
My Doppelganger thankfully skews the odds considerably in my favour, but even with the boons from Blood Empowerment, my advantage is quickly wearing off, the skills effects rapidly diminishing.
That fact that is made only worse by the realisation that Logarius never needed to snap his fingers to use his Clan Trait, he simply wanted me to believe it as such, evidenced by the way he only seems to be growing faster with Time. Case in point...
A vision, my Eye opens wide. Logarius' power activates, my head rolling on the floor a moment later. His blade glows red, my body falls to the ground.
The ache in my mind from the Eye of the Precursor's foresight is washed out by the sudden screaming of the Instinct blaring. Following that, I immediately Blink, swapping places with my Doppelganger-
-blocking the blade of his scythe with just a fraction of a second to spare, the weapon poised to tear through my neck and leave nothing left, hastily lifting my sword to then block the second strike from his blade and the ensuing flurry of attacks from both weapons.
The sound of the world around us is all but drowned out beneath the cacophony of clangs and clashes, my grin remaining as wide as ever as I Parry aside as many of his slashes as my body will allow, my dutiful Doppelganger taking care of the rest.
The distance put between us a moment ago was enough that Logarius couldn't reach me within the window of Time he can stop.
That means it's a lot shorter than I had anticipated. Probably closer to half a second at most, if I had to guess. A shame, yes, but also undoubtedly a benefit.
...fighting against a man that can stop Time is far more fun than I had anticipated.
If I were smart, I would end this now- cast Blight, cast Blood Sacrifice, and nip this battle in the bud within the blink of an eye... but I can't. I'm having fun. I'm... I'm enjoying this. Every single second of it.
I know this feeling. It's the same thing I felt when fighting Mordred. The same that I felt when fighting Diamor. A heat in my pulse, a spark in my mind, a hunger deep in my Soul.
...I want to be strong. I want to win.
Following that thought, I don't hesitate to throw myself at the old man once again, batting aside his shortsword and catching the blade of his scythe with my blood-sword just a moment later, leaving me free to slam my forehead into his, shattering his nose.
He sweeps his scythe across the floor in response, head reared back and a snarl on his lips as I Sonido away, dashing back at him the moment he finishes his low swing. His shortsword is raised to block, thrown aside by the Doppelganger's clawed fist, the Rebellion then cross-slashing a deep, visceral gash into his chest-
-several feet of distance stand between us, Logarius now heaving and clutching his chest after stopping Time briefly. He stares at me with something akin to fury, but said fury quickly washes over into a cold grin.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He says, slowly, his tone almost accusatory.
With a moment of respite, I let my tongue flick out and lick at a drop of his blood that spilt down on me from his shattered nose. Not enough to trigger Blood Empowerment on any meaningful level. What a shame.
"Of course I'm enjoying this, you cur. I spent the worst days of my life terrified of your Loyalist ilk, bound and trapped in the pits of Lucifaad, laid bare and vulnerable..." I say, damn near spitting the words out, before dragging my sword up and pointing it at him.
"I was weak. Now? The tables have turned. Why wouldn't I enjoy the power I now hold?"
Logarius, though his face is gaunt and hollow, seems the slightest bit amused by my words, though for what reason I've no idea. Nor do I care.
My legs are already tensing, body surging forward as he lifts his scythe in preparation for another strike- only to blink in shock as his body begins to slow, Mirror Mirror kicking in and his Clan Trait becoming my own.
With his body slow and sluggish, and my own much faster than before, Logarius can do nothing but watch as I practically blur towards him, slamming the pommel of Rebellion into his temple.
Logarius has barely a moment to recover from the impact before I then swap places with the Doppelganger, my clone's fist cratering into his jaw with enough force to make Cainhurst tremble beneath us, my stance shaking ever so slightly from my spot several feet away as a result.
...Oh, no, it's not just trembling, this section of the castle is actually falling apart-
------------------------------------
[Grayfia Lucifuge - Current Time]
Several hours have passed since Rellana and Rosalia's conversation in the master bedroom. I've been antsy ever since. The reason is quite simple. Within the third drawer, beside Lady Phenex' bed was a small red book, listing every expenditure and all the income of the House Phenex.
Written amongst the book's yellowed pages were three distinct payments that had been made to other Clans amongst Ars Goetia on the day after my arrival.
One to the Lord Barbatos, to ensure all teleportation away from the manor today be blocked by a member of their House. Another to the Lord Flauros, to have a member of their House ensure all communications both in and out today be blocked as well. Lastly, one to the Lord Bael, though for what reason I have no idea.
If I had to guess why they made these payments, then it would be as such: the Phenex knew that I would immediately notice such blockages being put up had they done it from within the Manor. Not only did they want other Houses involved to ensure the smoothness of this operation, but they've made them do quite a significant portion of the effort as well.
No doubt in return for a sizable fortune of the Phenex' profits upon the Demi-fiend's death.
There are, of course, two majour issues to be addressed with this piece of evidence, and what it represents.
The first is simple. In spite of the fact that it's quite incriminating information, it's coming from Rosalia's recommendation. Her character is unscrupulous, her words untrustworthy, and my only proof, my only evidence to this scheme has come at her suggestion. It was her hand that guided me to the book, after all. I've no idea how she found it, nor how she came to know of it. It's all too convenient, and paints too perfect of a picture in accordance with her words.
Though... given that she got her signature into Lady Phenex' initial letter to us, it's very likely that she's some form of bookkeeper for the family Phenex.
That would definitely explain how she came unto such documents, and it would also line up with the timeline of my week spent in this residence. However, if she is the bookkeeper for House Phenex, then she has the perfect opportunity to doctor documents in some way, much like she had with Master's initial letter requesting him be here.
The second issue, moving on from my continued inability to deign Rosalia's true motivations, is the matter of why a payment to Lord Bael had been made. He serves to gain nothing from the Demi-fiend's demise. Even if the payment, which was definitely substantial, was enough to keep him silent and buy a lesser sentencing for this crime should word spread of it, he would never allow this scheme to happen.
After all, the Phenex have had a stranglehold over the Underworld economy for centuries. They have a monopoly over the single greatest and most efficient medicinal implement within the entire realm, to say that they rule the market would be an insult to the very concept of a monopoly.
They are, at their core, an obstacle to Lord Bael's aspirations, an obstacle to order. A strong hand cannot guide our people forward if he cannot even control his own economy. Had it not been for Master's arrival, Lord Bael would still be fawning for the Phenex' unquestioning loyalty to the High Council, that is the sheer level of power they hold over Sol.
Put simply, the Demi-fiend's continued survival gives him an avenue to weaken the Phenex financially, and also maintain their allegiance by pushing against Master's efforts occasionally, giving them the belief that he is on their side.
Whilst that belief would explain their payment made to him, perhaps an olive branch or an offering of peace... it makes no sense for them to do logically speaking.
Not only does it immediately give evidence, tangible evidence, to their involvement within Master's would be demise, but... well, forgive me if this is crass, but it leaves a damned paper trail.
The single most foolish thing an enterprising assassin can do is leave behind evidence of any form that points to them as the culprit.
The Phenex own several smaller businesses within the Underworld, even owning a decent portion of the shopping district in Dis at one point. Lady Phenex is smart enough to know that these payments made to other Houses should not be written in official books, and not in such a blatant manner.
She would more than likely dissolve the Sol into several smaller expenditures on the many businesses she owns throughout the Underworld in her book- she would absolutely not write down the amount, the purpose, and the date of such incriminating payments.
I can appreciate the fine arts of forgery, I've employed them many times over my years spent in Lucifaad, but... Rosalia clearly does not understand the true implications of such flagrant payments, and the conclusions that can be drawn from their existence.
This is, for lack of a better word, sloppy. Rosalia must have been hoping that I would jump upon seeing the incriminating evidence, and not think any deeper of it beyond taking a clear stance on her side. It would also explain why she had been so eager to draw Rellana away after noticing my hiding amongst the master bedroom. She wanted me to see the book. She was confident in it being substantial enough.
I suppose it could also explain why Lord Phenex hasn't thrown a fit. He wasn't aware of the hypothetical scheme to begin with, his arrival an unexpected variable, but the fact that he wasn't raving about several million Sol being taken from the House's coffers without his explicit knowledge should say enough by this point.
...That is my final verdict, then. This scheme, this 'plot' against my Master's life was never real. I've been playing to a tune I already recognise quite well.
Rosalia has simply been trying to draw the Phenex into a war against the Demi-fiend, not only to thin their numbers and open a place for herself at the head of the House when the dust settles, but so she may present herself as an ally and land in Master's good graces.
Her family, hateful to her though they may be toward her, have become pieces in a game she has attempted to play with my life... with my Master's life.
That, I simply cannot allow.
When this meal is truly under way, I'll find an excuse to leave momentarily and take the Phenex' expenditure book for my own, sufficient evidence that someone had been trying to manipulate both parties here and sufficient enough insurance should there be an attempt made of framing me.
...I won't be leaving yet, though.
At the end of the day, I want one specific thing to happen. I want Rosalia's plan to fail, and I want her to attack me. Then, I'll have free reign to react as I so wish- a reaction that will involve binding and capturing her, so I may drag her before the High Council and demand she be taken as compensation.
My Master made the request that I bring with me a piece of the Phenex for him to work with after all, something to deepen his aspirations for an advantage over their House. What better tool for that goal, then, than an infinite producer of Phenex Tears, so he may attempt to understand and replicate their secrets?
If Rosalia wishes to take advantage of that arrangement, and perhaps try to make good on her word of becoming Master's bedwarmer as a result, well... some thorough obedience training will be in order first and foremost. A cunning woman though she may not be, Rosalia is ambitious, as evidenced by this flagrant scheme. That could one day prove dangerous.
For now, though... I need to attend my final dinner with the House Phenex.
This week has been an exhaustive one, in spite of having my every need catered to. Being served so willingly, so readily, is... a strange feeling, but it's one I've grown accustomed to, a meek servant girl bringing me towards the great hall where another banquet is waiting for me- alongside the rest of the House Phenex that chose to attend.
The moment the double doors open, it feels as though all eyes are drawn toward me. As has been the case so far, some of the gazes are tinged with distrust, others with intrigue, and an even smaller few with blatant interest.
Interestingly, though... Rosalia is nowhere to be seen. That could complicate things.
Not wanting to make a scene though, I follow along with the servants guidance and walk past the great table, my steps slow and measured, inaudible beneath the constant hum of chatter and indulgence amongst the innumerable members of the Phenex. It takes almost thirty seconds for me to reach my seat beside the Lord and Lady Phenex.
"Lady Grayfia. We're pleased you chose to share with us one final meal. I know you must be exhausted from all the discussions you and I have shared, but... I am grateful that you have been so willing to entertain my busied schedule."
I hum softly, nodding my head in acknowledgement to Lady Phenex and doing the same with Lord Phenex. Rellana, just a few seats away, offers a small wave. It is... almost endearing.
"Such demands are to be expected. The High Council meet regularly in wartime, after all. I would be surprised if you had more than a day of time to yourself. Though I had been hoping for a proper deal to be made between our houses, I can appreciate your willingness to not be hostile to my Master's attempts at establishing himself."
Lady Phenex hums softly, tilting her head.
"That does not mean we will roll over and allow him to take our market, Lady Grayfia. Should he attempt to impede upon the Phenex Tear industry, then there will be repercussions. I say this not as a woman with a grudge, but as a woman seeking to ensure the sanctity and power of her House. You understand, no?"
I sigh, understanding her perspective, but not willing to engage in any further discussion about potential forays into the Phenex' domain. Lord Phenex seems to notice the small tension, a hesitant laugh spilling from his lips as he glances between us, almost sweating now.
"Ladies... please. This is no environment to be engaging in tribadism."
I blink, any response I could have made dying on my lips as a result of those words. My brows furrow, a frown now forming as I stare at the Lord Phenex with disapproval. His wife clearly shares in the distaste at his words, leaving the man sweating now.
"...forgive me. It seems my attempts at humour have fallen flat."
Lady Phenex scoffs. It is a sharp, curt sound, and it makes the man flinch.
"Yes, darling. Failed is the word I would use. This is supposed to be a night of celebration, so for the sake of being civil I'll let that... comment slide. For now." She says, sighing deeply a moment later.
Almost immediately after she finishes speaking, though, something strange happens.
Both the Lord and Lady Phenex tense up, hands flicking to their ears as they receive a transmission. Lord Phenex' pallor only continued to worsen as the transmission goes on, but Lady Phenex seems to... almost smile. I can't make out any of the words properly, but the voice almost sounds like that of the Unbroken, General Falbium of the Satanihilus.
The call disconnects a short moment later, with neither party having said a word to their caller. As soon as it ends, the Lord Phenex opens his mouth to say something- only for his words to fall short after a hand is placed on his shoulder by the man's wife. My confusion only worsens.
"If you don't mind me asking, Lady Phenex... what was that transmission about?"
She smiles, her tone light and airy, though I find myself not fully convinced after looking at the pained grimace on Lord Phenex' lips.
"Think nothing of it, Lady Grayfia. It seems the Satanihilus are staging an assault soon, as Lord Glasya-Labolas has made an absurdly large order of Phenex Tears. My husband is simply terrified at losing so much stock in one fell swoop."
Lord Phenex sighs, rubbing a hand over his chin and glancing at the plate in front of him.
"Yes. That's all it was. I'm torn between jumping for joy at all the Sol such an order will bring, and crying at the effort it will take to recoup so much of our stock."
Lady Phenex smiles after hearing that, her smile only widening as she then places a hand to his shoulder. Mere moments later, she receives another transmission, her status as a 'busy woman' only being proven more with each moment.
This one, however, seems different.
She quickly stands from her seat and taps a fork against her glass the moment it ends, gathering the attention of everyone in the room. Her smile, wider than I've ever seen it before, sends an odd shiver down my spine.
"Beloved members of the House Phenex... forgive me for interrupting your pleasantries tonight, but it seems we have an unexpected arrival choosing to dine with us. To the surprise of many, my eldest son, Ryland, has chosen to join us for our meal!" She says, gesturing to the doors that swing open with blistering force a moment later.
Ryland walks through the hall with what can only be called brutish flair, his every step an echoing thud against the marbled floor, a wide grin on his lips as he takes a seat next to his sister, Rellana.
His appearance has... several implications.
Rosalia's disappearance, Ryland's sudden arrival after months of solitude, and the strange transmission both Lord and Lady received moments prior... have I misread the scheme entirely? No. I'm almost certain that I know the true puppeteer of this plot.
...so then why? Why do I still feel a shiver running down my spine? Did Rosalia change the plan after this morning?
This isn't right. Something is very wrong.
------------------------------------
[Alistair Mammon]
Our bodies move in freefall as the rooftop of the Castle begins to shatter beneath us, my feet darting between each brick as I use the opportunity afforded to me, my fist crashing into Logarius' chest before he can draw his wings and fly up.
His body is immediately flung onto a lower segment of the rooft, my own feet landing a short distance away from him after darting between several more pieces of debris to catch up with his body. Logarius rolls with the impact, skidding to a stop after stabbing his scythe into the shingles.
With deep, heaving breaths, he lifts his weapons at me one final time. A smirk plays on his lips, a strange sight for such a gaunt and withered man as he.
"This ends now, Demi-fiend. You've lost."
I blink, surprised and amused in equal measure as I listen to him speak, scoffing just a moment later.
"Really? And how exactly is it that I've lost, Logarius? Please, do explain it to me."
His grin widens. My confidence should only be soaring at the man's weakened state, but I feel an odd shiver run down my spine instead for reasons I can't possibly understand. He turns to the burning sky, a grimace of pain making him hiss, before his gaze flicks back to mine.
In his eyes, I see triumph. Just a short moment later, the Castle is enveloped in a gargantuan barrier, a thick wall of Mana cutting me off from the rest of the Underworld ever so slowly.
My eyes widen at the sigh, glancing around erratically. My attention is pulled away from the change in my surroundings and drawn back to Logarius when he makes a lacking, wheezing laugh.
"You lost, Demi-fiend..." He starts, another short wheeze escaping his lips as the strain from our battle finally catches up to him.
"...you lost, the second you chose to chase after me, instead of killing the rest of my fellow Loyalists. Now? You're trapped. Now, my mission is complete."
I grimace at the certainty in his tone, eyes drifting to the glowing, Mana-borne barrier that seems to only grow thicker with every second that passes-
-a choked cough, the blood pooling at my feet from a head that rolled down to sit in front of me.
Time has been stopped once more... and this time, I'm the one who lost.
"You- oh, you son of a bitch!" I shout, biting back the seething frustration that runs through me as I realise, with sickening dread, that Logarius has killed himself - using his Clan Trait to ensure I couldn't have any opportunity to stop him from doing so.
Logarius Agares Slain!
Kill Contribution: 250EXP!
"No... nononono-" I mutter, my breaths coming out in short huffs now, grabbing at the man's severed head and tossing it away in my frustration, a cry of anger spilling past my lips as I do so.
All that EXP, all that fucking power, gone! In the blink of an eye, wasted!
With a frustrated grimace on my lips, and a frenzy in my every movement that I almost don't recognise, I draw out my wing and fly back up to the uppermost roof of Cainhurst, planning to seek out the Devil's I'd ignored prior and cut them down before this barrier could be put to any use.
When I land on the roof, though, I feel that same dread pool low in my stomach, as a realisation begins to burn in my mind.
The Underworld is darker than usual.
With a tightening grip over the Rebellion, I tilt my head and slowly look up at the sky, feeling a distinct jolt of panic run through my body at what I see.
Indeed, the Underworld is darker than usual... though not due to the weather.
Floating in the air above Cainhurst, in numbers enough to blot out the burning sky itself and darken the lands beneath, is an armyof Loyalist forces. Two, maybe even three thousand of them, floating in the air around the barrier, surrounding me entirely.
Stood at the front of them all, darkening the sky even further with every passing moment as more of his forces appear, is none other than Bidleid Beelzebub himself. He stares down at me, a smug grin on his lips, and only one of his signature compound eyes.
The other is gone, replaced with my own eye, the one he had taken so long ago in the pits of Lucifaad.
It is a sickening, vile image.
I stare at him in muted horror, my swordhand trembling ever so slightly as I try to teleport away, only to feel the familiar sensation of a Teleportation blocker - the fucking barrier! - stopping me from doing so.
"What's the matter, rat? Scared?" He says, his grin widening into psychotic glee, words spoke loud enough to be heard by every pair of ears for miles around.
In the back of my mind, I hear faint words. A tiny whisper, the pleas of my servant, asking me to be selfish. To run, to flee, to prioritise my own survival above all else.
My mouth turns dry. I come to the harrowing, cold conclusion that there's no way out of this one. No convenient saviour. No sudden Skill being unlocked to save me. I let out a deep, visceral sigh.
...forgive me, Grayfia.
My grip tightens over the Rebellion, a fire now welling up within my chest as every ounce of fury and hatred that have burned within me come to the surface, my Soul damn near screaming out.
With a grin unbecoming of the situation, and a resolution that burns brighter than anything I've ever felt in my life, I point the Rebellion at Bidleid's winged form.
"Scared?! You think too little of me, Bidleid! I was just wondering ifyou'dbrought enough Devils with you to even the odds a bit!"
If today is the day that I die... so be it.
Just know that I won't be going alone.