Larfrei's laughter did not fade.
It rolled through the entrance hall of the Isole like a living thing—thick, layered, reverberating off stone and steel alike. It crawled along the walls, slipped through corridors, and burst out into the open air beyond the fortress gates, announcing itself to the city of Ardent with manic delight.
"This is amazing! I can't believe I am finally free! Where are the people? The cattle? The spoils?"
The monstrous figure that had once been Dante Corvolegno straightened fully, shoulders cracking into place as some kind of aura poured off him in visible waves. The seal was gone. The restraint shattered. All that followed was a voice of twisted glee and anticipation.
Elise staggered back, heart hammering as the pressure crushed down on her chest.
"M-Mira…" she breathed, unable to tear her eyes away.
Mira stepped forward, placing herself between Elise and the monster without hesitation. Her grip tightened around her sword, flames flickering weakly along its edge as she steadied her stance.
"Fuck..." Mira muttered, "This is the worst possible time for this!"
"W-What is he?" Elise asked, fear filling her voice, "Is he really one of those Supreme Powers Caelus mentioned?"
Larfrei's laughter ebbed into a grin far too wide to belong to anything human. His glowing orange eyes flicked toward them, amused.
"Oh?" he spoke, "Is that you, fire girl?"
Mira didn't look at him, only shifting her sword in anticipation of what might happen next.
"A few months after Dante joined the order," she spoke, the grip on her hilt tense, "we were sent on a mission to an old dryad village to check if any forbidden magic was being used."
She focused herself.
"We found a shaman tampering with the resident Pillar—an ancient seal used for demons. We dealt with him... but the seal had already weakened... and Dante was the closest vessel."
Elise's gaze widened, breaking into a cold sweat.
"Oh gods...!" she slowly raised her hand to her mouth
"Caelus barely managed to seal him again, this time in Dante's soul..." Mira swallowed
"You make me sound so heartless, fire girl." he said mockingly, "I only borrowed his body. This warm, exquisite piece of flesh! So full of potential!"
"You could have killed him." Mira finally focused her gaze on him
"Nearly." Larfrei repeated, "But none of you could kill him to take me with him."
The stone beneath Mira's feet exploded.
She rushed forward toward the demon, fire trailing from her boots. As she struck as quickly as possible, sparks flew, revealing the demon held one of the unconcious guards' blades, warped by magic of orange hue.
"And my Vault is already open it seems," he chuckles, "how brilliant!!"
He swung his newly claimed prize once more, this time the impact sent a shockwave ripping through the hall, shattering the surrounding doors and windows and hurling Elise off her feet.
Mira skidded back, her hands still trembling from barely withstanding the force of the blow.
"Elise, get out now! Leave the Isole!!"
As Elise scrambled up to her feet, Larfrei continued his assault, each strike carrying that same orange magic. He laughed maniacally as Mira parried, sparks flying through the air as she could only struggle to redirect his attacks.
"Warn them, Elise! Help as many people as you can!!" she barked again
The next blow sent Mira flying through the entrance doors and into the streets.
Larfrei followed—tearing through the streets in his wake
Buildings crumbled as he tore through the city. Bystanders that were going about their normal lives not long ago could only scream in panic, as debris rained throughout his path.
Elise ran after the two as she disembarked from the Isole, concerned for the state of Mira. As she turned to a new street, a familiar presence washed over her.
Calm.
Focused.
Caelus was standing on the roof of one of the rarely untouched buildings, his cloak fluttering in the wind as he examined the path of destruction the demon was creating as they stood.
"I guess worst has come to worst." he muttered
Larfrei stopped in his tracks.
He turned slowly, as if sniffing out his prey like a wild beast.
"Elise. Guide the civilians to safety." Caelus said calmly, "I'll handle him."
"Caelus—" Elise started
"Don't worry about me."
"Just... just make sure Mira's alright... and stay safe..." she left him those words as she began searching
Caelus leaped over to where Larfrei and Mira ended up.
"Dammit, you won't let me live this down, will you?" Mira asks as she coughs up some blood
"We can have our fun with that later," he places his hand above her, emitting a green glow, "right now, I need you to go help Elise."
She lets out a breath of relief before standing up.
"Thanks for the healing," she wills herself up before she starts making her leave, "and don't lose, idiot!"
"I'll make sure of it."
Caelus faces Larfrei as the demon grins in anticipation.
"How long I have awaited this chance," he laughed
Caelus didn't hesitate, dashing in and delivering a swift liver shot. The demon soon retaliated with a slashing claw toward his foe's face, which was narrowly avoided only leaving a singular cut on his face. Each impact created greater shockwaves, rippling through the surrounding blocks and shattering anything too weak to withstand their presence. Caelus ducked under a sweeping strike, driving his elbow into Larfrei's ribs—only for the demon to rebound and retaliate with a kick that almost flung Caelus backwards.
"It's been more than two years since we last fought and you're nowhere near your full potential," Larfrei taunted
Caelus wiped blood from his cheek, eyes honed in on the demon.
"Funny. I was thinking the same thing."
"Where is that glorious blade you always used to carry?"
"Stella is the least of your concerns now." Caelus answered reluctantly as he circled the demon
The momentary respite ended as fast as it arrived. They exchanged blows once more, with Caelus forcing Larfrei into a corner with nothing but quick, relentless blows — until the demon cracked a smile.
"You bore me, Star Child."
He spread his arms, palms fully open.
"Allow me to scavenge."
The air shifted instantly. Lampposts. Benches. Crates. Stone. Carts — they all simultaneously vanished before being hurled toward Caelus in the form of orange artillery.
Caelus raised his arms, barely deflecting the onslaught.
Yelps of pain were held back with each impact.
"You're still standing?" Larfrei mocked
The space next to his hand distorted and slowly had a sword slide out. The blade was twisted — almost as if it were a reflection of its master. The sword was swung, batting Caelus through a general store as the interior got wrecked while he skidded to a stop.
Dust settled.
Caelus groaned.
"Yeah... that tracks." he muttered, sighing as he stared at the ceiling
He pushes himself up slowly, wincing.
"Dante's body was able to take all those hits really well," he said to himself. "Tiravel's fighters have all gotten way stronger in these past two years..."
In the distance, the demon could be heard gleefully unleashing ruin on the city.
Caelus turned his head, seeing a terrified shopkeeper peeking out from behind the counter.
"Hey... you got any water?" he asked casually
The clerk blinked then frantically found a bottle of water to give him.
Caelus took the bottle, drank deeply, and smiled.
"Alright," he said, stretching. "Guess it's time to stop holding back."