Martin, Saravia, and Nylon watched Satan's body rot and disintegrate. It had been an extremely exhausting battle, but they were not finished yet, the Rings of Pride and Sloth were still left.
Nylon collapsed to the ground, having lost consciousness due to exhaustion. Saravia could barely breathe properly, while Martin was simply recovering his energy, trying to calm himself from the shock and stop the bleeding from the fingers that had been torn off.
And for the first time…
Sun. Light. Star.
For the first time, dawn finally broke in the Ring of Wrath. The only source of natural light in that place had finally awakened — something Satan had been holding back for many years.
Saravia was kneeling, almost feeling sick, but she still decided to speak. — This… this is Kamiiro, isn't it? — she asked Martin, referring to his hair.
— Yeah, it must be. — Martin said while catching his breath.
Martin stood up. — It's not over yet. We still have the Ring of Pride to fight, and this time against something even greater…
Saravia lay down on the ground. — I… can't do anything. I can't.
Martin dropped down beside her. — Me neither… I'll rest for a bit. We need to be at maximum performance for the battle against Lucifer. Daytona is strong, so she should be able to hold on…
Saravia nods.
Martin looks at Nylon on the ground. — Saravia, do you think Nylon really is Throne Class? He's really strong… he almost feels like an Archangel.
Saravia, feeling a little better, also looks at Nylon. — I don't know. If he had fought Satan for much longer, he would have died… I think he doesn't quite feel like an Archangel yet, but he's very close.
Martin stands up again. — Let's head to the Ring of Pride. We can't waste time. Daytona is alone with the strongest demon, so let's move.
Saravia nods.
Nylon wakes up instantly. — Huh? Is everything okay? Is it over already? — Nylon asks, trying to process what's happening.
— Yes, it's over. — Saravia says, regenerating and standing up. — By the way, did you get Satan's blood?
— Yes, I did. It's inside my Avangard. — Nylon says, standing up and placing his Avangard back into its sheath on his back.
Martin stretches. — Alright, let's head to the Ring of Pride. Are you guys okay?
Everyone agrees. They had regenerated and recovered a good portion of their energy.
The three of them run quickly toward the center of the Ring of Wrath's city. Along the way, they see the first glimmers of light in the eyes of its inhabitants. Everything felt extremely calm, as if the rage had been… erased.
Residents left their homes to witness the sunrise. Children who had been born there were seeing light for the first time, illuminating houses, reflecting off windows — everything felt very…
Saravia, running between Martin and Nylon, looked at both of them, admiring what they had accomplished and believing they had done the right thing.
Reaching the city center, they realized that the passages to the other Rings were portals, making travel much easier and faster. They enter the portal to Pride.
Arriving there, they appear in the middle of the city. It was somewhat empty, but there were still a few demons around, some walking aimlessly, unaware of what was happening.
(Back to Daytona…)
Daytona was still in the same place where she had been thrown. Lucifer was approaching the area when she heard Belzebub speaking to her.
— Daytona, I'm sensing Saravia's energy from the city center. She has the same aura as Leviathan, so I'm sure it's her. Go! — Belzebub said, inside her mind.
Daytona looks around, trying to find an opportunity to escape. She simply jumps to the top of the building she had been thrown into.
From the rooftop, she searches for the city center where Saravia was supposedly located. She looks and finally finds it. Just as Daytona was about to launch herself toward it, Belzebub interrupts.
— Do you really want to take this battle to the city center? Where there are countless residents? — Belzebub asks, in a serious tone.
— Uh… no…
— Then find a way to send a signal. Come up with something.
Daytona thinks about what she could do to get their attention, but… it was very difficult from such a distance. She thinks, and then… she remembers something she used to do in the past. Copies.
Daytona creates a copy of herself. The copy heads toward the city center to call the others, while Daytona stays behind to keep Lucifer from taking the fight into the city.
The clone approaches the trio, but… it does nothing. Martin is the first to notice it, initially thinking it was the real Daytona.
— Daytona! Are you okay? — Martin asks.
Saravia approaches and immediately realizes something. — That's not Daytona. I don't feel Belzebub's energy coming from her.
The trio stares at the clone, and suddenly it leaps backward violently, as if being pulled away. Saravia is the first to chase after it, thinking to herself.
— What happened to Daytona? Is that really her, or is this a trap? — Yet she keeps running at full speed.
When they arrive, they see the coastline. The clone disappears, and they spot Lucifer hovering over some rubble, distracted, searching for Daytona.
Nylon speaks first. — We need to get him away from the city and lure him somewhere more isolated.
Saravia and Nylon look at Martin.
Saravia smiles. — Martin, you know what to do, right?
Martin nods.
As soon as Martin spots Lucifer, he dashes at ultra-sonic speed to attack him by surprise.
He lands a punch on Lucifer's back, sending him flying several kilometers away, far from the city.
And suddenly, Daytona appears beside Saravia, almost like a teleport. — Daytona? Are you okay?
Daytona takes a deep breath. — Yeah, I'm fine. I took a bit of a beating, but I'm okay. — Saravia nods.
Daytona speaks to herself, in her mind. — I won't be able to face Lucifer alone… I have to push my limits even further!
Daytona decides to "overclock" herself, forcing the Mark of the Beast even more, causing another mark to appear diagonally on the right side of her neck.
Belzebub appears in her mind again. — Daytona, remember… forcing the Mark of the Beast can overload your spirituality and our connection, in addition to causing severe damage to your mind, psyche, muscles, and organs. I don't control your actions. Be careful.
Daytona genuinely worries about the consequences, but she chooses to move forward, remembering her goal of eliminating the Capital Sins.
Deep down, she knew it would be worth it — the benefits of a second Mark of the Beast on her body and spirit would be extremely valuable in the medium to long term.
Daytona takes a deep breath, grips Kōken tighter, and speaks to Saravia. — Let's do this! This is the last Capital Sin to eliminate. We're almost done!
Saravia nods, blood still running from her nose and mouth. She prepares her Shinkai Jakusari in her hands.
Martin approaches Lucifer, and Lucifer speaks. — Why are you eliminating the Seven Sins? Is there a purpose to it?
Martin gives a simple answer. — We're just doing good for humanity — something God hasn't done yet. — Martin replies calmly.
Lucifer creates a purple dagger in his hand and smiles. — God needs the Devil so humanity has a reason to follow Him… and fear Him. I find that rather… convenient, don't you?
Martin reflects briefly on Lucifer's words, but Lucifer acts first. He slashes toward Martin's chest, but Martin is fast enough to dodge.
The two begin a close-quarters battle, with Martin constantly evading and having very little opening to counterattack.
— Kami no Sōzō, Second Element, DIY Cut. — Lucifer attempts to slice Martin diagonally with his dagger, but… even without the blade touching him, it still creates a deep diagonal wound.
Martin is confused — the dagger never touched him — but he continues fighting.
Lucifer goes for another strike toward Martin's neck, but Martin quickly kicks up a stone that had been under his foot, causing Lucifer to miss and the stone to strike his arm.
Martin throws a punch at Lucifer's face. Lucifer dodges, but ends up losing an ear, which, for some reason… does not regenerate.
Martin attempts a punch to his torso, but Lucifer summons a purple shield and blocks it, then activates another ability.
— Kami no Sōzō, Fifth Element, Morgana Walls. — Lucifer creates a pair of walls, one on each side of Martin, and then—
The walls slam together, nearly crushing Martin. The attack breaks his left clavicle and ruptures the tendon of his left pectoralis major, rendering his left arm practically useless.
Lucifer is about to finish Martin off, aiming to cut his head off.
But suddenly…
— Kōken Akakagami, First Element, Tail of Wrath!
Daytona appears, and from a distance she slices off Lucifer's arm just in time. Lucifer recoils, but his arm regenerates instantly.
— Ah! What a pain! — Lucifer snaps. — Why do you kids keep showing up? You're supposed to be at school learning about Delta shit and Bhaskara crap!
Daytona stands in front of Martin. — If you're really smart… don't look behind you.
Lucifer, thinking it's a trick, looks back.
— Kōken Akakagami, Second Element, Vacuum Point. — Daytona catches Lucifer off guard and decapitates him, but… it's useless. He regenerates immediately.
— Nice tactic. If you had coordinated that with someone else attacking me, you might've actually caused real damage. But you didn't. How stupid… — Lucifer says, neutrally.
Daytona exhales. — You're right, but… — she looks above Lucifer.
He doesn't look back. That was his mistake.
Saravia suddenly appears above him. — Shinkai Jakusari, Third Element, Pressure!
Lucifer narrowly dodges. The impact kicks up massive dust, making everything nearly impossible to see — and then the combo continues.
— Kōken Akakagami, Seventh Element, Derealism. — Daytona unleashes a barrage of homing slashes at Lucifer. Most of them hit, carving deep wounds, but it doesn't matter much — he regenerates.
Saravia lands beside Daytona. — It's useless… He regenerates every time! — Saravia says, almost out of options.
But Saravia notices Martin's hair color — the Kamiiro — and realizes Lucifer is still missing an ear. She switches to Leviathan's Thermal Vision.
She sees that the wound is recent, judging by the temperature and circulation. She concludes that perhaps Kamiiro is what delays or stops demon regeneration — and for now, only Martin has it.
Saravia looks at Daytona. — Daytona… remember Kamiiro? I think it's what delays or stops demon regeneration — but only Martin has it.
Daytona comes to a realization. — Then… we'll have to unlock it now, no matter the cost!
Saravia hesitates, says nothing, and decides to keep fighting, at least until it awakens.