The Demon Lord's malicious gaze crept toward the Ice Lord's arm, a smile blending mockery and astonishment curling his lips. He muttered in a voice as deep as the abyss of hell:
"So... you are the human who inscribed the final wish upon the Covenant Document? Tell me, scion of mortality, what in blazes did you wish for?"
The Ice Lord staggered, black flames gnawing at his flesh, yet he resisted the agony, adjusting his stance with pride. His lips formed a confident smile despite the blood. He replied in a calm voice that provoked the storm:
"You... who presumed the concept of absolute energy, the First Lord of Humans and First Lord of Demons... everyone dreamed of power rivaling yours. But after the ancient war and the emergence of the first Covenant Beast, all realized the impossibility of confronting you. So, in a moment of madness, I wondered: why not try?"
He took a deep breath, cold mist exhaling with every word:
"The sword that seals you is unbound, and you found your vessel; your liberation was merely a matter of time. To stop you, I required power equal to your might. Therefore, I risked everything, and wished to possess the power of the (Covenant Beast)."
The Demon Lord erupted into hysterical laughter that shook the foundations, wiping scornful tears from his face:
"You are mad! You wish to contain the energy of a roaring ocean within a glass cup? With this weak human heart? You do not plan to fight; you plan suicide!"
In that moment, the Ice Lord clutched his necklace until his knuckles turned white, his eyes shining with distant memories:
"A weak heart? Someone did it before me... not a valiant knight, nor a brilliant commander, nor an armored soldier... barely old enough to lift a sword."
The Demon knitted his brows in bemusement. The Ice Lord continued proudly:
"She endured the pain of tearing flesh and breaking bones with the patience of Job. On that day, she saved us all... were it not for her, we would not be here. She is the pride of the Ice Squad."
The Demon asked, intrigued yet mocking: "And what is the name of this great entity?"
The Ice Lord smiled gently, his tired face softening: "She was merely a thirteen-year-old child... named Rose."
The Demon Lord tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes burning with rage: "At thirteen?! You claim a pigtail-wearing child is braver than your entire squad and legions? What an unforgivable insult!"
The Ice Lord did not reply with words; instead, he grasped his sword, and a brilliant light emanated from beneath his feet. A white orb of snow tore its way from the earth's core to rest upon the Covenant tattoo. Suddenly, a ferocious blizzard erupted, swallowing the black flames and extinguishing them in moments, amidst the astonishment of the Demon Lord who stepped back.
The Ice Lord said, his gaze sharp as a blade: "The only one drinking from the cup of insult today... is you."
Clash of Titans
The Demon went mad, unleashing a volcanic wave of fire. But the Ice Lord did not budge. He extended his bare hands, catching the fire and crushing it like burnt paper. He swung his sword, unleashing a gale that forced the Demon Lord, for the first time, to encase himself in a fiery cocoon for protection.
The two powers, Ice and Fire, merged in a deadly dance. They exchanged punches powerful enough to create atmospheric shockwaves. Separating, then clashing with swords—sparks flying, ice scattering.
And deep within this conflict, inside the physical vessel, "Andre" resided in pitch darkness.
The scene was horrifying; Andre bound by heavy chains, limb-less, a torn torso floating in the void. He opened his eyes weakly, gazing downward in sorrow. He did not scream, but surrendered to the silence of the grave.
"I have lost... The Demon controlled me even while I tried to be good. I failed... it is useless."
Before him, a lone candle flickered, its thread of light fading gradually, heralding the end.
Outside, the battle grew fiercer. The Demon Lord, enraged, unleashed hellfire massive enough to engulf the entire village. The Ice Lord countered with a gigantic glacial wave. The forces collided, and the flames dissipated bit by bit.
But the price was high. The Ice Lord's body began to fail; he gasped for air.
The Demon said with a tone of victory: "You fight fiercely, but you burn the fuse of your life. Every minute with the Covenant Beast's power draws you closer to the grave."
The Ice Lord wiped blood from his mouth: "I do not care for my health... What matters is that fool on my team who allowed an entity like you to control him. It is my duty as commander to retrieve him."
The Demon laughed: "Retrieve him? The contract requires intertwining the soul to exit... meaning his death is inevitable."
The Ice Lord screamed, his voice piercing the battle's din, directing his words inward, not outward: "That is what you want him to believe! But I know that boy... he hates being called a demon... and he will not let you win!"
Awakening in the Dark
The Captain's words pierced the veils of darkness, reaching the amputated Andre. They were like hammers striking the walls of his despair. His body began to tremble, attempting to shatter the chains despite his missing limbs.
Suddenly, the chains snapped, and the "Lamp Bearer" appeared from the void, his voice calm and wise:
"So... you have freed yourself from the illusion."
Andre muttered in amazement: "Illusion?"
"Yes, the illusion of your helplessness. You were not bound by chains, but by your fear and surrender. Do you know what is worse than death? It is giving up while you still breathe. Do you wish to return?"
Andre screamed, his voice carrying all the world's pain: "YE—S!"
The Lamp Bearer retreated into the shadow, placing his lamp far away on the ground:
"If you desire freedom... move toward the light without hands nor feet."
Andre was shocked. How could an amputated body move? He tried to think, his mind wracked with pain, until the Ice Lord's voice pierced the darkness again: "Do you still not hear me?! I am disappointed in you!"
The sentence struck like lightning. Andre recalled the voice of "Albert," the orphanage owner, the same old words of abandonment.
He struck his head against the ground violently... time and time again, tears streaming down: "Damn it! Why must I hear this again? Why am I a burden in my first life and my second? The thorn stuck in the throat... I will not accept this fate again!"
With a will surpassing human capacity, Andre began to crawl... digging his chin into the ground and pushing his body, striking with his head and dragging himself... a slow, agonizing movement, but a movement toward the light.
The Sacrifice and the End
On the battlefield, the Ice Lord's heart suddenly stopped. He fell to his knees, breaths escaping with extreme difficulty. Time paused for a moment, then his heart resumed beating continuously but slowly, preventing him from moving.
The Demon stood over him, sword raised, a smile of victory on his face: "Did I not tell you? You are no match for me."
The knights screamed: "Captain!" Oliver attempted to intervene, but spears of fire pinned his arm to the ground. A fiery storm encircled everyone, preventing any interference.
The Demon's sword descended to harvest the Ice Lord's head.
But...
The sword stopped in mid-air.
A hand gripped the hand holding the blade. One of the Demon's horns suddenly vanished.
A weak smile appeared on the Ice Lord's pale face: "Andre..."
The Demon's voice transformed into a dual sound, half demonic, half human. Andre spoke with difficulty:
"Yes, Captain... and I am sorry, it seems I did not complete the mission."
The demonic half screamed in panic: "Do you think you can break the contract? Impossible! If you do, our lives will end together!"
Andre smiled, slowly raising his hand toward his face... toward the tattoo and the skin binding him to the curse:
"Afraid for your life, Demon? What a weakling... watch your life end, then."
With a horrifying movement that chilled the spine, Andre dug his fingers into his face and began ripping the flesh with brutal force amidst the Demon's resounding screams. Blood exploded like fountains.
The Demon screamed with his last remaining strength: "Do you think you have won?! It will not end until I find another vessel!"
Suddenly, the earth split open, and all seven gates swung wide. Seven gigantic stone statues emerged, their auras terrifying.
The Demon growled as he faded away: "I will return... and these will be waiting. As for you... go to hell."
A small piece of skin remained hanging, but Andre did not hesitate; he ripped it away completely. Heavy blood fell upon the white snow. Andre's body staggered and fell beside his captain, his face a mere mass of blood and pain, yet his voice was as calm as death:
"I do not care... Captain, tell everyone that I am... sorry."
Silence reigned for a second, before the place erupted with the screaming and wailing of the knights echoing throughout the village, announcing the end of a battle and the beginning of a new tragedy