The ruined arena had become eerily silent.
Dust drifted through the air while shattered stone floated across the battlefield. The barrier surrounding the arena flickered from the aftershocks of the previous exchange, and every spectator remained fixed on the lone figure standing amidst the destruction.
Quan steadied his breathing.
Blood streamed from the stump where his right arm had once been, though the shadow arm replacing it pulsed with dark power.
His eyes locked onto Achlys.
Without another word, he planted both palms against the fractured ground.
"Shadow Rupture."
Darkness spread across the arena floor like ink spilled across water.
Within an instant, towering shadow spikes erupted from every direction, surging upward to impale Achlys.
Achlys didn't move. He simply raised his right hand and pointed a single finger toward Quan.
"Black Miasma."
A concentrated beam of primordial mist burst from his index finger.
The black beam pierced through the incoming spikes as though they had never existed. The shadows shattered apart. The beam continued forward without slowing.
Quan's instincts screamed. He leapt aside. The beam struck the barrier behind him.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire colosseum.
The reinforced barrier visibly cracked. High above the arena, the announcer's expression changed. He immediately extended both hands, pouring more spiritual power into the defensive formation.
The fractures stopped spreading yet the spectators watched in disbelief as black miasma continued creeping across the barrier, slowly corroding it from within.
"It's… eating the barrier…What kind of power is that?..That isn't ordinary spiritual energy…"
Before anyone could react Achlys vanished. Quan's eyes widened.
A voice sounded directly behind him.
"Touch of Corruption."
Quan spun instantly.
"Shadow Barrier!"
Darkness condensed into a massive shield before him.
Achlys calmly thrust his palm forward. The instant his hand met the barrier It shattered. Like fragile glass. Fragments of shadow scattered into the air. Quan was blasted backward and slammed violently into the ground.
Before he could recover Achlys slowly lifted his hand.
"Black Miasma Barrage."
Dozens of black beams erupted from behind him. Each one streaked toward Quan like meteors.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The explosions came one after another.
The arena disappeared beneath clouds of smoke and flames. Several moments passed. The smoke gradually dispersed. Quan emerged from within…Barely. His body was covered in burns.
Blood dripped from countless wounds. His breathing had become ragged.
Still…He refused to surrender. Using every ounce of strength remaining, he raised his left hand.
The surrounding shadows answered his call or at least they tried to. Suddenly Quan coughed violently. Blood spilled from his mouth.
His knees buckled. He collapsed onto one knee. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"What's happening…?..Why can't I summon the shadows? What's blocking my power?"
Achlys stopped walking.
For several seconds he simply stared. Then he burst into hysterical laughter. The sound echoed throughout the enormous colosseum.
The millions of spectators fell completely silent.
Even the Demon Lords watched without speaking. Achlys covered the upper half of his face with his right hand. His laughter gradually ceased. He lowered his hand.
His glowing crimson eyes settled upon Quan.
"My primordial mist…is not merely black miasma. It is a poison to all things…Even prolonged exposure is dangerous."
He smiled.
"Blame yourself for being too weak."
The next instant he stood directly before Quan.
No one had seen him move. Quan slowly lifted his head. Those crimson slit pupils stared down upon him. His entire body trembled.
Achlys spoke quietly.
"I could never put myself in your shoes...but I don't blame you."
He reached forward. His right hand closed around Quan's head.
Effortlessly he lifted him into the air. Quan struggled helplessly.
Achlys smiled.
"After all…You're fighting me. So the least you could do…is feed the Abyss."
His voice became cold.
"Primordial Corruption."
Black miasma exploded from his hand. It wrapped around Quan's entire body. Quan screamed.
The sound echoed throughout the colosseum. His flesh rapidly dried. His skin cracked.
Dark fissures spread across every inch of his body. Achlys released him. Quan struck the ground.
A second later his body crumbled. The dried remains shattered into fine dust before being carried away by the wind.
Silence claimed the arena. Achlys turned away.
"I'm going back to sleep."
The black wings dissolved. The curved horns disappeared. The crimson glow faded. The primordial mist slowly withdrew into Damian's body.
Moments later Damian regained control. His appearance returned to normal. Every injury had completely healed.
The spectators remained speechless for only a heartbeat.
Then the entire colosseum erupted.
"DEVOURER!"
"DEVOURER!"
"DEVOURER!"
Millions of voices shook the heavens. The announcer descended into the arena, landing a few steps before Damian. His face was filled with excitement.
"Today, history has been made. A new champion is born."
He raised his hand toward Damian.
"Give it up for…the Child of the Fallen!"
The demons roared louder than ever before.
The announcer smiled before speaking again.
"Tomorrow, you may return to collect your reward."
Damian gave a small nod. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit of the colosseum.
As he stepped outside, hurried footsteps approached from behind. The little girl from the waiting room caught up to him. She smiled brightly. The two silently left together.
Outside the colosseum, the city of Roth stretched endlessly beneath the dark skies of the Underworld. Towering black buildings lined the streets.
Lanterns burning with crimson flames illuminated the roads.
Demons, abyssal creatures and countless other races walked through the bustling city. Damian continued forward.
After several minutes, he finally glanced sideways.
"Why are you following me?"
The little girl looked up innocently.
"I don't know…but the other you feels familiar."
Damian remained silent.
"Is she talking about Achlys?"
Without another word, he bent down. He gently lifted the little girl and placed her on his shoulders.
She giggled happily. As they continued walking, Damian asked,
"What's your name?"
The girl puffed out her chest proudly.
"I am Beatrix."
Damian nodded.
"So, Beatrix…What are you doing here alone?"
Her cheerful expression softened.
"I'm always locked up in the castle. The guards won't give me a break and Daddy's always working…So I have no one to play with."
Her words lingered in the air. For a brief moment Fragments of his childhood flashed through his mind. Empty rooms. Silent days. Loneliness.
He stopped walking. A nearby street vendor sold fresh fruit.
Damian purchased two apples. He handed one to Beatrix before taking a bite from his own.
The two wandered through Roth together until the crimson glow of the city gradually faded into night.
Later that evening Damian and Beatrix sat quietly atop the roof of a small inn.
Above them stretched the eternal sky of Hell. A massive moon hung overhead, surrounded by a ring of floating asteroids. Neither of them spoke.
The silence was comfortable. Suddenly two figures landed upon the rooftop. Both wore black armor bearing the crest of Mephisto. They immediately knelt.
"Princess…It's time to return to the castle. Lord Mephisto is worried."
Beatrix slowly stood. She looked toward Damian with a bright smile.
"Big brother…I'll return now. I'll come play with you again."
Damian looked at her calmly.
"Be seeing you, Beatrix."
The two guards glanced toward Damian. Damian silently returned their gaze. Without another word, the guards rose to their feet.
They escorted Beatrix away into the night. Damian remained standing on the rooftop for a few moments longer. Then he turned leaping down from the roof, he entered the nearby inn to stay for the night.