The battle between Airi and Scarlet raged on intensely. Every punch and slash created wind vortices visible even from a distance. Airi kept blocking and counterattacking, but her body was slowly growing exhausted.
Scarlet stared at her with a cold smile, then slowly raised his dark-glowing blade—"Naraka Blades." The aura from the weapon made the ground tremble and the wind swirl violently around him.
"Now… I'm serious," Scarlet said, his eyes glowing red.
In an instant, a swift strike landed on Airi. The Naraka Blades slashed through her left arm, sending blood into the air. Another follow-up attack hit her face, and her left arm was completely severed. Airi collapsed to the ground.
Soon after, she lost consciousness.
---
In her subconscious, Airi met a figure identical to herself—the version of her from the past.
The girl spoke coldly. "Weak."
Airi lowered her head. "Scarlet is too strong… I can't defeat him."
The girl smiled softly. "Then let me merge with your soul. Together, we can defeat Scarlet."
Airi took a deep breath. Warm energy flowed through her as both souls began to merge.
---
Suddenly, Airi awakened again.
Scarlet stood in front of her, slightly surprised.
"So… you're still alive?" Scarlet said with a mocking tone.
Airi smiled faintly, her eyes glowing. "Alive? I reject death. If you kill me… I'll just come back again."
Golden threads of light emerged from her right eye, and in an instant, she vanished—reappearing behind Scarlet at incredible speed.
From a distance, Haru and Tomo could only see bursts of light and swirling energy. They immediately understood—Airi had awakened a new power.
---
Airi moved behind Scarlet so fast he couldn't react.
"This… isn't over yet!" Scarlet growled, trying to counterattack—but he was too slow.
Airi smirked. "You think I'm still weak? Watch carefully."
---
As the Demon King, Scarlet finally revealed his full power. His eyes burned red as a terrifying dark aura shook the entire hill.
With a dramatic motion, he summoned the Demon King Satan. A massive demonic entity rose from the ground—towering, with black wings and glowing red eyes. A destructive aura spread across the battlefield.
Not only that—Scarlet raised his hand to the sky.
A giant meteor descended from the darkness.
A massive fire serpent appeared in the clouds, circling and unleashing flames.
At the same time, rivers of molten lava began flowing across the hill, burning everything in their path.
---
From afar, Haru and Tomo trembled.
"This is insane… meteors, fire serpents, lava… it's all real…" Tomo whispered in fear.
---
On the battlefield, Arou and Nova looked up at the sky.
Meteor fragments crashed into the ground, sending shockwaves of fire and stone.
The fire serpent twisted through the air, preparing another attack.
And Demon King Satan loomed, ready to strike Airi.
"This is… stronger than we expected," Nova said, channeling magic to block some of the destruction.
Arou raised his red and blue swords. "We can't just stand here. If we don't stop this, everything will be destroyed!"
---
But Airi remained standing.
Golden threads and dark energy swirled around her.
"Now… it's my turn," she whispered.
Her expression changed—darkened, almost inhuman. Her eyes and mouth turned pale white, creating a horrifying aura that swallowed the light around her.
The sky above turned black. Thick storm clouds covered the sun.
Airi laughed.
The sound echoed across the battlefield, sending chills through everyone—Arou, Nova, Haru, and Tomo all froze.
Even the meteor, lava, and fire serpent seemed to hesitate.
---
Airi's aura expanded, pushing back the incoming destruction.
Arou widened his eyes. "That… is Airi?!"
Nova muttered, "This aura… it's beyond anything I've ever felt…"
Haru and Tomo could barely breathe. "She's… not normal anymore…" Haru whispered.
---
Airi's laughter grew louder as her energy clashed against Scarlet's apocalypse-level attacks. The battlefield shook violently.
Then she spoke softly:
"Now… I will end this."
---
In a flash, she moved.
A golden trail cut through the air as she launched forward. Meteor fragments, lava streams, and the fire serpent were all pulled into her energy vortex and shattered into dust.
Scarlet and Demon King Satan tried to defend—but they were too slow.
Airi moved like a shadow, striking with precision. Each slash carried golden light that erased everything it touched.
"No… this is impossible!" Scarlet shouted, eyes wide in disbelief.
---
Demon King Satan roared, but Airi's energy consumed his body, breaking him apart piece by piece. The meteor fragments and fire serpent collapsed into ash and cooling lava.
---
From afar, Arou and Nova watched in shock.
"Airi… she's insane…" Nova said, still defending against residual energy.
Arou nodded. "She's the only one who can handle both Scarlet and Satan…"
---
Now cornered, Scarlet and Satan were overwhelmed.
Airi rushed forward.
"This is the end!" she shouted.
A massive explosion of energy erupted.
Scarlet and Demon King Satan were thrown back, their bodies disintegrating into fragments of light and darkness. The remaining demon forces vanished into dust.
---
The battlefield slowly calmed.
The lava cooled. The sky began to clear. Silence returned.
Haru and Tomo stood frozen.
"She… did it alone…" Tomo whispered.
---
Arou looked at Airi with relief. "You're amazing… truly a hero."
Nova smiled faintly. "We survived the worst of it today."
---
But then…
Airi stood in the center of the battlefield.
Her golden threads still glowed, but her face remained dark, almost mask-like. Her aura was still terrifying.
Without warning, she rose into the sky.
Everyone looked up.
"That's… Airi?" Haru said, shaking.
"She still feels dangerous…" Nova warned.
---
Suddenly, Airi moved.
She turned and attacked—straight toward Arou and Nova.
Wind exploded around her. The ground cracked. Her presence alone distorted the air.
Arou immediately raised his dual swords. Nova prepared a barrier.
"Stop, Airi! It's us!" Arou shouted.
But Airi's voice was cold:
"I will not let anyone stop me!"
---
The battle was not over.
Not even close.