10 Chapter Ten: Death Sonata (Finale)
Matthaius is filled with disbelief upon seeing what Granger had done. "Are you turning against your own men?"
Granger, reloaded his pistol with another set of bullets and pointed it to the abyssal demon who once was his mentor. "I'm not an Abyssal and I'll never be one!"
"Then what can you say about your father?!" Matthaius held his injured arm, grunting in pain.
"If what you said about my father is right, then the mentor whom Luna admired and my father is the same person. There is a vital reason why my father, accepted the mission and betrayed his own men. Same as I." he fired another set of bullets and landed numerous hits.
"What would you gain by killing me?" Matthaius grunts in pain as blood continues to flow from his body.
"Nothing! Just like the task you used to lure me. Being a murderer against mankind---being a human myself, I'll gain nothing from it!"
Matthaius became enraged with anger---a deep aura had surrounded his wounded body. As if, his energy is starting to recover!
"This is going to be tough." The demon hunter thought to himself.
On the other hand, Karina, upon seeing her sister being brought inside the Abyss territory decided to jump in as well. Estes who noticed the dark elf's reckless move, ordered Miya to assist him to aid Karina's attack.
As they are approaching the portal's entrance, Moskov throws one of his spears towards their location hitting Miya who isn't mobile enough to dodge the impact.
"MIYA!" Alucard rushed in for her aid.
Moskov approached the wounded archer blocking them from entering the portal. "Fortunately you weren't really vitally with my spear of death."
"You piece of…" Alucard draws his sword. "I'll never be your friend."
Estes tried to calm him down. "Don't let anger overpower you. Overextending against opponents is your biggest weakness."
"I understand." He faced the demon with his rose gold blade. "I'll be your opponent!"
Karina singlehandedly managed to pass through the portal. In order to chase for her dearest sister who is on the verge of being devoured by the abyss dominator.
However, a much darker path awaits her. The hideous picture of the abyssal dominator cannot compare to its much darker abode. Darkness reigns over everything! The only light is the crimson lava that flows in the bottomless crevices. Karina is trembling with fear but her adrenaline is telling her to move forward and face the cruel path which welcomed her.
One by one, the abyssal came forth, charging towards her! Trying to devour her flesh and turn her into nothing.
However, she is prepared for this! She took her blades around her and charged forward to welcome the demons' challenge slaying every single one who dares lay a hand on her.
Alas! After the dark elf slaughtered countless demons, Alice decided to step in as a last resort to protect the dark abyss as he devours the sacrifice's body.
"I wonder what takes the Dominator long enough to consume its meal?!" Alice thought to herself. She faced towards the wounded dark elf assassin who is catching her breath after killing countless demons who stands in her way. "I'm surprised you managed to reach this far singlehandedly."
"For my sister, I'm willing to sacrifice myself!" Karina spoke as she is panting hard after a tiresome combat.
She didn't even have a moment to think when a ball of blood is charging towards her then suddenly… "Hello!" the queen of the apocalypse suddenly stood up in front of her. Alice stomped the ground, stunning the assassin on the ground. She then turned scarlet as she sucks Karina's remaining energy to herself.
Karina couldn't do anything; she's too weak to move.
Then…
…a magical sound blasted on the ground! She decided to decipher the power's origin. Then she realized it was the power of the Moon Goddess Blessing which was entrusted to the moon elf king in order to heal anyone the King choses to grant the healing to.
She can feel her energy rising up. She tried to slash Alice with her blades however, the queen of the apocalypse managed to escape.
"You almost got me there." Alice laughed after uttering those words.
Karina stood up, Estes went alongside her. "Now, rescuing my sister might not be the too much impossible now."
Alice seemed troubled deep inside her. She turned her head towards the abyssal dominator to check its progress. And was relieved upon seeing that the Abyss Dominator is about to devour the young elf's body.
The Abyss Devil twistedly penetrated into Selena, spreading serious torment and distress through each cell inside the young Elf's body.
"NO!!!" Karina tried to stop the devil but Alice stopped her.
However…
…as she was going to be devoured by the dmon, a supernatural occurrence happened - a warm blue light encompassed the young lady, and the dark Abyssal Energy and the Mystical Power started pursuing a savage fight inside her delicate, young body. Everything around the dark abyss started shaking. The on-going fight around the area between the Moniyans, elves and the abyssal demons, halted for one bit, wondering what had happened.
The ground is shaking... Estes went to stop Karina from doing reckless things. "It's over. We have to go!"
Karina refused. "No! I can still save her!"
The shaking increased! The fallen debris is piling up!
Karina faced her struggling sister who is currently fighting for dear life.
"It's no use! The demon is already inside her! Any minute now, the demon will devour her soul. There's nothing we could do!"
Estes grabbed her arm and pulled her outside the portal out of the abyss. This time, no demon is attempting to block their escape since even they are still wondering about what had happened.
Karina looked at her sister from afar for the last time. Her tears began to drip as slowly by slowly the picture of Selena is starting to fade.
"Goodbye my sister."
Outside the portal are Alucard and Miya together with the others who were just fighting recently.
"Where are the demons?" Estes asked.
Alucard replied "As soon as the earthquake started, they just ran away---scattering around. Even their officers, Helcurt and Moskov, went inside the portal wondering what happened. We were concerned you might have encountered them along the way."
"Even the demons inside were panicking about what had happened. This might be a rare occurrence for them." Estes replied.
Alucard noticed the grievous picture of Karina who is filled with despair all over her face. "What about her sister?"
"Unfortunately, we didn't make it."
Miya went to comfort the dark elf. "I'm sorry if I doubted you."
Karina remained speechless as she sat on the ground with tears on her eyes.
"Time heals." Estes thought to himself.
Meanwhile at the village, Granger and the lady were fighting together against Matthaius who just revealed his plan to lure the demon hunter on the abyssal's side.
Matthaius filled the entire area with black sands in order to block disrupt their aims and miss.
"This is tougher than I thought!" the lady exclaimed, as she thoroughly searches for her target.
When the dusty sands are slowly vanishing, Matthaius is already in front of her.
"Shoot!" she tossed her final grenade on the ground knocking back the enemy on a safe distance. "Enemy in range!"
Matthaius who became solely focused on the lady who interrupted them forgot about Granger who just reloaded his bullets back.
Matthaius charged towards Granger as an act of desperation. The demon hunter dashed back, opened up six consecutive shots. The demon took a great hit on his body. His body is greatly weakened. As he dashed forward to at least slash the young demon hunter hoping he can at least leave a vial of venom in his body, Granger carried his violin case and aimed at the scorpion demon's body.
Granger fired a large bullet.
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A CRITICAL HIT!
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He fired another one!
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Another critical!
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Matthaius can barely stand after taking those deadly blows from the super bullets loaded on the violin case. With his last strength, he begged for mercy. "Please spare my life!"
Granger aimed his violin case towards Matthaius and uttered. "You know what, being an emotionless demon hunter is the best thing you ever suggested to me."
And thus, firing the final bullet off!
Matthaius wailed in pain… "uhh uugh!" then he fell lifeless on the ground.
Granger stood in front of Matthaius staring his opponent's lifeless body.
The lady approached him. "It's finally over!"
Granger turned his head towards the lady who is carrying her long barreled weapon. "How does it feel?"
The lady was astonished by Granger's words. "Ummm… what do you mean?"
Granger stared up above the silver moon… "I mean, how does it feel that everything is finally over?"
The lady stared up the moon as well. "Nothing. I mean I don't know… I'm supposed to be satisfied now."
"Yeah, I feel nothing as well---as if, this scene never happened at all." He picked up his violin case and started walking. While walking, he asked the lady a question. "Where will you go from now on?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'll just go home and relax. By the way…I haven't known your name. My name's Lesley, what's yours?"
"You can call me Granger." as he continues to walk his way.
"The next time we meet, It'll be my bullets against yours. Remember?"
Granger ceased walking and smirked… "Yeah…" Granger turned his head to check on the lady however, this time, the lady has finally vanished.
Not long enough… the sun began to shine and all the troops including those who were from the Moniyan Empire and the Moon Elves, each went home to their respective kingdoms.
Granger reported the sad news about Matthaius to Tigreal who were so close in the earlier days.
Thus Granger decided to leave the crowd and continues his job---being a demon hunter while being the Vagrant Poet who is known to everyone. Sharing his lousy yet effective Death Sonata to every opponent he encounters.
The Dark Abyss became stable after a few hours.
Selena awoke to find herself lying in the depth of the Abyss, her skin now a mysterious blue tone and her lavender eyes filled with a scarlet glow, with the Abyss Devil lying quietly at her side.
She stood up in front of the other demons who were curiously watching her as she woke up from her slumber. Even Alice, Moskov and Helcurt were all surprised upon this sudden phenomenon.
Her fragile body became engulfed with dark energy as she slowly changes her appearance. This time, her body turns into an abyssal but is much scarier than the other demons around. Even Alice recognized that the Abyss Dominator is residing inside her body and also acknowledged her as the strongest demon the abyss has ever encountered. Selena looked around her and spoke with a serious and dreadful tone.
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"DEFY THE ABYSS AND FACE A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!"
- END -
