Battle Demon

"All done." The Nether spoke, returning his gaze to his dumbstruck audience.

Jared Leonard, humanity's champion, had long become ash, and his soul had been snuffed out. He was dead—in every sense of the word.

At first, only silence permeated the dark expanse.

Everyone was too devastated to utter a single word. Their eyes simply widened as their bodies remained still. It was as if they couldn't make up their minds on what to feel.

Anger? Sorrow? Regret? Shock? The list was too long for their brains to comprehend at once.

In the end, the onlookers gave gasps of despondency and pain.

"Now then…" The Nether grinned, slowly returning to Ciel's side. His satisfaction stemmed from the defeat of the only available contingency.

Now nothing was stopping him. Not anymore.

Jared's friends—his allies—could only watch powerlessly. None could stand up against the Nether.

"J-Jared, I…" Ana was too distraught to form a coherent speech.