[11]

"Manifestation!" Her eyes burning a golden radiance, Maria yelled.

The white cape behind her fluttered against the winds, slowly, weapons of golden light began to take shape as the drew themselves from the helm of nothingness. Each vibrating in a low hum, the ten weapons shone with golden radiance, lined her back, gently floating as the air burned in their presence.

Maria drew her radiant blade, as she pointed its tip towards the figure "Scatter!"

The ten blades gave a low hum before instantly springing into action, their figures trailing an arc through the air as gold clouded above.

The hurled through the air at blinding speed.

"Dammit!" The coarse voice of the man finally revealed himself as a struggle descended upon him.

His body twisted as his cloak fluttered.

However, he hadn't managed to dodge them all as a few grazed his body and patches of crimson blood shone vibrantly on his blackened cloak.

Fearing the worst, he immediately activated his skill as his body began to grow into haziness and his surroundings deteriorated.

However, the blades spun themselves backwards-they had just passed him-and sprung onto him once more.

"!!!"

The man immediately drew his sword as a muffled grunt escaped his lips. Deflecting the first blade, and spiraling it into the air, he jumped back to avoid the three others that struck into the cobblestone beneath his feet.

Then he unraveled an item into his hands, a small badge-like item.

Injecting his mana within, a magic shield of light immediately shielded him.

Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank Clank

Each of the golden blades deflected off as they bounced back and were forced back into the air.

Watching this, Maria held her radiant sword with a single hand, crouched slightly, and entered into a charge.

'<Light Barrier>? You think I don't know it's weakness?'

The scenario blurred as her speed increased.

The ten blades were recalled in front of her. With but a command of thought, they melded into the sword in her hand as a radiant golden luster gleamed upon its blade.

It grew with ever increasing size with her will, the blade had become a gigantic bahamut to swing around.

But she wasn't swinging it.

Her body abruptly stopped, she stomped onto the ground, and threw the weapon within her hands with the greatest amount of strength she could muster. The very motion creating turbulent winds.

'Pierce!' Her mind screamed.

The gigantic blade gleamed under the high sun as it hurled through the air as it hailed forwards.

The world seemed to focus all its light upon that blade.

Its point came into contact with the shield as it effortlessly shattered through in fragments of light.

Then came the man, wielding a sword in defense.

It ripped forwards, directly crushing the iron lump of metal that was called a weapon.

Directly crushing through the skin with effortlessness.

Directly crushing the bones of the figure as a myriad scream rang and the crunch of bone breaking echoed.

It pierced into the direct chest of the individual as blood splattered out from his lips, passed through the cloak on his face, and splashed onto the floor.

As the sword in his chest began to dissipate in golden lights, the man turned towards Maria, staggered backwards.

His body falling, his words trailing the air "little girl...you're a murderer now..."

That hollow laugh of his echoed into the winds as his lifeless body grew cold.

Maria didn't have time to take his words to heart, she had immediately sprung into action and rain towards Rain.

Crouching by his figure, a golden light wallowed from her palm as it rushed into his back and chest to meld his wounds.

Finally, it was over, she sighed in relief after the wounds had healed.

The energy within her body began to leave as her eyes returned to the shaded pink crimson color and her armor began to dissipate in a hazy golden light.

"Princess!" A voice entered into her mind.

Maria smiled as she glanced at the rushing figure of her knight.

Then, her head began to fall backwards.

However, her eyes widened briefly as she lost consciousness.

'A red star?!' Those were her last thoughts.

The sky gleamed as a ball of blazing flames wallowed in its presence. The sun already long eclipsed by its might and the sky bathed in its crimson glare.

Maria closed her eyes as she fell into a deep slumber.

***

Within a forest of black charred trees was a pound of matching color. It looked beyond desolately black and was the only thing worth noticing in the area for miles to come.

The surface of the spring was currently bubbling in anticipation as if in excitement. It squirmed about wither leisure.

Then...

Bang!

A figure broke through the surface as she sped into the sky.

Slowly she showed herself.

A small humanoid figure with two short black horns on her head.

She wasn't tall, in fact, she was the same height as Maria.

Her skin was tanned brown and she wore a ragged clothing of black.

Her silver hair fluttered behind her.

Her face was hidden by a dull faceless silver mask.

"Is this the outside world?" The voice sounded pleasant but overbearing.

She stared into the distance, and although her mask held no sockets, it was quite clear she could see behind it.

In the distance, she saw the capital city of the demons.

"This should be fun."

Her figure sped towards the distance.

In a matter of minutes, she arrived above the bustling city and directly flew towards the castle in the center.

She seemed to blink across the sky as her figure soundlessly appeared above the glistening black marble complex.

Her body floated down as she passed through an open window and entered the hall.

A single person sat on the throne, a beastmen of golden fur and looked like a humanoid lion.

"Who are you?" Her voice seemed to carry amusement as her faceless mask looked towards the man.

"I am the current leader of the 7 deadly sins, the sin of Pride. Alabaster Gridion." His voice carried into her ears.

"Are you the new demon lord?" He finally asked as his golden pupils stared at her.

"I'm here to take my throne." Her voice grew icily into his ears.

"And if I refuse?" Alabaster asked, his voice setting with the effort to fight for the throne.

"Oh?" A slight chuckle rang.

Her figure disappeared and reappeared beside the man.

Her hand was formed into a fist as she punched forwards.

Alabaster hurried to defend himself as he raised his hand to his side.

However, a mighty force crashed into him and his body flew off the throne.

Bang!

Like a small pebble, he was directly punched into the distant wall as his body concaved into it.

The whole of the castle seemed to shake and shudder under the impact.

Alabaster stood up shakingly, his crushed arm already beginning to heal as he stared at the girl.

The young demon chuckled then sat on her new throne.

"Remember this: Do not anger me."

"I am your demon lord." Her mask looked towards the man as she crossed her legs.

"Demon Lord, Rias Gregor!"