Ashes to Ashes

After some time, they had gotten further into the wasteland.

『...Speaking of which, I can't really use my spells...』[Nova]

『Of course. Mana doesn't exist in Purgatory outside of your body.』[Asmodasiah]

『Wha...t? How are we going to exterminate the demon if we don't have spells?!』[Nova]

『Relax. I'll be the one to do it. And your Guardian seems to have a good grasp on it anyways.』[Asmodasiah]

『...I see. But… I feel like you wouldn't normally be helping with things like this… Is there-』[Nova]

She responded before Nova could even finish asking what her goal was.

『I need my host alive. On top of that, it is my responsibility to make sure unnatural beings do not reach your world. If you had expelled the demon back to his world by killing your friend's brother, I would not have minded.』[Asmodasiah]

She suddenly stopped moving and looked back at Nova with a chilling look.

『But now that it's come to this, the demon will have to die. There is no other way. Don't even think you can save the demon.』[Asmodasiah]

『I… I understand.』[Nova]

She kept on walking as Nova murmured to himself under his breath.

『...I… I have to kill things if I am to protect my loved ones.』[Nova]

『...Right. Now let's hurry this up. We are to engage the target and defeat him within this hour.』[Asmodasiah]

『Wi-Within the hour?! Where is he?!』[Nova]

She turned around and pointed her finger straight up.

『H..Huh?』[Nova

They all looked up, to find that there was an ashy ceiling above them as well, with a humanoid man with a red aura sitting motionless.

『Wha..What?!』[Nova]

『In Purgatory there is no right or wrong. No up or down. There is just Purgatory.』[Asmodasiah]

She suddenly started to fly up.

She began to talk to him, her voice somehow reaching them down there.

『Are you willingly going to be sent back to your world?』[Asmodasiah]

『...I have been beaten by that kid. Go ahead and do as you will.』

『Very well. Ashes to ashes.』[Asmodasiah]

She touched his forehead, causing him to seemingly start decaying from his arms.

He looked up at the sky.

『Hmm..?』

The demon seemed to get excited suddenly.

He got up and jumped at Nova and Reischneid.

They jumped back in preparation, the demon landing in front of them.

Amidst the settling dust was a man with medium length hair that had been tied up, with red hair, dark black eyes, and oriental outfit.

『You. They called you Nova, right?』[Demon]

Nova was wondering whether he should have lied or not, but he decided against it.

『..Yes.』[Nova]

『Very nice. I am Ashura, a demon that pursues the martial path.』[Ashura]

Nova was slightly concerned, but did not detect any intention of wanting to kill Nova.

『That job was something I did to survive in my human body, so I do not have a grudge with you. I have found a liking for your battle spirit though.』[Ashura]

『...Battle spirit?』[Nova]

『...There's not enough time to explain. If you ever find yourself crossing dimensions into the demon world, I would like to meet you again.』[Ashura]

『I...』[Nova]

Nova saw that he was looking for a response before he faded, his arms and legs already replaced with phantom limbs.

『Sure.』[Nova]

Ashura gave a genuinely excited smile.

『I look forward to it, warrior Nova.』[Ashura]

『Warrior?』[Nova]

『It's what we call people who are willing to cast their life away in battle.』[Ashura]

Nova had a half-smile on his face as he somehow brought himself to laugh awkwardly.

『...Eccentric fellow, aren't cha? Well, regardless. Here is my advice. 』[Ashura]

His face remained serious, despite the decay reaching his neck.

『Think of all that has ever meant something to you, and imagine your enemy slaughtering and ruining them.』[Ashura]

Nova was shocked to find him talk about things having value to him.

『...You don't seem like a demon… Are you really one?』[Nova]

『That's a story for another time. I will reincarnate and find you again, for a warrior never breaks his word.』[Ashura]

The rest of his being suddenly began to blow into the wind.

Nova suddenly raised his hand.

『Wait! Rein-?!』[Nova]

The ashes of his existence faded from the realm, leaving a floating black orb.

『...Reincarnation?』[Nova]

Asmodasiah floated down from the ceiling.

『...All things become something again.』[Asmodasiah]

She took the floating orb and crushed it between her hand.

『Ashes to ashes.』[Asmodasiah]

A portal opened up, seemingly sucking Nova's consciousness into it.