◆ The Last Battle
MR. JULIUS’S sword froze at Ms. Natalia’s command. His blade had made a shallow wound on Minne’s neck as a black, muddy substance gushed out like blood. He took a step back.
“Stand back!” Ms. Natalia ordered once more.
She wasn’t taking no for an answer, and he swiftly retreated, jumping away from Samael. Helios outstretched his wings and covered me to protect me from danger. From between the gaps, I saw the land showered by the rain of dark blood. The puddles caused the land below to melt and decay. A foul, rotten stench hit my nose.
Drops of this blood had hit Mr. Julius’s skin and clothes, causing parts of his body to also melt away. The punishment dished out by the collar had stopped when he’d finished swinging his sword at Minne, and his wounds had already stopped bleeding.
“Ah, what a pity. I wanted to take Julius with me,” Samael cackled. “My plan is ruined.”
“Take him with you? To where?” I asked as firmly as I could. I couldn’t let my voice tremble now.
“I wonder… I have no reason to tell you.”
He gave a small shrug. Mr. Julius’s sword, which had directly touched Samael’s skin, was almost completely melted away as though it had been dipped in strong acid. He tossed his sword onto the sand, deeming it to be of no use anymore. Ms. Natalia dropped the young boy, who had restrained Mephisto with thread, by my side. She then raised her arms and started pulling the air toward her as though she was tugging on an invisible rope. Ms. Eliza and Mr. Coldman floated in the air and were dragged toward her accordingly before they were lowered by the boy’s side. After gathering everyone in one spot, Ms. Natalia stepped in front, trying to protect me and a weaponless Mr. Julius.
“Why don’t I tell you exactly why I’m called the Serpent of Death?” Samael said menacingly in a low voice as he smiled, still in the form of Princess Minne.
The wound on his neck quickly healed and the gushing black liquid disappeared. His body floated up, his delicate frame stretching his six, massive black wings that sullied the blue skies.
“It’s because I’m death itself,” he claimed.
The skies grew dark. The clear, bright day immediately turned dim and dreary like a solar eclipse covering the world in darkness. A gray shadow loomed over the golden desert as thick miasma started to whirl around Samael.
“Devour everything,” the demon ordered. “Poison of death, decompose everything you see. Dissolve all living creatures and kill them!”
He outstretched his arms as a storm of miasma flew straight for us.
“Omnipotent God of the Heavens! Protect us from any and all calamities! The divine dragon’s cocoon of protection!” Ms. Natalia chanted.
A bright semicircular wall emerged all around us, protecting us from the miasma. Several black, winged serpents were hiding within the flurry of miasma and bared their fangs at us, but they dissipated the moment they touched the defensive wall. Mr. Julius didn’t care about his wounds as he grabbed his dark spear from Helios’s back.
I staggered to my feet, using Helios as my support. The beautiful desert had been engulfed by the miasma and was hidden from view. I could only tell that it’d turned jet-black and melted away as though it was decomposing. When Ms. Natalia’s magic runs out, we’re going to rot and melt away like the desert and die, I thought. If so, now wasn’t the time for me to be sitting around in a stupor. I had to do something.
“I won’t last long!” my master said. “What do I do? Think! Nothing is impossible for me, Natalia Báthory!”
The serpents swimming through the miasma tried to bite down on the wall like a school of small fish preying on a larger creature. With every bite, the wall started to crack. I could tell from my master’s voice that she was reaching her limit. I managed to weakly grip my staff and raised it in the air.
Helios used his neck to support my body, ensuring that I wouldn’t fall. Before I knew it, Mr. Julius stood by my side and put his hand over mine as I clutched my staff.
“Make the miasma disappear, Chloe,” he demanded. “Because of you, I couldn’t kill that thing. I’ll end him next time.”
He looked straight ahead, his voice filled with confidence. I wanted to save Minne, but I couldn’t save everyone by myself. I was always being saved by someone. I never had enough power. If that’s the case, I’ll do what I can! If Samael was left to his own devices, he’d make millions of others suffer. We had to finish him here.
“I’m really sorry,” I said. “To make up for it, I’ll do my best right here! Leave it to me!”
When Mr. Julius’s rugged hand touched mine, I felt as though magical energy flowed into my body, replenishing my depleted magic. I’m still okay. All I need is one last push. Just one more! Please hear my voice.
“Burning Angel Gabriel, heed my call! Let the holy water of purification overflow your holy grail of the Heavens and wash out our land!” I chanted.
For a moment, my vision went dark as exhaustion swept over me. But I have to keep standing. If I fall, I can’t protect everyone! I’m fine. I’m not alone.
I want to protect Helios, Mr. Julius, and Ms. Natalia as they’ve done for me.
“Of course, Chloe. I’ll lend you my power,” a woman’s voice echoed in my head. Her clear tone reminded me of a soft ripple in the water.
Bright light spilled through the dark clouds, illuminating the world. It looked like the stairs to Heaven had appeared before my eyes. White feathers fluttered down from above, brushing against rotting, ruined land, transforming the desert into a land filled with clean water.
The moment the feathers touched the serpents swimming through the miasma, they burst into flames and dissipated. Ms. Natalia’s barrier disappeared. On cue, Mr. Julius launched off the water’s surface and ran across the lake toward the demon. He jumped into the air. The tip of his spear was illuminated by the light from above, giving it a beautiful, bright glow. The spear, which had turned pure white, pierced through Samael’s chest.
The demon struggled to flap his wings, like a butterfly pinned against the wall. The pure light surrounding the spear spilled from Samael’s chest and flowed out.