The cold and horrid breath covered Luck's body—he could feel the heavy steps of a... monster.
A thick, familiar stench filled the cave, like rotting meat mixed with burnt incense. Luck already knew what was coming...
Olivia staggered backward, the staff in her hands trembling as much as her legs. Scar said nothing, but his reptilian eyes were wide open, searching for an escape like a cornered rat.
No one took initiative; he was caught between a rock and a hard place. He could feel his breathing grow heavier under the pressure of the seemingly blind, scentless creature... another fallen angel.
The black knight walked carefully toward Luck, but to everyone's surprise, the clink of his armor echoed with a metallic sound. The beast turned toward him and couldn't dodge the sacred sword in time—the pain still lingered in his arm.
"Too much patience!"
Luck quickly drew the worn-out knife he'd been given from his belt and, in a desperate spin, stabbed the colossal creature in one of its main, largest eyes. The blade, though rusty, pierced the organ like butter.
ROAR!
The massive fallen angel staggered back as scarlet blood gushed like a river from its eye.
Luck had never been one to take risks—he didn't want these people's negligence to get him killed. So, he pulled the knife out and, before the creature could go for him, threw it at the black knight, producing an even louder metallic noise. The echo vibrated through the entire cave.
The beast turned its head toward the sound, just in time to receive a spell in the form of an arrow from Olivia. It had no effect. Luck could barely breathe—a missed throw, and he'd be dead.
BANG BANG
With every step the creature took, the ground shook as its white feathers hardened, its body readying for battle.
Its rotting wings swung violently as it opened its jaws, ready to swallow the black knight whole in a single bite.
Or so it seemed. Ignoring the sharp pain in his arm, the knight defended himself, raising his massive shoulder plates as a shield. The screech between metal and fangs was so vile it froze the blood.
"You're strong... I love it!" the knight exclaimed, his voice trembling—not with fear, but with a wild excitement that shook his entire body.
"Scar?"
Luck looked around, unable to find Olivia or Scar.
"They ran… I... don't blame them."
"At least they could've taken me with them. I don't even know how to get out of here," he thought, backing away from the monstrosity as much as he could. This time, he was sure no one would return for him.
---
"Damn it! My arm! Hey! Could you get down here and help me kill this thing!? It feels like my right arm is about to burst!"
The fight had dragged on for hours, but the most surprising part wasn't the strength the knight displayed...
It was how much more affected he seemed by the side effects of wielding the sword. That was enough of a problem. Add the creature's relentless attacks and its near-absurd regeneration, and you had a knight on the verge of collapse.
Luck said nothing. The knight had brought this on himself. Besides, if he dared speak for even a second, he could draw the monster's attention.
Even so, the black knight seemed to know what Luck was thinking… and he also knew he needed a human to wield the sword. Without a word, he tossed the sacred blade toward him. It struck the rocky ground with force, emitting a sharp thud.
Then, the knight lunged at the creature's jaws, holding them open with both hands to keep it at bay.
"Finally... I thought he was going to get us killed with his pride. More than that, I'd call it hypocrisy," Luck thought as he struggled to free the sword from the ground. At last, he lifted it. It was his now… at least for the moment.
"Hurry! Cut its leg! I can't hold on anymore!"
Luck crept toward the beast. He gripped the hilt tightly and, with a single motion, slashed horizontally, severing not one but two of the creature's hind legs.
The corrupted, scarlet blood splattered all over the black knight's armor, staining it a vivid red. He no longer looked like a knight… but a creature born straight out of the Averno. At last, he resembled the demon he truly was.
"Finish it!" the knight commanded, drenched in blood.
But the beast thrashed violently, throwing Luck and the knight into the air. Its golden wheel spun on its chest as if burning its soul to survive. A sickly blue glow rose from its throat.
It was preparing a blast of fire.
Luck ran desperately, unable to find cover. The heat was already brushing against his skin.
"Damn it… I don't want to die here… I won't die here!" he gritted his teeth and raised the sword—but it was too late. He could feel the flames approaching.
Yet the fire never touched him.
Because he wasn't alone.
And even if his companion was a prideful bastard… he was there. For the first time, Luck felt safe.
"That knight? This guy? The arrogant one?" he thought, watching in disbelief as the black knight resisted the flames.
"Shit! You should've been more careful!" the knight roared, holding the line even as his armor began to melt. He didn't scream. He didn't retreat.
Then, without warning, he grabbed Luck and hurled him through the air.
"Aagh! That burns… wait, what!?" he shouted, soaring effortlessly. He forced himself to regain balance, gripping the sword tightly.
With a single strike, he made a clean cut through the angel's torso, slashing open its back in one swing.
SHRAAACK!
The fallen angel collapsed with a TRUUUM that shook the entire cave.
Luck crawled across the ground, gasping, adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
He got up as best he could and approached the body. It was still breathing. He couldn't leave it like that.
"This should do it…"
He climbed the rotting corpse and drove the sword directly into the golden wheel spinning on its chest. A dry shriek emerged from the creature, and its breathing stopped completely.
"Knight?"
He jumped off the body and ran toward the source of the flames. There, lying on the ground, was him.
He hadn't died… only thanks to the fact he was a demon. A truly powerful one.
But he was no longer the same black knight.
His armor was melted, smoking, scorched across most of the upper body. Steam and the smell of hot iron rose from him. He covered his face with both hands, as if trying to hide something.
"Are you okay? Wait… no way… I didn't see that coming."
In front of him, no longer hidden behind the mask…
There wasn't a man.
She was a woman.