‘It feels distant.’ Vermouth couldn’t help but think so despite being right beside Eugene.
The flames, born from the White Flame Formula, had become something entirely different now. Those clear, intense flames were indeed the divine flames that affirmed Agaroth, Hamel Dynas, and Eugene Lionheart.
Vermouth looked sideways at Eugene while shuddering. Eugene’s eyes blazed like flames as he glared at Destruction. He sensed Vermouth’s gaze and turned his head towards him.
"What's up, you bastard?" Eugene asked with a chuckle. "Think you can do better than now?"
Vermouth blinked several times, taken aback by the sudden question. He couldn’t comprehend Eugene’s words at first, but soon, he recalled something he had said long ago and let out a curt laugh.
"I was wondering what you were on about. Did my words hurt you that much?" Vermouth asked.
"Usually, the one who does the beating doesn't remember. It's the one who gets hit that remembers. Because it hurts,” answered Eugene.
"I said it for your sake,” said Vermouth.
Thinking about it now, there were reasons for those words. But Hamel could not have guessed them at the time.
So, Eugene scoffed and joked, "For me, huh? Fucking hell. Out of nowhere, you smack me on the back of the head, then say, do better, bastard."
"I thought that kind of advice was right for you,” responded Vermouth.
Now, it was Eugene's turn to blink dazedly. Indeed. Hearing those words at the time had been incredibly infuriating, but it was those words that drove him to push himself to the limit. But was it truly thanks to Vermouth? Wasn't it Hamel who decided he would one day get back at the bastard for hitting the back of his head? He was the one who had become determined to one day beat that bastard.
"Let's go," Eugene said without a retort.
Of course, voicing such opposing thoughts would only cheapen the moment, and Eugene knew this well. Thus, he put on a serious expression and glared at Destruction. Seeing that determined profile, Vermouth unwittingly smirked. He was simply pleased being able to exchange such trivial banter with his comrade.
"I’ll go first,” said Vermouth. He patted Molon on the shoulder and moved ahead, glancing back at Eugene, saying, "With how you are now, even if I go ahead, you can catch up to me in no time.”
Molon laughed heartily at that. Then, the three of them laughed together in front of the fearsome power of Destruction. Molon stomped the ground and surged forward, laying his axe flat. Destruction's numerous arms and bursts of dark power immediately flew toward Molon. But there was no need for him to swing his axe.
Sienna had cast a spell. A thick beam of light obliterated Destruction’s arms and dark power. Thanks to her swift response, Molon reached the body of Destruction without needing to swing his axe.
Crack!
He swung his axe immediately after, cutting through Destruction’s thick legs. It was as if he were slicing through a giant tree in one fell swoop. Molon spun around amidst the swirling dark power and color. The following strikes sliced off more of Destruction’s legs.
Vermouth moved, too. He crossed the space in an instant and reached the heads of Destruction. While his sword could easily sever destruction's neck without resistance, slicing its heads tens or even hundreds of times would not kill it.
'The weakened heart.' Vermouth and Eugene shared the same thought.
However, targeting the heart didn’t mean they could easily reach it and destroy it. They had failed once already. The spear forged from divine fire had perfectly penetrated the body of Destruction but failed to reach the heart. Even if Vermouth had torn it open and weakened it while exiting from the body of Destruction, the sinister and ferocious waves of dark power were still fiercely guarding the heart.
There was no other way forward. They had to keep slicing. They needed to continue cutting through the thick curtains of dark power before they could drive the divine sword into Destruction’s guarded heart.
It wasn't far now. Eugene could feel that their victory was imminent. The heart had seemed unreachable before, but after Vermouth’s emergence, it was now within reach. But Destruction’s end wasn’t the only thing that was near.
They were inside the belly of Destruction. Waging a prolonged battle here was an impossible feat from the start. If it were merely about holding on, they could last a long time, but they burnt through their energy at an alarming pace as they gave it their all against Destruction. Sienna was already at her limit. Although she forcibly held herself up and continued to cast spells, it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed at any moment.
"Not yet,” Sienna gasped, feeling dizzy and tasting blood in her mouth. She felt hollow inside. Her grip on Mary felt numb.
And Mary was heavy. For a wizard, to feel their staff heavy was a truly dangerous sign. But Sienna didn't stop. She had already felt the weight of the staff hundreds of years ago. Was this the worst she had ever been? No. Sienna chewed on her lip and forced her hands to move Mary. The Sage's voice no longer reached her. The soul power she had received from the World Tree was fading, and the dark power she had received from Noir, along with her own mana, was nearly depleted.
But this was not the worst yet, Sienna thought again. This was not a dire situation. It was a challenge that could be overcome. Although her strength was exhausted and her body slow and heavy, her mind was clear. Her thoughts were infinitely expanding. Suddenly, there was no dizziness in her head.
Rumblee!
With a roar, the magic Sienna released rained down from above Destruction. Thousands of arms sprouted from Destruction's back and resisted the magical downpour, but the magic infused into its limbs and caused explosion after explosion within Destruction's body.
Sienna coughed up blood and staggered as she barely managed to raise her head. Her vision blurred a bit more. But despite the blurring and shaking, the flames were still distinct.
"It's okay," Sienna said assuringly.
She shook her head and smiled. She could sense Anise and Kristina trying to approach her. Even if they wanted to heal her, her injuries weren’t the kind that could be treated.
Moreover, the Saints were just as strained as her. They were already overwhelmed with just fine-tuning the divine energy that Eugene had unleashed.
"I wish I could watch more, help more,” said Sienna.
She didn't want to collapse yet, but it seemed she had no choice now.
"I know," Sienna said as she smiled faintly and looked ahead.
She saw flames that seemed capable of burning everything. Yet, it was also brilliant and seemed capable of illuminating everything. Although Eugene had stepped forward later than Vermouth and Molon, he was already standing beside Vermouth, severing the head of Destruction.
"I know well," Sienna said as if to herself.
She saw the flames merge. First, Vermouth struck, and Eugene hammered divine fire into the path Vermouth opened. Sometimes, Eugene struck first, and Vermouth covered him.
Sienna knew them too well. She had always watched their backs.
She knew. She knew that with Eugene and Vermouth as they were now, they could do it. Hadn't it always been so? Even against an enemy that seemed utterly invincible, even if it were a Demon King, if Hamel and Vermouth fought together, they could win. It would be the same now. Although Sienna's divinity was not of victory, she was as sure of victory as Eugene.
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