edelweiss - &team

46

In the meantime, Yudai managed to land a hard strike on Death's arm, opening up a ugly gash, and before it could close, Fuma applied a generous amount of chemicals directly into the wound, manipulating it to travel through Death's body. For the cherry on top, Yixiang cleaved off Death's arm, which dropped down and wriggled like a dying fish.

There was a surge of hope within them, then Death scowled, the bleeding stump shuddering, which signalled that Death was starting to regenerate. "You cannot be serious," Yixiang seethed, still recovering from Death's attack.

"We'll just have to keep going," Euijoo encouraged, now more energetic and alert, extending a hand out to help Yixiang up.

By now, Jo figured that his dizzying illusions were hardly taking effect on Death, choosing to abandon it and rely fully on his energy. Glistening golden spikes protruded from his elbows, running down his arms, long and sharp. He waited for a good opening to attack Death, which was graciously provided when Death flung Maki, who had leapt onto Death's back, off him, astral projections and all tossed into the air. Harua procured something soft for him to land on, before returning his attention to the fight. To take Maki's place, Jo sent the spikes from his arms forward, piercing into Death's back.

Over time, Fuma's chemicals were doing less damage than Death could handle, Yixiang's scimitar had been snatched from him and discarded by Death, Riki opted to use his energy less effectively, quantity over quality, in an attempt to injure Death just enough for him to lose focus.

Every limb of Death's that was chopped away could be replaced almost instantly, compared to the sheer effort and teamwork required for that limb to even be dismembered.

This was endless. Death was regenerating far faster than they could return in attacks, and while Death's energy did seem to be waning, they were all tiring rapidly. If they didn't finish this up soon, Euijoo would faint from maintaining his animals or Maki would seriously break every bone in his body, Yudai may slip up and get injured or Jo could-

Harua's words rang in his head, after he had ripped Junwon's head off. Do you think you could do that to Death?

Yuma had replied, "I don't think so. He's...too strong." But perhaps a more accurate answer would have been, "I have been too scared to try."

Because Junwon was easy. Junwon had absolutely no shields or protection and most importantly, his guard was down. But Death?

Right at that moment, Euijoo locked eyes with him, as though he had been reading his mind. Euijoo jerked his gaze away for a split second to create another energy animal to cushion Yudai's fall, before ducking and dodging around until he was at Yuma's side, flushed and out of breath.

"Whatever you're thinking of," Euijoo said between pants, "Just do it. Don't worry about protecting us, whatever you think is worth a shot, just do it." Euijoo looked like he was about to expire any second, his skin ashen and sweat running down his face in rivulets, but his large eyes were encouraging and determined.

"Don't be scared and don't look back," Euijoo gave one final urge, before running back into the fray to block a blow dangerously close to Riki's neck.

If Yuma concentrated his energy, he could try something. But concentrating his energy would mean removing the shields he carefully placed around them to ward off Death's attacks. By removing them, he may be gambling their lives for the sake of Death.

Whatever happens to me.

Yuma allowed the shields to ebb away, testing to see if Death would realise. The oldest immortal was currently preoccupied as Jo had adorned Death's chest with two energy spikes, which Riki further worsened with hundreds of his own thin, long needles.

This was a golden chance. As Riki strained, he actually began to force Death's chest cavity open. Everyone immediately funnelled everything they had right there.

It was at that exact moment that Death noticed all of them were no longer being shielded by Yuma. That familiar, wicked grin spread across his blood-flecked face, immediately expelling everyone (mainly Maki and Yudai) within a three feet radius of him backwards.

Harua began to scream, crumpling down as he violently shuddered. Yuma watched from the corner of his eye as Fuma sank to the ground, grimacing, strangled noises punched out of him. Euijoo's tear-filled eyes were pleading, but for Yuma to continue, to not give in to Death.

So strand by strand, bit by bit. Drown out everything and focus on Death.

And then Death realised what Yuma was doing. His blood-shot eyes widened, in horror, in mild pride, even. But he fought back, withdrawing his attacks from Harua and Fuma to counter Yuma. In his peripheral vision, he could see everyone rushing to the other two, but he concentrated on Death, carefully pulling apart every fibre in his body, a tug of war between him and Death as Death fought to keep his physical form intact.

The round moon above and the dirt damp with blood and sweat was a stark contrast to the nightmarish memory of his one-on-one training with Death out in the sun, on the dry, hot sand. How it begins mirrors how it ends.

Perhaps even Death noticed this, because his anger began to subside and he was more distraught. And after a fruitless struggle, Death could only gnash his teeth and spit out, "You ungrateful child! I made you!"

"I know, I know," Yuma muttered softly, "But I must kill you."

And Death was torn apart internally.

It was a gory, gruesome sight, as he burst apart, every recognisable feature of his immediately vanishing, but none of them could take their eyes off it. Bloody pieces of him landed all around, everyone fortunately able to sidestep them as they splattered about. One shred of Death was immediately snatched up into the mouth of Euijoo's energy animals and ripped into thin ribbons. Fuma doused another few portions with scalding acid to disintegrate it, while Harua set a couple on fire. Maki and Yuma worked to fling some pieces into the distance. Riki disdainfully stepped on another one.

And finally, finally, Yuma confirmed that Death was no more.

Everyone collapsed to the ground simultaneously, drained and overwhelmed with incredible relief because this was all finally over.

And Yixiang raised his head to look at them, eyes liquid and tired, asking, "So what now?"