Tales of Astora: Legacy

Chapter 114: Cinder of the Living Flame

Chapter 114: Cinder of the Living Flame

THE PHOENIX HAS RISEN ONCE MORE

Embers and ashes floated to the whim of the gale across the battlefield. From the large pyre a figure stepped out, walking forward toward the group. With veins of fire covered her body and clothing, emitting an intense heat, her every step melted the soil below her feet, turning them into molten lava. The fieriness was so intense, it evaporated all sources of waters and humidity around the woman while the far-away land dried out and cracked on its own. Her presence was like of the sun, only instead of staying in the sky granting us the warm light the world needed to survive, it was now on earth releasing its burning fury, obliterating all lives.

"Prepare yourselves!!! She is coming!" Lilith, still recovering from her wounds, shouted at the group.

With her fiery fist, Asmodeus lunged herself at the target closest to her: the ten winged celestial. However, what she or anyone else did not expect was that the celestial was no longer her old self: weak and frail. No, she was now much more than they have thought she was, than any of them could possibly imagine. Using the pole of the great lance, Ikarus blocked the heavy fist that was so heavy it created a crater under the celestial's feet but no injuries to her body.

"You...when did you become this strong?" Asmodeus uttered in surprise facing the celestial. Having lived in Alastor for years, if there was any source of power or any individual standing out, Magnus would have told her of that person. Yet, the celestial in front of her now was unlike anything she has ever seen. Even though Ikarus has not gone onto the offensive, the demon lord could feel the surge of power increasing, waiting to be unleashed from inside that frail body.

"I gain this power so I can bring him back to his reasons." Ikarus answered.

"Alastor wants this. This is revenge for all the things the world has done to him. And you who claimed to be his lover, his family, dare raise your sword against him?" Asmodeus fumed.

"It's because I want the best for him. To love someone does not mean I will do everything he wants. Not like this! There are already enough tragedies as it is. No matter what happens, destruction is not the way to do it." The celestial muttered as she pushed back the almighty demon lord. "I am doing this because I love him." Ikarus used all her strength and launched the demoness away from her.

"So am I. We both do this for love. Let's see whose is stronger!!

<Fire Serpent>"

A giant snake made of fire and heat scorched the ground it passed through and turned everything it touched into cinders as multiple copies of it rose from Asmodeus before attacking the group. Such high concentrations of mana made them almost invulnerable against physical attacks and only affected by magic.

"<Sanguine Deluge>"

Using her own sword, Maria stabbed herself before pulling it out. Like a flood, crimson liquid poured out of her wound toward the sky and fell down again, somehow dispelling the snakes while leaving her allies untouched by even a single drop of blood. It was outlandish to see that much blood that could probably fill a river was coming out of her pale body. However, Asmodeus has used that chance of her recovering and dashed toward the Huntress, piercing her chest and pulled out her heart.

"Now you die!" the demon lord crushed the heart into a bloody mess, much to the horrors shown the others' face.

"MARIA!" they shouted.

"...Ha...ha....ha!" To Asmodeus' bewilderment, the heartless figure standing in front of her was somehow still alive and even laughing in a broken tone. "Hahahahahahaha!" Without warning, the silver-haired woman wrapped her arms around her waist and embraced the demon lord tightly. It was at this moment Asmodeus could see the pool of blood below the two as if they were bathing in it.