Chapter 51 51: Demon - Part 2

Moments before the spinning, Zell smashed into the demon; his body swelled one size larger as the same blood-like aura that Zell had burst from his body. Bethezar jumped into the air. His body spun in a circle, and he punched Anya in the face with his mighty fist. As she slammed into the wall again, her body flopped down as blood oozed from her nose and stained the broken wall.

"Silly little bitch! Did you think a mere human pretending to be a dwarf could kill me? Get on my level, you fat, filthy sperm chamberpot! Should I snap your neck to awaken our king? Hahaha!"

Meanwhile, after his punch, the demon snapped back and shot his left leg into the air, smashing into Zell with a fully powered roundhouse. This hit him in the ribs and shattered his attack as the flames fizzled. He blasts across the room like a missile, crashing into the wall after dragging his face along the stone floor, his health just above half.

"Gaha!"

Blood shot from Zell's mouth as he smashed into the wall; his bones ached, and he could barely keep his eyes open as he watched the demon approach Anya with his axe and then look in his direction. His eyes narrowed and glowed bright red as his sclera turned black before he entered his half-dragon form; massive black horns burst from his forehead, curling backwards, tattered demon wings because of his damaged body.

Bethezar walked towards Anya, a sneer on his lips as he transformed. A familiar figure for both Zell and the images from her dreams. Jet black flesh that shimmered in the light, spikes protruding from his spine, black sclera with golden eyes and slit pupils.

The ground shook from his steps, each one closer to the dwarf girl before he stood beside her. His tail wrapped around Anya's shoulder, forcing her to stand straight. Zell forced himself to his feet, using the axe to keep straight. He couldn't care about how wounded he was; that monster touched Anya as rage filled his body, his eyes growing dark and more demonic with each step he took.

He shot towards the demon to save Anya at max speed before a vast storm blocked his way and tore his armour further, cutting minor cuts on his face.

The demon stomped his foot on the ground, causing a tornado to form next to Anya, pushing her away from Zell. A gush of wind blew through the room, blowing Anya's hair around as he tossed her against the opposite wall. She fell, screaming at Zell as she landed. Blood poured from her head, and her face was sweaty from the impact. Her eyes cared nothing for herself and only screamed to Zell in desperation.

"Zell! Are you okay?"

The demon turned to her, eyes still glowing.

"You will die here."

A spear of black mana appeared out of thin air and stabbed into Anya's side. It pierced her flesh, causing it to bleed as it exited her body, and she let out a scream as she slumped to the ground, coughing blood.

"Ugh!?"

A slight flash of light went off inside Anya's chest, and white smoke poured out of her mouth before she collapsed to the ground and coughed. Her armour cracked and filled with blood.

"Zell!"

Anya crawled along the broken rocks, her body tattered like the arena. She fell over as she reached out to grab onto Zell's arm. Her heart raced; the images of these monsters that destroyed the world killed her mom and herself.

"No... Zell..."

Then the demon vanished before standing beside Zell, smashing him in the stomach, grabbing both their arms and lifting them high into the air. Zell struggled but couldn't break free as the demon brought them to the centre of the room, right by Bethezar.

"Loyalty, love, devotion all are meaningless when it comes to this."

He thrust his left hand towards the ground; it exploded, throwing dirt all over the room. Then he positioned his other hand under Anya's chin.

"I am your superior. And you are nothing but an annoying little gnat. Unworthy of my dear king!"

Bethezar smiled as he threw Zell and Anya into the air together. They slammed into the wall, cracking the stone and causing rubble to fall on top of them. Zell used his body to block the damage done to her and helped her heal the wound.

"Fucking bastard! You'll pay for what you did to her!"

"That's enough!"

Zell felt something icy touch his neck. He opened his eyes and saw Bethezar standing beside him, holding up his axe. He wore a smug smile as he stared at the demon with a raised eyebrow. Bethezar didn't seem to have any actual hostility towards Zell, only for Anya beside him.

Bethezar spoke with a deep but gentle voice.

"I'm here to help."

Bethezar flicked his hand, stabbing a hole in Anya's heart. Her body shuddered and fell with a thud. Neither of them could even react to this demon brute's speed.

Anya's eyes widened.

"Bethezar?!"

Her body weakened, her breathing grew shallow, and she collapsed to the ground, only one hand grasping onto Zell's arm like a stubborn child.

"It's over, Zell," she said. "We've done everything we can. Now it's time to rest."

Then she shut her eyes, and her body went limp.

"Anya, no!"

Bethezar held her body up to mock Zell. He needed him to awaken and prove his quality, or he didn't mind smashing this bug and waiting for the next anointed one. He smiled as Zell glared at him, his eyes full of hate.

"Looks like the only way you'll get rid of me is if you cut off my head."

There was a thud as Zell lunged forward, with his flaming axe held high and his enormous wings flapping, filled with black winds and bloody tears rushing down his face. Anya was not dead. This was a game, but he long forgot that feeling. To him, the moment a demon brute appeared, this became real life; if he checked adequately, he would notice that she still had a slither of health.

"Die, demon!"

Bethezar smirked as Zell charged at him, the demon raising an axe in defence. But before Zell could make contact, he shifted his body sideways and brought the axe down on Zell's shoulder, tearing off his arm. A scream followed as Zell felt shocked by the damage and his health dropped to below five points, only the high regeneration keeping him alive.

"Haaah!!"

Zell screamed as he fell to the ground, clutching his stump, a trail of blood leaking out of his wound. Blood poured from his mouth as he held his chest, his face contorted with agony. Black veins grew under his flesh. This demon brute must die! Anya was dead. He forgot this was a game and cast aside his emotions, only seeking to kill this bastard!

A deep, beating heart sounded in the darkness.

Then he heard Bethezar laughing.

"Well, well. Look who's finally awake. Tell me, how do you feel?"

Zell growled, clenching his teeth as he closed his eyes.

A brutal flame filled the arena; its purple glow melted the rocks below his feet while the deep red turned the liquid into a mist. His hair swayed and rose into the air as the surrounding area crackled, and his horns twisted and grew thicker before his eyes turned into a demon.

The beast roared as his body swelled, transforming into a humanoid dragon and restoring his arm. The black veins disappeared from beneath his skin, the wounds closing as his scales thickened. His muscles bulged as he flexed before an enormous tail grew from his back.

"I'm not finished with you yet, Bethezar! You think you're so special!? This is my world now!"

As Bethezar backed away, Zell's claws drew blood from the stone floor as he approached, his eyes burning with hatred. A simple flick caused several large boulders to shoot towards Bethezar faster than a meteorite and destroyed his arms like a piece of ice.

Bethezar stumbled from the attack before his body stood straight. He would not fail; this moment was more important than this temporary vessel's life. This boy, no, this man would become their king, their god! He needed to become more mature and understand what loss felt like. He only hoped to complete Zell into the perfect demon.

- 533 HP

—|Bethezar |Lv 15|HP: 1,810/4,000|

"You don't own this place, Zell. You know nothing about this world."

Bethezar spoke back in a slightly admonishing voice. He never once, even now, as his arms grew bit by bit, showed hostility to Zell. His only goal was at this moment to awaken him and push him over the limits. Anya's body shuddered in the distance as she pulled herself up.

The blades and spear of darkness were mere illusions to spur on this moment and feeling within him.

"It doesn't matter! It's mine! Everything that happens or exists will one day become mine!"

With that, Zell launched himself at the demon, his eyes burning with rage and his nostrils flared with bloodlust.

Bethezar stood tall, holding his black axe, ready to fight the demonised Zell, who stood only a head shorter than him with his raging flames and enormous wings. A smile of delight and joy filled his face.

After the first fight, the ending battle was about to begin.