The two [Token Holders] flanking the demon archer didn’t hesitate.
They bolted toward Alex, their eyes burning with malice, while the archer remained behind, his bow raised, ready to end the human’s life.
“Pathetic human,” one of them hissed, venom dripping from his words, “He survives by sheer luck and still dares to defy us.”
Alex could’ve run, it wasn’t like he hadn’t thought about it.
If he managed to stall long enough, maybe he’d find an opening to take down the archer.
But there was one problem with that plan, he wouldn’t get a token.
If a [Token Holder] died without completing their condition, the token wouldn’t transfer.
It’d just vanish. And Alex wasn’t about to let that happen.
This was his shot, and he wasn’t going to waste it.
He braced himself, muscles tensing as he prepared for the clash.
[“Demon Hater” curse in effect]
A grin crept across his face.
That old curse, picked up back when he defended the Fox Tribe Village, was still kicking. Perfect.
The nine fox spirits around him growled, ready to intercept the charging enemies.
But even before they reached him, Alex knew something they didn’t.
He wouldn’t need to lift a finger.
Because Astariel moved.
The towering figure, clad in full armor, had his [Dark Blade] in his right hand and summoned [White Black] in his left.
But this time, he didn’t merge them.
Instead, he swung both blades in unison, releasing a pair of energy crescents, one black, one white, that sliced through the air like twin harbingers of death.
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“DIE, HUMAN!” the demon woman shrieked.
“I’ll feast on your flesh!” the beast-man snarled, his fangs gleaming.
They both charged at him, with the full intent on damaging him enough to allow their friend to swoop in for the kill.
But their threats were cut short.
Slash! Slash!
The crescents found their marks with deadly precision, cleaving through both attackers before they could reach Alex.
Their bodies hit the ground, lifeless.
[Participants Alive: 9]
The number dipped below ten.
Someone else must’ve met their condition for the fifth calamity at the same time.
Now, only Alex and the demon archer remained.
The archer’s eyes widened in shock as his allies dropped dead.
But when he realized it wasn’t Alex who had done it, but Astariel, his confidence returned.
“That should be enough,” Astariel muttered, dismissing his blades.
He turned to Alex, his voice calm beneath the armor.
“Deal with the rest, Chosen One.”
Then he walked away, visibly not interested enough to watch the battle, confident that the result wouldn’t change anyway.
He was confident the human would win, even if he hadn’t intervened, but he still did.
Now it was just Alex and the demon archer, their eyes locked in a deadly stare.
Alex activated his [Cursed Eyes of the Truth], the archer’s stats flashing before him.
[Luther – Demon Archer]
[Level: 1850]
[HP: 5,000,000,000]
Five billion health. A thousand levels higher than Alex.
But fear? That wasn’t in Alex’s vocabulary.
He had his abilities as the Chosen One, his fox summons, his staff, and the deadly [Bleeding Claws].
And, most importantly…
[Demon Hater Emblem: Doubles damage and defense against Demon monsters.]
With this, he’d dominate any demon. Maybe even the [Demon King].
Alex’s grip tightened around his claws. He was ready.
Luther didn’t waste time. The demon archer pulled his bowstring back, the arrowhead crackling with dark energy, and let it fly.
Thwip!
Alex moved with precision, his claws flashing as he deflected the arrow effortlessly.
The metal-on-claw clang echoed across the battlefield.
Another arrow. Deflected.
And another. Swatted aside like it was nothing.
With each successful deflection, Alex felt his strength grow.
Destiny Points stacked in his favor.
Luther’s eyes narrowed. The demon wasn’t expecting this.
Snarling, two of Alex’s fox spirits lunged at the archer, their fangs bared and ready to tear him apart.
But Luther was faster.
With a flick of his wrist, he fired two enchanted arrows.
The first pierced through one fox’s skull, dispersing it into wisps of spirit energy.
The second arrow exploded mid-air, engulfing the second fox in a burst of dark fire, reducing it to ash.
Alex frowned. He couldn’t afford to lose more of them.
With a wave of his hand, he unsummoned the remaining foxes.
Their cooldowns were too steep, and he didn’t want to risk them unnecessarily.
He didn’t need them. He was confident in his victory.
It was time to end this.
Threads of Fate!
Golden threads shimmered into existence around Luther, mapping out his every potential movement.
For the next minute, Alex could predict his actions perfectly.
He had sixty seconds to finish this.
Alex dashed forward, his claws ready.
Luther responded with a flurry of arrows, each faster than the last.
But Alex was faster. He deflected every single one, the battlefield a blur of motion as steel met dark energy.
As Alex closed the distance, Luther backpedalled, trying to create space.
The archer’s strength was in his range, and he knew it.
But Alex wasn’t fooled.
As he lunged again, the threads around Luther’s arms twitched.
A feint.
Alex reacted instantly, leaping back just as Luther slammed his fist into the ground.
The impact created a crater where Alex had stood moments before.
“Oh?” Luther’s lips curled into a grin. “You’re the first who didn’t fall for that. Most think I’m helpless up close. They don’t live long enough to learn otherwise.”
Alex didn’t bother responding. Words were useless here.
He dashed forward again, raising his staff.
Demonic Spear!
A molten lance of hellfire materialized at the tip of his staff, hurling toward Luther.
Heaven’s Chains!
Golden chains shot out, aiming to bind the demon in place.
Arc of Divinity!
A wave of divine energy surged forward, its brilliance contrasting the dark battlefield.
But Luther was quick. Too quick. He dodged every attack, moving with the grace of a seasoned warrior.
Still, Alex wasn’t deterred.
He shifted his position, predicting Luther’s next move.
“You can’t escape now, human!” Luther sneered, firing another arrow.
But Alex was smiling.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing target’s movements.]
Time rewound for Luther, pulling him back to the spot he’d stood five seconds ago.
Right where Alex’s claws were waiting.
“What the—?”
Slash! Slash! Slash!
-221,054,800! -221,054,800! -221,054,800!
Five slashes in quick succession, and Luther’s health plummeted by a billion.
“YOU LITTLE—!”
Luther roared in pain, his composure cracking.
He lashed out, kicking Alex away to create distance.
But Alex wasn’t giving him a chance.
He dashed forward again, his movements fluid and precise.
Destiny Shift!
Once more, Luther was yanked back into the danger zone.
Alex’s claws tore through him again.
“You… pathetic… human…” Luther gasped, his strength waning.
But Alex didn’t stop.
Slash after slash, he chipped away at the demon’s massive health pool, the doubled damage from the [Demon Hater Emblem] turning each strike into a devastating blow.
Luther’s attacks grew desperate, his arrows wild and unfocused.
But it didn’t matter.
He was caught in an inescapable loop, his fate sealed.
Finally, with one last, blood-chilling scream, Luther collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Ding!
[You have killed “Luther, Demon Archer” and gained 5.3 billion experience points.]
Alex stood over the demon’s corpse, his breathing steady.
The battlefield was silent once more.
He’d won, and the token was his.