[Intelligence has shown great progress]
>[Intelligence: D]
–
>[Intelligence: D+]
--
There was a sudden pulse that came from Zarek's body.
All his time here had put great strain on various aspects of him—his Endurance, his Charisma… but especially his Godsfall.
He was using his Lurker's Godsfall so meticulously, so carefully, trying to squeeze out every last bit of it. However, he knew that his Godsfall wouldn't be the key to this.
It was instead something his last Charisma breakthrough had finally allowed him to see properly. Unfortunately, he just didn't have enough Godsfall to trigger what he needed to, and the surroundings were steeped in Fire Intent Godsfall, so there was nothing for him to absorb to try and replenish himself.
So he needed something else. He needed a boost from the system.
"Thanks, baby girl."
--
Notes:
[Rot in hell]
--
"Love you, too, boo."
Despite the words coming out from Zarek's mouth, he was already moving.
BANG!
He heaved the great sword with all his might, an elastic thread so cleverly placed Crux couldn't see it from his vantage point extending from its hilt.
It paused him for just a second, and it made Crux frown—not because the latter couldn't handle something so trivial, but because he found it truly ridiculous.
Was this how Zarek planned to kill him? That was asinine.
But the thought only made him focus all the more. Zarek often said things he didn't mean; he played with people, toying with their minds. Many of the battles he won were based on psychological warfare and not strictly battle prowess… though often, the two were one and the same.
There was a very high likelihood that he was just saying whatever he could to rattle Crux one last time. Which meant that after Crux leapt over this hurdle, it would all be over. This demon would be slain.
But… there was also a small sliver of a chance there, just the slightest hint of a possibility, that Zarek was telling the truth.
BANG!
A wall of heat formed before the great sword. It managed to shatter past it, but it lost all of its momentum, falling toward the ground with a heavy thud.
But Zarek was already coming.
He pulled on the great sword, the line tightening.
Crux frowned, waving a hand to form a second wall of heat. Was that what Zarek was trying to do?
He had to admit, the timing was perfect, and the heat in this region was disorderly and broken—it would be hard to reform it quickly enough to stop Zarek from coming.
At least, that is what Zarek might think.
There was simply too much heat in this region, too many flames to take advantage of. Even if this region was disorderly, what about a bit outside of it?
Another wall quickly formed, just ahead of where the great sword was—just in case Zarek tried to use that line to send the great sword flying at him again while he rammed headfirst into a translucent wall.
But then Crux's eyes opened wide.
Zarek passed right through his wall of heat as though it wasn't there, and right at that moment, the grin on Zarek's expression vanished.
Cold, calculating—a menacing light replacing the amber in his eyes with flames that seemed far sharper and harsher than any in the surroundings.
It was too close. The second wall of heat was barely two meters in front of Crux, and he had already been gathering up a new fireball to slam into Zarek after he rebounded away. His Godsfall and mind were already occupied.
BANG!
Zarek's right fist slammed into Crux's gut, his left pulling hard and sending the great sword behind him flying into his palm again.
Chi.
It all happened so fast.
A single mistake, a single miscalculation.
Crux dodged to the side, trying to get out of the way—and he managed to succeed.
Just halfway.
His arm and a large piece of his collarbone were severed away.
He screamed out in agony, swiping a hand flooded with Fire Godsfall Intent at Zarek's face, but it didn't even land.
Zarek had already followed up with a swift kick to his knee, smoothly transitioning into the third strike of his combo as though he had already planned out everything in advance.
Crux buckled and his palm fell short of Zarek's cheek, a wheezing line of fire passing by the latter's nose.
He crumbled to the ground, and only had time to see the great sword flash overhead, impaling his body down its length. His heart and his neck were torn into two at the same time, the sword standing tall with his corpse as a foundation.
Crux looked up, eyes wide, the words he wanted to say angling on the tip of his tongue, and yet unable to form completely.
"I really don't know why you all insist on targeting me all the time. Sure, I may or may not have killed you one or a few times, but was it worth it to come back for revenge just to die again?"
Zarek spoke his words calmly, crouching down until his face wasn't very far from Crux.
"Don't worry, I'll send Belladoll to see you very soon. But I can't promise her death will be anywhere near as clean as yours. Consider yourself lucky."
Zarek stood and left, not even taking the great sword with him. He hated that weapon.
His eyes were frighteningly cold as he stepped out of the other side of the Trial of Fire, finding a long corridor that extended to unknown places.
He half expected to find people waiting, but there was nothing at all.
As he continued, he finally quickened his pace until he reached the end.
The light returned, and before him was a temple of sorts. There was an altar ahead and a tall statue carved of wood that must have been at least ten meters in height.
Zarek scanned the region quickly with his eyes, knowing that there had to be another exit here somewhere.
'There.'
However, just as he was about to use it, his steps paused.
His eyes narrowed, focusing on the statue again.