A Journey Unwanted

Agatha narrowed her eyes at the blue demon, who soon levitated down onto the ground, a bit of a way away from her and Juliana. The latter shrank in fear behind her, but she did not blame the girl; she could not. The mana radiating from this demon was enormous, dwarfing her own mana capacity many times over.

And the pure, malevolent mana that engulfed its being was downright suffocating. Even the forest itself seemed to groan and shriek, at the surrounding mana.

"Mine apologies; it has just occurred to me that I have yet to introduce myself." The demon spoke, his gaze all but focusing on the timid Juliana rather than Agatha herself. "I am known as Asmodai." He introduced himself with a curt bow.

Agatha's eyes focused on the demon as her mana flared. It may have had more mana than her, but the amount of mana you had did not determine the outcome of the battle. But she had a liability; she spared a glance at the cowering girl behind.

"On my signal, run as fast as you can; teleportation is useless; the wards were activated yet again." She whispered curtly to the horned girl. "I shall hold him off."

"Bu-"

"My, my. How rather uncouth, merely conversing away without me. Tsk, tsk." Despite his words, he did not really seem all that bothered. She would not bother with a retort, but someone else did not share that sentiment.

"You blue sack of shit!" A rather crude and familiar voice shouted out, and Agatha glanced to the side to see none other than Princess Mirabella storm her way towards them. Though there were notable tatters in her uniform and scratches on her body all around, Asmodai's handy work, no doubt.

"Still lively, as well as foul-mouthed." Asmodai commented with a smirk. "I find it surprising that you did not think to use Arcane Ascendance." He murmured lowly, but Agatha still heard him clearly.

("Arcane Ascendance?") Confusion was evident within her, but she put her questions at the back of her mind for the time being.

"Oi blondie, get Juliana out of here; you'll only get in my way while I pummel this guy to mince meat." Mirabella ordered, and Agatha scoffed as she gave the blue-haired girl a side glance.

"You do not command me, Mirabella. Princess or not, and you cannot expect to beat this obvious Chaosmaw by yourself." Agatha bluntly stated this, holding Mirabella's gaze for a few seconds.

"Get in my way, and you're dead." Another scoff escaped Agatha upon hearing Mirabella's words.

"Right back at you, princess. Now you go." Agatha spoke, directing her attention towards Juliana. "It will get dangerous here, so make sure you run."

"But you two-"

"Don't bother worrying about this. Just get your ass out of here; I don't know about Blondie here, but I plan on winning." Mirabella stated with confidence, unmistakably.

"Quite cocky for someone who was thrown around a moment earlier." Agatha murmured, and she got a dainty middle finger in response.

"R-right." Juliana still seemed hesitant, but she still composed herself. "Well, I can still teleport despite the wards, but please be safe!" The fuzzy-haired girl stated that as a glyph formed beneath her feet.

"Do not worry..." Agatha merely stated as Mirabella continued.

"We'll win for sure." And like that, Juliana blinked out of view with the use of teleportation.

"My, my. Such conviction, or perhaps it is hubris, It matters not, I suppose, but it is passing strange that the spawns of Aragorn and Isadora should battle together." The demon muttered thoughtfully.

But neither Agatha nor Mirabella were in the mood for conversation, as the latter acted first.

With a flick of her wrist and a whispered incantation, Mirabella channeled her power. A surge of raw power enveloped her, causing the air around her to crackle. Asmodai's eyes widened ever so slightly.

Mirabella's magic ignited, and the skies above suddenly darkened as storm clouds billowed menacingly. The once-tranquil forest trembled as gusts of wind howled through the ancient trees. Leaves and branches danced chaotically through the air.

A tempestuous hurricane came to life, swirling and gathering force with each passing moment. It began as a gentle breeze, only to rapidly escalate into a fearsome force of nature. The wind raged, tearing through the forest with an unyielding force, uprooting trees effortlessly.

The eye of the hurricane formed around Asmodai, trapping him in a maelstrom of swirling winds. The gales roared as the winds grew ferocious, threatening to tear him apart with their sheer strength. Mirabella's storm had become his inescapable prison.

Yet, Asmodai was not so easily defeated. He defied the raging winds, standing firm against the onslaught of Mirabella's conjured storm.

Just as Mirabella's hurricane seemed unassailable, Agatha stepped forward he eyes glowing with fiery intensity as she summoned her magic.

Without an incantation, Agatha unleashed her magic on the hurricane. Flames erupted from her fingertips, dancing with an ethereal brilliance as they surged towards the tempest. The intense heat mingled with the raging winds of the hurricane, creating a catastrophic fusion.

The fire hurricane emerged, angry flames raging amidst the winds of Mirabella's conjured storm. The forest was consumed by this devastating amalgamation of fire and wind. The inferno roared, casting fiery tendrils that licked the remains of trees swallowed by the tempest.

It seemed as though the flames and hurricane were unstoppable forces, destined to consume everything in their path. But then, as quickly as it appeared, the colossal fire hurricane began to disperse. The intense heat subsided, leaving a trail of dissipating smoke and embers in its wake.

And there, standing seemingly unscathed, was Asmodai. His eyes gleamed, his body untouched by the awe-inspiring forces that had sought to dismantle him. The dispersal of the fire hurricane had revealed his indomitable resilience.

Asmodai's gaze met the two girls, a confident smirk playing on his lips. The battle was far from over, and he reveled in the thrill of facing formidable opponents.

"Such power, as expected, spawns." He mused as Mirabella clicked her tongue while Agatha narrowed her eyes.

"Not even a scratch? And with our combined magical prowess." Agatha suddenly saw their chances of winning slip.

"Hope you ain't getting cold feet just because this punk happened to survive that." Mirabella spat out.

"Please, I am just getting started, you oaf." She retorted as they once again sprang to action.

Agatha inhaled deeply as she further steeled her nerves. She knew they had to act swiftly before he could launch a counterattack.

Drawing upon the raw power of the forest itself once more, Agatha extended her arms towards the ground. A surge of mana coursed through her veins as she tapped into the earth's primal magic. With a resounding thud, the ground beneath them quivered, and massive roots erupted from the forest floor.

These roots were like ancient serpents, with gnarled bark and twisting tendrils. They snaked their way through the undergrowth, relentlessly advancing towards Asmodai. Each root was thick as a large tree trunk, their collective power threatening to ensnare their target.

Agatha's control over nature came as a trait from being a spawn of the Goddess of Prosperity, who granted her the ability to direct these roots with precision, and she sent them coiling towards Asmodai. The roots loomed like silent giants, their tips poised to ensnare him. Asmodai, however, proved to be quite evasive.

With impossible agility, he moved between the roots, his movements fluid and quick. He seemed to anticipate their every move, evading their grasp with the grace of a skilled acrobat. Asmodai's nimble footwork positioned him closer and closer to the two girls.

Sensing the danger of Asmodai closing the distance, Mirabella reacted swiftly. She sprang into action, her magic crackling with intensity. Her hands began to weave intricate patterns in the air, conjuring a blade of pure energy within her grasp.

The blade appeared ethereal, forged from shimmering light that mesmerized the onlooker. Asmodai's eyes narrowed.

He watched her intently, waiting for her to move.

With seamless fluidity, Mirabella leaped forward, her blade cutting through the air with an swiftness. She aimed for vulnerable points, intending to pierce Asmodai's defenses.

But Asmodai was hardly that easy to injure. As Mirabella's blade slashed through the air, aiming for his heart, he sidestepped effortlessly, the slightest of movements allowing him to evade her deadly strikes. His reflexes were uncanny, and his skills were honed through countless battles he himself had experienced.

To Mirabella's dismay, he even parried her strikes with his bare hands, effortlessly blocking her every attempt to land a blow. Asmodai's movements seemed almost supernatural, as if he had insight into her every move. He remained undeterred, his expression impassive amidst the chaos surrounding them.

While Mirabella fought , Agatha still channeled her magic, directing the roots towards Asmodai. Much to their surprise, the roots that had initially targeted him began to deviate, avoiding Mirabella altogether. It was as though the roots themselves recognized her as an ally, only seeking to ensnare Asmodai.

The roots closed in, attempting to trap Asmodai in a tangled web. But with a burst of energy, Asmodai leaped into the air, using the roots as leverage to propel himself towards the girls. The forest floor shook as he landed, his eyes gleaming with an indomitable spirit.

"Tch, the fucking bastard is just dodging." Mirabella cursed, and she backed away to Agatha. Asmodai seemed to not advance on them despite the distance.

"He is quite nimble." Agatha, who had stopped her onslaught, agreed. "But he cannot just dodge forever, so..."

"We overwhelm him." Mirabelle continued, a grin stretching onto her face.

The air crackled with her mana as Mirabella channeled her magic once again. With a fierce determination, she summoned her powers, creating an array of a hundred upon a hundred colossal blades. Each blade was a masterpiece, gleaming despite the darkness and intricate designs etched onto the surface.

These blades floated in the air, their weight defying gravity as they awaited their command. Asmodai, unfazed by the spectacle before him, readied himself for another round of combat. 

With a surge of power, Mirabella sent the blades hurtling towards Asmodai. Their speed was incomprehensible—a blur of steel and magic charging towards their target. 

In a display of staggering power, Asmodai raised his right palm, conjuring an immense wave of black flames. The flames radiated a malevolent energy, hungry and destructive. With a sweeping motion, Asmodai unleashed the inferno, engulfing not only the blades but also the surrounding forest.

The forest, once serene and full of life, was now consumed by the dark flames. Trees crumbled to ash, wildlife scattered in terror, and the lush undergrowth wilted under the onslaught. The destruction was breathtaking yet devastating.

Realizing the imminent danger, Agatha acted swiftly. She drew upon her magic, forming an impenetrable barrier around herself and Mirabella. The barrier shimmered with a protective light, warding off the encroaching flames and shielding them from imminent harm.

Within the safety of the barrier, Agatha and Mirabella watched as the blades disintegrated under the black flames. Their efforts, although formidable, fell short against the immense power of this demon called Asmodai. 

The destruction subsided, leaving behind a scene of devastation. The forest lay in ruins, its once vibrant life reduced to ashes. 

Asmodai, now with a smirk on his face, approached the barrier. He observed the two girls with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. The battle had taken a toll on them, but they refused to back down. 

"Come now; that cannot be all." He mocked, and Mirabella glared ahead.

"Fuck off, we ain't finished yet!" Mirabella barked out. "Familial Arts: Aetheric Oblivion!"

Mirabella could feel the exhaustion settling in, but her determination remained unwavering. She knew that they couldn't afford to rest or falter in order to defeat Asmodai.

With a surge of celestial magic, Mirabella summoned a massive orb of radiant light. Its creation was a breathtaking sight to behold, as celestial energy formed into a swirling vortex within her grasp. The orb hovered high above them, casting a brilliant glow upon the ravaged landscape.

With a flick of her wrist, Mirabella released the celestial orb. It exploded into an overwhelming burst of blinding light, illuminating the entire area. The explosion of pure magical energy engulfed everything in its path, scattering debris and sending shockwaves through the air.

The destruction was cataclysmic. Trees were uprooted, the earth trembled beneath their feet, and even the very air vibrated with the sheer force of the explosion. The radiant light consumed everything, leaving no corner untouched by its overwhelming power.

Amidst the devastation, Mirabella and Agatha remained unharmed within the protective barrier. They shielded their eyes from the blinding light, waiting with bated breath for the smoke and debris of the explosion to dissipate.

As the echoes of the explosion died down, the smoke began to thin, revealing a shocking sight. There, standing in the midst of the wreckage, was Asmodai. Unscathed and seemingly unaffected by the celestial assault, he wore a wicked smile that sent a chill down Mirabella's spine.

Mirabella clenched her fists, her anger fueling her defiance. Asmodai may have survived her onslaught, but she knew that they still had a chance. With renewed determination, she locked eyes with Agatha, their unspoken understanding strengthening their bond. Funnily enough.

"Ah, the magic of God's." Asmodai murmured with a smirk. "Powerful, but incomplete." He commented as he stepped forward. As fun as this was, it was time to end this scuffle.