Kraxus stood with a wide grin playing on his lips, a glint of excitement in the demon general's eyes. "HAHAA! I like your confidence, human."

Sir Einicht scoffed and charged at Kraxus.

He was met halfway and their weapons clashed once more.

Sir Einicht pulled back and went for the demon's torso, but it was blocked. He carried on with several other attempts, which were also parried with ease.

He didn't need any further attempts to understand that his opponent was enjoying the fight.

Sir Einicht then paused for a second, before faking a strike that made the demon move, creating a clear opening by the legs. Sir Einicht went down and tried to sweep the demon off its feet, but it seemed his move was predicted.

Kaxus jumped just in time and finally decided to take on the attack. However, a sharp pain stung from his legs, and when he looked, there were gashes on his thighs.

Sir Einicht did have an option two, and it clearly worked.

Kraxus snorted and swung his axe towards Einicht's head, but the man ducked in time and delivered a kick to the demon's side, though the impact was minimal.

He planned to send another attack, but the demon's hand struck his face, which sent him flying.

Einicht managed to balance himself in the air and landed on his feet, stabbing his sword into the ground to stop himself from skidding backwards.

Before he could react, Kraxus was in the air, axe over his head.

Sir Einicht barely got out of the way as Kraxus struck. He thought he would have enough time to take a stance while the demon recovered, but it turned out the demon's recovery time was something else.

He sidestepped a slash that nearly got his face, the demon's axe grazing his cheek and drawing blood.

His body felt heavier as he moved, ducking another attack.

Sir Einicht used the opportunity to twist his body, connecting a kick to Kraxus's chest, followed by a slash.

A deep cut appeared on the Kraxus's chest, but he ignored it, bodying Einicht into a wall.

Sir Einicht coughed out blood and fell to the ground, gritting his teeth. Despite how badly his body wanted him to stay down, he fought against it, pushing himself up.

"Get up, human. Are you done?" Kraxus mocked.

"Nah, I still have some fight to put up," Sir Einicht forced a laugh, spitting out blood. He drew his sword back and lowered his shoulders, putting all the energy he could muster up into his legs. "Don't fail me now. I still can not do it as good as Melvin, but... move, move, move," he murmured.

In a blink, Sir Einicht vanished from the spot where he had been standing.

Kraxus's eyes quickly went to the side, but before he could react, a gash appeared on his shoulder, then his back, then his legs.

The demon general's eyes started to move at an unnatural speed, trying to trace Einichts movements as more and more gashes appeared on his body.

Alas,

CLANG!

He caught up with the human.

For the next couple of seconds, sparks flew as their blades came together. But Sir Einicht soon started to slow down, his energy fading away.

Kraxus used the opportunity to cleave a clean arc towards the man.

Blood sprayed as Sir Einicht's entire right arm fell off his body. "AARGHH!" he groaned in pain.

But he wasn't going to go down just like that. With his other hand, he took advantage of the proximity and drove his sword through the demon's chest.

Kraxus looked down at his chest and then suddenly grabbed Einicht by the neck, lifting him off the ground. He kept on tightening his grip, slowly, making sure it was painful.

Veins in Sir Einicht's head started to pop as his face reddened. He tried twisting the sword, but he was too tired and weak.

As the demon's hold on him became unbearable, he released the sword and started to hit the demon's hand. He eventually stopped and started to scratch Kraxus's arms with an extremely weak effort, eyes red.

It didn't take more than three seconds for the man's hand to fall limp. His eyes were still open, but he was already gone.

Kraxus dropped Sir Einicht's lifeless body on the ground and let out a satisfied huff. "Not bad, human," Kraxus said.

He walked over to the building where Sir Einicht had run out from, hoping to find the boy who the man saved, but he found no one. After surveying the surroundings, he left.

Meanwhile, the boy was still in his hiding place, back turned to the opening, as he followed Sir Einicht's instructions.

"Eighty-six... Eighty-seven... Eighty-eight..." he counted, calmly.

When he eventually got to a hundred and dropped his hands, the only noise he could hear was that of the fire that still burned in some places.

He crawled out of the hiding place and looked around, his heart pounding in his chest.

He was startled when he started to hear voices and he ran back to his hiding place.

Soon, he started to see a number of people on horses. Some wearing the uniform Sir Einicht told him to wait for.

Cyndy and her team had finally arrived, but it was too late. The demons had already departed, led into a hellgate by Kraxus.

They went around, seeing a lot of bodies. Some were familiar faces, others scorched.

Cyndy quietly sat by Sir Einicht's body, looking at him half-lided eyes. Her emotions were conflicting inside, and she didn't really know what to feel.

"I said we would watch your back," she mumbled, putting his hand in hers. "Sorry we could not this time. I still remember that day, you know. I... I'm sorry. I never did apologize, did I? Look, I know I have been an idiot, but... just forgive me. Are we good? Of course, you would say yes. You always do. Remember when we were all hungry and got some food, only for you to give that kid yours? Then we had to share mine while Melvin laughed."

She smiled, but it all vanished in the next second as she sighed. "He's dead, you idiot," she said, dropping his hands gently. "I wish I actually apologized earlier. For everything."

With a final exhale, she closed his eyes with trembling hands and stood, feeling a lump in her throat. "Pick up the body," she ordered some of her teammates, before walking past them.

She paused when she spotted a small boy standing in front of her, his eyes swollen from too much crying. It was the same boy Sir Einicht saved. "Come," she said, extending a hand.

The boy slowly walked over to her and she ruffled his hair. "You will be fine," she added.

He spotted two other men with the Cerulean Guardians uniform, trying to pick up a man on the ground. The man's face one he quickly recognized. His savior was now... gone.

Tears started to stream down his cheeks once more.

Cyndy noticed and swallowed hard. "He saved you, didn't he?" she muttered to herself. "I hope you finally found the feeling I was talking about," she added, turning her back on them and taking the child away from the scene. "Get some rest, Einicht. You have done more than enough. Have no regrets."

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