Day 0 - Reckoning Part 5

Agnes fixed her gaze upon Darx, who stood amidst the chaos with an eerie calmness. His eyes devoid of life but burning with an intense red glow, a stark contrast against the backdrop of dark energy enveloping him.

Agnes stood there for a moment, analyzing the situation before her. Despite showing a calm and confident expression on the outside, inside, she is perplexed, trying to understand how something like what is happening to Darx is even possible. Agnes had no doubt that Darx's overwhelming presence was demonic, but she couldn't understand how a human being could generate a demonic presence, let alone one so sinister and strong. Agnes was trying to remember her old confrontations against demons, trying to find answers, but in none of those instances did those demons make her feel that sense of danger that she was feeling now. There should be no conceivable way for a human to generate such an amount of demonic energy, even if by some means of possession. Yet someone who was challenging her logic and everything she knew was standing in front of her.

Agnes approached Kase without taking her eyes off Darx. Given the situation, she knew Kase was angry and with his pride wounded, but she also needed Kase to regain his composure so they could figure out what to do next. With a deep sigh, Agnes turned to Kase and spoke calmly, "Kase, you need to calm down. We're facing an enemy unlike any I've faced before. It's time to put aside your emotions and focus on the fight."

"W-What? I know what I'm doing! I'll take care of him, so stay out of it!" Kase yelled, sounding frustrated, "I'm an S-Rank! I'm not going to lose to trash like that!"

"Seriously... That's why I don't like dealing with children," Agnes responded still maintaining her gaze on Darx, "Do you think S-Ranks are invincible beings? If that were the case, S-Rank wouldn't need a party. S-Ranks are incredibly powerful adventurers, but they are not omnipotent. Your rank is useless if you can't keep a cool head and analyze any situation you find yourself in, in order to use your skills to the fullest while relying on your companions," Agnes continued in a calm but firm voice, "Believe me when I tell you that your ego and overconfidence are your worst enemies."

The frustration still etched on Kase's face revealed his inner humiliation, yet Agnes's words succeeded in calming down his agitation enough for him to regain composure. Surveying the scene, Kase beheld his wounded teammates. Gin was still reeling in shock from the loss of his skill while Arthur bled from his efforts to shield Celeste, who in turn, was healing Gin and Diva, both more grievously injured than Arthur.

Kase hesitated for a moment, his anger subsiding slightly, "I guess there is no option..." He took a deep breath, looking at Agnes, "You can do whatever you like, but I will do things my way."

Agnes sighed. She had seen Kase's potential, but it seemed he still had to learn some things the hard way. Unable to waste any more time, she tries to explain the plan of action, "...Darx is clearly not the same person you think he is. Whatever is happening to him, there is no way a human can withstand that level of demonic energy for long without damaging their body."

"Are you suggesting we keep him busy until he destroys himself!?" Kase asked.

Agnes nodded, "Let's let Arthur, Diva and Gin entertain him while I cover them, preventing them from receiving critical damage, and you..." Agnes paused what she was about to say momentarily and looked at the destroyed wall from where Syvis was also looking at her. Just by seeing Syvis, Agnes understood the desperation and anguish that Syvis was feeling, not knowing what to do. Without taking her eyes off Syvis, Agnes finished her sentence, "...And you find any chance to deliver a fatal blow. Kill Darx if you find the opportunity."

"You don't have to tell me that," Kase replied, "It's what I planned to do anyway."

"Only act if you are sure you will succeed. There is no point in risking your life otherwise. If you don't find the opportunity, we can just extend the fight until Darx destroys himself." Agnes said while returning her gaze to Darx.

For some reason, Darx didn't move or attack, yet Agnes knew they had to act first, or Darx could take them by surprise. Agnes gave a signal to Arthur, and he started the attack, leading the way. Diva and Gin followed behind him while Celeste, at a safe distance, buffed her teammates. Simultaneously, Kase vanished into the shadows, employing [Silent ****]. Despite his frustration, Kase was determined to prove to himself that he was better than Darx. Agnes held her ground, locking eyes with Darx. As Agnes locked eyes with Darx, she felt a chill run down her spine, sensing an unsettling intensity akin to a predator fixated on its prey. Despite her long experience and formidable skills as an S-Rank Gunner, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that Darx's presence instilled in her.

(It has been many years since I felt intimidated by an opponent.) Agnes thought, (Something tells me that this is not all the power that Darx boy has. We have to eliminate him as quickly as possible.)

As the trio closed in on Darx, Arthur unleashed a devastating series of powerful [Rampant Cleave], his greatsword cutting through the air. However, Darx remained rooted in place until the last moment, when Arthur's attack was about to reach him. Then, his body became enveloped in crackling dark electricity using Gin's stolen skill. One second, Darx was in front of Arthur, and in the next blink, Darx disappeared from Arthur's sight, leaving an area of electricity in his place. Darx moved at a speed almost imperceptible to everyone's eyes, using [Thunderstride] even better than how Gin, the original owner of the skill used to use it. None of the three managed to react when Darx reappeared beside Gin, his sword aimed at Gin's neck.

*BANG* *BANG*

Two gunshots shattered the tense silence, followed by the unmistakable whizz of a bullet slicing through the air. The first projectile found its mark, piercing Darx's hand and forcing him to relinquish his grip on the sword, making him drop his sword to the ground before Darx could complete his attack. The second shot went towards Darx's head, but he dodged the bullet thanks to his unbelievable speed and reflexes. Despite her age and illness, Agnes' skills as a Gunner were unmatched, giving the others the chance to counterattack.

Taking advantage of the opportunity with a roar of defiance, Arthur unleashed a devastating overhead strike, his greatsword cleaving through the air with unstoppable ****. Diva followed suit, her katana slashing toward Darx's side with lethal intentions. Yet Darx reacted with lightning-fast speed moving out of the way of both attacks. Despite the bullet piercing through one of Darx's hands, he still retained his other sword in his left hand, and he was planning to counterattack.

Dida couldn't follow Darx's movements while he was moving around, wrapped in dark electricity, no matter how much she tried. In Diva's eyes, Darx only appeared briefly in different places, leaving a path of dark electricity in his wake. Diva knew she couldn't even blink, or she would completely lose track of Darx, which would be fatal.

Knowing she couldn't keep up with Darx, Diva decided to rely on her instincts, which were her strong point. Diva bet her life that Darx would attack her from behind, so she used [Dance Fury] behind her at the moment she thought Darx would attack, and Diva's gamble paid off as Darx appeared in the path of her katana. With a howl of fury, Diva thrust her energy-laden katana forward, but Darx was too quick. Darx parried Diva's katana attack; the blades clashed with sparks of electricity flying in all directions. Unfortunately for Diva, Darx was too strong and too fast, and after a couple of sword clashes in a mere second, Diva lost the sword duel. Darx's sword was about to split her in two without her being able to block the attack; however, once again, Agnes, with incredible precision, shot, and the bullet passed through Darx's other hand, causing Darx to drop his remaining sword to the ground.

"[Rampant Cleave]"

"[Dance Fury]"

Both Arthur and Diva seized the opportunity presented by Darx, who had lost both of his swords and had both arms injured thanks to Agnes's bullets.

Yet, once again, Darx's agility, fueled by [Thunderstride], enabled him to evade both attacks by leaping high into the air. However, while still in the air, two colossal bolts of electricity thrown by Gin and enhanced by Celeste's buffs hurled toward him at alarming speed. Reacting swiftly, Darx summoned his [Water Barrier], encasing himself within a vast sphere of water. The collision between the electricity bolts and the water barrier resonated with a loud boom, unleashing lightning in all directions, destroying everything in its path; the sheer **** of the impact destroyed many windows in the guild building and neighboring structures. Despite the onslaught, the water barrier held firm, enduring the **** at least until two more shots echoed through the air.

Those two bullets passed through the water barrier as if it were nothing. One of the bullets went straight to Darx's head, but thanks to his increased reflexes, he managed to move his neck, doing a fatal bullet that only scratched his cheek. Little did Darx know that that bullet was a distraction so that the other bullet would hit him in the thigh. Agnes had already noticed Darx's incredible speed and reflexes. Knowing that she would not be able to kill Darx with a single bullet, Agnes was weakening Darx little by little while at the same time protecting and supporting her guild members who were facing Darx face to face. Now Darx had both hands and one leg pierced by one of her bullets.

Arthur, Diva, and Gin surged forward when Darx fell to the ground. In response, Darx conjured two of his female from water summons to intercept their ****. Arthur's expression tightened with concern, well aware of the formidable strength of those water summons. However, two more shots were heard.

*BANG* *BANG*

The bullets pierced through the water summons, tearing gaping holes through their forms before they dissipated into water, unable to withstand the impact. One of Agnes's special skills, which was the terror of many magicians who faced her, is [Witchbane Bullet]—a bullet infused with anti-magic properties. When fired, the bullet emits a crackling energy field that disrupts magic, allowing it to easily penetrate and destroy any magical barrier or dispel spells upon impact—a bullet capable of destroying anything created with magic. Additionally, Agnes is always using [Royal Eagle Eye] at all times, a skill that honed her vision to razor-sharp precision. With enhanced clarity and acuity, Agnes can see long distances even at night with unparalleled clarity, making even distant small targets appear as if they were within arm's reach. This skill dramatically improves Agnes' accuracy, allowing her to land shots with pinpoint accuracy.

Among all this chaos, Darx's face remained impassive, a stark contrast to the bloodied mess his hands and thigh had become. Despite his stoicism, his eyes were now locked on Agnes, who was far in the distance on the roof of a building. Darx seemed to understand that his chances of a counterattack were slim as long as Agnes was in the picture. In a sudden burst of speed, he propelled himself forward with [Thunderstride], his intentions clear to Arthur. The latter tried to halt his advance with a provoking skill, but it was futile.

Witnessing this, Agnes raised her rifle, her hand steady as she aimed at Darx. Agnes drew in a deep breath, her resolve unwavering. She refused to be intimidated by a kid, no matter how formidable Darx seemed. With a single shot, her bullet hurtled towards its target with lethal precision. Nevertheless, Agnes was aware that she needed to end this fight quickly. Agnes knew that in her condition, her abilities and resistance were far from what they were in her prime due to her age and illness, and her body would not be able to withstand an intense confrontation for long. Still, Agnes was prepared to give it everything she had.

"I won't let you destroy my guild," Agnes whispered to herself, fingers tightening on the grip.

*BANG*

Darx, wrapped in dark electricity, jumped at high speed across the roofs of buildings, trying to reach Agnes while she tried to stop Darx with her bullets. Agnes' shots were so precise that she hit every bullet, and Darx, despite his lighting speed, could only move enough to avoid being hit in a vital area. One bullet hit Darx in the shoulder, one more in his other leg, and the worst of all, hit the side of his stomach. Any normal adventurer would be fighting for their life after all those shots, but Darx seemed immune to the pain, continuing to advance without stopping with his gaze fixed on Agnes.

Now, closer to Agnes, Darx threw four water spheres at Agnes as a distraction, but Agnes destroyed each one with precise shots. Darx finally reached Agnes, who was standing still, almost as if she was waiting for him. Darx formed a dark sphere in his hand, which elongated, looking similar to a sword with which he tried to lunge at her. But Agnes was prepared, swiftly drawing a hiding revolver from her side holster. Then, she used another of her skills.

"[Rapidfire Barrage]"

A quick draw followed by a lightning-fast sequence of six shots unleashed in rapid succession.

Gunners are one of the most lethal classes there are. Few adventurers gain this class, and those who do are usually dwarves. Back in the day, when Agnes obtained this rare class on top of receiving an S-Rank while she was a human, it was unprecedented news that sent shockwaves throughout the adventurer community, sparking conversations that echoed for years to come. Gunners are a class that depends on their weapons even more than other classes, which is why Agnes traveled to the territory of the dwarves in her youth and lived there for several years, improving her skills besides obtaining the perfect weapons for her. Despite what many may think, gunners have a disadvantage at close range. Through relentless practice and mastery of her guns, Agnes overcame this disadvantage. In her prime, there was no rival or circumstance that could beat her. But even now, considering her age and illness, Agnes is still one of the deadliest adventurers.

Seeing the revolver, Darx tried to dodge when he realized that Agnes' bullets would hit him before his attack on her. However, two of the bullets managed to hit Darx. Still, Darx tried to fight back, and a dark orb began to form in his hand when, all of a sudden, a dagger plunged into his back.

Just as Agnes told Kase, he patiently awaited the perfect opportunity, and with calculated precision, Kase lunged forward, aiming for Darx's exposed back, "This time, you won't escape!" Kase said with a smile as his body began to emerge from his invisibility.

This time, the dagger penetrated Darx's back entirely, inflicting considerable damage, forcing Darx to attempt to get out of his **** position by jumping off the roof. But Arthur and the others had already closed in around him. As Arthur and the others charged at Darx, Agnes knew she had to act fast. She pulled the trigger of her rifle, and the bullet hit Darx's chest, tearing a hole and leaving a smoking wound. Despite all the damage and pain, Darx tried to get out of that ambush, jumping forward, but Arthur caught him with his skill, throwing Darx through the skies and then falling spectacularly to the ground covered in blood.

The battle appeared to draw to a close, with Darx now sprawled on the ground, bloodied and weakened. Despite his efforts to rise, his body convulsed strangely, forcing him back down. As Darx knelt there, his demonic energy waning with each passing moment, the members of Oblivion approached cautiously, encircling him. Victory seemed within their grasp. Agnes positioned before Darx and stared at him. Agnes's face didn't show joy for having won, but on the contrary, it appeared that she felt pity for Darx.

"N-Now what?" Celeste asked.

From the shadows emerged Kase, a smirk playing on his lips, "Isn't it obvious?" He remarked, walking slowly, approaching Darx, "It's time for him to die," With his dagger gripped tightly, he stopped in front of Darx, who was kneeling on the ground covered in blood, "I'll admit, you gave me more trouble than I'd anticipated. But a loser will always be a loser. That's where you belong! You're inferior to me! I've taken everything from you! I won! I WON! HAHAHAHA!" Kaze started laughing uncontrollably.

Arthur, clearly upset, walked up to Kase and grabbed him by the clothes, "Stop this! What are you trying to prove?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Kase yelled, sounding annoyed, "If you don't let me go, you'll be next after I kill him!"

"Darx is no longer a threat," Arthur interjected, attempting to appeal for Darx, "We can't just kill him! We need to understand what happened to him. If he was being controlled or possessed, we must uncover the truth or..."

Kase slapped Arthur's hand, getting rid of his grab, "Are you stupid or what? I don't care what happened to him! I was going to kill him sooner or later anyway, so stop meddling."

Arthur, reaching the peak of his anger, says, "Kase, you are a despicable person!"

Kase just smiled cynically.

Before things could get any further, Agnes intervened, "Arthur, stop!" She interjected firmly, "Regardless of Kase's motives, we can't overlook what Darx has done. Darx's actions are serious, and I'd rather not take the risk of letting him recover and strike again."

"But, Agnes…" Arthur tried to speak but was cut off by Diva.

"Shut up, Arthur!" Diva spoke, "I want to see that son of a bitch dead too! If Kase doesn't kill him, I will!"

"Enough!" Agnes yelled, sounding annoyed, "I already made the decision, so there is nothing more to discuss. Kase..." Agnes turned to look at Kase, suggesting that he continue.

Arthur had **** but to look down and see how Kase, smiling, held out his dagger, looking eager to finish Darx. But just when Arthur had lost hope. Fire fell upon them, forcing everyone to jump away from Darx. When the inferno subsided, Syvis emerged, standing before Darx with her three elemental summons encircling him protectively as if guarding him from harm.

"I won't let you kill Darx!" Syvis stated, looking at Agnes.

"I was wondering when you would intervene," Agnes remarked, her smile tinged with sadness, "It took you a long time to make a decision. If you're not going to let us eliminate the person who attacked our guild, what do you plan to do? Attack me? Kill me?"

"A-Agnes, you know very well that I don't want to do that, so don't **** me," Syvis said, looking almost as if she were about to cry, "I'll take Darx with me and make sure he doesn't cause any more damage so please let us go."

"Syvis, What are you doing?" Kase intervened, "You had already agreed to stand by my side and lead Oblivon together."

Syvis ignored Kase's words and focused on Agnes, "Agnes, if you let us go, I will keep my word. I'm going to come back and fulfill what I promised you," Syvis said almost pleadingly, "Please... It's all my fault. I've already hurt Darx so much," She murmured, tears welling in her eyes, "Too late, I realized I loved him more than I thought. That's why if you don't let us escape, I'll choose Darx this time over you, Agnes, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him alive."

"This bitch!" Diva yelled, "If she wants to be with him so much, we will kill them both!

"I've had enough!" Kase exclaimed, frustration and anger evident in his voice.

At that moment, Kase vanished using [Silent ****]. Syvis panicked, not knowing where Kase went. But it is evident that he would go for Darx, so Syvis swiftly turned around to try to protect Darx. To her horror, she saw Kase behind Darx, his dagger poised to strike the back of Darx's neck.

"NO!!!" Syvis yelled, reaching out her hand, attempting to intervene, but in the blink of an eye, blood splattered across her face, obscuring her vision, "DARX!!" Syvis screamed.

"WAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

A terrifying scream pierced the air. When Syvis finally managed to wipe the blood from her eyes, she saw Darx now standing while to his side was Kase kneeling on the ground, covered in blood and with an expression of agonizing shock that reflected intense pain. Syvis, still not understanding what was happening, focused her gaze on where Kase was bleeding and saw that Kase was missing his right arm. Looking at the ground next to Kase, she saw Kase's right arm lying in the middle of a pool of blood. Syvis didn't see what happened, but she understood that somehow Darx cut Kase's arm from above the elbow.

"Wh-at..." Syvis murmured.

Agnes and the others attempted to react, but they were paralyzed with terror as Darx lifted his head. In an instant, everything changed. The demonic energy emanating from Darx surged to an unimaginable level, far surpassing anything felt before. The dark energy that Darx was emanating was now more intense and dense. It seemed like Darx was enveloped in dark flames that only revealed his fearsome red eyes. Kase tried to lift his head to see Darx but couldn't. It was like something was forcing Kase's head, forcing him to bow to Darx. Agnes and the rest were in the same situation. They couldn't move or speak. They were still unable to look Darx in the eyes, feeling exhausted and without control of their bodies. Everyone's breathing was agitated, and their bodies were sweating from fear.

When it seemed like nothing could get worse, the earth began to shake. The ground trembled violently, reminiscent of the earthquake that happened in the cave. A crushing wave of demonic power overwhelmed them, surpassing their wildest expectations. Darx unleashed a torrent of dark energy, his aura pulsating with an otherworldly intensity. Everyone's instincts screamed for them to flee, but their bodies refused to obey.

No one present knew what they had done. They took Darx to the ****, and the seal that the goddess [Imris] had placed on Darx to suppress his demonic side was now broken. Darx, who had been silent since the darkness absorbed him, let out a scream that was more like a loud roar, which gave chills to everyone who heard it.

With that, a horn began to emerge from Darx's head, slowly seeming to cause him pain as Darx started to squirm and roar. As the horn emerged, the demonic energy increased more and more and more as if it had no limit.

At that moment, Agnes grasped a chilling realization. Darx wasn't merely possessed, nor was he an ordinary demon. Only one entity could wield such overwhelming demonic energy. Only the most powerful demon entity can have such devastating and overwhelming power. Yet, it shouldn't be possible. Darx is a human. But if her suspicions were correct, then who is leading the demon army in its attack against humans and other races?

This makes no sense. Nothing makes sense. Agnes thought, full of questions.

Whether it was due to fear or her sense of survival, Diva was the only one who managed to move. However, she made the worst possible mistake. With katana in hand, she intended to attack Darx, but as soon as she took a step, Darx disappeared from her sight. Agnes was the only one capable of seeing Darx, using his hand as a sword, cutting Diva's neck, and decapitating her without Diva even understanding what happened.

Agnes understood her mistake in not killing Darx when they had the opportunity because it was too late now.