struggle

“TELL HER TO BREATHE!”

I screamed and charged at Minerva.

“NOW!”

But of course she ignored me. I tried punching her, but even as a defeated, exhausted wreck on the ground Minerva was still protected by her invincibility field.

“Was it worth it, boy?”, she sneered, grinning up towards me. “You’re not getting me. Your pet devil’s dead, your Galmon’s suffocating. Wonder what deal you made with that dead devil of yours. Devil contracts are still valid even if the devil dies, you know.”

I screamed and punched at her in pointless rage.

“But you better not think it ends here. Once I’m back at full strength I hunt you down. You haven’t achieved shit!”, Minerva laughed which deteriorated quickly into a hacking coughing fit.

I felt like losing my mind. What did I even fight all this for? For what did Femto have to die? Was it all pointless?

Minerva savored my anguish with great pleasure. “Well, was fun and all but you know...Oi, referee. You sleeping? Get me out already.”

“Eeehh? Why would I do that?”, Ben responded with a smile.

Minerva’s smile wavered for a bit. “What was that?”

Ben sighed. “As a former champion I’m sure you are aware of proceedings. Before we can teleport you out of the arena we have to apply the spell of obedience.”

“You fucking me? You can’t apply the spell.”

“Yet”, Ben corrected. “We are happy to wait until that is possible.”

“Get me out here right fucking now or I skin you alive.”

“I don’t think you will”, Ben smiled back. “Not without any hands.”

Minerva’s eyes darted towards the audience. “Get rid of the barrier! Beat up the staff until they do it!”

Some moved. But not many. Some even stood in the way of Minerva’s most ardent fans.

Was it the order to suffocate one of her slaves to ****? Or was her pathetic state the reason for it? Whatever the case, the spectators that just fervently supported her a few hours ago were silent now.

“Worthless shits”, Minerva clicked her tongue. “You think you can disobey me? You’re all...”

“It’s over, Minerva” I interrupted her. “Don’t make this any worse for you. Command Valkyrie to breathe right now.”

“Valkyrie! Get me out of here!”, she shouted instead.

Right!

Valkyrie was Minerva’s only lifeline! She can’t let her die!

And once Valkyrie has entered the arena, they can remove the spell of obedience.

I stared up at Minerva’s tower, expecting the strongest Galmon to leap down any second.

And yet...nothing happened.

No way...did she already pass out?

I snapped back towards the broken Dark Lord. “TELL HER TO BREATHE NOW!”

Instead, the Dark Lord roared. With a strength that probably Minerva herself wasn’t aware she still had in her, she willed herself upwards and bashed her dried up body against the stone wall of the arena.

She can not make it through the barrier but if she could just crush these stone walls she might still escape.

However, in her crippled, weakened state, it was obvious that this was an impossible task. “LET HER BREATHE!”, I repeated, unable to not let desperation seep into my voice.

Minerva’s only response was to scream and rage. There didn’t seem to be any rational thought left in her. Like a rabid monster she smashed herself against the walls over and over.

I threatened and reasoned with her. I even begged. But it was all in vain. Ten agonizing minutes passed like this with Minerva ineffectually raging and me bargaining.

...

In these ten minutes the Dark Lord used up every last ounce of her body, bashing herself against the arena’s stone wall. Her remaining stumps of arms collapsed first, shattering to dust on impact. Then her legs gave way. Finally, she was nothing more then a dried up, limbless husk on the ground before even that vanished. All that remained was a tiny, blood red, marble sized sphere that sat in the sand of the arena.

“Install safety orders.”

I commanded without emotion towards the marble, before addressing Ben. “Revive her.”

Ben tried to object but after my glare he reluctantly gave the order.

It was time for the spells to work their magic.

Minerva materialized again. Combatants that were revived should be drastically weakened and she shouldn’t be able to attack me in the first place but I was not taking any chances.

“Don’t attack! Tell Valkyrie to breathe!”

And this time Minerva obeyed, her rage from before seemingly just a memory as she calmly gave the order. “Why bother?”, she asked. “She’s dead by now.”

I had no times to waste on her. “Ben, teleport us to Minerva’s tower.”

“B-But there is still the victory...”

“BEN!”

Understanding my urgency, Ben gave a small nod and we vanished.

...

Desperation clutched my heart.

I knew it was hopeless. Even for the strongest Galmon, too much time had passed. No one can survive this long without air.

I ran into living quarters with nobody in sight.

“Where is she?”, I snapped towards Minerva. “Tell the truth!”

“Bedroom, boy”, Minerva replied with her usual, self assured smile.

The layout was the exact same as my tower, so I immediately rushed upstairs.

...

Valkyrie’s body was in ruins.

She had countless wounds on her body.

Whippings, burn marks, gashes. Any **** imaginable must have been inflicted upon her. Even one of her eyes had been gouged out.

“No way,”

And yet, it was Minerva who uttered these words in complete disbelief.

There were probably a number of reasons. The number of girls in the bedroom for once.

“Maarii!”

The first to got my attention was Aiju. The catgirl immediately rushed and hugged me. “Good job, winning, will suck dick later.” She then pointed towards the rest of the girls. “Look.”

Sylphid was here, as well as Fisti and Maria.

And most importantly...

“I congratulate you to your victory. You fought well.”

Valkyrie smiled at me.