Kairo had no more hesitation as to what he needed to do. The death mark was growing on his body so much that at this point his entire left side was covered by its marking.
The bleeding on his finger had increased exponentially, such that it looked like he was a living fountain of blood. The ground underneath him was tainted crimson red, reflecting on the crystal-clear surface of the diamond wall on which they stood.
"Many have vowed to do the same thing, Kairo. Their naivety leading them to believe just because they were right meant they would be able to thrive. But let me tell you this. You might be right here, but I am stronger—and that's all that will be remembered. Now, if you don't bleed to death, I will make sure you end up in Devour's stomach," Corry said loudly, speaking with so much anger that his muscles drew on his face. For him, Kairo wasn't just annoying—he was a stark reminder that he could not continue to deceive himself about his actions.
Devour's razor-like teeth moved up and down, mimicking his every word like his reflection. Even the anger in Corry's statement could be felt through Devour's mimicking. Its sparkling red eyes flickered with a dangerous glint, and it shot out, attacking Kairo once more.
Devour might be powerful, but it is not invincible, Kairo thought. Stepping to the side of the diamond wall, he began dashing toward his opponent. Although Devour's teeth were extremely hard—so much so that if he got caught in between, it would be over for him—Kairo believed it was the only thing about him that was dangerous. If he could strike somewhere else, maybe he could create an opening to deliver his final attack.
The Sand Paladin followed after Kairo, using its lance to carve the way, while Kairo followed behind. When Devour arrived, the lance and the guillotine-like teeth connected with each other. The usually steady and unmoved paladin was staggering backward, his body skidding as the teeth of Devour tried to go past his defense.
This is my luck, Kairo thought. Devour, now locked in with the Sand Paladin, gave him a window. He slid down the duo, passing just above the lance and the clashing monster, then rolled out and flew toward Corry. His every step left a mark of blood on the diamond wall, but Kairo had no time to worry about it.
"The next minutes will be decisive. He wouldn't expect what is coming for him. I will definitely win." Kairo's mind was as firm as a sword. Moving at lightning speed, he rapidly closed the distance between him and his opponent.
The Sand Paladin was still locked in an incredible clash with Devour, the lance and the teeth colliding in quick succession. The impacts were ear-piercing—so loud it was like either of them would break at any moment.
Each of the sparkles created by their clash only increased Kairo's urgency because the Sand Paladin was slowly fading. That meant that its aura was getting exhausted. Just a little longer, Kairo, he reminded himself, keeping up the pace.
Corry, as someone who had been through numerous battles, felt something was off with how Kairo had become confident. "Back here, Devour!" Corry cried out instinctively.
Devour was incredibly fast, as if it could feel the danger for its master. It curved midway in the void, shooting toward Kairo.
"Hm? What the hell do you think you are doing? You can still run thanks to those sticks of yours. I'll get rid of them," Corry waved out. From behind him, the wall began shaking, and several lances detached from it. Flicking his finger, the lances moved out, creating an explosive burst of wind backward. One after the other, they moved, dancing in the air, targeting Kairo and the Sand Paladin.
"Huge mistake, Corry. You did warn me not to be reckless without knowing all your opponent's cards," Kairo smirked. By locking the Sand Paladin and Devour in a dead match, Kairo was certain Corry would try to stop him from getting too close because of the mishap with the lance earlier. Thinking Kairo might try something like this, he bet on Corry going for a ranged attack—and he was right.
As the storm of diamond lances moved, Kairo suddenly slowed down and stopped running, which caused Corry's expression to darken even more. With a smile on his face, Kairo lifted his left arm, ejecting the last card from his launcher.
Then he caught it in the middle of his fingers midair. "Wind Breaker," he murmured. Connecting the card with the circuitry of the void, waves began undulating around Kairo, creating a spinning storm that moved outward with him at the center.
Each of the wind's tails was like an extension of his body. Kairo flipped his finger midair in the direction of the lances as if giving them an order. The lances' speed didn't slow—they rather increased. So much that they deviated from each other. Like chained dominoes, the lances connected with each other with a slicing sound midair. Each impact created sparkles of light between Kairo and Corry, like fireworks.
It was like the wind tails were controlling them, forcing the lances to rotate vertically so fast that they turned into spinning blades instead. Then they all began flying toward their owner.
Corry's expression was that of disbelief. Never would he have imagined Kairo had such a card. "No, I can't lose," Corry said. Disregarding his safety, he propelled himself outward in a desperate attempt to catch Kairo.
The wind blades stormed past his body one after the other. Protecting his face, he bulldozed toward his opponent. In his eyes, there was nothing else but fury and anger. "You know what they say, Kairo. Opponent today, best friend tomorrow. Hell awaits us. You're going down with me," he said with a smile.
"You could have been a great officer with such resilience. It's such a pity you fell this low," Kairo said, a little surprised Corry was still fighting even at this moment. At this rate, Corry would get to him before the wind blades chopped him to the point he had no more 'stock.'
Corry's left leg and right arm were instantly chopped off, but he didn't care as new ones popped out almost instantly. Corry was getting closer. A few feet away from the storm in which Kairo hid, Corry extended his finger one last time—a final and desperate move to finish off his opponent.
From the tip of his finger, the Diamond Glory condensed into a fine needle-like shape, exploding forth at incredible speed. Despite the pain he was in, he held a smile. For him, at this distance and at the speed of his attack—even if the blade got his head—Kairo would be pierced at the same moment. They were both doomed.
Kairo's expression darkened when he saw Corry's last move. 'This never ends with him. I always need to be on guard, ' he thought. However, he didn't run away—primarily because he had no more strength left for that, and secondly because the reason behind his confidence had appeared.
Corry's face shifted for the very first time since the fight began. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by shock and awe.
Behind Kairo, a formless figure had condensed. Made entirely of swirling winds, the floating ghost appeared like a worn fighter that had desolated the battle. Yet he exuded an aura of danger and power.
Wielding its massive butcher knife, it swung outward. "Wind Slayer," Kairo murmured.
The sword strike was very crude and unrefined, but its power was unstoppable. Corry could only smile in resignation as the blade cut through his neck. This time around, even covered by the Diamond Glory, there was absolutely no resistance.
His head was disconnected from his body, falling inches away from Kairo. Even in death, Corry was smiling. "A double-face card… no wonder you win." These were the last words that left his mouth before his eyes dimmed completely.
Observing the dead body, Kairo's heartbeat oscillated between calm rhythm and spikes, as if it were a wave in a storm. The Wind Breaker / Wind Slayer was indeed as dangerous as he had expected. Fortunately, this time there was no one he cared for around.
"It's finally over," Kairo stumbled to his knees. The diamond walls began crumbling on both sides. With Corry dead, it was like Kairo had expected—his magic began dissipating as fast as life was leaving his body. All the diamond vanished in waves of dust, one after another.
Still, Kairo wasn't satisfied. I hope it is over, he thought, lifting his hands. His heartbeat was drumming in his chest. "It is gone. Nyx is safe," Kairo exclaimed. The death mark had vanished exactly like the Diamond Glory.