Izumi collapsed to the ground, wheezing for breath, his body shaking with pain. His soul conduit throbbed as if it were going to explode, sending shockwaves of pain through his body. Blood seeped from open wounds—some so deep he could see the other side. He tried to roll over but his limbs refused to budge.
Across the battlefield, Nymrathis approached again, each step surrounded by a crunch of frost. His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the pale light of the moonlight. His voice, cold and mocking, cut through the silence.
"Pathetic. You'll die even earlier than the curse says. What a waste."
Izumi lifted his head slowly, face bruised and battered. "Well, at le—"
Nymrathis cut him off with a smile. "No last words necessary. But I'll make you a deal. Sloth has not been seen or heard from in over forty years in the four kingdoms. We can crown you as the Seventh Monarch of Sin. Power, immortality, no more suffering. What do you say?"
Izumi stared at him, face emotionless and voice dull.
"You actually think I'd join garbage like you just because I don't wanna die?
Nymrathis's smirk vanished. "So be it."
He raised his hammer, made of pure ice, and swung down—but Ichiro was there again, blade clashing against the frost with a loud crack. "You're not killing him," Ichiro said, eyes sharp.
Nymrathis growled. "You're a pest." He slammed his fist into Ichiro, knocking him back with raw force.
He turned to Izumi once more. "Let's end this."
Izumi couldn't budge. Couldn't speak. All hurt. But as Nymrathis raised his finger, time slowed down.
Cold. That was all Izumi could think.
His eyes widened.
Hellcloak barely made Nymrathis sweat. Fiftyfold did nothing. Even Miharu's sword barely grazed him.
Izumi clenched his jaw.
He's not just using ice. He is ice.
His hand rose, trembling. His fingers curled inward. His soul conduit burned—but he paid no attention.
".Hellcloak."
Dark energy burst around Nymrathis in a black blaze. The monarch of gluttony didn't even flinch.
"I told you, brat—this doesn't work."
The flames deepened—shifting red, then blue, then a fierce violet.
The smirk faded from Nymrathis's face. Steam hissed around him. His flesh started bubbling. He took a step back.
"What…?"
Izumi's body shook violently, his vision blurred. His teeth clenched through the pain.
Nymrathis began to melt—ice skin dripping, armor crackling under the flames.
Nymrathis snarled in horror. "STOP THIS YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF!"
Izumi didn't even blink. His voice came out flat and cutting.
"Then I'll kill you again in hell, Nymrathis."
Nymrathis screamed. "NO"
Izumi tightened his fist.
The fire roared.
Then—
BOOM.
Nymrathis melted in a blast of violet fire, dissolving into thin air. His screams were lost in smoke.
Silence.
Ichiro emerged from the wreckage, gasping for breath, staring at the scene in horror. Villagers lingered in their doors, with fear.
Ichiro ran to Izumi, who stood for a moment—briefly—before his body collapsed.
He fell, face-first, on the snow.
Ichiro caught him up just in time, dropping down next to him. "Izumi… you… you did it," he said, stunned.
Izumi tried to speak, but only blood came out. His eyesight started to cloud.
"HEY—SOMEONE GET A HEALER!" Ichiro screamed. "NOW!"
But Izumi didn't hear it.
Everything was going dark.