Aura swung her sword swiftly, creating blasts of magic that were directed at the four people fighting her. They knew better than to underestimate a former warrior of their empire, however, their redhead was reluctant to hurt her mother, despite it being her corpse.
Dodging another attack, Gunter yelled to his friend. "Riz! You need to fight her if you want to survive!" He shouted at her before slamming his spear on the ground, creating a shield that was aimed at him. Although the attack was blocked, Aura didn't give him a chance to breathe and went for another attack, sending him back and crashing onto the wall.
"Gunter!" Clarissa cried out,
"Clarissa, you know your mom best. I believe you're the only one who can defeat her and the Devil controlling her." Onyx said as he and Luminous engaged in close combat with their blades, embedded with their magic,
"I can't harm my mom." She said, refusing to raise her sword at the person who taught her how to wield it.
"Do you believe your mother would've wanted you to see her like this, Clarissa?" Luminous asked, getting pushed back by the force of Aura's blade. "Even if it's her body that's being controlled, it would break her spirit that she killed her only child with her own sword!" He said as he unleashed his dragon fire from his palm, pushing Aura slightly back.
Onyx went for the blind spot and was about to strike. The Demon King, being the puppeteer, made Aura block both attacks, surprising the two men and striking them with a blast that knocked them back to the ground. Seeing her friends falling one by one, Clarissa knew what must be done, even if she was unwilling to do so.
"You must set her free from his control and... put her body to rest." Luminous groaned as he tried to get back on his feet, "You are not alone in this fight, Clarissa." He said looking back at her, "Remember the things she taught you that made you who you are."
"Luminous..." Clarissa felt touched by his words and firmed her resolve. Standing firm on her feet, she raised her sword surrounded by her magic that overflows with her emotions. She remembered her mother's words in the times she was a child, learning her techniques. "A Warrior is the sword of Dragonia. For those who stand against us, will fall in the hands of those who protect the Empire!" Clarissa phrased her mother's words, raising her sword and pointing it towards her. "Thus, I challenge you."
With those words, both mother and daughter clashed blades, creating a blinding light from their power at their attacks. Moving swiftly, both countered their strikes and aimed for their weak spots while channeling their own magic through each attack. One strike nearly pierced Clarissa's head as she moved to dodge, kicking Aura away to follow up a sword blast.
"Stand firm and tall. A Warrior doesn't back down nor slack in raising their sword."
Aura's words rang through Clarissa's ears, remembering the lessons she taught and adapting them to their fight. However, her mother moves quickly and attacks her front. Clarissa immediately went for a block and braised herself from getting pushed back, as she maintained her stance.
"Control your magic, let it surround you, and embrace it. Don't let fear take you over, Clarissa."
Jumping, she flipped into the air and landed on solid ground, maintaining her balance as Clarissa allowed her magic to surge around her. Protecting and strengthening her resolve upon surpassing her mother. Aura unleashed a powerful blast, overcoming the defense on Clarissa, and causing her to be knocked back on the ground.
"Clarissa!" The three men cried out in worry,
"It Is FuTiLe! Go On AnD fInIsH hEr, My GeNeRaL! DeStRoY hEr!" The Demon King ordered as Aura slowly approached Clarissa, walking like the reaper of death who have come to collect the soul of the person who is on the brink of death.
Shaking as she got up from the ground, Clarissa glanced at her mother's corpse, remembering her shining like the golden sun that surrounded her. She recalled her last words before joining the Brager House.
"Mom, what if they decided to go against you? You know that we can't fully trust them." A young Clarissa said,
"Although, indeed, we cannot trust the Bragers, dear." Aura said as she looked upon her daughter, "But if anything were to happen to me, you must do what you could to protect the empire and its people. Even if I have no control over my own body and will, Clarissa, don't hesitate and trust in your strength to do what is right and just." She said, having full confidence in her.
"Yes, understood, Mom."
"Mom, forgive me." Clarissa said raising her abilities to their max as she was surrounded by a golden light, forming a figure of what seemed to be the form of the Wind Spirit itself, rising within her.
"This will be the end." Gunter said, grunting as he got up from his position.
"One shot, Clarissa." Onyx groaned as he watched,
"I have faith in you." Luminous said gazing in her direction,
"KILL HER NOW!!!" The Demon King ordered as Aura charged in for the attack,
"May your soul rest in peace! Farewell, Mother. Thank you for everything." Clarissa spoke her goodbye with tears in her eyes as she gave all her strength to her attack in raising her sword.
Unleashing a battle cry, she swung her sword, powered by her abundant magic, striking her mother down with a massive magic blast. Not only did the attack make a direct hit on Aura, but also struck the Demon King straight for the neck. An explosion followed as the three men cried out for their friend in worry, but the blinding light from her attack made it hard for them to see if she was okay.
The explosion not only affected the building, but it dissipated the bloody air around them, blowing it away from the force and knocking everyone onto the ground. Even the men Apollo brought also fell on their feet. It took everyone a while to get back on their feet, only to notice that the demon creatures they were fighting a second ago were no longer in sight.
"What in heavens just happened?" Lucien asked groaning as he felt a headache come up,
"Lucien!" Apollo called out his name, making his brother turn to him,
"Apollo? What are you doing here? Didn't I already tell you that we've got things handled here?" Lucien immediately started to scold his brother but was cut off,
"Before you you're lecture with me, I admit my coming here was foolish, but considering the amount of magic that the warriors have used during this fight will drain them of their strength as well." Apollo began his explanation and proceeded to tell what he had discovered to his brother. "Where is Luminous right now?" He asked, looking around him to see that his younger brother was nowhere in sight.
"He's in that building with Clarissa." The eldest brother pointed towards the abandoned building. "The Demon King is there as well, but I don't see the blood fog at all. Does that mean he's defeated?" He asked in wonder,
"Best not to be confident, brother." Apollo said before turning to Virgil and his other apprentices. "Divide into two groups. Tend to the wounded and purify the land. Don't let a single death magic cross you that second you sense it."
"Yes, Master." They said and attended to their task,
"I'll check up on the building, you rest here. The warriors may need you." Apollo said to Lucien,
"Not a chance." Lucien declined as he stood up from the ground, "If our brother and his fiancé are in there, we got to at least make sure they're all right." He said,
"Very well. You may lean on me for now so I could heal you."
The two Pendragon brothers then made their way towards the building. Upon reaching the main part of the area, they spotted their brother kneeling behind Clarissa and her two friends looking forlorn. Though from the sobbing they could hear, they knew it was from the redhead who was on her knees, crying in despair.
Luminous sensed his brothers approaching for a while and paid them no mind, as his focus was solely on his woman. He knew it was difficult for her, knowing that the death of her mother was anything but unfair. His presence comforted Clarissa, as she turned and hugged him, letting her tears fall. She always puts up a strong front, though this was the first time they saw the girl cry so openly and emotionally.
On the ground in front of her was what was left of Aura's corpse body. A golden headwear that seemed untainted by anything after being possessed by the Demon King. Any trace of the dark magic has disappeared. Clarissa's final blow not only defeated the Demon King and wiped him out of existence, but also freed her mother.
The Second Demon War was now over.