Tengoku e no Hangyaku - Rebellion against Heaven (english version)

CHAPTER 9: THE END OF THE BLACK HERALD

The earth was splitting under his feet. The sky turned crimson as the Beast and the Black Herald faced each other. Ryuusei, barely conscious, forced himself to his feet as he watched the titans fight.

The Beast, an aberration of teeth and sharp claws, roared with primal fury. Its size outshone the Herald, but the shadow of the black sword was undeterred. With a fluid motion, the Black Herald disappeared and reappeared behind the Beast, his sword descending with the precision of death itself.

A deep slash tore through the creature's skin, but instead of backing down, the Beast spun and counterattacked with superhuman speed. Its claw struck the Herald's torso, sending it crashing into a mountain, completely crumbling it.

—You're more annoying than you look, -the Herald growled, rising from the rubble.

The Beast did not respond with words, but with another ferocious onslaught. The Herald narrowly evaded, sliding his sword to cut off the creature's arm. The limb flew into the air, but, with a grotesque roar, the Beast immediately regenerated its flesh.

—Tch... You're a nuisance pest.

The fighting intensified. Each clash between them created devastating shockwaves, which were killing hundreds of players and leaving fewer people. The Herald's speed allowed him to slash the Beast in dozens of places, but the creature regenerated as if every wound was insignificant. The Herald began to get frustrated.

And that's when it happened.

The Beast, in an unexpected move, caught the Herald's sword with one of its claws, and with its other limb, tore off the dark knight's helmet with a single blow.

The Herald staggered. For the first time, his face was revealed. A human face, pale and cadaverous, with sunken eyes and an expression of disbelief.

—Tch... —," he murmured, but before he could react, Ryususei teleported from behind him.

He grabbed his two hammers and they descended with all the force possible.

—Die! Ryuusei roared, propelling the hammers with all their weight.

The impact was brutal. The spikes of the hammers pierced the Black Herald's skull, shattering it with a ghastly crack. Blood gushed out in an inhuman stream as the Herald's body shook violently, his eyes widened in an expression of shock and agony. Ryuusei felt the vibration of the blow run through his arms, but he didn't stop until he was sure that the skull was completely shattered.

—Die! —

—Die! —

—Die! —

—Die! —

—Die! —

—Die! —roared Ryuusei

The Black Herald fell to his knees. His sword slipped from his hands, and his body collapsed on the ground lifelessly.

Ryuusei grabbed the Herald's sword on the sly, as he sensed an unusual power within it.

Absolute silence.

Ryuusei was panting. His heart was pounding violently in his chest. He staggered, but forced himself to stand. He had won... if that could be said since all the work was done by the Beast, but he knew that the danger was not over.

Far away, where Death sat, a hooded figure watched the scene from a throne of bones.

—One less —, whispered Death, with utter indifference.

Around him, tens, hundreds of dark figures waited in silence. Heralds, just like the one who had fallen.

—It doesn't matter, — said Death coldly. There is always more.

Ryuusei didn't have time to think about it. There was still an enemy to be defeated.

He gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from his face, and teleported away.

The final fight awaited him.

The Beast must die.