Vengeance Incarnate

*Prologue*

A house licked by flames, black and crumbling; a demon child lying amidst the ruins. This scene burned brightly at the back of his eyes as the demon slayer crossed the threshold into the Black Mage's chamber. His enemy sat rigidly atop his throne, expressionless eyes locked with his own.

"Why…why did you do it!? Tell me!" The demon slayer demanded.

No response.

Rage had cast impenetrable clouds on what happened next; all he knew was that he had lost, but damaged the fiend enough for the Maple Heroes to seal it away. The hatred he felt now was as strong as it had been back then. He had vowed his revenge on the black mage and was absolutely intent on delivering it. However, he knew he had been beaten utterly, and although he had broken the black mage's barrier, the fiend that had reduced him to a comatose puppet was now resurrected with even greater power.

...

He could barely believe that he was here again, yet the blocks beneath his feet were as familiar as he had left them, and the unmistakable taint of the Black Mage infested the air around him. He didn't know by what divine providence he was given this chance, but he knew that here was his moment of truth. This was the decisive battle that determines the fate of the maple world. It was also the moment his vengeance would be complete.

Cloaked in an aura of hatred and darkness, the demon slayer stood beside the maple heroes, fists clenched hard around the hilt of his axe. He couldn't let them go in. He couldn't let them steal his revenge. It was his family that was murdered – his brother that he found clutching their family photo even in death. Yet, these were his comrades in arms, who had been with him through thick and thin. Don't think about ithe thought, Magnus and Arkarium were once your peers too. His gaze hardened. He wouldn't lose this time. He'd come too far, trained too hard. He couldn't be defeated again. He was vengeance incarnate. And he would fell the Black Mage alone.

By hatred I have lived, and by hatred I shall die.Such were his thoughts as he launched himself towards Evan, cleaving the startled magician in two and severing the head of his dragon, Mir, in the process. The demon slayer wasted no time as the others turned to take in the scene. Wings straining in exertion, he dove head-first at Mercedes. Diverting a desperate attempt to parry from one of her bow-guns, he impaled her through her chest with his horns. She was flung into the air by the force of the impact.

Acting on instinct, he drove his axe into the ground, using its momentum to propel himself into the sky, narrowly dodging Luminous's ray of reflection. By now, the others had caught on that he was no longer an ally. Aran took up his position on the ground, cursing that he couldn't reach him. Phantom had caught Mercedes as she fell, and was frantically retreating to his ship. However, carrying Mercedes, he had no way of combating the oblivion guardians closing in around him.

What is this feeling? It's not hate…it's not empowering at all. Why do I feel so helpless? Am I…The Demon Slayer had no time to finish that thought. Veering to the side, he dodged another bolt of light from Luminous. "Why!?" Roared Aran, "Were all these years for nothing!? Do you seek to return to the Black Mage after all he's done? After all you've done to fight him!?" Demon Slayer began an upward ascent to remove himself from Luminous's attack range. Could he tell them his feelings? What did he even feel, anyway? Where was the remorseless general who had sacked cities and claimed lives without so much as flinching? He squeezed his eyes shut, clenching his fists and teeth.

"Stay your ground, coward! Answer me!" Aran's faint cry snapped him back into reality. He had almost risen above the clouds. "I…" he whispered. No. I've already killed Evan, caused the extinction of the onyx dragons, and mortally wounded Mercedes. It's too late to turn back now…too late for explanations. Whatever I say, Aran and Luminous would be condemned to a life of hatred, and I wouldn't wish such an all-consuming existence on my worst enemy. His resolve firm, the demon relaxed his wings, and, going into free-fall, triggered his metamorphosis. If they can't beat me, they can't hope to defeat the black mage.

As he fell, he saw past the anger and confusion in Aran, and picked out the hurt worn evidently on his face. Luminous's expression was harder to gauge, but the darkness within him felt more poignant than ever before. Experience had taught them both to fight first, and talk later, but no amount of practice could completely mask the pain of betrayal. Luminous raised his rod and the air crackled purple as a rift opened up right before him.

Guilt shot through the Demon as he realized that the maple heroes had never fought him in full capacity; while in metamorphosis, anything less than the Black Mage's own dark magic was null against him. He didn't move a muscle, and returned Luminous's bewildered gaze as the black flames of apocalypse washed over him.

He had told them nothing about himself, save that he sought the Black Mage's blood; they didn't even know his real name. He steeled himself as he exited the vortex mere meters before Luminous and time seemed to slow. Luminous's eyes were wide, his mouth open just a fraction. The muscles in his neck were visible as he attempted to wrench his rod into a defensive position. Aran was on his knees, but recognition had begun to flicker in his eyes as he realized the demon had not been finished by Luminous's apocalypse. With Maha on the ground, however, Aran was in no position for immediate action.

...

The Demon remembered his final awakening; Mastema had sent him to confront his inner rage, and he had conquered it. That, however, was over two years ago, and since his subordinate had confessed her love to him, he had never been able to view her loyalty in the same way. She must have felt the same for him, too, as throughout this time she had been curiously absent from his mind, save directing him to his old locket.

He'd betrayed her, too. He saved her on a whim and she'd grown attached to him. He betrayed her along with the Black Wings and she had almost died for it. And Despite the numerous times she had helped him reawaken his powers, he had helped her try to change back merely in the hopes that she could be useful to him in his quest for vengeance.

Yes...for someone who had either betrayed, killed, or through his inaction, allowed everyone who was close to him die, what were another two? In the grand scheme of things, Aran and Luminous would soon be forgotten along with the rest, their blood joining the thousands of others' he'd spilled to reach this new height in power.

...

He didn't even flinch as he brought down his axe across Luminous's torso. Opening his wings, he angled his descent so as not to crash into the floor, and allowed his momentum to carry him forward. Aran was had always been the toughest of the bunch, and Maha was sentient. It wouldn't be wise to confront him without fully preparing. A grisly roar and a tuft of wind from behind told him that he had narrowly avoided the jaws of Aran's final blow. He shot a glance over his shoulder, and saw Aran beginning his 'Beyond Blade' hyper technique.

Grimacing, the Demon began furiously beating his wings to accelerate. Screeches told him that Aran's winged familiars had already detached themselves and begun their pursuit. Banking hard, he angled himself for a crash-course into Aran, channelling fury into a demon cry. He had intended to conserve his power for the Black Mage, but it was inevitable that he expend some to deal with Aran. He berated himself for not taking down the pole-arm wielder first. He raised his axe in a feint, and Aran fell for it, readying Maha to parry. Releasing his fury, he let loose his demon cry an instant before a blur of motion blindsided him. Cursing, he spied half a dozen glowing cards lodged deeply in his side before crashing onto the ground. Even has he moved to remove them, he felt the poison working in his veins.

Aran advanced, staggering. The demon's curse mark floated above his head, but he ignored it. Without breaking eye contact with his fallen enemy, Aran acknowledged Phantom's assistance with a hand gesture. He raised Maha, and the last thing the Demon Slayer saw before he lost consciousness was a flash of purple and Maha falling from his Master's grasp.