Rina stared in horror at the small pile of ashes before her, the remains of Ruli. She had failed, the Demon Lord was dead. What was that knife? How was it possible to destroy a Demon Lord with one thrust? Rina had literally struck her with a bolt of lightning from the God of Storms, and Ruli had survived. How was this possible?

"I'd love to stay and chat," Eris said, making her whip her head around, "but I really must be going. After all, the Circle is about to collapse."

As if to respond to her, the Eighth Circle began to shake violently. The walls began to peel away and reveal and even blacker void behind them, it's gaping maw swallowing the dimension. Rina gulped hard as Eris disappeared into her own portal, doing her best to stand. She couldn't die here, not yet. The mission wasn't over yet, so she had to escape.

The tattoos she had received from Anhkseram glowed at this, and a white portal appeared before her. Rina stared at it in surprise for a moment, but she had no time to dwell on it. Using what little strength she had, she gathered lightning in her legs and shot herself into the portal.

"Four!"

Damien grit his teeth as Hades laughed manically.

"Xisplate?" He asked warily, hiding behind a black monolith.

"Ruli," he answered. "So four of us have died."

As if that wasn't bad enough, Hades had been growing stronger since the first Demon Lord fell. The staff he wielded had been growing in power as well, it's figurehead emitting a dark aura. It had gotten to the point that Damien could barely keep up with him, he had to do everything to keep himself alive.

"What are the odds that two more die?" He asked Xisplate while Hades ranted about something. He wasn't paying attention.

"Fifty-fifty," Xisplate replied solemnly. "Barrath and Vantros will not yield unless their lives depend on it. Quinxotic had still not fought anyone, she hides to save her takeover wizard. And of course, our lives are on the line as well." He knew that, but he was quickly approaching the limit of what he could do, even with Xisplate's takeover."

"...Xisplate," he started, "what happens if I receive your full power?"

"What?"

"What happens if I need it?" He clarified, "because we're getting into dangerous territory here."

"Right, of course," the demon replied. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it, Damien, it won't be like anything you've done before. You and I will have to assimilate to a level we never have before. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to say we would cease to be individuals, and become a single being instead."

"Seriously?" Damien asked weakly, "would I even survive that?"

"Not likely, but that's only if we do it wrong. Listen, receiving my full power is not something a mortal mind could withstand. Your body will barely be able too, but not your mind. You'll need to relinquish control of the body to me. I know you don't like that, but-"

"Okay."

"...What? Just like that?"

"What choice do I have?" Damien asked as Hades laughed manically. "If I need your power, and don't use it, I die anyway. We die. So if it gets that bad, and we have no choice, then do it. Take control from me. I trust you."

Damien realised that he had never really said that without prompting before, but it was true. They were in too deep to start doubting one another now.

"It's too late to back out now, Xisplate," he told him. "It's you and I. Until the end. Whatever that ends up being." The Demon Lord was quiet for a moment before he chuckled.

"Until the end."

"Stop running woman, and let me get a good look at you!" This only spurred Chelia to fly faster, knocking over piles of trinkets to block her path.

"Like hell I will!" She shouted, "I'm not going to let you turn me into a puppet!"

"It's not a puppet, it's a display mannequin!"

"As if that's any better!"

"Oh for the love of- Stop running!"

Before Chelia could reply, something slammed into the back of her head and sent her hurtling towards the ground. She tried to stop herself, but she was so disoriented from the hit, she only managed a weak gust to stop her from slamming into the ground at full speed. She heard Barrath land nearby, humming to himself.

"You know," she heard him say, "now that I get a good look at you, you're much too pretty to take features from."

"Oh I'm so grateful," Chelia spat, "but I'm still not going to let you-!"

She took another blow to the back of her head, and everything went black.

"Are you paying attention, woman? I'm trying to show you my rarest pieces!"

Chelia groaned as the world slowly came back into focus, her head pounding. She silently chastised herself for losing consciousness in such a situation, but it hardly could have been avoided. Barrath was able to disappear and reappear at will in his Circle, so she wasn't totally shocked he'd hit her in the back of the head. Part of her was surprised that wasn't the end of her, but the other part wasn't. Barrath was just that sick. Opening her eyes, she took in the view of her surroundings.

From what she could gather, she was tied down to a chair. Gone were the mountains of trinkets and objects, a stage now laid out before her. On the stage was a human man, or at least the body of one. Chelia couldn't tell what it was, but he was clearly dead.

"...What is that?" She managed to ask. Barrath rolled his eyes.

"Are you really so uncultured?" He asked, "it's the preserved body of a Kirtik man. You see, this race of people were wiped out about three thousand years ago. Do you see the shape of his eyes? The caramel skin tone? These people were a small tribe on a continent to the South of your own. They're were not many of them, so I consider this piece one of my best."

Chelia thought she was going to be sick, staring at the body. Why would he do this? Keep some body for himself for three thousand years. His greed was more intense than she thought.

"And this one," Barrath said, the Kirtik man being moved off stage by an invisible force and replaced with another body. "This one is a Trysin woman from the West. Do you see her short height? Her people stood at only four feet tall on average. They were killed in a tribal war four thousand years ago. Another rare piece."

"Why are you showing me this?!" Chelia demanded, fighting against her restraints. "This is sick!"

"Why?" Barrath asked, looking confused. "Because I want your opinion on where I should display you. Do you think your hair would distract others from my other pieces? Pink is such a loud colour. Perhaps you would go better with more modern people. Oh, I have a rainbow coloured hair display! Maybe you could go there."

Chelia tried her best to free herself, but it was to no avail. She couldn't generate enough magic, and the bonds were tight around her arms. She had no choice but to sit there and listen to the rambling.

"Actually, I should create a duo set!" Barrath exclaimed, running a hand through his silver hair. "A set called "Invaders!" Where did I leave that Momus boy?" Barrath snapped his fingers, and Chelia was dragged through space in an instant, landing somewhere else. She tried to catch her breath from the teleportation, but she was pretty scrambled as it was.

"There he is!" Barrath said. Chelia looked up and saw a boy scrambling away from Barrath, looking frightened. She realised with a twist in her stomach that this was the boy Barrath had taken body parts from. He was missing his left eye and ear, as well as some teeth and fingers on his left hand.

"Please don't," the boy begged, "you've already taken an eye from me."

"Well, I obviously did," Barrath replied. "But don't worry, boy. I've got a better idea. Instead, I'm going to make you and this woman into a set! At least now you won't be dismembered, right?" Momus cast a wary eye at her, and she met his one eye sympathetically. Even if he was her enemy, she felt awful when she looked at the state he was in. If she could just get free, she could heal him.

"A set?" Momus asked weakly, "Of course you would be. You know what else you need? A set of new emotions. They're called empathy and kindness. You are very clearly lacking in that regard."

"Aha, always with the jokes huh boy?" Barrath asked with a chuckle. "You make me laugh, I'll give you that. Maybe I keep you alive a little longer. I don't have a decent comedian in my collection. A live one, anyway."

"Oh I have a gig now, huh?" He asked. Chelia realised the boy was slowing inching towards her as he spoke. "Well, my fee needs to be paid, and we'd need to sell tickets." Barrath snorted.

"Tickets!" he exclaimed, "yes of course boy. I can think of eleven others who I could give tickets to. Well, seven others, actually. Seems some of my brethren have fallen." Chelia's eyes widened at this, but Momus was unperturbed.

"Oh, I didn't realise you had any friends," he said to the Demon Lord. "Live ones, anyway. I figured your insane ass would have a collections of friends stored away somewhere." Momus let out a weak laugh. "You know who you remind me of, Barrath?"

"Who?" Barrath asked bemusedly.

"You remind me of a fat guy in an all you can eat buffet," he said. "Have to have one of everything!"

Barrath cracked a smile.

"You're more like a psychopathic toy collector," Momus continued, "walking around your Circle like "No you don't understand, this dead corpse I robbed is vintage! It's worth at least 100 Jewel!""

Barrath let out a laugh, and Momus inched closer to her. Chelia realised as she watched that her restraints had loosened considerably, allowing her more movement.

"They're worth more than that!" Barrath said to him. Momus managed a laugh.

"See that's exactly what a toy collector would say," he said. "Are you sure this Circle isn't your Mom's basement? It sure smells like it is. Smells like loneliness and...Well, I don't want to say what that other smell is." What happened next, Chelia was not ready for.

Barrath doubled over and clutched his stomach, laughing loudly. As he did, Momus scrambled to her feet, looking up at her with his one good eye and nodding quickly. She nodded back, unsure as to what he was doing."

"A mother's basement!" Barrath roared, slapping his stomach. "Oh that's good, boy! I suppose this is Anhkseram's basement, in a way! Ha!"

"Ah, so your Dad's basement then," Momus continued. "Explains the daddy issues practically painted on the walls. Gotta collect things to fill the void in your heart where Daddy's approval is supposed to be, right?"

Barrath roared in laughter again, and Momus scrambled to his feet. He darted behind Chelia, reaching a hand into his jacket. In the next moment Chelia had been freed, her hands released from the bonds. She stood quickly, catching a quick glimpse of Momus sneaking a dagger back into his jacket. Had he used it to free her?

Looking back at Barrath, she made a split second decision. Grabbing Momus with one hand, Chelia looked backwards and launched them through the air, flying as far from the laughing Demon Lord as they could. She dodged mountains of goods and trinkets, looking for a safe place to land. She found a decent spot within a mountain range of old clothes, landing and freeing the boy.

"T-Thanks," he mumbled.

"Come here," Chelia ordered, making him take a step forward. Raising her hands, Chelia did her best to stop the bleeding from his empty eye socket and where his ear had been, also dulling the pain in his mouth and his finger stumps.

"Why are you healing me?" He asked weakly. "Aren't I your enemy?"

"Sure," Chelia replied. "But I'm a healer, it's what I do. There is no good guys and bad guys in a hospital. Besides, I may need your help with this."

"You know I'm here to kill him, don't you?" Momus asked.

"I think me being willing to save your life means you owe me that much," Chelia said back. Momus grimaced.

"I wish," he said. "I have a job to do, life or not."

"And you were doing so swimmingly before I got there."

"Says the one who was tied up." The two glared at each other silently, Chelia sighing.

"Look," she said, "we can argue about this after we avoid becoming a collectors item for this freak." Chelia enveloped herself in her magic to soothe her blazing headache. "What's your magic do? How's it work?"

"It's Mockery Magic," Momus said. "When I mock my opponent, I can make them laugh and it weakens them. The more they laugh, the weaker they get. Barrath would need to laugh a whole lot more for it to matter a lot, though."

"Hm," Chelia said, "that's it? And you were sent here on your own? Sounds like Hades was trying to kill you."

"I had a simple plan," Momus replied. "One Barrath couldn't resist. He just didn't give me the chance before ripping parts of me off." Momus shuddered. "Anyways, there's more my magic can do."

"Which is?"

"My magic can either weaken or empower," he replied. "I can weaken Barrath if I mock him, but if I mock you I can enable you. Make you even stronger and able to stand up to him."

"Whose to say you won't weaken me so you can kill him, then me?" Chelia accused.

"What, and get myself killed by Barrath?" He asked, "I'm young, not stupid. Besides, you're a Sky God Slayer. Any weakening I do is countered by you breathing in." He had a point in that, at least. Weakening techniques were basically useless against her. She took a deep breath and steeled herself.

"Okay," she said, "that's our plan, then. Mock me and empower me, and I'll take him on."

"Take who on? Little old me?" Chelia reacted on instinct and blasted the voice with air, but Barrath swatted it aside. He was still giggling, a smile plastered on his face. "You do recall I can just appear anywhere, right?" He asked, "running is useless."

"Can appear anywhere but a shower, apparently," Momus said. Now that she knew what he was doing, Chelia felt a wave of magic pulse from he boy. Barrath grinned.

"The smell may be my collection," he said, "after all, some of these were taken from corpses."

"Some, huh?" Momus asked. "Does that include that god-awful tuxedo you gave on? Gods above, man, what are all those pins? Are you a veteran hoarder? A true hero of the unwashed?"

Barrath chortled at this, and then Momus looked to Chelia, "and you," he said, "you look like you dad had sex with a cotton candy machine. What is that hair colour? Puke-inducing pink?"

Chelia let out a weak laugh at this, and then felt a surge of strength in her arms. He was right, she was getting stronger.

"Never mind your height," he said, "you're only barely taller than me. I suppose your Dad was a dwarf as well. Did he have to jump to get into the cotton candy machine? Did he ever get stuck? You're a walking hairstyle disaster."

Chelia snorted, and again power surged through her. She nodded at Momus, and then looked at Barrath, who was still shaking his head laughing. Without giving him a chance to get ready, she sprung into action.

Using one hand to create a platform of air to carry Momus with them, Chelia gathered air around her fist and punched, sending a shockwave at Barrath. The Demon Lord was caught off guard and got sent flying backwards, straight into a pile of clothes. He quickly reappeared, still smiling faintly.

"Well that was mean," he said. "Now I have to reorganise tha-!"

Chelia did not give him a chance to finish, slamming a whirlwind into his back and crashing him into the ground. she conjured another one and sent him flying backwards again, flying after him with Momus in tow.

"Damn, you blew that guy away!" Momus called, "first time you ever successfully blew anything I bet!" That remark kind of annoyed her, but she couldn't deny the strength pulsing through her. She slowed when she saw Barrath take to the air as well, his wings bright gold and encrusted with jewels. Barrath reappeared, but Chelia wasn't going to wait for him to recover.

"Sky God's Boreas!" A massive whirlwind formed between her fingers, and she launched it at Barrath. The Demon Lord was consumed by the wind, silencing any words he might have wanted to say.

"Must the first time you were quiet, Barrath!" Momus shouted, "You finally shut up!" Chelia didn't know if his magic needed to heard to activate, and she wasn't going to wait and find out. Twirling her fingers, she morphed the tornado's mouth towards her, funnelling Barrath straight at her.

"Sky God's Eagle Feathers!"

Countless needle-like blades formed before her in the wind, and launched themselves at Barrath. When he dodged they gave chase, following the wind currents he created by moving. He was pierced countless times, but he never stopped smiling, which was starting to annoy her.

"I didn't realise you wanted to be a porcupine so badly, Barrath!" Momus said, "You're cosplay is great!" Barrath snorted, which Chelia used to her advantage. She pulled her hand towards herself, the air responding by pushing Barrath right to her. As he flew into her range, she twirled like a ballerina.

"Sky God's Cyclone Shot!" Extending her leg, she slammed it into Barrath's stomach and sent him flying backwards. He right himself in midair, but by then Chelia was already charging her next attack.

"You look like a rich person's shitty airship, Barrath!" Momus called, "cool to look at, but slow and annoying!" Chelia waited until he was done and Barrath had chuckled.

"Sky God Slayer's Secret Art: Heavenly Gathering of Cloud's!"

Chelia's signature move erupted from her hands, winds swirling around her arms. Bending her arms backwards, she sent the spell flying forward. The attack shot forward at the speed of sound, transforming into feathers as they slammed into the Demon Lord. An explosion rang out, and Barrath was sent flying as Chelia shoved the smoke out of her face.

"Damn," Momus said, "that had to have left a mark."

"I hope so," Chelia said, "otherwise you and I are in trouble."

The two waited with baited breath as they watched the place Barrath had disappeared too, waiting to see if he reappeared. Chelia was giving him ten more seconds before she flew after him and tried to seal him.

"Ah you two make me laugh," Her eyes widening, Chelia turned to see Barrath floating behind her, practically unharmed. "Sadly, I don't have time to play with you. Too many of my brothers and sisters have fallen. I can't take any risks!" Barrath outstretched his hand, and Chelia moved to dodge.

"All Things Are Mine!"

Chelia's wind completely dissipated, and she flew straight towards the ground. She raised her arms to protect her face, but thankfully she landed on a pile of suits. She tried to stand, but she couldn't. She had no strength in her limbs.

"What happened?" Momus asked, poking his head out from behind a pile of jewels.

"I-I don't know!" She replied, "but I can't move!" Barrath let out a laugh, appearing before them.

"It's heartbreaking, isn't it?" He asked, "When what you love most is stolen from you. Unfortunately, I desire everything, including your magic. Including your stamina. I've taken it for myself."

To prove his point. Barrath raised his right hand and opened his palm. Dark wind furled around his fingers, making Chelia's eyes widen in surprise.

"T-That's not possible," she breathed weakly.

"You do recall I'm a God, right?" Barrath asked. "I'm capable of things mortals could not comprehend." His eyes then darted to Momus, "and don't think I've forgotten about you, little boy. I'll be taking that mockery as well." Chelia couldn't move her head, but she did hear Momus wheeze in surprise and hit something metallic on his way down. There was no way this was it, right? She couldn't die like this!

"I truly do admire you lot, you know," Barrath said to her. "I admire wanting so desperately to keep what you have you start a war over it. How many times in human history has that happened, I wonder? It's been so long I've forgotten. Rest assured though, you are not the first to die trying to keep your possessions and family safe."

"Don't act like you understand us," Chelia managed to spit out.

"Why not?" He asked, "that was the whole reason we were told to find human hosts. So that we could better understand and judge humans for the afterlife. We all came away with different understands, you see. For example, Drakhosz came to see that humans were responsible for unrelenting pain, to all living things. You kill each other for land, you kill animals to eat, you slaughter flora to build your cities. So, he became the Demon Lord of Pain, to judge those who caused it.

"Vantros, however, saw that you all here often horrifically indifferent if the people who died were not apart of your clan or people. That humans lives seemed to mean nothing if it meant getting what you wanted. And so he became the Demon Lord of Indifference.

"Me, though? I saw how greedy you all are. No matter what you did, or who you hurt, it was for your own material gain. You kill countless animals to keep your food stores high, you kill each other for either real or perceived slights. Kings and Queens threw away thousands of lives for inches of land added to their borders, Leaders tossed aside the lives of the poor because feeding them was too expensive." Barrath grabbed her by the arm and tossed her into the air. Chelia flailed helplessly before she landed in a golden throne that had erupted from the ground where she had been, landing just to stare at Barrath's cold, emerald eyes.

"That is why I became the Lord of Greed," he continued. "I wanted more as well, just as you all seemed too. Never satisfied with what you have, always desiring more, more, more. That is what I understand of humanity, little God Slayer. You are never satisfied with anything. Even you, even now. You are not satisfied with leaving Nashi Dragneel to die and saving the world from Zomrus. You would rather risk it all. Why? Because you're greedy. You want it all, even as the world forces you to choose. You are so greedy and selfish you would condemn the millions that Zomrus would kill because you are being slightly inconvenienced. It's all rather disgusting, but I can't blame you. That is why I admire you, after all. I too want everything. I want Nashi Dragneel's soul, no matter who gets in my way. I want to stop Zomrus no matter what anyone else says."

Chelia stared at the Demon Lord in mild annoyance, gathering her words.

"You claimed you understand humanity," she said, "but your point of view is that of a divine and nothing else. Why do we fight so endlessly for more? Because we want our children and grandchildren to be safe. Why do we fight enemies for land? Because we need the resources for our own. I won't play dumb and say all humans are selfless, but to act like we all desire more just for more is disgustingly inaccurate. I'm not here, fighting you because I don't want to give up Nashi. I'm here fighting you because the people I care about are fighting you. And I'm going to fight by their sides, even if it kills me!"

Barrath examined her silently for a moment, and for a second Chelia feared she had angered him. However, a smile soon cracked on his face and he ran a hand through his platinum hair.

"Greedily wanting to stay by your friend's and families side," he said, "I understand, I do. Which is why I'll have to kill you, because my family is dying. And I need to stop this." Chelia grimaced at this, trying to summon any strength left in her body. She had none. Barrath stepped back, and aimed his hand at her quietly.

"W-Wait!" She tried, "you don't have to kill me, do you? Couldn't you use a live doll in your collection or something?" Chelia had no intention of being his doll, but she needed to stall for time somehow.

"Oh but I do," Barrath replied. "I can use your body in my collection anyway. But what I want most right now is your life. Goodbye, little God Slayer. Your Life Belongs to-!"

"Wait!"

Both Chelia and Barrath turned together to see Momus struggling to his feet, a grimace on his face as he did so.

"I've got something you'll want more," he said. Chelia made a face at this, but when she looked back at Barrath she saw he looked intrigued.

"Oh?" Barrath asked, "what would that possibly be?" Momus chuckled as he sat down on his own little golden chair he'd found.

"A very rare dagger," he said. "It's one of only twelve in this whole world. It's design is unlike anything you have so far, I guarantee it."

"I doubt that," Barrath replied. "I have been collecting since before humans could read and write, and you want be to believe you have such a unique dagger on your person, right now? Not only that, but you guarantee I don't have one similar? Impossible."

"Don't you want to find out?" Momus asked with a wiggle of his eyebrow over his remaining eye. "What if I die and you lose it? I need to summon it from a space only I can access, after all."

"I took your magic, you can't fool me."

"It's not my magic, it's a spell someone else created. I just need to wave around this mark on my hand." Chelia could just barely see a small mark imprinted on the boy's wrist. Looking back at Barrath, Chelia saw he was actually thinking about it. The Demon Lord wiggled his outstretched fingers as he thought, but eventually lowered his hand away from her, making her release a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Fine," the Demon Lord said, "summon it and toss it to me. I will examine it."

"Toss it?" Momus demanded, "I can't even sit up straight, let alone toss it. Come over here. Unless you're willing to give me my strength back."

"Fine," Barrath said irritably. He strode over to Momus in only a few steps, and outstretched his hand. Momus shakily raised his hand, the mark on his wrist glowing red. A small sliver of space opened up before him, and he stuck his hand inside. A few seconds later he retrieved the dagger, the space closing as he held it.

"One of a set of Twelve," he said, flipping it over for Barrath to see. "Runes encrusted on the hilt, and a special gemstone in the center. See it?"

"I do," Barrath replied.

"Forged from dark metals, by a special spell. There's no way you have one yourself." As Momus moved the dagger around, Chelia noticed the gem in the hilt glow dark red. What was so special about that dagger.

"Hand it over for me to examine," Barrath said. "I will see for myself if you tell the truth."

"Fine, be that way," Momus replied. He shakily moved his hand towards Barrath, the blade shaky.

Momus then turned the blade and plunged it through Barrath's hand, the blade cleaving right through him like he was paper. Barrath backed up in surprise, pulling the dagger out as he did.

"A pathetic final gambit," he said with a smirk. "But I admire your guts. Perhaps I will hang those elsewhere for others to admire. But now you're out of tricks, and-!"

Barrath stopped speaking as his wounded hand disintegrated into ash, falling to the ground. Barrath stared at it in surprise, but the rot did not stop there. It raced up his arm into his chest, his others limbs beginning to disintegrate. Chelia watched in horror as the Demon Lord began to fade.

"What the hell did you do?!" Barrath roared, trying to rush Momus. He found that impossible since his legs were gone, as were his wings.

"A dagger imbued with the power to kill immortals," Momus explained with a laugh. "A dagger we crafted specifically to kill you. Thanks for being a greedy son of a bitch, I would have failed otherwise."

Barrath tried to reply, but his head turned to ash. The rot culminated at his chest, which melted inwards towards his heart and disappeared. Chelia stared at the ash pile in shock, barely able to form words.

"What have you done?" She asked, weakly turning to Momus. The child regarded her with his one eye quietly.

"Returning the favour I owe you," he said.

Far from the Circles, the CEO of a large company dropped dead in his office. Although he was an important man, no one would miss this man. He had tossed all of his loved ones away in the pursuit of gold, and he had been embezzling funds from his company as well. After a few moments he would be found dead by his assistant, who was shocked and scared at first, but soon found she cared very little about it. After all, her boss was a greedy pig.

Another Demon Lord had fallen. If only one more were to die, the seals on Zomrus would be broken.