Snape's body morphed, shifting into a pool of black liquid.
Ashborn's instincts screamed danger.
"Move!"
The liquid exploded outward, sending a wave of venom in all directions.
Rick and Lida barely dodged, but—
Ashborn took a direct hit.
The poison sank into his skin, his veins turning black as an unbearable burning pain spread through his body.
"Ashborn!" Lida cried out.
Rick cursed under his breath. "Shit! What now?"
Snape's voice echoed, his laughter distorted as his body reformed.
"Foolish. You thought I would die so easily?"
Snape rose again, stronger than before.
And Ashborn—
Collapsed to his knees.
His vision swam. His body felt like it was melting from the inside.
"Damn it…"
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Not here.
Not yet.
But then—
A voice echoed inside his mind.
"Do you desire power?"
His eyes widened.
This voice—
It was the same one he had heard all those years ago.
The day his mother died.
The day his powers awakened.
And now—
They were awakening again.
---
The Birth of an Indestructible Body
Ashborn's body began to glow.
His veins, once blackened, turned golden.
The poison evaporated from his skin.
And his aura—
Shifted.
No longer just raw strength. No longer just magic.
But something more.
Something unkillable.
"Impossible…" Snape whispered, stepping back.
Ashborn rose to his feet.
His eyes shone with a golden glow.
His body felt… different.
Lighter. Stronger. Untouchable.
He clenched his fists.
"Let's try this again."
And with a single step—
He vanished.
---
The End of Snape
Snape didn't even see it coming.
One punch.
A direct hit to his stomach—sending him crashing through five buildings.
Rick stared, speechless.
Lida's mouth fell open.
"He… just one-punched a Demon General?"
Snape groaned, coughing up blood.
"No… this is… impossible…"
Ashborn appeared above him.
"Not impossible. Just your end."
His sword descended.
Snape's eyes widened.
And then Snape's eyes widened in horror as Ashborn's blade gleamed in the dim light, descending like a judgment from the heavens.
I can't die here… I am a general… I… I…
His thoughts were cut short.
With a swift motion, the sword cleaved through the remnants of his decayed, poison-infested body. A sickening crack echoed through the air as Snape's torso split apart, his dark ichor splattering onto the ruined stone pavement.
For a brief moment, there was only silence.
Then—
Snape let out a distorted shriek, his body convulsing as the darkness inside him tried to hold itself together. His essence, that twisted demonic core, struggled against the overwhelming force that had crushed him.
Ashborn narrowed his glowing eyes.
"You lost the moment you faced me."
With a flick of his wrist, he released a concentrated wave of pure energy. It was neither fire nor lightning, but something more fundamental—an absolute force that erased all impurities.
Snape's shriek turned into a gurgling whisper.
"No… I was… supposed to…"
His body shattered into nothingness.
The darkness dissipated. The venomous air that had choked the town vanished along with him.
And then, it was over.
---
A New Power—And Its Price
Ashborn exhaled slowly. The golden glow in his veins flickered before fading. His body, though unscathed, felt different. Lighter, stronger… yet something about this power felt almost too perfect.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw indestructibility pulsing beneath his skin. He had never felt anything like this before.
Lida rushed to his side. "Ashborn!"
Rick let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of his head. "You one-punched a damn Demon General… You planning on telling us when you became some kind of monster?"
Ashborn gave him a tired look. "I didn't plan it."
Lida's hands glowed as she scanned his body. "No injuries… No poison left… But your mana signature has changed." She bit her lip. "This isn't normal."
Ashborn already knew that.
That voice in his head—
"Do you desire power?"
It had come back.
It was the same voice he had heard the day his mother died. The day he awakened his abilities.
And now, it had spoken again.
He clenched his fist.
"What is happening to me?"
---
The Cost of Victory
The battle had ended, but the town of Grasia had suffered.
Buildings lay in ruins. Streets were cracked, burned, and littered with debris. Survivors emerged from hiding, their faces filled with awe, fear, and gratitude.
Ashborn looked at them, then at his own hands.
All this destruction—caused by just one Demon General.
If Snape was the weakest, what about the others?
What about the Demon Lord himself?
Rick placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"
Ashborn didn't answer right away. His mind was already ahead, thinking of the battles yet to come.
Finally, he exhaled. "Yeah. Just… thinking."
Rick smirked. "That's a first."
Lida shot Rick a glare before turning to Ashborn. "We should help the town recover before we move on."
Ashborn nodded. One battle had ended, but the war was far from over.