My Angel Girl

The battlefield lay in ruin. The once brilliant light of heaven was dimmed by the carnage, and golden blood mixed with the black ichor of demons stained the earth. Kikidori stood in the midst of it all, his breathing heavy, his chest heaving with exertion. His blade dripped with angelic blood, but his hand trembled as he looked at the fallen forms of the angels he had slain.

Their faces were etched with peace, even in death—a stark contrast to the rage and hatred that had fueled Kikidori's rampage. He staggered backward, his legs threatening to give out.

"What have I done?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

The fog of Lucifer's control was lifting, and the weight of his actions came crashing down on him like an avalanche. He dropped his sword, the sound of it clanging against the ground echoing in his ears. His hands, now trembling violently, were stained with golden blood.

Kikidori fell to his knees, staring at the carnage he had wrought. He had killed so many—more than he could count. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as tears streamed down his face.

From the shadows, Lucifer approached, his towering form radiating malice. His fiery eyes locked onto Kikidori, and a wicked grin spread across his face.

"You hesitate now, Kikidori?" Lucifer's voice was like molten lava, searing and unforgiving. "After all the blood you spilled, now you feel regret?"

Kikidori looked up at Lucifer, his jaw tightening. "You made me do this," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You twisted my mind."

Lucifer let out a dark, guttural laugh. "I didn't make you do anything. The darkness was always inside you, Kikidori. I merely brought it to the surface."

Kikidori's hand twitched toward the dagger strapped to his thigh. His eyes burned with defiance as he stood, his legs shaking but steady.

"You're wrong," Kikidori growled. "I'm done being your pawn."

With a roar, Kikidori grabbed his sword and hurled it at Lucifer with all his strength. The blade spun through the air, its dark edge glinting in the dim light before it buried itself in Lucifer's chest.

Lucifer staggered back, his fiery wings flaring as the blade lodged deep in his flesh. For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield, and the demons and angels alike turned to watch.

But then, Lucifer laughed—a deep, menacing sound that sent chills through everyone present. He gripped the hilt of the sword and slowly pulled it out, the black blade dripping with his dark ichor.

"You think this can kill me?" Lucifer sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

With a flick of his wrist, Lucifer hurled the sword back at Kikidori. The blade flew through the air and struck Kikidori's arm, pinning him to a jagged wall of stone behind him. Kikidori cried out in pain, his vision blurring as blood poured from the wound.

"Kiki!" Ere'ana's voice caught in her throat as she watched from afar, hidden among the other angels. Tears streamed down her face as she saw Kikidori pinned, helpless and bleeding. Her instincts screamed at her to run to him, to save him, but she couldn't.

If she revealed herself, if she showed any sign of care for Kikidori, everyone would know the truth. Everyone would know she loved him.

Ere'ana clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to hold herself back.

Lucifer approached Kikidori, his grin widening. He raised a dagger forged from the darkest depths of Hell, its blade pulsating with malevolent energy.

"You've always been a disappointment, Kikidori," Lucifer said, his tone mocking. "But at least you'll die like a true demon—alone and broken."

With one swift motion, Lucifer drove the dagger into Kikidori's chest. Kikidori gasped, his body convulsing as the pain tore through him. His vision darkened, and for a moment, he thought it was the end.

Ere'ana bit her lip so hard it drew blood. Her tears blurred her vision, and she had to cover her mouth to keep from screaming.

But Kikidori wasn't done.

With a shaky hand, he reached for the dagger strapped to his thigh. His grip was weak, but his resolve was strong. As Lucifer sneered down at him, Kikidori summoned every ounce of strength he had left.

In one swift motion, he plunged the dagger into Lucifer's stomach and dragged it upward, slicing him in half. Lucifer's eyes widened in shock as his body split apart, his form dissolving into black smoke.

The battlefield fell silent as the King of Hell was no more.

Kikidori collapsed to the ground, the dagger falling from his hand. Blood pooled beneath him as his vision blurred. He could barely hear the whispers of the demons and angels around him.

"Kikidori!" Ere'ana couldn't hold back any longer. She broke free from the crowd and ran to him, dropping to her knees beside his broken form.

He looked up at her, his eyes dim but still holding a flicker of life.

"Ere," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Don't talk," she said, her voice shaking as she cradled his face. "Just hold on, okay? You're going to be fine."

Kikidori chuckled weakly. "I don't think... fine is in the cards for me."

Tears streamed down Ere'ana's face as she pressed her forehead against his. She wanted to say so much, but the words wouldn't come.

The angels and demons stood in stunned silence, watching as the woman who had been their shining beacon of hope wept over the man they considered an enemy.

The war was over. With Lucifer gone, Hell had no king, and the remaining demons scattered, their will to fight extinguished. Heaven had won, but it didn't feel like a victory to Ere'ana.

As Kikidori's breathing grew shallow, he smiled faintly.

"Guess I'm... free now," he murmured before his eyes closed.

Ere'ana clutched him tightly, her sobs the only sound on the now-quiet battlefield.

The end of Chapter 16.