Oh, my heart was ripped out of my chest…again.

This is the fifth time I ended up being killed by him…this Kazan Karatengu, this demon. He sure has a lot of power, as expected of a demon lord.

I suppose I should just close my eyes now, considering I lost all the feeling in my body and my vision is going blurry.

So just how I am going to beat him? Think, Dark Lord, think!

Dark Lord’s lifeless corpse contrasted his frantic thoughts as his body shut down.

* * *

Well, just at the moment we faced off with each other, this curse Chronos put on me really puts me in a tough spot. No wonder Nur Finnerman could not bear it any longer…But I am not him.

I can beat him.

I just need to find a method to this madness.

Three seconds before he attacks. His attack will be linear, striking forward with his hardened hand. It seems like he can harden only one part of his body at a time, so the rest of his body should be vulnerable. But his speed…keeping up with it is next to impossible.

I know where he will strike; he is aiming at my heart. If I shift the strike even just a little, I will sustain a non-lethal injury. However, if he figures out I know his move ahead of time, he might use another skill.

He can manipulate crystals at will, if I get encased in that, I am a goner. The sole reason he is using hand to hand combat is because he is underestimating my strength. That is good. The less he expects, the more advantage I have.

However, I do have the means of killing him.

Dark Lord clutched the crystal dagger, ready to strike.

Like a blur, Kazan Karatengu, the crow Demon Lord vanished from sight.

Here he comes!

Dark Lord dodged the strike from Kazan that would have through his flesh and ruptured his heart. Instead, Kazan’s hand ended up cleanly slicing off Dark Lord’s left hand below the shoulder.

Using the moment that Kazan’s eyes looked away, Dark Lord slashed him with crystal dagger.

In response, Kazan withdrew his own sword, clashing against the crystal dagger.

However, his sword stood no chance as it was cleanly sliced off in a contest of blades.

Kazan proceeded to quickly jump away, unfolding his wings, levitating off the ground.

“It seems I have underestimated you, hornless one. To think you would sacrifice an arm just to gain a chance at landing a decisive strike. I must say, I am impressed. Had I been just a little slower, I would have met the same fate as my sword…” the sword he was holding in his hand was missing the large chunk of the blade. Dark Lord’s crystal dagger sliced through it as if it was made of butter.

“However, your attacks are only good for short range. I, on the other hand, can fight at any ranges. Level 5 spell: Crystal Spikes!”

From Kazan’s hand, several shards shot out in Dark Lord’s direction, piercing through Dark Lord’s body.

They were size of pellets, but the moment they pierced Dark Lord’s body, they started to grow uncontrollably.

Dark Lord didn’t even get the chance to scream as the crystals grew full length and tore his body apart from the inside. In the place he was standing in just a second before was a gigantic bluish crystal, dyed purple from the blood of its victim.

* * *

So he has such an attack as well, huh.

Then in that case, I have to dodge him completely and strike him down. This is my sixth time fighting him; I have accumulated enough experience to predict several moves ahead.

Just like before, Kazan went for a strike. But instead of trying to dodge it, Dark Lord ducked. The moment Kazan’s extended hand struck forward, Dark Lord was underneath it. With a swift slash, Dark Lord struck with the intent on cutting off Kazan’s extended hand.

But before the blade touched him, Kazan’s other hand grabbed Dark Lord by the wrist and proceeded to crush it, breaking the bone, making Dark Lord drop his weapon.

“A sound strategy, but not enough to compete against me. Level 4 Spell: Fire Blaze.” With a deep breath, Kazan conjured black flames within his lungs, and then he exhaled them upon Dark Lord’s body.

In an instant, Dark Lord was reduced to ashes.

* * *

He is fast, strong, and tough, has a long range attack that skewers his enemy from the inside, has a close range attack that burns hotter than hellfire. Does he have any weaknesses at all?

Dark Lord faced against Kazan once again.

This time he tried to fight Kazan with crystal dagger in one hand and the sword in the other. While crystal dagger was by far sharper and deadlier weapon, the sword on his belt had a longer range.

Kazan managed to send Dark Lord tumbling down with a swift kick to his side, shattering several bones.

With a swift movement of his black wings, Kazan flew down to the place Dark Lord was clutching his side in pain. Kazan proceeded to lift him by the throat.

“Assume you were strong enough to face off against a Demon Lord was an arrogant mistake on your part, hornless one.” His grip on Dark Lord’s throat kept tightening, his fingers digging into Dark Lord’s vocal cords, crushing them along with his throat.

With a clutch, Dark Lord’s neck was broken. His eyes turned inside out as his corpse dropped to the ground.

* * *

Fifteenth attempt. Trickery wouldn’t work. Dual wielding is ineffective. Trying to dodge will work only once before he takes it seriously and starts to fight for real. He always makes sure to attack me to drop my weapon and then kills me.

It seems like before the crystal dagger slices through his weapon he is not cautious of it. Then that means the first thing crystal dagger needs to strike is his flesh, before he block it with his sword. If he becomes aware of crystal dagger’s power, he will switch his fighting style. He can use fire, earth, and lightning magic to a frightening degree. Then there is that crystal magic. I need to kill him with the first strike…

Once again, Dark Lord tried to strike but Kazan dodged his attempt, and then with a strong flap of his wings, he activated another magic.

“Level 4 spell: Wind cutter.”

Wind blades, at least ten of them, were sent in Dark Lord’s direction, each one cutting him up into pieces.

Each of his body parts was scattered in a different place, with his head being promptly crushed under Kazan’s foot.

* * *

Twenty firth attempt. He can use fire, lighting, earth, and wind magic. He is strong. There is no doubt about it, so this is why demons are feared. No, it is because he is a Demon Lord, a higher level demon than the others…still, if he is used to measure the relative strength of the other Demon Lords, then even if I beat him, this would be pointless…

No, I am Dark Lord. I will find a way, but before that I must defeat him, but it seems he is almost invincible.

I need to concentrate, clear my mind, focus on my prey.

Dark Lord however, soon met his end under a hail of black feathers.

* * *

39th Attempt.

Focus my breathing, make my legs work in conjunction with my arms, act on instinct; don’t think. I must fight. Right now, we are just two wild animals facing each other. He is the mighty dragon, while I am a snake with a single fang. One strike is all I get.

Deaden my heart, silence my mind, and protect my soul.

With my blade I shall strike.

* * *

50th Attempt.

Demon Lords are higher level demons, but their weaknesses should be the same. If I land a blow on his heart, he will be killed. If I sever his head, he will die. If I cut him in half, he will perish. The problem is, however, landing that strike.

I…I just can’t do it.

The hurdle is too great.

He is too powerful.

He is too strong.

He is too fast.

He exceeds me at everything. I have no chance of beating him. This is a game that only ends with my death.

No…this is not the end. Nur Finnerman might have thought that way, but I am not him. I can do what he could not. That is why I am here, not him. And this…this is no different.

I need to find my resolve, but to do that I need to focus on one thing. Something powerful to make my mind focus. What is the most powerful in the world? Earth, water, wind, fire, lightning, light, darkness, time, and space….No, there is one thing above them all…and that is…

Dark Lord ended up beheaded, his head flying away from his body, he finally realized it.

…Death. That was the answer.