The Cimmerian blocks Raia's attack, but Raia already anticipates that and that's her intention. She purposefully used the same attack and movement to be able to pull off the trick she's about to perform. After exchanging blows after blows, Raia observes that the Cimmerian is one of those who fight solely on physical abilities and power. They don't have any tactics to back up their strength. That makes them predictable and easy to defeat.

That's unquestionable given that she's a former human with no fighting history or experience. She's just one of those pathetic demons who go straight for vengeance after obtaining power. She may have gained strength superior to humans, but she lacks skill.

Raia can tell from her movements and expressions that the Cimmerian has slightly relaxed her guard as she has grown accustomed to Raia's consistent and predictable attacks. As a result, she's now more prone to minor surprises.

Seeing an opening, Raia leaps to her feet and flips over the Cimmerian. As soon as she lands behind her, she thrusts her flaming longsword into her back. The Cimmerian gasps in pain and surprise when Raia pulls the blade out. Crimson blood pours from the open wound. Raia spins her sword and the burning blade slices off the woman's left wrist.

A loud noise echoes when the microphone falls to the ground with the Cimmerian's severed hand. Raia destroys the microphone with her sword and delivers a spinning roundhouse kick, slamming the demon into Raiden.

Her companion lets out a yelp as the impact knocks him into the wall. The demon is strewn across his lap, dying. Raiden gives Raia a look of disbelief.

"What's the matter with you?" Raiden blurts out, but Raia pounces on him and grabs his collar with a firm grasp.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Raia growls at him, her eyes blazing. "Did you just hesitate a while ago?"

"N-no, I -"

"Kill her," Raia says in a deep and cold voice, pointing her flaming longsword at his face. The flame encircling the blade dies away, becoming a regular weapon, and its pointed tip shimmers with a faint glint. "I will not let you burden me."

Raiden stiffens. Her eyes are dull and intimidating, with not a trace of mercy in them. He opens his lips to speak, but before he can, the Cimmerian squirms, attempting to rise but lacking the strength to do so. Blood continues to leak from her wounds, staining the floor and his shirt. He looks at her.

"P-please, don't kill me. I . . . I don't wanna disappear," the Cimmerian begs, her trembling fist clenched. She's breathing hard. "I just want to have fun and comfort people with my music. We're all victims, and I'm helping them in overcoming their worries. We will . . . take our revenge on that bastard Seymour!"

Raiden scrunches up his eyebrows. "S-Seymour? The mayor?"

Recruiting demonic army to boot a mayor, I see. Understandable but still unacceptable. Their corrupted souls will bring more trouble to this world . . . and to me.

Raia glances at Raiden, who is still frozen in place, staring at the demon as if having second thoughts. Frustrated at how easily her companion can be sidetracked, she slaps him in the face. She has to wake him up and get him back on track.

Raiden's eyes widen and he lifts his gaze to her.

"Stop with that annoying sympathy of yours! It won't get you anywhere. Don't you get it?" Raia yells as she grabs his collar with both hands. "Demons are attempting to infiltrate your emotions. That's what they do! And what kind of disciple would you be if you displayed such weakness in front of an enemy? Don't let your emotions take over because that's how evil will dominate you. That's how you'll lose a fight!"

Raiden averts his eyes and tightens his grip on his weapon.

"Do you want more bodies to disappear? Do you want these people to become weapons of darkness?" Raia growls at his face. "Kara, to be a savior, you must also be a destroyer."

Raiden rises to his feet without saying anything, and Raia lets go of his collar. He then turns to face the Cimmerian, who is now looking at him with pleading eyes. He grits his teeth.

"Our job is to destroy them, not to feel pity for them," Raia says as she stands up. "She's a Cimmerian, after all. Let's deal with her first."

"But if that mayor is the cause of their despair, we must do something before more souls will be corrupted!" Raiden blurts out.

Raia's eyes darken. "As I have said, we must deal with her first. Destroy her."

"Please, let me live," the Cimmerian whispers.

For a disciple, sympathizing with an enemy is a big mistake. It's a flaw that an enemy can exploit.

Demons may have once been humans, but their souls have been corrupted and are now weapons of the Great Wizard; thus, they must be eliminated, even if it means erasing one's entire existence. Because the darkness is a cruel mistress. Because life is harsh. And being a savior can be cruel at times.

"Such impurity cannot be seen by my eyes," Raiden states, his voice emotionless, eliciting surprised looks from the demon and even Raia.

What? Raia's brow furrows as she considers Raiden's abrupt change of behavior. His voice isn't what it used to be, and neither is his demeanor. He's transformed into a whole new person.

"Demons deserve no mercy, and I shall destroy thee," Raiden says monotonously, staring at the Cimmerian with lifeless eyes. When he raises the whip sword, it emits a beam of light, and the divided blades fuse into one. His weapon reverts to its original form: a broadsword.

"No!" screams the demon as Raiden stabs the blade deep into her chest.

Vines sprout from the rain-guard of his broadsword and devour the Cimmerian's lifeless body. The vines, along with her remains, vanish shortly after. The blood on the floor also disappears, leaving no sign of the woman's existence. She's a Cimmerian, a demon who has fallen too far into the darkness and gone through a transition. Her soul will vanish and cannot be resurrected.

The fate of a Cimmerian is eternal oblivion.

"Rest in peace," Raiden whispers.

Raia casts an uncertain glance at Raiden, who remains motionless. He blinks once and looks at her as if waking up from a hypnotic state. Then he smiles ruefully.

"I'm sorry for momentarily losing my path," he says softly, returning to his usual demeanor.

What just happened? Raia wonders, a suspicious expression on her face as she stares at Raiden.

The people at the tavern come out of their daze. They blink several times, looking perplexed as they take in their surroundings, before focusing on two young men dressed in black.

As they rise from their seats, they speak in a confused tone, their cheeks flushed with fear. But just as Raia and Raiden open their mouths to speak, a familiar voice shouts out from the tavern, interrupting them.

"My! I guess I was late already, eh? But I'm glad she didn't have the Core."

Raia and Raiden turn around, and their eyes grow wide in surprise. Loki, with a mischievous smile on his lips, stands at the doorway.

"Hello, we've met again," he says as he waves his hand at them. "I'm sorry to say it, but I was hoping you two would lose. That Cimmerian isn't as powerful as I expected. What a pity."

He lets out a sigh of disappointment and tightens the bandanna around his head. "So, I guess I'll have to leave now since the play is already over."

Loki turns on his heels and waves his hand goodbye. In a heartbeat, Raia is behind him, the holy flame of her Blessing springing into life and engulfing the blade as she points it at him.

"Who are you?" she growls, her pupils constricted to a slit.

"You ignored me on the train, and now you want to know who I am?" Loki lets out a deep sigh and places a hand on his chest. "Let me introduce myself once more: my name is Loki. It's great to see you again."