Chapter 229: WHAT A BURDEN

Ken was quick to dodge and retaliate the move made,

Pushing Barbatos quite far away.

The demon held his shoulder that took the hit,

And felt surprised, after he realized that Ken had made him bleed.

His scythe then glistened in the moonlight,

With none other than Barbatos' blood.

The sight had put a grin on his face,

That even brought chills to the demon in a way.

If Barbatos had kept pushing on,

His arm may have now been cut off.

Still, he needed to contain his thoughts.

Since anger had clearly not worked.

It was the first time he thought of Haborym with envy.

If only he was way calmer, then maybe-

He had Ken's head rolling on the ground right now.

"Tsk. I'll still make that happen somehow."

He crumpled his fists and looked at Ken with warning,

Now that Ken's far away, he could do his special thing.

Barbatos grabbed his bow and aimed towards him.

Ignoring the stinging pain on his shoulder screaming.

Ken's vision had never been better.

His steps felt wobbly, his adrenaline fading.

He bit his own tongue just so he could be woken,

And prayed that somehow, a miracle could happen.

"I...cannot afford to lose again.

I only have much little time left."

His body felt terribly hot with every step he take,

But slowing down won't make it better nonetheless.

Barbatos smiled michievously when he finally let the arrows go.

But for some reason, he forgot who Ken was supposed.

Excitement may have eaten him whole,

As clearly, Ken only teleported to avoid.

But the more he use the teleportation skill,

The more he felt weak.

His focus continued to shift.

Terribly dizzy, no longer in control of his feet.

Ken decided to bite his tongue harder,

Despite him accidentally swallowing some of his blood in return.

He vomits them a little,

But knowing that Barbatos was desperate,

did not hesitate for the favors to be returned.

"There's no way you can fight seriously with fighting sleep like that."

Barbatos teased as he pulled out more arrows from his back.

Ken tried to teleport to close their distance.

But his poisoned state had limited his chance.

He could only change positions on short distances,

Which was starting to piss him a little bit.

He was only seeing colors by the time Barbatos laughed.

Finally concluding that it was indeed, an easy match.

But Ken had not fought and bled for nothing,

He knew he had to give his all or it'd end up failing.

He was tired of being deemed useless and frail.

Surely, there must be another way.

Ken ran towards Barbatos despite the stakes,

Eyes never blinking as the surge of arrows drop,

And while he was busy dodging each one of them,

Barbatos quickly sped on Ken's location,

Ready to give him a taste.

He pulled out small poisounous darts from his pockets,

And with enough practice, knew he wouldn't miss.

He tried hard to predict where Ken would be,

And in the right moment, threw the pieces, hoping the darts and his flesh would meet.

Ken's eyes widened with the incoming objects,

But tried his best to focus anyway.

Still, the poison felt too much to ignore,

That blood oozed from his lips, and his eyes were forced to close.

What happened next shocked Barbatos however,

As he then witnessed, a rise of smoke.

Ken had been burning the poison from inside him.

Which to Barbatos, was no easy feat.

Ken's eyes stared at Barbatos with extreme hatred.

Which earned him a gulp, as he saw how Ken ignored his arrows.

Those same poisonous arrows meant nothing to him now.

As his body's heat burned them before they hit the ground.

Even with wobbly steps, Ken ended up looking menacing.

Even with his black coat in a tattered mess,

the look on his eyes were undeniably menacing.

Unlike the big doll eyes that used to stare back at his enemies,

This one screamed intent to kill, with no mercy or anything.

The mask concealing his frown was starting to crack,

But Ken forced the white object to hold back.

He then spoke to Barbatos, in a surprisingly deep tone.

"Do you have any more tricks you so wanted to show?"

Barbatos gritted his teeth as he ordered he revealed a card.

A huge insect from hell, then emerged from the dark.

He looked at the worm-like creature with apologetic eyes.

The animal seemed beloved, since sending him on earth did not gave Barbatos delight.

"I'm really sorry to summon you, my precious pet.

But I need you to help me finish Ken.

Once I gain my eye back, everything else will be an easy play,

Who knows? Maybe I'll defeat a demon lord someday."

The giant worm swiftly looked at Ken,

Then shrieked loudly, eager to finish him the same.

It quickly secreted poison on every part of its body.

And with its size half of the palace's tower,

Ken could only gulp in anxiety.

"Scared? Let's see if you can still defeat us both,"

Ken did not dare reply and focused on dodging it's claws.

The worm's size did not meant it was slow at all.

Which worried Ken a little bit,

as Barbatos yearned how things would unfold.

"This is my special little monster.

No one can escape our fortress because of him.

If you're really the chosen to aid the heavens,

Then perhaps...you don't mind me getting a little help."

Ken felt overwhelmed when he saw the surge of arrows target him again,

And with the new beast that erupted from hell,

He couldn't help but feel twice exhausted.

Unlike the beasts Nemue have,

This one is quite flexible, and could dodge his attacks.

Ken decided that he would have to jump.

To cut off its head, or skewer its heart.

Barbatos did not wasted his chance,

And while Ken was distracted, tried to attack from behind.

Ken sensed the unwanted plan however,

And turned before things get worse.

He was forced to teleport behind Barbatos,

And did not hesitate to return the favor.

He smiled, as he felt thankful the demon was closer.

But on the time he swung the sycthe,

he was pulled by his monster.

Ken felt its sharp teeth dug on his body,

But than shout, he could only grit his teeth.

He blasted its mouth and its jaw broke from the impact.

But the damage, however big, did not killed it at all.

Barbatos could only smile cheekily as Ken wondered why.

...

Asmodeus collapsed from exhaustion,

His chains had meant nothing.

Sellena quickly hurried to shield him,

As Lluming could hardly believe it.

Mammon felt invinsible.

They soon heard Stacy call out.

Gabriel, who have seen her fighting with Ken before,

readied his stance.

But Stacy quickly rose her hands,

"I'm...I'm here to help."

"No way, you betrayed us once."

Stacy gulped, she knew it was true.

And not like she'd stop hurting them,

Since she'll do it again.

She sees Mammon as a common enemy.

Of course, she'd help them beat him for free.

But it sucks, that Gabriel sensed her true colors,

Still, his mere thoughts won't stop her from being involved.

"Tsk. What are you doing here? Azazel's pet?"

Mammon asked, confused as well.

Stacy did not answered, but only grinned.

As she rose her hand, and a serpent appeared.

A huge serpent quickly gobbled Mammon up.

As Stacy, from casting a thing that huge,

Had her feet failed her down.

She vomited blood, as she wondered why her plan is not working.

She thought Satan's abilities would bring her victory,

but as far as she's using it,

It was turning into a burden.

She wiped the blood off her face,

As Michael quickly checked if she's okay.

She felt surprised that the archangel was still eager to help,

And feeling a surprising surge of guilt,

She pushed him away.

"Fine. If you don't want to cooperate.

I'll kill Mammon for myself.

But don't get the wrong idea.

I don't blame you any bit.

You're right, I'll betray you again.

But since Ken told me this is my fate

Let me do my thing.

And I'm not asking for anyone's permission,

I'm just saying,

Let me be, as I fulfill my mission."

"Oh, we're certainly most happy to let you get killed.

So do your best, so we won't have to do a thing."

Gabriel replied bitterly,

As Michael could only sigh,

"That's not how you're supposed to speak."

"Tsk. Let me vent out what I think for once, Sir Michael.

This girl is a girl from hell.

Like she deserve any respect and concern,

Women who breaks trust, deserves to burn."

"Okay, that's enough-"

But before he could complete his own words,

The serpents stomach quickly burst.

Stacy was not surprised at most,

After all, she was just testing, what her Master had put.

"Ah, so it really works.

Mammon could really turn himself to melting gold.

That's a great ability to have.

And he doesn't look exhausted too.

That's something I want."

Michael felt surprised upon hearing Stacy's true plan.

While Lluming could only blink twice as he ponder what.

Sellena had been unfazed, since she had lived with demons for quite a while,

She have heard of unspeakable deeds, and was no longer shocked, no matter how bizzare.

She felt uncertain however, of how she plans to kill Mammon, himself.

After all, he's a Demon Lord. And she looks exhausted as well.

She quickly pulled out a huge needle from her pocket,

And grinned ever widely, waiting for Mammon to resurface.

(Ken cannot be pinched by my lovely little thing.

He switches places too much, which was quite annoying.

But you, Mammon, no matter what it takes.

I'll make sure to steal your abilities,

That's easier to master and play.)

Michael looked at Gabriel and Lluming,

"Looks like we all need to stop them.

If Stacy gets the ability, she'll have stronger endurance,

And like she said, she doesn't want to switch sides.

She's reckless, but capable.

And I'm afraid there's nothing much we can do about her.

Preaching what she should do is out of the question.

She had no conscience anymore,

She's comparable to a monster.

And so, what you think is truly right, Gabriel.

So before it happens,

We have to kill them."

Gabriel smiled as he opened his wings wide,

While Asmodeus sat up, confused of what arrived.

"Dear, she plans to steal Mammon's ability as well."

"What? Is she sick in the head?

If three archangels couldn't stop the enhanced Mammon,

How is she going to pull it all off?"

"I also wonder how she could.

But we shouldn't let her be.

That woman had way more brutal plans.

She's not to be taken lightly."

Stacy breathed deep and concentrated,

And when Mammon quickly zoomed to attack,

She released some friends.

(To manipulate a demon lord requires high amounts of energy,

To use the hypnotic tune could hinder me weak.

But...if I play my cards correctly,

Him, underestimating me, could lead me to win.)

A horde of small snake-like creatures appeared,

Biting off Mammon's limbs.

And while Mammon struggle to free himself,

Stacy rushed to do her deed.

Mammon felt anxious when the snakes dodge his touch,

And with such number, they were way too much.

The tightness was unbearable for him,

Causing his blood, not to travel properly.

Unlike chains, they could move and adjust.

Which just made it harder, for him to keep them off.

He had never felt this alarmed before.

How does that Stacy know?

.

.

.

Stacy felt like singing when she saw the worry in his face,

After all, it had perks being Azazel's eyes and ears.

She proudly mocked him with her tongue,

Knowing that she've already won.

(Thank you, Ken.

You've given me a 'go card.'

Hah, if only you can't teleport.

Perhaps your abilities as of now,

Had been mine, of course.)

She laughed as she stretched her hands,

"A little more, and you'll be mine!"

She was so close to touching Mammon,

But hot chains suddenly wrapped around her.

"Don't think we'll let you do your thing.

Unlike the angels, I'm more than capable of mercilessly killing."

Asmodeus threatened as he pulls her roughly,

While the archangels headed to Mammon as quickly.

Stacy felt that it was unfair for them to kill Mammon with her help,

So she snapped her fingers, and gone were the snakes.

When Mammon was completely free,

Gabriel was too close to back down anymore.

And his eyes could only widen,

When he saw Mammon's hand approaching close.