A Bloody Fight

The first rays of sunlight slowly filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room with a warm, pale light.

Catherine stirred first, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly woke up from her sleep. 

She sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning as the early morning haze slowly lifted from her mind.

She scanned the room, noticing that Yuto was nowhere to be seen.

"He went alone…"

Her comment quickly alerted Lilith, who had already been slowly waking up, and Luna, who had been quietly staring at the ceiling.

They both sat up, their eyes still a little bleary from sleep. 

A sense of realization and concern washed over them as they registered Catherine's words.

Luna spoke up first, her voice soft, yet tinged with worry.

"Yuto... he went alone?"

Catherine nodded her expression with a mix of disbelief and concern. 

She pushed herself fully upright, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep.

"I can't sense his presence within the castle"

Lilith chuckled as she stood up, wrapping her robe around herself.

"Yeah, he did, damn idiot. He really did go alone"

…

Yuto stood on top of a cliff, noticing the thousands of demons, monsters, and traitors of the Thornwild kingdom, preparing for an all-out attack.

The air was thick with tension, and the ground rumbled with the rhythmic footsteps of the marching horde.

He chuckled as he jumped off the cliff, summoning his greatsword mid-air.

"Time to start I guess"

His feet made contact with the ground, the impact creating a small crater in the ground. 

The hordes of demons and monsters immediately turned their attention to Yuto, recognizing him as the lone figure standing against them.

A low, menacing snarl escaped from many of their throats, their eyes filled with an almost feral anger and hatred.

He chuckled as he got out of the crater, resting his greatsword on his shoulder.

"What's up ya ugly fucks?"

They didn't respond verbally, but their growls and roars grew louder, and more aggressive.

An Elder Demon, larger and seemingly more powerful than the others, stepped forward, its eyes burning with a deep, dark green fire.

"You... insolent fool," the demon hissed, its voice a low rumble. 

"You dare face us alone?"

SLASH

"Listen to me when I say"

"That all of you are going to die…"

The elder, barely managed to react in time, dodging the attack, its body moving with a speed that belied its size. 

However, the other demons and monsters around it weren't so lucky. 

Yuto's attack cleaved through at least a dozen of the lesser demons, leaving them in pieces on the ground.

The elder demon snarled, its eyes narrowing in anger.

"You... fucker!"

Yuto raised his hand.

"Come at me!"

His eyes glinted with wild excitement as they all charged forward. 

With a savage grin, he swung his sword, cleaving through the first group of monsters like a butcher going through meat. 

"Let's see how many of you can survive me," he shouted, his voice thick with arrogance. 

His blade danced in the air, slicing through bodies with brutal efficiency.

They roared in fury, their grotesque bodies lunging at him from all sides. 

But Yuto was untouchable. 

Every attack, every slash, was met with a lethal precision. 

He didn't care about the blood soaking his skin, the screams of his enemies fueling his bloodlust.

One demon rushed him, claws raised high, but Yuto barely glanced at it as he swung his greatsword horizontally, cutting the demon clean in half. 

The two halves of the demon fell to the ground with a wet thud, and Yuto turned his focus to the next target. 

"You all are so damn predictable," he taunted, voice dripping with condescension. 

"Come on, show me something new"

A massive ogre-like beast lumbered forward, swinging his weapon down, scattering the rubble around them but in the end, Yuto effortlessly sidestepped the club. 

"Really?" Yuto chuckled, his voice mocking. 

"You think a big, dumb swing is gonna do anything to me?"

In a swift movement, Yuto ducked under the ogre's next attack, spinning around it. 

With a quick move, he slashed upward, cleaving through its thick hide and sending its guts spilling out across the ground. 

The ogre gurgled in agony, collapsing to the earth with a thunderous crash, but Yuto wasn't done. 

"Next!" he yelled, his voice filled with manic energy. 

The ground around him trembled as a wave of demons surged forward, but Yuto met their charge head-on.

His greatsword swung like a scythe, cutting through them with a brutal, unstoppable rhythm. 

Limbs and heads flew in every direction, blood spraying in arcs like grotesque rain. 

"You all just so fucking predictable"

His boots splashed in the pool of blood forming beneath him. 

His eyes burned with exhilaration as he effortlessly cut through the next wave of enemies. 

"I'm the goddamn apocalypse for all of you!"

A monstrous demon with thick, armored skin charged at him, its maw opening wide to reveal rows of jagged teeth. 

But Yuto was already there, a blur of motion, his sword carving a deep gash across its chest. 

It staggered, roaring in fury, but Yuto wasn't done. 

He leaped into the air, soaring over it and landing behind it in a fluid motion.

Before it could react, Yuto buried his greatsword into its back with a sickening crunch, the weapon sinking deep between its shoulder blades. 

He twisted the blade, and all that could be heard was a screech as its life was extinguished. 

Yuto ripped his sword free, laughing as it collapsed, lifeless at his feet.

"Too slow," Yuto grinned, wiping the blood from his face as he surveyed the carnage around him. 

"I'm having way too much fun with this"

The rest of the army hesitated for just a moment, their minds racing as they realized just how outmatched they were. 

But before they could retreat, Yuto roared with bloodlust, his sword raised high.

Blood Lust Tier 9 

"Come at me, you bastards! I'll show you what true agony is!" 

With that, he charged forward again, slashing and hacking through them unrestrained. 

The battle had become a dance of death, and Yuto was the only one calling the tune. 

Demons and monsters alike fell before him in a relentless tide, their bodies torn apart, their blood staining the earth.

"Rip and tear," he muttered under his breath, his grin growing wider with each passing moment. 

"No need to hold back~"

His chest rises and falls with the exhilaration of the brutal slaughter. 

Blood dripped from his sword, and the faint echo of his laughter mingled with the dying roars of the last few monsters.

The remaining demons, once brimming with killing intent, now hesitated, fear creeping into their eyes as they saw the carnage Yuto had unleashed. 

Their snarls softened, uncertainty creeping in. 

It was clear now: they were facing something far beyond their expectations, a bloody monster.

Yuto wiped the sweat from his brow.

"What's wrong? Is the mighty demon army scared now?" 

He twisted his blade in his hand, testing its weight before pointing it at the remaining forces. 

"Come on, bring it. I'm just getting started"

A towering brute with an arm like a tree trunk, let out a guttural growl, charging at Yuto with incredible speed.

Yuto chuckled as his sword cut through the air in a wide arc, the blade flashing like lightning.

With a single swipe, Yuto's sword collided with the demon's arm, slicing clean through it. 

It howled in agony, stumbling back as it tried to clutch the stump of its severed limb. 

"You should have stayed in the shadows," Yuto mocked, stepping forward to finish the job. 

"Now, you're just another pile of meat for me to cut up"

Before the demon could recover, Yuto closed the distance, raising his sword high and smashing its head, repeatedly.

He let out a chuckle as he went after the rest of the army, slicing through them, and breaking their bones with just a kick.

It was pure joy, just letting loose.

…

Yuto stood amidst the aftermath, the battlefield a twisted tapestry of blood and death.

The sounds of battle had died, leaving only the heavy silence of his victory.

His sword, once gleaming, now looked like it belonged to the very depths of hell itself, coated with blood. 

He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, smirking as he surveyed the wreckage of the dead.

The threat had been obliterated, the army was reduced to nothing more than scattered, broken bodies. 

He let out a slow, deliberate breath. 

"Like I said… easy," he muttered.

"Now to–"

He felt a presence behind him, he tried to swing his blade but it was too late as a giant, mace-wielding demon appeared from the surrounding bodies of the dead.

Swung at him with tremendous force the moment he let his guard down.

The impact of the mace sent him flying, his body crashing through several trees before landing with a bone-jarring thud on the hard ground.

Yuto lay there, dazed and disoriented from the brutal hit. 

The world spun around him as he tried to catch his breath, the pain from the impact making his vision swim.

He tried to move, his muscles screaming in protest as he attempted to push himself up. 

But the sheer force of the blow had left him weakened, and his limbs felt heavy, like lead.

["GET UP DAMN IT!"]

He felt it getting closer, a smug grin on its face, mocking him, toying with not a hunter but the prey.

["GET UP!"]

It chuckled, as it lifted its weapon, about to swing it back down on him.

"AHHHHHH!"

Seven Sins Art: Wrath

A giant wall of black fire surrounded him before bursting upwards and igniting the ground in a wide circle, incinerating all the corpses surrounding him. 

Yuto himself was shielded from the flames, the intense heat doing nothing but fueling his rage.

He struggled to his feet, his body screaming in protest at the simple act. 

"You're fucking dead," he spat out, glaring at it.

Before he could move, he felt more demons, he looked up and saw five winged demons hovering over the mace demon.

"A human," the largest of the demons spoke, its voice a deep rumble. 

It moved closer, its wings flapping, its eyes narrowed, studying Yuto.

"Impressive..." it said, its tone almost mocking. 

"Never thought I see a human capable of massacring my army like that"

He shuddered, it was a while that he felt like the battle could end in anyone's favor.

"You… are a demon general"

It nodded, a condescending smile on its face. 

"You're quite astute, for a human"

"Yes, I am a general. The General of Gluttony"

Its eyes scanned Yuto up and down, its gaze cold, almost analyzing.

"But you're in no position to continue fighting. You're barely standing"

Yuto grit his teeth, "Shut the fuck up and fight me one on one, you son of a bitch!"

It chuckled, the sound low and dark. 

"Oh, feisty. I was hoping you'd say something like that" 

It spread its wings, the membranes stretching wide.

"Very well, I'll honor your request"

"One on one, human. Let's see if you can put up a real fight against me"

The other demons surrounding them backed off, clearing a wide circle in the burnt ground.

Yuto gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly. 

His body still aches and throbs from the previous hit, but he forced himself to ignore it, focusing only on the fight ahead. 

He took a few steps forward, standing directly across from the demon. 

His gaze was intense and unwavering, filled with killing intent. 

He might be in pain but there was no way in hell he was going to back down.

He raised his greatsword, pointing it at the demon.

"Yuto Akimitsu... you?"

It chuckled again, a low, amused rumble. 

It lifted its enormous spear, holding it in a relaxed grip.

"You can call me... Astaroth"

It paused, a hint of a smirk on its lips. 

"And I'll remember your name, Yuto Akimitsu. For it will be the last name you ever hold"

Astaroth's wings flared, the wind from their stretch shaking the ground beneath Yuto. 

He gripped his massive spear, the dark aura surrounding it pulsing like a living thing. 

Yuto's grip tightened on his greatsword, his knuckles white from the pressure. 

The ground beneath him still smoldered from the flames, but nothing was going to stop him now.

"Enough talking," Yuto growled. 

"Let's see if you're as strong as you think you are"

Astaroth's grin widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. 

"Very well, human. Let's see if your blood is as sweet as your arrogance"

Without warning, Astaroth lunged forward, the tip of his spear aiming straight for Yuto's chest. 

His speed was blinding, and for a moment, it felt like the world had frozen in place.

Yuto barely managed to sidestep, his sword coming up in a wide arc to block the demon's spear. 

The sheer force of the collision sent a shockwave through his arms, his bones aching from the impact. 

But he gritted his teeth and pushed back, using the momentum to twist and swing his blade toward Astaroth's exposed side.

It twisted, faster than Yuto had anticipated, and the sword only scraped across its armored skin, leaving a shallow gash.

"Impressive," Astaroth purred, his grin never fading. 

"But you'll have to do better than that"

It pulled back, circling Yuto, his spear spinning in a deadly dance. 

Yuto's eyes tracked every movement, every twitch of Astaroth's wings, every shift of his posture. 

His pulse thrummed in his ears, and all he could focus on was the next move. 

He couldn't afford to be distracted.

Astaroth used one of its soldiers to launch itself at Yuto. 

Killing it as soon as his feet left its body.

With a brutal swipe of his spear, Astaroth sent a nearby demon flying toward Yuto. 

It screamed as it sailed through the air, aiming to slam into Yuto. 

But Yuto side-stepped and lashed out with his greatsword in one fluid motion. 

The demon crashed into the ground in a bloody heap, cleaved in half by the force of Yuto's swing. 

["Four left… and last is the general"]

But he didn't have time to savor the kill. 

Astaroth was already on him.

It hurtled toward him, spear raised, its tip aimed straight for his heart. 

Yuto barely managed to dodge, his body still aching from the earlier blow, but he couldn't afford to slow down. 

He sidestepped just in time, the spear grazing his side and cutting a deep gash across his ribs.

He gritted his teeth, pain shooting through his body, but he pushed through it, focused solely on the fight. 

The moment Astaroth's spear missed, Yuto lunged forward with a brutal, savage slash, aiming to carve through its exposed side.

Astaroth spun, his massive wings snapping in the air, just narrowly avoiding the blow.

Its eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flickering in them.

"You're… faster than I thought," he muttered, his voice slightly strained. 

He leaped away, his wings beating heavily, carrying him away from Yuto. 

He landed a good distance away, his expression a mixture of annoyance and... respect. 

"Not many humans can keep up with me," he muttered, his jaw clenching.

Yuto let out a low chuckle, "You said this was a one-on-one?"

Astaroth's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.

"Yes, human. We're alone here. Just you and me"

"No distractions, no interruptions. Just a fight to the death"

He lifted his spear, pointing it at Yuto.

"Are you scared, human? Wishing for backup, huh?"

Yuto pointed at the three other demons that managed to stay alive.

"I should be saying that you had an army and these three, and yet here I still stand"

Astaroth's jaw clenched in annoyance, a low hiss escaping his lips. 

"They're just insurance," he snapped, his eyes narrowing.

"I didn't think I'd need them, but... you're proving to be more stubborn than I expected"

Yuto let out a grunt, "Insurance, so in other words, to get your bitch ass out when you lose"

Astaroth's eyes narrowed further, his expression darkening. 

"Careful, human," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. 

"You're getting a bit bold with your mouth"

He took a step forward, his wings spreading wide.

"And don't underestimate me. I'm not some weakling that needs backup"

"I chose to bring them because I figured a human like you would be easy prey"

["That makes zero sense but I need them gone"]

Yuto shrugged his shoulders, "Kill them... if you say you're stronger… then you don't need them"

Astaroth's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected order. 

He didn't expect Yuto to be so direct. 

He glanced back at the three demons, watching the fight with evident interest. 

One of the demons, the one with the mace, spoke up, its voice rough.

"General, we don't-"

"Shut up," Astaroth snarled, sending the demon a murderous glare. 

He turned back to Yuto, his eyes narrowed.

"You're confident, aren't you, human?"

Yuto rolled his eyes, a little scoff escaping his mouth.

"Can't say the same for you"

Astaroth's expression darkened at the jab, his jaw clenching.

"You're asking to die, you insolent brat..." he muttered, his grip on his spear tightening. 

He glanced at the three demons again, contemplating. 

"You want me to get rid of them, huh? You're that confident that you'll win this fight?"

["Hell no, but it's worth a try, system, is it ready?"]

<- System ->

[ Yes, the new skill is ready to be used ]

["Thank you..."]

Yuto also walked closer, to the point they were just a few inches apart.

"One free hit each, me and you"

Astaroth's eyes widened slightly at the words, surprise flickering in them.

"One free hit..." he repeated, looking Yuto up and down.

He chuckled suddenly, a low laugh bubbling up from his chest. 

"You're absolutely crazy," he said, his lips curving into a mocking smile.

"But... I like it. You have balls, I'll admit that"

He drew his spear back, the length of the weapon tense, ready to strike.

Yuto held his hand up.

"Ah ah"

"It's my turn," he pointed at the demon who hit him earlier.

"That one hit me when you came, so it's my turn"

Astaroth's smile widened at Yuto's words. 

"Ah, the one that hit you first, huh?"

The demon in question tensed, its eyes widening, realizing it was the target.

Astaroth chuckled, "Go ahead, human. It's your turn"

Yuto chuckled at his confidence.

"Clench your stomach, Astaroth"

Its eyes narrowed, a hint of confusion mixing with his confidence. 

"Clench my stomach...?" he repeated, looking at Yuto as if he was crazy. 

He let out a scoff, a smirk on his lips. 

"And why in the hell would I–"

<- System ->

[ Skill Combination: Holy Fist x Divine Judgment x Murderous Intent x One shot x Lightning Tier 6 ]

Skill: Heavens Might

The world seemed to freeze, the air around them tensing with an electric hum. 

Yuto's hand moved with a blinding speed. 

A small, dark ball grew in his hand, a small, barely visible crackle of energy around it. 

He lashed out with everything he had, driving the ball into Astaroth's stomach with a thundering impact. 

The sheer force of the blow was amplified by divine energy, exploding out from the point of impact like a miniature sun, reducing the surrounding area to ashes in an instant.

The three demons that stood nearby were torn to dust in the same instant, their bodies completely obliterated, their very souls destroyed. 

The shockwave ripped through the area, tearing apart everything in its path. 

The impact of the force, sent boulders crashing to the ground, and the air was filled with 

All was silent for a moment, the aftermath of the blow leaving only a crater, a smoldering black mark on the ground, and a sense of finality. 

Yuto stood at the center, his body shaking slightly, his hand still extended forward from the attack. 

He took a deep breath, his heart racing at an unnatural speed.

<- System ->

[ Congratulations ]

[ Here are your rewards ]

[ +100 Level ]

[ Gluttony sin unlocked ]

[ New Skill: Heavens Might created ]

[ +50 to all stats ]

The sudden influx of information and power hit Yuto like a wave. 

His head spun, his body shaking, as he felt the rush of energy surging through him. 

His stats shot up, his entire body feeling stronger, faster, and more powerful. 

The sensation was overwhelming, almost too much to process at once.

He tried to smile at the window screen, even moving, but he felt his body violently shake.

"Oh no…"

The sudden burst of power took a toll on his body, especially with the wounds he had sustained during the fight. 

The adrenaline that had fueled him through the battle suddenly receded, leaving him with excruciating pain, and the sudden awareness of every bruise, every cut, every broken rib.

His knees buckled, and he stumbled, nearly collapsing to the ground. 

Everything in his body screamed with pain, but he forced himself to stay standing, gritting his teeth against the agony.

Alas, it was too much, and he finally collapsed to the floor.

Letting the blood and dirt hit his face.

His final view was of Catherine, Luna, Lilith, and Lola running towards him.

"I'm… sorry"

<- System -> 

[ Putting host to sleep… will wake up when the body is healed ]

…

Catherine was the first to reach him, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of him.

She dropped to her knees, her hands shaking slightly.

"Yuto..." she whispered, her voice choking with emotion.

Lilith, Luna, and Lola were right behind her, their eyes wide with concern.

They were all speechless, seeing the state Yuto was in.

They looked around, the landscape was an eerie sight.

Hundreds upon thousands of burnt corpses littered the ground, the air thick with the stench of death.

The sheer scale of the destruction was hard to imagine.

Catherine's gaze went from the blackened terrain to Yuto, her eyes wide.

Lilith swallowed, her voice a whisper.

"Did... he do all this...?"

Luna was staring at the scene, her expression a mix of shock and awe. 

She'd never seen such a horrifying sight before. 

She'd heard stories, but seeing it in person... 

She shook her head in silent disbelief. 

Lola was silent, her gaze flicking from the burnt corpses to Yuto, and back to the bodies. 

Her eyes widened slowly as the truth sank in.

"He really did fight off the demon lord's army"

Catherine's heart ached as she looked at Yuto. 

She couldn't believe how badly injured he was. 

She carefully touched his shoulder, her fingers gentle, as if she was afraid he'd break if she applied too much pressure. 

"Yuto..." she repeated, her voice trembling with worry. 

Lilith, Luna, and Lola were silent, their eyes fixed on him, their expressions full of concern.

They couldn't believe he'd survived this, let alone won.

…

Morning light soon enveloped the room.

As consciousness slowly returned to him, Yuto's bleary eyes flickered open. 

He found himself in a familiar place. 

The clean, comfortable surroundings of his room.

As his eyes focused, he saw Catherine sitting beside his bed, gently holding his hand.

She looked up as he stirred, a mixture of relief and worry on her face.

"Yuto, you're awake..." she murmured, her voice low and soft.

She leaned closer, her eyes searching his face, as if making sure he was truly conscious.

He noticed that he was covered in bandages from head to toe.

"A little excessive, don't you think?"

Catherine chuckled softly, a mix of amusement and relief in her eyes.

"You're lucky you're still alive," she murmured, gently squeezing his hand. 

"You can't blame us for being a bit paranoid, considering how badly you were injured"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over his bandaged form.

"And with how much blood you lost…"

He looked down, "An unexpected opponent joined," he mumbled.

"Regardless... I'm back, Cat," he said with a bright smile.

Catherine's heart ached as she gently squeezed his hand before leaning closer and tenderly caressing his cheek.

"You had us scared for a while," she murmured, her voice still a whisper. 

"But yes... it's good to have you back"

Suddenly the door burst open, and Lilith, Luna, and Lola burst into the room, their faces lit up with relief and joy.

The trio quickly gathered around Yuto's bed, their eyes fixed on him, a chorus of "You're awake!" and "We're so glad you're okay!" broke out.

Their voices overlapped in their eagerness.

They surrounded the bed, each of them fussing over Yuto in their own way. 

Lilith was gently poking at one of his bandaged arms, checking the extent of his injuries.

Luna was hovering at his side, her hands hovered over his chest, as if just wanting to touch him to make sure he was there.

And Lola was bouncing on her toes, her energy barely contained as she fidgeted with excitement.

After a while of talking they quickly filled him in on what happened before they met up with him.

They took care of the remaining demons that had managed to escape.

And had seen the massive wave of holy energy and quickly put two and two together. 

They tracked his location and managed to make it back to the castle before he lost any more blood.

It had also been a month since he awoke and he was glad that the feast could finally be held for him.

As to celebrate his victory against the demon lord's army. 

After countless hours of enjoying the feast, Lola noticed that Yuto was missing and decided to look for him.

She found him back in his room, sitting at the edge of his bed.

"Not enjoying the feast?"

He looked up, surprised to see her in his room.

He sighed as he leaned back, "I heard that the kingdom held your father and his army funeral while I was in a coma?"

Lola nodded, a small frown on her face. 

"Mhm," she said quietly, "They held a grand funeral for them a week ago"

She walked to his side and sat down beside him, silent momentarily. 

Then she turned to look at him, her eyes searching his face.

"Are you okay?"

He shrugged, unsure of how to answer.

"I should be asking you that, I mean with you needing to become queen and all"

Her frown tightened a bit, her expression turning a bit sour at the question.

"I'm... managing," she said, her voice a bit rough. 

She let out a short, dry chuckle, her eyes dropping to look at the floor.

"I never really thought I'd be queen, you know? I'm still... getting used to it"

She fell silent, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes still fixed on the floor.

He sat back up, looking down on the ground, "That means you can't be with me, right?"

She froze upon hearing the words, her eyes widening slightly, her heart clenching in her chest.

A long, tense silence fell between them. 

She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady as she spoke.

"I'm willing to... give it up... all of it so I can be with you all, to be with you"

["...I should warn her"]

He pulled her into his arms.

"Are you sure, being a queen would be a lot safer than what I plan to do"

She buried her face into his chest, her arms wrapped around his midsection, her fingers clenching his shirt. 

There was a hint of dampness on his shirt, and a soft, shuddering breath escaped her lips. 

"I... don't care about safety," she mumbled, her voice stifled. 

"I just want to be with you... with all of you."

He cupped her cheek, planting a small kiss on her lips.

Before pulling back and looking at her eyes, wiping a tear away.

"Will you grant me a night with you?"

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, her breath catching in her throat. 

She swallowed, her eyes never leaving his, and slowly, she nodded.

"I'll... give you my all tonight"

And a night it was, or it was supposed to be as these two morons wouldn't leave the room for a whole week.

It was a hassle getting them out to eat something while trying to ignore Yuto's lewd jokes.

They decided to spend the remaining months at Thornwild, learning every martial art, magic, and swordsmanship they had.

It was a long grueling process but they eventually got the results they wanted.

And just like that, the year was over, and Yuto and the rest were standing at the gates of the Dragon kingdom.

He chuckled as he walked towards the giant door, knocking gently, "I'm back!"