Vengeance

Vengeance and the other stars stood in shock, staring at Lorna and Zhala. Illusion, who had half his body blown off, floated barely conscious.

This… This is bad… If I don't heal fast, I'll soon be dead. I'm losing too much blood, and the majority of my organs are severely damaged. It even seems like my Aether cell is compromised. I can barely stay afloat right now… I don't want to die.

His eyes drooped as he forcefully tried to keep them open. Slowly, he began to turn, purple blood pouring out harder, with the remnants of his organs barely hanging on.

He stopped turning, now facing the other stars. They looked at him with disgust at the state he was in.

"Please… help me… I don't… want to die," he pleaded, his blood-filled throat making his voice sound insufferable.

Vengeance clenched his fist, grinding his teeth as he stared at Illusion. Damn it! If you idiots had just listened to me, we wouldn't be in this predicament. And that bastard 9th, the one who caused this whole mess, ran off and left us to fend for ourselves. I swear if I survive this, I'm going to rip him apart!

A dark aura began shrouding around him as his rage grew.

"For someone so afraid of death, you're awfully prepared to bring it upon others. Why is that?" Lorna's voice came from behind Illusion. A cold chill went through him as he slowly turned around.

Tap. A hand gently rested on his side, over the open wound. The touch didn't hurt but stopped him from moving further.

"A bastard like you doesn't have the right to face me. You all thought you had the advantage because you outnumbered us. But we'll show you."

BOOM!

A shockwave expanded from her hand, completely destroying Illusion, leaving no trace behind. Lorna emerged from where he stood, her face filled with rage, her cold eyes fixed on the remaining stars.

"You made a deadly mistake, messing with us."

Vengeance and Lust spread out, surrounding Lorna and Zhala. Their faces carried a frightening mix of determination and fear. They knew they had to act or be the next to lose their lives.

"ALRIGHT! LISTEN UP, LUST! FOLLOW MY LEAD! WE WON'T SPLIT UP TO FIGHT THEM—WE TAKE THEM TOGETHER. IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE OF VICTORY. I'LL ATTACK, AND YOU BACK ME UP. IF WE STICK TOGETHER, MAYBE WE CAN SURVIVE THIS!" Vengeance shouted, preparing himself to launch an attack.

Well, at least this one has a bit of intellect. But if he were truly smart, he'd sense that we're worlds apart in power. Lorna thought, smiling.

SWOOSH!

Vengeance shot toward them, Lust close behind.

I can't die here. No matter what, I won't die here!

A dark, shadow-like energy wrapped around his fist as he aimed for Lorna. Grinding his teeth, he pulled his fist back.

I WANT TO LIVE!

FWOOSH!

His fist moved with blinding speed, but Lorna casually sidestepped, dodging his strike.

She dodged that? I put everything into that attack, and she dodged it. HOW?! Vengeance thought as time seemed to slow.

His attack had so much force it propelled him forward. He quickly withdrew and spun around to face Lorna again. She didn't say a word, but her arrogant expression didn't need to.

You are nothing but an ant in my presence. That was the only thing her look conveyed.

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Vengeance flung his cape around. It began stretching and expanding like a shadow.

CLOAK OF THE DARK, RELIC ABILITY RELEASE: SHROUD!

His cloak enveloped Lorna in darkness, contracting in an attempt to crush her.

BAM!

Lorna's fist tore through the cloak, freeing herself. She didn't stop there, driving her fist toward Vengeance at blinding speed.

I… I can't dodge this. His face filled with horror as her fist closed in.

BAM!

Her fist collided with his face, sinking in before launching him outward into space.

I… I can't lose consciousness. If I do, I'll die here—I HAVE TO GET UP! His thoughts screamed as he forced his body to stop flying backward and launched himself toward Lorna.

"LET'S SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!" he shouted, drawing his fist back. A red, lightning-like energy surrounded it as he aimed for her.

"Don't you understand by now? No matter what you do, you'll still be nothing more than an ant in my presence," Lorna said, dodging his attack effortlessly, moving so fast it seemed like she teleported.

Vengeance smiled under his hood. "Pointless."

"VENGEANCE!"

He roared, punching the space itself. The attack still managed to hit Lorna, striking her squarely in the face.

Vengeance's arm was busted and bleeding rapidly. He stood there, breathing heavily and holding his injured hand.

My cosmic ability, Vengeance, allows me to deal twice the damage I've taken from my enemy. As long as I'm conscious, it's a guaranteed hit, no matter where they are. The only problem is I can use it only once per hour. He huffed and puffed, his exhaustion evident.

If only Lust had… Wait a minute…

His eyes darted around, searching. Where is Lust?!

He gasped, his face pale and trembling as his gaze landed on Zhala. She hovered above him, her body covered in chunks of pink slime. She casually brushed it off, and a small fragment fell onto his cheek.

"Do you get it now? No matter what you did, you never stood a chance against us."

Lorna began flying slowly toward Vengeance.

He hung his head down, all hope gone. He knew what was coming and that there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Lorna placed her hand on his head. "I don't know what you thought you were doing. You were so focused on our fight that you didn't even realize your subordinate was slaughtered the second this battle began. No matter. You've made an enemy of our lord, and I'll show you the consequences of your actions."

Vengeance slowly lifted his head, staring at Lorna with dead eyes. "Do it."

Lorna grinned slightly before her face turned serious. "Very well. Farewell, X3X dog."

FWOOSH!