CHAPTER 18 : BLOSSOM IS DEAD

 Blossom's body slumped to the ground. Hazel whirled around, his eyes locking onto the horrifying scene. He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he checked for any sign of life, but all he found was a growing pool of blood.

"Blossom? Blossom? Blossom, are you okay?" Hazel choked out, gently shaking her limp form. He turned her over, revealing the gaping hole in her stomach. Disbelief and agonizing pain flooded Hazel's face.

"No... no... no... noooooooo!" Hazel's scream tore through the battlefield, raw and filled with despair. Suddenly, he fell silent, his eyes fixed on Blossom's lifeless body.

"Oh, what happened? Couldn't you handle the mental damage of someone you care about daring to die?" the Demon Lord taunted, his laughter echoing cruelly.

Hazel stood up slowly, his back to the Demon Lord. As he turned, his aura erupted, a chaotic storm of pure killing intent. His face was devoid of all emotion, his eyes burning with a singular, deadly focus.

The overwhelming aura choked everyone on the field. The remaining demons collapsed, suffocated by the sheer intensity of Hazel's rage.

"Oh, I see," the Demon Lord mused, a hint of surprise in his voice. "This amount of pain seems to have turned you into a killing machine. Well, no matter, you are still weak."

Unbelievable, his aura is almost choking me, the Demon Lord thought, a flicker of unease finally touching his arrogance.

In a blink, Hazel, who had been some distance away, was directly in front of the Demon Lord, delivering a brutal backhand strike that sent the powerful being flying. Hazel appeared where the Demon Lord was about to land and struck him again with relentless force.

The Demon Lord staggered, coughing up blood, struggling to absorb the impact of Hazel's furious assault. Hazel's eyes flashed with changing colors, reflecting the storm of emotions within him.

"Ahhhhhh!" the Demon Lord roared, unleashing his own powerful aura in response. "I have had enough of you!"

Hazel lunged again, aiming a powerful kick, but the Demon Lord caught his leg and began to smash his body into the ground repeatedly with sickening force. After the brutal assault, he tossed Hazel's limp body aside.

Hazel lay unconscious on the ground. The Demon Lord summoned a dark, menacing sword – his demon-devouring blade – and approached the unmoving Hazel, intent on ending his life.

Just as the Demon Lord raised his sword, Mia, her eyes glowing with an inner darkness, stepped in front of Hazel, finally succumbing to the demonic power within her. A fierce battle erupted as two demonic forces clashed.

Empowered by the Sin of Pride, Mia gave the Demon Lord a surprisingly difficult fight, her attacks fueled by a power that even surprised him. However, she was slowly losing herself to the demon within.

While Mia engaged the Demon Lord, Alexa, using Shadow Walk, swiftly retrieved Blossom and Hazel. She took them to the healers, who immediately began treatment. Blossom's wound was grave, and hope for her survival was slim, but they worked desperately.

Mia, though powerful, was eventually overwhelmed by the demon within her, collapsing with near-lifeless exhaustion. Darwin, Ashton, and Oscar stepped in, launching a coordinated assault on the Demon Lord.

"Are you even trying?" the Demon Lord sneered, effortlessly dodging their attacks.

With careful precision, Ashton, using his limited precognition, managed to land a small cut on the Demon Lord's face. "Continue to get cocky, and we might just end your pitiful life," Ashton spat disrespectfully.

Enraged, the Demon Lord unleashed a burst of aura that blasted them away. But Darwin, refusing to give up, pushed his speed to its absolute limit, engaging the Demon Lord in a furious exchange of blows. Darwin's speed momentarily matched the Demon Lord's as they traded attacks and dodges.

Oscar saw an opening and unleashed a torrent of searing flames, but the Demon Lord easily intercepted the attack.

Meanwhile, Hazel finally regained consciousness. Alexa, her face lighting up with relief, rushed to his side.

"What of Blossom?!" Hazel shouted immediately, his eyes filled with panic.

"She's in the other room, getting treated," Alexa replied quickly.

"Take me to her," Hazel demanded.

"Okay, follow me," Alexa said, leading him away.

They reached the room where Blossom lay still and pale. The healers were slumped and unconscious, drained of their energy. Hazel looked at Blossom, tears welling in his eyes, and then he saw her soul, shimmering faintly beside her body.

Blossom's soul floated towards him, embracing him gently. "Don't worry about me, Hazel. I will always be with you. Don't stay with me and let the others die. Hazel, I want you to know I love you, but I won't be able to fight by your side anymore. Do me a favor and give that demon a piece of our mind, and promise me you won't let anyone else die, okay? Bye now, I have to go." Blossom's soul began to ascend.

Tears streamed down Hazel's face as he watched her soul fade away. "No... don't go, please..." he sobbed.

[Your subordinate, Blossom, has died.]

Blossom's soul was gone. Hazel wiped his tears, his face hardening into a mask of grief and fury. "She's dead," he said to the unconscious healers. "Leave her and go rest."

"What do you mean she's dead? They can still bring her back!" Alexa protested, her voice filled with disbelief.

"What's the use of fixing a body when there's no soul within it?" Hazel replied, his voice hollow. "It's time to go give that demon a piece of my mind." A terrifying determination filled his gaze.