Chapter 12: Something STRIKES back

Ogamak turned around, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the figure before him.

"You're the same girl who tried to kill me earlier, huh?" he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Lily tilted her head, her crimson eyes glowing. "Sure am. What's your point?"

Ogamak wasted no time, slashing toward her with deadly precision. Lily, however, effortlessly dodged each strike, her movements fluid and calculated.

"Slashes, huh?" she mused, her smirk widening.

Ogamak grinned. "Your worst enemy."

Without hesitation, Lily pulled out her knife, twirling it between her fingers. "If that's what you want, then let's play the same mini-game."

She launched herself into the air, her blade flashing as she rained down slashes. Ogamak dodged each one, backflipping gracefully. But Lily was relentless. In a sudden burst of speed, she lunged and buried her knife into his neck.

Ogamak groaned but quickly retaliated, kicking her away. Blood trickled from his wound as he wiped his mouth. "You're quite fast for a child."

Lily chuckled darkly. "And I thought you'd react faster."

"Oh, I do. I was just playing along." Ogamak's grin widened as he charged. His blows came swift and strong, but Lily danced between them, countering with an uppercut that staggered him. In a flash, she wrenched her knife free from his neck and delivered a brutal slash across his torso, carving a deep wound.

Ogamak coughed up blood. "Damn, that girl is fast…"

Before he could recover, Lily's blade sliced through his arm, severing it completely. Yet, as quickly as it fell, his limb regenerated. Ogamak flexed his fingers, impressed.

"Ruthless, I see…"

Lily stood her ground, her grip on her knife tightening. "Y'know, I love ruthless men like you," she said with a wicked smirk. "But you're by far the most twisted. No wonder you're feared."

Ogamak chuckled. "Flattery won't save you."

Lily suddenly dashed forward, aiming for his ribcage, but Ogamak sidestepped, retaliating with three lethal slashes. She blocked each one, then lunged, her blade aimed at his heart. Before she could land the hit, Ogamak kicked her away and grabbed her by the face, slamming her into the ground with force.

"Damn, a serial killer for sure," he muttered.

Lily, unfazed, slashed his hand repeatedly, forcing him to release her. In an instant, she leaped into the air and stomped on his head. Ogamak growled, turning swiftly to retaliate with a flurry of mid-air strikes. Lily dodged each one with ease before delivering a kick to his jaw.

Ogamak clenched his teeth, his patience wearing thin. He grabbed her arm and hurled her against a nearby building. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself, his body aching.

"That girl's speed… she might have even more stamina than Yaxoc. Her agility and reflexes are insane…" he muttered.

Lily stepped forward, unfazed, a cruel smirk on her lips. "What's wrong, Demon King? Feeling overwhelmed?"

Ogamak's expression darkened. "Who do you think you are? I am leagues above you."

"Then prove it," Lily taunted. "Show me your true potential."

Ogamak's grin returned. "Very well."

Raising his arms, a colossal dark aura surged around him. "Behold, the Blood Sun will shine before me."

A crimson celestial body loomed over him, bathing him in an eerie glow. The sheer force of its power obliterated stars and shook the very fabric of existence. Ogamak stood amidst the chaos, menacing, his grin now wicked.

For the first time, Lily felt an unsettling chill. But she quickly dismissed it, tightening her grip on her blade. "Then bring it on."

Ogamak charged, throwing a devastating punch. Lily blocked it with her knife, but the sheer force sent her hurtling into the building. Before she could react, Ogamak teleported in front of her, gripping her throat tightly.

"Look at you now… not so smug anymore, are you?"

Lily smirked, despite the pressure on her neck. "You think so?"

She swiftly pulled out a gun and fired at a nearby demon, killing it instantly. Using the brief distraction, she pried herself free and shoved Ogamak back.

"Such strength…" Ogamak thought, genuinely surprised.

Lily's eyes gleamed. "Surprised?"

In an instant, she drew a red blade that pulsed with raw energy. "You're about to be the first to experience my MAXIMUM STAGE."

She lunged, slashing in rapid succession. Ogamak dodged each strike, then retaliated with a kick to her jaw, launching her into space. He teleported above her, slamming her back to Earth with crushing force.

Lily groaned as she rose, irritation flashing across her face. "You're really getting on my nerves."

Circling Ogamak, she unleashed a storm of slashes. Ogamak dodged effortlessly, then delivered a crushing blow to her face, sending her flying again. He teleported behind her, aiming a kick—but she anticipated it, teleporting behind him and driving her blade into his back.

Ogamak's eyes widened as the blade inched toward his heart. Thinking fast, he struck her face with his elbow, making her stumble forward.

"Enough games…" Ogamak chanted ominously. "Death Punch."

With a single devastating blow to Lily's gut, her body glitched erratically before collapsing. In her place lay Lucy, unconscious, her form flickering between realities.

Ogamak stood over her, unfazed. "So, she was possessed…"

His wounds regenerated instantly as he turned to walk away—until a voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

"Ogamak! Your life ends here!"

Ogamak turned to see a towering figure stepping out from the shadows. The presence was suffocating, the very air thick with unseen pressure. He could feel a power unlike any he had faced before.

Bambon smirked, stepping closer. "You think you're untouchable, Demon King? Your reign ends now."

Ogamak narrowed his eyes, his fingers twitching. "You've got guts challenging me."

Lily's unconscious form flickered again, a sign that some

thing—or someone—was still lurking beneath her. The battle wasn't over yet.

To be continued…