Black String of Fate

'So, this is the Weapon Manifestation realm. The one above True Force, regarded only as a myth amongst warriors. The one who touches upon this realm can be said to have truly completed his journey as a warrior.

I see, so my journey as a demon king is truly over. Haha, the defeat to the hero was a false misdirection, of course, I can't end it on a loss.'

"Come, Heavenly Demon. This Demon King awaits your grit."

The heavenly demon revved up his bloodline and dashed once again into Xavier. Till now, he was being overpowered while Xavier was in a haze, but it looked like he was now back in his senses.

The heavenly demon gritted his teeth and dashed while using another one of his techniques.

'Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:

Crimson Lotus Blossom in the Sea of Blood'

The Force enveloping the sword turned more bloody, and red petals started to flower around the blade.

"A flowery technique? It seems inspired."

Xavier easily blocked all the petals coming toward him and even deflected some back to the heavenly demon. The heavenly demon, in his frustration, attacked multiple more times, but the result was the same.

"Is that all? Come on, you must have more to show me." Xavier maliciously smiled at the heavenly demon, which was responded to with disgust.

"You can kill me easily, why are you toying with me now? Are you that petty?"

"Yes, exactly. I'm the epitome of pettiness. Now, dance for me, otherwise I'm cranking up the pain of Forbidden Bloodlust."

The heavenly demon was dumbfounded at the reply, but he sighed as he resolved himself. There was no other way for him to save his sect, he had to now leave things to the younger generation.

"You're not the only one who is petty. Bastard, I'm not losing alone."

Demonic Arts of the Sun Cult:

Desolate Soul Sacrifice."

The heavenly demon got into a stance very similar to the Desolation's Requiem. Xavier recognized it immediately, as it was the inspiration for his own technique.

Xavier took a basic sword stance, preparing to defend against it. He knew just how powerful that move was, but he was not worried.

'In this state, I, the demon king, am undefeatable.'

The heavenly demon's aura started to have hints of green, and all the energy from his body transferred to his sword. His defense and durability were all sacrificed, along with his lifespan. All that power was molded into his sword, which had taken a yellow-green color and had grown ten times in size.

It was a glowing blade of pure destruction.

"Face this, you so-called Demon King!"

For the first time after attaining Weapon Manifestation, Xavier's eyes became serious. He was facing an attack that had everything of the heavenly demon. Facing it lightheartedly would not only be disrespectful but also extremely dangerous.

The heavenly demon swung his blade with a form that contained the essence of his Arts. Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intuition. These stars, coupled with Demon King's way of the sword, are what gave Supreme Demonic Arts their meaning.

The silhouette he held was of his favorite weapon, the Soulblade. He knew that reaching this realm, this silhouette was the evolution of his True Force, Sovereign Wrath.

"Awaken, Soulblade. No, you should be called Sovereign Soul Wrath now, right?

Awaken, and be the bane of my enemies."

The silhouette started to become more solid, taking on the colors of the original blade. It was a dull gray katana with no special designs, but any swordsman worth their salt could tell it was exquisitely designed and perfected.

The heavenly demon could see Xavier was preparing something, but he continued his assault. Nothing could stop him now.

"Supreme Demonic Arts: True Conclusion

Demonic Soul Hypernova."

The blade started glowing with the same ethereal light of a soul star, but this time, it was infused in the blade itself. Xavier could feel his lifespan decreasing, but he didn't care now. It wouldn't matter if he died if it meant completing this technique.

Both of the techniques clashed, and the result was something bewildering, but expected.

*BOOOOM*

Throughout thousands of miles, a deafening sound crackled in the minds of all living creatures. Those who were fighting the war on the other side, including Seraphina, felt their senses shut down and their very soul shake. Though no one died, they were heavily disoriented for a few moments.

While all this was just the aftermath, the main target of the ultimate attack did not suffer from just these mild side effects.

"...You are strong. Stronger than any I've matched blades with."

"Unfortunately, I can't say the same. But, you are one of the most memorable out of them all."

"Haha… It's an honor."

The heavenly demon was kneeling on the ground, his hair back to its original black color. His color was fading as his fingertips started to become dusty.

"It was by fate that I reincarnated into this world. Perhaps I was always meant to fight you. But you, why did you use that sacrificial technique? You could've won without it."

"I just felt like using it. I felt as if I would regret it if I didn't give my all in this state. Anyway, my purpose here is fulfilled, I do not care if I die in an hour."

The heavenly demon, whose arms had now turned to dust, smiled as he looked into the profound eyes of Xavier.

"Though you have mastered it, you do not belong to the demonic path. While my journey started and ended with it, you are meant for something more."

Xavier looked at his weapon manifestation as he said,

"It's about time I stop taking the easy way out and truly move on."

Saying that, he crushed the weapon he was holding with his own hands. The weapon turned into motes of light and formed a dull-gray shard of steel that went inside Xavier and disappeared.

The heavenly demon was wide-eyed at this spectacle, but soon he started laughing hard.

"Hahaha! I can't believe you crushed your own sword! You do know that you have destroyed the mastery of your Arts? You have to train from scratch once again! Hahaha, what a crazy bastard…"

The heavenly demon, who was laughing at this absurd decision, died with joy on his face. He soon turned into dust and faded away into the air.

Xavier of course knew the significance of what he did. Already, his hands felt unfamiliar and weird, feeling as if he had forgotten how to hold a sword. All his years of hard work, determination, fate, talent, grit, experiences… It felt as if they had gone into a slumber.

'It was necessary. Though, not all is lost. I still have everything stored within me as 'knowledge' rather than 'experience'. Now, it's finally time to open a new chapter of my life. This time, I'm creating something much greater than Supreme Demonic Arts!'

Saying that, Xavier, who had exhausted himself beyond belief, closed his eyes for the final time in the trial world.