I charged forward, arm blazing an inferno, intent on killing the Demon in front of me. Bessel flipped over me right before I landed my hit, causing me to charge into the wall, completely destroying it in a blaze of fury.

“Too slow.” Bessel laughed.

I turned, but he had already winded a kicked. His powerful grasshopper leg smashed into my chest. I notice the distinct sound of ribs cracking as the powerful kick dug into me. I coughed up blood as I collapsed, blazing arm weight me down.

“You really don’t know how to use that thing, do ya?” The locust mocked.

“Shut the hell up!” I screamed.

I punched, sending a shockwave of fire and pressure towards Bessel.

“Crap!” he exclaimed as it slammed into him, singeing his exoskeleton. “Not bad!”

“I’m not done!” I whipped my arm back, doing a backswing, sending up a surge of heat.

“Not bad, not bad at all!” he laughed as he flipped through the air. “Using AOE attacks in a close space, where I have no room to maneuver. I can appreciate a little strategy.”

I revved my arm up, slamming it into the ground. A huge wave of fire erupted, completely consuming Bessel.

“Take that.” I said, getting up and turning away.

“Too slow.” He was behind me, and before I could react, he delivered another hard kick into my stomach. I vomited blood, collapsing into a pool of it.

It hurt so much I couldn’t move.

“Too bad about you’s arm. Guess I’ll just take it off your hands and find a better owner for it.” Bessel said, sharpening his arm blade. “This might hurt a lot.”

A surge of energy flowed through me. A single emotion consuming my very being. Memories of one I lost to a demon. I can’t lose to this demon now. I couldn’t. Not until I avenged Koryn… by killing every last one. Fire flowed; my demonic arm sent into a roaring blaze that burnt my clothing. The flickering tongues of fire dancing out, forcing the Insect back.

“Woah. Now we talking!” he laughed.

One. Two. Three. Demons fell to Kurahara’s blade as easily as breathing. One step. Two. Three. A single cut here. Another there. He smiled to himself, knowing he still got it. Of course, the Kurahara sword flow, which is what he was using now, was more suited to a thin katana rather than a claymore, but he made due. The Aberrants were numerous tonight. Most were the less deadly, but still dangerous insectoid types. He made quick work of them, cutting through them like butter. The reptile types were a little more agile. He actually had to put weight in his swing to cut them down. And yet he did eventually. None could escape the deadly blade of Haru.

Demonic blood coated his blade, but not for long. Sprouting directly from the blade itself, vines sprouted, drinking up the blood and budding metallic roses. They twisted and curled, glistening in pools of blood. Haru sighed. It was a beautiful Divine Arm, but it was morbid and sadistic. It’s will was as strong as a maelstrom, requiring one of hard resolve to wield. Plus, the balance was terrible for a blade. Haru knew he’d probably be at a disadvantage if he was fighting anything more than beasts. Yet, its abilities were unmatched.

“I wonder if I can scrounge up enough cash for a six pack…” he sighed. It was relatively quiet night, save for the howls of the various Aberrants in the distance. “What’s the Demon Corps doing anyway? Isn’t this way too many Demons for it headquarter city? Still, the density is a lot smaller here than in the other cities, or the frontier for that manner.”

His Divine Arm twisted and pulsed, the energy pulling him in the direction with a slight tug. A stronger tug now. The weapon was being pulled from his hands.

“Woah! The heck is this demonic energy?” He thought for a second, and only for a second. “Crap.”

Bessel slammed against the wall from the strike of my fiery punch. He let out a heave as he did so. The exoskeleton of his torso was cracked and burnt. He coughed as he slowly slid off the wall and onto the ground.

“So, this is power…” I said. I may have imagined it, but my voice sounded deeper.

“Wasn’t expecting you to be able to tap into it this much…” Bessel coughed, picking himself up. “Though it’d burnt up your body the moment you used it more. A bit naïve on my part. After all, It hasn’t done it to you’s yet.”

“Shut up.” I backswung, sending a shockwave towards Bessel. He slid under it, avoiding most of the force.

“Not bad. But is about time we finish this.” He said, lowering himself into a stance.

“Never met a demon like you before.” I said. “But every demon I’ve ever met is dead.”

“Jeez this guy. A little power and already acting so cocky…” Bessel said. “Fine then. I’ll show you true demonic power. Prepare yourself, Aidan. This might kill you.”

My arm pulsed, sending shockwaves through my body. Something was coming. A pressure seemed to rise from Bessel’s legs, coating him a thick sort of aura. He reved back, ready to charge. I held my burning arm out towards him. It had seared off my sleeves, the flames nearly burning off the rest of my shirt.

I charged forward, Bessel doing the same at twice my speed. My flaming arm, against whatever technique he was using. The distance closed in a second, my fist about to make contact with his head, his legs about to kick into my already broken body.