Fluttering my eyes open, I was met with Stryker looking above me, holding his spear over his head, ready slam it down and pierce my heart.

"Shi-!" He started to say. Before he could finish, I sent a blast of fire into his chest, sending him flying backwards.

I stood up while Stryker pulled himself off the wall, ready to fight. Stryker went for a stab with his spear, only for me to sidestep and grab his neck, lifting him up into the air. I slammed his back against the wall, glaring at him.

"What the hell did you do to me?" I hissed.

"Nightmare Powder from The Alchemist." Stryker coughed. "It's supposed to keep you out for a whole day, at least. How did you get out of it?"

Who the hell is The Alchemist?

"I had some unfinished business." I stated.

Stryker attempted to kick me in my sacred place, forcing me to back off and let him go. He rubbed his neck before readying his spear.

I felt the connection with Loki once more. Pulling on it, Loki appeared into my hand in his original scepter form.

Stryker lunged at we with his spear, attempting to strike through my heart. This strike was too strong to parry, so instead I sidestepped to get up close.

I sent a punch towards his face, but he caught it with his free hand. He jerked his knee upwards in an attempt to slam it into my stomach, but I blocked it with Loki.

We were now in a stalemate, glaring at each other. That was, until I reared my head back and slammed it into his.

"Ow! What the hell?!" Stryker yelled, stumbling backwards.

"What are you trying to do?" I asked, pointing my staff at him. "Are you that upset that you lost?"

"Huh?" Stryker wondered, before he started laughing. "Hahaha! As if! I went easy on you, you piece of shit! It was all part of the plan."

"The plan?" I asked.

"I'll tell you, but only since you'll be dying anyways." Stryker stated. "Infiltrate the festival, and cause chaos for our King's revival!"

"Of course you're one of his minions." I sighed.

"How do you know about-?!" Gasped Stryker.

He cut off his sentence as I lunged at him, morphing Loki into a spear and stabbing it straight towards his head.

He moved his head, letting the spear rush past. However, the spear started to morph into a sword, allowing me to quickly swing it to the side in an attempt to cut his head off.

Stryker ducked under it, sending a stab towards my chest. I quickly blocked it by bringing Loki back and morphing him into a shield.

"Damn." Stryker muttered. "Those abilities of yours are annoying. And you even know about him...No wonder he said you were the prime target."

"Well, I am pretty good at pissing people off." I replied.

I morphed Loki back into a spear, rushing at Stryker. Our spears intersected, clashing against each other.

We parried each other's blows. Bringing back the spear again, our hands became blurry as we directed a rush of thrusts at each other.

"How can you copy my style so fast?!" Stryker grunted angrily.

I sent one more stab towards him, but he ducked under it and sent a stab towards my chest. Since my arm was extended there wouldn't be enough time for me to bring back Loki to my chest in a block.

"Ha! Gotcha-" Stryker started to say, before his strike was stopped.

I was no longer completely defenseless, now wearing my armor. The black, plated armor glistened over my body, complete with the tattered green cape and the horned headband l.

"Oh shi-"

I slammed my knee into Stryker's stomach, causing him to double over. Grabbing his head, I slammed it down onto the hotel table, breaking it in half.

Blood ran down his face as I slammed it against the wall, before throwing his body out of the door. He flew into the hallway, landing down on the broken and splintered door.

"Damn it!" He screamed, standing up angrily. His nose was busted and one of his eyes was swollen.

"I'm not supposed to use this until my spear is in someone, but I'll make an exception for you." He growled.

Bony spikes shot out from the top half of the spear. Readying the spear, he suddenly jumped and slammed it down on me like a club.

I blocked the spear, making sure to duck to avoid the spikes. Stryker continuously slammed his spear onto mine in a rage, trying to break my grip.

Pushing upwards right as he hit it, I was able to make him stumble backwards. I went to approach but he quickly sent a jet of water at me.

I rolled out of the way, letting the water create a hole through the wall. I don't want to get hit by that...

I continued to dodge as he sent blades of water through the air, jumping over and around them. Stryker grew more and more frustrated with every slice that I dodged, before having enough.

He slammed his foot onto the ground, creating cracks. He then slammed his spear into the ground, water gathering around it.

"I'll take you out, even if I have to take myself out too." He growled.

He's going to collapse this whole room! Possibly even the whole floor!

I quickly threw Loki at Stryker, stabbing straight through his lung. Stryker coughed out blood, ripping out Loki and dropping it onto the ground.

I rushed at him, sending a punch into his face, making his grip on his spear lessen. The spear flew into the air as Stryker stumbled backwards. Grabbing it, I stabbed into it his chest.

Stryker fell backwards onto the ground, impaled by his own weapon. He glared at me with a great, fiery rage.

"You can't stop him..." He stated. "He WILL come..."

Stryker cracked a smile. "And he'll rule over us all...but he'll have a special place for you in hell..."

"Really?" I replied. "I guess I'll see you there then."

I raised my foot up.

"Goodnight."

I slammed my foot down onto the top of the spear, sending it down even further into his body. Blood ran out of his mouth as his eyes turned blank.

I stared at his dead body, killed by own hands. Despite the fact I straight up murdered a person, I didn't feel bad.

In fact, I feel...good.

His Arcana started to glow, before fading away. Now that he was dead, his Arcana is gone.

If I'm correct, it detaches from the soul, and then can somehow have another wielder. I'm not sure how it works, as the lore for the Heaven's Hell world can be complicated.

It doesn't help that a lot of it was in Japanese, so I had to rely on the few translators for help.

The sudden sound of footsteps caught my attention. Looking across the hallway, a familiar pink-haired, gas mask wearing assassin walked towards me.

"You come here to kill me again?" I asked. "Because this guy just tried, and look how he turned out."

She shook her head. "Chaos." She stated, her voice distorted due to some filter in the mask, making it unrecognizable.

"What?" I replied, narrowing my eyes at her.

"Chaos is happening at the arena." She continued. "We need to go there. Now."

My eyes widened as I realized what she meant. The other minions of the Demon King must have attacked the arena already! They could be in trouble...

But can I trust her...?

"Fine. I'll believe you, for now." I stated. "But try anything and you're dead."

She nodded, before turning around and gesturing me to follow. I hesitantly followed her.

I hope they're alright...

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