Abaddon did not falter in the face of Hamza's radiant aura. With lightning speed, the demon lunged, his spear thrusting in a flurry of deadly strikes. Hamza leapt back, his golden tonfas flashing as he parried each blow. Sparks erupted with every clash, but Abaddon's relentless onslaught pressed him harder and harder, forcing the human onto the defensive.
"You believe those toys can hold a candle to the spear forged from demon souls?" Abaddon sneered, his voice booming. "Fifty of the seventy-two Goetia fell to me in single combat. Their souls are bound within this weapon. You will simply be another obstacle cut down on my road to becoming the one true ruler of demons!"
Hamza's arms trembled under the pressure, his footing slipping as Abaddon drove him back. The demon's strikes were merciless, his speed overwhelming. Hamza's defense faltered, and the spear ripped through his guard, grazing his chest.
But Hamza's eyes narrowed. He stopped retreating, braced himself, and with a sharp twist of his left tonfa, he deflected the spear aside. Abaddon's momentum carried him forward — and Hamza struck, his right tonfa slamming into the demon's chest.
"Save such declarations for when I lay lifeless," Hamza growled.
Abaddon stumbled back, then laughed, his grin twisted. "You do not understand, human. This spear was born from conquest. I respect your spirit, but I have come too far to lose here."
He leapt high, bringing the spear down in a crushing arc. Hamza crossed both tonfas, blocking the blow. The impact shattered the ground beneath him, cracks spiderwebbing outward. Before Hamza could recover, Abaddon's free hand glowed with dark energy. A beam erupted, tearing through Hamza's abdomen. Blood sprayed as Hamza staggered, vomiting crimson.
Abaddon pressed the advantage, slashing diagonally across Hamza's torso. The wound gushed, and Hamza collapsed to the ground, his body trembling.
"You fought well, human," Abaddon said softly, his voice almost pitying. "But in the end, you are simply human. Weak by nature. You could never defeat a high demon."
Flashback
A young man with jet-black hair and sea-blue eyes sat beneath an apple tree, biting into a fruit. His clothes were ragged, his hygiene poor.
"Adam!" a woman's voice called. He rose quickly.
"Over here," he replied. She approached — blonde hair, hazel eyes, soft features.
"You need to stop drifting off. We need your help with the harvest," she said, pulling him along.
"Shae," Adam murmured, "do you believe there's more to life than farming? Our lives feel so inconsequential."
Shae sighed. "Dreams are luxuries for those who don't fear starvation. If we don't work, we die. We cannot afford to chase fulfillment."
Adam smiled faintly. "Still… it's nice to want something more."
That night, after a feast celebrating the harvest, Adam sat apart, dreaming of a greater life. Shae joined him, teasing gently. "Still daydreaming, even now?"
"Yes," Adam said softly. "But perhaps I need nothing more than this." He embraced her.
Their peace shattered with screams. Demons descended upon the village, devouring everyone. Adam fought, but was overpowered, his arm torn away. He hid, helpless, as Shae was dragged from their cottage and consumed before his eyes.
Something inside him broke. Humans are weak. Helpless. I wish I was stronger. Make me stronger. I will do anything.
Dark energy surged through him. His body twisted, mangled, reborn. Adam died that night. In his place rose Abaddon, a demon forged from grief and rage. He slaughtered the invaders, and his quest for fulfillment began.
Present Day
"Humans are weak by nature," Abaddon repeated, lifting his spear for the killing blow.
But before he could strike, a scream echoed across the battlefield — primal, victorious. Cranel's roar of triumph.
Abaddon froze. "Could he have…?" His eyes widened. "He did it. Satan has fallen. Then I cannot lose."
Hamza stirred, bloodied but smiling. "Now I know victory is possible."
He rose to his feet, voice booming across the battlefield. "Warriors, hear me! Cranel has defeated a prince! They are not invincible! I will not falter, and neither will you. March on! Fight! Conquer! That is what it means to be human!"
The soldiers roared, their morale surging.
Abaddon snarled. "Overconfident insect!" He swung his spear with monstrous strength.
Hamza raised his tonfa to block, but the force shattered it, severing his right arm at the shoulder. Blood sprayed, yet Hamza did not falter. With his remaining arm, he drove his tonfa into Abaddon's face, piercing through the demon's skull.
Abaddon's body convulsed, then collapsed, head torn free.
Hamza stood tall, drenched in blood, his aura blazing. "You fought well, but I had the stronger spirit." He dropped the tonfa, Abaddon's head still impaled upon it, before turning toward Tarth.