Klaus let out a long sigh as he sat cross-legged on the floor, peeling open a chocolate bar.
"Damn it, Daemon..."
He took a bite.
"Making me use my powers even though he knows it hurts."
He pouted as he chewed.
"...He still hasn't called me to bring him back."
His gaze drifted toward the ceiling.
"His opponent must actually be strong."
••••••••
"...Your assumption is correct."
Daemon's lazy voice echoed through the forest.
"Klaus possesses the ability to teleport anything he desires..."
"...to anywhere he desires."
Benjamin silently took in his surroundings.
'So that's why we're the only ones here.'
His eyes shifted toward the long wooden box resting beside Daemon.
'He's been protecting that box ever since we arrived.'
'What's inside it...?'
"You seem to have a lot on your mi-"
Daemon stopped speaking.
Benjamin had raised a finger.
Beep.
His Jet Phone rang.
Without taking his eyes off Daemon, he flipped it open.
"Jake."
"Report."
A brief silence followed.
Then...
"...I see."
A faint smile spread across Benjamin's face.
"Good work."
"Keep it up."
He snapped the Jet Phone shut.
"It seems one of your friends just died."
Benjamin grinned.
Daemon blinked once.
"...Benjamin, was it?"
"I'd appreciate it if you simply let me leave."
"I don't particularly enjoy fighting."
Benjamin's smile disappeared.
"...What?"
His voice dropped.
"I just told you one of your comrades was killed."
"And that's all you have to say?"
Rage flickered across his face.
"You don't even care."
His fists slowly clenched.
"And after everything your organization has done to my town..."
"...you actually expect me to let you walk away?"
He tightened the pristine white gloves covering his hands.
"I'm going to kill you."
With one motion, Benjamin swept his coat behind him.
Boom!
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
He appeared directly in front of Daemon.
Then his fists exploded into motion.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
A relentless barrage crashed into Daemon's body.
Each punch tore through flesh.
His chest caved in.
His abdomen burst apart.
One arm disappeared.
Then the other.
Benjamin didn't stop until nothing remained but a mangled corpse.
The forest finally fell silent.
Thud.
Daemon's ruined body collapsed onto the floor.
Benjamin exhaled before glancing down at his gloves.
"...You got filthy again."
His tone almost sounded disappointed.
The once-pristine white gloves were drenched in blood.
"I know."
"You hate getting dirty."
Slowly...
The crimson stains began fading.
The blood seeped into the fabric as though the gloves were drinking it.
Within seconds...
They were spotless once more.
Benjamin smiled faintly.
"...Much better."
He turned away.
Then-
He stopped.
"...Hm?"
He slowly raised one hand.
"What do you mean..."
"...he isn't de-"
"Sheesh..."
A familiar lazy voice echoed from behind him.
"...You're terrifying."
A quiet chuckle followed.
Benjamin's body stiffened.
Very slowly...
He turned around.
Daemon stood exactly where he'd been moments ago.
Not a single wound remained on his body.
Benjamin stared at him.
"...How?"
"...How the hell are you still alive?"
••••••••••
"We somehow ended up together," Boros said, glancing around.
Kinuko studied their surroundings.
"It seems that child teleported us to different locations."
Akeno frowned.
"What would they gain from separating us?"
"You three have been chatting away this whole time!"
A voice suddenly rang out.
"Ignoring me completely!"
Boros turned toward the sound.
"He's one of them."
"One of the people who were standing in the darkness?" Kinuko asked.
"Yeah."
A tall man stepped forward, casually flicking his blue hair back as he walked.
A large shadow stretched behind him as he spun a spear effortlessly between his fingers.
"The name's Ryder."
Boros narrowed his eyes.
"You're one of the S-Rank Killers?"
"Ain't it obvious?"
Ryder continued spinning his spear, a confident grin on his face.
Boros clicked his tongue.
"Hopefully, he's not too strong."
He stepped forward.
Akeno immediately raised an arm in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to fight him." Boros pointed toward Ryder.
Kinuko folded her arms.
"Did you think we were joking when we said you weren't going to fight?"
Boros frowned.
Akeno grinned.
"Sit back and relax, Shiro."
"We'll take care of this."
••••••••••
"Talk!" Benjamin roared.
"How are you still alive?!"
His eyes narrowed in thought.
'Could it be a Longinus...?'
Daemon didn't answer.
Instead, he calmly turned and walked toward the wooden box standing beside him.
He opened it.
Inside was a mannequin.
It looked almost identical to Daemon.
Benjamin's eyes widened when he noticed one of its fingers was missing.
Daemon reached inside and lifted the mannequin slightly.
"This is Dorak."
"My Awakened Weapon."
'An awakened weapon that can operate remotely...?'
Benjamin's expression tightened.
'Those are almost impossible to find.'
"As you've probably already figured out..."
"Dorak is a Remote-Type Awakened Weapon."
Daemon glanced at the mannequin.
"His ability is simple."
"Any attack that brings me to the brink of death is transferred to Dorak instead."
"And when that happens..."
"I return to perfect condition."
Daemon raised the mannequin's hand.
"There's one thing you should know."
He grinned.
"Dorak is extremely durable."
He held up the mannequin's damaged hand.
"That entire barrage you unleashed on me..."
"...only cost him a single finger."
Benjamin stared at the missing digit.
Then a grin slowly spread across his face.
"That is one troublesome ability."
"Why, thank you." Daemon casually tossed the mannequin back into the box before closing it.
Then he lowered his stance.
Benjamin's expression sharpened.
He mirrored him.
For a brief moment...
Neither moved.
Then—
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath their feet as they launched toward each other.
Benjamin swung first.
Daemon ducked beneath the blow.
His eyes briefly settled on Benjamin's gloves.
"Those gloves are your Awakened Weapon, aren't they?"
He slipped past another strike.
"Why don't you use them?"
Benjamin blocked a punch with his forearm before immediately countering.
"How did you know?"
Daemon staggered backward from the impact.
"You're asking a question you already know the answer to."
He planted his foot and retaliated with a powerful strike.
Benjamin's head snapped backward.
Daemon continued.
"You already know how egotistical Awakened Weapons can be."
"When two users carrying Awakened Weapons meet..."
"...their weapons practically beg their masters to fight."
He jumped backward, narrowly avoiding another attack.
"Dorak has been pestering me ever since you arrived."
Benjamin smiled.
"I'm honored."
He lunged.
His fist connected with Daemon's face.
BAM!
Daemon's head snapped backward.
But instead of falling...
He dug his foot into the ground.
Benjamin immediately sensed what was coming.
He planted his own foot.
BOOM!
The two collided again.
Neither gave an inch.
Punch after punch.
Blow after blow.
Neither bothered dodging.
They simply endured each other's attacks and struck back.
Benjamin drove his fist into Daemon's ribs.
Daemon answered with a punch to Benjamin's chest.
Benjamin slammed his elbow into Daemon's jaw.
Daemon struck Benjamin across the face.
The forest shook with every impact.
Then Benjamin's fist caught Daemon directly beneath the eye.
"Tch."
Daemon's eyes squeezed shut.
Benjamin saw the opening.
He tightened his fist.
Every muscle in his arm tensed.
Then—
BOOM!
His punch tore through Daemon's skull.
Benjamin's arm emerged from the other side.
He slowly pulled it free.
Blood dripped from his glove.
He flicked his hand once, shaking the blood from it.
Then he jumped backward.
His eyes remained fixed on Daemon.
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then—
Click.
Another finger disappeared from Dorak's hand.
Benjamin's eyes narrowed.
Daemon's body suddenly moved.
He sat upright as though nothing had happened.
He brushed the dust from his clothes.
"I know."
He glanced back toward the mannequin.
"I know."
His grin returned.
"I'll take the fight more seriously."