While I had successfully pushed back the guardian and halted its attack. The halberd was swiftly getting closer to crushing me. While it no longer bore any force, the gravity acting on it was more than enough to reduce me to a bloody puddle.
My only thought on how to handle the crushing weight of the halberd was splitting it into multiple pieces, reducing its weight altogether. I still wasn't confident in my defensive abilities, and I definitely didn't have any when looking at a gigantic halberd.
A spike materialized at my command, shooting from the floor below, piercing the ice, splitting it into multiple pieces, and inviting a river of cracks to run along its surface. As the weapon impacted the ground, it shattered into multiple smaller chunks, destroying the once pristine arena, turning it into a ruin. Luckily, I was unharmed by the debris; my spike created a safe zone from the rubble.
"Rarr!"
The behemoth let out a war cry, producing a thunderous vibration to ripple across the city. It charged at me, aiming to crush me with its remaining hand. Momentarily, I had to avert my gaze from Lucius and drop my restless assault, focusing every sliver of power to summon a light pendulum to cleave the colossal guardian in half.
Just before my attack impacted with the beast, it held out its finger, and a small ball of ice materialized and launched towards me. I couldn't respond in time; I had no defense when the ball morphed into a sword, slicing directly through my abdomen.
"Ugh."
Blood spilled from the wound. I hadn't expected such an underhanded tactic. If I hadn't moved instinctively, then my injury would have been much worse, just barely missing my vital organs.
Placing my hand over the slash, I redirected my gaze to Lucius, who was eying me, his gaze oozing speculation and curiosity.
"Why didn't you take the opportunity to attack when I stopped my assault? I asked.
"That wouldn't be any fun, and you may have temporarily stunned me by your impressive actions."
"Impressive? I'm bleeding out, how is that impressive!"
"Fu fu. You've never seen my abilities before. I'm impressed at how you adapted to my power. You may be injured, but at least you aren't dead."
I bit my lip in response to his words. I wasn't impressed by my own performance. His words of flattery fell hollow on my ears; I only felt a burning desire to crush him after humiliating me in such an underhanded way. Whether it was a true compliment or not. I didn't care; it still felt passive-aggressive, invoking a deep sense of irritation to flood my mind.
"Careful, there. Your eyes are adopting the look of a killer; calm your mind."
"I am a killer. Why did you think I would be something else?" I spat.
I knew better than anyone what I had become. I wouldn't back down just before someone called out what I truly am; the feeling of rage and malice swirling within my mind was destroying my sense of control. The mounting pain only fueled my desire to fight.
"That may be true, but you are still young, don't fall into that mindset. It's poisonous."
"Shut up."
Putting my arms at my sides, seemingly playing a defenseless act, seeing if Lucius would bite, but after a few moments of no movement. I stepped slightly back, summoning multiple balls of light in Lucius's rear, picturing the next steps in my mind. I commanded them to change into devastating beams of light, morphing into pointed spears as they reached Lucius's back.
Caught slightly unaware, Lucius snapped his head around, panicking before regaining control of his mind. Lucius responded in a way I hadn't expected because I was connected to the manifestations of my light. I felt as the spears impacted with something on his body, stopping dead in their tracks. Not even breaking his skin.
This wouldn't sway my desire to see this fight to the end, however, only heightening it.
Something interesting appeared in my mind, a new idea for an overpowering attack. The many different articles of fantasy and books I had read on Earth had incited hundreds of ideas into my mind, but I had to fully test them against an opponent.
I was in the perfect mindset to put them to the test; I didn't have any more time to waste on directional attacks. If I wanted to win, then I'd have to channel every drop of light into my next attack.
"Edict of Light, Penance."
Artoria had secretly advised me on speaking the words of an Edict of Light when using more powerful attacks, while simple attacks can be passed off, a full-blown attack cannot be. It would only draw Ickni's gaze.
BOOM!
A holy cross burst from the ground below, consuming Lucius in the heat of a thousand suns, attacking him from every angle. Inside the cross, thousands of smaller crosses pelted and stabbed him, making it completely impossible to avoid or block, the extreme heat melting any attempt to save himself.
A hideous buzzing sound rippled throughout the silent city; the holy cross towered over the city, looming in the background. The perpetual darkness of night was temporarily destroyed, illuminating the city in the shining holy night, appearing to be day.
I stood there silently watching the glistening light consume every trace of Lucius, trying my best to conserve my strength. I slumped to the floor, holding the wound at my side, my firm grip was slowly fading, releasing a sea of blood.
As my strength faded, the cross slowly began to lose its light before dissipating completely, plunging the city back into the embrace of night.
The ragged figure of Lucius appeared in my vision, his clothes painted scarlet and multiple wounds littering his body. Despite this condition, he still stood tall, gazing at me with blatant admiration and glee. A bright smile formed on his bloodied face.
Despite my best effort to wipe his existence off the map, he still stood there gleaming from ear to ear. I honestly couldn't even bring myself to feel an ounce of hatred or annoyance at this, only a creeping sense of amazement.
Artoria had been the only person to stand up to me. I didn't think I'd meet anyone else so soon, but here he stood, Lucius von Snow. The Pale Moon, next Dominion of the Moon.
"Wingless, my—"
Lucius finally succumbed to his injuries, falling limp on his back, lying there with a bright smile even in defeat. I doubted such a man would be bested by my efforts. I had hope that I'd wake up to see his face gazing down at me.
My vision of the surrounding ruins that were once a grand arena was beginning to sink into darkness, and the sound of heavy footsteps caught my attention, shifting my remaining strength into seeing what it was. The air in my lungs became laboured and a mounting pressure was pushing down on my shoulders, only heightening my fatigue.
Behind me was a disgruntled Ickni kicking the ground in annoyance at mine and Lucius's actions, her displeasure and fury disguised very poorly. Artoria stood at her hip, looking down at me with the normal indifferent look, her eyes filled with the usual sea of sorrow.
"Ugh! Why can't you just be good and stay in your room!? Why do you have to cause trouble? If he dies, I'm going to be furious! Stupid Moon!" shouted Ickni.
I let out a slight chuckle as Ickni and Artoria approached me hurriedly, coming over to me, only just noticing my wound. My strength finally disappeared, taking my consciousness with it. The childish face of Ickni peering down at me was my final sight, how cruel.