Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

A moment.

That was all he had.

A moment.

Austin's eyes snapped open.

The real world came rushing back—the claws of Rudolph just inches from his chest, ready to tear through his heart.

His pulse thundered, yet his face remained calm.

No fear.

No panic.

Maybe it was the afterglow of his level-up.

Maybe he was still halfway out of the dungeon.

But to him, everything moved in slow motion—like time itself had been dragged through tar.

With a flick of his hand, he summoned Scar.

The weapon answered with a low hum, its edges glowing from the Soul Energy he fed it, glowing, and starving for more.

Austin twisted his body and spun aside, the claws missing him by a breath.

"W-What—?

" Rudolph's possessed body gasped, crashing into a tree with a sickening crack.

Austin didn't waste a second.

He didn't finish Rudolph off.

Not yet.

His eyes shot to the battlefield—toward the horde of demons closing in on Parkinson and Rhea.

Valerie.

He saw her alive.

Chest rising and falling.

Fingers twitching.

Alive.

That was enough.

He raised Scar to his lips.

His eyes gleamed—not with hope, but with a wild, feral hunger.

Bloodlust surged off him like heat from fire.

The air around him seemed to freeze.

Everyone—friend and foe—stopped.

Austin's body vanished into black mist.

One blink.

A moment ago, he was far across the battlefield.

The next—"Huh…?

" Rhea's voice trembled.

Austin knelt beside her.

He held Valerie in his arms, gently lifting her upper body, checking her breath, her pulse.

"R-Rhea…" Parkinson's voice cracked behind her.

She turned.

And froze.

What lay before them sent ice down her spine.

Silence.

Nothing moved.

The battlefield was empty.

More than two dozen demonic soldiers were gone.

Not fallen.

Not burned.

Gone.

Only bones remained—upright, frozen in the same poses they'd held just seconds ago.

As if something had ripped the life from their bodies but left the proof behind.

The bones...

still standing.

"...

what is this?

" Parkinson couldn't believe his eyes as he turned toward Austin.

That blade ..

he knew there was something unusual about it, however, until now, Austin could barely use its power.

However, now, it felt as if he had become the true master of overwhelming strength.

"...

is he the same person I knew?

" The boy muttered under his breath as Austin fed a red potion to his lover, and the green veins on Valerie's neck started to disappearHer complexion improved, and she exhaled a long breath.

"Aaah...

*cough* *cough*" She coughed violently, her face turning red slightly as Austin rubbed her back to help her calm down.

Meanwhile, Rhea and Parkinson were keeping guard around them; however, it wasn't necessary.

Every being who drew closer was turning into nothing but a set of bones, and within seconds, a whole crowd of standing skeletons surrounded them"What is this...

" Rhea couldn't help but feel helpless.

She couldn't believe what she was witnessing.

No Shard could be capable of something like this...

"...

this doesn't make sense.

" Parkinson was in the same boat.

Nothing was making sense.

"Are you okay?

" Austin asked softly, barely above a whisper, as if his voice might further hurt her.

Valerie opened her eyes, and the face she saw made her feel better already.

"Y-Yeah...

I am fine...

" Her voice was rough, as if he had screamed for too long.

However, she wanted to speak...

to call out his name...

to talk to him.

It feels as if she has been detached from him...

years of loneliness, or maybe the very feeling of getting separated from him made her feel like this.

She was desperate.

She needed him.

Austin cupped her cheek, "Please don't cry...

Otherwise, I will cry too.

" It was the months of separation and the thought of losing everything that seeing her cry made his eyes moist, too.

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against her, "You are safe, Valerie.

I won't let anything happen to you now.

""...

please...

I don't want to die...

I want to live with you...

" She clung to him, even though her hold was weak.

She was desperately holding him with her life, feeling her chest tighten.

Neither of them could relay how they were feeling at the moment.

Stress, relief, elation...

every sensation has just intensified and was clouding their minds.

However, amidst the chaos, they knew one thing that allowed them to calm down.

They still have each other.

Valerie was alive, and Austin was safe.

And that's what mattered the most.

"You have gained control over Scar.

I am...

shocked.

" A voice echoed through the forest.

A voice Austin was quite familiar with.

The being was the reason why Austin lost two dearest people to him, and was about to lose the closest being to him...

"Val, can you wait for me for a bit?

" Austin asked, his voice doesn't signify any panic or concern.

As if he were asking for a moment to finish a trivial task.

Her hold around his arm turned slightly firmer, as she said, "....

please...

return to me...

I beg you...

" Her big eyes were filled with tears, and her shoulders trembled.

Austin gave her hand an assuring squeeze and told her, "Nothing in the world can stop me from coming back to you.

It's just a matter of a few seconds.

Trust me, love.

"He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.

He looked at Rhea and asked her, "Can you be here with her?

"The pinkhead was still quite shaken up with all the development, but she didn't delay in nodding in assent and kneeling beside Austin.

"Can you defeat him?

" Rhea asked quietly, a tinge of concern in her eyes.

Austin had a firm look as he said, "Nothing can save him now.

"He got up and turned towards the being—the Parasite King in his real form.

About fifty days ago, when Sebastian was killed before him, Austin wasn't able to look at him.

But now, he was looking in those red eyes with no sense of discomfort.

With his hands behind his back, Austin said, "You know you can't win this battle.

"The Parasite King chuckled, "That...

yes.

I won't be able to defeat the current you...

but this war.

I am already on the verge of winning it.

"With a sudden rush of confidence, he said, "My forces have infiltrated your security, and they are rushing toward the human settlements.

"With his eyes narrowing, the inhumane creature spat, "Now you can do nothing but watch your loved ones, your brethren, die like insects!

You won't save anyone!

Just like how you can't save your friend and servant!

Khahaha!

"He seems to be having fun.

Good for him.

"Is that so?

" Austin spoke in a nonchalant tone, and suddenly, his figure blurred.

The Parasite King didn't have the chance to dodge as suddenly his neck was held and Austin jumped into the air.

*BOOOOOM*The sound barrier broke at the propulsion as Austin launched toward Eryndor, and just as his figure reached the height of the clouds, he summoned an Absolute Barrier beneath his feet.

He turned the Parasite King towards the demonic forces, more than seven hundred of them, which were a few miles away from the capital.

"Now, look carefully.

" The Parasite King was trying to break free, but his eyes were on his army.

"Ah!

" His eyes widened as suddenly, a huge greenish barrier stopped the march of the demons, bringing a sudden halt to the stampede.

Not only the front wall, but the whole army was surrounded by barriers, leaving only their head in the clear sky.

"You know how it feels to die slowly, right?

I have killed you once before, just like that.

" Austin grinned as he held Scar above his head and drew a faint circle which became mist instantly.

Austin didn't have to direct it before the mist advanced towards the demonic army.

The Parasite King's eyes widened...

that cloud...

the rain of death...

he has felt it.

He has the memories of a version of him being dragged into a pitfall and for three long days, getting his body burned under the same dark clouds.

"Y-You...

you can't do this!

" The aura of the demon flared as he extended his sharp claws towards Austin.

However, the claw could be found descending back to the ground as soon as it was raised.

The Parasite King knew it was fruitless to attack the being beside him who had even brought the Demon King to his knees...

however, he couldn't just stand there and see his army getting sacrificed!

"I-I will swear an alliance to you!

Just spare my life.

I will take a vow to stand on your side!

" He begged.

Austin's grin disappeared.

Unknowingly, his eyes held the same coldness as the other versions he used to have.

Bringing the being closer, Austin told him in a dangerously low tone, "If you had offered me your loyalty before killing those two...

Then I might have thought.

But now...

"Austin held the two horns on his head and started to tear the Parasite King from the middle.

The Demon General couldn't do anything since every attack targeted at Austin was intercepted by the blade was remained hanging beside him.

In the face of his death, all the General could do was curse, "You will lose everyone...

that's your destiny...

that power will consume everything...

"Austin didn't pause and tore the Parasite King from the middle, as if he were nothing but a piece of paper.

Blood and innards dropped to the ground as Austin stood there while holding the torn body of the Parasite Chief.

He looked back at the coast...

there were still quite many demons, but since S-ranks were dealing with them,"I would rather spend my time with my Val.

"°°°°°°°°°A/N:- And the arc concludes here.

No major arc until marriage now.

Thanks for reading.