My Magical Girl System

Chapter 57: Dual Wielder

The demon stepped out of the swirling shadows, his movements unhurried, almost casual. His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as he surveyed Andrey and Sein huddled against the wall.

"So this is where you’ve been hiding," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "How disappointing. I expected more from the ones who dared to wound me."

Sein shot to her feet, her gauntlets flaring with crimson light. "Hiding? Don’t flatter yourself, you horned bastard. We were just resting before we come to break your face."

Andrey stood beside her, katana in hand, his cracked glasses reflecting the demon’s glow. "The hero you’re controlling. Where is he?"

The demon’s smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. "Oh, him? He’s right above you."

Before Andrey could react, a dark shape dropped from the ceiling above them.

The possessed hero landed between them, his longsword already swinging in a wide arc aimed at Andrey’s neck. Andrey ducked, the blade whistling past his ear, and rolled to the side. The hero spun, his black eyes locking onto Andrey’s new position, and lunged again.

"Sein! Take the demon!" Andrey shouted, parrying the hero’s strike with his katana. The impact jarred his arms, but he held firm.

"Like hell I will!" Sein launched herself at the possessed hero instead, her gauntlet slamming into his side. "Crimson Impact!"

The explosion of crimson energy sent the hero stumbling back, his dark blade scraping against the stone floor. He recovered quickly, his empty eyes fixing on Sein now.

Sein stood in front of Andrey, her arms spread slightly, blocking the hero’s path. "I’ll handle this one, Glasses. You take the demon."

Andrey hesitated for only a second. "Be careful. Don’t kill him."

"I know, I know. Just go!"

Andrey sprinted toward the demon, belt already in his hand, Ki flowing into the leather. The demon watched him approach, his smile never wavering.

"You think that little trick will work again?" The demon raised his hands, and purple flames erupted along his arms, crawling up his shoulders, his chest, until his entire body was wreathed in dark fire. "I’ve leveled up, you insignificant worm. That mana disruptor won’t save you now."

He lunged.

Andrey snapped the belt-whip, aiming for the demon’s face. The demon caught it mid-air, the leather sizzling against his flaming palm. He yanked, pulling Andrey off balance and sending him stumbling forward.

"Pathetic."

The demon’s other hand shot out, claws extended, aimed at Andrey’s chest.

Andrey twisted at the last moment, letting the claws rake across his shoulder instead of his heart. Damage Absorb flared, drinking the energy, but the demon’s flames scorched his skin, and he gritted his teeth against the pain.

’He’s stronger now,’ Andrey thought, retreating a step, reassessing. ’The artifact is amplifying his power.’

The demon pressed his advantage, flames erupting from his fists in rapid bursts. Andrey dodged, weaved, used the belt-whip to deflect what he couldn’t avoid, but the demon was faster now, more aggressive.

"You’re slowing down," the demon taunted, landing a glancing blow on Andrey’s ribs. "Is that all you’ve got?"

Andrey stumbled, caught himself, and raised his katana with his other hand. He had two weapons now—belt in his left, blade in his right.

Two weapons. Weapon Mastery.

’I can dual-wield.’

He charged.

The demon’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift in momentum. Andrey came in low, katana slashing at the demon’s legs while the belt-whip cracked toward his face. The demon blocked the blade with his claws, but the belt caught him across the cheek—the same spot as before.

"Guh—!"

The demon recoiled, and Andrey didn’t let up. He pressed forward, katana and whip moving in a coordinated dance, each strike forcing the demon back. The belt wrapped around the demon’s wrist; Andrey yanked, pulling him off balance, then drove the katana into his shoulder.

Dark blood sprayed.

The demon howled, flames erupting in a wild burst that sent Andrey stumbling back. He raised his hands, and a wave of purple fire swept across the chamber.

Andrey dove behind a stone outcropping, the heat singeing his back. His chest heaved. His stored energy was nearly full—glowing red through his torn shirt.

"Sein!" he called out. "How’s it going over there?!"

Sein ducked under the possessed hero’s sword, drove her knee into his gut, then slammed her gauntlet into his temple. He staggered but didn’t fall—the dark energy kept him upright, kept him fighting.

"This guy won’t stay down!" she shouted back. "I can’t knock him out without killing him!"

Andrey’s mind raced. ’The demon is the source. If we take him down, the control breaks.’

He looked at the glowing red energy in his chest. ’One shot. I have one shot.’

He stood up from behind the outcropping, katana in one hand, belt-whip in the other.

"Demon!" he shouted. "Over here!"

The demon turned, his crimson eyes blazing with fury. "Tired of running, are you?"

Andrey didn’t answer. He threw the belt-whip at the ceiling above him.

The leather wrapped around a hanging stalactite. Andrey pulled, using the momentum to launch himself into the air, katana raised high.

The demon’s eyes widened. He raised his hands to block—

Andrey released the belt mid-swing, dropping down behind the demon, and drove the katana into the back of his knee.

The demon’s leg buckled. He crashed to the ground, roaring in pain and fury.

Andrey didn’t stop. He planted his foot on the demon’s back, grabbed a handful of his hair, and yanked his head back.

"Now, Sein!"

Sein didn’t hesitate. She abandoned the possessed hero—who stumbled, disoriented without the demon’s direct control—and sprinted across the chamber.

"Crimson... IMPACT!"

Her fist slammed into the demon’s face.

The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber. The demon’s head snapped back, dark blood spraying from his mouth.

The demon’s face contorted with rage, dark energy crackling around his body like a storm about to break. "Bastard... how dare you... how dare you?!" His voice echoed through the crumbling chamber, shaking the very stones beneath their feet.

He raised his arms, and the shadows answered. Dark mana poured into him from the artifact somewhere deeper in the gate, swelling his form, making him larger, more monstrous. His horns lengthened, his eyes blazed like dying suns, and the air grew thick with oppressive malice.

Behind Sein, the possessed hero stirred again. His black eyes fixed on Andrey, and dark energy gathered at the tip of his longsword—a skill charging, ready to unleash.

Sein spun, her gauntlet flashing. Her foot connected with the hero’s chest in a brutal kick that sent him crashing backward into the stone wall. The impact cracked the rock, and the hero slumped, momentarily dazed.

"You stay still," Sein snapped, her voice cold. "I’ll deal with you later."

The demon laughed, a horrible, grating sound. "You’re finished! You lowly creatures! I’ll bury you here, and no one will remember your names!"

He raised both hands, dark energy coalescing into a sphere of pure annihilation between his palms. The sphere grew, pulsing with each beat of his corrupted heart.

Andrey’s hand shot to his belt pouch. His fingers closed around the Stun Bomb—the last consumable he had. He pulled it free, thumbed the activation rune, and threw.

The bomb arced through the air, trailing silver-white light. The demon’s eyes tracked it, his expression shifting from triumph to confusion.

"What... what is this?!"

The Stun Bomb detonated against his chest.

A web of crackling energy exploded outward, wrapping around the demon’s body, locking his limbs in place. His arms froze mid-swing. The dark sphere between his palms flickered, then dissipated into harmless shadows. His legs locked. His jaw clenched, unable to move.

"I... can’t move?!" Panic crept into his voice, high and thin. "What... what is this?! RELEASE ME, YOU LOWLY CREATURE!"

Andrey stepped forward, his chest blazing with stored energy—red and gold, crackling with Ki and absorbed damage. The light was so bright it cast shadows on the walls, illuminating the demon’s terrified face.

"Stay there," Andrey said, his voice calm, almost gentle. "I’ll cleanse you."

The demon’s eyes went wide. "Damn... I don’t want to die! I am a great demon! I will not die here!" His voice cracked, desperate. "Hey, lowly human... help me!"

Behind Andrey, the possessed hero lurched to his feet. His dark blade raised, ready to strike at Andrey’s unprotected back.

Sein was faster.

She appeared beside the hero like a crimson blur. Her gauntlet slammed into his jaw with an open-palmed strike that sent his head snapping sideways. The force of the blow drove him into the ground, and the stone floor beneath him cracked in a spiderweb of fractures.

"I told you," Sein hissed, standing over him, "don’t move."

The hero’s body went limp, unconscious at last. The dark energy around him faded, dissipating into the air like morning mist.

The demon watched, his crimson eyes filled with disbelief. "No... STOP... STOPPPPP!"

Andrey raised his fist. The stored energy in his chest surged down his arm, concentrating into his knuckles, blazing with white-hot intensity. Ki and damage absorption merged into a single, devastating force.

"Return to hell, demon."

His fist drove forward.

The impact was not loud. It was a sound that existed somewhere between thunder and silence—a concussive wave of pure energy that punched through the demon’s chest and out his back. Dark mana exploded outward, dissolving into harmless particles. The demon’s body convulsed once, twice, then went still.

His crimson eyes dimmed. His horns crumbled to dust.

"Impossible..." he whispered, his voice fading. "I was... defeated by... a lowly human..."

He dissolved, his form crumbling into ash and shadow, scattering across the chamber floor until nothing remained.

Andrey stood over the empty space where the demon had been, his fist still extended, his breathing ragged. The stored energy in his chest was gone—spent. His arm hung heavy at his side, the muscles trembling with exhaustion.

Sein walked up beside him, her gauntlets dimming. She looked at the spot where the demon had vanished, then at Andrey.

"Show-off," she said, but her voice was soft.

Andrey lowered his arm, wincing. "Did I get him?"

"He’s gone. You got him."

The chamber trembled. The runes on the floor flickered, then began to fade. In the distance, a sound like breaking glass echoed through the darkness.

System: Demon-class entity eliminated. Contaminated artifact exposed. Gate integrity critical. Purification required immediately.

Andrey straightened, adjusting his cracked glasses. "The artifact. It’s close now."

Sein looking at Andrey. "Then let’s finish this."

She offered him her hand. He took it, and she pulled him forward.