"That...that's..."
Dylan felt his mouth parched. Cold sweat trickled on his back and a shiver ran down his spine as his mind recalled the sheer perfection of that crescent arc.
He had never seen such a masterful skill as that one before. The move itself was simple and basic but the expertise and mastery behind it wasn't something that anybody could just replicate.
How many years would it take for him to reach that level? He couldn't help but ask himself this.
With a single move, Ashton showed them what it's truly like to stand at the top of this world. He had greatly broadened their horizons, allowing them to gauge that gap between them and the peak.
Ashton killed at least a million demons with a single cleave, and he doesn't even look spent. He's as relaxed as ever, he even has enough energy to mock the leader of the demon army.
"That doesn't make sense..." One of the Beneficiaries mumbled, "Isn't he a Mage? A White Mage to be precise? How did he have enough time to perfect both Skills and Spells? What heaven-defying talent is this?"
Dylan could agree more with the kind of insanity the others were feeling, cause he too felt it.
Of all the times he had seen the Guild Master, he was either spending it managing an entire race or teaching. How in the world did he have the time indeed to master all of this? It doesn't make an ink of sense at all and it's driving them nuts.
Alas, now is not the time to ask questions like this. If anything, they should just be glad that Ashton was an ally, not an enemy.
"W-what did you do!! What did you do to my disciples!?" Lust roared, demanding answers from Ashton.
"Mm...now, that would be telling." Ashton scoffed softly in reply.
"Y-you! HOW DARE YOU! KNOW YOUR PLACE, PEST!!"
Air exploded from Lust kicking it, his figure then shot like a shooting star toward Ashton. But before he could even go far, a strange phenomenon occurred.
The speed of Lust's flight visibly slowed down...at least in a grand perspective, it did.
In truth though, his speed did not change. He's still as fast as he initially went but Ashton did something to make it look like he's slowing down.
Ashton was generating and looping Space around Lust, which made it seem like he's slowed down to a halt but in reality, he was still flying.
It was a bizarre scene nonetheless. Lust felt like the gap between him and his target was ever so expansive. He knows that he's mustering everything in his power to go faster but it didn't look like he was wearing an inch.
"This is..." One of the Mages of the guild sounded incredulous, "Virtue of Space? Guild Master has that too?"
Not many people would be able to confirm those claims since there weren't many people who recognize Virtue in the first place. Still, the fact that someone come up with this conclusion meant that it's most likely true.
Eventually, Lust discovered that whatever he did was useless so he stopped flying.
Not even the Demon God could properly explain how much dismay and vexation Lust was feeling at this very moment.
The fact that he couldn't even reach the hem of his enemy's clothes almost caused him to pop a blood vessel or two. He absolutely has no idea how this human was doing this and he doesn't care.
All he wanted to know is that...is there anything he could use to defeat this guy? Because frankly speaking, he's losing hope here.
He just needed one chance. One chance to turn the situation around. Unfortunately for him, Ashton wouldn't let him have that.
A cautious person like him would never be careless in a situation like this.
Ashton looked up and all of a sudden, the clouds parted once more. And under Lust's growing horror, he saw how chains dropped down from the heavens to bind him.
"AAARRRGGGGHHH!!!!"
A scream of pure pain and suffering was ripped out of Lust. The chains singed him, burning his flesh and bones.
Lust has never experienced pain like this. It was worse than what he was expecting.
How ironic too...not too long ago, he was applauding Humans for managing to kill a Celestial Apostle, yet now he's experiencing the same pain and agony that Celestial suffered from.
If things were to continue like this, it would spell his death. So, just like any other would do in this situation, he resisted.
He resisted and he resisted, mustering energy time and time again, thrashing around in attempts to get rid of the chains that bound them.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he tried, nothing worked.
Lust could feel the strength draining from his body. The pain was akin to little maggots that gnawed on his flesh and bones, causing him extreme pain and suffering.
He tried resisting it using the Sin he embraced, the Sin of Lust, yet not even his authority over that sin helped him in this situation. If anything, it felt like he just made it worse because he felt even more pain when he tried doing so.
Lust couldn't truly understand how was this possible. How were these pests so strong? What happened? How come the situation devolved into something like this?
This human especially...the one who's covered in a hooded white cloak and wields a scythe and strange sorcery, why was he so strong? Just what did he do to achieve something like this?
Why was this power bestowed into a little creature like this one and not him? This Human doesn't deserve such power yet he has it!? How can anybody accept this?
Lust also didn't bother asking for help at this point. He still recalls how the Apostle died. He knew that praying for the Demon God's aid wouldn't do shit.
They were trapped the moment they decided to invade this world. Initially, he didn't care about this since he was still confident back then that he could easily trample the locals of this world.
If he had done that, then conquering this world would be easy as well. He didn't see this trap as something harmful to him or his disciples at first, he even thought that this works out in their favor, yet now, he realized just how naive that line of thought was.
What drove Lust nuts though, was the fact that this Human wasn't only strong, he was exceedingly pure as well.
This kind of purity was the real deal, not the bullshit that the Celestials claims to have. This human's purity was undeniable and one of a kind. It makes him immune from all sorts of corruption, and sadly, that includes Lust's very own Sin.
Lust was used to all sorts of creatures going crazy for him on sight. He hadn't met anybody who could resist the temptation of his sin. Hell, his Sin even affects his kind, driving them crazy for him and allowing him to convert them into his loyal subjects.
Yet, this Human...not a single second passed in their entire interaction that he showed any form of attraction to him. All he displayed was contempt and disgust to him, and that angers him so much that it's maddening.
Unfortunately, there's no use in getting mad if it gets him killed. Lust knew this but he still fell for it like the biggest idiot in the world.
Lust felt like ages has passed since the beginning of his torture, but in truth, only five minutes passed in the real world.
Ashton coldly watched as Lust writhes on the ground, suffering from immense pain. He didn't feel an ounce of sympathy toward him. Hell if there was a way for him to add on more suffering for the demon, he would've done so even though it's unnecessary at this point.
As the pain subsided, it was replaced by an overwhelming weakness that reaches all the way to his soul.
Lust's eyes were unfocused, he had been in so much pain that he couldn't even think properly anymore.
All he could recall was his perspective changing. At some point, he realized that he was on his feet again, though he had no memories of ever standing up. His legs were wobbling in weakness, he couldn't even breathe properly.
The next thing he knew, he was looking at two figures.
One was the human he was facing, and the other one was...
'Oh, that's my body...'
Indeed it was. He saw his own body with a missing head. It erupted in white flames, just like how his disciples did moments ago.
As the life drained before him, he felt a white heat submerging his sense. He was burning, that's for sure, and it was probably the same white flames that burned his body.
Just as Lust's consciousness was fading, he had one thought on his mind...
'Coming here was a mistake.'
And just like that, the Sin Demon Lust was gone. So as the entire army of demons and angels who threatened Humanity's peace.
Ashton raised his hand and snapped his finger. A pulse of vitality was released from his body, getting rid of all corruption that has tainted this area, and returning life to it as well.
He then faced his people and said:
"Alright! Good work everybody. Now let's return to the guild, have a feast, and rest. We deserve it."
