Mistress Of The Evil Forest-Case 248: The Heavenly Demon.

Aurora faces Buezrith quietly, her mellow-white blade a strand of hope amidst the approaching storm.

The woman Aurora sees wears a confident smile. Compared to the other version of Buezrith standing behind her, this one no longer has the nun's habit on. Instead, it has been replaced by a deep, dark dress, the color of the night sky. Contrasting with that is her pale skin, the redness, like blood, of her eyes, and the massive fall of madness pouring down on her figure.

'The Heavenly Demon.'

Those three words immediately appear in Aurora's head. Even if that title doesn't have an owner in reality, it would, perhaps, be best suited for someone like this Buezrith.

For a while, the two sides are locked in a dead-silent confrontation. Eventually, it is the Heavenly Demon who initiates a conversation,

[Not in the mood for a fight yet? I don't mind a talk, you know?]

Her voice seems to resonate beyond the fabric of reality itself, ringing a strange yet mesmerizing tune. Everything about this person screams the word 'ethereal,' though it is apparent to most that approaching her only brings calamities.

''...''

Aurora doesn't respond, her eyes calmly sizing up her opponent. Instead, Buezrith eagerly engages with the demon's words; her face shows a pained expression, ''Whatever you're trying to do, stop it... is what I want to say, but perhaps it's already too late.''

[Indeed.]

And the Heavenly Demon accepts it flatly.

[We're already at the end of the script. Whatever happens after this... will be ours to decide. There's no going back.]

''...Do you understand what your actions might affect this universe?'' Buezrith grits her teeth. ''Going against the will of the world... just to let yourselves be known to the creators? And then what? You think they'd accept you? Let you join their ranks? This is all pointless. You're risking all of us for your idiotic fantasies!''

The demon's smile doesn't fade. She calmly nods at Buezrith's words, even showing agreement,

[I know. For all I can tell, they'd probably regard me and this world as an anomaly and forcibly delete us. It might take them just a press of a button to erase us all.]

''If so, then why?!''

[...The meaning of existence—I want to reach it.]

On the Heavenly Demon's face, a hint of seriousness suddenly flashes. She reaches for the sky above, curling her fist tightly,

[Why does everything exist? Where does everything come from? I want to know it. Beyond this fragile world, there exists a higher dimension, and perhaps beyond that dimension, there exists an even higher one. I'll get through it all and reach the truth—no matter how far it is, or how long it takes, I'll do it.]

Pointing at Aurora, the woman continues,

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

[Do you also think it's ridiculous?]

Much to Buezrith's surprise, Aurora replies almost instantly, ''No.'' She says, ''Wanting to do something isn't inherently wrong if there's no one to judge you. And even if there are, you can just pretend they don't exist. However... they don't vanish because you ignore them.''

[...]

''Humans are emotional creatures. When something doesn't go their way, they rebel. In the end, the only things that matter are feelings and desires. You desire to see the truth, but I desire to eliminate you and your threat.''

[...I see.]

Without another word spoken, the two ready their stances.

Aurora shoots herself forward, carrying her blade with extreme momentum. At the same time, Buezrith wills her power into existence. From behind her, the currents of madness quickly form a black sun that burns intensely. From its gusts of flares, massive claws surge toward the approaching figure.

As though a beast pouncing on its prey, the claws lunge at Aurora, their sheer size and speed cause giant ripples of wind in the air, which blow violently.

Aurora brings her sword forward as she moves, gliding the tip across the air in an elegant arc. Seconds later, multiple cracks in space rip open, revealing the enormous jaws of distant cosmic horrors. Their crooked, razor-sharp teeth bite down on the black sun's shadows, tugging hungrily.

Seizing the chance where all the obstacles are cleared, Aurora leaps through space, appearing right before the Heavenly Demon. Her sword once again draws a brilliant arc in the air, aiming to sever the opponent's neck.

[You—]

And it connects.

In less than a total of three seconds, the demon's head helplessly rolls on the ground.

''Get up.'' Aurora coldly says, glancing at the severed head, which has a frozen expression as if truly dead. ''Try pretending harder the next time.''

[...Heheh.]

The Heavenly demon's head soon levitates back to its body, the clean wound rapidly healing, flesh sewn together by crimson threads. The long, silky black hair reattaches to its place right above the shoulders.

From the start, neither of them has expected a fight lesser than that of gods'—technically, both of them already are beings of divinity.

[Come on. Let's play a little more.]

The black sun once again throbs with an intense frequency as it releases a dense wave of madness. In addition to the earlier claws, numerous others sprout, all aiming at Aurora.

Facing the colossal assault from one direction, Aurora changes her grip, firmly holding her sword with both hands. Then, she raises the blade and pulls down decisively, ripping the fabric of space open.

An indescribable growl, a deep grumble, loudly fills the place. What comes from the other side is a fierce pull that distorts the atmosphere itself. Upon closer contact with this force, the black sun's shadows are helplessly devoured without even the chance to let out a wail.

Yet, despite this apparent gap in power, the Heavenly Demon keeps her smile blooming.

[The God of Nihility's power... truly magnificent.]

''...''

[You know? I've wondered countless times—why are you the protagonist of the script? An existence that is destined to bring the ultimate end to the universe... if your birth represents the beginning of the end to everything, then why bother making you a human? So many questions, so few answers.]

Aurora rarely humors her opponents' rambling, but somehow, the demon's words always make her ponder. In the end, she doesn't rush to defeat her, but shoots back with an answer, ''Probably because I was never meant to become the end. If I truly was... it would've been written in the so-called script that you fervently recite.''

[Maybe. Those beings above never specify an ending to the script, which means we have to write it ourselves. Kind of romantic, don't you think?]

''Not particularly.''

[Right. You never liked the feeling of being controlled by someone, did you?]

The back-and-forths gradually evolved into a messy conversation. Amidst the dreadfully blowing dust, the two gently face one another, forgetting the decaying world around them.

In the cosmos' timeline, their rendezvous is but a speck of dust, the blink of an eye, and although they can match it with their endless energy and regeneration, there is no reason to drag it out longer than it is supposed to be.

So, after a brief respite for both, they begin to fight once again.