'Haa… Survive no matter what it takes. I'll sacrifice anyone and anything for that. That's what I used to also say, huh?'
Ace's mind with the thought as he reflected to his past actions, especially against Emilia.
'Guess I can't deny that we really are similar, me and her,' his eyes focused on Lilith. 'I'm not doing all this out of any sense of justice or duty, nor am I trying to redeem myself either. That's too much to ask for someone like me. It was really easier to act the part of a heartless monster than to face all these… emotions.'
"So, Ace? Does that answer your question?" Lilith's voice brought back Ace from the pondering of his own thoughts.
"…Yes, it does. At least now I know that we truly are different from normal people, and I can kill you without any remorse. Makes it easier for me," a pair of black blades emerged from Ace's shadow as he then took on a battle-ready stance. "I no longer have any other question to ask you."
"I see. But has it not occurred to you that killing me in this body would be the same as killing Maria Williams? Are you truly willing to kill an innocent?" Lilith asked teasingly, seemingly amused by Ace's statement.
"Unfortunately, I'm no benevolent saint, hero of justice or knight in shining armor. She'll just have to curse me to death. I won't mind," there was no hesitation in Ace's response.
"My, how cruel. Now I feel so sorry for poor Maria~" Lilith's had a pleased smile, a glaive appeared in her hands as she started spinning it around before finally preparing herself for the incoming battle. "I suppose I also have nothing else to see of you. It was fun while it lasted, my dear Ace~"
Ace dashed and appeared in front of Lilith, body low as he went for an upwards thrust that was easily blocked.
"Shut up and bite the dust already, you wench," with his second blade, Ace went for a slash at Lilith's neck with hyperreactive speed after the block.
"How rude~" Lilith evaded the attack by a hair's breadth with a sharp tilt of the head before leaping backwards, putting enough distance between Ace and her.
"Wheew~" Lilith fanned her face with her hand. "You're quite the eager little one, aren't you? Have I truly done anything to you to deserve such animosity towards me?"
"…" Ace glanced at Lilith, expression unreadably blank. "I don't really have any grudges against you personally. And saying I'm doing all of this for Emilia would be a lie. I'm just a hypocrite and a coward."
"Really now?" Lilith attention focused on Ace's expression and the air of melancholy it seemed to carry.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Ace then turned the two blades into a single sword. "If I had truly wanted Emi to get closure, I wouldn't have left her. I wouldn't have prevented her from coming with me. I would have faced her honestly and let her deal with you personally to put a conclusion to her revenge against you."
"Revenge? Against me?" Lilith was surprised by the statement, though the sentiment didn't last long as an amused smile spread further on her face. "Aha… Hahaha! I see! Revenge!"
"Then tell me, Ace. Why did you not bring her with you? I must know," curiosity filled Lilith's expression.
"…" Ace's grip on the sword hardened. 'Why, huh? I just couldn't. Against Emi, I'm not sure how I would act. I would probably give in to her. Whatever her wishes, her desires, I'd be unable to refuse her. I simply have no right to. And that… frightens me. If I grow more vulnerable around her, I don't know what I'd do.'
Ace then took a step forward, walking slowly towards Lilith.
'Ever since that night I came back from my coma, ever since I made my choice, ever since then…' the memory of Emilia's kiss against his lips, resurfaced in his mind. 'I've been… completely lost. But still…'
In an instant, a shockwave rippled from where Ace stood as a loud clang of steel against steel resounded on impact, both weapons grinding against each other.
"…I gotta do what I must do and eliminate you."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're such a bore, Ace," Lilith's usual smile faded completely, replaced only by a complete dark expression of bored contempt. "You are quite uninteresting in the end."
Lilith then pushed back Ace, sending him skidding roughly against the ground without even letting him a moment of respite as the blade of her glaive came crashing down on him, barely blocking it with the flat of his sword.
"Hmm~" A sadistic smile played on Lilith lips as Ace's eyes slightly widened as hovering spears now surrounded him out of nowhere, aimed to fire at him. "Struggle a bit more, would you~?"
The spears flew straight at him, but before they could hit him, Ace dived into his shadow surging away from Lilith.
"What a naughty boy you are~" Lilith leaped towards Ace, closing the distance in an instance. "You're quite weak, aren't you?"
With the glaive armed back, Lilith swung it a wide oblique arc towards Ace who managed to twist around his body at the last second before taking the full brunt of the strike which split the ground on impact.
On a single-handed stand, Ace then leaped back in multiple flips before finally landing steadily on his feet.
'Damn it. Guess that three-year-long coma did make a number on me. I've gotten rusty,' Ace repeatedly clenched his free hand as his eyes stayed locked onto the humming Lilith who continued to be eerily amused by the whole sequence of events.
'So annoying,' Ace continued to release deep breaths after deep breaths. 'Beating her won't be easy. What a pain.'
"Huu…" Ace's breath came out as steam, making him confused as he noticed a sudden change in temperature he hadn't sensed before. 'Eh? It's gotten… colder?'
"Oh my, now who do we have there?" Lilith's gaze focused beyond Ace, as the young man turned his head back, face struck with shocking realization.
Without even being given time to react, a focused surging wave of ice rushed past Ace, targeted directly at Lilith as they then expanded into giant tide of engulfing icebergs.
"Emi?" Ace's couldn't help but stay hooked on the stunning sight before him.
It was Emilia. Long, light blue locks framing her head and a white combat outfit with blue linings clothing her.
'That appearance…. It's the same one from the 5-Star Competition…'
While Ace stood stunned in place, Emilia walked towards her feet leaving frozen footprints behind them.
"I finally found you… Ace."