Lucifer stands several meters in front of Paragon.
Dust still drifts slowly through the air. The ground around them is filled with cracks from the previous impacts. Paragon stands upright, his shoulders rising and falling slowly, his eyes still empty without pupils.
No one moves for several seconds.
Then—
Only a single blink.
WHUUP—he is already right in front of Paragon.
Lucifer's right fist shoots forward immediately.
BAM!
The punch lands squarely on Paragon's face.
Paragon's head snaps to the side.
His body has not even had time to react when Lucifer's knee rises from below.
THUD!
The knee slams into Paragon's abdomen.
Air bursts out of his mouth.
"—Ghh—"
Lucifer does not stop.
His left elbow immediately rotates.
WHAM!
The elbow strikes the side of Paragon's jaw.
Paragon's body is pushed half a step to the side.
Before he can stabilize himself—
Lucifer's kick already comes from below.
BANG!
The kick slams into his abdomen again.
Paragon bends forward slightly.
Lucifer steps forward half a step.
The distance between them is now nearly touching.
Lucifer's left fist thrusts straight forward.
Paragon tilts his head.
The punch misses by a hair—
Yet the knuckles still scrape across Paragon's cheek.
TCHAK!
The skin splits slightly.
A small spray of blood bursts out.
Lucifer keeps pressing.
Right fist.
BAM!
Paragon raises his arm to block.
The heavy impact forces his arm downward.
Lucifer immediately rotates his shoulder.
His right elbow slams in from the side.
THUD!
The elbow strikes Paragon's ribs.
Paragon shifts back one step.
Lucifer already follows.
The distance remains the same.
Too close.
Lucifer's fists come again.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Paragon tilts his body, narrowly evading.
Each punch still connects.
One hits his shoulder.
One strikes his cheekbone.
Another slams into his arm.
Lucifer gives no space.
A low kick comes quickly.
WHACK!
Paragon's leg is swept.
He almost loses his balance.
Lucifer immediately advances again.
His right fist drives into Paragon's stomach.
THUD!
Paragon blocks with his arm.
Lucifer's knee rises again.
BAM!
The knee slams into Paragon's abdomen for the third time.
Paragon's body is pushed backward.
Air escapes from his lungs.
His feet remain planted.
Lucifer does not stop.
Left fist.
BAM!
Paragon tilts his face.
The punch scrapes across his jaw.
Right fist.
BAM!
Paragon raises his shoulder.
The punch still strikes him.
Lucifer advances again.
His steps are short.
Close.
Too close.
Paragon tries to raise his hand to counter—
But Lucifer's elbow strikes his wrist first.
TCHAK!
His hand is knocked away before he can attack.
Lucifer immediately rotates his body.
A side kick launches.
WHAM!
The kick strikes Paragon's ribs.
His body is pushed back two steps.
Lucifer immediately appears in front of him again.
WHOOSH—
A straight right punch slams forward.
BANG!
Paragon blocks with both arms.
The impact drags his feet across the ground.
KRRAAK—
A long crack forms beneath the soles of his feet.
Lucifer continues pressing.
Punch.
BAM!
Elbow.
THUD!
Kick.
WHAM!
Paragon keeps moving.
Tilting his body.
Ducking.
Raising his arms.
Each movement only reduces the impact.
He never fully avoids them.
Lucifer's fist comes again.
Paragon turns his head.
The punch only grazes his jaw—
TCHAK!
Blood still spills out.
Lucifer advances again.
His knee rises.
BANG!
The knee slams into Paragon's abdomen again.
Paragon coughs.
His body bends forward.
Lucifer immediately presses down on his shoulder with his left hand.
His right fist slams downward.
BAM!
Paragon raises his arm to block.
The heavy impact shakes his body.
Lucifer gives no time.
Left elbow.
THUD!
It strikes the side of Paragon's head.
Right kick.
WHAM!
It hits his thigh.
Left fist again.
BAM!
It strikes his chest.
Paragon continues moving backward.
Lucifer always appears in front of him.
The distance between them is never more than one step.
Paragon tries to lift his leg—
Lucifer immediately sweeps his ankle.
WHACK!
His foot drops back down before he can kick.
Lucifer's fist comes again.
BAM!
Paragon deflects.
Lucifer's elbow already slams into his abdomen.
THUD!
Paragon staggers.
Lucifer steps forward half a step again.
His right fist thrusts straight forward.
Paragon tilts his head.
The punch passes by his face—
Yet it still scrapes his skin.
TCHAK!
Blood drips from his cheek.
Lucifer keeps moving.
His attacks do not stop.
BAM!
THUD!
WHAM!
BANG!
Each impact shakes Paragon's body.
Paragon does not fall.
He continues enduring.
Continuing to evade by a thin margin.
Continuing to block.
His pupil-less eyes remain fixed on Lucifer.
Lucifer attacks again.
A straight punch.
BAM!
Paragon deflects.
A knee rises.
THUD!
The knee strikes his abdomen again.
Paragon holds his breath.
Lucifer rotates his body.
His right elbow strikes the shoulder.
WHACK!
Paragon is pushed back.
Lucifer advances again.
Left fist.
BAM!
Paragon tilts his face.
The punch still strikes his temple.
Paragon's vision trembles for a moment.
He remains standing.
Lucifer attacks again.
Side kick.
WHAM!
Paragon blocks with his arm.
The impact pushes him backward.
Lucifer continues following.
His steps are light.
Fast.
Without pause.
Right fist.
BAM!
Paragon ducks.
The punch only touches his hair—
Lucifer's elbow immediately comes from below.
THUD!
It strikes the abdomen.
Paragon groans softly.
Lucifer pulls back his left hand.
The fist shoots straight forward.
BANG!
Paragon blocks with both arms.
The impact shakes his body.
This time, Paragon does not step back.
His feet press firmly into the ground.
KRRRK.
Lucifer attacks again.
Right fist.
Paragon tilts his body.
The punch passes.
Lucifer immediately draws back his left elbow—
For the first time, his movement is delayed by a fraction of a second.
Paragon sees that opening.
Extremely small.
Yet enough.
Paragon's body suddenly stops moving backward.
His feet plant firmly on the ground.
His hand, which was previously clenched, slowly opens.
His fingers spread apart.
No longer in the shape of a fist.
But like a claw.
Lucifer is still moving forward.
His left fist is nearly striking Paragon's face.
Paragon no longer steps back.
He stands upright.
His empty eyes stare at Lucifer.
Then he speaks.
"I have prepared this for you," Paragon says.
His voice is low.
Calm.
Lucifer is still right in front of him.
Paragon lowers his shoulders slightly.
His fingers spread wider.
"This will be the end of everything… of the past," he says.
"For me," Paragon says.
"And for you," he continues.