The flames of the Fire Demons meant nothing to Acheron.
As a Self-Annihilator walking the Path of IX's Nihility, such heat held no meaning.
She lightly waved the sheathed blade "Naught."
The sea of fire before her dispersed instantly.
"Insignificant insect!"
Ifrit roared.
"Are you ready to face your magnificent destruction?"
Seeing his flames had no effect, a deeper blue fire began to seep from Ifrit's body.
The Fire Demons were beings born from destruction itself.
To them—
Death had never held any meaning.
With a roar, Ifrit spread his arms.
Endless flames surged forward with violent destructive energy, crashing toward Acheron.
"My children of flame!"
"This is merely the appetizer for the grand feast of destruction!"
"A mere Galaxy Ranger is nothing!"
The white-haired swordswoman stepped calmly aside.
Her gaze swept across the Everflame Mansion.
The children of flame.
And their father—
Ifrit, the Lord of Everflame.
Acheron already knew everything about them.
She came here for only one thing.
An invitation to the Penacony festival.
And the closest source of such an invitation—
Was the infamous Everflame Mansion.
Ifrit and his followers had committed countless atrocities across the universe.
Yet they were not like the true agents of Destruction.
They didn't embody pure destruction.
They simply worshipped Nanook.
Their destruction was filled with personal ambition.
With selfish desire.
Compared to the true Emanators of Destruction—
They were nothing alike.
Figures like Phantylia, Zephyro, or Celenova pursued destruction in its purest form.
But Ifrit?
Acheron never even drew her blade.
She merely watched.
Her gaze landed on the object in Ifrit's hand.
The music box.
At that moment—
The four children of flame prepared to strike.
Caterina's chains radiated ominous energy.
Dubra's puppet moved maliciously.
Akash tightened the strings of his instrument.
Meanwhile—
Constance stood quietly, a dark smile forming on her lips.
"Children of flame."
"If you step forward again, the wrath of destruction will burn you to ashes."
Ifrit issued his final warning.
Galaxy Rangers were dangerous enemies.
Those who walked the Path of the Hunt were notorious lunatics.
Even Ifrit hesitated to fight them.
Which was precisely why he declared war on many Paths—
But never the Hunt.
Because the Hunt always retaliated.
Without mercy.
"Hand over the music box," Acheron said calmly.
"And I will leave."
Then she took another step forward.
The moment her foot touched the ground—
Caterina attacked.
Her weapon ignited with blazing destruction.
She swung it straight at Acheron's head.
But before the strike landed—
Acheron vanished.
Dubra's puppet followed instantly.
A sulfur-forged iron scythe slashed toward Acheron's position.
Acheron simply tilted her body slightly.
The attack missed.
Then a heavy hammer came flying toward her—
But she calmly rotated the sheathed blade Naught.
Without drawing it—
She blocked both the scythe and the chain simultaneously.
Dubra laughed mockingly.
"Hehehe~"
"Missy, you've lost."
Many invaders had attempted to storm the Everflame Mansion.
All had become fuel for the flames.
This white-haired woman—
Would be no exception.
Or so they believed.
The next second—
Acheron gently tapped the sheath of her sword.
CRACK.
The chains wrapped around the blade shattered instantly.
The sharp sound echoed through the mansion.
She moved again.
One flash—
She passed Dubra's puppet.
Her blade struck.
Dubra never even saw the attack.
She couldn't follow the movement.
If the Fire Demons were devils—
Then this white-haired woman was the true demon.
Dubra collapsed instantly.
The scythe slipped from her hands.
She leaned against the wall, gasping.
"Damn you…"
"Galaxy Ranger…"
A moment later—
Caterina, engulfed in golden flames, charged again.
She was one of Ifrit's favorite children.
The children of destruction never left themselves an escape route.
They fought to the death.
Acheron nodded slightly.
Then—
She swung the sheath again.
It struck Caterina's head lightly.
The impact sent her flying several meters away.
She rolled across the floor before stopping.
A crimson mark appeared on her forehead.
If Acheron had not held back—
Caterina would already be dead.
But even now—
She had no strength left to stand.
As for Constance—
She had disappeared during the chaos.
Only Akash remained.
He continued plucking the strings of his instrument.
Akash—
Ifrit's the most emotional child.
His eyes had been ignited by his father's flames.
With a four-string instrument—
He played the music of destruction.
Even the hymns of Harmony would fall silent before it.
Acheron listened briefly.
"It's beautiful music."
"Unfortunately…"
"I cannot hear it."
Self-Annihilators gradually lose everything.
Including their senses.
With a casual gesture—
Acheron struck Akash aside.
He collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Now only one figure remained.
Ifrit.
The Lord of Everflame.
Flames roared throughout the hall.
Even the air itself seemed to burn.
Yet Ifrit sat slumped on his throne.
The mere presence of Acheron's sword intent had already crushed the atmosphere.
Even someone as powerful as him—
Could barely endure it.
Acheron stepped forward.
The sheathed blade touched his chest.
"It seems the outcome was decided long ago," Ifrit said quietly.
Acheron replied calmly.
"Your children are still alive."
"So are you."
"You still have a choice."
"Leave the music box."
"And walk away."
"Choice?" Ifrit laughed.
"The path of destruction allows no hesitation."
Acheron frowned slightly.
"Even if you offer your life to Nanook…"
"He will never acknowledge you."
"You walk the narrow road of the Hunt," Ifrit replied.
"You wouldn't understand."
"We Fire Demons were born from flames."
"We burn."
"We spread."
"We destroy."
"Until nothing remains but ash."
"Burning is our entire life."
"From beginning to end."
"Everything in the universe exists to be destroyed."
Acheron glanced toward the unconscious children.
"They don't seem to think so."
"They fought to give you a chance to live."
"They are my children," Ifrit said.
"Like I once was."
"Flames not yet fully ignited."
"They are young. I will not blame them."
"But my fire is fading."
"And my time is short."
He gazed into the distance.
"Do you see Penacony?"
"I will bring hellfire there."
"So before that…"
"I must defeat you."
"Why?" Acheron asked.
Ifrit smiled.
"Because on the path opened by the Aeons…"
"You have walked farther than I have."
"Emanator."
Acheron fell silent.
Her hand rested on the sword hilt.
Slowly—
She drew the blade.
"This sword remained sheathed."
"Not from mercy."
"Nor from contempt."
"It is simply… a secret I do not wish to reveal."
"But as a gesture of respect—"
"I will tell you the truth."
"The Hunt…"
"Is not the Path I walk."
Her blade gleamed faintly.
"May death end your long dream."
"And guide you back…"
"To the waking world."
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