They exchanged blows, steel ringing against demonic energy. Chain's skill was evident, forcing the demon onto the defensive in pure swordsmanship. Recognizing the disadvantage, the demon disengaged, floating back as six spheres of roiling red energy manifested around it.
Two spheres launched forward, swelling in size, radiating heat. Chain didn't hesitate. Sprinting towards the projectiles, he drew his revolver, loaded a single azure-glowing round, and fired. The bullet punched a clean hole through the nearest sphere – just wide enough for Chain to dive through an instant before impact.
It was an audacious, unpredictable move. Before the demon could adjust, Chain exploded from the dissipating energy, his sword tracing a silver arc from ground to shoulder, severing the demon's arm cleanly.
Shock, then pain, then rage flared in the demon's violet eyes. "This sensation... pain? And this... trembling... fear?" it asked, stunned.
"A late introduction," Chain quipped.
The demon clutched its stump as dark blood pulsed. Slowly, chillingly, the severed arm floated back and reattached itself. "Ah," it breathed. "Now I comprehend their flight." It flexed the restored limb. "Fear, perhaps? Or both?"
"Does the distinction matter your first time feeling it?" Chain pressed.
"Ignorant human," the demon retorted. "I know pain and fear conceptually. I simply hadn't experienced them until your blade struck."
"Fair enough," Chain conceded, settling into a ready stance.
They paused, assessing each other. The red spheres drifted forward again. The demon anticipated Chain's next move – dodge, evade – but Chain defied expectation once more. He darted into the nearby woods, vanishing among the snow-dusted pines just as the spheres detonated where he'd stood, the explosion ripping through the trees and shaking the earth.
A low chuckle rumbled from the demon's chest. It strode towards the smoking crater left by its attack. "Impressive, human," it called out, surveying the devastation. "You possess strength beyond your station. Conquering this world may prove... stimulating. A pity you won't witness it. Rest beneath the ruin you provoked."
"Not quite yet," Chain's voice emerged from the smoke behind the demon.
Whirling, the demon felt a searing pain across its back, followed by a concussive blow that drove it to its knees. "Impossible!" it roared, scrambling up to face Chain, who now crackled with faint blue energy emanating from sleek, metallic gloves and boots adorned with unsettling eye patterns.
"Amazed?" Chain smirked. "Save the eulogy. I appreciate the sentiment, though."
The demon managed a strained smile. "Before your inevitable demise, understand this: while lesser demons grow strong on spilled blood, I draw power from time itself within this realm. This world resonates with me, calls to me. It was forged for my dominion."
"Heard it before," Chain cut in dismissively. "Every demon with delusions of grandeur sings the same song right before they die. 'World is mine,' 'destined to rule,' blah blah blah." He paused, considering. "Though, Jorden did mention violet-eyed demons were... significant. The strongest, perhaps."
"Precisely," the demon confirmed, its hand elongating into a wickedly sharp crimson blade. "Which is why this ends now. Cooperate, and your death will be swift, painless."
"You promise quick?" Chain's voice hardened, losing all trace of banter. "Then allow me to counter-offer. Your death will be agonizingly slow. Every nerve will scream. Every moment will be torment. You will have no respite until the very end."
Chain advanced. The demon blinked, startled by his speed – Chain was suddenly there. It slashed instinctively at his throat. Chain dodged, countering with blows that struck the demon's blade-arms with jarring force, making them tremble. The demon couldn't keep up; Chain dictated the exchange now. Desperate, it poured more energy into its arms, the red glow intensifying.
It lunged again, a whirlwind of desperate slashes, carving through nearby trees. Chain weaved through the attacks, seemingly untouched, whispering a sequence of numbers only he could hear. Seeing a perceived opening, the demon committed to a final, decapitating strike, a triumphant snarl twisting its features as Chain appeared momentarily vulnerable.
"THREE!" Chain shouted.
He wasn't there. Vanishing and reappearing beside the overextended demon, Chain slashed upwards with blinding speed, severing both blade-arms at the shoulders. As the demon stared in shock at its dismembered limbs, Chain activated his electric gloves, channeling their full power into a single, devastating punch to the creature's chest.
The impact sent the demon flying, crashing into a distant mountainside with enough force to crack solid rock. Chain calmly walked towards the impact site. "Ah, found you."
The demon was impaled against the rock face, bleeding profusely, its arms already beginning a slow, agonizing regeneration.
"Remember my promise?" Chain said conversationally, breaking off a sharp icicle from a nearby formation. He approached the pinned demon.
"What... what are you...?" the demon stammered, terror finally eclipsing its pride.
Chain pressed the icicle against its shoulder. "Wait—!" it snarled, but Chain drove the spike in, ignoring the shriek of pain and the grating sound of ice through flesh. He selected another, larger spike.
"This," Chain stated coldly, positioning it near the demon's ribs, "is for the lives extinguished to summon you."
"No! Stop! I beg you!" the demon screamed, its voice breaking. The violet eyes, once burning with power, now swam with fear.
Chain leaned in, his voice a low whisper against the demon's ear. "I made a promise." He applied pressure, embedding spike after spike into the demon's torso and limbs. "PLEEEEASE! HUMAN! JUST KILL ME! I know people died but—"
Another spike silenced it mid-plea. "WHY?! Why are you doing this?!" it eventually gasped out. Chain continued his work silently, ignoring the desperate cries. "I'LL DO ANYTHING! PLEASE!"
"Untouchable," Chain murmured, almost to himself. "Even demons learn pain."
"KILL ME! JUST KILL ME! PLEASE!"