Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 84: The Headless Devil

The wall exploded inward, filling the room with stone, dust, and deafening noise.

The air turned gray. Thick.

And beyond the rubble, shadows moved.

Zombies. Skeletons. Dozens... maybe more.

And among them, other figures.

Too many identical ones.

Dante.

One. Two. Five.

Smiling.

Watching them.

Suddenly, Vimel moved, too fast.

His hand closed around Moonlight’s neck. He lifted her off the ground.

"..."

Her feet dangled in the air.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Max stepped forward, furious.

"Let her go!"

"Have you lost your mind?!" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

But Azael spoke.

Cold.

"He’s not going to let her go."

Max turned.

"...what?"

Azael didn’t look away.

"Because that’s not your companion."

A pause.

"That’s the real Dante."

Silence.

A smile spread across his face.

Then, Vimel’s skin shifted. Turned red. Dark. Horns grew from his forehead. His hair turned white. A tail slid behind him.

His eyes gleamed.

It was Dante.

"I must say... it was a pleasure spending time with all of you."

His voice was calm. Amused.

He held Moonlight with one arm, as if she weighed nothing.

He looked at Dorian.

"And thank you for healing me, elf."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Though it wasn’t really necessary. I could’ve done it myself."

Dorian was breathing heavily. Exhausted.

"...bastard."

His voice came out strained.

Dante laughed.

His gaze shifted, straight to Lamia.

"Don’t you dare heal her."

Silence.

"That stupid woman made a deal with me."

His eyes gleamed.

"She handed over her daughter."

A pause.

"And now that she’s left this world..."

His smile widened.

"She wants revenge that doesn’t exist."

He shook his head faintly.

"But she didn’t belong to her anymore."

Max stepped forward.

"She was her daughter."

Cold.

"Not an object."

He clenched his teeth.

"She doesn’t belong to anyone."

Dante looked at him, and laughed.

"Speaking of belonging..."

He pointed behind him.

"That demon woman you’ve got there..."

His eyes glowed with malice.

"She belongs to me too."

A pause.

"I just closed the deal with Lucifer."

And then, Moonlight bit down.

Straight into Dante’s arm.

Hard.

Blood spilled.

He flinched, and she dropped, breaking free from his grasp.

"Tch!"

Neros didn’t hesitate.

He lunged forward, sword leading in a clean arc.

Dante’s arm was severed.

It spun through the air, and fell among the dead.

Dante laughed.

"You can’t kill..."

His voice deepened.

"...what is already dead."

Azael raised his hand.

Shadows split open, and more skeletal knights emerged.

Dozens.

"Attack."

Dante smiled.

"Go ahead."

He raised his own hand.

"Kill them."

And then, chaos erupted inside the room.

Zombies and skeletons clashed. Steel against bone. Screams. Limbs flying. Fire. Magic.

Max looked around.

Everything was collapsing.

"We can’t fight here!"

he shouted.

"No one’s going to survive!"

He turned.

"Abby, what’s behind that wall?"

She didn’t hesitate.

"Nothing."

She pointed.

"It leads straight to the courtyard."

Max nodded.

"Neros."

He looked at him.

"Come with me, we need to break that wall down."

He ran.

Raised his hammer and hurled it.

Once.

CRACK.

Twice.

Three times.

The wall trembled.

Neros charged, slamming his shoulder into it, another fracture spread.

Meanwhile, Azael was already on Dante.

Bare fists.

Blow after blow.

A brutal, close-quarters fight.

Moonlight spun between enemies. Fire burst from her hands, burning bone and flesh.

Sophie activated seals, one after another. Shields. Protecting the women.

Varis moved fast, intercepting anything that got near Dorian. Cutting. Shoving.

Dorian, on the ground, kept working.

His hands glowed over Lamia.

Forcing healing magic through sheer exhaustion.

"...don’t die now..."

he whispered.

Max struck again.

And again.

Neros charged once more.

The wall gave way.

And finally collapsed.

Cold air rushed in.

The outside became visible.

A red lake stretched before them.

Dark. Vast.

Encircling the castle.

Max clenched his teeth.

"...we’re going to have to jump."

He looked back.

"There’s no other way."

He raised his hand, more skeletal knights appeared. They took the women.

Without hesitation, Max stepped forward.

Ready.

Azael looked at him while blocking a blow from Dante.

"Get her out of here."

Firm.

"Please."

A punch slammed into his face.

"Take Elise with you."

Max nodded.

"I will."

Azael turned and struck.

A direct punch to Dante’s head.

The face twisted and his head flew off.

Spinning.

Falling among the zombies.

But the body didn’t stop.

It kept moving.

It struck Azael square in the chest.

A heavy blow.

The air left his lungs.

His body was sent flying, crashing into the wall.

But he didn’t fall.

He held himself up.

Teeth clenched.

At the same time the light in Dorian’s hands intensified.

One final push.

"...done..."

The magic faded.

Lamia stopped trembling.

Her breathing stabilized.

Dorian smiled and collapsed.

Right onto the succubus’ chest.

"...didn’t think..."

A faint laugh.

"...I’d end up touching a beautiful lady like this... in the middle of a battle..."

Varis raised an eyebrow.

"You’re taking advantage of the situation."

Dorian let out a short laugh—cut by a cough.

"Let me enjoy it..."

Before he could continue, a skeleton lifted him.

Not gently.

Another did the same with Lamia.

Dorian blinked.

"...what’s happening?"

Max answered.

"No time."

Firm.

"Trust me."

He pointed outside.

"Everyone, into the lake!"

The group reacted.

No hesitation.

The skeletons carried the women and ran.

Abby took a step back looking at Azael.

"We can’t leave him alone!"

Max didn’t answer.

But Azael did.

From the other side.

Straightening up.

"Don’t worry, little sister."

He spat blood and smiled.

"I’ve been dying to fight this idiot."

The headless body moved again.

Fast.

Straight toward Abby.

"Watch out!"

But Azael lunged.

He jumped, grabbing onto the monster’s legs dragging it down.

Both crashed to the ground.

Rolled.

Azael didn’t hesitate.

He sank his teeth into the rotting flesh of Dante’s leg.

Tore off a chunk.

Chewed.

Spat dark blood.

"—agh!"

He lifted his head, looked at Abby.

"Hurry!"

His eyes burned.

"Take the chance and run!"

Abby ran.

Straight for the opening.

Toward the others.

Max stood at the edge.

The skeletons ready.

The red lake below.

"JUMP!"

he shouted.

And without looking back he leapt.

The others followed.

One by one.

Bodies falling into the red lake.

Behind them the battle still raged.

And Azael still held onto the headless Dante.