The aftermath of the battle was a far cry from what you had expected when facing the heroine by herself. Slashes caused by her sword adorned the entire throne room, and in one especially powerful move, she even blew off a huge chunk of the ceiling. But now, amidst the fiery and tattered remains of your tapestry, she finally fell to her knees, heaving.

"Damn it...if only I wasn't..." She muttered to herself, feeling a prickle of the tears filling her eyes as she remembered the betrayal, the abandonment her former companions put her through. As much as she tried, as much as she wanted to keep fighting for this world...what was the point? She had been backstabbed by those she trusted the most. Was that some sort of cruel joke of fate? Reincarnating in the land of her dreams, only to end up like this?

You loomed over her defeated form, and she looked up at you, awaiting her unavoidable demise. But you could sense it during your fight, and you could see it now, in her pain-stricken face. For whatever reason, the heroine wasn't herself in this battle. You could end her, right here and now...or you could try and find out why.

She scoffed weakly at your words. Even though you were still stronger than her right now, even though she knew that her sword couldn't pierce through your armor...somehow hearing you call this world "unworthy" made the bitter taste in her mouth grow worse. She forced herself to stand up, but swayed unsteadily, feeling drained of all strength from fighting against your power for so long.

As she met your gaze once more, her voice was a mere whisper. "This world...these people...they deserve better than you." Her hand clenched into a fist around the hilt of her sword, anger flaring up in her chest despite everything else. It was as if something deep within her still refused to accept that she had been beaten so easily. "They don't belong to you...they never will."

Her eyes narrowed. You expected her to step aside and let you have your way with the world? With everything she believed in, every fiber of her being screaming against it? Never in a million years would that happen. Even if it meant facing certain death...she had to try and make things right again, somehow.

"I...I can't let you do this." Her voice was shaky, her resolve wavering for just a moment as she took a step back, unconsciously bracing herself for whatever came next. But then, something inside her snapped. She straightened her spine, lifting her chin defiantly. "No matter what you've done...no matter how strong you are...I won't let you ruin this world!"

And with those words, she drew her sword once more, its steel glinting in the dim light as it sang a battle hymn

Liselotte de Eclair, better known as the Betrayed Heroine, felt a spark of hope ignite within her as she saw your guard drop even lower. Perhaps there was a chance...a small, slim chance that she could actually win this battle, and in doing so, make things right again. Taking advantage of your momentary distraction, she dashed forward with renewed vigor, swinging her sword with all the strength she had left.

Her attack caught you off-guard, managing to cut through your armor and draw blood for the first time in centuries. You spun around in surprise, your crimson eyes widening as they met hers once more. A growl rumbled from deep within your chest as your claws extended and you prepared to strike back with all your fury.

But she wasn't finished yet. Fueled by determination and desperation, she continued to fight against you

The air rushed out of her lungs as you struck her with a blow that would've felled a lesser warrior in an instant, your massive claws leaving gaping wounds across her already battered armor and sending waves of agonizing pain through her body. She collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face as she forced herself to get back up once more, clutching her sword hilt tightly in a white-knuckled grip.

Her legs were weak, and it was all she could do to stand on shaky knees before you now, but somehow she managed it, even as you towered over her. Her chest heaved as she struggled for air, every muscle in her body screaming with agony from the punishment she had endured. But still, she refused to yield, refusing to let herself be defeated so easily. She wouldn

Her determination flared brighter in the face of your taunts, her heart racing with a fierce and unyielding resolve. "I can't...I won't..." She panted through gritted teeth, struggling to find the strength within herself as she forced her aching body into another swing, aiming for your vulnerable underbelly.

Time seemed to slow down as their blades met once more, the clash of steel echoing through the throne room like a battle cry from another age. For what felt like an eternity, they remained locked in combat, their bodies moving in perfect harmony despite their best efforts to break each other's will.

The air grew thick with tension and anticipation, as if the very world held its breath, waiting for the outcome of this epic struggle between good and evil. And in the midst of it all, she found herself wondering...if somehow, imposs

Shock waves rippled through her as your strong, demonic arms wrapped around her, pinning her struggling form against your muscular chest in a crushing hug. It was unbearable...it shouldn't be possible for something so monstrous to feel so warm and reassuring. Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought the urge to yield, to collapse into the embrace and finally give in, accepting defeat at last.

But she couldn't...not yet. Not until this was all over, not until he had been stopped from destroying everything she held dear. With a desperate strength born of pure determination and love for her world, she raised her sword once more, aiming to strike at your weak point, your heart...

But it seemed she would never have the chance. As she swung her blade, she felt something give way beneath her feet, and with a sickening

As she felt her legs slipping out from under her, something inside of her snapped. The desperation to stop him, the need to protect what was left of this world...it all came rushing back in an overwhelming wave. Her sword fell to the ground with a clang, and as he leaned down towards her, whispering words of surrender, she looked up at him with eyes that were no longer clouded by anger or hatred. There was only fear now...and determination.

"No..." She whispered hoarsely, struggling to break free from his grasp. "You can't win..." Her strength seemed to return in an instant, fueled by a newfound desire to fight for what was right. With every ounce of strength left in her body, she thrust herself away from him, managing to slip out of his embrace and land on shaky feet once more.

Her breath came

Her eyes blazed with determination and unshakable resolve as she faced the Demon Lord once more. "Never!" She shouted, her voice ringing through the throne room like a battle cry. "As long as I draw breath, you will never have peace! Not while there's still hope for this world!" And with those words, she charged forward again, determined to bring an end to his reign of terror.

Her sword flashed through the air, its steel singing a song of death and destruction as it sought out every vulnerable spot on his demonic form. Each swing sent shockwaves through her aching body, each clash between their weapons brought her closer to her ultimate goal: victory over evil.

Time seemed to stand still as they fought, each movement precise and calculated, a dance of death played out upon the throne room's floor. Their weapons sang songs of honor and bloodshed, blurring together

Her sword slashed through the air with blinding speed, scoring a deep gash across your chest as you stepped aside to avoid her attack. You bared your teeth in pain but did not flinch, continuing to stand there and let her strike again and again. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before; usually, demons would relish the opportunity to fight back, to show their true power...but you simply stood there, allowing her to wound you over and over with nary a protest.

Her heart raced as she sought an opening in your defenses once more, but each time she thought she had found it, you somehow managed to dodge or block her attacks. It was maddening...infuriating...almost as if you were enjoying the fight! And yet, despite all this, there was something else beneath the surface of your gaze; a hint of sadness, perhaps? She couldn't quite put her

Her sword pauses mid-swing as your words reach her ears. For a moment, she finds herself unable to believe what she's hearing; was this the Demon Lord, truly, pleading for peace? With shaking hands, she lowers her weapon and takes a step back, eyeing you warily from behind her guarded expression. "Why?" She asks hoarsely, the pain and confusion in her voice barely masking the fear that still lingers beneath it. "After everything I've done...why would you want to stop now?"

Liselotte cocks her head to the side as she listens, her body tensing up again despite herself. Despite everything he's done, despite how much harm and suffering he's caused...he sounds genuine. And that alone is enough to make her doubt, even just a little. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" She whispers, lowering her sword further, feeling the weight of it on her shoulders grow heavier by the second.

Her eyes drift over your body once more, taking in the injuries she's inflicted upon you, wondering how many times he had fought and survived before this moment...and whether there was any chance for him to find peace now. She takes another step back, feeling the distance between them grow, but not quite willing to close it entirely yet. "Why should I believe you?"

"Then why...?" She whispers, her voice hoarse with emotion as she takes another step back, uncertainty clouding her features. The sword in her hand trembles slightly as she holds it before her, ready to strike again if need be, but no longer willing to attack without a reason. Her gaze remains locked on his face, searching for some sign of truth or deceit hidden within those crimson eyes of his.

Her heart races wildly in her chest, refusing to believe that this could be real, that the Demon Lord would willingly step down from his throne and lay down his arms. But at the same time, she can't help but wonder...what if he was telling the truth? What if there was a chance for peace after all these years of fighting?

"T-Then why did you fight me in the first place?" She asks, her voice shaking as she struggles to find the words. "

She bowed her head, shame filling her as the memories of their past encounters flashed through her mind. She had been so sure of herself, so determined to prove that she was strong enough...to fight for what was right. But in doing so, she hadn't left any room for negotiation, hadn't given him a chance to explain his side.

Her shoulders slump as she takes another step back, the sword now held limply at her side. "I-I'm sorry." She whispers hoarsely, feeling tears prick the corners of her eyes as she looks up at him once more. "I shouldn't have done that...I should have listened..."

She pauses for a moment, struggling to find the right words before continuing softly: "Do you really mean what you say? About wanting peace?" Her voice is barely audible above the sound of her racing heart.

Her eyes close as she thinks about it, weighing her options and trying to come to a decision. On one hand, the thought of giving up everything she's fought for, all her friends who died...it's almost too much to bear. But on the other hand, his words ring true deep within her soul, echoing through every fiber of her being with a truth that feels impossible to ignore.

Slowly, she opens her eyes and meets his gaze once more. "Alright." She says, her voice wavering slightly as she forces the word past her lips. "You can have peace...but first we need to talk about what you're going to do with it." Her expression grows determined as she takes another step forward, finally closing the distance between them.

"And I want assurances that my friends and family are safe," She adds firmly, her voice steady now despite the fear and uncertainty still l

She thought about it carefully, weighing each possibility in her mind. Finally, she spoke up. "You must leave this world forever, never to return." Her gaze bored into his crimson eyes, daring him to argue. "You'll use your power and influence over the demons to ensure that they honor our agreement." She paused, considering one last condition before adding, "And you will help me find a way to restore my friends and family...to bring them back from the grave."

There. It was done. Now it was up to him to decide whether he would uphold his end of the bargain...or betray her once again. Her heart raced in her chest as she waited for his reply, wondering if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.