Nox remained sprawled on the snow for several seconds.

His face hurt.

His back hurt.

And he was pretty sure that damned inquisitor had just rearranged a few of his internal organs.

"...I think she broke something."

He spat out a mouthful of snow.

Then slowly pushed himself back to his feet.

In the distance, explosions still echoed.

The sound of metal clashing.

Shouts.

And bursts of electricity.

The entire village had become a battlefield.

Nox looked up just in time to see Audrey fighting the inquisitor with the massive gauntlets.

CLANG.

Dark-energy-covered knives collided against one of the enormous metal fists.

Black sparks exploded everywhere.

The inquisitor smiled.

"You’re nothing but a damned distraction."

She shoved forward with brute force.

Audrey slid several steps back across the snow.

"I want to kill the demon."

Another punch.

BOOM.

Part of a wall exploded behind Audrey.

"And then I’ll focus on you."

Audrey slowly raised her gaze.

Her eyes were filled with rage.

"...I heard that entire conversation."

The inquisitor frowned.

Audrey spun one of her knives.

"In case you’re interested in knowing..."

Dark energy began flowing through her arms.

"...I’m the one who cut that other idiot in half when she came looking for Nox."

The inquisitor’s eyes widened dramatically.

"...What?"

Audrey smiled.

"Yeah. I was the one who defeated her."

The woman trembled.

"Tessa..."

The snow exploded beneath her feet.

"TESSA!"

Her roar echoed throughout the village.

Audrey gritted her teeth.

And roared back.

"I WANT TO AVENGE MY SISTERS TOO!"

Dark energy erupted around her body.

"AND I’M GOING TO MAKE THOSE STUPID INQUISITORS PAY!"

The knives suddenly grew.

Their black blades lengthened until they resembled short swords.

"AND THEIR DAMNED CHURCH TOO!"

The inquisitor roared.

And both women vanished into the air.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

The impacts began shaking the entire street.

Nox’s eyes widened.

"...Since when is Audrey this fast?"

The answer was simple.

Since she became The Grand Huntress.

The huntress appeared behind the inquisitor.

Slash.

One cut.

Then another.

And another.

Blood splattered across the snow.

The woman tried to retaliate with her enormous fists.

But Audrey was no longer there.

She appeared.

Disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Every movement left behind a dark afterimage.

"STAND STILL!"

the inquisitor shouted.

Audrey smiled.

"No."

Slash.

Another cut tore through the side of the armor.

The inquisitor screamed in pain.

And that was when Nox decided to rejoin the fight.

"Well..."

He spun one of his Demonic Dual Knives.

"...I guess it’s my turn to help."

His body moved.

Grand Hunter’s Agility reacted instantly.

And he appeared directly behind the inquisitor.

The woman barely managed to turn her head.

Nox smiled.

"I don’t like hurting women."

The daggers gleamed.

"But you’re not leaving me many options."

Slash.

Slash.

Slash.

The demonic blades found every tiny gap in her armor.

Under the arm.

Behind the knee.

Between the metal plates.

The inquisitor screamed.

The wounds immediately began to burn.

"AAAAAAAAH!"

She dropped to her knees.

More blood stained the snow.

Audrey appeared in front of her.

Nox behind her.

And the woman finally realized she had lost.

Her breathing was ragged.

Her body trembled.

The black burns continued spreading from the cuts.

Finally, she collapsed onto her side.

Screaming in agony.

Nox sighed.

"...That was horrible."

Audrey slowly cleaned one of her knives, which had returned to its normal size.

"Yeah."

Several seconds of silence passed.

Then Nox looked around.

"...Hey."

Audrey raised her eyes.

"Where’s Claws?"

The woman pointed toward the rooftops.

"He’s dealing with the other inquisitor."

Nox blinked.

"...The other one?"

"Yeah."

Nox looked over the ruined village.

"...These inquisitors are absurdly strong."

He glanced at the defeated woman.

"Honestly, I don’t think I could’ve beaten her without you."

Audrey let out a small laugh.

"Neither could I."

Nox looked at her in surprise.

She smiled.

"I don’t think I would’ve beaten her if you hadn’t shown up out of nowhere."

The demon remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he pointed at his new weapons.

"Well..."

Audrey studied the daggers.

Her eyes lingered on the black blades.

"Where did those come from?"

Nox hesitated for a moment.

"...I think they’re part of my powers."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"Convenient."

"Very."

Both of them laughed.

But then...

Something caught their attention.

They both turned toward the place where the inquisitor had fallen.

And froze.

"...Uh."

The snow was still there.

The blood too.

A huge red stain covered the ground.

But...

The body was gone.

The silence suddenly became uncomfortable.

Nox slowly raised one of his daggers.

Audrey tensed.

"...I don’t like that."

"Not even a little."

Both of them began scanning their surroundings.

Ready for a surprise attack.

However...

None came.

A white silhouette appeared atop a nearby rooftop.

Claws.

The massive bear stared down at them from above.

Then he started moving several of his paws.

Making strange gestures.

Nox tilted his head.

"...What is he doing?"

Audrey watched for a few seconds.

Then nodded.

"I understand."

Nox looked at her.

"You understand that?"

"More or less."

"How?"

She shrugged.

"I don’t know."

Then she pointed toward the northern side of the village.

"He says the other inquisitor escaped that way."

Nox sighed.

"Of course."

Claws jumped from the rooftop, landing heavily in front of them.

Audrey climbed onto his back first.

Then extended a hand toward Nox.

"Come on."

Nox sheathed his daggers.

And climbed up behind her.

"I never thought I’d end up riding a four-armed bear."

Claws let out a proud growl.

Then took off running.

The ruined streets blurred past them.

Nox watched the village as they moved.

Broken houses.

Shattered windows.

Ice everywhere.

"...It’s strange."

Audrey turned her head slightly.

"What?"

"There’s no sign of Dawn."

The woman looked around.

Nox continued.

"Or the inquisitor with the greatsword."

Claws kept running.

Then they passed a row of completely destroyed houses.

Nox’s eyes widened.

The walls had been carved apart by enormous cuts.

Fragments of ice were embedded everywhere.

And there were signs of electrical explosions all around.

Clearly...

A battle had taken place there.

And an intense one.

But there were no bodies.

No blood.

No obvious traces.

Nothing.

Audrey examined the scene.

"...They left."

"Looks that way."

Claws continued forward.

Snow drifted slowly over the ruins.

Nox looked up at the gray sky.

Then sighed.

And leaned his back against Audrey.

The woman didn’t seem to mind.

And he was far too exhausted to worry about it.

"That woman can do whatever she wants."

Audrey smiled faintly.

Nox closed his eyes for a moment.

"At least the three of us are still alive."

He looked at Audrey.

Then at Claws.

And finally toward the darkness stretching out before them.

"...For now."