283,
"You mean... you're going to kill me?" Cyclone felt a chilling air flow, even though winter had already passed. In this moment, Cyclone felt a coldness creeping up his back.
An invisible intent to kill emanated from Asmodeus. Cyclone wanted to turn around and run, but if he backed down now, Yuna would surely die.
"No, I won't kill you." First, he needed to correct Asmodeus' misunderstanding and clarify his true intention.
"What I want, is for you to die. It's best if..." Suddenly, Asmodeus took a step forward.
Honestly, Cyclone's heart almost jumped out of his chest. Even though Asmodeus was heavily injured, it didn't mean he couldn't use magic. One move from him would be enough to kill an ordinary civilian like Cyclone.
When it came to the crucial moment, Asmodeus' step forward truly intimidated Cyclone. Luckily, he managed to hide his fear, not because he controlled himself and overcame it, but because he was so scared that he couldn't move.
Though his legs didn't shake, they had lost their strength.
Damn it... Trying to scare me to death, huh?!
Cyclone couldn't help but mock in his mind, grateful that he didn't move. Asmodeus just took a step forward, nothing more.
He must be testing me, but Cyclone's weak legs made him appear calm.
"It's best if..." The coldness behind him was surely his own cold sweat. Cyclone had to continue speaking, as Allen, the hero that he was.
"It's best if... you, in front of everyone, kill yourself with a smile." This time, Asmodeus was the one who was taken aback.
Cyclone saw the surprise in his eyes, even though they only widened slightly. But compared to his usual expression that changed nothing, this was enough to show a change in emotion.
Seeing this, Cyclone instantly calmed down a bit.
Despite being a demon general, Asmodeus was still a physical being, a flesh and blood life.
"Ha..." A few seconds after Cyclone finished speaking, Asmodeus underwent a different change.
"Hahaha~! Hahahaha!!!" In response to Cyclone's words, Asmodeus began laughing heartily.
"Suicide is one thing, but do I have to do it with a smile?" Unlike before, Asmodeus was laughing.
However, he suddenly took another step forward.
Damn it!!!! If you want to talk, then talk. Don't come closer to scare me!
Cyclone merely smiled slightly, not showing any behavior related to his inner thoughts.
Asmodeus had already come within two steps of Cyclone, and at this moment, he appeared even larger.
"Do you think... my death will change the situation?" There was distrust in his tone, which Cyclone understood.
"At this point, do you think that just my death alone can stop the world's hatred towards demons?"
"Normally, it's impossible~" Cyclone shrugged, indicating helplessness.
But Cyclone couldn't back down; he had to continue speaking.
"That's why I'm asking you, to kill yourself with a smile." Cyclone reiterated his point, and this time Asmodeus should understand every word Cyclone said.
But knowing every word doesn't mean understanding the meaning of the sentence.
To die with a smile on one's face?
No matter who listens to such words, naturally, they cannot be believed.
But Cyclone continued to speak.
"Demon is bad, it is dark. From what I understand, this idea has been around for at least five hundred years, right?"
Cyclone was talking about the history book his eldest brother, Gudas, had read about ancient wars for the sake of his children.
"..."
Asmod didn't respond to Cyclone because he hadn't gotten to the main point yet.
"It's been five hundred years, right, this 'common knowledge'?"
This time, Cyclone took a step forward.
"But even if it has been five hundred years, it doesn't mean it's true, it's absolute. At least, I know that everything can change."
"Is that what you call common knowledge?"
Asmod finally spoke up.
"Yes, common knowledge of the world. I want to rewrite this point, for that, I need a bargaining chip."
Cyclone took another step forward, now close enough to shake hands with Asmod.
"Your death is the bargaining chip I will use to rewrite common knowledge."
