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Ilfrit furrowed his brows at the intruder who had disturbed his celebration.
"ā¦A demon."
Bordeaux looked Ilfrit up and down, his gaze calm, almost curious, as though examining a rare specimen. "So this is how Ilfrit looks in person, huh. Amazing."
Ilfrit's expression hardened and he said, "Demon. Do not bother me, and I shall not bother you. We shall go our separate ways. I do not wish to entertain you with my limited free time."
Bordeaux smiled lightly. "Now that won't do, Ilfrit. I didn't ask Shizue to bring you out just so I could let you go."
Ilfrit narrowed his eyes slightly. "You were the one who had Shizue free me," he said. "And why would you do that?"
Bordeaux raised a finger as if the answer were obvious. "So I can talk to you."
Ilfrit scoffed. "And what exactly would Demon want to talk to a Superior Spirit about?"
Bordeaux's tone was simple and unembellished. "I command you to coexist with Shizue, and let her use your power without you trying to ruin her life."
Ilfrit paused for a second. Then he broke into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking.
"Is this a joke?" he asked seriously.
Bordeaux shook his head. "No. I'm being as serious as I've ever been."
Ilfrit sneered. "And why would I do that? What could possibly compel me to agree to something so ridiculous?"
Bordeaux tilted his head. "Because I told you to," he said calmly. "And because Shizue is a pretty girl, and I hate seeing pretty girls in pain."
Ilfrit clicked his tongue. "I don't know why I entertained you in the first place," he said. "Perhaps it's because you freed me. For that reason alone, I'll let you live even after daring to speak such blasphemy to me, a Superior Spirit, while you are nothing more than a mere demon."
He then turned, intending to leave.
But thenā
A barrier suddenly descended from above, sealing the space with a heavy, oppressive presence.
Ilfrit stopped short. "ā¦A barrier?"
Behind him, Bordeaux's voice rang out. It was now cold and stripped of its earlier amusement. His smile as well was gone.
"I don't remember asking you, Ilfrit," he said. "I'm pretty sure I commanded you."
Ilfrit turned to face him. "What are you intending to do?"
Bordeaux answered without hesitation. "Beat the living crap out of you until you submit." He added, almost casually, "And I'm kind of in a hurry. My magicule form can't last much longer, so I'll have to make quick work of you."
Ilfrit studied Bordeaux closely, searching his face for even the slightest sign of humor.
There was none.
His anger flared. "Is a demon telling me he can make quick work of me?" Ilfrit snarled. "Do you not know that spirits have an advantage over demons?"
Bordeaux stretched, his face serious, his presence steady.
"I'm tired of hearing that statement," he said. "If you truly believe you have an advantage over me, Ilfritā"
His eyes locked onto the spirit.
"āthen why don't you use it."
"Then I'll show you." Ilfrit shouted.
Ilfrit thrust his palm forward, and a massive torrent of flames erupted toward Bordeaux at blinding speed. The air warped from the heat alone.
Bordeaux reacted instantly. A Multi-Functional Barrier formed in front of him, solidifying just in time. The flames crashed into it with overwhelming force, pushing him backward. His feet scraped hard against the ground as he was forced several meters back, the barrier groaning under the pressure.
Ilfrit stared into the inferno, eyes narrowed, trying to see if the attack had done its job.
The flames began to die down and something invisible sliced straight through him.
Ilfrit's eyes widened as his body was split cleanly in half. Shock flashed across his face before his form immediately regenerated, flames knitting his body back together. But before he could react, three more unseen slashes rushed toward him.
He snarled and released a burst of intense heat, burning through the incoming attacks and dispersing them midair.
Thenā
Bordeaux vanished.
Ilfrit barely had time to register the distortion behind him before Bordeaux reappeared at his back. Ilfrit spun around in shock and Bordeaux grabbed his face.
Without a word, he slammed Ilfrit straight into the ground.
The impact created a massive crater, the earth collapsing inward as Bordeaux followed through. His hand glowed briefly, and with Cleave, he cut Ilfrit's body into multiple small cubes in an instant.
But instead of falling apartā
Ilfrit's body dissolved into flames.
The fire slipped through Bordeaux's grasp and reformed several meters away. In the next moment, three Ilfrits materialized, forming a perfect triangle around Bordeaux. All three raised their palms at once.
An insane barrage of fire erupted, completely engulfing Bordeaux.
The flames raged for several seconds.
Then a figure stepped out of the inferno.
Bordeaux emerged from the fire with only slight irritation on his face. Smoke rolled off his body as he stopped a good distance away from Ilfrit. He dusted himself off slowly, clearly acknowledging that the attack had connected.
He clicked his tongue.
"The speed and intensity of the flames are far worse than when I faced Shizue," he said calmly. "So this is her potential if she were to truly merge with you."
Ilfrit grit his teeth, frustration clear on his face. "Youā¦ what are you?" he demanded. "No Greater Demon should survive that torrent. Are you an Archdemon?"
Bordeaux shrugged lightly. "Technically, you're right."
He brushed the thought aside and clicked his tongue again, his expression sharpening. "My body's running out. I'll have to make this quick."
"Don't underestimate me!" Ilfrit shouted.
All three Ilfrits fired another wave of flames simultaneously.
Bordeaux smiled.
"You're not the only one who can shoot fire."
A massive construct formed in front of him, a flamethrower and an equally overwhelming stream of flames burst forth. The two attacks collided, and a colossal explosion of fire erupted, consuming the battlefield in roaring heat.
Ilfrit recoiled, eyes wide. "What is that!?"
"It's a flamethrower," Bordeaux replied plainly.
Then he smiled wider.
"Want to see something cooler?"
Three small spheres materialized in his free hand.
A deep sense of unease crawled up Ilfrit's spine. "Whatā¦ is that?"
Bordeaux's grin turned sharp. "Want to play catch? I'll throw first."
He hurled the three spheres forward.
They weren't just ballsā
They were mini nukes.
As they reached Ilfrit's position, Bordeaux fired another burst from the flamethrower. The spheres detonated instantly, triggering a catastrophic explosion. The blast tore through the area, flattening everything within a massive radius as fire and shockwaves consumed the forest.
A short while passed.
The flames receded.
The destruction settled.
Ilfrit lay on the ground, bleeding, his body struggling to maintain cohesion. He clutched his chest, breathing heavily. Slowly, he looked up at Bordeaux, shock and disbelief written across his face.
"Youā¦" Ilfrit rasped. "You are no simple Archdemon."
His eyes trembled.
"You are one of the progenitors. A Primordial."
Bordeaux smiled faintly. "Oh. You're quite smart to have figured that out."
He looked down at Ilfrit, calm and unhurried.
"Now that you know that information, " he said, "what shall you do?"