From Trash to Demon Lord: I Can Turn Heroines Into Villainesses

Chapter 72: Heroines Fallen in Battle...

Audrey landed on the rooftop with a heavy thud.

Nox remained completely unconscious over her shoulder.

His breathing was slow.

And his body was covered in countless small wounds.

"...Idiot."

She adjusted him more securely on her shoulders.

Then she jumped.

The rooftop cracked beneath her feet as she launched herself toward the street below.

She landed beside a mountain of rubble.

Dawn was there.

The princess had set her ice katana aside and was struggling to move enormous chunks of stone.

Beneath them, Claws growled in obvious annoyance.

"Grrrr..."

One of his four forelegs had already broken free, but the rest of his massive body remained trapped.

Audrey hurried over.

Carefully, she lowered Nox into a seated position against a collapsed wall.

The demon didn’t react.

His head simply slumped to one side.

He remained completely unconscious.

Audrey took a deep breath.

’I’ll worry about you later.’

She immediately joined Dawn.

"I’ve got it."

The princess nodded.

Together, they began lifting the largest pieces of debris.

The stones were incredibly heavy, but Dawn was still absurdly strong.

Working together, they moved the first one.

Then another.

Then another.

Meanwhile...

A few meters away...

Luna’s body lay motionless.

The Hunt Inquisitor had fallen headfirst from the rooftop.

Her neck was twisted at an unnatural angle.

Her short sword had landed several meters away.

And her small crossbow lay shattered against a nearby wall.

Audrey spared her only a brief glance before returning her attention to Claws.

The final boulder hit the ground.

The enormous bear managed to pull all four forelegs free at once.

"GRAAAH..."

He shoved forward with all his strength.

The remains of the collapsed structure exploded outward.

At last, Claws stood up.

He shook his entire body.

Fragments of stone rained down from his white fur.

Audrey smiled in relief.

"Thanks for helping him."

Dawn looked at the giant bear.

"Any normal mountain bear would’ve died from a fall like that."

She gave one of his arms a light pat.

"This one’s lucky."

Claws let out a proud grunt.

"Grr."

Dawn smiled.

"...And unbelievably strong."

The bear puffed out his chest slightly.

He had clearly understood the compliment, and appreciated it.

Then he turned his head.

His gaze settled on Nox, who was still leaning against the rubble.

Motionless.

Audrey looked at him as well.

Dawn spoke with quiet curiosity.

"Does he always lose control like that?"

The huntress took several seconds before answering.

"...No."

She slowly shook her head.

"It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him completely lose himself."

Her eyes remained fixed on the demon.

"It surprised me too."

For several moments, no one spoke.

Only the exhausted breathing of the group echoed through the ruined street.

Claws slowly walked over to Nox.

He sniffed him.

Then gently nudged him with his muzzle.

There was no response.

The enormous bear let out a low growl.

After that, he simply lay down beside him.

Resting his massive head against the ground.

His eyes slowly closed halfway.

He was completely exhausted as well.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the street.

Audrey immediately raised her head.

But her shoulders relaxed as soon as she recognized them.

Misty appeared first.

Catherine followed close behind.

Both were breathing heavily.

Misty spoke first.

"Is everything okay?"

Audrey looked over the group.

Then back at Nox.

"...I suppose you could say that."

Catherine immediately walked over.

She looked at the demon.

Then at Claws.

"...They both look completely wrecked."

Dawn crossed her arms.

"What happened to Aurea?"

Catherine scratched her head.

"I think... we beat her."

She looked down at her own hands.

"Well..."

Then she pointed at Nox.

"Honestly... after his help..."

She shrugged.

"...everything became a lot easier."

At that moment...

A small ghostly figure slowly emerged from Catherine’s body.

Felix.

The spirit cat yawned.

"...That woman looked drunk."

Everyone turned toward him.

Felix continued speaking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"At first she hit really hard."

One of his ears twitched.

"And then..."

The other ear twitched as well.

"...she started missing punches like she’d emptied three bottles."

Misty let out a small laugh.

"She wasn’t drunk."

She looked toward the battlefield.

"We knocked her unconscious."

Then she pointed farther down the street.

"But it looks like the other Inquisitors weren’t as lucky."

Everyone followed her finger.

In the distance...

Olive’s lifeless body still lay across the cobblestones.

Closer...

Luna remained where she had fallen, her neck completely broken.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group.

Finally, Dawn spoke.

"We can’t stay here."

Everyone looked at her.

"We have to escape before more Inquisitors arrive."

Her expression grew much more serious.

"...Or knights."

She paused briefly.

Then added what everyone had already been thinking.

"...Or worse."

Her eyes slowly swept across the city.

"...One of the Saints."

No one answered.

◇◆◇

Several streets away...

The flames were slowly beginning to fade.

Heat still lingered throughout the alley.

Ava remained kneeling.

Her breathing was becoming weaker by the second.

Her massive spear pierced straight through her body.

Every attempt to move only drew another painful groan from her lips.

"...Ah..."

Standing before her, Tessa watched in silence.

Her expression was completely cold.

There was no hatred.

No satisfaction.

Only absolute calm.

At last, the red-haired woman spoke.

"Receiving a title isn’t everything."

Ava slowly lifted her head.

She spat blood.

Tessa continued.

"Becoming stronger isn’t enough either."

She stepped closer.

"There are things you can only learn by surviving."

The former Phoenix Inquisitor slowly wrapped her hand around the spear’s shaft.

Ava’s eyes widened.

"...No..."

Tessa didn’t answer.

With one slow motion, she began pulling the spear free.

The blade slid out inch by inch.

Every slight movement forced another scream from Ava.

"AAAH...!"

More blood splattered onto the ground.

Finally...

The spear came free.

Ava lost all her strength.

She collapsed onto her side.

Her breathing had become completely uneven.

Tessa silently observed the blood-covered weapon for several seconds.

Then looked back at the young Inquisitor.

"If you’re lucky..."

She slowly spun the spear in her hand.

"...you’ll survive."

Ava could barely keep her eyes open.

Tessa continued.

"The same way I did."

The young woman tried to speak.

But only managed to cough up more blood.

Tessa sighed.

"...And if not..."

Her expression remained completely emotionless.

"...then it was simply your fate."

She raised the spear.

Gripped both ends with her hands.

CRACK.

The shaft snapped cleanly in half.

The broken pieces fell beside Ava’s body.

The new Phoenix Inquisitor stared at her destroyed weapon.

A tear mixed with blood slowly slid down her cheek.

She no longer had the strength to speak.

Tessa raised her head.

In the distance, she spotted Audrey.

Dawn.

Misty.

Catherine.

And Claws.

They were all gathered around one man.

Nox.

He was still completely unconscious while the Huntress carried him.

Tessa’s expression changed instantly.

The coldness disappeared.

Only concern remained.

"...Idiot."

She gave Ava one last look.

"I don’t have time to waste on you anymore."

The wings of fire unfolded once again behind her back.

Their flames illuminated the entire street.

With a single powerful push, Tessa shot into the sky.

Flying straight toward her companions.

Meanwhile...

Several meters behind her...

Ava remained motionless.

Each breath was weaker than the last.

Blood continued spreading beneath her body.

Her eyelids slowly closed.

Little by little...

Darkness completely swallowed her.

And the new Phoenix Inquisitor lost consciousness.