Reincarnated in the Astral World

Emilio looks confused at the Nexus of Arthur, which, although he has no experience with other Astral Beasts so far, understands that a heart as a Nexus and Nyx as his Astral Beast is anything but normal.

"You won't live long enough to see her," Arthur comments in a cold tone while holding his sword firmly. Although Emilio is severely wounded with his bones fractured, he is still a Champion.

"How arrogant for a boy who only relies on his mother's power," Emilio mocks, holding his own sword.

"Tsk," As Liam, such provocation would never have affected him, but Arthur feels something stirring in his heart, or rather, the legacy left by Draven that runs through his veins within his blood, the pride of a Leonheart.

"Don't worry, she won't interfere," Arthur spins his sword skillfully, "This is just between you and me."

"After she damaged all my bones, of course…" Emilio tries to appear confident, but there is fear in his eyes, especially when he remembers how Dmitri died by Arthur's blade.

"That evens things out a bit," Aria's voice sounds from behind Arthur. "Come on, you're still a Champion against a Mystic Fighter… are you seriously crying about injustice?"

"I want your word that if I win this, I can keep my life!" Emilio exclaims desperately.

*Snap*

*Crraaaaack*

Aria just snaps her fingers, and Emilio's bones start to break again, and not even his expensive potion can prevent him from feeling some pain.

"AHH!!" He grits his teeth and falls to his knees.

But Arthur raises his hand, "Mom, leave him to me."

Aria cancels her magic, and Emilio can breathe again. "Fine, darling~ just kill him so we can get out of this place already,"

"This will be quick…" Arthur begins to circle around Emilio, carefully observing the man.

"On that, we agree," Emilio stands up and grips his sword tightly again; his malicious eyes fall on Arthur like a snake. "Even if your mother kills me afterward, I'll make sure to finish you before!"

"Come on," Arthur smiles provocatively. "Even your daughter tried to fight before I killed her like a dirty animal... Are you really going to keep crying on the floor like a baby?"

"YOU!!!" Emilio cares about his life first and foremost always, but even someone as selfish as he feels something when hearing how his daughter was killed.

"That's it!" Arthur laughs and points his sword at Emilio. "That pain in your eyes, I want to see much more of it… maybe I should go back downstairs and get the heads of your children to show you?"

"BASTARD!!!" Emilio becomes furious and charges towards Arthur, swinging his sword impulsively.

"Fool…" Arthur's lips curve into a sinister smile as he sees through Emilio's movements with his Weapon Mastery. Not only can he see the trajectory of his enemy's blade but also all his possible reactions and even its variations.

*Whoosh*

With a quick movement, Arthur steps to the side and skillfully lets his blade glide along Emilio's sword.

*Clang*

Emilio loses balance and tries to turn to counter-attack.

"Easy…" Arthur raises his sword to cut his enemy's, all his movements coldly calculated.

But as Emilio turns around, Arthur sees a glow on his chest, and his instincts scream along with Nyx's voice in his mind, 'Careful!!!'

Arthur is quite confident due to predicting Emilio's movements, but when the Viscount's tattoo comes to life in the form of a big condor, it catches him by surprise.

*SHOOOOSH*

The creature spreads its black and red wings, launching a wave of wind at Arthur, who raises his sword infused with Intent to slice the wind attack in half, preventing it from sending him flying backward hard.

Arthur's reaction is quick and precise, but the emergence of the condor messes with his senses, forcing him to recalculate possible attacks. And before he can anticipate the creature's movements, Emilio emerges from behind it and attacks with his sword.

*Whoosh*

*Clang*

Arthur manages to block Emilio's blade with his own, but while their swords are connected, the condor flaps its large wings, again sending waves of wind over Arthur.

"SHIT!" He pulls back his blade, but Emilio uses this moment to kick Arthur in the belly, sending him backward with the force of a Champion.

*BAM*

Arthur feels pain throughout his body but ignores it and plants his sword on the ground to control the fall, only being pushed a few meters and stopping just short of hitting the bedroom wall.

"Darling~?!" Aria's voice sounds concerned, but he quickly raises his free hand. "I'm fine!"

Aria tries to contain her urge to kill Emilio immediately and allows him and Arthur to exchange challenging looks.

"Heh? Why do you seem surprised to see my faithful companion?" Emilio asks with a mocking smile on his face. "Don't tell me your pink heart is useless?"

"Far from it," Arthur wipes a bit of blood that trickles from his lips due to the power of Emilio's attack.

Emilio is confused but also sees confusion in Arthur's eyes and tries to use it to gain an advantage. "Then why don't you show me your Astral Beast? They are our greatest blessings... what sets people like us apart from stupid peasants... they are our greatest companions, our greatest weapons!"

'He's right!' Nyx exclaims in Arthur's mind. 'Let me out to fight alongside you!'

'Are you sure?' Arthur can't help but be concerned about Nyx.

'Yeah, I'm not so fragile,' she quickly responds. 'I may not be as incredibly skilled as you, but I have been feeling much stronger lately thanks to what we do together… and I don't want to stay hidden inside your Nexus all the time; I'm your wife, and I want to fight by your side!'

Arthur can feel the determination, dedication, and love from Nyx through her tone and the connection they share through his Nexus. A part of him still thinks like Liam, a lone wolf. But that's not the new him, the one that enjoys having the women he loves near him.

"Alright, Emilio…" Arthur recomposes himself and looks at his enemy with a confident expression. "You wanted to meet her, my wife, didn't you?"

"Wife? What the fuck is it about??" Emilio is confused by Arthur's words and even more shocked than ever to see the pink heart transform into the beautiful and diabolical Nyx in her impressive black dress.

"Horns? Wings? A tail…" Emilio recognizes those features from old legends told to children to scare them about monsters under the bed. "A demon? FOR REAL?!"

"I think so," Arthur smiles as he brings his free hand to Nyx's face and lovingly caresses her chin and cheeks. "Isn't she beautiful? You're lucky to have such a sight before you die…"

"Fuck you! Both of you, freaks!!" Emilio points his sword at Arthur and Nyx. "I don't care that you have a demon as an Astral Beast; I'm still going to kill you!!"

"Let's see," Arthur walks towards Emilio, spinning his sword confidently.

Emilio also raises his blade, but instead of advancing, he points to Arthur and exclaims to his condor. "Go, Rock!!"

*Tweeeee!*

The large bird spreads its wings towards Arthur, preparing for another wave of wind, but then Nyx steps beside him and raises her hand toward the condor.

'What is it?' Arthur asks curiously in her mind.

'I'm trying something,' she responds calmly, and her yellow eyes begin to glow.

Nothing comes out of her hand, but the glow in her eyes awakens something within the condor, reflecting that same glow.

*Twee?*

The aggressive posture of the large bird quickly disappears, giving way to confusion, the same confusion that arises within Emilio.

"What are you doing to my Astral Beast?!!" He questions Nyx furiously. "What kind of demonic witchcraft is this???"

"Demonic witchcraft? Hehee…" Nyx smiles while trying to understand what she is doing.

She doesn't even understand it herself, so she wonders mentally with Arthur. 'I just feel this energy inside me instinctively… I felt it when this energy resonated with that of the condor at Josephine's house, and now even more… I think I can influence it somehow with my own energy, which is superior.'

'That's impressive, my love!' Arthur stands beside Nyx and taps her head tenderly.

As Emilio's expression turns even uglier, Nyx's smile grows brighter. "Watch this…" She learns to control that energy instinctively, and a pink glow appears in her eyes before emerging in the condor's eyes as well.

"Bow." She speaks in a commanding tone, and to everyone's surprise, the condor bows to Nyx, its head nearly touching the floor.

"NO SHIT!?" Emilio exclaims and tries to give orders to the condor, but the creature refuses to move.

Nyx flashes a proud smile at Arthur. "The fool is all yours now, my love."

"Thank you, honey," Arthur kisses Nyx's lips. Then his eyes turn cold again as he looks at the desperate Emilio.

"Shall we get back to our matter now?"

"Your demon is messing with my condor! That's not fair!!"

"Oh? You want to talk about fairness again… what a fool indeed, I have nothing to do with justice…"

Arthur's eyes gleam like cold pearls but also seem to burn with dark flames. "I just want to hurt you… because I love to see the fear in your eyes…"