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As Lark lined up her wolves in front of the barricade, I grew the rose until the thorns were as big as blades, the stalks like chains Recalling another Arcana’s tactic, I positioned the stalks just so for Ogen A last backup

Finished, I turned to Lark “You could leave the wolves and go hide” When she hesitated, I said, “Weirdly, I care if you live or die I’ll behiainst hiht I’ll stick around—”

Rock and rubble exploded down froen had punched his way through the floor of thehis horns on the jagged side of the opening “Smell BLOOD!” When he dropped down into the warehouse, tremors rippled beneath our feet

Lark’s face paled even le before he got to us, wouldn’t be weakened

When the wolves hunched down, snarling to fight, I snapped out of my shock With a wave of my hand, vines shot out to lasso hi around his horns

Once he was caught, the wolves attacked as one, going for his belly He roared with pain as the three snatched chunks out of his hide Greenish-yellow goo seeped fro above Ogen’s head, scratching and pecking at his eyes

“It’s working!” Lark cried

I’d just nodded at her when Ogen thrashed, ripping free fro one horn into the falcon’s breast A bloody bundle of feathers thudded to the ground

Eyes wide, I threw everything I had at hi at any exposed hide

Despite this all-out assault, he began to advance, shuffling past a ht ared to snag one leg, he’d drag it behind hith frorinned, dripping saliva “Now FEAST!”

When he reached the barricade, the wolves redoubled their attack—

He scooped one up, twisting its body like a blood-soaked rag I cried out when he broke Cyclops over his knee He trah each attack, Lark jerked and gasped for breath Turning watering eyes toward me, she sputtered, “Wh-what do we do now?”

We were trapped in the back corner, with only one barricade to keep Ogen out

With a slobbery grin, he squeezed his right hand into a fist I bracedHe launched that fist at ony all over otten one leg in

He yelled, “ALTAR!” and busted through Lark scurried out of the way, but he was too quick With the back of one hand, he swatted her She flew into the wall—and didn’tto die for that” Needing to get him into position, I skirted closer to my trap “Come, Devil Touch” In our Arcana battle at the riverside, Gabriel had surprised Death with a net I had one of ed for iant thorns sharper than barbed wire

“But you’ll pay a price”

He roared as I tightened the stalks around hi to the bone “Don’t you re you to stay” My words trailed off

Ogen was er, his height stretching toward the lofty ceiling

That sly brute had been sandbagging all this tinitude of his power Did Death even know?

When his horns speared the sunlalass down, I knew I couldn’t hold hirated, pain scoringover, he sto vines between us

My backme in one of his enormous hands “Pretty meat!” He inched me closer to his face

I slashed at him with my claws, but he didn’t seem to feel them

His slitted pupils expanded as he sniffeda screa me as he had once before Only this ti,Did he mean to pop er have teeth?

As consciousness wavered, I thought I heard Aric bellowing for ain, would never get a chance to convince him how different I was Would he pass another seven centuries of ed ht?

Alh azed down at me in that suspended moment of tieline Finally found the place I’m supposed to be With , to stop searching?

Died to crack openinto view Behind his helht I’d be so happy to see Death charging toward me with both swords drawn

“You disobey en leapt up, releasing me “Not my boss I sit upon Lucifer’s knee!”

I sucked in breaths, struggling to rise This wasn’t over The battle still called

When Ogen barreled toward hiht, then struck with his left sword Aen hoith fury, shattering ed once ht hi hiainst it so hard his helmet was knocked off

“Aric, no!” I choked out I threw another wave of vines at the Devil Connected to so enerating But even at full power, I could only buy Aric so much time

Somehow he’d kept hold of his swords Soave a shake of his head, as if to clear his vision “Ah, Ogen, all brawn and no brains No skill—no style Don’t you know that quality will alin over quantity?”

Ogen roared so loud it pained ed once ing an anvil fist, driving one sword up into the Devil’s guts Rancid goo oozed

“B-boss?” Ogen whian to shrink as if he’d been deflated

Twisting that sword, Aric planted his second one

Ogen’s body dwindled until he was not much taller than Aric Only then did Death reen tottered dumbly on cloven feet, Aric said, “Until next time, Devil” Slice

The Devil Card was no more