As I run towards the location where we plan to meet, I can hear some explosion, and it looks like the fight is already begun.

And when I arrive at the place, I saw Beelzebub and others getting attacked by this man with a red hair, and without a doubt, this is diavolo.

And as I saw Beelzebub is on a tight spot, I Stopped Time and summoned both of my rapier. And when I am approaching Diavolo something is wrong. He seem to be defending himself with both of his sword on my direction. Does he predict that I will attack?

I walked behind him and attacked him with my rapier, but when I'm about to hit him I suddenly stopped. I stopped because I realize that his eyes are locked on me. Did he moved his eyes inside my frozen world? No... He looked at this direction just before I stopped time...

That surprised me... I proceed to hit him with the rapier with my full strength and resuming time and making him flew from afar.

"Ah! I'm glad. I'm glad that I made it in time."

"A... Ariel!"

"Beelzebub, are you alright? What about the others?"

And right after I asked her that, Diavolo charges towards me.

W... What's with this speed? Didn't I made him flew a while ago?! It should take some time to get back in here!

"Heh... that's the farther you can go! Time Stop! 1 minute left!"

To be honest... I really want to have an unlimited time when I'm stopping time. My current limit is 1 minute (60 seconds). On the first time I used this power I can only stop time for 30-35 seconds. But, I figured that if I keep using this power the time limit increase second by second. But somehow I am now stuck at the limit of 1 minute and it won't increase anymore... Is this my limit? Well... This power is powerful on the first place so I have no complain...

As I approach Diavolo I summoned another rapier and planning to end him with one strike. And when I am infront of him, I take a deep breath and strike him with my rapier. But before my rapier hit him, I realize that one of his sword is missing.

I stopped the attack and look behind me where Beelzebub and the other is resting. T... This bastard!! Just before I stopped time... He throw one of his sword onto them...!!

Half minute left... If I end him now I don't have time to save them and the time will resume and might injure them. But... If I save them now Diavolo will attack us...

"Tsk..."

After thinking about all of that (in a split second) I ran towards Beelzebub and swing my rapier to the sword that Diavolo throws, and after that I ran towards diavolo. And when I'm infront of him, I immediately attacked him. But the time limit has passed and time has moved again.

And as the time has continued, Diavolo dodged the rapier by backing off, like he plan everything.

"Diavolo... Can you see inside the frozen world...?"

"..."

"I asked you Diavolo! Can you see me inside the frozen world?!!"

"Heh... Try to guess."

We both charge to each other and exchange strikes from our weapons. My time stop is still on cooldown, I need to buy some time for my ability to work...

"You're Ariel, right? You must've been thinking of buying time for your time stop ability right?"

"?!"

"Seems I'm right. But! Before you can use time stop again, I will defeat you!!"

He suddenly changed the swing of his sword and hit me on the chest.

"Aaargh!!"

"Ahaha! You're a goddess indeed, but you still lack of experience of fighting!"

It hurts...!!

"This is the end!"

"Bastard...! Time--"

"Too slow!"

Just before I used the ability, he used his blade to slit my throat.

"Stgggh...!!?"

As I fell on the ground, my rapiers disappeared.

-- "A... Ariel!"

W... Wha...??! What's this?? It's hot... Losing... I'm losing balance...!??

"Hm... This is surprising. I thought goddesses are immortal. I thought that they can't die and have their wounds (injuries) instantly healed."

What...?? What is he saying...?

"Well... It's been a good fight... But you still going to perish!"

He attacked me with one of his sword, and as the sword is about to hit me, memories from the past flash before my eyes. And I also heard someone's voice that is rather familiar to me.

--- "D..." ---

Who might it be...

--- "Don't give up... Sakura... It's too early for you to give up just yet... Fight... Fight for the sake of your friends... For the sake of your new family..." ---

Ah... That's right... I am fighting not just for me...! I'm fighting for Shizuka and for the others!! And I will not be defeated easily!

"Time--"

And just before I activate my ability, I heard someone speaks my name

"That's enough Ariel... You've done enough... Leave everything to me..."

I... It's Shizu...

And I passed out because of the blood I lost.