Alan nodded when she said that.
"Can do."
Waving his hand, he summoned a large chicken alfredo pizza on the table that they could both eat from. He pulled two hot pieces from the pizza and put them on a plate. While they cooled, he gave her a wry smile.
"You really like chicken alfredo, don't you?"
Scott looked around the Fifth Hell, not surprised by how barren it was but noting how it was different. Instead of any kind of soil under his feet, it felt like he was walking on iron plating. Reaching down, he tapped the ground and noted that it rang with a metallic clanking sound. Everywhere seemed to be made out of metal except for the sky, and he wondered what kind of person ruled this place. He had encountered male and female rulers interchangeably, and he expected that the ruler of this realm would be a female. However, before he could ponder on that further, the ground began to look strange.
The metal flooring, as he thought of it, began to ripple like water. All of a sudden, he was surrounded by demons that seemed to be made of the same metallic material. They only came up to his waist, but more appeared by the minute.
"I guess we've got a fight on our hands, Valor."
Flaring up his Sacred Aura, Scott sprinted ahead, disintegrating any demons his aura touched. Once he was on higher ground, he saw a castle in the distance.
Knowing that the ruler of this realm lived there, Scott flew toward it at high speed. Using a fully-charged Sacred Fist of Valor, he shattered half of the castle in one strike. A demonic aura could be seen, and a powerful demon began to rise up into the air. It was a male demon, its metallic body shining in the light of its aura. Its armor was spiked with a demonic face on the chest, and it wore a great horned helmet.
"Welcome, Crusader, to Metal Hell."
Scott tightened his fists.
"I need know only one thing, demon. Will you fight, or let me pass? I killed the last two Demon Kings that fought me and spared the Demon Queens that did not choose combat. Ponder over that before you make your decision."
The Metal King nodded soberly, weighing how he should handle this.
"Indeed, word of your actions has spread all over the Nine Gates of Hell. Although it would not seem wise to challenge you, I have an honor and responsibility to try and defend my realm and my Lord. My people would never forgive me if I did not at least try to fight on their behalf."
Scott was actually impressed by the Metal King's words, and respected his sense of honor and duty.
"Odd that a demon would have a sense of honor."
"We're not all like the demons of your Hollywood movies, Crusader."
"I can see that."
Scott assumed his Muay Thai stance, and the Metal King took up his own stance, his left foot back and his hands with claws raised to either side of his face. This was the first time he had faced a Demon King who used an unarmed style, and having no idea about demonic martial arts, Scott knew he had to be careful here. Scott made the first move, imbuing his strikes with Sacred Energy. The Metal King's Infected Metal Aura softened the purifying energy considerably, although the power of Scott's blows still hurt him. His counterattacks were powerful, and though Scott defended himself well, he was still knocked back a time or two when moves he had never seen before, such as a handstand leading to two heels to the face, were used by his enemy. The struggle went on for quite a while, both testing each other and their determination.
Scott knew that he needed to break through the Metal King's defense, and knew just how to do that. He began to use the Sacred Drilling Fist of Valor, trying to penetrate both the Infected Metal Aura and the Metal King's own strength. The Metal King used a clawed hand to focus his aura, trying to push back the fist coming toward him and get to Scott's heart. For what felt like hours, the struggle continued. Eventually, however, the Metal King's strength began to wane. Scott redoubled his efforts, and pierced the solar plexus of the Metal King with his rotating fist.
The Metal King tried to drive his claws through Scott's temples in one last counterattack, but his claws could not pierce the Valor Armor. Burning in the Sacred Aura and with the Drilling Fist almost all the way through him, he howled in pain as black blood began to drip from his mouth. Scott kicked him in the sternum, pushing him back off of his fist. Confused, the Metal King clasped his hands to his chest to stem the blood flow.
"Why...Why didn't you kill me?"
Scott turned his body so that he was in a fighting stance with his left foot forward.
"You are honorable, and you fought bravely even knowing you would lose. I respect courage and fortitude, even when it comes from an evil being. Because of this, I will give you one more chance to surrender and save your own life. You fought on your people's behalf, and I don't think they would blame you if you chose to stop fighting now."
The Metal King smiled weakly.
"It's a miracle you've survived this long, being as soft as you are."
The Metal King leaped at Scott, his fangs bared and his claws flashing. Scott realized that his foe had chosen an honorable death over surrender, a sentiment often shared by the samurai of his own world.
"I will give you the death you deserve, Metal King."
Scott unleashed his Million Punches of Valor, battering his foe with unrelenting strikes, especially to the face and injured solar plexus. On the last strike, he stuck a spear hand strike through the solar plexus and unleashed a Shockwave of Valor. All of this damage cut the Metal King in half at the waist, and black blood began gushing everywhere.
Scott caught the upper body of his foe and guided it to the ground. The Metal King coughed and wheezed as his life force began ebbing away. Scott knelt down and cradled his head, watching him through the unblinking gaze of his Valor helmet.
"Before you die, Metal King, tell me why you chose death over life."
The Demon King looked at him, a dignified look on his face.
"If I had chosen to surrender to you rather than fight to my last breath, I could never forgive myself."
The Metal King chuckled weakly before he subsided into coughs.
"Demons aren't supposed to die, you know. I never imagined that this could happen..."
"You were a true warrior, and a credit to your people. If we hadn't been destined to be enemies, I would have gladly fought alongside you as a friend."
The Metal King smiled at his words and took his last breath before death claimed him.
Scott lowered his head to the ground and closed his eyes. Within moments, he faded into black smoke. Scott had no idea what happened to demons after they died, but if there was a peaceful afterlife for them, the Metal King deserved it. The other Metal Demons stayed far away from him, and he knew they would be in mourning after the defeat of such a noble king. Scott composed himself and then headed for the Sixth Gate of Hell. Within moments, he had passed through, one step closer to saving Nirvana and reuniting with Jessica.