[Seeker Blade]- Tier 1 Bonded!

I gasp as a mix of Essence and Mana is yanked out of me and infused into the weapon. A wave of exhaustion nearly has me take a knee, but I keep standing and soon feel the lot of power I ‘lost’ returns to me— stronger.

Without needing to look I know it’s there, the Seeker Blade. It slipped out my hand a moment ago but it hangs in the air beside my hand as though attached to it. And like a third limb, I command it to rise up to me.

The blade has a crimson sheen to it, gleaming down the side of the strange iron used to craft it. The words carved in are illegible, but with the way the concentrate of Essence and Mana flows through it tells me it’s an important part of the way it works.

‘An enchanted weapon…’

It’s an awe to behold and to be with. From the moment the bond was created I knew of all its capabilities— boundless— like myself but if only fuelled with boundless power.

Still, a blade that seeks its enemies. With it floating next to me, I let it fall in my hand— the ability to control it remotely comes with a heavy tax on mana. Not mine, but the blade’s.

‘It’s almost a living thing…but that would require more…so much more.’

“You’re welcome,” Gerim cuts my fantasizing short, “Calridian crafted that from the Crystals you’re due as Lord Crimson. You will get the corpses of your foes as well, but after we return from this mission.”

My mood instantly sours. ‘He used…that fucking con-man!’

We’d made the deal to learn the spell and get the weapon before, I became Lord Crimson. Those Crystals should be mine. Mine to absorb not have in some weapon.

Despite knowing its potential I’d prefer to have the Essence for myself. ‘The Blade can be taken away, stolen, repurposed. None of that will happen to me unless I’m dead.’

He was meant to gift me this weapon, not take it out of my earnings. ‘Wait…before I became Lord Crimson? Then…did he- would he?’

Gritting my teeth and following after Gerim I scold myself for even doubting, ‘Of course he would. Hargoil could’ve thrown me into the pit on Calridian’s orders. Why wouldn’t he? He wants his own squad.’

At the last part I almost come to a halt and interrupt Gerim’s boring long winded explanation of our war target and objectives.

‘Could Hargoil have gotten his own squad? Is that why I haven’t seen the twins?’

I’m knocked out of my thoughts when I bump into Gerim. He glares down at me, “Should I take you back?”

“I’m sorry.” I apologize immediately, from the impression of everyone I can tell I’m in the wrong here and fighting it would be detrimental for…

“Our teamwork.”

“Yes, I heard you.” I say.

“You’d better have.” He snarls and turns away.

I did listen, although not that much. But what little I heard tells me we’re off to lay the first attack on the Demon Lord Vark’s latest settlement. A settlement that’s a little too close to our borders by the talk of it and one that sends out a clear message.

‘Vark’s means war.’

Diplomacy must be a myth with these Demon Lords if violence is the first and most sought out option, then again, with all I’ve seen here I have no doubt it’s the right one.

The first strike of any battle doesn’t determine the outcome, but it sure as hell influences it.

We’re not to underestimate the settlement though, after all, it’s still held by a Maroon level demon. But this is the start of a war campaign, a pre-emptive strike while the Demon Lord and the Noble Generals prepare for the main phase. So of course we’re heading in anyway.

“It’s not hopeless, we’re not the only ones headed there.” The [Leptir] interrupts, “You talk like you’re the only one who sees things.” He says, amused by me.

I want to tell them reading into others private thoughts is rude but I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Rather, I make greater effort to seal my thoughts away from them.

In a snap my mind pounds and my head aches as the two direct their efforts to pulling open my thoughts. Their assault is nothing like Calridian’s or even Gerim’s. Resistance isn’t futile.

Narrowing my eyes, I shut the doors into my mind, holding fast against their banging and eventually, they give up.

“Lord Crimson.” The [Ashka] hisses and turns to its companion, “Worth the title.”

The [Leptir] remains amused by me as we thread through the cooling desert storm. Keeping my mind closed off I curse that I’ve got to behave on this mission. With Gerim’s long speech about keeping close to allies and the [Leptir] correcting my assumptions, I’d certainly be in the wrong if I jumped the two.

As much as I ache to try out the Seeker Blade, I can’t go about killing allies…at least not for these reasons.

“It might be,” The [Leptir] replies, gazing at me, “Let’s hope it does enough to be worth the title.”

“I bet it dies.”

Casually discussing my death is where I draw the line, “I bet I kill you.” I seethe, radiating Essence as the Seeker Blade spins beside over my open palm, ready to launch at his head.

The [Leptir’s] amused impression turns blithe with joy, “We’ll see.”

Neither of us say anything after that, and the grim expression Gerim tosses over his shoulder doesn’t fill me with much confidence.

‘If he’s worried…’

***

The Seeker Blade blends the insides of a rather massive [Adar]. Gerim and Fex stand on the side-lines, whispering more unheard words about our unreached destination.

The scratchy roar of a [Hezzura] startles me, it leaps from within a place in the sand behind me, bone tail set to skewer me. A long green chain circles around it, constricting and bounding it in the air.

Above us all is the [Leptir], his colourful wings beat the air and keep him and his prey a float. With a tug from his rather thin arm the chain sprouts blades along its sides. The [Hezzura] screams as it watches its bottom half sawed off.

It doesn’t hold on to life after that, and the [Leptir] tosses the top half upwards to rip out its gleaming Crimson Crystal. He flutters away, chains drooping from his fingers in search for the next prey.

‘Prey’ wouldn’t be the right word as this group of demons chose to attack us. I understand why, they see a group of high-classed demons like us and they’ve really got one choice.

Fight or die.

Setting out my hand the Seeker Blade rips through the insides of the collapsed [Adar] and snaps into my hand. Licking the blade clean I scoff at the irony. ‘It’s the same option either way.’

These have been the best times during the journey— the hunt. Gerim and Fex indulge us, letting I, the [Leptir] and [Ashka] to do as we please with the demons in front of us.

In the past week of traversing the dunes, I’ve captured a healthy bit of Crystals from them. It’s not nearly enough to make me forget about Calridian taking the heap of Crystals I was due to make the Seeker Blade, but it’s enough to appreciate the Blade itself.

At the cost of mana, the blade levitates and seeks out my victims. It’s especially sharp against demons I’ve already cut— a coat of Essence, its own for that matter, empowers it against my first foes.

Although I’ve only gotten to use it for no longer than a few minutes each encounter, it’s proven its worth. Activating the innate power within the blade would require a lot more blood spilled and enemies felled.

And I believe the thirst will be satiated where we’re headed.

“Alright, let’s keep moving. Absorb your Crystals now or risk losing them when we arrive, we’re close now.” Fex announces, bounding off ahead of us with Gerim in tow.

The [Leptir] descends and walks beside me, “We are close.” He says and I know I can take his word for it. Aside from the fact he sees further than any of us up in the air, there’s the multitude of demons…demons as strong as him on the edge of the horizon.

“I know.” I reply, “I have senses too.” Throughout our journey the [Leptir] has found minor ways to annoy me. Pointing out the obvious is one of them…stealing my kills is another.

We meet up with the [Ashka] and he groans at having to leave behind his meal. “There’s more to be had ahead. Fiery meat too.” The [Leptir] says, exuding an excited impression.

I shake my head and leave the two behind to discuss their current and future meals. I don’t know why they’re so excited— in part I can relate to the joy of farming Crystals but the farmland is frightening.

Gerim, Fex and I climb over the top of what has to be the last dune and a bright, burning light falls on our faces. The startling orange and red glow of the Fire Divide stands before us in its glory.

Lava pools down from a giant volcanic mountain, plumes of ash and soot settle in the sky, turning it grey. There’s a clean divide where the Desert’s dreary brown sky ends and the ash filled skies begin.

Standing on the last dune by the border, the sounds of the Fire divide are overwhelming. Unlike the calm, sinister quiet of billowing winds and burrowing predators the Desert brings, this Divide is loud, chaotic— dangerous.

“It’s no more dangerous than where you’re coming from.” Gerim grunts at me. I nod and his throat rumbles a bit, “If you’re absorbing those Crystals, do so now. Otherwise-”

“I’ll absorb them, now. I will.” I start pulling them out.

“When you’re done, meet me down there, we have to stick together on this mission. More than with any of the others. Got it?”

He leaves before I nod, following after Fex and his demons.

Down there is a congregation of demons. The surge and pump of power coming from them as a group could be mistaken for a Noble General.

‘We’ve gathered an army equal to a Maroon tier.’ I note.

There are ten Blood Orange demons, including Gerim and Fex. The rest of the demons are my level, or at least I’m coming closer to theirs. Aside from myself, there are at least fifteen other high class Crimson demons.

If the [Leptir] and [Ashka] came with Fex from the Queen of Ticks, and I came with Gerim from Calridian. Then these fifteen must be from the other Noble Generals.

‘Allies…in a manner of speaking anyway.’

The lot of them radiate hostility towards each other, I understand well enough why Gerim wants us to stick together. As much as these demons try for to be organized, there’s bound to be cracks in the foundation of this tumultuous alliance of forces. Heck Gerim doesn’t like Fex all that much from what I’ve seen.

Setting the thoughts of politics and replacing it with thoughts of power, I gather the Crystals I’ve reaped from the demons on the way here. Together they’d give 57Esq.

Not much, but I’m grateful, I haven’t had any boosts for over a year now. “Absorb.”

My Soul Crystal reaches out and cracks open each one, tendrils of Essence flow into me, rejuvenating me with power. My brows furrow as behind it all there’s something…no, there’s everything eating at my absorption as well. Making its worth less than it is.

‘Reais…the layer.’