Story ended up coming out a lot later than expected. This is mainly due to the fact that school was ending for me and I was running out of overall time in my days to do things. I'm not going to rant about how I needed so much time to study, because I didn't. I just plain never got around to doing anything with the story because I had my mind on lots of other things.

~3rd Person~

The sun rose on the next day, and the heroes woke up. Lorne had snuck back into the building while Josh sat outside most of the night contemplating on what he could have possibly said that could have led to his comedic downfall.

Everyone woke up easily and ate a grand breakfast. After all, this was an expensive inn, and they were heroes so of course they were given top class food for free. Nobody had any complaints, and the inn would most likely get even more people to go to it with the fact that the heroes chose to stay at it.

All but Josh were merry and laughing while they ate. Josh was off to the side still thinking what he could have done wrong. You see, Josh was in the delusion that he was the true hero that all would bow down to.

There was much confusion in his mind, but there was also anger. Anger that seemed to curse Morgan for not accepting his flirting, and embarrassing him as she did. He didn't act on it, but he was very much upset.

The heroes ignored Josh as they didn't want to get involved, so everyone enjoyed themselves. That is... until:

*Slam*

The one to walk in was the guild master of the Adventurers' Guild here in Zycon. She was a woman of average height, and had the addition of heels. She wore a very business-like suit and had long, blonde hair that reached her hips. She had glasses and sky blue eyes. Her curves showed off her maturity, as she seemed to be approximately 30.

Everyone went quiet as she walked over to the heroes as they all sat in a booth eating. The exception being Josh of course in a separate booth.

"Heroes, there has been an issue. I need you all to follow me into the carriage. We will discuss everything on the way." (Zycon Guild Master)

Upon her dialogue, the heroes got up and began to walk. A few hurried to ask her where they would be going, and she simply replied "To the Guild".

Lorne and Morgan followed lazily in the back, and everyone got into the very large carriage that was carried by 4 horses. Once everyone was situated, they began to ride off.

"So, what is so important that you called us all here?" (Josh)

Josh was the first to speak, as even though he was dejected about his issues with Morgan, he had to live up to being the leader of his band of heroes.

"The Demon King is dead." (Zycon Guild Master)

Upon these words, all but Lorne and Morgan froze. It seemed as if time had stopped inside their carriage as nobody uttered a word. All the heroes' eyes widened at her speech, and they simply waited for her to continue. Understanding their intentions, she did.

"From our spies in the demon capital of Tandspes they supposedly saw a dragon kin with crimson hair following a demon with 5 horns about his head. The demon also had weird red markings all over his body, and the spies happened to have been off duty. They didn't tail him since he went directly into the castle. Doing so would have been suicide." (Zycon Guild Master)

Taking a deep breath, she continued.

"Supposedly they stayed around the castle to see if anything were to happen, such as those two leaving with soldiers or goods. However, they soon saw many soldiers fleeing the castle. Out came the demon followed by the dragon kin. The demon had bloodstains on himself, and all the guards fled for their lives in his presence. This greatly confused the spies until they later heard of the Demon King's 'assassination'." (Zycon Guild Master)

The heroes just sat there and soaked all the information in. However, the first to speak besides the guild master was surprisingly Lorne.

"So, what do we do now? The demon king is dead, so that means a new one will take his place. That still doesn't get rid of the fact that we were tasked with defeating the demons." (Lorne)

The guild master wanted to ask who he was, but since the heroes all accepted his speech, she just assumed him to be a recruit.

"It introduces a new character who has the ability to relatively easily kill a demon king. A demon king in which all feared is as strong as many heroes combined. For such a creature to simply walk in, kill the demon king without the crowd immediately knowing from the destruction it should have caused, then walking out is mind-boggling." (Zycon Guild Master)

Lorne smiled at this, as he found it very amusing. He tried his best to keep himself under control, and although it aroused suspicion in the guild master who saw this, she ignored it. That of course was a big mistake.

"What do you mean by a new demon king?" (Susan)

"Well, you see, when a demon king is killed or dies in general, a new demon king will be chosen automatically. They will then ascend the throne after obtaining the new powers. Each demon king becomes more powerful than the last as their power stacks and stacks. The power of a powerful demon is added to the tremendous power of a demon king, then it becomes greater. Then that greater power is added to the next in line's." (Zycon Guild Master)

At these words, the heroes became slightly worried. The demon king was now more powerful. While not by much, it is still a decent amount.

However, utmost fear engulfed the heroes as they had the worries of the fact that Lorne could kill such a creature relatively easily. That meant that even if they were to defeat the demon king, it would matter not since Lorne was stronger than such a being.

Upon this realization, all of the heroes shivered at the thought of never being strong enough to beat Lorne. Josh on the other hand had a large majority of that fear converted into pure rage at the thought of being weaker than the person he used to pound to a pulp every day.

The guild master only looked down as she too had a lot on her plate. She would end up sending many adventurers to their doom. For even if they won the battle against the demon king, she also knew that the creature that killed the previous demon king would be an issue. She also heard of the news of the threat from said creature, so that only added onto her pile of worries.

With silence, the carriage continued on its venture to the guild. It rocked on the stony paths and only the sound of wood clanking was heard throughout a large distance of where the carriage was. None of the heroes spoke since they were simply stunned and either filled with dread, confusion, or wrath.

Lorne and Morgan stayed silent, and put on faces as if thinking the situation through, for they actually were. Lorne was planning what to do for now. The humans would most likely mobilize their forces, and thus the two countries would be getting their armies ready in secret.

Lorne planned to attack the humans when they least expected it, and barely participate, but it seems as thought he is going to have to act in the upcoming war if he wants the demons to win it. It'll end in a stalemate if he sits out and just observes. His plans can continue working, but he's going to have to cause some havoc in the human kingdoms.

He hid the smile that would have plastered his face as he became pleased at the fact that he was now required to have some fun within enemy territory. A few high ranking officials going missing should mess up their plans, right?

The carriage eventually came up to the guild, and the heroes got out alongside Lorne and Morgan. The guild master followed suite, and the heroes were ushered into the large building that was painted green and white. The paint was mostly new since you could not see many cracks or signs of deterioration, and everything looked splendid.

'Humans do tend to have a trait to show off their goods' Morgan mused to herself.

The first to speak after the long silence was the guild master.

“Please follow me into the building.”

It wasn’t anything spectacular, but the awkwardness of the situation was rivaled by the cheering of the people on the streets at the sight of their heroes. Even inside the guild people were clapping and yelling like madmen.

Morgan figured that there would be a meeting with the heroes to determine their positions for the upcoming battles, and they would most likely be sent in once the demon forces have weakened.

The specifics of their plans were unknown since Demon/Beastkin strategies were different than Human strategies, so Morgan could not answer most of the questions she had.

Lorne on the other hand was not thinking of Humanity as a threat. Merely an obstacle. He was ecstatic at the fact that he would soon be killing and slaughtering to lessen the willpower of the humans.

When a single being crushes all their hopes and dreams, and seemingly is much stronger than the heroes, how would they react? Would they react with even more willpower to try and defeat said being? Surely not. They would lose hope. If that single being joins a powerful army, even with the heroes, they would be crushed.

It would most likely be best to surrender before everything was destroyed. The humans would split up in factions. There would be those that would fight until the end. Some would want peace after seeing that they couldn’t win, and others would surrender in hopes of mercy. Such is the disgusting race known as humans. In fact, Lorne believed that all intelligent races were capable at doing this. It was just humans that were most known for their 'corruption'.

Cocky until they realize they have lost, and then they beg for mercy. Mercy they didn’t give to those they slaughtered, and they expect to receive mercy just because they think they are better.

Lorne hated humans because of their attitudes. The way that they were. In fact, he hated all life. This new thought process was strange to him.

He had been given the task of protecting the world from the humans, and helping the demons. He hated humans at first, but gradually he began to hate all life which included demons. Anything alive. As he walked inside the guild he looked at all the faces of the people.

Joy was plastered across them all. The joy of finally being able to turn the tides in their favor. The merriment of life. Their rugged breathing from shouting at the top of their lungs, and the colored face shown from the flowing blood. An overwhelming hate of happy emotions welled up inside him at that moment. Then,

*BaDump*

Lorne’s chest seemed to burst out. A single, large heartbeat reverberated throughout his entire being.

*Ba-Dump*

This time, it was louder but slower. Time slowed as he darted his head and looked at everyone. Morgan sensed something to have been wrong, and she went over to him. They were currently nearing the entrance to the guild master’s room.

The other heroes turned their gazes towards Lorne in confusion.

Lorne paled quickly.

“Ba…. Dump…”

His heartbeat had slowed, and inside of him he felt that overwhelming want to slaughter and tuned everyone out. To end their lives and devour their souls. Devour everything alive within his eyesight. Lorne knew this and panicked. He wouldn’t be able to hold it back any longer.

Just before he was about to lose it, he teleported out. As far away from everyone as he could, in a remote place within the forest outside of the city of Zycon.

Everyone that had been in the guild was surprised. Teleportation magic was a high ranking magic that only the best of the best could use. It required the user to use magic to manipulate space itself, then transfer themselves throughout that manipulated space while using a tremendous amount of focus.

This was to be expected for a mage alongside the heroes, though. When everyone turned towards Morgan for answers, she thought for a bit then said: “Let’s continue. He should be right back. Sometimes his magic can get out of hand and he has to let it loose.”

After several awkward nods, they began to move into the guild master’s room.