Achilles and Medea approached the gigantic tree which stood about fifty meters tall and had a diameter of about eight meters. It had strange-looking bark, almost like snakeskin that had been turned to stone.

Perhaps that was only the effect of the darkvision, as Achilles had no idea what it would look like during the day.

The trail of the monkeys who had dragged Captain Kestrel here led to the base of the tree. It seemed, though they had previously found it difficult to climb with him, they’d finally managed to drag him up this trunk.

That was strange, considering how smooth the bark was and how there were no branches for many meters to climb onto.

What seemed like thousands of monkeys swarmed on the huge branches which towered at the top of the tree. Achilles felt the tiniest tinge of fear, but he pushed it away.

Twice now, the monkeys had ambushed him.

Twice, he had slaughtered them, and they had run in terror.

They have been great in number, but against a Warrior, these creatures were only sniveling cowards.

Achilles put his hand on the tree bark.

To his astonishment, it felt warm. The bark seemed almost like skin.

There was an immediate increase in the chattering of the monkeys up above when he touched it, and they began to move anxiously back and forth on the branches.

“Well, how are we going to get up there?” asked Achilles. His mind raced.

said Virgil.

Might still be worth it, Achilles thought, if it’s the only way to save Captain Kestrel.

And it seemed obvious that, if Achilles was climbing like that, it would be harder to dodge the spears the monkeys would surely throw at him.

Before Achilles could do anything further, he realized two huge figures were leaping down from the top of the tree.

He leaped back, putting his shield in front of him, and stared in shock at the two figures who had impacted the ground before him, sending the faintest tremor through the ground.

They were both somewhat monkey-shaped, but much, much larger than the others.

One stood a little over two meters tall and had huge muscles and long fangs and claws. Its tail whipped behind it like a cat’s, and ended in a stinger. Its chest was covered in what looked like insect legs jutting from the flesh, all of which constantly twitched as though trying to walk on a surface.

The other was not very muscular, though its limbs were about the size of a man’s. Its torso twisted around in the air like a spring, and it clutched what looked like a giant monkey skull made of stone between its hands.

Both of them were covered in patches of black and silver fur. Flies buzzed around them, and their eyes glowed bright red like coals.

“Demons!” Medea hissed. “Black and silver, with glowing red eyes. What on Earth are demons doing here?”

Achilles had never seen anything so monstrous. His heart pounded, but he forced himself to take a step forward and brandish Virgil.

“Demons, huh? I’ve heard you’re kinda supposed to be tough, but you let cowardly little monkeys do all your work for you? What did you do with Captain Kestrel and the hirelings?”

He squinted and saw through their system information that they were 1st Level Demons. However, he couldn’t see their stats, just like he hadn’t been able to see Lanter’s stats.

said Virgil.

That didn’t exactly make Achilles feel better, but there was no way he would run. Like Medea had said, this was a matter of honor. They had agreed to protect the caravan company, and that’s what they would do.

The corkscrew demon opened its mouth to give a savage grin. “What interesting visitors we have, Big Brother. What darkness must be in their hearts that they come as pilgrims to our Demon Maw?”

The muscular demon made a snort like that of a wild pig. “They bear such dark powers, both of them. They reek of it. They’re no ordinary adventurers, Little Brother.”

Achilles glanced at Medea. The second demon obviously referred to Virgil’s power, but what did Medea have that counted as “dark?”

The corkscrew demon put a hand on the huge tree trunk, stroking it like a pet. “It is true that we just filled the last of the digestion pods, but we could easily pull out two of the weak ones to make room for these guests. What do you say, pilgrims? Will you transcend this mortal existence and go beyond death? Survive seven days of unfathomable pain, drain away your mortality for my children to quench their thirsts, and be reborn as demons.”

The creature’s grin stretched impossibly far. It unhinged its jaw, revealing several bulbous tongues.

“After all,” the corkscrew demon whispered, “who doesn’t want to live forever?”

“Never!” Achilles snapped.

Demons were the enemy of humans.

They had taken everything from humans long ago. Made humans run like scared animals, and still hunted them to this day.

No matter what they offered him, Achilles would never join them.

“I’m going to kill you here,” said Achilles, “and one day, I’m even going to kill the three Demon Lords!”

The muscular demon chuckled. “Brave words. We’ll just have to knock you out and make you a demon by force. Your mind will break many times during your transformation, and then you’ll serve me as eagerly as you spit in my face now. Oh, but your friend! The darkness within her grows stronger every moment. I’m surprised even a worm of a human can’t smell it by now! She hungers for what we offer, as shamelessly as any demon!”

said Virgil.

Surprised, Achilles turned his head to look at Medea in disbelief.

A strange air pressure emanated from her, pushing back dust and dead leaves in a sphere around her.

Medea’s stats slowly rose. Her veins glowed with a faint white light, as they had when Sir Azarah asked her to prove her loyalty, and the same glowing symbol appeared on her forehead.

Then the light suddenly streamed through her skin and coalesced in her right hand, which she held outstretched.

“Ancestral Foundation: On His Blindness.”

Then the light in her hand turned to pitch darkness, and she wielded a shadow in the shape of a sword with a crescent moon blade.

Achilles turned back and smirked at the demons.

He and Medea leaped forward, striking like a pair of wolves.