I hope you like the chapter....

Chapter 17 A’: The final Battle

Sachiko and co had left the Generals area. As he had promised, there was no one to stop them from opening the heavy metal doors that were cited at the back of the grand hall and were not along ago, guarded by him and his loyal servants.

As the heroes’ party cautiously stepped through them, they were slowly taking in their surroundings. All of them were in a fully alerted state, cautious about danger and nervous about the whole situation.

The site that greeted them once they stepped behind those closed doors, was that of pitch black darkness.

But in the few seconds that it took them to get out of surprise, get used to it and deal with it, the darkness had already been lifted. There were torches on the walls, that seconds after they set their foot in, were magically ignited, illuminating the place.

It was as if their arrival, was expected. Realizing that the element of surprise was completely lost, the heroes could only continue their way forward.

Taking the stairs now completely visible by lights, they started climbing down.

At the end of them stood a huge circular room. The room itself could only be considered as a cavern sculpted deep inside the Athos Mountain. A red long velvety carpet was placed on the ground reaching all the way to a throne.

The cavern walls were filled with all sorts of gems and ores, all of which were in their pure raw form, untouched by human hands for what seemed eons. It was as if those mineral treasures had been waiting for someone to mine and refine them. The light pouring from the torches around the room was reflecting on these gifts of nature creating a rare sight to the eye.

If one was to be in front of such a beautiful and majestic sight, he would just stand there in awe, mezmerized by the beauty of nature. Alas, that was not the case for Eric.

For him the only thing that mattered right now was defeating the one currently sitting on his throne, tapping the nails of his fingers on his throne impatiently, a stoic expression on his face.

King Asmodeus didn’t look alarmed at all by their arrival. No, on contraire, it was as if he was expecting them all along. For a demon his whole appearance and the aura surrounding him only screamed royalty.

His long, white hair were tied loosely in a ponytail, making his pointy ears visible. His wrinkled face and long white beard spoke of old age and wisdom, but the look on his eyes did nothing to betray his true age.

No, these golden eyes that were shining ever so brightly full of vitality did not belong to a weak old man.

One might even confuse him for an old human geezer if not for the two long horns coming out from his forehead and the elongated canines protruding from his mouth..

Those two long horns reminding those of a bull, were golden tinted, signifying his position as King in the demonic Hierarchy.

He was wearing white coloured robes adorned with unknown and intricate runes truly a strange clothing choice for someone rumoured to be of the warrior class. If someone were to be asked about what he thought upon meeting such a figure he would certainly say that the one before him was a sage, a scholar and definitely not a warrior.

Yet, if Hitoshi were to be asked after looking to this man’s eyes he would surely say that this man was a wolf in sheep’s clothes, not someone to trifle with and a dangerous opponent.

Nothing on the Demon King’s whole appearance spoke of his position. There was no crown, no sceptre, no golden threaded armaments or legendary swords. The only luxurious items on him besides his gold tinted horns appeared to be two silver rings worn in the middle fingers of both his hands and a bronze bracelet.

“Was he going to fight them unarmed? Did they catch him unprepared? If so that would be even better.”

Thoughts like that passed through the heroes’ heads. Little did they know that things would not be so easy for them.

If one was to closely inspect those seemingly simple jewerly on King Asmodeus he would see miniature carvings on each and everyone of them. All three had one thing in common they were depicting thorn threaded chains, yet the difference among those three was that each one of those had the chains wrapped around a different person.

His left ring had the image of a female assassin bearing dual daggers, his right one that of a male warrior with his scimitar and the bracelet that of a man clothed in robes bearing a staff on his hands, presumably a mage.

Hitoshi was not the only one in the demonic hierarchy to posses an item able to summon a “pet”. The demon King also had his own one’s and those three pieces of jewelry were just that.

The Demon King was still sitting in his throne, tapping his fingers on the arms of said throne in expectation, eyeing the heroes intrigued.

Eric assuming his role as the leader of the party, wanting to take the Demon King by surprise, quickly barked his orders and rushed in for the kill.

“Everyone stay focused! Attack as planned and victory is ours!”

Even in the few seconds that it took for Eric to close in the few meters separating him from the Demon King, Asmodeus seemed unwilling to stand up. Marion was rushing after Eric to join in the attack.

Eric had a confident smile on his face as he was thrusting his sword, the tip of his sword just about to pierce through Asmodeus chest and deal a blow to his heart.

His smile though soon froze on his face. His sword was stopped inches before it even made contact with the King’s skin. What he saw left him speechless.

The tip of the sword was between Asmodeus two fingers, completely stopping its deadly course.

Before he even had time to react, Eric found all wind knocked out from his lungs, a strong open palm had hit him on the chest. His rumoured unbreakable armor plate, crafted from the most famous blacksmith in the human kingdom, was now dented inwards with the clear sign of a hand on it. That blow was enough to send him flying several meters away, making him crash onto the cave’s walls and spit a mouthful of blood. Four of his ribs had broken from that small inpact and his lungs were ruptured.

Sachiko rushed in to heal him. Thankfully after her heal, although a bit dizzy from the hit, his ego shattered and shaken by realizing the difference in strength, Eric was alright and back on his feet.

Meanwhile, Marion who was rushing after him, after seeing Eric go flying, putting all strength to his/her adamantium shield tried to bash the Demon King.

Asmodeus still sitting on his throne, with a speed unmatching that of an old man, just lifted both his legs seconds before contact and with both of them pushed on Marion’s shield sending her both and her shield flying and crashing next to Eric. Once again Sachiko quickly healed her.

Moira and Helion, were shocked by watching Eric sent flying, after all he was supposed to be the strongest among them. Still they stayed focused. They were waiting for Marion’s attack to land a hit and pull agro on him, so that they could start their ranged attacks.

But after also seeing Marion, who was supposed to have the highest defence among them being cast away as though she was wearing cloth, they were both reluctant to attack.

No, they were not just reluctant, they were scared shitless! If the Demon King could do so much damage to their heavily armoured companions, one hit from him and the leather armoured Helion and cloth armoured Moira would both be dead.

All of them were just sitting there, looking at the Demon King in fear. He was far too strong for them to win this fight and he hadn’t even directly attacked them yet. All of his blows so far were just defensive ones, performed in such a leisure way…

So, when they saw him finally stand up from his throne, they believed that this was the end for them. Now he was going to attack and nothing could be said or done to prevent that.

How foolish of them to think that they were strong enough to face him.

Asmodeus stood up, a scowl on his face, staring at them he finally spoke.

“Young people these days have no manners! You barge in, not even introducing yourselves to the one you are going to kill! Tsk! But I am not the one who should enlighten you, young ones, to what should already have been taught to you by your foolish human parents.”

“Seeing as all of you came here that must mean that you have somehow managed to kill my General and his minions. How you have accomplished such a feature is something that eludes me, considering how weak all of you are. Yet, that does not matter to me either. What matters is that you humans have dared to raise your weapons against me.”

“Your Kings and by saying your Kings, I mean the Human and Elven King, must have thought that me being secluded here was a sign of weakness and sent you here the “chosen ones” to defeat me? Ha! How foolish of them!”

“It’s true that I am growing old. These past few years I have been waiting for your Kings to send someone to me. I have grown tired of this endless circle of killing. We are all living on this world, on Gaia, why must we continue killing each other? I even chose this secluded dungeon for the meeting to take place and not in the castle of Villainia. It was peace all along that I was seeking, but did your Kings respond to my offers? No! They just kept sending people here to kill me, thinking that my peace offerings were a sign of weakness and lusting after all the wealth the demon land had to offer.”

“Since birth you humans were taught that Demons are evil. You killed our brethren, looted their corpses and made trophies of their carcasses. The ones you didn’t kill you made them into your slaves, tormenting them day after day for simply being born demons. I have tried and tried to make all demons have patience, that peace was near but alas that was not entirely possible. Who could stand seeing his brothers and sisters being treated this way? No one could! And you blame us for pillaging your villages and killing you, when it was all along YOY HUMANS, that have invaded our land and build them there?”

“I blame my foolish age for even believing that peace would be achieved with you! My nephew Lucifer was right all along! Humans and elves are too far gone for that now. So, let your death “heroes” (said sarcastically) be a proof to your Kings, that we the Demon Race are not weak! That we will not bow down, not anymore! Your presence here is an act of war and if it is war that you seek, then so shall be it!”

All of them just stood there dumbfounded, unable to believe the Demon King’s words. All of that had to be lies, yes that’s what they were. There was no way that all the things that were told to them by their Kings, by their parents, friends and teachers were false. If what Asmodeus was saying was true, didn’t that mean that their whole existence was that of a pawn?

No, it was the Demon King who had to be lying, trying to make their hearts waver, that was what the heroes firmly believed.

Sachiko was shaken to the core by the things she had heard from the Demon King. She as well as all the others couldn’t believe it, but still she had to speak. The priestess addressed the Demon King trying to reason with him and find a way out for all of them to escape alive.

“Even if what you said is true King, we didn’t know any of this. Our Kings were the ones that gave us this quest to defeat you. We are innocent! So, if the Demon race is not evil as you’ve said, then you should let us leave.”

Asmodeus looked at the human female that had the courage to speak to him, even though the rest of her companions shook in fear. This young woman still had the clearness of mind to try and reason with him. This was truly a marvellous woman even if she belong to the human race.

“You! What is your name child?” he asked his voice laced with authority.

“My name is Sachiko your majesty and I am the priestess of this party.”, she respectfully, yet without bowing, addressed him introducing herself.

“Hmm, Sachiko-sama, you claim to be innocent. You say that it was your King that gave you this quest. But let me ask you this: Have you or your friends even bothered to ask your “Kings” why? ( the word Kings spat with venom)? Why do we have to kill the Demon King? Why is he evil? No, you simply accepted this quest. Besides, on your way to this mountain, to this dungeon did you or didn’t you kill any demons you found on your way? Let me answer that for you. You did! And you still claim that you are innocent?”

“….” Sachiko as well as all the rest were unable to answer.

“ You accepted this quest and all the dangers that involved, including death, child. You will face the consequences, the least I can do is to grant you the honour of dying a warrior’s death. You are too weak and don’t deserve to die by my hands, so let your blood bathe the hands of my servants.”

Upon finishing his last words, he spoke in a loud voice.

“Come forth my servants! Aria, Sirius, Darius, grant to these ignorant kids the hero’s death they were so blindly, willingly, seeking!”

On his command three figures, appeared out of thin air.

Out of his left silver ring a purple light was manifested materializing the one called Aria. She was a female assassin with a slender figure, green eyes, short purple hair, and modest breasts. On her hands were a set of daggers, their blades bended and the tips green coloured, only screamed of poison. Her athletic figure was accentuated by her tightly fitted, midnight blue coloured clothes, reminding the ones worn by ninjas, her face was hidden behind a scarf, her beautiful emerald-green eyes emitting a deadly light.

From his bracelet a red light came forth materializing Sirius, the mage. He looked like a weak elderly man, dressed in faded red robes. With his wrinkled face, white as snow hair, trimmed mustache and blue eyes wearing eyeglasses, he seemed like such a sweet old grandpa. On his right hand he was holding his staff, but the way he was using it, supporting his whole body on it, if one was to mistake it for a cane it was to be expected.

Finally from his right ring came out Darius the warrior. Darius was dressed in a leather armour. He was tall, muscular and gallant. His skin was tanned with a few scars here and there, that did nothing to reduce his manly sex appeal. His light brown hair were cut short and his almond eyes held no warmth in them, they were the eyes of a gladiator..

All three of the Demon King’s summons had been humans at some point. Who they were, what was their story and how did they end up this way, was something known to them and only them alone.

After hearing their Master’s orders, without raising any questions, they all attacked.

Aria rushed in to make a sneak attack on Moira. Taking out the sorceress was a priority when fighting a group after all. Seconds before her poisonous backstab landed

on her though, the tip of her blade was blocked by a sceptre. It was Sachiko who had been next to Moira right from the start that had seen the assassin’s movement and blocked her.

To assume that Sachiko was just a regular healer would be a huge mistake. Realizing since the beginning that the healers were the most likely to be targeted first in a battle and whose lives depended only on their weapon bearing companions, Sachiko took it upon herself to learn about self defence.

It was not as though she was some martial arts expert, her attack power as a priestess was too low, but still she was quite skilled in using her staff both for healing as well as for attacking and defending.

Aria was shocked seeing her attack being blocked by who she thought would be the easiest one to kill. Yet her surprise, didn’t last long, cause it was the priestess who once again tried to attack her with her staff, while shouting to the sorceress.

“Moira, watch out for god’s sake! Activate your mana shield and let’s fry this bitch!”

Moira who was taken by surprise by the previous sneaking attack of the female assassin was quick to act. Enabling her mana shield which was an active skill greatly increasing the caster’s defence for a short period of time. She was quick to start shooting spells one after the other at the assassin. Aria on the other hand was not staying idle. Making use of her agility, the demon King’s summon was trying to evade as many of them as she could while closing in on Moira…..

Meanwhile, Darius took it upon himself to fight the one in the heroes’ party who seemed the strongest and that was Eric. His boots sprinting on the ground he soon found himself right in front of Eric.

Eric was surprised by the leather armoured warrior’s quick footwork. Yet, he was confident that the one facing him with that frail looking weapon woulnd’t stand a chance against him and his great longsword.

Eric tried to slash Darius on the chest. His attack though was blocked by Darius’s scimitar. He added force behind his longsword, sure that Darius’s sword would be pushed back or if he was lucky enough break. That never happened though. No matter how much he was pushing his sword towards the other man’s throat the scimitar was not giving an inch.

Darius had a wolfish grin on his face, before swiftly kicking Eric on his right knee, causing him to lose his balance and land on the ground. Darius went in for the kill, the tip of his blade aiming for Eric’s heart, but Eric wasn’t named leader of this party for nothing. He reacted quickly, he rolled and evaded that attack and in no time at all he was back on his feet exchanging blows with Darius.

Sirius on the other hand, chose to attack that cute little girl bearing with her beautiful petite hands a sword and shield that looked too heavy for her to lift on her own and the despicable elf archer standing behind her.

The elf was going to die that was for sure, but the cute girl….he had to speak his mind before he grew up too old and died.

“Ojou-chan, this is no place for a cute little girl like you to be. Why don’t you leave your loser friends and go have drink with this grandpa? It will be my treat!”

“You perverted old man! Stay away from Marion, HE’S MINE!” the archer yelled while shooting a rain of flaming arrows to the mage.

The mage with a waver of his hand activated his own mana shield. Helion’s arrows unable to penetrate the defensive barrier dropped to the ground destroyed.

“HE????” Sirius looked confused.

It was his Master’s loud voice, that was already sitting on his throne watching the whole fight in amusement that cleared all misconceptions on the old mage’s part.

“Sirius have you grown senile? That guy with the shield and the sword is no girl. He’s a man in woman’s clothes. What are you doing flirting with him? Didn’t I say you have to kill them?”

“He’s a trap?!!!” facing Marion once again he asked, more likely declared.

“You’re a trap? How dare you play with an old man’s heart? Die!!!!!”

Sirius enraged for being fooled, started throwing any spell he could think of to Marion, who was blocking them with her shield while slowly closing the distance between her/him and the perverted mage. Helion was launching arrow after arrow to the mage trying to wear down his shield and keep him busy while his companion was gaining distance.

Hitoshi and his friends found Sachiko and her friends fighting the Demon King’s bodyguards. It was clear that they were having trouble facing them and the Demon King wasn’t even attacking yet.

“Good thing we made it in time, they wouldn’t stand chance otherwise. So Master what do we do?” asked Nico.

“Niki, you go help the trap and his boyfriend with the old man. You can use any means necessary to win.”

“Yes Master, I will make sure to send him back to netherworld a happy man.” she replied

“Nico, you go help that moron Eric”

“You can count on me Master!” Nico said.

“You Harry, since you are so fond of the sorceress, go help her and Sachiko defeat the assassin. Let me warn you though, if anything bad happens to Sachiko, you will pay for it!”

“ I will make sure to keep both my Moira and the shitty priestess safe, General!’ Harry happily with a mock salute said to Hitoshi.

Hitoshi glared at him, but still Harry seemed unfazed.

“Ok, then I will try to make reason with the King. I am not sure what will come out of it though….”