A person stood atop of a floating island while supporting a large guillotine sword over his shoulder. He stood as still as a statue that birds thought of him to be a roost, flocking to him. Not bothered by small creatures, he observed the land below as the floating island made its way towards Crea.

But then, he heard a glass shattering noise. A small fissure tore open a space and the beautiful blue sky transitioned into a bloody red background. Small black dots began pouring out of the fissure.

“Demons? This… might be a problem.”

He shook off tiny birds from his shoulder and tipped over the edge. He brought his giant sword along for the free dived down to the earth and made an almost impossible gentle landing among the plains that did not disturb the flow of the wind.

Behind his mask, he observed a small crack chipping away reality in the air. He was in a race against time, to find the source of the summoning and destroy it before the tear in the sky stabilized.

The mining village, Syi was close, but he had no intention to waste time and warn town guards. He skipped across the field of grass faster than the wind to confront the source near the mountains. There was a group of Demons concealed in tall grasses with tributes to hasten the ritual.

Vassal’s influence is spreading too fast. Rifts are becoming more common, but unstable. If he manages to open a gate here, Lizurin will have their supply lines from Yilan cut off.

There was a small army of Lesser Demons crawling around the site. They were led by a Greater Demon guarding Dark Priests intoning the ceremony.

First, the Greater Demon. I can take care of the fodders and Dark Priests later.

He dragged his large blade in the air and soar towards the humongous shadow cloaked Demon. It too was carrying a butchering blade larger than his and stopped the slash. However, the masked Hero’s physical strength surpassed any normal being.

The earth around his foe cracked. He forced the demon to take knee as it mustered every ounce of muscles to block one blow from the Masked Hero.

The Demon saw its reflection from his mask and an ornament- in form of a die- juggled in the air linked around his neck. The enemy was startled to find a nemesis of their new master had come to foil their plan. An Acolyte. But which one?

“ErRh?!”

The masked warrior pushed himself some distance apart from the Greater Demon. With a wide slash, an invisible force expanded around him and devastated the number of Lesser Demons crawling in the area. Finding some rolling heads, he kicked them at the Dark Priests to interrupt the completion of a fissure.

The Greater Demon rushed forward and shot a sword beam created of darkness. The masked hero hopped to the side, narrowly avoiding it. He raised his guillotine blade in time to block an overwhelming strike from the Greater Demon.

He was knocked back but did not sustain any damage. Not even a single bead of sweat broke out.

“Hmm... it managed to block one of my attacks. They must’ve been augmented by Vassal.” He exhaled. “Adjustments to my approach will be made.”

He loosened himself like an arrow and stopped short with the demon barely out of his weapon’s range and swung his weapon.

“Hmph!”

His guillotine blade extended like a switch blade in mid-swing and dragged a banner of dust and fluttering grass in its wake. The double edge weapon transformed into a single-edged, great longsword in a blink of an eye and split the Demon in half.

The Demon’s regeneration ability immediately tried to sew itself back together.

“Yol, Ulos, Foram, Zek, Ruo, Val, Nalus. I banish you into the void and reduce you nothing.”

The air around the Greater Demon gradually became dense. A tiny black circle formed in mid-air, sucking everything around it until the Greater Demon smothered itself into a ball the size of a bead, oozing black blood in less than a fraction of a second.

After he flicked the black blood off his weapon, he plucked a random crude spear off the ground and landed a bullseye between the last Dark Priest’s eyes. Thoroughly scanning the vicinity and not allow a single enemy in the area to survive, he then retracted his blade to its original guillotine form and made way to the ritual site.

He patted the dust off his unordinary slim body cladded in villainous-looking armor. By unordinary, it was impressive his stature was able to lift a weapon almost twice his size and at least quadruple his weight.

“Hrm… This wasn’t the only one.” He muttered as he snatched the crystal off the ominous altar and broke the nightmarish fissure and returned the sky back to its usual blue.

When he looked down, he saw footprints leading away from him.

Given the chance, it was fortunate I was the one that was able to destroy one root of a problem before it bloomed. However, many fled before I got here. I will go hunt them, but this takes precedence.

He kicked over the altar.

A spear cladded in black lighting suddenly struck him and caged him in a barrier of black thorns. He had forgotten the possibility of traps Demons love to set. Despite his skin being enveloped with a black tar like substance overtaking his body, he remained calm.

A curse?

Without losing his composure, he gently pried a small gap of his mask away from his face. The area around him gradually fogged up and cloaked the area in a layer of thick mist. It dispersed minutes after he shifted the mask back on his face. The cursed coloring his skin seeped away, and the cage of thorns crumbled.

I’ve already been hexed with a greater curse. These minor ones would be devoured by it. Nonetheless, seems like Vassal’s preparing to make the first move. This war may be bloodier than the previous one.

Master, what will you do?

The caravan waited by a checkpoint in the middle of the pathway between Syi and their destination. Guards stopped them because of the abnormally behaving monsters sighted within the prairies and dark clouds brewing near the horizon with thunder and lightning dancing about.

The three remained in the carriage waiting for the driver to be given the signal to pass the checkpoint. Other passengers made themselves comfortable around campfires or joining the watch to keep a lookout for trouble.

Deciding to pass the time, Davin brought out his shield doing maintenance on it. While he polished the metal rim of his shield, he noticed an unusual silence.

“What’s up with Simonn? Is he feeling sick?”

“He’s feeling under the weather.”

“Huh.” Davin shrugged. “First, it was you that was grumpy and all, now Simonn? What’s the deal with you two today? Were you two picking a fight with the world or something?”

“Davin, leave it.”

“Sheesh, I was only asking.”

Different shades of orange and yellow painted the distant forests. It would provide a perfect scene for inspiring painters who wanted to capture an image of fall on their canvases. Would. The one exception was a thing in the view that offset itself from this seasonal view.

“It’s still there, as small as always in the distance.” Neila said looking through a pair of binoculars. She spotted a floating island in the sky, drifting aimlessly around the borders.

Floating islands were commonly found near Syi. They were lost remnants spurt from one fissure that summoned Demons from the last war that first appeared in this area.

This island was most unusual among its kind. It housed a special dungeon, one with the ability to fight off outsiders from entering it.

Thousands of small barrels from the slits in the rocky surface and pointed the way of the enemy. Although curious, researchers have never attempted to launch an expedition, not even the Magic Research Council. They understood that the mysterious island was the first and maybe the last defense they had to ward off a full-scale assault from Vassal’s army of Demons. If they conducted a survey, one misstep may allow the enemy to pass its protection and siege the country.

Maybe something stationed it there buying time for the country to bulk up their manpower. Maybe the island took a fancy to the skies near the border and decided to move there. Maybe the island was just there to prevent people moving between the borders. If so, it was impossible to know whatever controlled this massive fortress of destruction an ally.

The big island strung a low tone hum echoed across the skies. It began shifting towards the closest mountain. An invisible force wrapped around the object and blended it with the sky. Next thing she knew, it reappeared next to the mountain.

Ah, it teleported.

“[Sovereign of the Skies].”

“You know it?”

“That’s what the no-good researchers named it when I was fighting in the Demon Realm. It didn’t do anything during my stay, but after the Shadow Lord was defeated, it’s been bouncing between realms.” Simonn sat himself on the edge of the cart. After a moment of silence of observing the island, he muttered, “Don’t tell me it’s heading to Crea?”

“Look who decided to talk?” Davin then raised a brow. “Crea, huh… Isn’t that where you two from?”

“It’s also the first place to suffer from the Demon invasion. Thankfully, the damage was contained. My family was lucky we moved and Simonn left before it happened, but the others were…”

Neila found herself unable to continue but she observed [Sovereign of the Skies] sailing underneath the clouds.

“Simonn, do you think something’s caught its attention?”

“Not my problem, but that’s not to say I’m not curious.”

“Do you think the Magic Research Council is at Syi because of it?”

“Davin, who do you think I am? I’m not one of those old crooks. I wouldn’t know.”

“No need to be rude about it. It was only a question. Soldiers and researchers from the war are like water and oil.”

“Grudges we can’t forgive them for.”

Aside from them, there were other passengers. While some appear interested at the floating island, particularly children, others kept to themselves.

Neila overheard a group of young adventurers boldly state they will one day conquer [Sovereign of the skies]. She smiled, reminiscing the time when she acted similar to have a grand dream like them. She couldn’t help but notice their stone slated necklaces, unlike Neila’s steel plate. Stone slates meant the group had recently become adventurers.

When one registered at the guild, they are given a temporary cheap stone necklace. They are handed a steel tag once they completed a set number of quests to qualify being full-fledged adventurers.

The rowdy party of newbies enjoying their ride meant they had successfully conquered one of the first of many quests.

“Worried about something?” Simonn asked.

“Just going down the memory lane. It’s already been a year since we’ve became adventurers, hasn’t it?” Neila replied with a dry laugh. “You could’ve probably become a Soldier ranked or higher by now if I wasn’t dragging you around.”

“Maybe, but I have a reason. I couldn’t go on fighting bloody battles after what I went through. I rather take my time and stay by your side.”

“O-oh…”

“Your face is turning red.”

“E-erm, it’s just-. Gosh, it’s getting hot in here, yeah…!”

“Is it now?” He smirked.

“Oi.” Davin grunted. “If you two are going to flirt, do it somewhere I can’t see or hear.”

“W-were not! I’m... I’m going to go buy us something to drink!”

Neila hurriedly jumped off from the caravan and pattered off.

“Jealous?”

“You bet I am! Do you know awkward it is for me to hang around you two when you act like that? Hell, every time we go to our drinking sessions, all the girls would be looking at you!”

“That’s quite the tantrum you got there.”

“Shut up mister perfect.”

“I’m flattered, but if I was perfect, we might not even be talking like this.”

“You’re a cocky bastard.”

“And you’re a whiny bastard.”

The two boys fell silent. One performed maintenance while the other kept a close eye on Neila.

“So, Simonn.”

“Hm?”

“Have you heard of the new enemies Sivaria recently disclosed to the public? I’m not talking about the Demons.”

“They have transparent boxes floating above them like a game from your Gamemax, right? If I recall, they were called Otherworlders. Players, for short.”

“Do you believe they’re completely immortal? I mean, they disappear when you kill them, but I heard they are then resurrected by strange crystal pillars the Hero and his Acolytes created.”

“Who knows. If they come for us, we’ll have no choice but to fight.”

“Man, why don’t we have an army of immortals or Acolytes fighting on our side? The bad guys get everything.”

“To them, we’re the bad guys.”

“Oh, right. If only the Acolytes would side with us. I heard some left Zathorous because they disagree with the Hero, but none of them seem be willing to help the rest of the world. If it’s anyone, I hope the Acolyte of Sagacity is one of the few to join us. I heard she’s as beautiful as everyone says.”

“And she’s incredibly sadistic. I think you’re one step closer to becoming the ultimate masochistic Knight. Every time you get hit, your defense grows stronger.”

“Shut up. I’m not a masochist. I take a shield because I don’t like pain and I don’t have talents to use projectiles or magic.”

“In any case regarding to Players, if you break the crystals nearby, they can’t resurrect in that area.”

“What are those called anyway?”

“Altars, I think. Here, I got us some hot drinks to warm us up. There was a stall selling them. My treat.” Neila replied upon her return. She distributed them among the three and sat beside Simonn. “Were you guys talking about the new Demons?”

“Yeah. We’re still far from frontlines but we’re eventually going to get dragged into it.” Simonn said. “Lizurin’s taking one hell of a beating, but they’re holding. For now.”

“I’m not scared. We still have you, a veteran from the old war. Neila and I know how strong you are.” Davin laughed. “Adventurers from the Guild still talk about your accomplishments. A newborn star slaying two General-ranked monsters on his own.”

“That was a year ago before we partied up and I happened to be lucky. I lured those monsters close enough for them to have a territory dispute and then harvested their materials after they killed each other. I’ve mostly been hunting Rookie and Novice-ranked monsters with you two.”

“Do you regret joining up with us?” Neila asked.

“I said it once and I’ll say it again. I’ve just got myself out of hell. I’d like to spend the rest of my days with you.”

Neila wrapped her hands around the cup of hot coco and then leaned onto Simonn’s shoulder. “I’d like that.” She smiled.

“Right?”

“Ugh, the air here’s too sweet to have my coffee. I’m going towards the campfire and let you two have your alone time.” Davin grunted, tossing his shield onto his back leaving the caravan.

Simonn took a sip and looked outside together with Neila.

The view presented an everlasting prairie into the horizon, but to Neila something was off. It wasn’t coming from the rowdy crowd of adventurers indulging themselves in alcohol and stories they were telling. There was this feeling in the air that was unsettling.

The atmosphere felt murky. Perhaps the season was mid-autumn that gave the air its more than usual dampness-.

“?!”

An enormous blast echoed through the world accompanied by a violent quake. Neila spotted a beam of light shot into the sky then dispersed like fireworks. The shockwave from that blast a strong gust of wind past the outpost, rocking the watchtower.

Everyone ducked their heads for cover. Neila dropped her drink and hugged Simonn’s arm as he was the closest support around her. Davin rolled off the log he was sitting and landed on his back.

“Is everyone alright?!”

“Shit, I spilled coffee on my pants! Hot, hot, ouch!”

“What’s going on? What was that earthquake?”

“Look, there’s something in the sky!”

One adventurer pointed to a light coming down from the middle of swirling clouds. There, the pillar of light led their eyes up. In the middle of the storm, there was a vortex of red gas pouring out. A swarm of black dots descended upon the fields where Neila discovered the fragmented structure.

Suddenly, the redness in the sky faded away. The sky reverted normal. Although it opened for a moment, they were sure it was something the world experienced numerous of times. This phenomenon was the bane of humanity’s survival from the last war.

“Was that a rift? Do they come and go this quick?”

“No. We were lucky it closed before it stabilized otherwise, we would be forced to fight through a horde of demons to close it manually.” Simonn answered, sliding off the carriage. “Davin, see if you can ask a guard to volunteer us to send a message back to Fell Glades. I want to get us out of here as soon as possible. Neila and I are going to keep an eye out for trouble.”

“Got it. The sooner we get home, the sooner Neila can get her Artificer badge and I can get a new pair of pants, right?”

“Hopefully, it’s that easy.” Simonn muttered. “How’s it looking out there, Neila?”

She looked through her binoculars pointing in a random direction.

By chance, in the middle of cut grass, she spotted a mysterious stone structure splattered with muck. This strange site wasn’t there when they travelled to Syi, or at least she didn’t remember it being there the first time she passed the area.

“I see some kind of… uhh, beacon?”

“Could you describe what it looks like?”

“There’s black muck on it with runic characters and- oh! It just toppled over.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. It just collapsed.”

“Anything else?”

“Well-, wait! I see something!”

She spotted a four-legged beast racing towards them. It has a head and neck of a snake, but a rooster’s wattle hanged from jaws. It had a lion’s body, a neck as long as a python and jet-black wings which seemed to absorb light shining on it. It had cruel, curved fangs as long as a sabertooth tiger’s, dripping with venomous toxins at the tip.

The thing was twisted, vile, hideous any adjective you can think of associating a creature from the abyss. The beast was a cursed abomination. Neila froze up as soon as she spotted the monster galloping through the grass.

The beast flapped its wings as it ran to take flight.

“Simonn, it’s coming towards us! Fast!”

“What is?”

“A monster! I never seen anything like it!”

“It’s here!”

It quickly closed the distance and rammed into the outpost’s watchtower. The poor guard stationed on top fell victim to the beast as it snatched him from mid-air and swallowed him whole. He was travelling in the bulge slowly towards the stomach.

“It’s eaten someone!”

“He’s still alive! We can still save him if we cut off the neck!” Simonn drew both sword and hatchet, not hesitating to dive at the enemy first.

The monster saw him charging and blew a gust of wind using its wings. It flew higher and higher, waiting for its meal to reach the stomach before diving down to kill the others.

“It’s getting away!”

“Do not let it escape! Take aim! Fire!”

Guards gathered below with rifles pointing at it the wings. With such a huge target, they brought the creature back down by tearing feathers off it.

“SKRAAAAAAAAAAWK!”

“Now! Rush it!”

“Wait, it’s too dangerous to approach it now!”

Before the soldiers could touch the beast, the creature twisted its body and thrashed around. Its tail whipped around, knocking them away.

It got back up, but with the bulge already entered the stomach. The person in it was as good as dead.

The monster let out hiss as another bulge crawled up its neck. The sac hanging from its neck began expanding. The creature was frantically flapping its wings, littering black pinions everywhere.

“A breath attack!”

“Simonn, get behind me! I’ll do something about it!”

Furl, Ulos, Ruh, Ashent, Cloak us with your graceful breeze!

Neila picked up an enchanted arrow and anchored it in the ground. The words inscribed on it blinked and raised a curtain of violent wind redirecting the air upwards.

Just as she finished chanting, the monster sprayed a jet of poisonous haze from left to right. Neila’s wind magic vacuumed poison smog and redirected it above them. They hid behind the carriage and covered their nose with their sleeves. They held their breath until the passing wind ventilated the area.

Those who didn’t escape or ran out of time finding cover were hit with poison. Their veins became visible, slowly turning their skin pigment blue to infected parts.

“Davin!” Simonn shouted.

“I’m alright! I used an antidote before it spread, but dammit. My body feels heavy. My legs are numb.”

“The poison has a weakening and paralysis effect too?” Neila asked. “How many others were hit?”

“Almost everyone. Others ran already.” Simonn clicked his tongue. “We should grab Davin and run for it too. It’ll be preoccupied with the others.”

“We’re just going to leave them?! There are civilians here, children!”

“I’m not taking any chances getting you killed. We don’t have enough antidote for everyone and it’s either them or us if it uses the same attack. Even if you go save them, we don’t have much time. More are coming and we’re talking about fighting this Demon that took dozens of soldiers to bring down one.”

“This thing’s a Demon. You saw one before?”

“It’s a Wicked Basilisk.” He whispered. “It took a lot of manpower to put one down because of its high regenerative ability. It can also use third degree petrification.”

“Third degree? Isn’t that when everything about you turns into stone?”

“Yeah. You’re beyond help once your body is set to stone. First degree is when you get trapped by quick hardening mucus. Second degree is by injection in which case the blood in your veins slowly turn to stone. This Demon uses its petrification ability in form of magic and gas to sap thermal energy until you become nothing but a statue.”

“And how fast does one become a statue If they’re hit?”

“Within five minutes.” Simonn saw her fall silent, looking dejected. He took a deep breath and whispered back, “You want to save everyone?”

“I want to, but…”

Simonn scratched the back of his head. He put his arm around Neila and pulled their heads together.

“Alright. I’ll help the guards and buy you time while you get the able to load the injured onto the carriage. I promised your parents to keep you safe and happy. If they know I made you cry, they’re going to kill me.”

“But Simonn, you can’t fight that on your own.”

“You’re right, but we don’t have to defeat it. Escape is our only other option. Focus on getting everyone away. Do that and it counts as our victory.”

“How long can you hold out?”

“I don’t know but I’ll try to keep it busy as long as I could. If we live through this, I get one voucher to do whatever I want with you for how long I can keep it away from us.”

“E-Eh?!”

“That’s the deal. Now go! We don’t have much time before more of them arrive!”

What’s left of the guards nervously distances themselves with spears they picked up from their deceased comrades.

“Let’s see if I remember how to kill you!”

With a brave smile, Simonn dashed out to engage the Basilisk. He stepped in with a swing of his weapons, making quick swipes as he danced past bites and slashes towards its side. He ducked under the monster, dancing with nimble footwork to avoid being trampled as he made his way to the other side.

“Over here, slowpoke!”

He buried his hatchet in the monster’s side to pull himself onto it before the monster could turn its head. Once he saddled himself on the creature’s back, he ruthlessly thrust his sword into the creature’s neck. He shifted his weight to one side as he tipped over and severed the neck.

“He killed it?!”

“What are you doing?! Don’t get too close! It’s not dead yet!”

The body shuddered violently as a new head burst of the wound. It birthed a new head out of its body, this time with new plates of scales protecting the spot where he cut it.

“It’s regenerated!” A guard shouted in horror.

“It’s adapting-. Not good! Find cover!”

The Basilisk suddenly took flight. It reeled its front claws and divebombed the ground. Its body twirled and lashed out its sharp talons, shredding two soldiers within its range into strips.

Simonn rolled to the side- not without consequences of being unprepared from a brutal assault. He suffered a large but shallow gash running down his left arm and right leg.

“Simonn!”

“It’s a scratch! Focus on escaping with everyone!”

The monster pounced forward slashed down but missed. It pivoted its front talons, spun. Almost like a lightning strike, the tail produced a loud snap. It whipped the ground and left a sizable hole as it hopped back.

Simonn performed insane feats of acrobatic maneuverability to roll out of harms way. His movements were inhuman, jumping meters off the ground, twisting and turning in the air like he could fly.

“That Adventurer’s strong.”

“Maybe he could defeat it.”

He landed back on his feet and rushed the creature, throwing his hatchet to chop off the tail. As more pieces from the Basilisk fall, it’s wounds bubble and hastily regenerating faster than a troll’s healing factor. It regrew parts with layers of scales where it was cut.

Sei, Pik, Ulos, Gruk, Nalus, Jeltz. O’Elementals, enchant this arrow with the power of flames!

Zooming by, a flame arrow struck a wall of fire on the ground and startled the creature.

“Simonn, get on! Everyone’s on board!”

“What about Davin?”

“I have Davin waiting on the last carriage. Do you have a plan?”

“We need to distract it for a second to give ourselves a head start. How many wind spells can you make?”

“About three. Four if I’m lucky. I don’t have much left.”

“Get some [Wind Blast] spells ready. It’ll make for a good distraction when it tries to chase us.”

“CHHHAAAAAAHIIIIISSSSSSS! Urk! Graaaauuuggghhh!”

Another bulge crawled its way up the neck as the monster was regurgitating something. It vomited out a skeleton and a pool saliva. It violently trembled, drooling heavily until one big eyeball peeked from the entrance of its mouth.

The mouth acted as its eyelids and its tongue constantly washed over it. After a few blinks to get used to daylight, a purple ominous magic circle quickly formed over the iris.

“Magic incoming! We need to go!” Neila warned. “Driver, start the engine!”

Neila and Simonn raced onto the back of a caravan as the creature charged up its attack.

“It’s about to petrify us! Close the covers! And don’t look towards it!” Simonn warned.

“BEHOOOOOLLLLLLLL!”

The camp was engulfed with a flash of light. When the light died down, Simonn chipped hole in the stone covers and looked outside. The entire backside of the caravan was converted to stone.

“No way! It also affects leather?”

“The spell petrified most things, but items made of magic ores.”

“Like Mithril?”

“Except we don’t have anything made from it. Thankfully, the petrification beam doesn’t penetrate through objects. The treads are fine because we were lucky. They had anti splash mats covering them.”

Sure enough, the soldiers left behind to occupy the beast turned to stone. They could no longer be saved, and they had bigger problems to deal with.

The Wicked Basilisk swallowed the eyeball back to the body then ran after them.

“CHAAAAAHISSSSSSSS!”

“Here it comes! Neila, I’m counting on you!”

Furl, Ulos, Gruk, Ruh. O’Elementals, heed my call. Unleash your furious winds on my command!

Neila loosened three arrows on the ground then invoked three tiny explosions to kick dirt into its face. It stunned the monster, just slightly, before it snapped awake and continued its pursuit.

“That’s as much as I can cast. I’m out of magick ink.”

“It bought us a fair amount of distance. How’s Davin?”

“Still alive. He’s sleeping.”

“At a time like this? He really could sleep through anything even though he was poisoned just a moment ago.”

“Tell me about it. What about you? You’re bleeding.”

“Its not a big deal.”

“Liar. Let me see it.” She demanded and pulled out a healing ointment for treatment. “You were reckless for going out there alone and now you’ve got yourself a cut.”

“It’s only a cut. It’s not a mortal wound or something that’ll kill me.”

“You have to take better care of your body. For… my sake…”

“Hey guys, I’m okay too. Thanks for asking, but why do I always see you two like this whenever I look away for a second?” Davin interrupted.

“You were awake?”

“Hard to sleep with all the noise. Since we’re still alive, I’m guessing we’ve escaped?”

“Not exactly… we’re getting there and that’s the hard part.” Simonn jerked his chin towards the back. “How’s the poison?”

“Treated. My body’s a bit weak, but I can still move fine. Let me see what’s happening.”

Davin moved towards the back, taking a peek through the back. He shattered the remaining stone curtain and took an eyeful of his surroundings. Aside from Davin, their cart was transporting a group of newbies, a poisoned merchant and a mother with her frightened children.

The newbie adventurers were shaken to the core. Simonn looked at quietly them as if they’re not going to be any use during the escape. He took arrows from a frightened ranger, placing the quiver by his side.

“W-woha?!” Davin he bounced back and made a weird cry. “I-it brought some friends with it!”

“Lesser Demons!”

“I can’t do much, but I can try slowing it!”

Neila drew arrow after arrow. She aimed for the Basilisk, but Lesser Demons kept intercepting her projectiles. There were many, she no longer bothered aiming. One arrow wasn’t enough to kill one. It managed to bring them down and slow their advance, but they were already getting up to resume their chase by foot while waiting for their wings to heal.

“There’s too many! I can’t target the big one!”

The Basilisk had the agility faster than a horse, the dexterity of snake mixed with the ferocity of a lion. It could fly, tear almost everything with its sharp claws and had deadly reach with its long neck. Its head weaved past streams of arrows and lunged for Neila.

Just as it opened its mouth, an echoing gunshot cracked the air, ripping the Basilisk’s head off.

Without three of the five senses, the Basilisk tripped over itself. When another head burst from the wound, it rolled back onto its talons and continued its pursuit.

“And it’s regrown it’s head. How are we supposed to fight that?!” Davin shrieked.

“I’m out of arrows!”

“I have more. Keep shooting. I’ll force it back if it gets too close.” Simonn said, loading his next shot into his hand cannon. “Driver, how much fuel do we have?”

“One bar left. This carriage was waiting to be refueled before we departed.”

“That’s not good enough. That amount will barely get us to a town.”

A flock of Lesser Demons rush dived. They were hiding in the clouds, flying downwards at them at high speeds.

“More of them up there!”

“Get down!”

An otherworldly scream echoed through the air as a claw teared up the leather roof. Davin quickly struck his sword through the opening, splattering black blood behind the covers as he retracted his weapon.

“EEP! Help!”

One of the claws broke through and dragged a newbie adventurer out of the carriage. They rolled on the ground and was then dogpiled by Lesser Demons, being violated and torn apart.

“Neila, snap out of it! We can’t help her!”

“B-but…”

“Another one!”

Another claw broke through the leather hide, possibly dragging Davin out. Simonn’s shortsword arced upwards and cut its fingers before it was able to.

“Simonn, this path leads to Syi. We can get help from guards.” Davin said.

“I’d like to avoid that if I can. An army of Demons are catching up. The ones from the checkpoint got wiped out by one and If they attack the town, casualties will be high.”

“T-then, what can we do?”

“I have an idea.” He stood with his back facing her. He tore a tag off his neck and dropped it into her palm. “Neila, I need you to go and warn the people in Syi. Get them to prepare before it’s too late.”

“Simonn,” Davin’s face grew pale as he saw his friend stepping on the rail like he was about to throw himself off the carriage. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure everyone’s escape is absolute.”

Neila caught her breath, speechless. A torrent of negative emotion overwhelmed her. She took her dagger, ready to leap off the caravan.

“That’s insane. If you’re staying, then I will too!”

“You can’t. You’re out of arrows and spells. You’re in no condition to fight.” He said, clenching his weapons. “Listen, there are people that need to be saved. You wanted to save them, and you will save them. If no one else will believe you, go find Elizabeth. She should still be in Syi. Show her my tag. She’ll understand and help.”

“But that means you’ll…”

“Our agreement is still on. There’s no way I can die.” He made a fist and held it into the air. “You know I’m strong, right?”

“Simonn… please be safe.”

“I’ll come back. I always keep my promises. I’ll crawl my way out of hell again if I have to.” With that, he jumped off. “Don’t look back! I’ll hold them off!”

Simonn readied a shortsword in one hand, his hatchet in the other. He hacked and slashed Demons flying in a flock at him. The flurry of slashes looked like a bunch of wild swings, but each slash was tailored to connect with two or more demons. His performance; in a sense he twirled and swung his weapons with precision and accuracy in such a way he could be considered blade dancing.

He spun around in the air, skiing on the road until his heels gathered a mound of dirt below his foot to come to a full stop.

He quickly turned around and buried his axe in another Demon’s head. With a vigorous roar, he slammed his foe’s head into the ground with all his might. Dust engulfed him.

Then it was the Basilisk’s turn. Simonn vaulted over a Demon to use as a decoy when it tried to eat him. He balanced himself onto its back and delivered a quick cross-slash, severing both wings.

His fury bought him the attention of all Demons in the area by slaying the boss once.

Invisible shackles emerged from his wrist, ankles and neck. He tore them off and tossed them aside with a resounding thud.

Finally, these restraints are killing me. When this is all over, I’ve decided to have Neila give me a nice long shoulder rub.

Simonn stole a glance at the road behind him. The caravan was long gone.

Vassal, you’re really forcing my hand. I honored my promise to stay neutral if you did not bother my peaceful life. Since you’re the one to break our agreement, I won’t hold back.