Bolin moved forward, bravely shielding the other children from Svar and his gang. As the oldest, he wore the shoes of the orphans leader, and in Virs eyes, he filled them well.
A few other boys and a couple of girls crowded around him, facing off against the bullies. The orphans had the advantage of numbers, but Svars gang were older than them, and most wielded rudintary weapons.
Go away, Svar, Bolin said. Youre not welco here.
Svar raised a brow. Not welco? His grin widened to theatrical proportions. Not welco, you say? Since when did we need permission to be here?
The bully kicked over a pile of refuse the orphans had fashioned into a castle. It ca tumbling down.
All I see here is a garbage dump.
It seed to Vir that no matter the realm, no matter the race, bullies were universal. What angered him most was how Svar and his lackeys were red demons, just like the orphans. Not Kothisthe race of monkey people the Chitrans belonged to. They were Gargans. His people.
Why were they squabbling amongst themselves when there was a far greater enemy? It was all so stupid. So frustrating.
Dont, Ekta whispered, pinching Virs robe as he was about to intervene. Itll only make things worse next ti.
Punching bag! Punching bag! Punching bag! Svar and his goons chanted.
Vir stopped. Ekta was right. As much as bullying made his blood boil, he knew firsthand how this worked. Unless the bullies were thoroughly beaten down and broken, theyd return with a vengeance when Vir wasnt around. In their eyes, they were the victims, not Bolin.
Nevertheless, he hadnt gained all this power just to stand by and witness tragedies unfold before his eyes. He had other, better, ans now.
Feigning irritation, Vir huffed off and turned a corner.
He did his best to ignore Ektas heartbroken expression.
I shouldnt have stopped him, Ekta thought, biting her lip. Hes older than us. Hes strong!
It was the way he moved. The way he spoke. His confidence. Like nothing could ever pose a threat to him. Like the very idea was laughable. He wasnt built the sa as them.
Ekta knew he couldve stopped the beating Bolin was about to get.
What good would it do? Theyll just double his beating next ti. They might even hurt others.
There was no winning against Svar and his gang. Not when his father was as powerful as he was.
Ekta felt a pang of envy. If she had a familylet alone one so close to the Chitsshe wouldnt be bullying orphans. Shed Shed help everyone! Shed give them food and shoes!
Not Svar. That boy was more than happy to ruin their lives. And his status was like an iron shield. Nobody could touch him.
Svar threw his first punch, as he always did. Ekta averted her eyes.
All of this had happened before. She knew how itd go. Svar was big for his age, but his strikes were even nastier. They were augnted by a tattoo. Aspect of the Stone Sentinel. It gave his fists the weight of stone, and Bolin never erged from the beatings without a few broken teeth or bones.
He couldnt give in too easily, either. Hed tried that in the past. Svar just picked soone else. He kept going until hed had his fill, beating them black and blue.
As always, Bolin protected them. But who protected Bolin?
Neel could! Ekta thought. But no. Hed stord off. Because of her.
Ekta waited for the inevitable sound of fist hitting flesh, followed by Bolins grunthe never cried or scread. It was sothing Ekta deeply admired. Would she be able to tough it out like Bolin did?
Never.
Yet instead of Bolins pained grunt ca a surprised yelp, and so other sound. The sound of soone falling.
Ekta looked up. For a mont, she couldnt believe her eyes. SvarThe Svarhad fallen! Hed tripped over himself!
She was laughing before she knew it. She knew she shouldntitd only anger Svar even furtherbut she couldnt help it.
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Ekta was soon joined by the other orphans. Svars goons averted their eyes, but it was obvious they were embarrassed by their leaders mistake.
Svar stood up and cracked his knuckles. He pretended like nothing had happened, and took another swing at Bolin, who braced himself, his face grim.
The laughter died out just in ti for Svar to trip again. Again, he went sailing to the ground.
The orphans roared this ti, twice as loud as before. Even Svars own friends couldnt help themselves and started giggling.
Shut up! All of you! This-this is! This isnt what it looks like!
Svar finally lost his cool, and his face flushed blue.
Once more he swung, and once more, he tripped.
Even so, despite the giggles, not one of the orphans goaded him. Taunting him would only hurt them, and right now, Svar didnt need any help making a chal of himself.
I-Ill be back so other ti! he said, shuffling hastily to his feet.
C-Co on! he ordered his lackeys as he stord away. Ekta could almost see the fus coming off of his head.
But how? Ekta marveled at Svars debacle. Shed never seen him trip before. Was he just having a bad day?
She shook off the thought. It didnt matter. Theyd won!
Run, you chals! Svar scread.
He cursed the gods. What had he done to deserve this? Itd been bad enough embarrassing himself in front of Bolin and the orphans.
Its gaining on us! soone shouted. Svar was too preoccupied to check who. He was too busy running for his life.
Svar hadnt felt terror like his since the first ti his father beat him, years ago. Hed never forgotten that experience. And now, he was reliving it.
He dashed blindly through the streets, through alleys.
It was no good. The black terror always found them.
Desperation overtook his thoughts. He turned a corner, and only too late did he realize his mistake.
Hed entered an alley. A dead-end.
His friends piled in blindly after him.
Stupid chals. Cant they use their heads!? Im always the one telling them where to go.
Svar rushed back to the entrance of the alley, shoving past his friends.
It was blocked. The black beast waited for them.
Hed seen nothing like it. Black flas burned off its hide. Its glowing blue eyes seed to gaze into his very soul. Promising pain. Promising death.
A-Ash Wolf, soone mumbled from behind him.
Impossible. Why would an Ash Wolf be all the way out here?
It made no sense!
Svar opened his Foundation Chakra, gaining him a asure of calm. He could do this. Ash Wolf or not, it was alone and there were three of them.
The wolf bared its vicious fangs and slowly sauntered over. Svar instinctively stepped back. His confidence fled as if itd never existed. He lost control of his Chakra and terror again washed over him.
If it was an Ash Beast, he was dead. As a Tier Three Fiend, only Steel Guardians or higher could best them. Forget Steel, Svar wasnt even ranked! Even Copper was above him.
This is it, isnt it? This is the end.
You will die here today, the wolf said.
The wolf? It spoke!?
But no, the voice had co from behind them.
Slowly, Svar turned, terrified to take his eyes off the black beast even for a mont.
Standing not ten paces away was a being clad in black fla. Just like the wolf.
It wore a jet-black cloak. A hood covered its head, and a featureless burned wooden mask hid its face. It bore no visible weapons and its limbs were hidden under its cloak.
Despite this, Svar knew. This beast was even more powerful than the Ash Wolf. The flas burning off its body were incomparable to those of the wolf. The being was wreathed in a vortex of fire, blacker than the Ash itself.
Its mask was a black, featureless oval, devoid of openings for eyes, nose, or even a mouth.
This was no re demon.
Oh Yuma, have rcy!
It was an Ash Beast. An Abomination spawned from the Harai Chakai itself.
But it had spoken. What Ash Beast could talk?
Without thinking, Svar fell to his knees and prostrated.
P-please almighty one. I beg of you, spare us! We plead for our lives. Please!
The being in black did not reply. Svar could feel its gaze on them. Judging them. A predator pondering whether to slaughter its prey.
Spare you? the being in black thundered. Worthless mortal. Why?
Mortal?
A-are you a god?
A pause. Had he offended it?
Oh gods. Were dead.
I am Vaak, the being replied slowly.
Vaak? What kind of god is that?
Anything you wish, O Demon God Vaak! You will have it! Our souls! Well dedicate ourselves to you!
The being scoffed in derision.
Weve angered it! Vera have rcy!
Of what use are your worthless souls? I wish only for peace and quiet. I tire of your antics.
Antics?
Svar paled. The orphans? But why? No, I cannot question a god!
Well stop! I swear on my life. If it appeases you, we wont play with those kids any longer!
The being didnt respond. Had he angered it even more?
Slowly, Svar raised his head. It was gone.
Svar turned. The Ash Wolf was gone as well.
Spread my na, the beings disembodied voice bood, startling Svar. Let the world know. I have arisen.
I shall! I will!
Demon God Vaak? What have I done?
Vir had seen the gods. He knew of their incomprehensible power. He wasnt even close to their level.
Hed just wanted to teach those bullies a lesson and to spread his na! Now, however, he feared hed gone too far.
Shan looked up at him. He shrugged.
Er. That kid will probably forget all about this by tomorrow, anyway. Right? He laughed awkwardly, earning him a disapproving look from the wolf.
Vir didnt believe his own words even as he uttered them. He feared hed unleashed upon the world sothing that couldnt be taken back.
Shan snorted, as if to mock, then bounded away.
Vir felt a sense of loss whenever the wolf left, but it was for the best. Now that Vaak had been introduced to the world, the less anyone saw them together, the better.
For while Vir mightve said too much, he hadnt lied.
Hed seen enough. Of Samar Patag. Of the Chitran. Of the squalor and the oppression that crushed his people.
Maybe the Chits werent all bad, but sothing had to be done.
When Vir had entered the Demon Realm, hed been unsure of what he had to do. Of what he could do, as a lone demon.
Now, not a trace of that doubt lingered.
No matter how strong, a single demon could only do so much.
But a symbol? That was another matter entirely. A symbol could inspire hope in demons across the realm. A symbol could instill terror in the hearts of enemies both near and far. A symbol could not be corrupted or killed or suppressed.
A symbol was eternal. Vaak was eternal.
Samar Patag had to change. The Chitran had to change.
And if the price for realizing that dream was to beco a Demon God, then it was a price Vir was glad to pay.
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