"You'll gain massive experience from this operation!"
"HAIL, SIR!" they shouted in unison, excitent overwhelming their apprehension.
Enthusiasm. Good for morale.
Arthur adjusted the mask covering his features, ensuring his identity remained concealed. The drone footage from earlier had captured his larger dragon form, but this compressed version looked like an entirely different species, so they wouldn't be able to connect the dots with him just yet. All they could do was speculate.
Below them, Aetherion had reached the demon horde and imdiately began what could only be described as enjoying himself.
THWUMP!
The void dragon's spatial manipulation seized a Level 3 demon, launching it skyward like a baseball pitched by a giant. The creature's confused shrieks echoed across the cityscape as it traced a perfect arc through the air.
"Wheee!" Aetherion's delighted voice carried clearly. "This is fun!"
Spatial volleyball. Of course.
The dragon teleported beneath the falling demon, catching it with his claws before launching it again, higher this ti, with more spin.
He's actually playing catch with himself.
"Master! Master! Look how high I can throw them!"
To Arthur, watching, it was adorable enthusiasm for creative violence. Aether didn't play by the rules when it ca to fighting. Either he completely obliterates you using his overpowered skills, or plays with you all kinds of gas.
But the portals above them remained active, pulsing with dinsional energy as more demons poured through the dinsional gateways. A constant stream of Level 2, 3, and 4 lesser demons erged like an endless conveyor belt of targets.
Perfect. Unlimited walking experience for our people.
"Ooh! More playmates!" Aetherion squealed with delight as fresh demons materialised. "This is the best day ever!"
The void dragon's spatial awareness tracked every new arrival, his childlike enthusiasm finding new targets and organising his gas accordingly.
Strategic thinking wrapped in innocent joy.
Another demon found itself seized by invisible forces, spinning through the air like a discus before Aetherion teleported to intercept its trajectory.
THWACK!
Spatial energy guided the creature into a perfect spiral, sending it careening toward a cluster of its companions who'd just erged from the nearest portal.
Strike! All pins down!
"Bowling! Isn't it like the ga you told about master? " Aetherion announced proudly. "I invented demon bowling! And look—more pins keep appearing!"
Each "ga" left the demons battered, bruised, and thoroughly demoralised. Broken bones, internal injuries, severe trauma—but nothing imdiately fatal.
Perfectly executed restraint.
Gates's personnel had reached the area where the playground of Aether was, moving in coordinated groups toward the injured demons. Their new weapons were ready for the deadly battle as they approached their first real combat.
Dave Webb, the young man who'd earned Arthur's respect during the hospital siege, raised his Very-Rare bow toward a writhing demon that Aetherion had just deposited nearby.
BANG!
The energy blast carved through corrupted flesh with surgical precision.
[You have slain a Level 3 Lesser Demon (Epic-Rank)]
[You have levelled up to Level 2]
Real progress. asurable growth.
Dave's eyes widened as power flowed through his enhanced physiology. "This feeling... it's incredible!"
Beside him, Janet from Gates's security detail swung her rare blade through an injured demon's neck.
SLICE!
[You have slain a Level 4 Lesser Demon (Epic-Rank)]
[You have levelled up to Level 2]
"Oh my god!" she breathed, flexing fingers that suddenly felt stronger, faster, more coordinated. "I can actually feel myself getting more powerful!"
The human's combat effectiveness was increasing exponentially, and all of that was due to Aether's playing ground.
Above them, Aetherion had discovered a new ga as fresh demons continued streaming from the active portals.
"JUGGLING TI!" the void dragon announced cheerfully.
What now?
Spatial manipulation seized three newly arrived demons simultaneously, keeping them airborne in a way that defied physics.
He always defined physics, so it wasn't a surprise to those who knew him and were watching the ga roll.
Each creature traced elaborate loops through the sky as Aetherion's power guided their trajectories.
"Look, Master! I can keep five... no, six... no, EIGHT in the air at once!"
Arthur's mouth twitched slightly at the scene; it was hilarious, and he barely held his laughter.
The demons spun helplessly through three-dinsional patterns that would have impressed professional jugglers, their terrified shrieks providing background music for Aetherion's delighted laughter.
He is really enjoying himself...way too much. Gates thought with an audible gulp.
anwhile, the portal above continued disgorging reinforcents, maintaining a steady supply of targets for both dragon and humans.
One of Gates's financial analysts had never held a weapon before today. Now he gripped a Rare-rank bow and felt power coursing through his body. The bow clearly gave him attributes as one of its effects.
Whish!
The arrow flew and hit one of the nearly-dead demons, killing it imdiately. It wasn't that Gate's analyst was strong, but the demon was injured, and the bow was powerful.
[You have slain a Level 2 Lesser Demon (Epic-Rank)]
[You have levelled up to Level 2]
"This is amazing! I feel myself getting stronger in real ti!"
"Focus on the injured ones!" Janet shouted as she carved through another demon. "Let the mighty dragon do the hard work!"
SLICE!
[You have slain a Level 3 Lesser Demon (Epic-Rank)]
[You have levelled up to Level 3]
Above them, Aetherion had moved on to more elaborate entertainnt.
"DEMON SOCCER!" he announced, using spatial manipulation to guide a cluster of demons into formation.
The void dragon beca goalkeeper, striker, and referee simultaneously as he teleported around the "field" he'd created in mid-air.
KICK!
A demon flew across the improvised pitch, guided by spatial forces into a perfect arc.
GOAL!
"GOOOOOAL!" Aetherion cheered himself. "The crowd goes wild!"
Arthur couldn't help but support the dragon.
"Good job, Aether! Score a hat-trick and I promise you that I will give you the Ballon d'Or"
Aether's ears twitched at the sound of his master, before he broke into a large smile.
"Really! Really!"
"Yes, go!" Arthur replied with a soft chuckle.
Fresh demons continued erging from the portals, providing endless participants for Aetherion's gas.
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