A demon… Zaroth knew a demon. Or rather, it wasn't wrong to say one of his lovers was one—a vampire—who had, in turn, turned part of him into one as well.
But demons weren't a singular race.
So were deadly, intelligent and wise like Midnight and her vampire's kind. She was one of the few demons he had ever seen with his own two eyes.
In theory, their kind and humans could form a truce—no killing, no fighting. They didn't have to like each other. They could even hate one another with every fiber of their being. But with enough intellect, both sides could agree that mutual destruction was pointless—and far too costly to pursue.
It was a hopeful dream, perhaps. But even a madman is allowed to dream.
Sadly, however, not all demons were like the vampires.
Or more accurately to say that few matched their intelligence.
Zaroth had learned about the wild ones back at the academy. What he now saw before him confird every warning the professors had ever given.
Most demons weren't that intelligent. Sure, they were smarter than beasts, but their intellect didn't stretch farther than creating traps or using so kind of illusions to trick humans.
These demons—the majority of them—couldn't be reasoned with, just like you can't beg a beast to not eat you, a demon would have the sa reasoning.
This one towered over five ters tall, with ragged crimson skin and eyes where eyes shouldn't be—one in its palm, another on its grotesque abdon, a third on the top of its misshapen head. Two mouths oozed with saliva: one on its cracked face, another gaping on its stomach just below its set of eyes.
A sight so hideous that most people would puke just looking at it. The scenery reminded Zaroth about the ti he had gone into Draconis chamber and witnessed the aftermath of his experints on humans
Low-aning laughter escaped the demon's two mouths, eyes focused on the female elf before it.
The elf in question was panting heavily, her chest falling and rising in chaotic, uncalm motions. Her two hands, each one holding a sharp dagger, were trembling due to the pressure she was under.
Blood was falling from her graceful figure, a wound on the cheek, one on the shoulder, several on the legs. But the most damning of all, one on her abdon.
Even a blind man was able to see what was about to happen. After a long and drawn-out battle—considering the state of the ground around them—the elf was about to et her end.
Despite her pitiful state, however, she didn't seem to have lost the will to fight.
"You cursed thing!" she roared, green eyes glowing.
Her two daggers in hand glowed faintly, like sothing imbued them, making them sharper, deadlier, more threatening.
This was without a doubt the power only the elves could wield—the will of the world itself.
Another low laugh escaped the demon's mouths, already lunging in to deliver the final attack.
The elf tensed her body, ready for her final clash.
Yet—
That clash never happened.
For a fraction of a second, the world lost color.
A heartbeat later, an attack in the formation of an X passed through the atmosphere like nothing.
The eyes of the demon enlarged, its mighty thick muscle had been severed by a singular attack! Nothing was supposed to be able to deliver such devastating strike!
Before it could focus eyes on the Unholy Judger—the one responsible—it was t with another attack.
A singular fire slash. Zaroth, having made use of the runes that Sira had put on his blade, used his fire skills to engulf the blade. Its length had increased by about a ter and its power by several folds.
A beautiful, deadly arc of blood and fire passed cleanly through the body of the demon, severing it in two.
Just to be sure, Eldros delivered another attack in an X formation, reducing the once mighty demon into nothing more than a pile of guts.
"That was much easier than I thought," Zaroth sighed, wiping off a bead of sweat that had begun to form on his forehead. This was his first official fight to the death with a demon, so he was quite worried about the outco.
Thankfully his training hadn't gone for nothing, considering the state the demon was now in.
With the threat eliminated, he flashed the elf a charismatic smile. "Hello."
He had clearly saved the elf's life, so she should feel inclined to answer his question—or at least he hoped for that to be the case.
Of course, there was always the option of forcing the information out of her, but he wanted to avoid that. Not because of any moral dilemma—he didn't care much for that. But if word got out that he had tortured one of their kind, the elves might turn into a problem. And that was a headache he didn't need.
The elf stared at her savior in stunned silence. The friendly smile on his face only made him more terrifying, considering how effortlessly he had butchered the demon. There was even blood sared across his cheek, and he didn't seem to notice.
Beside him, a headless being bearing an Unholy Eye stood—an undead monstrosity so terrifying that the elf's very soul trembled before its overwhelming presence.
'A demon? No, he is a human… part demon,' the elf's panicked mind going into override, desperately searching for how to approach the situation.
Seeing the pure terror in the woman's eyes, Zaroth frowned, 'Am I that scary?' he asked himself, just now noting that there was blood on his cheek. With a silent curse, he swept it off.
"Tha-thank you," the elf parted her lips, stumbling over her words, bowing down at a ninety-degree angle.
Seeing that, Zaroth let out a sigh of relief. 'If she is grateful, then she would most likely answer my question truthfully.'
The elf clenched her fists, trembling. Asking for help wasn't sothing she found enjoyable—but this wasn't just about her life. Others were depending on her. She had no choice. Swallowing her pride, she made the painful decision to beg for aid.
"I don't know who you are, but with power like that—you might be our only hope."
Before Zaroth could ask his question, the elf beat him to the punch.
"So please! Help and my village. We are under attack and are going to be wiped out if nobody cos to our rescue!" she pleaded, still in a bowing position.
'I'm not so goddamn hero,' Zaroth cursed internally, massaging the bridge of his nose. Helping her might prove useful—but it could also bring a ss of consequences down the road.
Not really sure what to do, his eyes wandered to Vera's figure that was far in the distance, with Luna next to her.
Vera wasn't much of a fighter, so her being closer to the battle was a bad idea, and Luna was next to her to protect her in the event of an unforeseen attack.
Sensing what he was asking her, she simply nodded, advising him for the best move of action.
Zaroth sighed again, eyes observing the brown elf for several seconds.
"Lead the way," he finally said.
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