I came up upon the small clearing the humans ran to, just as Noah was charging the old guy.
I didn't see the woman, but we would get her in due time.
I can't take that chance. If I take the time to try to force him to be my slave, the other one could get away and alert the crown before my army is ready.
Summoning demons is a slow process, I've been out here for a week or two now and I only have twenty demons.
My altars are Low-grade, so I can't force demons to come here. Which is why Darisyn and Amisra are setting up other Low-grade altars to make a Mid-grade one.
No, final answer.
Now, sit back and enjoy the show, I know I will.
I screamed at two of my demons to leave and find the other one.
Noah reached the human and smashed down.
Before he hit him, a bright eruption occurred blinding and deafening us.
When it wore off, Noah was on the ground with that bastard's spear through his knee, and the old-timer had his shield and short sword out running towards the closest of my demons.
Fool! Does he think we demons are so easy to kill.
As he reached the first demon he blocked the demon's bone breaking punch with his shield, then spun on his heel lopped off her hand, cut the tendons in her leg, causing her to fall and impale herself on his sword, piercing her heart.
He then used a spell to light his sword on fire to incinerate her heart, killing the host and sending the demon packing back to hell.
That's impossible!!!
Arrhhh!!!
I threw her back into a hellscape.
I was about to throw a spell at him, when another eruption occurred disorienting me.
When I opened my eyes again he was at another demon slashing open his chest.
He didn't kill him, instead he let loose another eruption and cut a chunk of leg flesh from another demon.
He's disabling my army!
Noah yanked out the spear from his leg and charged at him again - slower than before.
He tried that light trick again, but Noah continued blind and smashed down with all of his might.
When the light and dust cleared the remains if a demon lay under Noah's fists.
Somehow he dodged and threw a demon under Noah's fists.
He moved from one demon to the next disabling them, and would randomly let loose another light eruption disorienting us further.
It has been just a few minutes into battle and three of my demons are dead and five severely injured.
Damn! I wish I had Darisyn and the rest of my demons here with me right now.
Noah was charging at the old coot again, only to run into a tree and get his horns stuck when he got blinded.
Now the old guard is headed my way.
I started turning into gas, when another blast of light hit me.
When I opened my eyes his sword was a mere ten inches from my face and closing the rest of the distance fast.
I couldn't think - let alone act - fast enough.
When suddenly the guard was blown away.
Darisyn appeared right before me.
The guard landed a decent bit away.
"There is but one person I know that can cast offensive magic and teleportation magic simultaneously, hello Darisyn."
(Guard)
The guard said standing up.
Darisyn took on his human form.
"Jaxon."
"You're one too, huh? That was unexpected, I didn't think you could be overpowered."
"I wasn't, I made a deal with my mistress."
"Was it power? Or coin?"
"Neither, you know me, I already had both of those things in spades."
"Then, what was worth betraying everyone you know?"
"Love."
"This wasn't the way."
"It was the only way! Now, old friend you were one of the best warriors I have ever fought with, there is nothing stopping you from joining me once more."
"I can't do that."
Darisyn's face showed pity and sadness.
"You know you can't beat me."
"I know."
Jaxon raised his shield and sword.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, then they charged.
Jaxon did his light trick again, but Darisyn used magic to capture it, condense it, and send it hurtling back at Jaxon.
Jaxon raised his shield, only for his returned and amplified magic to smash through his shield and tear off his arm.
He didn't even slow down.
Instead, he attacked at Darisyn's head when they met, using the opening in Darisyn's defense he just made he spun around him.
Ever quick on his feet Darisyn gave chase, but before he could catch him Jaxon threw his sword at me obviously imbued with magic.
His sword was coming at me at blistering speeds.
Darisyn waved his hand and gale force winds buffeted the sword.
Even with all of that force, the sword only moved over by a couple of inches.
The sword brushed past my cheek splitting it open, then hit and smashed the five-foot thick tree behind me.
Darisyn caught up to Jaxon and tore through his chest from the back.
"I am sorry old friend."
Jaxon coughed up blood.
As he died, he reached in the direction of Saltwater.
"Ma..Mar.....Mary."
The light faded from his eyes.
And with that the guard known as Jaxon was no more.
Darisyn dropped him to the ground.
I reached my hand out and consumed his body.
Then, I turned my attention to Darisyn.
"How did you know I needed aid?"
I would have been dead if not for him, but it should have been impossible for him to know I was in danger.
"I set up magic runes all over this forest to detect magic disturbances, when I felt a large disturbance I knew someone was fighting. Being as there are no High or Mid-ranked monsters around here, they could only be fighting you. "
I wish I had thought of that.
"Where did all of that High-rank magic come from? I thought you were only a Low-rank?"
"I picked up a few things on my travels when I was younger."
That makes no sense, even if you did 'pick-up a few things' a Low-rank shouldn't be able to toss around High-rank magic with no repercussions.
This is the fourth or fifth time he's used magic he shouldn't be able to.
If he wasn't my minion and I didn't know he's just a third tier, I'd assume he's lying about his rank.
I was about to question him about it, when the two demons I sent after the female guard returned.
They both knelt before me.
"Mistress, the human is dead."
"Then, where is the body?"
They both looked at each other, then one of them elbowed the other.
"We could not recover the corpse, but we assure you the human died."
I kicked him in the face.
"I can't eat assurances! Feeding from sexual energies sustains me yes, but nowhere near the amount that eating actual mana does! I should kill you where you stand, for being completely useless!"
There is a limit to the slaves that I can eat, I need them to serve me!
"Mistress, if I could speak?"
(Darisyn)
"What?!"
"Even though you would be in the right to kill them, maybe killing two healthy demons when we only have twenty... excuse me... seventeen demons left isn't the wisest move. Instead, we could ask them what happened, if you prefer that mistress."
I guess I might have gotten carried away.
"Fine, I will be lenient - this time! Why did you fail to recover the corpse?"
The two of them oozed relief from my magnanimity.
"We were chasing the female just fine when she tripped and we caught up. She tried to cast a spell, but it must've back-fired. Right before our eyes she melted, slowly and painfully."
Fuck, I kind of want to know what spell she used.
It sounds awesome to use against your enemies, of course I - being of the superior race - would have no problems with casting it.
"All's well that ends well I guess, but we have to make sure this does not happen again."
I looked at Darisyn.
"I would suggest spreading out your demons to patrol the forest and kill any wannabe demon slayers, but that might have the inverse effect you're looking for. We have so few demons, an intruder could slip right past them or take them out one at a time."
I was thinking about this problem, when a name popped into my head.
"Barryn."
Darisyn had a shocked look on his face.
"You know the name?"
"Yes, and I'm a little disappointed I didn't think of him, as he's perfect.
He's the second in command of the guards who has been accused of accepting bribes in the past before, the only reason he still has the job is because no one else wants it and he doesn't commit any egregious crimes that can be exposed. How did you think of him? I didn't realize you even knew of him."
How did I know? Well, it doesn't matter.
"I have my ways, just remember that no matter how strong you get, I'll always be better."
"Of course mistress, shall I depart to the guard-house at first light?"
"Yes, and there is no need to expose our true goals, just tell him we're bandits or something and two of his guards won't be coming back. Offer him either coin or pussy I don't care which, just get it done."
I looked at the dead corpses of my fallen soldiers, the demons inhabiting them might have been sent back to hell but the hybrid corpses can still be consumed.
I raised my hand and all three became my dinner.
I turned to Noah.
"Once you have freed yourself, come back to my mansion. Next time try to be of better use to me, you couldn't even stop an old man."
I left to the sounds of Noah whimpering in disappointment.
______________________
It had been a week and two days since my walking treasure left on its rescue quest, both Ledina and the bald Dalian returned.
When Siel asked the Dalian about where the others were, he just said the quest is complete and left.
Ledina told Siel that they accepted another quest, but she had no idea what kind it was or how long it would take.
After she had left I came out of my hiding spot.
"You saw the monster near that Dalian right?"
"Yes, it was a slangan. It would appear that they were not lying, one of those two girls are a beastmaster. Either that, or the lizard was able to use the skill in the mage stone."
"You told me it was a neutral stone, that it would only allow one to tame small animals... not monsters."
If it can bring stronger monsters under its control, it would be that much harder to capture.
"Yes, but one cannot discount that two or more gods are interfering with its life. If we are going to pull this off, we'll have to expect the unexpected.
In other matters, how goes the plan?"
"Fine, everything's set. All we are doing now is waiting for them to return. It is a good plan, I have to say for a centaur Haysith is not as stupid as one would believe."
If centaurs aren't fighting, they're trying to provoke a fight.
It's probably one of the main reasons they're nomadic mercenaries.
"When I found her in a pit starving to death something told me to rescue her, and it was the best decision I have made in a long time. She has protected me from some of the most unconventional enemies I have ever seen."
"What did she do?"
"Hmm...?"
"That pit thing, that's how centaurs punish their most heinous criminals. Centaurs can't climb well, so they dig a pit and let the offender starve to death. So, I'll ask again, what did she do?"
If centaurs - who are completely fine with burning down a village with children in it to force their opponents out to fight them - think you are vile enough to warrant that kind of death, I should know what she did.
"So, you know about centaur law, you truly are a fantastic woman. How did a Wildier find out about that?"
I just stared at him.
He just stared right back.
"Fine, don't tell me. Don't blame me for her death if I think she's doing something suspicious, I don't trust criminals I don't know."
"I won't, because if Haysith wants you dead, you won't see it coming. If that is all, I have to get back to Slogmire."
He left without saying another word.
______________________________
After traveling through the forest I came to our main hideout.
I moved my bandits here to be closer to my target, but it is a far cry from the group of tents it used to be.
A basic wooden fence in front of an earthen wall which stands fifteen-feet high and a good six-feet thick protected what I dubbed bandit village.
I had amassed a good eighty bandits under my control.
When I first came to this area years ago, there were dozens of small roving bandit groups robbing just to survive.
It was easy enough to kill one of the bandit leaders and gain control of his crew.
After that, we started pulling of bigger heists, and instead of just stealing alcohol, crops, and gold from farmers and villagers we started robbing adventurers outside of dungeons too.
Once I entered the wooden fence gate I had to follow the path alongside the earthen wall until I reached the second gate, then I crossed a wooden plank - which is above a ditch twenty-feet deep - which could be pulled up at a moment's notice.
Inside of the camp were dozens of simple huts, each had hidden tunnels that leads into the forest.
I went into the largest one.
Once inside I moved a cot I had in there exposing the hidden trapdoor.
I jumped down and landed on the stone path and pulled the trapdoor shut with the rope that is attached to it.
On the side of the path is a side tunnel, if you aren't looking for it, you wouldn't see it.
I slip into that side tunnel which takes me into our real base, up top-side there are never more than twenty bandits.
This way we aren't a priority for the knights.
Most would call me paranoid for all of this cloak and dagger shit, but I'm alive and their dead, so I think it works.
The powers that be wouldn't spend their precious gold on hunting a group of bandits only twenty strong, and an adventurer party would think twice before taking on twenty possibly Mid-rankers.
The only problem is if some wannabe adventurer with suicidal tendencies decides to play hero.
After a while of walking I reached my destination, Reath's room.
Reath is a mage that specializes in earth magic, he is the reason we could excavate these tunnels as fast as we did.
I found him a while back about to get his dick ripped off by a nobleman's guards, apparently he had fucked a bastard into the nobleman's daughter and ran away.
The nobleman had told his guards to torture, then kill, the dumb shit slowly.
As the idiot tried reasoning with them futilely, he noticed I was there.
He begged with all of his heart for me to aid him, that he was going to be a father, that life needed to be protected, that he knew I was a good person, and blah blah blah.
I in turn walked up to the guards, and told them to have a good day.
Just as he was about to die, Reath said the magic word (pun totally intended (^_^)) - mage.
He told them that he was an expert earth mage, and he would be perfect for finding and mining jewels and rare metals. Total bullshit deal of course, the only mines around those parts were either owned or infested with monsters, either of those wouldn't be worth the risk.
But I thought of another use for him, so I convinced the guards to lie to their boss with a big sack of gold and told them if they ever saw him again they would be free to kill him.
The fool thought I had saved him from the kindness of my heart, my foot in his face relieved him of that foolish notion.
He was an investment, and man did he pay it off.
Be it tunneling into store houses, making pit fall traps, or barriers and walls.
The possibilities are endless!
He sucks at attack magic, but that's not what I wanted from him anyway.
Inside his room is Reath and Bryx.
"Our great and glorious leader has deigned to grace us with her presence, oh how lucky are we!"
I needed but nod my head for Bryx to gut punch him.
"Done?"
I asked him after he was done catching his breath.
"I don't know, ready to free me? You demented bitch!"
I nodded again and Bryx kicked him in the face.
"Ahhh! Not my face! It's my best feature!"
"That's not your best feature."
A confused look crossed his face.
"Then, what is? My ass?"
I knelt down, and looked him in the eye.
"Your spine."
"How is a backbone sexy?"
"It isn't, I just prefer the fact that you don't have one. You spineless worm. A real man would've escaped, or died in the attempt."
"Yeah, but none of those men had to face an ugly ass ogre such as you!"
I stepped on his hand.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Coming here just to hurt me surely isn't what you want, is it?"
I lifted my foot.
"No, I came to tell Bryx that the plan has come into fruition, and she'll be in charge till I get back."
"Me? Not Arn?"
"Yes, you."
"But Arn is your right-hand man, you've known him longer than me."
"Yeah, I have known him longer than you. Which is why I know that if left in charge, he'll try to take over and get us involved in something we can't handle. Arn is a good second, but he only listens to the strong. So, don't be afraid to kick his ass in front of the men. After that, he'll be the most loyal dog you can find."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Don't know, but take this."
I tossed her a Magical communication device.
"What's this?"
"It's a way for you to contact me, only do so if you really need me."
Reath sat up.
"What about me? Can I leave when you're gone for more than a month? After all, you could be dead and not returning."
I kicked him in his baby maker.
"A... simple no... would've sufficed."
He squeaked out.
"Yeah, but this way I'm talking directly to the only organ you use to think."
"Are you sure you want to leave me in charge?"
"Yes, you're more competent than most of the idiots out there. Just don't do any big jobs while I'm not here, stick to hit and runs and you'll be fine."
I turned to leave.
"Oh, and if Reath even stares wistfully into the distance, kick him in his balls. He'll catch on real quick."
"Hey, that's uncalled fo.....ow!"
I lifted my foot from Reath's head that I just put there.
"Just don't fuck it up."
I turned and left.
Any day now, I'll be breathing in this same air as a free woman.