"What... What are you...?" The Soldier spoke, their voice muffled from their mask.
"Eh? You tried to help kidnap me! Pshh, like I'd answer you!" I retorted, obviously making a phenomenal point, you'd have to agree, right?
"I am merely getting paid to do this job... But you interest me, allow us to battle if you so please."
"Damn, how courteous, but I doubt I have a choice, do I?"
I imagine they would be smirking right about now as they chuckled slightly, "No." They charged at me without any further delay, swinging their great sword vertically towards me.
I dodge out of the way, knowing to try to block an attack like that would end in disaster. And oh crap... They send out a blurry of attacks at me, using a combination of dodging and contorting my body using Body Manipulation, I make it out pretty much fine. W-well other than a cut on my side, but it wasn't too bad.
"Very good... But that was but a test."
"excuse me?" A... test? Were they... not even trying their hardest?
"Focus, or you'll die." They took up a stance and disappeared from my line of sight.
"What the..." Confused about where they are, I made up my own defensive stance! See, I can do it t--
I feel a light gust of wind hit me from behind.
I jump forward, narrowing getting missed by the Greatsword my enemy wields. Phew... That was close.
They disappeared again, but this time I knew what they would do. I readied myself for them to appear behind me... They appeared inches away from my face. My eyes widened in fear as I as quick as I can attempt to parry the attack about to be launched at me. I managed to avoid the deadly blow, but the sword I was using broke
Damn it all! I can't keep fighting like this... I can't even land a blow. I jumped back and started to transform. They flinched as they saw my body rapidly expand and shape into the shape of a large, sharp-toothed, Earth digger worm. If I can't win in pure fighting ability, I'll have to win in intelligence!
I dug straight down, digging out the area below them. You might have guessed what I'm doing, yep! I'm gonna make them fall in a huge hole! Now, there'd be no way for them to find out, they must think I've fled!
Now, I continue digging, as fast as I can, and-- OH, SHIT! I stop myself before I get impaled by the sword the swordsman is using.
"Come, get up from there and fight me. Your trap won't work against me, I can hear everything you do." They spoke calmly as they returned back to a fighting stance and as I rose up, transforming into something different... I didn't wanna use this form but it looks like I'll have to.
They watched as my body mass nearly quadrupled in size and my body take a slightly deformed, human shape, red in colour, hairless, large, sharp teeth. Yep, you guessed it, the Lesser Troll. Its size and power might be able to make up for my lack of skill.
"Oh? Now how many tricks do you have up your sleeves?"
I smirked, activating Demon Lizard Breath once again, she dodged out of the way of its radius, but I followed her with my head. I had to at least land a hit on her. And that, I would. While still using the skill, I ran up to her, my legs being much larger and longer, able to traverse the land much easier, I caught up to her immediately.
They stopped in their tracks and attempted to slice my leg, I blocked it by grabbing the sword with my hands. I activated Separation and separated the hilt and the blade.
I transformed back into my main form.
"And with that, I've won, haven't I?" I spoke, a grin plastered on my face.
"Ah... My word, how interesting. Indeed you have, sir." They began to walk off, but stopped suddenly...? "But next time..."
She took off her mask, revealing a woman's face, full of scars and wounds, and with that... a sense of dread came over me as if some sort of dark... energy? came from her. As if a black ocean of malice surrounded her, A power I had not sensed once during my lifetime here.
"I won't just be gathering information. But, I do have a tip for you, since you did win and all!" She spoke less calmly... No, she was calm, but her personality seemed to make a drastic shift. "You may not know it, but there are a few people out there who have their eyes on you... So I suggest you watch out, Reincarnator!" As she finished talking, she completely disappeared, aura and all.
I've just felt true fear for the first time since I have come here. A looming sense of terror loomed over me, she knew... She said I was a reincarnator... What...?
My eyes were widened, if I had a heart It'd be sure to be beating fast. I took a deep breath, clenching my hands.
"I... I shouldn't worry about it right now... I'm sure it'll be fine..."
I made it back to the trail where Ai stood alone, with a crowd of onlookers looking at the damage the fight had caused, the two I paralyzed were awake now, talking to Vale.
I walked over to Ai, through the crowd of people not to draw attention.
"Let's go," I spoke quickly, trying to ignore... that, the injury on my side.
"Huh? Ah, yes."
[Chapter 15, end.]
Through the Dimensional Gate, I had opened, I reached the castle of the kingdom of Opates. Walking in, I was greeted with Frost, the captain of the 3rd Demon Army squadron.
"Hey! What took ya so long? I thought all you were doing was collecting information on the humans!" He spoke loudly, as he always did. Frost is a loud person, always looking for trouble. He's quite an annoying one. Like his name, his hair is a frosty white, I haven't seen it not spiked up. He was of average height for someone his age, around 5'9, and despite the fact he wears a gentlemanly suit, he's anything but one. He was a type of Demon called Yakokyui, a sub-species that share lineage with Beast-Men and Demon kind. He's fairly strong... If I stopped practicing now, he could get to my level in a couple of hundred years, I'd say.
"Yes, I did, but I ran into some... Difficulties." I responded, trying not to give any information away, "I shall be leaving now."
I attempted to walk away, trying not to prolong the conversation.
"Wait... You fought somebody, didn't you?" He stopped me.
"And what if I did? It matters not to you."
"Yeah, yeah... But the smells... aren't of a human, but of something different. A combination of a variety of different smells are on you, all monster smells."
"It was but a friendly spar."
"The blood you have on you doesn't look so friendly... Strange, it's not really blood, but something else, it's blue and looks... Slimy." He smirked... I truly hate it when he does this.
"I said, I'll be leaving... Now." I activated my skill, Abyss, sub-consciously... Oops.
"A- Jeez, dude, Fine. Go report to the Demon Lord or whatever."
"That I will, Frost."
And I continued on my way.
My name is Zaria Trendle, the Demon Army General, I serve my lord, The Demon Lord.