When Kiro heard a voice on his right side, he was stunned for a brief moment. Then suddenly a cold goosebump ran throughout his body. Subsequently, comprehending that he didn't even detect a minuscule bit of fluctuation when the person arrived.
"Master! Be careful." Suddenly Fixie's voice cried in alarm inside his head. "That person... No, noβno, it can't be... Master, run!"
Once he heard Fixie's voice, Kiro's expression turned grim. He took a glance at the person who came from the darkness. There he saw a brown human figure with a miniature horn in the middle of its forehead. But the most unusual thing about this person was its shimmering reddish eyes that illuminate in the clouded part of the forest.
"What's your name, boy?" The person spoke with both eyes flashed in wonder. "To defeat Demogoblin at such a young age, just who are you?"
"Master! Don't simply stand there, withdraw now!" Fixie urged Kiro to leave the place as she added. "That isn't a person but a demon! Even though it was a low-class demon, with master current capability he cannot face him upfront!"
"Waβwhat?" Upon hearing her voice, Kiro voiced out in alarm. "If it's truly a demon just like you, then how can I flee from this place?"
"Listen here, Masterβ" Before Fixie could finish, the demon interjected. "Oh my, such a rude boy. Are you perhaps trying to figure out how to escape from here?" The demon said while darted its line of sight toward Alina's direction.
With that simple gesture, at first, Kiro stared at him in bewilderment; however, recalling who was in that direction. Both of his eyes gleamed with killing intent. "What do you want?" He said while staring fiercely at the demon in front of him.
"Hohoho, how scary? Then let me ask you again, what is your name?" This time the demon released a strong and intimidating pressure around the surrounding.
"Urgh!" Kiro groaned in pain. With the intimidation alone, he could no longer continue standing straight as his body fell on one knee. "Master!" Fixie cried out as she attempted to share some mental burden to lessen the pressure for her Master. Suddenly a gentle and lukewarm aura envelop Kiro's head.
"Hoohoo, as I thought, you're not a simple boy. However, I couldn't fathom how you killed Demogoblin when your mana pool was almost dried up; but instead of passing out from mana inefficiency. For some unknown reason, your mana suddenly rose." The demon speculated as it stared straight to Kiro's eyes.
Hearing the demon thought, Kiro both eyes widened in disbelief; only when the demon pointed it out, he suddenly realized the demon was watching his fight from the very beginning.
Kiro tried his best to maintain his composure, while not exposing his perplexed emotion as he said.
"... I'm called Kiro." He answered while trying to think of a way to get out of this mess.
"Mm, what an unusual name. Did you perhaps come from the eastern Empire of Avonmore?" The demon replied in a surprised manner. "No wonder, no wonder... " It said before adding.
"Then, please die." After saying those words the demon both eyes flicked with a reddish light. Then, the demon pointed its right hand to Kiro's direction.
Abruptly, a huge suction force formed at the center of the demon palm. "Master! Quickly use that last remaining runic arrow!" Upon hearing Fixie's voice. Kiro didn't think twice as he grabbed the arrow on his waist and aimed at the demon.
The next thing he did was to summon all of his remaining mana to the arrow shaft while enduring the throbbing pain from his head. "[Mana Blast!]"
*π πππ΄π΄π !*
The wind howled like an enraged beast in this dark forest. While glaring azure light, glittering around like a whirlpool at the center of the arrow's head.
After accumulating enough force, Kiro didn't wait for the demon to activate its skill as he released the string of his longbow.
*ππ€πππ β*
The arrow darted to the demon with breakneck speed, while it advanced, the nearby trees creak, screaming as if their limbs strained from the wind shear onslaught.
*π΅π΄π΄π΄ππΊ!*
The arrow exploded as soon as it reached the target. Producing an enormous shock wave that shattered the nearby woods.
"Haa... Haaa... Ha..." Kiro exhaled in exhaustion. But before he could stabilize his breathing, Fixie's voice cried out. "Master! Hurry and run!" Fixie squealed in fright.
However, Kiro's body didn't attend to his command as he fell on one knee.
"Haa... Haa... I'm sorry Fixie, my body won't listen to me." Kiro said grimly. He could only hope that the arrow was enough to finish off the demon. Nonetheless, it was only his wishful thought.
Gradually the fog from the collision dissipated, then Kiro saw the unharmed demon. "Hehehe, vile human... Do you honestly believe that an incompetent attack of yours is enough to harm me?" The demon sassed while staring at the sorry figure of Kiro.
"Hehe, even with that attack there wasn't even a slight scratch?" Kiro let out a dull laugh as both of his eyes dimmed in tiredness. "Master!" Fixie tried to wake her Master up. Still, it wasn't enough to recall him back.
Kiro both eyes gently shut as his body fell on the muddy ground.
"Sleep well boy, because when you wake up, I'll have you split all the mysteries you were hiding." The demon mumbled as it advanced onward.
But before it could reach Kiro's location, a purplish emanation fiercely darted toward the demon.
Noticing the impending danger, both of its eyes became sharp. Then the demon erected a barricade of wicked aura three meters before him.
*π΅πππ!*
The wall of darkness shattered like a frail glass upon the touch of the piercing luminescent lilac light.
"That's far as you go, demon."
Suddenly a Majestic and dignified voice echoed to the surrounding.
"Who!" The demon shouted in panic, while its eyes restlessly scanned the surrounding forest.
But before the demon could find the source of disturbance, a firm hand fiercely grasps the demon's neck.
"Guu-aah!" The demon cried in pain, "Itβit's... you!" The demon snarled in disbelief, as both of its eyes widened in horror.
"... Waβwhy? such a person like you is in a rural place like this? Inβ"
*πΆππππ!*
A crispy sound of a broken bone could be heard whereas Kyros snapped the demon neck into two.
"Haayst, what a noisy fellow. Rosie, can you check my good disciple for me?" Kyros said while glancing at the beautiful lady behind him.
"Why should I? You're his Master, not me." Rosie replied as she snorted in discomfort.
"Come on now, I killed the demon, you go ahead and check my precious disciple condition. I must clean this place first," Kyros said, as his eyes darted northeast side of the forest.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Don't tell the boy I'm the one who rescued him, and that girl named Alina; take care of her as well." When he finished saying those words, Kyros' figure disappeared from the forest.