"To me it does…it means you mostly hunt low-level demons. You're not used to fighting demons like me." It said. It seemed almost prideful in its response, Nora wasn't sure what to make of it. The demons she ran across didn't have the cognitive function that this demon did, it was aware enough to hold a conversation and display complex emotions like pride.
"Moderate-level." Nora responded.
"Is that what you call those brain-dead bottom feeders? Those are strictly low-level degenerates. Other red demons like myself are more advanced and aware moderate-level demons." It said smugly.
"Whose at the top of the chain then? Purple demons?" Nora asked. While it was talking she was going to take advantage of the opportunity to get any information she could.
"That you won't get out of me." The demon said and then it ran towards her. It caught her off guard, it was much faster than she expected. She wasn't able to dodge it's attack but she was able to block. Luckily she took the time to rest, she wasn't back at full capacity but she was up to the task of a big fight like this.
"Not bad, but not enough to beat me." It said with a terrifying grin. Was it just testing her? She needed to get her head in the game. She swung her staff at it and it easily dodged.
"Very clever." It said. "However it's still not enough."
"You don't even know what my ability is." Nora said.
"I don't need to know." It said. Nora gripped her staff firmly and made a run at the demon. She stopped in front of it and in a fraction of a second jumped up and swung at it. She nicked the side of its face as it moved last second.
"Very flashy but like the other females of your kind, you can't use your powers long-term. By the looks of you I'd give you an hour at most." It said and Nora snickered.
"You think you're so clever just because you can talk? Something every other human on this planet can do?" She said as she landed on her feet.
"I'll tell you something you humans don't know…all it'll cost you is a duel." It said with a smirk on its face. Was it still toying with her? To what end?
"You mean spare your life once I beat you?" She asked.
"You mean if you beat me?" It joked. It quickly extended its arm and had it extend towards Nora. It was so fast that she was barely able to dodge it, she also wasn't expecting such an ability from a demon. She was beginning to realize that this demon was capable of things she had never heard of and she should not take it lightly. Her shock must've shown on her face because the demon began to snicker at her.
"You humans know nothing." It said in such a demeaning tone it really irked Nora. It retracted its arm back to the normal length, its smile still prevalent on its face. With Nora not sure of its abilities she was hesitant to rush it but she also couldn't play defense forever.
"I'll tell you one thing – forget everything you think you know about demons, it's all misinterpretations of those weaklings that you let openly roam your territory." It said.
"You talk so much, do you ever shut up?" Nora decided to poke the bear, maybe she could get more from it.
"Such rude little creatures you are. Perhaps if I upped the reward, you'd be more interested in what I have to offer you." It said. Nora wasn't sure what the benefit to the demon was to spill secrets but she wasn't going to refuse – she just needed to keep it interesting for him.
"Perhaps…why don't we start with your other hostage?" Nora asked. It looked over at the woman behind the rock for a moment before scoffing. "Her travel partner wasn't very tasty anyway, she is probably more of the same. Be gone human!" It shouted the last part and the woman wasted no time rushing away. "Satisfied?" It asked as it turned its attention back to Nora.
"It's something…" Nora said, still skeptical of what the demons intent was.
"I'll give you a little extra incentive, for each blow you land on me I'll give you a little-known fact. To incentivize you to work hard I'll give you this one for free – black and blue demons are considered low-level scavengers, they're exiled from our territory and are forced to come here to feast on human souls. Poor things are too stupid to do much else until they reach a more dignified status like me."
"And what would they eat besides human souls?" Nora scoffed at the demon.
"I knew that would get you going but one at a time dear." It said. It lunged forward towards her but Nora was ready this time, it's full body speed much slower than its limbs alone she was able to dodge him and land a counter blow. The blow didn't seem to do much but it did push it back.
"Very good. Your answer dear – artificial souls. They're not as tasty as the real thing but they're much easier to get and will do the trick. If you're amazing like me you can be sent on missions here where you can feast on a human soul or two." It said.
"Wasn't that two facts?" Nora asked.
"I suppose it was but are you really going to complain?" It asked.
"No, not at all." She said and lunged for it. The demon was able to block her with his left hand and swing with his right hand. She put her leg in the way and used her powers to put more force on the staff and push the demon several feet away.
"What a neat trick. I have to confess to you my mission here turned out to be easier than I thought – after all you came straight to me!" It touted.
"What are you going on about? What mission?" Nora asked.
"Well, I suppose this wasn't the full mission. I was tasked to find you and your partner, Sam was is?" It asked.
"You leave him out of it!" Nora shouted. She rushed towards the demon and swung at the demon several times, he blocked the first few but the last one landed and the staff blow sent the demon back nearly 10 feet. The exertion left Nora a little out a breath but she was able to see damage on the demon this time which made her happy.
"Relax, don't use up all your strength at once. This is much faster, you're the primary target anyway. If you can behave we can sit and have a conversation." It said.
"W-why would you be interested in a conversation?" Nora asked nervously.
"We know you're interested in the 100-soul myth, we want to have a chat about that." The demon said. It cautiously moved back a few feet and took a seat. "It'd be better for your handler to be involved in the conversation as well but dealing with you both would be more problematic, those guns would certainly cause some damage."
"Why would your mission be to find us and talk to us about some myth?" Nora probed.
"Neither side knows exactly what happens when you reach 100. We want to know what the outcome is." It said.
"How would that information benefit you?" Nora asked.
"We need to know what happens – can you reproduce and keep your powers? Will you still pass your powers on? Is it all just a myth? Right now there are plenty of those low-level demon scum to keep you and your government occupied but that can turn in an instant and the more we know the better." It said.
"Does that mean you're going to help us?" Nora asked.
"That's not what I'm here for. I'm here to give you information and tell you to be weary of your government." It said.
"We already are weary of them." Nora said.
"That's good…I see the Dijanny chose well when they chose to back you." It said.
"The Dijanny?" Nora asked.
"Our leaders if you will. They instructed me to find you." It said.
"And what did they want you to tell me?" Nora asked.
"Only that us moderate level demons won't be standing in your way – you're free to kill all the black and blue demons you need to reach 100. Your last count was in the mid sixties I believe so you have a little ways to go but by the looks of the gathering nearby you're closer today yes?" It asked.
"H-how did you know the number I was at?" Nora asked.
"I told you, be weary of your government – they cannot be trusted. Even those you think you can trust, you cannot. It would be best to place your trust in your handler and your handler alone." It said.
"Very well." Nora said and put her staff away. "If there is nothing else I'll be heading back."
"I wish you well chosen one. We will be checking in with you in the future…I would caution you when reporting your kills to your government, it would be best to under report for now." It said.
"That's good advice…should I look for you in the future?" Nora asked.
"No need, I or another red demon will find you when the time is right." It said before it got up and slowly vanished into the distance.
Nora wasn't sure what to do with this information, she needed to talk to Sam. She went back to the car and drove back to the town in silence. She made her way to the doctors office again and waited until Sam awoke from his surgery later that evening to tell him what happened.
"We need to leave then." Sam said as he sat up in his bed.
"No, you need to rest. I don't know what this means but for now it seems we're not in danger. For now that's enough with you out of commission." Nora said.
"I'm not letting you go out there on your own with that maniac out there. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you." Sam said.
"If I don't go then nothing will happen with us." Nora said.
"Nothing can happen while I'm injured either. Give me the week and I'll be well enough to go out into the field with you." Sam said.
"Absolutely not, you'll need more time to heal than that. Maybe we should fix the radio and call headquarters, tell them we ran into trouble on the way there."
"No, we've already turned our backs on them." Sam said.
"They don't know that and they're expecting us in a few days." Nora said.
"I trust them even less now." Sam said.
"I never said we had to trust them, the less we tell them the better. All they need to know is a demon got the jump on you and that I've decided not to take the test because of it." Nora said.
"I said no." Sam said sternly.
Nora sighed. She wasn't going to let it go but for now she wanted to let him rest.
"Get some rest Sam. I'll be by your side all night." Nora said.