While the humans were fleeing, I jumped from the roof I was standing on and flew over the crumbled wall.
The demon that stopped around fifty meters away from me looked like a dark red minotaur. Even though it had fur on the lower half of its body it had scales on its shoulders and chest. Its horns were black and thick and faced forwards, resembling that of a bull.
His yellow green eyes were small in proportion to the rest of its face and had sunken deep into the skull.
To be honest I was a little jealous that its horns could actually serve a purpose. This demon could most likely give a fatal blow with only moving its head, should anything come close.
As I was taking in its appearance, it was doing the same with me.
Then the demon broke out in laughter. "I will be honest with you. When I first sensed you in the forest, I thought that you were a cambion! But now that I see you up close, I can tell that you indeed are a demon."
I raised an eyebrow upon hearing the demon's words.
Suddenly the face of the demon hardened. "Why aren't you on your knees? You and I both can tell that I am far stronger. If you don't want to be sent back in the most painful way possible you should join me!"
It was true. I could feel the strength coming from this demon and could easily tell that it was a lot stronger than me. I also could tell that the demon was trying to break my mental barrier. At this moment I wouldn't even dare to stretch out my consciousness. Since it will leave a weak spot for the demon to enter my mind.
I crossed my arms. "I refuse."
The demon glared at me with anger, jet proceeded to speak in a calm tone. "a quite selfish one you are.
Were you perhaps trying to get a group of allies, or should l I say followers? because you, yourself don't want to face the greater powers of this world alone.
Or are you perhaps trying to help those humans who were here out of kindness? You know, kindness doesn't exist. It is merely a lie you tell yourself to fill your own self-worth. So, you can say to yourself that you are better than the other demons just because you let a few souls slip by.
I even guess you make up funny excuses for every soul you claim. What drives you is simply self-gratification."
I bared my teeth in anger and let out a low growl. Even though I was a bit stunned by how easily this demon managed to reach a sore spot.
The demon only laughed when seeing my reaction. "So, I was close? Now young one, tell me your name. I would like to know the name of my soon to be general."
("This monster doesn't deserve to know the name given to me by my parents. But I have to keep him talking, to buy time. Maybe if I stretch it long enough the nuns will arrive to help me deal with this demon.")
"Rubedo!"
The demon looked satisfied with the name I had presented it.
"What a remarkable name. it sure fits the colour of your skin."
I tilted my head. I didn't really know what that name mend. But now I knew that it had something to do with red. This made me wonder what Yerald had researched before he decided to study demons. Or was this also a part of that?
"My name is Theseus. Now that we handled all the formality's. join my ranks"
I shook my head. And said almost mocking tone. "didn't I already tell you that I won't? well… maybe you just have bad memory or you are stupid. I guess both at the same time could also be an option."
I couldn't help it. The demon really pissed me off, so this just slipped.
"You brat! How dare you speak to your superior like that!"
I shrugged. And repeated what the demon had said to me, just a few moments ago. "So, I was close?"
The demon roared. "I will smack some obedience into you!"
In merely a second the demon crossed the distance between us
Out of either reflex or instinct I barely managed to evade the giant hand of the demon.
While I was at the moment a little over two meters tall, the one I was facing was around three and a half. It also didn't help that he was extremely muscular. Next to Theseus I looked like a frail tiny child, what I probably was in its eyes.
Since my evasion was mostly based on luck I didn't receive a scratch. However, my landing was a bit unstable. In the time it took for me to find my balance my opponent was already prepared for another attack.
This time I could predict how it was going to strike. I swiftly jumped up and safely took to the sky.
From up there I could see that Theseus didn't had wings. But I doubt that my slingshot could do much damage and other than that, I had no long range attacks. Plus, I couldn't stay in the sky forever.
Theseus roared again. "I will burn those wings of yours until there isn't even ash of them left!"
Small sparks of fire spat out of its mouth. But instead of simply dissolving in the air, the fire continued to float.
Soon the colour of the fire changed from its usual orange red to a fierce blue.
Arrows made of fire shoot out from the blue flames in front of the demon.
One pierced my left wing and with a blood-curdling scream I fell out of the air.
With a loud smack I hit the ground. I didn't even land on my knees. I just straight up fell on my face.