The entire caravan was awake. Every person was getting ready for an attack. Fighters sharpened their weapons. Stalls handed out food to fill the bellies of those who were to participate in the fight. Helpers made last-minute adjustments to equipment.
The blacksmith awoke to find the massive sword he had worked on was gone.
"He must be an early riser. No one here would be able to wander off with it. I hope it works out well for him."
Kasila left her tent. Fero's was undisturbed from last night. Either he was gone already or he could not participate. Again she thought about checking on him. Her shame prevented it. She left to find Hira and help her if needed.
The night lookout was awoken by his relief.
"Huh, what? OH SHIT! I have to find the hero." The night lookout stammered off. The relief lookout shrugged and sat down where the previous lookout was sitting.
The hero was just barely waking up.
"My bed feels cold. What happened to my..." The Hero started.
He felt the bed to his right, Kasila was gone. He browsed around the room. Only three of the girls were left. The rest were out getting ready for the battle.
"I guess it was only expected of her to be ready for the attack when the time comes. She will come back to me. They all do." He grinned at the thought.
"SIR! SIR!" The night lookout came up to the tent shouting.
"What is it? I'm still groggy from waking up." The Hero complained.
"Someone took your sword!" The lookout explained.
"WHAT! When!" He raced out of the tent in the nude to inspect the weapons area. His sword was indeed gone.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!" Jikal shouted at the lookout.
"It was last night sir, in the dead of night. A large swordsman with a massive sword was carrying it. He went to the castle and..." The night lookout was interrupted by a slap to the face.
"YOU JUST LET HIM WALK OUT OF THE CAMP! WITH MY SWORD! FUCK! FUUUUUUCK!" Jikal continued shouting.
"Sir?" Aneko was attempting to get the Hero's attention. She nudged Jikal. He lifted his right foot and she placed his undergarments underneath. He swapped feet and she pulled them up. She continued to dress him while the night lookout was stunned at the Hero's attitude.
"Get everyone ready now. We march to the castle NOW!" Jikal shouted.
The call was sent out. All of the warriors had to rush. They lined up near the mountain path. Full armor. Kasila looked for Fero. His height would be an easy discovery. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Listen up!" Jikal shouted over the crowd. "Who here is missing?! Someone took my sword last night. Whoever is missing has to be the culprit. I am useless without my sword. I will need people to cover me until it is found. The lookout said he went toward the enemy castle. If you find my sword, you will be rewarded handsomely! MARCH!"
Kasila got worried about Fero. She ran back to his tent. It was devoid of life. He was gone. Did he take the Hero's sword? Why? She returned to the tail end of the group to follow in disbelief, wonder, and regret.
The army began to move down the path two or three at a time. 70 warriors in all. The rest who were left behind was the merchants, gatherers, and blacksmith. As the field came into view, people began to notice the scores of demons. At first, it was the smell. Then, the blood on the foliage. Then... the scores of bodies.
"They aren't moving. All of those demons are dead." Stepha pointed out. Then, her eyes went wide. She quickly pulled out a spyglass. "Th... There is a HIGH-class level demon down there."
"Shit. This is a problem. Do you think we can beat it?" Viktoria asked.
Stepha lowered her spyglass. Viktoria saw fear in her face.
"We don't have to. It's already... dead. Mutilated as I have never seen. It was an overwhelming force that did this." Stepha was obviously shaken. She dropped her spyglass. The broken glass could be heard.
"What? Some other demon clan? Another strike force from a different kingdom?" Viktoria asked again.
Steph looked at her with fearful eyes.
"I... I don't know. We never would have stood a chance against those numbers down there. Pray that whatever did this is not an enemy."
As the group drew close to the field, people began to realize what they were seeing. The horrific smell and sight. Viktoria got a closer look at one of the bodies.
"This was a massive cut from a single blunt object. Could it be ..." Viktoria suddenly had a thought.
Viktoria's thoughts: 'Fero?'
The group slowly made their way to the castle entrance. People made a wide brim trail around the high-level demon.
"This kind of... massacre It's beyond my scope." Jenny commented.
"This..." The sisters started.
Rhia: "Coming from..."
Rhona: "You? We may have our..."
Rhia: "Work cut out for us."
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Fero fought long and hard against the two demon guardians. They fell before him though. He looked up at the demoness. She was more scared of him than before.
"Human..." The Demoness's thoughts invaded Fero's mind. "I have a proposal for you. Come to me, I will not harm you."
Fero began to approach her without a word. His face was still beyond frightening. That smile could make a demon shiver. What is it about this human? The stench of her kin's blood ebbed from his body. The blood of hundreds of her followers on him. It was a sight she had never experienced. Her resolve was not to trick him. She really wanted to live. If she fought him, she would die. Her senses told her so. They were never wrong. Fero was only a few feet before her when he stopped. She was afraid he wouldn't stop for a moment. She lowered her giant hand for him to step into.
"Step on. I would request that we talk face to face." Her thoughts reached Fero again.
He stepped up. His eyes were unchanging. He still said nothing. She was getting more nervous the closer she brought him to her face.
"I... I... I won't lie to you." Her thoughts were giving off a telltale sign of nervousness. That was exactly what Fero was looking for. "I want to live. I am willing to do anything to that end. I know that if I oppoSHLEGH..."
Her words were cut short. Blood gushed from her mouth. Her eyes went wide in surprise with two blades in the center of her throat. The swordsman began to separate the swords from the center in opposite directions. He was successful in his endeavor. Her head was held onto her body by mere threads of flesh. The weight was too much. The flesh eventually tore and her head hit the ground with a loud BOOM!