With a roar all the devil's inside the tavern eyed both the traveler and Zalman. The biggest demon with a protruding belly and three horns on its head laughed with a hoarse and gravely laughter stepped forwards.
"Do you want to join the exorcist in the grave or leave and be spared? Be quick to decide... I am not very patient." It said as it stared at him. The devil named Zaros twisted its head and stretched its gigantic body as it towered above the rest. Then a few group of smaller devils surrounded Zalman.
"You on the other hand... Will be feasted upon and defiled over and over and over again. We will not spare your soul. Eternal torment awaits you... Exorcissst." A devil in the form of a humanoid snake hissed at him from the distance. It's eyes shone orange as the other devils join in on its laughter.
The traveler looked towards Zalman as he sipped the mug of beer. He downed it in one go and asked, "Need any help?"
Zalman then smiled at the traveler, "It's going to be fine. You can go... I'll make sure that no harm would befall you."
"Alright. I'll be going out then." He said as he refilled another mug of beer. The devil's stared at him in bafflement. As all the eyes fell on him he shrugged, "Ol' Davis is dead... And I haven't had my fill. Relax! I'll pay so don't get your panties in a bunch." He said as he tossed a couple of gold coins towards Davis' corpse.
He picked up a chair and walked outside the tavern. He plopped it outside a few meters away from the door, Sat down and casually sipped his beer. "Well? Go on then? Don't let me ruin your fun."
Zaros clutched his stomach and laughed as he stared at the traveler, "I like you Meat Bag. After this is over, I'll let you make a deal with me. You can have all the beautiful succubi on offer."
Zalman frowned as he looked behind him. "I would advise you don't young man." The traveler shrugged as he motioned for them to continue.
Zalman fiddled with his arm guards and smiled toward the devils. "Let's get started shall we?" With a howl, all sorts of demonic entities charged at him. Gigantic, small, and horrifying. Hellish miasma spread across the village as they clawed and scratched towards zalman.
He dodged every attack as he used the gigantic cross to slam demons away with it. When he got a good opening he would fire multiple shots with its gigantic barrel. It's piercing power tore a gaping hole towards a group of devil's clumped together scattering their remains everywhere.
The once rustic and calming tavern is now filled with blood and guts. A horrifying sight to behold for any sane mortal.
Zaros crossed his arms as he observed Zalman slay his kin. He looked towards the humanoid snake beside him and said, "The theocracy's dog is stronger than expected. I believe he's capable of slaying a lesser or mid tier devil. If we're not careful we'd be injured gravely or worse killed."
The snake devil named Garmag hissed, "Either way. In our eyes he's still cannon fodder. We should make a move soon. Before our underlings die out."
Zalman kicked one devil in the chest and slammed his cross on the ground as it fell, splattering it into a pile of crimson mush. He slammed his shoulder towards the three female demons staggering them. Then a chain extended from the shorter end of the cross. He wrapped them with it.
[Oh, exalted one. Cleanse their sins.]
He said as bright white flames seared the chains burning the three demon succubi into charred devils.
"This is not working!" A lesser demon said as he watched his kin be slaughtered like pigs. Then a devil came over and bit his head off. "He's right. We should summon the baphomet."
Then from behind him four Demons joined hands and combined. Screams of agony and maddening laughter filled the space.
[There is no Balance, Only Chaos. Kar En Tuk. The Sabbatical Goat shall tear the skies asunder and rend the world's flesh.]
[Kar En Tuk]
The demons repeatedly chanted as they gave off a bright yellow light. Zalman frowned and fired towards them however his bullets were blocked by Zaros and Garmag blocked it with their rough skins.
A red flaming pentagram encased in a circle appeared beneath it. Soon a massive lump of flesh and horns formed, destroying the ceiling of the small tavern. With a roar it spurted out spiky tentacles and started absorbing more demons inside it.
From its shout, more and more lesser demons and ghouls poured out from the village. Every wooden door swung open as they came in droves.
It bubbled up and lumps of flesh started pulsating and emitted orange flames. Its mangled form soon stabilised, it had the appearance of a gigantic goat head adorned with a flaming crown. It had countless blood red eyes scattered all over its body. A gigantic gaping maw that spat acid formed on its stomach. Six Dark Bat like wings spread and tore through the roof. It's cloven Hooves as large as a carriage wheels and covered in unholy flames. It's claws emitted searing magma as it slowly dripped from its cracked tips.
With a thunderous roar the tavern was blown away. Leaving nothing but empty space. The traveler on the other hand moved further back to have a better view. Zalman was covered in sweat as he repeatedly swatted away the lesser demons that approached.
When the Baphomet has fully formed its goat like eyes gave off a menacing glint. His mouth crackled with electricity and fire made his throat expand. With a terrifying shriek he blew flames that scorched anything on its path.
Zalman used his cross as it expanded forming a shield. Red miasma poured out from it as it formed a blue barrier. He grit his teeth and took the flames head on.
The lesser demons however were less lucky. Their faces melted, their horns were turned into charcoal. The lucky ones died early from the sheer power of it. The no so lucky ones however... Slowly turned into Ash. Their baleful cries as they reached out towards the sky would repeatedly echo.
Zalman dusted of his armor, chunks of it were slightly bent out of shape. He stood atop a scorched earth that would threaten to give up any moment.
His cross slowly morphed into one of its many forms. A brilliant white great sword that have red miasma seeping out from it with every swing.
He leapt up and dashed towards the Baphomet using the charred trees as a platform. He hacked away at it. Every claw that came from the devil, he would roll aside and counter by cleaving off its arms and legs.
However no matter how many hands or legs he cut off they would always grow back. The Baphomet laughed cheerfully. It's hoarse and abyssal voice echoed across the small village.
[Is this the best the theocracy could offer? I'm not even a 9th circle demon and you're already struggling! Hahahahahaha! Pathetic meat bag... I can already taste your supple flesh.]
The Baphomet said as its maw growled and drooled a pool of acid beneath its feet. Zalman sighed as he looked up at the starry skies.
He then stared at the traveller leaning on a chair all relaxed. He chuckled, "Are you that confident in me? Or are you just plain reckless? Either way... I could use a little help. If you don't mind."
The baphoment instantly glared at the traveller. He wasn't afraid of anything or anyone. It was as if he was just watching a play in the theatre.
"Not exactly, maybe a little bit of both. I did make a deal with the guy behind the big one." He said as zagros laughed maniacally, "Meat bag! It's over! Accept your fate. Not even your fellow human is willing to save you now." He said as he narrowed his eyes towards zalman who was fiddling with a circular object in his hands. It wasn't a pocket watch because it was emitting faint traces of mana.
"Afraid? Helpless? It seems I've become too old for a small fry to look down on me. Hey let me cut you a deal traveler. Hold back as much of the little ones as you can, and you will be rewarded handsomely by the theocracy.The baphoment and those two mid devil's on the other hand... Well they're mine. " He said as he smiled at the traveler.
He put his hands on his chin pretending to ponder Zalman's offer. Getting no response Zalman added. "Uh... Please?" The traveller nodded his head.
He stared at zagros and gave an apologetic look as he scratched his head. "Sorry fugly... Deal's off. I mean... He did say please after all."
He stood up and saw the lesser demons near him rush towards his direction. He smiled wryly and took off his cloak. He wasn't wearing any armor far from it.
He was wearing a weird red polo shirt with floral patterns, khaki shorts that felt out of place, and lastly a pair of brown slippers. It was as if he's going on vacation. His hands shone a blue light as a pair of sunglasses appeared on his hand. He wore it slowly with a grin.
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He said and a blade that appears to be curved and had only one sharp edge appeared in his hands. It had a black handle, a white guard, and a blood red blade with black inscriptions on its spine. With a swing demons instantly got bisected. He leisurely killed off the annoyances as zalman focused on the big bad.
The circular object on Zalmans hand finally glowed. Then a cold and mechanical voice was heard from it. "This is Central Command. Status Report." Zalman coughed twice, "I have a Baphoment situation here and two lesser to mid tier devils. Permission to undo the first seal."
"Affirmative."
Zalman then instantly shone with a red light. Blood red miasma that was emitting from his greatsword entered his body.
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The greatsword reverted into its default cross form as it was shrouded in hellish miasma. The cross transformed once more into a form of a gatling gun. Its gilded sheen was replacid with a cold metallic look. Its 6 gigantic barrels spin around menacingly. Huge golden wings appeared on Zalmans back. With a smile he brandished his weapon and aimed towards the baphomet.
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