The man couldn't take his eyes away from what was left of Bacharoth's leg.
The upper half of the Demon's thigh was burnt, threads of flesh hanging from the gaping hole. A chunk of charred meat fell on the ground, making a splattering sound that woke Aectaeon from his reverie.
His gaze went up to Bacharoth's side profile. He could tell that the Demon wasn't bothered by what just happened. However, he was just the opposite.
Aectaeon didn't care enough to clean his face that was dirtied with blood and bits of flesh. He approached the Demon and stood in front of it.
"Bacharoth, are… are you alright? Are you in pain?"
That wasn't what Aectaeon wanted to say. Nevertheless, he didn't take his words back. He stared at the Demon straight in the eyes, urging it to say something.
{-{ "Meister, this wound is not life-threatening. Please step aside. It's dangerous." }-}
"How long will it take for you to regenerate your leg?"
{-{ "I'll give you an answer once the battle is over, Meister Igor. For now, please stay behind me." }-}
Gritting his teeth, Aectaeon narrowed his eyes at the Demon.
"Are you planning on disobeying me now, Bacharoth? Tell me."
In passing, the Demon didn't answer Aectaeon in any way. It just engaged Aectaeon in a staredown, insisting on what it wished to happen.
A Meister interrupting a battle between Demons' was rather uncouth. It was a basic manner to leave the Demons on their own devices while a battle was ongoing. The main reason was to prevent the Demons from having their HP's reduced by simply lingering outside of their portals.
Be that as it may, the Demon was the first to yield. Bacharoth could see in Aectaeon's eyes that the man wouldn't be satisfied until it gave him a proper response.
{-{ "Granted that you bestow me the Desacralized Elixir immediately after this battle, I will be able to regenerate my leg within ten to twelve days inside the portal. If there's no elixir, my leg wouldn't regenerate. The hole will only close up." }-}
Desacralized Elixir, an elixir for the use of Kings. It's the most expensive elixir to date, easily amounting to 15,000,000 Gold Coins in the shop. Withal, this particular item was always sold out because only five of it could be produced every year.
For those who were in dire need of this Elixir, they would turn to auctions or black markets. Unfortunately, Desacralized Elixir would fetch for the minimum price of 50,000,000 Gold Coins in the said markets.
Aectaeon didn't have the Elixir in his inventory. He had also checked the shop earlier, but he saw that the Desacralized Elixir was sold out.
Since it was Aectaeon's only option to help Bacharoth, he resolved, then and there, to retrieve one for the Demon.
"There's another attack coming. Brace yourself, Bacharoth."
{-{ "As you wish, Meister Igor." }-}
At the subsequent second, Aectaeon returned to his spot. As he turned around, his eyes found the female Meister in an instant. The woman flinched at his glare, promptly lowering her head.
The man wasn't planning on letting the woman celebrate the success of her attack. However, a panel came into view afore him out of the blue.
{{ Mission }}
{{ Acquire 2 Desacralized Elixir }}
{{ Rewards }}
{{ A: Bacharoth's Favor }}
{{ B: 10,000,000 Gold Coins }}
{{ Penalties }}
{{ A: Bacharoth's Death }}
{{ B. Mission 'Win 200 Battles Before the Time Limit Ends' will be sent out }}
Aectaeon could feel his distress growing further. He rubbed his gaze with his gloved hands, inhaling sharply while he was at it.
'The guessing opportunity is also nearing. To preserve my sanity, I should finish the first mission immediately. I will search for the elixir after. It's not like I can guess the title at the first guessing opportunity.'
The man had yet to organize his thoughts. Still, he focused on the battle at hand. There was another Demon that was approaching Bacharoth while the little Demon, the one responsible for the explosion, hurriedly made its way back to its group.
Aectaeon inspected the next Demon to attack Bacharoth. He frowned upon knowing that it was another Demon who was a part of the 'Imitators of Miracles'.
'Just how many Imitators of Miracles does this woman have? I thought these Demons were rare?'
Unbeknownst to Aectaeon, his opponent was famous for being a collector of Demons under the Imitators of Miracles Order. That's why she had the confidence in battling a Meister who was leagues above her.
Aectaeon watched in anger as the little Demon climbed up Bacharoth's right leg. Once it was on top of Bacharoth's chest, sharp spikes emerged out of its body. The Demon then began to spin, digging through the King's chest.
In the nick of the time, the little Demon stopped before it could pierce through Bacharoth's chest. Only, the King's black blood was now dripping down the hole that it's opponent had created.
The little Demon promptly retreated, shaking its body to rid itself of the blood that was stuck on its spikes.
Aectaeon closed his eyes, exhaling as deeply as he could. He clenched his fists, trying to restrain an urge that was brewing at the pit of his stomach.
'Let's calm down, shall we? It's my turn now.' He said to himself as he opened his eyes.
"Bacharoth, you're still able to do any attack, right?"
The Demon nodded its head, refraining from showing its disgraceful front to its Meister.
"Then, let's pay them back in the worst way possible." Aectaeon muttered, grinding his teeth hard, "Do they really think it's forgivable to hurt you like this?"
Ill-tempered, that's Aectaeon's state at that very moment. No one would be able to reason with him once his patience had been completely depleted.
Back on Earth, Aectaeon did nothing but suppress his desires. No matter how much humiliation he would get, he exercised his patience to avoid getting into trouble.
But now, he could do just everything he had been coveting to do.
He was finally his own person.
He could finally assume his true character.
"Bacharoth, use that attack. Do not let a single Demon escape. Make sure that they will return to their portals carrying the most painful of wounds."