In the dark cavern, now stands the sole victor. The shade demon who acted on pure survival instinct, yet again breaking his boundaries. Dazed, the world shifts around his vision. The darkness that he had taken complete control over acting without its will again.
During those last moments he didn't just expand is aura. Rather, all the surrounding darkness became his aura, fusing slowly with his blood magic. Creating something more powerful than he has ever done.
Secessus pants heavily, the beating of his hearth is heavy that he cannot hear the water any longer. The world spins around him as he loses balance.
'What was that? What did I do?' he asks himself as the natural dormant in his mana is still roaring loudly. Begging to be unleashed again.
Ten minutes passed by before he as any control over his body again. All his magic and spells are temporarily gone as he just lies on the cold, dark, and wet cavern floor. In a hopeless position if anything were to happen.
Finally, Secessus manages to recollect himself as he slowly goes to make his way back toward the catacombs.
"Skeeert?" A noise seems to call out to him. Looking at the source, one brave kobold seems to be asking for his attention. Whilst his other kin are desperately hiding themselves in the back of their cage. Secessus walks over and sits down in front of the cage.
"What is it?" The tired and confused voice asks, longing for sleep.
"Skeeert, Skeert." The kobold nudges its head against the lock, begging to be released with his eyes. Secessus reaches with his hand toward the kobold before moving it to the lock next to his head. Crushing it with his enhanced strength. The cage door is now wide open as he still sits before it. The kobolds are unmoving until the brave one moves forward and moves closer to the sitting shade demon. It continues to stare at the demon as it even moves on top of his lap to stare. Looking like someone desperately trying to remember something specific for an exam before entering the room.
The kobold has a gray reddish coloration and seems frailer than his kin. Luckily, your physical state is not bound to your bravery. Perhaps his disadvantages in life have made him braver than the rest of his kin. Since every day is a challenge, another mountain to overcome.
The kobold, after a while, turns around to its kind again. "Skeeert!" It yells with a small fury. The others slowly crawl their way out the cage before seeing that it's truly safe. They quickly dash away into the nearest cave systems that aren't burned or inaccessible. Quickly, only the gray reddish kobold remains, who has returned to his staring.
"I'm quite the sight, aren't I? But you should go." Secessus says as he turns the kobold around, toward the cavern systems his kind ran away. The kobold runs toward the cave, turning around one last time. "Skeert!" It yells before running away.
Secessus isn't left alone for too long however, as a familiar spiritual presence appears next to him. A smug smile is apparent on Cornelius's face as he appears out of nowhere again.
"You look quite rough, little Ed." He simply says as he stays at a distance. Something that's quite unusual for the spirit to do.
"I've had better days." Secessus replies, dismissing the gravity of the situation. "Have others arrived yet?"
"They have. Your companions and some mercenaries have gone in and cleared the catacombs. Other mercenaries are entering the cave as we speak." Cornelius continues to keep his distance, watching the entrance carefully.
"What's going on?" Secessus asks, sensing that something is wrong. Why is there this distance right now? What does he know?
"I spoke with Pallas for a while before we left. She told me something along the lines that even the greatest fall someday. I don't believe her. True greatness never dies." The spiritual companion listens to the sound of footsteps approaching. "Did you know there is a mercantile family in charge of these catacombs. They make money on funeral processions and the sales of good luck charms for the afterlife. They're called the Dresano family. Remember that, dear Ed." Cornelius at last moves closer and pats the demon he bound with on his head before disappearing again.
Still tired, Secessus continues to lie on the cavern floor. His mana is no longer gong wild, so everything should be fine. The footsteps of multiple figures approach as 5 armored figures approach. Looking at their crest they don't seem to belong to any of the main mercenary cores. Rather, they are 5 familiar figures that don't really wear any crest. The same 5 figures that stopped them by the border.
"Aye it's one of them." The leader of the group says as he moves closer. "Are you alright? What happened?" He asks with worry in his tone.
"I killed it. The vampire is dead."
"It's dead?" The leader and the other members of the party are clearly in shock. Perhaps the news of a dead vampire killed by an unknown adventurer could be considered strange.
"Lhedo, Reul, Yista, Lheda! Come, let's help him." The leader beckons his members to come closer. "What was going here? Please tell this is, terrible!" The leader is clearly flustered as the others get out medical tools they can carry. A mixture of herbs and alcohol it seems. Secessus's regeneration has recovered most of the damage already. However, Secessus decided to let some smaller wounds stay. Regeneration probably an unfamiliar power for humans.
Secessus simply tells about how he managed to find a trail and followed it. Skipping the battle and the other elements that might give away that he might not be normal.
"Look at you! I told you to stay away! I told you! Should've gone to fucking Norka! Why the fuck didn't you listen!?" Lhedo curses violently, pitying Secessus's state.
"Lhedo calm down! You're being an annoyance." The leader commands, Lhedo immediatly quiets down.
"Let's go out. I have to speak with Aryien." Secessus says as he tries to stand up.
"About what?"
"You truly don't believe that this could have happened without inside help, right?" The 5 mercenaries faces turn cold with this sudden realization.
"Yes, of course." The leader replies, holding out his hand. Secessus grabs it, still feeling weak until a sharp object pierces his stomach. The leader, with his other hand, stabs Sol in the stomach.
"I told you to fucking leave!" Lhedo yells again as he takes out a short sword and slashes Sol in the back. The other three follow suite, also stabbing Sol with their respective weapons. Blood pours out of the demon as he's betrayed by these mere mercenaries.
"What is this?" Sol asks almost inaudibly as he begins to choke on his own blood.
"Business." The leader of the five men mercenary group replies as they all leave the cave. Returning to the catacombs.