[William]
That damn Verni! I can't believe he just disappeared.
With the injury on my leg worsening, I can't help but limp across the forest to look wherever Verni went.
I lost him off my sight but assessing my surroundings, I'm also lost.
I punch the tree with anger. "Damn it, I lost my only way out of this forest."
I have to find a way to relay the message to Alfred. Using my remaining strength, I lay down, get a parchment and write everything on it.
I grin to the idea when Alfred learns about Verni. Even if Verni is strong, no way he is stronger to Alfred who for months have been training on the verge of death in the death pass.
I cast the skill, [Archer's Find], I summon a bluish arrow that glows warmly. I then attach the parchment to it after rolling it.
I grin widely, "target, Alfred." With a summoned bow, I nock it and fire it unto the sky.
Nothing in its path can stop it until it reaches its target. However, there is a drawback in which it slows down as it goes farther from my location. That means it might even take months or a year to reach him.
At least, it's only a matter of time before it reaches Alfred, and Verni will say his prayers. "Hahahaha!"
To my surprise, a giant slime rising over the forest shows up. It consumes the trees as it slowly moves forward unto my direction.
Wait! Wait! Shit!
[Vermil]
Minnerva's anger grow. She clenches her fists and grits her teeth.
I put my hand on her shoulder. "Minnerva..."
She comes into her senses and calm down. Seeing me, she then relaxes. She looks forward with determination. "It's no use to get swallowed by anger, because you apostles and Varlin, you already lost. The real Infitius has come and he will punish you for using his name."
"So it's you people, huh? You are planning to instill a fake Overlord of your own to that village. I see, it makes sense. Then this gives me more reason to kill you all."
Minnerva chuckles, "I see so he's already in the village, huh? Also you are misunderstanding something. That person is the real Overlord! And we are gonna take you down along with Varlin!" She unsheathes her blade and slices the crow's head.
The creature's head fall off in front of us but it is still talking. "Overlord or not, we will kill you all and dominate in the end! Look forward to it."
Hearing the piercing caws of the crows above, causes Minnerva and the others to wince. Right now, there's a crowd of them forming a black blob. They feel uncomfortable and cover their ears.
They then crouch and yell from discomfort.
"Minnerva, what's wrong?"
However, she isn't answering. The crows keep cawing and it's probably what causes their discomfort.
[Demonic Call: A wide range loud noise attack which stuns the listeners within its range]
[Demonic Call Resisted!]
I have to do something, otherwise Minnerva and the others might go down.
Looking above, the demonic crows are forming a space between them, making a uniform black ring. A figure appears in the middle, he is humanoid in appearance but has the head of a crow with three eyes and three long horns. He flies above us as though about to impart his judgement with his wide and dark feathered wings.
"How pathetic that you can't even resist such a weak attack. Nonetheless, this will be your end."
I can finally see him. I smile and ready my vanquisher blades. [Instant Movement]
Appearing behind him, the demons gets surprised. "Huh?! When did you get here?"
Swiftly, I use my blade to cut his head off. His body falls off with me, however, I don't sense victory yet which is odd because that felt easy. The crows have stopped cawing but I can feel his body is still alive.
The demon's body then turned into crows and disperses into the surroundings. The crows have disappeared as well.
"I can't believe he escaped."
I can't forgive them for using my brother's name and causing pain to Minnerva and her people.
Regardless, I'm running low on mana, any more and I might be in disadvantage.
After landing on a branch, a demonic crow on the opposite side stands staring at me.
"Ah! It's you. How are you still alive?!"
The crow gives a smug. "With that power, no doubt you are one of Infitius' people. Rixer, and the rest are no ordinary demons. They might even go toe to toe with a Saint Guardian. Yet they got defeated. So I conclude that you and the Infitius have finally left the Dungeon whoever you people are."
I have no idea most of what he is talking about but he seems to know a lot about us which is creepy.
I furrow my eyebrows at him. "How did you know we just left the dungeon?"
The crow cackles, "3 years ago, the seal for Sagus got broken and the Infinite Dungeon got reborn."
"Reborn?"
"That's right, a massive amount of mana diffused from the dungeon. Causing it to glow under the night sky. Which is why also the monsters became stronger around here. It only means one thing, Sagus have finally died."
"3 years, huh?"
I remember my brother mentioning 3 years have already passed since then.
"I have a proposal. We will forgive you for the demon casualties up until now with the condition that you will work with us."
"No."
"Hey, hey, if you accept, you will have the demonic army behind you as your ally. Is it even worth it to protect this weak village and pick a fight with us for borrowing his name?"
I sigh in dismay, "it's not my place to make my decision, but even if I can, I won't even consider it. That's because I don't like you guys." I frown at him with killer intent causing the crow to squeal as I dash towards it and slash it down.
As the crow is dying it talks haughtily. "Then you shall perish--- Eastern Overlord and his subjects. Only Lord Fagrusil shall reign over this world, not even the Northern Overlord."
I ignore him and after landing close to Minnerva, I try to help them. They feel dizzy from the attack from earlier.
"Minnerva, are you okay?"
Minnerva forces herself to smile and stand up. "Vermil, I'm fine. I just feel weak from that ringing noise from earlier."
"We have to hurry, I have--" I got cut off when looking above us, another wave of crows are coming at us.
I can't afford to teleport. So I tell them with a smile, "Minnerva, head to the village as fast you can. I'll handle this!"
Minnerva gives me an eyes of self pity. "Vermil---I'm sorry, I'll leave this to you."
Minnerva race towards the village as fast as they can, turning into streak of lines as they race across the mountain.
As for me, I'll handle this demon.
[Dellal]
I have been scouting the western region but I can't find the intruders Hark mentioned. I'm getting tired since the injury from before hasn't healed yet. Not to mention, I'm bored.
A crow lands on the branch of a tree in front of me. Looks like Hark has a message for me.
"Dellal, change of plans. You stop the werewolves from advancing into the village."
I snicker from arrogance.
"Dellal, did I say something humorous?"
"Hark, you are smart but I can now see why you are only second to Rixer."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's obvious that we have now lost. If Rixer was here he would have told me to retreat the Hell's District."
The crow's eyes turned red, making it clear that I have made him angry. "And your point is?"
"Kekeke, Hark you have still so much to learn. Even if we defeat the intruders what are we gonna do with the Infitius in the village? Make Varlin defeat him? He seems like the real thing."
Hark's crow snorts, "what does a grunt like you know? Of course, I will negotiate with him. If that doesn't work I'll think of something."
As the pain in my chest persist, I fall off and barf blood. I cackle seeing my dark blood on the ground.
Looks like my time is running out.
I stand up and say snarkily as I walk away into the woods, "of course, I'm just a muscle-headed demon, what do I know?
I whisper under my breath. "Kekeke, even a child knows that we are in deep trouble."
[Vermil]
In a blink of an eye, I move past across the demonic crows, slashing a hundreds of them in second in mid-air.
I can't afford to waste any mana, so I have to use physical force to deter these crows. However, they don't seem to be decreasing.
In fact, they are coming all over the woods, and their numbers are increasing every second.
I land on the ground just to take a breath.
I didn't experience tiredness back then when I was an essential clone but after gaining some flesh, its annoying since its holding me back. I need to rest every few seconds before I slash a couple of them.
[Hark]
This human is something else. I haven't encountered any human in Munren who is as strong as this one. I can't believe someone like this is interfering with our plans. She's annoying.
Regardless, I will have some of my crows to hunt for the daughter of the chief. If she meets with the Eastern Overlord, no doubt she will win the people and our plans will be ruined. I have to stop her.
There is one reason why I haven't yet asked for help to the Hell's district. I can't disappoint Lord Fagrusil. Rixer and I have planned this for thousands of years. I can't let it end in just one day.
[Vermil]
The demonic crows have becoming faster. I have hard time slashing the ones that are coming at me. I get scratched couple of times, thus forcing me to teleport to the forest below.
The giant blob of crows is dancing on the sky, preparing for a second attack.
I can sense that this demon is running out of patience since the crows are being worked up. Well, he's not alone since I am as well.
Using the [Sight of Valkeryun], I noticed the world have darkened, the trees, ground and sky have lost its details and contours.
Woah, this is so cool. I can't wait to tell my brother about this.
One thing is clear on my sight, I can see that the crows have become a greyish white blob in my view. I can clearly see in my environment which objects uses mana.
There is also a greyish humanoid figure on the distance. He is standing on a branch and does his best to not stand out. But I can see him clearly.
It seems I can also see through the trees and solid objects.
No doubt, that's the demon that has been controlling this crows. So, that's where he is hiding.
With a grin, I whizz across the forest and when I appear before him, with a quick slash on his throat, his head comes flying off.
"Ho- how did you find me?"