This time, we took a completely different route than before. As we walked, Scarlet explained to me that I could either use the weapon as a handheld weapon or set it up as a trap activated by a remote button.
I knew that she was probably just being cautious, but at times it almost sounded like the actual target of the raid was the demon.
Finally arriving at a slightly bigger opening, about five people dressed in the simple leather clothes that everyone here had were waiting for us. On their backs were primitive rucksacks, seemingly empty. Around their waists, each of them had a weapon of their choice.
None of them wore armor, as it would only hinder their movements whilst offering no protection against a demon.
Chattering amongst themselves, they immediately stopped when they spotted us and then Scarlet spoke:
"I'm sure all of you understand the importance of this mission. Is everyone ready?"
A uniform "Yes, ma'am." resounded throughout the room.
"Good. Let's head out." she continued.
Walking through another tunnel just like the one from which we initially entered the shelter, we eventually exited into a collapsed building and started heading out of it in the direction of the demon's house, with me and Scarlet in the front and the others behind us.
We progressed slowly but steadily for the first couple of hours, trying our best not to attract any attention.
Good thing was that my hand was almost fully healed by then, though it still seemed quite unbelievable.
Then, suddenly, I started to feel like we're being watched. And, apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt it, as Scarlet seemed to have felt it too.
Deciding to progress even more cautiously, taking a series of complicated turns in an attempt to shake whoever's on our tail, it proved to be useless, as I could still feel that piercing gaze on my back.
As a last resort, we tried to shake them off by running, but even that seemed to have no effect, as they still were on our tail.
But since we weren't too far from the demon's house, Scarlet decided it would be best to meet up with Greyn, her right hand man, who had been observing the house.
However, before we could get there, a group of four demons stopped us in our tracks.
They all had the same red skin and little stumps on their foreheads, just like the first demon I had met here.
One of them spoke.
"Hehe, what a lucky day to stumble on a rogue group of humans. I can't wait to taste your flesh."
With that, they all erupted into a fit of demonic laughter, and as they did Scarlet shouted out orders:
"I'll take the two in the back, Seren, take the one in the middle, and the rest of you take the one in the front."
Appraising the demons, I could tell they were about the same level as the one I fought earlier, just when I came here.
After splitting up and each of us taking on our own target, it required my full attention to dodge the demon's attacks. Completely zoning out on everything else, I focused only on evading its moves and looking for an opening to use the weapon in my hands.
But well, I wasn't used to fighting with such a 'clunky' weapon. It was unlike anything I'd ever used.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find an opening.
Even though the situation was getting worse with each passing second, maybe I still had a chance, since the demon was gravely underestimating me.
Then, an idea struck me.
I let the demon kick me into a nearby wall, since I knew he wasn't intending on killing me with the kick. And the resulting cloud of dust left me with an opening to 'drop' the weapon on the wall behind me, perfectly hidden behind my shoulder.
Then, walking slowly towards me, with me pretending to be too tired to move, the demon slowly wrapped his hand around my neck and lifted me slightly off the ground, a wide grin spreading over the demon's face.
With that, he asked:
"It looked like you may be stronger than the other humans, but it looks like I was wrong. Is this really all that you have?"
Then, spitting in the demon's face I replied:
"Oh no, this is just the beginning."
The demon's face turned into one of pure anger and the grip around my neck tightened, which was exactly what I wanted.
Then, I pressed the remote inside my right pocket.
And it all happened so fast.
I didn't even feel my entire left hand disappear, but what I could feel is the demon's grip on my neck tightening, and the look of utter shock and disbelief on his face, as a yellowish spike pierced him right through the heart, with rivers of blood spraying out of the wound.
Lying down on the ground, I took off my shirt to bandage up yet another lost arm and then I looked over at how the others were faring.
The five men who came with me and Scarlet on the mission were lying on the ground, their bodies lifeless.
But what surprised me more was seeing Scarlet holding her own against three demons at once. Well, they were pushing her back, but it was still impressive.
Even more so because the demons didn't seem to be holding back much.
I was wondering why that'd be the case, when I noticed that her sai had the same yellowish color as the spike I used to kill the demon here.
They were made from the bone of a demon.
And given her speed and strength, I wouldn't be surprised if she'd actually manage to kill a demon all by herself.
Looking closely, the demons actually had scratches at a few places.
She was way out of my league.
I wondered how long she must've been here for her to reach such a level as just a human.
What had to be noted though was that the demons attacking her completely lacked technique, whilst her movements flowed perfectly into each other, and the way she fought, one could even mistake her for a ballet dancer.
But she wouldn't hold for much longer.
And there was no way for me to help her.
I was very close to passing out, and I was pretty sure that if I did pass out I'd die.
All I could do was watch her fight.
The only thing I could maybe do was take the spike out of the demon's chest and use the weapon again, but there was a chance of hitting Scarlet, and if that happened then I'm even more screwed.
Deciding I have nothing to lose anyway, I tried taking the spike out of the demon's body, but to no avail. It was stuck in there.
Then I saw Scarlet crash into a wall not far from me.
Standing up and noticing me, the demons were quickly on her once again, but not before she could tell me one thing.
"Seren, I-I can't hold them off much longer. You m-must drink the demon's blood. It's the only way."
Suddenly, it clicked in my mind.
This was the way for a human to defeat a demon. To defeat a demon I'd of course need the power of a demon.
And apparently the only way for me to get that is to drink a demon's blood.
But I had to be careful, it could very well be the end of me.
Preparing myself mentally, I came up to the corpse of the demon and started drinking the geyser of blood that was still spraying out of him.
And then my world turned completely black as I lost consciousness.