Something was moving in the woods. Luckily, Erwand and Lilynn both had their swords ready for a fight.
But nothing stepped out. Was it just an animal passing by?
Erwand was about to put his sword away when something, as big as two people, jumped out of the woods. It did not just jump, but launched itself into Erwand and Lilynn.
Lilynn held her metal sword right at it, but the monster was incredibly quick. It looked like a huge, animalistic creature with more than four legs, and its skin was as black as night. Spikes were vibrating on its skin, and on its neck a horrifying lizard-head sat.
The monster charged into the duo, and targeted Erwand with his long neck. Erwand dodged and the monster bit the air where he stood. After the attack, it followed Erwand again.
Lilynn was ready to strike down with her sword while the monster was distracted by the fleeing man. She ran for its neck and quickly pierced the sword through it, leaving a hole in the fully dark, terrifying body.
The monster did not stop. It let out a deep screeching sound, and Lilynn saw that the wound on its body was healing up quickly.
Just like her body did after being scarred, which meant that the unknown monster was a demonic being.
What was this thing? As far as Lilynn knew, demons were more human-like beings than vicious animals. That could not be said about the (at least) eight-legged being. Lilynn did not know for sure, as the monster seemed to grow and shrink new legs with every step. And after the quick healing, it was after Erwand again.
Of course, the lone alchemist is not someone a monster can just play with. Erwand used one of his ball-potions on the ground, and the monster was suddenly covered in a yellowish cloud. Lilynn guessed it was some sort of acid since the monster was screeching in an unbearable way again.
Erwand then sliced the monster's neck with his sword, and the monster's head fell to the ground.
"What is this..."
It was still alive, even after Erwand's powerful strike. The head on the ground dissolved into thin air, and on the main body another one grew before their eyes.
"I'm out of ideas," Erwand declared.
"But I am not."
Lilynn ran forward to the monster with her hand-sabers out. She slashed the monster multiple times in a second. Clearly, the monster was more hurt by the dark demonic blades, but was also somehow more resistant. Perhaps since the monster's body and Lilynn's hand-swords seemed to be entities of the same, black material.
Lilynn kept on going. She had no other idea on how to defeat this thing.
Erwand stepped next to her, and he was also striking blows at the monster with his sword. Small parts of the monster's body evaporated into the air as they detached from it. The missing parts always grew out of the biggest remaining part, and not the other way around.
That's it! Lilynn was sure that if they kept on slicing the main body of the thing into smaller pieces, it would not have enough power to regenerate.
The monster was screaming, and Lilynn called for more power. As she did, the usually black markings on her arms glowed up with a vibrant red color. She could feel the demonic power taking over her body, giving her the essence of almost infinite energy. Each slash she gave to the monster felt like it could have killed dozens if not hundreds of people. Finally a target she could manifest her power on without holding it back!
Red, black and white blurred before her eyes, and the adrenaline was taking over her thoughts. After what felt like countless attacks, she finally stopped. The monster's body (or rather what remained) floated in the air in thousands of small pieces. It dissolved into thin air.
"Great moves," Erwand said from a few steps away. "Soon you will be my saviour and not the other way around."
Lilynn was still gasping for air fast. The surge of power throughout her body was a whole new sensation.
"What even was that?" Lilynn asked. "It felt somehow familiar, but I don't recall ever hearing about these things."
"A Wild Demon. I have only heard stories about them. Decades ago the High Mages have exterminated all of them for good, but..."
"But they haven't done a great job after all."
"Or perhaps it might have been summoned with dark magic," Erwand guessed. "That brainless thing definitely was not roaming nature for decades."
Could something like this be created with magic? Lilynn had many questions. If demonic magic could create it, only a demon who possessed dark powers could have summoned it. And if someone really did so, their only goal seemed to be total destruction against humans.
Maybe it was summoned accidentally. Maybe it just escaped from a demon pet market. But Lilynn just hoped the magic user demons were not the merciless killers they are said to be.
⠀
***
⠀
Lord Hexxor was sitting in his beloved, velvet-pillowed chair, which always made him feel superior in front of guests. Otherwise, he hated sitting in it.
But in front of his new guest he was enthusiastic to remind anyone who they are dealing with.
"State your name," the guard next to him said to the guest.
"Lady Urla," she answered. Her voice sounded desperate as if she came all the way to Hexxor's throne to do business at any cost. Hexxor loved that type.
"And what is it you need my help for again?" asked her Hexxor this time. The lady gulped and said her speech.
"I've come to Emerstead to ask you for something, high mage. I fear there was a deadly demon in my factory in Iliat, threatening to kill me out of joy! It was a monster of pure horror! Please find this demon before it kills innocent people in our lovely kingdom!"
Hexxor would usually ignore an offer like this, leaving it to his team to investigate whether this was a real threat. The people of the kingdom feared demons deeply, but they were also often deceived by mistaking a single shadow for a demon.
However, rumors of a demon in Iliat had already reached Hexxor's ears. And this was another proof that the demon was very likely real this time.
"Tell me more about this filthy demon, dear lady."