THE MONSTER SYSTEM Chapter 10 AT ANY COST

"I'm not going to let you die!" I shouted out of nowhere, to Kira's surprise.

"You're not going to let who–where are are you going?" she asked, but I was already moving towards where I presumed my friends were, the forest.

"I need to deal with something, right now! Feel free to follow me to certain doom," I answered her.

"Hmph! Giving me little information really isn't a smart idea," she muttered grumblingly, but still started following me to wherever I was heading.

"Maybe it isn't. Or maybe I don't trust you enough for that kind of information. The best I can tell you is that two of our classmates and my roomate are in danger," I said.

"Then lead the way, Max,"

I slowed down a bit before I turned to her, "You're still coming?"

"They're my classmates and schoolmate too, and besides, you need all the help you can get right now,"

"...thanks,"

"Don't thank me yet. We still have a powerful foe to face,"

We moved through the cafeteria quickly, jumping over the broken benches and tables, all the while observing the damage the demons had done. Soon, we passed by a group of some students on our way, of which one of the students with red hair seemed to take charge of the situation. It appeared like he was giving the scared first years a pep talk.

It was good that we cleared most of the demons around, and they stopped falling from the portals at some point. We really need someone to take charge now, especially after both I and Kira are gone. I was able to catch a few words from the student as I breezed through them though.

"–said I'll take care of it, didn't I?" he continued, giving the crowd (or, more specifically, the girls) a bright smile. Well...at least he's taking charge of something.

"Tsk! The scumbag did nothing much but just cleverly hide under a table. I know, cause I was near him when the large beam of red light struck your table. Seems like he relishes taking advantage of the situation and stealing your credit, huh Max. Wait, are you even listening to me?"

"Do you really think I care about credit right now? Now, where could they be?" I muttered while scanning the area around frantically.

***

[Bradley?]

[Thanks]

***

While I increased my pace to try and get to my friends before it was too late, I was suprised to see that Kira could easily keep up with me. She was awfully quiet once she realized I was pissed off at something.

Soon, we reached a clearing at the forest, only to find both Bareth and Blade barely managing to hold their ground. They both looked to be on their last legs, multiple slashes and injuries accounted for around their bodies. The demon looked completely uninjured.

This... wasn't what I expected.

"Oh gods!" Kira exclaimed in shock

"Kira, may I ask you for a favour? Could you please take them away?" I asked her as I stared at both of my friends pitiful states.

"And leave you with her?! Do you want to die that bad?!"

"On you way, prevent anyone from coming here, ok?"

"What...are you talking about, M–max? I–l feel like I could do this all day," Blade started, but immediately vomited a pool of blood right after.

"Yeah, I'm good too," Bareth tried to join in too in the madness, but then suddendly collapsed to the ground. I was even more baffled when I saw the large throbbing slash plastered on his back once he was down. That's when I finally saw the one person who made me come all this way, laying right in front of Bareth, where I couldn't see him because the warewolf had blocked my view.

"Arnold, NO!"

I gasped, holding my mouth in shock as I slowly started making out what had happened to him. He too was badly beaten up, but with the worst injuries out of all of them. He had been dismembered of both of his legs, and by the amount of the blood that was pooling around him, I'd wager it wasn't done so easily.

"We...tried, Max. Guess...w..we're...not...as s..strong as y..you thought, haha....." he struggled to joke with me, but the blood loss must have finally caught up to him cause he went out cold, hopefully, not for good.

"This is horrible! Why would someone, even in a war, do this?" Kira asked when she too saw the injuries inflicted on Arnold.

"Aww! That's so cute! Caring about you friends like that. Shows how weak you both really are," the demon girl said, as she nonchalantly wiped the blood off her sword.

At this point, I probably couldn't even hear what she was saying cause I was still reeling in shock after what I saw. I could feel my legs start to buckle but I managed to stay upright.

"M-my first f-friends, right in front of me....servered legs...it's...my fault. THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!"

I can't believe this! This is all my fault! I'm the one who send them here, I'm the one who got them injured, I'm the one who got....who got Arnold–

"Max? Max?! Come on, snap out of it!" someone pulled me from my thoughts.

"But...but, It's my fault they were-"

"So what if it was your fault?! As long as they are still alive, you can make it up to them somehow later, right? I'm sure you didn't force them to come here, but if you continue acting like this, then they really are going to die!"

She, unfortunately, had a point there. The best thing I can do right now is try and save them, then maybe apologize later if we manage to survive this.

"Kira, I'm really sorry. Thanks for reminding me the main reason we were here. Please, I'm begging you, take my friends and get out of here!" I pleaded with her as we both saw the demon smiling at us, probably waiting to see who would be first to attack her. Unfortunately for her, I alone, would be her opponent. And her last.

Kira looked conflicted at first, but finally relented, "...fine. I'll do it then. But you owe me one, got it? And don't you dare die on me, alright?"

"Yeah, got it,"

She used that ability of hers to lift the boys off the ground, and slowly took them back to school grounds. The demon just stood there, and allowed her to do as she pleased, probably thinking that she would just search for her once she was through with me.

"Are you finally done with the little rescue that you two were pulling? Just so you know, I allowed you to take them out, cause I know that unless they seek medical attention immediately, they'll die very soon," she said.

"And what if they get the medical treatment now?" I asked her, as I decided to keep her talking cause I still had no idea how to face her.

"Please, I'm sure most of your healers are above grade A, so I'm not too worried. Also, when I'm finished around here, I'll still go after them!" the demon girl answered before releasing that red beam of energy she'd used on us before from the tip of her sword, aimed at me. I quickly moved to the side, completely suprisingly her, but it was only for a moment.

"Quick on your feet, I see. Not a lot of your monster race can do that at such a age. What's your name?" she suddenly asked.

I completely ignored her while I tried coming up with a way to defeat her. Even with my new ability leveled up, I'm very sure I would still be no match for her. Also, I knew that she couldn't be left alone, or she'd go and search for Kira and my friends and finish what she couldn't right now because of me. I sure have found myself in a tough predicament, haven't I?

***

[Bradley, help!]

[Huh?]

[That's all you got for me?! You continue proving to me just how useful you are, and that's not a compliment]

and me in less than a week, so I'm sorry that I can't be of more help to you!>

[Hmm... You do make a valid point there. Can I at least see her current stats?]

***

"Even if you don't answer, I still already know, Max. Only fair you know mine. I'm Emily," she said. Almost forgot I had to deal with her.

"Shall we?" she asked.

Guess we're doing this. Well, I won't go down without a fight!

***

<*Ability 'lighning castor[LVL 6]' is in use!*>

<*Skill 'Flashpoint[LVL 2]' has been activated!*>

<*Mana usage: 10 per minute*>

<*Gives the user the ability to move faster than the speed of sound. Can be upgraded*>

<*Activation time: {10:00}*>

<*Mana {330/500}*>

***

Time started moving really slowly, just like before. I have to make the best of this, cause she still has no clue about my ability.

I sprinted towards her and delivered a mighty punch to her face, sending her flying to the ground. But before she could reach it, I was already behind her, throwing a kick to her back, giving her absolutely no chance to counter. From there, I kept going at it until I was left with almost forty percent mana, but I think I had done all that I could before it reached that point.

The demon, Emily, was a bloody mess, but that annoying regeneration ability demons have kept erasing all the effort I had put into the fight. She smiled at me like I had done absolutely nothing to her, which, due to her regeneration, was essentially true.

"That all you got?"

"Nope, let's see you try to heal from this!"

"EMPERORS JUDGEMENT!"

***

<*skill 'Emperors judgement [LVL 1] has been activated!*>

<*Mana used: 200*>

<*Mana {0/500}

***

The already dark sky became even darker as the black clouds stared to concentrate around Emily. She looked confused at first, but then her eyes shone with fear when her hair spiked up. Before she could even realize that something was terribly wrong, the largest and most deadliest bolt of lightning I have ever seen struck her with a mighty bang, completely decimating her!

"LET'S GOOOOO! RIGHT ON THE MONEY! DID YOU SURVIVE THAT, HUH?! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR BEATING MY FRIE–?!

"Aren't you celebrating a bit too early, monster,"

"NO WAY! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"

She survived that?!

I wasn't given any time to compain as she was already right in front of me, throwing out a punch. I tried dodging it, but I grossly underestimated her speed. Her fist landed on my face, blasting me across the forest a few metres, giving rise to new injuries.

She then decided this time to use that sword of hers on me the second I tried getting up, slashing at my hands and legs, and I could only defend with my hands or dodge her onslaught.

I tried distancing myself from her, but she had this annoying ability of hers to blink right back to me, which, looking back on it, was probably what saved her from my lightning . I eventually managed to separate myself from her, but would soon come to regret that decision.

***

[Before what? Bradley? BRADLEY?!]

***

<*SYSTEM ERROR!*>

<*Temporary disabled due to unknown mana interference. User has been locked out temporarily*>

---

[WHAT?!]

***

The demon seemed to smile once she had accomplished her goal.

***

*Emily's pov:*

***

[That was close, really close! I had no idea how long I could have lasted in this fight. Luckily, that friend of his spoke his name. Thanks to all my valiant efforts–]

the orb spoke.

[Fine. With a little help from Kate over here, that guy's full power is now completely suppressed!]

[Ok, ok, a lot. You happy now?]

[Handsome and powerful. He would have actually ended me with that ability of his. I think I'm love!]

[Duty to the demon king]

***

*back to Max's pov:*

***

I stared in disbelieve at Emily who still held that annoying smile of hers.

"What did you d–OWW"

I was suddenly interrupted by a sharp pain from my abdomen. I stared down, wondering why I felt such immerse pain, and to my horror, I saw the head of the red blade that the demon was using protruding through my body.

"H...how?" I could barely get the words out as I fell down to the ground in pain.