As the first rays of the sun spread across the horizon we moved into the city. With how we were dressed we were careful to avoid attention on our way towards the memorial. In the case things didn't pan out here, we'd have to go back and get changed but by all means we'd come prepared now. The populace still hadn't woken and hardly anyone mingled the streets making our arrival quick and easy. The memorial was empty like it ordinarily was.
Lara shivered, "This place gives me the spooks."
"Indeed," Ronalt agreed and then gestured, "Let's move." We headed to the southern end which faced away from the Demon Lord's mansion. From there we spread out and began to search the area with our various abilities. Minutes passed quickly as we began to feel more rushed. My hands and feet guided me towards an inconspicuous tree. There was a single headstone beneath it, the thick stone firmly planted in the earth. Behind it however a circuit was drawn in light grey paint that resonated with mana. An untrained eye would have missed it and as I read the circuit, I understood. It was a keyhole. My chest tightened in pain as mana drained naturally from my palm into the stone almost without me doing anything at all. A click resounded and slowly the headstone collapsed into the earth revealing a case of stairs.
"Found it," I proclaimed unevenly. It felt a little too easy.
Ronalt approached, "Let's just hope it leads the right way." He took the first steps down and we followed closely behind. No one let down their guard as our steps echoed down the stone surroundings. They were undecorated, bare and fully practical. Aside from the occasional crystal shining light down the path there wasn't much else.
The path turned towards the Demon Lord's mansion as the stairs tapered away to a smooth floor. The tight corridor opened allowing us to stand three aside. Ronalt and Lara led the way, while Earnest kept a few steps behind. The silence created a palpable tension but no one dared break it. There was no telling what laid behind the next corner. My heart however was strangely calm and soon enough the passage widened even more till we found ourselves in a large room. The roof stretched upwards close to ten metres. Pillars of marble supported it as seemingly thick stone walls lined the side. Brightly lit, there was only one way out ahead of us.
As Ronalt stepped further into the room a single step replied as an echo from the other side.
A cold voice I recognised spoke, "I've been waiting for you."
Out from the shadows of the corridor the Demon Lord appeared, his feet gracefully approaching. Like I had seen him before, his hair was a pale blue and his eyes a cold silver. Unlike before however he now wore a complete set of armour and a cloak, the stone in his chest reflected gold towards us and a pure black sword hang at his side.
"Demon Lord," Ronalt choked out the words.
"You are correct," the Demon Lord replied smoothly. "Caius Vel Bartar of the Stone-heart tribe. Demon Lord and bane of humans. I welcome you for getting this far. Now take off those fake horns, it disgusts me."
No one made a move to do so. Instead Lara stepped forward, "Please Demon Lord Caius, we're not here to make war. We just want to talk."
"Silence!" he drew his sword and a wave of wind blew past us. "I've talked with you enough already. Nothing you say will change what needs to be done. You humans are a plague that needs to be quelled in our world. Only when you've faced the same hells that we have can we truly find peace."
"No!" Lara yelled back. "We've travelled both sides and I've seen we're the same. So please listen, it doesn't have to end this way."
"It already has," he replied grimly. "No matter how many times it takes, I will slay you all. Including you Hero." He pointed his blade at Lara and a shiver went down our spines. How did he know? But it was too late to ask as he leapt towards us sword swinging. Lara drew her own but a moment too late as all she could manage was a poor defence. Their two swords clashed together and in a moment I had never seen before, Lara was overpowered, her entire body forced away skidding against the floor.
"He's mine!" Earnest yelled and took his stance. His certain kill technique trained over years of hardship. It focused stronger than it had ever before and released. The Demon Lord charged straight into it. In an incredible burst of power Earnest was thrown away into the wall. I barely saw it happen. The Demon Lord had seen through Earnest's technique like I had, even more he practically took no damage, blocking the myriad of slashes in the same way I had learned. A monster, he was truly a monster. What took me dozens of deaths he saw instantly.
"Rain get back!" Ronalt shoved his shield down in front of us protectively. Ardent began to charge his mana.
"Guh!" the sound released from my mouth before I could perceive what happened. A black sword stuck through my chest and as it ripped away so did the contents of my body. He had suddenly vanished and appeared behind me. How? Someone screamed my name and darkness took me away.
*
I was back in the carriage my knife in hand. The feel of his sword sticking from my chest and the pain as he wrenched it free was still clear in my mind, pounding away at my heart. I forced myself to calm down. We all knew the Demon Lord was strong. From the stories we had heard he sounded like a monster and now in my eyes he truly was. I slapped myself anew. That was only one death. We still had a chance to improve. This wasn't over.
I exited the carriage and headed straight over to where Earnest was swinging his sword.
"Do you need something Rain?" he asked curiously. "Perhaps some final pointers for my apprentice?"
"No, I have some pointers for you," I replied bluntly.
"Interesting, go ahead," he smirked and looked at me seriously.
"You're drawing technique, frankly it's amazing but you're too confident with it."
"Excuse me?" his brows drew together showing a slight anger.
"I'm serious. When you use it and things go wrong, you leave yourself wide open. Fix that."
He frowned openly, "The only people who have managed to stop it are yourself and Lara. You are both on our side and unlike Lara you are not much of a threat to me."
I sighed. There was only one way this muscle head was going to understand, "Fine swing at me seriously, enough to try kill me. I'll block it and land a hit on you."
"Rain, you're offending me."
"You're being overconfident."
"As quick as you improve, you are no Master yet, merely an apprentice."
"Just swing your damn sword," I drew my own and moved into position.
"So be it," he took his posture. A swell of mana revolved inside me, crippling my heart as I focused myself. I saw the Demon Lord do it, unlike my attempts his had been more refined, and I was going to use it all to teach Earnest a lesson.
I shot forwards before Earnest swung and aimed my sword at the point of his draw. Before he had only used three strikes against me but as I had asked he was serious now. It was myriad of strikes I couldn't count but as my sword collided with his and threatened to destroy not only my arm but my entirety I released the mana the same way the Demon Lord had. I coughed blood from the recoil. The added effect of my disappearance caused Earnest to falter even more as the blow from his sword lessened in impact. Though my sword held together my grip did not and it was flung away into the nearby tree. Earnest's eyes widened and in that brief window I stretched forward and head butted him with all I had. It reminded me of the first time I faced him.
We split apart dramatically as he hit the ground and I held mine. I huffed as a trail of blood dripped down my forehead. Earnest stood up shakily. Even now he could kill me easily but I had made my point.
"Understand?" I asked firmly.
"Yes…," he nodded and laughed. "I do not deserve to be called a Master."
"Just don't mess up later," I shrugged and stepped away just as Ronalt came barrelling towards us.
"By the Goddess what are you doing?" he yelled at us while trying to hush himself. "Marley come quickly!"
"I was just teaching him a lesson," I replied and fell to my knees. "Don't worry I'll be fine in a few minutes."
"Earnest how could you!?" Lara yelled at him as Marley touched my head and what felt like purposely smear the blood.
"It was my loss," he laughed again. "As Rain said, I have been taught."
"What?" she stared between us blankly.
Taylor leapt from the trees and landed beside me, "Are you an idiot? A small mistake and your head would have rolled. Didn't I say not to die?" There was an irritation to her voice that amused me.
"And I still don't plan to," I huffed.
Like I said, after few minutes I was back to normal. The potions and stock I had built up were more than plenty to get me going. Our commotion died down and once more as Ardent finished his preparation we headed towards the memorial. The same steps took place and like last time we found ourselves in the large stone walled room, the pillars reaching the roof.
"Ronalt, careful the Demon Lord probably can use short ranged teleportation," I tapped his back.
"I'll keep that in mind," he nodded and we stepped into the room.
The Demon Lord revealed himself. Lara tried to talk to him but again she was rejected. This time however Lara already had her sword drawn at my warning and deflected him away. His eyes were narrowed in focus as he switched his attention, retreating from Lara and towards us.
"He's mine," Earnest took his stance and drew his blade. An explosion of force resounded as the pair collided. My bow was ready and as soon as the Demon Lord pushed him back I shot an arrow towards him. Earnest hadn't let down his guard this time and readied himself for the follow up. For a moment the two shared strikes towards each other before Lara interrupted with her own. Suddenly he vanished as Ardent cast magic towards him. I dodged desperately just as a blade pierced where I had been. The Demon Lord's expression clenched further in surprise. Ronalt charged him immediately with his shield. It was a strong blow releasing a concussive force, sending him away and into the wall.
"Geh," the Demon Lord spat blood.
"Stop this Caius!" Lara yelled. "You're outnumbered. We just want to talk to you and find peace."
"There will be no peace between us!" he roared in reply and a golden glow flushed through his body. The injuries he had sustained cleared to nothing. The damn monster could heal himself. "Now die."
He charged at Ronalt who readied his shield and sword but before the impact something flew out from his cloak. The jar smashed against Ronalt's shield releasing a strong hiss. The thick metal as imbued with magic as it was began to melt. Ronalt tried to disengage but it was too late as the Demon Lord's black sword pierced the weakened metal, cutting deep into his shoulder.
"Ronalt!" Lara screamed and dived towards them.
He kicked Ronalt's body towards her. She caught him desperately. With no one to guard us, Marley, Ardent and I were sitting ducks. Taylor appeared behind him and swung at his neck but missed as he vanished. My senses peaked, knowing once more he was trying to teleport. He appeared in front of me with hardly any warning. Ardent tried to blow him away but his magic was blocked by one of equal strength. Then once again, the black sword cut through me.