While back in the village Detective Adriana was walking through the village... enjoying the harvest festivities but also keeping a lookout for anyone who seemed suspicious to her. She also hadn't found any new information about the Iron Chain Cartel which frustrated her.
As she walked she tilted her head to the side. 'All the cartel's database was somehow deleted...they knew I was coming. How?' Adriana thought.
She thought there was two possible reason was that someone from her group had managed to warn the cartel beforehand, but she dismissed this idea because she had spent years with her team and trusted them... The other possibility was that someone in the village was helping the cartel which she was starting to believe more strongly.
Someone had tipped them off, but who?
Adrianna lightly bit her lower lip. 'But who in the village would be helping them, and how are they getting away with it so easily? Maybe a high-ranking villager?' she speculated.
She couldn't put her finger on it... the village had many elders and community leaders, any of whom could be the informant or neither, because none of them had seemed suspicious when she first arrived and questioned them.
As she walked past the market area, Adriana noticed a large group of villagers gathered in one spot. This was unusual because the festivities were spread out all over. As she got closer to the crowd, she overheard conversations that piqued her interest.
"Honey, you've finally returned!" exclaimed an elderly woman her voice trembling with joy.
"Oh my God, are you okay?" a younger man's voice rang out as he rushed to the aid of a wounded villager.
"Quick, everyone bring some clothes and water!" shouted a middle-aged woman hold a child.
Adriana felt a knot tighten in her stomach. she clenched jaw as unnerved felt unnerved by the villagers' voices, they sounded like people who had been hurt and away for a long time. Realization struck her and she rushed through the crowd spotting multiple children and villagers covered in blankets.
'They all look like victims of kidnapping, but how did they manage to return? can't study that right now they need help' Adriana thought..
Who could be behind this?
She quickly called for backup to help with the villagers. A few minutes later once they were comfortable, her eye softened as she began asking questions being as empathetic as she always is make them feel comfortable and willing to share vital information.
Listening with compassion and understanding, Adriana made the villagers feel at ease. They started to open up about their experiences. As she gathered their stories, a description given to her by one of the villagers made her pause.
Adriana had a piercing gaze toward the church. 'I didn't think Elder Kellan was so evil. I thought he was just an old man who genuinely wanted to take care of the village... Now I really need to find him. He's working with the cartel, and there seems to be more going on with this harvest festival,' she thought.
Suddenly there was a young child that bumped into her leg looking at her she knelt beside the trembling mother, Adriana's hand instinctively reached out, offering a comforting touch. "Are you alright?" she asked softly.
The woman looked up, her eyes filled with tears of relief. "We... we thought we'd never see home again," she whispered.
Adriana felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to the woman's words. She understood all too well the pain of being separated from loved ones, the fear of never returning home. It was a feeling that resonated deep within her, stirring memories she had long tried to bury her sister it was her fault she was killed.
What does he gain from this?
While she was talking with the freed villagers, she suddenly felt a strong evil energy flowing through the air outside the village, the sensation surprised her, after comforting the villagers, she rushed out of the village, heading towards the source of the energy.
...
Daemon and Eldric, after crashing through the ground, landed with a thunderous impact that shook the surrounding trees. Daemon rolled to his feet while Eldric stood tall his massive body helping him rise.
Eldric snarled at Daemon he noticed that he was raising his hand towards an unknown direction. Daemon didn't wait to find out what he was planning, so he moved first and swiftly towards
Eldric who responded with fury swinging his massive fists. Their clash was a blur of motion, strikes and counters. Daemon's claws slashed at Eldric's flesh, each strike searing with energy, while Eldric's fists rent the air around Daemon who managed to dodge with agility but not without damage to his insides.
Suddenly, a shadowy raven with ruby eyes flew through the air towards Eldric. Its metallic-feathered wings glinted ominously.
"This was fun to test my strength, but now it's time to end it," Eldric said tearing a tree from the ground and hurling it at Daemon.
At the same time when Daemon was about to move Eldric tore a tree from the ground and hurled it at him, swiftly leaping aside he landed on a nearby boulder. With a swift slash, he cut the tree in half with his claws.
What seem like time had slowed down Eldric appeared behind the cut tree, a sword in his hand, swung at Daemon. Daemon barely dodged, the sword grazing his head and leaving a deep mark across his face.
They both moved and Daemon ended up grappling Eldric wrist atop the boulder, both trying to overpower each other.
Daemon narrowed his eyes at Eldric. "For someone who holds fake power your arrogance is truly blinding," he said coldly.
"You will pay for ruining my ritual!" Eldric roared.
The ruitial as Eldric main focus as contract had seemed like a lifeline at the time, a way to gain the strength needed to defend the village. But as the years passed, Eldric realized the true cost of his bargain. The demon's insidious whispers grew louder, its demands more relentless with each passing day.
Then when he decided to break the contract because of it the demon placed a curse on him that weighed heavily on Eldric's soul, to stave off the demon's control, he was forced to absorb the life force of others, a grim necessity to maintain his life. Each soul he claimed left a mark on his conscience, but the alternative was unthinkable and if he did the demon will take over his body to come to earth.
Eldric bit into Daemon's shoulder draining blood into his mouth.
Daemon clenched his jaw in frustration, because he hasn't ended this fight quickly like he wants to. Using a surge of energy, he broke free from Eldric's bite flipping over him and landing on Eldric's back.
With a fierce cry Daemon drove his claws deep into Eldric's spine, Eldric roared in pain, thrashing wildly in an attempt to dislodge him, but his strength was weaking as every time his claws connected with life force drain it also weaken his regeneration.
Summoning one last surge of energy, Daemon drove his claws even deeper at the same time multiple energy claws burst out from various parts of Eldric's body, causing him to stop moving. Eldric dropped to his knees and stayed still like a statue.
Daemon jumped down his breath coming in ragged gasps his body battered. "It's over," he said.
"It really is... Can you tell me why you came here and stopped my ritual?" Eldric asked his voice strained with pain.
Daemon smirked subtly. "I didn't care what happened in the village. I just needed a way to the city. But when I found out you were sacrificing children, I knew I had to stop you."
"Children? I never sacrificed any children. I always saw myself in children. I was a child once, losing my family. I wanted to build a new one, starting with the village," Eldric replied.
Daemon hand snapped forward gripping Eldric's throat tightly. "What do you mean? I saw hurt children in the church basement."
Eldric struggled to breathe, so Daemon loosened his grip. "I-I don't know about the children. I told him I wouldn't ever sacrifice children. Whatever happened to those children, I'm afraid it's Elder Kellan," he admitted quickly.
Daemon's eyes narrowed at Eldric he was in anger and disgust. 'So Kellan was a child predator... His life force should have been gone by now. His death was too easy too painless,' he thought.
Daemon looked deeply into Eldric's eyes. "Power demands sacrifice, and I've taken lives to gain it. But even in my pursuit, there are lines I won't cross. Using children is beyond disgraceful. You've betrayed whatever twisted morality we might have shared. Even monsters have limits."
With that said, Daemon's hand snapped shut as he manipulated his energy within Eldric's body. Another claw of energy pierced through Eldric's head, finally killing him.
Daemon looked at the dead body of Eldric. "Well, that's it... the children are safe, and now I can finally leave for the city," he muttered.
Suddenly, the sword that had dropped from Eldric's hand transformed into a raven and was about to fly away. But Daemon managed to catch it, and it instantly turned into a sleek, black-bladed longsword with intricate silver engravings running along its length. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and the pommel was shaped like a raven's head with ruby eyes that glinted ominously in the light.
The sword struggled to escape Daemon's grip, but no matter what it did, it couldn't break free. "It seems like you really dislike me. Let's change that," he said coldly.
Daemon then pushed out his death presence and energy onto the sword, as he passed his hand along its blade, it began trembling in fright but then stopped after a few moments.
"That should work... too scared to run away," Daemon said. "You're quite the stubborn one, aren't you? But I think we'll get along just fine."
When he opened his hand to see if the sword would fly away it didn't.
"Interesting. What kind of weapon are you that you have your own intelligence?" Daemon muttered then decided to examine the sword.
-Raven Sword-
-Abilities: Transformation, Flying Sword Attack, Enhanced Perception, Binding Loyalty-
-Transformation: The Raven Sword can transform into a raven at your command. In raven form, it can scout, spy, and follow you, providing both companionship and tactical advantage-
-Flying Sword Attack: When thrown, the Raven Sword can fly up to 150 feet with deadly precision. If thrown within 60 feet it will take a short while to return, but if thrown farther, it may take longer to find its way back to you-
-Enhanced Perception: In its raven form, the Raven Sword grants you enhanced vision and awareness, allowing you to see through the raven's eyes and hear through its ears-
-Binding Loyalty: The Raven Sword is bound to you or its wielder by a connection, ensuring it always returns and protects them. It can act independently to some extent, attacking foes or defending its master on its own-
-Congratulations, Daemon, on earning 1000 fear points-
"This sword is unique...a thousand fear points... that's twenty attribute points," Daemon muttered.
As Daemon finished speaking, he felt something in his soul, like the sword was warning him of someone approaching.
Daemon turned his gaze to the direction the sword was indicating. "Who could that be?" he wondered aloud, tightening his grip on the Raven Sword.