"Harken to my call ally of the huntress, slay those who stand in the path of your warrior, guardian of the death forest, Bloodhound" Jeffery chanted alongside Richard as the two simultaneously slit open their wrist. The two then proceeded to enclose themselves in a circle of their own blood. They were both making use of a summoning technique.
The demon roared upon arrival seconded by the howls and growls of the bloodhound. The two creatures lashed out at each other with the hound making the first attack.
The superiority in raw strength and destructive power was clear, the demon manhandled the hound with relative ease, knocking it down multiple times. However, the regenerative capabilities of the hound were off the charts. It easily regrew it's torn limbs in seconds, healed up a dismantled jaw, and even managed to recover from almost being torn in half. The hound was a relentless assaulter.
Astaroth was beginning to get infuriated by the persistent dog. No matter how many times it struck the creature down, it came running back. It had grown tired of the aggressive hound, and had grabbed it by the head. The demon then proceeded to lift the growling dog and smash it's head into the floor repeatedly until it was sure the creature was dead.
The demon wasted no time in attacking Jeffery immediately his hound was down. The fast witted man dodged a swipe from the demon's claws before countering a breath of flames with wind magic. He made quick and tactical manoeuvres around the demon's attack, and had managed to wound it with the saber's Fang.
Astaroth was definitely powerful, but it nowhere near it's full power. It's summoner didn't supply it with enough
mana in this realm, and that fact had reduced it's strength gravely.
Richard was already on his knees struggling to breathe. He coughed blood from his mouth, and his nostrils were already leaking out the red liquid. He had sustained his familiar way longer than his body could take and it's effects were backlashing at him.
His summoning had gotten slower and weaker, and had become a punching bag for Jeffery Bruce toyed.
Hell will certainly be angry with him for rubbing the image of a powerful being on the mud because of his lack of experience.
Jeffery had managed to outmatch the demon, and without hesitation had banished it to the realm it came from.
Richard could feel it in the air, the unnatural sense of hate and immense bloodlust, and he yet he couldn't move away from the impending danger. He casted a dark orb of magic with the last of his mana, but it was easily cancelled out by Jeffery who had now reached him. The man held a blade in his hand, and Richard could tell it was the end for him.
"Stop!" A voice shouted from behind, one which the two could easily recognize "What do you think you're doing Jeffery? Were you going to kill him?" Daniel questioned as he walked towards his speechless father.
"You won't blame me for your own foolishness" Jeffery managed to vocalize. "None of this would have happened if you had just given me what's mine. You know they're consequences for disobeying your Father. Let's hope I'm as merciful to the rest of his family
"You won't hurt them"
"You don't have a say anymore in this Daniel , and they haven't given me much of a choice" Jeffery snapped before vanishing into the wind.
"Help them" Richard begged, tears flowing down from his weakened eyes. "Please" He finished before falling unconscious.
Daniel had no idea where they might've gone and thus it made teleportation even more difficult to use. He just had to keep guessing until he finds them, hopefully before his father does.
He arrived at the school, Richard's body in hand. This was his first guess since it was probably the closest refuge they could seek and luck was on his side. Rachel and his father were in hiding in the schools clock tower.
"You accursed child, unhand Richard this instant" Mr Hardwood snapped at Daniel once he appeared. He had reasons to be angry, after all he was the son of the man who had driven them out of their home.
"It's okay Mr Hardwood, I'm here to help" Daniel assured even though he obeyed the man and carefully dropped Richard down. He made a gesture at Rachel who understood perfectly well what he wanted. She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly giving the book to him. Mr Hardwood had opposed the transaction but Rachel assured him their safety.
Daniel took the book and teleported away, staying there with the book alongside the Hardwoods was only jeopardizing his assurance of their safety. He knew perfectly well that his father was only after the book, and would probably trace it by it's magic even though it was bound by Richard's chains.
He arrived at his place, Angus was still lying unconscious on the sofa, and good enough there was no sign of Jeffery except there was an unexpected visitor, Rose.
She stood by the door side lurking like a demon cast out of hell.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel asked clearly fed up with the games.
"I believe am obliged to be here. I am your family's guardian after all" She replied, her melodious yet deceitful tone still in play.
"Get out!" Daniel ordered. If for anything, he wanted to burn this book and he didn't want any interruption.
"My my," Rose pretended. She covered her mouth with her hands to exhibit her shock. Daniel already knew all of it was a facade.
"I won't repeat myself again" Daniel threatened before wounding himself with a knife. He then conjured a fireball and pointed it towards the lady before him.
"No need to get cranked up, I am merely a receptionist sent here to usher in your guest" She said before disappearing just as Jeffery appeared.
Without even thinking twice, Daniel placed the book atop the ball of flame in his palm hoping it would burn to ash but no damage was done.
Jeffery laughed at his son's lack of knowledge while taking slow steps towards the eager boy until he was close enough to snatch the book away from the desperate boy.
"Only the flames of hell or the powers of heaven can destroy the book. You would have known this if you hadn't rejected who you were meant to be." Jeffery said while placing his palm on the books cover. "This is going to be over in an instant Daniel" He assured before cancelling out Richard's spell.
The only thing Daniel could hear were loud ringing sounds, everything became blurry, and his head couldn't stop spinning. He felt pain, but he didn't have the strength to react to it. His eyes faltered to work, and his mind could barely process anything. He was barely clinging onto consiousness, but the fight was a futile one, he gave in to the force in his head, and in that same instant everything went blank.