Returning to the camp, knights and magicians bustled frantically, gathering their strength to shield the place from the demonic onslaught and ensure Abraham's safety. Throughout the vast expanse of the forest, the tumultuous echoes of battles mingled with the crackling campfires, valiantly enduring amid the chaos. Amid the trees surrounding this area, radiant red gleams intermittently burst forth, accompanied by circles of magical incantations, fleeting testament to the desperate confrontations consuming the forest.
Fearless knights wielded their swords with unwavering fervor, confronting the demons with fierce resolve. Their gleaming armors mirrored the scarlet glows of destructive spells cast by the magicians, who in turn brandished their grimoires and hands with unparalleled zeal. Magical lightning tore through the night's shroud, streaking the dark sky and casting shifting shadows upon the forest's thick foliage.
The deafening clash of weapons mixed with the demons' enraged cries, crafting a wild and chaotic symphony. The trees' trunks trembled from repeated blows, while their branches, powerless witnesses to these violent skirmishes, swayed in a frantic dance.
Despite the pressing darkness, the combatants' zeal illuminated the forest with a combative glow. Steel sparkled, piercing the dark with each strike, while the flames of enchanted spells danced fiercely, spawning fiery sparks that seemed to swallow the shadows.
Within this whirlwind of violence and magic, the forest seemed to hold its breath, the trees waving their branches in silent echo of support. The fighters, immersed in an epic struggle, faced adversity with unwavering determination, their spirits filled with the conviction that victory could not escape their grasp.
Rogue, amidst a torrent of lamentations, cursed his inability to console Abraham, who was drowned in a wave of despair that poured out in devastating tears. While comforting others was a challenging task for the shy Rogue, he mustered the courage to push that facet of his persona aside and face the cruel reality before him.
"I should never have dragged you into this!" he wept.
"Don't spout nonsense, Mr. Moon. It's literally our duty to protect this world!"
"But you're not strong enough to withstand a demon assault!"
"We'll see about that!"
With head held high, Rogue stood up with honor and bravery for his group. Determined to succeed on his own, without any help, he aimed to prove his true worth.
No more tears, no more playing the victim; I must show the world what I'm made of!
A sinister demon, its eyes glowing red-hot, emerged as a dark silhouette from the shadows, approaching the camp. Its presence emanated a terrifying aura, revealing its unyielding intent to capture Abraham. Despite the overwhelming fear that consumed him, Rogue stepped forward bravely, his hands reaching out instinctively, ready to unleash his power. His legs wavered in terror and his labored breath, filled with growing apprehension, struggled to quell his mounting anxiety.
"You... you... you won't touch him!"
"Move aside, twiggy, before I end you!"
To demonstrate his resolve to eliminate the demon, Rogue activated his unique power. His hands were enveloped in a stream of green digital code, emitting a mysterious sound blending electricity with computer glitches. This action reignited Rogue's bravery as he glared defiantly at the demon.
"I'm serious, my name is Rogue Grimez, and I'm here to protect him!"
"Ah, so you're the weakest of the Lost Ones?"
"We'll see about that!"
With a grand gesture, fueled by unstoppable determination, Rogue raised his hand to the heavens, overcoming his fear, and obliterated the demon in a swirling storm of green lightning. These bolts crackled like electrical manifestations from a purely digital reality, reducing the demonic entity to a mere speck of dust.
"These weren't just any bolts. They were bolts infused with anti-demonic magic!"
The lightning tore through the demon with such devastating force, annihilating it. Now free from any threat, Rogue stood there, staring at his clenched fist, proud to have finally achieved something memorable in his life.
According to what Rogue had read in Charnald's grimoire, anti-demonic magic wasn't a separate branch in the intricate tree of Magic. It resulted from a partial transformation of mana into angelic mana, achieved through various magical manipulations between different branches. This variant of angelic mana, although effective, required a level of mastery that, if lacking, rendered it extremely weak. Angelic mana, by definition, aimed to vanquish all demons and shield others from harm, restoring order and peace.
As explained during their summoning, angelic energy was reserved for five chosen individuals per generation, those who have performed acts of extraordinary bravery and tenacity. They must be inherently kind, loyal, and possess a keen sense of justice. This is why they are so unique and revered across Trillia, as they stand as the final defense against demonic forces.
With its demise finally achieved, the soldiers were free to report to Abraham about the dire situation in the forest, making him realize the scale of the disaster.
"Sir, we've detected the presence of an archdemon and a human with demonic energy!" a knight informed.
"We have two options. Either we do our best to protect you, or we try to contact an angelic human for assistance," a mage proposed.
"Who is the closest?!" Abraham panicked.
"Hermiel Vini is the nearest, and the only way to contact him is through advanced telepathy. Alas... this method requires a master mage, and we only have mages at our disposal."
"It doesn't matter! Try anyway!"
*
Back to the two demons who had ruthlessly captured Alora, they were surrounded by the darkness of the night-time forest, thick and mysterious. The majestic trees stood tall like sentinels, their gnarled branches stretching out like a dark web overhead, barely filtering the pale moonlight.
The forest seemed to breathe with all its hidden beings in the darkness, the echoes of distant battles fading into the night's silence. Sparkling, piercing eyes reflecting unfathomable evil occasionally shone among the shadows. Chills of apprehension ran down Alora's spine as she desperately fought for her life.
The demons, indifferent to Alora's screams, hurriedly fled, carrying her in their arms. Their heavy footsteps echoed on the forest floor, disrupting the fragile balance of this nocturnal ecosystem. Alora, consumed by panic, struggled fiercely, desperately searching for an escape in this dark, oppressive maze.
In this anxiety-laden nighttime forest, Alora and her captors found themselves trapped between the relentless darkness and the frantic rhythm of their escape.
"Stop, let me go!"
"Damn it, I told you to shut up!"
"We're far enough now."
As they reached a secluded part of the forest, where scattered rocks blended with a serene pond, the two demons gradually slowed their pace, setting a heavy atmosphere. Then, in a brutal gesture, one of the demons violently threw Alora against a rock, fracturing one of her ribs.
"Argh!"
"Now, we're going to have some fun!"
Alora raised her head, pressing her hand firmly against her broken rib, and stared at the two approaching demons, both wearing a grotesque and unsettling smile.
"What do you plan to do to me?!"
One of the demons knelt in front of Alora, widening his wicked smile.
"We're going to kill you, but first, we're going to have some fun!"
"Oh yes!" the other demon chimed in.
"How?!"
"We're going to torture you."
Deeply disturbed by the chilling declaration, Alora felt overwhelming stress, forcing words out of her mouth as if each syllable was a painful struggle.
"Let's start with the basics!"
The demon pointed a slender blade of demonic energy from his finger into Alora's calf, piercing her muscle and spewing blood from both sides.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
"Hey dude, go for the femur. I've heard it hurts more!"
"Indeed!"
The demon followed his friend's advice, pulling once more with demonic energy on Alora's femur. She could only scream to her imminent demise.
Not yet, it's starting again! It starts again!
After shattering Alora's legs, the demon lifted her by her hair, her face almost lifeless from the pain he had inflicted.
"Stop, please..."
"That's right, beg! We love it when our victims beg!"
The demon, laughing uproariously, dunked Alora's head into the nearby pond. She thrashed with all her might, flailing her arms vigorously, with water splashing all around. After a few moments, the demon flung Alora across the pond, breaking her right ankle.
"We're just getting started!"
Alora desperately tried to crawl away from her demonic attackers, despite her broken legs and her struggle to breathe.
"Stop, it's hopeless, you can't escape us!"
"If only, by some miracle... I survived..."
"Haha, you're losing it. No one is coming to save you!"
Alora raised her trembling hand to the sky, a final, desperate prayer to find a glimmer of hope to survive. Her whispers echoed in the air, but the dark clouds offered no response.
"If... if you could come..."
Her upper body inevitably collapsed onto the ground, her blood spreading on it, marking the last trace of her tragic existence.
"Ah, she's already dead..."
Disappointed by Alora's frailty, the demons headed back towards the heart of the forest, in search of another victim to torture. Turning around, they saw Alora rise despite her shattered legs, their eyes widening in astonishment.
"Ah yes… My legs are shattered..." she murmured.
Her voice, extremely weak and flat, left the two demons unsated. They were intrigued by Alora's puzzling situation.
"Of course, they're shattered. We broke them to pieces!" he retorted.
Alora stood tall on one leg, the other battered from torture. Her arms hung by her side, moving with the gentle sway of the wind. Gently caressing her leg, a glow emanated from her palm.
[Healing Magic: Body Flux]
As soon as she pronounced her spell's name, a radiant green light spread, enveloping her bruised bones and aching bruises. This magical glow was accompanied by a gentle, benevolent melody that echoed softly. Gradually, the wounds vanished, resulting in a complete and harmonious healing.
"What?! How did you?!"
"I feel better now..."
Alora's facial expression was extremely relaxed, almost like an emotionless shell. She was transformed, as if another facet of her personality had taken over.
"Healing magic? How did she do that?! It takes ten years to master that branch of magic!"
"Demons…"
"I don't give a damn! I will end you right here!" With unwavering determination, he unleashed a cataclysmic blast, starting a supersonic dash toward Alora, his fist radiating with demonic mana.
"DIE!" he roared.
Just as he was inches away from releasing his full power, the demon was struck head-on by Alora, whose stoic demeanor made her unrecognizable. Her strike, powered by her own mana, sent out a titanic shockwave that resonated throughout the forest, violently propelling the demon backward, destroying dozens of trees in his path before crashing him, unconscious, onto the grassy floor.
From this feat, Alora's bicep tore open, revealing shades of red and blue. To any observer, it was evident her arm was severely damaged, with parts of her skin torn away.
"Damn… muscle tear…"
"Wait, what?! You tore your muscle and you aren't even screaming in pain?!"
In response to the demon, she healed her bicep using the same magic she had used on her leg earlier.
[Healing Magic: Body Flow]
I need to get away! This girl isn't right in the head!
After healing herself, Alora took her stance, ready to burst into an epic sprint towards the demon. Suddenly, as her blistering speed unfurled, an indescribable fear seized the demon. He realized her speed rendered Alora virtually invisible, leaving behind residual afterimages and a roaring trail in the air.
"Where did she go?!"
In a blink, Alora instantly appeared in front of the demon. Still showing no visible emotion, she was poised to deliver a fatal punch.
Something tells me if her fist hit me… I'll experience a fate worse than death!
Like a macabre symphony, the demon heeded the whispering warnings of his instincts: to flee as far as possible. In a frantic dash, he weaved skillfully through the trees and rocks that tried in vain to hinder his breakneck escape.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?! The plan was just to get Abraham and Gwendoline.
"Thanks for that tidbit... I'll give you a less painful nightmare than your friend…"
The demon skidded to a halt, taken aback by Alora reappearing in front of him, her demeanor both casual and commanding.
"What?! You read my mind?! And how did you teleport in front of me?!"
"Through magic… And for the record… I didn't teleport… I'm just sixty-two times faster than you because of mana…"
Alora delivered a swift punch to the demon's abdomen, causing him to crumple to the ground, sinking into a deep slumber. Likewise, exhausted from the excessive use of her mana, Alora collapsed and fell asleep just as the demon had.