After ensuring that Lord Arion was on his way to Forjgris, being urgently taken for medical attention, meanwhile where Arion had fought. Amidst the wreckage, the putrid demon emerged from a nearby forest, dragging a terrified villager by the hair. With a brutal gesture, he released him, his gaze fixed on the bodies of his fallen comrades.
The villager, seizing the moment, attempted a desperate escape, but he didn't go unnoticed. The demon, with a roar filled with fury, swore vengeance against the elf who had decimated his forces. Suddenly, he was surrounded by a bloody aura, buzzing flies filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure terror. In a blink, the demon launched with supernatural speed towards the villager, cutting off his legs in an act of ruthless cruelty.
As the villager screamed in agony, the demon leaned over him, whispering promises of pain and suffering. With a violence that chilled the blood, he forced open the villager's mouth, pouring his corrupted blood down his throat. Under coercion and extreme pain, the villager had no choice but to swallow, his body beginning to twist and change into unnatural forms, a living testament to the demon's vileness.
This act of corruption not only symbolized the depravity of the putrid demon but also the imminent threat that his presence posed to everyone in the surrounding lands. As the demon departed, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair, the group realized that they faced an evil like no other, an evil that sought to destroy not only bodies but also souls. The urgency to warn Forjgris and prepare for what was to come had never been more critical.
Arriving at Forjgris, the group was impressed by the sight of its imposing walls, so tall they seemed to touch the very sky. The grandeur of the fortification was a reminder of the ancientness and strength of this dwarven citadel, a bastion against the darkness that lurked beyond its borders.
Among the crowd awaiting entry, Alex spotted the elven blacksmith from Aeloria, who had worked on the commission of a Kusarigama forged from the fang of an alpha demon dog. Approaching with a box in hand, the blacksmith handed Alex his commission, now complete and carefully packaged inside the box. The blacksmith's presence in Forjgris was due to an invitation from a master enchanter in the city, who had promised to share advanced knowledge of his craft, an opportunity the blacksmith couldn't pass up.
As they approached the city gate, they were informed by a guard that the king of the Semibestias had already entered, allowing them to pass without delay. The line, though reduced, was still long, reflecting the importance and centrality of Forjgris as a hub of craftsmanship and magic.
But just as the group began to pass under the shadow of the enormous walls, a cry of terror rose from the queue. The putrid demon commander had suddenly appeared, exhibiting his cruelty by attacking the defenseless who were waiting their turn to enter. Holding one of his victims, the demon opened their belly with his daggers, sending a wave of panic among the crowd.