An old memory came back to Joshua. It was when he was much younger with his grandmother before she died of heart disease.
Joshua was an orphan just like Derrick. His mother and father were hunters who fought and died during the last demon era. They died as heroes, leaving behind a legacy, a name, a son and an ability.
Joshua had the same ability as his father, making his ability, 'Sacred budding,' the only ability to be transferred through one's bloodline, a legendary feat. It was almost impossible to meet someone with a similar ability, much more in your own bloodline.
Because of this, Joshua doubted himself more than anything. He always feared that he wasn't good enough to use the ability. In the end, he started turning that fear into a reality. The more he failed, the more he feared his failure.
His grandmother used to tell him stories as a child to comfort him. One day, she decided to tell him the story of the demon that killed his parents. She called it the demon tyrant.
Apparently, the only one who could challenge it was Ronald Angels, the Veteran King. Even when they fought, the winner wasn't clear.
Apparently both his parents went on a mission that led to him. They were strong and they fought with the best of their ability but the demon was just too strong; it killed them both as well as the squad that went along with them.
"Listen to me Joshua," He could hear her voice, "One day, you're going to become a very powerful demon hunter. However, there's one demon you should be careful of. He is the one who killed your parents."
Her voice was stern and strict, her eyes focused on Joshua as though staring into the depth of his soul.
"If you ever run into him, forget about avenging your parents. I want you to run away as fast as you can, do you understand?" She instructed.
"Yes ma'am" He had responded.
They were in a dark room with the lights turned off and the curtains drawn over the windows.
The only source of lumination in the room came from an oil lamp in his grandmother's hand.
"Listen very closely" She added as the flame flickered, "The demon's name is…"
Joshua held his breath in anticipation as his grandmother uttered the name.
"Thanatos."
A slight draft went past Joshua causing his hair to dance lightly as he faced the same demon that killed his parents in the body of his friend.
Rosalind tried to get up to fight but she was past her limit. Several empty sparks appeared in the air but soon went out as she didn't have enough energy to construct any weapon.
"Rosalind, stand down." He said in a surprisingly solid tone.
"But.." She opposed it while wincing in pain.
"Here you go." He said, handing her something that looked like a large seed.
The moment she touched it, she was entrapped in something like a pod. She could neither see nor feel what was going on outside of the pod.
"I've seen that ability before." Akumu said, a bit surprised. "The last person who had it gave me a good time. He had this woman he fought with. They were strong though; I had a great time killing them."
Rather than letting his anger consume him, he exhaled then responded in a calm manner.
"I don't really know how you got in, but you need to leave that body this instant." He commanded.
"How insolent. Brat, what is your name?" Akumu asked
"Joshua Wixx, son of Nathaniel Wixx." He responded.
"Nathaniel.." He said pensively. "Oh you're that guy's kid. Hmph. Entertain me, Joshua Wixx. Entertain me while I kill you."
A Brief moment of silence occurred as Joshua put his hands up to fight.
"Sorry Grandma. Sorry I'm not running away."
There were multiple reasons why he felt he couldn't leave, none of them involving revenge.
For starters, Rosalind could barely stand and there was no way he was leaving her. Plus he couldn't carry her and run. He didn't have Derrick's physicality.
Even if he could, he doubted that Akumu was going to let him go so easily.
Moreover, demon or not, he wasn't leaving Derrick behind.
So for the sake of his friends, he was going to fight.
"I ask you one more time," He said trying to act though, "leave that body at once."
"And I'll tell you once more, entertain me as I kill you." Thanatos said loudly.
A brief moment passed as Joshua waited for Thanatos to make a move. He wanted to observe and then react. Thanatos moved his clawed hand suddenly and as soon as he did that, Joshua put up a row of trees to protect himself.
The trees were destroyed as soon as they sprouted. Joshua had just started running towards where he assumed Thanatos was but just as he started running, Thanatos appeared right in front of him with his fists moving to punch Joshua in the face.
He dodged it but Thanatos' fist grazed the side of his head slightly. He attempted to land many blows on him but he dodged them all with ease.
He smiled, teasing Joshua who desperately tried to hit him. Frustrated, Joshua summoned a large tree which erupted from where they both stood.
Joshua ran along the branches, weaving them of his own will trying to find an opening but Thanatos was too experienced.Even if he couldn't catch Joshua, he moved in such a way that left no openings.
Joshua kept pressing on. He caused vines and branches of the tree to wrap around Thanatos. He wrapped him, trying to suffocate him. He wanted to subdue the body and maybe free Derrick.
It seemed to be working up to a point but that was where his luck ran out. He felt a painful tug in his midriff and an overwhelming feeling of fatigue; these signs told him that he had run out of energy.
To make his luck worse, Thanatos broke out of the vines by slicing the tree into multiple pieces. He got down, picked up Joshua's body, hit him repeatedly then threw him into a pillar.
As his back made contact with the pillar, his eyes widened to allow for blood to flow out. He sat up, his back against the pillar. Rosalind's pod had disappeared as Joshua had run out of energy, leaving her on the floor and unconscious but in much better shape.
"Out of mana already," Akumu said as he stood over Joshua with his clawed hand spread out. "Honestly, you're weak."
"Shut up." Joshua said in a low tone though he didn't know where he got the courage from.
"I shall be hilling you now." He said as he pushed his clawed hand in the direction of Joshua's heart.
Joshua couldn't do anything to protect himself other than close his eyes and anticipate his death. Surprisingly, it never came.
Just before the hand would reach his chest, it stopped as though being held back by an invisible force. He looked up and saw Derrick's worried expression overtake his face for a moment before it was replaced by the frustrated expression of Thanatos.
Thanatos jumped back, putting some distance between himself and Joshua.
Joshua got to his feet slowly and in a level of pain as an idea struck his head.
"You are strong." He said out loud. "To have been able to keep a demon with this kind of presence under control is amazing, but that's what it is-a demon. If we both die and you walk out alive, the hunters would chase after Thanatos and the demons would chase after Derrick Angels because that's what they see. A demon."
Thanatos stood and listened though it was clear he was trying to move his feet but it was futile. Derrick's consciousness was trying to regain control of his body and forcing Thanatos to listen to Joshua's speech.
"But that's not what you are. You have shown me. You're not a demon; you're not him. You're Derrick Angels. My friend." Joshua declared.
Akumu finally regained control of his feet and dashed at Joshua but just when he was expecting a hit or a stab, he felt a body rest gently over his shoulder. It was Derrick, no horns or claws attached.
"Seriously man," Derrick said in a groan. "You say the cringiest stuff."
Joshua merely laughed lightly in response.
"Thanks man." Derrick said as his body slid off Joshua's shoulder and fell to the floor unconscious.
"Sure thing." He responded with a smile as he too fell to the ground unconscious.