Megumi looked on, in stunned silence as the man that had annoyed her earlier in the day, had shown up and saved her and Kailey. Even Kailey was taken aback by this sudden entrance.
Without giving another glance Liang spoke up. "Hey, dark skinned girl. Are you able to put another barrier up?"
Kailey scowled and conjured forth a new barrier. "Y-yes but it won't last long. An' the name's Kailey." she said.
"Ah~. Nice to meet you, Kailey. And I'm Liang"
Not long after demons once again surrounded them, hitting and gnawing at the barrier like a pack of wild animals.
"Thanks~... Now… Megumi… Was it?"
Liang sat down in front of Megumi, surprising both the women even further by his nonchalant attitude.
"The big cheese wanted me to make sure you and the demon kid didn't get into trouble. And here I was thinking that it'd be a simple job."
"The big cheese" Megumi questioned.
Liang rubbed the back of his head a little awkwardly. "Well, apparently it was a favor that was called in by that skeleton reaper, K."
"O-oh…"
Liang laughed a little seeing her reaction. "Yeah. Imagine my surprise. Although to be honest, I did mean to find you to give that ice cream you forgot."
Megumi immediately became indignant and gave a scary face upon hearing about the ice cream. "You mean the ice cream you unjustly charge me for."
"Yup."
"You have no shame!" Megumi retorted.
"Anyways, what happened to that demon kid?"
Megumi quickly averted her eyes and balled her fist. "He… Tried to save me… There was a blonde hair guy that was after Cider. I need to get to him now! He's in danger!"
Liang held her hands out to quiet her down a little. He peeked at the barrier, finding it to start cracking and Kailey was becoming paler.
"Alright." Liang said. He got back up to his feet. "Lead the way and I'll help you where I can. And as for you…"
"Kailey. " she spoke.
"Kailey… how about I handle things from here."
"Tsk. That suits me just fine…"
"Goo-" Liang was interrupted and forced to catch something from the air. He took a glance, finding the white cloudy core of three reapers. "Ah. Much appreciated. I'll be sure to keep them safe."
"I'm outta here. I'm not risking my neck for some demon." she sent large spikes through her Barrier clearing the way or her own retreat.
"Ah. We'll see you around then."
Kailey waved him off. She then mustered all her strength, expanding her blue barrier like a hand grabbing the building. She quickly pulled herself to the top of the building as the demons now dashed forth to Megumi and Liang..
Before departing she glanced back at the Liang and Megumi.
As if reading her mind Liang spoke up. "Don't worry I got this handled. I might not look it, but I can handle these demons myself…:"
Megumi casted a somewhat worried glance.
"Fine." As Kailey began her departure,
Megumi's fear rose as the demons got closer, but quickly stiffened her resolve. "I can't be scared now. I have to stand strong… Not only for Ciders sake… But also for Eric too!"
Seeing the first demon on the attack Megumi punched, closing her eyes. But unlike the first few times, she hit something hard.
She opened her eyes seeing that the demon didn't even flinch, confusing Megumi.
Just as the demon turned back to attack, It was sliced into a hundred pieces. She glanced around noticing that all the other demons were standing still also.
"What the-"
"DEMON VERSE TWELVE: THE TWO DANCING SKIES."
Liang sheathed a different looking long sword with an audible click. And like magic it disappeared before anyone could get a good look.
The group of demons surrounding Megumi erupted into sliced pieces. They all fell to the ground before turning to ash.
Despite her dislike of the man, Megumi was amazed by his skill.
He turned with a smug smile. "It looks like you already used most of her energy… Still…"
Suddenly, from the ashes of these demons, another bigger demon emerged!
Like the last one defeated it was grotesque and was an amalgamation of several other different demons.it was already on top of Liang, ready to slam its large hammer-like fist at Liang.
"You're quite the bold woman."
"W-watch out!!" Megumi warned.
Kailey, who was still watching, was about to move when Liang was struck!
But unexpectedly, the demon was killed in his place!
Liang simply cracked his neck and massaged his shoulder. "Oh. Right…" Liang glanced back at the newly defeated demon. "Sorry but you can't beat me that easily…"
Megumi was put into another stunned silence as Kailey could only chuckle to herself half amused. "Heh. I guess he's not all talk..."
Not wanting to linger any further, she departed.
"Alright Megumi. Lead the way, and I'll help you the best I can." Liang stated.
********
Annabelle who witnessed this was left dumbfounded.
"What the-! What the hell happened to my demons!? They should've killed that girl!!"
The grotesque demon standing by her side raised a brow. It then spoke up in its deep gravely voice. "And progress with the kid Cider?"
"Cider's putting on a good fight as I expected But he's bound to lose.." with a blush and a smile reminiscing of the past, she felt her cheek. "After all he's never won a game of war in his life. Not with me or anyone else for that matter. And with that collar preventing him from reaching his chaos state, This makes things all the easier for this hunter to capture him."
Annabelle reopened her eyes with a much sharper serious gaze. "But capturing Cider again will mean nothing to me if I can't kill that damn woman. Order all the demons in the city to kill her. I WANT HER DEAD…!!"
The grotesque demon bowed his head slightly, "It shall be done."
********
As if hearing the order by Annabelle, the demons battling against the reapers and chasing the remaining residents stopped. They all turned their head in a particular direction and began their pursuit.
The reaper still fighting these monsters attempted to chase after them with some of them having escaped the reaper's sight. It was the strangest phenomenon one could witness. It was something unlike what the Reaper Corp had witnessed thus far in Millennia of existing.
********
Dove, who was witnessing and still killing demons, took note of the event. "Something is wrong… It's like they're after something now. But that shouldn't be possible."
"Yes, it's like someone is actually controlling them. This does not bold well. I've never seen anything like it myself." Chime echoed.
********
Arnold and K also watched this event occur in their area too.
"Don't let them escape!" Arnold yelled.
His cartoon creations crushed any and all resistance trying to get past him and K.
K could only narrow his pupils, suspicious by the sudden change in the demon's demeanor. "Something is clearly amidst…"
"What do you suggest we do?' Arnold asked.
"We need to make sure to keep any more demons from entering… But considering how big this army is, it's clear that whoever is behind this either wants to capture this city or is after something inside…"
Arnolds Cartoon creations destroyed another horde of demons.
"I think it's safe to say that is the latter, Which is all the more reason we need to keep them out. Unless we're able to stop the flow of demons in this city, they keep coming and will otherwise overwhelm the entire city itself."
"What about the demons already inside?"
"We have to leave them to the acolytes for now. And we should also have them look for the source of these demons' behaviors too."
"You mean, something like that." Arnold pointed over to what seemed to be a newly made black building made of crystals.
K was left in complete disbelief looking black at the new tall structure. Shortly after, he became more serious knowing something was indeed happening far from them.
"Yes. Send as many acolytes there as soon as possible!"
********
Cider spun down like a saw blade straight at Dino, leaving the two interlocked as sparks flew in the air. Mustering up the strength, Dino pushed Cider back and forced Cider to plant his feet firmly back on the ground as he slid back.
Cider wasted no time dashing back forth, swinging his arms wildly as Dino shot spikes of crystals at him.
Each one viscously blocked as Cider inched every closer to Dino. Just as Cider was about to strike, a huge crystal erupted from the ground, forcing Cider back.
Dino crystalized his arm, extending it partially to his body. It became like a suit of armor for his entire arm.
More spikes were sent Cider's way and he's forced to dodge through each one. Seeing an opening, Cider brought his bladed leg up with a huge stretch and slammed it down at Dino who blocked it perfectly.
"Tch! Damn demon!" He deflected and closed the gap between him and Cider. He then outstretched his finger and scratched the ground.
Like magic, Spikes of crystal shot up from the ground he scratched, cutting through Cider and his clothes. Cider's hollow insides were visible for all to see.
Cider stepped back, breathing heavily. He then smiled. "This is fun… So Anne put you up to this?"
Dino's eyes twitch, still keeping himself on guard for anything. He simply grunted.
Cider sighed. "I thought so… You seem like an okay guy. But I…. Don't want to go."
"You don't have a choice in this kid!"
A sudden spark came from his collar and screamed of pain.
"Shut it hunter! Just get my precious Cider. Use those demons if you have to!" Annabelle echoed to Dino.
Dino's demeanor became more serious, and with a hint of irritation he re-initiated the battle. He ordered all the demons that had stood by and watched to attack. They collectively charged straight at him, leaving themselves wide open for Cider to kill and slaughter each one with practiced ease.
Periodically, Dino sent spikes of crystal Cider's directions, leaving him distracted just long enough for the demons to get their share.
They sliced and cut into Cider, forcing him to jump in the air for a brief reprieve. He then slammed his bladed arms into the ground, cutting through some of the demons. HE then proceeds slicing and dicing through the other demons with the small room given.
Finding enough room, he outstretched his bladed arms, beheading several of the demons that surrounded him.
This didn't stop the remaining demons as they punched and clawed at Cider, undeterred. Dino, using this prime opportunity, attacked Cider head on, using his crystalized fist.
Cider Blocked this just in time. He growled as he attempted to muster out more power. Instead, he felt the tightening of the collar on his neck and the draining of his power. "What!?"
Cider was suddenly kicked. He quickly reoriented himself back to his feet and fended against the remaining demons that attacked like wild animals.
Slicing off the head of the final Demon, it was now just Cider and Dino within the large arena. Cider, breathing heavily, charged back in, ready to fight again.
********
Megumi and Liang now ran through the streets with a new horde of demons on their tail.
"You're keeping up very well, And here I thought you'd be freaking out by now."
"S-shut it! I'm gonna save Cider from that guy, no matter what it takes!"
"You're still on about that?" Liang saw Megumi's determination flowing from her very being. He could also sense a still calmness within her.
"Interesting…" He thought.
Liang then glanced back at the horde of demons seeing that they were clearly fixated on Megumi. "She's clearly being targeted… Even if I were to bring her somewhere safe, We'd only end up putting everyone else in the safehouses in danger.…"
"U-uuhh… Liang?"
"Hmm? Yes?"
"What are you anyways? Are you a reaper too?"
Liang smiled, amused. "You can just think of me as a demon hunter for now."
Megumi narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. He was clearly withholding something from her.
"Still don't believe me?" Liang inquired. "Trust me, I've been hunting demons for the better part of twenty-two years."
He gave a thumbs up, "So anything related to demons, I'm pretty much an expert on."
She sighed giving in. "Fine. Let's say I believe. Please be honest… You won't charge me for your help will you?"
"Oh, you bet your butt I'm charging you. Fifteen-thousand opals will cover my service once we're done."
Liang became even more excited, "I can see it now! A mountain of opal's and all for me!"
Megumi could only cry on the inside in despair. "Damn iiit… I knew he was up to something."
"Don't falter now. Here I'll make you a deal."
Megumi's brows raised.
Liang continued. "If you're able to deal with the situation without my help, my service will be free. Sounds good?"
Liang noticed Megumi's unconvinced expression. "Still not convinced?" suddenly stopped running. Megumi could only look back, confused.
"Then how about this? I'll show you how to reach that latent power of yours and use it."
A few of the demons continued to run past Liang as he watched the demons hurtle towards Megumi.
"But first, You'll need to show me that grit of yours!" he stated firmly.
Megumi faltered for a moment as several different demons attacked her at once.
"This…This asshole!"
"Show me your resolve in this perilous situation."