Castle Gorge, a fortress carved into the living rock, stood as a bastion against the darkness, its grandeur now a fading echo of a bygone era. The once-majestic halls, adorned with the glory of House Baroque, now gathered dust and shadows. The discovery of gold had brought unparalleled prosperity to this land, but its depletion had led to a rapid decline, leaving behind a legacy of forgotten dreams.
Granger, the feared Demon Hunter, stood amidst the ruins of the battlefield, his violin tucked under his chin. He drew the bow across the strings, and a sound filled the air that was... less than harmonious.
Birds fell from the trees, not just stunned, but actually plummeting to the ground like feathered rocks. Demons clutched their ears, bleeding from the auditory assault. Some stumbled about, trying to stay conscious, while others simply face-planted into the dirt.
One demon, attempting to flee, tripped over its own feet and did a involuntary pirouette before crashing to the ground. Another, still standing, began to wobble like a top, its eyes spinning wildly but one demon muster all his courage almost about to stand up and run as far as he could from this place but other demons push him down ,he look angrily to his fellow demons but once again he try to stand up but his companions also got angry with him they know better than disturb this Death Chanter while he is playing his violin, who knows what tragedy may fall on us just thinking that they shuddered and got more angry with this demon and tied him both legs and hands so he can enjoy more of this melody
Unbeknownst to Granger, oblivious to the chaos, beamed with pride. "Ah, yes! My masterpiece!" He played on, sawing at the strings with gusto.
The music was a cacophony of cat meows, squealing tires, and what sounded suspiciously like a donkey in heat. The demons' faces contorted in agony, their ears flapping wildly like wings.
As the "concert" continued, the demons' reactions became more and more exaggerated. One began to drool, another started to twitch like a puppet on a string. A third simply let out a blood-curdling scream and ran around in circles, flapping its arms like a bird.
_The wasteland itself seemed to reverberate with delight, as if Granger's music was a sonic balm, soothing all who heard it. And still, Granger played on, convinced that his music was a masterpiece of melancholy, a symphony of sorrow that showcased his genius. "Ah, yes," he thought to himself, "this is my magnum opus. The way the notes seem to weep and wail, the manner in which the melody mourns and laments... it's truly a work of art." He smiled, satisfied with his own creativity, as the demons around him continued to applaud and cheer, their faces filled with admiration and wonder. _
Granger, still playing, started to get into the "zone", his eyes closed, his face tilted upwards. He was in his element, the maestro of mayhem, the sultan of squealing strings.
As Granger's final note faded away, the demons, once writhing in agony, now rose to their feet, their faces transformed with awe and admiration. They applauded, their claws clapping together in a thunderous ovation, and cheered for the beautiful melody that had brought them to tears.
The demon who had been tied down, its eyes still brimming with tears, shouted to Granger with unbridled passion, "What a great melody! I've searched for the most beautiful thing in the world since birth, and now I know it's the way you play the violin! It's brought me to tears and shown me a new way of life. Even my demon soul is cleansing!"
Granger, taken aback by the demon's words, nodded curtly, his expression softening ever so slightly. For the first time, he saw that even among demons, there were those who loved music.
"Very well," Granger said, his voice low and gravelly. "I will grant your wish. This will be your last melody."
The demon's face lit up with joy, and it exclaimed, "I can truly rest in peace now!"
But the other demons' faces turned pale, their eyes filled with horror and regret. They glared at that demon with hatred, their gazes piercing like daggers. If looks could kill, that demon would have died a thousand times over.
The demons felt a deep regret for not silencing the enthusiastic demon, for not shutting its mouth when they had the chance. Now, they were doomed to suffer through another rendition of Granger's torturous melody.
As Granger raised his violin, the demons steeled themselves for the impending agony, their hearts heavy with foreboding. The tied demon, however, closed its eyes, a serene smile on its face, ready to bask in the beauty of Granger's music once more.
Granger's Nexarion crystal rang softly, signalling an incoming call. The Nexarion, a revolutionary communication device born from the fusion of magic and science, allowed users to connect with others across vast distances without the need for magical energy. Its advanced technology harnessed the power of mana, but also enabled use without it, making it an indispensable tool for both magical and non-magical individuals.
He picked it up, and Tigreal's voice came through, clear as day. Without hesitation or pleasantries, Tigreal spoke his mind, knowing Granger's distaste for wasted words. "Granger, recent demon activity has been too strange, and we've found no leads. You're assigned to investigate the Barren Land, gather intel on the demons' movements. This is an S-rank mission, the hardest since the Abyssal War . I expect good news."
Granger's eyes narrowed as he listened, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. An S-rank mission? The ultimate challenge. He lived for this.
Granger's gaze turned distant; his voice laced with a hint of disinterest. "How...amusing. The Barren Land, how...quaint."
He paused, his eyes still gazing into the distance. "I'll take on the mission, Commander. Not because I'm interested, but because it's...mildly entertaining."
The Nexarion fell silent, the connection severed. Granger tucked it away, his expression unchanging. But a hint of intrigue flickered in his eyes, like a whispered secret.
He turned to leave, his movements fluid and calculated, like a leaf drifting on the wind. The Barren Land, a mere distraction from his true pursuits. But one that might prove...mildly interesting.
While Granger is thinking about his mission. Demons are cheering in their heart and some singing praises for Tigreal for sending Granger away from here with this they wouldn't have to hear his melody but they didn't let this get to their head some close to tied demon quickly sealed his mouth from bringing another catastrophe on them .
Granger completing his thought processes, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. An S-rank mission? The ultimate challenge. He lived for this. With a flick of his wrist, he transformed his violin into a super cannon, and with one shot, every corpse turned to ashes. "My gun is the shelter for the ghosts! So worry not, you will keep hearing the melody."
And with that, Granger moved on to his destination, the Barren Land, leaving behind a trail of destruction and a haunting melody that lingered in the air.