The demon was no pushover; even attacks imbued with holy effects failed to inflict significant damage. It certainly wouldn't fear the spear that was about to pierce its chest. In the air, where it found no foothold, the demon extended its claws once more, aiming to grasp the spear that moved so swiftly it was but a blur. Unfortunately for it, this spear was not an inanimate object but a manifestation of Agno's spirit beast, the bald eagle. Just as the demon's claws were about to grasp the spear's shaft, the spearhead transformed, revealing the eagle's true form. With its razor-sharp beak capable of piercing steel, the eagle struck fiercely at the demon's wrist.
The demon, in pain, had no choice but to retract its claws. At that moment, Joanna launched her second attack, delivering another powerful blow from behind. The skilled assassin, who had yet to miss a strike, succeeded in drawing forth a spray of blood. Seizing the opportunity, Fars unleashed his long-prepared Finger of Death toward the demon's back. Timing was crucial, and as Joanna withdrew her blade, the demon's wound was once again ruthlessly exploited.
The sequence of attacks unfolded in an instant. The demon, having narrowly avoided the fatal blow, could no longer maintain its stance and collapsed onto the scattered bones below. Its massive body shattered countless remains, but with its tenacious vitality, such damage was insufficient to kill it.
As the demon rose, it immediately swung its claws and charged forward with a roar. Its eyes were clouded with a deep crimson hue, and the demon, emerging from a bloodbath, unleashed the pent-up killing intent accumulated over millennia. The air around the staircase thickened with the resentment of countless demons who had met tragic ends, mingling with the pungent scent of blood. Fars, being a member of the vampire clan, found himself comfortably immersed in the atmosphere created by the demon, allowing the bloodlust to seep into his being, feeling a refreshing sensation from within. In contrast, Denise dismissed it entirely; the surrounding bloodlust could not approach her noble lineage and was naturally repelled. As for the resentment, it dissipated without a trace under the phoenix's aura.
Even with the ability to pierce through darkness, Fars could not detect Joanna's concealed figure. With the array disk's protective barrier, she likely remained largely unaffected. Only Agno appeared to be in a precarious situation, using his aura to shield himself from the bloodlust. However, the demon had zeroed in on him, and in the cramped space, the spear's effectiveness was diminished. Before long, the demon seized Agno by the arm and hurled him away.
Fars found himself puzzled by the demon's intentions. Even as he watched Agno being flung aside, he wasn't overly concerned. If the demon's tactics were limited to this, lacking any other special methods, it would eventually be worn down by the three of them. The anticipated mental assault had yet to arrive, leaving Fars feeling somewhat helpless as he remained focused on defending against the demon's psychic attacks.
Fars disregarded Agno's fate, knowing Joanna would take care of him. After delivering another stab to the demon, she quickly rushed to Agno's side. Stabilizing his injuries, Agno took the lead in offense while Joanna continued her stealthy strikes, with Fars hovering nearby, largely refraining from direct engagement.
At this rate, the demon's defeat was merely a matter of time. The demon's wounds multiplied, most inflicted by Joanna's holy-infused blade, and even its remarkable regenerative abilities could not heal them instantly.
Joanna and Agno, having never witnessed the demon's true power, were overjoyed as they saw it on the brink of collapse. Meanwhile, Fars grew increasingly curious, coldly observing the demon as it was pushed to the edge of death by Joanna and Agno.
"As a high-level demon, are you truly prepared to perish at the hands of two mere humans?" Fars attempted to speak in Nais, addressing the demon, which struggled to rise again. Since Joanna and Agno couldn't understand Nais, he let a hint of disdain slip into his tone when referring to humans, unafraid they would catch on.
Expecting no response, he was surprised when the demon replied, "Hmph, just a lowly demon body. If I were to strike, you wouldn't stand a chance against me."
"Then what are your intentions? Surely, a demon that is merciless to its own kind wouldn't act without a motive, especially with a vampire involved," Fars lowered his voice, allowing Denise's phoenix aura to mask his words. This way, he didn't have to worry about the demon overhearing, and he could explain to Joanna and Agno that he was merely casting a spell.
The demon did not respond immediately. After a moment of silence, its voice emerged, low and haunting: "So, are you prepared to cooperate with me according to our contract?"
Contract? Another mention of a contract. Fars had no idea what his bloodline ancestors had signed on that document. Since the demon was willing to negotiate, he couldn't outright admit his ignorance. After some thought, Fars decided to play the part of the informed party.
"The outside world has changed significantly; not many in the vampire clan still adhere to tradition. The Hill family upholds the glory of our ancestors, but given the current situation, it would be wise to draft a new agreement. If the terms are favorable, the alliance between demons and vampires can certainly continue."
The battle below had concluded, with the demon lying lifeless and bloodied. Joanna wiped her blade clean while casting a cold glare at Fars, who had contributed little. Her dissatisfaction with this seemingly idle teammate and enemy was palpable.
Perhaps the death of the demon below had some effect on the unseen master of the demonic sounds, as its voice now carried a hint of weakness: "We have plenty of time to discuss this later; I'll be waiting for you above."
With that cryptic statement, the demon fell silent, no matter how much Fars pressed for answers. With others still to confront below, he had no choice but to descend, still bewildered.
Gazing at the demon's gruesome remains, Fars, now less consumed by bloodlust, found no desire to feed. After managing to placate Joanna, the three continued their ascent. With the demon's threat eliminated, climbing the stairs was a matter of moments.
The demon had said it would wait for him above, and Joanna and Agno were resolute in their upward path, which raised some questions. The true high-level demon refrained from killing them; perhaps there was indeed some ancient agreement between the ancestors of the vampire clan and the demon, and it was unwilling to breach that pact. However, Joanna and Agno were undeniably two humans, and their fierce battle with the demon, along with their thorough preparations to kill it, made it hard to justify letting them go.
Fars pondered deeply, convinced that Joanna's mission was somehow tied to the elusive demon. Only a vested interest could explain why the demon allowed them to ascend freely. Equally, he was curious about what significant figure's remains could entice a prominent family like the Medici.
As they climbed higher, the number of corpses on the ground began to dwindle, but the size of the dead demons grew, and human bodies started to appear. Given the abundance of remains, Joanna and Agno should have at least glanced at them to see if they were searching for a specific corpse. Yet, the two paid no mind, simply stepping over the scattered bones as they moved forward.
Now trailing behind, Fars observed their indifferent backs, and in the eerie, terrifying environment, they resembled demons walking over the corpses of others to reach greater heights.
Fars felt compelled to keep pace; in this place, it was better to have company. They were likely in the core area of the laboratory now. According to the apprentice's diary he had previously obtained, only masters and their assistants were permitted access to the upper floors of the laboratory. Apprentices, who served as mere helpers, primarily remained on the lower levels and deeper areas where demons were kept.
The diary expressed the author's fear of this place while also revealing a curiosity about the core secrets. If the pursuit of eternity was the lifelong goal of mages, then the curiosity about the unknown was the driving force propelling them forward. Fars was equally intrigued by what had transpired here; the answers were likely hidden within.
When dealing with intelligent individuals, communication could be cumbersome. It was often said that smart people didn't need to say much, but the reality was that they overthought everything, leaving little room for explanation. Just like now—if Joanna were willing to share more insider information with Fars, he felt he could piece together the mysterious demon's intentions, making their response much simpler. Unfortunately, their relationship prevented such open dialogue. The information from the ancient demon was too vague, leaving Fars guessing, and his mind, long unused, was now working overtime. The ambiguity on both sides led to numerous possible outcomes. More importantly, Fars had contracts with both parties—one stemming from his own efforts and the other a legacy from his ancestors. The incomprehensible demon language provided him with some assurance of survival.
Ultimately, Fars needed to reflect on whether his life-threatening venture was worth it. After much contemplation, he followed Joanna's lead, believing their exploration would conclude satisfactorily. Aside from the three items they were obligated to provide, any additional treasures would merely enhance Fars's collection. Greed was one of the original sins that led people into the abyss; understanding this truth was one thing, but acting on it was another. If he were to collaborate with the demon, what would he gain? Compared to Joanna's promises, this seemed more abstract. Besides the incomprehensible contract left by his ancestors, he felt a subconscious intuition that everything would be fine, leaving Fars's mind in a state of uncertainty.
Fortunately, Joanna and Agno, leading the way, didn't give Fars much time for self-pity, as they soon came to a halt.