Without waking up Mai he had begun to get up and started getting ready to leave the camp.
But she wasn't just asleep, she woke up as he got ready and immediately left the tent to see what was going on.
"Planning to leave without me?" Mai speaks up with a curious tone in her voice.
"I didn't plan on it, just wanted to get ready to go." Haru responds while looking around the camp.
Of course I planned on leaving without her but it seems it won't be that easy so I'll just have to deal with it for now. I'm sure she'll be useful in some way or another.
"Okay! Well I'll lead the way since I'm the one who might know where to go." Mai says with confidence.
After a bit of time goes by with them packing up the camp they began to head east. Mai seemed to have an idea of where to find this hero she spoke of but Haru doesn't have any better ideas.
(Five days have gone by since they left.) Outskirts of Graise.
"An awfully gloom place." Mai speaks up while taking in the scenery.
Graise, a battlefield that demons and humans fought on years ago. Yeah it makes sense why this area would feel the way it does.
"You must not remember much about the history of anything huh?" Haru questions while observing the land.
I fought here myself but I don't remember it being this barren, it seems something is waiting for us here. It's just too obvious to ignore the signs.
Grassy fields with little to no color, trees were nowhere in sight, everything was in the wide open for anyone to see. A perfect place to plot an attack against someone without a place to hide.
"It's been awhile since I've read about the w-
Stopping mid sentence she had seen arrows coming towards them from the skies.
"Get behind me." Haru says while pulling out his shield.
Been a long time since I've had to do this but here goes nothing.
Haru had pulled out a shield resembling the same blue radiant light as his sword, but a huge blue mist began to rise above them from the shield before taking a more physical form.
"Perfect protection. Something that took me a long time to master." Haru speaks up while keeping his focus.
Arrows could be heard hitting the shield from all around with some landing on the ground next to them. Thud. Thud. Each one failing to go through the protection.
The barrages had gone on for a few minutes before finally coming to a stop.
"I think they're finally done." Mai says while taking a glance from behind the shield.
"Means the main attack is coming now." Haru responds while taking his sword out from its sheath.
I'm guessing we must be getting close to something that someone doesn't want us to see or be around. I can only imagine that it's my favorite type of beings to see.
As Haru lowers his shield he could see an army of demons slowly walking towards him in the distance. All of different heights and carrying different weapons.
Behind them was a giant beast, none other than a Hell Beast. Capable of mimicking any big animal or even that of an ogre, but it takes it on with a hellish look to it.
Bringing the flames to the picture of the beast. This one was mimicking an ogre and had two horns on its head, a giant sword in its right hand, and a shield.
"Hope you're ready to prove how much you hate demons." Haru says with a serious expression on his face.
I'll happily slaughter all of them right now, demons make me sick. After everything they've done to the people here, I won't stand for them to live in my sight.
Mai can be an exception for now till she's given me a reason to take her head like the rest of them.
"I'm ready." Mai replies while drawing her blades.
Huh, didn't see her as a dual wield type of person but that'll work in her favor.
The battle charge from the demons was all that could be heard after the final exchange of words from Mai and Haru. Hundreds of demons charging at full speed towards them, each ready to kill.
Nothing new to Haru, but his comrade was new to the face of war. Mai had only ever experienced small battles and disputes in the kingdom she served a long time ago.
Clash!!!! Clang!!! Without hesitation Haru had already begun blocking and taking demons lives. Blood beginning to paint the ground with each neck slashed, each head taken, each body that dropped.
"Is this all you got? An army this big and you can't stop two people!" Haru shouts with excitement in his voice. Killing two demons immediately after shouting at them.
Meanwhile Mai had also been getting her share of the bloodshed against the demons. Killing went on for awhile, hours even before it would finally start to die down.
Haru singlehandedly took down the ogre, it didn't take much since his speed was the biggest advantage against such a big enemy like that.
"Huff. Huff. I'm exhausted." Mai says while catching her breath.
"This was nothing. You sure you want to keep killing demons Mai?" Haru questions while kneeling.
My blade tasted even more demon blood than before and I think it's quite satisfying to fight them again. No enemy brings me more pleasure than a demon because I can kill them without regret.
"I-I want to keep killing them." Mai answers with a hesitant tone at first.
"Then get used to this. It doesn't get any easier." Haru speaks with a serious tone in his voice.
Demons only multiply each time I see them in the battlefield and it's never any better.
Clap. Clap. Someone clapping their hands can be heard approaching.
"To think two people would take down my entire army, how entertaining this is going to be." An unfamiliar voice begins to speak.