Morning came too quickly. The eerie crimson sky of the Demon Realm was just starting to lighten when the camp began to stir. Despite my exhaustion, I had barely slept, my mind haunted by the memory of the cloaked figure from the night before. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Rika was already up, her armor back in place and her staff at her side as she moved through the camp, checking on the soldiers and giving orders. I watched her from a distance, a knot of worry tightening in my chest. She seemed so confident, so sure of herself, but I couldn't help but wonder if she knew more than she was letting on. Had she expected an attack? Did she know who was behind it?
"Takeshi."
Azazel's voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see him standing beside me, his eyes sharp and assessing. "The Queen wants you to accompany her on the scouting mission. We need to know what's ahead before we move the troops."
I swallowed, nodding. "Right. I'll be ready."
Azazel studied me for a moment, his gaze narrowing. "You seem troubled. Is it about last night?"
I hesitated, then nodded again. "Yeah. I just... I don't know who that was or what they wanted. And I don't like feeling like we're being watched."
Azazel's expression softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "The Demon Realm is full of unseen threats, Takeshi. But you're not alone. Remember that. We stand together."
"Thanks," I said, managing a small smile. His words helped, even if the unease still lingered.
Azazel nodded before turning to leave, and I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead. I wasn't a soldier, but I was part of this now. I had a role to play, and I wasn't going to let fear hold me back.
***
The scouting mission took us deeper into the Eastern Territory, where the landscape became even more twisted and dangerous. The ground was jagged, with cracks that glowed red-hot, and strange, thorny plants that seemed to move when you weren't looking. It was clear that this part of the Demon Realm had been left to decay, and the sense of unease grew stronger with every step.
Rika led the way, her eyes sharp and focused as she scanned the horizon. Azazel and Gorrak flanked her, while I stayed a few paces behind, trying to keep up. Every so often, Rika would glance back at me, her gaze lingering for a moment before she turned her attention forward again. I could tell she was worried—about me, about all of this.
"Stop," Rika said suddenly, her voice low and commanding. She held up a hand, and we all froze, the tension thickening as we listened.
There was a rustling sound, faint but unmistakable, coming from the shadows ahead. My heart pounded as I strained to see, my eyes scanning the darkened terrain. The rustling grew louder, and then, without warning, a group of demons emerged from the shadows—twisted, monstrous beings with glowing eyes and sharp claws. They looked like they had been waiting for us.
Rika's eyes narrowed, and she raised her staff, the runes along its length glowing as she prepared to defend us. "We're not alone," she muttered.
Before she could act, a figure stepped out from behind the demons—a familiar figure, cloaked in dark robes. My heart sank as I recognized the silhouette.
"It's them," I whispered, my voice trembling. "The one from last night."
The cloaked figure moved closer, and I could see their face now—pale, sharp features, with eyes that glowed with an unnatural light. They smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent a chill down my spine.
"Rika," the figure said, their voice smooth and mocking. "You should have stayed in hiding. Did you really think you could just waltz back into the Demon Realm and reclaim your throne?"
Rika's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her staff. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure chuckled, their eyes flicking to me for a brief moment before returning to Rika. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that you're too late. The Demon Realm has moved on, and your time is over."
The demons behind them snarled, moving closer, and I felt a surge of panic. There were too many of them—we were outnumbered.
Azazel stepped forward, his magic flaring around him as he prepared to defend Rika. "If you think we'll just hand over the throne, you're mistaken," he said, his voice calm but deadly.
The cloaked figure smiled again, and then they raised a hand, and everything happened at once. The demons charged, their claws outstretched, and chaos erupted. Azazel moved to intercept them, his magic clashing with theirs in a burst of energy. Gorrak let out a roar, swinging his massive war hammer as he met the oncoming horde head-on.
I stood frozen for a moment, my mind racing as I tried to figure out what to do. Rika was at the center of the fight, her staff blazing with dark energy as she struck down the demons that came at her. She was powerful, but there were too many of them, and I could see the strain in her eyes.
"Takeshi!" Rika shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Help Azazel! We need to hold them back!"
I nodded, the rune on my palm flaring to life as I raised my hand. I focused on the energy, letting it flow through me, and a blast of golden light shot out, striking one of the demons that was closing in on Azazel. The creature let out a shriek, dissolving into ash, and Azazel glanced at me, nodding in approval.
But before I could feel any sense of accomplishment, I heard Rika cry out. I spun around, my eyes widening as I saw the cloaked figure standing behind her, a dark blade in their hand. They moved quickly, too quickly for me to react, and the blade struck Rika in the side, sending her sprawling to the ground.
"Rika!" I screamed, my heart lurching in my chest. I ran toward her, the world blurring around me as panic took over. She was on the ground, her hand pressed to her side, blood seeping through her fingers.
The cloaked figure looked at me, their smile cold and triumphant. "You can't save her, human. She was doomed the moment she decided to come back."
I felt a surge of rage—an anger so intense it drowned out everything else. The rune on my palm blazed brighter than ever, the energy within me surging to the surface. I raised my hand, the golden light exploding outward, and the cloaked figure's smile faltered. The blast struck them, sending them flying backward, their form dissolving into the shadows as they vanished.
I dropped to my knees beside Rika, my hands trembling as I reached for her. "Rika, hang on. You're going to be okay."
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with pain but also determination. "I'm fine, Takeshi," she said, her voice strained. "It's... just a scratch."
Azazel and Gorrak moved to our side, their expressions dark. "We need to get her back to the camp," Azazel said, his voice tense. "She needs healing."
I nodded, my heart pounding as I helped Rika to her feet. She leaned on me, her weight heavy, but she managed to stand, her eyes still filled with that same fierce determination.
"We're not done yet," she whispered, her gaze meeting mine. "No matter what, we keep going."
I swallowed, nodding as I wrapped an arm around her to support her. The fight wasn't over—not by a long shot. But as I looked at Rika, her strength and resilience shining through even in her pain, I knew one thing for certain: I wouldn't let her fall again. Never.