"This is enough, isn't it?" Augustus stared at the river, then returned his gaze to the raks approaching him. He took in a deep breath, blood dripping from his blade and brow, eyes burning and nostril flaring, "Man, this is so annoying."
A rak leapt at his face, and he took his blade for a wicked spin, splitting the rak in two halves from its mouth. Another rak dashed from the side, but Augustus kicked it back then impaled it with his blade, dragging it out then turning to a third rak.
He slashed the demon's head off its body, rinse and repeat for the next. They poured in, but Augustus held his ground, waving his sword like a madman, his sword style quick and destructive, leaving no opening for the enemy to attack him whatsoever.
Counting that the raks number had dwindled to just a few dozen, Augustus' body burst with strength and he leapt into the air. He grabbed his sword with both hands as he fell to the ground, swinging down his blade, and smashing it down on the raks.
A powerful crescent of light appeared, surging from the blade and rippling through all the raks. In an instant, the raks in a straight line before him were torn to pieces, and their blood soaked the ground. Augustus heaved as he stood to his feet.
The raks, seeing how much their numbers had thinned, turned around to flee. He only smirked, swinging his blade three times and repeating the same destructive attack. All of the raks — whether left, right or centre — could not escape the destructive strikes.
The earth lay devastated before Augustus, blood rising into the air and falling with the clouds of dust. The smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils and he sheathed his blade, "It's taxing using blade technique three times over— I feel terrible."
Starring at the destruction that he caused with a cold gleam in his eyes, Augustus took a step back and took a deep breath. He cleared his throat, cracking his neck and loosening up his body, then began walking forward — stepping through all the blood and gore.
The raks that had escaped? Worthless. Once he returned to the village, he would have them stage a layered defence and poke the demons until the flames die. Without that, the demons would dry up faster than a fish tossed into a smoker.
——
"Oh, there he is." Aaron nodded in the direction of the gates, and Melissa turned with a broad smile on her face. Aaron chuckled drying seeing Augustus narrow his eyes, "Guess it is weird to do that, Melissa. Just be yourself."
"Thank god." Melissa sighed, then the smile on her face transformed into a scowl. She watched as Augustus approached them, her gaze scanning his every move, "You ran from the demons didn't you? I didn't believe you'd handle them, but I'm glad you're alive."
"I like the way you think, Melissa." Augustus frowned, then he turned to Aaron with a smirk on his face, his grey hair scattering into the wind, "…but, I dealt with the raks. I let some get away though, around five? Or six? I can't remember."
"Y-y— You defeated them?" Melissa stuttered, looking Augustus up and down. He gave her a blank stare, and she sighed, turning to Aaron, "I guess it is okay to say it, unless this guy is like lying to us or something like that. Is he?"
"I am right here." Augustus growled, then he searched the area with his gaze, noticing that the silver flames had shrunk. Colour — just a little bit — returned to the village, and a gleam flashed in his eyes, "Ah, so those houses were painted in green."
'There are three of them in total, each surrounding the main treasury in an hexagonal shape. These 'houses' have stationed artillery behind their windows at eachs' top floor, all serving as a base of offence more— wait, is that what I think it is?' He droned on.
"Augustus, we caught a moon slave." Aaron cleared his throat, tearing Augustus from his thoughts and causing him to blink his eyes twice before shifting his gaze to Aaron. As Augustus's attention was attracted, Aaron sighed, "You heard right."
"A moon slave? You didn't perhaps mention this to anyone before I arrived, did you?" Augustus blinked, turning to Melissa. A sighting of a moon slave was exceptionally rare, more so than a sun slave, and it always brings trouble— every fucking time.
"Well, the entire village saw it." Melissa shrugged, meeting Augustus's gaze. She saw his expression change, lifting her brow then adding, "What? He wanted in our treasury, what did you expect me to do? Give him access to generations worth of treasure?"
"Fuck." Augustus blurted out, causing Melissa's frown to deepen. She narrowed both eyes, and he raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose, "So basically, you may have just let them know that something in there is worth attacking a slave for."
"Yeah, I accounted for that. I had Ralph and a few trusted guards handle the treasury while I kept the moon slave locked up." Melissa waved her hands as if to dismiss the issue, "If anyone was to show up, then they'd be dealt with."
"No, I don't think you understand your situation." Augustus shook his head, chuckling as a cold gleam flashed through his violet eyes, "A moon slave had spilled blood here. This can be used by the moon princes as a means to hunt down L— Me."
It was in the best interest of a palace to investigate possible crimes against them by a random deadbeat village to find and kill possible competition. Out of eighty princes, only one of their villages is going to become number one, and any means is allowed.
'Assassinations? More like silent annexations. Cutting off village supply roots? In here we call it 'controlled distribution'. It's death will be used against us.' Augustus frowned, an intense gleam in his as he held his chin, 'They could invade our lands.'
The first thing needed was to interrogate this slave and find out where the others may be hiding, and what their plans are— if that fails, use him as bait to draw fish. The others may have powerful cards under their sleeves, but he's always like a challenge.