"Now, go and prepare the carriage. I want to deliver some potions to the next town," Orion said.
"Do we have to go this evening? It is almost nightfall," Lucian asked, leaving the lap to go and prepare the carriage.
"Yes, we have to. It is very important," Orion replied.
Lucian sighed but nodded, heading out to read the carriage. As he harnessed the horses, he couldn't help but think about the upcoming demon hunters' entrance exam. Despite his father's concerns, the thought of becoming a great demon hunter consumed him.
Once the carriage was prepared, Lucian returned to his father. "Father, do you think I'll ever be a great demon hunter like you?"
Orion paused, looking at his son with a mixture of pride and worry. "Lucian, you have the heart of a hunter, no doubt about that. But you must remember, that strength isn't everything."
"I know, Father. But I want to prove that I can do it. I want to fight demons with my strength," Lucian said, determination burning in his eyes.
Orion sighed, placing a hand on Lucian's shoulder. "I understand your passion, but you must be careful. Promise me you'll think before acting recklessly."
"I promise," Lucian said, though his mind was already racing with thoughts of proving himself.
As they set out on the road, the night sky grew darker, and the forest nearby seemed to close in. The flickering lanterns of the carriage cast eerie shadows on the trees. They traveled in silence, the rhythmic clatter of the horses' hooves the only sound.
"Hey Dad, do you feel that," Lucian said looking around. "it's like a demon is nearby." "Looks like your senses have gotten sharpened a lot," Orion said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. "Stay alert, Lucian," he warned, gripping the reins tighter. The horses began to shuffle nervously, sensing the same ominous presence.
"Finally, some humans to feed on," The demon said showing his jagged teeth and glowing red eyes. Its voice echoed through the trees, sending a chill down Lucian's spine.
Orion quickly pulled the carriage to a stop and jumped down, his eyes never leaving the demon. "Stay back, Lucian," he commanded, his voice firm.
Lucian, however, was already stepping forward, his fists clenched. "No, Father, I want to help!"
Orion shot him a stern look. "This is not the time for proving yourself. This demon is not to be underestimated, from the energy I am feeling from it, it is a demon general"
Wait, a demon general, let me see" Lucian said counting his fingers as he started listing them. "Lesser demon, Demon knights, Demon generals, and the Demons kings. Wait, they are the strongest demons after the demon kings" Lucian said hesitating to jump into the fight for a moment.
"Lucian, take out the serum in the box and inject it into yourself, we have to risk it," Orion said casting a fire spell at the demon "Dragon's Breath." summoning a torrent of searing flames that roared towards the demon, illuminating the dark forest with a fiery glow.
The seven-foot-tall demon imbuing his hands with his demonic energy, crosses his hand like a shield and blocks the attack. The demon's laughter echoed through the trees, a dark and haunting sound. "Is that all you've got, human?" it taunted, its voice dripping with malevolence.
Lucian hurried to the carriage, fumbling through the box until he found the serum. His hands shook as he drew the liquid into the syringe. The weight of the situation pressed down on him. A demon general was no ordinary foe. As he glanced back at his father, who was fiercely engaged in battle, Lucian took a deep breath and injected the serum into his arm.
"This should increase my strength right," Lucian said, imbuing his hands with his Ki energy and dashing toward the demon. Getting close to the demon, the demon was already on high alert. Gathering his demonic energy like a ball in his hands, blasted it toward Lucian.
Lucian barely managed to dodge the demon's energy blast, feeling the heat singe his clothes as it passed by. The ground where the blast hit was scorched, leaving a smoking crater. Lucian's heart pounded in his chest, but he steeled himself, focusing his Ki energy into his fists.
Orion, seeing his son's determination, unleashed another spell. "Inferno Chains!" he shouted, summoning fiery chains from the ground that wrapped around the demon's limbs, trying to immobilize it. The demon roared in anger, its strength causing the chains to strain and crack.
Lucian took advantage of the momentary restraint and charged at the demon, his fists glowing with Ki energy. He landed a powerful punch on the demon's chest, but it felt like hitting solid rock. The demon barely flinched, its red eyes glowing with fury.
"Pathetic human," the demon sneered, breaking free from the chains with a burst of demonic energy. It swung its massive arm, hitting Lucian and sending him flying into a tree. Lucian gasped in pain, feeling the impact reverberate through his body.
Orion's eyes widened in fear for his son, but he couldn't afford to lose focus. He conjured a massive fireball and hurled it at the demon. "Firestorm!" he cried, the fireball exploding on impact and engulfing the demon in flames. The forest lit up with the intense blaze, but as the flames died down, the demon emerged, barely hurt.
"Is that all you've got?" the demon mocked, its voice dripping with malice. It raised its hand, summoning dark energy that crackled with power. "Now, it's my turn."
The demon unleashed a barrage of dark energy blasts, forcing Orion to conjure a protective barrier. The blasts hammered against the barrier, each one causing it to flicker and weaken. Orion gritted his teeth, pouring more of his magic into maintaining the shield.
Lucian, struggling to his feet, felt frustration boiling inside him. The serum was supposed to boost his strength, but he felt no different. He glanced at his father, who was barely holding the protective barrier against the demon's relentless onslaught. The barrier flickered and cracked under the pressure, threatening to shatter at any moment.
"Damn it," Lucian muttered, focusing his Ki energy into his fists once more. He couldn't let his father fight alone. The forest echoed with the sounds of the battle, the crackling of fire, and the demonic laughter mingling in a chaotic symphony. Lucian steeled himself, determination blazing in his eyes.
The demon, sensing Lucian's resolve, turned its attention back to him. "Persistent, aren't you?" it sneered. "But your efforts are futile."
Lucian's heart pounded as he charged forward again. Before Lucian could get to him, the demon dashed toward him and gave him a powerful punch imbued with his demonic energy in the stomach making Lucian cough out blood and sending him flying.
"Lucian" Orion said as he immediately dashed toward where Lucian was sent flying. "And you think I would just let you go," The demon said as he dashed toward Orion grabbed his leg, and threw him up. Imbuing his hands with his demonic energy, just as Orion was falling back to the ground, the demon stabbed him with his hand making Orion cough out blood.
"You put up a great fight human, but you are no match for me, the demon general Gorath of one of the great demon Kings," Gorath said shouting it out loud.
"No, not you too father," Lucian said with anger and tears in his eyes as he witnessed his father getting killed. "Gorath, I will remember that name demon," He said as he fell off a cliff and went unconscious.
[Set up completed]