Chapter 63: Into the Azure Mountains
The morning sun was climbing higher into the sky when Lucian received the letter from the Adventurers Guild. As he opened it and read the contents, his usual stoic expression darkened. The request was straightforward: investigate the Azure Mountain Ranges in Loyrn, where reports of demon activity had surfaced.
Lucian folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket. He glanced at the other two, who were chatting near the dining table. Seraphine and Quintin seemed preoccupied with a list of home appliances they planned to purchase, their conversation punctuated by Quintin's excited suggestions and Seraphine's pragmatic responses.
"You two can handle the shopping," Lucian said flatly, interrupting their discussion. "I'll take care of this mission."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? It's a solo mission."
Lucian nodded. "I'll manage."
Quintin looked up from the list, grinning. "Don't die out there! We still need you to help pay for furniture."
Lucian rolled his eyes, grabbed his sword, and left the house without another word.
The journey to the Azure Mountain Ranges was uneventful but long. By the time Lucian arrived, the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon, casting the peaks in an eerie blue glow that gave the region its name. The air was cold and thin, the silence oppressive.
Lucian moved cautiously through the dense forest that surrounded the base of the mountains, his senses on high alert. It wasn't long before he heard faint whispers carried by the wind, a sound that sent a chill down his spine.
Hiding behind a cluster of trees, Lucian peered into a clearing. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him.
Three demons stood in the open, their grotesque forms radiating an otherworldly menace. These were no ordinary demons—they were Azurelly Devils, known for their mastery of biological and psychological manipulation.
Lucian's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as he observed their horrific work.
The wind howled through the jagged peaks of the mountain range, carrying with it the stench of sulfur and death. The scene below was a tapestry of chaos and despair, painted in shades of blood and shadow. The three Azurelly Devils moved with an unholy grace, their forms grotesque yet eerily mesmerizing, their actions a symphony of suffering.
The first devil, its elongated limbs crackling with energy, towered over its writhing victim. Its clawed hand, glowing with a sickly, ethereal blue light, hovered inches above the human's chest. The light spread like venom, snaking through the human's veins, causing their body to convulse violently. Muscles stretched and bones snapped in unnatural ways as the devil twisted the very fabric of the human's biology.
The victim's screams cut through the air, a raw and primal sound that echoed off the cliffs. Their flesh rippled as if something beneath the surface was alive, reshaping itself against their will. Eyes bulged in terror as fingers elongated into grotesque claws, skin darkening into a mottled, ashen hue. The human's voice broke into hoarse gasps, their body now a horrific amalgamation of man and monster, their humanity burned away in the azure fire of corruption.
The second demon stood in silent malevolence, its eyes glowing with a dim, unnatural light that pierced the soul. It loomed over its victim, an aura of dread emanating from its towering form. A dark mist oozed from the demon's body, curling like tendrils of smoke around the human. The victim's breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps, their hands clawing at their own chest as if trying to tear out the creeping corruption that was overtaking them.
The mist coiled tighter, seeping into their skin. Their pupils dilated, then glazed over entirely, leaving their eyes a lifeless void. The human's body spasmed, movements jerking as if controlled by invisible strings. A guttural growl rumbled from their throat, deep and monstrous, as their transformation completed. Their head snapped up, revealing a face twisted into a grotesque visage of rage and pain, a mockery of what they once were. The demon stepped back, satisfied with its new puppet.
The third demon was a sight of pure horror, its presence more psychological torment than physical brutality. In its clawed hands, it held a set of shimmering chains that glowed with a shifting, otherworldly light. The chains seemed alive, writhing and pulsing with dark energy as the demon lashed them around its chosen victim.
The moment the chains touched the human, their screams turned into piercing shrieks of terror. The energy within the chains invaded their mind, unraveling their sanity thread by thread. Memories of loved ones distorted into nightmarish visions. Thoughts of hope twisted into whispers of despair. The human clutched their head, clawing at their scalp as the chains pulsed with rhythmic energy, driving madness deeper into their mind.
Within seconds, the victim's screams fell silent, replaced by a soft, pitiful whimper. Their eyes stared into the void, empty and unfocused, their face frozen in an expression of sheer terror. The chains unraveled and fell away, their job done. The human crumpled to the ground, their mind a shattered shell, leaving behind only a hollow vessel.
Lucian's jaw tightened. He couldn't watch any longer. He stepped out from behind the trees, his sword drawn.
The demons turned toward him, their glowing eyes narrowing as they recognized the threat.
"You picked the wrong day to do this," Lucian muttered under his breath, activating Eclipse Veil.
Dark energy surrounded him, shrouding his form in shadows. His movements became a blur as he lunged at the nearest demon. The Azurelly Devil let out a screech, raising its claws to strike, but Lucian was faster. His blade sliced cleanly through its torso, the dark energy enhancing the strike and disintegrating the demon's body into ash.
The other two demons roared in fury, one launching a volley of magical projectiles while the other charged at him with claws bared. Lucian dodged the projectiles with ease, his speed augmented by Eclipse Veil.
He swung his sword in a wide arc, releasing a wave of dark energy that struck the charging demon, sending it crashing into a tree. The impact shattered the trunk, and the demon collapsed, its body dissolving into nothingness.
The last demon, realizing it was outmatched, attempted to flee. Lucian wasn't about to let that happen. He raised his hand, summoning tendrils of shadow that shot out and ensnared the demon, pulling it back toward him. With a single, decisive strike, he ended its existence. Lucian's passive ability was activated, [legacy] which absorbs the "legacy" of the ones he has killed, simply put, he gets all the powers and abilities of those he has killed.
The clearing fell silent once more, save for the faint crackle of residual energy dissipating into the air. Lucian stood amidst the chaos, his chest rising and falling as he surveyed the aftermath.
But his victory was hollow. The humans he had come to save were beyond help. Their twisted forms and vacant expressions were a grim reminder of the Azurelly Devils' cruelty.
Lucian exhaled sharply, sheathing his sword. He couldn't dwell on his failure. He had done what he could.
By the time he returned home, the sun had set, and the house was quiet. Seraphine and Quintin were nowhere to be seen—likely still out shopping.
Lucian made his way to the kitchen, his movements slow and deliberate. He placed a loaf of bread and a can of tuna on the counter, preparing a simple sandwich. As he ate in silence, the events of the day replayed in his mind.
He had defeated the demons, but their victims haunted him. The realization that he couldn't save everyone weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he pushed the thoughts aside.
For now, he needed to focus on the present. There would always be more battles to fight, more lives to save—or fail to save. That was the reality of his life, and he had long since learned to accept it.
He finished his meal, cleaned up, and retreated to his room, ready to face whatever challenge tomorrow would bring.