Brian and Jonathan were on the verge of leaving, while George remained defiant, refusing to abandon the fight. The trio lingered near the barren wasteland they had carved out—a desolate expanse marred by the complete annihilation of both allies and enemies.
No new soldiers dared to enter the devastated area. Those still behind the walls were the highest-ranking authorities and generals, already working to summon reinforcements in the form of heroes, knowing full well that demons remained a persistent threat in the distance.
Out at sea, at least ten demon ships loomed ominously. Their presence deterred anyone from venturing close.
Brian was preparing to stand when a low, unfamiliar voice pierced the silence nearby.
"What a bunch of heroes we have here. To leave not a single man standing—perfect display of power and with no remorse. The ideal killing machines. Just what we need. So, how about it? Do you want to join our cause?"
The voice belonged to Zaryx, who had approached unnoticed. Standing behind them, he surveyed the scene, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His mana stone, crafted to siphon energy, remained dormant, a clear indicator of the battlefield's depleted resources.
"Well, this is interesting," Zaryx remarked, his tone dripping with disdainful curiosity. "Not one ounce of mana remains. Meaning most of the soldiers killed were by you... good, good."
Brian, Jonathan, and George spun around, fear flashing in their eyes. None of them had sensed the demon general's silent approach. The towering figure now loomed over them—a massive, blue-skinned demon standing two and a half meters tall. His broken horn added a menacing edge to his already imposing presence. Draped in a simple fur wrap around his waist, his bare, muscular frame exuded raw power and dominance.
"No, I already know what will happen," Brian said, his voice defiant though his hand trembled slightly as he retrieved an elixir he had been reluctant to use on such a battlefield. "We'll lose our blessings. What will you offer us then, huh?"
Zaryx smiled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I think we can work around that in due time. How about vampire's blood? We have... alternative ways to strengthen you. But I must say, that resolve of yours is quite admirable," he replied, his gaze sweeping over each of the three boys. He measured them carefully, calculating who might be the easiest to manipulate—or the first to eliminate.
"Vampires? Those still exist?" Brian scoffed, his tone laced with skepticism. "It would be interesting, sure, but we already know how that story ended. Dead by the hands of one man. Can you honestly call that real power?"
His friends nodded in agreement, their expressions hardening as they readied themselves for the inevitable confrontation.
"Come on, why do you look so scared? We should talk first before deciding if we really need to fight," Zaryx said, stomping his foot as though to show his relaxation, even as the three heroes braced themselves for combat.
"Talk about what—the weather?" Jonathan retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "We just need to get stronger, that's all that matters. So how about you bring us more of your friends for us to grind experience?" His attempt to stall was clear, as his body was still mending from the elixir he had consumed. He needed just a little more time to fully assimilate the mana and recover.
George, however, couldn't hide the grin plastered across his face. His focus wasn't on tactics or negotiations—he only wanted those final few kills needed to reach the next level.
"So, how about it? Last chance," Zaryx said with a sly smile. "Do you want to join us? We can work something out—I could really use killers like you." Despite standing before three armed and battle-ready heroes, Zaryx didn't budge from his spot, his confidence unwavering.
"As I said, no. I like the power I have now," Brian growled, his voice firm. "Turning undead or anything like that wouldn't let me enjoy it." With that, he caused his fist to ignite in flames, the fire swirling angrily around his knuckles. He prepared to strike, knowing that at such close range, it would be nearly impossible to miss.
"Sad. Well, I guess we should fight then. Now, you don't actually think I came alone, do you?" Zaryx finally stood, towering as his muscles flexed ominously. "Maldrak, if you will…"
"Damn it, Zaryx! How dare you ruin the work of an illusion master," a new voice snapped, cutting through the air.
From the shadows emerged a slender demon, his frail physique making it clear that he wasn't suited for the frontlines. But his aura told another story—it radiated overwhelming intensity, and his magic was concealed as meticulously as his presence had been. Standing beside Zaryx, the demon—Maldrak—snapped his fingers, summoning a swarm of demons that appeared behind Brian and his two companions.
The heroes found themselves surrounded on all sides, and for the first time, Brian, Jonathan, and George felt the ominous weight of true danger.
"I think my offer has been rejected far too many times," Zaryx sneered. "I won't ask again, since we already have you right where we want you. Now, let's get to it—I do enjoy a good fight."
Bulging his muscles, Zaryx shifted into a fighting stance before charging forward. His first move was as devastating as it was swift; he slapped George aside, sending him hurtling into the swarm of demons waiting to tear him apart.
Jonathan readied his swords, poised to parry, but before he could react, he suddenly found himself about thirty to fifty meters away from the others. The shift in his position went unnoticed until he realized the skinny demon had appeared in front of him, watching his movements with an unsettling gaze.
Meanwhile, Brian faced off against Zaryx, his entire body engulfed in flames. His blazing fists clashed with the demon's massive hands, creating shockwaves of heat and raw energy with each strike. Brian managed to land a decisive blow, sending Zaryx's arm flying to the side.
"Great, that's good—learning to fight in such a short time. But you're still just a child, my boy," Zaryx taunted, before driving his knee into Brian's stomach. The force sent Brian hurtling through the air, only for him to crash back down, clutching his gut in pain.
Before Brian could recover, Zaryx appeared behind him, delivering a punishing kick to his back. The boy felt the demon's massive foot as he was propelled forward, barely registering how Zaryx had seemingly teleported into position.
"We demons have our own magic, you see," Zaryx sneered, his voice mocking. "Now brace yourself for the next punch. Let's see... how about protecting that pretty face of yours?"
Brian barely had time to react to the warning. Instinctively, he raised his arms to shield his face. Zaryx's next punch came with brutal precision, shattering bone beneath Brian's guard and sending waves of pain through his body.
"Good—very good," Zaryx said with a smirk, flexing his singed fingers. "Too bad these burns are starting to wear on me." He finally stopped his assault, watching as Brian groaned in agony, clutching his broken hand.