Semilia and Riel clutched each other while Ruric pulled himself off the ground. Both he and the weapon groaned and he looked at the destruction caused by his magnificent weapon. On the ground are two corpses. One charred and clearly dead and the other struggled to crawl away with what remained of its body. The weapon's long barrel finally fell silent as strange gears and mechanisms came to a halt.

"Damn it. Wasted a good bullet on a Lesser Demon... But this confirms it. Sacrifices were used to summon these things."

Ruric huffed as he held up the weapon with both of his hands.

"S-Sir Ruric... If I may ask, what is that weapon?"

Riel asked as she stared at the space devoid of magic that followed the bullet's wake. Semilia could also tell that it wasn't just any regular weapon that obliterated the Demon that hovered over them.

"This? It's Marie. Although, the Dwarves and the Engineers back in the Empire have a different name for her. One called her an oversized rifle while the Dwarves called it a condensed cannon. One person even called her something strange. I think he called it a "Sniper Rifle" or something."

"What the fuck is it then?"

"Hmm... Probably both? I call it a "blast rifle" and it uses these new bullets."

Ruric tossed Semilia a long bullet that didn't look like any sort of bullet she knew. It wasn't round, it wasn't just steel, and it was heavy.

"I call 'em Anti-Demon rounds. The adamantine tip could pierce through most things and the orichalcum casing sucks up any magic those fuckers use for their shields. But it's pretty damn expensive to make."

Ruric groaned as he laid his back against the wall.

Moments later, a death groan rang out from where Stefan and Ruric's team clashed with a Demon. Riel and Semilia watched as the Demon crumbled into piles of dust with Bertholdt's sword in the center of its head. Stefan panted softly as he took out his canteen and took a swig of water. There was a sigh. The old man shook his head as he wiped away the dust on his spectacles.

"A Greater Demon... Although not its vessel, it's still a Greater Demon."

Ruric muttered out softly as he put his glasses back on with a grim expression on his face.

"3 Lesser Demons, 7 Demons, and a Greater Demon. Based on the number of fires, there's probably a dozen more at least and a handful of cultists with them."

The old man muttered out softly, his mind clearly busy with calculations and numerous thoughts that he made audible with his loud muttering.

"... We need to get to the castle."

With a swift draw, he pulled his pistol out of its holster and loaded a bullet into its chamber. He trained its sight on the Demon as its jaws clamped down on Elya's greatsword.

The pistol roared and the ball of fire and steel streaked through the cold air of the night. In an instant, it bore through the Demon's head. Katherine's rapier moved quickly. No sooner did the bullet exited out of the Demon's right temple did Katherine's swift slash slit the Demon's throat. Moments later, the Demon's body was hacked apart and crushed beneath the force of the greatswords the Amazonians used.

Ruric and Semilia turned their sights towards a dark shape as it jumped from building to building. The many mandibles the Demon had flared out as it hissed at them. Before either of them could fire a shot, it jumped away with misshapen legs and hid behind the covers of the buildings. Ruric clicked his tongue and holstered his pistol.

"Tobias! Grab Bertholdt and take the Marie. Alfred! Find whatever you can from our wagon."

Ruric glanced at Elya and Katherine as they walked towards him.

"Katherine, I will need you to go after that thing but do not fight it. The rest of you, we will make a dash for the castle at once and hold these things at bay."

Katherine nodded. Her feet moved quickly through the rubble and they watched as her silver hair fluttered behind her as she dashed through the streets and ruined buildings.

"Ruric, what's the plan?"

"Plan? No plan survives when you're facin' a damn Demon. Especially a group of them with a Greater Demon."

Stefan followed close as Ruric lead the way. Of course, he walked closely with Semilia and Riel and they eyed the old man with wariness. By now, they have realized what Ruric must've been in his younger days. His strange accent with the hard "A" sound and C's that sound like K's and sharp R's that roll of his tongue. A knowledge of Demons built over a long time of fighting them. And finally, the mark of an Imperial Marksman forever tattooed on his wrist.

They said nothing of it. Although they couldn't help but wonder what horrible sights Ruric must've seen during his days as a soldier. Semilia and Riel heard rumours about the Empire's battles, but only Stefan knew the specifics. If Ruric fought in the south, he would've fought the various Sea Kingdoms or the many kingdoms and free cities. In the north, he would've fought in the frigid cold in an effort to drive away barbarian tribes, capture slaves and fend off raids from the Beastmen, or defend against Orc incursions. In the center, however, his days would consist only of endless battles with the lands held by vampiric lords of old and Demonic hosts that seek to defile the lands where the Goddess revealed herself unto the people.

"Hm? Ah?!"

One of the Amazonians jumped away from a red puddle on the ground. She turned towards Elya and the others and said something in Buhur'ki.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Step back..."

The Amazonians drew their sword as Elya and Ruric looked at the foul liquid that seems to writhe in agony.

"Ikalacan... A Demon failed to acquire a vessel in time."

"Or it was incompatible."

Ruric and Elya stepped away from what remained of a would-be vessel. Ruric said no words while Elya cussed in Buhur'ki.

It was in those moments of confusion that Tobias fell to the floor with a loud crash. All heads turned as the young man's blade clashed with the jaws of a small Demon. Bertholdt barely had a moment to react when a Demon bit into his leg. He thrust his sword deep into the Demon's head, but its jaws continued to clamp down on his thigh. Stefan moved quickly and quickly killed both Demons while Semilia shot arrows at the blurs that moved around them. They formed a circle with Elya at the front.

It was a blur of movement, but they could see the shapes and features of the Demons as they tried to sneak attack after attack. They had collars, slave collars. Their bodies were small yet Stefan and Elya felt the powerful blows the Demons' arms could produce. All of them leaked blood and bodily fluids from their orifices, and some had grotesque growths that protrude and swell from various parts of their bodies. A Demon whose visage was that of a child leapt and readied its new body's claws to slash at Ruric.

He clicked his tongue and quickly drew his pistol. All of them heard not one, but four shots within the span of a second. And in a blink of an eye, he was covered in gore while the Demon was reduced to a pile of gore around him. He was about to fire one more round onto one of the Demons when they heard a strange sound. Laughter. One of the Demons laughed, its canine jaws snapping with each maniacal laughter as the body of the Beastmen it infested began to morph.

"You... You are... Marksman. Far from home. No... Wrong... No home... No home for..."

There was an audible snap as the snout of what was once the face of a Beastman began to change. The edges of the Demon's lips curled and tore into a twisted smile.

"Murderer."

Its jaws snapped, but not at them. It caught another Beastman child between its unhinged jaws and they watched as flesh fused together profanely.

More of the Demons leapt onto the mass of flesh. The many mouths cackled as the mound of flesh grew in size and stature while they raised their weapons at it. Bones emerged from its back and formed the framework of numerous arms. New growths encased the flesh with hard material while the now long yet massive arms of what was once a child grew long claws. But before it could complete its transformation, seven shots rang out as Ruric unloaded his pistols into the body of the Demon.

It let out a roar as Ruric's pistols let out empty clicks. The hulking figure of flesh swiped at Ruric, its sharp claws still wet with fresh blood. The old man jumped away, and Elya met the creature's attack with steel and grit. Her powerful attacks failed to cut through the Demon's hand, but she managed to stop it in it its tracks. With another swing of her blade, her greatsword connected with the creature's waist. Blood spurted out from the spot where steel bit into flesh, but it failed to cut deeply.

Bones snapped and something fleshy and covered in jagged bits of bones lashed in front of the Demon's chest. It slid across Elya's face and carved through it like a hot knife through fat. Yet she did not waver in her strength. She let out a roar, a Skill, and everyone watched as the sword began to cut deeper. Her party soon joined her, and their massive blades began to dismember the Demon slowly. Each swing carved chunks out its body and with each blow, the Demon tried to regenerate the flesh it has lost.

"Slaves fighting... Never escape... You cannot run."

The Demon hissed as its arm blurred. There was a loud crash as the Demon felled one of the women.

Their eyes turned towards one of the Amazonians, the one known as Qiya, who found herself on the ground with the Demons hand around her neck. She struggled as the Demon slowly tried to overpower her strong grab around its fingers. Snap. The lower jaws of the Demon broke and split at the center as its head turned towards Elya. Its many eyes twisted within their sockets as it watched the blood drip from the many wounds on her face. Then it began to open its jaws like a sickening flower as it blossomed.

She stared down at the creature's gullet, at the rows of sharp teeth and inner jaws that snapped and clicked menacingly. It smelled like rotten flesh left out in the sun. Then the creature's jaws snapped shut as Rixia wrapped her arm around the creature's snout. They faced Demons before, and this one is no different from those that rose from the ancient ruins in Axalusia. They were just bigger, that's all. She let out a roar as she shoved the creature with every ounce of strength in her body. She glanced at Ir'la as she pressed down on her greatsword in an effort to impale the creature through its back.

"Thanks for shutting him up, Rixia! Ruric!"

"No need to tell me."

Rixia snapped the Demon's head towards Ruric. Its many eyes saw only the first light of dawn and the barrel of Ruric's pistol.

Steel tore through the Demon's head. It let out a hiss and caught everyone off guard as it threw off Rixia and Elya from its body. Qiya twisted and freed herself from the Demon's grasp after she dislocated its hand from its socket. It shrugged it off as the greatsword embedded onto its back was slowly pulled into its body while it tore off the snout of its former vessel.

Steel pierced through its arm as the greatsword slowly pushed itself out of its arm. Its jaws were now mandibles and misplaced teeth, and its many eyes watched all of them carefully. Mangled fur covered most of its body as they watched how its muscles shifted and changed shape. It now stood upright and straight with muscles that looked ready to explode and burst. Fur covered its back and plates of bone protected its front. In its hands is Ir'la's greatsword, one he held aloft like it was nothing and in the other a sharp piece of bone.

"Morning... Morning here... Must end or else... Punishment. Must end... Must follow. Orders."

Everyone remained out of reach from the Demon. It let out a hiss as it stared at the dawn, at the rays of light that peeked out of the mountains.

"Castle... Castle... Take castle."

The Demon turned towards the castle's walls. Their was something different in its eyes as it slowly took a step forwards.

"[Thundering Slash]!"

Elya's sword glowed as she brought down the sword from over her head. The Demon blocked it effortlessly.

Or so it seems. The steel blade that it had fused to its arm shattered and the plates on its shoulders followed shortly thereafter. There was a silence that gripped the air as both of them took a step back from one another. Elya panted and beads of sweat trailed down her tanned cheeks. In front of her, the Demon stared at the mangled remains of his arm as the limb turned into ashes below him. Its jaws clicked rapidly as growths covered the exposed bones.

"Your battle is with me, Diyamun!"

Elya shouted as she heaved the greatsword over her shoulders.

"... Strong."

The Demon's jaws cracked as it grinned at Elya.

"Will kill-"

"You did your job well."

There was a snap as the Demon writhed in agony. Blood dripped from the massive hole in its chest as the figure behind it grasped the large, beating mass of malformed flesh.

Wings flapped behind the Demon as it watched its fellow Demon turn into ashes. It was the same Demon Ruric brought down with his Marie, but with solid plates of bone along its chest. Its form is more solid compared to the other Demons, and it had strange runes carved onto its chest. It tilted its head at them as its yellow eyes locked onto Ruric. The mouth of the creature curled into a toothy smile as the flesh at the tip of its fingers curled away to reveal sharp claws.

"[Bloodshot]."

Its arm swung upward, and crimson quills shot forward from its fingers.

"Shit! [Accurate Shots]!"

Ruric rushed forwards as he shot his pistols. He shoved Qiya out of the way as he shot out the hardened blood out of the air.

He trained his sights at the creature, but it was gone. Then, a large explosion rocked the city and the sound of rubble as it fell filled their ears. They turned towards the castle, its gate reduced to splintered wood and heaps of stone. They could see adventurers and guardsmen as they ran into the keep itself while Demons chased after them.

"... Damn. They got there first."