Preview: Hehehe, I can finally approach those precious things and make myself stronger. These stupid demons. They may be capable of communication and are considered to have some intelligence but, they're still nothing compared to me! A former human! They can only be used by someone they deemed weaker and inferior. Keke, well it doesn't sound that bad. We’re both using each other in order to achieve our goals in one way or another, right? I thought in anticipation as I look forward to my bright future in this new place.
Traversing the dimly lit and hot environment, Pendra clacked his mandibles in annoyance and asked “When exactly are we going to arrive there? We’ve already traversed at least 5 volcanoes, yet we haven't seen a living demon. Where exactly are you leading us?” Pendra irritatingly asked the ugly thing while feeling his position threatened. He feels like this guy is very good at making his master feel good throughout the journey. Pendra also discovered that he is called Yhaele, a very strange name for a demon.
“Hahaha, you don't have to worry about it! We’re pretty close, I think. We just need to go around a valley then we’ll be there shortly. That valley is our first stop because it is the nest of Winged Monkeys and they live in the caves they dug in the valleys.” You little sh*t, if it wasn't because you’re always coiled around Sunirae, I would’ve already turned you into a grilled centipede. Inwardly, Yhaele complained while thinking of the distance they have to travel.
Yhaele originally came from the other side of that strange place filled with creepy vines and green grasses. During his travels circling the border, he came across the habitat of Flaming Salamanders and hunted one of them. According to the information he received from the fragmented memories, the reason why Flaming Salamanders live in that place was because of a certain ore that constantly releases heat through the ground, making the place “warm” and comfortable for the Flaming Salamanders. It also helped in incubating eggs hatched by Flaming Salamanders and thus, their numbers continued growing until they dominated the place and called it their territory.
The place was called Soelis Volcano because a Soelis Ore deposit exists underground and Flaming Salamanders are sometimes called Soelis Salamanders due to their habitat and affinity. And sometimes, when the volcano erupts, some ores get swept into the ground and cause some lucky salamanders to mutate, becoming abnormally strong for a demon in 2nd Level of Hell. They’re usually the one that leads the tribe and consume the most resources. While if a female mutates, it becomes restricted by the entire race to become nothing more than a procreating tool to increase stronger members. Therefore, after many years of development, they are already one of the leading and strongest races in the entire 2nd Level of Hell. It is even rumored that some of their members and chiefs went down to the 3rd Level but no news came back.
“Hey Yhaele, how delicious do you think Flaming Salamanders are?” Asked Sunirae curiously.
“Definitely an exquisite taste, last time I had one, it was so good my drool was all over the place.” Of course, Yhaele was lying. How could a demon meat, even if its roasted taste good without condiments?!
“What is an exquisite taste?” Asked Sunirae innocently. Pendra also cocked his antennae noticeably while pretending to show an irritated mood by clacking his mandibles.
“Uh, It means it's really good that I haven't tasted anything like it before.” Replied Yhaele honestly to this innocent Sunflower.
I thought they were just like me, but from the looks of it, they aren't. Maybe they are just a weird and unique case of being intelligent amongst Low-Rank Demons. But that strength, though, reminds me of the signs that one is a human soul reborn as a demon, albeit it also says that they are mindless and only follow their desires.
Yhaele thought nonchalantly as he talked about all sorts of things to the duo in order to pass time. While they didn't notice it, they arrived at the valley where Winged Monkeys live.
Shrill cries of monkeys would occasionally echo in the valley, and hot gusts of wind would swirl inside, creating some indescribable sound. Entering the valley, on both sides of the tall mountain walls are holes that are filled with darkness. While higher above, there are some silhouettes of winged humanoid creatures circling the open space above the valley.
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Seeing this excited the always hungry sunflower “Are these the Winged Monkeys? Haha, they look delicious! Let's go!”
Sunirae excitedly took off with Pendra and agilely used her roots and vines to climb the walls of the valley. Pendra got off and used one of the roots as a bridge to enter the walls and dig in. Hunting any Winged Monkeys that are currently dwelling in their caves.
Watching this mad and creepy scene in front of him, Yhaele let out a sigh and could only helplessly rush to “help.” Thankfully, the walls of the valleys are made of the same material as the ground, which makes it illuminate the area enough for everything to be seen. Although he acquired infrared vision ever since he was reborn as a demon, he was still more used to looking at the world with colors and lights.
The creepy scene that Sunirae unfolded was visibly illuminated under the cover of the blood-red light all around. It was like a system or web of tentacles has enclosed a region of the valley, trapping any living beings in it and silently devouring them in the darkness.
The Winged Monkeys sensed the impending threat and those at the back already fled while those captured desperately fought back. They were not a race that are strong at combat and mainly relies on coordination and ganging up on others to destroy their enemies. And today, they finally realized what it meant to be ganged up as each of them fought off 3 or 4 roots that came flying in their direction.
Yhaele was visibly chilled by this scenario but still did his tasks skillfully. Having been raised in the battlefield, he knew how important it is to keep calm in a fight more than anyone else.
He lowered his waist, stomped his foot and charged towards the valley wall. His clawed and strong legs helped him run vertically and horizontally on the wall like a lizard and came closer to his target. Raising his right arm and pulling it back, his sharp wrist blade reveals itself as his hands draw a clear parabolic line on the neck of a Winged Monkey fighting three roots.
Blood spurted on his face and he took its head and threw it towards another monkey busy fighting and used the web of roots as a scaffolding to jump between them and charge towards the monkey he threw the head to.
The monkey turned around to see the head of a Winged Monkey flying in his direction. Screeching in anger, he unfurls his wings and blocks the incoming projectile when his vision suddenly spins and he sees his headless body below. Blood wildly splashed on the web of roots as his body fell. Besides his falling body, a shadow of a humanoid demon appears shortly before disappearing to another location. It all happened in an instant before his consciousness was taken over by darkness.
Hehe, this sure is easy. This reminds me of the time when I was on the battlefield, having comrades I could trust to watch my back. But now.. Haiz, it's just two dumb demons who are obsessed with food and the other abnormally loyal.
Yhaele inwardly lampooned as he continued his physics-defying fight and killed Winged Monkeys one after another. Shrieks of pain echoed in the valley as Winged Monkeys fell one after another. Their aerial advantage became useless due to the web of roots cast by Sunirae and they were being hunted one by one by an expert hunter in the open and assassinated in the dark by a centipede.
Hehe, this is very easy and I get to eat a lot more meat! After following the master, although she's quite a troublemaker, she's really good at hunting prey! Just by following around, I became strong enough to reach the 2nd Level without putting in much effort, just freeloading whatever she gets. I wish this could last forever..
Pendra inwardly cheered himself up. Thinking of his bright future together with his master. He couldn't help but fantasize about a mountain of meat all for himself while growing stronger just by standing at the side.
His thoughts didn't hinder his hunting efficiency as the hiding female and young Winged Monkeys in the caves couldn't escape his silent and deadly operation.
He digs through walls of reddish dirt and comes out into an open cave. Seeing two shivering Winged Monkeys hugging each other in fear, he immediately sprung into action without hesitation. Crawling quickly down the wall, the two small Winged Monkeys watched this in fear and despair as the centipede got closer.
Blood struck the walls of the cave and Pendra moved onto his next target. Numerous young and female Winged Monkeys who couldn't join the combat outside start to die faster than the ones outside. It was a massacre, the Winged Monkeys couldn't do anything to Pendra’s indomitable black scales and his razor sharp mandibles and legs that act like a saw as he circles from one monkey to another.
The already red valley becomes redder with the addition of blood and pieces of Winged Monkeys strewn all over the place. Together with the web of roots soaked in blood and hanging flesh, it makes a strange piece of art all together.
Sunirae happily stood in her original place, extending her roots and absorbing multiple monkeys at once. She also happily observed the surroundings through the changes of the oxygen in the air, as well as other elements. She could see that Yhaele and Pendra were doing a good job and she was happy she could find good servants that could provide her with more food.
Hehehe, these monkeys are so delicious. Their meat and nutrients are supple and the taste is unique. It reminds me of my first dish, the Demon Worm and the Fiery Hound combined. Is it because they're weak and strong at the same time?
The sound of blood dripping and corpses falling was eventually drowned by silence. Useless thoughts spun in Sunirae’s mind as the home of Winged Monkeys was no more.