CHAPTER 134.

His name was Thorn, and he was a mage specialized in lightning, but more importantly, he was the strongest mercenary in the small town of Froststone. The closest town to the Sacred Forest and arguably one of the places that saw the most action as of late. All due to the demon summonings that had occurred all over the republic.

Though not all was doom and gloom even if the current situation was tense, he had seen Frei. The shy girl that had bloomed into a full cold blooded mercenary. He was quite proud of her, even if he only acted like an uncle to her at most. That said, she had brought guests, troublesome ones.

Members of the Obsidian Rose and an overly eager Cursebearer who he first thought was a demon summoner. A Cursebearer with a demon related Legacy Branch who… took pleasure in killing demons. It was such a weird concept to him, especially after hearing the white robbed people preaching their religion everywhere not too long ago.

Yet, it was happening.

Thorn took a deep breath.

He remembered explaining the awful situation to the girl.

That’s what she was, a girl. She was high level sure, but she looked like a twenty year old woman, a very pretty one. And in his experience, those people weren’t actually much older than their level indicated. While he had only come across them when they were level 100 or so, there was no mistaking it.

He depicted the awful situation the village had been put in; how a month ago demons had managed to kidnap over four hundred non-combatants with their teleportation magic. And now, they were barely kept alive by the demons, who were waiting for them to send more people to rescue them. People who got killed for their levels. And now, they had also started demanding sacrifices in exchange for keeping them alive…

In the Republic of Mercenaries, bonds made through battle were eternal. How could the village let their brothers die like that? They couldn’t.

It was better to die trying to rescue them than to submit to their demands. And so they had eventually sent a rescue party, one that was much bigger than anything they had sent before. Even if their levels varied, he believed in their numbers. And in their ability to rescue their comrades. There were simply not enough

Thorn had wanted to help, but if he left the village then there would be no one strong enough to stay around. And if that happened, Froststone would surely be sieged by the demons, leaving behind the refugees.

Demons were cunning creatures.

He had explained all of that to the warrior, how the mercenary party would take another day to get there. How she should rest because he’d set off soon due to Frei’s arrival, but instead, she eagerly nodded and requested the information of the whereabouts of the demons, before she left.

It was three days for people her level to travel, by the time she got there, the demons would be gone or his comrades would be gone. Yet the woman didn’t listen to any of that.

Because she is crazy…

That was his conclusion. People like her were crazy and died fighting, many never made it to high levels. And those that did? Well it only took a single mistake for them to die. One that was happening right now.

A sigh left him.

Maybe I should chase after her so she doesn’t get herself killed.

She had at the very least two days of traveling, and the rescue party that had set off was more than strong enough to deal with that group of demons. After all, most of the village’s capable mercenaries had been sent this time around.

So by the time she gets there, it’ll all be over.

That thought reassured him, and so, he carried on with his day. Intending to catch up with Frei after so many decades without seeing her.

* * *

Lennard awoke to the cold wind, and not the heat from his forge.

Where am I⁠—

And his thoughts paused as he opened his eyes to the tundra, and a run down camp with people in rags. And suddenly it all came back to him and he remembered everything. One moment he had been happy smithing and the other he had been teleported into this wasteland. This wasteland of hell.

Lennard shivered, feeling the bone biting cold, and soon other people awoke. Given the dreary weather it was impossible to tell the time of the day, all they knew was that they were exhausted. They were all in a makeshift camp, broken down tarps and dead branches serving as their only shelter from the freezing cold. Yet, his feet were icy from the frosted dirt below. It was all they could manage given the dire situation.

His stomach growled as he looked down, it had only been a week since this situation started, but…

A person in the distance fell down, too exhausted to continue.

Given trade had halted all around the Republic of Mercenaries, food was a hot commodity for many, including him. The village of Froststone had been relying on their food reserves all this time, and so rationing food had been crucial during these times of need. Which meant that a lot of regular citizens were already starving.

And now with what was happening…

A person next to him fell down. Lennard turned and he bit his lip seeing an old man convulsing on the ground, before he stopped. Some people gasped and others simply silently cried. This was the third day with deaths.

He looked up and around at the crowd of people that were sitting there, shivering and unsure what to do. And what could they do? Their situation was terrible. After all, they had been kidnapped by demons. They were simply being used as bait…

Right now, the surroundings were desolate, they were simply surrounded by forest. It looked as peaceful as ever, but everyone knew, he knew that as soon as they tried to escape death only awaited them. That was why they tried to built a camp, to survive, but they couldn’t do much with the scarce resources they had at hand.

Lennard closed his eyes before he heard the screeches of birds. He glanced up, and peered past the gaps in the tap above him. And there, he saw a demon overseeing them all. Overseeing their little and feeble camp that threatened to collapse to the harsh winds.

The demon had long wings and short stumpy legs, he had large muscle filled arms, and most of his body was covered in silver flames. He was one of the leaders. And one of the three Demons of Brutality.

He was one of the three demons that had orchestrated this entire thing. And he was level 250, even if he himself was a level 140 smith he didn’t dare defy him, for it would be nothing but death. It had happened before.

Mercenaries from Froststone had come to rescue them, but every time they were killed. Every time, they had been brutally killed by this demon. The other leaders didn’t even need to intervene…

Because he was strong. All the demons were.

Lennard didn’t understand why all three demons called themselves a group, but it didn’t matter. All he knew was one thing, and that was that they were bound to die sooner or later. All he could do right now was accept he was going to die, and he did.

In the end, there is nothing that can be done against the demons…

The demon flew away; sometimes one of the leaders would come down and torture them, but a lot more frequently the lesser demons serving the leaders would do it. However, that stopped happening a day ago after a particularly nasty incident with lots of deaths on their side. Now, they were left to their own devices, because the demons needed them alive.

For now, they were acting as bait so that the mercenaries of Froststone would rescue them, but…

That isn’t happening… Lennard gritted his teeth. If they assembled a strong enough party to rescue us the village would lose most of its combat power. And sending small groups won’t do anything either. In the end, we have no choice but to accept our fate. No one will come.

Lennard closed his eyes and slumped on the ground as the wind swept through the surroundings and threatened to take some of the tarps. Some people were walking, though few, most were like him; their heads hanging low, for all hope was lost. In the end, all they could do was bid their time and maybe try to see the good in the situation.

But Lennard couldn’t do that, maybe it was because he was cynical, or maybe it was the fact that he had lived a long life. He was well over one hundred years old, and while to some residents in Vir that wasn’t a lot, to him it was a lifetime. So, all he did was wait for his time to come.

Lennard waited, and waited, footsteps came and passed, people talked in hushed voices and some were saying goodbye to one another, but he didn’t move. He simply closed his eyes and listened to the various sounds, until the passing footsteps stopped before him.

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He looked up only to see a woman, she looked young and had blonde dirty hair, but in spite of her appearance she was an experienced hunter. One that was around his level, and an acquaintance of his.

“Linsen.”

“Lennard, come with me,” she said. “There is something I need you for.”

Lennard raised his brow. “What could that possibly be?”

His entire body was cold, but that didn’t mean his mind was dull. There was nothing he could help with other than helping around the camp. But he had stopped doing that two days ago, and he told others as much.

“Just come,” she said, turning around.

Lennard stared at Linsen walking away, and finally a sigh left him as he decided to follow after her.

What would she want me for anyway?

He found himself following after her in no time, walking by the camp. Some areas looked dreary, and others were full of people trying to cheer each other up and talking as if they weren’t doomed.

Fools.

He shook his head, and continued following after the huntress, ignoring the various and different sights around the camp. Until eventually, he arrived into one of the few large tents that was made. And upon entering he saw about a dozen people standing around, which gave him pause because…

[Warrior. Lvl. 122]

[Mage. Lvl. 155]

[Warrior. Lvl. 101]

It was all the people that were above level 100. Most of them didn’t have combat classes just like him, but there were three proper mercenaries present given the demons didn’t deem them much of a threat.

“What is going on…?” Lennard didn’t understand.

“A rebellion,” a woman in the back said.

His eyes turned to her and he immediately recognized her. A mercenary, and a mage. And also, the highest leveled person in the camp. And by extension, the strongest.

[Mage. Lvl. 182]

Alyssa the Volcano Mage.

While if this was Cytel such level would be amazing, here in the republic it was rather normal. After all, there was so much conflict, so much killing, that the life expectancy was low. So on average, there were a lot much higher level individuals than the peaceful kingdom. But even with such a high level, it wasn’t enough.

“We aren’t against humans, but demons, they won’t hesitate to kill us or spare us,” Lennard said gravely. “Not only that, but we cannot compete in level against the leaders, this is suicidal.”

He didn’t want to do it.

Alyssa grinned. “There is only one leader to take care of.”

Lennard paused. “What do you mean?”

“We just need to kill the leader watching over the camp, and we can teleport away,” a man said from the side.

He turned only to see the village’s tinkerer, Stein.

“I’ve prepared a teleportation circle.”

That was their plan. To run. It was more reasonable than what he initially thought, but it was still impossible.

“Even with that, we’ll die. None of us can take a level 250 demon who is in that advancement,” Lennard said before turning to the mage. “He’s 70 levels above you Alyssa, if you die who will protect us and the others?”

“And that is why we have to succeed,” the woman said gravely.

This is insanity. Lennard thought. It’s just going to get everyone killed. There was no way they’d be able to take a single one of the demon leaders, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be quiet.

“Let’s not throw our lives away, let’s think of something else,” Lennard said.

“I knew you were a damn coward,” the mage spat.

Lennard gritted his teeth and an eerie feeling hit him. Danger filled the surroundings and Lennard ran. He lunged with a dash away as someone called to stop him.

“What are you doing⁠⁠—”

And the tent exploded with a silver inferno, he landed rolling as screams echoed and he looked back at a flickering barrier that was collapsing. There, he saw Alyssa holding her staff with gritted teeth as the rest of the people scrambled, and above them there it was.

A demon with short legs and large arms, covered in silver flames, golden eyes that stared down with indifference, large beating wings that distorted the wind. It was none other than one of the Demons of Brutality.

“Humannns, you all have taken our mercy as kindness. And now, an example will be made out of all of you.”

Following his words, screeches echoed as demons passed through the camp lunging for them. They were much weaker, but also enough to kill them. Lennard gritted his teeth as he moved, and Alyssa screamed.

“Go to hell!”

A large stream of magma blasted towards the demon, it was her strongest attack and something that would cause a tremendous explosion that would buy all of them time. Lennard welcomed it, at least he could survive using this.

The demon in response did a finger flick and⁠—

The attack exploded with a slash of white, then the spot where Alyssa had been standing exploded into a crater of silver flames. Her staff went flying, and a chunk of flesh passed through his vision as his eyes widened.

She had died just like that.

The strongest combatant here had been taken out as if they were nothing but trash. For a moment Lennard stared but it didn’t last long as he cursed in his mind. He had told them it was a bad idea, but they didn’t listen⁠— maybe if they begged the leader demon would have spared them, but it was now too late.

A red hound pounced on him and Lennard couldn’t dodge in time. He hit the ground hard as the ravenous beast tried to chomp his face off, but he held it at bay by its neck. Its claws however, still dug into his body as he grunted in pain.

He had to live.

He wanted to die with dignity, and choose the way he would leave this world. And this was it, that was why he had to live. Even dying from starvation was better than to die at the hands of these demons.

Giving them such satisfaction is not something I can⁠—

“Resisting fate, are we?” the demon asked, sending a chill down his spine.

A moment later, the demonic hound exploded with a silver explosion and the demon pounced upon him. He hit him with his short legs, breaking his ribs as he raised one of his large arms with a small silver flame that made him feel danger like ever before.

“You’ll make a fine example for the rest of the camp⁠—”

And the demon was hit by an invisible force.

His face deformed and then with a loud crack he went flying, hitting a tent in the distance with a loud explosion. It happened in a blink, and Lennard didn’t understand what was happening.

“Huh… interesting curse,” a voice said.

He turned only to see an armored woman, hand on her chin and her surroundings had a bunch of dead demons. And he could tell, she had just saved him. A mercenary of sorts⁠—

[Warrior. Lvl. 203]

And she was too weak to deal with the demon leader.

Lennard gritted his teeth. “Run, he’s much stronger than you.”

The woman however, didn’t say anything, seemingly too busy thinking. Two demons pounced on her taking the chance and Lennard winced, and yet she simply flicked her hand and they were split in half. A sharp cut of air bisected them, their blood splattering.

His eyes widened and then the demon leader pounced on her. He prepared for the worst, and indeed it happened as a pillar of flames engulfed the woman.

“Intruder, huh? Far too weak⁠— what.”

She walked out of the flames, her burned flesh immediately restored as she still seemed to be thinking about something. Then, a moment later she nodded to herself and muttered something in affirmation. Finally, she took out a gigantic sword and⁠— stabbed herself, blood splattered in all directions and a small chuckle left her.

“That… feels even better than earlier⁠—”

“Stop joking!” the demon appeared and smacked, an explosion engulfed the woman and⁠—

The demon was held by the face and thrown right into the ground. Dirt billowed in all directions and Lennard’s eyes completely went wide.

H-How…? How could someone survive two attacks like that at her level? Especially be able to counter attack so easily? The demon was thrashing. The demon leader was thrashing. He was one of the Demons of Brutality and one of the demons that had induced despair upon them, and right now he was in submission.

“Want to make a contract?” she asked.

“Fuck you!”

Silver flames engulfed the woman and she raised her hand and punched⁠, they immediately dissipated and the demon squealed as blood splattered in all directions. Then, she grabbed the demon and threw him into the air as a bow of blue flames appeared on her hand, followed by a purple shining arrow that she nocked.

And without hesitation, she loosed it.

Wasn’t she a warrior?!

The arrow struck and a purple explosion shook the air but the woman simply frowned, seemingly disappointed by the result. All this time her sword remained inside of her, but she took it out and pointed it at the demon before whispering.

“Battery⁠—”

The word sent a chill down his spine as a loud boom shook the entire land, the sky was covered by a purple explosion as a scream resounded, and the demon was blasted right into the ground. Hitting the dirt in a bloodied mess, as he panted. It wasn’t even a fight, it was a beatdown.

Even though she’s lower leveled than him…

Lennard gulped and the woman strode up to the demon extending her hand as she spoke. Though her words are something he never expected.

“I’ll let you live in exchange for your servitude,” she said, her voice eerie and almost distorted.

She⁠— she wants to enslave the demon?!

His eyes widened as he suddenly became panic stricken and the demon’s eyes also widened.

“Y-You, you shouldn’t be able to do that, who are you!?”

The woman in response slashed and took an arm off the demon as he squealed.

“Last chance,” she said.

The demon gritted his teeth as a small ember appeared on his hand, and Lennard’s eyes went wide. That was bad. It was an attack that had killed an entire party of level 230 mercenaries in a single blink.

“Be careful⁠—”

“Extinction of Perdition!”

And in a single moment the woman was engulfed with pure white as the land behind was blasted.

It’s over…

One of surviving people from the tent was consumed and died instantly, and the attack continued.

She’s dead…

He watched in slow motion as the attack continued, consuming a tent in an instant and soon it would take a large part of the camp with it.

His hairs stood on end from the danger he got from seeing it. It felt like something insurmountable. His gaze turned towards the beginning of it all.

In the end, the demons are stronger⁠—

“Blast.”

The white was blown away, and blood exploded in all directions. And there stood the warrior fighting, regenerating as if it hadn’t been a life threatening attack.

“Maybe if you didn’t kill someone I would’ve spared you,” the woman snorted.

An arm landed in front of him and his eyes went wide. He blinked as he saw other pieces of flesh rained before finally a head landed a few meters behind him, and that’s when it finally clicked for him.

The demon that had terrorized them for so long and made their lives miserable, the demon that felt like an insurmountable enemy was…

Dead…