As the demons approached, their glares became progressively more bewildered. What they expected, and what they saw, was entirely different. On one hand, a Master worthy of a genius like Senon should be powerful and renowned throughout the entire Demon Realm; a few came to mind. On the other hand, what they saw was a human. Of all things, it was a human.

"This is your Master?" The Nobility representative pointed an accusing finger at Ain. His lips were split into a half smile, as if anticipating the punch-line of the joke.

Senon simply nodded.

"This guy?" The Nobility representative asked again, smile faltering.

"Yes," Senon said, tone as sharp as a razor blade.

The representative snorted.

The Ravener representative kept his distance. Moments before he was right on Senon's side, but now he was a few steps behind. The Elite didn't even bother looking at Ain, or Senon.

The last representative remained silent. He had the Realmbreaker insignia on his shoulder. Third year.

Ain glanced at the Ravener, his smile seeming that tiny bit more genuine. As a warrior himself, Ain could appreciate the Ravener's instinct. Whatever his name was, Ain decided he would remember him. That Ravener was dangerous. Ain could tell.

"Well, you must be the human everyone is talking about. Can't say I see anything special about you, though," the Nobility representative said, walking forward. "How did you trick Senon into wanting to become your disciple?"

"Oh, I didn't trick her," Ain said, as polite as ever.

"A demon - a pride demon - following a human and no trickery involved? The Demon Realm would sooner freeze over."

"It has been getting pretty cold lately, hasn't it, though?" Ain replied, at least attempting to evade the confrontation.

The Nobility demon would have none of it. He jabbed his finger into Ain's ribs, poking them painfully. "You should listen to me," - his eyes flashed red as he spoke the words - "Forget about Senon."

Ain smiled. "Sorry. I owe hi-- her an apology."

Senon lofted an eyebrow quizzically when Ain almost called her a 'he' again. There was a murderous edge to her mannerisms in that brief moment.

The Nobility demon seemed agitated. His eyes flashed again, a strange symbol appearing over his pupils. "Forget about Senon," he said, voice like steel. He jabbed Ain in the ribs again.

Ain sniffed, glancing down at the demon's finger. "Listen, buddy. I don't like repeating myself. You should practice that Eye of Tyranny on your daddy first, and then you can come and try it on your grandpa," he spoke, voice even and calm.

The demon's pupils shattered, literally. His eyes turned completely red. "What did you say?" He jabbed Ain in the ribs again, this time clearly intending to rip out his heart. But his fingers helplessly bounced off of Ain's chest.

Before Ain could reply, with action or word, Troma jumped off the floor and jabbed a hidden knife into the demon's thigh. Blood spurted from the wound as the Demon jumped back, dislodging the knife.

The demon screamed.

Def laughed. "Def promised. Def take care of this."

"Def not have to actually hit Troma in the head with club. Could pretend," Troma growled, clearly not pleased about the brain-damage.

Ain was beginning to understand why Troma was the slightly less intelligent goblin of the group.

"If Def not look like he mean it, then demon see through deception," Def explained. "And Def really, really, mean it."

Def spat on the ground and then looked at the demon who was trying to apply pressure to his severed artery. "All right, F-Hole, Def choose you. Get him! Burn that mustache-twirling prick to ash! Give me a war cry! Waaaagh!" Def threw his 'son' - the Living Word of Fire - at the demon.

"Fwaaaawgh! Affhole!" the Living Word of Fire hissed as it arced through the air, and then, surprisingly perhaps, changed its shape into that of an arrow. It stopped in mid-air, and then its orange-red flames turned blue and black.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The shockwave was so powerful that directly beneath the Living Word of Fire, the Courtyard tiles started peeling away. Then the arrow shaped Living Word launched forward so fast, not even Ain could follow it. It passed through the demon, obliterating him and then incinerating the pieces. It continued on - it didn't stop with the demon - plowing through one of the buildings so cleanly, it appeared as if it was designed that way.

The clouds overhead were blown away.

Ain still held the demon's finger, severed at the second knuckle, in his grasp. "Definitely can't Resurrect that," Ain said, who was still consoling himself about his 'accidental' murders by the fact that they could be Resurrected if anyone wanted to do that. Well, maybe not Bazuzu. It really depended on how much effort one was willing to give to find all the pieces.

"More importantly," Ain then looked to Def. "You called it 'F-Hole'? What is wrong with you?"

"Why? Those were little one's first words. It only appropriate. Def first words Def. Troma first words..."

"Ow," Troma said, poking the growing bump on his head.

"Exactly," Def nodded.

There was no way that story could be true.

.... But then again...

"Was that really a minor spirit?" the Realmbreaker asked.

Even the Elite glanced at the group. Secretly, he was glancing at the damage the spirit caused. The Ravener, on the other hand, was downright love-struck. If there was a Cupid in the Demon Realm, that spirit was his arrow, and it plowed through the Ravener's heart like... well, like an angry arrow shaped Living Word of Fire.

"Just because it is a minor spirit, doesn't mean it is weak. After all, an Emperor-level method produced it," Ain replied, and after a brief pause added: "Well, probably Saint-level now, considering it is a derivative."

"Emperor-level?" Now, the Elite was interested. "What Method is it?"

Troma smiled. "Sword of Nanya."

"Nanya?"

Def looked at Troma. "Nirv--" he trailed off and smirked. "Excuse my friend. Troma a bit mentally challenged. He mean to say: Sword of Nanya faking business."

The Elite flared his nostrils in anger. "I should've known. You are frauds. There is no way you would practice a Saint-level method, let alone an Emperor-level one."

"Hold on, Riter," the Ravener said, putting a hand on the Elite's shoulder. "Perhaps he is telling the truth, perhaps not. But that minor spirit is powerful. That is a fact. If you don't want to invite them to the Elites, I'd like to invite them to the Raveners."

"Do whatever you want, Pashel, I am done with them," the Elite said.

"Wait up," the Realmbreaker stepped forward. They all now crowded Ain, instead of Senon who seemed to find this sudden change in interest rather offensive. As expected of a pride demon. "The Realmbreakers want the human."

"Look, I just want to join the Commo--" Ain was cut off before he could finish.

"This is none of your concern human," the Ravener said, turning to the Realmbreaker. "Are you invoking the Rite of Conscription, Zazu?"

The Elite's interest got a second wind.

"Don't force me into it," the Realmbreaker said. "We need good warriors, it is true, but I'd rather learn more about the candidate first."

The Living Word of Fire returned, falling from the sky like a leaf. Def caught it in his hands and smiled. "F-Hole, you look bigger! Was demon tashty? Who's a good boy?"

"Affhole!"

Ain winced. He still couldn't believe Def named it 'F-Hole'. But he had other priorities. "Look, I am really not interested in your fac--"

Suddenly, a demon landed in the middle of the group with such force that the blown up tiles were crushed into oblivion.

"All right, you little shits. Which one of you blew up the Admin building?"

"Affhole!"

"Shh, F-Hole. Play dead," Def whispered.

"Aff...hole! Fblagh." The Living Word of Fire looked like a flame frozen in time.

"War Minister Latela," Riter, the Elite said, "They did it. Their pet Spirit went berserk."

The demon - clearly a lust demon - cast her beautiful, frigid blue gaze towards Ain, sneered, and then looked at his insignia. Her demeanor instantly changed. The aggression and malice evaporated in a second.

This confused, not just the Elite, but the other representatives as well.

"How did you get that?" Latela asked.

"Fair and square," Ain replied.

"I know you from somewhere..."

Ain smiled. "I doubt it."

Latela narrowed her eyes. "Your face... I don't recognize it. But this feeling... your Source..."

Ain chuckled. "Common among humans, I assure you, Miss Latela." His smile became crooked.

"Unlikely." Latela glanced towards the spirit. "Saint-level.... no, Emperor-level Distortion. Goblins. Half-demon," - she looked at Senon - "And a Human whom I can't even Decipher." Her eyes glimmered with a brilliant cold.

"Your eyes are very sharp, I can see why you are the War Minister."

"I have been for a thousand years. What is your name?"

"Ain."

"I will remember it. Do not blow up any more buildings," she said, and glanced to the representatives. "Why are you still here? Get out of here. Ain has the privilege of choosing his own faction. You don't get to recruit him."

Then, Latela jumped away, and within moments, she was a tiny speck in the distance, and then gone.

Ain frowned. The direction Latela jumped in was the Forbidden Calamity Palace. The Calamity Lord's household.

The demons frowned, and without saying another word, departed.

Eventually, Senon stepped forward. "Are you in trouble, Master?"

Ain chuckled. "Of course not. Why would I be in trouble? Buildings can be repaired. It's no trouble."

Def nodded. "Def teach F-Hole proper manners. Only destroy demon. But not gold in pocket. Keep gold. Who good boy?"

"Affhole!" the spirit chirped happily.

"Also, stop calling it 'F-Hole'. Its name is..."

"Eternal Suffering!" Def shouted. "Def, Troma and Eternal Suffering!"

Ain sighed. "At least it's better than 'F-Hole'."

"What is eternal surfing?" Troma asked.

"Being with Troma every day is eternal suffering," Def said, coldly.

"Must be good thing then. Troma would like some suffering sometime. Troma sad lately."

"Oh, Troma no worry. Troma will be suffering for a long time. Def promise."