Walking briskly through the streets I observe the aftermath of carnage, it's strange that they didn’t burn much. Houses were, sort of… walked through? It's a very strange thing to see, and definitely not traditional. Although one thing was burning, a strange sight considering I spent a day or two in my cellar. The palisade was still burning?! Or at least producing smoke? I know it's made of ironwood but I never really knew that ironwood could burn forever. The palisade was my destination, going there will get me the information I need. The main thing is to check for distress signals, it's a part of general crisis management.

Quickly I come upon the newly risen undead. A few days have made them more sluggish, and less loud but still annoying. The Zombies should be fairly easily dealt with. Especially since they have not evolved or done anything monster like. I pity necromancers, instead of tamers, or any real profession of worth, they have to start with a terrible base. I hear that augmented soldiers are actually a decent base for zombies now that I think about it. And now that I think about it, augmented soldiers are a lot of the corpses in wars. I should really avoid mass graves. The people of the black market are strange, and I probably should not take their worldview. I am just a hunter and have never considered necromancy as a valid profession. Even if you can revive a monster like a drake into a cool dragon servant I will never consider it, never. John will never convince me that all his cool toys are nothing more than that.

As I walked I came across an old bull far past his prime.

[ken… Ken… KEN… you should have… not stolen such things…] an old farmer nags.

Every zombie I come across seems to have some sort of grudge with me. I was initially offended by Mary, but now it just seems strange. Just why exactly does everyone have these little unnecessary gripes with me. Newly risen dead are supposed to complain about something like “Oh i was murdered oh deary me”. But the baker around the street complained about a harsh criticism I had with one of his pies. That one was almost comical i was expecting him to say something like “oh ken fuck of, i allways shat in your pie”. Terrible baker that one, i think most people just dealt with his malpractice. Although he was a big baker in town, maybe he really did shit in my pie? Nonetheless most of the people in this town had it far more out for me than i thought.

As I reach closer to the palisade I do get a good look of it, the palisade up close is a lot more intimidating than all the way out in the fields. I never really liked this place, the elders had it out for me, and it seems like the town as a whole did as well. I'm surprised that all of them did not run me out of town and instead let me fester beside them. And maybe I am even more surprised about how they hid it so well. The palisade is built on top of a man made hill with a dirt ramp that spirals upward toward a gate. It has 3 watchtowers, two facing the general entrance points to the valley, and a small one attached to the gatehouse that leads to the top wall paths. The palisade walls, fort, watchtowers, and general structure are all made of ironwood logs debarked with a metallic polished iron-like sheen. Each log is stabbed into the ground/put into position then welded together with molten metal making a practical, but brutal aesthetic. The elders paid a lot in polish and shaving making it less brutal overall, they were strange like that. In this land of beasts, monsters, and one hell of a winter. Making your fortress look a tad bit better is absolutely pathetic. Continuing on, one important note is that the palisade is not burning, something, or someone, is simply producing smoke in its courtyard. This could be many things. All of them are bad for me: A demon scout, the survivors burning dead, maybe even the signs that some sort of ritual is going on. If anything I need to be careful, if not, I could get myself in a terrible situation. I did have a coat with stealth runes engraved into it, I really guess I'm going to have to make a new one eventually. Remembering something, and having a slight heart attack I look at the watchtowers. They conveniently have nobody in them, making me sigh with relief, but also increasing my stress. If they have no-one in them that might mean I'm going to have to deal with a demon! I really don’t want to deal with a demon, but… maybe I will be lucky? Well the first plan of operations is to climb the walls and into a watchtower. Stealthily, which is probably never going to happen. Forts like this are designed to not be climbable, although because of the jaggedness of the construction process, it usually can be by intelligent creatures. Or at least people with a fair amount of expertise in climbing. Although when I look at the walls they are smooth, polished to a shine. I think I'm starting to understand why the elders went through the effort. Well since i can’t climb it i guess let's look at the main gate.

It's been blasted through, I don’t know with what or how, but it was one mean gate. The gate on an ironwood palisade is usually just made out of pure metal, mostly because ironwood is impractical to use for anything other than log construction. It doesn't stop rich folks from making their houses out of ironwood planks but that's unimportant. The door was destroyed, demolished, honestly just how? I have never been alive during a demon invasion. But I guess the rumors of demon power might be understated? Or maybe it's me thinking that it's overstated, they really complain about the strength of demons a lot. Really i don’t know why i didn’t think the demons were that powerful? Maybe I was just really ignorant of it all. I do live on the border, and even on the border demon interaction is rare. I don’t have a good excuse for why I underestimated such things. All I know is that they are annoying, I have killed drakes, I have killed shadow wolves, I have hunted many strong creatures. Why exactly are these demons a reason to run away? Really i might simply be stupid about all of this. If a drake was intelligent, it could easily blast through a door. If a drake was tamed, then taught how to properly use its magic core, educated, it could easily destroy the town. Maybe demons follow that sort of principle? They are intelligent sentient creatures with their own empire after all. Although not as strong as a drake, they are still far more efficient at utilizing raw strength. I might simply be overthinking this, it’s just a demon scout, like any even lighty dangerous prey we simply need to ambush it. It's not a drake, it's not even something I really need to worry about. I simply need to hunt it like I do with most beasts, although this is an intelligent beast which may cause problems. I should look into the courtyard.

It was not really noticeable until now but peaking my head through the gatehouse gave me a strong smell of death and smoke. In the courtyard was a massive pile of bodies in a corner. A small fire burns a smaller pile of bodies. If i was less of a person i would have immediately puked. There is also a strange looking man maintaining the fire with some sort of magic. The man had strange equipment: 2 weird wooden poles attached to his back, a sheath of some sort, a basic looking blasting rod made out of a shiny black material, and a strange mix of robe and metal hanging off of his body. The metal looks like some sort of armor plating or just normal plates of metal kept up by cloth and the general free flowing black and red robe. The metal almost looks unnatural with how it's suspended into the man's frame. The metal is made out of the same material as that simple looking rod which makes me assume that it's a standard material for the demon legion. The clothes actually don’t look practical, making me think the armor probably is outdated or has a niche purpose. The man has a nicely chiseled face and two almost pitch black bull horns extending from the sides of his head. The demons have a strange caste based system and if i remember right, the darkness of a horn represents magical talent. Such a shade means this demon might be a rising prospect, maybe even put on a boring old scouting mission to prevent his rise. Currently he is sitting around looking bored, looking at the floor like some depressed layabout. In this state it would be quite an easy shot, although to be sure I put my AB-42 on maximum charge. I have to put more mana into it but at maximum I can kill a drake. No demon will decide my destiny and with this I can live here… With this I know I can survive against the demons and can live on my own. I will be able to stay here and retain everything I have done, everything I have accomplished. Finally with a long awaited resolution I took the shot, and a plate on the demon's armor floated into the air and completely absorbed it.

The demon instantly became active and shocked for a moment before throwing away its blasting rod to the ground and pulling out a shortsword from his sheath. The sword has a strange design, it's made from an orange looking metal that I have never seen before. The blade itself is orange, but it's not dual bladed. It has a ridge made from the same black material used in most of the demon's other equipment, and an ornate highly decorated hilt, handle, and pommel. He was brisk but quickly ended up Walking up to me almost casually letting me get enough time to get my bearings. I fire once on low power, a plate conveniently blocks it. I fire again and the plate conveniently blocks it. In a panic I throw down my own blasting rod and take out one of my skinning knives. The demon looks at me pitifully and lowers his guard in an incredibly disappointed fashion. I take the chance to try and wildly stab him, the attempt puts a fairly large shock in my arm. Almost as if I hit steel, but looking at where I struck no mark, no dent, nothing. I look up at the demon with anguish, waiting for the demon to simply stab me or something. Eventually the demon states,

[Human, pick up your rod and go over there] Pointing quite obviously,

Well now i guess i might become a slave now, i don’t really know the value of myself but maybe i am more…

[Human, do so quickly or I will impale you on a branch for decoration.]

Quickly, I pick up my rod and go into the spot designated. It's in a more open part of the court. I'm not necessarily sure of the purp…

[Human, fire the rod at me]

Well, understanding that he is immune to what i can do i fire it once…

He blocked instantly, then, frustratedly stated [Use Your weapon properly] The demon is looking somewhat frustrated but still looks to have a tinge of patience.

I do as abided and start firing a few high setting shots, draining my mana slowly but steadily. I do have quite a bit of endurance in accordance with actual mana capacity. But, of course taking quite a bit at a time constantly becomes quite painful. I am used to a one and done type deal, or a hit and run type deal. Not necessarily a sit in place constantly shooting backed to wall type situation. I have done so before for mana capacity training, but training does not really constitute experience. With every shot the demon expertly maneuvers the plates to intercept. I am still unsure of why he is doing this but it's pathetic. Doesn't this demon, or creature, or whatever have some semblance of honor? How exactly could he torture or play with me like this. this.. pet! I try to do everything I can to try and get past his plating? I eventually decided to try a little trick called “Vent Shooting” which is to do a high power shot before quickly switching to a low power shot to confuse the enemy with the end goal of quickly getting a shot in. The demon seems to be neutering himself with his responses; he always tries to use only one plate. I hope to at least get him to use two with this parlor trick, preparing. I shoot a heavy shot toward his head and a weak shot toward his left thigh. Doing a somewhat fancy maneuver he blocks both with one plate. He raises an eyebrow before stating,

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[If you can use technique I would prefer that. You could just start shooting until dry, but if you can demonstrate basic capability I will let you go. How about it?]

If the situation was not weird enough he asked me to show off and i might get out here alive, as a slave or not i do not know. A demon is not necessarily trustworthy, i say

[If yes, if no…]

The demon quickly responds [i did not expect an answer, continue]

So different techniques ehh… well… I don't really have anything else. To begin with, the first one isn’t even really that hard. I simply try a few more Vent shots, one toward both shoulders, one toward a leg and a shoulder, really i just start randomly shooting at random places on his body for a bit. I stop doing weird tricks like a trick shot and simply start shooting standard shots and attempting to try and trick him through sheer weight.

The demon has a bored look on his face. He walks up to me, picks me up like a kitten, and wraps me up to a pike.

The demon takes out a sort of pipe, preparing it properly, and then takes a short Puff of whatever material he put into it. The demon looks me straight in the eyes

[Ok… Who are and what are you doing, I assume you're some sort of scout force, state your unit.]

Speechless! I really don’t know if I could be compared to such a thing. I'm just some village man? Why would I ever be a military man?

[No… i’m not apart of anything i just live here]

The demon responds, [Really, really, you think I would believe that.. a man of your talents just sitting here doing nothing? no important role? A peasant? Albon’s training regime must have been lighter than the last invasion, really prideful those fools.

Well then, entertain me! Tell me your full backstory, whether it's true or not doesn't really matter. A good storyteller is valuable and may cost you your life.]

I try to be honest. [Well, I'm not sure why you think I'm a soldier, but I've lived here my entire life. Farming, hunting, dabbing in alchemy, that's just what I do and what I have been doing. Not necessarily what I'm going to do now or later, that seems to be.. past business now everythings coming to light.]

The demon is somewhat hysterical. [Coming to light? Coming to light you say, an understatement if i may say. The place you live? Gone. Looted! If you're going to be a folk of art you must be more dramatic. I'm the man, the demon, the monster that has destroyed this place, why don’t you have attachment.]

I catch under his breath [Because your a idiot of a artist thats what]

The demon straightens out his Robe [Well, Well, make a better character, tell me why such things don’t exist.]

The demon actually looks like he is having a lot more fun, smoking his pipe, harassing me, I really am starting to understand what harassment is. I may change my definition yet. I mention this

[You look like you're having a lot of fun, maybe your delight is rubbing off on me, making me forget that my lifes utterly ruined. My house is…]

The demon interrupts [ahh, Ahhh i think i get it you're an Idiot, how exciting, wonderfully done!]]

I try to continue, but hold my mind on the statement, Idiot? I have not really been that for the most part, at least i hope so at least. More so, I'm really a nobody. All I have for myself is my hobbies: farmer, hunter, alchemist. I used to have wealth, but that's gone, nothing to really call my own. I continually question why I'm still here, or even why I shot at this annoying demon. Ah yes I had pride, but, why? I don't really know anymore.

“My house is gone”

The demon looks over me, his back straight, pipe in one hand, wide smile on his face. [Anything else?]

[My pride]

The demon jests [understandable, continue.]

[My worth, my value, my harvest, the reason I keep going.

Every memory, every trinket, every reason to have pride.

What I have done as a person has been removed, with such a shaky foundation. Why should I even try? It's simply going to be gone again! it's not like I can be powerful like you. Demons… wyverns with intelligence, I spent most of my life hunting. Killing things most people are afraid of. Yet i guess that isn't enough.]

The demon still has the same look on his face, the entire statement just made his smile wider.

[So you saying I took everything from you, well technically not your life, but I don't see myself being that greedy just yet. Losing all hope will just make you a dull thing, so how about we cheer up a bit and get back on topic, Which corp are you from?] he takes his strange orange blade and casually takes a swing toward a nearby corpse. Chopping the corpse clean in half, and I think I know the person he chopped. The leader of the town guard in his full armor and garb. He paints his sword with blood, noticing the blood is dried he casts a simple spell to make the blood wet again? Unbelievable! Just why would you ever make a spell for that? After he is sure there is enough blood sticking to his blade he whips the sword at me covering me in blood.

I am quite confused, is this supposed to intimidate me? I think it's a bit too out there.

The demon looked at my confused expression, surprised, then said [You're a bit of a weird one? Usually people get quite afraid of that. They don’t expect me to be strong enough to cut one of their comrades in half.]

I respond frankly [he was a bit of a prick]

Really? I don't know if he was or not? Did not really meet the guy, but his subordinates treated me poorly so it's a good guess.

The demon however has a surprised look on his face [eh, really you say?]

He quickly starts to grow his smile and asks [tell me why?] well pointing his pipe in my now bloodied face. He has a slightly different demeanor than before, it's hard to discern, but he does not “jest” as much as he did.

I repeat my feelings [His subordinates treated me especially poorly, taking my game, over exaggerating the law, Harassing me outside of my house. I stay home a lot, or even go out of town, that's one good reason for it.]

The demon begins a show

He gestures his hands out wide, in a grandiose manner, in a big sense. He states, his arms perfectly still, unusually so, perfect coordination. [I am an interrogator, I discern stories, I have interrogated every single person here. Getting bits, bobs, anything to entertain myself. So you! I can discern that you are Ken.] He wishes his hands down rashly like a terrible actor, or a frustrated drunk. He then stands up straight and observes for a response.

I look at him coldly, simply wishing for him to continue this farce, which he did.

[So, Ken, if that's your real name?]

It seems like he thinks my reaction is adequate

[There are many strange things about you. Everyone has a terrible opinion whenever I hear anything about you. I started to use you in conversation, a prod into their life. Everyone had an excuse about why they should hate such a fellow, although, I see one fairly obvious one that a lot of the guards used. Why were you not here when everyone was having fun?] he tries to discern my reaction

I am still cold

Speaking with authority he states [Why are you a coward. Why did you abandon your people? Why did you let these people die?]

I try to be cold

He speaks with his own cold tone, and own cold face, [i see a little somethi…]

I am rash, [why does a demon need to know! what value does the life of some layabout serve to your plans, or anything really!]

The demon reverts back to being a man of comedy “The art of a layabout is Irony, the story of a man that could be so much more, a wonderful story about Sloth, laziness, and atrophy”

Such talk reminds me of hell industry, simply uttering such things reminds me of the harvests, the industries! If I am a man of sloth, creating an industry of such things is simpler than I thought, although I never thought myself to be such a man…

The demon brings me back to reality, “Snap” “Snap” [You know doing such things is dangerous, although i can’t be the one to fix such a thing. You have actually impressed me! with your bold chivalry. and your bold cowardes. But most importantly is your cold heart. Do you really feel nothing for these folks? I don't personally because they are insignificant, In-demon!]

I try to muster feelings. Almost to simply spite the creature in front of me, but they never really came. I keep to myself. They keep to theirs. Where did that process fail?

The demon continues [Really, nothing at all? Something to be proud of my friend! To cut off such things is a beginner's first step into the unknown.] The demon puts his arm around my shoulder, putting his hands towards the sky as if it really means anything.

He takes me down from where I was imprisoned, wipes my face off with a damp cloth? Cups my hands like a passionate lover on a honeymoon? [Ken, I am an honest demon, you have impressed me so i will let you go!] he twirled me around like a fairytale princess on her first dance at a ball, straight into the entrance of the fortress gate. He dusted me off and gave me a slight push of good luck to send me on my way. I start walking, slightly dizzy and confused, but glad that this is probably over with.

I Felt a hand on my shoulder. I stood stiff.. as still as possible… I turn my head to see a face, a smiling face, the kindness, the warmth, immeasurable. The nails of the creature dig into my shoulder, it pierces the skin, I feel pain, then warmth, flowing down my shoulder.