The silence hung heavy between us as we rode, no one speaking a word. The others kept their eyes on the horizon, alert. I gnawed on a piece of jerky, though my appetite had long faded. The taste was bearable, but the attack left a bitter taste in my mouth. Someone was trying to stop us. It was expected, yet it didn’t make it less unpleasant.
“Champion.”
Aurora broke the silence. I turned my head to her.
“About last night. My barrier couldn’t detect them. I am truly sorry.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“No plan survives the first contact with the enemy.”
I repeated what I said yesterday.
“It wasn’t random. Those guys were prepared and trained. Most importantly they were ready to die.”
Aurora bit her lip, her frustration evident. But she let it drop, at least for now. There was no point in dwelling on failures. All we could do was prepare for whatever came next.
“Maybe we should have brought an escort group with us as many had advised.”
Artemeni chimed in. I shook my head.
“Three reasons: It would been slower. We also would have taken from the defense force of Quipax. Also, also neighboring countries wouldn’t take kindly to an elite force moving. They are on edge already.”
Artemeni sighed but nodded in agreement. The decision had been calculated, as most things were in times like these, but second-guessing now wouldn’t help anyone.
“Do you think they were doing the bidding of demons?”
Thalia asked.
“I didn’t sense demonic force. Did you?”
As a priestess, it was possible that she would recognize demonic presence better than even me, the Champion of War Goddess even though I could guess the answer. Thalia’s gaze shifted away from the horizon and met mine, her eyes clouded with thought.
“No, I didn’t feel anything overtly demonic,” she admitted, her brow furrowed. “But that doesn’t mean they weren’t influenced by something else. Sometimes, the forces that corrupt are subtler than demonic magic. Hatred, greed… they work just as well.”
I nodded.
“I am asking this to all 4 of you. What are the chances of them being connected to Agamemnon?”
The silence that followed was palpable. Each of my companions mulled over the question, their expressions tense, as the wind brushed against us. He was the most likely suspect. Not only did he see me as a rival for the Queen’s affection, but he also wanted to get revenge for the humiliation he suffered. Aurora was the first to speak, her voice quiet, and thoughtful.
“Gargareans look down on every type of combat that’s not a mindless mele. Or at least that’s what they say about themselves. But it wouldn’t be the first time he tried something underhand. He has enough resources and influence.”
Thalia nodded in agreement, though her face was still clouded with thought.
“It is very possible but we have no evidence and it would be a sin to accuse someone without any proof, no matter how hateful of a person they are.”
I looked at Artemeni, half-sibling of Agamemnon. I knew that they weren’t close but it was probably hard to speak ill of your own blood. The silence stretched as I waited for Artemeni's response.
“Agamemnon doesn’t need a reason to act dishonorably,” she said, keeping her gaze fixed on the horizon. “He thrives on his power and his pride. If he thought undermining you would give him an advantage, he wouldn’t hesitate just like many times he did before.”
She paused and gripped the reins tighter.
“But as Thalia said, we don’t have proof. He was always good at hiding his tracks.”
I nodded, appreciating her candor. We didn’t need proof to suspect, but we needed more than suspicions to act.
“Very well. We will take turns to watch. Aurora, is there a way to reinforce the barrier?”
Aurora considered my question, her eyes narrowing as she mulled over the possibilities. “I could try layering the barrier, adding another layer of detection, or strengthening its core,” she said after a moment.
I nodded in response. With that, our group fell silent again.
…
The wind picked up, rustling the grasslands around us. For a brief moment, I thought I caught the scent of blood, faint but unmistakable, carried on the breeze. I narrowed my eyes but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I shifted in my saddle, snapping out of the automatic pilot.
Gökbörü let out a soft growl, assuring me that what I smelled was really blood.
“Be careful, everyone. Something is coming.”
The sun was close the setting and we were looking for a place to camp. The atmosphere tensed immediately as everyone straightened in their saddles, alert. Aurora’s eyes flickered with mana, her hand rising as she muttered incantations under her breath, preparing the barrier. Artemeni’s hand instinctively moved to her blade, while Thalia closed her eyes for a brief moment, a silent prayer on her lips. Gökbörü’s growl grew more pronounced, his eyes gleaming with sharp awareness.
“Looks like we won’t get a rest this night.”
I said, scanning the horizon for any potential threat. The blood in the air meant only one thing—trouble was near, and it wasn’t far off. The shadows were growing longer as the sun dipped closer to the horizon, casting a dull orange glow over the land.
I patted the mane of my horse.
“Can you bear it, girl?”
Even though they were tougher than normal horses carrying people all day was tough on them. The horse nickered in response, her breathing steady but quick.
The silence returned, now even more oppressive, with tension running through the air like a taut wire ready to snap. The fading light cast long shadows across the plains, distorting the horizon and playing tricks on the eyes. The grass rustled in the wind, but every sound seemed sharper, more deliberate as if something unseen was inching closer. The scent of blood grew stronger, undeniable now.
Aurora finished her incantation, the familiar hum of mana surrounding us as the barrier shimmered briefly before fading into invisibility. It was a subtle yet powerful shield, layered to detect anything approaching. Artemeni’s gaze remained locked forward, her muscles tense as she tightened her grip on her blade. Thalia’s prayer lingered in the air like a blessing, fragile but filled with determination.
Two figures, one male and one female appeared, slowly walking towards us.
“Growl.”
“Calm, boy. Not yet.”
The two figures moved with deliberate strides, their silhouettes elongated by the setting sun. They weren’t hurrying, but their confidence was palpable as if they knew we had already sensed them and that a confrontation was inevitable. The scent of blood hung heavier now, sharper, and I wondered if it was theirs or someone else’s.
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Aurora glanced at me, waiting for the signal. Her barrier was in place, but we still didn't know what kind of threat we were dealing with. Gökbörü growled again, low and dangerous, his hackles rising as he fixed his eyes on the approaching figures.
Soon, I felt the unmistakable sensation of demonic energy. The divine power inside me reacted violently, urging me to get rid of them. I didn’t move. 2 against 5. Weird. No way demons would attack without a clear advantage. I inspected both of them.
I first focused on the male one as he oozed more demonic force than the female. He was tall, even taller than the Queen. Yet, from the looks of his ring-filled hands, he didn’t have the mass to back it off. His face was sharp and angular, giving him an aristocratic air. His skin was pale which contrasted sharply with his dark red eyes. His hair is long, silvery-white, and impeccably kept. The dark cloak resting on his shoulders and the white tunic he wore gave me the impression of a vampire.
“Count Dracula looking ass.”
I muttered as I turned my attention to the female. She felt as if weaker than the male but I felt like she was still a great threat. The first impression I got was Morrigan but sharper and more sinister. Most of her was covered with her black hair, exposing only her wide, sadistic smile. Contrary to her face, most of her body was exposed, only covered with a black leotard that clung to her skin. Considering I spent 3 months in an Amazon city, it didn’t affect me. Intricate black markings covered her arms and legs like tattoos.
“I greet the Champion of Aliera and his companions. I am Aldric Vorne, Third Apostle of Demon King Asmoneal. And this is the Nephara, the Seventh Apostle.”
I locked eyes with the male figure—Aldric. His demeanor was calm, almost relaxed as if this was all just a formality. The woman next to him, however, was all tense, her smile promising violence. I could feel her eyes studying each one of us, waiting, eager for the moment she'd be unleashed.
"Apostle," I said, keeping my voice even. "You’ve traveled a long way just to die here."
Aldric chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that echoed in the stillness of the plains. “I assure you, Champion, death is the farthest thing from my intentions tonight.” His eyes gleamed with something close to amusement as he continued, “In fact, I come bearing an offer of alliance.”
“Have you lost your mind, foul beast! An alliance with you?”
Thalia roared behind me, golden light seeping out of her body. As a woman of cloth, she was the one who reacted violently to their presence.
“My companion is right, Apostle. Asmoneal put a target on my head before. Why turn to me now? Why lick what you spat?”
Aldric’s smile widened, showing a hint of fangs as he glanced toward Thalia, then back to me. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his posture unthreatening, yet his presence oppressive. The demonic energy radiating from him prickled at my skin, but I kept my stance firm, my eyes locked on his.
“My master believes you and him got a rough start. You see, the reason for your previous clash with us is because of an eager servant trying to prove himself. We would never try to antagonize a noble person like you.”
Bullshit. His voice was smooth, too smooth like a predator luring prey into complacency. I met his gaze, unflinching.
"Bullshit," I repeated aloud, the word coming out with the cold finality of a blade. I manifested my sacred sword, enjoying their flinch.
“Your owner corrupted the mentor of my friends, created a monster with souls of 666 tortured beastkin, threatened me and nearly destroyed Whifur while I was there. I am the Champion of Aliera, the archenemy of demons. Do you really want me to believe Asmoneal wants to form an alliance with me?”
Aldric’s expression didn’t falter, but there was a glint in his eye that told me my words had hit home.
“Like I said before, our relationship had a rough start. But my master is a pragmatic ruler. He recognizes a threat for both sides.”
I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, my instincts screaming not to trust a word out of his mouth.
"Speak plainly," I said, narrowing my eyes. "What is this greater threat?"
Aldric exchanged a glance with the woman, whose smile only widened. Then, he spoke, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone. "Moloch. One of the oldest Demon Kings. He's close to breaking free from his prison."
I raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t that big of a surprise that they knew about it. It wasn’t like we kept it a secret but why would they see Moloch as a threat?
“And why would he care?”
Aldric’s eyes sparkled as if he got me to bite his bait.
“Moloch isn’t like my master. My master may be evil but he recognizes that mortals are a necessary part of life. Moloch isn’t like that. He wishes for total annihilation.”
I chuckled.
“He is afraid of his food running out?”
Demons fed off emotions and souls. So he was trying to save his own skin. Typical.
His smile was as wide as ever but I could see the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He had clearly expected me to take his offer more seriously, but I wasn’t about to be lured into any demonic schemes.
“Call it what you will, Champion,” Aldric said smoothly. “But know this: when Moloch breaks free, the world will burn. His wrath is indiscriminate. He doesn’t care about the delicate balance we demons and mortals maintain. If he succeeds, everything—mortal and demon alike—will be consumed in his hunger.”
“Or perhaps your master is just afraid of being overthrown. The competition to become the sole ruler of the demons is tight as it is. He doesn’t want another piece on the table, especially one that’s possibly stronger than him.”
Aurora commented. Aldric tilted his head slightly, his smile fading as his expression turned more serious.
“I will be honest with you, Archmage Aurora. Yes, it is one of the reasons we want to form an alliance with you. However, should it really matter? After all, isn’t an enemy of your enemy your ally?”
One truth to make us believe 9 lies.
"Call it what you want, Champion. But know this—if Moloch escapes, he will not differentiate between humans, beasts, or demons. He will reduce everything to ash and feed off the carnage. Asmoneal values power and control, not mindless destruction."
The wind picked up again, carrying with it the scent of blood that clung to the air, heavier now as if a storm was about to break. Gökbörü growled low. I didn’t need to glance at him to feel his readiness, his eagerness for battle. But I held firm, keeping my sword raised, its glow casting long shadows across the ground.
The female apostle, who had remained silent up until now, licked her lips as she stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. “You could let your pride get you killed, Champion,” she purred. “Or you could think rationally for once and consider the bigger picture. Or are you afraid that fighting alongside demons would tarnish your precious reputation?”