He did not know it at the time, but he was growing closer and closer to the unearthed ancient ruins that bordered the kingdom.

"How long has it been?"

"You're supposed to be the great earth master," growled Terra. "You should know which way is up versus down!"

"Shut up, Terra. This is why I have minions. You are the Earth Minion - therefore, you should know."

"Under what logic?! It's been only, like, a few months - if that - since I've learned real magic. So you tell me!"

"Well it isn't like we can exactly go back," spoke Andrew irritably. "We had to bury the passage when four of the bastards came chasing."

Terra coldly snorted and continued to dig through the soil and stone that stood in front of them. After two hours of alternating, Andrew sighed dramatically as he despondently stopped.

"Maybe we shou-"

The ground underneath them caved in. In seconds, the two were on cold marble floors half-buried by loose sediment.

"What in the actual f-"

A roar suddenly resounded in the hall. Andrew hastily forced all the dirt away and looked upwards.

"Really...? Seriously...? Why?!"

Andrew's pained cries reverberated through the hall. He looked at Terra, but the young man's face was contorted in pain as his chest heaved.

"It's just me..." sighed Andrew. "And you."

A brute of a creature glared at Andrew and hefted up a double-headed axe. It roared once again and charged at Andrew. It was a bulky, wide-shouldered monster with the upper body of a bull. Its bristling fur stood on end as it sprinted headlong towards Andrew.

Andrew called out all four of his curses, but the minotaur just roared in fury as it swung down the blade. He let out a shrill sound as the axe neared his face.

By sheer instinct, he forcibly manipulated the weapon, diverting the axe to the creature's hoof. The boy then roared as the minotaur crushed Andrew's leg as he stomped in fury.

A pained cry echoed once more. It was followed by hundreds of needle-like shards of stone that shot forward. The barrage shattered on the minotaur's chest, but the first signs of blood were seen. Due to the force alone, the beast was forced back a few steps.

"How about this," seethed Andrew.

He slammed both hands into the collapsed earth and needle-like hooked quills appeared all around him. This time the barrage pierced an inch into the hulking beast's hide before he was sent back once more with a hasty smack from the shaft.

The already vicious eyes glowed with a dull red as the minotaur roared. Andrew's consciousness drifted from him, but he begrudgingly forced himself awake as the beast charged.

"Let's hope..." laughed Andrew bitterly as the beast neared once more.

His eyes closed resignedly when the creature neared. Pools of blood dripped from the beast as it neared. Its gait slowed and its breath tightened; however, the axe was raised high above its head.

Andrew felt a heavy weight drop on his shoulder and then his entire body was crushed.

---

Several hours later, he regained consciousness.

"Ah, I'm still alive," chuckled Andrew through hoarse breaths. "Terra, you here?"

"Bastard is heavy," half-shouted Terra. "Hurry up and help."

Andrew groaned and tried to move his body, but the pain stilled him. The boy laughed bitterly and used earth magic to create a small brace that penetrated into the marble flooring. After the minotaur's body was lifted a few centimetres above him, he shifted his body using the rubble.

"Damn it all," moaned Andrew. "Don't tell anyone, 'kay?"

Andrew craned his head and looked at the blood that coated the floor. Terra remained silent the entire time as he gawked at the blood-soaked Andrew. However, there was nothing he could do. And the recovery was dreadfully slow. In addition, the sharp twinges of pain erupted when he did not expect it.

"Just give me... maybe an hour. Cut some meat off the bastard."

"You want to eat that?!" Cried Terra. "It's basically human!"

"Basically?" Scoffed Andrew. "Look at it. Not human. And I'm hungry."

"That's... that's disgusting."

Andrew snorted and focused on using blood magic to recover. His mana pool was nowhere near full enough. However, he was able to mend a fair portion of his injuries in time for the young man to finally relent to his grumbling stomach.

"At least cook this - very, very well done," sighed Terra holding a chunk of meat from the severed arm. "If I die-"

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"Shut up," growled Andrew as he thoroughly cooked the meat that was in front of him.

He could not even bring himself to eat right now. However, the meat was enticing him as he sluggishly focused on healing himself.

After another hour, Andrew gave into the feeling. His legs were still fractured, but he made a splint to brace both legs and called out towards Terra.

"Please hand me one. I really, really want to hunt them all right now, but I need time," sighed Andrew.

"What if another one comes?"

Seeing the masked anxiousness on Terra's face, Andrew snorted and waved his hand. "Your turn. If not, whatever."

Terra bit his lip and began to sever off another round for Andrew.

'Hey, Leya,' projected Andrew. 'LEYA!'

'AH! Don't do that! I was just beating Tifren all by myself!'

'That's nothing,' thought Andrew scornfully. 'Anyways, afterwards tell the geezer I need to talk to him. Well, hopefully minotaurs aren't poisonous. Whatever, anyways, tell the geezer that I'll make him a picture book if he tells me how the hell to get out of that stupid ruin - and tell him to stop the bloody Reijin.'

'Uhm, no thanks. You're on your own.'

'You like swords right? I can make you a sword. No using it on me or I will shatter it immediately. Deal?'

The line went silent for a moment. 'How many?'

'Two?'

'No deal.'

'How many did you need?! They're swords - basically worthless in this world. Argh, fuck, hurry up blood-magic. My legs are broken and I'm stuck with a scaredy-cat minion.'

'Lifetime supply.'

'Pfft, no deal. You deal with normal, mundane blacksmiths that can't do jack-shit. I'm going to punish minotaur after-'

'A man-cow is attacking?'

The loud, rumbling roar was heard from a great distance away. Terra stiffened, but Andrew snorted.

"It isn't that big of a deal! Just blast it with rocks. Maybe aim for the legs? Seems human-ish to me."

"I thought you said it was just a monster?! I already ate a full arm!"

Andrew ignored Terra and gnawed on the slab of meat that was cut out for him. "Legs, rocks, kill - then we can eat him too."

Andrew's mana pool was less than half. Terra's was full after recovering over a few hours without any real combat. However, the young man could not bring himself to move as the echoing footsteps appeared around a corner.

"Just. Hit. It. With. Something."

Andrew saw the beast appear and sighed dramatically. Terra was shivering the entire time so Andrew smacked him with a rock.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

Seeing Terra in a blind rage, Andrew pointed wordlessly towards the beast and watched as the man unleashed his fury on the chilling creature.

"DIE!"

The minotaur roared alongside his opponent's shout. However, Andrew watched as the young man, who he meticulously trained, rush the beast in what could be called a suicidal attack.

"What..." murmured the boy as he saw Terra raise up a plain sword.

The minion and minotaur exchanged blows. However, the seven foot tall beast was knocked back under the rock covered blade. Then the great axe that the beast wielded knocked the young man around. However, Terra recovered and began thrashing around violently.

Even so, the two were mutually exchanging blows seemingly as equals. There were no signs of stopping, but Andrew noticed Terra was started to grow slow.

"Illustrious, Great Knight-Minion of the future Demon King! Can you not even beat a cow person?!"

"I'm not a damn minion! And you said it was a monster, damn it! "

Terra's roar loudly reverberated through the room. Andrew looked at his pupil's progress with soft eyes. Even as his mana was being depleted to fuel with attacks, the minotaur was also growing tired.

Terra ducked underneath a horizontal blow and struck the creature's knee. There was a deafening crack of stone as the blade stopped partways. The minotaur was furious and dropped the axe whilst falling to its knees. Instead, he thrust out his fists and beat Terra's body with a series of punches before the flailing body was launched towards Andrew's spectating body.

"Bastard! Get away from me," cried Andrew.

However, the fractured steel and gold-plated body was launched towards Andrew. His cry was, naturally, unheeded and he felt the brush of steel run across his face. He was jabbed with a loose gauntlet but was otherwise unharmed.

Glaring at Terra, Andrew scoffed loudly. "See? Legs- wait, don't make me kill it! I'm still crippled!"

Terra, unfortunately, grew dizzy and fainted underneath the assault. However, Andrew glared at the limping minotaur. Using blood magic, he launched needle of minotaur blood towards the beast as he aimed for the beast's neck.

It took a solid portion of his power, but the beast finally fell under the attack. Since it was already prone, Andrew had an easy target. Yet, he was still forced into manipulating the beasts' blood from afar as he tried to hastily restore his body.

Eventually, the two were partially healed. However, with every passing minotaur, the frequency increased significantly. While they were both able to fight off a single minotaur, they were forced to contend with ever growing lists of lingering injuries. It was only when Andrew's primary injuries were alleviated that the two were able to catch up with the others that reinforced their ranks.

This, in total, cost them a month of suffering under the constant attacks. In all that time, he had not heard from Leya at all. Nevertheless, he was able to hold off long enough with the growing supply of food.

"This place reeks," grunted Terra. "We need to move. The rot is kicking in full-force."

"Through the ruins or tunnel above..." murmured Andrew. "No matter, through the ruins, young minion!"

"You're younger than me! Don't call me that either!"

"Bah, so petty. No matter, shall we be off?"

"Obviously, my sword is breaking though. Please... four more."

"Bastard, you're just like my sister. Need, need, need - how did you become my minion again?"

"Through mutual exploitation of common folk and running from the law?"

"Single-horned demon law means nothing to me."

"What about the Chancellor?"

"He can be subdued easily," laughed Andrew dismissively. "Just have to read that book to make a picture book for him and he'll run off for a few months."

"You are..." Terra cut himself off and shook his head. "Ah, whatever. Broadsword, stronger than your usual cheap work."

"My 'cheap' work is still better than most blacksmiths!"

Terra rose his brow, "is that all that the Great Blacksmith X can do? It's kind of... disappointing."

"I hate you. You deal with the next minotaur wave, minion."

Andrew glared at Terra who wore a gloating smile and crafted two. He refused to work on anymore and purposely made it as plain as possible to conflict with his armour design.

Terra smirked and began to slowly modify the blade to his liking. He did not touch the core section of the blade but managed to alter the hilt and pommel.

"Stop being so natural at Earth magic... it's annoying. I practised for like, eight years and it took me so long to get to that point!"

"What? You are not eight, you lying brat. Anyways, sorry that I'm just too good. Maybe you should be the min-"

"Silence," called out Andrew. "Hah, I still have other ways to contend with you, you cocky minion."

"Just wait," chuckled Terra with a competitive glint in his eyes. "It's only a matter of time!"

"No!" Cried Andrew in anguish, "a minion will never beat me! My arch-nemesis random guards might... but I'll kill more of them than you ever will!"

"Big words for a little boy."

Andrew glared at him and formed a doppelganger. It formed into what he thought was his ideal appearance, that was his original body before he came to this world. As a minor alteration, he made the shadow clone grow larger until it was taller than the young man.

"Nice try, I saw that, Shortie."

Andrew turned his head and started walking. He walked towards a large steel wall and Andrew called out, "remember how someone wet himself when the first minotaur come around? Pitiful. Truly, truly pitiful."