---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched a horde of Demons approach. They had red armor with black outlines and a symbol of war on their chests. It was a cavalry of Demons armed to the flesh and bone. As they moved closer and closer to us they looked like a wave of hellfire. The aura that surrounded them was menacing in nature and my body screamed out the danger. I watched intently to see what they would do as they outnumbered us two to one. 

As they came within a throw's distance Petra went forward and greeted them.

"Halt there!" Petra said. "State your business! Why do you come for us?"

The wind seems to stop as the air became deathly chilled. Clouds gathered above like a calamitous sign from the Gods. We stood there with apprehension as we waited for the opposing Demons to speak. The white of their eyes appeared through in stark contrast to their red helmets. They said nothing as they stared at us until their eyes reached Liz. The Demons glared at Liz and some moved their gaze towards me.

Silence surrounded the snowy field as either side waited for some cause.

"Who are they?" I whispered to Liz as I held the hilt of my sword.

"Trouble," Liz said without letting her vision leave the red armored Demons in front of us.

The sound of a horse galloping finally reached our ears and the red armored Demons parted.

The Demon who approached had on the same design as the other red armored Demons but more extravagant. Long white horns protruded off the red helmet and long white hair came down underneath the helmet. This Demon had a massive frame and the steed he rode looked more of a monster than a horse. More than likely this Demon was the commander of the red armored Demons.

"Lancaster," Liz said.

The massive Demon lifted up a halberd to point at Liz.

"There you are, little witch," Lancaster said. "I've come for your head."

"You aren't frightened of me anymore?" Liz said with a smile.

Lancaster looked to be enraged as a stream of hot breath came from his snarl.

"You will be tried first then hanged by your neck and all those who harbor you here will die," Lancaster said.

"Hold your tongue!" Petra shouted. "You're in the presence of our Demon Lord."

The red armored Demons looked taken aback and whispered among themselves.

"Who?" Lancaster said.

Petra and the Demons around me looked at me while I held my gaze at Lancaster.

"And who decided that he was the Demon Lord?" Lancaster asked.

Lancaster sent a piercing stare at my direction.

"The Oracle had foreseen his presence and ordained him so," Petra replied.

The red armored Demons snickered at Petra's words.

"Then it's just the false lies of a witch," Lancaster said.

"Who are you to come threaten us and slander my friend?" I said.

"He's Lancaster the son of the Demon General who controls the north end of the Demon Territory," Liz whispered to me.

Liz had mentioned to me before on our journey that the Demon General was a hot blooded man. It seemed that his offspring was not too far off from his father. The Demon General was in direct conflict with the Marquis and Liz herself. I had never faced the Demon General before as he fought with the Kingdoms while we sneaked into Demon Territory to fight the Demon Lord. This Demon Lancaster was probably looking for glory somehow by capturing Liz.

I would never allow that to happen.

Lancaster gazed at the surrounding troops we had which numbered around fifty. He looked to already be convinced of his victory over us. The Demons in black armor who supported me were elite troops of the Demon army. They were no slouch either compared to the red armored Demons. Still, we were outnumbered and if these red armored Demons had the same battle prowess it would be bad.

"Who are you Demon to not know who I am?" Lancaster sneered at me.

I couldn't stand people like this Demon who had the unruly arrogance to everyone around them. I didn't care that he was from a prestigious Demon blood line. I didn't care that he and his company of Demons seemed dangerous. I wouldn't let my pride and those of my friends be stained by slander. I straightened my back as I sat upright on my horse and took off my hood for the Demon to see me. I'll let him see clearly the face of the man who he antagonized.

"You…" Lancaster said. "You're human!"

"Yes," I said. "And I'll be the one to cut off your tongue for even daring to kill any of my friends."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"This witch chooses a human to be the Demon Lord? Ha! She is nothing but a poisonous serpent to the Demon race!" Lancaster said.

Liz kept her smile up as she held up her staff.

"Do you think you can fight me?" Liz said.

"You think I came here unprepared for you a witch?" Lancaster said. "Now!"

Arrows flew towards Liz and I drew my sword in order to protect her.

I cut into one of the arrows and it exploded out a cloud of white smoke. The other arrows missed Liz completely but a white smoke exploded as they came in contact with the ground. I covered my mouth and Liz's to prevent us from inhaling the smoke. It wasn't poison in the smoke but something else. I checked Liz over and she looked to be okay.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

Liz looked at me as she nodded her head and tried to say something. Liz panicked as her voice would not come out. Then I knew what that smoke that exploded was. Those arrows were wrapped with mute powder. It was used to combat spell casters and prevent them from using their voice. We had lost Liz's combat ability and a major arsenal at our disposal.

"The witch can speak no longer!" Lancaster shouted. "Capture her and kill the rest!"

The red armored Demons all drew their weapons and charged at our defensive formation.

"Fight!" Petra screamed.

The wind started to gust through again in the white snow field. The clash of metal and bones resounded. Demons and horses leaped over the front shield barricade in a suicidal attack. They intended to break our formation with their very lives. Red and black armored Demons collided against each other with reckless fervor. Petra was holding her own fight against the onslaught of red armored Demons.

The sounds of screams and battle roared throughout the land.

My hand felt a slight burning sensation and I ignored it.

Some red armored Demons broke through the perimeter and lunged themselves for Liz. I used my sword to quickly end their plans and their lives. The troops couldn't pay them any attention as they were surrounded by a sea of red. Some of the Demons jumped off their horses to swarm into the heart of the shield defense. More of the red armored Demons converged toward Liz and me. I lobbed the head off of one demon with my sword and stabbed another through his head.

Blood splashed around the area as the white snowy field became dyed red.

The Devil still called out to me.

Petra fought her way through the swarm of soldiers and came close to me. I held off any attackers who tried to come at Liz. My sword moved frequently as there seemed to be an endless mob of red armored Demons that attacked us. As I fought the soldiers, they started to attack my horse who bucked wildly and threw me to the ground.

I was on the floor in the middle of the skirmish of blood, flesh, metal, and snow.

The ring on my finger burned more and more.

My vision was blurred as I hit my head on the fall to the ground. I scrambled up to look for Liz and couldn't see her in my sight. The sounds of metal clashing rang loudly in my head. Petra was close to me and I killed one of the Demons she fought with.

"Petra! Where's Liz!?" I shouted.

"She's not with you!?" Petra replied back as she fought with more Demons.

My eyes searched in the sea of black and red Demons. My breathing became agitated as I couldn't see her in my sight. Then in the sea of bodies, I saw the blue of Liz's robes as a group of soldiers tugged her toward Lancaster. Space in this battlefield was a luxury as a torrent of flesh and metal swirled around the field. I rushed forward through the mass of bodies and killed those in my way.

I saw the grim smile of Lancaster as he was on top of his horse looking at the carnage.

"Liz!" I screamed.

Liz was getting farther and farther away from me. I screamed and shouted but I couldn't see her in the sea of red. Hope and frustration seemed lost to me as I stretched out my hand for her. More Demons converged toward me and blocked my path. I fought and I fought until my mind went blank. 

I moved instinctively and pulled the black ring from my finger.

I heard the laugh of a devil inside my mind.

A pain covered the entirety of my body for a moment.

The sounds of the battle disappeared.

I was consumed by a black darkness.

Shadows converged over me and spikes jolted around me.

I had become a monster incarnate and I brought with me death.