Demons, upon demons, upon demons. Somehow it was growing worse as they continued to move inwards.

It wasn’t worse because there were more demons, no it was their growing sequences that added to the danger.

Deling with two 001 demons was fine, but two 007 demons and Malum had to really focus.

It’s why he had accumulated so many injuries, and also why the newbie had died 2 hours ago.

Night was setting in, and a stray 009 Raptor had managed to sneak up on the rookie and without even a second of warning it pounced and bite the rookies head off.

`At least it was a quick death. may he rest in peace.`

The body was shortly buried before a flag was placed above it. During the coming month they would recover it to send it off properly but for now they a target to reach.

Good progress had been made, shedding their blood had paved the way for a land expansion and whilst it took several decades for greenery to spread back into demonic land, it was possible.

Regardless, it didn’t stop Gerald from his endless complaints. The formation usually kept them at a distance but when situation demanded it, and they got close enough to speak he would always begin a hate speech.

“Those bloodsucking,” He took a breath to cut down on his demon, “leaches!”

“Always taking our hard work.” He moved to dodge an attack, then shifted his feet and cut back at the aggressor, “And for what? We get nothing!”

Blood had already dried on his face, his arms with several cuts and bite wounds kept his arms wet. That’s if the sweat didn’t do that already.

Malum smell had almost disappeared. Sweat and blood were now just common smells. Like cut grass or the heavenly bakeries.

With the perfect smell of bread in his mind, Malum decapitated another demon. A smile on his face, as he relieved the memory.

The amour was helping, the blade was good as well. He checked on his teammates to assess their injuries and found nothing terrible on any of them.

A few bandages covered them all but each of their movement seemed fairly unrestricted. So with nothing left to worry about, Malum continued his endless massacre of the demons who blocked their way.

A variant 011 caused a few annoying injuries but by that time they had already nearly reached the B on the map. With that goal so close, their determination and their experience allowed for the quick departure of the strong demon.

As Malum looked for any sign that this was the right point, Gerald, Alicia and Jake all began to talk about the past 11 hours.

“You got any spare cloth?” Alcia asked as she found her pack empty.

Jake looked but found none in his but thankfully Gerald had some he could spare.

“Sure take these milady.” Gerald bowed and passed the bandages like it were some crown.

“Give me those!” she snatched the bandages from Gerald figure as he sniggered at her embarrassment. It always surprised him how badly she responded to flattery; well it was hilarious so Gerald wasn’t going to complain.

Jake decided to speak, “How many did you guys kill?”

“You counted?” Gerald asked in disbelief.

Even Alicia gave him a strange look.

“Yeah, I figured it was useful information.”

“I don’t even see how that’s possible, but okay how many did you count?” asked Gerald.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“1874, although I lost track of what variant they each were.”

“At least your somewhat human.” Added Gerald

“I agree, but more importantly everyone noticed how their variants were growing higher as we got closer right?” Alicia continued, “That means the next point will be even worse.”

Malum returned to the conversation, with his agreement. “You talking about worse demons as we go, yeah that Variant 011 is the perfect example. If were seeing that every couple minuets then we are in some serious trouble.

By the way there doesn’t seem to be some marker around so just set up camp here and I’ll place down the flag. Gerald, for everyone’s sake I’m gunna give you the responsibility of keeping any demons at bay whilst we set up the camp. I’ll go scout out the surrounding area in case a high variant comes and are forced to retreat. Got it?”

“Yes.” Everyone said, only Gerald added a “Sir.” Just to annoy Malum.

Sadly, Malum only ignored his actions as he wandered off into the night.

It was calm on the early winters night. The cold was blocked by the beefy armour he was wearing and just left the calming sound of the wind to cool of his mind.

He met a few demons as he climbed the small mountains but nothing his sword couldn’t handle. Looking in the distance Malum tried to spot the other group that was supposed to rendezvous with them but across the horizon he could only see the endless brown of dried out soil.

Looking back down at his teammates he saw their shadows move as they set up the camp. Gerald light was moving as it was attached to its backpack but he was to far to wave to him.

He breathed for his worried heart. `I’m already halfway there. Just one more march and that’s it.`

Walking down he noticed that he couldn’t see Gerald light anymore. He got to higher ground before he looked around again and still didn’t see the light.

Had he returned to camp, or had his light been extinguished. Malum decided to air on the cautious side and decided to run back to camp.

`Not again` Malum noticed his heart began to speed up and sweat began to run down his head. His mind created realities of nightmares, he needed to get back quicker.

Into the camp he ran and inside a small hut they had created he found his teammates. All of them.

His mind fell into relation.

“Ah thank the Realm.” He walked towards Malum who was helping put up the roof and he gave him a soft punch in the shoulder.

“You bastard, your light went out and I had a heart-attack.”

Gerald looked down at Malum with eyes of annoyance. “Not my fault that Jake here couldn’t do the roof. How am I getting the blame?”

Malum eyed Jake for a response and with the eye contact avoided he assumed that Gerald was speaking the truth.

“Don’t scare me like that team. You’re killing me.”

Alicia spoke over her working, “Relax Malum. Worry is good but don’t let it get to you. Stay calm, always.”

Malum wished he could but perhaps he was affected by Jerome’s death but nowadays he couldn’t be so relaxed as he used to. Serenity was so far away; he must have left it at the village.

With his heart back to normal, he heled out making the small shelter. If it rained then this would help immensely and considering it was winter if it snowed it would be even more helpful.

Malum lit a torch on the roof and kicked Gerald back to his duty. With the child back hunting monsters, Malum talked strategy with Jake.

“Singles didn’t work out so well. Some of us were overwhelmed whilst others couldn’t advance, I think we should team up in twos for safety and for strength.”

Malum liked Jake’s idea but he didn’t like the connotations of the parings. If they were split into two’s it would mean Jake and Alica were split into two groups and for Malum goal of their joint survival that didn’t exactly work.

Instead he managed to convince Jake of a more effective version of the horizontal format. With idle members helping their furthest right/left if they needed any help.

They would reduce the distance between these two members to help with that. So it was close to two pairs but one on each pair would automatically take on more demons so Alicia and Jake could take up the safer positions.

It was still dangerous; god knows it wouldn’t matter if a high sequence demon showed up. Then all it amounted to was who ran the fastest and spotted it before it killed them.

Sadly the only strategy Malum could do to prevent that was pray to the God of Luck.

Time passed, and soon Malum felt it was far past the time the other group should have arrived. He left the shelter with the torch remaining on the roof and a note for the other team.

They more than likely dead, but Malum hoped that they were just slow.

They still had a target to reach so they continued on their march. The relaxing had been nice but it had allowed the cold to reach their bodies. The winter morning was brutally cold and not even the fancy armour they had could resist it’s wrath.

Malum got talking with Jake, who was his assigned pair and they were guessing what caused more deaths, the cold or demons.

Shaking of some shivers, Malum excessively dodged a triceratops and did a few extra star-jumps as the beast ran off to turn around again.

“I think it’s the cold, I mean demons aren’t universal right but the cold is universal.”

Jake responded, “Yeah but demons must go through something like quarter off all adult males in the bordering town and cities and the cold is so easy to avoid. Are we counting uncivilised humans because that would add to the cold side.”

Without the normal technologies Malum enjoyed everyday he thought of what life would be like without them. He noticed the demon was coming back and did the same dodge but in the other direction.

“We have to count them, but demonic attacks have always been on the rise. As their borders grow so do their kill counts.”

Jake nodded as he continued to think of the minor details of the cold and demons.

Malum finished of the poor triceratops and they continued there night of marching.