"AHHH–" The final scream concluded with Python severing the head.

ROAAR!

The Dragon emitted a powerful roar, reveling in its triumph.

Pethra was speechless; no words could describe what just happened.

Aron single-handedly eliminated half of the twisted monsters. He was a beast wrapped in Dark-red flames seeping out from the cracks on his skin. The flames were so intense that anything that came even remotely close to it, was erased from existence, not even ashes were left behind.

Exploiting this, Aron fought recklessly like a lunatic, each swing of his flaming Greatsword effortlessly slicing through bone and flesh like a hot knife through butter.

Although some monsters managed to land suicidal attacks, sacrificing themselves to the flames for a single hit. Aron was unaffected; pain was the last thing on his mind. At that moment, his sole focus was eradicating those obstructing his path. However…

Cough.

Aron collapsed to his knees, the toll of the battle finally catching up with him. The flames around him flickered and diminished, leaving only traces of the once-intense inferno.

Freya rushed to his side, observing the fading flames. "Boss! Are you alright?"

Concerned for him, Freya overlooked her own injuries. She didn't walk out of that fight unharmed. Her left arm was completely shattered, and two sizable wounds on her thigh and abdomen oozed blood. Yet, her werewolf's regenerative abilities were actively healing her.

Aron nodded, still catching his breath. The flames had subsided, and he was left with visible cracks on his skin, remnants of the wrathful power that had surged through him.

"I'm... I'm fine," Aron managed to say, his voice hoarse. "But we're not done yet; we need to–"

Clap! Clap!

The sound of slow applause echoed through the cavern, drawing everyone's attention. As the group turned toward the source, they saw a figure emerging from a purple portal.

"Well done," a sinister voice echoed. The speaker materialized slowly, leading with his right leg, as if an invisible force resisted his advance.

As the figure fully manifested, the group saw a tall, gray-skinned man with lengthy pink hair. His eyes emitted an eerie red glow, and a malevolent grin adorned his lips.

Aron, Freya, and Pethra stared at the newcomer, their instincts heightened. Because the thing on his head told them everything. Two curved black horns adorned his head like a crown.

The figure was wearing a coat made from multiple skins of monsters—probably—a long pointy tail wrapped about his waist like a belt.

A Demon.

Aron, though fatigued and battered, glared at the mysterious figure. "Who are you?"

The Demon chuckled, his malicious grin widening. "Ah, the curiosity of mortals. Never gets old, I like them… I like them. Make for excellent specimens… Yes… Yes." The demon seemed peculiar, muttering to himself, momentarily forgetting Aron and the girls.

Aron growled, raising his voice, "I said, who are YOU!"

The demon froze, pointing to himself. "Me?"

Before Aron could shout again, the demon smiled, adjusting his coat.

"Ahem… Of course, you mean me… Cough." He raised his right arm in the air and placed his left hand on his chest.

"Hear me, mortal! Be grateful for the universe…" He shifted left in the air, right on the chest, and continued, "…as you're now standing in the presence of …" He shifted his position again, raising both hands dramatically as if performing on a stage.

"... Xenodrake Casper Obsidian. The Demon of Flesh and Despair"

"..."

Seeing no reaction from his audience, Xenodrake raised an eyebrow. "What! No shouting? No clapping of hands? No falling on the ground kissing my feet?"

"..."

"Nothing?"

"..."

"Tsk… Boring humans, usually, I kill those who dare to insult me like this and use them as test subjects… Oh! Oh! Speaking of subjects."

Xenodrake reached into the air in front of him, opening a small purple portal. Searing inside it a little, he pulled out a book and a pen.

The book was evidently made from human skin, at least the cover, but the pages inside were from different species. The pen, however… It could hardly be called a pen; it was a small hand from a humanoid race, impaled with a thin metal bar with a pointy tip at the end.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Xenodrake opened the book and began taking notes, using the blood of the hand as ink. "Hmm… hmm… absence of pain check… Endurance needs some work… Note: look for better parts… hehehe… I see, fascinating… resistance. Oh!" He paused, turning to Aron.

"Hey Flame boy, your flames are not normal, what are they?"

Aron squinted, not caring about answering the demon, as his mind raced to find a solution to the current predicament.

Right from the beginning, Xenodrake emanated a terror-inducing aura, causing both Freya and Pethra to remain frozen in their respective positions.

[Master, this demon surpasses your current capabilities; it is advisable to withdraw] The system sound echoed in his mind.

'And run away like a coward with a tail between my legs? NEVER!' Aron retorted mentally.

[Master–...*HEY! You dumb Lizard think! If you perish, your treasures will either die or, worse, be taken from you*... ]

'I'm the beginning and the end of their lives, I'll end them myself before letting someone else take them away from me'

[...*What the fu–*...]

'SHUT UP!'

[...]

'Furthermore, even if I wanted to retreat, where? The exit is sealed, and–'

"What's going through your mind?"

"!!!" Aron's instincts screamed danger as a sudden voice near his ear startled him. Reacting instantly, he thrust Python toward the source, feeling nothing as the blade found no target.

"Hmm?...What a robust arm, I have the perfect specimen for it" Aron blinked and found Xenodrake leaning close to his right arm examining it.

Irritated, Aron swung his Greatsword horizontally, attempting to cleave the demon. However, Xenodrake vanished instantly, avoiding Python's strike. He reappeared above Aron.

"Impressive…I wonder if replacing your head, will still allow you to breathe fire"

Aron gazed up and saw the upper half of the demon appearing from a purple portal. Xenodrake was using the portal as a window while rubbing his chin and scanning Aron with curious and excited eyes.

Reaching with his left hand. Aron almost grabbed Xenodrake, but the demon swiftly retreated inside the portal

Again, he reappeared under Aron, crouching.

"Oh! I see... I see, the fire comes from your stomach, maybe? I've never encountered a specimen like you... Truly impressive," Xenodrake noted, jotting down observations in his fleshy book.

Aron cursed inwardly, the drawback of the skill [Wrath] was no joke, he felt sluggish and weakened. Since all his stats were reduced by 50% for the next 12 hours.

BOOF!

Xenodrake closed his book and suddenly rose to his feet inches away from Aron's face with a wide smile on his gray lips.

"Don't worry, Flame boy. I'll upgrade you and turn you into one of my finest creations."

Aron felt a chill down his spine and with that chill came rage. He lunged at Xenodrake with his teeth, wanting to rip that face, but the demon vanished again.

'AHHH! Dammit, he's toying with me.'

This time, Xenodrake reappeared where he initially emerged from the purple portal.

"Wow! Do you enjoy biting? Don't worry; I'll give you bigger teeth–"

Clunk!

The cavern echoed with a loud metallic sound.

"Hoo! I almost forgot about you," Xenodrake turned, looking at the dark-scaled hand with red claws.

"Tsk'' Freya clicked her tongue seeing that her surprise attack failed, Xenodrake's tail blocked her claws. The tip of the tail was covered with a metallic substance.

Since the attack failed Freya attempted to retreat, creating some distance, however, Xenodrake won't let that happen. He reached with his hand aiming for Freya's neck, but an arrow made from earth magic came from nowhere hitting his face.

The Arrow collided with a purple barrier around Xenodrake creating a smokescreen for Freya to escape.

Both Pethra and Freya snapped back and regained their composure, seeing Aron bravely assaulting the demon even though he could feel his terrifying aura, which gave the two girls the courage to overcome the fear.

The smoke dissipated, revealing Xenodrake casually wiping dust off his fleshy coat. His aura intensified as he glared at the girls with hostility.

'Shit! System, can I activate Wrath again?'

[No Master]

'Ugh! Fuck, what else...ah! Pride!'

[Master, Pride can only render you unkillable during the skill's duration, but any damage sustained will still affect you afterward.]

'I know. It's our only chance. When he makes a move, activate it, as I can't keep track of him with my senses.'

[Affirmative, Master.]

Xenodrake stood there; his previously happy and curious mood vanished, replaced with a blank expression and cold red eyes. The demon calmly raised his right hand, catching the group's attention.

'Here it comes. Be ready, system.'

"Whatever you're attempting, it won't work," Xenodrake declared, pressing two fingers together. "Playtime is over." Then he snapped them.

The moment Xenodrake snapped his fingers, Aron, Freya, and Pethra felt something inside them break, a strange sensation spreading throughout their bodies. They collapsed to the ground, motionless.

[Warning! Warning!]

[A foreign substance has invaded your body.]

[All body functions have been neutralized.]

'System what's the problem, I can't move'

[Poison, Master. You have been poisoned.]

'WHAT! When! I didn't eat any–'

Aron widened his eyes, recalling something. 'The food.'

Clap!

His train of thought was cut off by Xenodrake clapping his hands, opening four purple portals, from the inside emerged four humans…or at least former humans.

Three men and a woman, their bodies were intact mostly with the exception of the head. The head is not of a human but something else with light-gray skin, with no eyes, ears, or nose. Just a lip-less mouth.

The mouth is frozen on a bloody, wide creepy smile showing all of their razor-sharp teeth.

The four beings didn't waste time and approached Aron, Pethra, and Freya delivering strong blows to their heads, rendering them unconscious.

The demon approached and commanded his minions "Take the man to my lab and send the girls to the old man, I need him to finish the ritual before I move to my next step" he waved with his hand creating two portals

The four creatures bowed to him and began carrying Aron, Pethra, and Freya. Two minions carried Freya and Pethra passing one of the portals, while the other two carried Aron to a different portal.

Xenodrake approached one of the portals; however, before taking a step inside, he suddenly raised his head, glancing upward at the ceiling in the distance.

"Strange? I felt something watching me" he kept staring at the ceiling for a time, Seeing nothing unusual, he shook his head.

"Do I imagine things now? Have I finally gone crazy?... I mean, I'm already crazy, but not that kind of craziness."

"Ah! I need a vacation. I heard a new club opened by some succubus; maybe I should visit it later. Hehehe~," he passed through the portal with a silly smile on his face.

…

When the portal closed, two red eyes appeared in the shadows far away from it.

"Pehw... Kaaahh! I almost got caught."

Raum emerged from the shadows, taking a quick glance at where the portals were. With determination, he flew back into the darkness.

"I'll save everyone. Just wait for me."