This window startled Reli for a moment. It seemed dangerous for it to continue. Still, it wanted to take a look at what the canyon looked like, just a glance and then, if it was too dangerous, it could move away. Its curiosity was greater than its fear of death. The threat it had felt from the dragon was much bigger than what it felt from the canyon in front of it and so it continued crawling towards it.
After a short while it reached the cliff of the canyon and looked down.
The canyon's width was substantial, though not as vast as its seemingly endless length. Massive stones stood high from the canyon floor, reaching skyward but falling short of the canyon's edge, adding to the bewildering scenery. The significance of this peculiar sight remained elusive, leaving Reli perplexed and intrigued. Countless holes dotted the canyon walls, shrouding the scene in an enigmatic aura.
Some way off on the ground to the left of Reli there was a cloud of dust constantly moving in its direction. The sight felt odd as there was no wind blowing at all which made Reli realize that there had been no wind blowing at all for the whole time.
Deciding to keep the cloud in its eyes, Reli waited patiently at the edge.
Soon figures emerged from the cloud. Being led by one figure, hundreds of smaller ones followed, their movement causing dust to scatter into the air, obscuring the view for the ones in the back. As the figures began to close in, Reli began to feel a strong force emerge from the figure in front. Instinctively Reli moved a little back from the edge so as to not be discovered.
Waiting till the force moved past where it hid, it moved back to the edge and looked at the figure at the front.
It was a huge bipedal Demon with dark blue fur covering its back. Knobbly horns emerged from its gray head in a curve backwards. It's feet were covered in the same fur of its back were hooves. Just seeing its muscular back Reli knew that it was much stronger than itself. Reli did not need to see the huge black greataxe on its back to know that. Still, Reli felt it was not as strong as the Dragon it had encountered before.
Minotaur Demon:
A huge gray-skinned Demon. It uses its horns to pierce it's enemies hearts.
Its fur is warm and fetches good coin. The more rare the color the higher the price goes.
It is said that the more knobs it has on its horns the stronger it is.
Intelligent but easily goes berserk. Strong but rather slow.
The hundreds of different demons behind the Minotaur seemed way less threatening compared to it, there were even a few other Demon Larvae following it. Reli scanned the figures trying to get as much information as it could.
Hellhound:
A fierce and agile two-headed demon. It has fine noses and is able to track down its enemies over a large distance.
Sometimes the heads want different things and it stops in its tracks.
Aradev:
Twelve-legged black spider with twelve eyes. Its fangs dripping with deadly poison
A silent and deadly killer, especially when there are shadows.
They are said to be able to melt into them.
Highly intelligent, weak physic. Its web is extremely durable.
Before Reli could look at more of the different Demons, one of the Larvae collapsed and started to lose its round blob form, almost as if it melted. Instantly the Minotaur noticed the commotion that this caused and turned around.
“You lowlife! Keep moving or do you want to be killed by me?” the Minotaur bellowed at the demons following him.
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"We have until tomorrow to reach the castle," he declared, his voice dripping with disdain, "where I will present you idiots to the Demon King. There, you shall serve his highness faithfully until your dying breath."
Most of the Demons began to shiver, even Reli at whom it was not aimed at, felt a cold shiver run over its back when the Minotaur mentioned the Demon King. However, the fallen Larvae did not move, which was not missed by the Minotaur.
Slowly it reached with its hands onto his back, unsheathing the greataxe on his back. With measured steps, it moved towards the fallen Larvae as the ocean of Demons parted to give it way. Without uttering a single word it swung its axe down, splitting the Larvae in two, splashing and spilling the gray goo out of which it was made all around.
“Take this as a warning, whoever slows us down is not needed and will be swiftly dealt with!” the imposing Demon screamed into the horde around him, raising its axe into the air. “I don’t care if I slaughter a few more of you useless Demons! Have I made myself clear?”
The Minotaur turned around and looked in the direction where Reli was. Reli quickly moved away, hoping it was not seen as it was that far away. It prayed to the window to tell him if it was seen or not, but it did not appear.
After what felt like an eternity Reli felt the force move away from its place again, continuing on its way through the canyon. Reli was glad that it was not exposed, it did not know why, but it certainly did not want to follow the Minotaur towards the Demon King's castle. It much rather wanted to explore the world around it and evolve itself and right now, the holes in the walls were too intriguing for Reli.
Slowly it crawled down the wall as it stuck to it until it was at the bottom of the canyon. Having a better place to look around, it decided on a hole in the opposite direction of where the horde of Demons went.
Looking around Reli could make up washed and weathered carvings on the wall, yet the years made them unrecognizable. It could have been hundreds, thousands or even millions of years since they had been carved and the meaning behind them had been lost in time. Lost in thoughts and wonders reli kept crawling forward as it felt the vibration of quick, rushed steps running through its body.
Turning around Reli noticed a way smaller version of a Hellhound with only one head rushing towards it. Its mouth dripping and foaming with spit as it gnashed its teeth.
Hellpuppy:
A much less fierce and agile demon. It is the pre-evolution of a Hellhound.
Its fur is hard enough to pierce through stone, so it uses its full body to attack its enemies.
Being too close to the Hellpuppy already, it was too late for Reli to avoid the attack of it. Trying its best, Reli stretched its body out and jumped into the air, making the body miss. Yet the attack still hit its target. The open mouth of the Hellpuppy collided with the Larvae but Reli was to big and slimy to be swallowed. Instead, the goo stuck to its nose and mouth. Instantly Reli realized its chance. It used all of its strength and stickiness and held onto its position, beginning to choke the Hellpuppy. It tried to open its mouth, tried to bite down on the goo that kept it from breathing but the goo was much stronger than its yaw. Its fruitless struggles slowly stopped as its eyes became more clouded. Its knees bend and Reli thought it had already won. But in a last attempt to shake off the Larvae, the Hellpuppy rose again and began to rush head first towards a wall. Noticing what the Hellpuppy wanted to do, Reli let go of the head at the last moment, letting it slam its head into the wall. The Hellpuppy sacked onto the floor, bleeding with dark blue blood from its head. A last growl escaped its mouth as it lost consciousness. Reli felt glad to have defeated another obstacle to it. It wanted to see if it leveled up again after this fight, wanted to see what the window had to say to its fight against the Hellpuppy, but no window appeared.
Looking at the enemy lying on the floor, Reli noticed that its body still breathed. In a rush of panic, it jumped over and engulfed the whole head of the Hellpuppy clenching its whole body over it, choking it again. It took not long before the relieving blue window appeared in front of Reli.
Defeated Helllpuppy
Gained Experience.
Level up gained!
Awarded upon level-up: +5 free status-point
Next time, don’t assume you are finished before you truly are.
May the Goddess smile for you!