"Remind me again why you insisted on following me of all people?" I voiced my concern to the beast, who had shrunk himself to the size of a small dog. "Your blood smells different. And different is interesting. Don't think too hard." It answered, not bothering to open its eyes while talking to me.

"Can we really trust you? You did suddenly lunge at us before my aunt intervened after all." Taylor said back, getting a little too close to the creature for my taste. It rolled over and ignored her comment, choosing to face toward the window of the carriage instead of us. "Answer or you tag along no longer." Her aunt ordered from the side, slightly lifting her head and focusing her eyes on the still unnamed beast.

It fidgeted a little before raising its head. "I attacked because I felt your bloodlust and wanted to draw you out." It replied, though there was a strange tone to its voice.

"What's your name anyway? I have to know what to call you if you're gonna be around." I said aloud, hoping to steer the conversation from his attack and on to something more pleasant, even if my intent was obvious. "It's been a while but I am called Nef."

Mentally noting its name, I also noted it was much more willing to answer my questions rather than Taylor or her aunt's. "Nice to meet ya Nef. My name is Ashoc, the girl is Taylor, and the warrior you fought is her aunt, Amy." Hearing her name being spoken aloud, she trained her murderous gaze on me and quickly reminded me why I never said her name or even thought it. She hated being called by name.

"Ahem. What were you doing in the forest? There was a request from villagers nearby to subjugate you." I explained, giving him our reason for being present. "Strange. I'd never really interacted with any humans outside of the girl and the warrior over there. Unless they just felt threatened, I see no reason for them to have put in a request for my death." He spoke, nudging his snout toward Taylor's aunt. "Other than hunting other beasts for food, my days were spent doing...nothing, really."

"Hm." Taylor's aunt quietly hummed in acknowledgement, her attention no longer on the conversation at hand and focusing on something else entirely. "Maybe someone's livestock escaped, you killed it, and a villager wanted payback but was too frightened to try themselves?" Taylor questioned, placing her hand on chin while mimicking the look of someone deep in thought, though her motion of stroking her non-existent beard gave her away.

"Not impossible. There was a handful of times where I killed beasts that were more docile and seemed easily manageable by humans, and thought nothing of it. However, I believe chances are rather slim for a human to seek revenge against a beast for killing other beasts." It actually answered Taylor's thought, yet never broke eye contact with me while speaking.

Taylor's aunt perked up once more, stepped out of the carriage and began to drive us back toward the Duke's manor. "Is this how you get around? It's painfully slow compared to how fast I can move." It spoke again, appearing to become more open and confident now that her aunt was out of his sight.

"How can you talk anyway? I thought all beasts were incapable regardless of intelligence." Taylor fired another question, satisfied with the creature's willingness to speak more often now.

"How prejudiced. I thought all humans were wicked and willing to sacrifice their allies for their own benefit yet I kept that to myself even after seeing your aunt fight against me for your sakes." Nef shot back, slightly narrowing his eyes at the girl.

"What the-"

"My point exactly." Fen huffed, turning his back to us again. "Tch, whatever." Taylor mumbled, crossing her arms and looking extremely annoyed at the turn of events. "How do you feel having survived your first mission outside? After you take over, you'll be doing this more often after all. Well, on top of loads of paperwork." I threw in a slight tease at the end to try and cheer her up from the conversation with Nef.

"Not the best honestly. I feel that if you weren't there, I would've died long before I encountered Nef. While I'm glad it's over, it made me more aware of my limits." My attempt seemingly backfired and only worsened her mood.

"Two things. One, had I not been present, your father likely wouldn't have sent you out here unless your aunt was standing next to you at all times. Two, in my absence, that damned bastard wouldn't have been present to threaten you in the first place." I tried suppressing my emotions, but just thinking of that demon was causing rage to build up. Taylor seemed to notice my emotional state as she quickly spoke up.

"Maybe not, but then we wouldn't have been able to crush him like we did. Imagine being a demonic warrior and being beaten to a pulp by two teenagers." She bragged, lifting her right arm and grabbing her bicep, holding a confident grin. "I don't know if I'd describe it as beating him to a pulp, but we did beat him." I acknowledged her words, but a bitter taste remained in my mouth. I gave her a toothy grin to make her believe her affirmation had gotten me over it.

There was a lull in our conversation as we both turned to look out the opening on either side of the carriage and take in the view...or lack thereof since the coverings still blocked most of it. Hopefully once we enter town, no one can catch a glimpse of me through the slight opening and realize I'm a demon. Though I know that someone already knows due to our encounter in the forest. We needed as few people as possible to know about it. At least that way, we might be able to narrow down who the insider was.

The constant bumps in the road were happening less frequently, causing me to believe we were nearing the city and our return trip was making decent progress.

My mind swirled with chaotic thoughts as I delved deep into my subconscious, seeking the presence of the demon I had encountered earlier. This time, there would be no intervention from Taylor; I was on my own. The oppressive darkness enveloped me, a suffocating void that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the demon's presence lurking, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I stood in an endless expanse of shadow, the only light emanating from the faint glow of my own aura. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation. My body was tense, every muscle coiled like a spring, ready to unleash a flurry of attacks or defend against the demon's onslaught. I could feel the weight of my weapons in my hands, a comforting reminder of my training and skill.

Suddenly, the darkness seemed to ripple, and the demon emerged, his form a twisted mockery of humanity. His eyes burned with an otherworldly fire, and his teeth gleamed in the dim light. The demon's presence was overwhelming, a torrent of malice and rage that threatened to drown my resolve.

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"You've returned," the demon hissed, his voice a grating, discordant echo that reverberated through my mind. "Idiot. This time, ya won't escape."

I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on my weapons. "I didn't come here to escape," I retorted, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. "I came here to beat you on my own."

The demon laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "We shall see," the voice sneered, and without warning, it lunged at me, his claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed.

I barely had time to react, raising my weapon just in time to deflect the blow. The impact sent a shockwave through my arm, nearly numbing my hand. I countered with a swift strike, but the demon was already gone, dissolving into the shadows only to reappear behind me. I spun around, my blade slicing through empty air as the demon dodged effortlessly.

The battle raged on, a frenzied dance of attack and defense. My mind raced, trying to anticipate the demon's movements, but it was like fighting smoke. The demon's form was ever-shifting, its attacks unpredictable and brutal. I felt the sting of its claws raking across my back, the burn of its breath on my skin. Each wound sapped my strength, but I fought on, driven by sheer willpower. Was this his true strength or my distorted view of it?

I tried to focus, to center myself and find a rhythm in the chaos. My training had taught me to remain calm under pressure, to think several steps ahead, but the demon's relentless assault left little room for strategy. Every time I thought I had an opening, the demon would vanish, only to strike from a different angle.

Blood dripped from numerous cuts and gashes, and my breathing grew labored. I could feel my energy waning, the darkness pressing in on me, suffocating and cold. The demon seemed to sense my weakening state, its attacks growing more ferocious, more precise. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I faltered, a fatal hesitation.

The demon's clawed hand closed around my throat, lifting me off the ground. I struggled, gasping for air as the demon's grip tightened. Pain radiated from my neck, and black spots danced before my eyes. The demon leaned in close, his breath hot and rancid against my face.

"Do ya see now?" it whispered, its voice dripping with venom. "Ya cannot defeat me. You are nothing without help from others."

My vision darkened, and I felt consciousness slipping away. But deep within me, a spark of defiance flared to life. I was not nothing. I was Ashoc, a warrior, a survivor, and the last proof of Baomu's existence. With a primal roar, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left, channeling it into one final, desperate act of defiance.

My hands found the hilt of my weapon, and with a herculean effort, I drove it into the demon's side. The blade sank deep, and the demon's eyes widened in shock and pain. It released its grip on me, and I fell to the ground, gasping for breath. The demon staggered back, clutching at the wound, its form flickering and unstable.

I struggled to my feet, my body screaming in protest. I could barely stand, but I forced myself to move, to press the attack. The demon was weakened, its defenses faltering. I struck again and again, each blow fueled by sheer determination. The demon howled in agony, his form disintegrating with each strike.

Finally, with a final, thunderous blow, I cleaved the demon in two. His body dissolved into a cloud of dark mist, which dissipated into the void. The oppressive darkness lifted, and I found myself standing alone in the void, my breathing ragged and my body battered.

I had won, but the victory felt hollow. Were it not for my firm belief that he, as well as other demons were arrogant to a fault, that illusion would've killed me and there was nothing I could do about it. The gap between us was too large to overcome without interference from a third party. Still, the battle had taken everything I had, and I knew that the demon's defeat was merely a fluke. Next time, he would be stronger and more vicious than before. But for now, I allowed myself a moment of respite. I had faced the darkness and survived.

Suddenly, I felt myself being shaken and pushed through the mental fatigue, opening my eyes. First thing I saw was Taylor with a worried expression on her face. "Are you okay? You weren't responding to anything Nef and I said, but you seemed to be in pain."

A small smile formed as I let out a silent sigh before responding. "I'm fine, but are we back yet?" I changed the subject. "Yeah, and my father wanted to see us. That was the last thing my aunt said before leaving." She answered. "Well, let's go." I replied, stretching before hopping out of the carriage, being greeted by several servants. My bloodied outfit momentarily stunned them as Taylor hopped out behind me. Their reaction to the blood on her own clothes was pretty funny in its own way.

They tried to rush us to the infirmary but we assured them that we were fine and needed to see the Duke. I took special note of all their facial expressions to look for anyone disappointed that I was unharmed, but no one displayed it. On the walk there, Nef's gaze was focused on me entirely, though I ignored it as best I could.

Upon arriving to the Duke's office, Taylor's aunt walked out with an unreadable expression. We walked in and the atmosphere was particularly tense and gloomy. "How was the mission?" He asked, looking over every inch of each of our bodies. "More difficult than expected. And technically we failed." I spoke first, shrugging my shoulders as I said the latter part.

"Because the beast not only lived, but also was brought back with you alive and unharmed?" He asked in return, the slightest smile present on his face but it failed to reach his eyes. "Regardless, a demon infiltrated the manor, was the coachman of the carriage containing my daughter, and ambushed the two of you. Despite all that, you two survived. While I'm worried for future outings, you did well to survive the encounter. That experience was more insightful than fighting a monster would be." He praised us but still seemed slightly unhappy.

"Is that all you called us for?" Taylor inquired, just as bewildered as I. "That's all I called you for daughter. There's something private I must tell Ashoc. Please...leave us be. And don't even think to eavesdrop." His words sounded sincere. Taylor obviously wanted to say something in defiance but chose to let it go this once. She bowed, before leaving and closing the door behind her.

"Allow me to finish before you interject, Ashoc. I received a report detailing a confrontation between a lone human and a contingent of demons. This incident took place in a remote village on the outskirts of demon territory. According to the report, this human managed to kill or grievously wound numerous demons before facing a formidable adversary. This adversary claimed to be the leader of a small platoon of demons, acting under the direct command of a Demon King. Their battle reportedly inflicted considerable damage upon the surrounding area." He paused, his gaze growing distant, lost in a thousand-yard stare.

"What kind of human would dare to fight Assor alone? That’s pure suic...wait..." My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach as realization dawned.

"Just to clarify a misunderstanding, Assor is the chief of your old village, correct? I understand why you might think it was him, but the report specifies a rather tall female demon. However, it appears you’ve reached the correct conclusion. Ashoc... Greg was killed."

In that moment, something deep within me shattered. The world seemed to tilt, my breath catching in my throat as an abyss of grief and despair opened up inside me. The pain was raw, visceral, and unrelenting, threatening to consume me entirely. But beneath the grief, another emotion surged—hatred. A seething, burning hatred for the demons who had taken Greg from me. The pain was raw, but it ignited a fire within me, a relentless fury that demanded vengeance. These monsters had robbed me of the one who had saved me after I lost Baomu, and for that, they would pay. My sorrow transformed into a sharpened resolve, my anguish fueling a thirst for retribution. I swore then and there that I would hunt them down, every last one of them. I would not rest until demons were brought to justice, and their blood was spilled for the lives they had taken. Screw "not forgiving" them.

No demon will be spared.