Asmodeus wasn’t here, mostly because Kaden could touch the ceiling and Asmodeus had towered over everything, but his presence was, and it threatened to leave Kaden helpless. A dark and grumbling voice like the earth itself spoke, and the presence grew lighter, but the situation grew worse. So much worse.
A form solidified behind Naski, so tall it had to dip its head. “It hurts.”
“I am sorry, Father.” Naski said, stepping further back so the still-forming demon stood between them. “He has your eye.”
“It hurts. It hurts that I am reduced to this. For you.” The face took shape. The same proud nose, but the skull had only three eye sockets, and all but one were empty. “Give me the eye. I will give you a merciful death.”
[Demon Incarnation Asmodeus (Minotaur Shell)]
Asmodeus is not permitted in this world, but when a lesser demon surrenders their existence, he may possess their form for a brief time. While limited, it is still strong enough to destroy the source of its aggravation and reclaim its power.
Level: 30
HP: 10,000
Mana: 6,000
Skills: Demon’s Destruction, Gaze of Asmodeus, Infernal Whirlwind, Demon Storm, Summon Lesser Demon, Empower Daughter, Sacrificial Blaze.
Talents: Otherworldly, Unceasing Evil
Status Effects: Planal Pendulum (negative)
[Planal Pendulum]
By crossing the planes when your kind is at a disadvantage, suffer continual, ongoing damage. Only leaving the plane will end this damage. Defy the balance at your own risk.
First off, the good news: This incarnation of Asmodeus was subject to constant damage. The bad news, on the other hand, was everything else. Naski was a level higher. If a group of forties had beens sure they could handle a level fifty Demon Lord, a thirty plus Nasky versus Kaden was in no way a fair fight.
The strategy here would be to stall.
No, the first thing to do was harm. Kaden activated [Mana Drain]. Asmodeus didn’t just give up his mana, it was a literal battle, but the moment he pulled the first drop, the Demon Incarnation screamed and gave up more—and more, and—
[Split Second] gave Kaden his only warning, and he bent backwards to dodge Naski’s black blade, which burned off a lock of Kaden’s hair. Of course she wouldn’t give him the chance for a fair fight.
*North side, we have [Demon Mages], be careful,* Sara’s broadcast came.
Kaden had problems on every side. The constant use of [Split Second] was the only thing keeping him alive, and any moment, Asmodius would recover.
“Now you die,” Asmodius spoke, shaking the ground with his voice.
Kaden hadn’t had this minute as the minute he would die, but that was probably how it went. He had only one trump card to play, and no doubt of how it would go. Kade activated [Moment of Speed], pouring Mana into it so he could sidestep Naski’s slash and charge Asmodeus. At the last moment, he activated the [Eldritch Shield], swinging it in the same motion he’d seen Wren use.
It slammed into the minotaur.
You have gained a new skill: [Shield Bash].
[Shield Bash]
Use your shield as a weapon to knock enemies aside. This attack can apply a [Stun] status effect. Take no damage from impact while using [Shield Bash].
Asmodeus stagged back momentarily, then lifted his head and roared with laughter. And agony, as Trinity speared him and attacked with all three heads at once.
Kaden hated pitting her against the incarnation. Knew she was overmatched, but this was life and death, and Trinity was always a fan of the death part of life and death. [Mana Drain] siphoned a hundred points of mana from Asmodius, and Kaden poured it into [Moment of Speed], starting an attack a heartbeat before Naski’s sword stabbed the space he had been a moment before.
Kaden was diving forward—through a portal, one that let him land an axe-blow in the Daughter’s back. She stumbled forward, and spun, meaning to cut his head off.
[Split Second] let him step closer and headbutt Naski—then drive Remembrance up in a short jab that caught her under the chin that sent her flying.
Trinity gave a short scream, and a sickening tearing demanded Kaden look. Her Snake head was missing the lower jaw, but Asmodius was covered in bites, each of which would inflict poison.
Kaden banished Remembrance and drew Thorn Caster, pouring fifty points into a Mana Arrow that refused to take shape, shifting, changing and shimmering. The bowstring sang as he loosed the arrow, striking Asmodius in the back just above the base of his spine.
You have inflicted the status effect [Poison] on Demon Incarnation (Asmodeus).
The roar of pain made Kaden smile. Face him and Trinity would tear him to pieces. Face Trinity and risk a lucky shot with Thorn Caster. Now—
[Split Second] activated.
A split second too late.
A black, flaming blade burst from Kaden’s side, and it took all his energy to throw himself forward. If not for [Fortress of Stone] he would have blacked out. In fact, the strike probably would have activated [Resilient Constitution]. Except that Kaden was no longer a tier one Adventurer.
[Sole Survivor] made him more resistant to all kinds of damage when he was alone, but the bleeding kept coming. Naski, too, leaked blood from the wound on her shoulder, but Kaden understood basic math. Even with Trinity in the battle, the demons held an advantage.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“I will cut out your tongue. Nothing awaits but agony, and the end.” With every word, Naski attacked, heedless of her own status.
Of course.
If she succeeded, Asmodeus could grant her return. Hell, even if Kaden smashed her Demon Core, she might return. What Kaden needed would cost him. It might damn well kill him, but this was the only way he’d survive.
He banished Remembrance and dodged a blow from Naski’s sword. In the moment before she brought it back, he drew Thorn Caster and fired a basic mana arrow at point blank range—and another—and a last one before he threw himself to the side.
The sword burned another two hundred health off as it bounced down his leg, splitting muscles.
Three stacks of poison for two hundred health. The problem was, if Asmodius killed him, he’d never be able to help Trella. He activated [Binding Mark] with a prayer to Veela.
[Binding Mark] has failed. Increase your will or reduce target health for greater chance of success.
It was progress. Previously, Binding Mark had failed to activate entirely. Now it activated but didn’t succeed.
And Naski was no longer pushing her attack on him. She stood frozen, her eyes wide. Kaden didn’t mind. Every moment drained her health.
“Come forth!” Asmodius shouted.
All around Kaden the black crystals lit up, and a pair of [Goatmen] materialized, bleating out battle cries.
[Binding Mark] grasped one immediately, and Kaden nearly fell over.
You have bound a demon.
Binding slots: [1/1]
It was like steering someone else’s body while looking in a mirror, upside down, but Kaden willed a command. The Graht steered itself in front of its companion as the goat man attempted to stab Trinity, whose bone head was crushed on one side, but still fighting.
The spear graht kept looking down at its hands and back to the other graht as though it couldn’t figure out what had just happened.
Kaden released the wounded one and bound the other. This time, the dizziness passed in an instant. He ordered it to tear out the spear and stab Asmodeus’s incarnation, which it did without hesitation.
It turned out, a bound demon’s death ended the binding. Particularly when their neck was snapped by a [Demon Lord Incarnation].
Kaden turned his attention to Naski, who backed away. “Who’s hunting who?”
[Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.
Naski almost screamed, but Kaden willed her to be silent, and it came out only a strangled whimper. Already he felt the bond dropping as she fought it, tearing at his skill. Kaden couldn’t stop her from breaking free, but he could give her nowhere to run. “It worked perfectly again, Naski. The Pendulum drains his health. The [Poison] drains his health. And soon I will be known as the man who killed Asmodius. And you will be known as the daughter who orchestrated two demon lord betrayals.”
Naski’s will surged with her anger, and Kaden seized her, spinning her around to kiss her. Demon lips and demon ass probably tasted the same, but he held it as Asmodius screamed to the heavens his rage. The air crackled as the demon lord spoke.
Target: Naski has broken your binding. Continue the binding ritual to complete.
Kaden stifled a cry of pain as Naski bit a chunk out of his lip and shoved him away, screaming in rage.
“Do not fall for his tricks!” Naski said. She didn’t conceal the fear in her voice. “I brought him here so you could retrieve your eye. It was my manipulation that made it possible. Reclaim it and see if I spoke the truth.”
Asmodius exploded with sheer power. “[Demon Storm]”
A cloud of claws and fangs surrounded him, tearing at Trinity even as she sank her blind head’s teeth deep into the skin of his skull. The Incarnation’s body was still that of a minotar, and as Trinity tore the flesh off, vestigial horns still showed in the bone.
Kaden felt every bite the Demon Storm inflicted, but he also felt Trinity’s determination. Her jaws closed tighter and tighter. Bone cracked as she pulled upward.
Without warning, Trinity collaspsed, losing chunks of flesh to the swirling jaws and claws. Kaden didn’t waste her sacrifice, blasting a [Mana Arrow] through Asmodius before triggering [Binding Mark] on Naski.
Naski had fled, and in doing so revealed an illusion. A narrow stair-case led upward from the summoning portal where she’d brought him. Kaden would find her. Right now, he understood the greater threat. *Sara. Naski is running. Don’t let her get away. We have big problems down here.*
*Ashi is on it. We’re vastly outnumbered, out leveled, three of our Parties ran away, and all of these cultists are level thirties. Also, I didn’t mean that to broadcast that to anyone but Kaden. The battle’s going well, carry on, kill them all.*
Sara’s panicked addition was less than convincing. Kaden needed to deal with Asmodeus. Even if that meant making a deal with Asmodeus. “You want your eye?”
The Demon Lord Incarnation hadn’t moved since the Graht stabbed him. Instead, it studied Kaden, one misshapen hand on a chin that hung loose, since Trinity had come within seconds of tearing the skull apart. “Give it to me. I will depart.”
Kaden activated [Binding Mark]
[Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.
Before Kaden could speak a second notice came in.
Target: Incarnation of Asmodius has broken your binding. Continue the binding ritual to complete.
Now he had the Incarnation’s attention. And a momentary chance to change everything. “I lied earlier. Naski wasn’t helping me as much as I was helping her get revenge on you. I don’t want to be the man who killed a Demon Lord. I will be the man who controls one.”
Asmodius didn’t rage.
He didn’t even shout.
Directive Acknowledged. Class: Demonic Servant has been revoked from Entity [Nasky] (Source: [ASMODIUS 1.7334x221]).
Asmodius charged.
[Split Second] plus a hundred points of Mana let Kaden dodge—barely, and activate [Mana Drain] to siphon fifty points back, fifty points he poured into a mana arrow that blasted through Asmodeus’s incarnation just above the navel.
Victor had made it look so easy.
Your skill with Archery has increased.
Your skill with Mana Quiver has increased.
Good to know, a fight to the death against a demon lord would raise tier two skills. For the first time in this fight, Kaden wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t outnumbered, even if he was outleveled. Even before he had a class, Kaden had faced higher level opponents.
The pendulum of balance swung against Asmodius.
Stacks of poison, too, hurt.
But Kaden stored Remembrance and drew the [Levicon Blade] as he approached. The Demon Lord shivered, and smoke engulfed him, but as it drifted away, the minotaur wore black leather armor, and carried a flaming whip.
Asmodius lashed out with the whip, and Kaden caught it, letting it wrap around his arm. The Levicon Blade was short, less than three inches, and shaped oddly, because it was formed from an octopus hook, but it had a quality Kaden loved.
It could not fail to cut.
It sliced through the magic that enchanted the whip, turning it to ashes.
Asmodius tossed it away and drew a short sword without so much as blinking. True, he only had one eye but the one eye didn’t blink. He charged at Kaden, moving impossibly fast. The short-sword stabbed forward, striking Kaden in the chest. Sparks flew from the metal ribs, and Kaden flew across the room, glancing off a stone wall that was unfortunately not a pile of pillows with an illusion cast on it.
You have taken 490 points of damage.
Your health is critically low.
You require healing.
Kaden drew a healing potion from Inventory and swigged it. “If I gave you an eye, you’d leave?”
“Give it to me.” The Demon Lord approached slowly. “I will go.”
Sure he would, the same way he kept his deal with Viktor. Kaden knew better. “I’m leaving. You can have your eye.”
He circled, backing away toward the staircase Naski had used. Also letting his health tick upward so [Resilient Constitution] would work. “You have to let me go.”
Asmodius roared and charged as Kaden spun, throwing. “Take it, just let me go!”
The Demon Lord’s incarnation was impossibly fast, snatching the eye from the air and shoving it into an open socket.
Time stopped.
Not really, but it felt that way while Kaden held his breath.
Asmodius’s incarnation, too, stood frozen. Then it screamed in agony, and both hands clawed desperately, trying to remove the eye it had shoved into the socket. Because Kaden had thrown the [Eye of the Rat God] he’d never been able to trade.
Rat fur grew on the demon lord, and burned off, replaced by scales, then grew again, and a rat tail burst from its hind quarters before falling off and growing again. The Demon Lord writhed, clawing its own face over and over, and in that moment, Kaden had an idea that even he knew was wonderfully terrible.
He kneeled over the fallen Incarnation and ripped both eyes from the skull.
You have obtained 1x Eye of Asmodius.
You have obtained 1x Eye of the Rat God.
It took four chops of Remembrance to remove the Demon’s head. Five blows to split the corpse open so he could remove a misshapen, blackened demon core, which he placed in Inventory. No notification. No warning he’d killed a demon, so Asmodius wasn’t dead, but Kaden had different plans.
Right now, they involved killing a cult and capturing a Demon’s Daughter.
Maybe not in that order, but there would be killing and there would be Naski.