The troll roared in fury, its massive frame thrashing as it broke free from Mikael's shadow magic. The dark tendrils snapped apart like dry twigs as the beast's overwhelming strength shattered the spell.
"Damn it!" Mikael cursed, retreating quickly.
Artreus, unfazed, called out to his companions, his voice steady and determined. "Let's go!"
The boys charged together, a coordinated assault. Aidan led the attack, his blade slashing relentlessly through the troll's thick hide. The beast swung wildly, its massive fists smashing into the ground, but Aidan moved with precision, dodging each blow.
Mikael flanked the troll, darting in and out of its reach as he landed swift strikes with his short sword. His agility kept him just beyond the troll's grasp, frustrating the creature further.
Artreus, gripping his sword tightly, seized the opening created by his companions. With a powerful leap, he aimed for the troll's head, his blade poised for a decisive blow.
Suddenly, a blast of dark magic struck him mid-air, sending him hurtling across the clearing. He crashed into the ground, skidding to a stop amidst the rubble.
A surge of dark magic crackled through the air, blasting Artreus off his feet and sending him skidding across the ground. Dust and debris swirled in the aftermath, and Mikael and Aidan froze mid-motion, their expressions shifting to shock and alarm.
"Art!" Mikael shouted, gripping his short sword tightly.
Standing amidst the chaos, a cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, their presence exuding an aura of menace. The figure's voice was sharp, filled with cold disdain.
"You," the figure spat, pointing at Artreus as he struggled to rise. "I've had enough of you meddling brats ruining my plans. How is it that a mere child like you has the nerve to challenge my beast?"
Artreus coughed, steadying himself as he planted his sword into the ground for support. His blue eyes burned with defiance as he faced the figure. "Your beast? So you're the one controlling the troll? Who the hell are you?"
The figure sneered, stepping closer. "It doesn't matter who I am," they said coldly. "You don't need to know. All that matters is that you're going to die."
Artreus gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly as the memory of the Demon King and the destruction he caused flashed in his mind. His hatred surged, fueling his resolve.
"Are you a demon?" Artreus growled, his voice low and filled with anger.
The figure chuckled darkly, their tone mocking. "What I am doesn't matter to the dead."
The figure raised their hand, dark energy gathering in their palm as they aimed directly at Artreus. The air around them grew heavy with the raw power of their magic.
Despite the pain coursing through his body, Artreus planted his feet firmly on the ground, lifting his sword in defiance.
"Then I'll kill you," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll kill every last one of you disgusting monsters!"
Fueled by his anger, Artreus charged forward, his sword glinting in the dim light as he closed the distance between himself and the figure.
The figure's confidence faltered for a brief moment, their eyes widening as Artreus's speed exceeded their expectations. "What—?!"
Before they could unleash their spell, Artreus swung his blade with all his might, aiming to end the fight in a single blow.
In a desperate move, the mysterious figure shoved a subordinate forward to take the blow. Artreus's sword sliced cleanly through the figure's hooded companion, who fell to the ground with a cry of pain.
As the fallen figure hit the dirt, their hood slipped back, revealing the face of a young human girl.
Artreus froze, his sword trembling in his grip as he stared at her. "What…? A girl?"
The sight stunned him, the fiery hatred in his eyes dimming as confusion and disbelief took its place.
The cloaked figure seized the opportunity, raising their hand once more to unleash a blast of magic aimed directly at Artreus.
In a blur, Samson appeared beside the figure, his massive fist knocking them to the ground before they could release their spell. The figure crumpled, their dark magic dissipating into the air.
"Enough," Samson said, his voice cold and final.
In the background, Mikael and Aidan landed the final blows on the troll, the massive beast collapsing in a heap. Mikael rushed over to Artreus, concern written on his face.
"Hey, Art. Are you okay, man?" Mikael asked, his voice urgent.
Artreus looked down at the fallen girl, his expression one of shock and confusion. "She's not… a demon," he muttered.
The Next Morning
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The village, battered but standing, awoke to the aftermath of the attack. The cloaked man who had controlled the trolls was restrained, his hands bound as he sat slumped against a post in the village square.
His cloak was torn and bloodied, his face bruised from the knights' blows, but his expression remained defiant.
Samson approached, his towering figure casting a shadow over the man. "Where did you learn mana magic?" he asked, his tone sharp and commanding. "And how did you control the troll?"
The man coughed, blood staining his lips, but he grinned nonetheless. "Hahaha… Why do you care? What do you need to know, Master Samson?"
Samson's gaze darkened. "Answer me."
The man chuckled again, his voice hoarse but filled with twisted glee. "I wanted power. Every village is my livestock. Their cores hold a limited source of mana, but it's enough. I learned the knowledge of mana magic, and I need more to create an army of my own. To control the beasts, I need mana—lots of it. This village was just fuel for the fire."
Samson's jaw tightened, his voice laced with restrained anger. "So that's why you attacked this village. For mana? You'd sacrifice innocent lives for your twisted ambition?"
The man coughed again, his grin widening. "Innocent? Ha! None of us are innocent. Not me, not you, not anyone. Humanity brought this on itself. Greed, selfishness, stupidity—it's everywhere. And the demons… they'll come for all of us eventually. The world is falling into darkness, Samson. And there's nothing you or your little disciples can do to stop it."
Samson's voice was cold and steady, each word carrying weight. "The world is dark enough without people like you making it worse. And yet, you dragged an innocent girl into your mess? Your own daughter?"
At Samson's words, the man threw his head back and laughed bitterly, his voice echoing through the village square. "Daughter? Hahaha! You think she's my daughter?" His laughter subsided into a wheezing chuckle as he shook his head. "No, no, you've got it all wrong."
Samson's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "What do you mean?"
The man smirked, his tone dripping with contempt. "She's a slave. Bought from a trader on the black market. She had potential—potential to manipulate mana—but unfortunately, she's just another failure in my experiments."
Samson's voice dropped, heavy with restrained fury. "You… experimented on her?"
The man ignored the accusation, his focus still on Samson. "Yes, she was nothing but a tool. A means to an end. I used her for her mana, to fuel my work, to build my power." His voice grew colder, more calculating. "She was useful for a time, but like all the others, she couldn't handle it. Just another failure."
Samson's gaze burned into him, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing beneath the surface. "You used her as a tool and discarded her when she was no longer convenient?"
The man grinned wider, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Exactly. She's nothing but a slave. A failure. And like all failures, she's disposable. Hahahaha!"
For a moment, the village square was silent, save for the man's chilling laughter. Samson stared at him for a long time, his expression unreadable, before turning away.
In the dimly lit clinic, the scent of antiseptic filled the air as the group sat, battered and bandaged from the battle with the troll. Artreus sat on a wooden stool, his head bowed, while Mikael winced as a nurse dabbed ointment on his wounds.
"Ow, ow, ow! It hurts!" Mikael exclaimed, flinching as the nurse worked.
The nurse chuckled softly. "How did you boys manage to survive a troll attack?"
Mikael gave a sheepish grin, despite the sting of his injuries. "Well, uh… we're built different. Hehe."
The nurse shook her head with a small smile, finishing up. "There you go. All done. Rest up, young heroes."
As the nurse moved to another patient, Mikael leaned back with a relieved sigh. "Man… we actually survived. First time taking down a troll! High five, Art!"
He held his hand up expectantly, but Artreus didn't respond. His gaze was distant, lost in thought. Mikael frowned, lowering his hand.
"Art?" Mikael leaned closer, his tone laced with concern.
Artreus's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "I killed… a girl."
Mikael hesitated, glancing at Aidan, who sat quietly nearby. "Hey, bro, you didn't know. She was working with that guy—controlling the troll. She was dangerous."
Artreus shook his head slowly, his expression haunted. "I know… but I can still see her face. Her death cry. It's stuck in my head. I killed her…"
Aidan shifted slightly, his usual cold demeanor unbroken, but his gaze lingered on Artreus.
The stars scattered across the night sky as Artreus sat on the roof of the clinic, his thoughts heavy with guilt and regret. The cool breeze brushed against his face, but it did little to ease the turmoil within him.
He barely noticed Aidan approaching until he heard the familiar voice, sharp and cutting as always.
"You're still thinking about it?" Aidan's voice broke the silence, laced with its usual edge.
Artreus sighed, not even looking at him. "Aidan… I'm not in the mood to fight with you."
Aidan smirked faintly, sitting a few feet away. "Good. You're the same shitty brat loser I know."
Artreus groaned, finally turning to face him. "Why are you even here? Did you just come to insult me?"
Aidan leaned back, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You had no choice."
"Huh?" Artreus blinked, confusion creeping into his voice.
Aidan glanced at him, his tone dropping to something more serious, almost reflective. "I know what you're feeling—guilt, anger, confusion… it doesn't matter. It always happens."
Artreus stared at Aidan, caught off guard by his words.
"I've killed people," Aidan continued, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. "A lot of people. Not demons—humans. Do I regret it? No."
Artreus's eyes widened. "You don't regret it? Why? Why did you kill them?"
Aidan's jaw tightened, his voice growing quieter but sharper, each word cutting through the still night. "Because they killed my sister. They made her life a living hell. And they deserved everything I gave them."
The weight of Aidan's words hung in the air. For the first time, Artreus saw a different side of his rival—one that carried a burden just as heavy as his own.
"I'm… sorry to hear that," Artreus said softly, his anger melting into empathy.
Aidan shrugged. "Don't be. There's a reason I want to keep getting stronger. To protect what's mine. To make sure no one takes anything from me again."
Artreus nodded slowly, his fists clenching as a spark of determination reignited in his chest. "I get it now. I'll keep moving forward too. I'll have my revenge on the monsters who killed my mother and destroyed my people. No more hesitation."
Before the conversation could continue, Mikael's voice rang out from below.
"There you are, Art. Whoa! Aidan! You two are on the same roof? This is a first!"
The pair turned to see Mikael climbing up, his usual grin plastered across his face.
Aidan rolled his eyes, his expression immediately hardening again. "Don't mention it… mouth."
Mikael laughed, plopping down next to them. "And there it is! Classic Aidan. Anyway, what are you guys doing up here? Having a little heart-to-heart?"
Artreus smirked slightly, glancing at Aidan. "Something like that."
Aidan stood up, dusting himself off. "I'm done here. Don't make this a habit, brat."
As he walked away, Mikael leaned closer to Artreus, his grin widening. "Okay, spill. What's going on? Did Aidan actually… talk to you?"
Artreus watched Aidan's retreating figure, a faint smile on his lips. "Yeah. Turns out, he's not as bad as he seems."
Mikael raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "If you say so, man. Anyway, you good?"
Artreus nodded, his resolve stronger than ever. "Yeah. I'm good. whatever comes next."