I woke up the next morning groggy and stiff. Sleeping on a stone floor isn’t the best thing to do, especially when your sister is using you as a pillow and you can’t turn to a better position.
As I sat up I saw that Lilian was sparring with one of the paladins and losing bitterly. The other trainees were wide eyed while the paladins were just pointing and laughing a bit. I could hear a few things trainee and paladins said.
Trainee 1: “You’re joking right isn't she one of the strongest trainees and she barely react to a normal paladins attacks.”
Trainee 2: “I know what you mean really to overpower someone who is so overpowered at our age I feel scared being around so many guys like this.”
Paladin 1: “Hey brats that girl is as good as she is because she trains everyday unlike you guys, though she can get better, she has a lot of wasted movements which could cost her.”
Paladin 2: “Ya women staff users would become much better if they concentrate on speed more, the staff is very versatile so if she was faster with it she would have us on the ropes”
Baal: “Really? I find that if she focuses on strength and speed it would make her much better.
Paladin 1: “Ah Baal you’re up, you look like a mess. Hmm about what you said why strenght?”
Baal: “Her staff is special in that it can make the blades of other two handed weapons on it it also mimics its weight exactly.”
Paladin 2: “I see to handle new weapons right?”
Baal: “Yep”
We watch as the paladin finishes up and Lilian slumps down breathing heavy.
Lilian: “AAAAHHHH!! I can barely react!”
Paladin 3: “Hahaha you’re lucky your fight someone that be careful not to kill you. This is a good lesson so learn from it.”
Lilian nods and runs of with a determined.
Trainee 1: “Oh great she is going off with the look again *sigh* I’m afraid if she will ask us to spar next”
Paladin 2: “Don’t worry about that brats everyone of you except Baal is to weak to handle the girl. Speaking of which he Baal want to spar after you eat.”
Baal: “Sure might save my life later on learning where I’m weak.”
I went over to the fire and ate my breakfast, Troll meat on a stick. Its amazingly good and though I’m not sure that its making me stronger even if I’m eating a stronger monster. After eating I grabbed two of my sickles to fight dual wielding.
Paladin 2: “Oho dual wielding today.”
Baal: “I don’t fight enough with these so sparring an overpowered opponent like you will make me better much quicker.”
Paladin 2: “If thats what you want but I’m not going to hold back much”
Baal: “Just don’t kill me”
I say this as I turn into my demon form and prepare to be attacked. I stand in a defensive pose with one sickle to defend while the other to counter. Because of this the Paladin doesn’t advance with a rush even with his superior speed which shows even though I’m weaker he isn’t underestimating me.
He slowly advances with slow steps towards me while I hold my position. As soon as I’m in his range the sword flies out with inhuman speed but thankfully in my demon form I’m much faster and can react much faster so I catch the sword with my sickly that is defending and from behind me the other one comes from the side at waist height ready to chop him. He blocks it though by jumping back after the sickle passes he advances again but with a flip of my sickle which has now on my left side, I bring it back only to have it hit down and the paladins sword aimed towards my head. I block it as best i can with my left sickle and it grabs the sword but since the paladin is stronger I let him push and use his force to flip myself while bringing my other sickle up towards his head.
I could hear the cheers from the paladins watching but it all soon goes quiet after i land. At my neck the paladins sword was already there ready to chop.
Paladin 2: “Hahaha thats good kid but never give your back to your enemy.”
Those around us start clapping.
Trainee: “damn there are too many overpowered people here. He easily won against Baal and he is already a monster.”
Paladin: “Ahahah now that is a good show, the kid is quite nimble ain’t he can’t wait to see how well he grows when he is older”
Hugh: “He will definitely lead the paladins no doubt.
Baal: “Ah morning commander is everything ready?”
Hugh: “Yes our group is ready, scouts told us that the upper rooms are in the same state of chaos as the ones we fought yesterday but these have already fought and its only a single group from now on. Get ready men we are moving out”
With that everything was taken down and packed and the groups split up and started climbing the stairs before splitting up again. The rooms varied from Brutes and Trolls and the Paladins only defended mostly to allow us trainees to deal the damage but if needed they would cut down the monsters. I partnered with Hugh and saw why he was the commander. Unlike the others he used only a one handed mithril sword to fight while others used sword and shield. Another thing I noticed is that his slashes seem to give off light that flies forward. After clearing 5 rooms and reaching the stairs of the 4th floor I went to talk with him.
Baal: “Hey Commander can i ask you something?”
Hugh: “huh oh Baal it you sure what is it?”
Baal: “Its about how you fight. What are those lights that come off your sword when you swing?”
The men around me suddenly all looked my way with a bewildered look. Hugh also showed the same look.
Hugh: “y-you can see that?”
Baal: “ya what is it”
He was silent for a good while looking at me before he let out a deep sigh.
Hugh: “its and advanced skill that is taught to us paladins to deal more damage. Normally its invisible to all but the owner of the swing because its his own mana”
Baal: “mana imbedded in your weapon?”
Hugh: “Its more then that its a technique where you literally throw your mana from the swing. Normally only a commander knows this because the training to do this takes years so mostly it's a high ranked ability that we don't teach trainees until they are paladins. Anyway the start of this technique is simply coating your mana on your blade first.”
I stared at him blankly and pull out a sickle and try it. I gather my mana in my palm and push it into my sickle. Then i have it run along the blade but half way I lose control and the mana disperses.
Baal: “AHH! I got it half way dang.”
Hugh: “Y-you?!”
I looked at Hugh who has his mouth wide open. When i look around no one is working and just looking at me.
Baal: “What?
Hugh: “Baal, to the level you coated your sickle it would take a trained paladin at least a year and a half to reach that much.”
I looked at him blankly then at the sickle. Just as I was pondering what was happening Lilians group arrived. She ran over cheerfully.
Lilian: “Hey what are you guys doing and why is does everyone have their mouths hanging?”
Baal: “I did something that the commander says would take over a year to do.”
Lilian: “What really what?”
I explained to her and she tilted her head while thinking and then asked for my sickle. She held it up at eye level. After a moment I felt her mana starting to coat the sickle and soon a thin blue film started to appear on the blade though it only got a quarter of the way before vanishing.
Lilian: “AHH if failed.”
Hugh: “Even if you say that what you kids are doing still takes years of training really you two don’t follow common sense.”
Slade: “It would be boring around here if they did don't you think commander.”
Hugh: “Oh Bishop Slade you were here as well, sorry I didn’t notice because of these two.”
Slade: “No worries but anyway tutor them on how to properly coat their weapons it will serve them well in the future, since they can already somewhat do it, it won't take long before they can properly do the coating.”
Hugh only put one of his hands on his face covering one eye while resting his arm on his leg and letting his head drop down.
Hugh: “Fine after we reach the next floor we still have time to reach it so get ready everyone no slacking now.”
With that we headed into the 5th room and this one only had brutes and large numbers of it. Each group had 60+ and there were 5 rooms to pass. It got really intense with the extra monsters all around but thanks to the paladins there wasn’t any real danger except a few concieded trainees who thought they were strong enough to fight a Brute without a tank. They were smashed into the walls before someone saved them. The single hit sent them into critical condition. The hit quickly smashed their pride and they learned their lesson VERY quickly.
I for one didn’t attack by myself instead I followed Hugh around and helped him with killing though i didn’t nod much damage but i was able to distract the Brutes with magic. Mainly illusion magic which allowed Hugh to easily cut the brutes apart since they opened up so many weak spots.
We reached the stairs to the sixth floor quite quickly and a new camp was set up. After it was set Hugh called me over and began teaching me what I needed to know about the mana coating skill. A quarter of the way through Lilian came and he started over. We got pretty bored so while he explained i had my weapons on my lap and i was doing as he instructed and if anything new was said that changed how i should do it i would change and see how far i could get.
The first hour was only a lecture and the rest of the time until we went to bed we practiced. We cant pass the same points we can reach even with the lecture, so we will just practice a lot. We didn’t give up until it was time to go to sleep.
We both woke up early to get some practice in but it still wouldn’t pass that point so we just sat their and meditated to clear our minds. We sat there meditating for a while until the noise in the camp got really loud so we helped out making breakfast and then packing up.
Next to Hugh again we were preparing to leave already.
Baal: Commander how many floors are their?
Hugh: hmm 10. The 10th floor is just the throne room. Today we will try to get to the 9th floor. Ready men I don't want slackers.
Our group soon headed up and started fighting our way through.
Variant brute woman POV
My name is Lona I’ve lived in Galton's Castle since I was born. I’ve hated being here because I was only surrounded by savages be them my own kind or the troll trash that we breed and to eat. Brutes are always born at the lowest ring of the high demon chain and we rank up after a few days after birth I’m currently on the highest ring of the high demons but because i was always smarter than most I ranked up into a green variant brute.
This variant is slightly weaker than normal higher brutes but we are much smarter and we are at the size of a normal human though visibly stronger. (think amazon warrior) My looks if i compare it to the other women in the village that look like humans then i would say I’m beautiful. Curves in the right places that would please any man that doesn’t think strength is beauty like these monkeys I live with, I have long Black hair and light green skin similar to a gobins but my overall look is that of a human woman. One thing I hate are those clubs those idiots use as weapons even if they are made from their own bodies. The clubs brutes use are made from the cells of their body from their previous rank ups so with each rank up the stronger the club gets. I on the other hand had a different weapon. My previous body turned into two long daggers. Daggers that could easily rip the flesh off many troll or brute. Though i am weaker my weapon makes it up for me. I am glad i’m not like those idiots.
(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2008/023/2/a/female_amazon_warrior_by_vaibhavpawar19.jpg)
A few days ago human paladins and trainees entered the castle. We had heard that this is done every few years to train their recruits. When the boss told me to get those idiots in place i already had a plan in mind. I was finally going to get out of here. I had the brutes spread out throughout the whole castle and then i released the trolls into the lower floors and cause them to kill off many of those idiots as well as making it easier for the humans to climb the castle.
After they reached the 5th floor i went into hiding i hid myself in the 9th floor in a secret room and was waiting for them to pass and head to the throne room. I was hoping to appear after they killed that trash Oni and ask them to take me with them. Though they may be humans i heard stories from the demons in the town around the castle that non aggressive demons are treated fairly by the church that comes here. I hope they accept me i want to leave this shitty castle.
As I sit in my hiding spot which is in a room before the one that has the stairs to the Bosses room i spot a group of humans coming in. The idiot brutes in the room all rush them only for the first wave to get slaughtered by the experienced human warriors. As the fight calms down the brutes begin trying to flank but the trainees in the back use magic to contain them. One boy catches my attention. He is using a large scythe and doesnt look more than 10 but he is the most skilled of the young children. Even though i say skilled he is just a kid and his form is still sloppy no matter how i look but he is much better than the brats in the back.
He also seems adapt in magic especially dark and fire which is strange since this church is suppose to be the church of light. Another strange thing are all the rabbits and fox with them. Many of them had mana infused into them making them magic beasts. The most powerful was a demon bihorn rabbit and a 3 tailed demon fox. Well looking at those two i can tell easily that the rumors i heard were true. It was interesting watching those two lead the smaller fox and rabbits to attack and kill them brutes. They were very intelligent or at least the fox was. The rabbit had power but smarts still evaded it and it followed the instructions of the fox.
As a whole the animals could take on a single brute together with few injuries since they were quick and they worked to distract the brutes as well as having a paladin block any attacks that might kill. Even if the brutes could hit any paladin, trainee or animal the rabbits or fox nearby would go over and use healing magic on them. Being magic beings they seem to be good at using those particular magic. It was only the two larger animal leaders that used different magic. The fox would keep dishing out powerful fire attacks as well as some curses while the rabbit would fire black flames from its horns doing both the things the fox did.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The room was soon cleared of brutes and picked clean of the loot they dropped after vanishing.
As i watch the commander was looking around his eyes stopped momentarily on my position before moving on and then after a while they left the room.
Lona: damn that man saw me I’m sure of it. Better get moving soon, should find a spot to sleep soon maybe in the next room. Nah I’ll stay here and next morning I’ll move closer and follow behind them after they move upstairs.
I pull out some furs i had and made a small bed where was hiding and went to sleep.
Hugh PoV
Hugh: Huh to think that a variant was finally born. I hope it’s a challenge because these normal brutes are getting boring.
I sat in the camp at the stairs to the final floor. The last few floors went by quite fast. Baal seems to have improved or at least found out how to coat his blade though i feel the coating is really weak, maybe he is putting less mana to be able to hold it around the blade. Smart I have to say thats smart, slowly adding more mana would make it stronger and he can still use it for combat.
It was already dark and no one was awake anymore but me and a few others including slade who had arrived some time ago.
Slade: you’ve been in deep thought for a while Hugh what's eating away at you.
Hugh: hmm oh I was able to spot a brute variant in the last room. Human sized female, she was hiding really well.
Slade: if what you say is true then its probably a green brute. They are human sized with green skin and are incredible smarter and they also have a great amount of hate towards normal brutes. I have met a few in my lifetime, if they aren’t the leaders of the group they want to leave it. Also a pack led by a green Brute the group will be much smarter and more powerful as well since they won't focus on just strength. My best guess is that she was the one that caused the battles in the lower floors to make it easier for us to get up here. I think she will want to come with us.
Hugh: want to go see if she is still there.
Slade shrugged and after making a torch we head back into the previous room. After looking a bit we both find the woman sleeping while hugging her fur blankets and drooling a bit.
Hugh looks a bit bewildered and with a few taps on his shoulder by slade and pointing back to the corridor they left her as is.
Slade: better leave her as is i really can’t see her as a threat like that.
Hugh: Ya I feel the same.
We headed back and went to sleep.
Demon world Dungeon 3rd POV
Under the castle of the demon lord sitting in a cell chained up to the wall while sitting on the ground the was Royal Demon Rachet Stone. He recently ranked up to Royal Demon rank and requested a duel with the demon lord and was badly thrashed around and put in the dungeon to be exiled.
Rachet: Lucifer...I swear I will find a way back to the underworld to destroy you one way or another.
Hatred boiled within him. He was a demon that had a human appearance plus his horns as well as abilities for more demonic forms. His lineage led back to the imps and he had a very powerful demon form that looked like images found in human books depicting a great red and muscular demon with horns and wings.
(http://cdn.portskandia.com/ui/npc_jpg/M017.jpg)
Being in a weakened state and chained by magical chains he could do nothing about the situation he was in only plan for the future he would face in the mortal world possibly being hunted by the so called foreigners and the churches. Being a lower rank royal demon didn’t guarantee his safety only the demon lord himself would truly be safe in the mortal world because of his power.
Rachet: I can only pray to the gods they will have mercy on me when I am exiled that I would fall into a safe place where I can heal in safety and not be instantly killed.
And so he waited in silence for this was his final day in the underworld as tomorrow the portal to the mortal world would have gathered enough mana to cast the exile into his new world.
Baal POV
At the moment I couldn't help be amazed. In front of me was a monster laying on the ground dead and on top of him two figures giving off a feeling of nobility. Commander Hugh and Bishop Slade stood on the back of the huge Oni after having fought with it for over an hour.
Lets go back a few hours.
Waking up in the morning I found the camp already buzzing with activity as the paladins prepared food and were eating while some were packing tents and such away. I spotted the commander with Slade his armor looked different. He normally wore the same steel armor everyone wore but today Commander Hugh was wearing a full plate armor made of white metal that seem to radiate mana and holy powers. Slade wasn't far behind. Unlike normal where he wore simple cloth robes that show his position as bishop he was now if white leather and metal armor while holding onto a large staff with a glowing round crystal at its end.
On of the paladins near me noticed where i was looking while i ate and laughed.
Paladin 1: so you noticed. Well the boss room we have no say in what happens there today.
Baal: what do you mean?
Paladin 2: you don't know? Only the commander and Bishop Slade are capable of fighting the boss of the dungeon.
Baal: wow he’s that powerful?! Whats that white metal the commander and bishop are wearing.
Paladin 1: its called mithril. Its a special metal created by the elves, its a metal made specially to help conduct magic and mana. Its truly the most magical metal that exists.
Paladin 2: Its one of the strongest metals in the world that humans can work with. Its especially powerful in the hands of someone from a church because light and holy magic are the best magic that is strengthen by the armor.
Baal: does only the commander have that?
Paladin 1: here today yes but during wars all paladins are given mithral armor to fight with as for bishop slades armor that is a special armor that rivals the full plate armor even if it doesn't look like it. It helps flow the mana around his body much quicker than just the plate armor and its made for priests and bishops since they are mage class fighters.
Paladin 2: let me tell you Baal, today all you trainees will learn why those two are in the position they are.
We finished eating soon and with everyone set everyone headed up. Me and Lilian were at the front next the the Commander and Slade. The two had an uncommonly serious face on which is unlike their normal calm or cheerful expressions. What they looked like was men ready for a fight to the death.
As we reached the top we found ourselves in a straight corridor with 2 other doors before a large wooden double door. The rooms where a bedroom and a training room both we think is the bosses personal chambers.
Hugh: ok guys stay a bit back i feel the guy is waiting.
Hugh walked forward after Slade buffed him with a few blessings and with a kick he opened the door only to find a huge red gorilla that was in mid swing with a huge metal club.
Without warning the monster roared as the club came towards Hugh only to slam into an invisible wall which still caused a powerful shock wave to hit everyone behind the two fighting.
Slade: *whistle* damn this is one big boy been awhile since one so big appeared.
Hugh: this will be fun.
Hugh held his word tight and ran towards the Oni who was already preparing another swing and with all his strength the Oni swung low again but this time what met his metal spiked club was the sword of the paladin in front of him.
Hugh swung in the same manner that the monster swung and when the sword met the club another shock wave was made causing the area around them to shake.
Oni: GRRAAAA!!! Your strong human. NOW DIE!
He lifted the club upwards and swung down on Hugh who caught the club on his shield. The ground around Hugh formed tons of cracks as he was pushed down. Suddenly a long spear of light pierced the Oni in the shoulder and gut. The Oni roared in pain so loud that the room began vibrating from his roar alone.
Slade: this one sure packs a bit extra power than normal. Its really been a while since one so strong appeared.
Hugh: that doesn't mean he is strong enough to kill me off.
From under the club Hugh started talking and soon after a white light glowed around his sword and a line ran along the club and met at the top. A few seconds later the club broke off where it was cut and fell to the ground.
Oni: GGRRAAAAAA!!!!!!!! YOU WILL PAY HUMAN.
Dropping the club the Oni sent his fist straight down at Hugh and was met with his sword. Soon after it was a large exchange of sword slashes and punches that threw Hugh into the wall and slammed him into the floor and ceiling. All the while Slade was spamming his blessings, healing and light arrows which kept Hugh going as well as making the Oni suffer so much but it couldn’t go after the bishop because the paladin in front of him was a bigger threat.
A long hour of heavy punches sword slashes and magic flying around and the two men were exhausted and barely holding themselves up while the Oni was in an even worst state. He had his left arm cut off his right horn had met the same fate leaving him with only have his mana. There were many slash wounds and holes throughout his body letting the black demon blood in his body gush out. His right eye had been gouged out from a stray light arrow and his right foot had been severed up to the knee and he was on the ground barely alive.
Hugh: Its...finally...over.
Hugh pushed himself up and with the last of his strength he climbed on top of the Oni and gathered his mana and with a single clean horizontal slash downwards he cut the demons in half.
Galton's Castle Cleared of all aggressive demons
Level up 20x
Baal: the many paladin cheered for the success of their great leaders and Plum bound forwards and began healing Hugh who had many injuries.
Lilian and I were both quiet looking at the message that appeared.
Throughout the whole dungeon fight we had been getting tremendous amounts of exp gaining 50 levels through up to now, Hugh and Slade killing the boss that rose us to 70 levels for this whole dungeon. Before coming here I was level 17 now that rose all the way to 87. I was also curtain that my stats were above the normal High Imps thanks to all the training.
Baal: Commander did you notice any non aggressive demons the message showed that all aggressive demons were dead.
Hugh: ya i saw here. YOU CAN COME OUT NOW!!
He yelled out towards a side door and soon we heard footsteps and a young green skin woman dressed with a few animal skins with two long daggers appeared.
Lona: so you knew i was here?!
Hugh: I spotted you yesterday and after we returned to check to see if you were still there we saw you drooling on your fur blankets.
I could hear some men chuckling behind me and even i could barely hold my laughter. I could see she became flustered as well after being told she was seen drooling.
Slade: so what did you want?
Lona: eh oh right i want to come along with your. I’ve always hated being here and i want to be somewhere else away from these monkeys. I don't want trouble.
Hugh: of course you don't if you did you would be lying on the ground just like him.
She gulped and was shivering hearing that.
Slade: well anyway you can come along we can take you to the pope and see if we can make a place for you within the church.
He face brightened up after hearing she could come along. She walked over but stopped after coming near me.
Lona: Y-you smell like De…
Before she could finish a light appeared.
Rachet Stone PoV
I was standing on a magic circle chained to magic restriction chains. The lich and dark priests and mages were already performing the ceremony to exile me. The demon lord was also their looking towards me in disgust.
Lucifer: this is so you learn your place. trying to kill me will only lead to your doom and i will leave your suffering to the humans.
Rachet: you know i just asked for a duel between royal demons not for your position. I wished to test my strength but i guess a crazed lunatic such as you will never see that. Paranoid rulers will always meet their doom in the near future and i hope i am a large part of that near future to come.
Lucifers face grew grim after hearing the young demons words. He knew of Rachet he was a charismatic demon that was born a high demon and was able to rise to royal which is a great achievement in its own right. He is also noble and trustworthy as a servant. The only reason he was being exiled was because of Lucifers paranoia.
Lucifer: a lowly demon like you think he knows anything. You are just a child compared to myself. Don't get cock brat cause you will only find death.
The circle started to shine brightly.
Rachet: It is you who shouldn’t get cocky. Those who comfortable sit on their high seats will always have a painful fall.
The circle shined to its peak and the spell activated exiling me to the human world.
As the light grew weaker i found that the chains were off or they weren’t transported with me. When i felt a ground under me i tried to suport my own weight only to fall over. I heard many voices and as i open my eyes which had been blinded by the light i find myself in front of many paladins of some church in the mortal world.
Rachet: The gods must hate me. They must all be laughing along with Lucifer himself
Those were my last thoughts before i blacked out.
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Hey here is the next chapter
any suggestions and ideas would be nice it would help me right more
all feedback would be well appreciated.
I need a new demon race for Baal i will be ranking both of them up to higher demon and Angel next chapter (Lilian will be angel)