I felt the warming sensation of her peering through the bond, I sighed. I wasn’t exactly happy that she wasn’t resting as her mind just went through a magically infused battle. Even if the battle only lasted for a minute. A minute's time, that was still long enough for her own stability to fracture for the split minute.

I could sense she was recovering just fine, but her peering through my mind made me worried if it was going to make it harder for her to fully heal.

Focus. I told myself. I knew Maria could handle herself just fine right now as she rested. I needed to focus on the kingdom as it was slowly waking up as the sun was slowly rising over the kingdom.

There were a handful already dead and one saved. It bothered me when I failed to save those who perished. It bothered me even more knowing that it had been six hours since the first attacks had started and I have yet to be able to capture the devil that is taunting me so.

You will get him Théoden. Maria spoke through the bond giving me a burst of confidence through the bond.

With that in mind I set off through the kingdom once more. Doing my ninth round of the day. I usually do rounds in an hour, however with the increase in attacks I am pressing my rounds to thirty minutes or under. As I focused on the tracker on my wrist, the draconic sensations that plused through my body. My own sense alerting me to the dangers in the kingdom as my lair opened up those senses more.

I’ll get you… I thought through the bond as my senses picked up on the lesser devil once more. Blasted bastard. I grumbled.

I ran towards the sensation I received through the bond. And there he was. The lesser devil that shown his darkened wings and his pure black eyes. Eyes dark like the abyss. Skin torn and rugged. And his overall attitude, noticed.

“See the boss got to you.” The devil spoke in a harsh voice as he grappled onto a gnome woman who was pleading for her life.

The pain must have still been on my face, I however, did not feel any of it as my adrenaline was running too high. “Perhaps.” I responded. I drew my sword and pointed it at the devil.

“Now… Do we have to keep doing this? You lunge. You miss me. You hit. The same old, same old.” The devil teased as he gripped his arm around the woman’s neck tighter.

“And as much as I have hit you, you still stand.”

“The boss has special tricks.” The devil said as he showed me his leg where I have hit him twice. The leg was perfectly healed, well all but a faint scar.

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I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I noticed. “Please, they can’t be that special.” I said as I lunged for the devil.

And like the devil predicted I missed as he vanished and reappeared thirty feet away. With the woman in tow.

“You felt some of it. I sense it.” The devil spoke. “Besides, there’s not much you can do against me.” He teased me.

“Watch me.” I said as I lunged for him again. Attempting to avoid the woman he had grappled in the process. Missing them both. “Release her, so we can fight properly.” I growled.

“Not. A. Chance.” The devil said as he pressed harder into her neck snapping it. Her body fell limp before me.

I looked down at her in horror and looked up at the devil in anger. “This was the last one…” I growled as I pulled out the Dragon’s King’s crown out of my bag and quickly pulled off one of the gems and tossed it at the devil.

It was a fifty fifty shot if it hit or not and by fate, it hit. Locking the devil in place. I watched with a grin on my face as the devil’s body tensed as a magical barrier surrounded it. Causing him to fall limp next to the woman’s body.

Before proceeding to the devil, I stepped next to the woman and began to utilize the spell revivify. I prayed that the spell would work. I prayed that I wasn’t too late. I prayed I could save one more.

As time passed my heart began to fill with sorrow as I began to realize that she could not be saved. “Damn it.” I grumbled as I felt the spell finish but had no result. I held my head low for a moment of silence before staring at the devil I had magically chained.

“Now… who in the Hell are you?” I asked the devil as I turned my focus back to him.

He snarled, “What’s it to ya? All you are going to do is kill me anyway.”

“True, but I would like to know who I am killing.” I said as I walked over towards him and pressed my sword against the devil’s chest.

He took in a deep breath and released it. “The name’s Pavlo.”

“Pavlo…” I spoke back, “Why?”

“Boss’s orders.” He simply responded. “Boss’s orders…” he repeated as he closed his eyes waiting for death to overcome him.

And when it didn’t come right away he was surprised. “What… what is keeping you from killing me?”

“Something ain’t right.” I said.

Pavlo smiled up at me, “You just now figured that out?”

“What’s going on?” I asked Pavlo one more time. I had little hope that he would actually respond to me truthly, if at all.

“Three.” Pavlo simply said. “Kill me now.” He growled.

I looked down at him as he spoke the word three. “Crimson?” I questioned as I remembered Marcel’s signal to her.

“Time’s ticking.” Pavlo said as he managed to reach up on the sword and pulled the blade down in his chest, killing himself in the process.

I stood there stunned, as his hands slowly fell from my draconic longsword. I was confused as to why he just ended his own life. Perhaps it was because he revealed too much. Perhaps he was done with Marcel’s crap. Perhaps it was all part of Marcel’s plan.

After thirty seconds had passed I pulled my sword from his chest. I knelt down beside him and the gnome he had killed. “I pray you both find peace.” I spoke softly.

I sent a message to Morty and had him come take care of the two bodies. Once he arrived, I knew where I needed to go. I needed to get to the prison that I put Crimson in. As something was happening. Something was going on. And I didn’t know fully what it was, I just knew it couldn’t be good.