Growburn Village – Demons (1)

It’s not human strength.

A much thicker and darker energy.

Jade felt fear surpassing discomfort from that power.

‘W-what is this?’

All his body hair stood on end as frantic warnings screamed in his head.

He had never encountered energy of this magnitude in his entire life.

The closest comparison would be… the Dean of Vail Academy he’d seen before.

“First time feeling such tremendous Magi.”

“W-what? Magi?”

Annie finally grasped the situation at Jade’s words, biting her nails as she began trembling.

“What do we do? If it’s a powerful demon, can we win? Shouldn’t we run now?”

“It’s too late to run. Rena, do you know any way…”

In the rapidly escalating situation, Jade instinctively looked to Rena.

Someone as wise as her might know a way.

But Rena too stood stiff-faced, gripping her sword tightly.

“…Prepare. We’ll fight for our lives.”

“Then I’ll cast magic-“

-Crash!

The wooden door shattered as a black figure burst out at incredible speed.

“Dodge!”

-Thud.

“Ugh?!”

The moment Jade pushed Rena aside-

-KABOOM!

A horned something grazed past his eyes.

-Thump.

“Haa, haa…”

Jade slumped to the floor, cold sweat dripping as he saw the scene before him.

-Rumble.

A massive hole gaped in the dungeon wall.

‘I almost died just now.’

Had that attack connected, his body would’ve been shattered.

If not for Rena, he would’ve lost his life meaninglessly.

“You dodged that? No, did the girl save you? Pretty good instincts.”

The unidentified being dusted its hands before the gaping hole.

Regaining his senses, Jade quickly observed his attacker’s appearance.

A purple-skinned woman with horns on her head.

A pair of wings spread wide from her back.

These features left no doubt about her identity.

“Demon…”

This was Jade’s first encounter with humanity’s sworn enemy as the Hero.

“You’ve arrived.”

The dark mage immediately prostrated before the demon.

The demon picked up bone fragments from the devastated laboratory.

The very bones of the Ogre Jade had destroyed.

“I came quickly after hearing combat sounds during dungeon inspections… Seems I was too late.”

“M-my apologies! They were unexpectedly powerful!”

“So all our preparations are ruined?”

“Not entirely… But the losses are significant.”

The demon swept her hand through her hair in mild irritation.

“Tch, what a nuisance. At least think of ways to salvage this. Each outpost like this-hard for humans to notice-is precious.”

“Yes! I won’t disappoint you!”

“Good.”

At the demon’s words, the dark mage frantically began sorting through research journals.

“By the way…”

After briefly observing the dark mage, the demon turned her head.

“Will you fight me?”

“…”

Jade stood frozen, sword in hand.

‘What should I do?’

He couldn’t even grasp the demon’s power level to devise countermeasures.

Glancing sideways for any help…

Naturally, Rena and Annie were in the same state.

Both stood trembling with weapons drawn, silent.

The demon laughed mockingly at Jade and his companions.

“Hehe, seems you’re terrified. Why did you meddle with this dungeon then? Ah, brief introduction-I’m Raspa, a high-ranking demon.”

“High-ranking… demon.”

Jade grew more despairing at Raspa’s introduction.

According to academy teachings, their current strength couldn’t possibly defeat this demon.

His decision to explore the dungeon had brought everyone to death’s door.

“Will you stay silent till the end? How boring.”

Disappointed by the lack of response, Raspa kicked bone fragments.

‘If I’m going to act, it must be now.’

No time to regret past choices. He couldn’t just die obediently.

Jade rolled his eyes, subtly signaling Rena and Annie.

-Clench.

Fortunately understanding his signal, both tightened their grips on weapons.

“Such a waste of Ogre bones. They were valuable.”

-Swish.

The moment Raspa bent to pick up bone fragments-

-Snap!

Jade lunged forward.

Simultaneously, Annie cast prepared fire magic while Rena charged from the opposite side.

Two Aura-coated swords and a massive fireball surged toward Raspa.

Their desperate ambush carrying a sliver of hope-

“Kkh!”

“Ugh!”

Jade and Rena could only groan.

“Oh? Not giving up after all?”

Screeeech-

Two swords were caught in hands shrouded by black Magi.

Raspa hadn’t even blocked Annie’s magic-taking it directly with no visible damage.

“But you should’ve known your place.”

Raspa instantly moved both hands to strike their stomachs.

-Bang!

“Keugh!”

“Kyaaak!”

“No!”

Annie screamed watching them fly past her.

-Thud!

Jade and Rena crashed hard against the wall before collapsing.

“Huff… Huff…”

Jade barely rose using his sword as support.

The stomach blow caused internal trauma-nausea made it hard to focus.

‘Can I win?’

Like pounding against an immense wall.

Facing her directly, he truly felt the power of a high-ranking demon said to reach 7-star realm. Even with his near 6-star strength, harming her was nearly impossible.

It would’ve been difficult at full strength, let alone exhausted from fighting the dark mage.

“What’re you doing? Get up.”

Looking up, Jade saw Rena extending her hand.

“We die if we give up anyway? Let’s fight to the death. Best case-we capture a high-ranking demon.”

She was right.

As the Hero, he couldn’t falter here.

“Good thinking.”

-Grasp.

Jade took her hand and stood.

Meanwhile, Raspa wore an incredulous expression hearing their conversation.

“Touching friendship… But I can’t ignore talk of capturing me.”

“Then don’t. We’ll see who lasts longer. Ready, Jade?”

“No problem. Annie, cover us!”

“Got it!”

**

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

Jade and Rena attacked from both sides, but Raspa easily deflected everything.

“You’re weaker than I thought?”

Ignoring Raspa’s taunts, Jade gritted his teeth and swung his sword.

But even Aura couldn’t break the Magi coating her fists.

-Crack.

Each clash between Aura and Magi damaged the Aura instead.

How could Magi be this solid?

Jade felt disbelief beyond surprise.

-Whoosh!

A spear of fire suddenly shot toward Raspa’s face.

She might’ve ignored attacks elsewhere, but instinctively tilted her head from the face-targeting magic.

This briefly unbalanced her stance.

Jade didn’t miss this slight opening.

‘If I can’t break it, redirect it.’

His sword gently guided Raspa’s fist aside.

The blade slid past her hand, up her arm, shallowly cutting her skin.

-Slice.

“Huh?”

Startled by the wound, Raspa hastily retreated.

“Annie, keep doing that!”

Jade admired Annie’s strategy.

Realizing her attacks weren’t effective, Annie focused solely on Raspa’s face.

Meant to disrupt vision rather than deal damage.

‘If this continues, maybe some hope…’

“I fought honorably as a warrior, but your friend’s been annoying me?”

-Fwoosh.

“?!”

Raspa vanished from Jade’s sight instantly.

Where’d she go? To lose sight of her completely…

Jade frantically looked around until-

‘Annie?’

He spotted her appearing before Annie.

“No! Annie, dodge!”

“Huh…?”

Annie tried to evade while casting magic, but-

“Going somewhere?”

Raspa already at point-blank range kicked her viciously.

-Thwack!

“Kyak!”

“Raspa!”

Enraged, Rena charged at Raspa.

-Clang!

“Hehe, angry I hurt your friend?”

“Shut up!”

While Rena bought time, Jade rushed to Annie’s side.

He immediately checked her condition upon arrival.

“Annie! Are you okay?”

“…”

No response despite shaking-Jade’s heart sank.

“Don’t tell me…”

He urgently pressed his ear to Annie’s face.

-Shallow breaths.

Fortunately, Annie was breathing-just knocked unconscious by the impact.

“Phew…”

Jade sighed in relief.

-Crash!

Rena tumbled past him, rolling across the floor.

Even fighting together, they barely held on-Rena alone couldn’t withstand Raspa.

“Ugh…”

“You okay? I’ll hold her off-move Annie somewhere safe.”

After checking Rena, Jade prepared to charge again.

-Grab.

“Wait.”

Rena stopped him while standing.

“Why? Now’s the time-“

“Calm down first. We’re being too hasty.”

“…Alright. Are you hurt?”

Rena shook her head at Jade’s question.

“No. Look at me.”

A dangling right arm and blood trickling from her mouth.

Rena was as battered as Jade.

“Our mana’s nearly depleted too. At this rate, we can’t win. We’re only alive because she’s toying with us.”

“…True.”

Had Raspa been serious, Jade would already be dead.

For amusement, she prioritized defense over offense.

“Hold on.”

Rena paused to observe Raspa.

“Yawn… Is this really it? I expected more from a rare fight.”

Raspa sat cross-legged on a chair, yawning.

“See? Once she loses interest, it’s over. We must act while she’s careless.”

“Any ideas? The gap’s too wide.”

They’d tried every method-only that shallow arm wound succeeded.

“We must use your right eye now.”

“…Is it safe? She’ll realize I’m the Hero.”

Jade had avoided using his Hero’s eye power until now.

It might’ve turned the tide earlier.

But its glowing blue hue would instantly reveal his identity.

‘Then she’d kill or capture me immediately.’

The dark mage didn’t seem aware-a small mercy.

“Not using it was wise. She’d have killed or captured you otherwise.”

“So I judged correctly.”

“Right. By now, she’s fully gauged our strength and grown complacent. I’ll create an opening-use your eye to shatter her Magi and behead her.”

“Can I do it?”

-Grip.

Rena seized Jade’s shoulders.

“You’re the Hero. You can.”

“Planning strategies is fine, but how long will this take?”

Tired of waiting, Raspa stood up.

“Alright. Jade, understood?”

“Yeah.”

They nodded simultaneously before charging at Raspa.

Their coordinated assault resembled before, but Rena’s approach differed.

She attacked recklessly, disregarding injuries.

Wham! Slash!

Raspa’s fists grazed Rena’s arms and face, leaving countless wounds.

Yet Rena swung her sword faster.

-Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Ha! Look at this!”

The relentless assault briefly disrupted Raspa’s rhythm.

Jade didn’t miss Rena’s created opportunity.

‘Now!’

As mana gathered in his right eye, it began glowing blue.

The structure of Magi coating Raspa’s hands became visible.

‘Incredible density. No wonder Aura couldn’t withstand it.’

But nothing was flawless.

Jade spotted a thin Magi section on her left hand.

‘There!’

Without hesitation, Jade thrust his sword precisely at the weak point.

-Stab!

The Magi coating Raspa’s hand instantly shattered.

-Fzzzt!

“You-how?!”

Raspa stared in shock before noticing Jade’s right eye.

“Th-the Hero…?”

‘Last chance.’

Jade swiftly redirected his sword toward her neck.

-Clang.

But Raspa caught the blade with her other Magi-coated hand.

“Tch, hiding your identity until now. Good attempt.”

“Damn it.”

Had he failed again? No more opportunities left.

Despair washed over Jade as his last resort vanished.

But-

-Rip! Rip! Rip!

“Kyaaaak?!”

Raspa screamed as Rena shredded one wing with her sword.

Distracted by Jade, she’d left an opening.

“You bitch!”

“Hehe, how’s it feel getting beaten by brats? Your wing looks lovely now.”

Rena retreated mockingly.

The tattered wing barely remained attached.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. This is insane. I went easy and you overstepped?”

Raspa’s furious expression turned eerily blank.

“But you shouldn’t have made me angry.”

-Whoosh.

She vanished from their sight.

An instant later, Raspa materialized before Rena.

“Watch out!”

“Ugh!”

Rena desperately raised her sword to block-

“No mercy this time.”

-Shatter!

“Huh…?”

Jade couldn’t believe his eyes.

Raspa’s fist obliterated Rena’s Aura and sword in one strike.

“Imposs-“

-BOOM!

The direct hit sent Rena flying, bouncing multiple times before lying motionless.

Thud, thud, thud-crash.

“Re… Rena…”

She’d taken that destructive punch head-on.

Rena might be dead.

The horrific thought paralyzed Jade.

“Meeting the Hero like this… Today’s my lucky day.”

Having disposed of Rena, Raspa slowly approached Jade.

He had to kill her and save Rena.

“…”

But overwhelming fear froze his body.

‘How can I face a high-ranking demon who shatters Aura in one blow…’

“Given up? Makes things easier.”

Raspa’s fist hurtled toward the frozen Jade.

-Crunch!

“Keugh!”

Jade vomited blood as he collapsed.

“Done. I’ll keep the Hero alive for the Legion Commander. The girl was Rena, right?”

Raspa lifted the battered Rena.

“Hey, wake up. So confident earlier.”

-Punch!

“Keugh! Cough!”

The blow forced Rena’s eyes open in pain.

“Ch… kill…”

“What? Anyway, impressive cutting my wing with that skill. But you should’ve considered the consequences.”

The dark mage cautiously approached Raspa.

“Lady Raspa, truly magnificent! What of the Hero?”

“Ah, bind him and the girl securely. Can’t risk escape. I’ll deal with this woman first. Can’t let her die peacefully.”

“She deserves hell. I’ll prepare anything you need.”

‘Rena…’

Jade tried desperately to rise.

“Cough!”

Only more blood spilled with each attempt.

“Now, how to prepare her…”

“No…”

Helpless, Jade watched Raspa drag Rena away by the hair.