Chapter 38: Reunion


    <strong>38. Reunion</strong>


    Wait here.


    I spoke softly to Chase and Betty both of whom I beat in the race to Silvergrove as they were being tied to a tree. We had stopped just outside of the walls of the city, and were now preparing to enter it.


    [Quick Summon].


    Edithe raised her staff, and Mistshard came to her side. The [Elemental] pped her wings as she hovered just above her master. I turned to the damaged but still standing gates, then to a hole in the city walls a bit aways from it; a few Humans ran through it, stumbling across the rubble as they fled the city. The Human woman stepped up beside me.


    The gate here is still up. Seems like Lucerna decided to go around and force his way in there.


    Why would he do that?


    Daniel frowned. I looked over at him, remembering thest time I hade to this city.


    I think its because of all the adventurers. There were a lot of them more than Hazelbury too many for him to handle all at once. So he went around.


    That would have allowed him to get in the middle of a crowd of nonbat ss Humans, making the adventurers and guards hesitant to attack him; if I knew one thing about Humans after being around them for so long, it was that they mostly didnt like killing each other. <em>Mostly, </em>I thought, thinking back to the bandits.


    Then Lucerna would have been able to eliminate the adventurers slowly, while causing havoc and damage, gaining experience from killing those who cant fight back.


    And why do you know that?


    Thats what I wouldve done.


    The two Humans stared at me. I shrugged.


    They attacked me when I first came here. And this was the only ce I knew where Humans gathered. So I had thought ofing back eventually.


    I am not even going toment on that.


    Daniel shook his head, turning back to the copsed wall. He unsheathed his gleaming sword.


    Come on, before he causes any more destruction. Lets put a stop to his rampage.


    Edithe whispered softly under her breath, grasping tightly at herpanys badge.


    This is it. I will avenge you guys. I promise.


    I stepped forward, creating two daggers made of fire. I simply grinned as I walked ahead of my twopanions. We entered the city as a group of Humans ran past us in a hurry. I took in the surroundings of Silvergrove once, it had been bustling with life. Now the cityy empty. Smoke rose up from various ces in the distance, and the orange glow of the sunset was only entuated by the mes spreading wildly unhindered through the city.


    Hes stronger than us, you know?


    I spoke bluntly. Mypanions all faced me. Daniel to my left, Edithe and her Spirits to my right. I looked over at the still-standing gates chains hung loosely down to the side of the portcullis. I shook my head.


    Hes higher leveled than us. Hes more experienced than us. Hes killed more than us.


    I turned around, meeting their gazes steadily.


    However, levels arent all that matters. They arent the most important thing ever. Maybe to wild Demons but not to me.


    Daniel nodded slowly while Edithes face rxed a little.


    Well take him down, just as we did the Centinels, and just as we did the Giant Spiders.


    Right.


    Of course.


    I smiled, ncing back at the long metallic chain lying next to the damaged gates. <em>Just as I took down thatrge Demon too. Levels only matter so much.</em>


    --


    <em>Captain!</em>


    Get back, guardsman!


    A man adorned in thick metal armor shouted. He pushed the guardsman back, stumbling away from the ball of ash that exploded at his back. His enchanted temail took the brunt of the hit, however judging by the damage it had taken, this wasnt the first time he had been struck by the [Djinn]s deadly Skills.


    The Greater Demon roared as he charged the two Humans, but another voice resounded from the side.


    <em>Loose!</em>


    Arrows pelted the Greater Demons back, temporarily drawing his attention away from the captain and the guard as they stumbled to the side. A group of adventurers intercepted Lucerna before he could sh with the squad of archers.


    Captain Nathan, sir! Are you alright?


    What are you doing here? Ive ordered all Level 20batants <em>not </em>to approach the Demon. Youll only die and give it experience to grow.


    I know, sir. Ive brought you this thest of the healing potions from the west gate.


    Nathan chewed his lower lip for a moment, staring at the leather bag held out by the rather young looking Human man. Then he quickly epted it, taking a gulp of the healing potion as it closed his most grievous wounds, and nodded.


    Thanks. I whats your name?


    Cai, sir.


    Cai, you did a good thing today. But this is the only time youll ever break from your orders, got it?


    Yes, sir


    <em>Watch out!</em>


    A streak of hot smoke came rushing at the two Humans as they conversed. Nathans eyes widened as he saw iting. He grabbed Cai and pulled him out of the way just in time. However, just as they were getting up, there was a scream. An adventurer went flying as the archers ran back in terror.


    The [Djinn] raised his fiery spear, summoning a gray column from the twilight sky. The archers cried out in pain as they were engulfed in the burning ash, before they were quickly silenced. Nathan stared as thest of the adventurers spun around, broken and fleeing the battle.


    <em>Damn those Silver Ranks.</em> Cai, you get out of here right now


    He paused, blinking as suddenly all the Greater Demon saw was him and the guard. He cursed.


    <em>Go! </em>


    The captain raised his sword.


    <em>[Threefold Slice]!</em>


    His de suddenly extended, turning into three silvery lines as the Greater Demon reached them. The guard scrambled back as the Skill struck true.


    The [Djinn] bled, ck blood pouring out of the wounds left behind. Nathan parried the strike from the fiery spear, but was knocked back from the impact. He tried to get up, however he was too slow. The [Djinn] spoke softly with raised hands.


    <em>[Pir of</em>


    <em>No</em>


    Nathan cried out. Then he stared as a glinting arrow cut through the air, suddenly jutting out of the Greater Demons chest.


    <em>Lucerna!</em>


    I shouted from a nearby roof. I lowered my fire bow, letting it dissipate as I created a fire spike on each hand instead.


    Long time no see! Youre still missing that eye, huh?


    I threw the small projectiles at him. He took the hits, pointing my Spear of mes at me.


    <em>Imp, you shall die here! [Sphere of Ash and Cinder]!</em>


    I leapt out of the way just in time for the gray ball to wipe out all the tiles on the roof, recing it with ayer of scalding ash. <em>Im faster than him now. </em>I grinned.


    Inded on the street just ahead of Lucerna. I spread my arms out wide as the two Humans behind him got up.


    Come on! You couldnt kill me <em>twice. </em>What makes you think that you can now just because youre Level


    I narrowed my eyes.


    <em>Level 68! </em>Woah, youve been leveling a <em>lot, </em>huh?


    The gap between us had widened what had been a 25-26 numerical difference between us was now 32. He certainly had been staying busy, considering all the towns and cities he had attacked and all the people he ughtered. And yet, when he had been more than double my levels in the past, he was no longer even twice mine now. <em>Easier fight than therge Demon, </em>I tried to reassure myself.


    Lucerna stared at me, his eye burning with the same smoldering mes behind him. He pulled the arrow off his chest, releasing a deluge of blood from the open wound. His fury rampaged with him, destroying the city even when he stood unmoving. Why was he so mad? Didnt he want to die


    Take this!


    The Human in te armor swung at the [Djinn]s feet as the other guard got up and ran off. I blinked.


    What are you doing?!


    He yelled as he brought his de down at the Demon more than twice his height once again. Lucerna took a step back and <em>swiped </em>at his face. Nathan stumbled back, clutching at his bleeding head as his helmet was knocked off.


    The Greater Demon towered over him and raised the Spear of mes.


    Die, <em>pest. </em>


    <em>[Double Step]!</em>


    The world spun around me as I sped up everything became a glowing orange blur, except for the shiny armored man in front of me. I grabbed him and pulled him out of the way from Lucernas killing blow.


    The [Djinn] whirled up to face me in shock. I hadpletely blown past him in terms of speed. I had been a short distance away, and yet, I managed to move past him before he could even lower his hand. It was with a Skill, of course, but still he realized how much I had grown. I grinned as I saw his eye sh. He opened his mouth


    <em>Die you evil monster!</em>


    Ice and lightning crashed down onto the Greater Demon. Edithe and Mistshard came down an alley, hurling theirbined magic at Lucerna all at once. The attacks sent him flying through a nearby building, copsing the burning wooden structure down on him.


    My ears perked up as a voice drew me away from the fighting.


    You you saved me.


    I stared down at the Human man.


    <em>[Warrior - Lvl. 50]</em>


    He was one of the highest leveled Humans I have seen so far. However and maybe it was because he was already injured when I got here I wasnt too impressed with him. <em>Daniel can probably take him. </em>


    I ignored what he said, instead taking the bag of potions off him.


    Ill be taking this.


    ...what?


    Now get out of here. Youll only be in the way.


    But


    Do you want to <em>help </em>him level?


    I eyed him and he hesitated. He looked back at the volley of magical projectiles Mistshard and Edithe flung at Lucerna.


    <em>Remember me, you Demon?! You killed my friends! You killed them all! But you failed to kill me, and now youll pay for that </em>


    Then he looked back at me.


    I-Ill rally the remaining guards. And Ille back. It is my duty to protect Silvergrove, but I thank you for your help


    He looked at me expectantly; I gave him a confused look for a moment, then I realized what he was asking from me.


    Salvos. My name is Salvos.


    Then I thank you, Miss Salvos. For saving my life.


    I nodded once at him, watching him turn, following in the direction of the other Human guard. Then I nced down at the bag on my hand. I tossed aside the now-empty quiver, no longer needing to carry it around, and slung the bag of healing potions around my shoulder.


    <em>I hope I dont have to use all this. </em>The thought crossed my mind just in time to watch an ash explosion repel the attacksing from Mistshard and the panting Edithe. Debris and rubble were knocked into the air as Lucerna got up. He roared in anger, his booming voice sounding nothing like it had been when I first met him.


    He dodged the hail of ice Mistshard threw at him, quickly circling around the building and rushing at the alley. Just as he reached the mouth of the alley, a figure burst out of the corner and grappled at him. Druma, therge four armed [Yaksha], held the Greater Demon back for a moment, long enough for a figure to drop down from the roof.


    <em>[Crescent de]!</em>


    Daniels sword curved as it shed across Lucernas face. He screamed in agony, stumbling away with Druma as Edithe and Mistshard continued their barrage on his back.


    I sprinted up at therge Greater Demon as he pushed the [Yaksha] away from him. He blocked a st of magic from Edithe with his Spear of mes, but was too slow to react to me as I jumped up at his face. I raked a burning wed hand across his cheek, just below his one good eye as I flew past him.


    Lucerna took a swing at me and missed. Inded on the ground a bit aways from him, rolling to a stop as I spun back around. I took a moment to look at the burn mark on his face. Thest time I fought him, I was barely able to hurt him with a [Fire Strike], but now, just look at him. He had <em>felt </em>that, and he didnt like it one bit.


    The [Djinn] pointed at me. I saw smoke begin to appear from the tip of his fingers, but before anything could happen, Daniel swung at him from behind once again. Lucerna took the first hit and parried the second. He kicked the Human away just in time to have Druma on his back once again.


    He grasped for the [Yaksha] clinging onto his shoulder while Edithe and Mistshard ran up to his open front, continuing their assault on him from closer now. Daniel picked himself up and rushed the Demon, cutting at the thick legs with his de. I ran around Lucerna, creating multiple small balls of fire on the tip of each of my fingers, tossing it at his exposed and already injured parts wherever I could.


    We surrounded the Greater Demon. A Demon far more powerful andrger than each one of us individually. Once, I had been part of a group that fought against a Demon just like that. Yet, none of us worked together we could have defeated it, but instead we fled to save our own lives. Those who fought, fought alone, and they died as a result.


    I was the only one who fought that survived. And I knew from watching that we could have all lived if we had only cooperated. Just as mypanions and I were doing here. We were overwhelming Lucerna. He could barely fight back.


    Perhaps things back then could have gone differently, but unfortunately, it didnt. Now though, it would go differently. I had not been stronger than therge Demon then, but I had been faster than it just as I was faster than thisrge Demon now. In fact, I was faster than I have ever been. We would beat thisrge Demon together, and none of us would die


    <em>[Smoldering Return]!</em>


    Lucerna screamed, and the ground beneath him exploded. Ash and smoke burst out, knocking all of us back at once.


    Mistshard and Edithey coughing on the ground, on the other side of the street from me, while Daniel had been thrown back into an alley from the attack. Druma was the most hurt by it, his body burnt and charred from the attack as he flew and crashed onto the roof of a small house.


    I slowly picked myself up, mostly unhurt. I had been far enough away that I was the least affected by the Skill. Plus, my Ring of Lesser Protection took some of the impact for me. I narrowed my eyes, looking at the hulking figure standing within the smoke.


    A single glowing eye stared back at me; it was then I realized that I was not the only one who had grown since west met. Lucerna might not have be <em>too </em>much faster, but that just meant he spent his Stat Points on something <em>else. </em>


    The Skill he just used sent back everything we threw at him back to us in the form of ash and cinder. He had taken all the hits on purpose. He could tell it was not nearly enough to kill him. And I knew now it had been his [Vitality].


    I stared at the wounds covering his body, then back up at his face as the smoke cleared away. Lucerna grinned savagely.


    <em>[Pir of Eruption].</em>


    I stared as a cloud of molten ash gathered above me. Then I watched as everything came crashing down.