747. Boing
I saw them— the mass of Demons populating the valley. Their colorful figures dotted the ground. Red. White. Blue. Green. Purple. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some of them were up to twenty feet tall and just as wide, while others were tiny, barely the size of my hand. There were [Imps] or [Fiends] or [Djinn], and they all blended together into a smudge of iridescent paint on the white ground.
These were the remaining legions that were loyal to Regnorex. Or at least, their leaders were loyal to him. Bound and collared, these Lesser Demons weren’t capable of rebelling, lest they would be killed.
That was why I was here with Manos. To free them— to get them to join our cause. However, while they were still under the watchful eye of their leaders, I had expected to make enemies out of them.
I thought they would fire spells my way as I flew over them. That they would unleash a barrage of projectiles up into the crimson sky, and I would have to weave around their attacks as I made a beeline straight for their leaders.
However, nothing came my way.
They must have been too taken aback by seeing Manos that they were at a loss of what to do. So they just stared at me as I flew over them, heading straight for their leaders who were gathered at a cliffside overlooking them.
I saw them. Just about fifty or so Primeval Demons. Maybe even more, or slightly less. I didn’t count their numbers exactly. I just swept my gaze over them as I nodded back down at Manos.
“You know, I can’t use all my Grand Skills just yet, right? They still need some time to cooldown after that fight with Jofis…”
“Don’t worry.”Manos snorted as he just looked towards one of the leaders of the legions standing before a crystal throne. She was a pink-skinned Demon who looked like a [Fiend]— but the pair of crown-like black horns that protruded from her head made it clear to me that she was a [Hellprincess].
And I knew who she was at that moment.
She was Chordus. The leader of the Second Legion. Or as Manos had called her—
The Infernal Lady Of Damnation.
My brows furrowed as I saw the way she looked at me, even from a distance. All the while, Manos just continued reassuring me.
“As long as we cut off the head of the [World Serpent], it will die. Same goes for this battle here.”
I paused when I heard that. I looked down at him.
“...are you sure about that? Have you even seen a [World Serpent] before?”
In response, the Executioner just shrugged.
“Nope.”
I sighed, but didn’t press him any further. Because we had finally reached the leaders of the legions.
I let go of Manos as he landed lightly on the cliffside, before I flew down next to him. The moment the both of us touched the ground, the gathered Primeval Demons all tensed. They raised their weapons or prepared spells, eyeing both of us nervously.
But Chordus stepped forward without fear. She crossed her arms as she looked between both myself and the Executioner.
“Manos the Executioner, leader of the Deathsquad Hunters, it appears you have heard my call for aid.”
“Indeed, I have. It’s good to see you, Chordus. It’s been a while since we’ve last spoken.”
Manos just grinned back at her in response. The leader of the Second Legion narrowed her eyes at him as she crossed her arms.
“I appreciate your hasty arrival, Executioner. However, I must ask…”
Her eyes darted towards me, and I waved at her.
“Why exactly are you here with the Enemy?”
Chordus asked flatly. Manos opened his mouth, but I spoke up first, shaking a fist at her.
“My name is Salvos— get it right!”
The leader of the Second Legion ignored me, just looking expectantly at the Executioner. He rolled his eyes, before nodding my way.
“Well, you see, I have made a… how do I put this? Ah, that’s right. A deal. We made a deal with each other.”
The Primeval Demons surrounding us exchanged confused glances. Even Chordus was surprised by this, although she tried her best not to let it show. Even still, I could read people, and I knew she was taken aback by it.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“You, Manos, chose to make a deal with the Enemy?”
She asked in disbelief, and I stepped forward, beaming at her.
“Yep— and I’m going to give all of you the exact same offer I gave him!”
Chordus eyed me dubiously. She waited for me to continue, but one of the Primeval Demons— a [Hellprince]— spoke up from the side first.
“And what exactly is this offer?”
I looked towards him as I spread my arms wide.
“Surrender.”
“Surrender?”
Chordus repeated after me in disbelief. A susurration of voices washed over the gathered Primeval Demons. A few of them even exclaimed in outrage, although a few remained silent.
“That’s ridiculous—”
“Why would we do that?”
“We will never surrender to you!”
I shrugged back at them as I turned to Manos.
“I mean, he surrendered, and he’s stronger than all of you! So you guys should surrender too— because then we’ll spare you, and then we’ll defeat the Demon King together!”
I grinned as I flexed an arm. None of the gathered leaders here could reply to that. Even Chordus was at a loss for words. After all, defecting was one thing, but actually thinking of bringing Regnorex down?
That was insanity.
They couldn’t even process what I had just said as I just smiled at all of them. The silence dragged out. The deafening lack of a response was an answer in itself. Even still, I pressed them even further.
“So, what do you say?”
And Chordus just snarled back at me, her eyes practically blazing as she spoke.
“Absolutely not.”
Her response jolted the other Primeval Demons out of their stupor. They turned to her, some of them shifting back nervously, while others nodded along in agreement, as she continued.
“The Demon King has given us all a home— a sanctuary— here in this hellish world. He promises us paradise. He promises us a world of no more pain and no more suffering. Not just for us, but for all of Demonkind.”
Chordus’s body was engulfed by a pink fire as her fiery gaze pierced into me.
“We would all die before we ever think of betraying our King.”
She stared at me defiantly, and behind her, the leaders of the legions all readied themselves for battle. I saw this, before I sighed. I had hoped we would be able to resolve this without any bloodshed. But unfortunately, it seemed that things would have to get bloody.
So I shook my head as I turned back to face my comrade.
“Well, that’s unfortunate. Manos, I guess it’s time for Plan B—”
And right as the words left my mouth, I saw a flash of gold. I blinked as I was struck by a giant axe, striking me in the chest. I stumbled back as black blood dripped from the wound, pooling at my feet.
I wheezed out in pain and stared up at the figure who had just attacked me.
At Manos the Executioner.
“W-what…?”
I looked at him with round eyes. And I was not the only one who was shocked. Even Chordus was taken aback by his surprise attack for a moment. Just a moment.
I dropped to my knees as Manos walked up to me, shaking his head.
“Oops, my hand slipped.”
He chuckled, before he came to a halt before me. He grabbed onto his axe, digging it further into my chest as I let out a cry of pain. Behind him, Chordus walked up to his side, a smile slipped onto her face as she nodded at him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have doubted you, Executioner. You nearly had me fooled there, especially when I saw you without your collar.”
“Well, sometimes, you just have to play the part really well.”
He just nodded back at her as he pulled his weapon out of my chest. I inhaled sharply in pain, before I finally found my voice.
“Manos… how could you do this?”
I glared up at the Executioner through gritted teeth as he grinned back at me. Next to him, Chordus just gave him an approving look, alongside the other leaders of the various remaining legions.
“You tricked me, you bastard!”
I screamed, only for Manos to heft his waraxe over his shoulder.
“Well, serves you right for being such a fool for trusting me, the leader of the Deathsquad Hunters. Seriously, did you really think I’d actually side with you?”
Manos rolled his eyes as he flicked my blood off his weapon. Chordus laughed as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“What a fool indeed. It is no surprise you were chosen by our King as the Executioner. Now— finish the job. Kill the Enemy, and rid our King from this annoying pest.”
She spoke as she looked down at me, an evil grin plastered on her face. Manos just nodded as he held up his axe again.
“Of course, of course. But before that, let me just—”
And then there was a flash of golden light once more.
However, it wasn’t a flash of golden light that filled my vision— in fact, it wasn’t even aimed my way.
This time, it was Chordus who blinked. She stumbled back as blood dripped from her side, and her arm fell to the ground. It happened so quickly, she barely stepped out of the way in time.
“W-what…?”
Manos had just lopped off her arm in a single swing.
The other leaders of the legions stared at what just happened in shock. Like they were processing what the Executioner had just done. And he only sighed as he hefted his weapon over his shoulder.
“Aw, I was aiming for your head. You’re faster than I thought, huh?”
And next to him, I rose to my feet. Even though my chest was still bleeding, it didn’t matter. I grinned at the [Hellprincess], and a healing potion flashed into existence in the palm of my clawed hand.
“Oops, guess you were the fool instead.”
I downed a healing potion as I bared my teeth at her. Chordus stared at me for a moment longer, still trying to comprehend the situation. And then she gritted her teeth, before screaming and pointing at Manos and I.
“Kill them!”
For a moment, the Primeval Demons behind her heard her words and did nothing. But then, one of them roared out and charged at us, before the rest followed suit. All the while, Manos and I braced ourselves for their impending attacks.
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