A sharp rapping on my door jolted me awake. Who would be calling so early? I was still exhausted from the previous day’s untimely emotional bonding.
I swung open the door, expecting to see Warzheil with another blacksmithing lesson, but instead, I found Gloria standing there, a surprising change in her demeanor. Gone was the princess attire, replaced by her battle gear, her mask firmly in place.
“We’re going hunting in the Illumin Forest,” she stated, her gaze lingering on my left hand, now safely concealed beneath Warzheil’s crafted gauntlet.
“Let me guess, Warzheil filled you in?” I asks, raising an eyebrow.
A hint of a blush rose beneath her mask. “We’re running low on food. Sil’s the only one who knows how to make vegetarian dishes, and she’s swamped with other duties.” Her voice softened slightly. “We’d... we’d welcome your help. If you’re willing.”
“Well, that’s a change of tune,” I says, unable to suppress a smirk. “Not that I’m complaining. Give me a minute to adjust my suit. It’s a bit snug after my recent... growth spurt.”
Gloria’s eyes widened. “Growth spurt? How old are you? A million years old?”
I laughs. “What? No! Just your average, middle-aged human. Forty-two, to be exact. I might be a god in your father’s eyes, but as far as I remember, I’ve always been human. Well, mostly human, now.”
Gloria’s shoulders relaxed slightly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. “So, you’re younger than me, then?”
““Physically, we’re probably about the same,” I admitted. “But you’ve got a few millennia on me, wisdom-wise.”
Gloria scoffs, crossing her arms. “Millennia on you? I’m barely older than a century. Don’t humans live short lives? How could you claim wisdom over me?”
I turned with a smirk. “Because wisdom isn’t about how long you’ve lived; it’s about what you’ve lived through. And trust me, I’ve been through more in my forty-two years than some might face in a thousand.”
Her eyes narrowed behind the mask, a hint of irritation flickering across her demeanor. “Oh, really? Facing the occasional hardship doesn’t make you wise. You’ve barely scratched the surface of what this world—or any world—can throw at you.”
I chuckles, leaning against the doorframe. “Is that so? Let me guess, your wisdom comes from growing up in a royal bubble, having everything handed to you? Forgive me if I’m not impressed.”
Her posture stiffened, her voice taking on a sharp edge. “A royal bubble? My father trained me to wield swords while your kind probably played with wooden sticks. I’ve led armies, faced demons, and borne responsibilities you couldn’t fathom.”
I raised an eyebrow, my tone calm but pointed. “And yet, here you are, learning to swallow your pride because you finally realized not everything can be solved by force. Don’t mistake experience for wisdom, Gloria. True wisdom comes from understanding, not just surviving.”
Her silence lingered for a moment, tension thick in the air. Then, she sighed, her stance softening slightly. “Fine. Maybe you have some wisdom. But don’t think you’ve got me completely figured out.”
I grinned, the tension easing. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Just don’t underestimate the ‘short-lived’ humans. We have a knack for surprising people.”
Gloria tilted her head slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Speaking of surprises, what exactly happened to your arm? It’s not every day someone strolls around with... that.”
I raised the gauntleted limb, flexing my fingers for dramatic effect. “Oh, this? Just your run-of-the-mill cosmic accident. Fell into a situation involving a collapsing dimension, a mad scientist, and a cosmic force. You know, typical Tuesday.”
Her eyes narrowed, skepticism evident. “You’re insufferable. But seriously, does it hurt? Or feel… different?”
“Different? Sure. It’s like having a built-in multi-tool, except it doesn’t come with an instruction manual.” I paused, a mischievous glint in my eye. “Actually, it’d be easier to show you.”
Before she could protest, I unfastened the gauntlet, revealing my left hand. Her reaction was immediate—a sharp intake of breath as her eyes widened in shock. The hand beneath wasn’t human; it was a demonic, draconic appendage. Black scales shimmered faintly, etched with crimson runes that pulsed softly with energy. The claws at the tips glinted like obsidian, sharp enough to cut through steel.
“What… what is that?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“This,” I says, holding it up for her to see, “isn’t just a hand. It’s a connection to Geolard, the 126th Demon Lord.”
Her gaze snaps to mine, equal parts alarm and disbelief. “You’re connected to a demon lord?”
I nodded, flexing the claws as they caught the light. “Not by choice, I assure you. Geolard wasn’t your typical demon lord, though. He’d grown tired of the endless wars, the bloodshed. When I… encountered him, he was looking for a way to break the cycle.”
Gloria’s expression hardened, suspicion clear in her eyes. “And what? He just handed over his power to you out of the goodness of his heart?”
“Not exactly,” I admitted. “It was more of a last resort. He transferred part of his essence into me during his final moments. He called it a gamble—a way to ensure his ideals wouldn’t die with him. The arm is a… side effect.”
“And the runes?” she asks, her voice tinged with curiosity despite her caution.
“Geolard’s way of sealing his knowledge and power. They’re dormant most of the time, but when I’m in trouble, they’ve got a nasty habit of waking up.” I lowered the arm, slipping it back into the gauntlet. “I keep it covered because, well, people tend to freak out. Understandably so.”
Gloria remained silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the now-concealed arm. Finally, she spoke, her tone measured. “You carry a demon lord’s power, but you don’t use it recklessly. That’s… surprising.”
“What can I say?” I says with a shrug. “I’ve got enough problems without adding ‘demonic overlord’ to the list.””
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the hint of a smile. “You’re impossible.”
“Takes one to know one,” I shot back.
Her amusement faded as she adjusted her mask, the action catching my attention. “So, what’s the deal with that?” I gestured at her face. “You’ve got everyone guessing what you’re hiding under there. Burn scars? A third eye? Or… is it just shyness?”
Her posture stiffened. “It’s not shyness,” she says quickly, a little too quickly. “Sil advised me to keep it on. She said…” Gloria hesitated, her voice dropping slightly. “She said my face could… distract people.”
I blinked, leaning back in mock shock. “Distract people? What are you, a goddess of beauty hiding in plain sight?”
“No!” she snaps, her cheeks darkening beneath the mask. “Sil just thinks I… look unusual. That’s all.”
“Unusual? Is that her polite way of saying you’re too mesmerizing?” I teases, a playful grin tugging at my lips. “Come on, Gloria, let’s be real. It’s either you’re stunning enough to stop hearts or so terrifying you’d scare a Bavarian out of its feathers.”
“You’re ridiculous,” she mutters, turning away, but not before I caught the faintest hint of a smile. “And you wonder why I don’t take this thing off.”
“For the record, I’m firmly in the ‘stunning’ camp,” I says, winking. “But hey, if you’re ever feeling brave, you could prove me wrong.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” she retorts, her tone laced with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
But the physical changes were the least of my concerns. I hadn’t eaten in days. Meat, even cooked to perfection, doesn’t appease me as I was raised in a culture that focused on celebrating life, not harming it to fill bellies, well not like I am the one to say about life. Meat still made my stomach churn. My transformed arm, however, had no such qualms, but it still felt wrong. I needed to find a way to satiate my hunger without resorting to… well, let’s just say Warzheil wasn’t thrilled about the last time I tried to force down a steak.
I joined the hunting party, a group of eight seasoned warriors led by Gloria and Kade. I recognized a few of them from the training ground, their faces now etched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
“Where’s my horse?” I asks, scanning the group.
Gloria raised an eyebrow. “Do you even know how to ride?”
“I’ve had… some experience,” I says, my voice tight. The memory of a motorcycle accident back on Earth flashed in my mind—the screech of tires, the smell of burning rubber, the searing pain… It was a past I’d rather forget.
“Hop on with me,” Kade offered, patting the back of his massive Greizer, a creature that looked like a horse bred with a lion.
“But Kade… he’s a slave,” one of the hunters, a young man named Brok, protested.
Gloria fixed him with a withering stare. “Brok, I released him from the bet. He’s a warrior, and a good one. You will show him respect.” She turned to Kade, her voice softening slightly. “You alright with that, Kade?”
Kade smiles, patting his Greizer’s neck. “Of course, Gloria. Plenty of room for two.”
I mounted behind Kade, gripping his armor for support as the Greizer took off in a powerful stride. The wind whipped through my hair, the scenery blurring as we sped towards the Illumin Forest.
“Not bad for a first-timer,” Kade says, chuckling.
“I had a superbike back on Earth. Treated her like family,” I replies, a wistful smile on my lips.
Kade raised an eyebrow. “A mechanical creature, you say? I’d love to hear more about that.”
We chatted idly, the conversation flowing easily, until we reached a trench. Gloria halted the group, her expression puzzled.
“This… wasn’t here before. What could have caused it?” she says, but as she got closer to look down, her expression turned grim.
Kade dismounted, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. “What in the world...?”
A sea of skeletons stretched out before us, their bony bodies marching in lockstep. The trench seemed to have appeared overnight, and the sheer scale of the undead army left me breathless.
Gloria’s voice was tight with concern. “We can’t take on an army this size. Must be around six hundred strong.”
Kade nodded in agreement. “We should leave them be. We can’t risk it.”
I frowned, unease growing in my chest. “What if they reach the village? We can’t just abandon them.”
Gloria’s gaze flicked towards me, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. “I doubt they’ll reach our village.”
“But what if they do?” I counter.
“We’ll set a Bavarian scout to monitor them,” Gloria says, her tone firm. “Now, let’s focus on the hunt.”
She assigned me to hunt solo, likely to keep my... unique abilities under wraps. I set off, my senses on high alert as I ventured deeper into the forest. A wolf pack caught my attention, their eyes fixed on me as I approached. I whistled, drawing them in, and they came running. Ten of them, their jaws snapping, their claws extended.
I readied my Ramoon spear, the dark energy coursing through it like a living thing. But as I prepared to strike, a Bavarian landed on my shoulder.
“Idiot,” it chirped. “We don’t hunt wolves. They’re protectors of the forest. Try hunting Groth rabicorns instead.”
The Bavarian’s advice was interrupted as it suddenly flew off, its chirping turning frantic. The forest, once vibrant, now felt oppressive, the shadows lengthening as the sun dipped below the horizon.
I wandered for what felt like hours, frustration gnawing at me. Activating my left eye’s full potential, I scanned for energy signatures. A faint flicker caught my attention—a pulsating aura of demonic energy emanating from a massive tree in the distance. Beneath its gnarled roots lay a motionless man.
Gripping my Ramoon spear, I approached cautiously. “Hey there,” I called out. “Mind telling me the quickest way out of this forest?”
Silence. The man didn’t stir. Something felt wrong, the air thick with an unnerving stillness. Suddenly, he sprang to life, lunging at me with a feral snarl. I dodged, my spear flashing out to deflect his attack.
A thick vine, pulsing with green light, snaked from the tree’s roots, wrapping around the man’s neck. The tree’s branches lashed out at me. “Clever human,” the tree hissed. “I’ve never met one who could see through my disguise.”
As the possessed man attacked, I parried each blow, noticing a flicker of awareness in his vacant eyes. Channeling a burst of thunderous energy, I sent him stumbling back, then launched my spear at the tree. The blade struck true, shattering the bark.
But my triumph was short-lived. A massive branch pierced my gut, the pain searing. The tree’s laughter echoed as it closed in for the kill. Summoning all my strength, I grasped my spear, the weapon teleporting into my hand as if responding to my will.
The tree’s laughter faltered as I struck again, its consciousness transferring to another tree. “You can’t kill me,” it taunted. “Only Holy magic or a Bone demon can harm us!”
Smirking, I extended my left hand, absorbing the tree’s demonic energy. Its screams filled the air. “No! You’re not human! You’re a Bone demon!”
I turned to the possessed man, my gaze piercing. “Tell me everything,” I demands. “But if you deceive me, I’ll ensure you truly die.”
I smiles, my eyes flashing with an unholy light. “Yeah, thanks for telling me how to kill you.”
As I absorbed the demon’s energy, the surrounding trees began to wither, their branches shriveling like autumn leaves. I remembered Geolard’s words—Bone demons could absorb tree pulp too. It seemed I had a new trick up my sleeve. The tree’s laughter was replaced by a defeated whimper. “I never thought I’d face a Bone demon in such a remote area...” it mutters, its voice fading into nothingness as its essence dissolved.
I turned to the possessed man, my gaze piercing. His body sagged as if the tree’s control had taken its toll. “So, you finally killed the poor guy?” I asks, my tone sharp.
The man’s eyes glowed faintly purple, his hair still black but streaked with silver. He nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “Y-yes... I had to plant my consciousness in this man’s body. Now I’m no longer a pure demon, but a half-human, half-demon...”
I raised my spear, its point hovering above the man’s heart. “Let me help you become pure energy then,” I says coldly.
The man’s eyes widened in terror, his hands trembling as he raised them in a desperate plea. “No, please! I want to live! I’ll be your slave for the rest of my life! Oh, yes, I know of the undead army’s plan... if you want, I can tell it to you!”
I hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing against my chest. The forest was silent now, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the distance. My grip on the spear tightened, but I didn’t strike. Instead, I tilted my head, watching him squirm. “Go on,” I says, my voice dripping with menace. “Tell me everything. But if you try to deceive me, I’ll chase you to the depths of hell until you truly die.”
ns 15.158.61.23da2
