Devil-bound Bounty
Author:© WebNovel
Chapter 1: Tragic Peace
Myscia City, a place that dates back nearly five hundred years, during the age of primordials. It's the most magically advanced country built by man with the combination of technology and the mystic arts.
A floating country of breathtaking beauty that overlooks the horizon and beyond, the only place each race could live in peace...until twelve years ago that is. Now what once served as a glorious utopia is a prison mocking our naivete.
My name is Reis and I'm the last living Angel, a race that is now nothing more than ancient history with their fall from grace signaling the end of life as we knew it.
...
Leifa
"Master Reis, are you ok?"
Reis
"Oh! …Yeah, I'm fine Leifa. I... seem to have zoned out is all."
Leifa
"Are you certain? Your face looked much paler than normal, maybe a day of rest is needed"
Reis
"I am fine. Promise."
(I did it again. It's been twelve years and I'm still reminiscing about mom, I still remember her death like it was yesterday. What am I doing with myself? Even after all these years I don't have an answer.)
Leifa
"Master, watch how you're flying, please. You nearly left the anti-barrier protecting the city."
Reis
"My bad, thanks, Lei."
Leifa, the girl floating next to me was my best friend, and also the family maid. We've grown up together alongside my little sister. She's looked after the two of us since we were little, despite being the youngest member.
The somber memories of our past started flooding my head as I continued to fly by Lei in silence for the next few minutes until I felt her warm hand over mine.
Leifa
"Reis-sama your classes start soon. We should speed up a bit so you're not late."
Reis
"I don't care either way...but you're right. I can't afford any more late appearances this semester. Just doubling our speed should be fine. "
Leifa
"As you wish."
With a flick of her wrist, the mystic wings begin to glow brighter increasing our travel speed as Leifa and I flew in silence the rest of the way.
…
RRRIIIING!!!
Reis
(Just in time. Thank heavens for magic)
With the bell signaling morning classes, I quickly slid into my seat just as Mrs. Tua, our homeroom teacher enters the room. She was an elf-hybrid and one of the strongest mages around, every student in school admired her one way or the other.
Rapping my pen against the desk I could feel the urge to fall asleep closing in. Glancing back the clock read five minutes past the hour, seeing everyone preoccupied with their notes I rest my head on the table for some shut eye only for the desk to burst in flames.
"OW!"
The desks were flame retardant meaning they wouldn't burn, but the heat alone was enough to jolt me awake. Hearing my class's laughter, I look toward the front spotting Mrs. Tua eyeing me sadly.
Tua
"No sleeping in class, them the rules. Please try and keep your eyes open Reis."
Reis
(So much for that nap)
Extinguishing my clothes and hair I sit normally forcing my way through the lesson.
After three more grueling classes the bell for lunch rings dismissing us for break.
Grabbing a tray of food I find an empty table and sit down, however, it isn't long before I'm joined by Resa, a classmate.
Resa
"Hey!"
Reis
"Hi, Resa, what's up?"
Resa
"Did you hear about the Devil King's recent attack? A group of hellhounds ended up burning away an entire island the other night before running off."
Reis
"Yeah. His troops are getting more and more aggressive. If any of his minions could fly, we'd be screwed. The barrier around this place is weakening, if only someone knew how to strengthen it."
Resa
"And who said there isn't?"
Reis
"You know somebody?"
Resa
"Me! I was talking about me! I found an old spellbook in my parent's archives yesterday, I ended up looking through it and found an old rune barrier spell."
Reis
"Rune barrier, isn't that a bit old-fashioned? Besides, the one protecting the country is a foreign incantation granted by the immortals, they're not gonna mix well."
Resa
"There is some risk since the means of each spell is different, but wouldn't this be a case where the possible benefits outweigh the risk? It'd be a huge help to the city Reis you said it yourself it's gonna give it out eventually."
Reis
*sigh* "I still don't think it's ideal, but I have nothing better. ...I'll meet you after school.
Resa
"Yes! Thank you! Let's meet in the forest behind the school."
Reis
"Yeah, yeah meet you there."
Giving me possibly one of the brightest smiles I had ever seen, Resa departs the cafeteria leaving me to finish lunch in solitary peace.
Yet even once I'm alone I can't shake the feeling something dreadful will happen.
After school ends, I go into the forest through the back gate as I feel my phone vibrate, a text from my sister.
Thalia
"Leifa said she's buying groceries for dinner. Want to walk home together? I'm down the street from your school."
Reis
"You're walking alone?"
Thalia
"Of course not. I have help from my friends, who else do you think is texting you?"
Reis
"Touche. I'll meet you at the gate in a few. Need to handle some business first."
Smiling to myself at our brief talk I felt a little more at ease about what was to come. Finding Resa in the deepest part of the forest he waves me over enthusiastically hands glowing.
Upon closer inspection, I could see his spellbook lying on an altar in the middle. The glow of sunset highlighted the page almost eerily.
Resa
"Now that you're here, let's get this spell done!"
Reis
"Y-Yeah!" I cheered trying my best to match his unbridled enthusiasm.
Grasping each other's hands, we commence reading the runes a brilliant glow of colors dyeing the trees as they begin to float.
Finishing with trouble the runes flew off to different corners of the city making contact with the barrier...a minute passed, and nothing had happened. A look of relief crossed Resa's face as he patted me on the back sighing.
Grabbing his book Resa headed in while I stayed behind, the bad feeling from earlier still resting in my stomach...and it only grew worse.
The barrier begins to change colors like a rainbow until it grew steadily blacker, and then...it exploded. Parts of the city erupted in flames as the sounds of people screaming began to fill the air.
Resa, who had raced back out stood next to me eyes wide in fear. The fear that struck us both wasn't from the fire but what followed after. A group of hellhounds surrounded the city almost instantly their eyes narrowed in our direction almost as if thanking us.
Resa
"T-T-They can fly! It's almost like they were waiting for an opportunity. W-What have I done?"
Reis
"Resa get it together! Those things are looking at us and we have to go, NOW!"
Mouths snarled and teeth ready at least twenty hellhounds and counting flew after us as I pulled Resa in the school, their fiery bodies bounding off walls, melting anything in their path to reach us.
Utterly outnumbered they circled us ready to tear us limb from limb as I stopped drawing my lance. The first one swiped at my eyes which I blocked and countered thrusting my spear in its underbelly.
On the other side of me, Resa was nervously trying his best to crush them with boulders, but their nimble bodies dodged every attack quickly pinning him to the floor.
Reis
"Resa!" I called out scrambling toward the earth nymph only to be forced against the lockers, two hellhounds forcing their claws into my chest.
Gritting my teeth I try and force them off only to be attacked by four more, their mouths sinking into my limbs.
Unable to hold out any longer I let out cries of agony feeling my flesh burn under the intense heat.
Thalia
"Brother?"
(T-Thalia?)
Forcing my eyes to fight through the tears and flames I see Thalia scrambling down the hall her eyes unable to see the danger before her. Turning their attention to the new prey the biggest hellhound tackles my sister to the ground forcing a terrified shriek from her mouth.
Leaving me be, injured and Resa dead they all conglomerated to Thalia with the means to kill. Bleeding out I feel my sight fading as my anger rises. Forcing what little energy I have I summon my angel powers and let out a blast of holy energy frying all the hellhounds just as my body goes limp.
...
....
...M..a
...Ma..s
Mas...te
...Master!
Master! Master!
My body sore and my eyes unfocused I wake up under a familiar ceiling. Groggily looking around I see a face off to the side I'm unable to make out but say her name anyway.
Reis
"Lei...fa?"
Leifa
"You're alright, thank goodness." Her usual stoic expression wavering she embraces tightly as if wanting to forget the pain I was facing. Rubbing her back I comforted her into she broke away making sure no sign of tears were seen.
Holding my chest, I began tracing the bites, the memory of what happened flooding into my head as Leifa stared at me understanding what I wanted to hear.
Leifa
"After the barrier broke large groups of hellhounds flocked through, roughly fifty died in the attack. I found the three of you alive but gravely injured. There weren't any hellhounds when I arrived, but one did manage to escape from being killed."
Reis
"Fifty dead. I knew we shouldn't have done the spell. Is there something else Lei, your face, it's pale."
Leifa
"Well...did you...use your angel magic?"
Reis
"Yeah, for a second, but only to save Thalia."
Leifa
"I see. Then we're in big trouble."
"Master the hellhound that escaped, it must be a survivor from your attack. There's been a bounty posted for the last living angel. The Devil King knows, and he thinks it's Thalia.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone