Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Demon Genral Zalthrak
Barnack trembled in fear as the demon approached, flames of destruction and wails of agony accompanying him, in its palm, it held the lifeless burnt body of a villager.
The demon stood towering, it was almost as tall as the houses beside him which made him nothing less than ten feet tall, it possessed a monstrous figure that commanded terror. His immense frame was further menacing, one could tell the amount of raw power it possessed, and not just by the way it easily ripped apart the body it held, but by the muscles rippling beneath a layer of dark, scaly skin that shimmered like molten rock.
His skin was the color of the deepest abyss, a nightmarish black tinged with crimson highlights that glowed ominously in the dim light. Cracks and fissures spiderwebbed across his body, through which a hellish light pulsed and flickered as if the fires of the Nether itself raged within him.
His eyes were the most horrifying of all—two blazing orbs of fiery red that burned with an insatiable fury. They pierced through the gloom, promising agony and despair to any who dared meet his gaze. Slit pupils cut through the inferno, giving him a predatory, almost serpentine appearance.
From his forehead sprouted two massive horns, twisted and jagged like the branches of a cursed tree. They curved menacingly outward and upward, each one etched with runes that pulsed with malevolent energy.
His grinning mouth was filled with rows of razor-sharp fangs, twisted into a permanent snarl. Each breath he took was a growl, a low rumble that vibrated through the air and could set the hearts of even the bravest warriors quivering.
Sharp, deadly claws extended from his fingers, each one capable of tearing through steel and flesh with equal ease. His hands, massive and powerful, could crush skulls and snap bones effortlessly.
On his back, a pair of enormous, bat-like wings unfurled, each membrane tattered and worn yet still terrifyingly majestic. The wings stretched wide, casting an imposing shadow that seemed to swallow the already faint light of the night
The demon general was clad in dark, sparse armor, forged from blackened metal and adorned with symbols that glowed with an eerie, blood-red light. The ground at his feet smoldered and cracked, and the air became thick with the scent of brimstone and ash.
Elias and his group were trapped within the barrier of the teleportation circle, unable to do anything but watch,
"Let me out!!" Imaya's screams continued, Elias had to hold her back, or else she would have ran into the dangerous barrier.
"I'm sorry, we cannot leave the barrier or teleport without the key that the villager holds," Mathias said, "I'm afraid we are trapped"
Dickson and Nigel held on to each other even tighter than before, while even though Anias was trying to keep his composure, he was visibly trembling. Deep down in their hearts, they were glad that they were trapped within the barrier.
"I don't get it, why are demons showing up so soon? This is not right, for a demon of this caliber to appear so soon. It must be a demon general at least" Mathias mumbled to himself, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead
Mathias was right, the demon before them was a Demon general, one that Elias recognized all too well, 'There's no mistaking it, that isn't an ordinary demon, it is the demon general, Zalthrak, Ira's demon general. I used to fawn over how awesome his design was, but now that I'm seeing him face to face, maybe he isn't that cool' He thought to himself, as Imaya struggled to free herself from his hold.
"We have to leave now Priest!" Elias screamed,
'I'm sorry Imaya, but even if we all went at him right now, we have no chance of winning. He would wipe us all out with a flick of his wrist'
Priest Mathias was snapped out of his mumblings by Elias' voice, "R-Right, we need to get the villager to activate the key"
"What was his name again….right! Barnack!!" Elias screamed.
"Snap out of it Barnack, activate the teleportation circle" Elias screamed
But Barnack was unresponsive, he was paralyzed with fear, and his feet were stuck to the ground. Zalthrak reached Barnack, stared at him for a second then effortlessly swatted him away with minimal force, causing the poor villager to fly a few feet away, only stopped by a building he forcefully crashed into.
Zalthrak was now face-to-face with the group, the only thing between them and certain death was the barrier.
"You!! I'll kill you. I'll make sure I kill you for what you've done" Imaya barked with tears running down her cheeks
Zalthrak's eyes glanced over to her for a split second, and the moment his eyes met hers, she instantly became quiet.
"All bark and no bite" Zalthrak spoke, his voice was like a deep guttural growl
"I need to use the circle, get out" He ordered calmly
Nobody replied, they couldn't, they were paralyzed by Zalthrak's presence, with the exception of Elias of course. He had the blessing of Lira.
"Fine," he spoke, "To make use leave, you have to touch the barrier and say a few words of power"
Zalthrak raised a scaly brow, "I have lived for thousands of years, you think I do not know the implications of touching a teleportation barrier? You mock me boy" he said
"Is that so? If you are that wise, then you should also know that we cannot leave, without the key" Elias shot back
"Hmmm, being able to talk to me like this, you are different. Perhaps…"
In the corner of his eye, Elias saw Barnack's figure stumbling to his feet, he was bloody, had cuts all over his body, and had a hand dangling loosely.
He staggered, using his pitchfork as a support stick.
"Let's cut this short, you want to know where the key is, don't you? I'll tell you, on one condition. Only if you spare my life, you can kill the others"
The rest of the group's eyes widened and faces paled, draining of all color as they heard Elias' words.
Hearing Elias' proposal, a disturbing and mischievous smile appeared on Zalthrak's face, "Go on," he urged
"The key is a special type of remote key, controlled from a distance, the controller is in there. Once you're there, you'll feel its presence " Elias said, pointing to a building on the far end of the other side of the village
"A remote key? I haven't heard of that"
"You said it yourself, you're old. New changes come with new times"
Zalthrak stared suspiciously at Elias for a moment, "Alright, If I find out you are lying to me. I'll.."
"Kill me and the others, yeah. I know you have the power to do it."
Zalthrak scoffed, and with one powerful beat of his wings, he took off in the direction Elias pointed him to.
When the coast was clear, Elias screamed for Barnack to come forward
Zalthrak was gone now, so the group could speak now
"Nice quick thinking, chosen one. By the time he comes back, we will be gone" Nigel commended
"Yeah…" Elias said
The truth was, there truly was another key, a remote key but to gain access to it, Zalthrak had to pass a series of lock puzzles, and he couldn't resort to force either or he would damage the key.
Finally, Barnack made his way to the circle, he looked up at Imaya, "You were a good leader Imaya, your mother would be proud. Make sure to live a long life and have beautiful children" he said, smiling with blood-stained teeth.
"Just let me out!!" She screamed, but Barnack paid her no mind.
"Let me out please " she begged him as she sobbed profusely
"How dare you trick me?!!!" Zalthrak's voice thundered from the sky as he approached the circle with speed, carrying a large black box
"Now would be a good time to activate the circle" Elias chuckled nervously as Zalthrak drew closer
Barnack nodded, turned the key, and infused some mana into it, the runes on the circle lit up and the barrier grew brighter and brighter as Zalthrak inched closer. Barnack threw the key at the barrier, and in the blink of an eye, the group disappeared just as Zalthrak landed
"Haha, You're too la—"
Zalthrak ripped off Barnack's head in anger. His rage-filled scream pierced the night, and with a thunderous sound, the teleportation circle exploded
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone