Chapter 23: Slaying a Demon (2)
While Pleiades was in control, I couldn't do anything but listen.
The voices were all soothing and filled with warmth, but I could sense something strange, almost forced, about them.
Even though the words they spoke comforted me, I could feel the emotions Pleiades was experiencing.
They were deep and powerful: regret, fear, longing, despair, loneliness, sadness, and more.
Listening to the voices made me shudder.
What would have happened if I were in control? Would I be hearing the voices of my parents?
"Someone... save me" a meek voice interrupted the cacophony for a moment, and when I heard it, my heart winced.
Over the months, Pleiades and I had grown close.
He still kept secrets, but he was honest with me—or at least, I thought so.
He had helped me in my times of need, offering guidance when I needed it.
He was confident, sometimes even a little cocky, stern at times too, but he still joked around and teased me or Nephis.
But now, it was clear—he had just been putting up a front.
'Damn fool' I thought, frustrated.
It was frustrating to think that he hadn't asked for help. But why? Was it because he was a little introverted?
'No... that's not like him'. The voices continued for a while longer until they gradually began to dissipate.
Soon, I could hear the rustling of leaves and the sound of waves again.
I could also hear Cassie and Nephis breathing heavily beside me. It seemed they had been assaulted by the same terrifying mimicry.
Below us, the Carapace Demon roared, clashing his scythes together.
The loud clang of steel echoed beneath the great tree, sending an almost palpable wave in all directions.
This wave seemed to expel the unnatural fog, creating an enormous sphere of clean air.
Pleiades still kept his eyes shut.
In the next moment, the whole island trembled as the demon clashed with the unknown horror hiding in the fog.
Something shattered with deafening thunder, and the ground shook again, causing the branches of the great tree to sway.
With trembling hands, Pleiades reached out and grabbed our companions, as if in a desperate attempt to calm himself before doing something rash.
Drawing them close, everyone held to one another tightly, listening to the sounds of the furious battle and waiting.
After a while, the fight between the Carapace Demon and the guest from the depths was over.
Silence returned to the Ashen Barrow once again.
I had long since lost track of time, desensitized to the tremors that shook the great tree each time the two monsters clashed. The sudden stillness startled me.
Pleiades turned his head, listening. It was completely silent now.
His breathing was calm and composed, unlike Nephis and Cassie's ragged breaths.
It was as if he had been prepared for this—as if he had known what was coming.
And in the quiet, his voice finally broke the silence:
When Pleiades finally spoke, his voice was steady, though it carried a weight of exhaustion, one that mirrored the emotions I had felt through him moments ago.
"We can look," he said softly, yet it cut through the stillness like a knife.
Cassie and Nephis stirred beside us, their breathing slowly returning to normal.
Cassie shifted nervously, probably just as uncertain as I was about what we would see once we opened our eyes.
But Pleiades' voice, despite the earlier display of vulnerability, was strangely reassuring. He had been through more than he let on, hiding behind that confident exterior.
His vulnerability had surfaced for just a brief moment, and now it seemed he had gathered himself once again.
Maybe that facade was crumbling, or maybe it was his way of protecting us. Either way, the battle between the Carapace Demon and whatever monstrosity had emerged from the fog had passed.
Slowly, Pleiades opened his eyes, and I could finally see what the outside looked like.
The pale light of dawn crept from the east, enveloping the island in dim twilight. Below us, the surface of the island was torn apart and upturned, almost unrecognizable.
It was as though the Ashen Barrow had been pummeled by rounds of heavy artillery fire.
'Damnation!'
On the surface, the Carapace Demon was limping back from the edges of the island, leaving a trail of azure blood.
He was heavily wounded, in terrible shape, with several limbs missing and a spiderweb of cracks covering his once-pristine carapace.
Three of his arms were gone, leaving him with just one scythe. Most of his rear legs were either broken or severed, forcing him to walk in an unsteady, awkward gait.
Yet, he was still alive. More than that, only some of the armor plates covering his vital organs were severely damaged.
That bastard was still alive and relatively well. But everything was still going according to the plan—just as Pleiades had said.
(Are you alright?) I asked hesitantly. I wasn't sure if he was okay. No, he definitely wasn't, not after that storm of emotions. No one would be.
He looked a bit confused but quickly raised his head, seeming to understand.
[You heard the voices?] His question was emotionless, which was unlike him. Normally, he'd throw in a quip or a bit of humor, but now, he sounded completely flat.
(I did.) He tilted his head and shrugged.
[Well, I'm fine. Peachy, actually.]
Almost as if he remembered something, he turned to Nephis, who was watching the limp Demon as it moved forward.
"Hey, Neph," he called. She turned to him with a questioning look.
Clearing his throat, he spoke calmly. "We have another target on our list—the thing that wanted some attention. Yeah, it's a new abomination on our hit list."
Quickly finishing, he asked for the [Azure Blade], which I summoned.
His raven flew down, perching itself on his shoulder, looking at him with concern. Sparing the bird a glance, he smiled and patted it reassuringly.
Nephis, still focused on the Demon, and spoke. "Why?"
The raven ascended into the sky, and Pleiades gave her a sidelong glance. "Because i'm petty."
Lifting his hand, he showed her his bloody palm. "And it made me do this. So, it's gotta go."
Not waiting for her reaction, he turned to the Demon and glanced around.
"Alright." Perking his head up, Pleiades gave Nephis a questioning look, expecting more.
"And...?" he continued, as Nephis blinked in confusion.
"I thought you were going to say something like, 'Don't let your emotions guide you down the wrong path,' or something equally boring and lame."
She frowned at him before turning her head, summoning her sword with a stoic expression. "So, with this, the plan will be finished, right?"
Standing up, Pleiades stretched, resting the [Azure Blade] on his shoulder.
"Yup. Just let the beefcake fight that little weasel and wait for it to get seriously wounded, with it now being wounded we stand a chance."
Judging by his insults, it was clear he was still mad at the abomination hidden within the fog.
Nephis nodded, scrutinizing the Demon while Pleiades walked over to Cassie. She turned to him with a weak smile.
"I take it the Demon isn't dead?"
He smiled, scratching his head. "Yeah, but remember, that was all part of the plan. Don't worry, and wait here. I'll get Sunny to cook up some delicious demon steak."
Her expression shifted from forlorn to confused. "Demon steak?"
He nodded with a grin.
She hesitantly reached out her hand. "Alright, it's a promise."
They shook hands, and Pleiades made his way to the edge. Nephis looked at him and asked if he was ready. Instead of answering, he gave her an annoyed look.
"Geez, do you have a heart? At least talk to Cassie a little."
Nephis blinked in surprise, then smiled. With a nod, she went over to Cassie.
[Damn, to think she could smile genuinely this early on. I really outdid myself, didn't I?]
He was full of confidence, and I smiled inwardly. (You really did.)
Soon, Nephis was by his side again. Both nodded at each other. "Like we said, I'll give you an opening, and you deliver the final strike." he said.
She nodded, and they descended toward the Demon. [Do you want to fight it, or should I?] he asked.
(You, of course.) I scoffed.
Pleiades muttered a slight curse before they moved closer to the Demon. As they advanced, I immediately felt a gaze filled with hatred.
The giant Demon looked broken and tired, but it was still terrifying—perhaps even more so than before.
Despite its horrible wounds, its gaze remained firm, full of evil intelligence, radiating madness and bloodlust.
Its murderous intent aimed at the two of them.
[Augment the sword with your shadow,] Pleiades instructed. I complied, and the blade grew darker.
"Careful," he warned Nephis. "He's fast."
She nodded, and they began circling the Demon.
In the battle plan, Pleiades was to take the brunt of the attacks, while Nephis would deliver the lethal blow.
As they closed in, the Demon shifted its stance. Both Pleiades and Nephis noticed, taking a step back.
Pleiades stopped while Nephis continued to circle behind it. The Demon turned its gaze to her, and in an instant, Pleiades dashed toward it, gripping the sword with both hands.
Hearing his movement, the Demon instinctively turned around. Nephis, now behind the Demon, dashed forward as well.
But then, Pleiades made a fatal error—he lost his footing and stumbled. The Demon seized the opportunity, swinging its last scythe to cut him in half.
Smiling, Pleiades disappeared just to the right, and the scythe hit the ash.
Without wasting a second, he aimed an upward slash at the scythe, but the Demon pulled it free, forcing Pleiades to halt and turn right.
Now, they were face-to-face. The Demon's eyes burned with fury, while Pleiades... giggled.
"Pfft... you really are butt-ugly."
The Demon didn't understand his words, but it definitely got the tone.
With fury in its eyes, it lunged at him. Pleiades ducked, disappearing again. Now, I could see the Demon's side—its carapace was damaged, revealing thick muscles beneath.
Positioning his sword, Pleiades slashed at it, spilling azure blood. He backstepped, narrowly avoiding a getting his head cut off by the scythe.
Nervously giggling, he tightened his grip on the sword. The Demon's gaze was locked on him, filled with immeasurable malice.
Then, he stiffened his muscles and exhaled.
"I haven't used this yet, have I? Let's see what it can do."
Just as he said that, I felt it. A coldness spread from my body, encompassing the entire area.
The Demon paused, visibly afraid. It backed away, and even its scythe trembled.
"That's what we call tyranny," Pleiades said. He massaged his hand, gripping the sword tighter, and pointed a finger downward. "Kneel."
As Pleiades uttered that single word—"Kneel"—an oppressive wave of darkness rippled outward. It was cold, unrelenting, and it saturated the very air around us.
The atmosphere seemed to thicken more than before.
The Carapace Demon, despite its ferocity and rage, froze. Its single remaining scythe twitched, and its mangled body quivered under the sudden force that pressed down on it. The malicious intent in its glowing eyes flickered.
Slowly, as though it fought against itself, the Demon's legs bent.
Its enormous, mutilated form began to sink lower, inch by inch, until its cracked carapace scraped the ashen ground.
It was kneeling.
The sight was nothing short of terrifying—a towering monster, once unstoppable, now bowing in submission. This thing was actually afraid, and obedient.
(That... that's new) I muttered, feeling the cold pulse through me.
Pleiades stood there, his aura of dominance radiating outward. His expression was blank, almost dispassionate and a little cruel.
"Neph," he said, his voice low and steady, "finish it."
Nephis, who had circled around behind the Demon, nodded without hesitation. Her sword gleamed in the dawn light as she raised it high, its edge aimed for the exposed, damaged section of the Demon's carapace.
With a single, precise motion, she brought the blade down, slashing through the broken armor on it's neck and sinking deep into the creature's flesh.
A howl of pure agony tore through the air, echoing across the island. The Demon lurched, its body convulsing as Nephis twisted the blade, driving it even deeper.
Azure blood gushed from the wound, pooling beneath its broken body.
The thick, noxious stench of it filled the air, but Nephis didn't waver.
With a final, brutal yank, she pulled the sword free, and the Demon collapsed with a heavy, sickening thud.
It was over.
Next Chapter: Moment of Respite
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