[Special] A Demon's Backstory
「Keep walking you pieces of scum! Don't delay the damn line!」
(Do I even deserve this?)
「You lowly Demons should know your place! This is punishment for going against the Human Empire!」
(Tell me how? I just saved a Human kid from drowning. How did I deserve this mess?)
On the road to the royal capital, a line of prisoners was being forced to march by the emperial soldiers. Some had already died from exhaustion, food and water were not given to them that much.
It's a line of prisoners of war.
In that line a Demon had reached his limit, he fell to the ground due to the exhaustion and delayed the line.
「 This one's dead, incinerate the body」
「 Affirmative, [Fireball]」
A mage had casted fire magic at the body, cremating it and leaving the ashes for the wind to blow. It was still a long way to the capital, no one knows how many will only survive this death march.
On that line walks a Demon named Judas. He was captured after he had saved a Human girl that had crossed the Demon borders. He returned the girl to the borders but was repaid by an ambush by the guards. He was then capture and enslaved.
( Should I not have saved that girl? I could have stayed at my home land if it weren't for her)
Thoughts like these wanders his mind. It attacks his conscience, his morals.
( No. I did what was right. Its not the girl who did this to me. It was the guards.
I just hope I don't end up cremated by the time I reach their royal capital)
The march went on for 3 days without food or water. It was hell if some people would explain it.
By the time they had reached the Royal Capital, the number of Demons transported from the border lowered to 200 from a number of 500. 300 Demons had died on the way. Most of them were women and children who couldn't take the burden and exhaustion, dying from hunger and thirst.
「Next!」
Judas walked up to the cell and he was asked his name.
「State your name」
『Judas』
「Good, now enter the cell and wait for further instructions」
The Demon entered his cell along with 19 other demons. 20 of them were each placed in a medium sized cell.
「Eat up!」
They were given their share of food after quickly settling down. It was probably a reward for surviving the journey so they can't complain.
- - - -
They were kept captive at the capital for years. The reason? they were brainwashed and trained as a special force, the Demon Vanguard. The Demon Vanguard is a group of demons who had undergo special combat training to fight against their own race, or whatever the empire tells them to.
Due to the brainwash, they have no knowledge of their past self. They are mere puppets for the empire, doing all their bidding just by saying the orders.
Out of the 300 Demons who survived the death march, only a handful of 20 were part of the Demon Vanguard. Out of the remaining 280 Demons who didn't pass the criteria for the Vanguard, 120 had died from the training and the remaining survivors were sent to a lower division of the Demon Vanguard, the Demon Corps, who are ordered to defend the capital against threats.
The difference however is that the Demon Vanguards members have free will, though they have no knowledge about theirselves. The Demon Corps are like robots, having no freewill but to follow every command piece by piece.
The Demon Vanguard is then divided into two more categories, the Defense Vanguard and the Offense Vanguard. Only the Offense group are sent to battle, while the Defense group act like Royal Knights due to their power.
- - - -
「Judas wake up」
In the headquarters of the Offense a fellow Demon is waking up Judas.
『 Huh? What time is it?』
「 It's already late, we have a meeting with the General this afternoon, we should prepare」
『 Is that so? Then we should prepare then』
Judas stood up and fixed himself to get ready for the day. They took breakfast and it was time for their morning sparring, this is part of their daily routine.
As the two had arrived at the combat grounds the remaining 8 were already sparring. They have no choice but to fight each other.
「 I guess we fight each other huh? It's an easy win for me then, the great Vegas! Hahahahahahaha」
『You're being too cocky, I could beat you without a sword』
Both of them had a different class, Vegas was a swordsman who is very good in fighting with the rapier, a sword good in piercing strong defenses.
Judas however is a Monk, he possess great amounts of strength and is an expert in Martial Arts, though he doesn't need it that much, he also wield the staff as a weapon.
As they were both ready Judas threw a coin on the ground, as soon as it hit the ground, the battle had begun.
Vegas began the first move and rushed Judas to attack him. The battle however was already decided at the start.
The day before, Judas had learned the skill [Steel Body], using it before Vegas had stabbed him. The rapier didn't pierce his body, it is as if hitting steel.
After exchanging blows for some time, Judas had won due to the skill advantage given by [Steel Body]. They both rested after.
- - - -
It was now time for the meeting. Judas however didn't attend the meeting due to him being called by the Chief to assist in planning. As much as the Humans want to admit it, Judas was very good in planning, he has great leadership skills that could probably be good in battle or outside the battlefield.
After he returned to headquarters Vegas briefly explained the situation to him.
「So long story short, we will be sent to town of Goran to the South because a dragon had appeared there. We were asked to try and subjugate it with us being the Offense squad」
『 So when will the operation happen?』
「 We were asked to try and start on Sunday」
『Then we should immidiately prepare our supplies and equipments. Goran is a very far town from here we should get supplies for travel for about 3 days』
「 Roger that」
Despite not being the leader of the Offense squad, most of them just follow what Judas says due to him being a very good planner and is very knowledgeable.
『We should also stock up on potions, kindly request the empire for about 30 High Quality Potions so that each of us may get 3 each. They will probably agree due the enemy being a Dragon』
「 I'll get to it」
Another member volunteered to tell the empire about the potions, they acknowledge Judas' skills very well. He is regarded as second command of the corps. The leader, Cassim, is still held up by the General back in the castle. But Cassim always agrees with what Judas says, because most of the time his intuition is better than him.
The only reason for Judas not being the leader was the gap in strength that he and Cassim possess. Cassim, a Berserker Class, wields a giant axe, the difference between the power of him and Judas is tremendous, that is why he was appointed as leader for Offense.
The strongest among the Demon Vanguard however is the leader of the Defense Squad, Helena, a High Magician, is a Demon who was said to be the strongest among the Vanguard. She posses high Mastery in the control of Mana, and is dubbed the 'Mana Master'.
One time Defense Leader Helena once fought with Offense Leader Cassim. The results? A one sided beatdown. Cassim wasn't able to quickly react to her spells and was doomed by the gravitational magic that Helena had used. That is where she exceeds the most and her greatest affinity [Space Magic]
After a few days filled with sparring and checking equipments, the Offense group was ready to set out for the subjugation.
「Attention! Is everyone around?」
The leader, Cassim, lined up the Vanguard one by one, he then proceeded to hand them the 3 potions that Judas had requested.
「 Thank you Judas for the smart suggestion, now please do not waste these potions.
It's now time, we're going now」
「 「Yessir!」」
The Vanguard replied to their leader in unison.
「Judas, as usual I appoint you as second in command」
『 As you wish』
Judas agreed and the expedition began to slay the reported dragon.
- - - -
They had arrived at the location. All 10 members of the Demon Vanguard are now standing at the outskirts of the village. What they saw was something that was unimaginable.
「 What the fuck happened here?」
Corpses were scattered in the ground. Using Mana Perception, they cannot find a living soul. It was a massacre.
「Are they sure a dragon did this? No ordinary dragon can do this kind of damage」
「It's true, dragons don't destroy but only kill. It is not a dragon who went here」
「Shall we return to the capital then?」
The 8th Demon, Mila, asked.
「No. We shall investigate and subjugate the beast that had done this. We were sent here as a subjugation team, not as a scout team」
「 I apoligize」
『...』
Judas was still shocked and mortified on what he had seen. Hundreds of corpses scattered the ground, men and women, old and young alike. It wasn't very pleasant.
「Judas, your thoughts?」
『 Bury the corpses, bury every single one of them. We shall set up a mass burial by the hilltop there』
「 knew that's what you will say. Exactly as my thoughts.」
Cassim agreed to Judas' request because that is what he was also thinking.
- - - -
After the burial, they went to town hall and set up camp in there. Each of them then split up to find survivors, even with the slim chances, they still held on the hope that someone survives.
When they had returned.
「 Where's Jack?」
「We don't know. Maybe he is still out there? I'll go scan for his presence at the roof」
Mila scanned the whole town, but sadly, no signs of Jack can be found.
「 No signs of him!」
「 Shit what happened to that guy. Isn't he the most careful among us Vanguard」
『No. He is still alive, we shouldn't assume his death so easily』
「 That's right, Everyone split into 4 groups, Judas and Mila will go with me, the rest of you go in groups of two」
「「 Yessir!」」
Mila and Judas went with the leader, Cassim.
『 What do you plan now Cassim?』
「Shutup I'm thinking」
「 May I suggest something?」
Mila, the mage, suggested that they scan for Demonic Aura. That way, even if Jack was really dead, they can find his body.
「 Good plan, we shall do what Mila suggested. We stick together」
「「As you wish」」
『 Still, I can't imagine Jack being dead. He was the most careful amongst all of us』
Jack was an assassin. That's why they know that he was the most careful among them.
After searching the town until morning, they didn't find anything, except one.
「What the fucking hell did this to him!?」
By the outskirts of town a corpse of a Demon was found. It wasn't even a corpse anymore it was a mere shell of what used to be Jack.
「 There are no signs of any kind of energy from his body. This is strange. And he doesn't have mass, its only a shell」
『Bury him』
Because they can't move Jack, they collected dirt and just set up a mound on top of Jack.
『What happened to him is not problem right now, we should be careful on what did that to him』
「 I agree with Judas, although it is a very sad loss to find our dear friend for years dead, we can't slack off on our mission. We cannot return to the capital unless we kill what is doing this」
- - - -
Day 16 of the expedition, only 5 Demons were left alive. The leader Cassim, Judas, Mila, Perion, and the priest Lucius. The only difference right now is that they know what was doing this.
「 Isn't it time to retreat and call for backup?」
「We can't. The carriage is destroyed. We won't survive the journey without the food」
『 What was that?』
They heard a sound outside. It finally showed up.
She finally showed up.
What was slaughtering then wasn't a monster. It was a Fallen God.
[ Kufufufufu become my nourishment, surrender now anf die a quick death!]
The Fallen quickly declared that.
「So she finally showed up huh.」
「 As if we will go down without a fight! Kiss our asses bitch」
[ Oho. That's not the way to talk to your elders]
Despite the young looks. The Fallen was very old. It had come from the time of Gods. But dethroned and casted down for her evil deeds.
[Well I did ask you nicely. Time to feel pain now Kufufufufu]
「Shut up with your annoying laugh woman!」
Perion, the Hunter, was the first one to make an offensive move.
「 [Arrow of Wind]!」
Wind was moving around him, he now has the ability to shoot arrows of wind to the enemy.
[Useless.]
As if looking down at an ant, the Fallen Demon flicked her hand and casted the wind arrows away.
「 Impossible! No one can do rha」
[ But I just did it lmao]
This was a tough fight for them, they knew that if they got closer, they would just get absorbed. But the problem is that the range attacks were not working.
The Fallen went to the place of Perion and ripped out his heart. Lucius then quickly casted [Holy Grounds] to heal Perion. But it was too late, he had died. The Fallen quickly avoided the healing as if it was bad for her.
『 Wait』
「 Any plans Judas?」
『 Lucius cast that skill under her again』
「 Eh? Won't that heal her?」
『 Just trust me』
「 Well if you say so. [Holy Grounds]」
After he casted the skill. Judas' conclusions were correct. The Fallen was an undead type.
Undead type, gifted by extraordinary strength and never ending stamina, have a weakness. Holy Attacks and Healing.
[ Damn. I thought I'd hide it too]
『She's an undead type. Healing will damage her』
「 Mila what are you doing?」
「I'm using Alchemy to combine these potions, please buy some time for me」
Mila was a master of the [Alchemy] skill, she combined all remaining 16 potions to one.
「 Well, then we must buy time for Mila, Lucius act as a support while me and Judas attack head to head」
「Okay!」
『 You'll fucking pay for killing Vegas!』
[ Kufufufufu then try if you can]
The three of them clashed for an hour. Even if none of them were still hit, the advantage was still at the Fallen. Undead have unlimited stamina, she could fight like these for hours.
「 The potion is finished!」
「 [Holy Blessing:Life-force]!」
After Mila presented the potion and Lucius casted a spell on it. The spell blesses the item with very high holiness, the price however is 50% of the users life-force.
Seeing his weakened state, the Fallen quickly finished off Lucius. She absorbed the body and became stronger, Lucius was now in a state similar to Jack.
Mila tried to intercept but her magic wasn't effective.
[Fools. Mere demons are not enough to face me, I am a God!]
「 I guess we did our best then」
The three already knew they won't defeat her. But it's still worth a try to try and kill her. They can't give up that easily.
[ My next victim will be.... Hmm.... You!]
She headed for Judas, and had already used her draining ability.
『AAAAGHHH!!』
Judas was in a state of pain, he was being weakened, drain of his powers.
「 Oh no you're not!」
Cassim sent a quick drop kick to the Fallen. It stopped the draining of Judas, however, Judas was very weak now. He was also in a black state, as if realizing some things. It was then that time that he fell asleep.
「Mila I think Judas died, well definitely kill this bitch」
Thinking Judas was dead, the Fallen then targeted Mila. Her heart was pierced and blood spewed all around. But as a last resort she casted a high level containment spell.
「[Mana Prison: Holy]! If I die then we die together」
Intense pain was felt by the Fallen and she also can't move.
「 Nice work Mila, though it is farewell right now. We had a good time at the Vangaurd.」
The female mage was already dead, but her spell kept the Fallen from moving.
Cassim picked up the potion and went over to the Fallen. He will feed that to the Fallen, killing her and purifying her from the inside.
[ [Curse: Necrosis] Kufufufu then as she had said, if I die then you're also going with me! This curse will kill you in an hour, though its sad I don't have an instant kill curse, it's better than nothing]
The fallen was killed instantly from the potion. Cassim was the only one left on the battlefield.
- - - -
「Hey young man」
『What? Where am I』
「Young man you must wake up quickly」
Judas stood up and not having memories of himself. But despite that, he still contains memories of his comrades.
「 What's your name? I picked you up on the side of the road outside town, corpses were lined up and I saw that you were still breathing」
The two of them were in a carriage, the old man was driving it.
『 J- Ju- Juzo? Yes I think my name was Juzo, I can't remember anything』
「 Well then Juzo nice to meet you, my name is Roshi. Despite my looks I'm actually a pretty good handler of Illusory Magic you know? I'll bring you to my town, if you lack the memories then you shall create new ones at the town」
『Where are we headed?』
「 The Town of Asda」