The Demon Lord's Task

"It will be her decision," Joe said to Leopold. "I shall not force her to do anything. If she chooses to keep using her mana, I will allow it. If she decides to never use her powers again, I will find a way to keep her safe. I do not want her to feel as if I forced her into a decision, one way or the other." Joe glances at his wife noticing she is only attired in her undergarments. "Please be sure that she is dressed and brought to Tyrell's room for recovery."

"My lord—" Tyrell started.

"I know what you are going to say sister," Joe said. "Of course, you are not to leave her side. Inform me immediately the moment she awakens."

"Where are you going, my lord?" Tyrell said. "I thought you did not want to leave her side?"

"She is out of the woods now," Joe explained, "I know that she will recover with time. As to where I am going? I have something I need to pick up."

"Why don't you send a servant, my lord?" Tyrell said, "Surely it is not something you need to trouble yourself with."

"No, this task I shall do myself," Joe said. "Keep the castle safe until my return, you are in charge while the queen rests."

"The new queen will be in charge in your absence, my lord?" Tyrell asked, surprised. "Isn't it a bit too early to put her in charge?"

"I have tested her judgement and found it to be fair," Joe said. "Besides, I hope to be back before she awakes."

"As you command, my lord." Tyrell bowed as Joe left the room.

Joe made his way through the castle and removed his cloak once outside. He clenched both fists as he focused on his magic and his eyes burned with the purest fire. Two wings of flame erupted from his back, matching the intensity of his eyes. His wings unfurled and they beat the air effortlessly. He shot up into the sky and flew off into the distance in a matter of seconds.

Meanwhile, Marl was working hard on creating a bathhouse for his new student. He had no idea of all the events that had transpired. How Yuna was unable to enter the city, that she had been kidnapped by Hannibel, and how she had become the demon queen. He knew none of it. Instead he worked on his building till he noticed that the blue sky was turning an ominous black. Marl straightened with a feeling of dread. Someone of immeasurable strength, was fast approaching, with enough power to darken the sky.

"What is going on?" Marl said, his hammer dropping to the ground from numb fingers. "An attack by the demons perhaps?" He paused in thought, "No...this feeling of fear is overwhelming me, this is something else entirely. Why is he heading this way?!" Marl gasped in realization. "I don't think Max's barrier can withstand the assault of the demon lord!"

Joe was in fact flying towards Marl's house. When Joe used his void wings the amount of mana that left his body caused the very sky to change. It was as if the sun had set and night had fallen. Truly no being on the planet was his match.

"Did he grow tired of the game?" Marl trembled at the thought, "Come to end us all himself? He knows none of us are a match against him. Not even myself; with all my might." Marl put two fingers to his forehead, "Message!" He yelled. "Max, I do not know if you can hear me, but the demon lord is approaching the city! Gather everyone, everything, it is the only way you stand a chance! As for me, I will try to buy all of you some time. If I do not see you again, live well my friend."

At the hero's guild, Max did indeed receive Marl's message. He ran out of his office and past his startled bunny assistant. Running down the stairs to the main lobby, "Everyone! The demon lord is on his way!" Max yelled, "Gather everything you can! We make our stand here! If we fight him inside the barrier, we may have a chance! Fighting him outside of the barrier would only be suicide!"

Back at Marl's house, Marl walked away from his creation and headed towards the ominous force. "Looks like I won't be able to train you after all, Yuna." He said to himself as he resigned himself to his fate. "I need to stall him as much as I can, but wait. What if he doesn't stop at me and keeps heading towards the city?…No, what am I saying? I will make him stop, here and now!" Marl started to form the largest fireball of his life. He poured every ounce of mana he could muster within that fire. When he saw the dark winged figure fast approaching, he launched his spell.

"Hm, exactly who I wanted to see," Joe said as the fireball streaked through the air towards him. The demon lord all but ignored the mage's spell. He backhanded the fireball, as if swatting at a gnat. The fire erupted harmlessly in the sky, quickly falling behind him as he dove towards Marl.

The sight of his attack being repelled, with such ease, caused Marl to fall on his hind quarters. He sat there stunned on the ground in disbelief as the demon lord descended and landed directly in front of him.

Seeing Marl's fear on his face, Joe put away his wings. With a flicker of extinguished flames, his wings vanished from his back in an instant. The void mana receding from his eyes and returning to their normal purple hue. Joe looked down at the horrified mage and smiled, "I assume you are the mighty mage Marl," Joe said. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance human, my name is Joe, I am the demon lord."

"I know who you are," Marl said. "Why? That is what I do not know! Why did you decide to come and attack us now?!" Marl sought to keep the demon lord talking so that he could buy more time for those within the city.

"That's an odd question," Joe said raising a brow, "I am not attacking anyone. I came to fetch you, in fact. I believe you know my wife, Yuna. She is in dire need of your assistance. I know you have potions that have worked on her in the past."

"Wait?!" Marl yelled, shocked by the news. "Did you say your wife? Yuna?!"