Chapter Twenty Two

They weren't as tired after the fight as they fought an inexperienced demon, they easily found their way to the surface as there was an opening in the cave, probably its only way out. They resurfaced on the same path they had taken before making it easy for them to continue their journey.

Viper had been staring at Ryoko most of the way as she had become more curious about the girl, Ryoko had definitely changed since the demon possessed her before. She seemed just as cheerful as she had been before but she had an aura that wasn't there before like she was opening some new doors on her own and those doors looked like they led to some set of powerful powers and abilities, she wasn't worried though because Ryoko seemed to be in control of them this time and still had the sparkle of every twelve year old in her eyes.

"I think we should continue underground this time" Tatsuya said

"why we just escaped near death underground remember?" Karla said looking at him confused

"there's something up ahead and personally I don't wanna know what it is" they looked at him before agreeing

"okay move aside I think I can tunnel a hole for us to pass" Viper said, they moved a safe distance so they don't get tunnelled too, Viper placed her hand on the ground and closed her eyes taking a deep breath before pushing down creating a big enough hole for them to get through, when they reached the bottom of the hole she began tunnelling through the ground with ease.

"how can you tunnel so easily, are you like an earth dragon? Is that even a thing?" Karla asked

"no I am not an earth dragon but I did train with them about two years before coming to Opwood and yes earth dragons are a thing, they are the dragons of the south"

"oh wow so which ones are you guys" Ryoko asked

"we are both dragons of the east specifically japan, our parents are second in command to the king"

"oh wow so what's your real name?" Karla asked

"Yumie"

"are-"

"shhhhh" Tatsuya shushed them pointing upwards, they listened hearing a slight thumping which got louder as they went further then they heard a maniac laugh

"oh what a powerful warrior, if I eat your soul I'll become even more powerful than when I eat that from a normal elf" they heard

"it's gonna eat somebody?" Karla asked

"it said the person is a warrior so I'm sure they'll be fine" Viper said continuing down the tunnel

"help! Please help me!" after hearing the strangled cry they stopped for a while before continuing but Ryoko stopped Viper

"wait, get me up there" Viper looked at her like she had just run mad

"if you want to die so bad then say the word I'll help you" she said

"exactly I'm asking for your help right now" Ryoko said with a slight smirk

"no way" she put her hand on Vipers shoulder squeezing slightly but enough so she could feel it

"get. Me. Up. There." Viper shivered before sighing and changing direction tunnelling upwards

"ready?" she asked

"you know it"

Just as the hole appeared they immediately felt the aura of this demon, it was a soul eater, and gained it's strength by drawing energy from it's victim draining their life source.

"you can't do this!"

"oh really? Lets see just how much I can do" the demon moved its other hand to draw out the persons soul and life source but was immediately thrown away from him and he was caught

"are you okay sir?"

"actually I'm a girl" she said removing her hood and revealing her face to see a flustered Ryoko

"I'm so, so sorry"

"oi duck!" she quickly jumped landing on one of the crystal trees registering that the crystals were tougher than they looked, placing her there and quickly going to face the demon.

"what is this? Another strong soul, looks like the demon king is on my side today" it laughed again lunging for the dragon who lunged as well, there were clashes of fists and some landed attacks making the others scared for Ryoko as they didn't know if she could handle such a demon without any amount of training. The two separated after a while, Ryoko came out with a scratch while the demon seemed to have received a good amount of hits.

"this'll teach you to eat the souls of innocent people" she said jumping for it with the speed of light, it didn't expect her to come for an attack so soon and therefore couldn't defend itself, she didn't hit him though, instead she head butted it sending it into the ground following after him.

"the others weren't expecting such a move and were in shock before realising that they wouldn't be able to help her as she was underground, they ran to join her but she resurfaced soon enough.

"what happened is it gone?" Karla asked looking into the hole in the ground spotting its silhouette burning to ashes but it wasn't on fire

"yeah pretty much, turns out the power soul eaters gain from other creatures is only temporary in battle making them kind of weak don't you think?" she said with her famous goofy smile before looking for the person she had saved.

"hey are you okay?" she asked running to her as she descended the tree

"yes thank you very much"

"not a problem" she said before turning to join the others

"wait" Ryoko turned to her

"hmm?"

"I would like to know the name of my rescuer" she said

"oh sorry, its Ryoko and these are my friends" she said pointing at the group that had just joined her

"hello"

"hi"

"warrior huh?"

"really Viper?"

"what?"

"these are Karla, Tatsuya and Viper"

"I'm Elena Silver at your service" she said bowing

"wait a minute what do you mean by at my service" Ryoko asked confused

"where I come from, we devote the rest our lives proudly to whoever our rescuer may be and have just saved my life, so I may serve at your side the rest of my life"

"woah there isn't that a bit much? I just did because it was the right thing to do" she said waving her hands with a flustered smile

"and this is the noble thing to do, please mistress let me join you on your quest"

"uh I guess, guys looks like we have an addition to our group"