THE DANCING DEMONS

It was almost as if thunder had struck, as the demons claws clanged against the steel of the swords swung at him. He overwhelmed his enemies, evading the strikes, parrying, and attacked. His claws ripped through armor as easily as they did skin and bones. As his movements grew more and more intense, His claws started burning red, setting fire to what they sliced.

The bandits to regain momentum retreated a few paces, but Ken immediately lounged forwards, slashing at them. A sudden jet of water countered him, He was thrown back as if struck by a cannon although before crashing against any surface he used his wings to balance himself and stood up straight, covering his form with the black wings forming a shell of sorts which shielded him from the water.

"Ah, this is what I am talking about, it's no fun just to slaughter you all if you don't fight back," he said as he continued to laugh. The jets stopped, and Ken parted his wings emerging with a sword in each hand. Skipping through the enemy he entered the fray again, his swords shining by the flames he had lit up. As he showed his swords brutality and laughed, the pile of corpses on the ground grew larger. Ken stopped, all at once, looking around at the enemy, the burning bodies. The enemy struck again using the opening, but he simply flapped his wings, casting a gale throwing them off their feet. The enemy was still strong in number and Ken's wounds were healing unbelievably fast, He wanted to try out something, Ken spew fire onto his own swords which caught it and started glowing with the radiance of the flames.

"The flaming sword dance?!", Cyer commented as he and Kai saw the demon spinning with joy. Ken thrust through the air yet again entering the enemy's midst, and then he began dancing, the swords were flaming beautifully in the night's darkness, the yells and screams of the enemy cast as back drop,

"MORE, MORE, MORE..." Ken yelled as Kai saw a kind of crazed look in the demon's eyes, Ken cut through the enemy slaughtering the bandits, blood spraying everywhere.

"CLANGG!", Ken collided swords with an enemy who like himself was grinning, his eyes with a crazed look as well. Ken tilted his head backing off, swinging his swords to his sides with a jerk causing the flaming swords to release their fire onto the enemy behind.

"Another demon... well this is a pleasant surprise" Ken said as he stepped forward again, "Rank and station?" Ken inquired right after.

"I once belonged in the Imperial guard of the Pride family, a captain," the other demon answered with a slight bow, a graceful look on his face.

Ken too exhibited a grace that Kai had never seen before.

"Belonged? Are you a deserter?"

"Oh no no, not at all, I am free".

"How so?"

"My master had me die in combat."

"You mean your death was faked and you earned freedom,"

"I was loyal to my master, but he was to be executed so he set most of his remaining forces free this way."

"Ah so you didn't have to share your master's fate... how sad, what are you doing in this realm?"

"Surviving, living out my master's will the best way I can,"

"Loyal to end eh? I respect that."

"Yes, and you? you are? I must say you look familiar." The other demon replied looking at Ken his head tilted as well.

"I am from the Wrath domain,"

The other demons' eyes grew wider as he straightened up, and began moving,

"Stop, not here, not now, let us fight as we should," Ken spoke up stopping him. The other demon looked over to where Kai and Cyer were and nodded understandingly.

"You might be stronger, maj..." the other demon began,

"Kenviar is fine..." Ken cut him off.

"Kenviar then," the other demon continued, " but I am from the imperial guard, so I won't make this easy for you."

"Ahh, yes, that is what I want anyway, these weaklings are getting boring to kill." Ken answered grinning again as the other demon drew dual swords as well.

*CLANGGGG*

They engaged, swords crossed and then it began, strike after strike with the intensity of a thunderstorm, and the frequency of pouring rain. The sounds of the clashing swords echoed, flames everywhere, the burning and fallen foes yelling in pain. Screams of anger and agony along with the demon's cackle filled up the atmosphere. The demon's battle was happening at an incredibly fast pace, Cyer now completely focused on them a thin smile shone on his face.

Ken spoke, "an imperial guard ?!"

"You are really skilled maj.. Kenviar" the other demon corrected himself.

"On the contrary, I have grown rusty" Ken replied as he kicked,

"Oh, so this is rusty," replied the other demon blocking a strike with his knee.

"Getting tired from just this, Captain?"

"No, no not at all" he replied as he intent fully let go of one of his swords. Ken perceiving it as an attack struck it with his own making it race past miss judging the force applied, impaling a bandit behind. The other demon taking advantage, grabbed Ken's outstretched hand, flinging him on to the ground, causing Ken to lose his grip of his own swords.

"This... is the difference between talent and experience."

Ken on the ground moved his head sideways avoiding the sword strike that followed, smiling.

"I like this. Gets my blood racing." Ken commented still on the ground. This time being stuck square in the chest by the demon, as soon as the sword impaled Ken, he nodded,

"Indeed, you are one of the imperial guard's demons, you have proven yourself, now, let me show you the difference between us. Be proud captain, for you did not shame your master."

Finishing Ken stood up, causing the sword to be drived right through him, the demon laughed.

"It was futile from the start, but I am glad you gave me the opportunity to prove myself." and then he nodded, "It was an honor."

Ken swiped off his neck with a single strike of his clawed hand, it was so powerful that even the bandits close by were cut down by the mere winds that followed. Immediately setting flames to the headless corpse, incinerated in a matter of moments, Ken drew the sword out of his body, and placed it in his own sheath.

"Cyer, I am bored, could you take care of the rest" Ken finished as he walked back towards the rest, yawning.

Nearly all of the enemy was injured, most of them were critically wounded, and even more were dead, Cyer got up and made his way towards the burning field.

"Follow the plan after this right?"

"Obviously, it's even more necessary to now." Ken answered as he walked past him proceeding to sit beside Kai as he had been sitting, Kai just stared at the massacre that the demon had brought forth alone.

After half an hour, the devil's nest was silent, a minimally injured Cyer returned to Kai.