Blood and Demon

As he watched approximately two hundred knights march toward him with murderous intent, Matt knew he had accomplished his goal. Nina would have time to escape. Now he needed to survive long enough to find Zoh and join her.

"I hope you're already safe, son," he whispered to the wind, hoping somehow the universe would carry his love to his boy.

Drawing upon reserves of strength he didn't know he still possessed, Matt called upon his most powerful ability—one he had sworn never to use again after leaving his military life. The power that had made him both feared and respected in his former kingdom, the power that had earned him a place among the elite warriors of his time.

"Demon Rock Flash," he whispered, and felt the surge of power course through his veins as dormant demon blood awakened within him. The transformation began immediately—his skin hardened like stone, veins pulsing with unnatural crimson light that shone through the cracks forming in his flesh.

The price is high, he remembered his old mentor warning. Each use burns away a piece of your humanity. Use it too often, and there will be nothing left of the man.

A crimson glow emanated from his skin as he formed a blade of solidified blood in his hand—a Blood Sword, the signature weapon of those rare warriors who carried demon heritage. The crimson blade hummed with deadly energy, its edge impossibly sharp, capable of cutting through the strongest armor.

The knights hesitated at the sight, their training inadequate preparation for facing such forbidden magic. Whispers ran through their ranks—stories of the demon-touched warriors who had turned the tide of ancient battles, legends of men who became monsters to achieve victory.

"It's him," one knight gasped, loud enough for Matt to hear. "The Crimson Shadow of Alerian forces!"

So they remember, Matt thought grimly. Good. Let fear do half my work.

Matt used their moment of uncertainty to attack. Enhanced by the demon blood coursing through his system, he moved with impossible speed, becoming little more than a blur as he cut through the front line of knights. Each swing of his blood-forged blade left destruction in its wake, the magical weapon slicing through armor as if it were parchment.

"Spread out!" the general bellowed, his voice carrying over the screams of his dying men. "Don't bunch together! He can't take us all!"

But Matt was already among them, a whirlwind of death. The demon transformation enhanced everything—his strength, speed, reflexes, and senses. He could hear the rapid heartbeats of terrified men, smell the fear sweat beneath their armor, see the minute gaps in their defenses that no ordinary warrior could exploit.

The knights, despite their superior numbers, found themselves at a disadvantage against an opponent who moved too quickly to track and wielded a weapon that ignored their defenses. Those in the front ranks barely had time to raise their weapons before Matt was upon them, his technique flawless despite the pain that threatened to overwhelm him with each movement.

"He's just one man!" a knight cried out in desperation as his comrades fell around him. "Surround him!"

"One man?" Matt replied, his voice distorted by the transformation, deeper and resonating with unnatural power. "I am what you fear in the darkness. I am what waits when armor fails and courage falters."

The general, recognizing the threat Matt posed, barked orders to his troops. "Surround him! Archers, form a perimeter! Don't let him break through!"

The knights scrambled to comply, forming concentric circles around Matt. Archers positioned themselves at the outer ring, arrows nocked and ready to fire at a target that refused to remain still. Their discipline was impressive—these were no common soldiers but the elite forces of Turer.

Buying time, Matt reminded himself as he parried a thrust from a spear and severed the wielder's arm in the same motion. Every moment they focus on me is another moment for Nina to escape.

Matt knew he couldn't maintain the demon-enhanced state for long—the power came at a cost, burning through his life force with each passing moment. Already he could feel the strain on his heart, the unnatural heat in his veins that threatened to consume him from within. He needed to create an opening and escape before his strength failed him entirely.

With a roar that seemed to shake the very ground, Matt channeled more power into his Blood Sword, causing it to expand and elongate. The crimson blade grew to twice its original length, pulsing with deadly energy that made the air around it shimmer with heat.

"Fall back!" someone shouted, recognizing the danger. But the warning came too late.

Matt spun in place, the extended blade cutting a swath through the knights who had drawn too close. Bodies fell and armor shattered as the crimson arc of destruction completed its circle. For a moment, a perfect ring of space surrounded Matt, filled only with the fallen.

Now, he thought, seeing his chance. Before they regroup.

In the momentary gap created by his attack, Matt spotted his chance for escape. Driving his Blood Sword into the ground, he triggered a shockwave that sent knights flying in all directions, creating a path toward the forest edge. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward freedom, his enhanced speed carrying him past reaching hands and hurled weapons.

"Stop him!" the general roared, realizing his quarry was about to escape. "Archers! Fire at will!"

Arrows rained down around him, most missing their mark due to his supernatural speed. One found its target, embedding itself in his shoulder, but Matt didn't slow. The pain was distant, muted by the demon blood coursing through his system. The forest was just ahead—once within its sheltering trees, he could lose his pursuers and circle back to find Zoh.

"After him!" the command echoed behind him, followed by the thunder of armored boots as knights gave chase. But Matt had gained precious seconds, and in the dense forest, his knowledge of the terrain would give him further advantage.

As Matt reached the treeline, he cast one last glance at the village of Mish—his home for the past decade, now a smoldering ruin. Smoke rose from dozens of buildings, and screams still echoed across what had once been a peaceful haven. Somewhere in that chaos was his son, and beyond the village, hopefully already making her way to safety, was Nina.

"I will find you both," Matt promised as he disappeared into the dense undergrowth, the sounds of pursuit fading behind him. "Whatever it takes, I will find you."

The demon blood's power was already beginning to wane, pain returning in waves as his mortal body reasserted its limitations. The crimson glow faded from his skin, and the Blood Sword dissipated into mist. Soon he would be just a man again—injured, exhausted, and hunted.

But Matt Kuroz, former elite soldier, father, and husband, pushed forward. Each labored step took him deeper into the forest, away from his pursuers but also, he hoped, toward his family. The battle for Mish was lost, but the fight to protect his family had only just begun.

As he moved through the forest with practiced stealth, Matt's thoughts turned to Zoh. Where was his son when the attack began? Had he found shelter? Was he even now searching for his parents among the ruins?

I taught him well, Matt reassured himself, pushing through the pain of his injuries. He's smart and resourceful. He'll remember our emergency plans.

For now, Matt needed to circle around the attacking force, find a vantage point where he could assess the situation. If Zoh was still in the village, Matt would find him. If Nina had successfully escaped through the tunnel, he would rendezvous with her at the river as planned.

Hours passed as Matt made his way through the forest, using every skill at his disposal to avoid detection by the search parties that occasionally passed within yards of his position. The demon blood had drained his strength considerably, leaving him weaker than he would have liked, but his determination never wavered.

As dusk approached, Matt found himself on a ridge overlooking what remained of Mish. From this elevated position, he could see that the knights of Turer had established a perimeter around the village, presumably to prevent survivors from escaping. But their attention seemed focused outward, not inward—they weren't actively searching the ruins.

They've given up on finding survivors inside, Matt realized. They think everyone is either dead or fled.

This gave him hope. If the knights believed the village thoroughly destroyed, they might not be searching as diligently for survivors as they could be. This would give both Nina and Zoh a better chance of escaping undetected.