Episode 7 - "A Demon and The Heir"

Part 2 - A Fight

The silence between Ikaru and the entity stretched, heavy with unspoken tension. The demon's crimson eyes narrowed as it studied the figure before it, the young man who seemed completely unfazed by its overwhelming presence. But then, something shifted in the air—a sudden, sharp surge of killing intent, like a blade slicing through the atmosphere.

Without warning, the demon extended its hand, and from its fingertips, a black, pin-like structure materialized, pulsating with malevolent energy. In an instant, it shot toward Ikaru, tearing through the air like a spear of death.

But Ikaru didn't flinch. With a swift and effortless motion, he tilted his head slightly, the deadly projectile whizzing past him and embedding itself deep into the wall behind him. The sheer force of the attack caused the stone to crack and crumble, leaving a jagged hole in its wake.

Ikaru straightened, his gaze locking onto the demon once more. His expression was eerily blank, devoid of emotion, yet his eyes radiated a chilling intensity. It wasn't fear, nor was it arrogance—it was pure, unfiltered killing intent, honed to perfection.

The demon let out a low growl, but before it could make another move, Ikaru spoke. His voice was calm, almost casual, yet it carried an edge that cut through the oppressive atmosphere like a razor.

"Aren't you an Abaasy Demon?"

The question hung in the air, and for a split second, the demon faltered. Its towering form flinched, its wings twitching as its crimson eyes flickered. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, it inclined its head in a subtle nod, acknowledging the truth of Ikaru's words.

Ikaru's blank gaze didn't waver, but inwardly, his mind was racing, piecing together the fragments of knowledge he had gathered over the years.

In his mind, he began to recall…

"In this world, there are two types of demons," he thought. "The first is the common demon race—a species that once lived alongside humans in ancient times. Their structures were humanoid, but their flesh bore unique hues: crimson red, deep purple, cerulean blue. They were intelligent, capable of forming societies, and, for a time, coexisted with humans. But one day, they disappeared without a trace. Their story became nothing more than a myth, their existence a forgotten chapter in history."

"And then, there are the Abaasy Demons."

The thought sent a shiver down even his own spine.

"No one knows where they come from. No one knows their purpose. They don't belong in this world. Their forms are grotesque, unnatural, and their very presence reeks of death. They are beings of pure destruction, capable of erasing entire races from existence without breaking a sweat. Legends say they wander between dimensions, drawn to places of great power or imbalance. Their arrival is a sign of calamity, a harbinger of annihilation."

Ikaru's gaze hardened as he stared at the entity before him. "And now, one of them is here, in front of me."

The demon's grin returned, its jagged teeth glinting as it sensed the young man's knowledge. "You know of us," it hissed, its voice dripping with mockery. "Impressive. Very few mortals even know our name, let alone our existence. But knowing won't save you."

Ikaru's expression didn't change, but his voice carried an icy resolve as he replied, "I wasn't planning on saving myself."

The demon tilted its head, intrigued by the human's unshakable composure. "Oh? Then tell me, mortal… why do you stand before me, knowing what I am?"

Ikaru's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His killing intent sharpened, enveloping the chamber in a suffocating aura.

"Because," he said, his tone steady and unyielding, "I'm not afraid of the abyss."

The demon's grin widened, and its laughter echoed through the ruin once more, a chilling sound that promised chaos. But beneath the facade of mockery, a glimmer of something else flashed in its crimson eyes—recognition.

This human was different. And the game had just begun.

--------------------------------------------------------

The tension in the air was palpable as Ikaru stood motionless, his blank eyes locked onto the Abaasy Demon. The demon's wings spread wide, its shadow casting a menacing veil over the ruined chamber. Its jagged teeth gleamed as it grinned, but Ikaru remained unfazed.

"I'll make this simple," Ikaru began, his voice steady, calm, yet filled with an unsettling authority. "Would you like to work for me, or would you prefer to die by my hands?"

For a moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint crackling of the residual dark energy lingering in the air. Then, the demon threw its head back and laughed—a chilling, guttural sound that reverberated through the ruins.

"Work for you?" it sneered, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "A mere human, commanding me? You must be delusional." Its voice dripped with mockery as it continued, "I thought for a fleeting moment you might be something dangerous, something worth fearing. But now I see you're nothing more than an insignificant mortal. I don't know why you didn't perish under my power like these pathetic mages…"—the demon gestured to the scattered remains around them—"…but I'll rectify that mistake right now."

Ikaru's faint smile didn't waver. "You should reconsider my offer," he said, his tone calm yet carrying an undercurrent of deadly seriousness.

But the demon ignored him, its wings unfurling as it raised its clawed hand. A dense orb of swirling black energy formed in its palm, radiating an ominous power. With a roar of fury, the demon hurled the dark energy ball directly at Ikaru.

Ikaru's body moved effortlessly, his form a blur as he dodged the attack with almost casual grace. The energy ball sailed past him, striking the wall behind.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened.

Then, with an earth-shattering explosion, the entire area behind Ikaru was obliterated. The ground trembled violently as a massive void of destruction spread outward, erasing everything within a ten-kilometer radius. Trees, rocks, and ruins—all vanished into nothingness, leaving behind a gaping expanse of pure emptiness.

Dust and debris swirled around Ikaru, but he remained untouched, standing amidst the chaos as if he were part of a different world altogether. His faint smile deepened as he mockingly remarked, "Wow. I haven't seen such power in a long time. Maybe you're not as useless as I thought." He tilted his head slightly, his tone dripping with amusement. "This might be interesting after all. You could be the perfect opponent for me to test myself… to toy with you a little. It's been so boring in this world lately."

The demon's expression twisted with rage. "You dare mock me?!" it bellowed, its voice shaking the very air. With a furious roar, it leapt into the sky, its massive wings beating furiously as it hovered above.

"I'll make you regret those words, mortal!" it snarled.

From its claws, a barrage of dark energy attacks began to rain down—spheres of destruction, jagged spikes of blackened nails, and beams of pure abyssal power. The ruin was bathed in shadows as the relentless onslaught continued, each attack capable of obliterating everything in its path.

But Ikaru remained calm. With fluid, almost lazy movements, he weaved through the attacks, dodging each one with precision and ease. He leapt into the air, his body moving like a phantom as he danced around the deadly projectiles. The demon's fury grew with every failed strike, its confusion mounting as it realized that no matter how many attacks it launched, none of them could touch Ikaru.

"How…?" the demon hissed, its voice laced with frustration and disbelief. "How is a mere human dodging my attacks?"

Ikaru hovered midair, his gaze unwavering as he replied with a faint smirk with anger, "Mere human? You should really stop underestimating me."

His voice grew colder, carrying a sharp edge. "But don't worry. You'll understand soon enough."

The battle was just beginning, and for the first time, the demon felt a flicker of something it hadn't experienced in eons.

Doubt.