Elzarath’s pet

Elzarath's Domain

"Lord Elzarath, why wasn't I given the opportunity to end that young demon's life?" Nyroxia asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Elzarath barely looked at her as he sat on his throne, his expression cold and calculating. "I had urgent business with you, and I do not concern myself with the little games you play with those souls," he replied, his tone sharp.

Nyroxia tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "What is it that you require of me, my lord?"

Elzarath's eyes glinted as he leaned forward, his voice lowering ominously. "You know the drill. I need you to assassinate a Demon King candidate. He's weak, untrained, and has yet to master his powers. I want him gone before he becomes a threat."

Nyroxia's curiosity piqued. "Who is this candidate you speak of?" she asked, climbing the steps to his throne with feline grace.

"His name is Kuro Vespera," Elzarath replied, his gaze darkening.

Nyroxia froze mid-step. "Vespera? You mean the 10th Demon King? The strongest Demon King since time began?"

Elzarath's lips curled into a smirk. "I thought the same, but no. He doesn't seem to be directly related to that Vespera. Still, the boy has potential—too much potential. I can't afford to let him stand in my way of becoming the Demon Emperor."

Nyroxia chuckled, her amusement evident. "In that case, my lord, I'll send Meldos to handle him. That beast will make short work of a fledgling like him."

Elzarath nodded, satisfied. "Do it. This is the end for that little demon. A pity—I would've liked to see him fall with my own eyes."

Nyroxia descended to the dungeon, her footsteps echoing in the stone halls. She approached a massive cage where Meldos, an A+ rank demonic beast, stirred. Its glowing red eyes opened, and a guttural growl rumbled through the air.

"Wake up, beast," Nyroxia said with a smirk. "Your master has a new target for you."

---

Back in Purgatorio

The sound of chaos jolted Kuro awake. Groggy but alert, he noticed Alice and Aurora were gone. The distant echoes of screams and clashes filled the air. Without hesitation, Kuro rushed outside.

What he saw stopped him in his tracks. A horde of demon beasts swarmed the area, wreaking havoc. Souls scattered in all directions, fleeing the carnage. From atop a hill, Kuro spotted Alice and Aurora fighting valiantly, holding the beasts at bay.

Sliding down the hill, Kuro called out, "What's going on? Why wasn't I woken up?"

Aurora, mid-swing, replied sarcastically, "Oh, we thought you'd enjoy your nap while we fought for our lives!"

"Seriously, though," Kuro said, scanning the battlefield, "what are these things after?"

Alice stepped back briefly to catch her breath. "We don't know. But if they're not stopped, Purgatorio will be overrun."

Their conversation was cut short as the demon beasts suddenly ceased their attack, parting like a wave. Through the opening emerged a colossal figure: Meldos.

Aurora gasped, her voice trembling. "Oh no... it's Meldos."

"Meldos?" Kuro asked, his brow furrowing. "What's the big deal?"

Alice's face was pale. "That… that's Meldos. An A+ rank demonic beast. It's said to have defeated even S-rank demons."

"Lovely," Kuro muttered, sarcasm masking his rising unease.

Aurora stepped back, her voice shaking. "We need to run, Kuro. Now. That thing is beyond anything we can handle!"

Before Kuro could respond, Meldos let out a deafening roar. The air seemed to ripple with its power, sending a wave of fear through the souls lingering nearby. Alice and Aurora froze, paralyzed by the sheer presence of the beast.

Kuro gritted his teeth. If they're too scared to fight, we're done for. With a burst of speed, he scooped up the two women, dodging Meldos' first massive claw swipe by a hair's breadth.

Meldos snarled, its red eyes locking onto Kuro. Its speed was terrifying—it closed the distance in an instant. Kuro barely managed to evade, but the beast's claw grazed his arm, leaving a searing wound.

Setting Alice and Aurora down behind a boulder, Kuro turned to face the beast. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice firm. "You're too scared to fight right now, and I can't protect you if you're in the way."

"But—" Alice began, only for Kuro to cut her off. "No time to argue!"

As Meldos advanced, Kuro activated the system.

System Appraisal:

Demon Name: Meldos

Rank: A+

Description: Do not, by any means, engage in battle with this beast. Flee if encountered.

Master: Elzarath

Demonic Powers: Unknown. Survivors do not live to tell the tale.

Current Status: Dangerous battle. Flee immediately.

Kuro frowned. "Not exactly helpful," he muttered.

Meldos roared again, charging. Kuro dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed. Summoning his blade, The Eminence, he steadied himself. "Looks like I don't have much of a choice."

He lunged forward, aiming for Meldos' exposed flank. The blade connected, but it barely pierced the beast's thick hide. Meldos retaliated with a swipe of its tail, sending Kuro flying into a nearby rock.

Dazed but determined, Kuro stood, blood trickling from his forehead. "Alright, big guy. Let's see what you're really made of."

The beast snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing as it charged again. Kuro gripped his sword tightly, bracing for the fight of his life.