The Demon Village

The Demonic Dog's growl reverberated through the trees as Alan crouched in the underbrush. Smoke stung his nostrils—thick, oily, and wrong. The forest ahead flickered orange.

[Quest Update: Defend the Village of Broken Horns.

Objective: Eliminate the invaders.

Bonus: Rescue the captured demons.

Failure: Village destroyed. System penalty: -2 levels.]

Hmm, so I have to save this village now. He glanced at his cooldown timer.

[System Notification: Skill Cooldown in Progress.]

[Skill: Infernal Called - Cooldown Remaining: 2 minutes 45 seconds.]

William waited patiently, observing the scene carefully.

'Hmm, as I thought, they were slave traders.'

The demand for demon women and children in human countries was alarmingly high. Many people bought them just to show off their power, and the demand for beautiful female demon slaves was particularly high due to their renowned beauty. However, very few could afford them, as the price of a common demon slave started at a few hundred gold coins. Another reason for their high cost was their rarity. After losing the war to the heroes, the demons' condition had become dire. Other races began hunting them, reducing their numbers drastically. Those who survived fled to remote areas, making demon slaves even more valuable. The rarer something was, the higher its price—that was the rule.

William moved closer, carefully navigating through the trees to avoid detection.

The demon village was a cluster of huts built in the shape of giant mushrooms. The attackers were dragging demons from their homes—horned women and men, and scaled children. The scene was horrifying. A pyre burned in the centre of the village square, male demons strung up like animals, their black blood dripping onto the ground.

William's eyes narrowed as he spotted the leader, a barrel-chested man named Varkus. The commander kicked open the door of a hut, and a young demon girl stumbled out. Her pearlescent horns were cracked, her robes torn. Varkus backhanded her, sending her sprawling into the mud. "Pretty thing," he sneered, unbuckling his belt. "Let's see if your kind bleeds like the rest."

Nearby, cages were filled with demon childrens. They clung to the bars, their small, spindly bodies shaking as soldiers jabbed them with bayonets. A wizard in bloodstained robes stood nearby, chanting as his staff siphoned violet energy from a dying elder demon.

The demonic dog beside him growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the invaders. William placed a hand on its head, calming the creature. "Stay quiet. We'll move soon."

The system screen flashed before William:

[Kill all attackers and save the villagers. Gather your subordinates.]

♦♦♦

William tapped his demonic dog on the side. "Go. Silence the guards."

The dog obeyed immediately, blending into the shadows. Moments later, a growling sound came from the tree line. A soldier fell to the ground, clutching his cut throat.

[EXP +15. Stealth Kill Multiplier: x1.5.]

William smirked. "Good boy."

William moved forward, his focus sharp. He aimed at the sorcerer first, channeling his dark energy. With a swift motion, he unleashed a bolt of shadowy power, striking the sorcerer's throat. The man collapsed mid-spell, his staff clattering to the ground. The old demon, freed from the energy absorption, locked eyes with William. "Help them…" he gasped before falling lifeless.

[System Notification: Skill Cooldown Complete.]

[Skill: Infernal Called - Ready to Activate.]

[Quest Progress: 2/24 Enemies Eliminated.]

William's eyes gleamed with dark determination. "Finally. Let's do this."

He raised his hand, summoning the dark portal of **Infernal Called**. Three imps emerged, their grotesque forms cackling with glee as they awaited his orders.

"Kill them all," William commanded.

The imps surged forward, their claws slashing through the soldiers with brutal efficiency.

William followed close behind, his fists glowing with dark energy as he activated **Demonic Infusion**. He struck a man with a powerful blow, the enhanced attack shattering the man's armor and sending him flying.

[EXP +90. Level 3 → 4. Stat Points: Agility +2, Perception +1.]

William's muscles tightened, his reflexes sharpening as he leveled up. But then—*boom*.

A fireball exploded at his feet, throwing him into a hut. His health bar flickered: [HP: 58%].

"Rats in the party!" the fire mage shouted, his staff glowing red. "Bring him out!"

The imps attack the mage, they tore through the invaders, their rusty cleavers cutting down anyone in their path. The demonic dog joined the fray, its fangs sinking into the throat of a fleeing soldier.

[EXP +210. Quest Progress: 10/24 Enemies Eliminated.]

William turned his gaze to Varkas, the commander. The man had the demon girl pinned down, his arms twisted behind her back.

"Who are you!?" Varkas demanded, drawing a dagger and pointing it at William.

William didn't answer. He was drenched in blood—not his own, but the blood of those he had killed. The surviving demons, freed from their cages, joined the fight. Imps and demonic dogs attacked the remaining soldiers, turning the tide in William's favor.

[Quest Progress: 17/24 Enemies Eliminated.]

The demon girl suddenly moved, thrusting her broken horn into Varkas' eye. She screamed, snatching his dagger and stabbing him repeatedly. William didn't want her to take his kill, so he quickly closed the distance and plunged his own blade into Varkas' chest, ending the commander's life.

[Target Eliminated: Commander Varkas (Level 8). EXP +300.]

William felt a surge of satisfaction as the remaining soldiers began to flee. His demonic dog chased after them, tearing through hamstrings and ensuring no one escaped.

[Quest Complete: 24/24 Enemy Elimination. Bonus EXP 500.]

The demon girl approached William, holding Varkas' dagger. Her golden, slit-pupiled eyes burned with anger… and fear. "Why did you help us?" she asked.

"They were in my way," William answered calmly. He didn't mention the system or the quest. To him, it was just a means of survival in this strange, unknown world.

The surviving demons gathered around him, hissing and alert. A child reached for William's boot, and though he backed away, he didn't flinch.

[Quest Complete: Defend the Village of Broken Horns.

Reward: 1000 EXP. Level 5 → 6. Stat Points: Strength +1, Vitality +2.

New Summoning Unlock: Succubus Spy (300 EXP. Stealth Expert.)

Village Status: Honored.]

William looked at the demons. They were broken and devastated, but there was a glimmer of hope in their eyes. An old demon, whose power the sorcerer had been draining, was being helped to his feet by two men. He looked weak, as if he could die at any moment.

The old man extended a trembling hand toward William. "You are the messenger of the Demon God," he said, his voice weak but full of determination. "The prophecy was true."

With those final words, the elder demon collapsed, his life slipping away. The other demons murmured among themselves, some calling out, "Elder!"

William stood. His demonic powers surging. He had saved the village, but this was only the beginning. The path to vengeance was long, and he would need to grow stronger. Much stronger.