CH: 143: New Group of Demons

{Chapter: 143: New Group of Demons}

It's not going to be easy to get rid of them.

It was never easy to shake off a persistent trail—especially not in a place like this. Dex knew that from experience.

From the fractured memory remnants he had forcefully extracted from a now-dead demon, he pieced together a rough understanding of his current standing in this unfamiliar yet deeply hostile world. Though details were fuzzy and incomplete, it was enough for him to gauge that his power level placed him somewhere in the middle tiers of the demonic hierarchy—formidable compared to the average mortal, but far from invincible.

In this world, beyond a handful of elite individuals born with monstrous potential or blessed by divine entities, most mortals wouldn't be able to pose much of a threat to someone like him. But Dex was no fool. He understood that raw strength alone wasn't everything. The rules here were different. This world was sophisticated—ancient, perhaps. It had structure, order, and countless hidden traps laid by its long lineage of guardians.

Magical artifacts, divine intervention, enchanted terrain, spirit contracts—there were too many unknowns to blindly trust in brute force. A single misstep, and even a superior being could be undone by something as simple as a cursed talisman or a well-laid ambush. And judging by the memory residue, many of these mortals were under the protection of some very powerful beings.

"Can't be too careful," Dex muttered to himself, adjusting the torn, leathery cloak draped over his shoulders. His hooved feet kicked up dark dust as he walked along the edge of a blasted canyon, keeping an eye on the strange sky above—a sky that shimmered with unseen surveillance, as if a hundred watching eyes blinked slowly from behind a curtain of stars.

A faint chill ran through his spine, not from fear, but from instinct—an ancestral whisper that warned him to stay cautious.

"Hmm?" he suddenly stopped, tilting his head.

There. Movement. A subtle disturbance in the corrupted aether trailing behind him. Something—or someone—was approaching. Fast.

His glowing crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he turned around. A humanoid figure was rapidly drawing closer. The creature was tall—easily over three meters—and almost skeletal in build, though its limbs moved with a grace that betrayed hidden strength. A long, shadowy cloak billowed around it, revealing fragments of ash-grey skin underneath and a faint, oily mist that clung to its outline like a foul aura.

Dex didn't react outwardly. He remained standing where he was, arms at his sides, completely still. His face was unreadable, a look of calm indifference as the creature approached.

When the stranger was roughly ten meters away, Dex finally spoke, his voice cool and devoid of emotion. "That's close enough. What do you want?"

There was no hostility in the stranger's posture—at least not yet. Dex could sense the energy radiating from the being. It pulsed with power just slightly weaker than his own. Not enough to threaten him. This wasn't an ambush.

The being slowed to a stop and gave a slight bow, a smile flickering across its face. It was a disturbing smile—too calm, too friendly for someone in their line of existence.

"Ah, dear friend," the creature said, voice oily-smooth and unnervingly cheerful. "I recognize you. You arrived in this world not long ago, just like me. A fellow outsider, is that correct?"

Dex didn't answer right away. Instead, he studied the other demon carefully, weighing his words and tone.

The phrase "dear friend" was all too familiar—and dangerous.

Among demons, that phrase was more than just a greeting. It was a signal. A tell. Only those who had betrayed their allies dozens of times, sold out their companions, and wormed their way through infernal politics with a dagger in one hand and a smile on their face could wield it so casually.

This one was a veteran deceiver.

Still, Dex played along. "So what's the proposal?"

The stranger gestured broadly, arms opening as if unveiling a grand vision. "As you're no doubt aware, the overall goal of our kind here is to break through the defensive line that the mortals and their precious gods have constructed. But, well... let's be honest. We both know not every demon will follow orders. Many will go rogue, cause chaos, and potentially sabotage our objectives. That's just... our nature."

He chuckled softly, like someone recalling an inside joke. "I've decided to establish a cooperative group—call it a mutual aid alliance. A gathering of rational demons. Those who prefer to work smart, not just violently. Strength in numbers, safety in unity, and a little shared ambition."

Dex raised an eyebrow. "You want to form a guild?"

"Not quite a guild," the demon said with a wave of his hand. "More like an understanding. A safety net. We don't take orders from generals or dukes of the Abyss. We help each other survive and thrive. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

Dex almost scoffed. He had no doubt that if he turned his back, this little bastard would plant a dagger between his ribs without hesitation. But there was something amusing about the way he presented it—so open, so rehearsed.

And besides, Dex wasn't particularly busy at the moment.

"You've convinced others of this?" Dex asked, folding his arms.

"Twenty so far. All middle-rankers like us. None of the lower scum that'll charge into fire for a bone. We're thinkers. Survivors. People who understand the bigger picture."

Dex tapped a clawed finger against his chin thoughtfully. "Twenty demons, all looking for peace and cooperation. I never thought I'd live to see such a miracle."

The other demon smiled. "Then you'll join us?"

Dex gave a nod. "Sure. Why not? I've got nothing better to do at the moment. Count me in."

"Splendid!" the demon clapped his hands once, the sound echoing across the canyon. "Welcome, brother! You can call me Halt."

Dex smirked faintly. Halt, huh? The name fit him well enough. A temporary obstacle. Something that might delay a threat but never stop it completely.

"Dex," he replied. "Try not to get yourself killed before I do."

Halt laughed heartily and gestured for him to follow. "This way, Dex. Let me introduce you to the others. We're setting up a temporary hideout in the ruins of an old chapel about ten kilometers south. You'll like them. Very... pragmatic folks."

As they walked together through the ash-strewn land, Dex kept a mental note of every word, every expression, every lie wrapped in a smile. Trust wasn't something demons even have—and never without consequence.

But for now, he would play along.

Because when the time came, and chaos erupted again, alliances would shatter, blades would turn, and only the cunning and powerful would survive.

And Dex had no intention of dying in someone else's trap.

Not yet.

*****

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