EPD 1 : CHP 4 : RASOQURA

"That's impossible! What on earth should we call this? I thought it takes a matter of weeks for the boss to arrive. This is only a few hours, and what now? This! This is insane," Maczed corrected. James grinned.

"I doubt if this is the true boss. This should just be a forerunner of the actual boss. So what do you say let's slay this thing," James said and drew his sword and grinned widely.

"But be aware… that's an energy kind of a boss," Maczed said as he still stared at the demon who was similar in evil stare.

"Think about it: he does seem powerful but we haven't slayed the forerunner yet or did you?" James asked and Maczed stared at him. His brain began to compose back to normal but then a surge of anxiety hit him.

"If he is the forerunner of the boss then—" Maczed was sharply interrupted by James' piercing words. "Shh. Just attack already."

James ran towards the demon with extreme speed and velocity. A cloud of dust followed his movements strictly. James slashed his sword at the demon but it vanished in thin air as James' blade cut through nothing. James blinked in awe and whispered, "What the... did it just teleport?!" James mumbled.

The demon appeared behind James. Its huge figure layed a frightening aura. Maczed also stared at it. James turned sharply and he sensed the presence of the demon but he got entangled with the demon's fist. The punch sent him skidding across the road and bruising himself in the process. The demon grinned widely.

Suddenly, the demon turned to see Maczed in the air above him. His sword was positioned towards his eyes.

It shot towards his eyes. Maczed pushed downward, let the sword & struck the demon's chin with it. He tried to counter the attack. To Maczed 's surprise, the sword didn't pierce into the demon's core. Maczed stared in shock. His blade had cut through countless demons. This single demon just proved to be too tough.

"What the fuck is this? Is this the…" Maczed mumbled to himself. Then his eyes widened in horror. He noticed that the demon's cold hands were wrapped around his right leg. He tried to use his left leg to kick off the leg-hand of the demon but the demon swung him off with great force.

Maczed slammed roughly against the houses, destroying the face of the buildings. A simple arc dust clouded the scene. The demon smiled evilly. A fine work by his. He was proud of it. James stared at the scene. His eyes widened in anxiety—in fear of the death of Maczed 

The dust cleared away and James could see Maczed slumped at the door of a building. His face was bloodied. His swords were meters away from him. James stared at Maczed as he noticed that Maczed was unconscious.

"Maczed!!!" James cried out in concern, dashing towards him. The demon watched him with a grin. He loved the uneasiness he created. James reached Maczed and touched his chest to feel his heart beat. It was still beating. Maczed was still alive.

"Really? Is this some sort of gay love?" the demon said and smiled. James stared at Maczed. His eyes widened in shock as he heard the demon speak. Only rare demons spoke human language. James turned slowly to stare at the demon.

"You guys are weak. Just a pity that your city is helpless," the demon said and raised its weapon up, weighing its massive weight. James stared at the demon mute, but suddenly a surge of anger coursed through his spine. His eyes glinted in fury and heat. He slowly stood up and looked at the demon. His blade was ready for the duel.

"That's what you think. I haven't faced you with my anger," James said as he took a step forward to the demon. The demon grinned.

"Really?" the demon remarked in irony. James smiled and sped towards the demon. The demon swung its weapon up, awaiting to smash James on approach. James reached him but as the weapon slammed to the ground, James backflipped twice and ran on the weapon to get to the demon's face.

"WHACKKK!!!" 

James kicked the demon hard on the face, causing it to be momentarily blind. James landed behind the demon and turned sharply to face the back of the demon. He tightened his grip on sword and slashed it against the demon with all his might.

To his surprise, the sword broke sharply into two. James stared in awe. He was momentarily numb. Unable to phantom what sort of demon this was, he just stood still staring at the back of demon. Just then the demon tilted his head sideways; his pupils which were red swirled to stare at James.

A flush of fear surged through him. He immediately backflipped. That single movement saved him from the crushing circumstance of the demon's weapon.

"I am Rasoqura. You can't imagine what I am," the demon said and grinned. James stared at him in surprise. Rasoqura grinned evilly.

"What the… What is he?" James questioned himself. Rasoqura grinned further, revealing his white fangs. James looked out to see how Maczed was doing but he saw no one there. His eyes widened at an instant. 

Just then Mozcad levitated high above Rasoqura and slashed his sword on his left arm. The sword cut in but it didn't lay a brutal impact. In fact, it was a mere scratch. Maczed stared in shock and moved away immediately.

"Maczed!!" James called out. Mozcad grinned. Rasoqura tilted back and to stare at Maczed; his eyes flared with fury.

"I was soft, and I had let my guard down on the very pretender. How stupid I am." Rasoqura let out. Maczed grinned sharply and dashed towards him with extreme speed. Rasoqura smiled devilishly. James decided to strike too. He dashed towards the demon also, moving with an unmatched velocity.

"There's no way it can dodge our strike at once. Let's see how this goes." James muttered to himself as he sped to Rasoqura. Rasoqura's right eyeball slanted to sight James. James' face expressed an extreme shock.

"How is that even possible?" Maczed thought.

That instant Maczed struck at the neck of Rasoqura, while James headed for the rib cage. Rasoqura smiled wryly. Both Maczed & James' eyes widened in shock.

KLINK!

 The sword of Maczed struck Rasoqura's bony frame, while James' punch missed Rasoqura's rib cage and struck Maczed 's stomach. Rasoqura used his elbow to strike James' head, forcing an odd flow of blood from every opening on James' face.

Maczed and James crashed against the ground, rolling away to some meters. Rasoqura smiled widely, savouring his power. Even with the grade of Maczed and James, they couldn't defeat him.

"You see, you humans are more mortals than we demons. Oh! I forgot that you two are Hunters." Rasoqura and grinned. Maczed raised his slowly. His brown wear was bloodied. His brown cloth was soaked with blood. He looked to his side to see James. His eyes could no more return warmth as red blood slowly. Maczed grinned in anger.

"You'll pay!!" Maczed exclaimed in anger and picked up his two swords.

He stood up slowly. Rasoqura stared and raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?" Rasoqura mocked. Maczed grinned and bowed his head lowly and positioned his two swords for attack.

"Does it actually matter? We are Hunters. You are a demon. Does it it matter? Whether a Hunter, human or demon, we are all mortals. And as such, we all can die. So with that in mind… you can also die!!!" Maczed exclaimed and dived towards Rasoqura.

Rotating in the air and using his Tornado-Invado to move with extreme speed. Rasoqura stared at him in shock at his speed. That instant, a blade cut through Rasoqura's right hand. Rasoqura stared in shock. Maczed moved around the demon to get to his left side. Rasoqura stared left and saw Maczed by his side. He raised his weapon above Maczed 's head, aiming for a squash. Maczed noticed the attempt and increased his speed. He struck the leg of Rasoqura.

A chunk of Rasoqura's left leg fell off. Maczed slid out to face him as the weapon smashed the ground, creating a huge impact on the ground beneath it.

James opened his eyes lightly to see Maczed. His eyes widened in shock as he saw that the Rasoqura's right hand was chopped off.

"What the…" James muttered to himself. "Did he just do that? Well, Maczed is one who grows stronger as situation permits; his insane will to protect his loved one is his source of strength.Hmm" James said to himself and smiled.

Maczed stared at Rasoqura who grinned angrily. Maczed chuckled a little. Rasoqura raised his weapon high and smiled suddenly.

"Really, I haven't used my weapon against you two. You just forced me to." Rasoqura said as he dashed towards Maczed with extreme speed. Maczed 's eyes widened in shock.

"How is he fast with a weapon that large and big?" Maczed wondered. Immediately, Mozcad moved away as Rasoqura struck thin air. Maczed looked at Rasoqura and smiled lightly.

"Seems like I have brought your best." Maczed said but his eyes widened in shock instantly. Just then, Rasoqura appeared behind him and smiled. "Huh?"

WHACKK!!! Rasoqura smashed him with his weapon and he crashed against the buildings. Maczed fell off and lay flat on the ground. Rasoqura smiled widely.

"Such is mortality. So weak are you that you can't protect yourself. I must commend, you are strong. And your strength will still be able to alter that. But you are not strong enough!" Rasoqura exclaimed and slammed his weapon against the ground. The wave it created, slammed at Mozcad, sending him against the building.

Maczed slumped on the ground; his blood gushed steadily. His clothes were totally soaked with his blood. Rasoqura stared in shock as Maczed stood up. That wave was strong enough to kill him. Rasoqura grinned and tightened his grip on his weapon. Maczed let his head down but his head went up in an instant. His face bloodied, looked more brutalised. A smile crossed his lips.

"You gave me your best now see mine!!!" Maczed exclaimed and tightened his fists.