Devil's Rise

James met at the gathering area to meet the four 'VIP guests' he was to give a tour of the Hazel Canopy area.

When I saw them I wasn't surprised. Jaffil and Kalgin, the usual suspects causing trouble for me! I was unfamiliar with the fat devil and the woman by his side.

"It's a pleasure to see you! My old buddies, Jaffil and Kalgin, how have you been? Kalgin, are you still chasing your own tail? Jaffil, did you come to bring me more shards?" I said.

I pulled no punches; I had to have a superior stance when dealing with these two arrogant fellows.

"You and that stupid cat!" said Kalgin as he pointed to James.

"Meow, the dog's back!" said Jurrath as he made a taunting face at Kalgin.

Jurrath was hanging on James' shoulder. He wouldn't miss a time to cause mischief.

"You're supposed to be giving us a tour, why are you trying to belittle us, James? We are paying noble devils. Why X'var here is even a prince of the Rez'gal Empire," said Jaffil.

"Do you think you can offend a prince James?"

"Oh, Prince X'var it is, I haven't had the pleasure to meet you before. We have no enmity, so I won't remark about you. All I can say is watch the company you keep," I said.

"Pitiful Soul Dao and you're calling others bad company?" said Kalgin.

"Enough what kind of tour am I supposed to give you guys, you know this young lord doesn't have all day to deal with the likes of you," I said.

"We wanted an introduction of the various hazards in the Hazel Canopy camp. I'm sure you are well versed being an experienced Forest Ranger," said Jaffil.

"No problem, we shall set out immediately," I said.

Me and the four noble devils began our trek through the Hazel Canopy forest area. I was cautious, not because I feared the forest. But I was curious about what kinda tricks these guys would play.

Obviously they weren't after my life since it was publicly known that all of them were going out together. I still had to be on high alert thou. Who knew what these defeated grandsons were planning?

I took them through the forest diligently, pointing out the creatures to watch out for and basic forest safety. I had done many tours in my time as a Forest Ranger. Educating the public was almost second nature to me.

The tour was uneventful. I knew which areas to avoid to dodge predators and I just wanted to be done so he could rest and relax in my hut. Prince X'var was enjoying the tour.

This was his first time visiting Wesser Forest. As a Rez'gal Empire descendant, he was supposed to be privy to all grounds within the Empire. But he was young, and they were numerable.

He was touring the Empire hoping to find more young devils to join his faction. Right now he was vetting whether Jaffil and Kalgin were worthy to be inducted to his camp.

"Why didn't you warn us, there would be so many bugs out here in the Forest James! We are getting eaten up by mosquitoes!" said Jaffil.

"Who asked you to take a tour from this young lord?" I said.

"I figured anyone taking a tour from me would be smart enough to know we are going to a forest. In a forest there are bugs. Are you really that dumb Jaffil?"

"You!!!" said.

Prince X'var and Breeze were fine. They apparently had something to repel bugs. They weren't as clueless as the two grandsons.

"Jaffil, my boy, you must learn to be better prepared if you want a place by my side," said Prince X'var.

Eventually, they reached a large valley. It was a very open area.

'This is the place where we had set up for the ambush to happen, soon that prick James won't be able to gloat shamelessly in front of me!' thought Jaffil.

As James and the four devils entered a large open clearing, soon 6 masked figures appeared.

"Stop right there! Ladies on the left and men on the right, this is a robbery!" said the leader of the bandits.

James was caught by surprise. Since when did the Wesser Forest have bandits? This was obviously a plot!

"Separate that guy with the mountie hat! He looks like a wealthy one!"

Jaffil had instructed the bandits on how to identify James when they attacked.

"This is the Wesser forest, since when have bandits encroached in the Hazel Canopy Knight camp? I demand you all to stop this none sense at once," I said.

Three of them stopped dead in their tracks. The leader and two others still circled around me.

"Do you know who I am bandit," I said.

"You are our meal ticket. Strip him and search him! [Libra] must not fail their first paid mission! What would our young lord think?" said the masked figure.

"Wait, Libra?" I said.

I looked dumbfounded.

There was only one organization in the Xertzul Abyss named Libra… Since when did the lackeys strip and search their leader! This young lord could not let this stand!

I jumped in the air, threw off my mountie hat, and released my [Hollow Aura].

The air seemed to change. I tinged it red with blood and death. A chill crept along the entire valley as I released my complete [Hollow Aura].

All the noble devils got on high alert when they felt the [Hollow Aura].

'Wasn't this guy supposed to be trash that delved in Soul Dao? Why does he have such a bloodthirsty aura? These two numb skulls can't be trusted at all, I must write this down.' thought Breeze.

Breeze started scribbling down notes as the action was unfolding. This would be a good column for her to put in her tabloid!

"I haven't had a good fight in a while," I said.

"Me either," said the masked figure.

I brought two fireballs to my hands as I squared off with the masked figure.

"My Flame Dao has reached the Baron realm. Be careful," I said.

"Good, my Metal Dao is only at the Knight realm. But it should be enough for this fight."

\u003cFireball\u003e

I threw a fireball at the masked figure as he rolled away. He then brought out an elemental staff.

\u003cMetal Chains\u003e

Metal-binding chains came out of his staff and headed to me.

\u003cScorch Earth\u003e

I released rolling flames that scorched the earth and destroyed the metal chains.

"I see you've been practicing," said the masked figure.

"This young lord can't let his subordinates look down on him," I said.

"Flame serpent and sparking turtle you are up," I said.

The flame serpent soul and the sparkling turtle soul both came out. Both looking large and ethereal. The flame serpent engaged the masked figure while the sparkling turtle kept sending out volleys of electricity.

"Looks like I need to get serious," said the masked figure as he jumped into the air.

\u003cRain\u003e

A torrent of rain overcast the two soul servants, bombarding them with water.