Salvos

The creature ripped off Marwin’s arm in an instant. Zack didn’t even see it happen. It moved like a blur, flying to the sky as blood rained down from above. Marwin the Silver Swordsman collapsed as he let out a blood-curdling scream.

And that was when Zack finally laid eyes on what it was. A creature that looked like a crocodile, except far larger. One with feathery wings and crimson eyes. The [Mage] didn’t know how he hadn’t noticed that goliath of a monster— no, Demon— hiding in the first place, but now that he saw it he was stricken with fear.

[Savage Agarat - Lvl 146]

“It’s almost the level of a Primeval Demon…”

He worked his jaw. Zack gaped at the winged beast. It gobbled up Marwin’s detached arm in a single bite before casting its gaze down below. He flinched as a susurration ran through the gathered adventurers. They were caught in a stupor; trapped in time; frozen in fear; standing still. Then Jaakko’s voice boomed.

“Stop that Demon!”

He drew his kusarigama. The chains clanked together as the Cyclops tossed it into the air. [Mages] and [Archers] loosed bolts of projectiles up at the [Savage Agarat], but it was deceivingly quick. Zack and Helen weren’t even able to keep up with their attacks. Of course not— it was over 50 levels above them.

It dove around the salvo and swooped back down for Marwin. The Silver Swordsman looked up in horror, raising his still-attached limb. He mouthed a Skill as it snapped its jaw at him.

“Stay back! [Crescent B—”

Zack flinched and heard a crunch. He expected the worst. He thought Marwin would’ve been eaten whole. But when he looked up, he saw a woman dressed in fiery armor standing over the Silver Swordsman.

Marwin gasped and stared up at his savior. Zack blinked a few times.

“Salvos?”

The silver-haired girl grinned as she lowered her arm. A white fire wisped off her, coating her like a second skin. The [Savage Agarat]’s jaw was locked onto the flaming armor; it refused to let go. Salvos grunted.

“Huh. That kind of hurts…”

I charged forward and activated my Title Skill [Protection of the Sentinel]. Honestly, I could’ve given it to Marwin himself, but I didn’t like him. He was annoying and rude. So I wasn’t going to actually protect him with the flaming armor. It was very durable, and it would’ve guaranteed he lived if the [Savage Agarat] somehow managed to get to him.

Unfortunately, it seemed I was wrong. Even though— together with my Divine Essence— my [Protection of the Sentinel] was able to withstand a blow from Clayton Skyshredder, this Level 146 Archdemon was able to tear into my flaming armor. My [Aura of Greater Protection] shimmered as its teeth clenched down, and I frowned.

“Huh. That kind of hurts…”

I didn’t have my Divine Essence. But I had made preparations before it ran out. I produced a Divine Nebular Scythe and grinned.

“Take this! [Radiant Slash]!”

I yelled as I swung up, The [Savage Agarat] was quick. It unhinged its jaw and flew back with a single beat of its wing. I leapt up after it, not backing down.

“How about—”

[Barrage of Cinders]. Blue flames coated my blade as I unleashed a flurry of strikes. The [Savage Agarat] continued dodging each attack and I narrowed my eyes. I pulled back, activating [Haste] as a red aura overcame my hands, before merging into my scythe.

“And—

[Draconic Fury]!

I swung wide, missing the Archdemon once again. It barely swerved out of the way as I clicked my tongue. I raised a hand and brushed against its spine. There were needle-like protrusions poking out along its back, and I winced as it poked at me.

But the fact that I got a touch in was all that mattered. The [Savage Agarat] flew back, and I raised a hand with a smile.

“Got you.”

I started, and the emblem searing itself onto the Demon’s skin glowed. Its eyes flickered and its body shifted. My eyes grew wide as, in a moment, it shed its outer skin. The molted hide dropped to the ground as my [Demon’s Mark] flashed, still clinging onto it.

A powerful explosion ripped through the air. [Mages] down below pooled their magic together and created a barrier to shield themselves from the blast. I blinked as I watched the [Savage Agarat] fly, far from the blast and baring its teeth my way.

“Seriously?”

I stared at it. And from its mouth, I heard a garbled laugh.

“You missed.”

The [Savage Agarat] growled, and I froze. I thought I was hearing things. Then my jaw dropped.

“What?”

I stared at it. No— at him.

The realization settled in. I finally understood why there had been no trail of destruction. Why it hadn’t mindlessly attacked anything and everything. I didn’t even realize it, but it had specifically targeted Marwin in this ambush. Any regular wild Demon couldn’t do that. But why? The answer was simple: this wasn’t a wild Demon.

He was a regular Demon.

That was right. Amidst the horde of wild Demons Belzu called into the Mortal Realm, a few Demons that weren’t so wild managed to sneak through as well.

And while this [Savage Agarat] clearly wasn’t under Regnorex’s command judging by the fact that he had no collar, he still wasn’t wild. It made sense. The Netherworld was a vast place. There were bound to be plenty of Demons lurking about that weren’t exactly wild.

I’d encountered quite a few of them, too. When I was still with Haec. A horned Demon attacked me. He lured Haec and I into a false sense of security and nearly killed me. He wasn’t wild— not in the same sense as the mindless hordes of the Netherworld. He was very much capable of thinking. And the [Savage Agarat] here was the exact same way.

“You—”

I started, but someone shouted over me. Edithe raised her staff and aimed for the [Savage Agarat].

“[Vindication of They].”

The not-so-wild Demon tried to fly back, but the smoke vapors from the destroyed town coalesced into a spear. One that tracked it down and impaled it even as it tried to flee. The attack injured the [Savage Agarat], slowing its movements even if it didn’t die.

I glanced back at Edithe as she huffed, and the gathered adventurers screamed.

“Now’s our chance!”

They sent a volley of magic up into the sky as the [Savage Agarat] tried to fly back. I raised my Divine Nebular Scythe, breaking out of my stupor, but It let out an ear-piercing screech— one that made me recoil and repelled the attacks coming its way. Then it spun around, flapping its wings as it flew away.

By the time I recovered, the [Savage Agarat] was far off. It vanished into the horizon as the sun set ahead of it.

“Huh.”

It was gone.

—--

“What in the world was that thing? Where did it come from? How did no one catch it sneaking up on us?”

Marwin demanded once the [Savage Agarat] was gone. He grimaced, clutching at his missing arm as no one could answer him. He picked at his bandages then scowled.

“And where is my damn Potion of Regeneration?”

He snapped at Xyren. The [Archer] fidgeted, averting his gaze.

“We used up most of our resources during the battle of Westshield, sir. We don’t have any Potions of Regeneration in stock.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking with me!”

Marwin cursed. I approached him as I descended from the sky. I had tried to give chase, but I didn’t know where the Demon went. And now that I knew it wasn’t a wild Demon, I understood this wasn’t going to be as simple of a hunt as I thought it’d be.

Edithe and Daniel ran up behind me. They took one look at the expression on my face and exchanged a glance. They knew something was up, but I couldn’t say it yet. I crossed my arms as I listened to Marwin continue droning on.

“And that was a Demon? Great, just great.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Not only do we have two Primeval Demons running about, we now have an Archdemon that’s on the precipice of becoming a Primeval Demon too. How did it even get here, for fuck’s sake.”

“Actually—”

I finally piped up, raising a hand. Heads turned my way as I met Marwin’s gaze.

“There’s only one Primeval Demon running about. The other one is dead.”

Marwin narrowed his eyes as I continued.

“Also, that [Savage Agarat] got here just the other day. Thanks to that huge summoning ritual in the Motharis Mountain Range.”

“Summoning ritual in the— and one of the Primeval Demons is dead? How do you even know all this, girl?”

The Silver Swordsman furrowed his brows. I shrugged.

“Because I was there. And I helped kill the Primeval Demon.”

There were gasps. Xyren stared at me, nearly dropping his bow as Marwin’s eyes bulged out of their sockets. Even those who weren’t at the meeting paused when they heard what I said. Jaakko, Helen, and Zack turned to me, each with differing reactions.

“Seriously?”

Zack pressed his hands together, genuinely concerned and confused.

“She’s insane. She’s really insane.”

Meanwhile, Helen covered her mouth, suppressing a gasp.

“Salvos… you… I can’t believe it. Are you alright?”

Jaakko just nodded approvingly.

“Hmph. As expected.”

I waved a hand reassuringly at them.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Daniel and Edithe were here with me. Orgaf and Willy were there too. Helena arrived a bit late when it was all over. It was a mess, honestly.”

They looked at each other, all of them disbelieving this time. Xyren stepped forward as he raised a hand.

“Wait, do you mean the Helena Warshade was there too? And the Thief of the Golden Scales?”

“Yep!”

I nodded ecstatically. Marwin gritted his teeth as the nearby adventurers whispered to each other. He faced me with an accusing tone.

“Ridiculous. What an outlandish story from a poser girl. And why should we believe anything you’re saying?”

Daniel’s brows snapped together. He spoke out in my defense.

“You can literally just ask Helena Warshade—”

“It’s fine, Daniel.”

I raised a hand, stopping my companion.

“I bet if I told him that I can make a Potion of Regeneration, he wouldn’t believe it. But you know what?”

I stuck my tongue out at Marwin and turned around.

““I don’t care enough about this guy to prove anything to him. Let’s go, Daniel, Edithe. We’ve got a Demon to hunt down.”

We started away from the adventurer army as Marwin the Silver Swordsman yelled after us.

“More nonsense from the fakers of the Plaguelands! Do you really think anyone will believe your stories when your betters failed where you claimed to succeed? You won’t be able to keep up this facade for long. Or, what? Do you think you can take on that Demon alone?”

“Well, it’s dangerous for sure, and we could certainly use another hand .”

I winked back at him, gesturing at his single arm.

“But it seems like you need it more than we do.”

And we took off as Marwin the Silver Swordsman sputtered and raged in the background.