Salvos

Chapter 582: Seconds

582. Seconds

Her name was Vianna.

She was a [Hellreaper]. A Primeval Demon the strongest of her kin. They lived together in a sanctuary. A safe haven amidst the destruction of the Netherworld. Together, they have survived for so long, undisturbed by even Revelation.

It was through sheer luck, really. The fact that they had managed to find such a secluded spot that the cycles of the Netherworld didnt affect. It was an odd place. With grass and trees and water. Things that they had never seen before in their entire lives up until that point.

And they had never seen it anywhere else in the Netherworld. It was hidden away buried deep underground. At one point, perhaps it had been a Lair of sorts. But it didnt matter what it was.

They had turned it into their home. They survived safely thanks to it. And they would have continued to thrive there for an eternity

Until those monsters came.

Vianna had thought they were like the others at first those mindless creatures that only sought to destroy. But they could speak. She, herself, could barely speak as coherently as they could. Her [Advanced Language Comprehension] allowed her to communicate with her kin, but some of the words they spoke were incomprehensible to her.

And then she saw the metal rings they wore. Some of her kin who had moved into their sanctuary later in life had spoken of these Demons. They werent mindless they were something else.

Something far worse.

They were slave Demons.

Minions of a so-called Demon King.

She hadnt known why they came. They were there to cast a spell of sorts. They held a ritual, and their magic warped the world itself. It opened a hole in the sky that seemed to consume everything. One that showed another world there.

And this magic peeled the earth back, revealing their sanctuary.

Suddenly, the hideout of her people was no longer special. The world around them was replaced with a forest of green trees and tall grass. It was like their little world secluded from the rest of the Netherworld had spread far and wide.

Vianna had thought it was a blessing. But that was when those slave Demons noticed her. They spotted her kin, and that was when the hunt began. She tried to stop them.

She herself was the protector of her sanctuary. She had been Titled the Kinguard because of her strength. But it wasnt enough to save them.

Vianna wasnt strong enough. She was defeated, and her kin were captured. Many of them were killed too. It had been a slaughter where only those who submitted survived. The only reason she escaped was because they tried to kill her for fighting back. And somehow, she tricked them. She escaped before they could kill her.

And since then, she had been living a life of regret, roaming the Netherworld aimlessly. Driven by nothing but loathing for herself for abandoning her kin.

But also rage towards those slave Demons who took everything away from her.

That was what fueled her.

Rage.

And that was why her Species changed that was how she unlocked her Grand Skill. So that was how she acted.

I will not die until you are all dead!

She screamed as she lashed out.

Im fine I

He opened his mouth, and Betrugil cursed.

Someone help me!

He leapt out of the way from another clawed strike. The [Hellreaper] barely missed him his earlier Skill must have gone through its cooldown since it was like he was being yanked out of the way. But the next time the Primeval Demon attacked, he wouldnt be able to evade it.

Taburas nodded, raising a clawed hand.

Right

She conjured a giant hammer made of ash as she turned to face the [Hellreaper]. But Haec stopped her. He caught her by the arm, shaking his head.

Wait I can use my second Grand Skill

And Taburas paused. She stared at him with wide eyes.

But if you use it

She started. Haec stopped her. He drew forward as Aemula blinked, looking between him and the [Succubus].

Wait, what are you talking about?

It doesnt matter.

Haec spoke simply as he looked towards the [Hellreaper]. She paused right before Betrugil as he was backing up into a wall. The Primeval Demon narrowed her eyes, turning towards him. He raised his right hand as he pointed at her.

This is our only chance to survive.

He took in a deep breath, and the [Hellreaper] took a step forward. She didnt move. She just looked at him with narrowed eyes.

Haec exhaled slowly as a gray aura seemed to wisp off him.

[I

He started. And the [Hellreaper] moved impossibly fast. He blinked as she seemed to be propelled towards him with a burst of flames, raising her claws. His eyes went wide, and he raised his arms to block the attack.

But he was too slow. Whatever Skill the [Hellreaper] used let her strike him within seconds. It sent him flying back as he screamed in pain.

Haec!

Taburas shouted as she ran up to him. The [Hellreaper] grinned, taking a step back. Betrugil cursed under his breath, and Aemula backed away in fear.

Haec crashed into the rock wall as the Primeval Demons laughter echoed in the background. He felt the burning pain in his chest the wound dug deep. Far deeper than the first wound he sustained. He gasped as he looked down at his bloodied body.

He opened his mouth. His lips moved.

And he closed his eyes as the world went dark.