Star Eater

Chapter 67:

Arthur's Point of View

Lestrania Capital

The Ancient Demon did indeed look like something that fit the name. Larger than most Demons, he towered above me as he was about twice my height. His body was one stone from what I could tell. His build looked herculean and had small cracks covering his entire body as a large cone like head topped the rest of his body.

Putting his hand on one of my earthen spikes, he crushed it. "I am not here to flatter you. I was sent specifically to kill you." The Ancient Demon then looked to the Ghouls surrounding us. "They are here to help, but I feel like all of this was overkill for such a meek existence such as yourself."

"Meek? Are you sure you know what that word means? Because I can't imagine someone 'meek' coming out here to confront your army." Was my snarky filled reply as I gestured to him. "However, I must say you are wrong. If you wanted to kill me and take Lestrania, you should've brought a bigger army and someone a lot stronger than you."

He didn't actually rise to the bait like most I've delt with in this world. "I suppose we shall find out, but I doubt I would be sent here if I wasn't enough to handle this situation. Then again, I was expecting the one known as Aydan Farro to be present as well. He is also on my list."

"Someone sent you here for Aydan and me? Who was it and why you?"

"You need not know who sent me. As for why I was sent." Much like my own attack, the earth seemed to shuffle beneath me as the forest shook. "You will find out."

Spikes shot out of the earth as other parts seemed to cave in. I jumped around as the Ghouls quickly tried to attack me while I dodged the Ancient Demons attacks. They were easy enough to handle and even kill a few between blows. The Ancient Demon stopped for a moment and I quickly jumped in front of him as my own energy extended into a sword from my palm.

My foe merely smirked. "As for why I was sent..." The Ancient Demon trailed off as I slashed him across his waist. "Magic has no effect on me." He said almost proudly.

I merely chuckled in return. "Then it sucks for you that I don't use magic."

He only had a moment to looked confused before he simply fell into two pieces. "Wha-" The Demon commander said from the ground and saw me standing over him.

With another blow right through his head, the Ancient Demon died just as quickly as he appeared. Had he not underestimated me, the battle might've taken longer, but the outcome was going to be the same regardless. The Demon Horde that merely watched as passerby's, now roared in anger and screeched out another war-cry. The Ghouls rushed me once more as well and I put two fingers to my lips as a whistle echoed throughout the area.

It didn't take long for them all to start jumping around once more as Skelds started to fall from through the canopy above. At the same time, a wave of steal arrows, and magic arrows pelted the area as well. Hundred of Skelds from the sky all at the same time and landed onto the Demon Army below.

"What is happening!?" One of the Ghouls shouted in frustration.

"Here's the thing." I began and he turned to me. "You fucked up by removing your line of sight from your air support and basically cut yourselves off by coming into the forest which hindered everything else as well. Movement is cut down in here, sightlines, offensive, and defensive capabilities as well."

Aerowyn landed next to me not a second later. "You were right, my king." She said as she brought her weapons to bare. "They did not expect us to be hiding in the storm."

"Gotta love Elven magic!" Was my playful response.

"You killed their leader?" She asked.

I shrugged. "It wasn't too hard. He was a fool leading other fools." My answer got her to smirk. "Take the skies and switch to your second position after you inform Aydan of our status."

"At once." Disappearing as soon as she appeared, the Ghouls all frowned.

"You think you've won this battle?!" One of them roared.

"Do you have someone stronger than your dead butt buddy over there? Cause if not, then yeah, this battle has been pretty much determined."

Not a moment later, Aydan teleported next to me with Elias, Mara, Robert, and Aerowyn before putting his hand to the sky. A magic flare shot up and not a moment later, arrows began raining down much more violently with rain above. Hundreds, if not thousands of arrows were prepared for this and while shooting into a forest wouldn't normally work, it doesn't matter when they're enchanted with magic.

Robert swung his hammer across the ground almost like a golfclub and sent out a spray of rocks and stones that almost acted like a shotgun to the area in front of him. Elias, Mara, and Aydan all activated their magic and followed his lead. Roars could be heard from above as arrows came down harder and harder.

Most of the Ghouls were able to dodge, but more were swept up in the sudden attacks. As explosions began to ring out from the spells cast by Aydan, Elias, and Mara, I heard a giggle that the others seemed to ignore. Confused by this, I thought perhaps Mara had become a bit sadistic during battles and was starting to enjoy the killing like me. However, it wasn't her. A Ghoul in the form of a male Elf landed before me with a wide grin.

It seemed to cast some manner of barrier to separate me from the others. This happened as the Zugal started to descend into the canopy from above while the Humans started to charge into the forest from the flanks and the Elves began to teleport in. Well, those that could anyway. There was obviously a force left back at the walls to defend them, but the Ghoul in front of me changed entirely in demeanor. The energy signature had also changed slightly.

"So, it is you who is giving me so much trouble." A woman's voice came through the Ghoulish Elf, which gave me pause. "I imagined you differently. However, I must admit that I am impressed! Killing an Ancient Demon is not supposed to be easy for most! For that, your have earned some respect, but I must inform you that you are playing at a game much bigger than you are."

I had no notion that this was the Ghoul talking, but likely who oversaw the Demons behind the scenes. "A Ghoul giving me another such warning is cute."

"A Ghou-" She started, but stopped as she looked down at herself and chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you would think so. Apologies. I just get so wrapped up in things and it has been so terribly long since I have done this. However, I just had to see you for myself."

Spreading my arms, I spoke. "Like what you see?"

The Ghoul nodded. "I do, but I am also unconvinced that you are a real challenge. The only thing you have done is made this war take longer than it needed to. I have no time to deal with you. However, there are others that I can send who will. Regardless of how powerful you think you are; you cannot be everywhere at once and even your strength can only last for so long against an unending horde."

"Only one way to find out." I told her before putting my arm through the Ghoul's body. "However, much like yourself, I am unconvinced of your threat."

To my surprise and slight discomfort, despite the blood running down the Ghoul's lips, its amused expression didn't change in the slightest as another giggle escaped its lips. "Perhaps I should change my goal, but only time will tell. I will be watching you closely, Sir Mordred." Another giggle erupted from her lips before the Ghoul began shaking violently and went limp with my arm still piercing his body.

Yanking my arm out, the body thumped to the ground and I eyed it warily. Whatever the fuck just happened wasn't good. Something was in full control of that Ghoul and didn't even care that it was killed. Even during this massacre of a battle, where we were greatly outnumbered, seemed almost mundane to it...

I stayed looking over the Ghoul as the Demons tried to retreat, and Aydan gave the order to route them before cutting off their escape. Given the forests density and the Zugal and Elven mobility, escape was impossible for them. However, it wasn't until he returned a few hours later and found me at the same exact spot did he give me a worried look.

"Where were you?" Aydan asked me. "Have you been here this whole time?"

"Yes." I answered back softly.

He looked at the Ghoul for a moment before he turned back to me. "Why?"

While I wanted to tell him what happened, I decided to keep it to myself. "I figured you could handle it. The Demons were disarray just as I had predicted, and all the Ghouls were handled quickly thanks to the training Elias and Mara had gone through." Then I gestured around us. "Besides, I wanted to stay here just in case."

Aydan nodded slowly unconvinced. "I suppose that makes sense. No sense leaving ourselves exposed after such an incredible victory. Such a battle would've taken weeks or even months to outlast before your arrival. None of us would have been mad enough to leave the safety of our walls to launch that counterattack you suggested."

With my eyes back on the Ghoul, I spoke in a very monotone voice. "Do what your enemy doesn't expect, and victory will come after enough surprises." I told him. "Call everyone back and start the celebrations once more. I have a feeling that this is going to be the first battle of many that are like this."

That made the sage frown as he knew something had definitely happened while he wasn't looking, but he nodded all the same. "As you command."

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