Rudolph, Magdy, and Eric sat down at the table drinking tea. The ordeal having only passed minutes prior but the effects were still clearly felt.
Magdy looked sour or more so than usual. Rudolph was silent, leaving Eric to look around confused.
"Alright, I know that was a sour experience but can either of you fill me into what that was about?"
"No kid, you don't know. You don't know the first damn thing about races or demons or even how the world works."
Rudolph's words were slow, deliberate, and edged with a knowingness that irked Eric.
"Let me clarify old man, I may not know a lot but I have read a shit ton of books. The Bureau of Demonology are heroes of humanity, what are they——"
Suddenly the table was incinerated. "A mere whelp thinking that history was really written by honest loving people. Shut the Fuck up, what you witnessed is the sick reality that is ours. That branch of government is just as corrupt as the underworld in any city. They are plague to us all."
Eric frowned; annoyance written across his face with nice bold letters. "That childish look only solidifies my point. You forget that you are of a demon's lineage. Do you believe that if they had taken notice that they would let you off? Pathetic boy, wake up."
"You haven't answered my question." Eric stated sternly.
Snarling the old man stood. "The recent demonic activity coupled with the rise of an incredibly powerful demonic entity has caused us to enter another chapter of time. See kid, this chapter is well known if you've read enough books."
"The age of Expectation is a time of strife, war, eradication, and corruption. The inquisitors are sadistic and evil bastards of the government. They act like a poisonous dagger that is stabbed into any and everyone. Afterwards, people are left fleeced of their meat and poisoned to the bone."
"Ever since their conception, they have stolen and killed more people than anyone is wiling to guess. They covet my weapons because of my craftmanship and the leaders in charge are antsy to get more. I won't have it."
The old man huffed as he took out his pipe and smoked some herbs.
"Who are you really old man? You had a key to a Hell realm, know the inquisition well, have a son who's half titan..." Silence lingered after the question, Rudolph's eyes seemed to scan past, present and future.
"I'm just a father on a mission."
'Yeah, and I'm the tooth fairy.'
"Listen here kid. I paid a lot to help you out thus far and I'm going to need something from you in a few months' time. This is non-negotiable because your life is forfeit if you don't hold to your end of the bargain."
Contemplating, Eric responded. "Whatever it is, deal. I'm not one to forsake those who have helped me."
"Good, the first thing I need from you is for you to reach Sergeant rank in the military."
"I'll do it, as long as this doesn't have to do with some unsavory dealings."
"Hmphf, second, I want you to find metals, herbs, bones, and other items on this list." Taking the tiny list from the man, Eric's head spun before he screamed.
"What the hell do I look like. I don't have the ability to get even a third of this stuff."
"Fool!! Think, as long as you enter the military and make the proper contributions, all else will follow."
"Give me your hand kid." Skeptic, Eric held out his hand only for the old man to cut his wrist deeply. All of the blood pouring out over a small silver compass the man had taken out.
Eric watched in pain but his curiosity stirred when the item shone with a demonic symbol. It flashed eerily as colors of orange, black, and red weaved together. A pattern similar to an outline of his demonic form appeared.
"That right there kid is what we call an origin masking device. Used to conceal bloodlines and escape prying eyes." Twirling it in his hand, Eric saw that after the demonic bloodline appeared, so did his Mountain Cloud Guardian bloodline.
The old man explained to Eric the usages and importance of concealing his bloodlines and the knowledge there of.
Rudolph saw Eric a bit antsy as though needing to go somewhere. Cutting his lecture short, Eric donned his armor and weapons. Yet before leaving he asked the old man about one more matter.
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Eric left the shop and decided to get some training in. Leaving to enter Ormanu forest, Eric used his short swords while his whip stayed at his side. Not really having a goal, Eric decided to wander. He couldn't help but reach into one of the new pouches on his side that held shuriken.
The forest was quiet and Eric's thoughts started to move a great distance.
'I have some stupid insect that's eating my soul, my best friend betrayed me, and I have a heretical bloodline. Mom, Dad, it's lonely without you guys at my side.'
Hearing bushes rustle, Eric became focused once more and saw that the bush rustled more and more. Getting into a ready stance, Eric anticipated his foe.
Bursting out of the bushes was a strange looking cat with five eyes.
'What the heck is that thing?' The cat played with a dead rodent as it chewed on it every so often. Eric felt grossed out at the sight but breathed a deep breath of relief.
"I don't know what species you are little one but you'll have to excuse me." The cat's eyes locked onto Eric as it followed him. Eric kept pushing forward but only ran into minimally dangerous beasts.
Traveling deeper into the forest, Eric heard a rustle behind him and saw the same cat.
"Uh, I don't know why you're following me but I don't think it's a good idea to keep doing that. I'm going somewhere dangerous, go back home."
The cat's five eyes blinked in unison but ultimately it stayed still. Eric eyed it for a moment before going back to his walk. Yet only a few seconds later Eric heard the cat once more.
"Urghhh, what is it with you?" The cat ran up to Eric with speed he couldn't completely and started to lick his face.
"Hahahaha, alright." Looking at the cat, Eric felt refreshed. When was the last time he felt humor?
"Alright, if you want you can come with me, but you mustn't get in my way once I start fighting."
The cat meowed and rubbed against his leg. The two set off once more but this time they encountered something.
The hulking back of a Log Burning Ape appeared. Munching and crunching on something, Eric felt something off while the hairs on the cat stood upright.
Quietly, Eric jumped onto a tree for a better angle of what the Ape was eating. His face paled seeing the body of a child as well as men, women, and children laid out in a huge wash bin.
"Aren't Log burning apes herbivores? Where the heck did these kids come from?" A tightness formed in Eric's eyes at the sight of kids around his age being feasted upon.
Ever so slightly the wind blew and the morning sun would catch certain areas. Hunkering down and ready to pounce, Eric waited as the beast ate more and more. Once finished, The creature stood up in entirety.
Eric's heart dropped at the small growing horn on the Ape's head. 'Is this thing evolving, has that already changed it's characteristics already.'
The ape's stomach seemed ready to burst as it moved slow. Eric tensed his leg muscles and sprung like a cheetah chasing a prey.
Using Flight, Eric was upon the creature in mere seconds. Once within a foot of the beast, Eric used his Mountain Cloud Guardian bloodline.
Using Southern Empire's Execution, Eric unleashed a terrible cut onto the ape. Eric's arms trembled as he faced the backlash from the rigidity of the ape's muscles.
"Damn, what's this thing made of?" Eric studied the Ape that now turned to him slowly, it's face smiling in amusement."
The ape's back was cut deep enough to show bone. Worm like threads started to knit the area back together again. Not slouching. Eric charged again.
The monkey seemed to laugh as bloody fire lit in it's mouth. Eric used some wind to help him speed up enough to dodge. The fire was shot out in a spherical shape while the effect caused the ground to burn and sizzle.
Eric charged and cut into the beast nonstop. The creature's body sustain laceration one after another one. The creature stood and took every attack until a faint pulse spread throughout it's body.
Unlike the usual heartbeat, this one was so powerful that Eric could hear it like it was his own heartbeat. Feeling imminent danger, Eric only saw a flash of blood red and green.
Eric didn't have time to put up a guard before a side kick caught his ribs. Eric felt as though he'd died for a second time.