For several long seconds after the demon's body collapsed onto the stone plateau, neither Eren Thorne nor Cassian Voss moved. The wind swept across the mountains, carrying the faint metallic scent of blood through the cold air. Dark clouds rolled slowly across the sky above them, casting long shadows over the battlefield. The horned demon lay motionless at Eren's feet, its massive sword half-buried in the cracked stone where it had fallen.
Cassian finally broke the silence.
"Well," he said slowly, "that just happened."
Eren pulled his blade free from the demon's chest and wiped the dark blood from the steel with a piece of cloth. His breathing was still heavy from the fight, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.
The demon's final words echoed in his head.
Something else is watching you.
Eren frowned slightly.
Cassian noticed the expression immediately.
"That look means you're thinking about something unpleasant," Cassian said.
Eren glanced at him.
"You ever kill something that warned you about a bigger problem before it died?"
Cassian crossed his arms.
"More times than I'd like."
Eren nodded slowly.
"Good."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Why is that good?"
"Because that's exactly what just happened."
Cassian looked down at the demon's corpse again.
"That thing was already a big problem."
Eren sighed.
"Apparently it wasn't the biggest one."
Cassian knelt beside the demon's body and examined it carefully. Up close, the creature looked even more unnatural than before. Its skin had a faint metallic sheen, almost like armor, and strange black veins ran along its arms and neck.
"This isn't a normal demon," Cassian muttered.
Eren crouched beside him.
"What do you mean?"
Cassian pointed at the creature's chest.
"See these markings?"
Eren leaned closer.
Carved into the demon's skin were several strange symbols forming a circular pattern around its heart. The symbols looked ancient and unfamiliar.
"Magic?" Eren asked.
Cassian shook his head slowly.
"Something older."
Eren frowned.
"That sounds reassuring."
Cassian stood up again.
"We should bring proof of this kill back to the guild."
Eren glanced at the demon's massive horns.
"Those should work."
He raised his sword and began cutting through the thick base of one horn. The bone was harder than he expected, but after several minutes the massive horn finally snapped free.
Cassian whistled quietly.
"That'll convince people."
Eren rested the horn on his shoulder.
"Good."
But just as he turned to leave, something strange happened.
A faint glow appeared above the demon's corpse.
Eren froze.
"Not again."
Cassian frowned.
"What?"
"You don't see that?"
"See what?"
The glowing symbols slowly formed in the air above the demon's body.
Enemy Defeated: Demon Vanguard
Reward Granted
Strength +3
Agility +2
Endurance +2
New Skill Unlocked
Skill: Combat Instinct (Level 1)
Eren felt the familiar surge of energy flow through his body again. His muscles tightened slightly as his senses sharpened. The cold mountain air suddenly felt clearer, the sound of the wind louder.
Cassian stared at him.
"You just did that thing again."
Eren blinked.
"What thing?"
"You look like you just drank ten cups of strong coffee."
Eren chuckled.
"Something like that."
Cassian narrowed his eyes.
"You're definitely hiding something."
Eren shrugged.
"Probably."
Cassian sighed.
"I hate mysterious people."
Eren smiled slightly.
"Get used to it."
They began walking back toward the narrow trail leading down the mountain. The path was steep and rocky, forcing them to move carefully as they descended through the cliffs.
For a while neither of them spoke.
Then Cassian suddenly stopped.
Eren turned.
"What?"
Cassian was staring up toward the cliffs above them.
"You feel that?"
Eren focused.
At first he heard nothing but the wind.
Then—
A faint scraping sound.
Stone shifting.
Something moving above them.
Eren slowly drew his sword again.
"You've got to be kidding me."
A shadow moved along the edge of the cliff.
Then another.
Cassian's voice dropped to a whisper.
"…we're surrounded."
Three figures stepped into view along the rocky ridge above them.
They looked similar to the demon Eren had just killed.
But these ones were smaller.
And faster.
Their glowing red eyes locked onto the two humans below.
Eren sighed.
"Guess the boss wasn't alone."
Cassian pulled his sword free.
"You killed their leader."
Eren shrugged.
"Oops."
One of the demons jumped down from the cliff.
It landed on the stone with unnatural grace.
Then another.
Then another.
Three demons now stood between Eren and the trail leading down the mountain.
The first one spoke.
"You killed our commander."
Eren raised an eyebrow.
"Self-defense."
The demon's eyes burned with anger.
"You will die for that."
Eren sighed again.
"You guys are really dramatic."
The demon charged forward.
Eren moved instantly.
His sword clashed with the creature's claws as sparks flew across the rocky ground. The demon was fast, but not nearly as fast as the one he had just defeated.
Eren sidestepped its attack and slashed across its chest.
Dark blood sprayed across the stone.
The demon staggered backward in shock.
Cassian laughed.
"Well that was easy."
The other two demons attacked at the same time.
Cassian intercepted one while Eren faced the other.
The fight was short and brutal.
Within seconds both demons lay dead on the ground beside their companion.
Eren wiped his blade again.
"See?"
Cassian looked impressed.
"You're getting scary."
Eren smiled faintly.
"I've had a lot of practice."
Cassian shook his head.
"I'm starting to believe that."
They continued descending the mountain.
But far above them, hidden within the dark cliffs, something else had been watching the entire battle.
A tall shadow stood at the edge of the ridge where the other demons had once stood.
Its glowing eyes followed Eren's movements carefully.
"Interesting…" the creature whispered.
The shadow slowly turned away and disappeared into the darkness of the mountain.
Far away.
Deep beneath the northern peaks.
Something ancient had just taken notice of Eren Thorne.
And the real danger…
Had only just begun.