The Strongest Demon

A startling amount of emotion found its way into the demon’s normally carefully measured features. While she had barely known him, it shocked her still to see it. The only time she remembered seeing any sort of emotion out of him was while he fought her. Only in the thrill of battle did he seem alive.

More on her mind than his sudden outburst of emotions was what he said. Just the words made her stomach sink to her feet and every hair on her body stood up electrified. Nothing he said was something that she wanted to hear. Their situation was already bad enough with one Demon Lord, the weakest of them present. They didn’t need the extra complication.

Yumi leaned forward trying to find this demon he talked about. “Are you sure it is him and it’s not someone else?” She still held out some minor bit of hope, despite knowing it was a futile effort.

“I’d never forget our Lord. It is most assuredly him.”

She groaned a little louder than she wished and snapped back to cover. On her back, her eyes glared up at the stars as though they might offer her advice. ‘Two Demon Lords…the only way this gets worse is if the rest show up now…’ The moment she thought that, Yumi feared that she would hear Manekamaru say just that. Fortunately for her, no word came from him on the sighting of more Demon Lords. She really didn’t need more of them. Two made their situation impossible. She didn’t know how they had any chance of winning.

Staring over at Seiji and Saki, Yumi could see their apprehension mirroring her own. This all amounted to something far beyond their capabilities. ‘I know that we were disadvantaged, overwhelmed in the past with those that we faced, but this feels completely unlike anything we’ve dealt with before. To make it even worse, it’s not even real. We don’t know what happens if we die in here and we can’t afford to test it.’

It was Saki that woke her from her churning maelstrom of worries and fears. A hand was enough to ground her. She had to remember her resolve. “Saki…” She tilted her head back towards the edge of their cover. Behind it the massive sickening swirl of demonic energy warned them of their future. A future that showed the end of the human race. “We’ve got to head back and report to them about this. Things are even worse than anyone imagined.”

Chapter 430 – The Strongest Demon

“Are you sure, Yumi?” asked Saki, she understood like all of them what she felt. It was an awful and nearly vomit inducing feeling that she hated. Despite not being sick, it presented so many of the symptoms of a nasty cold. She just wanted to leave immediately and feel better. But they couldn’t do that, she knew until they had finished the job.

Her hand pressed up against her face trying to keep things together as best as she could in the face of the pressure. “It’s already pretty much the worst case scenario. How much more do we need to scout that will change that?”

“If we’re to make accurate plans, we should know their strength. As much as I’m loathed to consider them an ally, we do have the Association. They have spells and wards that might still give us a chance.”

Given Saki’s circumstances with the group, it surprised Yumi to hear her even suggesting using them. Everything that she had seen them do so far only made them seem like an evil and corrupt group only worried about themselves. A group not worth saving in her mind. Letting the demons kill them seemed like a fair price for them to pay. ‘Maybe Saki’s right…I’m already on the course…’

Yumi leaned forward to peek out of the cover. The army of demons camped out remained as intimidating as the first time. However, she tried to keep her focus this time. They needed an understanding of the forces. Anything that could be used against them. “What can you tell us about the demons, Manekamaru?”

A poke by her had to snap him out of his distraction. His eyes held a long gaze at the Lord Hokuren. The sight alone left him completely entranced. He nearly forgot his own goals while staring so far away at his Lord. “The demons…”

“Yes, we need to finish this recon.”

“Every single race of our species is down there. There isn’t a single one missing. You’re going to be facing every available power that we demons possess. Fire, water, creation, death, everything that we can do.”

“That doesn’t really narrow shit down,” complained Seiji, hearing his answer.

“You’re seeing the amassing of all demons. It’s to be expected.”

Staring carefully at the demons gathered, Yumi saw plenty that she had never fought before. There was something that looked a bit like a dragon or maybe a snake, a crow looking tengu, massive demons dwarfed the oni she got so used to killing. “Do demons have one specialty or does it vary?”

“It’s not based on their race. All demons are born with abilities that are not tied to their race. Though some do have more commonality. But you can’t count on the same two using the same powers.”

“Any sort of plan we have is going to have to be broad and adaptive.”

Seiji leaned in to see what Yumi might be staring at. “Got some shit that you’re thinking?”

“Unfortunately no. No plans are coming to mind.”

“It’s a shame that battle planning persona of yours isn’t here, they’d come up with some shit.”

“Seiji!”

“Oh hell, I’m sorry, Yumi I didn’t mean to say that.”

Yumi pulled back to rest from her watching. She shook her head for him. “No, you’re right, Seiji. All of the personas within me are clearly more talented than I am.” It was because they were better than her that she had to face them. The whole point of what she was doing was gaining control over them. She would finally be able to reach what she wanted once she beat them. That was a certainty in her mind.

Stuff within this world where the personas had locked them felt like she had lost her way. The goal that she locked away from her where she couldn’t even find the door. She didn't even know if she would be able to find the door again. Their labyrinth setup to kill them might be where she remained for the rest of her life. Hooked up to a machine as it drained her of life might be her end. Such an ignominious end to her life felt like a taunt by them. Proof to her that they controlled her life and nothing she did could allow her to break free of their control.

“They aren’t here though. We can only rely on ourselves.” She didn’t want to rely on them anyway. Every time that they took over, she regretted it. They did terrible and awful things whether to her friends and loved ones or to the enemy, that didn’t deserve such treatment. They made the wrong choice, even if it did solve things. She had to find a better one than them. She couldn’t rely on them for help.

She had trouble processing it all though. An army of demons that had a wide range of powers. It wasn’t going to be something that they could power through and smash the army. They tried that before and lost. It wouldn’t work on an even larger army. “Manekamaru, are the other Demon Lords present?” It wasn’t something that she wanted answered in truth, but she needed to know now. The way things were going, she expected the worst possible outcome.

It truly felt like they had grown tired of Yumi still living within the prison that dropped her. The personas wanted her dead finally and this was their move to do so. So it only made sense that they threw everything at her. This was their plan. Something that she couldn’t even out run.

“Not right now, but as you’re suspecting. It’s very likely that they are part of the army. If Lord Hokuren is present, then it should be expected that the rest are as well.”

A deep weight of depression fell through Yumi. She already knew it, but having someone confirm it made it all the more real for her. They still hadn’t found the others, but it was a foregone conclusion now. “And about the army itself. How does it compare to the original force you came with?”

“It’s definitely smaller than what we had at the start. The standard soldiers are easily replaced, but we lost many higher ranked soldiers and officers both during the war and over the years. There’s less overall experience in fighting a war now than there was.”

“Does this make up every demon in Japan you think? The report estimated we have a week, even though the travel is not that long.”

“I don’t believe this accounts for all clans still alive. There were many dormant clans in the East that are down there now. The report is correct in that all the demons are gathering. Though I find it a little strange that they picked now to do it. Even using what you or that woman has been doing as an excuse, most of the demons don’t have the desire for war anymore. I’m not sure why that has suddenly changed.”

“I remember you saying that before. If they want to fight now, something has to have changed with them to get all of the bored demons back to fight.”

“But I haven’t a clue what it might be. Even with the death caused, not nearly this many would have been motivated to answer the call to war.”

The way her rival spoke about the demons did nothing to ease her concerns about the situation. He only made the feelings on the matter worse. ‘If they’re this strongly motivated to fight, then it’s not going to be like before. They have a purpose and reason for the war. They’re going to fight even harder than before. What chance do we stand against such a force?’

Her mind turned back trying to imagine how those in the past managed to fight the demons on a level playing field. The world was very different back then. Though even with all of their power, it was still not enough to defeat the demons. In the end, an uneasy peace was brokered between the two.

Yumi pulled away from the edge and slid down far out of the way. “We’ve learned enough. Staying any longer is going to risk being found. We need to get this back to the council.” The rest agreed following up behind her. Though she looked back at Manekamaru. “Did you want to stay?”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I’ve made my choice. I will follow you until our rematch.”

“I might die before that happens.”

“I doubt it.”

“Well we can get it out of the way now if you wanted.”

“Save your strength for the battle to come.”

“You’re a strange one.” Even traveling with him for the time that she did, he still didn’t make a lot of sense. He valued a fight with her over everything else. It didn’t make any sort of sense. Even more than returning to his people, he wanted that fight.

She sighed.

“Fine, let’s get going then.”

Back to the landing spot, Yumi pulled into the air with everyone around her. Their flight from the Capital managed to not meet any trouble. She only hoped that the entire flight would be safe.

She looked over at the demon. “So this Hokuren, what can you tell us about him, since he’s going to be leading the demons I assume.”

“He is the head of the entire war theatre here in Japan. Originally, he felt as passionately as the rest about getting revenge for the death of our kin against the humans. He disapproved of the passive approach the others had in dealing with the matter. His charismatic speeches earned many loyal followers to the war. Even on the battlefield he was the most skilled warrior we have. Trained for centuries before becoming a General, there is none better. He fights on the frontline leading by example rallying the troops with his bravery and courage.”

Nothing that he said made her feel any better. Not that she really expected anything he said to do that. It was information that she needed to figure out any sort of weakness or plan against such a powerful enemy. “And how does he compare to your Lord?”

“All the Lords are in his shadow. He towers over them completely unrivaled or contested for his strength or position. It is a completely separate class.”

‘How am I supposed to kill someone that powerful? What am I going to do to win?’