Battle Against the Demon's Part 2

Brak.

Mud and grass splattered wildly across the area when their spears and pincers struck nothing but the wet earth.

“Damn it,” Mbuemo muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Meanwhile, Sirius had already used his shadow ability to slip into the shade of the surrounding bushes without anyone noticing.

The two demons leapt back, forming a combat formation with Gurhalla standing behind them.

Gurhalla lifted her hand and shouted a spell. “[Protective Dome.]”

A dome immediately surrounded the three of them, shimmering faintly with a dark red hue from the sunlight reflected across its surface.

Sirius watched the dome from within the shadows. That dome must be some sort of protective magic. I cannot strike by surprise unless... A faint grin curled at the edge of his muzzle, revealing fangs as sharp as blades.

The three of them stood back to back, scanning their surroundings with full vigilance.

“Where did that wolf go?”

“Calm down. At least with my magic dome, he cannot repeat an ambush like before.”

Srek... srek.

Sirius dashed like a streak of darkness through the thick forest, fast and silent, moving with such fluidity that their eyes could never hope to follow him.

Even within the dome, Mbuemo and Lurik pressed their backs together, weapons raised, ready to defend or strike at the slightest hint of danger.

Gurhalla nocked an arrow onto the bow slung across her back. Her black irises moved rapidly, tracking the blurred shadow that was Sirius.

She pulled the string taut. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she aimed, holding her breath as if refusing to let even a moment slip.

Wush.

The arrow shot forth, slicing through the air with such force that it created a twisting cyclone that tore apart everything in its path.

Trees were uprooted and flung upward, their massive roots ripped from the ground as if they were nothing more than ragdolls.

The cyclone lasted for a few seconds before finally dissipating. The once fertile ground was now devastated, strewn with shattered trunks like worthless scraps.

Meanwhile, Sirius had taken shelter beneath the shadow of fallen trees. His front legs bent low, claws gripping the soil. His golden eyes remained fixed on them, waiting for the perfect moment.

Not yet. I hope everything goes according to plan.

On the other side, Mbuemo’s eyes scanned the forest, trying to detect Sirius’s presence with great caution.

“Did it work?”

“I do not know. None of us has detection magic. But do not worry. I will burn this forest down.”

Gurhalla raised both hands, her lips murmuring a chant. After she finished, a bright red magic circle appeared above them. A massive flame then spewed forth like a dragon’s breath, burning the surrounding debris.

Fools. Do they not use their brains?

From within the shadows, Sirius’s grin widened.

His original plan had been to force them out of the dome before attacking. But the fire spell changed everything in an instant.

Because the ground was still wet, the fire could not spread. Instead, it produced thick steam that veiled the entire area.

This is my chance.

Sirius burst out of the shadows and sprinted toward the glowing red dome. His wolf’s eyes allowed him to see clearly through the dense fog.

His hind legs tensed, then he leapt forward with all his strength. His claws tore through the mist as he aimed for the upper surface of the dome.

Krak.

With a single strike, the top of the dome shattered like glass.

Move.

While still midair, the fog was suddenly split apart by Lurik’s spear thrust upward. Warned by instinct, Sirius twisted his body and slashed with his claws.

Slash.

His claws tore into the demon’s right shoulder before he landed perfectly behind them. But the moment his paws touched the ground, the earth cracked beneath him and sharp stone spikes surged upward.

He jumped back swiftly, yet more stone spikes rose behind him. Reflexively, he twisted and used one of the spikes as a foothold to push himself farther away.

“Tch, he avoided all my traps. Lurik, Mbuemo, attack him!”

Lurik charged across a massive stone spike, followed by Mbuemo leaping high into the air. Thrust his spear forward, but Sirius sidestepped it with a slight tilt of his body.

Lurik anchored his foot on the ground and swung his spear counterclockwise. The tip of the spear grazed a few strands of Sirius’s fur before the wolf retreated several meters away.

A small mocking curve appeared on Sirius’s muzzle as he realized he was faster, stronger, and more agile than they were.

Wait. Where is the scorpion?

Sirius’s eyes widened. He looked left and right but found no one. That was when his instinct screamed again. Above.

He looked up. Mbuemo was already descending with his pincers aimed downward.

“Hoh, you noticed.”

Mbuemo swung his pincer down, tearing into Sirius’s right shoulder before the wolf slipped back into the shadows behind him.

“That wild dog is too fast.”

“Not only that. He is strong and clever,” Gurhalla added as she walked toward Mbuemo. “We are lucky he seems inexperienced in fighting monsters of his own level.”

“His battle instincts are troublesome,” Lurik said, resting his spear on his shoulder. “He is a monster... no, a demon of exceptional skill. Unworthy to be labeled a mere beast, especially since he can speak like us.”

Sirius listened silently from the shadows. His ears twitched as he caught every word. The forest, which rapidly regenerated itself, made it easier for him to move from shade to shade.

“Hey, we are not your enemy. We only want to invite you to join us...”

“I refuse to work with creatures as foul as you.” Sirius’s voice echoed through the forest.

“What? What do you mean? We did not even say anything.” Gurhalla protested.

Tap.

Behind them, Sirius revealed himself, stepping out of the forest shadows with calm, slow steps. “I already heard everything. I even know what you planned to do if I refused.”

Gurhalla sneered, her eyes glowing red. Without warning, she charged forward on her four hooved legs. A large spear appeared in her right hand, aimed at Sirius.

“Idiot. If you knew, you should not have come out of hiding.”

Sirius leapt back, but he was too late. The spear pierced his chest and exited through his back. Thick red liquid burst out, splattering across Gurhalla’s face as she grinned wickedly.

“Die, you damned wolf. Do not underestimate the body of a centaurion, Foolish Creature.”

Sirius’s body suddenly dissolved into a dark shadow that scattered through the air. Gurhalla froze, eyes widening. She had been tricked.

“Huh?”

“You are wrong. I never underestimated your lower body at all.”

Sirius’s voice whispered right beside her left ear. She turned, eyes bulging as she saw the wolf, now three times her size, revealing gleaming rows of fangs emerging from the darkness.

“You...”

“Gurhallaaaa!” Mbuemo shouted, leaping high. Lurik charged from the ground with his spear extended.

Too late.

Before Gurhalla could react, Sirius clamped his jaws around her head and bit down with brutal force. He tore her head clean off.

Sirius leapt back.

Gurhalla’s headless body stood for a moment, blood gushing from her neck like a fountain. Then her body collapsed, staining the grass with the pungent smell of death.

“Gurhalla!” Lurik caught her corpse, his hoarse scream echoing like a wounded beast. His eyes burned red as he glared toward the shadows where Sirius had vanished.

“Damn wolf. I will kill you.”

He sprinted deep into the forest, attempting to chase Sirius through the shifting shadows.

“Wait... that stupid.” Mbuemo clicked his tongue and followed, but not before grabbing something from Gurhalla’s corpse.

From afar, Sirius tilted his head. What did he take? He shrugged. Whatever it was, it changes nothing.

A sharp grin spread across his muzzle. This is my first time hunting a group of demons. Let us savor this hunt to the fullest.

He turned away.

His form faded, merging into the dark forest shadows once more.