Chapter 14 - We Missed Our Train

Drago's train arrived at the human train station.

The doors opened, and as he stepped out, he was greeted by the Hero.

Drago smiled and raised his hand to meet the handshake.

"It's good to see you again, Hero Shoichi."

They shook hands, then let go.

Shoichi gestured forward.

"Come, Drago."

They started walking toward a white-and-gold carriage.

"Let me introduce you to the king."

Drago stopped, then turned his head toward his soldiers.

"If any of you drop my mother…"

His eyes flared.

"Your families will receive a box—and it will be your bodies inside it."

The soldiers struggled as they carried a frozen block of ice on a stretcher.

The lead soldier guided them toward another carriage.

"Easy now."

They came down a few steps.

One soldier fumbled his grip and nearly dropped the ice.

The lead soldier caught it before it hit the ground.

"This is our queen."

He glared at the soldier.

"If Drago doesn't kill you…"

He placed the block of ice inside the carriage.

"I sure will."

Before closing the door, he looked at the queen, frozen solid.

"Forgive me."

He shut the door, then jumped into the driver's seat.

He cracked the reins, and the horses began following the white-and-gold carriage.

The soldier spoke quietly while steering.

"I'll make sure no one lays a hand on you."

A pause.

"Even if this is my last line of duty."

Meanwhile, Hero Shoichi and Demon Prince Drago sat together, drinking and discussing their plan.

"How long until your old man shows up?" Drago asked, examining the color of the alcohol.

"He should be arriving shortly," Shoichi replied.

He continued,

"He also brought friends from Hell."

Shoichi let out a small gasp.

"So I'm going to be fighting old demons?"

Drago looked at Shoichi.

"Those demons are loyal to the throne."

Drago looked out the window and said,

"One, especially named Dante."

Shoichi took a sip of his drink, then spoke.

"After being reincarnated into this world, I made some friends I believe can handle them."

Drago gazed down at Shoichi.

"Do you mean those bands of adventurers?"

Shoichi nodded with a smile.

"Yeah. The king chose them himself."

Their carriage entered the Human Kingdom.

Drago spoke.

"So when am I going to meet the king?"

Shoichi looked out the window.

"Very soon."

The carriage started up a hill within the Human Kingdom.

The lead soldier steered the carriage carrying Drago's mother.

One demon in a black cloak stepped onto the side of the road.

He raised his hands, signaling.

SAFE AREA — DEMON QUEEN FOLLOWERS
TAKE SHARP LEFT — THREE BLOCKS DOWN

The soldier took one glance at Drago and Shoichi's carriage going up the hill.

He cracked the whip, then steered the carriage sharply left and took off down another hill.

Demon followers of the Demon Queen started to appear three blocks away, waving him down.

He nodded, then made another sharp left at the intersection.

The soldier drove into a barn.

One follower began casting a spell.

Demon Mist Art: Illusion Barrier.

The barn vanished, blending into the surroundings.

Back at the train station, a stray chair flew through one of the station windows.

Derrek was on the offensive, and Exe was blocking his strikes.

"Little boy, you think you have enough in the tank for me?"

Exe tripped Derrek with his scythe, then punted him in the face.

He backed up, watching Derrek stand while holding his face.

Exe said,

"I honestly don't think you have enough in your tank."

Derrek hurled his Blood Lance at Exe.

Tenka popped her head out of Exe's jumper and looked at him.

Her eyes glowed as if she were speaking to him.

"Let's fight."

Exe slashed the lance with his scythe, destroying it.

Exe looked at Tenka.

"Wanna try it out?"

Tenka squeaked while grabbing onto the scythe.

Exe spun with his scythe and turned into a black sphere.

Tenka's eyes glowed blue.

Then the black sphere turned into a blue sphere with eyes.

Warren Path — Burrow Hunter.

Exe dug into the ground, spinning.

Derrek laughed.

"He left you all alone."

I dashed at him with Crescent Moon Waltz.

My moonblade was going to strike true.

Derrek blocked it and said,

"Is that all you got?"

I thrust my blade multiple times, pushing him back.

He continued blocking my strikes until his back hit the wall.

Derrek thrust with his lance as he found a gap in my attacks.

I blocked it, but Derrek followed through.

Aries came from the side and grabbed his ankle, making him fall.

I tried to thrust my moonblade into his chest, but he blocked it.

"You really meant to kill me?"

He grunted while pushing me back.

"Very well then, Luna."

I pushed my moonblade harder, grunting as I tried to end him.

Derrek lifted his leg and kicked Aries in the face, forcing him to let go.

Then he lifted both legs and kicked me off him, sending me across the station.

Aries ran and broke my fall.

Derrek stood up, aiming both lances at me.

"Prepare to die."

The ground erupted under Derrek.

Exe and Tenka came up from below, upside down.

Exe drove the heel of his boot into Derrek's chin.

His head snapped back, and Derrek saw stars for a moment while looking at Exe in midair.

Then Exe cracked Derrek with the back side of his scythe, sending him flying into a pillar.

Aries helped me up while I shouted to Exe,

"Set him up for me."

Exe took off running.

He started doing circles around Derrek.

Warren Path — Base Form: Binky Onslaught.

Exe charged toward Derrek with Tenka still holding onto his scythe.

Exe turned his scythe to the back side and started hitting Derrek's face and body with it.

Then Exe stopped behind Derrek.

His eyes glowed gold as he released his demon presence.

Derrek's body felt heavy.

"You think a second-rate demon prince like you could make me kneel?"

Exe stared at Derrek.

"I'm not a Demon Prince anymore."

Tenka plopped onto his head.

"I'm a Demon Rabbit Prince now."

Exe looked at Tenka, then said,

"Do it."

Tenka's eyes glowed blue.

She pushed Exe's presence to a level Derrek could not ignore.

Demon Rabbit Princess — Authority.

Derrek's knees hit the ground hard.

He stared in complete shock.

"What is this?"

He tried to stand, but he couldn't.

Exe walked around Derrek.

"I chose a different path from Drago."

Derrek laughed while looking at Exe.

"Good. Then let me go."

He jerked his legs, but they stayed locked against the ground.

"Since you chose Demon Rabbit Lord Axel, you don't need me, right?"

Exe came to a complete stop in front of Derrek.

He kneeled while holding his scythe over his shoulder.

"You are also one of my brother's men."

Tenka squeaked at Derrek as Exe continued.

"You are one of the demons who encased my mother in ice, right?"

Derrek's eyes went wide.

"It was all Drago's idea."

He started to plead for his life.

"I get it, alright?"

He carried on.

"I'm… I'm sorry."

Exe looked at him, then flipped into a handstand.

He rammed both of his feet into Derrek's face.

His head snapped backward.

I came from the shadows, dashing toward his neck.

Eclipse: Silent Requiem.

I came in close and said,

"It's over, Derrek."

I sliced Derrek's neck, then did a backflip to my feet.

Derrek's shadow showed his head sliding from his neck and falling to the floor.

Exe grabbed his head and tossed it to the baby rabbits waiting close by.

They all dragged his head underground.

Exe looked at the time for the next train.

"Two minutes."

He looked at me, then spoke.

"Let's catch up with Father."

Aries grabbed my hand and said my name.

"Luna?"

I gripped his ear softly.

"I'm fine."

I hugged him tightly.

"As a princess and a future queen, I need to push forward."

The train came into the station.

The speakers came to life with a message.

"Demon Train to the Human Kingdom."

A pause.

"Please make your way to your seats."

Tenka, Ren, and Fubuki jumped out of Exe's jumper and started exploring inside the train.

Exe followed them, acting like a rabbit prince.

"Wait for me, guys!"

He made a left as he entered the train.

"Ren, save a seat for me."

I followed Aries as we both entered the train.

The doors closed behind us.

The speakers came back to life with another message.

"Next stop, the Human Kingdom."

The train started moving down the rails as the lights flickered.

Riding on top of the train were a purple demon and a pink female demon.

They held on as it took off into the darkness.

The train picked up speed, and the wind blew the hood off the purple demon.

Soren spoke as he held onto the train.

"We are on the way, Daniel."

The pink demon's hood came off as well.

Jane spoke as she held onto his cloak.

"We're bringing you back home."