Hero's Rage

"This can't be happening…"

It takes every ounce of my will to keep from running away. I'm trailing at the back of the pack as we sneak through the trees, so fleeing is well within possibility. The thought of coming face to face with a demon once more is enough fear to make my grey patches of hair expand.

"Peasant."

I can only assume that the deepened voice of Leon was referring to me.

"Stay back and locate the Demon Lord. When you see it, shoot it and give me the signal."

"O-Okay!"

In my hand is the quality shortbow that I pulled from the armoury. Along with the quiver of arrows at my back, I have a weapon that any knight would find advantageous for this fight. However, I cannot use it. Now would be the time to tell the party this, but I can hardly breathe, much less confess.

"Demon lord…"

My heart beats against a pouch stored safely in my tunic's inside pocket. Accessible only from my neck, I cannot lose it unless my heart itself is struck out. I grasp the mask fragment tightly, feeling the terrible aura alongside my struggling breaths.

We wade through the brush for several minutes, keeping an eye out on all sides for movement. Minutes turn to many as we slowly stalk.

GASP

I can feel it, that terrible presence. Flames swirl in my mind as my senses are assaulted by a unique feeling.

"T-The demons are close!"

"Are you certain, Rado!?"

Bernard pulls back to my side, urging me to quiet my voice. While I'm nearly hyperventilating, the young knight seems unfazed.

"T-They're there! Over there!"

A shaking hand points slightly to the right of the direction we're moving. Even if their bodies are too far out, I can see that horrible mist in the wind.

"Leon."

"On it."

Metal whistles through the air. Before, he was simply searching. Now, Leon is hunting with his silver blade at the ready. For some reason, the steel seems fragmented with some parts almost glowing. When I blink, the metal returns to normal before revealing its hidden nature to me once more. This is no normal sword.

"To arms!"

It's a whisper, but one with force.

In that moment, my heart sank. This isn't just their unique magic anymore. I can see them properly, with their monstrous forms that don't belong to any animal in this world that I know.

There are two, each carrying weapons of what must be sharpened bones. One has a head that is almost human, if not for the oversized bottom jaw and striking horns. Its body is akin to a troll, oversized and with skin that rumbles with rough pores. The other has the head of a deer, but has a body with hideously long arms and scales between patches of dark fur. Both of them are things that could only appear in the nightmares of a child.

"Katherine, we move on your signal! I will take the right one, Bernard the left."

""Got it!""

The heroes get into position, creeping ever closer to the threats. For me, my legs can carry me no further.

"D-Demons…"

I can't move. My legs are completely paralysed, and the thought of taking another step towards these monsters is refused by my brain. My eyes snap shut and the whole world disappears. I can't feel my left hand anymore with how tightly it grasps the wooden shaft of my bow.

A rumble from my right brings me back to the present and the task at hand.

"T-That's right! I can't just stand here and do nothing!"

I'm not a combatant. I was given only one role and one role only, to identify the Demon Lord. If I can't do that, then I may end up responsible for sending these kids to their doom.

"I have to look…I have to look…"

As much as it pains my mind to do so, I have to observe these demons. Just looking at them makes the flames well up in my lungs and threatens to destroy me from the inside. However, this is something I must do. I can't let these kids die.

Grasping the pouch at my chest, I take a deep breath.

"Show me your voice…"

I open my eyes and take in everything that these demons are. My nose burns and it feels as if my throat might twist, but I continue to look. Their nature is basically radiating from the monsters as they slowly walk through the forest.

"This isn't it…"

I crouch down and gasp for air. It was an overwhelming presence, but I managed to do my job. Neither of these are the Demon Lord, and that is worth being relieved about.

"Now!"

BANG

Her voice rings out before her magic. Katherine fires a blast of pure magical energy, a brilliant blue that slams into the unsuspecting demons.

"GRAAAAH!"

"This is where you meet your end, demons!"

Even I'm stunned at Leon's primal roar. The young hero tears out from behind the trees with Bernard not far behind. Sword in hand, Leon swings directly for the neck of the troll.

"GRR!"

The demon recovered just in time to block with a spiked bone club. Given the size difference, the monster was hardly pushed back by the impact. It now shifts its weight and prepares to slam into Leon.

"BY THE HERO'S AUTHORITY!"

A flash of light fires out in all directions, its origin being the metal of his blade. When it comes into contact with the demon, it seems to burn its very skin off.

"AHHHHHHH!"

It's an almost human scream, albeit much deeper. Strength seems to fade from the demon's body as bit by bit its outer flesh is scorched by the radiant light. Leon swings once and the club is thrown into the distance.

"NOW YOU BURN!"

The young hero becomes surrounded in a blanket of red. It becomes impossible to distinguish his magic from the sheer rage that his body exudes.

"IT BUUUURNS! IT—-!"

"DIEEEE!"

The demon bursts into flames, a fire that hits the nearby foliage and begins raging through the trees. Leon swings once, then twice, then ten more times. The demon raises a seared arm, but that too is sliced from its joint. As it struggles, the young hero thrusts into its body continuously. Even as the body ceases all motion, the flames and flurry continues.

"Targets down!"

A burst of blue appears from the side, this time a light and refreshing blue. With it comes a damp wave that extinguishes the flames caused by Leon. When the lighting finally returns to normal, he is standing over a corpse. I can hardly recognise the monster anymore between the blackened surface and shredded muscle.

"T-This kid…"

That is all my voice can manage after witnessing such a sight.