The Demon King

The sealed grounds were the original location of the capital of Lapispire. When a Demon Lord absorbs enough malice, they evolve into the Demon King. It takes many years for them to have the chance to evolve. Demons corrupt and kill those around us and control monsters that don't have the human will. The malice that grows around the world can birth new demons. Some find Demon Lords emerging dependent on the level of malice an area has. The people have always wondered why they exist. Why have the 4 Gods of Origins left them to exist? Why must they wait for a hero to clean them up?

When the Demon King first attacked, the people were trying to defend their homes but his powers were too strong. Even his armor couldn't be damaged. The first hero rushed in to defend the people and make sure he didn't reach the royal family.

The world waited for a miracle to happen. However the hero could not win. The malice can not be defeated. However the hero used his entire essence, his soul, to make the sacrifice and seal the Demon King. What remained was the Demon King and the area around him wrapped in a pure white stone and the hero’s body nowhere to be seen. The King guided the people East to rebuild their kingdom and made sure the future of Lapispire was secured.

“Yet, while the seal slowly cracks, I am unable to break him free. My only option is to wait here for the right opportunity to release the original malice of this world…”

“We’re not letting you.” Himari pulls out her wand.

“Obviously…” He sighed. “Humans detest us demons. How could you like us? We kill and eat your species. We're cursed with an endless hunger.”

“Don’t forget our plan, Himari!” Ruby rushes in with Alice and Estelle.

“Ruby… Is this the Demon Lord that did it?”

She turned to the tall cloaked man with a long red horn poking out of his forehead. Her eyes are filled with fury. She grits her teeth hard.

“Well now… I suppose more blood will be spilled today…”

“You killed my tribe’s chief. Today is the day your blood will spill!” She roared.

“I killed your chief? I don't remember that. Well…I killed lots of people. Not one was special.” His hand inspects the petrified Demon King. “In a more perfect scenario, I would've broken this damn seal that's cracking… However the hero that did this only prolonged the end. I'll pour every last drop of your blood here and perhaps the Demon King will break free.” A singular dark curved blade appeared.

“Ruby! Alice!”

Himari pointed her wand toward them and added a boost in power. Estelle rushes to Himari’s side as Ruby charges in.

SLASH SLASH

The Demon Lord seems to be struggling to block most attacks. Even Alice's modified fire balls scrape his skin.

“What's wrong?! Where are your other blades?!”

SLASH SLASH

“Regretfully I lost two relics that contained the blades. However… One is all I need!”

The movement of his blade flashed by her face.

BAM!

Alice knocked the blade with a stone spell, changing its direction.

“Nice one Alice!”

Whoosh SLASH

Alice nearly dodges the blade, hitting her head against one of the pillars. Ruby activated her beast mode and moved faster than before. As if copying her, the Demon Lord picked up the pace to match hers. Quickly getting up Alice spreads water across the field causing him to slip.

“Do you think a mortal such as yourself can kill someone like me? You’d be dead before getting close.”

“Shut the hell up!” Ruby roars.

BOOOOM

Her claws collided with his blade. The shock waves pushes Himari back a bit.

“You can kill him now, right Himari?” Alice’s head bleeds a bit.

“No. Ruby can do this. I’m helping her with my powers so can you assist her a little bit longer?"

“…Understood!” Alice continues on using spells.

While they fight, Himari adds another boost to Ruby. She tries her hardest to focus on the battle in case things go south. However something is dragging her attention away.

The Demon King.

Frozen in time by the sacrifice of the first hero.

Why is she being drawn to it?

“Yes or No. Do I have to kill the Demon King?”

“No you don’t have to. The choice is yours.”

That conversation sits on her mind. What did Poppy mean by that? If the Demon King is freed then the world is in danger.

I have a clear shot right here… She thought to herself.

Depending on how long it takes, her powers can destroy it or she can send a barrage of attacks on it. He’s defenseless so she can successfully kill the Demon King right here. But then again, that won’t solve anything. Malice will continue to grow and perhaps another Demon King will rise. The Demon Lord they are facing might be the next one.

“No you don’t have to. The choice is yours.”

“I don’t have too…? Could it be that with my powers…?”

BOOOOOM!!

Ruby was tossed through the wall with the Demon Lord chasing her with his blade. Himari instructs Alice to heal up real quick by Estelle. Her legs continued to move on their own.

Ruby continues to attack violently but with good tactics. She was able to slash off one arm but it grew back instantly.

“Grk…!” Suddenly he gains the upper hand by slashing her leg. She tumbles across the field but gets up half way.

“Ruby!”

“Cut off my arm and I instantly regenerate. Slash through your leg and you are on the brink of death… We demons are superior compared to you. No human, beastfolk or elf can truly defeat me. Your “holy magic” would do some damage but that is a modified version of the hero’s power.” He laughs.

“Demon Lord!” Himari's voice cracked.

“Human… There is nothing you can do. Your friend can’t kill me. You can’t kill me.”

“H-Heh heh! That's w-w-where you’re wrong!” Her legs start shaking.

“You humans are the same.” His blade starts flying at her.

“HIMARI!!”

THUD!

With quick motion Estelle pushes Himari out of the way.

CRACK!

Alice uses her magic to destroy the curved blade.

“Himari! Are you ok?!” She snuggles close to her.

“I am! Thanks!”

“Tch…! It takes a while to make a new blade with this ring! Damn Kitsune making things so fragile!”

“Ruby!”

Light from Himari’s hand launches toward Ruby. Under the dark clouds her claws glowed a bright and warm light. Using all her strength she lunges at him.

“Wait, that light!”

Whoosh Whoosh SLASH!

“Gah!!!” His other arm was cut clean off.

No regeneration.

Ruby continued her assault as the Demon Lord tried to find an opening. However it was too late for him.

SLASH SLASH!

Falling to his knees with both arms gone, Ruby stands above his vision. Not once has her hunter’s eyes changed in this fight. Like a true predator who hunted its prey.

“You were only strong because of those blades… If not for those I’d tear each limb off as many times until you couldn’t regenerate."

“Grk… That damn light… You’re a sneaky one hero. I didn’t even notice you… And you my beast warrior… What is your name…?” He looks calm.

“I am Ruby of the Feline Tribe. A jaguar hunter and friend of Himari the hero.” She pushes her claws into his chest.

“Is that so…? My name was Jett… Use that name in your report to your home…fellow warrior…”

“Was…?”

His body slowly faded out of existence leaving a ring on the floor. The same patterns as the two rings Himari purified. Only this time, it wasn’t corrupted.

“Ruby!” Himari and the others rush to her. She then embraces Himari.

“Thank you… My chief has been avenged…”

“You did all the work…”

“Yes but your powers helped me kill him faster. Also… Estelle can you please heal my leg? Beast mode protects me from the pain until it turns off…” She whimpers a bit.

“Right away…” She smiles warmly.

As she is being healed Alice starts gushing over the battle they just had. Ruth, Ruby’s chief, and many others who lost their lives to this demon have been avenged.

Himari smiles at the sight of the three chatting alive and well. It warms her heart to see and hear them. This was different from the last Demon Lord in which she feels a sense of relief and pride on her growth along with theirs.

But something bothered her.

Something the Demon Lord said gave her a bit of a shock.

“My name was Jett…”

Demon Lords have names. Did every Demon Lord Himari killed have a name? A name you would hear in your everyday life.

Were they once human…? She gulped at that thought.

“Himari… Look, another ring for you… Now you’re more protected and stronger because of this.” Estelle, on her knees, slides the third ring on Himari’s left ring finger.

“E-Ehhh? Um yes thank you…” She blushes after looking at Estelle’s loving face.

“You’re so cute Himari… Your pure heart can change anyone. Just like how you made me fall in love…”

“Ah so about your confession earl-… Wait…”

“Himari?”

“Pure… Pure… Purify…?”

She quickly rushes toward the sealed ground. The others looked confused but followed her quickly.

The Demon King is still undisturbed even after all that has happened. The cracks can be seen but nothing has happened yet. Both Ruby and Alice encourage her to fix the seal so they can finally go home.

However, Himari doesn’t budge.

“I know what the 4 Gods of Origins want me to do…” Slowly she walks toward the Demon King.

With determination burning in her eyes she placed her hands on him and light began to glow. The light expands all around the sealed grounds. The warmth soothes her friends.

CRACK

An unsettling sound shocks them.

“Oi! What’s happening?” Ruby hissed.

CRACK

It continues.

The white stone that was used to seal the Demon King continues to crack. Shadows began leaking through like blood on an open wound. The ground shakes as sealed grounds crumble to the ground. The area around them is protected under Himari’s light.

CRACK BOOOOOM

Ominous shadows emerge out of the ground and it surrounds the being covered in ancient armor. The clouds turned red as the shadows began to settle.

It collapses to its knees.

“Hahhhhhh….” The sound of its breath stuns the others.

“This is it…” Himair whispered.

“Who…has freed me…from an eternal dungeon…?”

“My name is Himari Suvi. Your hero…” She embraces the Demon King.

“My hero…?” Light surrounded them.

“What is your name?”

“My name…? I am… I am… My name was…” The ancient armor shook as if it’s freezing.

“You don’t have to worry… Your endless hunger ends today…”

“What is this…? What is this…? Who…?” Himari expands her light.

The bright light turned to a light blue color around the edge of the field. As if the sky was brought down to them.

Himari was the sun in the middle of the sky.

THUD THUD!

Parts of the armor fell off.

Ruby, Alice, and Estelle watch as Himari performs her blessing. The sight nearly made Alice cry. Her and her elven bloodline can read magic better than any living creature. In her eyes she is watching the most beautiful scene.

Slowly the light fades.

The ancient malice that flooded the Demon King has been completely removed.

THUD THUD! THUD THUD! THUD!

The armor falls apart and someone falls into Himari’s arms.

A girl roughly the same age as her. Her skin is as pale as silk. Her long white hair could reach her ankles. At first she was ice cold but her body began to warm up by Himari’s hug.

“EHHH!? WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” Alice screamed.

“I-Impossible… The Demon King that went to wipe out all of life…has been purified?” Ruby’s jaw continues to stay dropped.

“Himari… You performed a…miracle?” Estelle kneels next to her.

“I think I did…”

Estelle reaches out her hand over the supposed “Demon King”. No injuries detected at all. This girl was completely healthy. It’s as if she was never hurt from the malice.

Alice dresses her in one of Himari’s spare clothes and Ruby carries her.

“Now what…?”

“How should I know? I didn’t expect this outcome.” Ruby scoffs.

“Well our only option is to report back to the King of Lapispire. Estelle and I did agree to bring Himari back once her ‘Demon King’ mission was done.”

“Yes we must head back. I know what I must do for the kingdom, the beast tribes, and all living creatures out in the wild. Thank you… I’m so glad to have met you all…” Tears build up.

Both Estelle and Alice hug Himari while Ruby just pats her shoulder.

The group plans to keep this girl a secret until they reach His Majesty, Noah Sebastian Lapispire. It’ll be a long journey back but on their way, Himari can continue to purify the malice rather than destroy.

They made it in time for Ruth Judge’s funeral at SilverStone town. What was a moment of sadness turned into a celebration. The Demon Lord that took her life was defeated and Himari the hero was able to protect them.

After staying for an extra day, they continued their journey home. Ruby insisted on joining them to meet the King. Gaining a reward from him may assist her tribe after the loss of their leader. In addition to that, she declared her full loyalty to Himari. If called she will fight for her.

The clouds have started to break from the sun’s light.

A brand new day emerges for Himari Suvi. The Hero Who Purifies the Malice.