Chapter 63: Greater Demon
Max glanced at the giant and frowned.
Greater Demons were equal at B-rank humans’ hierarchy, but they were stronger because of the superiority of their race.
They were even terrifying because they had their own legion.
Normally, a Greater Demon was accompanied by 500 demons from different rank.
A Greater Demon emerging conveyed it was definitely accompanied by a legion.
Max furrowed his eyebrows and tightened the grip on his staff.
The Greater Demon appearance was abnormal.
It was clearly targeting them.
Archmage Arlen stood up.
He said in a somber tone, "It already marked us. I think it’s angry at you Max for destroying what he was breeding."
Max ground his teeth. "Why did it matter to that demon? It could have protected it."
Archmage Arlen shook his head. "That demon is smart. The Lieutenant already said it, the Greyfen Village kept it and its army in check. The watchtower is closer to us, so we are in an advantage. It couldn’t do anything when we were reclaiming the watchtower.
Who would have thought it followed me?"
"So, it’s angry at you, then."
Archmage Arlen laughed. "Goodluck, Max. Me and Branna can sacrifice ourselves, but you can’t die.
You will become the future of the Empire."
The twelve feet tall demon began to reveal its appearance amidst the dense black reeds.
It was a heavily armored giant formed from black volcanic iron. It has horns curved backward like molten obsidian blades. Cracked skin glowing with flowing magma beneath and its burning golden-orange eyes were filled with rage, glaring at them.
A crown-like formation of jagged volcanic spikes surrounded his head. Massive wings composed of smoke, embers, and infernal flame protruded behind his back.
He carried a gigantic sword, emitting a violet flame that seemed to burn the air.
He raised his gigantic sword and pointed at them.
He let out a thunderous roar.
[You have been afflicted with Fear.
All stats reduced by 50%.]
Max was trembling. He wasn’t truly scared. He had faced a lot of Greater Demon in his past life, but his stats forced him to be terrified.
His body was incessantly trembling and his heart was racing. He gritted his teeth and stared at Archmage Arlen, who was unperturbed.
He said, "If only the Lieutenant and the rest are here..."
He shook his head and an immense concentrated of mana swirled around him, causing him to levitate upward. His eyes glowed with runic language.
Branna released her sword intent as well, clashing with the demonic mana released by the giant demon.
Their mere clashes were supposed to knock out the horses, but Archmage Arlen managed to enhance them with his defensive runes.
He added enhanced agility and speed runes to the horses, not forgetting the concealment runes.
"Go on. Ride the horses now and go straight to the capital."
"Why not the Greyfen Village? It’s closer—"
"Idiot! If even the Greater Demon can sneak up here, how can you believe that the village is far safer? Their target is you.
Go straight to the capital. If you see settlements along the way, don’t stop and maneuver around. You need to warn them."
Max jumped into the horse and surprised Archmage Arlen after seeing him grabbing the rein.
Max appeared to be proficient in driving a horse.
Max glanced at him and said, "Stay alive as long as you can. I’ll be back."
Max snapped the reins and the horse drove forward. The other horse followed him like a bodyguard.
Archmage Arlen smiled at Max and watched his figure disappeared.
He turned towards the Greater Demon and shook his head. The Greater Demon’s legion finally appeared from the dense black reeds.
They were approximately five hundred of them. There were individuals behind them that actually posed a threat.
Archmage Arlen chuckled. He glanced at Branna and felt her killing intent getting thicker as the demon legions were getting closer.
"Go on and have a rampage, Branna. I’ll support you from behind."
As soon as Branna heard it, she leaped forward and cut the nearest C-rank demon in a half...
...
Max heard explosions behind, but he didn’t look back. He gritted his teeth and controlled the horses to move faster and chose the best terrain to increase their pace.
Even the horses completely submitted to his instructions.
Max stored his staff and off-hand item to his storage ring. His hands were grabbing the rein of his main horse, while the other followed behind.
Max was surprised that he was targeted by a Soul Mark from a demon skill. He didn’t need to be notified by the system. His mana sensitivity already informed him.
He could get rid of it with Mana Pulse, but...
Thirty Soul Marks were placed at him. His Mana Pulse were insufficient.
Fcking annoying rats!
He let go of the reins but kept his balance. He summoned his staff and the demon eye focus and turned his head around to search for the responsible demon.
There were many demons that has Soul Mark skills and most of them were at C-Rank.
However, they didn’t possess the rift residue crystal, and Max was far stronger than before.
He could already kill C-Rank demons no matter the advantages they had for being a superior specie.
Max spotted a smoke moving at a rapid speed, slowly catching up to him.
He immediately recognized what they were. Ash Stalkers.
Their bodies partially dissolved into smokes, making it difficult to spot them through naked eye. With Max’s mana sensitivity at Master level, his vision was enhanced that any object or existence that was made out of fifty percent mana couldn’t escape his eyes.
The Ash Stalkers’ body were made out of demonic mana for at least seventy percent. Max instantly caught their presence.
He wasn’t encircled yet. He was aware of the Ash Stalkers’ style of assassination. They were responsible for eliminating mages.
In other words, they were Max’s nemesis...
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