308 Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
As Rachel and her team reached the location, a horrifying scene unfolded before them. Stormscream, the monstrous creature, bled profusely, its every movement signaling immense pain and vulnerability.
But what captured their attention more was the sight of the bodies of Arjun and his team. They were charred beyond recognition, and their limbs torn apart, making it clear that they had faced a brutal end.
Amelia closed her trembling eyes, feeling sad for them and their unfortunate luck in having to team up with them.
She was starting to wonder what the point of this quest was if the rules only encouraged evil men like Victor to backstab the good ones.
Why wouldn't the Angels punish him for what he was doing? He just can't keep getting away with it!
Victor audibly sighed, but his eyes were not on the fallen. They were greedily fixed on the glistening Radem Shards lying beside the dead, "Such a creature," he mused with sadness yet with a fervid light in his eyes, "deserves to be harvested completely."
Rachel, her face twisted in a mix of grief and anger, spoke up, "I'll do it."
She readied her spear, determined to end the creature's suffering. As she lunged forward, ready to drive her weapon through its back, Victor's sudden shout stopped her in her tracks, "Rachel, fall back!" But it was too late. Her spear met nothing but air, while the figure of Stormscream dissipated like a mere image, making Rachel realize she had just stabbed an illusion.
But for someone to make her see an illusion that looked so real, someone very powerful must be nearby!
"We're not alone," Amelia whispered, her gaze fixed on the slowly approaching figure with glowing red eyes, half-hidden behind a veil of smoke created from the debris.
As the smoke began to clear, the figure's identity became evident. A man, with striking ruby-red hair and captivating red eyes, walked towards them.
He was impeccably dressed in red, radiating a sense of grace and elegance while holding onto a rose. His refined and polite smile, however, did little to ease the tension that hung in the air.
Victor's face deepened into a frown, his guard raised. The others too seemed on edge, their bodies tense, ready to respond to any sudden movement. Yet the man's demeanor was disarmingly calm.
With a gentle pat, he adjusted his clothing. The real Stormscream, massive and imposing, obediently knelt beside him despite the severe injuries on it.
The man reached out, his fingers brushing the creature's face in a tender gesture, "Isn't this creature magnificent and beautiful?" he asked, his voice smooth and poised, but his eyes betraying something much deeper.
Even for Rachel, to see someone caressing such a terrifying monster without any fear and the fact that this monster was obediently kneeling before him was too shocking.
It was a known fact by now it was impossible to tame the monsters in these mini-dungeons since no matter whether they had demonic or radiant mana, they would only show killing intent at everything around them.
Trying to tame them would either result in getting killed or the monsters dying in the process.
But recognizing the man before them, Rachel and the others didn't dare to lower their guard just because he was alone since this demon was definitely a Soul Devourer.
Victor's gaze was firmly fixed on the ruby-haired man as he pronounced, "Jael Valentine. I should've expected someone of your reputation to tame Stormscream so quickly."
Jael gave a courtesy bow with his head briefly as he said, "Victor Hart…we meet again. It was a shame you had to leave early last time. I wanted to show you some of my rose collections, each one of them having its own magical scent. Only my mother could nurture such beautiful things in a world like ours."
Amelia furrowed her brows, wondering if these two had met each other in a previous quest and why this demon was so obsessed over a flower.
Rachel stepped forward, her eyes full of resolve, "You…hand over the monster to us. It's only right that we harvest it after we kill it. Even if we weren't the ones to inflict this damage, our friends did, and we owe them that much at least."
Jael gently smelled the rose in his hand, its fragrance diffusing in the tense air, "Why would you deserve such a thing? Your friends fell before even making a significant dent in my pet here."
He smiled gently as he added, "You see, I've been observing from the shadows. Your companions, despite their valor, were caught off guard and never stood a chance. Stormscream is mine because I was the one to conquer it. A little affection goes a long way, you know."
Amelia, her face painted with skepticism, retorted, "You expect us to believe you took down Stormscream all by yourself? Don't take us for fools. Even if what you're saying is true, you stand alone with an injured monster at your side, while we are five strong," Even if she hated Victor to her bones, she mentally reassured herself by acknowledging Victor's formidable strength.
His ranking as a low-level S was no joke, and combined with the power of the rest, it felt certain they could overpower this demon who was a low-level Soul Devourer.
Rachel also held the same thought as her eyes locked onto Jael, the thirst for vengeance evident. But before any further action could be taken, Victor intervened, "Amelia, there's no need to escalate things," His words, unexpected, caused Rachel, Amelia, Emiko, and Yui to turn their attention to him in surprise.
Victor folded his arms, staring intently at Jarl, "Well, since you've tamed Stormscream, you can keep it. But the Radem Shards scattered around these fallen heroes…We can't let you have them."
Jael's lips curled into a refined smile, his elegant demeanor unaffected, "I currently have no interest in the shards. Take them. However," he paused, an unsettling sparkle lighting up his eyes, "do remember that I may not be so generous when our paths cross again," With that said, he offered a courteous bow, turned on his heels, and walked away, the injured Stormscream limping beside him.
Rachel, her patience already strained, stepped briskly up to Victor once Jael was out of sight, "Why, Victor? We had a golden opportunity! Together, we could have taken down that high-ranking demon! Why let him just walk away?" Rachel knew this demon named Jael Valentine was coming from a powerful demon lineage though she still felt all of them together could have killed him.
Victor ran a hand through his hair, his face lined with weariness, "Rachel, you can't judge a book by its cover. I've crossed paths with that demon before, during another quest. Let's just say I got a very clear insight into how formidable and how much of a freak he is. Even if we combined our strengths to take him down, the aftermath could be devastating for all of us. We can't afford to even be slightly injured in a place like this…not until the end game."
Amelia's scoff broke the brief silence, "And what? We let him go and hope he doesn't come back to bite us?"
Ignoring Amelia's sarcasm, Victor shifted his gaze to the Radem Shards shimmering next to Arjun and his team's lifeless bodies, "Instead of lamenting over what we couldn't do, we should focus on what we can. These shards can be our way to avenge Arjun and his comrades. We complete this quest, and we prevent demons like Jael from obtaining the Deviar. And remember...The Demons aren't the only ones we have to face. So many from our own world won't hesitate to kill us for the Radem...especially the Russians. We can't let them beat us to it."
Rachel's face softened, her grip on her spear relaxing a little, "You're right," she murmured, determination flaring in her eyes again, "For them, we will complete this quest and make sure the Radem or the Deviar doesn't fall into the wrong hands. No matter the cost."
—
3 days left,
In the heart of one of the tempestuous islands, an island not governed by the rules of nature, a tall demon with dove gray skin was running in the middle of it while gritting his teeth and trying to avoid the killer lightning bolts trying to strike him, "Damn!"
*CRACKLE!*
*RUMBLE!*
The sky roared in tumultuous anger, casting electrifying patterns of lightning, which danced erratically across the heavens. Each bolt seemed to have a purpose, to forge an electrifying labyrinth, one that only the bravest dared to traverse.
As the storm's fury intensified, he activated his Hellbringer form. His once radiant skin disintegrated into ashes, revealing a skeletal structure that was anything but mundane. Every bone gleamed with an intense dark green flame, illuminating his path and asserting his unwavering determination.
Rain, heavy and blinding, pelted him mercilessly. The gales blew with such ferocity that even he, in his Hellbringer form, had to push against them, each step becoming a test of will.
With every breath, the storm's rage lashed at him, attempting to swerve him off course. Every now and then, the brilliant arcs of lightning targeted him.
But even as they shattered his bones, Asher's resilience shone through.
With a will made of steel, the bones mended rapidly, reforming before the very elements that sought to destroy him while becoming stronger.
Navigating the storm was treacherous, but his eyes glowed as they landed on his prize – not gloriously encased or exalted on a pedestal but absorbing raw, elemental power.
The Cloak of the Voidweaver hung ominously on an ancient stone arch, its fabric pulsating with the storm's furious energy.
Its appearance was a masterpiece of both art and magic. The outer layer was a deep, inky black, reminiscent of the void between galaxies, while its inner lining sparkled faintly, mimicking the farthest stars in the cosmos.
Reaching out, Asher touched the cloak, immediately sensing its otherworldly aura. The already violent tempest responded with amplified rage, a roaring indication that the island's equilibrium had been disrupted.
The sky turned a shade darker, more threatening, as the ground beneath quivered, signaling the beginning of the end for this floating island.
"Asher, get back, quickly!"
"Master, the island is breaking down!"
"Your Highness, why do you have to be so reckless!"
The voices of these women pierced the tumult, and in his mind, their voices filled with anxiety and desperation. They stood quite afar, in the adjacent floating island, their figures barely discernible through the blinding rain and chaotic lightning.
Desperately, Asher tried to teleport using his "Never Look Behind" ability, to bridge the distance and instantly reach them. But the storm's wrath and everything got in the way of his vision, barring his escape.
The once floating rocks of the isle, which had been held together by some ancient magic, began disintegrating, crumbling like fragile pieces in a game of celestial chess.
"Shit!" The very foundation of Stormshroud Isle crumbled beneath his feet, the ground disintegrating rapidly, leaving him suspended in a split second of heart-stopping weightlessness.
The cloak, now clenched in his hand, flapped wildly against the violent currents, the pulsating energy emanating from it, almost echoing the chaos of the storm, though he held on tightly to it.
"Asher!" He heard their cries in his mind fading away as he began to freefall through the dark clouds.
Naida's son got few tricks it seems :#
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