Dino and Cider ran through the stone pathway of the maze. They twisted and turned through path after path through the seemingly endless hall of dead ends. Suddenly demons jumping down from above, attacking with a fury.
"Tch! more of them!?" Dino raised his hands, shooting crystal spikes at these demons .
Cider followed from behind, slicing at the demons with his outstretched blade arms. Seeing that even more were jumping down, he Whipped his arms around more furiously, dicing through all the demons like a blender.
They both noticed the lack of ash, a clear sign that more Demons of envy were lurking within the army of illusionary demons.
"Up for another game of "Find the biggest demon?"
Cider simply nodded with a smile from the excitement of another game. They both engaged the horde of demons that charge forth with the malformed jaws and ugly mugs. Shard of crystal's flew in the air alongside the limbs of the unfortunate demons caught in Cider's cross fire.
As they fought, Liang's voice suddenly made itself known.
"Dino." Liang echoed,
Dino's eyes widened in surprise. "Liang!?"
********
"Where are you!?" Dino echoed back.
Liang blocked an incoming attack from Farn who regrew his decapitated arm. The sheer pressure of his attack sent rippling winds his direction that was inflicted onto Farn. Soon after a crater was formed just beneath where Liang stood.
"I'm taking care of these delinquent demons that're attack the other people from the caravan. I'm the only one here until the others find their way up and in this maze."
"Wait? But how did you get in?" Dino questioned.
With practiced ease, Liang pushed Farn back away from him. Meanwhile the demons holding the reapers were suddenly slashed by some invisible attack. Liang sheathed his sword, still standing tall in the face of the army of demons that surrounded both him and the other people on all sides.
"I had some help climbing the walls of this maze. It's almost as tall as a skyscraper and harder to climb too. I had to use my sword to climb the rest of the way."
Liang then looked around taking note of the demons around him "Clones, Huh?" he noted.
"Hey, Dino." Liang echoed. "Have you seen K?"
"No. Me and Cider are too busy with these demons here. The demon behind this has a lot of demons of Envy... But it has been a few hours since I last heard from him."
"And Megumi?" Liang questioned.
"She's being targeted by this Dragerd Demon, I think he's the one behind this. I have a strong feeling she's being led to the center of the maze right now as we speak. I tried contacting her, but I'm not getting a response back, so me and Cider are trying to get to her now."
"I see…"
Liang raised a brow. "Dragerd, Huh… He should be dead…"
Farn started laughing. "What's wrong reaper? Getting cold feet now?" he called
"Hm?" Liang then smiled. "Oh, no. I was getting on some of the people missing from our group. You must be one of Dragerd lackey's"
Farn, hearing his master's name, quickly became serious. "How do you…"
Farn quickly regained his confidence. "It doesn't matter a reaper like yourself can't possibly fend everyone on your own. Heh."
"I'd like to point out that I'm not with the reaper's corp yet, In fact I'm currently a demon hunter." Liang began to unsheathe his sword. "Not that I blame Dragerd for being misinformed, it has been a while."
The demons that surrounded Liang became more -ancy and ready to attack. Knowing fully well of their uneven odds, Liang spoke to the two reaper's that stood behind him.
"Hey, you two. Stay close to those people, and whatever you do, don't let a single demon attack through."
"Y- Y-yes sir!" that said in unison.
The reapers behind Liang immediately got into position with both their weapons that broke, reconjured in perfect and fit form.
Feeling impatient, Farn yelled out his order. "KIll them all!!"
The demons under his command rushed forward, swarming like a whirlpool in an ocean.
Undeterred, Liang dashed in with purpose. He hopped, dodge, and ducked under the vicious demons. Locating his first target, he struck fast, cutting their head off.
Thousands of demons faded into dust in seconds.
"What!?" Farn Whipped his head in Liang direction, shocked by his speed.
Liang blocked an attack from one of the demons but quickly pushed it away and moved on to a new target. The demons, now knowing his intentions, rushed in to overwhelm him with their sheer numbers.
This did little to slow Liang down as he expertly weaved through the waves of demons, like a shadow in the night. He aimed true, cutting his next target in half.
Several hundred more demons vanished.
"Tch!" Farn, seeing that Liang was dashing through the army of demons, looked on angrily in complete disbelief, Unable to continue watching, Farn joined in. He hunted down for Liang with a vengeance. using his keen perception, he spotted the smallest trace of him and jumped into action.
Just before Liang could dispatch another of his demons of envy, Farn struck hard with his red cloaked fist, punching Liang in the face!
But to his utter shock, the damage was completely reflected onto the demon he was trying to defend!
"What! What kind of power is this!!" Farn was suddenly struck by an invisible force that pushed him back.
Without worry, Liang continued speeding through demons, slicing off heads, and thinning out what seemed to be an invincible army of demons. The reapers and escorts were in awe by this display of skill and precision, it was like Liang himself was untouchable.
Within the chaos Farn kept trying to slow Liang down with little to show for it. Within the chaos, he noticed something. Despite attack Liang directly, he would never block, however when it came to the illusionary demons, he consistently and proactively blocked them.
The found the interactions strange but pressed on in trying to take Liang down.
After another few minutes of their game of cat and mouse, Liang finally killed the last fleeing demon. He whipped his sword to the side, clearing the ash. What would've taken another army, all Liang had to down was dispatched of fifty demons.
Now all that was left was just him and Farn.
Farn was left in the center of the maze path, between Liang and the other reapers who still guarded the escorts.
"Now it's just you. And me." Liang said. He stood tall, confidently awaiting for the demon to make his move.
Farn however' knew better than to attack recklessly, He scrutinized Liang then glanced back at the reapers and their escorts.
"What's wrong, Getting cold feet now?" Liang called. He began his march to Farn, which quickly turned into a sprint.
Acting fast, Farn blocked Liang's attack with his arms. Despite the deep cut he was barely able to stop it.
He pushed Liang off, coming at him with a straight punch to the gut. But like before, somehow the damage Liang should've taken was completely reflected.
He felt the impact himself, backing off with a wheeze.
Liang smiled and moved to attack again. "You're gonna have to try harder than that!!"
Farn was struck hard, cutting deep into his chest. But to Liang's surprise, Farn held off strong. He gripped the blade of his hollow sword, trying to pry it from his very chest.
Liang took this as a challenge, pushing harder at the demon. Slowly Farn was being pushed back. Seeing that he was fighting a losing battle, he raised his fist again, but stopped seeing how unconcerned Liang was.
He then turned to the blade, striking at breaking it in half.
The broken blade sliced through the side of his body, but Farn quickly healed from this.
Slowly the broken blade that was still in his body vanished, reappearing onto Liang's stubbed blade making it new again.
"Damn it! I'm not strong enough!" Farn glanced back to the defenseless men and women with the reapers. He smirked with a sinister plan.
He turned, rushing to the reapers and the other people.
"Hey!" Liang, realizing his intent, moved to stop Farn. But to his shock, he was suddenly blocked by a wall that ejected straight from the ground!
Farn smiled widely seeing this. Knowing that Dragerd was indeed watching over him.
The reaper moved in a desperate attempt to stop the demon but was easily dealt with, as he dispatched the last two that stood in his way.
WIth deep and desperate anticipation, he aimed and attacked with his red cloaked clawed hands. "Become my power!"
Unexpectedly, His attack was blocked by Liang with him using his sword.
"Urph. It's a good thing I stabbed the top of that wall." Liang exhaled as clumps of ash fell from the side of his face.
Liang became more serious with his golden yellow pupils peeking from beneath his squinted eyes. "You demons and your tricks."
Farn took keen notice of Liang's state, surprised to actually have finally landed some sort of blow on him. It was then that it clicked. "So that's it…" Farn smile began to widen.
Farn quickly backed off of Liang and then began to amass a massive amount of muscle. Farn grew another foot in height as vein began to bulge and his muscles twitched. "It was so simple this entire time. I'm ashamed that I haven't realized it until now."
With his muscles finished growing, Farn cracked his neck. "It's not often you come across a pride user with power's like yours."
Liang simply narrowed his eyes, watching more closely.
Farn jumped and hurled his fists down to the group of escorts. Acting fast, Liang met him head on, blocking with his sword once again. Wind whipped around and the sheer pressure of the attack started slashing into his jacket and arms.
Farn continued to exert as much pressure, all the while Liang could only hold out from this attack until he was sent crashing back to the ground behind him.
The crowd of people quickly distanced themselves from Liang who struggled back to his feet. He wiped his face, now glaring at the Farn.
Liang quickly calmed himself, relaxing himself. "I guess it's been a while since I've actually had a challenge."
He put his sword horizontally, as if ready to engage in at any second.
In this moment the people behind him pleaded for him to win. for him to defeat the vile demon that had slain those other reapers.
"Don't worry everyone, I'll beat him. no question bout it." Without a second thought Liang sprang into action.
He watched as the pale demon enveloped his entire body in a ready aura and suddenly appeared in front of him.
Farns fist was a mere inch from his face. Thinking quickly, Liang jerked his head back.
It was just as Liang thought. He could feel that his face was barely scratched. "So he did figure it out, huh?"
An unexpected excitement sprung forth. And as if on auto pilot, Liang swiped the Farns hand away with the handle of his sword, He elbowed his chest, and kicked him away.
He moved in, slashing with his sword only for it to be caught by Farn, who returned the gesture with a flurry of aimless punches at his face.
Liang tried to pull out but Farn kept his grip on the sword forcing Liang to deal with the assault.
Liang clenched his teeth and with all his strength, He pushed against the hulking brute as far from him as he could. Not wanting to let up, he raced to Farns side, where he posed his sword at the ready and attacked.
Farn blocked taking on the attack with his swollen arms.
Farn quickly planted his feet in the ground slowing his decent and sending stone rubble under his feet in all directions. As he stopped, he pushed Liang back into a nearby wall and went on the offensive.
He came straight at Liang with a newly powered fist striking fast, He slammed it into the wall, missing Liang by just a hair.
Seizing the opportunity Liang, kick Farn off him. He attacked with his sword, each time barely hitting Farn or missing him. He then swiped from below, creating a small window for Farn to grab Liang and throw him back into the wall..
In that instant he took damage for what Liang should've taken. This didn't stop him however, as he began to pummel Liang and with his fist with a barrage of punches. All the while Liang could only defend himself with his sword.
"How does it feel to be ignored!?" Farn yelled.
He continued with punch after deadly punch, being absolutely relentless with his attacks.
"You know what's- Urph. Neat about this power of mine?" Liang looked up at Farn smiling confidently. "It's that I get to store all that damage other people tried to dish to me over the years and use them whenever I want."
Farns eyes widened. in an instant, he was pushed from Liang by some invisible attack that sliced both his arms and legs sliced off. He quickly re-grew them, and landed back on his feet.
Liang tore himself from the wall crater, rolling his shoulder. "The only caveat about it seems that I can't kill ya instantly. But luckily for you I can easily remedy that."
Liang dashed back to fight Farn. The ground was smashed, the walls sliced. The battle between Liang and these demons shook the very long path they fought on.
Even as Farn used the lives of the remaining escorts as a cheap tactic to land a hit on Liang, It was never enough.
The longer they fought, the more it was becoming apparent that Liang was ahead of him. Farn began to feel as if Liang was one step ahead.
Anger started to boil over the longer he wasn't able to land a clean hit. Seeing Liang lower his sword, Farn acted.
He lunged straight at Liang, aiming for the ground below him, Liang dodged, letting Farn destroy the ground.
"Damn you!!! How are you still moving!!!?"
Farns attack soon became a lot more eradicate, swiping and slashing with his clawed hands, all before striking his fist into the wall.
Farn froze with his fist still embedded I the wall. Just second ago Liang was right in front of him, but now he stood right behind him.
This time Liang turned his back to Farn. "I think that's about all she wrote."
Farn finally snapped. He channeled all his frustration and anger into this last attack, he aimed straight for Liang's very chest.
He punched through Liang's chest, alarming the other people that watched the intense battle.
It was then, that Farn realized his mistake as a hole suddenly reflected onto his chest. The searing pain that should've been Liang's now became his. And he now felt his very being crumble away.
"Damn it... You… You bastard."
Farn quickly found Liang's sharp blade at his neck. Liang glared at Farn with deadly seriousness. "That's funny… The last time I check, you were the demon. But I guess I should at least thank you… You reminded me a little of why I became a reaper all those yours before retiring… Those were some good times…"
Liang returned to his happy-go-lucky attitude. "As thanks I'll spare you from the embarrassment of killing yourself."
In that instant, Liang sliced his head off. Letting him turn to ash much quicker. With Farn, defeated, Liang grabbed his core, before storing it away in his vessel.
"Hey, Liang. Are you still there?" Dino Echoed.
"Huh. Oh." Liang quickly replied. "Sorry, I had my hands tied, what is it?"
"You have those other people from the caravan right?"
"Hmm? Yeah?"
"You have to get them out as fast as you can. The faster the better."
Liang raised a brow, curious. "Why? What's going on?"
Dino quickly explained the situation that he believes is the case. Hearing his explanation, Liang's eyes widened, shocked to hear Dino's explanation.
He grimaced, thinking of that very idea. "That would make sense if that's the case. But that also makes things a hundred times worse."
********
"I'm gathering up the people now. Just find Megumi and anyone else and hurry out the best you can."
Dino, who was dashing alongside Cider, agreed. Continuing deeper into the maze the best he would.
********
Liang turned to the remaining people, raising his voice. "Alright everyone this is not a drill!! If you want to get out of here alive, you have to follow my command to the 'T'."
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Back with Megumi's group, she continued deeper into the maze. She was continuing to get more and more woozy, now swaying and she struggled to remain awake.
Devon Couldn't help but to narrow his eyes at Kailey who was following from behind, he growled to himself .
"How is she still awake!" Devon wondered.