The day after their trek through the red desert, Armin, Irina, and Lupa set off again into the vast, sun-drenched landscape. As he walked, the heat radiated from the ground, creating shimmering waves that danced on the horizon.
His backpack—his father's old bag enchanted with Preservation Sorcery to keep things fresh and scentless— hung on his shoulder.
Irina, a small and sprightly White Tiger, perched atop his head, while Lupa, a Black Wolf, cozily nestled on his shoulder. Their weight felt comforting, a reminder that he wasn't alone out there. Armin took a bite of dried meat, chewing thoughtfully as he ambled onward.
"You know," he said, glancing up at his furry companions, "this is kind of weird, right? You guys aren't supposed to be out here. White Tigers hang out in the forests of Demetoros—like, really lush ones—while Black Wolves prefer the tundras of Hadeus. Yet here you are, stuck with me in the middle of the red desert. How did you two even get here?"
Irina purred softly, her head rubbing affectionately against him, while Lupa let out a low grunt, his eyes scanning the barren land for any signs of trouble. No matter how misplaced they were, they remained a formidable trio.
Suddenly, Armin's gaze landed on something that made his heart jump. "Hey! Look over there!" His voice broke through the silence, filled with a mix of excitement and relief. "We're back!"
The village was nestled against the horizon, but as he approached, a sense of dread crept in.
"Nobody's here…" His voice came out as a whisper, laced with a hint of confusion. The village should have been alive, brimming with life and laughter. Instead, it was eerily silent. Houses stood still, doors ajar as if in a rush to leave, and the streets lay empty, stripped of their usual bustle.
His stomach twisted in a knot of anxiety. "Why...?" he managed, sinking to his knees in the dirt. "They left… without me!"
It hit him like a punch to the gut as reality set in. He had always been weak and knew he was weak—like a burden to everyone around him. "But why did they leave?" The question felt heavy in the air, consumed by the emptiness around him. Happy memories would flash through hus mind if he had some but they didn't.
Funny,he wanted to leave that place for so long but when they left him it felt suffocating.
'The Great Stampede?'
A chill ran down his spine. It was an event that terrified everyone—monsters flooding through both the Human and Demon Realms, a chaotic surge every thirty years that left destruction in its wake.
"But the Great Stampede isn't supposed to happen for another ten years…," he mumbled, confusion spiraling in him.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath him, cutting off his thoughts. The rumble grew louder and more intense, shaking him to his core. He turned toward the horizon, his breath hitching as panic set in.
A cloud of dust swirled forth, but it was not just dust. It was a monstrous tide—a storm of fur, fangs, and chaos.
Armin felt his heart race at the horrible sight. As if nature had unleashed a nightmare, the ground trembled under the weight of beasts rushing forward. Boars the size of boulders thundered along, wild Giants with gashes on their skin stomped through the sands, lions with fiery manes roared, while drakes screamed above, their wings blotting out the sun. Magma Worms slithered beneath the surface, leaving smoldering tracks, and fearsome Obsidian Bulls charged, demolishing everything in their path.
It was the end of days, and it felt like the ground itself was alive with terror.
"Oh… gods…" Armin breathed, the words barely escaping his lips.
Demons never prayed to gods, but at that moment, even he couldn't help but feel a flicker of dread at the sight before him.
"W-Wuff?!" Lupa whimpered, ears flattening in fear.
"Nehh! Mew!" cried Irina, her small frame trembling as she clung harder to his hair.
Panic surged through him, igniting his instinct to survive.
Run.
Armin instinctively grabbed Irina and Lupa, holding them close. With one swift motion, he hurled them away, sending them to safety as he faced the oncoming torrent.
"Get out of here!" he shouted, desperation lacing his voice.
Then he turned and ran.
No! He could feel the terror surging behind him as his legs burned, but the stampede stretched endlessly forward, and there seemed to be no way to escape it.
'Why is the Stampede happening so early?' The question screamed in his mind, an echo of dread spiraling out of control.
And then—
A shadow fell over him.
He felt it before he saw it—an oppressive shift in the air, a terrifying stillness that made his skin crawl.
A gust of wind ripped past him as if nature were warning him.
His heart dropped.
Looming above him was a titanic creature, a bird of nightmarish proportions.
-REMUS BIRD-
Its massive body overshadowed him, and as its long neck curved, its razor-sharp beak came into view. It was made to crack bones and tear through flesh. It was a bird known for It's strength ao it was named after an ancient sorceress.
Armin's face twisted in fear. "That thing can kill me with a single swipe!"
Irina and Lupa called out, their voices filled with fear and concern.
"Nehh! Neehh!"
"Wuff! Wuff!"
He clenched his fists, fear spiraling in his mind. 'I'm trying—I'M TRYING!'
But the Remus Bird stood frozen, its unblinking gaze locked on him.
Then, suddenly, it sprang into action.
A single contraction of its powerful muscles produced a violent
*BOOM*
Just as it did Armin used his strength to throw Irina and Lupa away.
The world erupted in pain.
Agony tore through him as his body twisted unnaturally. His ribs shattered, his spine snapped, and with one brutal strike, his flesh gave way, exploding outward like a ripe fruit crushed underfoot. Blood sprayed, painting the dry earth beneath him.
He collapsed; a broken heap, his consciousness flickering like a waning candle. His vision swirled, darkness creeping in at the edges.
Irina and Lupa rushed toward him, tiny forms filled with panic and despair. Their cries pierced through the haze of pain, filled with emotion.
"Ah… this is it, huh…?" he thought, his awareness hanging by a thread. He knew what came next; he was a demon. He understood the old stories well—where souls like his were destined to go.
To hell.
That was the inevitable fate of demons.
Even useless ones like him.
...
Suddenly, Armin opened his eyes to a blinding light.
He lay flat, completely unharmed. Something was very wrong.
Surrounded by a vast hall of gold and marble, he blinked in confusion at the overwhelming beauty. Towering pillars reaching for an unseen ceiling only served to heighten his sense of disorientation. Massive figures clad in brilliant armor stood guard at each corner, and he felt utterly small in their presence.
What was happening? Where am I?
"Why is it so bright…?" he mumbled, shielding his eyes from the overwhelming radiance.
And then—
[Welcome.]
An ethereal voice, both powerful and graceful, echoed in the massive hall, wrapping around him like a warm cloak.
His heart raced.
"Who—who is that?" he stammered, trying to grasp the surreal nature of the situation.
[I am Herina, The Holy Mother. The Goddess.]
His breath caught in his throat, and a mix of awe and fear gripped him. A goddess? This was different; far beyond anything he understood.
Laughter, both soft and profound, filled the chamber before her voice rang out again—a sound that felt like a command to obey.
And with a snap of her fingers, Armin found himself pulled forward, bearing down on him with an undeniable force until he stood before an immense golden throne.
There, upon that throne sat a figure unlike any other—a woman draped in flowing robes of gold and white, radiating an aura of pure divinity. Her golden eyes pierced through him, seeming to reach deep into his soul. Every inch of her exuded a perfection beyond comprehension.
Armin gasped. Involuntarily, his knees buckled as he fell into a bow, not out of reverence but instinct—born from the realization of his place before a goddess. A demon bowing to a deity was the greatest sin imaginable.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, a smile crossing her lips, full of mystery and knowledge.
[Now… shall we talk?]
Armin felt the weight of her presence envelop him, more than he could bear. Questions flooded his mind, a storm of thoughts swirling rapidly as he prepared for what may come next.
"What do you want from me?" he managed to ask, voice trembling but resolute. The reality of his situation hit him hard. How could he have survived that attack? Why was he here? And more importantly—what did this goddess want from him? He could only hope the answers wouldn't lead him to a fate worse than death.
End of Chapter-4