The Damned Demon

After desperately working on the way to land on the island Asher fell to, Isola, Ceti, and Merina managed to reach there after almost 2 hours.

They raced through the floating island, their eyes darting in every direction while trying to lay low. With every step, their anxiety grew, and the weight of anything happened to Asher, who was alone pressing down on their hearts. Suddenly, a familiar figure materialized in front of them, emerging from the thin air with a smile.

"You found me faster than I thought you would," Asher remarked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Isola stepped forward, a relieved smile breaking through her worried expression, "Thank the devils…You are alright."

Merina, the quietest of the trio, nodded in agreement, her eyes softening with the comfort of seeing him unharmed.

Ceti, however, huffed, "Do you have any idea what you put us through? Almost gave us all a heart attack. Next time, we three are doing it together. For your safety, of course."

Asher smirked, raising an eyebrow at her, "Did you miss me that much, Ceti?"

Ceti's cheeks flushed slightly as she turned her face away, as if unaffected, "I just can't return to the queen without you, that's all," she retorted.

A knowing smile was exchanged between Isola and Merina, but neither commented on the moment.

As the initial relief of their reunion settled, the three women suddenly recalled the startling rise in their shard count, and their expressions turned quizzical.

Before any of them could voice the question burning on their lips, Asher raised a hand with a sly grin, "Don't worry about the shards anymore, but…don't ask how I got them."

Isola tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. Knowing Asher's history, she couldn't help but wonder if the mysterious surge in shards had something to do with his past and what happened while he was alone here.

Ceti, clicked her tongue, placing her hands on her hips. "You...Ha…Fine, if Your Highness doesn't want to share, what can we do?" she sighed exasperatedly, though her eyes betrayed a burning curiosity, especially since the shards he suddenly earned were more than what they collected in 3 months! Why doesn't he want to tell what happened?

Does he think of her as a stranger to hide such things? Ceti inwardly pouted as she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Merina gave a gentle smile, her words bringing a sense of calm, "It's alright. What matters most is that we now have a chance to forge the Deviar."

However, Isola noticed the absence of something crucial. Her brows furrowed in puzzlement as she asked, "If we have the required shards, then why hasn't a marker appeared on our map?"

Ceti and Merina exchanged equally puzzled glances.

"I'm not sure," Asher admitted, his tone reflecting his deep contemplation as he shook his head and said, "All we can do now is wait and see what happens."

But with only 3 days left, Asher wondered if they were too late or something.

The steady pitter-patter of raindrops on leaves couldn't drown the sense of anticipation in the air. A distant flash of lightning lit up their faces, revealing the intermingling of hope, anxiety, and determination.

Ceti was the first to call out, "Look! The marker popped up!"

Merina's eyes widened in surprise, "It's here... on this very island."

Isola took a deep breath as she lightly smiled, "We've got a chance, a real chance," She met Asher's eyes, her own reflecting the relief and anticipation she felt.

Asher, absorbing the enormity of the moment, allowed himself a small smile, "Let's not waste any more time. The earlier we reach, the better our chances are."

The group advanced, their pace quickening with each step, their senses alert to the threats surrounding them.

But the storm itself seemed to respect their determination, holding its fierce might at bay as they neared their goal, and it was not long before they reached the marked location.

The muddy ground beneath their feet made each step a challenge, and the ever-present fog wrapped around them like a shroud. But through the mist, the forging matrix emerged — a luminous beacon in the center of the large open area.

The lightning up in the skies lurked near them, threatening to strike them while tornadoes raged on in the vicinity, seemingly appearing closer but slowly.

"There it is…the Forging Matrix," Merina murmured, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the intricate design laid out before them.

Ceti took a quick look around with her sharp eyes and cut in, "We can't let our guard down. We may be the first here, but others could be close behind."

Asher nodded in agreement, "She's right. I need all of you to be alert, including our surroundings. Keep an eye on the skies and don't get struck by lightning," His gaze met each of theirs, ensuring his message was received.

Taking a deep breath, Asher reached into his beast bag, summoning Callisa.

"Kooo!" The mighty creature's giant pincers gleamed ominously in the lightning's flash as she came out, brimming with excitement to forge the thing they came here for.

"We need to forge the Deviar as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence." Asher's tone was resolute, his purpose clear.

Merina, Ceti, Isola, and Callisa took their respective positions around the matrix. They placed their hands and pincers upon it, feeling the pulsating energy emanating from the design. The shared sense of purpose bound them, their determination a palpable force in the storm-ridden night.

With another thunderclap, the forging process began, and a symphony of light and energy enveloped the group.

The matrix pulsed and hummed, its energy signaling the forging of the seventh Deviar Crystal.

Asher's eyes widened in realization, "We have to forge the seventh Crystal first... and then merge all of them to form the Deviar," he said, the urgency clear in his voice.

Ceti frowned as she saw the time remaining, "At least 2 hours? Oh devils…Can we stay out in the open that long?"

However, as the minutes ticked away, an ominous feeling began to grip them. It was almost too easy. But then, just as half an hour had passed, they felt it. A presence. Multiple presences.

From the dense fog, five silhouettes began to form. The first was a towering figure, obsidian-black scales gleaming, and wings expanding into the misty air.

Beside him, a slender figure with radiant crimson skin and shimmering silver hair began to emerge.

Another shadow, taller yet more elusive with charcoal grey skin, appeared next. There was the unmistakable sight of blue skin adorned with golden tattoos, and finally, a soft lavender glow that hinted at another figure's entrance.

Isola was the first to get up, followed by the rest, all of their expressions vigilant and sharp.

"Nightmare Reapers…" Isola mumbled with a furrow of her brows, feeling that their luck was too bad to come upon them at a time like this.

"Krrrr…" Callisa was letting out a low growl upon recognizing this unpleasant bunch of people.

Ceti and Merina clenched their fingers as they realized how seriously bad their situation had become.

Of all enemies, why did they have to come upon the Draconians?

Asher's eyes dangerously narrowed upon seeing the infamous Draconians, especially one of the groups that he suspected put the bounty on his head.

But he could feel the heavy, domineering auras surrounding each one of them, especially the one in the front. The draconic auras they had could send shivers down the spine of even hardened warriors. Many considered them dragons in humanoid form.

He could see why people feared the Draconians the most, though his heartbeat was steady.

And the reason so many people feared and hailed Prince Agonon as the 2nd strongest genius of the younger generation was because he was the only one to become a mid-level Soul Devourer at his age.

The only one who surpassed him was Rowena.

He had no doubt these Nightmare Reapers were the strongest group in the entire quest and it must have been a cakewalk for them.

Circe, with her cold golden eyes, sneered as she stepped forward, "Thought you could forge the Deviar so easily?"

"Of course, until we saw your obnoxious face," Ceti retorted with a sneer, making Circe's expression contort into a bitter scowl after hearing someone make a stab at her beauty, "You half-crippled bitch!"

Ceti gritted her teeth and almost stepped forward before Asher gestured to her and gave a brief glance, mentally telling her to not mind the words of someone beneath her, making Ceti feel her rage suddenly simmer down and instead feel a warmth spreading across her cheeks as she slowly nodded.

"Enough from you. My daughter is ten times the woman you are," Merina said with her lips firmly pressed together as she held Ceti's hand. She knew those who didn't like Ceti would call her a half-cripple only because of the fact that she couldn't transform into her true bloodline form.

Even when they used to be in their clan, Ceti was always considered an outcast, and the only reason she wasn't kicked out was because of her father's contributions.

And as her mother, it pained her every time somebody ridiculed her daughter and only she knew how much Ceti had suffered and hated herself because of it, even though she would never admit it.

The air around them crackled with tension, a palpable hostility binding them in an intense standoff.

However, Agonon's gaze settled on Isola, making the atmosphere grow even heavier.

"So we meet again," Agonon began, his fiery eyes scanning Isola's form before they shifted to Asher with visible distaste, "The prized consort of the Bloodburn Queen... yet so weak," With a cold scoff, his gaze returned to Isola, the tone of his voice dripping with sarcasm, "You chose him over us? He must have some hold over you."

Isola's jaw clenched, refusing to dignify the accusation with a response. Yet, she remained poised, her fierce eyes never leaving Agonon's.

Vespera, with her hauntingly beautiful eyes, spoke up, her voice a melodic sigh, "What a pity. Such beauty, such power, wasted."

Asher, feeling the weight of the Nightmare Reapers' collective disdain, stepped protectively in front of Isola.

A defiant gleam shone in his eyes, "Jealous, are we?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt, "That she saw the fallacy of your kingdom and looked down on you? Let's not forget the truth. Your entire race was a byproduct, born unnaturally through the Devourer. A mere oversight. A mistake he failed to discard."

The atmosphere thickened with rage. The other Nightmare Reapers visibly bristled at the barbed words, each of them sharing a unified fury.

Insulting anybody's bloodline was the gravest insult one could do, though not even fools would dare to insult the Draconians using their bloodline.

Rune, his blue skin glowing with barely restrained anger, growled menacingly, "You dare, alien scum?!" he spat, making a move towards Asher. Yet, just as quickly as he surged forward, a firm hand from Agonon halted him in his tracks.

Agonon's face remained stoic, but his eyes – those fiery depths – trembled with unspoken fury. He fixed Asher with a cold, lethal stare, "Your audacity knows no bounds," he hissed, every word dripping with venom, "The gravest mistake you made was stepping foot on this quest. By the end of today, I promise you, the fate of your precious Bloodburn Kingdom will be sealed, and your beloved queen will grovel at our feet…not too long after and will be nothing more than our slave, just like the rest of her kingdom."

Before Asher could understand why, hearing Agonon insult Rowena and her kingdom in such a distasteful way made his nerves quiver with untold emotions.

But before he or Ceti could say anything, the sudden sound of footsteps splintered the atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention to the side.

As the fog parted, five figures slowly came into view. The leader was a tall man, exuding elegance and poise in a slightly dirty white attire.

His steps were measured and graceful, a stark contrast to the situation's underlying tension. Behind him, four gorgeous women trailed, each of them with unique auras of their own while two of them had formidable auras.

However, as they emerged, it was the long, flowing blue-haired woman who caught everyone's attention. It was a face well-known by even demons.

Her strikingly blue eyes widened, a mix of horror, anger, and recognition flashing within them as they landed on the demon who almost ruined her life, "Hellbringer..." she whispered, her voice trembling with a concoction of emotions but mostly filled with unspoken hatred and bitterness.

Victor, effortlessly charming and poised, looked between Asher and Rachel, a hint of amusement flickering in his gaze, "Oh, this is certainly an unexpected but pleasant surprise," he remarked, though upon seeing the three strikingly beautiful demonesses beside Hellbringer, Victor unconsciously gulped with a fervid light in his eyes.

Seeing them in person, their beauty was far more than what he expected.

Amelia's fists clenched involuntarily as she shot a venomous glance toward Hellbringer, recognizing the demon that had traumatized her dear friend.

On the other hand, Emiko and Yui exchanged anxious glances.

The scenario was one they hadn't anticipated, and seeing their Master surrounded by so many bad people in the same vicinity was concerning.