Run Separately

"Damn it."

Kraft returned to the group, a hint of regret on his face.

This demon was too clever. He had planned to catch it off guard, cutting it in half under cover of night, but he hadn't expected to be detected.

The demon clutched its wounded abdomen, an angry expression surfacing on its ashen-white face.

It was said that demons couldn't understand human emotions, but they still possessed feelings of their own—they simply couldn't grasp the deeper tenderness unique to humans.

The demon suddenly raised its hand, and the ground began to tremble violently.

The monster remains that had been eliminated earlier started to writhe, their broken limbs gradually stitching together. Using the bizarre creature that had devoured Serie's magic as the core, they began to coalesce.

Rhode and Serie sensed something was wrong and struck simultaneously.

Two identical beams of light appeared above the demon in an instant, though one was slightly smaller in size.

The demon cast Defense Magic, but the black barrier couldn't fully withstand their attacks and shattered shortly after.

Seeing this, the demon directly manipulated the monsters around it, using them as shields to block the subsequent explosive assault.

When the smoke cleared, both the demon and the constantly reassembling monster beside it remained completely unharmed.

In fact, because the two had eliminated more monsters, the scattered remains on the battlefield had actually made the creature even larger.

"What is this thing!?" The dwarf Som's eyes flew wide open, his voice trembling as he asked.

"Dark Magic?"

Kraft answered uncertainly.

In his two hundred years of adventure, he had heard of a race skilled in Dark Magic, possessing the special ability to revive the dead.

He hadn't believed it at first, but now it seemed this so-called resurrection was nothing short of blasphemy.

The monster finally condensed into a massive, twisted lump of flesh, the heads of various monsters on its surface enough to make anyone's skin crawl just by looking at them.

"Eat them, but leave that unknown race behind."

The demon commanded, and the lump of flesh rolled toward the group.

For some reason, when the demon looked at Rhode, a hunger rose within it.

It was a pure appetite, untainted by any special sensation.

In theory, their race needed very little food to survive, but this demon had a premonition that devouring Rhode would make it stronger.

Perhaps this unknown race before it was naturally meant to be nourishment—or food—for their kind.

The monster charged, forcibly scattering the group's formation, splitting them into two battlefields.

The dwarf Som and Kraft were on the right, while Rhode and Serie were on the left.

"Rhode!"

Som roared, trying to rush over, but was entangled by the monsters.

Kraft swung his longsword repeatedly, yet couldn't break through the ever-growing encirclement of monsters.

"How many monsters is this demon controlling?"

Kraft's heart sank. They had already killed at least a hundred of the demon's monsters along the way, yet the number surrounding them showed no sign of decreasing.

Seeing this, Kraft stopped holding back, unleashing his full combat power. His overwhelming aura forced the demon to divert most of its monsters to restrain him.

Now, before Rhode and Serie stood only the demon and the disgusting creature it had created.

But Rhode dared not act rashly, afraid that killing monsters would only strengthen the creature's power.

With no other choice, Rhode grabbed his Little Ancestor beside him.

Before Serie could react, she felt a tight grip around her waist.

Rhode wrapped one arm around her waist while the other hand condensed a dazzling orb of light.

A blinding white light burst forth, and all the monsters, including the demon, instantly covered their eyes, unable to see.

Seizing this opening, Rhode hoisted Serie onto his shoulder and retreated at full speed, shouting to Som and the others: "Break out separately! Meet at Gremir Forest!"

Gremir Forest had a barrier; monsters couldn't enter. As long as they escaped there, they'd be safe.

Besides, they had already confirmed the coordinates of that human tribe earlier, so they could regroup there.

Seeing the group split into two directions to flee, the demon hesitated briefly before ultimately choosing to pursue Rhode and the two, sending only a few monsters after Som and the others.

"Put me down!"

Carried over his shoulder, Serie felt her stomach churn violently, nearly throwing up her dinner from the jostling.

Rhode knew this position was uncomfortable for her, so he shifted to something like a princess carry.

"My dear ancestor, this isn't like last time in the swamp."

Last time, the demon in the swamp hadn't shown itself, nor had it created such a disgusting monster. Aside from that troublesome Magic Scale Beast, it hadn't been very dangerous.

But the situation now was different.

"I can walk on my own!"

Serie still wanted to protest, but it was clear Rhode wasn't giving her the chance.

However, having lost Kraft as their guide, the two quickly became disoriented. Looking back at the horde of monsters hot on their heels, Rhode cast a Thorn Wall to temporarily block them, then set Serie down.

"We split up and run!"

Rhode had a vague sense that the Demon seemed more interested in him.

"No!"

Serie refused outright.

If they split up and Rhode ran into danger, she wouldn't be able to save him at all.

Though the monsters before them were numerous, she wasn't entirely incapable of dealing with them—it would just come at a cost.

But the Demon behind them gave the pair no time to discuss. The Thorn Wall was breached in no time, and the creature opened its massive maw, spewing a jet of black breath.

"Watch out!"

Rhode shoved Serie aside, but he himself was sent flying over ten meters by the blast wave, his whole body burning with pain. Before he could even speak, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Yet he paid it no mind, shouting to Serie not far away: "Get out of here!"

Then he taunted the Demon: "Come and get me if you can!"

Seeing this delicious prey dare to provoke him so, the Demon grew furious again. He was about to give chase, but the explosion behind him made him stop.

The elf's mana began to surge violently; he could clearly see the power she was emitting growing steadily.

"Oh? Hiding your true strength, are you?"

Though a little surprised, the Demon didn't pay it much mind. After all, he had over a hundred monsters and the stitched creature beside him—no matter how strong she was, she couldn't beat him.

Still, to be safe, he ordered the monsters at his side to attack Serie while he went after the fleeing Rhode alone.