"That's too strange. I'm not telling you."
The Terror Knight's patience ran out. He raised the Frost Sword and jabbed it against Annan's chest. "Talk, or die!"
"All right, I'll tell you..."
Annan cleared his throat and spoke in his gentlest, most innocent voice, the kind that could awaken anyone's conscience. "The Flayer sends his regards. Yeehaw..."
"It was you!"
The Frost Sword swept toward him. Before Annan could react, his body bent backward on reflex, dodging a strike that would have cut him in half at the waist.
Of course, being cut in half wouldn't kill Annan, but it would expose him completely.
"You recognized that?!"
Still bent into an arch, Annan watched in shock as the Terror Knight followed up with a downward slash, aiming to split him into two symmetrical halves.
Annan continued into a reflexive backflip. The sword's icy tip passed so close it nearly grazed his crotch.
Landing on the wine cabinet, Annan shouted, "Someone's causing trouble! Get him!"
The tavern erupted into chaos. The demons, brave only against the weak, backed away, while others seized the chance to run outside.
"Damn it, you haven't paid!"
Annan yelled and rushed after them, only for the Terror Knight to block his path. Then another figure blocked the Terror Knight's.
"Demonkin, this isn't the place for you to run wild."
A familiar figure sprang into view. Delighted, Annan hurried behind Black Pearl.
"I knew you cared about me!"
"The only one I care about is Annan."
"What's the difference?"
The Terror Knight's frozen eyes settled on Black Pearl. "This has nothing to do with you, black dragon."
"Are you telling me what to do?" Waves of Dragon Might rolled from Black Pearl toward the Terror Knight. Under the immense pressure, the floor beneath his feet cracked and