Chapter 4: The Demon Attacks
"Tell me you wouldn't consider it! Say it!" Sitri hollered as he exited the prison.
Multiple replies resounded from the jailors who'd followed him all the way to the entrance.
"Half woman and half fish? Are you crazy? No matter the combination, it's absolutely absurd!"
"Imagine the smell!"
"Only you could find something so vile to be attractive!"
The prison guards chuckled heartedly, shaking their heads at the aspiring adventurer.
"What about-"
Sitri felt a pair of small hands pressing onto his back, "Stop talking. The sun has set." His goblin companion scolded.
"Ah, right… Sorry fellas, let's continue our talk another time!"
"Yeah, see you around, Sitri!"
"We'll be following your journey as an adventurer, so don't disappoint us!"
The men shared heartfelt salutations, as if they had been brothers-in-arms for decades.
Sitri and Fadila were eventually released from their seemingly unending interrogation, but what awaited them now was the vast greyness of nighttime in E-Rantel's streets.
"Tch." Sitri clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Did they have to keep us locked in for that long?"
"We kept everything." Fadila replied through the repeated tapping of her staff against the ground, "Long. Tiresome. But no harm."
"Right. If you say so." Sitri locked his hands behind his neck, striking a relaxed pose, "So, where is the Compass of Adventure pointing us next?"
His goblin companion gave him a surprised look. "Must eat and sleep. We continue the journey tomorrow."
"What? Come on, you want us to stop now?" Sitri bemoaned the suggestion, as if deeply hurt, yet he maintained his laid-back pose. "At least see if it's moving or not."
The comment gave her pause, "Correct. If there is no movement, then we rest."
"Yeah, whatever we're chasing should still be waiting for us tomorrow.
Fadila slipped her hand inside her tunic and pulled out the strange item. Her eyes were glued to the needle for several seconds. It pointed behind them, but showed no sign of movement. Naturally, she looked in the indicated direction, but beside Sitri and maybe a single vagrant, there was no one else present.
That is why, she was so shocked to see the needle shift an inch leftward.
Thinking it was but a coincidence, she glanced anew in the marker's direction. Nothing caught her eye, but the needle shifted once more.
Sitri was visibly excited, "It's moving, isn't it? Gahahahaha! I knew it! Adventure is right around the corner!"
The frustrated goblin grumbled, "We search, but if nothing, then we sleep."
"Of course! An hour at most, then we can find somewhere to stay the night. I can't use the Compass anyway, so I won't impose on you for too long."
"Okay." Fadila nodded, satisfied.
What originally started as a casual search, soon turned into a frantic hunt. As they scoured the empty plazas of the fortress-city, a few things became apparent. Firstly, they were guided towards a living being, and secondly, whatever or whoever was their target, assuredly knew they were being followed.
Suspicion arose, stronger than ever, when Sitri noticed they had stepped inside the slums. The streets bore no traces of life, and every corner led to a dead-end.
Why was it, then, that even now, his lips twisted into a carnivorous grin, like a frenzied shark that'd smelled a drop of fresh blood?
Their restless chase came to a halt, as Fadila stopped inches after stepping into a desolated back-street. She slowly retraced her steps, and stood short of the suffocating abyss inhabiting the corridor.
"Here…" She whispered to Sitri.
As if to confirm her words, the Compass of Adventure's needle glowed softly. Its golden hue conveyed a clear message – treasure ahead.
"Finally! Geez!" Sitri's left hand smacked against Fadila's bountiful butt cheek, "Not that I didn't enjoy every second of your jiggling butt, but seriously, I've never been a fan of cardio."
She shot him a disappointed look, but her curiosity beckoned her to ask, "Cardio?"
"Anything that involves drawn-out heart-demanding activities." He slid his hand off the goblin's fleshy behind and flexed his bulging bicep, "I'm more into flashy, one-time displays of strength! Gahahahaha!"
And with that boisterous cackle, Sitri stepped into the tenebrous hall.
He felt the fabric of his pants stretching slightly.
"It feels dangerous." Fadila gripped the edge of Sitri's clothes between her dark-olive fingertips. "Very dangerous."
"I have faith in the Compass, or rather its rewards."
Still, his goblin companion clutched his outfit, "Like a monster…"
"Awww, are you worried about me?" The warrior knelt down and pinched her cheek like an overbearing family relative. "Afraid I'll get bested by some foul beast and leave you alone, with no one to tease you?".
Fadila lowered her eyes to the ground. She clutched her staff with both hands.
"I worry… Yes."
"Geh…" Sitri flinched almost imperceptibly, "You shouldn't admit that… I'm not the kind of guy worth worrying over."
Whether it was to hide his fear, embarrassment or excitement, Sitri tightened both his hands. In his left, he felt the hungering sensation of flesh meeting flesh. His right hand, however, sent forth a distinct sound – that of steel clacking against itself – and though it was light, the sound sent shivers down Fadila's spine
That's right… No monster bigger than him…
His right leg was swallowed by the abyss. In two additional steps, Sitri delved into the sombre street, grinning like a demon.
"Of course, how could I shy away from the call of Adventure? Why, that would be denying the reason I was sent here!" His voice boomed across the darkness. "My previous life was spent striving to conquer everything, including the world's most beautiful women! Now that I can do it free of consequence, you think I'd turn down such an incredible opportunity? Impossible! Unthinkable! Gahahahaha!"
Before anything, the sound of metal, clashing against itself, resounded in the dark corridor. It held the unpleasant tune of clattering coins and drew closer with every passing second.
"Uwah~ You're a noisy fella' arent'cha?" A clear voice said.
With their light, playful notes, the words probably belonged to a woman.
"Oh! Could it be!? A cute girl!?" Sitri opened his arms in excitement, "Gahahaha! I knew the Compass wouldn't let me down!"
"Hmmm~ You're doing it again? Talking to yourself?" A hooded figure came into view, wearing a jet-black cape.
The stranger's frame was still indiscernible from a distance, yet Sitri's smile grew sharper.
"So I wasn't imagining things…" She placed both her hands on what must have been her hips. "You figured out I was trailing you? Fufufufu~ And then you chose to follow me instead? How brave~"
Her words were imbued with a sickening fakeness. All the while, as the hooded figure approached, the clattering grew stronger.
"Ah, damn it," Sitri whispered to himself, covering his shark-like smirk beneath his palm, "I shouldn't creep her out…"
"You're not going to talk anymore? Have you realized the hooooo~rrible mistake you've made? Ufufufufufu~" Her giggle was sharp and vicious, like shards of glass forcing their way into one's ear.
Could such gleeful cruelty come from a human being?
Sitri seemed completely unfazed by the vile intent oozing from the hooded figure. Instead, he asked in his blandest tone, "Who are you? Why were you following us?"
"And why should I tell you? I can totally tell you know~ that you're looking at me with those perverted eyes of yours."
"What, really?" Sitri slid his palm off his lips, "Well, I guess if you can tell, then there's no point in hiding myself."
But the cloaked figure paid little mind to his retort, "You're lucky I'm in a hurry. This job came out of nowhere! I was so surprised~"
Her casual demeanor shifted; in the following instant her posture became that of an experienced warrior, or rather, a beast about to pounce.
"It's a shame~ I was in the mood for some fun~"
"Ho… Here it comes." Sitri noted with a grin.
Like a launched projectile, the hooded woman propelled herself towards Sitri. She revealed a weapon underneath her cloak – a morning star – and swung it at the man's head.
As the spiked end of her weapon completed its arc, the attacker's lips curled, almost to the point of reaching her ears. "How amazing~ You dodged my first attack!"
Indeed, Sitri, who'd ducked under the morning star's trajectory, now stood a few meters behind his aggressor.
He stuck his tongue out and replied, "Bah, you were barely even trying. I won't even get a sense of your attack pattern if you underestimate me that much."
"Attack patterns?" The hooded figure's comment rang with buried irritation.
"You know, like a boss fight!"
"Your words are so confusing~ But are you seriously implying you could figure out my fighting style? You? Some worthless little worm from the Slane Theocracy?"
Sitri's eyebrow perked in confusion, as if saying – The what now? – but he held back, and instead requested, "Listen, I can't bear this any longer. Your voice sounds totally adorable and the way that cloak fits your body makes my brain run wild with imagination. How about you introduce yourself properly? Think of it as my reward for dodging your first attack."
"You…" Something crossed the woman's lips. Though Sitri could not see it, it was like a fragment of aversion clouded her thoughts.
But the hooded figure regained her calm. Years of training and practice would not succumb to the taunting of a nobody. Still, what bothered her might have stemmed from elsewhere.
It might have been… a sense of familiarity.
"Fine~ As a reward for dodging that meaningless attack." She shed the cloak off her body, revealing more than a fair share of her delicate peach skin. "You get to see, the great Clementine, in all her beauty…right before I gouge your eyes out. Just don't stare at me too much~ Mkaaay?"
It was a futile warning, for once the black flame of lust spread throughout Sitri's body, all his decency was immediately thrown out the window.
She was slender in frame, yet her limbs showed clear firmness, as someone who had driven her body to the limits of speed and agility. The outfit she wore revealed much of her shapely thighs, her toned stomach, and even her healthy breasts. The woman's plated garter belt and brassier were adorned with various plates, somewhat similar to the ones Sitri had in his possession, albeit of a wide assortment of different colors. The way they were tacked onto her defenses made them seem look like trophies, rather than effective protection.
"Hey now~ Didn't I say you weren't allowed to stare?" Clementine's playful tone might have been mistaken for that of a bashful maiden, but in truth, it was but the deceitful masquerade of a predator lulling its prey.
Sitri cared not for her feigned display. He could not help but gawk at the immensely attractive blonde panther. The way her golden locks curled around her cheeks like a helmet made his eyes widen with desire.
Every inch of her body oozed with bloodlust, however Sitri saw naught but elegance.
"You're beautiful."
Clementine's expression instinctively turned to disgust. She quickly concealed her aversion and retorted, "How nice of you~ I wish I could say the same, but huge muscular men aren't my type at all~ Sooo~wwy!"
She cast aside her morning star, instead equipping a deadly-looking stiletto in her right hand.
"Now do me a favor and die? Pretty pwease~?"
Sick, twisted carnage: that was the real craving behind her sweet-sounding words.
Yet, Sitri's eyes shone with brilliance, "If you're trying to kill me, that means I'm justified in-"
[Pace of the Wind.]
Too late, for the blonde panther pounced at dazzling speed, aiming her stiletto at Sitri's heart.
She glimpsed at the man's eyes and noticed how he'd easily followed her movement despite her accelerated speed. Indeed, he slid to her left, comfortably dodging her piercing attack.
So even this speed isn't enough…
As Sitri's exposed back graced her left side, Clementine reached for her second stiletto. With unfathomable speed, she twirled her weapon so its tip was aligned with Sitri's spine, and swung it backward so to impale him.
[Slow!]
Clementine's arm felt like it was waddling through mud. Needless to say, her attack found no mark.
Angered, she spat, "Oi, you were a filthy magic caster this whole time?"
But her adversary wasn't even looking in her direction. Sitri was at a comfortable length away from her, and appeared to be talking to someone.
"You can't do that, Fadila! I have to do this myself, or it won't be fair!"
"Too fast… I tried to cast before the attack."
It was that goblin, the one with the staff, noted Clementine.
Damn Demi-Human…
"You better get out of here. I don't want to be put in a situation where she has you hostage."
"But…"
"No buts!" Sitri pressed his knuckles against the top of the goblin's scalp and teasingly scraped her skull. "This is serious! I'm not the protecting type!"
Fadila peeked underneath Sitri's arm. The bloodthirsty woman was looking at her with all the viciousness in the world.
She knew, just by observing her first two attacks, that this was a battle far above her capabilities.
Though she staggered back in fear, Fadila pressed her staff against her chest and cast, [Quick March!]
Where a glimmer, a shine or anything, would have usually indicated the spell's success – nothing happened.
"I am… sorry…" Fadila whimpered.
Once again, Sitri placed his hand atop her skull. This time, he softly patted her head, first displaying his proudest smile, before showcasing his indomitable back.
"You call it a curse, but really, it is the greatest blessing."
Uttering those words like a solemn vow, Sitri stepped back inside the desolate alleyway.
"Clementine," Sitri called for the assassin, "You truly want to kill me, right? Your swings are aimed to take my life, correct?"
Again with his arrogant blabbing…
No. Now more than ever, she needed to maintain her composure. Her opponent had dodged two of her attacks and if third-tier magic was at play, then she needed to end the confrontation as soon as possible.
Clementine smirked; she basked in the assurance of her power, in the utmost confidence of her abilities.
"You ended up being pretty fun after all~ Wanna tell me your name so I can remember it in my dreams?" That was how she chose to bury her resentment.
"It's Sitri, and don't worry, I plan on making this much, much more fun… For me at least."
He smiled at her… Her smile?
No… it was different… yet similar… hungry…
"I take it back. You blab too much. Honestly, it's starting to piss me off."
His stance was odd, unlike anything she had ever seen before. Sitri's right foot stood slightly forward, while both his fists were drawn at his chest.
Is that gauntlet his only weapon? Thought Clementine, as she had yet to see anything else on his person.
He hadn't attacked her yet. Maybe he did not possess the ability to touch her. It mattered not, for, right now, the priority was….
That damn spell-caster.
Clementine had not seen where the fat green monster had scurried to, but she wished to rid herself of her ranged opponent before finishing off Sitri.
[Ability Boost.]
She took a strange version of a runner's pose. Her clawed armguards dug into the ground, yet her back remained upright or just slightly curved, so to resemble a feline readying its fiercest swipe.
Clementine readied herself.
[Greater Ability Boost. Greater Evasion.]
But no amount of spellcasting could distract Sitri, whose eyes were fixated onto the woman's curves.
By the time Sitri blinked, Clementine had crossed the distance between them. Like a fired arrow, she threatened to pierce through his heart.
"Phase two…" It was time for him to display his own abilities.
Clementine thrust her first stiletto in his face.
Tracing a backwards arc with his right foot, Sitri gracefully weaved out of her path, but his assailant showed no sign of slowing down.
Her eyes were focused elsewhere, discarding the man as a mere afterthought.
Her true target was Fadila, and at her current pace, she would catch up to her in less than a minute.
Sitri held no concern for the fate of others; the only thing he concentrated on was Clementine's perfectly flat stomach, crossing in front of him.
His body reacted thoughtlessly, as it was a motion he had repeated thousands of times. Once his right leg completed its rotation – at about five o'clock on a common watch – he drove his body's entire weight onto that foot and used its basis to thrust his steeled fist forward. It was an entirely rehearsed movement, sharpened by years of endless refinement.
And yet, there was something more to his attack. As Sitri's fist darted for Clementine's stomach, it seemed to command unflinching authority.
For the assassin, however, the counterattack was no surprise.
Clementine scoffed internally and cast, [Invulnerable Fortress.]
Martial arts: a warrior's spells. After casting such an ability, Clementine's body would deflect any physical attack as if it were a beach ball colliding against a steel wall.
Then, she would slaughter the Demi-Human.
"True Damage."
The cacophony of a million mirrors, shattering at once, resounded in her brain, soon followed by a gut-wrenching impact to her stomach.
Sitri's fist pummeled through her defenses. His fist crushed her organs with such might, an outward bulge might have been visible from behind.
But that was simply the first part of the blow. For the second half, the warrior took a single step forward, rotating his hips across the point of impact, and with that, he thrust his body's entire strength into his clenched fist.
Sitri angled the attack downward, pummeling Clementine's back into the ground, and knocking the wind out from her lungs. With it, drops of bile emerged from her throat and slid down her cheeks.
"Ah… Sorry, I guess I should've held back." Sitri scratched his neck in feigned shyness. "B-But seriously, what did you expect? You thought you could just ignore me?"
Fighting off the excruciating pain rocking her core, Clementine raised her neck off the ground and shouted, "Y-You fucking bastard! What kind of spell was that!? How could you break through Invulnerabl-"
Her reflexes were stronger than her spirit, and she threw her palm against her mouth, holding back the urge to vomit.
"Spell? No, I don't do magic…" Sitri shrugged casually. "I just thought we were yelling out the names of our attacks for fun."
Clementine gnashed her bottom lip in rage.
That bastard! He's bluffing!
Had she been hit by a regular blow which had bypassed her ability, or was this man a genuine monster, holding such raw power that even Invulnerable Fortress had been bested?
She didn't know! She couldn't know! Clementine stumbled in complete confusion.
No! That's not true! An enemy will always reveal themselves once they attack!
For some reason, Sitri had not stepped in to follow-up his attack, meaning she still had time.
Her first instinct was to consider the previous spell-caster as the reason why her martial art had failed, but the previously cast Slow effect had dissipated and the Demi-Human's presence had faded. She had also heard the creature's steps, as it bolted away from the scene.
It must be him, then!
Clementine's boiling eyes scoured Sitri's body for information.
Hand-to-hand combat. The strength of his fists. A monk?
Sensing relief, she clung to that theory.
Of course… that explains his speed and his use of fist strengthening abilities. I was foolish to think he posed no threat.
And now, she paid a heavy price with the paralyzing effect racking her limbs.
"True Damage…" Clementine said with a widening grin, "I've never heard of that martial art, but I bet it must cross defensive spells and inflict a Stun effect on its target."
"Ha? No, it's just a cool name I gave my regular attacks."
"Ufufufufu~ You won't budge, even after I've found out your tricks, monk?"
Sitri gave her a dubious look, but to Clementine, that expression was proof of her enlightenment.
"It was silly of me~ So silly to play with my food. I went and got bitten~ Boohoo~"
Empowered by her growing confidence, she staggered to her feet. Her thighs twitched, still overwrought by the sharp pain in her core.
"I didn't think I'd have to go this far. Well done, Sitri~"
The man regained his brawler's pose.
"But there's no way you can defeat me!" Finally, the mad hysteria in Clementine's voice came to light, "I've relinquished my humanity, monk! I've stepped into the realm of heroes!"
[Flow acceleration.]
She needed the spell to overcome the paralyzing strain lingering in her limbs.
Wielding a savage ear-to-ear grin, the blonde panther launched her final swoop.
Fueled by magical energy, she reached her target with unprecedented agility. Clementine aimed a straight-line jab at Sitri's eye.
She saw it, his habitual dodging.
"Kyahahaha! Take this, monk!" Before her weapon met its target, she released the magical energy stored within her first stiletto.
[Fireball!]
A ball of flame drew forth from her weapon's tips and engulfed Sitri's skull in a searing inferno.
"I'm not done yet!" She jabbed her second stiletto at his throat.
Her wrist was caught by five steeled claws.
Never matter, she could still unleash the stored spell.
[Lightning!]
There was no release. No trigger.
"Magic? How disappointing…"
Clementine's world faded to black.