AN- ah, yeah, updates are very sporadic for me (I find myself using that word more and more often) not much to say….sequel almost completely written (much better than this one, I might add) anyways, enjoy.

Chapter 24…Demonic Surprise

"It can't be," Remus muttered, staring wide-eyed at the vile being flying towards him. Its power was huge, a behemoth in size compared to his own. Its power alone blackened the bright red sky as it approached the scared monk. He could plainly see the ki crackling around its body. The sight was quite amazing, despite the fact the this demon reeked of evil. Chills began going up and down his spine.

In the blink of an eye, it was in front of him. The demon stood well over six feet tall, covered in black and yellow scales. A large set of wings flexed out from the spine as it flexed its claws. But most surprising to Remus was that the demon seemed to lack any particular facial expression.

It looked down upon the frightened monk, then the ruined castle, and finally back to Remus. "I take it Majh is dead?" It was more of a statement then a question, and Remus jumped in surprise. It's a female… "Don't lie," she continued. "I can see his demise in your face." Her voice was peculiar, having a deep rasp to it. It sounded as if her voice would forever be stuck in the back of her throat. She looked the monk up and down for several seconds, yet Remus remained frozen to the spot.

"You hunt our kind," she said plainly. "Only demon hunters were such marks upon their forehead." To emphasize her point, she touched his tattoo. He flinched back from her touch. Why am I so afraid? "Franica?" she asked. Her voice was oddly neutral. Remus, after several seconds of hesitation, finally nodded.

"Listen, monk, I know what you're job is and what you're here to do. You must know by now what I am, and what I was a part of. You might as well speak to me, for a man might find he lives longer when he speaks."

"I am from Lynia," he finally said. Franica was another division of the order he followed.

"Odd. I don't remember Lynia that well. The years have not been as kind as I thought." She looked down more closely at the monk. "Sister moon of Netiga," she said casually. "Mostly commerce."

Remus nodded. He was unsure how to react. Demons had never acted this way to him.

"I am called Ramuh by the mortals. They also refer to me as the thunder god. If you care to fight, so be it. But I have a rather indistinguishable hatred for your like, so if don't, you die."

Remus swallowed. Why does this have to happen now? Of all things, a demon I might have difficulty with. He nodded his head in prayer. "Father, forgive me," he prayed.

"Ah, so the monk chooses death. How interesting, yet fitting."

Remus remembered his training. Demons were vile creatures that needed to be banished to the underworld, or, if the occasion called for it, summoned out of existence completely. According to the order, he was required to do one or the other. Now would be the time to take responsibility for the order.

With a psychic blast, he pushed Ramuh away, drawing a protective circle around him with his ki. I'm going to banish you," he declared, although his voice lacked the concrete sureness it usually did. Ramuh blinked in response.

"Let's be realistic, monk. I could squash with just by flexing some muscles, and you claim that you're going to banish me? Pathetic. But you are braver than I suspected. Not many would dare to challenge me. Or perhaps it is that you are foolish enough to believe that you can win."

"God shall prevail," he declared.

"Oh? And how is it that this god of yours will defeat me? None have been able to kill me yet, and I have lived through generations upon generations."

"Well, then how did you find us so fast? We didn't sense anyone else here."

She smirked. "That is one secret I will not tell. However, I will say that I am not the last who is going to arrive." With that she turned her head in an agitated sort of way towards the black sky behind her.

"The leader of Orion is coming?" Remus about tripped over himself. No…impossible! How can this be happening? Aezon was right…I can't do this alone. But now is not the time. I can't run away. I don't even know where I am. It's time to fight! He grunted as his power began to burst from his threshold. There just wasn't much choice in what he was about to do. He set his sights on Ramuh, attempting to lock on to her power. In was taking all his concentration.

A white aura began taking hold of Ramuh, though she remained unconcerned. "Is that the best you can do?" she asked in a bored tone. Remus growled.

"Be gone!" he demanded, willing his entire psyche to remove the demon from existence. Her image faltered for a moment, and it appeared that he had won. But it was only a glimmer, for she resolidified almost instantaneously. Remus frowned, straining with effort of the amount of concentration, but it was useless. Ramuh remained.

"Is that the best you can do? Here, let me show you how it's done," Ramuh stated. The amount of force on Remus's mind was incredibly painful, causing him to fall to his knees. He tried to fight it, but it was like trying to push over a twenty ton wall. But in a matter of seconds, his mind was defeated, and Remus mercilessly dragged his body through the castle rubble. With her own psychic ability she struck at the fallen monk, creating a large crater from the force of it. Remus coughed up blood onto his robes.

"You have talent monk, but you are a novice pupil to an old master. If you want to live, I suggest you don't get up. If you want more painful lessons such as the one I gave you, feel free to stand. Even then, maybe I'll let you live. You show potential." At that, she chuckled to herself. Remus could only clench his fists in reply, his mind throbbing from the aftereffects of the attack on his mind.

"Now, my little friend, see if you can manage this attack." That said, she pointed her hand towards him with a certain amount of malice in her eyes. The energy she used was very peculiar, as if coming from the planet itself.

She smirked quite contentedly until it quickly turned into a frown. As if annoyed by a pest, she swung around and fired the attack into the sky, darkness following it into the realm of space. In seconds it exploded in a giant shower of light. After a minute of observation, she turned back to Remus, who was slowly recovering, yet slightly incoherent.

"Well, it looks as if you're in luck. My former ally can finish you off, or do with you what he likes. As for me, I must depart from you. Goodbye, monk."

And as quickly as she had come, Ramuh flew off into the black night sky.