The sun rose, as Jimmy walked past the beach and towards the rocky standing stones in the middle of the island. If it came down to a fight, now would be a good time. Not that demons were inherently weaker in the daylight, but most preferred the dark to slink around in.
He glanced to his right and saw the worried look on Chloe. Not that he blamed her. They were walking into an obvious trap, with powerful demons and of course Ulfgar himself ready to pounce on them.
"Cheer up," lied Jimmy. "We'll get through this."
Chloe gave him a puzzled look. "Eh? Was it that obvious? I was just thinking about poor Chit. I'm feeling bad because we left him on the swan boat."
Jimmy shook his head. They were marching to their certain doom, and his partner was worried about some tube rat that they recently picked up.
"The little guy wanted to come with us, but I told him sternly to stay. I even patted his head a few times, till he fell asleep. Not that it takes much, most weasels and weasel like critters sleep most of the day away anyways."
Jimmy ignored her ramblings as he concentrated on the task at hand. Ulfgar would be tough under any circumstances, down a dark alley or even in an open battlefield. Even if he could evade his magic, he still had some deadly martial skills. Jimmy was sure he could beat him in a sword duel, but wasn't so sure about Chloe, even if she changed shape into her Chloeverine form or whatever bizarre creature she wished to emulate.
As for the Asurendra, the 'Golden Destroyer', that was a problem. While he had faced a Balor and even a Pitfiend before, they weren't exactly encounters in which he took the brunt of the fighting. With the Balor, Martinez and Raoul caught the monster between hammer and anvil, while Sir Jose delivered the killing blow. The Baroness and himself were there for mainly backup and extraction when the beast exploded upon its death. As for the Pitfiend, Jimmy wasn't exactly sure how that 'fight' went down. Though he smelled the overwhelming presence of the greater Baatezu, it seemed more of a friendly chat than a dragged out knuckle busting fight. The Baroness and Martinez went to talk to some small imp like creature, a clear disguise given its powerful aura and stench, and seemed to engage with some friendly parlay with it. After a tea ritual and the exchange of presents the Pitlord left, leaving the Baroness smiling while Martinez was sweating copper coins. Jimmy didn't even lift a finger during that strange meeting, not that he wanted to. He could sense their whole group was on the precipice of disaster and they barely managed to escape.
The Asurendra however was something completely different. They were common in the east, and practically non-existent here. He had only heard of them in legend and guessed they were on a similar level to both the Balor and Pitfiend. They were larger than both, but it seemed it was more for show than power since all three were roughly the same in physical strength. They had some blade magic which Jimmy had seen before from wizards, but more importantly they could stop time, though in a limited fashion. From what Jimmy could understand it was only for a short duration and the creature could not directly affect those around him. It was more for casting reinforcement magic and getting into position, but it was still a deadly power. Their best bet would be for Chloe and himself to space themselves out so both couldn't be at its mercy when it attempted such a trick.
Besides that, Jimmy had his rock of Almarth ready to negate magics. Holy oils he had already used to bless his blades, applied oil of slipperiness to himself in case of a grapple, and while he only had demon and devil slaying bolts in his special stock, he loaded some holy bolts into his crossbows in case he got a good shot. The Baroness' life was at stake, so of course he was pulling out all the stops.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked Chloe who was happily skipping beside him, seemingly oblivious to the danger that awaited them.
"Hell yeah. I have a new form I want to try out on these Asshole demons," she said proudly.
"Asura," he corrected.
"Whateva. I know the plan. We fight apart, defensively if possible, while our secret weapon goes grab the Baroness," sighed Chloe. "Though if given the shot, I'll gladly tear their heads off."
Jimmy nodded. She had the gist of it. While they still didn't know Nymk, he instinctively trusted her. He wasn't sure if that was from desperation, they needed all the allies they could get, or if it was a natural response to a Bride of Boryis. Despite all of Chloe's ramblings about sex golems, that was basically what she was. It wouldn't surprise him if she emanated some form of charm aura that had gained his trust. Regardless, she seemed good with a bow and would hopefully would provide them with a tactical advantage when…
Jimmy stopped. He smelled his foe. It was close.
Jimmy had never smelled an Asurendra before, but the scent that was approaching smelled very similar to a powerful demon's. In fact, it practically reeked of death and bloodlust like one of the more powerful demons, and Jimmy questioned if it was a 'Golden Destroyer' at all.
He held his hand up to Chloe who suddenly dropped her flighty act as she retreated towards the beach, giving them adequate spacing in case the Asura dropped its time manipulation magic on them. As she ran she fell on all fours, growing massive and bestial in the process until she was bigger than a horse. Jimmy had never seen her shape change into something so big, but hoped it would be sufficient for their trials ahead.
Instead of a huge golden armoured demon facing him, Jimmy found a shorter, olive skin woman wielding what looked like a gladius and a gaff hook in her hands, and several more weapons on her belt and back. While she certainly possessed the scent of a powerful demon, Jimmy expected something taller and certainly more curvaceous. He wasn't sure if it was Demonic vanity or some sort of demon code, but every demon that took a female form had some exaggerated trait of beauty about them. From Succubus to Alu demons, most looked like exotic temptresses or at least high classed prostitutes in their humanoid form. Even the militant Cambions and half fiends possessed a seductive tomboy look as they wore their form fitting armour in the most alluring ways. The rare one's like the few Nalfeshnee and Glabrezu demons that could shape change possessed terrifying boar or dog traits as well and were generally considered obscene or hideious, but at least they were ridiculously well endowed and even had over puffy lips and great swaying hips. Jimmy just assumed they just overshot the mark on their sexualized appearance, but they had all the same goal, regardless if it was successful or not. To seduce and break the will of men and women.
This particular demon before him didn't particular stand out of the crowd. She might have looked pretty under the right light, or even with some make up, but she looked more like an armed housewife wearing a toga to Jimmy. The only thing out of the ordinary were her large iron shackles on her wrists. Despite her appearance, Jimmy noted her scent, the way she moved, and her overwhelming confidence and swagger. She was not a creature to be trifled with.
When Chloe reached a good distance away from him, Jimmy stopped and confronted the shape changed demon with a good two hundred feet between them.
"I have your sword!" said Jimmy as he patted his side pack for show. He actually didn't but there was no need for the demons to know that. He just needed them to drop their guard.
The demoness stopped with a confused look. "What? You have my blade? How the hell did you get it?" she said in common with a heavy Vinraji accent.
Jimmy didn't expect her surprised nature. Did they think he would come without it? "You want it don't you?"
"Of course I do! You won't use it against me. Give it here! Immediately!"
"No! Not until you release her."
"Release her? Who are you talking about?"
Jimmy was puzzled. Demons were chaotic but they weren't stupid. There was a chance that the Asurendra did not share his plans with its fellows, but Jimmy couldn't imagine that a demon this powerful would be out of the loop.
Chloe on the other hand had enough of this, and started chanting in her bestial form. The ground began to rumble and large briars began to spring up around the demonic woman, surrounding and enveloping her in a forest of thorns. As she worked her magic, a battle shout sounded behind some rocks as what looked like a giant Alphatian Hoplite, broke cover and charged Chloe with spear and shield in hand.
The Hoplite was a woman, but she stood over twelve feet tall, and radiated divine power, but Chloe was not impressed. Instead, she turned towards the charging woman and began to lope towards it as well. While Jimmy's companion had limited vocal abilities in her bestial form, he could make out "Chloediak " being shouted as the Druid and Hoplite crashed in tangle of fur and armour.
Jimmy ejected his heavy crossbow out of his sleeve. He was going to shoot the giantess in the neck with a bolt, but he quickly threw it to the side and drew his blades when he felt a shadow fall on him.
The 'housewife' had somehow evaded the brambles and had dove down on him, and only his quick reaction saved him from being skewered by her blades. While his rapier and dagger parried her blow for blow, she was strong, crazy strong even for a demon.
Though she was approximately his size, she possessed a strength much greater than he expected, even given his experience with the supernatural. All he could do was parry, block, and be forced back as his attacker hacked away at him with her gladius and hook. In one exchange her hook managed to snag the hilt of his rapier, but Jimmy simply released his grip, did a fancy spin with his blade and recover it sans hook. This caught the demon off guard and she paused to nod in appreciation for Jimmy's fance sword work, but Jimmy simply threw his dagger at her face given the respite. The dagger's aim was true, but her reflexes matched her incredible strength. She simply shifted her head as the blade grazed and cut her face, followed by her tongue obscenely licking the blood that flowed from her cheek.
Marilith, though Jimmy. That was it. She was a Marilith, one of the caste of Demonic generals one step down from an actual Balor. It made sense, since they were often classified as Asura given their physical attributes, but why didn't she assume her true form and come at him with six blades and a giant tail instead of just two. Was she simply playing with him?
Jimmy didn't have time to answer himself as she sprang towards him again. Once again Jimmy retreated, parrying, riposted, and even slashed his foe once across the arm, before doing a flip once to avoid a rock blocking his path. In thirty paces he had reached the beach, and quickly pulled one leg back before kicking forward, unleashing a spray of sand at his opponent. A cheap maneuver he admitted, but suitable given his desperate situation. The Marilith however was either expecting this from him, or was faster than he thought. She simply bobbed down and to the side, avoiding the sand before lunging forth and catching his foot with a slash before he could pull it back.
The cut was deep, but it was nothing that Jimmy couldn't endure. Marilith's weren't known for their use of poison except for their censers so he didn't worry about that. It didn't strike any tendons so his mobility wouldn't be hampered immediately. More importantly they were on the sand now, and Jimmy hoped his training would pay off.
While Jimmy was trained to move silently, there were also combat applications to this skill, the ability to spread one's weigh on your feet to practically drift on the floor. Though this didn't grant him any ability to walk on water or any other viscous surface, it did allow him to fight on the sand like a monk, that is without sinking. While his enemy was quick, her actions and strike were both powerful and fast, not like the deceptive flowing motions that Jimmy practiced. Though the sand was just sand, Jimmy was practically floating atop of it while the Marilith's feet stamped her way through.
She wasn't slowed much, but it was enough for Jimmy. He spun to her side and behind, cutting off her escape back to the beach and began his counter attack in earnest. He wasn't moving faster, but her mobility was hampered as he began to lunge in and out with his longer rapier, catching her once in the shoulder and again on her hip. Though his blows were superficial, his weapons flashed white, searing his foe with holy energy with every strike.
"Oh, a cold iron dagger isn't that hard to get, but a blessed cold iron rapier? You must be a professional," she complimented, ignoring her wounds.
Jimmy took the time to lunge towards her again, but she was ready this time and attempted to snag his blade with her hook. She snagged the hilt again, but before he could do his little twirl trick, she simply threw the hook along with the blade beyond Jimmy's reach.
Jimmy hopped back and smiled. He simply flicked his wrist and another rapier launched into his hand from his sleeve. Though it was an old trick, impressive enough for most street magicians, he wasn't prepared when the Marilith looked at him inquisitively.
"How did you do that?" she asked. "The blade is much longer than your sleeve."
Jimmy considered launching into an attack again, but he took the time to recover his breath. While he could fight far longer than a normal man, his opponent was a supernatural creature with endless stamina. Best to pace himself and besides, it gave time for Nymk to get into position. "A magical haversack, similar to a bag of holding," he reluctantly explained.
"How do you select your weapons? I mean, how come everything doesn't fall out at once? You recovered your dagger the same way so I assume you have some choice in the matter."
"It's the magic of the haversack, it has several pouches and you place different items in there. They're just like smaller bags of holding."
"Ahh..interesting. I might need to procure one since I do enjoy a variety of weapons," smiled the Marilith.
Jimmy saw it was ready to pounce but continued to talk anyways. "It's a rare item from the crystal sphere of Oerth, a powerful archmage makes them. He also makes magical harpsicords or organs or something like that."
"Crystal sphere? Oh aren't you the well informed one," she smiled. "When I tear Pasurendra limb from limb, I might take you as a seneschal and put some of your smarts to good use."
Before Jimmy could reply she pounced on him again replacing her hook with a spear. She was practically horizontal in flight as she somehow spiraled towards him.
Jimmy saw his chance. It was suicidal but he took it, confident in his speed and skill. He charged directly under her, taking a jab in the arm and a slash across the shoulder. A normal attack from the Marilith would have probably tossed him to the side like a rag doll or tore him apart, but with her in human form and the fact that she wasn't grounded, she couldn't fully utilize her strength effectively. Ignoring the pain from the weakened but still powerful blows, Jimmy timed it so he could slash his dagger clear down from her neck to her crotch.
UMMMPHHHH
Jimmy found himself face first in the sand with the Marilith gloating over him with her hand pushing against his head. He squirmed under her grasp, but the impact of the blow drove all the breath and strength from his body.
He quickly realized his fate. All his years hunting demons and finally he had found his match and then some. He knew it would happen sooner or later.
But…yet….somehow how he was not terrified of death. He tried his best and failed, he could live with that, however shortly. He saw his chance, took it, and failed. That was more than he did with Sammy.
…Sammy….why did he think of her in his last moments….
As Jimmy waited for his death, he was surprised when the Marilith yanked him up, shook him thoroughly to eject his weapons. Even his fake Black blade fell, something that Ulfgar would have recognized but the demoness paid it no heed and instead stared him coldly in the eye.
"I don't smell my scimitar here," she said with a hiss before her expression softened. " Against anyone else that little trick might have worked, but I've seen that manuever before. You…you fight like Eliaos. That was a move straight from his repertoire," she said before reaching into his sleeve and tearing off the haversack he had mentioned earlier. Satisfied with her prize she tossed him away like so much garbage.
Eliaos? Who the hell was that?
"I'll grant you mercy today, but cross paths with me again and I won't be so ….pleasant," said the Demoness as she dropped him and stalked away. "Come Whelp, we have an Asura to slay."
The towering Hoplite woman strode towards them, she took a few steps towards him but the Marilith shook her head as she walked away. The giantess stared at the crumpled form of Jimmy from her full helm, hesitated , stared again, before she shook her head and followed her mistress. Jimmy saw that there was not a wound on her body, though her armour was dented and torn in a few places. A cleric? Or a holy warrior of some type?
With that the demoness and the Hoplite gone. Jimmy glanced to the side and saw the crumpled form of Chloe in her humanoid form. She fought the good fight but was no match for her opponent.
Jimmy moaned and struggled to his feet as he limped towards Chloe. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was alive. Using his spare bag of holding, Martinez taught him well, he produced a pair of healing potions and poured some down her lips while he quaffed the other.
"Cough..hack…cough….that was one tough bitch," gasped Chloe as she recovered consciousness. She quickly began to slowly regenerate their wounds.
"I'll trade you," chuckled Jimmy, his whole body wracked in pain from the effort. "Next time, I get the Hoplite and you fight the housewife."