Chapter 2- "Bloodshed"
"—Well, isn't this fun?" Etna grunted as she brought her lance down on a Specter's head, slaying the wild demon. She could feel fresh, new power flow through her body as she gained another level. The demons that inhabited Blood Glutch were ultra powerful.
She smiled as Hanako sent a Bandit flying. A giant gash covered his chest from where the tiny trainee's axe had hit him. She could put a lot of force behind her axe. When she had first started to train with the weapon, she could barely lift it over her shoulder; now, she was a master with it.
Etna heard someone cry out in rage. She turned and saw Elity slam her staff into the rotting face of a Wight. Before it could fully recover, it was thrown skywards by a large torrent of wind, unleashed by Wicket. As the Undead demon started to fall back to the ground, it was torn apart by a combined barrage of bullets and arrows, launched by Sno and Cross. Pieces of the demon fell like rain.
That had been the last wild demon in this region. They had already cleared four regions and were in need of a rest to regain their strength. Etna called everyone together and stated this. Sno sat down on a rock, her hand on her belly. Cross walked over and put a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Sno, maybe you should stay back for a while," he suggested. "I don't want any harm to come to you or our child."
The Succubus Archer frowned as she looked into her beau's dark brown eyes. "How can I just sit around while you fight on? You put yourself in danger all the time, Cross; I want to fight along side you until the very end."
Elity sighed as she cast her healing magic on Sno. "He has a point, you know? All this stress and physical abuse could harm or even kill the child," she explained. "Your body's not designed to carry a child and engage in battle at the same time."
"But you said that your mother fought in battle while she was pregnant with you, didn't you?"
"Yes; but we of the Kit Cat clan are designed for that. Most monster-type demons are designed like that, in fact."
"But Sno is part-Succubus, is she not?" Hanako piped up.
"Well, that is true," Elity argeed, " but, as we know, cross breeds are unpredictable when it comes to their genetics. While her mother might attribute to her powers, Sno may not contain the same maternal markers as a Succubus."
Wicket shook his head, confused. "You lost me. Same what?"
"Maternal markers. In simple terms, whether or not her eggs can-"
The Skull went silent, completely lost. He might have been smart when it came to magic, but he didn't have a clue when it came to the body and its fuctions. Had he not been wearing his hood, everyone would see his confused face. "Her... eggs? But she's a humanoid demon; she can't lay eggs."
Elity was about to explain fully when Etna stopped her. "Don't. You'll just make him even more confused."
As Elity started to cast her magic on the rest of the team, Hanako had but one question: "So, we don't know if Sno's baby can withstand the stress of battle?"
Everyone looked at her, thinking it over. Etna was the first to respond. "Pretty much. Sno, can you at least try to stay out of battle? I'm not saying that you should return to the castle; just try to remain behind us. You're not all that fit for the frontlines, anyway."
Sno snorted at this, gingerly accepting the order. Everyone else, except for Cross, began to prepare the camp site for the night. Cross looked at his wife, sighing softly.
"You're not going to stay back, are you?" he whispered.
She nodded. "I'm still gonna fight. I'll just attack from a distance from now on."
The Strider shook his head, chuckling softly. She had always been so stubborn and overachieving; she always believed she had to do what he could do.
And that was one of the reason's he loved her.
Meanwhile...
Laharl snarled as he shoved the attacker off of him. The demon landed on his feet, angling his sword at Laharl. The Overlord had just returned from the Item World when this assassin had jumped him. He would make sure he took the demon alive, so he could get the name of the moron who had hired him.
The assassin, a Ninja-Class demon, smirked as he came closer to him. "Well play, your highness. I had expected as much from an Overlord like yourself. This will be worth my time, indeed." With that, the ninja leaped forward, somersaulting over a surprised Laharl as he tried to draw his sword, and disappeared into the shadows of the halls. One of his vassals, a female Brawler named Tili, appeared from the throne room. Behind her were Dratti, a female Dragon, and Manti, a male Beast. Manti had the face of a monkey, the body of a lion, bat wings, and a scorpion's tail.
"My Lord," Tili said, "what happened?"
"What happened? An assassin has infiltrated the castle and attacked me!"
Manti laughed. "Congratulations, Prince. Assassination attempts make you a full-fledged demon."
Laharl screamed. "THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE JOKING!"
Just then, a blonde girl in a white dress appeared behind Laharl, yawning. An orange bow was in her hair, a ribbon tied to her demon tail. Small, bat-like wings came out of her back.
"What's going on here?" she asked, half asleep.
"Nothing you need to worry about, Flonne," Laharl assured the Fallen Angel. "Go back to bed."
Flonne returned to her room and closed the door. "Prince, are you sure you want to leave her all alone? I mean, what if this assassin tries to kill her?" Tili asked.
Laharl drew his sword and frowned. He couldn't let anything happen to Flonne; she was his world. The small voice in his head, his demon side, laughed at this. You're a demon, it mocked. You aren't supposed to get a damn about love. Let her die. Etna's far more suited for you anyway.
Laharl came to a decision as he silenced the voice. "I want guards posted everywhere. Dratti, go find Zommie and Sam and kept an eye on the throne room. Manti, get Gargo, Ghoss, and Goleck and guard Flonne's room. Tili, with me."
Everyone went to do their tasks. Tili followed the blue haired demon as he walked towards the roof. "Sir, what are we going to do? This assassin has to be somewhere, waiting to strike."
Laharl smiled darkly. "I'm going to let him come to me."
Etna ducked as the giant shard of ice flew over her head. The blue Skull that had cast the magic laughed, mocking her. "What's the matter, girly? Afraid of a little ice?"
He screamed in pain as Hanako landed on him, her axe digging into his back. Etna mantled over her hiding spot and reached the tiny girl as she pulled her weapon out of the dead demon's spine. They turned their attention to more pressing matters: hundreds of wild monsters and rogue demons surrounded the group. Sno fired off arrows, trying to keep them at bay, while her husband unloaded his entire magazine on a group of Gargolyes. Wicket swung his sword, knocking down a Samurai-Class demon. The gap was quickly filled by more demons.
"There's too many of them!" Elity cried out.
Just as they were about to be overwhelmed, a bolt of lightning struck the surrounding demons. Many of them died from the sudden attack, while others were merely disorinated. Etna heard a deep laugh and recognized the owner.
Antoire, she thought.
More bolts of lightning fell from the heavens. Etna took this moment to strike at the disorinated demons, skewering them with her lance. Some of the attacking demons turned to face where the laugh came from.
An explosion sent them flying.
Standing in the center of the blast was a busty woman. A pair of horns grew from her head. Long, golden blonde hair flowed down her back. Wings grew out of her back. A pointed tail came out of her lower back. She wore next to nothing: only a tight suit that covered only her chest and pelvis and a pair of knee-high boots. The Lilim smiled as she saw Etna.
"Lady Etna," her smooth voice sang, "I did not expect to find you here."
Etna remembered why the Noble Demon assassin was here. Antoire had said she wanted to go and train for a bit to get stronger. Etna had not realized she had picked Blood Glutch as her training grounds.
They managed to fight their way over to Antoire. Elity nodded as she and the Lilim made eye contact. Kit Cats and Succubi had a history of fighting alongside each other and were basicly the best of friends when it came to relationships between the different demon clans.
"I totally forgot you left to train, Antoire," Etna said as she and the assassin attacked a Wraith together. "How has it been going?"
Antoire pulled a dagger out of her hip pocket and stabbed a female Warrior in the gut. The demon fell back as the poison from the dagger coursed through her veins. "Not bad, milady. I've grown much stronger since I first arrived."
Hanako and Wicket came over as the number of demons began to diminish. They struck as one at a Cait Sith, killing the cat-like monster. Elity winched at this while she killed a Vampire.
"Sorry, Elity," Hanako said, realizing what had happened.
"It's alright."
After a while, they finally managed to slay the last of the demons. Elity began to heal everyone as Etna and Antoire talked.
"Why are you here, Master Etna?" Antoire asked.
Etna explained the whole assignment they were on. As she finished, the Lilim nodded.
"I see. Well, I'm afraid the only region the rose grows in is in the heart of these lands, the Abyssal Castle."
"The Abyssal Castle?" Etna wondered aloud.
"The Abyssal Castle is where the strongest of the demons here live. It is made completely of xyronite, an ore that absorbs all light. Some say it contains a gateway to an alternate world. Others speak of a Demon Lord whose power rivals that of even an Overlord."
"The Lord of Terror?"
Antoire shook her head. "No, not Baal. One of his vassals, Ku'ronla. He is said to have once been a human who wished to get revenge on his foes for murdering his lover. I have avoided the castle for I do not wish to fight him."
Etna thought this over. She had to get Laharl that rose, but she doubted she'd be able to face this Ku'ronla alone, if he even existed. He sounded to be stronger than her or Laharl.
"We have to get that flower," she said aloud. Everyone looked at her, having heard everything. She looked at them all, landing her gaze on Sno.
"Don't say it," the Archer said as she held her hand up. "I can still fight."
Etna smiled softly. Everyone nodded, telling their fighting will without the use of words. She turned to Antoire. "You want to accompany us in this fight?"
The demoness of the night smiled. "I'd love to, Miss Etna."
"It's Etna. Just call me Etna from now on, all right?"
"Of course, Mas— Etna."
Laharl stood on the roof of the castle, his cape fluttering in the night breeze. The moon shone brightly in the pitch black sky. He smiled as he heard someone approaching.
"So, Overlord, you wish to die fighting?"
The assassin stood on one of the flag poles, looking down on his hit. Laharl brought his sword up, visibly challenging the demon. "Bring it, fool."
The ninja leapt off the pole, landing on both feet. He held a spear in his left hand, a sword in his right. He smirked as they both readied themselves.
"Those shall be your last words," he informed as they went at it.
Lightning flashed across the sky.