Shoulders tensed with deep and steady breaths as Donovan ran with Bjorn at his side through the shanty town, as chaos echoed in the dirty streets. The Succubi hid in alleys, Karnal shielded their wares under their stalls, and Lupeus hugged their backs to the walls of the half-rotted houses. All the while, bounty hunters ran amok, kicking stands and demanding answers.
"
Donovan, overhearing the demons, stopped near the corner of a large tavern, drawing Bjorn's gaze. "Hold on," he whispered.
"
"
Donovan's eyes lit, and he pointed to the fleeing demons. "Bjorn. You know they were saying."
Bjorn huffed. "They were likely talking about Kalika's whereabouts. She certainly knows how to stir trouble. And to think, all this chaos for a crystal." He glanced to the side, noticing an Incubus chase a demon through some of the alley and street, acting brazen and ruthless as he revealing the demons freed slave crest. "
Bjorn grimaced. "If it weren't for our contract, I'd be working to restore order right now."
"Yeah, but we don't have that luxury."
Bjorn turned to the group of Bounty hunters retreating deeper into the chaos-striken town. "If we follow that group, perhaps they'll lead us to Kalika."
Donovan nodded and the two turned the corner, silently pursuing the group of bounty hunters, cutting corners and swerving through alleys, followed from behind. They quietly followed, until-
"
"What the-!" Donovan froze and peered up at a flying karnal pointing at them.
The demons they pursued quickly turned at once, alarmed by their presence. "
"
The demons' allies grew serious, each one closing in and cornering Donovan and Bjorn.
"So much for staying low," Donovan muttered.
Defiant, Bjorn conjured and stone club in hand, almost insulted by the encroaching bounty hunters. ""
Startled, Donovan glanced. "Bjorn?"
Bjorn lowered his voice, growing serious. "Donovan… You see that fortress on that hilltop there?"
Donovan straightened and looked towards the fortress. "Y- yeah?"
"To the far west beyond that fortress should be the town's main gate. It's about an hour from here, and there's no doubt this chaos will force the gates closed." With narrowed, fierce eyes, he tore off his mask and raised his club. "So we don't have time to waste!"
"
"Fine," Donovan said. "If we're going to do this, can I stop wearing this stupid mask?"
"Do as you please." The ground crumbled, and with a fierce lunge, Bjorn cracked the earth apart. He smashed his club into the ground, slamming several demons before sweeping them away.
Undeterred, several of the bounty hunters charged, swinging and thrusting their weapons pointlessly, leaving only scratches and holes that healed in seconds.
Disturbed, a few backed away and watched as their comrades were slammed into houses and earth with little show. for their efforts. One look at his hand, completely stunned by his failing strength. "
Donovan chuckled at their plight. "Hey, Bjorn. That blood magic of yours is really working wonders, isn't it?" confident, Donovan pulled his mask off, tossing it aside.
The bounty hunters, catching a glimpse, turned towards Donovan in shock. "
"Is it that hard for them to tell?" irritated, Donovan pulled his Pipe and tied down a spare blue crystal to his handle.
"
Small visible drops of water form at the hollow end of the pipe. In an instant the droplets hammered into the demons like a storm of hail. Brunt and bruised, they scurried behind crates and houses as their other allies were shot through with stone spears. "
Eventually the attack stopped and They peeked at Donovan and watched blood spurted from his eyes and nose. He coughed blood then wiped his face. "Grr... I thought I could handle that..."
"I told you not to use that book's magic!" Bjorn scolded.
Ignoring Bjorn, Donovan wiped the last of his blood off his face and charged forward. "We don't have time for lectures!" rushed past Bjorn and the large group of bounty hunters, forcing Bjorn to follow in a stampede.
Hunters, still overconfident, followed the two, chasing them from their cover and alleys, hurling a ball of fire at them.
"Tch!" Donovan glared back and pointed his pipe at the chasing demon. However, huge spikes of stone erupted from the ground behind, slaying half their pursuer and blocking the rest.
Donovan glanced at Bjorn, who pointed above them. Understanding, Donovan his pipe up and shot ball of water at the winged menaces.
The demons swerved and weaved through Donovan's attack, distancing and retaliating with shot of Fireballs aimed at the two. They struck Bjorn, and shouted taunts, continuing to attack.
Through the chaos of element, stone spears shot at the winged demons, felling two and away the rest. "Aim Better." Bjorn said.
Donovan growled then forced his focus back on the road, only to find a new group of bounty hunters.
"
"Shit!" Donovan aimed his pipe to the group and focused on reshaping the ball of water into a long crescent. "Let's try this!" he fired with deadly precision, slicing through the unsuspecting group of bounty hunters.
Some of the group faltered, but others from behind, sprang into action. They poised their sword and attacked into Bjorn. Barely cutting into him, Bjorn scoffed, unbothrred at their meaningless attempts, as he charge through, bouncing them off him in a display overwhelming power.
Panicked cries and warnings suddenly rang throughout the streets around them as the residents fled the area seeing Donovan and Bjorn tore through the streets with an ever-growing horde of Bounty hunters.
Concerned, Donovan glanced back, unsettled, he turned away, "Damn it! How many of those bounty hunters are after us!?"
"Well, this is the hometown of the guild of bounty hunters after all," Bjorn said. He glanced back at the overzealous demons with a clear annoyance. "If I had to wager, there's probably hundreds of them just lying in wait or chasing Kalika now."
"Yeah, we need to find her fast!"
They turned right and came into full view of the fortress, along with round-looking town square ahead. Slowly, the bounty hunters grew in number at the square, each holding specialized, red-stained weapons, sharpener and ready for battle.
Nervous, Donovan glanced at his pipe, feeling more drained than he expected. Reluctant, he holsted his pipe and pulled his sword, a different colored crystal. "Bjorn, cover me!"
Mustering all the courage, he charged straight at them. Bjorn sneered after him. "You have a lot of nerve."
"Yeah! Well, I'm still not fated to die, right!" Donovan tightened his grasp and glanced at the red crystal snug in his palm. "I hope this works!"
The demons cackled. "
A fireball roared at Donovan, Missing by a hair and smoldered against the stone and wood of the houses. He dodged and blocked, fighting through the storm of fire magic, trouncing even Bjorn's expectations.
"
A cruel smile widened. "
"Well, too bad, cause I'm not dying today!"
The cruel demon leered back, only to find himself unable to move. The fiery arc just within his sight, dissipated. And before he could react, He fell flat to the ground with Donovan's fiery sword looming over him.
Donovan stepped over the decapitated demon, and turned to the other salivating demons who dissntaced themselves.
"
"
Suddenly, the air rang with a clash of iron. A demon brimming with impatience pressed hard against Donovan's sword. "
Hearing steps, Donovan spun, clashing and deflecting strikes as they came.
"< Kill him already->" An earth spear shot through the demon and several others at once, killing them with brutal efficiency.
Undeterred, another small group of demons charged forth, spewing flames from their palms, forcing Bjorn to brace as fire poured over him.
Donovan continued clashing and defending himself thought their relentless assualts. Concerned he glanced back at the demons behind, keeping Bjorn at bay. Another swing swiftly slammed down on Donovan's fiery blade, redrawing his attention.
The demon slammed his sword even harder. "
With narrowed eyes, Donovan looked past the demon and spotted two more demons charging at him. With steeled resolve, Donovan pulled back and slashed the backs of the fire-spewing demons. "A little help here!"
The air echoed with a sharp panging that resonated across the square. In an instant, an odd sensation befell the hostile bounty hunters. They slowed, some fell and others stumbled to their feet in a haze.
Even Donovan, watching the horde of demons, looked on in shock. "What the…" He turned a glance to Bjorn, who calmly approached his side.
"
"
Bjorn pointed his palm at the sneering demon. "Hmph!" An inferno of fire filled the square leaving only Donovan and Bjorn untouched as it engulfed the demons around in a sea of fire.
Donovan stared on, almost envious. "W-whoa…" progress he thought he made felt minuscule in the wake of Bjorn's immense magic. "Jeez… I almost forgot how powerful Bjorn actually was…" He glanced at Bjorn and watched as the fire slowly swirled out of existence.
By the time the fire dissipated, the only smooth stone and smoldering dirt remained, along with the charred homes that miraculously remained intact.
With the coast seemingly cleared, Donovan glanced back at the distance fortress. Suddenly, fireballs shot from above.
The two turned and glared with annoyance, and without hesitation, Donovan snatched his pipe and aimed it at the flying demons.
Fire built at the tip of Bjorn's fingers and Donovan's pipe. Ready, they shot at the demons with deadly precision, breaking winged and striking heads. Hearing another behind, Donovan turned but stopped. He stood in shock, watching as a winged bounty hunter carried a familiar blue succubus clutching to its back as it carried two children in his arms.
Conjuring one more stone spear, Bjorn shot it at the last of the flying demons. Finished, he turned taking quick note of a familiar little boy. "
"Mishti?" Donovan blurted.
The demon landed, and like an obedient puppet, it bowed and released the children from his grasp. The little girl, dazed and tired, curled on the ground, lazily. "
"
He pointed vigorously and cried out. "
"W-what the heck…" Donovan could only sigh and shake his head at the sudden antics. Unable to decipher the boy, Donovan ignored him and turned to Bjorn. "Uhh…. Bjorn, she was the one who was with us when those incubi attacked us."
"Is that so?" He glanced at Mishti, and with practiced precision, shot two encroaching bounty hunters and spikes of stone.
"
"
Mishti frowned, lifting Fayelynn into her arms. "
"Soon to be king?" Donovan wondered. He straightened memories returning of Incubus long before he met.
"Gaz…" Bjorn said. With a souring mood, he glared harshly at the distant fortress. "
The demon child clung tight to Donovan's trousers, drawing his attention. "Uhh. Bjorn? What do we do with this kid?"
"We leave him to the women."
"W-what!?"
"
Speechless, Mishti blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
********
Virgil leaned back in his wooden chair, staring at the stone ceiling. He solemnly turned to Gaz, who laid on his table, quietly waiting, and pondered to himself. "
The rustle of movement tore Virgil from his thought. He turned back to Gaz, shock to see him sit back up with a hand on his head. '
Dazed Gaz looked around, then straightened at once. " He jumped to his feet, scanning the room with wild eyes.
" "NO! Send your men to the gate. No one leaves this town! No one! Under no circumstances can we let that woman escape!!>"