Just as Lucius prepared to leap down and confront Chase, a flurry of action erupted nearby as the doors to the captain's cabin swung open, and Hanz, the Mayor, burst onto the scene, his expression a mix of urgency and determination. Clutched tightly in his hands was a glimmering holy talisman, its surface etched with intricate symbols that radiated an otherworldly glow, casting flickering shadows on the ground around him.
"Lucius! Move! Get away from him!" Hanz yelled.
"W-What is this? A priest?" Chase asked as he took a few steps back, his eyes widening in surprise.
"But, Father! I can defeat this monster! Just wait and watch!" Lucius replied as he took a stance.
"Damn it, boy! I said move back!" The Mayor's voice boomed through the air as he raced toward his son, panic etched across his face. In a swift motion, he gripped his boy's arm, yanking him back just before he could raise the gleaming talisman glinting in his palm, aiming it at Chase and Laila.
*Crackle! Crackle!*
'Oh shit! I can sense a massive amount of something coming from that thing! Shit, this is bad! B-But why don't I feel afraid?...' Chase thought.
Out of nowhere, an intense, blinding light erupted, flooding the space with a dazzling brilliance. A thunderous crackle of energy reverberated through the ship, sending a shiver down their spines. The source? The mysterious talisman glowed fiercely and cast an ethereal glow straight at Chase and Laila, who were caught off guard by the sudden burst of illumination.
'Ow! It is kind of annoying... Is that thing a flashlight or something?... I mean, how is that supposed to stop—' Chase's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Laila's screams.
"AUGH! It burns!" Laila screamed out in pain as she fell onto the floor, her eyes shut tight, and she writhed in pain.
"Laila!" Chase yelled out in surprise as he turned and saw the holy talisman glowing brightly.
"Ahhhhhh!" Laila shrieked in pain.
"HAHAHA! Taste the full might of a Priest, demon!" Hanz said as he watched the demon writhe in pain, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
A seething fury surged within Chase, more intense than anything he had ever experienced. In a desperate rush, he threw himself between Laila and the blinding holy light, determined to shield her from its searing wrath. As he stood there, unaffected, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction and pleasure.
'Wait a minute? I'm not in pain. So, that thing is useless against me, and it's hurting Laila instead. Whatever, I need to protect her, and I will.' Chase thought as he successfully blocked the light from reaching Laila.
"Huh? Chase? Why aren't you crying out in pain?" Laila said weakly as she looked up at the Demon Lord.
"I don't know, but I'm fine. Just hang in there, babe. I'll save us," Chase said reassuringly.
'B-Babe? What does he mean by that?' Laila thought, her cheeks blushing pink.
"W-What the!? That's impossible! My holy light can burn and purify all evil. But why are you not being purified, like that whore?!" Hanz yelled out in shock as he saw the demon didn't receive any damage from the holy light.
'This dude is fucking insane! Wait a second?! Did he just call Laila a whore? Oh, I'm going to show him who the real fucking whore is!' Chase thought, his anger building inside him as he took a step towards Hanz.
"Stay back, demon, or I will destroy your succubus whore," Hanz threatened as he tried to channel more divinity into the talisman.
This only annoyed Chase as he continued to walk forward while covering his eyes with his left hand, while Hanz and Lucius walked backward.
"You know, for a priest, you sure do curse a lot, old man," Chase said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm only doing God's work, demon! So, why don't you do everyone a favor and just disappear?!" Hanz shouted.
"You want me to disappear, old man? Fine. Then how about this?!" Chase retorted.
*Fwosh!*
With a swift flicker, Chase vanished and reemerged before Hanz, a mere heartbeat having passed. The old man's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Chase lunged forward. In a single, fluid motion, he seized the hand clutching the talisman and crushed it mercilessly, shattering both the ancient artifact and Hanz's hand in a display of ruthless power.
*CRACK! CRUNCH!*
"Huh? Ah! Aaaghhhhhh!! AAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!" Hanz shrieked in agony as his hand was crushed, and he fell to his knees, writhing in pain.
'Got him!' Chase thought with a smirk.
"F-Father! Noooooo!!" Lucius cried out as his eyes were glued to the horrific scene unfolding before him. He tried to attack the Demon Lord with his sword, but Chase quickly punched Lucius in the gut, causing him to crumple into a ball and fall to the floor.
"ARGH! F-Father! I-I'm sorry..." Lucius moaned as he crawled to his father, who was still screaming in pain.
"You two are something else... Laila!? How are you doing? Can you get up?" Chase asked, his voice filled with concern.
Laila rose from the ground, a sense of transformation coursing through her veins. It was as if every fiber of her being was awakening, her body becoming stronger with each heartbeat. A newfound power surged within her, building momentum after defeating the treacherous foes around her. She could feel it—a palpable strength that promised to propel her forward into whatever challenges lay ahead.
'He saved me, again?... NO! Stop it, Laila! Don't start falling for him!... A-At least not at this moment,' Laila thought to herself.
"I-I'm fine... T-Thanks, Chase," Laila muttered, her cheeks turning a shade of red.
With a deep breath of relief, Chase shifted his focus back to the two men sprawled on the ground before him, their expressions a mix of fear and desperation.
"Laila... I'll let you pass judgment down on these two pieces of shit," Chase said, his tone cold and harsh.