The false-named jester flew right past my eyes and crashed into a distant wall.
My head instantly snapped toward where the blow had come from and my breath caught in my throat.
My pupils trembled with terror as the dark-armored figure slowly approached me. Every step crushed the rubble beneath his feet while immense dark energy fumed and burst from his body like smoke. Through the narrow visor slit of his helmet, neon-purple eyes glowed menacingly. His grip tightened around his trident, preparing for another strike.
"Stanislaus!!"
I shoved the stunned Stanislaus behind a pile of debris before bracing myself for the attack.
My power wasn't enough to hold it back.
The raging dark liquid slammed into my body and pinned me against a broken wall. I struggled against its grip as my entire body burned with a sensation like fire and needles piercing through my flesh.
The stench of demon flesh mixed with the salty sweat now covering my body. With every step the armored figure took closer, the liquid tightened further, crushing my bones more and more.
I couldn't see Stanislaus or Kim Soo-Hyuk anywhere anymore, but there was a far bigger problem.
There was barely any clean air left to breathe.
It was strangling me.
Sweat dripped down my neck as I gritted my teeth one final time and tried to force myself free from the liquid's grip. However, it only tightened harder. My vision began to blur while my bones creaked under the pressure.
The figure finally stood right in front of me.
And just as I gathered enough strength to spit out a curse- it interrupted.
"Say, were you the elf that planned this show?"
His demonic voice rang through my ears, while the stench surrounding him churned my stomach. Human flesh? No…animal flesh? I couldn't tell where that rotten smell came from.
My spine pressed further against the shattered wall as my hands trembled helplessly within the liquid's grip.
"I asked?"
'Taaaaackkk'
Instantly, the pressure around my body intensified even further. Pain exploded through my chest as blood spewed from my mouth and splattered across his armor.
The bleeding wouldn't stop.
It felt as though my body was being shredded apart piece by piece. The agony was beyond anything I had ever imagined, even death itself seemed merciful compared to this.
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
My scream echoed through the blazing ruins around us while my joints nearly collapsed under the overwhelming force. My vision blurred further with every passing second.
Yet the grip loosened slightly, perhaps realizing I could no longer answer in this state.
I couldn't think.
I couldn't form an escape plan.
Maybe desperation alone forced the words out of me.
"A-and if I were...that elf...?"
My voice was broken. Barely more than a whisper escaped my lips, but it was enough for the monster before me.
"It's a fine act, but the work of an amateur. One small mistake is enough to cost you your life."
He was praising me.
I didn't know why.
Yet he still had no intention of letting me go. Slowly, he raised his trident upright as dark mana spiraled around its blade.
"What now?" he asked "Thinking about the past? Or what humans call life flashing before your eyes?"
A bitter laugh escaped my mouth as I shut my eyes tightly.
Barely any thoughts could form in my mind anymore.
Should I blame Dermis for bringing me here?
Or myself for being too weak to survive?
Again and again, I convinced myself I had become stronger, but that was never true. Because of my mistake, my companions would die in this ruined land. And after that, the demons would reach the people beyond the shattered shield in no time.
Who would protect them?
Who would help that child again?
Ororon...
Ororon...
"DI WOMAN!! OPEN YOUR EYES!!"
My eyes shot open at the scream, only to witness another unbelievable sight.
Stanislaus hurled herself forward, spinning wildly like a beyblade while swinging a long chain around her body. The chain whistled through the air before crashing directly into the demon with every ounce of strength she had.
"Eugh-"
The demon was knocked backward into the flames, and at the same moment, the liquid restraining me dispersed.
I collapsed to my knees and immediately looked toward Stanislaus.
She stood there smirking, black powder smeared across her face.
"You stubborn woman! I told you to lea-"
'Cough!'
More blood spilled from my mouth before I could finish. Stanislaus quickly rushed over and helped me up.
"Gosh! Di can't ever shut up! It'll come back! We need to flee immediately!!"
Unfortunately for Stanislaus, her predictions had become frighteningly accurate.
A moment later, the trident shot past my face and slammed into the debris beside us, shattering it instantly.
"Where do you think you're going?"