After mom left Commandor Raio started training us.

Amos: here the main weapon you kids will probably use is polearms.

He handed a staff to each of us.

Amos: The girl will normally wield a staff but it uses mana to make the blade of different weapons so you will be trained in most two handed weapons. As for you boy a scythe is the main weapons but you will also be learning chained weapons and dual wielding so get ready.

We just pick up the training staffs and prepare to meet hell head on.

Baal: and what about them.

I pointed towards our companions. He looked at them and with a gesture to one of the paladin they were led away.

Amos: they have their own training.

We just nodded and started training.

For the first month we were drilled in basic forms to hold all the weapons we will use. Each week was a different weapon. At night we also had magic training by self study from books mom brought for us. We only got to relax when we went to sleep.

The second month we sparred with the commander one on one but we could touch him which always seem to fuel us with determination to beat that smirk on his face.

At the end of the 10th month Commander Raio told us we were done the basics. We had been through many physical and mental exercises that when ever we were near others while training they could only look at us with pity. Amos was unrelentless he had is run 5km with weights on our arms then do basic form attacks 200 times a day, there are more than 20 basic forms. Then it was physical exercise again before we go train magic.

Our magic has long since broken into intermediate rank. Speaking of which skill ranks are basic, intermediate, adapt, advanced, master grandmaster. Each has 10 levels to it but with each level it becomes harder to level. Many fighters bottleneck at advance 4 and at that point retire and go train the rest of their lives to simply reach master. A grandmaster is said to be legendary rank which only gods or very high ranked demons can achieve thanks to their long lifespan.

There are rumor that if someone becomes grandmaster they can fight on equal terms with a lesser god if its in melee combat, if they achieve both in melee and magic which is unheard of for a human they are on par to a greater god or a royal demon.

Back to our training when we finished the basics we were finally give our weapons by mom.

Steph: they are at military standards?

Amos: yes they learned all the basics. I'm impressed how fast but i guess you cant underestimate a prodigies potential.

Steph: that is true anyway we should go you two first we need to pick up the other four and then you plus a few other recruits and some foreigners we commissioned will go on a mission to destroy a demon dungeon.

Baal/Lilian: really

We were excited to finally leave the city. The furthest we had ever gone was in the woods to hunt wolves so we were very anxious.

Mom lead us out of the paladin quarters and into the armory and got us some basic white leather armor. After that we head to a new building that seem to have been recently built but we didnt notice since we were going through hell. The area was filled with rabbits, horn rabbit, many variants of bihorn rabbit, fox and holy fox.

As guessed it was a building dedicated towards housing companions. Outside was a training area just like the paladin one but instead of a commander their was a monster trainer and mage.

Looking around we say many animals but the ones that stood out were the four larger ones. A black furred bihorn rabbit about half the size of a bear, an equally large white furred rabbit, a large three tailed orange fox that is at least twice the size of a wolf, an equally large three tail white fox.

They were sparing when we entered and we could only watch in amazement at the acrobatics they were doing and the degree of power behind their magic.

Soon Kitsu noticed my scent while he was locked in fight with Kumi and bound towards me. This drew the attention of the other three who look our way.

When they see us they rush towards us. Rook surprisingly reaches me before Kitsu even it a head start. With a strong leap he landed in front of me making a large dust cloud and pushed me down while cuddling up to me. This only lasted a few seconds before a large tail hit him in the midsection and threw him two meters away with a loud thud.

Kitsu: get off him you overgrown furball with horns.

Rook growled after getting up. He stood on his hind legs and stared down the fox who returned his glare while growling. Looking at them it felt like you could see sparks colliding in between them coming from the eyes. I was laughing so hard at their antics that it started to hurt.

Kumi: you two should stop or we will never leave.

Kitsu: hmp this fat furball should learn not to jump on top of master then.

Steph: alright you guys stop playing around. Anyway im amazed you ranked up i didnt think you would while training.

Kitsu: we didnt rank up. Rank up for us is when we get our second tail and when he grow our sixth any other time the tail simply grows during the night after we reach the peak of our power for the current tails.

Kumi: the young monster trainer was kind enough to study up on our kind to learn a few facts about us and help us train. Seems when we fight each other we grow much faster since we are fighting our opposite.

Lilian: I've been meaning to ask but why do you also have a third tail i thought holy fox only had two.

Kumi: a holy fox is a celestial variant of a demon fox. Put simply master, we are the upperworlds nine tailed fox.

Steph: thats interesting anyway lets go. The foreigners are a pain to deal with so we should go quick.

Rook hopped over to me and squatted down.

Rook: Master...ride.

We look at him with surprise to see him speaking.

Kitsu: he has been learning quite a bit his form advanced his intelligence by a large margin.

Baal: cool alright lets see how fast you are.

I hop on and saw a grin on his face just before a lunged through the door of the training area. It was easily a 10 m long jump though it didn’t pass the first one before we got caught by some chains of light.

Kumi: good try Rook but we already expected that. Kitsu came over and pulled me off before the chains were unbound.

Rook: master...ride.

Kutsi: leave it for when we are out of here.

With a growl he submitted himself and we let him go. We then headed to the west gate where the meeting place was.

The area was crowded but the group of paladins and foreigners were clear in a group outside the gate. Mom led us to the commander who looked less muscular than most of the men but you could feel his aura of authority.

Steph: Commander Hugh, i have brought my children who will be going with your men.

Hugh: oh miss Stephanie it’s always a pleasure to see you. Hmm so these are the prodigies Amos doesn't shut up about. I must say for 3 and a half year olds they sure are big for their age and they look strong as well.

Steph: heh ya i know, they have a special blessing from one of the gods which makes their bodies grow faster when they train.

At the moment we look like and 8 year old kid even though we are only 3 and a half. The others were checking us and our companions out like measuring us out.

Hugh: i hope you are ready for your first demon hunt its a regular dungeon we go to clean up Imps.

I look at mom with wary eyes. She bent down next to me and whispered.

Steph: dont worry these are rogues, actually a normal Imp is almost considered an animal because they are so dumb you’re really special you know. Dont worry about killing them because if they would easily attack anyone that they pass by.

She gives me a wary smile and kisses my forehead and does the same to Lilian.

Steph: I’m counting on you four to keep these two out of trouble.

Kumi: don’t worry madam we will. Or at least me and Plum since im sure those two will cause more trouble then help.

Kitsu: hey i can help as well its the furballs problem that we get in trouble.

Kumi: yes yes i know.

She moves close and whispers something and Kitsu slumps down depressed. I’m actually scared to ask what she said so i don’t and let him get over it.

With all the all of us gathered all that was left is wait for the foreigners. There were quite a few here already. From our side there were 50 novice paladins, including us two, each of them had either a fox or horn rabbit with only the commander having a two tailed holy fox. On the foreigners side up to now there were 10 mages, 20 archers 15 warriors and 5 rogues and 5 craftsmen who will repair our equipment. The number soon doubled for the warrior and another 10 archers appeared before we set off. The cave is a half days march on foot but most of us had horses and we rented some carts to pull the foreigners.

Lilian and I were enjoying a calm ride on our horned rabbits backs. They wanted to take us not liking the fact that we would use a horse when they were much faster and capable then the dumb pack animal. The foreigners wouldn’t stop looking at us so i had Rook slow down until we were next to their cart.

Baal: need something? i saw you staring towards us.

Player 1: um well is your pets, their demon beasts right?

Baal: first they're not pets they are my companions and what if they are.

Player 2: demons give great materials that what where did you find these kind of demons here. I thought the church of light killed all the demons they find.

Veins were popping up quickly as I listen to the second man but i was cut short by the commander.

Hugh: we kill rogue demons as in demons that poss a threat to the human race. If the demon is neutral or friendly we simply ignore or try to befriend them. These two were raised by the young man so please don’t talk about gathering materials from them because none of us will take kindly to actions taken towards our own companions that also goes for all the animals accompanying us do i make myself clear.

They grumbled as they looked towards us and i glared back and told Rook to speed up and return to the front and stay away from them. The rest of the day I ignored the foreigners and just talked with the paladins or with Lilian. When we finally reached the location we made camp about 1 km away. We had all the animals hunt down nearby animals and demons that may be about and bring them back.

It didnt take long for large amounts of meat to be gathered and butchered and cooked. We were going to rest for today and go into the dungeon tomorrow fully rested.

Kitsu: so what do you think about attacking your own kind.

Baal: i don't know, i know my race is Imp but i have never seen one before. For all i know they could look just like human kids how can i kill something that looks like a kid.

Rook: Rook...kill for master.

Baal: thanks Rook but i can do it myself. Hey can you guys do me a favor.

Kitsu: what?

Baal: well i don't trust the foreigners i feel they may be up to something. Could you keep an eye on them at night and when we rest. As all the other companions as well. They think of you guys as pets so they won't think you are smart enough to understand what they are doing.

Kitsu: don't worry Lilian has already planned ahead. She had Plum and a few other horned rabbits that can use illusion magic hide near the foreigners to eavesdrop on their conversations. They are just as novice as we are. Only the commander is skilled enough to pick up their presence and he wanted us to keep an eye on them so we have nothing to worry about.

Baal: still don't drop your guards after we enter the dungeon.

They nod and we go to sleep.

In the morning we pack everything and i have Kitsu and Rook check everything with their nose to see if any drugs were placed but nothing was found. We were still highly cautious of them but we moved in anyway.

About 30 meters in the dungeon the first pack of Imps appeared. Numbering 30 i finally saw what a real imp looked like. Short, at least 70 cm tall, red skin with tiny horns on their heads. Their eyes were large and pure black and had a large nose and all their teeth were fangs and they had very small wings which didn’t seem to work yet.

(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/binturia/images/3/33/Imp.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130116085341)

Questions were swarming my head as to why i looked human while they were like this but i didn’t get time to think as the commander started giving out orders to get into place. The paladins made a wall with their shields protecting the long ranged fighters. I unstrap my scythe, it felt really nice in my hand like it was made for it. A sudden taste for blood started to enter me as the imps approached. I jump over the wall of paladins and rush towards the imps.

Hugh: Baal get back here!!!

he yelled but i didn't hear as i reached the first ones i did a horizontal swing towards them which killed 3 in one swing while stabbing a fourth one who was stuck on the blade. They soon vanished in a puff of grey smoke. Unlike animals in this world monsters and demons vanished leaving items in their place such as skins, teeth, money and so on. Only monsters that are technically animals remain such as a powerful fox demon though its a demon it will remain because it still falls under the animal category while a monster like a goblin or an imp will vanish leaving behind fangs and rags.

I continued massacring the imps until they started retreating and i was left with no opponents. In total i killed 16 Imps before they retreated. My body was trembling as it returned to its natural flow. I dropped my weapon after i returned to normal just as Lilian reached me.

Lilian: are you alright what happened? Why are you trembling like that?

Hugh: that mindless fighting state that was berserk. Normally its a warrior stat when he reaches high levels of rage it increases his power but it has drawbacks after it wears off one of which is lots of pain but in his case it seems it wasn't that overused but i think he is in shock. Still what power, for a child to do this even foreigners can't compare unless they train their skills greatly.

I was listening but i couldn’t respond at all and he noticed it so he pulled a bottle of water and pulling me up and bending me over he splashed the cold water on my head which pulled me back.

Baal: ah t-t-thanks.

Hugh: drink up a bit.

Lilian: what happened to him exactly.

Hugh: can’t say for sure but i think he might have been nervous and entered berserk state by instinct. Though its strange i have heard it happen when people face something unknown for the first time. As a kid facing demons this could count as a shock big enough to cause that effect. Lets hope it doesnt happen again please try controlling yourself.

Baal: yes sir.

Kitsu: next time dont steal all the fun i want in as well.

When he said that it made us laugh and lightened the moon a bit. After that we moved in and continued attack after that i didn't go berserk again thankfully. Kitsu and Rook really enjoyed themselves. They were vanguard units like the rest of the animals. They ran straight for the Imps while the rest of us blasted them with magic. A few times it got gruesome, one or two fox would team up and bite the Imp ripping pieces off and they would eat it their killing it. The rabbits aimed for impaling or shredding them to pieces with their claws. A few Imps were unlucky and were stabbed in the head and to our discomfort the brains spewed out but these that were killed by head shot they dropped an interesting item.

Hugh told us it was a mana crystal shard. Demons were special in the fact that unlike monsters who may have their mana crystallized a demon will have its mana crystallized and it forms in the head. Also when a demon eats the mana crystal of other demons as well as monsters they gain more mana and power. It is the same for angel and celestial beings. Lilian and i gather the many small fragments which no one seems to care about. Our plan was obvious to say the least but we waited for the most part since we had to keep our secret.

Besides the crystals, the skins were also worth gathering because they would make somewhat good cloths and it seems they cost quite a bit as well. All in all we would get more money than we ever got by selling this stuff in town. The foreigner mages aimed for the horns instead of the crystal, they said it was a demons mana storage while the crystals produced the mana. Seems crystals are just excess mana which is good for staffs but at this size it was as good as a single copper.

The dungeon was surprisingly easy after you got used to is. The place had 3 floors, with each floor more imps appeared but that is just in number and a few with different weapons like crude bows and spears but besides that they didn't cause us much worry since they were stupid.

On the final floor we entered a wide chamber at the end. In it we found a much larger Imp then the others.

Hugh: hoo we got a High imp this time. Been awhile since one showed up here

It was at my height of 120 cm it had long horns, red skin large fangs and large wings on its back.

(this image is what i want a High Imp to look like http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/219/1/a/imp_by_willdan-d6h1gsx.jpg)

Imp: kekeke me smell imp with human kekeke

Hugh: not just any high imp but one with high intelligence this guy will be worth of a fight.

Imp: *sniff sniff* small boy imp kekeke fight me.

He suddenly rushes out at me only to get whacked by Kitsu’s tail. Kitsu then proceeds to use magic for the first time and makes three fox fireballs appear and soon they converge making a single large ball which is fired at the high imp.

Imp: kekeke warm fire very strong pet keke. FIGHT ME BOY!!!

With a deafening bellow he stuns everyone and lunges out again this time he gets close to me but i block him in time but am thrown onto the wall which pushes all the air out of me. As i fight to breath normally again the Imp is hit once more this time by the bear like claw from Rook. He causes some deep gashes to appear and gives me time to stand up, pissed.

I put away the large scythe and bring out the dual sickles i had with me. I run out while the others finally snap out of it and start attacking.

Imp: kekeke yes yes this is it keke FIGHT ME WITH ALL YOUR POWER PRINCE!!!!

We began to fight with our all. He fought with his sharp claws while i cut him up with my sickles while the others fired off magic when we made room between us. Lilian also joined in the fight and soon the Imp was down to its last 10% when his already red body turned blood red.

Hugh: get back he has gone berserk.

Just as he said that i got punched in the gut and was thrown against the wall dropping my weapons.

Imp: kekeke the prince is weak keke uses weapons imp need strong body fight me right.

I had reached my limit and as i stood up i could only see things in red.

Imp: good kekeke now lets fight!!!

Lilian POV

After the High Imp went berserk it hit Baal right in the stomach i wanted to help but i was blocked by the commander. He was trembling a bit i didn’t know why until i looked at Baal. The air around Baal was blurry like steam was distorting the air. Above Baal a demon shaped similar to the high Imp loomed over him but it looked much more powerful than the boss of the dungeon. Everyone had stopped shooting magic after seeing this because it sent a chill down everyone's backs seeing the blurred demon behind the child.

The two soon started to fight hand to hand both in a state of berserk just randomly hitting any area they could to get rid of their enemy. It lasted for 5 whole minutes before both of them could barely walk. Though the imp fell first and Baal barely stood up looking down at the defeated Imp.

Imp: kekeke the prince holds power keke grow and take your rightful place.

With his final words his body vanished leaving behind skin a whole crystal and his horns. I saw Baal pick each of them up and store them before he fell on the ground. Snapping out of it i ran forwards and start using healing magic. Hugh uses more advanced healing to get serious injuries but it only closes them at best. They perform first aid to hold the wounds closed and soon leave the dungeon completing their mission.