The slavers divided themselves into two groups, effectively weakening their own forces.

These trespassers shall not receive any mercy from the Silver Demon.

"GraaaaaaAAAAAAAH!" it reverberated, reaching far and wide. Kaira can't imagine the amount of pain that can induce such a tremendous scream.

The Silver Demon is not yet here. Kaira still has a chance. That's what she wants to believe, but the Silver Demon is cunning and ruthless.

The sole survivor of the first group is not an accident on the Silver Demon's part. It's a calculated move to instill fear.

Before Kaira knows it, it was already here.

"HEEEEeeelp! Run—"

SLAAAASH~ SPLat!

The sole survivor of the other group was cleaved in half. Grave silence permeated the surroundings.

It stood 3 meters tall with a metallic sheen. A war machine stood menacingly, wielding its 2-meter broadsword.

Silver Demon, a name her mother called the monster in front of them, raised its sword with idle nonchalance. The Demon's broadsword drips with the blood of its victims.

Now, they are next.

Kaira felt faint. The Silver Demon is monstrously fast for its size. Its arrival is instantaneous, allowing it to reap as many lives as it wanted.

The slavers fell like grasses to a scythe.

It took the Silver Demon less than a minute to annihilate the group. Kaira stood very still, hoping that the monster won't see her if she remains petrified. Maybe, it would think of her as a lifeless statue.

The monster lifted its sword high, its aim is true, and its intent is clear. It unleashed its sword upon little Kaira.

It vanished only to appear before her. Its metallic carved face seems to grin in delight as it discovers the little prey.

The wars did a lot of damage to this world. Magic suddenly found its way into the ranks of warring men. Technology started to advance by leaps and bounds. And humanity started to crumble within, the human values they once held so dearly became shit-pie.

The Silver Demon doesn't care about any of that. It only wanted to fulfill its mission, and that is to protect the city it was entrusted with.

Its name, Silver Demon, has a long history of spite and repute. It killed mages and men without any compassion as expected of a machine— children, the elderly, and women all fell into its blade without mercy. At the same time, it protected the people whom it was entrusted with.

Silver Demon is the Harkhall City's legacy. It's their masterpiece and guardian. The ancient city thrived in its engineering and technology, allowing them machines of their own creation to serve their purpose.

Machines, the most efficient slaves of all, made the city reach incredible heights. Supported by scientific progress, Harkhall City gained power.

But such power is not enough to withstand Empyrea's rage.

The Silver Demon fought with all its power, but the Empyrean legion's might is too much. Harkhall's Guardian and its steel army stood no chance in the face of Empyrea's magi-tech.

In the end, the city was forced to fight a defensive battle. The Silver Demon remembers it well, the sequence of events and the process of their defeat is etched into its memories.

Silver Demon is all of what's left of the city. Harkhall's refugees fled left and right, for the fear of their inevitable fate. Because of the subsequent assassinations of its leaders, the Harkhall government crumbled from the inside. Harkhall's steel army was effectively disabled because of the traitors who greedily desire their own safety.

Ultimately, Harkhall is no more.

The only reason the Silver Demon still walks in this plane is because of its persistence to continue its mission. It shall protect what it's entrusted to. And the Silver Demon won't be able to do any of that if it is DEAD.

So it evaded capture, fought enemies, and slain archmages. It lived.

Silver Demon may not be aware. But purpose fills its being. It feels as much as it wants to live. Thus, it became stronger.

Empyrea decided to leave the Silver Demon alone for the pursuit of such trouble isn't worth it at all. Empyrea already succeeded in annexing Harkhall, and they don't need to trouble themselves with the Silver Demon.

Matt witnessed the Demon's rampage from a far distance. It butchered a group, then another.

He watched the slaughter with apathetic curiosity, viewing the world through the lens of a spectator. Matt has many questions. And each second he spent scrutinizing this place only aroused his curiosity further.

Apathy left Matt's eyes as the Silver Demon find its way to a child, a little girl. Matt suppressed his curiosity and rushed.

This thing is dangerous, but Matt's reasoning tells him that he will regret it greatly if he can't save that child.

Kaira's tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Sorry, mom."

And the sword fell.

Her life flashed before her eyes. An eight-year-old girl has so much happy memories to cling to. Among them, it was her mom who mostly occupied her mind.

Kaira's death will be her mom's death.

She doesn't want that, so she moved. She wants to live. She wants to see her mom again.

Kaira jumped backward, forcing herself out of the sword's edge. She leaned all of her weight backward hoping for the best. But the Silver Demon's broadsword is still reaching for her.

She is still in the Silver Demon's range.

Kaira lost all her hope as death approach her with its cruel truth. She closed her eyes desiring a quick and painless death.

...But it never came.

She felt a tug of force pull her, then a gentle thud. She opened her eyes, meeting the gaze of another. Kaira hardly recognizes the suit the mister is wearing.

"Little lady. Stay here, let me play with the bad robot."

Bad robot?

The stranger's words are weird but full of playfulness. This is not a game though? Kaira is having difficulties finding her reason.

Matt sighed in relief as he barely made it on time.

The Silver Demon easily recognized the intruder. It was that guy who unearthed himself. Silver Demon is still not sure of what to make of the intruder since then. It patrols the city regularly and has been observing this particular so-called intruder for some time.

"State. Your. Affiliation." Silver Demon said in its emotionless electronic voice. The blazing sun is no more but instead is covered with dark clouds. It's an ominous sign that the Silver Demon doesn't give a damn about.

Matt shifted his stance, ready for combat. Mages are superstitious people. Dark clouds bode ill possibilities. He might as well finish this fast.

"Trimystery," Matt said syllable by syllable.

The Silver Demon vanished on the spot. Matt's eyes reinforced with magic were able to see through the fluctuations of the space folds.

He can only think of one thing— teleportation— fuck.

Matt rolled forwards, trusting his mage instinct more than it should be. He can feel the swooshing of air as he narrowly evades the murder machine's broadsword.

The Silver Demon pursued with a clear conscience. Prior to this, the Silver Demon thought of this intruder as someone who is originally part of Harkhall City.

Matt consecutively cast stimulate to his flesh, amping his physical abilities to incredible levels.

He dodged nimbly and calculatingly as he sneaks some of his mana into the Silver Demon.

The Silver Demon's logic process is a miracle of its own. Conscience, feelings, desires, and instincts. Functions thought to be impossible to machines are being displayed at their full might.

Wrath fuels the Silver Demon's every strike. Its cunning is being motivated by its desire to inflict destruction. Matt can feel the strong mentality emanating from the machine.

It's scary.

If mana is the purest form of magic, then mentality is its basest form. To see it in a machine is both incredible and mortifying.

Mentality serves as a conduit to many kinds of magic. It can tap into sources varying from mana, miasma, spirit, will, etcetera. Matt urged the mana to empower his magic, further reinforcing his physical abilities.

Kaira watched in amazement as Matt dodged gracefully. It makes Kaira's heart jump in fear. Kaira forgot the danger she was initially in... It's stupid to stay idle like this and not scurry immediately but as an eight-year-old who barely survived the confrontation, the shock is just too much.

Dying never came across Matt's mind as he dedicate himself to fighting the Silver Demon.

The Silver Demon's swordsmanship possesses strong intent for slaughter. Matt has to be careful and watch for the spatial fluctuations around the surroundings.

If Matt's deductions are on point, his foe's teleportation is nigh inexhaustible. Matt would be screwed if not for his inhumane magic control and perception.

Matt can hardly distinguish the cooldown of the Silver Demon's teleportation, but he is certain— there is a lag, at least every time it appears wherever the robot wants to.

Silver Demon's design is sleek and compact. Its skin looked like a layer of silvery-white melding with its surroundings. Like a ghost, the Silver Demon haunted Matt with a vengeance.

Matt's telekinesis made sure the mana he is sneaking at the big bad bot don't scatter. Matt's application of telekinesis is superb allowing him better control of the space around him.

Telekinesis is a magic technique that allows the mind to exert force on its surroundings, literally moving objects through the force of your mind. In Matt's case, he's not just limited to the physical aspects of the environment. This, he obviously made clear as he manipulates the raw mana in the surroundings with his telekinesis.

The Silver Demon instantaneously appeared at Matt's flank, unleashing the broadsword cloaked with an orange hue. It felt dangerously hot.

Matt jerked his body sideways, smoothly evading the broadsword. The broadsword struck the earth as if a knife would to butter. Matt forced himself to shift his weight to his backside aware of the incoming onslaught of combinations.

From the left, a quick strike which Matt dodged by a step. Then an elbow to the face at close quarters. Matt ducked, but the Silver Demon simply shifted its stance, beautifully chaining its knee to Matt's face.

Matt ushered his telekinesis, repelling him from the Silver Demon. Matt almost died, but he feels too chill about it. For some reason, the adrenaline coursing through his veins felt very addicting.

Blood poured from Matt's head. It looks like the knee of steel grazed him. Matt's forehead is red with blood, it stings, but Matt's concentration isn't disturbed.

This can't continue like this. The Silver Demon broke the stalemate by changing its pattern. Once again, it instantaneously arrived at Matt's flank. From its palms, scattered electric charges poured with decisive fury.

Matt was almost caught by the abrupt blast. Thankfully, he was able to react in time to minimize the damage. Matt dragged his weight through telekinesis, successfully distancing himself from the mean machine.

The Silver Demon kept on pursuing, alternating between its swordsmanship and various kinds of energy blasts.

It's time.

Matt poured his intent to the mana encasing the Silver Demon, then it froze.

The magic technique, cryogenesis, generates cold temperatures in varying degrees. Matt's telekinesis helped him guide mana, while the follow-up of the cryogenesis helped him reach effective results albeit its inefficiency.

It's not a proper spell, but it works.

Matt's goal in fighting the Silver Demon is not to defeat it, but this.

The moment he witnessed the Silver Demon's mobility, Matt immediately admitted to himself that there is no escape from this monstrosity.

Matt dashed in Kaira's direction, hoisted her on his shoulder then ran for it. Matt could have destroyed the Silver Demon given this opportunity but chose not to. He was able to see the Silver Demon's defense firsthand through combat, so he knows.

At Matt's current level. He can't penetrate through the Silver Demon's defenses.

"S-#stoP." The machine begged. Its circuitry is a complete mess. Matt never looked back, never cared.

But if only he looks back, he will see.

The Silver Demon is crying. There were no tears or grieving calls. But it is there.

In its outstretched hand, the Silver Demon saw the fading figures of Matt and Kaira.

Once again, the Silver Demon failed in its duty.