365. Vain

“You are fighting alongside a Demon.”

Belzu’s words echoed in the room like a cascade of voices. It was a quiet choir. An avalanche of whispers. Hearing it sent prickles shivering down my spine— I could almost see the voices taking shape and dissipating as the echo died down. My body stiffened, and I mechanically turned my neck to face the only Human in the room.

Orgaf, Thief of the Golden Scale, Elite adventurer, and one of the highest-leveled Human [Rogues] in the world frowned. He stared at Belzu for an eternal moment. Then he laughed.

“Seriously? You think I’ll fall for that?”

He spat and stepped forward.

“You’d have to try harder than that, oh Lord of Lies.”

The Primeval Demon inclined his head as I sighed in relief. Good, I thought. Orgaf isn’t going to attack me. If I had to fight both him and Belzu— I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to win. Facing off against two different Elite Ranked threats on my own wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do at my current level.

However, it seemed Belzu had the same thought too, and he didn’t accept it.

“You do not have to believe me, Human. You can simply ask her yourself. You are a Demon, are you not, Salvos?”

He turned to me with a sickening grin, mandibles spread long and wide. I gaped at the question, nearly stumbling back.

“W-what?”

I couldn’t work my jaw. Orgaf scoffed, crossing his arms.

“What kind of a question is that? Of course she’s not a Demon.”

“Then answer the question, Salvos. I want to hear it from your mouth and your mouth alone.”

The Primeval Demon’s gaze bore into me. He waited patiently as Orgaf raised a brow at me.

“Salvos?”

I jerked back, glancing between them. If Orgaf found out… I couldn’t let that—

“Of course I am…”

But I trailed off. My voice refused to work, even though I tried. An unsettling sensation simmer within me as Orgaf stared at me with a frown.

“What’s going on? Is this some kind of an illusion?”

“It is not.”

Belzu answered as he descended before me. I raised my Divine Nebular Scythe warily, but he just tilted his head.

“Is something the matter, Salvos? Why would you not speak? Or don’t tell me— are you actually ashamed to be a Demon?”

“No—”

I started, and Orgaf's eyes narrowed. He shifted. A subtle movement. But it was clear he was readying himself for something. I lowered my head, lips quivering as Belzu continued.

“No? That’s not it?”

The Primeval Demon clicked his mandibles, evidently amused. I could repudiate him at any moment— accuse him of lying. Or maybe I could stay silent. There were a myriad of ways this could play out. However, I felt the uneasiness begin to bubble and boil.

And Belzu’s final words made it burst out.

“If you are not ashamed of being a Demon, then perhaps… do you wish you were a Human instead?”

“Shut up!”

I yelled at the Primeval Demon. My Divine Nebular Scythe glowed radiantly, and I swung for Belzu. The powerful slash tore the room asunder without even touching the ground. His bulbous figure vanished, and he appeared floating behind me. I pivoted around before he could speak, pointing his way.

“I am an Archdemon of Pride! [The Devil’s Grace].”

The world moved in reverse. Belzu’s illusion didn’t reappear, but his real body froze above head while I was forced back to my previous spot. His eyes bulged when he could finally move as I spun around and reached for him.

“You’re not getting away!”

My arms shifted, turning to that of tendrils. Ones that belonged to a Horror Centinel. Orgaf stared with wide eyes as I tried to grab onto Belzu, even from afar. The Primeval Demon flew back, barely dodging out of the way.

I stood up straight as my arms receded back into my body and became normal. Then my entire body changed, morphing into something else. A pair of horns protruded from my head, and my skin turned into a lighter hue tinted gray. My arms, however, juxtaposed darkly as they were coated in an ashen black. Like I’d been burned up to my elbows. My wings flapped once as my flames washed away and I glared at Belzu.

“So you reveal your true self. You no longer disguise yourself amongst these foolish mortals. How does it feel, breaking away from your mortal constraints? It’s freeing, is it not?”

The Primeval Demon laughed as I tightly gripped my Divine Nebular Scythe with my claws.

“It’ll feel better if you shut up— [Demon’s Mark]!”

His eyes flickered. A symbol seared into his arm glinted. And a powerful blast engulfed him. A rainbow-colored explosion that was enhanced by my Divine Essence. He let out a high-pitched scream— his buzzing stopped.

I stared at his silhouette, burning through the flames. It vanished, and my eyes narrowed. I sensed a distortion in space as he appeared behind me. The Primeval Demon panted as he clung onto the wall, his bug-like eyes facing me with only a bit of the same mockery as before.

“Your strength… it comes from what you are. From what we are. Yet, you shun it. However, look at her, Orgaf. Thief of the Golden Scales. Feast your eyes on what she truly is.”

He turned to the Elite [Rogue]. Orgaf was just standing there, face shadowed over. He didn’t look my way. His head was lower, even so he spoke.

“So you really are a Demon?”

He spoke quietly, but his question was audible even through the blare of the ritual and the portal. Even though Demons were exiting through the pillar of light, screeching and snarling, I heard him continue.

“You’ve been pretending to be a Human all this time?”

I faced Orgaf defensively, unsure of what to say. I didn’t know what he would do. Perhaps I could’ve avoided this in the first place, but the truth was already out. I nodded slowly.

“I am. Do you have a problem with that?”

I eyed the Thief of the Golden Scales. The Elite adventurer. The Level 161 [Rogue]. He raised his head slightly.

“I see.”

And his figure blurred. Orgaf vanished into the shadows as I flinched.

“[Darkfriend].”

His voice assailed me from all directions. All the shadows in the room came to life, taking shapes of their own. They were Humans and monsters. Animals and insects. Even inanimate objects like swords and spears. My eyes widened, and Orgaf suddenly appeared before me.

I barely reacted in time, raising my Divine Nebular Scythe. His dagger smoothly slid over the flat surface of my weapon’s blade, and he rotated around me. He smoothly transitioned into a thrust aimed straight for my face, and I pulled back under it.

He was fast.

It was like he was an experienced dancer, leading me through the moves, and all I could do was follow in his step. Even with my Grand Skill, I was struggling to keep up. All I could do was block and parry. Some of his hits even went through my defenses, and only [Protection of the Sentinel] saved me.

How about this? [Haste].

My movements sped up. I ducked under a fast swing from Orgaf, shifting my weight and countering with a horizontal slash. The [Rogue] simply vanished into the shadows before I could land a hit.

I glanced around the room, eyes darting from one shadow to another. His Skill hadn’t come for me yet, but I knew it would soon. The shadows grew in number and I bit my lower lip. [Protection of the Sentinel] might not last long under that assault.

It would hold up for a bit. It was able to even withstand Clayton’s magic. But—

And the shadows moved. I braced myself, preparing for the onslaught of shadowed figures. They encroached on me, rapidly covering the distance as I raised my Divine Nebular Scythe. I spotted Belzu through the moving shadows as he gleefully watched the shadows assail me.

But something moved behind him. The Primeval Demon spun around just in time for Orgaf to appear, landing a devastating blow across his chest.

“What—”

I blinked as the [Shadowfriends] vanished, and Orgaf leapt away from one of Belzu’s curses. He landed beside me, shaking his head.

“Orgaf…?”

My voice came out apprehensively. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he just nodded at me.

“I don’t… understand what’s going on. But right now, we have the same enemy. We have a clear threat. One that has killed millions.”

His gaze fixed on Belzu. The Primeval Demon floated there, clutching at his chest. Orgaf raised his dagger.

“Let’s put an end to this first, then we’ll talk later.”

I grinned at him.

“Got it! Let’s go!”

Orgaf and I dashed forward, weaving around each other as we charged Belzu. But the Primeval Demon brought his arms together and unleashed a powerful ring. A curse that corroded everything it touched. A curse of death.

We were knocked back, but my [Protection of Sentinel] managed to hold up. I watched as the edges of the glowing armor turned to dust. I had deactivated Orgaf’s [Protection of the Sentinel] when he attacked me, so he took the full brunt of the attack. He stumbled back as his protective enchantments failed.

“Orgaf!”

“This is nothing—”

“Hrmph. I’d have thought you would’ve fought for longer. But it is no matter. I have delayed you for long enough.”

Belzu’s voice boomed around us. I stared at him, getting back to my feet.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.”

He cackled as a bright light shone over the room. The rest of the ceiling collapsed around us as I turned to the portal on the ground. It began to expand as the red pillar that was bringing Demons over flickered— vanishing entirely.

Edithe came to a halt as the crimson light in the sky dissipated. The beam flickered out of existence along with much of the magic she’d sensed. Her eyes narrowed, and Daniel stared at the undulating horizon with a frown.

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure.”

The redhead shook her head.

“But I think we might not make it in time.”

“Then we have to hurry.”

Daniel ran forward, sprinting as fast as he could. Edithe took a step, about to join him, and paused. She glanced up as a speeding figure caught her eye.

“That’s—”

Only the mouth of the portal remained. A few winged Demons still flew through the portal. I readied myself for them as they came straight for me, but they continued on. They flew hurriedly. Like they were in a panic. As if they were fleeing something. A Level 135 [Savage Agarat] escaped the portal—

And came to a halt.

A giant clawed hand caught the [Savage Agarat] mid flight before it could escape. It drew back down as the Archdemon struggled to no avail, and I gasped.

“What… is that?”

There was a crunch. The screeching of the [Savage Agarat] was silenced, and Belzu laughed maniacally, pointing my way.

“You who have lived safe in the Mortal Realm— you who have shed what you are in exchange for the security and protection of Humans— come and see what the Netherworld has in store. Behold its might! Be ready for your demise!”

The clawed hand emerged once again. I managed to use [Identification] on it this time, and I stumbled back in fear. Even Orgaf was at a loss for words.

“No…”

[Hellabomination - Lvl 180]

The massive arm loomed over the sky as Belzu continued to gloat. He looked down at Orgaf and I, his arms spread wide.

“You have lost—”

And the hand swatted the Primeval Demon to the ground, crushing him.