The Forsaken Hero

I lingered in the tent, taking several deep, shaky breaths. The Lord of Ash was an incredibly powerful being. If my visions were to be believed, he stood on par with monsters like Soltair and Luke, perhaps even surpassing them. He had spared my life in Brithlite, and for my sake, R’lissea and Elise as well. But why?

My tail nervously swished across the hard-packed earth floor. It didn’t make sense. My soul was a prize beyond measure, a temptation even demon lords would find hard to resist. Even if the Lord of Ash were already at the eighth level—unable to ascend to ninth while on Enusia—surely he would crave my power for himself. All demons were driven by such hunger, weren’t they?

Kahlen’s words echoed in my mind, adding another layer of uncertainty. He had called the Lord of Ash one of the "Devoted," hinting at some unknown affiliation or class of demons. Gayron hadn’t recognized the term, but this group’s behavior was undeniably different. Why else would Kahlen and the others serve so meekly? They clearly had a different agenda, one that seemed to revolve around me. But what was it?

I couldn’t delay any longer. Another yawn slipped free, my eyelids growing heavy. If I waited any longer, I’d likely fall asleep where I stood, hardly the best impression to make on someone who held our fate in his hands. If I somehow managed to upset or irritate the Lord of Ash, nothing would stop him from leaving and letting the demon horde descend upon us.

So, if not for my sake, then for R’lissea and Elise. I took a final, steadying breath and pushed through the tent flap.

The sight that greeted me stole my breath away. Demons swarmed the land as far as the eye could see—an endless sea of fire, shadow, and malevolent eyes. The vast majority were fire, blade, and curse demons, the three main species invading this world. Scions with first- and second-level souls comprised the bulk of the horde, perhaps ninety-five percent.

The rest were evolved demons, ranging from bipedal fire demons like Gayron’s alternate form to towering fifty-foot monstrosities like the blade demon that had arrived with Kahlen. The strongest I could see was at the peak of the sixth level, with a similar strength to the ice demon serpent I had defeated in Brithlite, what felt like a lifetime ago.

My tent stood among a small cluster of temporary fixtures, alone amidst the horde. I could vaguely sense Elise and R’lissea nearby, but otherwise, I was alone among hostile forces. Demons had no need for shelter, subsisting on the power of their souls, absorbing ambient mana for sustenance—a fact I cared little about at the moment.

My chest tightened, tail shivering anxiously, as the nearest demons turned their gazes towards me. Greed and lust filled their glowing red eyes, and a few scions took an unconscious step forward. My heart thudded in my chest as I stumbled back, frantically soul casting defensive wards. Only when the shimmering golden aura stabilized around me did I find some semblance of calm, though I still couldn’t take my eyes off the predatory monsters.