The Damned Demon

*Splak!*

"That's three of these stinky nests down," Rufus said as he used his spear to strike down a bubble of dark black mana, which diffused away upon his attack.

"As per the quest, we have to find 7 more. Let us get the rest and get this over with. I am not feeling too good standing in this rotten subway," Rose said as she wrinkled her nose.

"With the help of my mana light, we can easily find the rest," Kenny proudly said as his spear's blade brightly shone with an orange light that was bright enough to light up the space ahead.

"There…I will get it!" Rose eagerly said as she spotted another demonic nest on the top of a pillar. She was about to get near it when…

*Tap! Tap!*

"Who was that?!" Rose suddenly turned around as Rufus and Kenny also got startled and looked at the darkness behind them.

Kenny used his spear to spread light over that area, but all they saw was just an abandoned subway track.

"You guys heard that too?" Rufus asked as he gulped. He thought nobody was in this subway, but now he wasn't feeling so confident.

"It sounded just like somebody ran behind us, right?" Kenny asked as he firmly gripped his spear. Suddenly, this place felt even more creepy than before.

Rose narrowed her eyes and said, "It could have been some debris falling down or…maybe some stray demon is still lingering here. But we have no reason to worry since this quest is an easy one. So even if a demon is around here, it must be quite weak and easy for us to kill. Just keep an eye on different directions since we are in a closed space."

Rufus felt relieved hearing her words and looked at her with a silly smile, "Rose, you are so awesome. I—"

*Boom!*

"Rufus!"

"Rufus!"

Kenny and Rose called out in shock as all they saw was a burst of dark green flames suddenly lighting up behind Rufus before a blade in the form of a large ring cleaved right through his chest slowly.

No…a burning green skeleton hand was holding the ring blade as its entire arm forced itself out of Rufus' chest. He still had his eyes widened to their extremities as he looked down at the dark green blazing skeleton hand coming out of his bloodied chest.

"You are dying too easily despite being a level 2. I knew it…I have some hope after all, heh," A cold, deep chilling voice sounded from behind Rufus.

Rufus didn't even get to let out a whimper as his head drooped the next second lifelessly before the blazing green skeletal hand took itself out of Rufus' chest, making Rufus' corpse collapse on the cold pavement.

But Kenny and Rose didn't even see Rufus' body collapse on the pavement since they were horrified upon seeing the demon standing before them.

A charred black skeleton blazing with dark green flames and wearing just a simple gray robe. And in its hand was a burning dark green blade ring.

They could see in their vision the name of this demon…Hellbringer.

Was it really someone who unleashed hell upon them?

Its pitch-black hollow sockets, glowing with dark green flames, were looking at them, making their bodies shudder, feeling a chill down their spine. They had never seen such a demon before in their lives. Of course, they had heard of demons who looked like skeletons but not a skeleton that was on fire.

But Rose was the first to snap out of it as she pointed her sword at Hellbringer with a look of contempt, "You despicable demon! You are only at level 1 who got lucky by backstabbing our friend. For Rufus, we will break every bone on your body. The same trick won't work twice."

Asher felt it quite amusing as he laughed in an eerie tone, "Haha, F rank noobs like you two think that I will fall? You two aren't even legitimate Hunters. How pitiful and laughable."

[ 9 Rating Points gained ]

[ MP : 150 / 250 ]

Asher had already taken a look at his MP and knew that he had more than enough time to take on these newbie idiots. He had used Resentful Slash on Rufus and found out it was a bit overkill and gained 12 rating points by killing a level 2.

He also wanted to use this opportunity to experiment with something.

Rose clenched her jaw, hearing this demon mock them despite being a level 1. Even though she had also shown contempt at it for being a level 1, she didn't feel so confident since something about this demon just didn't sit right with her.

"Y-You are right, Rose!" Kenny took in rapid breaths as he said with trembling lips, "W-We can take this creepy level 1 motherfucker down together!"

Rose shook off all thoughts as she felt that she shouldn't waver at this point and called out, "Let's pincer it!"

Asher saw these two coming at him from both sides and scoffed, "You idiots," Asher didn't even wait for them to get near him before he charged toward Kenny, who was pointing his spear toward this demon.

Kenny had a puzzled expression seeing this demon charge right at him, making himself fully open for his attack. Was it mad or just too dumb? Rose also thought the same, but then she smiled, thinking, why care as long as Kenny can easily take it down.

Kenny felt that he got worried for nothing and was filled with an air of confidence as he smiled upon seeing the blade of his spear pierce right through the demon's chest," Got you, motherfucker!"

"Yes! You did it, Kenny!" Rose froze her charge as she saw Kenny's spear come out of the demon's back as its limbs became limp. The dark green flames also died down, leaving behind only a charred black skeleton that fell on the ground lifelessly as Kenny took his spear out.

Kenny kicked the skeleton in spite before looking at Rose with an ecstatic look, "I am so awesome. Aren't I, Rose?"

Rose was smiling, but her expression suddenly froze as she realized that something was wrong. Her pupils shrank as she immediately called out, "Kenny, it isn't dead!"

"Huh?" Kenny had a confused look, but he suddenly coughed out a mouthful of blood as he looked down slowly in shock…a black skeletal hand tore out of his chest with the help of a blade ring.

"Not too awesome, are you?"

Suddenly dark green flames blazed from that hand as a deep, chilling voice echoed from behind, "Always make sure of your kill. This is something Hunters first learn. But at least you get to die just like your friend…poetic," Asher took his hand out as Kenny collapsed with his eyes still wide open. It was as if Hellbringer's words were the final nail in the coffin before he died.

"K-Kenny…" Drops of sweat trickled down Rose's forehead as she mumbled weakly upon seeing that she was alone with this demon now.

"This time, I decided to save the best for the last since you will be helping me experiment with my own abilities," Asher said with a chuckle as he slowly began to walk toward her.

Rose was three levels higher than this demon, but she unconsciously began to step backward and pointed her sword at it, "Y-You…You will pay for this!" She had clearly seen Kenny's spear piercing through this demon's chest. Then how come it was still standing?

A level 1 like it shouldn't even have that much HP to still keep standing after taking critical damage from a level 2.

Asher spread his arms and said in a chilling tone, "Come…Strike me down if you want to get out of here alive."