Into the Darkness: Devotion

The walk back had been mostly uneventful, aside from a few monster encounters along the way. 

The archipelago wasn't too far out, so navigating wasn't an issue. 

The way back was a simple route, straight west.

We had base camps scattered across the islands and even a few on the mainland, but most had been overrun by monsters.

This continent, in particular, was a nightmare to settle in.

The fire rain made permanent camps nearly impossible to maintain.

And now, with demons being spotted, it was probably time to abandon the eastern continent altogether.

We had only come here because she wanted to build a reputation for being strong.

Not that I understood why hunting monsters was necessary for that. She could just as easily prove herself in the war that was about to unfold. 

Purline was likely preparing to strike, and odds were, Osalsia wouldn't lift a finger to help.

Of course, she probably didn't know that.

So, I take back my previous thoughts. She might as well build her reputation while she still could. 

She was going to need it if she wanted to become a knight. That had always been her goal.

"What do you think the council is up to?" I asked, pushing my hair back and tying it up to keep it out of my face.

"Definitely nothing good," she replied, glancing back at me.

"If demons really have been spotted, that would explain why there haven't been as many monster attacks lately," I said, speed up slightly.

She shrugged. "Still, they could be lying. Who knows what those bastards are up to?"

"Maybe. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to return to Novastia now," I said.

"Yeah, but I'm not really known yet. If we want to become knights, we need a foundation first."

I didn't even want to be a knight, but I was only doing this because she wanted to.

"Still," I continued, meeting her red eyes. "We should play it safe."

She nodded and looked ahead. Artoria might be a hotheaded fool, but she wasn't dumb enough to get herself killed.

Even if she knew the council could be planning something, she wasn't reckless.

The council was supposed to be composed of people from all three kingdoms, but everyone knew Osalsia pulled the strings.

Every vote, every order, they controlled it all. Not a single soul in Novastia or even outside the empire trusted them.

They were the worst nation in the world, and they praised their god as if that made them better. 

By imperial law, worship of Basileus, the God of Rules, was mandatory, though no one abides by it anyways.

That arrogant bastard was the most insufferable existence I'd ever heard of, and his followers were no different.

We continued walking, neither of us saying much.

At this pace, we'd make it to the shore by sundown.

That was until I saw something. At first, I thought it was a person, but then its form became clearer.

A shadowy figure stood ahead, its long black limbs unnaturally crooked. It had a humanoid shape, but that thing was not human. It was something akin to a demon. 

The only difference was that demons were sentient.

This thing was a Black Death.

They were called that because whenever you saw one, death usually followed.

Artoria looked back at me. "Should we run?"

I rested my hand on my hilt. "You and I both know that's impossible. Once it sees you, it hunts you down."

The moment I spoke, the Black Death turned its long, contorted head toward us.

It was at least fifty meters away.

Then, in less than a second, it was standing before us.

Tilting its head.

Artoria reacted instantly, swinging her blade. Her bronze arm creaked as she struck, but the Black Death met her blade with a single swing of its long arm. 

The impact sent her flying back. I moved in, slashing at its chest.

The monster didn't even react. Instead, its other arm shot forward, wrapping around my throat.

I tried to swing again, but it's blackened skin clung to my blade, shattering it completely.

Artoria charged, this time pouring all her strength into her attack. She managed to draw blood, but the wound closed almost instantly.

It threw me against the ground, and my body jerked from the impact. I felt my bones rattle.

I coughed up blood as it lifted its foot, preparing to crush me.

"Astrea!" Artoria's voice rang out as she lunged.

Her blade cut through the air, but the creature twisted its neck unnaturally, dodging the strike before slamming its fist into her gut.

She was sent flying once more.

Using the opening, I grabbed my broken sword and stabbed it into the creature's leg with all my might. 

The jagged blade managed to pierce its flesh, and I shoved it off me.

 At the same time, I spun my legs around its body, locking it down.

Artoria jumped over me, using her weight to drive her sword straight into its chest.

The Black Death screeched.

Then, darkness exploded from its body.

I barely had time to react before the force sent us both flying.

We tumbled across the ground, blood dripping from my head as I looked up. The creature was already rising.

I managed to pull out my grimoire before it could move and cast a water arrow.

The projectile struck its rough skin, breaking through slightly as black blood spilled out.

Artoria grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet.

The creature snarled, ripping the water arrow from its flesh and crushing it in its grip.

I cast another spell, but it dodged, vanishing in a blur of motion.

At the same time, Artoria sliced her palm, letting her blood coat her blade.

She was a blood magic user, but she could only cast spells using the blood she spilled.

Which is why I hated her using magic. But we had no choice. The more blood she shed, the stronger the spell.

Unlike me, she didn't need a grimoire.

She raised her sword as I launched another arrow. Blood swirled around her blade as she brought it down.

The Black Death charged, its body glowing with a dark hue, but it was too slow. The arc of blood slashed through the air, severing its arm completely.

Artoria tossed me her sword.

I caught it and ran forward. Before it could recover, I drove the blade into its throat.

But before I could pull it free, its remaining arm shot up, smacking me across the face. I stumbled, pain flaring through my skull.

I turned toward Artoria, but I wasn't fast enough. The creature slashed her across the face, drawing blood.

"Art!"

She ignored the wound and swung again, using her bronze arm this time. I came in from behind, slicing through its back.

Her fist connected with its face at the same moment my blade dug through its spine.

I spun around, handing her back the sword, then placed my palm against the monster's chest.

Summoning every bit of strength I had, I unleashed a beam of pressurized water.

The force sent its contorted form skidding backward, its body caving inward under the pressure.

It collapsed, black blood pooling beneath it.

For a moment, I thought we had won.

Then I heard it. A horrifying sound.

My vision blurred as blood trickled from my eyes.

Darkness swallowed the air around it.

And before I could react. Its arm pierced my chest.