The ice demons were relentless. Though the imps were outmatched in the water and hindered by ice, higher-tiered demons intervened, unching imps from flying ice swords to prevent the group's escape.
“Raaah” The group of imps let out a battle cry from their flying ice swords.
Peculiarly, the rger ice demons kept their distance, opting for ranged ice spear attacks and unching imps on flying swords at the group. As the swampy terrain made travel difficult and increased the separation, their assaults dwindled until the group was completely out of reach.
“Why are the tier 2 demons holding back?” Alex spoke and twirled.
“My cursed existence is anathema to their cultivation.” The emo knight pointed the ughably huge sword towards the direction of the attackers, as if trying to taunt them.
“Could you repeat that in a way that makes sense?” Alex collected the dolls and stopped dancing for the time being.
“My attacks drain my target, healing me and replenishing my magic.” The revenant expined. “But, I have a reputation amongst the infernal kind, that to take an attack from me cripples their cultivation.”
“Serves them right.” Fufi nded on the now crowded small boat. “They can just sit around and get more powerful, but if they have to risk their ill gotten gains then they stay back and let others take the brunt of it.”
“Yeah, demons are nasty.” Alex agreed, but was happy to be free for the time being.
When they were finally free from pursuers than Alex’s phone rang out:
[Level up: Reached Level 6]
+2 cuteness
+1 intelligence
[Defeat 200 monsters, one of which needs to be tier 2]
[Progress 200/200 monsters, 1/1 tier 2 monsters]
She scrolled through the app to check her character sheet.
Name: Alex Parker
Css: Magical Girl
Level: 6
Sex: Female
Race: Human
Strength: 11
Constitution: 9
Dexterity: 17
Intelligence: 13
Cuteness: 26
Skills:
Cleaning: 3
Cooking: 2
Dancing: 2
Tailoring: 4
Toymaking: 5
Feats: Empower Doll
Crafting: Force Imbuement
Possess Doll
Spells: Animate DollMagical Girl Transformation
Lesser Grow Pnts
Traits: Mental Resistance: 4
[Next level: Defeat 400 monsters, two of which needs to be tier 2]
[Level 7 Progress 0/400 monsters, 0/2 tier 2 monsters]
“Fufi, look, I got +1 intelligence.” Alex showed her phone to the fmingo with a gem in her forehead. “I finally made it to level 6.”
“"That level is beneath my notice, a mere trifle." The dead knight dryly remarked.
“What level are you?” Alex shot back.
“Such questions are anthema.” The knight looked like he was struck by some insult. “One does not simply inquire of a warrior's power.”
“I figured you were at the level cap, or close to it.” Alex shrugged. “I wasn’t trying to be rude.”
The dark knight nodded. "Aye, a fair assumption. Many a time have I stood at the precipice of power, the very zenith of what this realm permits.”
“Oh?” Fufi side eyed the dead man.
“Yes, immortality comes with a painful cost.” He shook his head in regret. “Many times have I been defeated repeatedly. Each time I lose a level. The demons have figured this out and will camp my corpse for as many times as it takes to drive me back to level 1 before I’m sealed somewhere.”
“That is terrible.” Alex recoiled in shock. “How can you maintain your humanity?”
The revenant let out a hollow chuckle. “Who is to say what is left of my humanity?”
Ariel pulled up then. “Hey you! How is the lookout on the flotil going?”
“Flotil?” Alex looked around. “Where’s the flotil? We were just talking about levels.”
“We have a bunch of ships and are caravaning down the river.” Alex slowed to be more deliberate. “Is that not the definition of a flotil? As for levels, did you level up? I’ve been able to level up a couple of times over the past few weeks.”
“Really?” Alex eyed her. “I made it to level 6 just now.”
“Congratutions.” The tiny fairy said in her squeaky voice. “Though I thought you were much higher.”
Alex looked back and forth between the fairy and the dark knight. “I get the feeling that I’m the lowest leveled one here.”
“You said it.” Ariel snickered. “Not me. How about we talk about something else?”
Alex defted. “Okay. I’m surprised that you are not more freaked out about… you know… certain changes.”
“It is just temporary.” The sea-elf-turned fairy shrugged. “Besides, I made it out of the forest, or once we get past the swamp that should count. I think that is around the end of Ki’s domain. So I should turn back any time now I think. Also, getting a chance to grasp the helm of this amazing ship even in miniature form is awesome. You’ve got some talent even if you aren't a shipwright. With Merumeru’s help I was able to get a couple levels too!”
It didn’t need to be spelled out. Of the trio, Alex likely had the lowest level. Sad time.
After they got out of sight from the ice demons by sailing downstream, they pulled up to the isnd where some of the vilgers were resting and making food after a long day of sailing.
“Hello everyone.” Alex waved at the group clustered around the small isnd in the middle of the river.
Some of the vilgers waved back.
Cecil spoke for the group. “Alex, good to see you safe. What news is there?”
“We killed a bunch of demons but I think we lost them.” Alex informed the guild master.
The dark knight shook his head. “No, they are still coming. I just think we are outpacing the horde for the time being.”
Cecil looked a bit nervous at this. “Come on everyone, looks like we need to finish packing up and head out.”
The vilgers compined, but not too vehemently. They preferred returning to their boats over confronting demons. The vast majority of refugees were non-combatants.
Some quickly loaded their boats, pushing off the shallows and into the current. Others, especially those with heavily den boats, needed assistance. The barge, fortunately anchored, only required its anchor to be raised before sailing south into the fading sunlight.
No one was permitted to light nterns or torches upon exiting the swamp. Luckily, Ariel possessed a skill for navigating by the stars, allowing her to keep the flotil together in the dark. As the temperature dropped, a mist formed over the water, severely reducing visibility.
However, these were not ordinary people; a significant number had csses that provided skills for boating in darkness. Many whispered their worries about crashing and their desire to find a pce to stop and rest.
The dark knight’s response was grim and negatory whenever asked if they had finally broken the pursuit of the demons.
“The forces of hell are relentless.” He intoned. “They’ll follow us until a better target presents itself or an obstacle that they can’t easily pass blocks their way.”
“What do you mean?” Alex whispered.
"They hunt your noble," he stated, his voice a grim echo. "To seize one is to gain a foothold, to establish their vile human ranches, just as the kingdom before us has become a testament to their depravity."
“But we don’t have one.” Alex considered. “Cecil is a guild master for the adventurers guild is that who they are after?”
“Nay, they would not suffer such a one as him,” the revenant decred, its voice a hollow echo. “Those of the combat css ascend through the sying of demons. What they truly seek is a pawn, one they can bend to their will, to preserve a coterie of mortals, all while holding them firmly beneath their heel.”
“We hid the nobles that the demons were using.” Alex expined. “Even if they catch us then they’ll not find the person with the css they want. The people running the town we were in are not even human.”
“Good.” The metal-cd man shifted, a faint rasp of steel on steel. “It is… pleasing to know they waste their days on such a futile chase.”
Throughout the night, they mostly drifted downstream, opting for safety in poor visibility by keeping their sails down. Their strategy was to stay together and in the center of the river, a tactic that, according to the dark knight's senses, maintained a consistent gap between them. As they continued their journey, the river widened and the current strengthened.
Some individuals were able to get some rest by taking shifts sleeping on their vessels, particurly if they had more than one person on board.
The following day, they passed Yvne’s old barony, which remained abandoned since their departure. The most notable change was the brown and dying state of the pnts and fields they had worked so hard to maintain. A few individuals with a farming css appeared saddened by the brief, misty glimpses of the nd.
Another day passed, and they arrived at the shores where they had previously encountered the dark knight battling demons. The pursuit finally ceased when they entered the river area that marked the border of the Jass kingdom. Apparently, the demons were hesitant to continue their pursuit all the way to the capital.
melchi
