The moment Zhia disappeared the air immediately returned to normal. Rosette and Mertyla were gasping for air, it was one of the scariest moments of their lives because of someone who was called a 'herbivore' just a couple of hours ago. She was right. She definitely isn't one.
"Shit." Nero cursed under his breath and went straight to the closest person to him. "Hurry, we have to try and save them."
Even though they were still weak and trembling themselves, the two nodded without complaint and hurried to the members of the Blackwood guild, giving them recovery potions and covering the wounds to try to stop the bleeding as much as they could.
A priest really would have been of great help in this situation, but the guild doesn't have a lot, and those that they have are already at the front lines. Should they ask for help from the Blackwood, then?
"A demon... she's a demon..." One of the victims, who managed to somehow remain conscious despite the wounds and severed arm, mumbled repeatedly, looking like he was going to lose his mind.
"There's not much we can do, Nero." Dheyniz said frantically. "We need a priest."
"There's no time to look for one. Zhia could've already encountered another group."
Someone suddenly sighed heavily from behind them. "I knew this would happen."
Everyone was shocked and at the same time relieved when they saw who it was.
~}×××@×××{~
Killian Bartolomeo is a young promising Rune Knight from Blackwood guild often praised for his strength and skills, and is quite famous even amongst other guilds. He is often described as a handsome, charming, and gallant knight that everyone can rely on.
Maidens want to be with him, and lads want to be him that nobody would ever believe if someone claimed that just a year back, he's just a scrawny squire to one of the royal army's knights.
His change, however, was not achieved through diligence and honest hard work but, in fact, through a series of physical enhancements done to him by a genius doctor who saw potential in him and wanted to help him reach his peak.
True it sounded very suspicious at first, but the doctor didn't ask for anything from him other than not to tell anyone about the enhancements, to which he readily agreed. After all, who would want others to know about one's sudden increase in physical strength and power, especially given the history he has?
It was just really sad how the once honest and hard-working young squire turned into an arrogant and proud knight who basks and lives for the praises and admiration of others.
"Are you sure your target's going this way?" Titus, one of the brownnose Blackwood members who often hangs around Killian, asked on behalf of the other four members of their party.
Right before the start of the guild war, Killian had convinced his party members to help him get rid of an Emblem adventurer. Some of them don't really care about defending their territory, while the others are really looking down on the opposing guild and don't even think they have a chance whether they actually pitch in or not.
After all, in terms of guild size and influence, Emblem is ranked near the bottom. Since none of them would want to let go a chance to gain Killian's favor, it was a no-brainer.
"Yes. I have reliable sources. I'm pretty sure we'll come across her if we continue this direction."
Some of them whistled.
"So it's a lady?" One of them smirked suggestively. "You don't mind if we have fun before we end her, right?"
Killian shook his head amusedly. "Sure. Why not? I was told she'll be alone anyway, so there won't be a problem."
The others cheered excitedly, getting more motivated and pumped up to meet their target.
It took them a couple more minutes of walking and looking before they finally saw anyone, a lone slender figure who just pulled what seemed like a dagger from someone on the ground.
All of them didn't falter at the sight and even moved closer to see clearly, all except Titus who had immediately recognized the person and stopped moving altogether.
'What the fuck is she doing here?' Titus started panicking, the ugly scar across his back throbbing like crazy. 'Dont tell me she's Killian's target? Why on earth would he target the god of war? Is he out of his fucking mind?' He involuntarily stepped back and eventually slipped away, forcing his feet to run as far and as fast as he could. 'Killian you bastard, if you want to die, don't drag me with you.'
No one noticed nor cared that Titus had disappeared amongst them, which is probably a good thing since at least someone could still tell other people what had become of them. A feat that he is lucky enough to be able to do for the second time.
In fact, it was Titus' drunken stupor who had first told Killian about the god of war who had brought a lot of small guilds to shame and near, if not total, disbandment years ago. He told him about the Scarlet Demon, who would go on killing sprees in the war zone just for the heck of it and would look like she's having the time of her life every time.
At first, Killian didn't believe him. After all, if there really was someone that strong, wouldn't the other guilds rope her in to join them? Wouldn't she make such a buzz that almost everyone, if not all, in the kingdom would have known of her? And yet this is the first time he'd heard about her...
"Hah! It's because they can't handle her." Titus had answered Killian's doubts drunkenly. "Everybody wants to use her, but nobody can control her, not even that dog who's always hovering around her."
"What do you mean?"
"She ruins all the guilds she's been into, even ours." He looked sad for a moment, remembering the day his guild master died trying to save him from her deranged, insistent attacks. "She's a war god from hell who finds pleasure is seeing blood and violence. She hunts and kills whether they're on the same side or not. Her guildmates either died or got seriously injured, by her hands or by the enemies for revenge. Heh! Those cowards! Because they know they'll die if they try to take her down, they turn to her guildmates. Heh! Like the rest of us are any better..." He smiled wryly.
That was the day Killian's obsession with the Scarlet Demon god of War began. The reason why everything about her seemed like a legend or baseless rumors is that her ex-guildmates are afraid of retaliation from her victims from the other guilds, while these victims, in return, are afraid to admit that full-grown men and women, such as themselves, were done in by a single teenager who didn't even reach her third job class.
Well, at least that's what he found out after digging around for months. He believes that she is the key that the doctor had been looking for to finally complete his body and become the strongest knight in the kingdom. Heck, even surpassing the Dragon Emperor might not be a ridiculous dream anymore.
He swore that whatever happens today, he'd bring her back to the doctor. Scarlet Demon? War god? Hah! After his enhancements are complete, he'll have all those titles himself and so much more. He'd be so strong that even the rumored three underworld lords of the kingdom would be no match to him.
With this thought running through his head, he casually approaches her with his party right behind him, not really knowing who or what kind of person she is.
"Yo- "
Without even having been able to finish a single word or even get close to three meters from where she stood, Killian's party, except for him, are now lying on the ground coughing up blood while their dismembered limbs were scattered around. They didn't know what had happened, and Killian didn't even notice anything amiss, even though he had been on alert.
"Hmm... you feel different, but the same." Zhia looked at him with innocent curiosity, her appearance though just made it seem sinister. "Are you here to play with me? You are, right? I just can't seem to find anyone who'd actually have the balls, you see. And they call themselves adventurers. So sad." She looked at the fallen people sadly.
"You... really are the Scarlet Demon." Killian was taken aback, he was expecting something like this but the real thing is way beyond what he had imagined. Could he perhaps have underestimated her?
"Oohhh! You know about me? Are you a fan perhaps?"
"You... could say that. Although I'm not really here for an autograph."
"Eehhh~ I've always wanted to give one though. Then are you perhaps here for revenge? Nah, I've never seen you before... Oh! Are you here to try and recruit me? I have to stop you now. I promised my brother to stay in this guild, you see. I haven't actually met 'met' my guildmates save for a few chicks earlier, but they should be decent enough."
"Decent, huh? I'm pretty sure it was your guildmate who tipped me about you today. I don't think you're not well liked, Ms. Scarlet Demon."
"..."
"Then again, I'm not here to recruit you either so I'm not one to talk." Killian shrugged then carefully drew out his sword, not taking his eyes off her, every part of him on high alert.
"Well, this should be interesting." Zhia grinned widely. "I was only trying to make small talks while I wait for my Poochie, but you spout such fascinating things I'll have to make you tell me more."