Valon and Merivel traveled west toward the Bandit Castle, unaware of the tremors his arrival had sent rippling across the world.
"What is the most traveled road from here to the castle? I wish to… stretch my legs," Valon said with a smile.
"There's a road about a mile from here. The same one those lowlifes used to transport me. It runs nearly all the way to the castle," Merivel replied.
"Good. Lead the way."
The pair walked northwest and found the road quickly. After about three hours, Valon used Mana Sense to scan ahead. A wicked grin tugged at his lips.
"There are about twenty people ahead—merchants and their guards, perhaps… or a caravan with hired adventurers. No matter. Let's get our hands dirty. I'll approach from the front. You go through the woods and eliminate anyone who flees."
"My lord, may I kill them however I wish? Slowly, perhaps?" Merivel tilted her head innocently.
"That's fine. Just don't take too long. Go."
Merivel skipped into the woods with a smile and vanished into the trees.
As the caravan finished a short rest, one of the scouts noticed a lone figure approaching.
"Ho there, traveler! What business do you have, traveling alone?"
Valon murmured to himself, "Fifteen adventurers, no wares—an escort party. Nobles, maybe."
He decided to test his true body in this new world. His body shimmered and expanded as he shifted into his Primordial Demon Form. Eight feet tall. Muscular. Scaled. Horned. Clawed. His blood-red eyes gleamed as the transformation completed.
"D-d-DEMON!" one adventurer screamed, wetting himself as panic erupted through the camp.
Only seven stood their ground.
"Form up, you cunts!" barked a knight in plate armor.
But as he turned his head, a soft wind rustled through him.
He looked down.
There was a hole where his heart had been.
He dropped, eyes frozen in terror.
"Hopefully the rest of you provide more entertainment," Valon rasped.
The six remaining adventurers charged.
Valon kicked the first with bone-crushing force, sending him flying backward with a caved-in chest. The next he decapitated with a single slash from his hand. Spotting a dropped sword, he hurled it at an archer thirty feet away. The blade tore through the man's shoulder, severing his arm.
Two melee fighters and a mage remained.
Valon summoned Dark Flame, condensed it into a searing ball, and hurled it at the dagger-wielding fighter. The flame struck his leg, incinerating it to ash as it spread rapidly. His scream was short-lived.
The other melee fighter raised his sword, but before he could act, Valon Warped in front of him and punched. The man's skull exploded.
The mage, wide-eyed, summoned a Mana barrier-two-circle barrier—Tier 2 magic.
Valon slashed the air with a conjured blade, releasing a Warp Blade. The space around the barrier distorted, and the slash tore through it and the mage alike. His torso vanished, the remains collapsing lifelessly.
As Valon surveyed the carnage, Merivel returned, coated in blood and holding two severed heads.
"My lord, I've taken care of the rest." She dropped the heads like trash.
Valon noted only five souls were present. Perhaps only strong souls remained intact. Humans here were... fragile.
Strength: 159
He turned toward a luxurious carriage.
Inside, three figures breathed heavily—two women huddled in terror, and a knight standing protectively before them.
Valon tore the door off and dragged the knight outside, tossing him effortlessly.
"Tie them up," he commanded.
Merivel obeyed quickly, presenting the two women. One wore a lavish red dress with gold trim and a ruby-diamond necklace. The other wore black with silver accents. The knight lay nearby, helpless.
"Please spare me! I'll do anything! Money—you want money?!" cried the woman in red.
Valon eyed her. She noticed—and dared hope.
"My body! I'll even—"
Her words died as her eyes rolled back. Valon crushed her heart in his hand and tossed it aside like a cheap trinket.
"Begging. Pathetic."
He turned to the other woman. As she opened her mouth, he seized her throat and tore it out. Her arms flailed before she collapsed, dead and wide-eyed. Her scream, not even making it to her lips.
Only the knight remained.
He said nothing. Just stared.
"Interesting," Valon muttered, a twisted grin spreading across his face.