Legion went silent as Arthur raised his sword, ready to fight with Dullahan by his side.
Even the demon knew better than to mess with this boy and his demon servant. The dark aura coming from the boy was enough to warn Legion of the danger.
Legion was instinctively aware it was completely outmatched, so it pulled eight more nails from its face and held them between its fingers.
The Demon of Sorrow leaped back and started throwing the nails, one by one, aiming to kill Arthur instantly.
But, Legion didn't expect the boy to slice every single nail with deadly precision.
Arthur didn't want his prey to get away, so he dashed toward Legion with incredible speed.
Arthur was surprised by his speed at first, but a quick glance at Dullahan gave him the answer. This speed must have been the power from Dullahan, as the headless horseman could dash through the forest without a problem.
The demon continued to run away, throwing as many nails as possible, but Arthur closed in with ease.
"You won't get away!" Arthur yelled, slashing the air.
Dullahan moved his sword following Arthur's sword movement. The tip of the sword grazed his enemy, making the Demon of Sorrow wailed in pain even from just a scratch.
UuUurgh!
Legion lost its balance and fell to the ground, its hand immediately wrapping around the scratch on its hip.
Arthur used the tip of his sword to nudge the demon's neck. When the demon turned around to face him, it saw eyes full of killing intent— something Legion rarely saw from a human.
"Tell me, did you kill my grandma out of your free will, or were you just following an order?" Arthur asked. His voice was calm, but mixed with Dullahan's, it sounded majestic and menacing.
For the first time in its despicable life, the demon felt fear that it stopped trying to attack. It simply got up and ran away again.
"Keeping your silence, huh…" Arthur looked at Dullahan, and the headless horseman replied inside Arthur's head.
That demon is a loyal servant, boy. Like you and I.
"Did they form a contract like us, too?" Arthur asked, watching Legion run away as he casually chatted with Dullahan.
That demon wouldn't be able to move around freely if it were bound by contract like us.
Legion is probably a demon serving under a master without a binding contract.
"Without a binding contract?" Arthur began to wonder what kind of person was behind his grandma's murder. He assumed the 'master' had long planned to kill her and was now targeting him.
"Ah, I need to catch up to that demon. I wonder if I can make it talk," Arthur said calmly, getting into his stance, ready to dash even faster than before.
He read Legion's movements and decided the best way to catch up.
"Dullahan," Arthur commanded.
The Headless Executioner raised his sword, ready to cut all the big trees around them to make way.
On your mark, boy.
Arthur took a deep breath. His eyes were locked on the demon who ran funnily in a zig-zag style, as if that would help it escape. Dark smoke appeared on his feet, and he launched himself at his target.
CRACK!
BOOM!
Legion was surprised to hear the sound of a tree being cut in half and falling to the ground, making a deafening sound and a shockwave that threw it off balance.
The demon tried to steady itself and continued to run. Its body began to shake as it heard one tree after another got cut down with ease.
Legion zigzagged forward, hoping it might help.
But Legion's effort was cut short when Arthur's longsword swept through its heels, and the Demon of Sorrow fell face-first, just like Arthur before.
"Now that you can't run away anymore, why don't you tell me who your master is?" Arthur asked in a low voice, pointing the tip of his sword at his enemy once more.
Legion was terrified, which was such a disgraceful feeling for a proud demon.
It stared at Arthur, trying to beg for forgiveness, but the nails embedded in its eyes made it impossible to show any emotion.
Arthur pressed the tip of the sword deeper into the demon's neck. "Speak. Were you the one who killed my grandma?"
Noo…
Legion replied weakly, realizing there was no more chance to escape.
Just as Arthur expected, this demon wasn't the one who killed his grandmother.
Why?
Because Arthur saw a bunch of knife stabs on her dead body, but Legion, the Demon of Sorrow, used nails or its bare hands.
But of course, it was only his deduction. He had to make sure the demon wasn't lying.
He glanced at his demon servant and asked, "Dullahan, can a defeated demon lie?"
A defeated demon cannot lie.
That short reply was enough to confirm that Legion wasn't the killer. But it was still tasked with killing Arthur after his grandma's death.
Since this demon couldn't lie, Arthur changed his question:
"Tell me your master's name."
"…"
Legion kept its mouth shut. Arthur glanced at Dullahan again.
But they can stay silent.
Arthur grew impatient. He remembered how his grandma's death was swept under the rug by everyone in the town, including the cops.
He wanted to find her murderer and kill the bastard. That was the reason he got this new cool power, right? He could use it for revenge.
Arthur flicked the longsword, scratching Legion's neck.
"Speak now, or I will cut you slowly until you open your goddamn mouth!"
The demon was in so much pain, but it maintained its silence. It even stopped groaning after Arthur made a few more scratches.
Arthur gritted his teeth, impatient turning to Dullahan.
"Is there any way to make this demon speak?"
It seems to be a loyal subject to its master. I do not think you can do anything, boy.
"Then, can I just tie this demon up and… you know… torture until it speaks?"
Oh? You spunky lad.
No wonder you can form a demon contract with me. Turns out you're bolder than you look.
"I just want to make it quick…" Arthur replied, feeling guilty because he thought it would be more efficient that way.
There was no need to show pity to a demon who was about to kill him. It was either him or the demon who would die, and Arthur refused to be the one.
You can do that. I know many ways to torture a demon to speak. I was called the Headless Executioner. I earned that title for a reason.
"Good, then…" Arthur looked coldly at Legion, who was shaking terribly. "You're coming with me. If you don't want to speak, then I will make you speak after a few interrogations."
NoO… s-spAare meee…
Arthur was surprised that a demon could even beg to be spared, but didn't stop his resolve to torture it until it spoke its master's name.
"You can either crawl, or I will drag you deeper into the woods. It'd be safer if nobody sees us," Arthur threatened. "Or we can skip the torture as long as you tell me the name of your master."
I… caAnnOot…
Legion seemed desperate. Arthur couldn't read its expression, but its tone made it obvious the plea was genuine.
PlEeAase… sStop…
Still, Arthur was unfazed. He quickly slashed the demon's stomach, making Legion wail in pain once more.
The slash from the longsword was unbearable.
"Speak," Arthur ordered coldly.
Legion's body shook horribly. Arthur waited for a while for the demon to speak.
When the demon continued its silence, he raised his longsword again.
Unable to endure the pain, Legion finally gave in.
I… I wiIl speEaAk…
"Good. Tell me your master's name and if he is the one who killed my grandma," Arthur ordered further, putting his sword down.
The demon opened its mouth, ready to give the answer Arthur desperately wanted.
However, before Legion could utter any more words, its body was suddenly engulfed in an ink-black aura.
Dullahan noticed it and quickly warned Arthur.
Get back!
Arthur didn't know what was about to happen, but his instinct told him something was wrong.
He quickly took one step back.
Legion screamed in agony as it was reminded of its master.
MAASSTERRRR!!!
Arthur held his breath as the Demon of Sorrow's body exploded from the inside out. Its stomach burst, shooting hundreds of nails in all directions.
Arthur jumped behind a big tree just in time to shield himself from nails, but he was still scratched on his arm.
"Argh!" Arthur groaned, clutching his arm.
He waited a moment before he peeked from behind the tree.
"Damn it…" Arthur cursed, seeing Legion's exploded body.
Its flesh had scattered around the area alongside the nails.
Arthur had 'defeated' Legion, but many questions were still left unanswered.