The clearing fell into silence.
Not the quiet stillness of the forest.
This was different.
Heavy. Oppressive.
The kind of silence that settled when something far beyond reason stepped into reality.
The figure standing in front of the spatial gate, was the source. His movements calm and unhurried as though the corrupted clearing belonged to him completely. Black energy drifted around his body in thin streams, dissolving into the dead air before reforming again.
He was tall.
Far taller than any average human.
At least seven feet.
His body was lean rather than bulky, covered in dark armor that seemed less forged and more grown directly onto his skin. Crimson lines pulsed faintly beneath the surface of the armor like flowing veins, spreading across his arms and neck before disappearing beneath the high collar around his throat.
His face looked human.
Well almost.
Sharp good-looking features, ashy grey skin, and Crimson eyes. His black hair fell down his back in controlled waves.
But there was something deeply unnatural about the way he moved.
Too smooth.
Too perfect.
Like a predator wearing the shape of a man.
Behind Ishmael, Luka unconsciously took a step backward.
"What… is that thing?"
The figure's crimson eyes shifted lazily toward him.
Luka froze instantly.
The pressure alone made his breathing uneven.
Then the being's gaze returned to Ishmael.
Interest flickered across his face.
"Tell me child," he repeated calmly, "why do you smell like a Gregorian?"
Ishmael didn't answer immediately.
Silver-grey eyes remained fixed on the being as spirit energy quietly circulated through his body. His expression stayed calm, but his instincts had already sharpened completely.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
Not like Baelor.
Not like the beasts.
Something beyond them entirely.
Lunaris' voice echoed inside his mind, lower than usual.
"Do not underestimate him."
"That's obvious" Ishmael replied internally.
"You can feel it yourself."
He could.
The being standing before them felt wrong on a fundamental level. Even the spirit energy in the area reacted unnaturally around him, retreating instinctively from the dark energy leaking from its body.
The being tilted its head slightly when Ishmael remained silent.
Then it smiled faintly.
"Interesting."
Its gaze narrowed.
"And young too."
A brief silence followed before William finally stepped forward despite the pressure crushing down on the clearing.
"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
The being glanced at him briefly.
Then dismissed him immediately.
"Insignificant."
William stiffened.
Luka looked offended for half a second before survival instinct reminded him this was not the time.
Ana tightened her grip on her spear but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Ishmael finally spoke.
"You're not from this world."
The being's smile widened slightly.
"Correct."
No hesitation.
No attempt to hide it.
That alone made the atmosphere heavier.
The figure slowly raised one hand and the black energy curled around his fingers like smoke.
"This world ascended faster than expected," he said casually. "The signal reached farther than anticipated."
Lunaris immediately went silent.
Ishmael noticed.
Which only made him more cautious.
The being's eyes studied him carefully.
"But you…" He murmured. "You're strange."
His gaze lingered on Ishmael's silver hair and eyes.
"Very strange."
The spatial gate behind him pulsed violently for a moment before stabilizing again.
The metallic device beneath it continued rotating while blue light flashed across its surface.
Ana finally spoke quietly. "That thing… is causing the corruption."
The being looked mildly amused.
"Of course it is."
"You're destroying the forest," William said grimly.
"Forest?" the being repeated, almost confused. Then he laughed softly. "Do you think something so insignificant matters?"
Black energy spread slightly across the ground beneath his feet.
The dead earth cracked instantly.
"This realm is merely preparing itself."
Luka frowned despite himself. "Preparing for what?"
The being's crimson eyes shifted toward him again.
This time, there was amusement in them.
"For conquest."
The word settled into the clearing like a physical weight.
Ana's face paled slightly.
William's jaw tightened.
Meanwhile, Ishmael simply stared at the figure silently.
Thinking.
Observing.
The being noticed.
"You're calmer than the others," he said. "That usually means one of two things."
A faint pause.
"You're either foolish…"
The black energy around him thickened slightly.
"Or dangerous."
At that exact moment
Lunaris spoke again.
And this time, there was no amusement left in his voice.
"I know what he is El."
Ishmael's eyes narrowed faintly.
"Well?"
A brief silence followed.
Then,
"There's no doubt about it, he's a demon."
The name alone made Ishmael's instincts sharpen further.
Lunaris continued immediately.
"An invasive race that moves between worlds after ascension. They locate developing realms, infiltrate them, weaken them from within, then consume their resources and conquer them before other forces realize what's going on."
"And him?"
"A scout."
Ishmael nearly frowned.
A scout?
This thing?
The pressure coming from the creature already surpassed anything he had encountered since arriving in this world.
As if sensing the shift in Ishmael's thoughts, the Demon smiled slightly.
"Ah…"
His crimson eyes gleamed faintly as he spoke again.
"So you finally know what I am, come on use appraisal, I know you're curious. I won't even resist."
Luka immediately looked toward Ishmael. "You know this thing?!"
Before Ishmael could answer,
The Demon moved.
No warning.
No buildup.
One moment he stood near the gate.
The next
He was directly in front of Luka.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Luka's eyes widened instinctively.
"Too noisy"
He said as his hand, turned claw pierced straight toward his chest
Then stopped. Blocked by a silver blade.
The impact detonated outward violently, sending cracks across the ground beneath Ishmael's feet as he intercepted the strike between them.
The Demon blinked once.
Then smiled wider.
"Oh?"
Silver moonlight surged around Ishmael's sword while dark ice coiled around the Demon's arm.
The two forces collided violently.
And for the first time since entering the clearing
The Demon looked genuinely interested.
"Now this…," he murmured. "Is unexpected."
Ishmael gritted his teeth and then used the skill on the Demon.
"Appraisal"
Name: Dominic Velcrow
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Race: Demon
Titles: Frost Demon, Scout of the 9th Demon Army, Battle maniac
Class: Glacial Brawler
——————
Mana Core Ascension: Sixth Ascension
Mana Core Rank: High
——————
Affinity: Ice, Darkness
Skills: Combat Specialist, Expert Brawler, Stealth, Demonic mana Control, Demonic mana Reinforcement, Ice manipulation, Darkness manipulation
Unique Skills: Dark Ice
——————
[System Advisory: Run.]