Yuki glanced at it and started trembling in immense fear. The moment the torches were relit, that was when the loud growl was heard.
Yuki: W-What the fuck is that thing!
He stammered in panic as he started to cry in overwhelming fear.
Lucian: An otherworldly existence within another dimension… I knew it.
The "thing" had used its absurdly long limbs to try to grab Lucian, but Lucian had kicked Yuki away and avoided it and touched his katana.
Lucian: Rule 1… those who aren't physically there will be affected by my sword…
He coldly murmured his words as his sword glows a bright blue-ish color, signaling the rule was then added.
Lucian had then swung his katana, destroying the smoke entirely. Its smoke hand had dispersed as it then summoned out spikes that had a purple hue to it, which was launched towards him.
He started moving to the left and right repeatedly, dodging its attack as he then charged towards it. As he was close enough, he then swung his sword, but missed completely as the entity avoided it.
The previous attacks had cut through the air as it hit the ground, causing large craters on the ground. Lucian stood in front of the entity's horrifying appearance.
Entity: You… shall die..
It sent out very destructive orbs, but then icicles were summoned by Lucian. He sent them towards the entity which stopped the attack. Once it hit, the smoke had dispersed and formed back together. The black orbs had vanished in thin air as Yuki had continued watching everything in shock.
Lucian had summoned out a black hole which then completely formed instantly in front of the entity as if it started to sweat and go into panic. It was getting swallowed up completely, then the black hole closed up.
Entity: N-No… way. A mortal who can summon out black holes like that…? That's impossible…
Its thoughts and voice were deep and menacing, and its last thought was on Lucian and his abilities.
Lucian: Such a weak… demon.
He sighs as he walks over to Yuki and walks him out of the basement. As they exited the palace basement, it was silent. No one was around. Lucian noticed this and his eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.
Yuki: It's so quiet here… are you sure it's not abandoned..?
He had hesitated, still trying to process everything that had happened. Lucian kept his blade out and had cleaned off the navy blue-colored blood from his katana. He had started checking off the rooms as his suspicion grew.
Lucian opened up the last door which led to the meeting room. When opened, it was a room covered in blood. Yuki, who had just saw the room, trembled more in fear and shock, while Lucian stood there and sighed.
Lucian: Let's head out…
Yuki glanced at him and nodded and left. Beads of sweat were dripping from his forehead and walked with Lucian. Lucian had started going around to find Amelia and the others.
Lucian: The blood-covered meeting room looked too real in the eyes of Yuki… but in my eyes, it's more like an illusion. The otherworldly beings I've fought in the past weren't able to create such high-level illusions. We could be facing something more dangerous…
Yuki walked with Lucian as he noticed he was lost in thought.
Yuki: So… umm.. Lucian? I have two questions.
Lucian: Ask away…
Yuki: May I call you Luci? And.. I'm wondering, what is that thing you fought down in the training grounds…?
He had seemed hesitant from how he said his words. Lucian turned to look in his eyes while they both went around the palace, trying to find the others. Lucian sighed.
Lucian: That was an Elder Demon, and you can call me Luci if you feel like…
The coldness in his tone was still active. Yuki was unsure about these things called Elder Demons. It was a new concept to him. He had a confused expression.
Yuki: Elder Demon…?
Lucian: Yes. Elder Demons are demons who were born from Purgatory. They have unimaginable magical powers beyond human comprehension.
Yuki was shocked after hearing the power they hold. It was so shocking that Lucian had made it sound like they could eventually destroy the entire planet.
Yuki: If the Elder Demons were born in Purgatory... then who created Purgatory?
Lucian glanced at him, looking into Yuki's eyes.
Lucian: The Outer God of Worlds had created the Purgatory, and the universe.
Yuki: ...The Outer God of Worlds?
Yuki hesitated to ask his question. He wondered about the idea of the so-called Outer Gods.
Lucian had opened up the door, noticing the executioners and Amelia on the floor collapsed and out cold. He checked the executioners pulses as well as Amelia.
Afterwards, he had put his ear against their chests, trying to hear a heartbeat. Then, there it was. A sound of the heartbeat was heard. It was faint, but Lucian could hear it.
Lucian: Amelia is alive but barely, as well as the other executioners...
Yuki trembled in fear as he stared at the bodies.
Lucian: This is the doing of one of the Elder Demons...
Yuki: W-What?! Really?!
Yuki stammered as he stepped back in shock. Lucian then grabbed his hand and left the palace, seeing it was raining.
Lucian had nodded then summoned out healing potions. He opened up the potions and opened Amelia's and the executioners mouths and spilled some into their mouths, causing their wounds to close up.
The healing process was a success, and the wounds had closed up fully. Lucian and Yuki had sat there, waiting for their awakening.
Hours had gone by, Amelia and the others had woken up from their spot. They lazily stretched their arms, while Lucian and Yuki shot glances at them.
Amelia: What... happened?
Executioner 1: Were we knocked out?
They groaned a bit in pain as their bodies were stiff. They all stood up and cracked their knuckles and neck, relieving the pain from their body.
Lucian: You were all unconscious for three hours. From what I'm assuming, one of the Elder Demons had ambushed you all and knocked you all out.
Yuki glanced at them with worried looks on his face. Amelia looked at Lucian, then at Yuki, back at Lucian.
Amelia: I see... Elder Demons sure are dangerous. They are from Purgatory, so their base power is already destructive in itself..
Lucian nodded as the executioners helped each other up. They then left and went back to their duties, but still shaken up about what happened.
Yuki: Can you... tell us what happened?
Amelia: We were working and planning on missions for each other. During that moment, a very demonic being came, and we felt a sharp pain.
Lucian: They knocked you guys out.. but not through physical means...
Amelia shook her head. Yuki was still hesitant about it.
Lucian: That would only mean that they used magic to decrease your stamina or put you into a temporary three hour coma.
She was a bit shocked and held her chin, trying to backtrack what happened before they were about to leave out for their own mission.
Yuki had no saying in this as he was still learning about what was going on. In that very moment, Lucian had remembered something or someone.
Lucian: Where's the boss...?
His voice hesitated a bit at the end as Amelia had also realized this. That was when they heard screaming. It attracted Lucian, Yuki and Amelia.
They had started to run over to the screams of horror, but when they reached it, the screaming had stopped. Nothing was there nor was it someone. The executioners had suddenly vanished, until blood was dripping from the ceiling.
The three of them had slowly glanced upwards, seeing blood droplets, and in that moment, Lucian's eyes narrowed in suspicion, having to sense a dangerous and malicious aura.
Yuki's eyes widened in shock and fear, his entire body trembled and deep down in his core was shook of the scene. Yuki and Amelia had felt nauseous from the gruesome scenery.
Their minds went blank immediately after seeing the bloodied bodies on the ceiling. The executioners bodies were attached to the ceiling, like they were glued there.
Amelia: W-What the...? This... this is insane!
Yuki: You're kidding... right?
They were filled with unbelievable amount of shock. They couldn't fully grasped the dread as the blood continues dripping from the ceiling.
Lucian had stood there, calm collected, like he had seen it before. He was the only one who stayed calm and not have fear building up within his core.
A sudden noise was heard from the executioners bodies. It was like a heart beating very slowly in each body, and every other minute, the beating heart had started increasing drastically.
Lucian: We need to go...
Amelia and Yuki was about to speak up, but at that very instant, the bodies had exploded, causing a lot of blood to drench the entire hallway. The stench of blood was strong, and it had bothered Amelia's and Yuki's nose, causing them to gag.