They followed Arken from the town, who led them steadily upward over a rolling series of lush hills. Pausing to look back over his shoulder, Imuru could see his small, rapidly developing town sprawling out down below. A quiet sense of pride washed over him, and he smiled just a little.
At the crest of the hill stood a solitary, lone tree. At opposite sides two figures came into view. Forcent, the massive Great Wolf, stood perfectly still, his predatory eyes fixed intently on a woman a short distance ahead. Her back was turned to them. Even from behind, her attire was a striking cloak that seemed to glean with a pure, golden, holy radiance.
Imuru tilted his head, carefully observing the woman. He walked to Forcent's side. "Have you spoken to her?" Imuru whispered cautiously.
"I did not. I came to keep an eye on her. Imuru, this woman…is a crusader," Forcent warned.
"Crusader?" Hearing the title, the strange immaculate way she dressed instantly became a little understandable to Imuru. "What does a crusader want with me?"
"I am unsure. I know that uniform… Be on guard. I can't sense her power, but I can tell she's incredibly powerful," Forcent said. "Imuru I wouldn't advise you'd approach her."
Imuru chuckled softly. "That would be rude now wouldn't it? I promise I'll be fine." Forcent was not a hundred percent sure about his decision; but Imuru's confidence calmed him enough. Imuru ruffled Forcent's fur, stepping forward to speak with the woman.
"Excuse me. You were looking for me weren't you? I'm Imuru, what's your name?"
The woman paced militarily, turning her body to face Imuru. The first thing that struck him was the sharpness in her eyes; they screamed danger before even a word could leave her mouth.
The woman had a stunning body and gorgeous face even with her stoic expression. Her eyes were sharp and silky purple; three long strand bangs, that curved to the right, brushed across her face. Her long hair is tied to a low ponytail, revealing protruding sharp strands; it seemed almost messy but it was far from it.
"Hmph." The crusader grinned just briefly out of sight, as if what he asked was an absolute joke. At her side, she rested her hand on the handle of her sword. "My name?" The crusader began, her voice mature and laced with suspicion. "Is that some form of skill? I heard of a demon king that holds one's words against them. Correct me if I am wrong, did you meet with the 7th Demon King of the yellow lineage… Ukuter?... You are the Great Demon Lord, am I correct?"
"Ukuter?" Imuru eyebrows raised, it's been awhile since he's heard that name. "Is this about him? I did speak with…but I haven't seen him in quite some time. Also I wouldn't say we're particularly close or anything."
"And my title…that's a long story."
The crusader, after peering deeply at Imuru unblinking, closed her eyes, drawing her sword, she reopened them. "What a pity. Imuru. You call yourself the Great Demon Lord; worse a demon in relation to Ukuter…"
"?..." There was a shift in the air… a chill despite the sun beating down on them. "Are you after Ukuter or me?" Imuru inquired, his welcoming gaze formal and stern.
A drop of silence drew between them. The crusader opened her mouth and every word that felt it, came with conviction and deep surmounted hatred "... I've long made my decision… Both!... Do the world a favor…"
The air clapped and shattered from a single step of the crusader. She vanished from Imuru's sight, his perception slow to keep track of her speed. In his chest, Imuru felt a pinch of pain… then it grew. Looking down, the crusader pulled her blade from his chest, and with one last look at her face, Imuru fell to the ground. He saw the weapon, but his mind was slow to process the results of what had just taken place.
"And Perish demon."
The crusader sheathed her sword gracefully, the fallen Imuru was not given another line of her attention; it was as if he was an annoying fly she rid the world of.
"Wha-Wh—what?" Yosho stuttered, it happened so fast, she, Arken, Huln and not even Forcent could process what exactly transpired…they say he fell, but they didn't want to believe it.
Arken was first to come to his senses, his face contorting to twisted anger, and rushed forward at the crusader. At the last second, before his fist could reach her, she leapt back in a flip, smoothly landing on her feet.
"What skill is that? Targeting my willpower?" The crusader glared back at Arken, the Dark Devider's Ipsum failing to hold the saint in place for any substantial time.
"Tch…a strong will." Arken gritted his teeth.
"Arken!" Forcent finally spoke, taking command. "Take Imuru and get him immediate medical attention!"
Yosho glared at the crusader having gathered herself enough, ready to take action. "Yosho. Go with him," Forcent stopped Yosho in her tracks.
"I'm—"
"Now!" Forcent replied sternly, shutting her down immediately. "You do not have the strength for this battle."
His words stung even if they were true. Yosho bit her lip, flashing a look over to Arken, the unconscious Imuru in his arms, then back at the woman; if her gaze could kill the crusader would be dead on the spot. Without another word of protest Yosho took off back to town in a hurry with Arken.
"Ennom…a Great Wolf. Your hostility; the demon was your master, was he?" The crusader brushed her hand across her bangs; an odd impulsive action.
"My friend," Forcent mumbled back under a low growl.
The crusader's eyes switched over to Huln; glowing in a golden aura, the undead king silently beaming at the woman with two blue fire dots in those black sockets of his.
"Heroic nature…?" The crusader for the first time properly acknowledged someone. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Hinaki O' Yattaguchi, saint of the Church Of the Creator God, of the almighty nation of Lionãs Bunkon. One of the 7 Great Crusaders; the Elite Squad Leader of the 7th Squadron; Justice To Light." Hinaki introduced herself in an articulate and robotic tone, showing her respect to another of the Heroic path.
"Church Of The Creator God?" Huln spoke with a hint of familiarity in his tone, and Hinaki caught on to it.
"You speak with such familiarity," Hinaki remarked. "I've never come across an undead with the soul of a Hero? Under normal circumstances that should not be possible. You know the rules, as both heroic warriors in nature our skills would not be as effective on one another. You're not a demon, I have no reason to fight either of you."
Hinaki turned on her heel to leave, prepared to walk away as if nothing had happened. A loud and heavy stomp rang out behind her and a barrier sprung up to block her path.
"Not demons? For a so-called holy warrior you boast a lot of confidence and hostility. You came all the way here to kill one person, you're the ruthless demon," Forcent remarked his face, one of anger and disdain, a deep gutted feeling of hatred building up within his stomach.
"Then need I say more? What I delivered was justice, to the coming evil, and yet you blind beast dare judge me?... Oho…" Hinaki reached for her sword. "No… Under the control of the demon? Allow me to save your soul."
Hinaki made her move at Forcent, the Ennom's forcefield shut up to block her path. Out in front Huln intercepted Hinaki, catching her blade in a firm grasp.
"You call yourself a holy warrior?" Huln struggled against Hinaki's strength. "You killed an innocent; what unrighteous behavior!" His aura flared, forcing Hinaki back a great distance.
"This young master had set me on the right path. I will not let you have your way."
A raging blue inferno blazes from Huln's body, and from these flames rose from the ground the undead…as they crawled from the deep earth to the surface, they crumbled away, rendering them to their natural state; dust.
"?!"
"Thousands of the dead? What an unnatural mix? You still possess such an unholy skill; raising the dead… I expected as much, you heretic."
"Specialized Skill: Guarded Knight, seals a skill of my choosing. It seemed I made a lucky choice."
⟨My Ipsum, Curse King?... When did she…that moment of close contact earlier… she analyzed, then chose…⟩ Huln straightened himself.
"It deeply saddens me to see a fellow hero fall to such depths. You could've done the world a favor and free the world of your existence. The former you would've done this; but your mind had been far too influenced by this demon." Hinaki flashed her hair. "Do not worry, I will set you free."
"What a lost child… I see your hatred, it twisted you." Huln leapt into action, swiftly instructing Forcent to fall back.
[[
[[-Thy Purification-]]
Huln utilized his most powerful skill. The casting was practically instantaneous, with the passive effect of [[-Cast Canceling-]]. A multilayer of magic circles form above and below Hinaki, lifting her off the ground.
"What a pity."
From above came an intense golden beam of light, unavoidable as the grace particles moved at a speed of 299 792 458 m/s; meant to vaporize the body along with the soul, a painful and deadly death sentence for a demon… but… for one on the Heroic path…
"Uh!?"
Strangely larger magic circles appeared above Huln's casting.
In a screeching scream that echoed across the landscape, the beamed ran dry and Hinaki emerged; unshaken in position, her blade held to the sky in utmost almost divine glory.
"Misguided!" Hinaki spoke, sheathing her sword as if the battle had already been decided.
A stunned Huln and Forcent flinched left in complete disbelief.
"To think you would be capable of such a high-level heroic skill. Don't be alarmed by why I survived, I simply overpowered yours with my own. One cannot be harmed by their own skill; if that were anyone else they might've lost." Hinaki flashed her hair, turning around to leave. "Ennom and undead hero. I will advise you to refrain from following a demon ever again. Do not let me regret my decision on this day."
Forcent wasn't about to allow her to leave so casually, worse on her own terms. He first fired a massive bolt of lightning that crashed into Hinaki without even a shift in her posture. She glanced over her shoulder, and Forcent fired his skill [[-Fleeting Beast-]]. Hinaki did nothing to defend herself, and the invisible ghost-like attack went through her.
Slowly from Hinaki's body a golden aura began to leak, as a massive outflow of her heroic aura, crushing onto them. They were both left paralyzed, then found themselves confused, their mind and thoughts going all over the place, unable to focus. Her aura eventually subsided, and Hinaki continued on her way, with no one left to stop her.
Watching his skills unable to interact with Hinaki, Forcent made his deduction. "S-Soul… lifeform…?" He growled through gritted teeth, realizing the futility of the situation.
Huln fell to his knees, with a groan. Neither could move their bodies; the battle was done and over without either being able to stop Hinaki, only able to watch as she gradually faded from their vision.