Rey ducked under the demon's bladed arm. The thing reeked like it hadn't taken a bath in a century, and that was probably true, or maybe it did take a bath in rotten egg whites. Rey slashed its chest with his dagger, leaving a nice, long gash that leaked its horrid black blood. The demon staggered back a step, and that was all the space Rey needed. He swung his scythe in an arc and stabbed the blade into its neck and out the back.

  [+1 Dexterity]

  [You killed a Demon (Exiled) – E+2]

  At this point, Rey wasn't even surprised anymore, and he had given up on finding a Rank 3 or higher demon until he left this tutorial of a forest. He looked at Kassandra, who was doing just fine after a three-day rest. She was adamant about coming out to take care of these demons with him. She had mostly recovered, even though she had a hard time pulling back on the bow. She tried to hide it, but Rey noticed.

  As for him, he had healed quite nicely. Compared to the girls, his wounds were mostly superficial. He was good as soon as the doctor had healed him up, a couple of days ago.

  This was a small raid of only five demons, and he let Kassandra dispatch them, as she needed the experience. She must've picked up a marksmanship skill when she ranked up because her skill with the bow was rapidly improving. She was almost getting a kill with every arrow.

  Her bow twanged, and an arrow with a glowing arrowhead shot from her bow and hit the demon in the chest. It crumpled on the spot but broke the arrow as it fell.

  "Damn it," Kassandra cursed.

  She was running low on arrows. Whenever a demon broke one of her arrows or she couldn't retrieve it, it made her visibly frustrated. Rey just hoped she had listened to him and picked up the Fletching skill.

  "Don't worry, you can always make more arrows," he called as he made his way to her, eyes on the surroundings, making sure no other demon was trying to creep up on her.

  "Easy for you to say," she replied. "I checked the wood around here. It's all rotten, and where will I get iron arrowheads around here?"

  "I'm sure there is a demon Home Depot around here," Rey replied. "With all our demon killing needs."

  She snorted. "If only."

  "You'd be surprised."

  "You're joking! There is an actual store where you can buy weapons and arrows."

  Rey just shrugged. "Maybe."

  In fact, there were stores like that all over the place, but they had to get to the Kingdom for that. Until then, they had to scrounge around the forest for supplies. But dealing with any demon while they retained their souls was as annoying as a clown at a funeral who couldn't take a hint.

  "Anyways," Rey continued. "Let's head back. It's almost time to head out."

  She sighed. "I'm sorry, Rey. I couldn't convince the doctor to come with us."

  He almost put an arm around her shoulder like he used to, but stopped himself and just lightly tapped her arm. "It's all good, Kas. I'll knock her on the head and throw her over my shoulder. You get her talking, and I'll do the rest."

  "I didn't know I was walking beside a professional kidnapper."

  "Kidnapping was my side-hustle. I specialized in carjacking mostly."

  She squinted at him. "You're joking, right?"

  "Of course, I am joking. I used to be an Auditor back home."

  "I cannot see you sitting down and going over financials and Excel sheets all day."

  Rey smirked. "Then I was a kidnapper. Does that fit?"

  "Actually, it sort of does."

  They reached the castle door, and thankfully, Sergei asked for the password this time.

  "Password?" came Segei's muffled voice.

  "Say please, you filthy animal."

  The door unbolted, and Sergei opened it, but he didn't flourish his hand like Rey had shown him. Apparently, it was beneath him. Rey just chalked it up to English being his second language.

  He nods to Sergei. "Last day on the job. Hope you didn't get too overly attached to the post."

  "Ready to move out," Sergei replied, in his thick Russian accent.

  Rey patted his beefy arm. "Good man."

  He had a random thought that if he had to eat him, his arms would provide enough sustenance for a few days. He didn't know where that thought came from. Most likely from his demon side. He used to eat anything and everything he could get his hands on.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  He saw Ajay hauling the last of their 'baggage' into the hall. All their baggage consisted of three large waterskins, along with some furs and leather jackets, everything courtesy of dear old Maria. The woman Rey had found annoying so far had come through for them. She put in the extra hours to ensure Rey's group had some furs and extra clothes to survive out in the wild. He couldn't thank her enough, especially for the large waterskins. That would see them nicely until they reached the Shadrae River. That was a five-day trek, if they didn't get battered by demons along the way.

  With the extra water, they could walk at a leisurely pace, kill local wildlife, earn some ranks, and avoid certain death at the hands of an obnoxious demon. Plus, Jerry had been extra kind and made utensils for them, which they could use to cook their kills. All in all, things were looking quite well for them.

  "Ready, my goodman?" Rey called to Ajay.

  "Ready, boss," Ajay replied. "Just waiting on Filomena to finish up, and we should be good to head out."

  Rey looked to the doctor who had just come down the stairs. She smiled at Rey, but he could gauge the nervousness underneath her smile. He was leaving them here to die, and by not bringing the doctor along, their chances of survival were also abysmal. But he had done it once; he could do it again.

  "Sure, I can't convince you to come with us, doc?" Rey asked.

  "As much as I would like to go adventuring with you, I don't think I'm made for that stuff," Dr Bahar replied. "If that demon is coming, then I fear the folks here will need me more than you."

  You're throwing your fucking lives away! Rey screamed internally, but outwardly, he just smiled. "I would really reconsider. You might save your life and the lives of everyone else who chose to stay. You could be the swing vote that makes them reconsider."

  "Again, I thank you for considering me so highly, but I'll respectfully decline."

  Rey was so disappointed that he couldn't even muster up a smile. Fast, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, making everyone look up expectantly. Filomena showed up on the stairs. She wasn't even huffing. Her Endurance had grown, Rey noted.

  "More demons?" He asked.

  She nodded. "A lot more."

  "Well, boys and girls, looks like we have ourselves a farewell party," Rey said.

  "I'm always up for killing more demons," Kassandra remarked, unsheathing her sword. She had taken it from the armory when she started running out of arrows.

  Ajay nodded. "Sure thing."

  Sergei nodded, while the others gave their assent. Jerry and Maria also showed up from their respective rooms.

  "Did someone say more demons have shown their ugly faces?" Jerry asked.

  "That's right. You in?" Rey asked.

  "You betcha."

  Even Maria joined up with them, and together they left the castle as one for the last time, perhaps. The howling, shrieking noises filled the air, just as they had the day when the demons had come for Gloria's soul.

  There was movement in the woods. It was hard to tell how many demons there were, but it was definitely fewer than that day. Rey wasn't concerned; if they handled them that day, they could take care of them now.

  The first demon jumped out of the woods and came rushing towards them. It was a long-haired demon that resembled a cross between a feral dog and a werewolf.

  [Belephus (Exiled) – E+2]

  Rey sighed. "Who wants it?"

  "I do." Kassandra snapped right away.

  "All yours." Rey flourished a hand towards it.

  She took aim and got him through the eye. The shaggy demon slid to a stop and died with a huff, blowing up dirt into the air, as it crashed to the ground. The next was a nightmarish demon with sharp blades for hair and a face even its mother would've loved to squish.

  [Demon (Exiled) – E+2]

  "Next," Rey called.

  Ajay and Filomena both shot at the same time. Rey almost felt bad for the thing. After the pair's onslaught, not even its ashes remained. A few more demons broke the treeline, followed by a few more. The ranged fighters aimed again, but something about this gave Rey pause.

  "Hold," he called, as he surveyed the treeline.

  There must have been seven or eight demons rushing towards them, and yet there was still movement in the treeline. Then, a pride of lion-like Vorclaws broke into the clearing, and these demons weren't known to be scared of much, but Rey could swear they were terrified. His heartbeat quickened.

  This is just like…Please don't be that. Anything but that...

  "Rey, what do we do?" Kassandra asked. "We can't hold forever. They're about to overrun us."

  The confirmation of their doom came when he saw a pair of Luthrol blasting out of the dead trees, mowing down several of their brethren. The rotten limbed branches of the dead trees flew everywhere. This was not normal indeed.

  [Luthrol – E+4]

  [Luthrol – E+4]

  Oh, you bitch, I was so close to getting away, too.

  "Disengage," Rey barked. "Everyone back to the castle."

  "But we can still fight—" Ajay tried, but Rey spoke over him.

  "Run. Now! We can't fight this. Just run."

  He was about to be the first one to run for the castle, but he couldn't leave these people behind. No matter how much his selfish side wanted to save his own hide. He wasn't going to betray these people, especially not Kassandra.

  He paused to let everyone run by him. Kassandra locked eyes with him as she passed. He motioned to her to keep running.

  He waited for the demons, feet planted firmly in the ground, and scythe gripped tightly in his hand. The Luthrols came barreling forward, crushing all those who got in their way. Rey waited until they were so close that he could smell their stink.

  Then he thrust his weapon forward and unleashed a powerful Repulsion wave. He didn't even realize how much Mana he put into the skill. The Luthrols and all the other demons were blasted back from him as if Rey had detonated a bomb. The demons were shot into the treeline, and some of the trees uprooted and fell over, crushing even more demons.

  [+1 Magic Power]

  Rey didn't bother to wait and survey the damage he had done. He dashed for the castle door, but something was wrong. The others were crowding around the door and pounding on it, only for it to stand shut.

  "What's going on?" Rey asked.

  "The door's locked and no one is there to open it," Kassandra replied.

  Rey nearly pulled on his hair. "This cannot be happening now."

  "What cannot be happening?" She asked.

  Rey looked back, and the demons were regrouping and had begun their dash again. He had only bought them a few minutes at best. The horde would be on top of them soon, and then there would be no escape. They had to get inside the castle and fast.

  "Maybe I can just break the door down," Rey pondered out loud. "Jerry can just put in a new one in place."

  "Break the door down?" Filomena raised an eyebrow. "But why?"

  "No, that could fuck up the structural integrity of the door," Rey said, ignoring her.

  Kassandra gripped his collar. "Rey, get your shit together and tell us what is happening?"

  Rey swallowed. "We're too late. He's here. Unokir has come."