A New Beginning: Chapter 6.

I was an idiot, truly stupid beyond compare. Face to face with a demon from the lowest depths of hell. I could only see that malicious smile, followed by a clawed appendage. Realising I was in danger, I attempted to dodge but was too slow. The demon grasped my neck and sank his claws deep in. The pain was excruciating.

The depths of pain I felt sent my mind to the sea for a nice little swim. Barely holding on, I raced across the corners of my memory for a lifeline. Drawing upon a small chance I uttered the words that will be my saviour. [Anti-Evil Protection]. Barely getting out of the chant, my body became engulfed in white light.

Feeling slightly secured, I frantically awaited the inevitable strike. The demon retracted its long claws and soon its hand was engulfed in a dark aura. Slashing across my neck, the pain was immediate, but not as painful as I expected. The aura surrounding me seems to thrum with power. Vibrating and writhing against the darkness attempting to seep over me.

The demon kept its claws pressed against me, pushing against the protection spell. I grunted in pain, holding on as hard as I could. Soon a young voice could be heard at my side. [Fortress]. The voice bellowed just as the demon flew past me. The event moved far too quickly for me to see. Yet after a short time, I grasped the situation.

Now released from the demon's grip, I slumped to the ground. Looking up I took in the visage of my apparent saviour. It was a young man with blonde hair, wearing leather armour. He appeared to be in his early teens perhaps nearly twenty. His body was enveloped in a protective aura, I deduced was some sort of defensive spell.

Despite the young man panting and wheezing as if he had just run a marathon. He still appeared like a majestic hero, come to my rescue. "Huh, seems like impending death leads you to weird thoughts." I muttered softly before shaking my head, to gather my thoughts.

The blondie turned slightly and despite the clear fatigue and bruises. He smiled like none of this was a life-or-death situation. He looks like a mad man, but who am I to judge? "You going to sit there all day or are you going to fight." The blondie spoke with a sarcastic tone.

Deciding to take his advice I ascended and instantly noticed the demon rising. The other minotaurs were grouped behind the demonic entity. Despite their former ruthless gazes, they appeared terrified or perhaps in awe. Rising to my feet, I prepared for a fight. Looking down at my sword I pondered its usefulness. Thinking quickly, I gestured to blondie, throwing him the blade. He caught it with practised ease, admiring the blade for only a moment.

Thrusting my hands out, gestured in the typical finger gun stance. I spied blondie taking his own stance, blade wielded in two hands, thrust forward. "Jerik take the civilians away, we got this!" Yelling in the middle of the battle, I could hear several people behind me hop into action.

Eventually, the shuffling of feet started along with several footsteps approaching from behind. Quickly turning back, I noticed several people. One was a female wearing a dark surcoat, grasping two daggers. She had short dark hair, cut to her neck. She glared daggers at the enemy whilst wielding literal daggers. The second fellow was a man, I only caught him at a glance. He wore some sort of white robe and was brandishing his necklace like a weapon.

The pair were an odd pairing, but the situation took precedence. Mentally ordering the summon to return to me. I spotted him ascending to the sky. The druid below was now occupied with what appeared to be a pissed-off green chick. The dryad now free began striking at him with every vine she could muster.

As that fight was occurring to the side. I slowly ascend to the sky only to witness an arrow gliding towards me. The minotaur ranger had quickly drawn back his bow and fired at me. Barely dodging the shot, I ordered Tony to attack him. My trusty summoned ally flew at the annoying pest, brandishing his sword like a spear. The ranger dodged with impressive ease and sank back into the forest. Realising the disadvantage, I quickly changed his orders to descend and break their formation.

Tony came down upon the group of minotaurs like the hammer of the gods. One crumpled to the ground, pressed down by the angel's weight. Tony then started to swing wildly slashing every piece of flesh he could find. Using this chance, I climbed higher and aimed at stragglers. Firing off a few shots I hit one in the shoulder and another in the knee. "You are so done adventuring, sorry." Letting out a sarcastic laugh I surveyed the field of battle. Blondie and his two helpers were holding back the demon.

The demon clashed against blondie with his claws but was easily parried. The guy in the white robe who clearly was some kind of priest uttered several spells. [Anti-Evil Protection]. [Lesser Strength]. Firing off that magic in quick succession, blondie began to glow brightly. Emboldened by his ally's aid, he pressed his advantage.

The demon moved forward and the two met head-to-head. Blade and claw crossed each other. Blondie moved with practised ease, expertly parrying the demon's strikes. The match was one on one, spectated by the minotaurs. The collection of bandits was dodging every wild swing, Tony could muster. Noticing the lack of hits, my summon was delivering, I decided to offer aid. Aiming down the barrel of my fingers, I spied several victims. [Magic Arrow]. The dart flew straight and true right into a minotaurs eyeball. The creature floundered in pain, before dropping like a ton of bricks. [Magic Arrow]. [Magic Arrow]. Firing off several more shots, I expertly dispatched two more. One was struck in the neck and began clutching his neck to stem the blood. Another died instantly after the dart breached the back of his skull and out his nose.

Three dead by my hands and yet I felt no guilt over the act. Strangely I felt a level of joy or satisfaction. It seemed correct to remove them from this world. I stamped down this feeling and promptly focused on the task at hand. With those three removed their morale fell, allowing two more to fall to my summons blade.

Smiling at Tony's victories, like a proud parent. I frowned as the sight of an axe gliding through the air, hit Tony in the back. The weapon struck true and pierced the summon. Unlike the useless unenchanted weapons, the others attempted to brandish against the resistant summon. This weapon glowed ominously and that one strike laid Tony low. His body soon broke down into white light and the connection I once felt, vanished.

Despite his status as a mere summon, his death was like an arrow to the heart. Suppressing the growing anger, I turned my gaze to the enemy. The figure of the bandit's leader came into focus. Soon his weapon returned to him like time was rewound. He caught it with practised movements, before brandishing the painful end at me.

The scowling brute jumped back, narrowly escaping the demon and blondies' battle. Raising his snout to the sky, he bellowed at me. "Birdman, come down here and fight!" He roared provocatively as his hype men cheered, from what few remained.

I decided to reply with two words. [Magic Arrow]. I fired on him without hesitation. Instead of splattering his brains, he blocked the dart with his magic axe. "Fuck you cow man, go back to the dairy farm!" I roared back at him, partly frustrated then pissed off.

My taunt had a different effect than I intended. "Cow man... dairy farm?" The bandit leader queried either me or his crew. His fellow bandits merely shrugged at the question. Instead of returning with his own retort, he decides to lug his magic axe straight at me.

I barely dodged my impending death by axe, by gliding to the right. Looking back, I can see the axe stopping in mid-air. Observing the weapon ready to return to its owner. The craziest of craziest ideas come to me. I glided forward and grab the floating weapon before it can return. "Suck it, I got your pig sticker!" I yell with a jovial tone of pure satisfaction. My satisfaction was short-lived as the weapon immediately turned around and propelled towards its owner.

Naturally, I was dragged along like dead weight. Soaring through the air like a certain Asgardian, I reach my enemy. Meeting his face up close and personal, such intimacy is only reserved for a lover. We collide and drop to the ground like a ton of bricks. Only a second later do I realise I am on top of the massive bull man. Riding him on the completely wrong side. "Sorry cow dude, I don't swing that way." Before he can get his bearings, I plant my finger on his forehead. [Magic Arrow]. [Magic Arrow]. Firing off my magic weapon at close range. I witness two darts composed entirely of light bore their way into his skull. "Boom headshot." I exclaim just as the figures of several minotaurs cloud my vision.

Stretching my wings to their full length. I appear like a bird of prey, straddling their dead boss. "Who's next?" I query the frightened cow people. Soon after they all turned tail and ran like the cowards they are. I look down at their dead leader and speak with a soft tone. "How's that for loyalty." I said out loud, not directing the statement anywhere.

Rising to my feet, I claimed the bandit chief's axe. Inspecting it and noticing it appears to be just a normal battle axe. Instead of pondering why it doesn't have stuff like runes. I shake off the thoughts and cast my gaze on the other fights. The party of three led by blondie are still tangling with the demon. The cleric is casting spells from the back. The chick in the cool surcoat is jumping around like a ninja. Delivering strikes here and there while blondie tanks most of the hits.

Deciding to aid them, I aim my finger at the summoner. The druid guy is off to the side, still tangling with his now free dryad. Vines are thrown left and right, bouncing off the various barrier spells. Aiming down my sights, another word for my thumb and index finger. [Magic Arrow]. Instead of unleashing my fury, nothing happens. "Oh, come on, out of bullets already." Looking down the barrel of my finger. I rack my brain around what I can do to aid my little green friend.

Casting my gaze at the axe in my hand, I have a genius idea. Taking a stance, I am ready to lob the weapon with a supernatural level of strength. I throw the axe; it glides through the air and slams straight into the druid's back. The sound of a soft crutch as the axe slides into his flesh. The druid lets out a roar of pain just as his guard falters for a single moment.

At that moment, the dryad seizes the opportunity. Sending one of her vines, she impales the druid through the chest. The axe then tears itself away from the druid's body and flies back to me. Reaching out I catch the weapon, surprising myself. Looking back, I spy the druid rising in the air. His body was further impaled by two more vines. Gurgling with blood foaming from his mouth. The dryad slowly forces the vines to slither up his body like snakes.

Soon the vines reach his head and pour into his mouth and down his throat. The druid convulses but soon turns limp after a loud crack. Dropping the corpse to the ground, the dryad turns to me. Her face near expressionless, she gives me a slight nod before melting into the forest. With the druid dead, the demon vanishes in a puff of smoke and silence descends upon the battlefield.

I lock eyes with blondie and his team, giving them all a nod. They all reciprocate before collapsing to their knees exhausted from the harsh battle. With the battle ended, I turned my gaze towards the corpses and notice the bandit chief stumbling to his feet. His face flushed with rage and was covered with blood.

Upon acknowledging his visage, my eyes widen in shock. "What the fuck, I shot you in the head." I exclaimed in complete shock at the still-alive enemy. "Twice." I added whilst gesturing with two fingers.

Instead of replying the blood-soaked minotaur engaged in the noblest of acts. He turned heel and ran like a coward, performing a daring tactical retreat. Initially, I thought of chasing him, but the pain of my wounds just kicked in. They dropped on me like an anvil, the sensation was akin to coming down from morphine. Being in no condition to pursue, I dropped to one knee and furled my wings. "Well, that happened." I said just before I fell on my ass.