65 Arrogance

~

"This time we will get them!"

"Haha obviously! Our finest general that defend our border on the east is accompanying us."

"Why are you guys celebrating about? The most important thing is that we have the holy alliance with us isn't?"

"Huh? What can they do? Puff up their chest and keep saying that they are the most powerful people in the entire world? How will they kill the demons that we are going to encounter along our mission?"

"Just keep your mouth shut when they arrive, you don't want to get executed for doing something stupid."

"G-general! Apologies!"

"Sigh* You guys are too naive, arm yourself whenever those crusader knights are around. You won't know when they will strike."

"Yes general!"

The soldiers in arms didn't even argue and immediately agree. Truly shows how much respect and loyalty they have upon the general in front of them.

The general instruct them to rest as they would immediately depart when the crusader knights arrive. It didn't take long before a squad consist of ten people came up to them.

Most of the soldiers couldn't believe their eyes, the holy alliance only sent ten men to help them to conquer the Gwendal Kingdom. What kind of a sick joke is that? Furthermore, they look so arrogant in them that they are telling us that it is enough?

The general starts to frown but he still acts as if nothing has happened and greet them politely. The knights did not even turn to face the general, except for one priest that is included in the squad.

"Apology for being late."

'My problem is with the number of people that you have sent.'

If the general didn't have any family back at home, he would have no problem saying it out loud but he knows for the fact that the holy alliance is corrupted. They have their own private army, that includes assassins. No matter who, these freak will find a way to either eliminate the powerful people or blackmail them till they victims beg on their knees.

He had seen multiple times this happens and he does not want anything to do with these crusader knights, to be honest. He even noticed that the minister of defense give him a slight hint for a fact that the Gwendal Kingdom is being falsely blamed.

"It's alright, are you guys alright with us going off straight away?"

"It's alright we had lunch in the palace just now."

'Showing off...'

"Men get into your formations! We are set to go in two minutes. Do not forget anything that you need, it would be a long journey. It's your own responsibility to take care of your own self. Pray hard you get to see a village to trade after you step this mist of death."

~

The rumors spread fast as no living being has managed to return alive after traveling into the forest. It is the only pathway to the Gwendal Kingdom. Once in a while, the villagers that live near the forest of death got spooked off by the wailing sounds that coincidentally familiar to the voices of the people that has gone inside the forest.

The deciding factor is the fact that some people witness soldiers and common villagers sleepwalk towards the forest. Some believe that they are witnessing a playback of the time where these people being brave and arrogant step inside the forest in order to show off.

"Shield barrier."

The priest immediately mutters two words and a huge shield covering the whole platoon, including the general and his soldiers. The general and his soldiers are taken aback at the huge amount of magic power that the priest has despite looking very frail. They started to unconsciously put their arms near their sword and getting ready to attack depending on if their general call for it.

All of them slowly walked into the forest. Some were shivering only the arrogant crusader knights cockily shows their smug faces when they see all of the soldiers behind them isn't brave as what they should have been.

Apparently, they didn't even trust what the rest of the kingdom has said or they have a powerful weapon that could resist the enemy that they are going to face.

They have traveled for more than half a day, but they didn't realize that as soon as they step inside the forest. The spirits surrounding has transmitted messages throughout to others. They knew that the priest has the legendary necklace. It is also the main reason that everyone is still alive despite being inside the forest.

The spirits can only see from far, they would immediately disintegrate the moment the barrier touches them.

"Kisss kisss kisss…. Lovely human has come to our breathing ground."

"Kraunt, this is not our breathing ground though..."

"Mind you, Tayuki, it is now…. Kisssss"

A ratman and a lizardman talking casually while spying on the troops below. Tayuki - the lizardman, placed at the sixth position within the great demon. He is called the resistance because of how every element of magic that is thrown to him, he will only receive ten percent of it.

He is the true tanker and he is the main defender and has attended every major battle out there. Meanwhile, the living being besides him is Kraunt, placing of the third within the great demon world and he is an assassin. Funny enough, he only listens to the instructions of Aria purely because he has a crush on her.

Even though they have lived for thousands of years, he still hasn't gathered enough courage to confess his feelings. He is facing a dilemma, he hated every demon king that appeared out of nowhere just to be able to make love with her.

Everytime the demon king dies, he finds hope but procrastinates for too long until the next demon king has appeared.

"Do I jump in now?"

"You want to die early? Kissss…. Wait for Sara. She is able to manipulate the rest of the platoon while you distract the main squad."

"She's too slow..."

"No point arguing, even though she is fast at flying, her stamina is not enough to keep up with us. She needs souls in order to replenish her stamina kisss.."

"Did you meet up with the new demon king?"

"No..."

"Then whose instructions are we..."

"Aria'

"Ouh..."

"No more comments."

"I didn't even say anything. Look how's here."

"Haaaa…. Haaaa… Did I make it?"

"No, you were too late… The spirits got killed, we're just on standby so that you won't get caught."

"WHAT!"

"Shhhh!!! Kssss….."

"S-Sorry…. No, no, no… Aria might kill me!"

"..... Err What about the demon king?"

"Demon King? What about him?"

"Isn't this his idea all along?"

".....Kraunt are you sick?"

"S-Stop that... Kssss."

"The demon king didn't even give any single order to us. Don't you know that?"

".....W-What?"

"Wait so, you are telling me that this is all part of Aria plans all along?"

"Surprising yeah."

"....You got to be kidding me… Ksss"

"No, I'm serious. The demon lord only told me to pass you these swords, here you go, at the same time drip a bit of your blood so that the sword will resonate with you."

"Is this his way to control us? Why doesn't he do the ceremony himself face to face?"

"Kind of complicated. Aria is stalking him currently."

"...Sara, there's no such thing that could happen. Did he manage to charm you guys?"

"...? I love every man…."

Sara licks her lips while looking at both Kraunt and Tayuki. Both of them felt shivers passing through their bones. They immediately shake their head in order to dispel the charm.

"Awww shuckks... "

"You two, when are we going to get things done?"

"Ah!! How will I explain to Aria!"

"Shut up Sara, Tayuki lied, come on. Tayuki it's time. Go down there."

~

A sound of a sword being drawn from the scabbard.

All of the human immediately gone to their formation as if they have done it thousands of times.

"Muahahahahaha…. Humans pleasure to meet you. Mind telling me what is your objective? Depending on your answer, you can walk out alive! Hahahaha"

"Demon as expected… Hahaha howdy, how dare you show your face to us scum!"

The leader of the crusader knight was the first one to say out his words, at the same time made the wrong move by provoking Tayuki.

"Scum? Oho, that's lovely, call me scum for now on. Now that we have done our greetings, who is the brave one that will get me warm up."

"Oi, what are you waiting for? Kill them!"

The general turn towards the crusader knight that shout at them. He knows he needs to change their turns for the better. His intuition is yelling at him that the moment the demon in front of him start fights, they would all die a miserable death.

"Men! Hold on to your arms! You were the one that provokes him. Go settle the duel yourself."

"Tch cowards..."

The leader of the crusader knight step up and draw out his sword. Magical properties brightly lit up around the sword.

"Hoho Holy element huh. It should have cost an immense amount of time to input that much amount of magic power in a sword."

"Argghhhhh!!!!"

The knight had full confidence in the sword that he is holding and immediately charge towards Tayuki, aka the scum in front of him.