Chapter 110: Hiding in Plain Sight (I)
"My lord. It has been quite some time since I have had the pleasure of bowing before you…"
"Come inside, Von Friede." A beguiling voice filled with feminine charm interrupted the demon's pleasantries, instead accompanied by a cobalt hand beckoning the handsome demon forth. Von Friede obliged, though he dared not stand tall and instead crept on his haunches, not even daring to get a peek at his master's veiled face.
"Is the vessel to your liking, my lord?"
"What was her name?" Instead of giving a direct answer, the woman chuckled and asked a question. A hand tapped on the armrest, measuring each second that passed as it crept forwards.
"Isalde. I see you have kept her likeness as a woman, my lord."
"It felt natural. Although I have not taken a gender before, I think I will give myself another name. What do you think, Von Friede?"
"Schalieze. In our pitiful tongue, it is the word we created to describe your honorable name, for we dare not use it liberally."
The tapping stopped. The woman hummed along, singing along to the tune that helped the text integrate with the body it once was. Seconds passed like minutes as she thought, and sweat plopped on the ground in contrast to the calm guise the nearest demon wore.
"You suck up quite well. Do you remember your son? Your daughter? Your wife?" The voice became mischievous as it faded into a faint whisper, gauging the mental state of the demon before her. Von Friede shook his head, bowing further down, to her delight.
"Alright, Schalieze it is. Now stand up, my servant, and beckon forth the cultists. Today, Hospitality Home will bring forth ferocity greater than ever before!"
Von Friede quickly rose up and stood by The Tarnished Text's side, hands crossed behind his back as he first bowed. Then, wisps of pale green light flowed from his grey flesh as it began to curtain his face, the ivory skin appearing ethereal beneath the glow. His left arm deftly swung forwards, level to Schalieze's gaze.
The cultist demons shambled forward hurriedly, standing in rows as they filled the chamber room. Those that couldn't fit inside got as close as they can, and three floors worth of demons stood together as densely packed as they could.
"You can hear me, right? I have returned. Your invasion of Morris Capitol has been shoddy so far. I command you to go and bring me that Red Angel's head. Do what you do best…"
"But not you. All those within this room will stand guard in my Hospitality Home. There will be droves of demon hunters bearing down upon this place as soon as the seal fades. Defend me so that I may regain my power!"
The Tarnished Text, although still mighty, was in a weakened state due to the years of being sealed away. What's more, the soul was still in the process of making its newfound body more hospitable, meaning that she couldn't exhaust all of her power even if she tried. She would need either ample nutrients or time to fully regain the status she once held before, and she was rather impatient.
Which is why she sent out two thirds of her forces, in an attempt to gain the supplementary energy that she so dearly sought. Cultists of the Morgue couldn't help but make their way outside of Hospitality Home, the desire to kill running rampant in their minds as they were affected by their master's desire.
The remaining cultists milled around the place, becoming stalwart defenders as they patrolled. Only Von Friede and Schalieze were left within the chamber room, and the latter got off of her seat as she stood in the middle of the space.
Her two and a half high stature shook as her burdensome chest heaved. Dark energy flickered on her fingertips, and her hair floated as auric spider legs flashed upwards.
"Von Friede."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Do you think I will die today?"
"How could one as powerful as yourself fall within 24 hours?"
"Today is colder than usual. Don't you feel the chill?"
"…"
"Hahaha."
"I will bring you some sustenance, my lord."
"I will form a Gant Seed. Bring me demons to use."
Without even bothering to talk, Von Friede hurriedly made his way up the steps as quick as he could. Turning to the left, he arrived into a storage room, where various demon corpses lined the walls.
'What would she like...fuck. This is gonna be difficult, hm.' With discerning eyes, he tapped along cages as he made his way forwards...
--
Bie and Lah engaged in conversation candidly, soon arriving within the capitol. Flames raged from behind the gate, and a wide opening in the wall served as their entryway.
The eyes beneath the burrowing owl mask were cold and unwavering as they took in the chaos. Instead, they analyzed the expansive cracks and creators in the ground, judging what they were from.
Bie's wing ears shone as the ends crept towards the edges of his face, the strong demonic energy rousing the energy from the Demon Killing Method. As it was integrating with his body, he realized that he would be able to sense the demonic energy as well…
But that came of no use as of now, as the whole area was filled with it. So he could only follow Lah as she knelt down and traced the deep lines in the ground, adjusting his grip on Ekulech as he stayed alert.
Because they had left the sleeping members of his squadron outside, he was a little restless. Lah assured him that no one would be able to find them, and since he figured that he had to fight, he simply agreed and didn't make things too difficult.
It was hard to want to try to, if he was being honest. The desire to fight these demons and grow stronger cascaded intensely, washing his mind of other thoughts with each footstep.
"Get ready."
"Alright."
The simple exchange was a prelude to a conflict.
A crowd of people with ripped and spoiled garb crept out from the ruins and flames. Dark green mist followed after their measured steps, and slobber plopped to the ground like rain.
Faces morphed into sickly gray flesh, and serrated teeth jutted out like craggy outcroppings. Mangled noses wrinkled as they sniffed the air, and lips parted as a murky whisper leaked out of their mouths.
Mischievous light leaked from Bie's yellow topaz eyes, and heavy feet made an imprint in the ground. Lah laughed as she looked at the winsome, cheery blue violet lips raised into a smile, and she couldn't help but remove her mask.
"Since this place is ruined already, I guess there's no need to hide…"
Her black form fitting apparel unraveled to reveal a two meter wingspan. Amber gauze bound her completely, and she plucked a black feather from her unfurling wings and shook it into as it became a tattoo on her hand.
A pale finger turned completely black, like a sharpened claw. This index finger stood alone, the rest of the fingers curled as her left hand found its way behind her waist.
A thin sword blade materialized around this finger. As Bie's hand axe carved a path in the sea of gathering cultist demons, she lunged forward!