3 3. Twisted Demon

Fritz went back to the place where he woke up. By the time he arrived there, he saw five nobility camping. From the looks of it, the five humans were waiting for him. He right away deducted what they were and what was the answer to all of his questions. The group's so-called leader surged from his seat and consoled the child-looking Fritz. Everyone saw his broken arm and, their healer decided to heal him immediately. Her voice sounds angelic. You can depict her as a goddess.

He joined the group. If his calculations weren't wrong, their ages were around 15-18. They looked so young and strong. Assuming that only five of them were clearing a dungeon. They must be really talented. Fritz was given a bowl of hot gratin. Right just in time, his stomach was hungry for food again. He finished the bowl in a minute and, he was told that he could have seconds. They actually made it for him. And when he was finished eating, everyone eased up and told him what happened before he was brought inside.

The group's leader, the oldest of them all asked for his name. And he told them. "Fritz Esecleus Desmond? It sounds cool! By the way, I'm Goldnard Sublitillion, from the Iloutopia Kingdom."

He said he was 18. He looks gentlemanly in his hunting noble attire. His dark brown hair matches his deep dark eyes. Goldnard really emits some sort of strong leadership in his eyes. He's a warrior class.

Next was the goddess. "I'm Felicity Ambrose, from the Kingdom of Zivania."

Felicity Ambrose is a 16-year-old teenager who enjoys theatre, watching adventurers fight and, she's an adventurous woman. She is generous and, goddess but can also be very cunning and a bit unstable. She is Greek. She's still taking classes. Physically, Felicity is in pretty good shape. She is of average height with pale skin, golden-brown hair, and yellow eyes. She lives in an upper-class palace. Felicity's best friend is a teenager called Goldnard. They are inseparable. She's a healer, cleric.

A strong, joyful, self-righteous adventurer, "Percieval Dixon, from the Astaenathen Empire." A very talented sorcerer. He also looks calm and, his blond hair really does stand out. He was with, "and I'm Sylvia Dixon, Percy's my twin." Both have blond hair. But, Sylvia's hair was different. Her silky hair shone every time light hit her. She's a Ranger.

And last but not least. The youngest of them all. "Ashfield Brentwood, from Auslixeoris Empire. Ah, I'm a berserker."

Totally, there were 4 kingdoms that the country of Arcadia had. The North Kingdom of Iloutopia Kingdom. The South, Astaenathen Empire. The West, Auslixeoris Empire, and lastly, Kingdom of Zivania from the East. The five nobles were not just nobilities, but the Princesses and Princes of the four kingdoms.

"The five of us formed a party about two years ago and, we've been hunting ever since. We do this every year. How about you? What were you doing at the entrance of the dungeon?"

Fritz glanced at the five and stayed silent for a few seconds. 'In their eyes, I'm a kid. I should act like one.' His lowered eyes rose and, he began speaking: "O-ogres, they attacked our village," he tried so hard to make himself cry. He looked back at Esecleus' memories of the past and reminisced the good old days. Seeing him sobbing, everyone immediately comforted Fritz. "I ran away while Mom and Dad buy us time..." Half of his emotions were true. It came from the depths of his heart.

***

Having been calmed and comforted, Fritz took a nap. Goldnard set their expedition time to an hour. After that, they'll wake him up and bring him up with them after killing the dungeon's last boss. The group had taken care of the other two from levels 1 and 2. They cleared the last two level's with such effortlessness.

An hour passed. Goldnard and the others were ready. Fritz had just woken up, rubbing his eyes. Since he was a small kid, he won't be carrying anything but a weapon to protect himself. He was given a shortsword. He refused the sword and brought out his Blemish Dagger. And said thanks, instead. Their first stop was the kobolds' lair. Ash took the front line while Percy was charging up his skill. Goldnard guarded him against kobolds who tried to attack their sorcerer. Sylvia was using her bow and arrow to kill the kobolds who would try to run away. Felicity cast a speed enhancement on Goldnard so that he could move easily around the area. And she cast a buff on Percieval, doubling the magic damage he inflicted when he launched the ball of fire towards the pitiful monsters. All the kobolds could do was scream their excruciating pain. But, Fritz didn't harbor any hate or malice towards them nor pity. His expression was blank and calm.

They finished killing all of the kobolds pretty quick. Thanks to their solid tactics and teamwork. Goldnard and the others ignored and left the items lying on the ground. Well, it's nothing compared to what kind of items they were using. Top-quality. Fritz made the effort of picking all of them up and stored them secretly inside his inventory. They will still fetch a low price in the market. They moved in the north, where the Boss' room was. 

Fritz's senses weren't that keen yet, yet his senses were telling him not to set foot in front of its doors. It sent chills down his spine. His intuition won't play tricks on him. He's 100 percent sure of that.

"All right, let's clear this dungeon and this to our achievements!" Goldnard, leading the others, pushed the doors of the room. A cold, baleful breeze came out from inside. Everyone shuddered. They ignored the intense danger in the air and went in. Fritz was not going to enter the room when Felicity grabbed his hand and pulled him in with her. The door closes with a loud bang when all of them have gone in.

"Humans! Marvelous, such healthy pigs!" Two horns were protruding out of its head. Its long and dark nails were resting on its face whilst sitting on what seemed to be his extravagant throne. His eyes were mocking. Hundred of candles were lit inside the room. Filling the room with such brightness. He surged triumphantly. And gentlemanly bowed his head in front of the nobles.

Fear crept their whole body when they first had a good look on the Boss' face. They tensed up, wondering what was a demon doing inside a low-level dungeon. Demons usually appear on high-level dungeons. But, it wasn't impossible for Demons to show up, just rare.

The demon saw Fritz and, he grinned at him, "Oh, I was expecting some visitors, but I wasn't expecting the pigs to bring their sacrificial lamb." Felicity's grip tightened around Fritz's hand, pulling him behind her.

"The hell do you mean by that?!" Goldnard exclaimed, his sword on his right hand. He's about to initiate the first move. They all knew how dangerous the demon was and, they also knew that they would do little against him. Nevertheless, Goldnard moved an inch and, in that instant, he suffered a hole in his gut, and both of his arms were torn off. The demon showed what would end up of him if he tried to move another inch. It wasn't real, but he did feel the demon's hand impaled his stomach and cut off his arms. Sweats formed on his forehead and he was gagging eventually puking all of the gratins he ate. They immediately aided him, asking what happened. The pain was still there. Ash nearly moved an inch. He would have suffered the same thing he felt.

"You should know your place, you pigs!" The demon's grin on his face vanished. It was replaced with such grimness, and his intent to kill circulated around the room. "There's nothing that you can do. Though, there's one actually..." He let the words trail off. They would immediately ask, of course. Thinking that the demon might be willing to let them go.

"What is it that you want?! Sylvia asked. Her legs were shaking but still trying to look calm. "We can give you anything you want." She suggested.

The demon burst into mocking laughter! He shamelessly let it all out in front of them. Then he went back to his grim face. Glaring intently at Sylvia. "Are you kidding me?! You dare try to bribe me? A demon who has it all?! Don't make me laugh anymore." She drowned in his killing intent, almost choking to death. "There's one way for your pigs to leave this room... that is to do exactly what I want to do to that kid!" His dark long nails pointed to Fritz. Felicity was hiding.

"I'll let you go one by one. Okay, here's a first!" Everyone swallowed their fear and waited for him to finish. The demon threw a sword onto the ground. "Cut off both of his arms and, I'll let you go."

Fritz saw someone ducked, picking up the sword. The next thing he knew, both of his arms fell on the ground. And then there was excruciating pain and, his echoing scream filled the room.