Chapter 14: Rot.

Virgil and Deimos were the first to approach the Plagued City. A flock of crows on its outskirts scattered from a human's body, their feathers being captured in the crimson moonlight. It illuminated an abominable city with decaying and gothic infrastructure.

Rusted and massive gates engraved in senile walls and tangled in webs were the only thing standing in-between the demonic duo and the city's interior. Virgil looked past the gate and saw them. Demons. They littered the Plagued City. He witnessed fighting, death, and cannibalism, and it reeked of all of those things. They fought and ate one another to establish a pecking order, vying to be the strongest. The concept of order was nonexistent, yet chaos was abundant.

A nightmarish scenario to any human, but Virgil felt at home.

"They will not kneel to you by just walking in," Deimos stated, "even if I order them so. Demons fear power. Show them your strength. I will wait outside until you are finished."

"I understand," Virgil acknowledged while brandishing his blade; a conviction to fulfill what he was meant for fueling the fire in his eyes.

The Plagued City's gates whined open and all demons ceased their immoral deeds and put aside their bloodlust for one another. They were able to sink their teeth into something they haven't in a while: a human.

From all directions, scattered across rooftops, demon eyes stared down Virgil-muttering and whispering to one another-as he treaded deeper into the city of wickedness. They watched as the second-strongest demon, a hulking figure, stalked Virgil.

Eventually, the tension erupted.

"I haven't had a human in 100 years," was the last thing Virgil heard before the demon rushed at him from behind.

The strongest of the vile monsters present was paralyzed in his tracks the moment Virgil turned to glare at him. The creature of sin felt impending doom, as though death had come to claim him- a feeling so acute he felt Virgil had actually killed him via impaling his chest. He collapsed while clutching his chest and backed away in terror with a plea for his life in his eyes.

"Y-you stabbed me? How?"

"I didn't," Virgil replied, "you only felt my intent to kill you just now."

"You're not human," he rebutted.

"I don't know what I am. Human, demon. What I do know is that I lead you all now," Virgil declared as his killer stare swept across the city.

"I refuse," the strongest demon hissed before attempting to get to his feet, yet he was only able to make it to his knees.

The former hunter's blade was inched out of its holder before it was sheathed, and the strongest demon lost his head before he could perceive it happening. He faded away in silence as his underlings observed in utter shock. How could such a small human kill a large demon so easily?

"Then die kneeling. Anyone else?" he called out.

Nothing. Virgil had definitely asserted his authority. And so, as he left the Plagued City to speak to Deimos, every demon kneeled to him. The gates whined open and shut behind him, and he was at the outskirts once more.

"That was quick, as expected," Deimos remarked.

"I have a question," Virgil spoke.

"Go on."

"Do you know what happened at the city Cain attacked?"

"The fact you stand before me means he is dead. You were able to escape without getting eaten by demons, meaning they fled. And their only condition to flee was if he was killed in battle."

Virgil responded with nothing.

"As I said before, his plan worked," Deimos punctuated.

"Yes, and the hunters know you're here. If what you're saying is true, then they're on their way."

Virgil shot Deimos a sideways glance.

"And they may have Michael with them."