Demon's Will

Rumble...

A strange tremor, more felt than heard, snaked through me. It wasn't an earthquake, not quite.

"..."

Glancing around, I noticed the air a few dozen feet before me distorting faintly, like a shimmering heat mirage on a scorching day. A thin crack, barely there, began to spider web across the sky, stretching and twisting like a living thing.

My heart lurched like a frantic drum against my ribs. My breath hitched, and a cold dread clenched my gut.

However, adrenaline flooded my system, jolting me into action.

With a quick roll, I vaulted myself over the bench back, landing in a crouch. My hand immediately flew to the familiar hilt of my sword, yanking it free from its scabbard in a single fluid motion.

Fear simmered, but my mind kept it leashed.

My gaze locked onto the growing crack, analyzing its every tremor. Mana, the lifeblood of magic, thrummed, a tangible pressure building in the atmosphere.

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.

The sheer density of the energy screamed one thing: a D-Rank Dungeon.

"Damn it..."

I muttered under my breath. My jaw clenched as the tear in reality gaped wider, like a hungry maw revealing glimpses of a twisted, dark world.

My hand tightened around my sword's hilt, a reflex more than a genuine urge to fight.

I knew that this was not my battle.

With quick steps I began to distance myself from the crack.

I was no hero nor a dumbass to try to repel the monsters that would undoubtedly pour out from that rupture. If it was of lower rank, maybe I would consider it, but a D-Rank Dungeon was way beyond my capabilities.

However, as I was about to turn and retreat, from the corner of my eye, I caught civilians running frantically in the opposite direction, fear etched across their faces.

Among the chaos and panic, I glimpsed a young girl, no older than ten, frozen on the spot, her eyes wide with terror.

It was more than obvious that she had been separated from her parents.

I could also see some elderly individuals struggling to keep up with the crowd, their pace hindered by age and frailty.

Although I didn't particularly think about it. I was more than aware that they wouldn't manage to outrun the monsters that would soon emerge.

For a moment, I stared at the people trying to flee with clenched teeth.

Should I stay and help, or should I prioritize my own safety?

My entire body screamed to abandon them and save myself. Even my rationality argued in favor of self-preservation.

I was a Demon, so I should act like one shouldn't I?

My emotions were dull anyways.

Even if they die... I wouldn't care.

I will probably forget about them in a week or two.

Same thing happened in the Rookie Graveyard.

I can't even remember the faces of my teammates I left to die there.

Even their names... have all faded into oblivion, just like their hopes and dreams.

Lifting my head from the ground and staring at the portal that was about to form, I finally made a decision.

I am a Demon.

My survival is paramount to everything else.

But...

I can at least repel some of the monsters to buy the civilians more time to escape. At least for that girl... I can sacrifice a little of my own safety to ensure her survival.

Although I am a Demon, I was a human once.

[ Activate ]

As soon as I spoke the command, needles of the Ashen Armor buried deep within the flesh all around my body, making my every nerve feel like it was on fire.

However, I didn't even flinch.

The adrenaline rushing through my veins masked the pain, making it feel as if somebody was simply tapping me on the shoulder.

'I'm a dumbass...'

Tilting my sword, I cursed my own foolishness as I waited for the first creature to emerge.

***

Whoosh...

A rasping sound ripped through the air as a monstrous limb tore through the dimensional tear. It landed with a sickening thud, cracking the earth beneath its weight.

More appendages followed, culminating in a gaping maw filled with enough teeth to make a dragon blush. But fear, though present, was eclipsed by a cold, calculating glint in my eye.

However, before the monster could fully walk out of the portal, I leapt on top of its head, swinging my sword in a wide arc.

Pluck...

My blade found its mark, plunging deep into the creature's skull with a satisfying spray of gore.

Although big, the monster was only of F- rank and with my Ashen Armor's active enchantments and a precise strike to its weak point, I managed to take it down with relative ease.

It was already the third monster that was spit out from the portal, and I continued to dispose of them one by one.

Currently, I was still able to kill them because they were around the same strength as me, but I knew that stronger creatures would soon follow. It was only the first wave of the monsters so I could still put up a fight.

However, I was aware that soon I would be forced to retreat or else...

I would not be able to guarantee my own survival.