Chapter 44: The Demolisher

Yolin, the Beast Woman whom Jorael had saved from slavery many months earlier in Rivella, the capital of the Human Empire, made a strange request that left the Traveler and his companions speechless. She went on to explain the sudden request:

"I know this may seem sudden... and absurd.

But Atremis has guided you here, and fate has it that tomorrow you will fight right against Krenkann.

Please... he's not fit to be the next Minos clan leader."

"Aw shit, here we go again with another stupid cat..." Kimora commented harshly.

"Cats keep appearing everywhere from his past..." Cyn'Thia added.

"Why should I agree to kill a Demon I know nothing about?" Jorael asked.

"He is a brute." Kiran replied, then Yolin expanded:

"He is the eldest son of Taurkann, the leader of Minos and descendant of the ancient Demon King Krahyr, at the time when the capital of the Demon Kingdom was in their city.

His strength is not to be underestimated, but it is directly opposite to his intelligence. He is a savage, tyrant, psychopath that when he takes command, he will start a reign of madness."

"Why should I care?" Jorael asked, trying to show disinterest.

"Because I know ... you are kind." Yolin replied timidly.

"That's true, but don't you think you're taking advantage of him again?" Cyn'Thia said.

"...I know it.

Please forgive me for my insolence, but you're the only one I could ask to save my boyfriend." Yolin replied.

"What does Erkann have to do with this?

Isn't he his brother?" Jorael asked.

"Being his brother doesn't make him untouchable.

Aside from the fact that when his older brother will lead the clan, if Erkann has something to say that opposes Krenkann, that brute will have no qualms about killing him.

Also, he doesn't support our relationship…" Yolin explained.

"Isn't the whole premise of Demon leadership that the strong lead the weak?" Jorael asked.

"Yes... but if strong coincides with madness." Yolin whispered.

"I can't take dis shit anymore.

If your boyfriend has something to say against his brother, he has to face the consequences.

Let him be a true man, duh… a true Demon." Kimora said jumping into the discussion.

"W-who are you?" Yolin asked puzzled.

"She's a bitch." Kiran answered harshly.

"WHAT?!

YA STUPID CAT WANT TO DIE!?" Kimora screamed furiously as her face emerged from her cloak, revealing her true nature.

"Are you a... excuse me, which clan?!" Yolin asked confused.

"I'm a Human, ya blind cat." Kimora said.

"H-h-um-m-man!?" Yolin exclaimed in terror as she backed away, leaning her back against the door.

"Yes, I'm human so what ..." Kimora was saying before Jorael put his hand on her mouth and said:

"Enough Kimora, you're scaring her.

I think it's not easy to just forget what happened in that villa."

"Uh-uh...

W-why did you bring humans here?" Yolin asked confused.

"She is the only one, apart from me of course.

The others are Bromur a Dwarf and Cyn'Thia an Elf." He introduced his companions as they revealed their faces.

"I... I don't understand." Yolin whispered.

"Ah! Me neither! Ah ah ah!" Bromur laughed.

"We are bound by life and we will help Jorael find his way..." Cyn'Thia whispered cryptically.

"B-so ... will you help me?" finally Yolin asked.

As she stared at Jorael as he kept quiet, she was pretty sure his savior would approve of her request, but her sweet gaze was met with a denial from Jorael who said:

"No...

It is something I will not do if the situation does not require it.

I understand what you are saying, but I will not kill a person because he is just opposed to your relationship."

"It's not just that... but you will see firsthand his madness." Yolin replied disappointed.

"Like it or not, I will have to face him, but I will not start the match with the intent of killing him.

Now, I hope you can keep my presence and that of my companions a secret." he said.

"Sure, for you this is the least I could do...

By the way, how is Pancelot doing?" she asked.

"He should be fine, we left him with another sweet cat and a cute bunny..." Cyn'Thia replied.

Yolin finally smiled and said:

"I miss him…

Now we're leaving.

May Atremis guide you again tomorrow..."

...

The next day at the coliseum, the match began with the Demon Princess announcing:

"…If you die, you die!

May Atremis lend you her strength of hers.

3... 2... 1... FIGHT!"

The two contenders stared at each other in the arena as the audience cheered them on to fight.

"Snort!

You're mincemeat, fake Goblin." Krenkann exclaimed.

"I'm just here to win, that's all." Jorael said.

"You will be dead; everyone will be dead..." whispered the Bull Demon.

"What are you trying to say?" Jorael asked curiously.

Krenkann snorted without giving any response.

"So ... do you attack or do I attack?" Jorael asked.

"Mooow!" the Minos screamed as he charged his opponent.

'I have to be careful with his technique...

I should just evade his shots.' thought Jorael as he kept his distance between him and his enemy.

"You have no honor in running away." Krenkann said as he pursued his opponent, trying to connect his fist attacks.

"Your fists are powerful; I don't know if I can resist them..." Jorael replied.

"Weak." commented the bull Demon.

Meanwhile, on the Queen's balcony, Drahnemys commented on the action:

"Atremis, please, I pray for Jorael's victory over that fool..."

"Ara ara, I didn't know you became so sympathetic to the Goblin Champion..." Shaneh made fun of her daughter.

"Shut up, mother!

I want that moron of a bull out.

He is so disgusting.

Father would not have approved…" the Princess replied.

"I know right.

My Drahyr would have condemned such ill behavior…" the Queen finally said with sadness.

Krenkann spent a lot of energy back in the ring, but his attack didn't seem to stop. Jorael thought of distracting him and provoking him:

"So... If you win, would you become the clan leader?"

"Mooow!

There is no if, I will become clan leader AND King of the Demons." Krenkann responded arrogantly.

"But if you lose, who will lead your clan… your brother?" Jorael asked.

"THAT CAT-LOVER-WEAK-BROTHER OF MINE?!

NEVER!

I PREFER TO KILL HIM WITH MY HANDS!" Krenkann yelled at the top of his voice in rage.

The Demon bull charged furiously at his foe, oblivious to the enormous expenditure of energy and blinded with rage as Jorael effortlessly evaded the imprecise attacks.

"Pant... Pant...

Are you pleased fake Goblin without honor?

Now attack me as much as you want." Krenkann said as he caught his breath.

"Sorry but I have to win...

I summon Thee strength, of Her who awakened us, Elektro go!" Jorael enchanted.

The base Magic spell discharged a bolt of lightning from the purple heptagram that struck the Demon bull.

"Moooowahhhhh!" Krenkann cried out in pain as he endured the electrocution.

Smoke came out from the Demon's burned skin as he defended himself from the bolt by sheer willpower, or so it seemed.

"You are strong... but you will fall." Jorael said.

"Snort.

Your spells are nothing compared to my School of Bull techniques." Krenkann responded arrogantly.

"School of what?!" Jorael exclaimed in confusion.

"Stupid fake Goblin you will succumb under my fists, like any weakling who will dare to stand in my way!" the bull Demon asserted as, once again, he charged his foe with a newly invigorated attack.

"It's getting annoying..." Jorael said dodging the Minos' punches.

"Eat this." Krenkann commented as he suddenly changed pace and charged his punches as if he was building up some sort of energy. When he was ready, he shouted:

"Furious Hoof!"

Krenkann unleashed his powerful attack from a considerable distance, punching the air in unison with his fists in Jorael's direction.

'What is he doing?!' thought the Goblin Champion in bewilderment as a strange force began to reach him like a gust of wind.

"W-what the hell?!" Jorael exclaimed as the barrage of unexpected force increased until it made him flew high in the air.

"Now try to escape if you can." Krenkann yelled as he approached Jorael's landing position, ready to deliver a blow by hitting his enemy in midair.

'Shit, it was so unexpected!

What the fuck was that?!

I have to throw something fast or that bull will destroy me! 'Jorael thought as he was flying mels up from the ring, but when the gust ended, he began to descend to the ground where his enemy was preparing to throw a vigorous punch, but Jorael without second thoughts instantly cast:

"Tornado!"

Instantly the major spell of Arcane Magic activated, forming a massive hurricane that engulfed Krenkann, spinning him inside.

"MOOOOOWAAAHHHH!!!" cried the Demon bull as the fast-cutting winds ripped through his skin as he was carried by the vortex out of the ring as Jorael landed unscathed on the ground.

The hurricane eventually dissolved out of thin air, knocking Krenkann abruptly onto his back on the low water outside the ring. Although it was clear that the Goblin Champion had won, the entire audience was standing and silent, including the Princess and the Queen. Cyn'Thia was concerned as Bromur and Kimora just smiled, as it was now clear to everyone present that day that Jorael, the Krypster-slayer, was no ordinary demon at all.

"M-mom... what was it?" Drahnemys whispered in confusion.

"I… I don't believe what I've seen with my own eyes, but still, everyone here has seen what I have.

Drahnemys, please... just announce the winner." Shaneh replied in shock.

While Krenkann was lying on the water with his eyes to the sky, the Princess announced:

"... the winner is Jor ..."

"MOOOOOOOW!!!" Krenkann yelled at the top of his voice as he stood up and interrupted the announcement of the winner. While everyone still silently saw him walking towards the ring, he yelled again:

"FAKE GOBLIN WITH ENCHANTLESS MAGIC?!

I CALL BULLSHIT!

THIS IS ALL A FARCE ARCHITECTED BY THE GOBLINS AND THE QUEEN!"

"Shut up, loser!" Drahnemys screamed fiercely, making her voice heard loud and clear within everyone in the coliseum.

"I don't care about your puny voice, little dadless Princess, you're not the Black Lion!

After I crush this fake Goblin, I'll come to get you!" Krenkann shouted angrily as he stepped into the ring, pointing his finger at Drahnemys who replied:

"The game is over, leave now!"

"Fuck you and this farce... Krenkann said as he charged furiously at Jorael who replied:

"You really are a brute and an idiot.

Maybe Yolin was right after all..."

As the contenders were ready and close to deliver a blow at each other, Jorael suddenly felt a threatening presence approach them. Just as Krenkann was about to punch his foe, and Jorael to cast Magic against his foe, the Queen unexpectedly appeared in the ring between them and screamed:

"My daughter said enough!"

Both champions pulled back to the amazement of the crowd that witnessed such a strange situation.

"Queen, I won't give up on you either!" Krenkann said as he suddenly attacked her, to everyone's shock.

"This moron..." Shaneh whispered as she effortlessly dodged the bull demon's fist and reluctantly counterattacked, saying:

"Kick of the Beast!"

The Queen dodged the punch by falling to the ground with her body doing a split, then she suddenly got up like a spring, kicking with her leg aiming for Krenkann's left arm. The same mysterious force that Jorael felt when he was thrown into the air, was felt again from the Queen's kick.

The mysterious force that spread from Shaneh's kick was like a blade of air, which neatly cut off Krenkann's left arm just above his elbow.

"MOOOWAAAAHHHH!" The Minos Champion screamed in pain as everyone saw his dismembered arm fall to the ground as he began to bleed profusely from the wound.

"...I'll make everyone pay!" Krenkann exclaimed as he hurriedly left the ring trying to stop the bleeding with his other arm.

The Queen sighed, and as if nothing had happened, she approached the Goblin Champion.

"The winner is Jorael!" she announced by taking the winner's arm and lifting it to the sky.

The audience broke out to applaud and celebrate the winner, although the whole scene raised many doubts in some Demons.

"You have surely surprised me and everyone with your spell without enchantment...

We only know one person who is capable of doing this, and her name is unwelcome.

I will look forward to when you win the tournament and explain who you really are." the Queen whispered as she was about to leave.

"I was hoping you were the one to explain who am I..." Jorael whispered, making Shaneh even more confused as he walked back to his place.

Jorael left the ring and went underground, but strangely in the infirmary, he didn't see Krenkann there.

'Strange.' thought Jorael as he headed for the Goblin stands. On his way to his companions, he found someone on the road waiting for him.

"I told you he was an idiot." The Beastwoman said.

"Yolin... are you happy that the Queen took care of it in the end?" Jorael asked.

"Yes, it was a little satisfying, but I don't think he's dead." Yolin replied.

"Then let's hope he realizes he's an idiot." he said.

"I highly doubt that...

See you again, I'll join Erkann." Yolin said before leaving.

Jorael joined his companions, where Cyn'Thia was waiting for him right at the entrance and said:

"Did you really need to use your Sage power?!"

"I'm sorry, but I was surprised by what he did and I had to improvise.

This reminds me...

What the hell did he and the Queen do?!" said Jorael.

"Tchà... we told you they use ancient techniques." Salgh'krag replied.

"He called it the School of Bull...

What did he mean?" Jorael asked.

"Tchà... he meant the Demonic Arts taught in Krahyr, for the Minos clan." the She-Goblin answered.

"Couldn't you have explained it before?!" Cyn'Thia exclaimed annoyed.

"Tchà... but that's all we know.

There are different techniques and each clan has its own." Salgh'krag replied.

"Sigh ... by the way you were right.

The Queen became even more terrifying…" the Elf whispered.

"Ah! How not to fall in love with her! Ah ah ah!" Bromur said.

"Sshh...

Snake guy is crazy fast, wolf guy won't stand a chance!" Kimora commented as she watched the match.

"I'll be going..." Jorael said unexpectedly.

"This soon?!

Should we leave with you?" Cyn'Thia asked worriedly.

"No.

I'll avoid the crowd; I have to go check something." Jorael replied.

"... D-do I have to come too?" asked the Elf.

"No, I'll be more relieved knowing you're with the others..." he explained.

"Oh... right..." Cyn'Thia replied slightly disappointed.

"Thanks, Thia.

See you later." Jorael said before leaving the coliseum.

...

Jorael walked the now empty streets of the city to return to the inn.

'The streets are empty now during matches.

What a relief! ' he thought relieved as he approached the inn.

When he arrived and entered, he found for the first time the sober host cleaning the counter. He approached him and asked him:

"Hi Phil, where is Kiran?"

The Cyclops stopped and looked at Jorael for a few seconds before replying:

"Who are you?"

"Jorael? The Goblin Champion?" he replied astonished.

"Oh... sure.

Kiran is cleaning the rooms while the guests are not here.

You'll find her in some room…" Phil finally answered.

"Thank you!" Jorael said as he went in search of the She-Demon.

He proceeded to look for the Beast Woman knocking on the door of all the rooms starting from the first one until he reached his own.

"Phil, unfortunately, I'm not done here ..." Kiran yelled after she heard a knock on the door.

Jorael entered and heard the Demon swear:

"There's an idiot who keeps eating here in the room, and he leaves fucking crumbs and leftovers everywhere.

I bet it's that fucking Dwarf..."

"How to blame you..." Jorael said.

Kiran quickly turned her head to unexpectedly find Jorael staring at her, and she said startled:

"J-Jorael?!

W-why are you here and not at the coliseum?!"

"Because I need you!

You're the only one I can ask…" he replied while approaching her.

"W-what are you saying!?

Where are the others?! "she asked, blushing a little.

"They're still in the coliseum watching the tournament.

It's better this way, so we can focus on ourselves…" he said coming right in front of her.

"W-why is that?!" she asked worriedly.

"Because I need you to explain to me...

What are the ancient techniques used by your clan?" he asked out of the blue.

"Huh?! ...

For a second I thought your Human side had taken over…" Kiran said with a sigh of relief.

"What?" Jorael asked confused.

"Sigh...

What do you want to know from our School of the Cat?" Kiran asked.

"Do you know how to use the techniques?!" he asked.

"Why should I tell a member of another clan, also taking into account that you are half Human? ..." she replied annoyed.

"Because I helped you?" Jorael replied.

"Well, I've already paid off my debt..." she whispered.

"How?!

Bringing Yolin here?" he replied.

"T-that doesn't count!

She knew the Goblin clan was here, and she heard about you at the coliseum…" she tried to explain.

"Sure? How convenient it is for her friend to work right in the place where she could meet me..." Jorael insinuated.

"S-stop ... sigh ...

What do you want to know? "Kiran asked after giving up.

"What are these techniques." Jorael asked.

"We Beastman clan have ours, other clans have theirs, but basically we all use our inner strength to improve our punches, kicks, or even our defense." Kiran explained.

"What inner strength?" Jorael asked confused.

"Eh... I don't know what it is.

I learned everything I know in the streets..." Kiran replied.

"Ok... so do you know the Kick of the Beast or something like that?" he asked him.

"How do you know about that move?

I don't know any moves... unfortunately." Kiran replied.

"I know it because the Queen just showed it to the whole coliseum..." he replied.

"The Queen? Why?" she asked confused.

"She cut off Krenkann's arm because he couldn't behave decently..." Jorael explained.

"Krenkann?!

So, he's dead?!" she asked in shock.

"I don't know but hey...

Can you show me how you use this force?" he asked.

"Huh... fine." she said as she reluctantly assumed an attack stance, and then said:

"Don't dodge, let yourself be hit or parry with your hands."

She began punching Jorael, hitting him in the chest or his hands.

"Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!" she could be heard echoing around the room with each blow, like a small explosion, but still far less powerful than Krenkann's punches.

"I do not understand." Jorael said still confused.

"I don't know if your clan has this technique." Kiran said as she stopped punching.

"Ah... good question.

My Mother surely didn't know..." he replied.

"Well... that's it.

I just know how to use my inner strength on simple punches..." Kiran said.

"It's still useful.

Please let me see again…" Jorael said urging her to attack him again.

...

Time passed as Kiran continued to expose her technique to Jorael who was trying to uncover its secret. They didn't realize they stayed in the room late.

"Huff... Huff...

Not satisfied yet?!" Kiran said very tiredly.

"Wait... why are you so exhausted?!" Jorael asked.

"Huff... Huff...

Of course, when you use a lot of your inner strength you risk exhaustion...

Woahhh!" Kiran screamed as she fell suddenly, only to be saved by Jorael who grabbed her in his arms.

"It was that simple... How stupid I was." Jorael whispered as he carried the catgirl to bed while he finally realized the secret.

"Huff... Huff...

W-What are you doing!?" she asked confused as she lay in bed.

"Get some rest, because you are suffering from magical exhaustion." he explained.

"Huff... Huff...

Magic?! But I don't know how to use spells...

Oh... now that makes sense." Kiran whispered as she realized what the inner strength really was.

"To think you could use Magic even like that...

Uhm... your perfume is... Pleasant…" Jorael whispered as he approached the Beastwoman.

"Huff... Huff...

Huh... thanks, I guess?

Hey, what the fuck are you doing?!" Kiran said when she noticed that he was getting closer and closer.

Jorael had taken off his helmet early during Kiran's demonstration and was now free to smell the Demon who lay exhausted on the bed, unable to move.

"H-hey! You're giving me the creeps!

So... you actually really wanted to do this, perverted Human!" Kiran screamed with no response from Jorael.

Suddenly the door to the room slammed open, and someone entered the room to witness the scene and said extremely annoyed:

"Oh, no Thia... stay with the others...

I feel more relieved this way..."

The Elf quickly approached Jorael, and without second thoughts, she slapped him hard in the face screaming:

"LIAR!"

"Huff... Huff...

Well, thanks Elf…" Kiran whispered.

Jorael recovered from the trance state and said:

"Shit... thanks Thia for waking me up."

Cyn'Thia stared confused at the two on the bed and finally said:

"Oh... I didn't realize it was your Hunger..."