Chapter 50: At Death’s Door (IV)

“Agh… Gah…”

Drazel tried to force out another word, but this time, only a mouthful of blood came out. A few seconds passed before he could continue.

“The invaders… the invaders ambushed me… guh… Lord Erebion, you have to help me… I can’t close my wounds… I can’t… ugh!… I can’t heal myself either.”

The mass of dark shadows forming a human figure vanished for an instant, only to reappear the next moment before the demon lying on the ground.

Erebion extended a hand toward Drazel, but stopped before touching him, and his luminous eyes flared brighter.

“This is…”

The dying demon vomited blood again.

“Lord Erebion… I will be your most faithful servant… You have to save me!”

The titan stared at him, his expression, if he even had one, impossible to make out within the dark shadows.

***

Without Drazel, the cornered demons did not take long to surrender en masse. No, in truth, they had already started doing so even while Drazel was still on the battlefield.

It had been a massacre for them. Almost a third of their soldiers had either perished or been gravely wounded.

Their situation was so disastrous that even the forest spirits were trying to heal the wounds of those in the most critical condition.

A rather unusual thing to do for an enemy they had only just defeated.

One reason they could afford to do so was that Nerez’s army had suffered minimal casualties, leaving enough healers to spare. But there was another, more important reason as well.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to control them?”

Nerez was addressing Drazira, who was now kneeling before him. Behind her, a group of generals was doing the same.

“Of course, Lord Nereziel,” the demoness replied confidently. “The troops most loyal to Drazel, the ones in the vanguard and thirsting for blood, were the first to fall. And besides, every survivor was able to witness your power.”

“It’s not like I did all that much…”

“They are all aware of how your servant, Lady Cerys, crushed Drazel in a matter of seconds. And because she is your servant, they understand that you are far more powerful.”

“I see you’re on team Lady Cerys instead of team Lady Reaper.”

“I am not sure I understand…”

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“It’s nothing… I’m sure Cerys will be happy to hear the praise once she’s done sulking behind that rock. But does that have anything to do with why they’re going to listen to you now?”

“In our culture, power is valued above all else,” Drazira continued, while the generals nodded behind her. “So I dare say that, rather than simply obeying me, there will not be a single one among them who does not wish to serve you after witnessing that.”

“…”

“Lord Nereziel?”

“Serve me? Don’t they have anything better to do? Like finding a home or something?”