The Fate of The Reincarnated

7. The encounter at Alza

Though the origin and discovery of mana weren’t known about, everyone still living knew that it didn’t come without consequences. The effects weren’t immediate, but as people began using mana for various tasks, otherworldly beasts, akin to monsters, started to emerge.

Hagure, Jua, and Demons – among these, the most destructive was the first and most dreadful creature known as the Demon King. These creatures exhibited a clear affinity for mana; they descended upon villages, consuming anything that held even a trace of mana, be it livestock or innocent children. To combat their strength, cities established guilds, enlisting individuals who could wield magic to join their ranks and defend against the onslaught.

Eventually, the reign of the demon king came to its conclusion, and his dominion came to an end. However, this didn’t mean that all the monsters that walked the Earth were destroyed, quite the opposite. They kept on coming, Quinx’s, Keepers, Seers, all the monsters that existed, reproduced, and evolved until one day a significant evolution was seen. A demon was capable of speech.

"All troops WITHDRAW!!" The commander shouted as the walls of Alza broke down. The demon was on a rampage and all the adventurers they had summoned were already dead. "Someone please anyone! Save us! Please."

Monsters in general devoured humans as a means to survive, but only demons evolved as a result of gaining mana. From gaining speech to developing human-like features and mannerisms. Demons started using their evolution to sneak into human towns and villages, killing everyone within them after they successfully snuck in.

The demon rose from the destruction of the catacombs. Its form was devilish, it had the stature of an average human but with wings and horns. "You all lack enough mana to satisfy me!" [Darkness magic: Shadow Revival] From the crumbled ruins grew shadow-like figures that basked in the moonlight. They ran towards the soldiers murdering each one of them in less time than they could scream for help.

"I love you, Misha." The commander drew his sword. "But Daddy isn't going to make it home tonight." He charged the shadows slashing through each of them in a last-ditch attempt but his blade broke on impact with one of them. "ARGH." The commander punched and kicked the shadows until his arms could no longer move. "So this is it."

[Air magic: Destroying gust] The shadows were pushed away from the commander. [Twin dagger form 1: Star trail] Finn slashed through the remaining shadows, leaving him alone with the commander. "Are you alright?"

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[Earlier

"Are you crazy?" Emma shouted at Finn who insisted on following her.

"I can help, even if it's to evacuate whoever is there while you focus on the thing," Finn argued.

"You'll die, is that how you want your story to go?"

"I can help, I won't fight it with you. I'll evacuate whoever is there is all. That way you can focus on the main demon."

Emma stared into his eyes and sighed. "I hate it when you make good points."

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Both of you guys should evacuate." Emma charged the demon that stood in the skies, "I'll take care of this."

"I'll be evacuating with him...." Finn made a grave mistake, he looked around the battlefield and his feet stopped working. The mutilated and brutally murdered corpses of the dead. This was his first time seeing a dead person in this world and now there were hundreds of them, each dying to a different method. He wanted to vomit, he wanted to pass out... He wanted to run.

"Look at me, kid." The commander grabbed Finn's face. "Focus on me and me only."

Finn looked up and walked slowly away from the catacombs supporting the commander with his shoulder. "Thanks."

"It happens to everyone." The commander slapped Finn's back.

[Darkness magic: Nightfall] Suddenly the weather changed. Although they had reached the catacombs around noon all of a sudden it was completely dark. Emma stopped her charge and withdrew backward, all she could see was darkness and nothing else. A gust of wind blew close to her and she clenched her body. "Crap." The demon kicked Emma into the ground near Finn.

"Are you okay?" Finn asked Emma who flew back into the sky as soon as she fell.

"Get away from here!"  Emma screamed.

The battlefield was already in the final state of chaos, even though they arrived as soon as they were called the adventurers that were summoned as well all graced the battlefield as corpses. [Air magic: Gaelstrom] The demon put its hand out summoning a wall of mana that protected it from the slashes of wind Emma created. "It's strong." Emma thought to herself. [Air magic: Skyward] The demon was pushed into the air by a surge of wind and Emma pounced on the chance she created using a construct of wind to slash through the chest of the demonic entity. A direct hit to its heart.

"Did she get it?" The commander asked as he saw the demon get split in half. "That was a strike to the heart."

"She's ridiculously strong." Finn thought.

Emma flew toward Finn and the commander after the demon dropped to the ground, it was strong but she was stronger. She was running low on mana and all she wanted now was a nap. "Hm?" Finn was pointing at something.

[Dark magic: Moonlight] Emma was struck out of the air by a beam of magic like a bird from a stone. Finn instantly used his first form, desperately trying to catch Emma before she fell but he wasn't quick enough.

"Master!" Finn ran toward Emma, her red garments torn and bloodied. Didn't she kill the demon? Was it an illusion? No, she definitely cut it apart.

"You really didn't think that would be enough to kill me did you." The demon kicked Finn in the chest launching him away from Emma.

"I really wonder why she kept fighting, her comrades all died by my hands but for some reason, she thought she was special." The demon pushed Emma onto her chest, revealing her rank plate. "A measly iron rank wants to kill me?" The demon laughed as its wings and horns retracted into its body. "I've killed sheep smarter than you."

"Run... Finn..."

"Calling iron ranks to help with a demon." A figure said as he slowly approached Finn, a gold plate above his chest shaking as he walked.

"A strong mana presence," The wings of the demons pushed out of its back and it took flight, creating distance between it and the figure.

"Scared?" The man laughed. "That's a new reaction." The man swiped his hand and the head of the demon fell onto the ground.

Finn's eyes were wide open but he still couldn't see it, what was the attack? He could see wind magic so it wasn't as if it was the element being invisible. Was it so fast that he couldn't catch it? "A gold plate... are you from the guild?"

"Where's your plate?" The man walked toward Finn. "Are you Iron like your friend over there... sorry that doesn't matter. I'm Hex. Hex Althrathor, Gold-2."

"I'm Finn."

"Before you flame the guild for sending you to death's door, it wasn't their fault. A request was sent and although they requested for Platinum and above the only adventurers available were Iron and Granite, I came as fast as I could to support-." Hex looked around. "None of which seem to be breathing."

"Is it dead?" Finn got up slowly, trying to see if Emma was okay.

"Should be, it rearranged its organs successfully hiding its heart around its neck region." Hex swiped his hand again but nothing happened. "Luuk?"

"Your bird was quite scrumptious my friend." The demon walked over to them holding the corpse of a giant bird in his hand. "I was quite confused at first, but your power is cloaking. You use it to make your beasts invisible."

"Step back," Hex advised.

Demons didn't have a particular weakness, they could be killed the same as any other creature but the evolved ones were different. They couldn't die until their heart was destroyed.

"You shifted the position of your heart didn't you."Hex laughed. "You're weak and scared, aren't you? Evolved demons find it hard to move their hearts since it's where the mana they gain is stored. However, you moving it around that quickly means you've consumed only a little bit of mana."

"You little brat... ME WEAK? ME SCARED?" [Dark magic: Moon scatter] Hex ran from the demon evading the blasts of magic it sent at him, most demons he had fought had died once he struck their chest region. This was his first time fighting one that could change the position of its heart so quickly. "Your mana will be delightful." The demon rushed over to Hex whilst the blasts of magic still rained over them.

"I need to crush it entirely." Hex side-stepped a blast of magic and swiped his hand again but to no effect, the demon dodged the attack of the animal meaning his technique had been seen through.

"Using the same strategy, I see?" The demon's laughter echoed with disdain for the adventurer's seemingly feeble effort to eliminate it. [Dark magic: Moon blade] The demon summoned a katana-shaped construct, lunging at Hex with a slashing motion. "Attacking an unarmed opponent, how honorable." Swiftly evading the katana's arc, Hex skillfully maneuvered to kick the demon back using his boot. The demon slashed at the air after he was kicked away, swiftly dispatching another one of Hex's invisible creatures.

"Using the swing of your leg to direct your beast. That would have been a decent attempt at killing me." The demon laughed. "Tell me your name human.

"Hex."

"I'm Quan, I will be sure to remember the name of the worthy adversary I killed." The demon charged again swinging the blade multiple times.

"Getting ahead of ourselves aren't we?" Hex dodged each individual swing of the blade before jumping backward to create space.

Quan's blade cut through the air with increased intensity, aimed at Hex, who managed to skillfully evade each strike. Could it be that Hex struggled with close-range combat? Was this his sole method of fighting? If so, then Quan knew that dispatching him might be simpler than he initially anticipated.

[Dark magic: Death strangle] In the middle of Hex’s dodge, something grabbed him. He looked down and it was an arm made out of darkness. “I can hear the sounds your creatures make, and summoning your concealed creatures requires some kind of physical movement from you. But let's test my thesis.” Quan spoke, determination evident in his voice.

[Dark magic: Nightfall] The atmosphere around Hex grew tense as the spell effectively removed his sight. Quan capitalized on the success of his spell, utilizing the opportunity to his advantage. With his blade raised, he executed a swift and precise strike, aiming to swiftly end the adventurer's life.

[Fire Magic: Flaming ball] A colossal sphere of flames was sent toward Quan, leaving him with no alternative but to evade. "A third party?" Quan's gaze settled on Finn, the caster of the spell. "I should have eliminated you when I had the chance."

[Sound magic: Echo wolf] "Taking your eyes off me sure is bold." Hex smiled as the demon's lower half was obliterated in a split second. "Devour him Ibis."

Quan looked at Hex, what was happening? Although he turned his attention to the boy he was sure he kept his guard up unless... it wasn't just mere cloaking. "I assumed wrongly."

"My magic isn't cloaking, that's merely a gimmick. My actual magic is sound erasure. When you focus on what you can hear too much, I bring something you possibly can't." Hex clarified before the demon ended up in the stomach of his pet beast.

The demonic entity that killed all those adventurers and hurt Emma was killed by just one person. Was this truly the skill gap between the ranks? "Thanks, by the way, your distraction was helpful."

"Save my teacher." Finn fainted next to Emma.

"I was kind of hoping I wouldn't carry anyone." Hex's smile turned into annoyance when he saw Finn faint. "I hate this job."