Sighing, Lucifer followed after his lord in the desert towards the roar. As much as he wanted to stop the dragon and lead him back towards their original destination, he could not refuse this man’s words. However, if Lucifer was right, he knew that even his lord have to pull off some of his miraculous magic.

  As they travelled for a couple more minutes, the sun, which was just rising when they left, started to set, casting a warm and colourful glow across the sky. Its rays illuminated the clouds, turning them into shades of deep red and purple. Lucifer’s stomach started to drop even further, but he kept on following his lord without hesitation.

  While they were getting closer, the roars were intensifying, and soon the culprit was in sight. In the distance, the beast appeared as a dark shape against the sky, its bat-like wings silhouetted against the sun. As the two approached, the creature's shape became more distinct, with its muscular body and tough, brown scales coming into view. Vesnic could see the sharp teeth and fierce eyes glinting in the light. From afar, the creature looked fearsome and imposing, its size and strength evident even at a distance. The sound of its roars and growls echoed across the landscape. From afar, the monster with its bat-like wings looked like a creature of myth and legend.

  ‘It is a wyrm,’ thought Vesnic.

  ‘Dammit, why did it have to be a wyrm?” thought Lucifer.

  Their eyes landed on a small army standing at attention in front of the wyrm, their weapons drawn and ready for battle. Despite their small numbers, they looked determined and resolute, their faces etched with determination as they prepared to face the fearsome creature before them.

  The wyrm towered over them, its muscular body and tough, brown scales glistening in the sunlight. Its bat-like wings were spread wide, casting a shadow over the army as it prepared to attack. Despite its fearsome appearance, the soldiers stood their ground, unwavering in their resolve.

  As the wyrm approached, the soldiers braced themselves, their weapons at the ready. The sound of its roars and growls echoed across the battlefield, sending a chill down their spines. But the soldiers held their ground, their eyes fixed on the wyrm as it swooped down towards them.

  As it drew closer, the soldiers sprang into action, their swords and spears flashing in the sunlight as they launched a coordinated attack. The wyrm lashed out with its tail and teeth, but the soldiers were well prepared, dodging and parrying its blows with skill and agility.

  The soldiers fought with determination and bravery, their spirits unbroken in the face of the wyrm's overwhelming strength. However, it was evident that they were on the losing side.

  “My Lord, what should we do?”

  “Watch; saving them right before they die will make them think they owe us their lives.”

  “You are wise, my lord,” spoke Lucifer. ‘It’s a simple solution to the problem, although cruel if a single mistake is made.’

  The soldiers started to lose their numbers one by one, but they did not falter and kept attacking and defending a specific man in complete silver armour.

  ‘Their leader.’

  When their numbers had been halved and hope seemed lost as they barely looked scarred, Vesnic moved. He was tens of kilometres away from the battle and, in a flash, arrived in between the two parties almost instantly, just at the moment when the wyrm was about to strike. The wyrm, driven forward by its own momentum, barrelled towards the new arrival with reckless abandon, ignorant of the being's crushing power and unable to halt its charge.

  “Protect the Lord and retreat.”

  “What about that man?”

  “Leave him and escape.”

  “His sacrifice for his Lord will be appreciated and told in stories.”

  “Yes, Sir!”

  Vesnic gave no heed to the insignificant army trailing behind him; his attention was solely on the incoming wyrm. As it charged forward, he sidestepped with grace and precision, moving like a viper striking its prey. In a single, devastating motion, he slammed his hand into the beast's side, punching through scales and flesh with ease. The wyrm's lifeless body crumpled to the ground in a heap, a testament to Vesnic's unmatched might. His power was not just in his magic; his very body was a force to be reckoned with. In his past life, none dared challenge him, and those who did were quickly crushed beneath his indomitable will.

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  The army behind him stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the display of strength and skill they had just witnessed. They knew nothing of the man, but his feat of defeating the wyrm in a single strike left an indelible mark on their minds.

  “What raw power!”

  “In one strike, he killed that wyrm.”

  “Even the Royal Army would have taken hours to kill it!”

  “Impossible…”

  Muttering started across the small army because of Vesnic’s power display.

  “Our Lord!”

  “Lord, please do not approach that man; he may harbour evil intentions towards you.”

  The man, who was covered in silver armour, walked from the back of the army to the front. He took his helmet off and revealed his face. The man's face had a mix of feline and human features. His forehead was broad and furrowed, with a pair of pointed ears on either side of his head. His eyes were large and almond-shaped; they gleamed with an intense, predatory focus, betraying the keen intelligence and kindness of a benevolent leader. His nose was small and pointed, with flared nostrils that quivered with every breath. His mouth was wide, with sharp, pointed teeth that glinted in the light. Overall, his face exuded a sense of speed and primal energy.

  Vesnic knew of this species, an Anumanu. They were a breed that resembled certain animals of the wild, and this one resembled a Gepard, a fast animal that cared for its family and other beasts. It was then that Vesnic finally noticed that the army was almost entirely Anumanu, except for the occasional monster.

  “Saving my army was no small feat, and for that, we are grateful,” he said, his voice laced with confidence and gratitude. “Although you are a human, you are not just any human. Your strength and power are unmatched. We are honoured to stand before you.” He paused for a moment, his gaze unwavering. “What do you call yourself?”

  Just as Vesnic was about to reply, Lucifer, who had caught up to his lord, spoke in his ear gently, “My lord, wyrms usually travel together, so there won’t be much time before the rest of their family show up. We should leave as fast as possible... with the army.”

  His sudden appearance shocked the army, but it was soon taken over by anger.

  “How dare you ignore His Lordship!”

  “Your act of insolence in front of His Lordship will not go unpunished!”

  “It cannot go unpunished!”

  A sudden urge to kill all these puny Anumanu rose in Lucifer’s heart.

  Snarling, he growled, “Pesky rats should know their place.” As the God of Demons, he could not accept such behaviour, not to mention when his lord was in their presence.

  Without delay, the Gepard in silver armour kneeled before Lucifer and spoke, “Lord Lucifer, we did not expect to see you here. Please forgive my men's unsatisfactory behaviour. We will surely punish ourselves later.” The soldier's tone was both respectful and confident.

  No matter the status of a person in the world, the Council of Gods were above them all, especially one who was ranked second, and so the army followed suit by kneeling before Lucifer. They had all heard of his name, but his appearance was not well known because he was kept cooped up in the Land of Demons.

  “Lord Lucifer, if we may, we are in the process of procuring Wyrm Scales to craft a medicine for the current Beast King's illness. We humbly request your permission to collect some of the scales, and it would be a great honour and privilege to receive your gracious approval.” The Gepard’s glib tongue spewed pleasantries without stopping, but his army groaned inwardly. Top of Form

  ‘Why can’t His Lordship keep something as important as His Majesty’s illness a secret?

  ‘Especially in front of that human.’

  ‘With his strength, he could take advantage of His Majesty’s state and take the capital by force.’

  From this discussion, Vesnic could determine this man’s ideals and purpose. He cared about his people so deeply that he regarded them as an extension of himself. Vesnic was pleased by this man, except that he thought Vesnic was lower than Lucifer. Shouldn’t he ask the hunter for the rights of the hunted?

  “You may collect the scales of my prey. But do not overstep your bounds,” warned Vesnic.

  Realising the mistake he had made, the Gepard lowered himself further.

  “Lucifer, they approach. Use this as an opportunity to test your new spells. If they prove satisfactory, I will consider supplying you with more.”

  Hearing his lord’s statement, a hint of excitement but also fear appeared in his eyes. His thoughts started to whirr and morph into something more boorish and frightened. His face twisted at the thought of those ugly beasts.

  ‘Dammit, a whole pack of those damn wyrms? There's no way I can handle six or seven of them. Hell, I ain't even sure I can take on one, especially since it's a dragon species. This ain't good.’

  Vesnic, seeing the change in his friend’s face, grinned mischievously inside. Rapidly casting two low-circle spells on the small army, one to make their presence diminish and one for defensive purposes, he also started using the Draconic Slaughterer’s Wish. Using the technique in battle was the best way to utilise all of its potential, especially with the current magic development having inefficient circles.

  Soon, the desert sand started to shake, and as the sand began to stir and shift, massive shapes emerged from beneath. The creatures were serpentine in form, with tough, brown scales that shimmered in the sunlight. Their heads were elongated and pointed, with sharp, gleaming teeth that jutted from their jaws.

  As the dust settled, the five massive wyrms became more apparent. Their muscular bodies were almost twice the size of the previous wyrm that Vesnic had defeated. The wyrm in the centre was even larger than the others, with a wingspan that spanned the entire clearing. Its scales glistened in the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling array of colours. Its razor-sharp teeth were visible even from a distance, and its fierce eyes glinted with intelligence.

  Its rage was palpable. Its eyes blazed with fury, and its voice boomed across the battlefield. “Who daressss to kill my ssssson?” it roared, its voice echoing through the air. The soldiers cowered in fear, their faces pale with terror.

  “You will pay for what you have done.”