Chapter 23. Demon Lair
The demon Krinto's body, struck by the fireball, had a hole blasted clean through it before regenerating. It let out a monstrous screech and charged at them.
Ji-hyuk swiftly dropped low, dodging the massive scythe that whooshed past, then thrust his holy sword upward. The demon's torso and arm were severed, only to reattach themselves. -_-!! Krinto slammed its scythe down repeatedly with thunderous crashes. Ji-hyuk evaded like a nimble rat, slipping every which way.
Suddenly, the demon thrust out its left arm, unleashing a torrent of demonic energy toward the team members—to block Ludvine's magic. Bruce instinctively raised his shield, protecting both Ludvine and himself. The demonic energy collided with the shield, erupting in a massive explosion. BOOM— the blast rocked the catacombs.
"Aaaagh—!" Everyone was caught in the explosion and flung in all directions. Skeletons embedded in the walls rained down in a chaotic heap. The light orb flickered out, but thankfully, the mana orb continued shining steadily. It was a godsend they'd stolen it from the real castle.
Krinto swung its scythe even more ferociously. Ji-hyuk dodged while closing in on it, then slashed with his holy sword three times. The demon's torso was sliced horizontally, only to reform. -_-_-!!!! Krinto unleashed another blast of demonic energy. Bruce, staggering to his feet, quickly raised his shield again to block it. Another explosion rocked the chamber. The shield, its durability depleted, shattered into pieces. The scarred brute Bruce was engulfed in the blast. His shield arm was mangled, his body covered in wounds, and his lower jaw was completely torn off. His tongue lolled out limply.
Ughhh, ughhhh—_-!! He writhed in agony and shock. Grendal snapped to attention and called for Grace. Jepopo frantically dug through the skeleton pile, searching for his comrade's missing jaw.
The demon reached out again. Ji-hyuk swiftly severed its arm twice. Fortunately, no demonic energy came this time. Instead, it counterattacked with its scythe. -_-!! Ji-hyuk ducked his head just in time. This one was really close—the blade grazed past. But the hero didn't lose focus, striking upward once and downward once in a lightning-quick double slash.
At that perfect moment, Ludvine finished her incantation and fired another fireball at it. The combo was decisive.
"Waaarrrghhh!" As the demon screamed, Ludvine whipped around. Ugh— Suddenly, it felt like needles stabbing into her body over and over.
"Boss—!!" Ludvine cried out desperately. Ji-hyuk sensed the demon approaching from behind as well. Fuck, this is bullshit…! If the Pain Demon, Agdali, showed up here too, they were truly screwed.
"Everyone, run forward—!" Ludvine began chanting another spell. The pain tearing into her body intensified. Aah— She could feel something enormous coming.
"What the fuck is this—!" Jepopo, the kobold who had reattached Bruce's jaw, rubbed his arms frantically, scanning around. His whole body started tingling and aching. Grendal sensed something ominous and hurriedly reattached Bruce's jaw before hoisting him onto his back.
"Move, hurry—!" Of course, the demon wouldn't just watch. But after another holy sword slash and magic hit, it staggered back against the wall. Seizing the opening, the team bolted forward again. Naturally, Ji-hyuk brought up the rear.
Ludvine and Grace's running speed slowed. Ugh. Ji-hyuk snapped alert from the stabbing pain throughout his body. The Pain Demon was closing in fast.
"Jepopo—! Carry Ludvine—!" The kobold scooped her up and slung her onto his back. Ji-hyuk hoisted Grace and ran.
A chilling shriek exploded right behind them.
"Run, keep running, don't stop—!!" Ji-hyuk shouted. Grace began thrashing and screaming in agony.
"Aaaagh, aaaagh, aaaagh—!" Unable to endure the pain slicing through her like a butcher's knife, she clawed at Ji-hyuk's chest with her nails.
"Agh, bo-, aaaagh, boss, aaaagh, I, I'm, dying, aaaah—!!" Grace's body started trembling violently. Her screams continued nonstop.
"Fuck—!!" Kobold Jepopo roared, running even harder. Everyone cried out in pain from the demonic energy pouring from Demon Agdali. In the excruciating torment, Grace thrashed wildly, even pissing herself in shuddering spasms. So agonizing was it that she wailed and raked the chest of her respected boss.
"Aaaah, aaaaaah, aaaaaaaaah—!!!" Ji-hyuk could vividly feel her suffering on his back. He picked up the pace. But her convulsions persisted. The pain was too intense even for unconsciousness.
"Kill meee, just kill meeee, aaaah—!!" Ludvine, with witch blood in her veins, fared slightly better than the others—but only slightly; the pain was still the same. Jepopo gritted his bloodshot eyes, trembling as he clenched his teeth. Knowing they'd die if they stopped, they had no choice but to keep running despite the madness-inducing agony. Then his legs buckled, and he tumbled forward.
Aaagh— Jepopo and Ludvine rolled across the floor. Ji-hyuk halted and yelled for Jepopo to get up. That's when Grace, overcome by pain, began convulsing. Her eyes rolled back, her body seized with spasms. She pissed herself again.
"Move your ass, you fucker—!!" the boss bellowed. Jepopo summoned superhuman strength, hoisted Ludvine again, and ran. Ji-hyuk was nearing his limit too. It felt like arrows piercing his body repeatedly. Each time, he forced down the groans rising in his throat.
They ran again. A fork appeared ahead—left or right.
"Veer left—!"
Kiyaaaaahhh— The Pain Demon shrieked from behind, closer now. Ji-hyuk had no time to look. Everyone's breaths reached their throats. In desperation, Jepopo even dropped his weapon. No time to care about gear when life hung by a thread. Every ounce of weight had to go.
They ran and ran. Ludvine started freaking out too, gnawing on Jepopo's shoulder blade.
"You fucking bitch, I'm hurting like hell too, fuck—!!!"
Kiyaaaaahhh—_!! After what felt like an eternity, the exit finally came into view.
Aaah! Ji-hyuk yelled for them to climb fast. But ascending the stairs was grueling, especially with heavy loads on their backs. Huff, huff, huff. The stairwell echoed with ragged breaths and frantic footsteps.
Soon, a piercing shriek reverberated up the passage. Agdali had caught up.
"Run faster, run like you're dying—!!" Ji-hyuk screamed until his throat bled. Even shielding with mana had limits. He too was enduring the body-rending pain. This fucking…! Everyone climbed with every last ounce of strength. Then, light appeared ahead.
"Faster, run faster—!!" Ji-hyuk felt the demon right on his heels. The thudding grew louder.
Kiyaaaaahhhhhh—!!! The final stretch was suffocating agony. Breathless from pain, Grace foamed at the mouth, clawing her own neck raw.
"Aaaaaah—!!" After a mad sprint, Grendal emerged first. Then Jepopo, and finally Ji-hyuk hurled himself out.
Agdali lunged after but slammed into an invisible barrier. The pus-oozing hag demon pounded the membrane with her fists, screeching.
"Fuck, fuuuck…!" They crawled away from the entrance on all fours. Only then did the pain slowly ebb.
Kiyaaaaahhh— The demon, refusing to abandon its prey so close, kept hammering the barrier with pus-dripping fists, howling.
Ji-hyuk pressed his ear to Grace's chest. She was alive, thankfully. But utterly exhausted, she lay motionless, barely breathing. Everyone collapsed, panting heavily. Steam rose from their feverish bodies. Huff, huff, huff. They lay there for ages, doing nothing but breathing. Agdali finally gave up and retreated; the shrieks faded.
They stared blankly at the sky. The crimson sunset was beautiful. A few birds dotted the horizon. The shift from hellish agony to this serenity felt surreal, like a dream.
"Fuck… my whole body aches."
Jepopo barely sat up, eyeing Bruce sprawled out. The brute hadn't fully recovered; blood still oozed from his jaw.
"Hey, Bruce. Jaw okay? …Fuck, I was in such a rush, might've grabbed any old thing. Heh, you check it?"
"…What the fuck?! My jaw's someone else's?!"
Bruce frantically pawed at it. …Come to think of it, it felt off.
"F-, fuck, for real? You're kidding, right? If not, I'll kill you—!"
"Fuck if I know, asshole. I was dying here, couldn't check each one."
"You fuck…!"
"Hey hey? Be grateful I even found one. More cursing?"
"Even if you found it, it has to be the right one—!"
"Heh, kidding, man. Don't get serious."
"Fuuuck, scared me. …Thanks for finding it, asshole."
Ji-hyuk and Grendal chuckled. They sat up too. Grace was still out cold. Ludvine crawled around, pale and sickly.
"Any dead guys, hands up."
"Right here, about to croak. Heh."
"Pack up and move."
They dragged their aching bodies upright. Never wanted to meet those demons again.
"Fuck, this sucks…." Bruce kept wiping the blood from his jaw. The metallic stench hung heavy. Their steps were unsteady, the worst pain they'd ever endured.
Ji-hyuk carried the unconscious Grace.
"Ludvine, you okay?"
"It hurt like dying, but better now."
The pain, like being stabbed repeatedly, had been blindingly horrific. Even with some resistance to demonic energy, Ludvine could only imagine Grace's suffering.
The hero team trekked far from the catacomb entrance before camping. The sun dipped toward the horizon. They collapsed without mats, groaning.
"Fuck, that demon was the worst…." Jepopo muttered. Everyone agreed fervently. Better the Sloth Demon Darophim a hundred times over. That one could be endured with willpower; this was unbearable. A bit longer, and they'd have flailed helplessly to their doom.
While setting camp, Ji-hyuk carried Grace to nearby bushes. He stripped her piss-soaked pants and meticulously cleaned her lower body with a wet cloth. No lust in his touch. He changed her fully, then his own soaked clothes.
Back with the healer on his back, the other four roasted dried meat over the fire. They wolfed it down. The sun plummeted. Exhausted, they flopped onto mats right after eating.
"Tonight, just me, Grendal, and Jepopo on watch. Cool?"
"Yes, boss."
Ji-hyuk pointed to himself, Grendal, and Jepopo. They nodded.
Watch shifts needed flexibility.
"I'll take the middle."
"Good. Jepopo, first watch. I'll do last."
"Got it."
Finally, Ji-hyuk lay down. Whew— A sigh escaped. Stars twinkled in the darkening sky.
…Finally, over.
He gazed at the starry night briefly. Exhaustion crashed over him. Lulled by chirping crickets, the hero fell into deep sleep.