Demon Slayer Rian Rose
Before being called the Great Knight Rian Rose, roughly a thousand years ago, everyone referred to Rian as the "Demon Slayer." It was only natural. No human liked demons, but Rian's hatred was on another level. If he saw one, he killed it. Even if he didn't, he tracked down their traces and slaughtered them. Always drenched in the black blood of demons, making his holy sword gleam... The strongest hero of that era was called the Demon Slayer.
Watching him, the Great Mage and the Great Saintess were always worried. The Great Assassin just sighed indifferently, while the Great Warrior laughed heartily. He smashed demons alongside the Great Knight. Uba Kaliarun, the Great Warrior bearing the name of Kalia Rune, always chanted his true words while swinging every kind of weapon. Exorcism and pure faith were their daily routine and mindset, so Uba, their representative, constantly recited his mantras.
"Om dese deya domini dode sattvaya hum phat..."
"...What the hell are you mumbling? You mutter that shit every day."
"It's the true words passed down through generations in our Kalia Rune. Rian! I've got a great idea. Chant it before you hunt these evil ghosts!"
"You idiot. Does mumbling that crap change anything?"
"I'm not an idiot! I bear the noble name Uba Kaliarun. More importantly, Rian, keep dismissing it and you might regret it big time!"
He laughed.
"Bullshit. Hey, Uba. You think mumbling that amps up your strength or boosts your mana?"
Back then, he just thought Uba looked like a moron.
"Don't mock it! Every word you say builds up your karma. Right here, right now, I don't wanna show you the fierce fires of hell aimed at you instead of those evil ghosts! Apologize."
"...Damn, that's a savage reaction. Fine, I'm sorry."
Even a half-assed apology made Uba burst into loud laughter and forgive him.
"Hahaha! That's good enough!"
Was he really that dumb, or just pure-hearted? Even Uba saw demons as targets for execution. That's why he never forgave demon contractors.
Live according to your fate at birth. No matter how you try, you can't change it. It's part of who you are.
That was one of Uba's frequent sayings. Even if someone contracted with an evil spirit—no, a demon—and lived as a demon contractor. That was their karma to bear. It was their destined fate.
Rian didn't like those words, but he agreed that accumulated karma eventually got settled.
And why not? The demon contractors and demons before his eyes had sinned, and now they were settling their karma with him and his companion. Through death, of course.
Seeing the bastard who contracted with a demon and let his precious ones die brought back old memories.
Borrowing Uba's words, the guy must have piled up a mountain of karma. That's why he was facing settlement now.
In the form of revenge.
If he'd been stronger, he might not have had to flee Snowfall. If stronger, he could have gone to the Pentagon with Arahan and Lucius and barely saved his father.
All this was the result of his own weakness and fault. If he'd been even a little stronger, he wouldn't harbor this level of vengeful thirst.
The force driving Rowen now was revenge. The force that drove Rian in his past life was also revenge. The source of power from one soul was anger.
Uba had said it.
Overcome that anger. I too harbor fury toward magitech.
Dominate your anger. Like I do.
Once consumed by anger, how can you escape the torment?
Rian, one day that anger will narrow your vision, torment you, and lead to your self-destruction.
He too.
It's karma piling up, eventually settled.
Bullshit. That's what he'd thought back then.
But reaching that final moment, he realized Uba wasn't wrong. Limbs shattered, organs ruined. Vision narrowed, body unresponsive, until his head was pierced and he met death.
I know.
He knew, yet he couldn't quell this burning revenge. Foolish thought, but he figured it wasn't so bad. If his power's source was anger anyway...
...then he'd exploit that anger thoroughly.
More than that.
'I just need to grow stronger than in my past life.'
The enemy bared its teeth at him. Rowen had no desire to smell the demon contractor's breath up close.
Grabbing Muron's staggering torso, Rowen conjured a blue dot of azure flame. It soon amplified massively, forming a mana aggregate shaped like a black hole, round and ominous.
Ku-goong!
The air trembled. Dozens, hundreds of ice spears erupted from the ground.
Muron amplified his demonic energy with magitech power and hurled it at Rowen's right arm. Unable to just take it, Rowen released his grip. Just two more seconds and he could've killed him.
Well, all good. He had no intention of ending it easily.
He'd make him die in maximum agony. That's why Rowen ignited blue fiery sword aura on every weapon.
He'd torture him like doodling on his body with flames. Burn, tear, scorch—and infuse chill to prevent regeneration.
Rip out the rune imitations mimicking magitech without using it, flood his body with mana to make it burst.
Without magitech devices, mana clashing with demonic energy meant game over. The power backlash would necrotize him.
A somewhat sinister smile. Seeing himself like that, Rowen laughed cruelly.
*
"Hah, haaack... cough!"
"What? Does it hurt?"
How much time had passed? As the clash dragged on, Muron felt his output dropping. The innate difference set at birth. Energy capacity. No way he could beat Rowen, heir to Valenos blood.
Now, he was caught by Rowen, getting brutally worked over.
Rowen grabbed his throat. Black veins bulged on the firmly gripped neck. Muron's arms and legs had long been severed. Near-absolute zero chill prevented regeneration—it was necrotizing.
"Poison."
Rowen chanted the rune language briefly. No need for incantation; it was basic low-tier magic. But he made sure Muron heard it clearly.
Mana flowed through circuits, corrupting as it flooded his body. Bubbles rose from his throat.
A fishy sneer. Rowen was experiencing peak pleasure now.
"Didn't see this coming, huh?"
"...P-Poison?"
"Yeah. The most ordinary poison. Judging by your face, you thought you were immune for sure... How's it feel now?"
"...Heh heh. D-Don't do this—come to Arkanthia with me. You could help them."
"Fuck off."
Puke!
"Grrrk...!"
Rowen's short ice dagger plunged into his gut. He twisted the blade, grinding with wet squelches. Intestines ruptured and regenerated repeatedly.
Each time, Muron thrashed, losing his mind.
"Hahaha!"
Rowen laughed joyfully, happily. How long since he'd laughed so heartily?
He caught Arahan's worried gaze, but it didn't matter now. His revenge target was before him. His mortal enemy. The demon-contracted fucker!
I'll kill you.
Rowen thrust azure flame at his chest and asked.
"Who’s the demon you contracted with?"
"They're not demons—"
Leather tore with a sizzle, meat scorching. Unquenchable cold flames drew patterns on his chest.
Muron, unable to stay sane amid the agony. Rowen felt joy, yet frustration.
"Spit it out. You know I'm holding back my anger."
"Grrk... Blasphemy is a grave sin... Aaaagh!"
"Blasphemy my ass, you fuck. You're the one doing it. A demon contractor yapping in front of whom?"
"W-What are you...?"
"Wanna know?"
Muron nodded. Rowen nodded back affirmatively—
Kwaduk.
"Not telling."
He crushed the heart. Thump-thump-thump-thump. The frantic, uncalm beat revealed his desperation.
Rowen laughed. He was thrilled. Deep pleasure surged within.
Yet he took deep breaths. He thought being consumed by anger was fine, but he'd experienced that past life's end. At least he'd learned something—couldn't let anger erode his body.
Borrowing Uba, it was torment. In his own words, evil thoughts tainting an angel's blessing.
At least, he hated being called a "fallen" hero.
Minutes later, Muron passed out and woke repeatedly. Rowen bound him mid-air with gravity magic Gravity.
"Hah... haa..."
Gasping breaths. Each time, Rowen conjured rings of blue purgatorial flames around him.
Miserable sobs and groans echoed. When he regained senses, Rowen almost praised him. He was trying to hold sanity amid constant torment.
But even that failed. He'd faint just as praise was due.
This way, he'd never learn what he wanted. There had to be more demon contractors around. Especially those "they" Muron mentioned—Arkanthia's backers, demon worshippers or demons themselves.
He wanted their scale.
"Tell me. Promise I'll make it painless."
"...Painless?"
"Yeah."
"...!"
Regaining wits? Rowen's one-sided brutality had shattered his thoughts enough.
He thought they alone knew magitech power. But Rowen had tried everything a thousand years ago.
Thus, he could handle him plenty.
Muron eyed Rowen with sluggish gaze.
"...Join us and—"
"Fuck."
Hwaruruk!
Red fire pillars erupted around. Simple threat, but enough to roll Muron's eyes back.
This wasn't productive. Rowen culled his rage, deciding to torture until he spilled everything.
*
Time passed, and he'd learned something. He'd caused this mess for a group calling themselves the Demon Cult.
Absurd. No choice but to rage harder.
"...Hoo."
Regain control. Even chanting Uba's calming mantras.
Anyone watching might mistake him for a madman. But it wasn't bad. He'd gleaned info, made inferences.
"Demon Cult."
They were demon contractors, alright. Upper demons contracting to spread demonic energy to humans. Traitors to god's will, walking evil's path—they'd dragged Muron in.
No sympathy, of course. The moment he joined, he became a dogshit bastard. He'd already made Rowen's family miserable—what pity?
Rowen was furious. Yet he kept inferring.
The King of Frost was awakening. Around the same time, Demon Cult moved. Arahan said Kalia Rune exorcists sensed omens too.
Surely, Demon Cult aimed to break the Demon Kings' seals. Otherwise, all this coinciding was too coincidental.
But it wasn't coincidence. All calculated.
Demon worshippers. Humanity's betrayers.
Rowen ground his teeth. Even after a millennium, the world brimmed with irredeemable trash.
Thinking it all stemmed from demons' whispers fueled his rage more.
Rowen's sunken eyes. Chillingly beaming smile. Blood-dripping blade.
No more torture needed.
Rowen was certain. He'd learned what he wanted. Even unspoken tales he'd heard separately.
Seemed he'd got most info. No need now. It was for revenge from the start.
Why spare him?
He froze Muron's blood. Exhausted from depleting demonic energy, he couldn't heal his throat wound.
Muron eyed Rowen's intent. Rowen released Gravity with a resigned look.
"Th-Thank y—"
Sek.
Black blood dripped from Rowen's Ice Blade. Muron stared blankly skyward, uncomprehending.
Couldn't lift his head. His neck had already tumbled to the ground.
"...Wh-Why?"
"I said I'd make it painless. Never said I wouldn't kill you."
More than that.
"You made my father die, yet thought you could live in front of me? You didn't think that, right?"