DEMON FOREST – THE CLEARING
All demons stood ready, expressions filled with confidence, bloodlust radiating from their eyes. None of them imagined even the slightest chance of defeat.
Luthor(from the Demon King's chamber, watching through a spell-vision):"Five modern devils… versus five medieval demons. Ha… this will be amusing."
The tension cracked.
FOUR CAPTAINS FROM EACH SIDE CHARGED FORWARD, SIMULTANEOUSLY.
HUJO — the humanoid hedgehog demon with backward, kangaroo-like legs — dashed in erratic zig-zag patterns, launching sharpened black spikes with rapid bursts toward Sanjay.He was confident — too confident — in his raw movement speed.
But…
Sanjay, having activated EXPOSE from the very beginning, moved casually — steps calm and deliberate, almost like he was taking a walk.
Hujo(confused, muttering):"What… what kind of movement skill is that?! I can't follow him… but he's not even fast! He's walking. Is this… some kind of illusion typ—UGH!?"
THUD!
Sanjay suddenly appeared behind him and tripped Hujo mid-dash — the proud demon sprawling on the ground in disbelief.
Hujo(growling):"What kind of trickery is this?!"
Sanjay(mocking, grinning):"Heh. Skill issueeeeez."
Hujo(furious):"LISTEN HERE, YOU LITTLE SHIT—!"
Waka, the graceful yet brutal cat demoness, was already circling Tokira like a predator — seeking an opening.She spotted a small gap and lunged forward in an arc, her claws gleaming as they slashed toward Tokira's exposed side.
Waka:"Hyaaa—!"
But—
Tokira moved like clockwork. Without changing expression, he extended his staff and planted it squarely in her belly, halting her mid-air.Her momentum stopped in a jolt.
SWOOSH—
Tokira spun — rotating his body and staff simultaneously — then followed up with a sharp side-strike straight into Waka's left ribs.
Waka(air knocked out of her):"HUUUAAAGH!!"
She collapsed to one knee, gasping for breath.
Without pause, Tokira struck again — this time aiming for her spine.
Waka:"AaaaaAAAAAAAHHH!"
Pain exploded through her.
Her body, trained and hardened through centuries of war, froze. For the second time in her life, the first being her defeat at the hands of the Demon King himself — Waka felt it:
Primal fear.
As Tokira slowly raised his staff for the final blow, her instincts screamed.
Waka(thinking):"Why… why is this human so terrifying? I'm a demon… yet I'm trembling like prey. Why am I facing this humiliation? Why did our king summon him?"
"If I lose here… Fujios will… he'll hate me—"
She looked toward him.
Fujios' eyes widened. Then, he dropped to one knee.
Fujios(loudly):"I… surrender."
Hassa, who had been locked in a cold, still glare with him, nodded slowly.
Hassa:"Wise choice."
Meanwhile — the battle between Hujo and Sanjay had escalated into a flurry of short-range, brutal combat.
Hujo had adjusted, now using his spikes like close-range blades, but Sanjay — a dagger prodigy — danced through the strikes, weaving and countering with pinpoint slashes.
Dozens of cuts now decorated Hujo's body — not deep enough to kill, but painful, humiliating.
Hujo(thinking in desperation):"How… How am I, the captain of the First Squadron of the First Division… getting outplayed by a damn human?!"
"Why?! Why?! WHY WHY WHY WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!"
A loud, thunderous CLANG shattered the battlefield — masking Hujo's final scream.It was the collision of Akim's axe and Kola's war hammer.
A shockwave followed.The force cracked the earth beneath their feet, sending tremors through the battlefield.
Kola:"PUNY HUMAN! I WILL CRUSH YOU!"
Akim:"Big bear—No one has ever called me puny. Even those larger than me… bow. So I always end up higher."
Kola:"Then I'll give you a new experience."
The two giants clashed — again and again. Swing, block, clash, repeat.Despite their massive builds, their attack speed was monstrous.Each impact roared like thunder, shaking dust from the treetops.
Banos, standing with arms crossed at the rear, scoffed.
Banos:"Pathetic… You call yourselves elite captains of the Demon Army, and yet you're getting played by humans… kids, at that."
Kola(frustrated, roaring):"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
He swung his hammer downward with all his fury.
Akim sidestepped at the last second — the massive hammer slammed into the ground, fracturing it and kicking up a massive dust cloud.
As the wind swept the dust away, Akim emerged, unfazed, expression dark.
Akim:"When I was 14, my mom took me to my maternal grandfather's house in Norway.There… I met an old Viking — a real one. Still training in the old discipline.He taught me an axe technique."
(Akim mutters a line in Russian.)
Kola:"What—?"
Akim dashed forward — but this time, there was something different in his stance.
His expression twisted into something sinister.
His usual brute force gave way to flowing movements, connecting slashes and swings with grace and deadly precision.This was not the Akim that relied solely on muscle — this was the Akim who had surrendered to fighting instinct.
A Viking in human skin.
Caught off-guard by this abrupt change in fighting style, Kola stumbled, unable to adjust.The unexpected momentum and rhythm left gaps — openings that Akim exploited relentlessly.Dozens of slashes and cuts shredded through the bear demon's flesh.
Kola(thinking, overwhelmed):"What… What the hell is with this human?! He switched styles mid-battle! I… I can't keep up!"
Akim(growling):"I think that's enough… UNHOLY SLASH!"
SWING—
Kola:"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHH!!!IT HURTS—IT HUUUURTS—AAAAAAAAAGHHHH!!"
The cursed axe tore through Kola's body — the wound refusing to heal.His screams echoed across the battlefield like a death knell.
Hujo(panicking):"What—? Even Kola lost—?!"
SHHK!
A dagger pierced straight through his heart from behind.
Sanjay(dryly):"Concentrate."
Hujo:"GUHHHH—!"
Two black spikes suddenly shot from Hujo's heels, stabbing into Sanjay's legs.
Sanjay(wincing):"Ow—so you can fire spikes from your heels too? That's… handy."
Hujo(chuckling through blood):"Heheh…"
Sanjay(coldly serious):"But little did you know—I'm used to being poked by sharp objects."
He twists the dagger.
Blood sprays.
Hujo collapses to the ground — lifeless.
Demon 1(shocked):"I… I can't believe all four captains lost…"
Demon 2(gasping):"These humans… they're not jokers…"
Banos(walking forward):"Impressive. Defeating demons with decades of battle experience at such young age… You kids are—"
Rick(interrupting with a yawn):"Blah, blah, blah. You talk too much, low-budget Thanos."
Banos:"Who the hell is Thanos?! I'm Banos!"
He leapt into the air, double-edged saber raised overhead, aiming a devastating vertical strike at Rick.
Rick(grinning, raising a glowing orb):"Let's see how 22,000 manatastes."
A white-glowing energy ball formed in Rick's palm —He slammed it into Banos' chest.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The impact shattered Banos' chestplate, launching him several meters back.He crashed through a tree at the edge of the battlefield.
Demons(in stunned whispers):"What…?!""He defeated Commander Banos…!""In a single move?!""He said 22,000 mana… did he use all of it in one strike?""He doesn't look drained at all…""How strong IS he?"
Rick stood tall, hands in his pockets, exhaling calmly.Behind him stood Hassa, Tokira, Akim, and Sanjay — silent, fierce, loyal.
Rick(loudly):"All of you—LISTEN!"
"From this moment on, I am your First Division Commander.These four behind me? Your Captains."
"If anyone disagrees—step up."
A bold demon stepped forward.
Random Demon:"I disagree! You only won because Commander Banos wasn't prepared and let his guard do—"
SHOOM—!
His head exploded.
Rick(stone-faced):"He underestimated his opponent. That's not my fault.In war, enemies won't wait for you to be ready."
"Anyone else who disagrees will be executed."
"My First Division needs predators, not prey."
"Your past achievements? Your history? Means nothing to me."
"I decide your worth. And that judgment… is absolute."
"The First Division Assessment Test begins tonight—exactly at 10 PM.Be. Prepared."
Demons(sweating, shouting in unison):"YES, SIR!"
LATER — INSIDE THE DEMON KING'S CAVE
Hujo lay on the ground, unconscious.A sharp, glowing light enveloped his body — healing his wounds completely.
He slowly opened his eyes and stood up, expression calm and respectful.
Hujo:"I pay my respects to the Demon King."
Banos and the other captains stood beside him, all silent and reflective.
Luthor(calmly):"I know all of you are frustrated about what happened this morning...But change — true change — is inevitable. And now, it's time to face it."
Banos:"My King... may I dare to ask... What is your plan for this era?"
Luthor(gazing forward):"Banos, you've served me loyally for hundreds of cycles.You were one of the best First Division Commanders I've ever had...But that ends now."
The room fell silent.
"The future now demands that even veterans prove themselves through effort — not title.We can no longer resist change... we must shape it."
"Just as humans summon heroes for aid...We will summon villains — as counters."
Banos(nodding slowly):"So that's how it is...It's the right decision for our future.Just like you said — it's inevitable."
"The mere existence of heroes is a massive shift in power...To survive, we need balance — or we'll be wiped out."
Luthor(smiling faintly):"Precisely. That's why I've always respected you, Banos.You adapt. You don't resist what you can't stop — you ride the tide and overcome it."
"And those kids you fought…They're devils in human skin. Their lives mirror ours more than you realize."
"And unlike most… they actually do what they say."
Luthor (firmly):"Their Assessment Test includes you five as well.So don't fail.Don't disappoint me."
Banos(bowing):"Throughout our lives… we've never once questioned your decisions.If you say they are fit to lead —Then they are."
"We will support the new Commander…With everything we have."
Luthor(grinning):"Very well then… let me offer you a gift — for your Hundredth Cycle."
Hujo(smiling, relieved):"Commander Banos — congratulations on your Hundredth Cycle!"
Waka(teasingly):"He's not the Commander anymore, dummy."
AHHAHAHAHHHHH!!
The Demon King's lair — usually filled with shadows, screams, and silence —Now echoed with laughter.
A sound so light and human,It almost felt out of place…
…yet somehow, it was perfectly fitting for a world that was changing.