Una grabbed her weapons. Two newly-minted broad swords that she wielded like daggers. Each blade was enchanted with both fire and light magic.
She knew this day would come. She assumed the Demons were there to bring her back. She chose these blades to make that task as difficult as possible.
She rolled her shoulders and took up an aggressive stance.
A figure stepped into view. Six and a half feet tall, two long wicked horns curving up from its forehead, blood red skin, clawed hands, and cloven hooves for feet.
He was flanked by a dozen hellhounds half as tall as he was, snarling and growling as they spread out. When his eyes fell on Una he let out a loud sinister laugh that seems to fill the air,
He eyed Una with a mix of disdain and amusement.
"Well well well." His voice was smooth and mocking, a sound that toed the line between masculine and feminine.
"What do we have here? I get sent to find the hero, but I come across a traitor instead. The master will be pleased."
"What do you want, Baltazar?!" Una asked, an edge of warning in her voice.
"Did you not hear me, you skinny cow? I was sent to find the hero. The master wants his head on a 3plate."
Baltazar narrowed his black eyes and Una. "You do remember the master don't you? He was that powerful necromancer you pledged your life to."
"So you are here to bring me back?" Una kept her eyes on the Demon as he moved.
Baltazar facepalmed. "You're not listening. I'm not here for you at all. You're not even a side quest, not even an after-thought."
"I'm looking for the hero. You're barely in the way. The master doesn't care about you. He never did. You're barely a pile of spare parts to him."
"I'll make it simple for you. Tell me where the hero is, or I'll slaughter you like tha cattle you are."
Una's stance faltered for a second. Baltazar's words hurt. She was already questioning her place in the world, he just confirmed she had none.
She steeled herself and said nothing.
Just then several hellhounds yelped as the sound of flesh meeting blades was heard near the tree line.
Raymond emerged from the woods, stepping over the body of a dead hound, eyes locked on Baltazar.
By his side was Nikki in her wolf form and Samantha, hands and eyes glowing with mana.
Alecia flew into the air from behind them, an arrow made of pure fire magic, already nocked and drawn.
They were all still naked from their bath.
Lightning filled Raymond's eyes and crackled around his body. He held out his hand and summoned the Double Dragon to his fist, blade extended.
"I heard you were looking for me."
Baltazar hissed and dropped into a defensive stance, startled by the sheer amount of power he felt coming off of Raymond.
"You!" He recognized Raymond for the battle at Britannia. His final lightning attack had killed many of Baltazar's kin.
Raymond gave a predatory grin. "That's right. Me." He had no idea who Baltazar was.
Baltazar whistled and ten more hellhounds shimmered into view.
"Kill him."
All the hellhounds rushed the five companions, teeth and claws extended.
It only took a bloody few seconds for the majority of the hounds to be cut down.
Chain lightning took down the last four as Raymond stepped forward, looking Baltazar square in the eyes.
"Your turn."
Baltazar bared his fangs, manifested a poison edged short sword in each hand, and dashed at Raymond.
He was fast.
His body was almost a blur of motion as he slashed at Raymond over and over.
Raymond was a blur.
He deftly dodged every slash again and again.
Baltazar sped up, changed his attacks mid swing, anything he could do to at least scratch them man.
Every attack met only air. Was this guy even really there? Was he fighting an illusion?
Suddenly, Raymond ducked under a horizontal swing then struck Baltazar with a rising open palm to his chin, which sent him into a backflip.
Not an illusion.
Baltazar landed on his face, stunned. Panting, He rose to his knees and spat out several broken fangs.
He looked up at Raymond with fury in his eyes. He rushed him again, blades out wide.
Raymond took a step and kicked out, connecting with Baltazar's crotch with a sickening crunch, lifting the Demon off his feet.
Baltazar coughed, all the air driven from his body. As he fell to his knees Raymond hit him with a mighty uppercut, flipping him again.
Baltazar vomited.
He swayed and he rose to his feet. At this point, beating the hero was not an option. But he couldn't return empty handed.
He threw himself at Una, intending to tackle her.
His body was jarred by a loss of momentum inches from his target.
Raymond had intercepted Baltazar's dive and grabbed his ankle.
He snatched the demon back, swung him over his head and into the ground hard enough for his body to bounce.
Baltazar tried to sit up, only to be staked to the ground by Una's swords.
She looked in his eyes and spat in his face as she activated the light magic enchantment in the blades.
The light flared briefly reduceding the Demon to ashes.
"Thank you." Una said, making it to her feet and looking Raymond in his eyes.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time."
Raymond nodded. "Listen, I heard what he said to you. Also, Nikki told me earlier what she said to you. I know what it's like to feel… out of place."
Ray shook his head. "I know what it's like to be the only one that looks like you and feel like no one wants you around."
"I'll be honest, it'll take a while before we fully trust you, or consider you family. But, as long as you're with us, you're one of us. You have our backs, we'll have yours. You are not alone, we see you, I see you, and appreciate you. Don't forget that."
"Thank you." Una replied after a long silence. She sniffled as Alecia and Samatha came over and hugged her. Nikki stayed back, ashamed of how she acted.
When the hug was over Nikki stepped forward and held out her hand.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come at you like that. I should have known better, I also know what it's like to be an outsider."
Una smiled, eyes still misty, and shook Nikki's hand firmly.
"It's ok, I know how it is to want to protect family."
The two shared a shared and short embrace. Then Nikki smiled at Una, holding her shoulders at arms length.
"I really will kill you if you cross us though."
Ray facepalmed as everyone laughed nervously.