"Huh?" The cloaked figure retreated, her hood low. A flash of a black-stockinged leg suggested she was female.
"So, the Demi-humans are indeed involved," Alistair said, planting his massive four-sided mace, Nightfall, into the ground. The heavy weapon shattered the stone, yet it made absolutely no sound.
Silence magic? To dampen sound to this degree... this tin man is a high-level mage, the woman thought warily.
"Answer me," Alistair commanded, his voice deep and vibrating like a drum through the steel.
"Good evening, Lady Dark Elf," Rie's gentle voice drifted from the side. She appeared suddenly, smiling softly. "We are only here for the Mystic Artifact. Would you be so kind as to tell us what you know?"
"Lady Kuchisake-Onna?!" the Dark Elf gasped, quickly bowing. "My apologies! I am only tasked with monitoring the humans. I know nothing of the artifact's specifics."
"I see. Thank you for the explanation. And please excuse my companion; he can be quite rude," Rie said with an apologetic nod.
"It is no matter. I shall take my leave," the Dark Elf said, stepping back into the shadows.
"Rie, was she lying?" Alistair asked.
"I don't know. Dark Elves are elusive, and my legends don't include truth-detection. I was once tricked by a husband until his mistress was right in front of me, after all."
"Then how did you know she was a Dark Elf? Scent?" Alistair raised his arm, and dark green mist coiled like ropes, lashing out toward the two "corpses" on the ground.
"I've seen her before. What are you doing? Devouring them?" Rie hopped onto his armored shoulder.
"Something like that," Alistair replied. His Realm of Death allowed him to inherit everything from those who died within it—including 'Weapon User' abilities.
The mist dissolved the two men instantly. Eightfold Augmentation? Interesting, but limited, Alistair thought as he absorbed the power. It either doubled damage after eight actions or octupled the effect of every second action. The second ability, blood manipulation, was redundant with his Stone Mask powers but served as a nice supplement.
"You can take their powers? Should I catch more humans for you?" Rie suggested helpfully.
"No need. Too many abilities are a hassle. We stand on the 'passive' side—we only act if they strike first."
"Understood," Rie nodded. It was always better to have the moral high ground.
Inside a Nearby Building
"What is it? Important news?" a female Dark Elf General asked. She wore bikini-style plate armor that shimmered in the dark, highlighting a body that was pure 'sex-appeal' and muscle.
"General, Lady Kuchisake-Onna has joined the fray with an unknown male," the scout reported, bowing. "He is three meters tall, clad in iron, and a master of silence magic. He is a monster."
"A man by Rie's side? It must be the descendant of that old dragon," the General laughed. "His son was a dud, but it seems the grandson is a winner."
"Is he 'ripe' yet?" another short-haired Dark Elf asked, her armor even more scandalous. "My womb is already impatient. That old man swore he'd engineer the ultimate Dragon-bloodline—a Demon Dragon. If he succeeded, his compatibility with our blood would be... exquisite."