[Salvos] 657. Fairy Like You (Patreon)

657. Fairy Like You

***

Tor closed his eyes as his breathing slowed. His fingers stopped shaking, but his lips continued to twitch. Looking back up through the gate, he saw the silent arena waiting before him. This was the pit he had been thrown in against his will. This was the death that awaited him.

It was kill or be killed. A tournament that Hartia had arranged to power level the Demons gathered here at the Expanse. It was said that the winners would then be set free from fighting with the Third Legion— to serve directly under Regnorex.

But Tor knew that he was never going to make it to the end. He was mere fodder compared to many of the other participants here. He was an [Imp]. Perhaps he was a Level 56 [Knight Eligos]. He looked no different than an ordinary [Fiend], except that he had no mouth. There was a hole right above his chin which he could speak and breathe through, but it didn’t move. And his arms were like swords, while his eyes were thin like a pair of slits, glowing red.

He was a mere Greater Demon that hadn’t even unlocked his sin. There were plenty of others who were stronger than him who could have made it through this tournament.

For example, Bella, who had gone just before him, was far more capable and deserving of leaving the Expanse. She was a Level 94 [Djinn]. And she had been rapidly leveling up throughout this tournament, even bringing down opponents who were tougher than her. Tor had known her ever since he was forced to join the Third Legion, and he knew that she was a strong and kind individual.

A rarity amongst Demons. Practically nonexistent in the Netherworld. So he thought that she should have been emancipated from this place.

But now that wasn’t going to happen. Tor had been forced to watch as she was killed by Hartia. After being forced to kill her opponent who begged for his life, she had enough. She tried to rebel against this senseless slaughter, and many others had joined her. In response, they were all killed, just like that.

There had been hundreds of them. It wasn’t just Bella. And Tor had wanted to join in. But he couldn’t. He had been waiting behind the gate for his turn to come out into the arena and fight. So he couldn’t join her side even if he tried. And he watched helplessly as her neck was snapped in an instant. As the crowd was silenced.

Now, Tor was sent out to continue with his bout as if nothing had happened. As if the only light in his life hadn’t just been snuffed out. And he felt utterly numb.

Even as he walked out to the muted cheers of the watching crowd. Even as Hartia laughed and announced the respective levels of the two fighters. Nothing mattered to Tor anymore. He could die, and he wouldn’t even care.

He stared down at his opponent standing across from him— a [Changeling] who had taken on the form of a [Hellhorror]. But Tor didn’t react. He stood there numbly, thoughts focused only on what he remembered of Bella.

If I die here, does it really matter? he asked himself as he raised his head. His vision was a blur. Everything around him was out of focus. He raised his head, and he looked past his opponent. All he saw was a figure sitting at an elevated platform overlooking the arena.

Hartia the Ruler of the Border.

Tor gritted his teeth as he saw the bored face of that cruel monster. Perhaps if it was a sneer or some crooked smile, Tor would have been calmer. But seeing such an expressionless face on Hartia was even more infuriating, knowing that Bella died for nothing.

I am going to die anyway… Tor told himself as he shook his head. But if I die, I may as well die for what Bella was fighting for.

The [Knight Eligos] resolved himself. He didn’t care what end awaited him, because it was coming. All that mattered now was what he did. He took a step forward as his opponent grinned. The [Changeling]-turned-[Hellterror] let out a roar, but Tor moved forward fearlessly anyway. Because his target waited for him further back.

And so, he broke out into a sprint. His opponent swung down at him, but he slid under the attack. The [Changeling]-turned-[Hellterror] spun around— then paused. The crowd went quiet. They all watched as Tor continued running straight out of the arena, heading for Hartia.

It took them a moment to realize what he was doing. He didn’t fully realize what he was doing himself. He just did it. Every fiber of his being made him run up to the edge of the arena, then leap into the air. He soared up to the elevated platform, crashing down straight at his target as he screamed in a tinny voice.

“Hartia!”

But right before he could land on the platform, the Ruler of the Border moved. Tor’s eyes flickered, watching as Hartia zipped into the air, dodging the attack. His twin arm-blades struck the stone throne that was sitting there, smashing it into thousands of pieces. The crowd gasped. They all looked up as Tor raised his head.

He had expected to be killed before he even reached Hartia. But now, Hartia was…

“Hartia is… fleeing?”

Tor blinked, watching as the Ruler of the Border zipped through the sky and headed away from the coliseum. The crowd stared on in confusion. And they all wondered what was going on.

***

[Unseelie Lord - Lvl. 185]

“Get ready, he’s coming!”

I called out as I spread my [Angelic Wings] wide and flew up to the sky. Haec gritted his teeth, taking on a wide stance. But behind him, the two members of the Deathsquad Hunters were panicking.

Ultis backed away as she looked towards me for help.

“What about us? What do we do? We can’t fight Hartia! If he sees us with you, we’ll die!”

I glanced back at the two Deathsquad Hunters, hesitating for a moment. If I placed them in my pocket space, they could threaten Haec’s friends. But if I left them here, they would be killed. Or worse— they’d work with Hartia against us.

Looking back to the front, I saw the Ruler of the Border rapidly approach us, and I made a split-second decision. I clapped my hands together, teleporting the two Deathsquad Hunters into [The World Of My Mind].

Was it a risky decision? Perhaps. But I locked them in a room separate from Bertrugil, Taburas, and Aemula, ensuring that one of my clones kept an eye on them at all times.

Now, I readied myself as I faced down the Ruler of the Border. He slowed down when he approached me. His gaze was focused on me, noticing me as the greater threat than Haec. But still, he looked down at the former Heir of the Netherworld.

“Haec the Traitor. So you have finally returned. But I take it you’re not here to re-pledge your allegiance to our King?”

Hartia asked, tilting his head down at my companion. Haec grinned uneasily back in response.

“Would I be right to assume that Regnorex would still have me killed regardless of what I say here?”

“You’d be incorrect, for our King does not need to stoop down to kill defectors like you with his own ends.”

The Ruler of the Border responded, baring his teeth like a Demon. I narrowed my eyes at his mannerisms. It was nothing like Lily’s. But the more I looked at him, the more I was certain he was not a Demon.

Hartia continued flitting forward, speaking casually, even with the bloodlust in his voice.

“You’ll die here to me, Traitor. And I will serve your head on a platter to our King.”

“I will not let you do that.”

I spoke up as I conjured up a scythe made out of gray flames. He turned towards me, looking at me almost dismissively when he saw my Class levels. And I didn’t fault him for that. He was certainly higher-leveled than me.

This was also going to be a more difficult fight than against the Deathsquad Hunters because now it was an even playing field. No sneak attacks, no clones, and no Grand Skills. The only Grand Skill I had at my disposal was [My Flames Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends]. Everything else was still on cooldown.

Meanwhile, I didn’t know what magic Hartia had at his disposal. Whether he even had a Grand Skill or not. So I couldn’t even risk using my only available Grand Skill immediately as soon as the battle began. I had to wait and observe, before I did anything brash.

“And you are…?”

Hartia asked, looking at me with a curious gaze. I smirked and spoke simply.

“I’m Salvos.”

“Oh?”

The expression on his face became that of amusement when he heard my name. He crossed his arms as he chuckled to himself.

“So the Traitor has not only returned, but he returned with the Enemy. What a perfect opportunity for me to prove myself to my King.”

“Yep, whatever. But before I kill you, I do have a question for you.”

I waved my scythe dismissively as I spoke up. He just sneered back at me.

“And whatever could that question be? I’ll be kind enough to answer any inquiries you have before I kill you both.”

“Sure, you can try that.”

I nodded, before lowering my scythe. I met the [Unseelie Lord]’s gaze, looking deep into his eyes. And I asked the question that was weighing down on my mind.

“What is a Fairy like you doing here, serving the Demon King?”

And that made Hartia freeze.

Author's Notes:

What thonk?

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