The Virtues' Magecraft

Page 56: The Damned Demon

Just as the Virtues hurried to find the demon, he began to step forward, his metallic boots clicking and clanking against rocks. He faced the rising sun, just as the gleaming orb of light began to climb into the horizon, with golden rays beginning to pierce into his line of sight.

The demon of Greed stood atop a short mountain, a hill, doing nothing more than gazing down at the massive city, the cluster of endless and silver and golden lights.

He slowly began to think to himself. The lights before him, the massive sea of structures... 'These are all people?...' Mammon asked himself.

His breaths grew shaky as he began to tremble. He gripped his shoulders, just as a crooked grin grew plastered on his face of dull gray skin. His azure eyes began to twist, swirl with mirth as he spoke to himself.

"Marvelous..." he muttered. "What a wonderful age this world hath brought!" he shouted out, spreading his arms wide as he began to cackle.

"There's so many of them!" Mammon cried out. "So many humans! All over the place, as if it's a breeding ground for cattle! Spawning like maggots!"

He gripped the sides of his face, his talon-like nails gently rubbing against his coarse skin. "Marvelous..." he repeated.

"It'll be a massacre!"

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Alexander's feet were planted atop a stone hill, nothing more than a pile of rocks. But he wasn't staring down at the grand city. His eyes were shut, his lips pressed together. He was hardly breathing.

Alexander was waiting alone. Waiting for the demon, waiting for the Virtues. All he had to do was sense their energy. The Demon-Born wore a simple, black hoodie, much like the one Anastasia had given him. But other than that, he wore dark sweatpants and sneakers.

As always, his appearance wasn't one for battle. His hood sat atop his head, keeping his hair barely flowing in the wind.

In his hands, he held a simple plastic water bottle. It was nearly empty, even after the many times he had filled it from a stream he kept returning to over the night. He had tried his best to preserve water as efficiently as possible, but even then, he couldn't resist the thirst that killed his throat.

He took a swig of water, downing the rest in the bottle and leaving it empty. Alexander grit his teeth and crushed the bottle in his hands. The plastic was crumpled, just as he threw it into his black bag at his side.

It was then.

Demonic energy finally sprung into the air. Alexander's eyes widened in an instant, leaving him to suck in air as he nearly lost his balance. He spun his arms until he could steady himself, before turning his head to the side.

His eyes followed the demon's movements. Rather, the movements he could sense.

"There he is!" he spoke to himself, his obsidian eyes gleaming as he readied himself.

Alexander tilted his neck to the side. With his crackling bones, Alexander took in a deep breath.

His mind and body were prepared.

Alexander gripped a weapon that sat behind his belt. Alexander quickly unsheathed a silver-blue dagger and twirled it in his hands. He sheathed it again as soon as he inspected it. And with that, he let a soft sigh leave his lips.

"And here we go."

Those were the only words he uttered, before springing forth and becoming nothing more than a dark blur.