DEMON HUNT

Chapter 23: A demon prince

Lisandro is confronted by demons of varying sizes. He continues to cut them down with his daggers, but is worried about their numbers. They continue to rush in, nonstop.

Lisandro: (thought) These numbers...have they caught up to my plan? Is this a coincidence or a strategic move to stop me from escaping the jamming radius. These guys are pushovers. They aren't near good enough to touch me. Is this actually a delay tactic? Or did she send them after me?

Suddenly, the demons pause and bow.

Lisandro: (thought) The night just got more interesting.

Lisandro stands down as the demons begin to walk away, deep into the woods. Lisandro shakes his head.

Lisandro: (thought) It never gets old, does it? Come on out.

Two bright blue eyes soon appear in the dark woods. A demon gradually emerges from the woods. He is majestically dressed, donning a light blue robe, going as far down as his ankles. His long ashen coloured hair is held together by a band, forming a ponytail. On his neck lies a lustrous medallion, extending to his chest region. He has a desirable stature and his undervest has a sleeve which runs through both his hands up to his wrist. He stares at Lisandro with his cold blue eyes.

Klaus: A hunter wandering this deep into the forest. How unlucky.

Lisandro: With the reception you got on your arrival, I'm inclined to believe that you're an elite among your kind.

Klaus: You stand before the lord of the Oragonian state of Extalia. You should show respect by bowing.

Lisandro: I do not have any respect to spare.

Klaus: I'm afraid that won't do.

Lisandro: Do you bow to the head of Oragon then?

Klaus: We do not have a leader yet. However, the likely leader will receive my acknowledgement. Which doesn't necessarily include bowing my head.

Lisandro: He or she must be gracious to let that slide.

Klaus: I will not be the judge of that. You've met this person as I understand. You be the judge.

Lisandro: (thought) Cassandra, huh.

Klaus looks around and sees dozens of demons scattered across the ground.

Klaus: You didn't kill them.

Lisandro: No. Is that a problem?

Klaus: Sparing them isn't. However, not killing them because you couldn't is.

Lisandro adjusts into a defensive stance.

Klaus: Poison. It must be very potent to put them in such a shape. I guess regeneration isn't always a way out.

Lisandro: (thought) Odourless, colourless and tasteless. I wonder how he found out.

Klaus: "Black death" is such a horrible thing to have in your system. It is touted as extremely deadly, even among extremely deadly poisons. An average human would die in a few hours if his skin was to be exposed to the gaseous form of the poison, talk less about if it was to be injected, inhaled or ingested . It burns right through the heart.

Lisandro: You seem to know a lot about poisons. Did you kill your father to take his place?

Klaus: No. Actually, it was my uncle. Black death is bad enough, but you added a significant amount of Octomerin to it. That explains why they can't move. With the way you wield those daggers, I'm guessing you've taken the antidotes. Pretty impressive...for a commoner.

Lisandro: I'd love to stay and chat, but I've had a long night.

Lisandro turns around.

Lisandro: Actually, I wouldn't.

Klaus: I'm afraid I cannot let you go. You're a wealth of information at the moment. Information. I cannot let you leave with.

Lisandro: Apparently, "a wealth of information" is a term even demons use. Are you asking me to stay?

Klaus: I have no use for the lowly. However, there's a conflict of interest here. I suppose I'm going to have to kill you.

Lisandro: Get off your high horse. Pride comes before a fall. Believe it.

Lisandro takes a defensive stance, crossing both his hands to form an "X" as he wields his two daggers.

Klaus: If you're hoping I'll attack you first, then I'm sorry but I'll have to disappoint you. You not moving means you won't leave.

Lisandro: My first strike is usually my last.

Klaus: I can take it.

Lisandro: No, you can't.

Lisandro runs towards Klaus and attempts to cut his neck, but Klaus blocks with his hand. His hand begins to bleed. Klaus takes a look at his injured hand.

Klaus: You cut rather well. Regeneration doesn't work for poisons. However...

Klaus' injured arm goes cold and eventually freezes, shattering afterwards. The arm regenerates almost instantly.

Klaus: You're clearly outmatched. Don't annoy me more than you already have. You cut through my clothing and made my blood drip on this undeserving soil.

Lisandro shrugs his shoulder and exhales.

Lisandro: You can freeze things. That's pretty cool. Both literally and figuratively.

Klaus: Enough talking. I don't have time to waste on a peasant.

Lisandro: (thought) left hook, right kick, right uppercu...

Before he could finish processing his thought, Klaus had closed the gap between them, throwing a left hook at Lisandro. Prompting Lisandro to make a hasty block. Lisandro, however, feels the impact of the heavy blow.

Klaus: You block rather well, too. However, you're all open now.

Lisandro: (thought) So heavy. His body is poised for a left kick. If I attempt to use my hands to block, I'll be defensively helpless. If I use my leg, I'll lose my balance.

Klaus lifts his left leg intending to kick the life out of Lisandro, but Lisandro pulls back, putting distance between them.

Klaus: Oh?

Lisandro takes a look at his right arm which he used to block the first attack.

Lisandro: (thought) It's broken. He's a heavy hitter. A really heavy one.

Lisandro looks around and begins to run away, headed for the road.

Klaus: Disgusting.

Klaus intercepts him with a flying knee. Lisandro pulls back to avoid getting hit.

Lisandro: (thought) Why did you have to be so fast?

Klaus: You can at least try to put up a good fight. Instead of running away like a coward.

Lisandro: I wasn't running away. You're standing on a deep pit. It's been covered over time and can hold your weight...for now. However, if you attempt to move, you'll fall.

Klaus: What do you intend to achieve by telling me this? Do you think that piece of information would make me falter?

The area around Klaus' feet becomes solidly frozen. Lisandro throws his daggers to the ground and takes off the robe, showing his hunt suit. Lisandro takes a deep breath and changes his stance.

Klaus: Changing tactics so soon?

Lisandro: You'll wish I didn't.

Lisandro charges at Klaus and throws his foot at him, Klaus creates a barrier out of ice to block the kick.

Klaus: No difference. It's all futile in the end.

The ice barrier slowly begins to crack, and it eventually shatters. Consequently, Lisandro's foot goes right across Klaus' cheek, causing his face to turn, facing the opposite direction. Lisandro pulls back. Klaus turns towards him and wipes his face with his hand. He notices dust and blood as his face soon heals.

Klaus: I see. You've decided to go for power, and you're making up for a broken arm by using your legs.

Lisandro: Secret technique: fluid limbs.

Klaus: That name...where have I heard it before?