DoomPet

Chapter 97

The cave went dead silent except for the gentle crackle of hell fire. Crüe didn't turn to look at the demon who had led the program to transform him, he felt the air warm around him as a tall archvile clad in a black sash and black shoulder armor stepped forwards.

Grim stretched to his full height and gave a toothy grin at the groups of demons in the trial. "Bell, I can't help but notice that the man we are trying to convict of a crime isn't talking. Shall I encourage him to speak up?"

The grand Baron stood and walked off her rock, threatened by the presence of another super heavy, "Do you even have proof?"

The archvile paused for a moment then nodded and reached into his sash, pulling out something. "These were found in the Slayer's tool belt." He held his hand above Bell's and dropped two golden rings down into her palm. "How's that for proof? Proof that the Slayer was going to force his disgusting tainted soul to be bound onto the marauder's."

The minute he saw those rings, Crüe froze. His blood ran cold, his whole world stopped turning and he wanted to swing his axe right into Grim's skull. A vague wish for Haru to be by his side crossed his mind. "Please! He's an innocent man! He's never harmed me! I'm the one that betrayed hell!"

Grim ignored him, Crue was worthless, the Slayer was the one he was after.

Bell held the rings in her hands like the world orbited around them. The crowd screamed and shouted, the Deag and the cacodemon nearly fainted. Bell stepped forwards, handing the rings off to an Imp, "Grim, we will take it from here."

The archvile laughed, and wagged his finger right in front of the baron's face, "You're just some tiny insignificant hell lord. Those marauders will convince you to let him go, I can smell the weakness on you. I'll be taking care of the Slayer then you can let that marauder go and have a big happy family reunion." He gave her a disgustingly pleased smile and motioned over to Crüe, Devo, and Haine. "Though... perhaps we need to make sure Crüe isn't a traitor?"

"I captured him, kidnapped him." The man pulled against his chains and looked up, facing Grim, but his eyes darted to Crüe. "He's brainwashed, don't believe a word he says."

Crüe wasn't just going to let the man sacrifice himself. He drew in a breath about to scream his lungs out, but Haine quickly gagged him with a rag and they began to drag him back towards the cave wall.

"Get him under control!" Grim called out, pointing a flaming finger at Crüe. "I can break any brainwashing you pathetic humans tried to put him under." He sneered down at the Slayer grabbing his head.

The man looked up, straining his neck and eyes. He seemed defiant with the way he faced the looming horror of the archvile, but he was hurt, his body ached from the baron's attack. He wasn't sure even if he got out of the chains that he would be able to fight. His Doom Blade was removed, the grenade launcher broken, and his tool belt was gone.

"It's about time I've gotten my hands on the Slayer." He reached out his arms so the whole crowd could see. He flexed his hands into a fist then released it quickly, setting his hands and arms ablaze with red hot flames. Every demon rejoiced at the incoming murder of the Slayer.

Bell stomped her hoof but was unable to control the crowd, "I am the hell lord of this horde, and no matter how small and insignificant in your eyes that is my prey. I protect my family and I protect my prey. Step away from the Slayer, he's mine to kill." She left it empty with no gruesome threat at the end. She didn't dare go hoof-to-hoof with Grim.

Grim ignored her weak speech and turned to the man, his hands danced over the poor man's armored skin. "You seem to have a fixation on my creations. You should be honored to meet their maker. I've been fixated on you as well, watching your every move-"