A Dog Father Cannot Beget a Dragon Son

[Interlude] (22) Part 2

The adventurers were stronger than anticipated. Belgorath would be happy for the challenge if his life weren't on the line. He'd be even happier if it didn't feel like they were toying with him, systematically attacking and retreating as he tried to cut them down.

"STAND STILL, ANTS!" Belgorath roared, letting his species's bloody wrath to wash over him.

In the haze of endless red, Belgorath felt himself smack down one of the magical flies, and she let out a pained cry. He didn't feel particularly happy about this, because the leader of the group immediately started attacking his back, and he was forced into retreat. Damn it! He knew another one of the flies would heal the fallen one, and then this whole cycle would start over again.

What the hell! It was like these insects had endless stamina! Before the leader could strike at Belgorath's wings, a wooden stake careened into the fly's shield. Belgorath turned around and grinned. Good old Hilda.

Hilda, however, was fending off a group of older flies, who from their aura probably had a few white beards. Hilda suddenly struck, taking down one of the old humans.

"Elder Kino!" shouted the healer human. The old human was quickly dying, and Belgorath knew for sure his end was nigh. He ignored the crying dialogue and turned back to the adventuring group. Their end was nigh too.

Once again, Belgorath turned back to those tiny magic signatures and breathed fire. An earthen wall suddenly rose up in his own throne room. Stupid mages.

Belgorath roared, trying to use his wings to thrash his way out but they kept on sticking to him! 

Pesky. Pesky, pesky! 

How dare they make him feel fear! 

Belgorath went for the strongest move he knew, and sent a blast of pure force towards the ground. Instead of broken auras, however, all he felt was whole, intact auras and another shitty barrier! 

How dare they! 

A sharpness dug itself into his shoulder and a fly put their foot on him! Belgorath wrenched himself free and snarled when his arm came off. Look what they did! It takes time to regenerate arms! 

A blast of ice. His wing! 

After a brief moment of pure terror, Belgorath's world turned completely red, save for orbs of lights. 

He needed strength. 

He needed sustenance. 

He needed. Food.

Someone sliced off his other wing. Belgorath stumbled. 

He needed food. 

Without another word, Belgorath turned to the greatest concentration of lights and pounced. All but the brightest--strongest-- one scattered, and the bright one grew even brighter. Like an offering. 

Delicious. 

Belgorath grabbed it and took a bite. It tasted like wood and surprise.

 Already, the monstrous strength surged through his body. His other arm reformed. Two new wings sprouted from his back. 

Belgorath frowned. 

Wood? 

That was his second-in-command! said female. H-how could he do that! 

"My...lord. It..." 

Monsters can't love like humans do. Male. 

"....is okay...please." 

Different male. I think he's recovering! 

Stick to the plan! We can still take him! 

"Don't cry."

Dry hands on his cheeks, and then they withered, and then he was gone. Someone else was gone. Hilda was gone. 

Hilda! 

Shit, take cover!

 WHERE WAS HILDA?!

Shattering. The barrier! 

Lady Kuino!  Coughing. The scent of fresh blood.

Belgorath swiped. His arm hit. 

Fear. No! Master! 

You can't take him, Lionheart! We were too impulsive. Retreat! 

My master! Anger. Delicious. Determination. Disgusting! 

WHERE DID THEY--

Train harder, Lionheart! This isn't an enemy you can beat! Elder Heath! Get the children out of here! 

--PUT HILDA? 

Illumos! Portaciόn! 

Flash of magic. Lights gone. Another wall. 

He brought it down. 

THEY WERE IN HIS WAY! 

****** 

It didn't take much for a demon king to rebuild his forces. The footguards were regenerated within an hour, since the weaker they were the more there were of them. Even the higher generals weren't hard to bring back, since most of them had regenerative abilities. 

The only position that wasn't refilled was that of his primary caretaker. It was also the only non-military position, and at his age he wouldn't need something like that. 

The castle was back in order. 

Belgorath sat on his throne, and stared at the empty space to his left. 

******

"Remember my name! I am Nathaniel Lionheart! Today, I will defeat you and avenge my fallen master!"

Avenge, huh? 

An old memory told him, avenge? My lord, it means to return the damage done to someone, on behalf of that person. 

Belgorath stands up, robotically, brimming with a strength that wasn't his, that he should have never taken. 

I will avenge you as well, then, Hilda. 

** ****

"All I ever wanted was to protect you," Fei Chuan said to the system, who remained silent, also shaken from the utter disaster that was that underdeveloped world. "If he had shown up, that's what I would have told him." 

"Perhaps next time," the system offered, still in monotone. Fei Chuan admitted it was coming closer acting human than ever before. 

It looked like there was still hope.

A/N: I know what you all came for. The next world is BL.