The Demon Wolf (Book 1 of The Devil and the Huntsman)

Chapter 69

With all of his anger and rage, Harald used his longsword and stabbed Balder in the chest before regenerating his arm. So much blood and gore started leaving the demon king's body and fell on the floor as the tip of the blade ran through his back. Then Harald lifted his sword and made it run from Balder's chest to his collarbone as Julius moved out of the way. The demon hunter could tell that the earl's heart has always been filled with vengeance against Balder, and he has always longed for the day when he sinks his blade into the creature's heart. Lots of blood and gore started splattering everywhere as Harald pulled out his sword from the demon king's body.

Balder began puking out so much blood from his mouth and lost pretty much all of his strength after facing the two demon hunters. Julius and Harald won the battle against the demon king and his servants. Then Harald walks even closer to the weakened demon as his time and life are slowly drawing to an end as Julius watches on. Julius knew that the earl is the one who should kill the demon king for everything that he has done against the region of Midland. And so, Harald uses his greatsword and slices off Balder's head and watches it roll on the ground.

And so, the demon king has been slain by the earl, and there were no longer any demons who would try to stop them. Harald stands there and looks at the decapitated head of his greatest enemy as Julius slowly walks to the throne. The powerful knight inspects the mighty chair and thinks about all the things that might happen if either he or Harald sits on it. The earl looks up at the demon hunter who has other plans inside his mind before the night is truly over.

"Julius, we're done here. There's nothing left for us here. We must go back," Harald said. But Julius stood in front of the massive throne and thought of a solution that might save the people from eternal damnation.

Then Julius turned around and spoke to Harald, saying, "Harald. We have defeated the demon king, and you won your vengeance. Together, we will save our people and lead them to a new age of peace and prosperity. It is time to let all things die—our past, the demons, the legion of Hell... all of it. Harald, join me. And we will rule together as one."

"Don't do this, Julius. Don't do it. Think about what you're going to do," Harald said.

"Don't hold on. Let it all go. Do you want to fulfill that which your father always wanted? Or do you have other plans, and you're just going to hide it all from me? It's the beginning of the end for the demons. The path is clear for us to rule!"

"To rule what, exactly? What else is there to rule other than a gigantic pile of rubble and a giant wasteland? Where do you suggest the two of us besides sitting down on the throne of darkness?"

"This. Everything."

"Like Balder? Like the other demon kings? Like the kings of ancient times?"

"No. No, we will never be like Balder or any of his kin. We will treat our subjects wisely, not enslave them."

Harald suspected that Julius was talking to him like a deceiver and believed everything that he is saying is a big lie. He knew for a long while that the demon hunter may turn against him and could do it anytime. Being an earl placed a heavy burden upon Harald's soul as he saw Julius becoming something that he will soon regret. He will soon know and feel the dark power that the demon hunter has inside him, and nothing would stop him. Nothing would prevent Harald from trying to stop Julius from doing something treacherous against his family.

"You mean our family. Our people. It was your freedom we've been fighting for. Not mine," Harald said.

"We have both lived in darkness for ages. Don't be so simplistic. Humans are frail. They are like children. They need protection. Not just from others, but from themselves! You and I have saved them," Julius said.

"You and I saved them?"

"Of course. I know that you and I have the power to crush our enemies and see them driven before us. Who else would've done such a thing?"

"I knew it all along. I've known since the very beginning. You want the throne for yourself. You desire to rule above all others. A demon inside your soul has led you, hasn't he? This... is your doing!"

"Listen, if you can't see the chaos the humans will cause, if you don't want the responsibility of protecting them, then stand aside. I'll rule alone."

"I didn't help you destroy Balder so you could take his place! I can't let you do this, Julius."

Harald no longer saw Julius as the man he once knew long ago, and he disowned the fact that he had the power of darkness to protect him. A demon hunter is already a man bound to sit on the throne and rule the world for his own. Julius slowly backed away from Harald and discovered the earl no longer had his trust in him. He also noticed Harald having a mind of his own as he came to the castle for another reason other than vengeance. Julius held his greatsword with one hand as he tried to think of something else to do with the man who once trusted him.

"And I won't let you stop me, Harald. Stand... aside," he said.

"Don't do this, Julius. You don't know what you're doing. Think about the people who care about you. If your wife and daughter found out about your secret, they will turn their backs on you," Harald said.

"YOU WILL NEVER SPEAK OF MY FAMILY AGAIN!! I'm the reason you're still alive! I've earned the right to have this power! Stand in my way, and I will stain these walls with your blood!"

"My death will achieve nothing. Kill me, and there will be even more bloodshed. Thousands of innocents will die, and all the blame will fall upon you. You will taste the wrath the knights of Midland brought unto the demons and their kings."

"The demon kings and their gods are petty and pathetic. Their rule is weak. That's why my rulership will not be corrupt like theirs. The power is mine to give and mine alone. The people of this world will bow before me when I lead them all to the new era. Nobody will stop me... not even you."

"No matter how long it takes, Julius, I will stop you. That throne is mine by right and deed. You will not take that chance away from me. I have sacrificed everything to be here, and I will not kneel to a demon-possessed man such as you! Do you care about dominating the kings of darkness and using them for your own free will? I'm going to make sure they join you in Hell!"

By those words, Julius knew Harald was bound only to the throne of Midland and only desired to sit upon it. Julius wanted the earl to rule the world with him, but Harald insisted that it feels too wrong to take the earth and rule over it. Then Julius strolled towards the throne and looked upon its magnificence as the night ended. Harald understood that by killing the demon hunter, the dark embrace will leave his body, but his soul will be taken. He looked down at his longsword and thought about everything that Julius spoke with him about ruling Midland and the world's outer reaches.

Then, Julius placed his left hand upon the seat of the throne and was about to achieve his victory as the new ruler of Midland. Harald became spiteful against the mighty knight and refused to bend his knees to a man like Julius. Then, he pointed the tip of his blade to Julius's back and made sure the sword came from the middle of his chest. Harald dashed like the wind and had the highest opportunity to end every nightmare he has foreseen right here and now. He then uses his sword and stabs Julius in the back as the demon hunter was literally about to sit on the throne.

Julius stood there and felt his blood staining Harald's blade as he was so close to sitting on the chair and winning control over Midland. Harald walks closer to Julius's neck while keeping his sword in the huntsman's body; he watched Julius writhed in agony as he felt the sharp blade trying to take Mephiles away from his soul.