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

Chapter 98

Lenora understood the type of tone Julius spoke with her as she stood beside him and knew the matter would only get worse. With each passing minute, the demand for the demons to march towards Midland increases as Julius takes his time.

"Julius, your wife. Do I remind you of her? Even though I never met your wife before, is me standing with you giving you all kinds of memories? Is that why I can't be with you?" Lenora asked.

"Listen. This duel I will have with King Harald... it is a duel between two men who have known each other forever. I can't have you be with me and die without showing me and proving to me that love still exists on this cold earth. I beg you... please, do not enter the battle," Julius answered. Lenora looked at him as if he were about to be depressed and wanted all of it to be over.

Julius was tired of losing all of those he has ever known and loved, and he did not want Lenora to be his next victim. She nods her head and says nothing more to him as he is more prepared than ever to invade the castle of Midland. The last thing he ever wanted to see was to see Harald strung up to a tree and forced to beg for mercy. But the demon hunter knew he would never show mercy to those who have wronged him and forced him to suffer. Julius then thought of a plan and he went to Helvegen to discuss it with him; he needed all the night creatures to listen to his strategy.

During that time, the demons gathered everything they needed for the great battle and believed they were ready for everything. They concluded they did not care how brutal the outcome of the battle will be, they will stop at nothing. Then Julius and his army marched forward to the region of Midland, where the grand castle is waiting for them. Yet the army was not behind Julius because he thought of a solution that will only work to keep them moving on. A ruby ring was in the ring finger of his right arm; all he had to do was summon all of them when the time was right.

Lenora stood beside a tree and watched Julius walk to Midland's castle and knew what kind of danger he was walking towards. Against all the evil that is in Julius's mind and all the betrayal and death he has witnessed these past few days, this was the only way for him to right his wrongs. Julius had many powers and strength to attack any knight standing in his way. These knights used to be friends with the demon hunter, but their minds and will have been consumed and all of them acted like slaves under Harald's rulership. Julius had his greatsword and ring to summon forth all of his servants and his entire army into battle.

Eventually, he walked on the road that led to the gates of Midland and nobody was in front of him or behind him. As he walked, many ravens and crows began hovering above him and flying into the night, and they all paved the way for the demon hunter to pass. The huntsman could see that many of the knights were standing on top of the walls and waiting for him under the full moon. The full moon always hovers above all of those with purpose in their lives and destinies waiting to be fulfilled. Balvu stood at the center of the barrier and watched Julius stroll to the gates to start this violent battle.

"You never should've come back, Julius! There will be no peace between me and you! Death is far too good for you!" Balvu shouted.

"A true leader of knights does not stand idly by! I came here because I know I'll just be coming back, no matter how hard you fight me! You can face me every day for a thousand years, Balvu. I'll tear you apart each time," Julius said.

"Spare me your madness, betrayer. Your time is nigh. These are the gates of Midland and you are just one man against a thousand knights!"

"I am one. But we... are many."

As he said that, he raises his hands and allows dark magic to be held under his command. The fire was red and its flames were kept on his hands as he raised something from the horizon. Through the cold air and dark grass behind the demon hunter, an entire legion of night creatures began appearing behind him. This entire army is led by Helvegen and Stonethorn; every creature obeyed the words of Julius as midnight emerges. Every knight raises their swords and keeps hope in their souls as they were about to fight against a legion of demons.

Balvu watched on as Julius kept his hands raised and had every creature follow him to the castle. Helvegen and Stonethorn held their weapons in the air and were ready to sink their blades into the humans. The entire legion ran straight towards the barrier and was fearless thanks to Julius's power and his strength against the ones who were once his friends. Julius walked to the gates as his demonic army dashed into battle to cut down anyone who raises their swords against them. The demon hunter witnessed every creature who once fought against him fight as if their lives depend on making him the king of the world.

Some archers pull out their arrows and start releasing them on the demons before they could reach the barrier. The arrows proved to very useful because every weapon in Midland and the northern kingdoms were dipped with salt and poison. The arrows landed on a dozen of the demons, which caused them to fall and bleed out because of how effective the arrows are. Julius opens up one of his hands and closes it to command the demons to deflect the oncoming arrows. He could feel it in his soul that Harald will wait for him in the throne room for a bloody duel.

Without hesitation, Balvu gains some power within himself and charges into battle to face the man he once called a friend. He knew Julius was slowly abandoning any type of humanity he had left in himself and becoming something far worse than death. Balvu grows wings out from his back and had so much blood leave his spine; he pulls out two greatswords from his side to prove he is not a witness in the battle. Truly, this is a gift from King Harald and an opportunity to be granted power over all the demons. Balvu hovers from the gates and flies straight to the new demon king to cut him down where he stood.

Julius could feel Balvu's presence, and he pulled out his new greatsword and held it in defense against his new opponent. Then, Balvu flew down from the sky and used his two blades to attack Julius, but the dark hunter easily blocked the forceful blow. His new greatsword can deflect a cannonball and cut down a boulder with ease as he fought against his foes. Balvu lands on the ground and walks to Julius to fight him and end his life before he reaches King Harald.

"You will not see the beginning of the new day. The king of Midland is with me. You will suffer his wrath," he said.

"That will be your ruin. And what's that armor you're wearing? Is that a gift from your king?" Julius asked.

"This is the role of a lifetime. The demons you side with have no honor. And you will die like countless others! You are nothing more than a man who refuses a king's offer and turns his back on all who trusted him."

"It was you who turned your back on me. I trusted you to look over the men. I gave you everything you ever needed. You were alive because of me. Now it seems as if you've sided with Harald and doubted the loyalty I once gave you. I'm taking you off the board."

"To Hell with you! Bringing death to the night was something you always taught me and these knights. This is my genuine power now... my full strength. I need neither the king nor my best knight to kill you. Without your best ally, you are finished. It is time to die!"

And so, a duel between Julius against Balvu begins as the dominated demons fight against every knight and every archer. Every man fought against the night creatures until they drew their last breath and decided their fate. This will be a night to remember, and the events that will soon happen to Julius will appear in front of him.