Chapter 54: Demonic Energy
In the world of Gaya, demon beasts were the main enemies, they were the main threats that existed, and despite the fact that they had "beast" in their name, it didn’t mean they were anything like normal beasts. They were a collection of different yet similar races that were all connected through something known as demonic energy.
It was an extremely potent form of chaos energy very different from Mana, that sought to destroy all that it touched, their very essence was destruction. But what happened when this energy came in contact with a normal beast or any type of normal monster?
The beast went through a few stages. The first stage, the Rampage, this strange, overpowering energy tried to take over their bodies, causing rage and destructive behavior. It also had a way of increasing the strength of these beasts.
The second stage was called the Demonized State. Their brains crumbled under the weight of the energy, and they became mindless monsters led by the energy itself. And then there was the last and final form, the Abomination.
This form came into play when the soul and core were destroyed and taken over by the demonic energy. When it happened, they became twisted and grotesque soulless beings that carried only the will of the demonic energy, to destroy.
What Raze was staring at was a massive horde of wolves, goblins, and wild boars that had entered the first stage. How did he know? He recognized the signs, black-as-night eyes with black tears streaming from them, foaming mouths, and skin slowly blackening.
He looked at the creatures and knew, the three-foot-tall goblins that normally had puke-green skin now had black patches, red eyes, and mouths wide open with foam dripping out.
’What the hell is happening? Why are there infected beasts and monsters headed for us?’ he thought, his mind wanting to slip into panic, but he immediately calmed himself, slapping his face hard.
"EVERYONE, FALL BACK!" he roared from the bottom of his stomach, then looked at Fey and Ella. "Infected beasts and monsters are headed for us!" he said.
Fey already knew what was happening, so he simply nodded, while Ella was stunned to hear that. "Infected? This deep in the kingdom? That’s impossible," she said.
"I don’t understand what’s happening, but it is happening. We have to save the people and stop them," Raze said.
At that moment, from the forest, the monsters and beasts burst out, eyes glowing red, numbering well over two hundred, and looking savage.
When the already-evacuating people saw them, they all scattered and ran for their lives. But those who had just run out of the forest weren’t that lucky, as a gray wolf rushed after them and lunged.
Raze reacted as fast as he could. He dashed a few steps forward and stretched out his hand. In that moment, he cast a flame and water arrow from the same hand. They shot forward and collided, creating a heavy cloud of steam right in the wolf’s face.
"Fey, now!" Raze barked, and Fey immediately moved. It was as though he teleported, when he reappeared, he was in the air, delivering the cleanest spinning kick ever.
BOOM!
The head of the wolf was blown to bits after the impact. Fey landed on the ground with grace, facing the horde.
"Urghhhh, I better be getting a lot of food after this," he said.
The men who had just been saved finally shook off their shock, got to their feet, and ran. Raze and Ella walked up to Fey as the savage beasts closed in.
"We have to protect the town," Raze stated.
"You guys should stand back. I can handle this, just promise me a good feast aft—" Fey was saying when suddenly a massive two-meter wolf lunged at him, slamming him back several feet. He crashed into the ground and rolled away. Instantly, nearly half the infected rushed toward him.
Raze looked at the wolf that had slammed into Fey and realized it was a level two demonized beast.
"Raze, watch out! Flame wall!" Ella cast a spell, and a massive ten-foot wall of flames shot up from the ground. A few goblins and wolves that had been charging forward slammed into it and burned.
"Let’s hope Fey is fine. We have to fight for ourselves now," she said.
Raze looked at her and nodded. He glanced to his side and noticed a hoe. He picked it up immediately and got into a stance. He hadn’t practiced much, but he still had his Qi to help.
The flame wall came down, and a goblin lunged at him. He swung with full force, Qi-infused arms delivering a powerful blast that ripped through the air, slamming into the side of the goblin’s head.
BAM!
[....]
In the depths of the forest, the clashing of swords rippled through the air. Three figures in black cloaks fought in perfect unison against a young man no more than fifteen. He had jet-black hair and bold, deep, abyss-like eyes, a handsome young man without a doubt.
He wielded a greatsword with striking precision, blocking and countering the attacks of the men. His fluidity wasn’t something that could be faked, it was skill honed into the body of a warrior.
"What the hell did you do here? I saw you do something that caused the monsters and beasts to rampage!" he bellowed as he lunged at one, blue flames erupting over his sword.
One of the cloaked men was stunned. "Not only are you a mage, you’re also a high level battle mage? Who the hell are you?" he asked.
"That’s none of your business!" the young man roared before swinging. His sword clashed into the raised weapon of the cloaked man, sending him crashing into a tree.
In a world where magic ruled, some people chose to take a slightly different path, using mana for combat like knights, rather than casting it like mages. They were known as battle mages.