It was the second day of the expedition.
Andre and the team were locked in combat with a Two-headed Zombie Hound. It was ten times the size of a normal hound, with a more massive, savage, and terrifying appearance.
Mario (Fatty) stood alone on the frontline, his golden shield bearing the brunt of the monster's assault. The team had switched strategies: having two tanks for a single monster was inefficient. Fatty's exceptional solo tanking ability allowed Andre to swap his sword for a spare crossbow, maximizing the group's sustained damage output. Backed by Rika's buffs, their attacks were relentless, yet the monster's hide seemed impenetrable.
"That is one tough hide you've got there, ugly," Fatty grunted, struggling to maintain his footing against the two-headed beast's continuous frontal assault.
"Fatty, can you lure it closer? We aren't doing enough damage! Our attacks aren't penetrating!" Andre called out, rapidly reloading and firing. "Its defense is too high! We need to find a weakness!"
"Roger that!" Fatty answered, executing a quick backward roll, expertly guiding the behemoth closer to the group's defensive line.
Andre squinted, quickly analyzing the creature, searching for any exposed flesh or seam in its tough hide. He found nothing.
"Edgar? Any weakness on the exterior?" Andre asked urgently, his crossbow momentarily lowered.
"There seems to be no weakness outside the body, Andre," Edgar confirmed, his face tight with frustration as his Piercing Arrows glanced off the thick, decaying skin.
No external weakness? The realization struck Andre with the force of a blow. If there is no weakness outside, then...
"Fatty, use your Stone Castle skill! And taunt it more! Make it furious!" Andre commanded, his voice sharp with newfound certainty. "Mark and Edgar, cease fire! Wait for my signal, then attack with everything you've got! I want to try something!"
Trusting Andre's superior tactical instinct, the team complied without hesitation. Fatty immediately roared, escalating the monster's frenzy, and activated Stone Castle, anchoring himself to the ground and boosting his defense even further.
The Two-headed Zombie Hound, driven mad by the focused aggression, redoubled its efforts, relentlessly attacking the stationary Fatty. With the monster's attention entirely consumed by the gold-plated tank, Andre aimed and bombarded the creature's other head with a rain of crossbow bolts.
The beast howled in agonizing pain as several bolts struck inside its open mouth.
"Now's the time! Hit the inside of its mouth with everything you've got!" Andre signaled violently.
"Piercing Arrooooow!!!" Edgar shouted, releasing a charged bolt.
"Fiiiiiiire Baaall!!" Mark chanted, unleashing his spell.
Both attacks shot true, entering the monster's open maw. One head of the giant hound immediately went limp, and the entire main body stumbled backward, convulsing in pain.
"I'm not finished yet! Detonate!" Mark roared.
A huge, muffled explosion erupted inside the creature's head, splattering putrid innards in every direction. The beast collapsed, instantly dissolving into ash, leaving behind a massive beast core.
The group erupted in cheers.
"Nice one, guys! High five!" Andre called out, offering his hand to everyone.
"Nice call, Andre! That was brilliant!" Mark exclaimed, adrenaline still pumping.
"Good job, everyone!" Rika cheered, relieved and elated.
"Nice Tanking, Fatty!" Edgar praised.
"Of course! As expected of me! But seriously, Nice Fight, Guys!" Fatty beamed, striking a proud pose.
Our teamwork isn't perfect yet, but it's improving at an incredible rate, Andre thought, warmth spreading through him. I really do have excellent teammates now.
The Land of Darkness
Third Person POV
The Land of Darkness was a realm utterly deprived of life. The soil was stained a deep, pervasive red, perpetually tinged with dried blood. No sign of natural life existed; it was a land where death reigned supreme. The wind was always frigid, like eternal winter, swaying nothing but lifeless, skeletal trees under a sky where the sun had permanently set. It was a land abandoned by the gods.
In this realm, demons were mobilizing under a new banner—that of a new, powerful, and utterly merciless Demon Lord. He had conquered the Land of Darkness through sheer brute force and was now preparing to lay siege to the human kingdoms. Throngs of demons had pledged allegiance, united by the singular desire to overthrow and dominate the human race.
In a surprisingly short span, the Demon Lord had already secured the kingdoms bordering the northern edge of the dark lands, marking the terrifying Rise of the Demons.
Maz'Drearc Laz, The Arch Demon
Within a cavernous room, suffocated by oppressive darkness and emptiness, a creature of nightmare resided. Its gigantic body was covered in coarse black fur, and its head was a deformed ram's skull fused with a grotesque human parody. It stood upright on powerful, goat-like legs, possessing vast, colorless black wings. Its eyes were swirling pools of eternal darkness.
In a swift, sickening instant, the figure consumed an entire human head in one massive gulp. Cracking noises of shattering bone filled the chamber as brain matter slowly dripped from its inhuman mouth.
"Such a delicacy," the being rasped, its voice a chilling blend of pleasure and cruelty. This was Maz'Drearc Laz, one of the Ancient Demons and the dreaded right-hand of the new Demon Lord—a high-ranking Arch Demon who had existed for over six hundred years. He was the cold, calculating brain of the Demon Lord's massive forces.
While savoring his ghastly meal of human heads, a silent shadow materialized before him, causing him to pause.
"You had better have something important, or you will be the next one on my plate," Maz'Drearc Laz growled, his patience thin.
"Y-yes, my lord!" The shadow stammered, trembling in palpable terror.
"Spill it out!" The Arch Demon slammed his fist forcefully onto the concrete table, creating a huge dent and making the shadow visibly flinch.
"According to one of our spies in the Empire..." The Shadow detailed everything about the summoned heroes and their current activities.
Maz'Drearc Laz grinned, a chilling sight. "Oh! So the Empire is already making its move. Well, that is within our expectation. The Lord commanded us to focus on invading the northern continent, but perhaps it wouldn't hurt to stir up a little trouble on the southern flank." He picked up a lifeless, dripping head and crushed it in his palm like a brittle eggshell.
Geographically, the Land of Darkness was nestled between the northern and southern continents. The Demon Lord had chosen the northern path because it lacked the natural defenses—such as the massive mountain ranges—that protected the southern kingdoms. While this geography shielded the south from a full-scale invasion, it also meant they couldn't easily counterattack the Land of Darkness. The Demon Lord was building an unstoppable force in the north before turning his attention south.
"Gather a small strike group and lead them toward the Empire. Deal with these troubles before the situation becomes... unexpected," Maz'Drearc Laz commanded.
"Understood, My Lord!"
"And do not forget to collect their heads. Bring them to me!"
"Yes, My Lord!" The shadow accepted the order before vanishing into the thin air.
"The rise of the demons will be in plain sight! Kikikikakakakakkaka!!!!" Maz'Drearc Laz boasted, his giggling quickly escalating into a terrifying, inhuman laugh that echoed through the oppressive darkness as he rose from his chair and became one with the shadows.
(A/N: I tried my best to make the demon scarier. I hope it suits your taste.
I really want to know if anyone if liking this story. I hope you let me know if I should continue this one :) you can leave a feedback below)