She lowered him down slow, her arms steady until his back touched the ground. She set him gently on the cold stone, then sat beside him.
They were deep inside the cave. So deep that no light could reach. Only darkness, thick and endless.
Time crawled. The air was still. She didn't move, only stayed there beside him like a silent guard.
After a while his eyelids twitched. His eyes blinked open, weak at first, then wider.
[Night Vision: Activated]
Shapes formed out of the dark. The rough walls of the cave. The shadow of her figure sitting near him.
"Aggh… where am I?" he muttered, his arm lifting slow, pressing against his forehead.
He tried to push himself up, but his body refused. His arms shook, his chest heavy. He couldn't stand.
Then the System screen burst in front of his eyes, glowing clear.
[Host is Paralyzed]
[Remaining Time: 6 Hours]
His lips twitched. His jaw clenched. "Damn… fuck… this skill… what's the use if I end up down after using it…"
"Ohhh… my master, you woke up…"
The soft voice slid into his ears. His head jerked to the side, his eyes wide. On his right, sitting close, was a demoness.
"W-wait… who… who are you…?" His lips trembled. His throat dry. His eyes darted fast over her face, her horns, her red eyes glowing in the dark.
His heart skipped. A shiver ran down his back. Shit… don't tell me she's here to eat me…
"My meat doesn't taste good! It's yuck!" His voice came out loud, cracking, his shoulders pressing down like he was trying to hide his body.
The demoness blinked once, then leaned forward, her voice soft again. "Oh master… I would never harm you. I would not dare to even scratch you."
Her eyes lowered, her lips pressed shut, then she spoke again, steady but low. "You saved me. A low-level life like mine. I am eternally grateful. This life of mine is no longer mine. It belongs to you."
Her knees touched the ground. She bent forward slow, her forehead bowing down. Her hands pressed on the cold stone.
"I cannot repay this favor. I cannot repay this life. So I pledge my loyalty to you, here and now."
"Eh—what the fuck…"
His lips barely moved. His eyes blinked fast. His face went blank like his brain just stopped working.
Life… save… pledge… loyalty? The words rolled in his head, slow, heavy, like rocks dropping one by one.
"What the hell are you even saying…?" His voice cracked, weak and confused. His chest rose fast, his breath uneven.
He stared at her, still kneeling there with her head lowered. His eyes wide open with confusion. "W-who… who are you?"
The demoness didn't lift her head. Her red hair slipped down her shoulders, covering part of her face. Her voice came out soft, almost shaking.
"I am… nothing, master. Just a weak one. Just a useless life that would already be gone if not for you."
Her hands pressed harder on the stone floor. "I have no name worth telling. No place worth calling mine. But if you allow it… then I will follow you. I will serve you. Until this life of mine ends."
She lifted her head a little, just enough for her glowing eyes to meet his. They weren't sharp, they weren't proud. They were low, humble, waiting.
Liu Yang's lips curved into a stupid grin. His chest thumped fast. "First harem member… mine already… " The thought made his mouth twitch wider.
But then something hit him. A sharp smell, thick, iron-sweet, rushing into his nose. His head jerked. His eyes opened wide.
[Blood Sense: Activated]
It was like a door opening in his head, like a memory he never knew he had was waking up. The scent was clear, strong, familiar. His lips parted. His voice stumbled out, shaky.
"Wait… wait… you… you're the same girl. But… but you were human. I saw you. You were human!"
The demoness lifted her head slowly, her eyes glowing faint red, her lips trembling with a small smile.
"Master… I was hiding. I used the skill [Charm Morph]. I turned myself into a human girl, so the humans would not kill me. So I could survive. So I could hide my horns, my blood."
Liu Yang's body stiffened. His eyes blinked fast. "Hide? From who?"
Her voice dropped lower, heavy. "From the Demon Hunters, Master."
Liu Yang's throat went dry. His lips moved slow. "D-demon… hunters?"
She bowed her head again. "Yes, Master."
Then her voice grew darker, like even saying it hurt her. She began to explain who the Demon Hunters were…
They were not just normal soldiers, not just men with swords. They were a ruthless unit, a group that lived only to kill demons.
Every one of them was trained to know the weakness of demons. They knew where to strike, how to cut, how to burn, how to break.
They carried tools and weapons made only to hurt demons, and their hearts were filled with hate.
They were not from one Kingdom. They were gathered from many, pulled from every land.
Adventurers, mercenaries, killers. All joined together under one name. A guild that stretched across the whole world. The humans called it Zhū Mó Lián — the Demon-Slaying Alliance.
But the people did not care about fancy names. To the humans they were just Demon Hunters.
That was enough. When people heard the name Demon Hunter, they felt safe. But when demons heard it, they felt fear.
The Demon Hunters hunted day and night. They did not care if the demon was strong or weak, man or woman, child or elder.
To them a demon was filth. To them demons were pests to be removed. They burned villages, cut down forests, chased survivors into caves, tracked them with dogs and magic. No matter how far a demon ran, the Demon Hunters always followed.