No chances
That's how the lesser imp's operations had proceeded so far.
He gave almost no opportunity for the adventurers to fight back.
But now he was stuck.
Though he had the advantage in sight at the moment, he knew he could not handle the two remaining on his own.
He had taken out all of the other members because they were the typical backline, frail, less agile, and generally less exposed to the higher octane dangers of the vanguard.
And without their vanguard able to readily protect them in the dark, they were like sheep to a slaughter.
"..."
Every second seemed like a minute, every minute seemed like forever.
The tension had already reached a climax and Syme and Daryl were feeling the pressure of the darkness heavily pressing on them.
They could hear each other's breathing–even a small echo coming from the walls.
There were water droplets that fell in uneven paces; it was making them go crazy.
'Where is it?'
They didn't know where their hunter was.
They expected him to simply shoot out from the dark, but it would not be the small creature they would be fighting, for the lesser imp had slipped back into the water while they were stunned in the tension of their situation.
In just a two dozen seconds, he reached the bottom, staring at the blood red gems that had just freshly absorbed the life force of three people and a deep hunter.
I need to be fast
He knew the shelled creature was protecting it, and he wanted the ire of the shelled creature to be redirected to the two adventurers.
It was a risky plan, extremely so. But luck had been good to him, and he would gamble his hand once again.
He knew the purple shelled monster could sense him, so instead of sneaking up slowly, he took a much faster approach.
In one swift motion, he exploded off the wall, snatched the gem from the foliage it was tucked around and accelerated to the surface as fast as he could.
As soon as he neared the blood-soaked gem, the shelled creature erupted in anger, firing off spikes and shaking the entire cavern.
One spike came flying right at the lesser imp as he bolted up the water column.
Fast!
It was much stronger than it had anticipated, and he focused all his strength and mana into his body to barely speed up, barely avoiding it with a knick on the side of his foot.
Close
As soon as he had taken the treasure, the two adventurers had slowly moved to the cave exit, fearing the awakening of what they assumed to be the shell monster.
"Damnit, run!"
Syme didn't protest Daryl as their situation just seemed to get direr by the second.
Spreading the breadth of their mana out to the limit, they could feel where the cave entrance was, but even still they were hundreds of meters below the surface.
And while they ran, the lesser imp had already gotten ahead, needing no time to check directions as he could see just fine.
He was making great strides until he felt a sudden chilling numbness in his leg.
Poison
From the barb?
It was only in one left, so he could still limp, but he had not anticipated this outcome; and a slight sense of panic set in in conjunction with the thrill of danger looming over.
He was a devil through and through.
Much farther behind, he could hear the hurried steps of the adventurers and the smashing of the shell creature too.
It had evidently left its domain, chasing them above the water's surface.
Faster! Move!
The paralysis was making it harder and harder to ascend the cavern path as it crept up its leg.
Luckily it didn't seem to continue up his body, it was only a small scratch after all.
Behind him he heard two adventurers again.
"Go! I'll hold it off." Daryl screamed.
"No! What? I'm not letting you die here!" Syme replied in protest.
"Stop! Daryl! What are you doing!"
Daryl pushed Syme through a threshold of the cave with force, knocking the air out of her lungs and proceeded to channel his mana into his leg, stomping on the ground.
A great vibration shook the cave, collapsing the hazardous system the abandoned mine existed upon.
"Daryl!"
Before the rocks fell, she could feel him smiling despite the darkness that separated her eyes from his face.
It was an act of heroism.
An act of sacrifice where the white knight exchanges his life for the princess.
It was a cliche; and after successfully escaping she would hold a burial ceremony in his loving memory.
Sad really, that this isn't that kind of story.
Tears poured down her face as she stumbled towards the surface in staggered haste.
But then, she felt something
!
Danger!
Before she could turn and draw her sword, she was knocked to the ground by a wave of mana.
A set of cold chitinous claws pressed against her neck as she felt the chilling breath of her attacker.
Why?
Why had everything happened?
Was it greed?
They should have never stepped foot here.
She didn't know how to organize her thoughts at the moment, and let her words slip out.
"Please… save me, someone…"
…
…
…
The lesser imp pressed his claws closer to her neck, drawing some blood, and she felt it but resisted the pain.
"Please…" her voice was hoarse.
This was a feeling he had never felt before when killing the other humans.
It was euphoric…
It was fear, despair, hopelessness.
It had made his hunt so much more satisfying–a devil through and through.
But this one was not for killing.
Another one of a devil's natural sensations had arisen in him, one sensitive to souls. And this one seemed to have a very pure soul.
"I won't kill you."
"...wha… what?" She whispered.
"Give me your soul."
'My… what!'
"And I'll let you live, simple."
The lesser imp spoke in perfect human tongue.
'...'
"Re… really?"
"Of course, a devil never breaks their contract." He said with cheer while pressing his claws deeper into the back of her neck.
"Ah!" She squeaked a little.
'I want to live…'
"Please… please don't kill me."
"Then is that a deal?"
"A… deal."
"Swear."
"..."
"I swear."
It was easier than I anticipated. The lesser imp thought.
As soon as those words left her mouth, it felt like a chain had latched onto her being; if she was a bird, it felt like her wings were getting torn from her body.
"Augh! ah! " She screamed; and though the pain lasted shortly, it felt like an eternity for her.
She felt empty.
"Now, take me to the surface" the lesser imp said as he collapsed to the cave floor beside her, the poison still in effect.
And his words were like the tightening of a leash.
She could not disobey.