Upon Alric's group's return, a sudden downpour commenced, prompting everyone to quickly retrieve their clothes that were drying outdoors. The evening sky had grown dark, filled with ominous clouds, and strong, refreshing winds swept through the trees, causing the open house windows to rattle.
As the rain intensified, Alric and the others closed the windows. Through the glass, the rain was visible, with the wind carrying tree leaves and small twigs.
As rain began to fall, Alric and the others remained indoors, illuminating the magical lamps as dusk settled. Outside, the clouds glowed with nascent lightning, thunder rumbled, and trees swayed in the wind. Alric recalled a dish commonly consumed by humans in some few regions of Earth during such rainy weather, known as "pakodi," as best he could remember.
Having previously visited the kingdom of Skyrim, he had acquired various food ingredients, most of which he recognized. He confirmed that he possessed all the necessary ingredients to prepare pakodi.
Alric says, "Alright, let's have some delicious pakodi." He then instructed Belle and Whitney to prepare the necessary ingredients. Alric specifically requested vegetables to be cut into particular shapes and took charge of preparing the batter himself.
Once all preparations were complete, he heated the oil over a flame. He then proceeded to fry the vegetables by dipping them in the batter and cooking them in the hot oil. Within few minutes, the pakodi were ready to be served. Alric had prepared a sufficient quantity of pakodi for everyone.
Alric also applied the final seasoning before serving each plate. Belle and Whitney sampled their portions, expressing delight at the crispiness and flavor. Belle remarked, "I can't believe how well this pairs with the rainy weather, Alric. What is this dish?" Alric was pleased by their positive reception.
Vexanna and Aelda continued eating in silence, indicating their enjoyment as well. Stella, Helga, and Callie also partook in the pakodi. Stella identified the dish as fried onion and potatoes, commenting on its surprisingly delicious taste, she couldn't believe it can taste this well.
Helga planned to share the recipe with her cook at her mansion, so her mother can also taste it, anticipating her surprise at this novel dish. As they have never seen this typical dish before. Callie, too, found the dish delicious, complimenting Alric directly.
After finishing their meal, they retired to rest. A few minutes later, a mysterious object crashed just outside their house.
A loud crash resonated as it fell. The persistent rain prompted them to observe from the windows, where they noticed a dark orb, approximately the size of a human head, lying on the ground. A visible dark aura emanated from it, dissipating into the thin air. Despite the continuous rainfall, the dark orb remained motionless, akin to a stone.
Vexanna, upon closer inspection, recognized this orb as being connected to the Demon Queen, a formidable entity more powerful than the Demon Kings. Every three years, the Demon Queen disperses these orbs to unknown locations, thereby claiming any area within a three-mile radius from each orb as her own.
As the orb lay on the ground, the rhythmic thud of a four-legged creature's approach echoed, its powerful strides closing in on Alric's residence. Abruptly, a pack of beasts materialized, resembling tigers but moving in a coordinated group.
Approximately 15 to 30 of these creatures stood before them. Alric and the others observed them, but the beasts' gaze was fixed on the orb. Their bodies were an abyssal, "pitch black," yet they emitted a subtle luminescence.
Callie, Helga, and Vexanna were at a loss, unable to identify the creatures before them. Aelda, Belle, and Whitney, however, were captivated by the beasts' appearance, observing them in silent intrigue.
Stella, upon surveying the creatures, stated that it was not a pack of distinct beasts but rather a singular entity capable of fragmenting into smaller forms to operate as a collective. Alric and the others listened intently as Stella continued, explaining that this creature is known as a Night Crawler. She further elaborated that it is a specialized being that exclusively targets demonic entities.
The Night Crawler had been drawn by the orb's potent demonic aura. As a solitary creature, it typically stands at an imposing height of 21 feet. Stella also revealed that this was her inaugural encounter with such a creature, having previously only encountered descriptions of it in texts.
The Night Crawler absorbed all the dark aura from the orb, transforming it into a pristine white glass sphere. As it prepared to depart, it detected Vexanna, a demon. Unable to absorb Vexanna's Demonic aura, the Night Crawler initiated an assault on the house. First, it unleashed a potent beam, which had no effect as the house remained unscathed.
Next, it deployed an explosive giant energy ball, striking the house with it. As the dust settled, the house once again emerged unfazed. Finally, the creature attempted to crash its colossal body against the dwelling. Ultimately, the Night Crawler collided with the house, incapacitating itself.
The Night Crawler awakens and promptly departs as the dark orb transforms into a white orb. Upon receiving this information, the demon queen personally visits the orb's location in the forbidden forest. As she enters the forest region, her ability to fly is neutralized, causing her to fall to the ground. She lands with a thud and proceeds to search for the orb on foot.