[Salvos] 780. Infant Demon (Patreon)

780. Infant Demon

***

From his time living in the Demon King’s Castle, Haec learned that Regnorex’s demesne had seven key locations of note.

The first was obviously the castle, and it was where the most loyal and trusted followers of the Demon King were allowed. It was where the so-called royalty resided. They weren’t given official titles like dukes or barons like how it worked with Humans in the Mortal Realm— although they would get Titles that sometimes gave them designations that sounded similar in nature, such as the Dukes and the Duchesses. But under Regnorex, their official categorization was that of the royalty, nothing more.

Even Haec, who had been the Heir of the Netherworld, hadn’t been called a prince. He was simply designated to inherit the Netherworld.

Anyway, the other six locations were spread out throughout the Demon King’s Domain.

In terms of their actual importance, after the Demon King’s Castle came the Echelon. It was a tall spire that was where the Deathsquad Hunters operated. Manos had presumably gone there with Sicar to recruit whoever was willing to rebel and kill the rest.

Then there were the Enclosures— where wild Demons were brought and slaughtered to help power the start of the ritual. They were also experimented on by Oracli there, or used for other purposes. But generally, the Enclosures were where they were brought to die.

And then there were the Enclaves, which were populated by the most loyal of Regnorex’s forces. Their loyalty came from pure chance, too.

Because they were the Demons who had the fortune— or maybe it was misfortune, depending on the perspective— to be born within the Demon King’s Domain. They were brought to live in the Enclaves, and train on the wild Demons from the Enclosures.

Demons like Lucerna— that [Djinn] who had been the reason Haec had been separated from Salvos way back before all of this— were from the Enclaves. After they grew strong enough, they were sent out to live near the edges of the demesne, so they could be sent out on scouting missions to hunt wild Demons or bring back Demons to join the Demon King’s Domain.

But as much as Haec despised Demons like Lucerna and the other Demons who had an unyielding loyalty towards Regnorex, the Enclaves did not matter right now. Not to the former Heir of the Netherworld nor the rebellion.

What was important to the rebellion were the remaining three locations. Because these three locations were where the rebellion could actually expand their forces.

For example, there was the Expanse that made up the border of the demesne. There were fifty legions that were stationed to guard the Expanse, and the bulk of them was what made the rebellion today.

After all, most of those who were stationed at the Expanse were unwilling Demons who were there against their will. So they definitely had resentment built up against Regnorex. Although there were many who also eventually submitted to the Demon King. And those who did would then be sent to the next location in the demesne.

The Encampments.

That was where Demons went to continue their training and indoctrination after the Expanse. The former Heir of the Netherworld himself went through it— although he went through an expedited version of it all, considering the potential he had shown.

Unlike the Expanse which covered a vast section of the outer rims of the Demon King’s Domain, the Encampments were a bunch of scattered camps concentrated around a valley well-within the borders.

Haec had been thinking about leading the rebellion there— to free the Demons within the Encampments and increase the size of their forces. So that they could stop the ritual.

But Hartia had offered an alternative.

To go beyond the Encampments— further into the Demon King’s Domain.

To go to the final place of significance in Regnorex’s demesne.

The Esplanade.

“That is insanity— are you trying to get us all killed?”

Haec asked as he stared at Hartia with wide eyes. But the Fairy just scoffed and crossed his arms.

“Then what do you propose? That we go to the Encampments and boost our numbers with more weak Demons who will desert us the moment things go south? No— we need real capable fighters.”

“That’s…”

Haec trailed off. He couldn’t exactly argue with that, and Hartia knew it. The Fairy just gestured vaguely in the direction of where the Esplanade was waiting for them.

“Look, we don’t need more Lesser Demons or Greater Demons to inflate our numbers. We need Archdemons— maybe even Primeval Demons. And the Esplanade is exactly where we’ll find them.”

Hearing that, Haec pursed his lips. He had never actually been to the Esplanade himself. But he knew that it was where Archdemons and Primeval Demons that were found in the wilderness were brought to be taught and trained to be loyal servants of Regnorex.

But while what Hartia was saying made some sense, there was one key problem with his suggestion. And that was…

“The Esplanade is also where Safra the Lady of Glory resides.”

Haec pointed out as he met Hartia’s gaze. 

“She is the one who is in charge of indoctrinating the Archdemons and Primeval Demons of the Esplanade. Do you seriously think we have a chance of defeating her without Salvos?”

“Salvos this, Salvos that.”

Hartia scoffed dismissively as he flew back.

“You guys are acting like you are completely helpless without Salvos— did you forget that you had another powerful Primeval Demon on your side?”

He gave the former Heir of the Netherworld a toothy grin. In response, the latter just blinked back at him.

“But Manos and Sicar aren’t here either…”

“I’m talking about me you absolute idiot!”

Hartia yelled, pointing at himself. Haec rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms.

“I think you’re the only fool here, considering you aren’t even a Demon.”

“I… that’s—”

The Fairy worked his jaw, before clearing his throat.

“Anyway, I can handle Safra. So that’ll be no problem for us.”

“She’s higher-leveled than you, Hartia.”

Haec narrowed his eyes. 

“What makes you think you stand a chance against her? Even with the army by our side—”

“But that’s the thing. The army won’t be there with us.”

Hartia grinned as he met Haec’s gaze.

“What do you mean by that?”

Haec just furrowed his brows, and Hartia explained.

“The rebellion is definitely going to lose even more morale if they have to go up against a Primeval Demon that they can’t do anything against— they need their own victory. To feel like they stand a chance. So that’s why they’ll be going to the Encampments to free the Demons trapped there from their shackles. While we are going to the Esplanade. Alone.”

“That…”

“Yes, we. I mean you and me.”

Haec wasn’t sure what to say in response to that. He wanted to argue— call it a stupid idea. After all, he still wasn’t sure if he could trust Hartia. Even if Salvos did.

Could this have been a trap?

Possibly. Hartia could just be trying to lead Haec away from the rest of the rebellion to betray. But the plan… almost sounded like it could work.

At least, it was better than just letting the rebellion fall apart.

The thought crossed Haec’s mind as he raised his head and looked in the direction of the hesitating army.

So he nodded as he turned back to Hartia who just smiled, already knowing the answer that was coming.

“Alright, let’s give this plan of yours a try.”

And even though the former Heir of the Netherworld was agreeing to the plan, he still had a single thought in the back of his mind.

I really hope Salvos returns soon…

***

[My Flames Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends].

It was the very first Grand Skill I had ever gotten, and it proved to be the most useful one, even until now. Creating a practically invulnerable barrier of fire that coated my entire body, it would of course have plenty of utility, especially in situations where I was faced with enemies far stronger than I was.

But since the Grand Skill had leveled up, its range of use had even widened. I could concentrate it onto certain parts of my body, basically using it as a weapon. It could also burn anyone that tried to attack me with extremely powerful flames.

However, that was not all that it could do at its current level. I could also now extend its protection to someone else.

I couldn’t extend its effects to multiple people. One or two at most, although that would be stretching it. But I could at the very least use it to protect a single Infant Demon.

So that was what I did.

The blast between the [Cerberus Of Hell] and the Corrupted Hellsky erupted behind the both of us, reaching us quickly.

My Grand Skill was more than enough to protect us from the black flames that came swept over the landscape, evaporating the last of the boiling birthpool and incinerating the corpses of the other unborn Infant Demons. But I knew that the corruption could get around the aura of protection too if it was powerful enough. 

So that was why I created an additional barrier of warped space to protect us for a moment. But it wasn’t an ordinary barrier of warped space— it was a barrier of corrupted warped space. An inferior version of what I could use in [The World Of My Mind] like against Chordus.

Still, it was more than enough to do what I needed it to do.

I braced the Infant Demon in my arms as the blast swept over us— as the ground shook and the world itself seemed to tremble.

Then the world stilled as the shockwave passed.

I slowly lowered my barrier of corruption, although Grand Skill of night invulnerability was still protecting us, before looking back in the direction of the [Cerberus Of Hell] and the Corrupted Hellsky. The two colossal titans were clashing into each other. It looked like an even match. I wasn’t sure who was winning this battle.

A part of me wanted to join the fight— the experience from killing them would’ve been quite rewarding. Another part of me wanted to ignore them and just leave, going back to help Haec like I originally was going to do.

But what I really wanted to do at the moment was talk to the Infant Demon. So I just turned back down to the little thing which was quivering in my arms, staring up at me with confusion evident in its… no her purple eyes.

“Hey, are you alright?”

She didn’t respond. I just smiled back at her as behind me the [Cerberus Of Hell] grabbed the tendrils of the Corrupted Hellsky and flung it against the side of the crevice.

“I told you, you’re safe now. So don’t worry. I’m going to protect you.”

I continued. But the Infant Demon didn’t respond. It just winced as the Corrupted Hellsky grabbed the [Cerberus Of Hell] with its tendrils and slammed it into the ground, causing the earth to rumble.

“Well, you’re probably still scared. So don’t worry, let’s just get out of here, alright?”

I spoke reassuringly as I turned around, slowly opening a rift to [The World Of My Mind]. I could have just gotten away from here using [Rapid Disengage], but we would still be in a world that was probably falling apart due to the ritual.

So even a hundred miles away from here would still be unsafe.

It would be better to talk in my pocket world. And I wanted to talk to the Infant Demon— because I had a question for her which I hoped she’d be able to answer. 

“I know you can’t really speak, but can you tell me something?”

I asked as the rift finished forming. Once I got my answer, I was going to return to helping Haec by finding the Beast and leading it to the Demon King’s Domain. 

“Can you tell me what it means to be a Demon?”

I finished as I stepped forward towards the rift. The Infant Demon just blinked at me, staring up at me quizzically. Completely confused.

However, before I could manage to parse what it was even thinking, a powerful blast erupted behind me. I blinked, glancing back, before watching as both the Corrupted Hellsky and the [Cerberus Of Hell] were flung through the air, landing in the distance from the explosion.

Did they blast themselves away like that? No— but then they would fly in opposite directions. So what…?

I slowly looked at the smoldering crater where they had been standing earlier, burning with white flames that emitted no smoke.

And I saw it standing there amongst the fire. 

An [Imp] with black skin and silver eyes. 

It had no hair, and it had a pair of tiny black horns poking out the side of its head. It looked intelligent— it even had a savage smirk plastered across its face. 

But it was no [Imp] at all, nor was it anything other than a wild Demon.

It was—

[Hellevil - Lvl. 214]

A Primordial Demon.

I stared at it as it sneered at me. Then I pursed my lips as I internally thought to myself—

…sorry Haec, but I don’t think I’ll be returning anytime soon.

And the [Hellevil] let out a garbled screech as it leapt straight at me.

Author's Notes:

Early chapter today.

This is not related to the chapter, but I was wondering whether to revamp how the tiers for my patreon works. Since we are officially 20 chapters ahead of public now, this will be the last chapter for the $5 tier until, while $10 tier will continue to get updates until we hit 30 chapters ahead of public. However, that is with the current old patreon tiers from years ago back when I did 5 chapters a week or sometimes more.

But since I am only doing 3 chapters a week now, would it be better to change the tiers to "weeks ahead on patreon" so for example the $10 ter gets 6 weeks ahead while the $5 tier gets 3 weeks ahead?

That way, the $5 tier will only have to wait 3 weeks before you guys get chapter updates again instead of having to wait nearly 4 weeks? I also can start posting public chapters on RoyalRoad again too if I restructure my tiers that way. What do you guys think?

Read the next chapter here