[Salvos] 789. Pathetic (Patreon)

789. Pathetic

***

Haec stared at the [Hellprince Of Fire] for a moment, not expecting the sudden intervention. That made the other Primeval Demon just scoff in response.

“What are you staring at, you fool? You should know that’s not enough to defeat Safra.”

“That— I know.”

Haec steeled himself and stepped forward. 

“We’ll have to work together to bring her down. But before that, if we’re going to be fighting side by side, I’d like to know your name.”

“Hmph, you can just call me Oram. You called yourself Haec, right? Tell me— what happened to Naro?”

The [Hellprince Of Fire] just harrumphed as he ripped off the last of the chains restraining him. Of course, he still had the collar on his neck, but he was otherwise unrestricted.

“Naro?”

Haec blinked.

“You mean the leader of the Tenth Legion?”

“Last I heard, that’s where he’s at, yes. Don’t tell me he got himself killed fighting for Regnorex, did he?”

Oram almost gave a disappointed look. But Haec shook his head.

“No— Naro joined the rebellion. Unfortunately, he died helping us bring down Chordus.”

“That’s…”

Oram’s expression was unreadable for a moment, then he just scoffed.

“Well, at the very least, he died over something worth doing— I was almost afraid he would get himself killed fighting for that damn Demon King.”

Haec stared at the other Primeval Demon, before placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t know what Naro meant to you, but I assure you, without him, we wouldn’t be here right now. I am sorry for your loss.”

“Sorry for my…?”

Oram paused for a moment, before guffawing as he strode forward.

“Come on, Naro’s death is not my loss. I have always hated his gust. Honestly, the only reason I stayed behind here in this damn place is because he chose to go join the Demon King. We aren’t… anything other than that.”

Oram hesitated, before finishing his declaration. Haec just nodded, not commenting any further as he turned his gaze towards the top of the dungeon. Both Primeval Demons watched as the jovial Safra returned, wiping a scratch off from her face as she just chuckled.

“That was a nice try— good job, Oram. You really are strong, aren’t you?”

Then her expression instantly hardened as she twirled her golden sword in her hand. 

“It’s truly such a shame that you’ll die as an enemy of my dear Regnorex.”

And then she surged forward, slashing both of them across the chest. 

Haec recoiled, barely even processing what just happened. He was bleeding— it was almost a fatal blow, landed in an instant. Spinning around, she swung for Oram’s neck. But he raised a shield he created out of fire, blocking the attack. 

In that moment, Haec moved with an [Instantaneous Strike] that barely even caused Safra to budge.

She glanced back at him and laughed.

“That didn’t hu…rt?”

Safra blinked, pausing for a moment as Haec pointed at her, causing her movements to slow. And that was when Oram moved.

He unhinged his jaw as he sent a cone of flames out, engulfing her figure entirely. When the flames subsided, she was barely even hurt, lowering her arms as she scoffed.

“Come on, are you even really trying—”

She started, but Haec was on her in a moment. Her eyes grew wide as Haec’s arms rippled, flashing with a pulsing light.

“[The Right Hand Of The Demon King]!”

Haec unleashed a powerful uppercut that sent Safra flying straight up with a yelp, crashing through the ceiling as the dungeon began to collapse all around them from the fighting. Oram didn’t let up, instantly flying up with flaming wings as he gave chase to their opponent.

But the former Heir of the Netherworld paused for a moment, sweeping his gaze around the rumbling dungeon. The Archdemons and the few Primeval Demons gathered there were just reeling from the rubble falling from the ceiling. 

This wasn’t enough to kill them, probably. But the sight was still sad to see.

“Are you really that pathetic?”

He asked simply as the Demons gathered there just stared at him.

“I understand your desire to survive, but if you’re really going to let yourself get buried by thousands of tons of rubble to not take the risk of fighting back and earning your freedom… then there was no reason for me to come here and free you.”

And with that, Haec just leapt out of the collapsing dungeon, joining Oram in the fortress above.

The [Hellprince Of Fire] was unleashing a barrage of attacks against Safra who was still clutching at her stomach from Haec’s punch. But compared to the Traitor’s Grand Skill, Oram’s attacks were barely hurting her.

She just swung back at him, and while he barely managed to block it with his flaming shield, he was sent flying back down next to Haec.

All around them, the fortress continued to collapse. 

“You might want to use your Grand Skill if we are to win this battle.”

Haec said as he turned to Oram, who just groaned, picking himself up.

“I’m already using one of my Grand Skills.”

“You are?”

Haec blinked back at Oram, who held up his flaming shield that had protected him multiple times now.

“[The Grand Phoenix Shield]. It is practically unbreakable, so as long as I’m able to react to Safra’s attacks in time, I won’t die here.”

“That’s…”

Haec stared at Oram who was just grinning.

“I know, pretty impressive, right? I bet you’ve never seen a Grand Skill like this before.”

Actually, I have, Haec thought, shaking his head. In fact, I’ve seen one much better— an unbreakable barrier that doesn’t require you to swing it around to protect yourself.

Haec, of course, refrained from voicing his thoughts. He just grunted in affirmation as he fixed his gaze back towards Safra who was standing atop a pillar as the building all around her collapsed. 

She held her sword up to her side, before leaping forward down at both of them.

“She’s coming, get ready—”

Haec started.

But before Safra could reach either of them, a giant chunk of debris falling from the sky suddenly swerved and struck her out of the air. She did a flip as she landed on the ground, mostly unharmed.

However, she looked up at the sky with narrowed eyes. Haec also glanced up in that direction as well, while Oram just looked around, confused.

“What was that?”

“That’s our backup.”

Haec said with a grin, watching as the glowing grey Fairy descended down next to the both of them. 

“Hey, so did you manage to get help?”

Hartia asked as he glanced between Haec and Oram. 

“I did.”

Haec nodded at the [Hellprince Of Fire]. Hartia placed a hand on his chin as he gave an approving look.

“Level 181, huh? Pretty strong. What about the rest of them though?”

“The rest of them?”

Haec blinked. Hartia paused, realizing what the former Heir of the Netherworld’s reaction meant. 

“...are you telling me that only one Primeval Demon joined us?”

“I… yes?”

Haec replied with a shrug. And that was when two other figures came crashing down from the sky, landing right next to the jovial Safra.

It was the other two Safras— all three of them stood there, each Level 200, and ready for battle. Hartia glanced at them, then he looked back at his team.

“We’re definitely completely fucked.”

Hartia said as he sighed.

***

Was this a mistake? Should Ultis have chosen to betray Aliq at that moment?

She didn’t know, she had made a decision at the spur of the moment, and now she had no choice but to live with it.

Perhaps if she had more time to think, she might’ve considered this a bad move. If she chose to betray earlier instead, it might’ve been a smarter move.

But she considered what would happen once they killed Taburas— once they fully betrayed the rebellion. There was no turning back then.

And when Manos returned— because he would return, even if Salvos didn’t— he’d have both Ultis and Aliq killed in an instant.

Their only hope of survival was finding the Demon King before that happened.

But considering Aliq’s plan, that was never going to happen.

So Ultis made her choice to side with the rebellionf or now, and she was going to live with it no matter what. 

She just moved as fast as she could, carrying Taburas in her arms as she made her way back to the Encampments. They hadn’t gone that far, so it didn’t take her long to reach the vast valley filled with various camps. 

But Aliq was right on their tail, screaming as he chased after them. 

“How dare you betray me, Ultis! I will kill you—”

His voice echoed behind her. She turned around and threw a sickle his way, causing him to stop for a moment to block the attack. 

She continued flying forward, passing over one of the first Encampments she saw. It was empty, since most of the rebellion had already cleared this area a while back.

Most of the rebellion would be gathered towards the center of the valley, where the last of the Encampments were— they’d either be fighting, or claiming victory. Either way, she needed their help if she wanted to bring down Aliq.

“Don’t die on me yet.”

Ultis said as she looked down at Taburas’s bloodied body. 

“I need your help if we are to survive this.”

And with that, she sped up, before eventually finding the large mass of the rebellion near the center of the valley as she expected. She surged downwards, practically crashing into the ground as a bunch of nearby Demons looked her way in shock.

This particular camp she had landed at seemed to be celebrating, some cheering for their newfound freedom, while others were just relaxing after a hard-fought battle. Sweeping her gaze around her surroundings, she called out desperately at the milling Demons.

“I need someone— anyone— who can use healing magic right this instant!”

“What’s going on?”

A nearby Demon walked up towards them.

“I can use healing magic.”

“Help me save her.”

Ultis said, holding up Taburas. The Demon paused, before scratching the back of his head.

“Uh, I don’t think I can do that. I’m only a Lesser Demon. And that Archdemon is practically already dead.”

Ultis gritted her teeth when she heard that, before shaking her head.

“Then get me Aemula… Bertrugil… or any Archdemon you can find! And find me one that can heal too!”

More Demons approached, hearing the commotion. They formed a small crowd around Ultis and Taburas as they spoke up, completely unaware of what was about to come.

“Why are you in such a rush?”

“We won— the last of the camps are falling as we speak.”

“That’s right, let’s celebrate instead of worrying over your dead friend.”

Ultis shook her head and gritted her teeth. 

“Taburas isn’t dead yet, and I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about—”

And right at that point, she was cut off as a figure crashed down from the sky, completely obliterating the crowd of gathered Demons in an instant.

“...Aliq.”

Ultis whispered as she stared at the other Primeval Demon, soaked in black blood. He turned back to face her and bared his teeth.

“It’s too late for you now, Ultis. You’ll die here.”

Author's Notes:

Salvos has officially resumed on RoyalRoad. $5 tier patrons will get chapters again starting the next chapter too.