I stared intently, knowing that at any moment, it would be time to strike.

  Cedric had gone ahead, using his ring to cloak himself, making his way towards the Elves holding Viressa captive. Zorrack stalked forward on my right, approaching at an angle, while Atea stayed by my side as a precautionary measure. She was still freshly reborn and low level, and I had my reservations about including her in our mission.

  “Are you sure you’re up for this?” I asked quietly.

  She nodded. “Don’t worry about me, I can do this.”

  [She’s got guts.] Joshua admitted. I agreed mentally.

  Suddenly, a commotion.

  Cedric struck, activating his skills and dashing from elf to elf in a flurry. The soldiers were shocked, attacking his afterimage hopelessly while his shadow-imbued dagger slashed their throats one by one. Zorrack followed, activating a skill I hadn’t seen before.

  [Howl]

  A thunderous roar shook the landscape, causing the elves to fall back in fear. The large demon bounded forward, shaking the ground as he struck with Stormcaller. Lightning fell from the heavens in a crack of thunder, and I was blinded by the blue flash as the poor Elf it struck convulsed from the shock.

  "Now!" I shouted, sprinting forward. The commotion had drawn the attention of Lirien and Iseldrynn, as I'd hoped; now it was all on me. If Viressa was to escape with the others, I had to stall the prince.

  With a thought, I summoned Joshua, and with the parasite came Signeir and Finnlen. "We need to hold them off! Use everything you've got!"

  As we rounded the hill, I saw the prince's eyes widen in recognition, Iseldrynn pointing a finger towards us in warning.

  “I would never turn down a worthy opponent!” Signeir proclaimed, dashing forward with Infernal Draw. Fire followed in his wake, and he clashed blades with Iseldrynn, embers hissing against the Elf's frost-imbued sword.

  Finnlen shouted a cheerful reply, much to Joshua’s disgust. “I don’t know what's happening!”

  “C’mon you dumbass,” The parasite spat. We leapt towards Lirien simultaneously.

  “It seems you have some new toys, demon,” The Elf said calmly, brandishing his bow.

  [Light Barrage]

  A single arrow tore through the air in a luminous bolt, and as it flew, it split apart into a hail of glowing needles. Finnlen floated forward, deflecting each one with the tip of his blade while I summoned my own barrage of blood red lances, each one sharpened into a deadly point, as Joshua mirrored my attack. They shot through the air like a swarm of angry hornets, but it was the Elf who deflected the attacks this time with a blur of silver.

  “Pathetic!” Lirien roared. He suddenly bolted behind me, disappearing from view in a single motion.

  A sickening crunch caused my entire torso to explode with pain as the point of his sword dug deep into my back.

  He’s still this much faster than me?

  I screamed in agony, but Joshua was quick to react, whirling around and sending a clawed hand through the air. Finnlen swung downwards simultaneously from the opposite direction, but Lirien’s blade disappeared from my chest, and I heard two loud clangs ring out from behind me.

  “Give me a second!” I yelled in frustration, feeling a painful sensation coursing through my veins. The Elf's poison was acting fast, but we had made preparations for this. I procured an antidote from my inventory, tipping its contents into my throat. There was a slight numbing sensation, then I felt the pain subside.

  I only have two more…

  I activated Willing Host, and I saw Joshua's steps quicken as each of his blows began to strain the elven Prince's muscles further and further; however, flashes of silver light rang out as Lirien expertly fended off his opponents, still managing to keep up with the buffed parasite and the legendary weapon floating beside him.

  The Elf seemed unbothered.

  That’s it.

  “Atea, now!” I shouted, knowing that we only needed a few more moments to guarantee my companions' safety.

  [Divine Dance]

  The angel’s skill activated, drawing the attention of the elven prince. In the distance, I saw Iseldrynn and the elven soldiers, whom Zorrack and Cedric were still fighting, stop to admire the clumsy movements. I didn’t need to explain to my companions what to do next. Signeir dashed, resheathing his blade casually as Iseldrynn’s shoulder burst into flames. Joshua and I struck together, slamming our claws deep into the stunned Elven captain.

  Or atleast, that’s what should’ve happened.

  With two flashes of light, we were sent stumbling backwards into the grass, skidding to a stop on opposite ends of the Elf.

  “Petty tricks!” Lirien roared, somehow resisting the effects of Atea’s skill.

  He leapt towards Joshua, brandishing his bow and firing out a swarm of blinding arrows.

  Finnlen was there.

  The weapon and the Elf clashed, and I took the opportunity to strike. Five blood lances appeared, charging towards the Elf’s back like a horde of homing missiles, but he reacted fast, swinging his blade with nimble, practiced motions and sending four of them careening off into the foliage.

  But one struck him in the leg, drawing a steady stream of blood.

  My parasite and I took the chance, summoning two separate blood chains from the wound and sweeping the Elf off his feet. Finnlen attempted to capitalize, flying forwards with gusto, but Lirien batted him away with a heavy swing. As he did, I yanked on my chain, flying through the air as if I had been shot from a catapult.

  A flash of light, and the chain suddenly snapped.

  I fell hard, and Lirien swung his blade again, severing my arm cleanly at the shoulder.

  Pain like I had never experienced radiated from the wound as I collapsed.

  We can’t beat him.

  I turned, seeing the last of the Elven soldiers fleeing from my demon companions. Zorrack held Viressa in his massive, meaty arms as Cedric retrieved her staff from a fallen soldier. They had also managed to free the remaining Dryads, who followed closely behind the three demons.

  “Run!” I commanded. Zorrack stopped, staring desperately at me and my companions, who were slowly losing ground against the imposing Elven Prince, but Viressa pulled him away as they hesitantly began to retreat.

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  Lirien slowly stalked towards Joshua, but I summoned two chains from the still bleeding wound and pulled with every ounce of strength my demonic frame could produce. My hands burned from the sensation, forcibly ripping open and drawing blood as they ground against the roughened texture of the chains. I fought desperately against the overwhelming physical strength of the Elf, but it eventually worked.

  The Elf fell forwards, and Joshua sank a claw deep into Lirien’s shoulder, but the parasite’s arm was sent flying into the air as my blood chains were severed in an instant. Lirien flipped into the air, landing with an elegant grace.

  I felt my health slowly restoring, but it wasn’t enough. I opened a second antidote, gulping it down fervently.

  [Runic Fire]

  A barrage of flames tore through the sky, enveloping the Elf in a plume of smoke. Joshua and Signeir appeared beside me as I slowly stumbled to my feet, while Finnlen teleported to my parasite with a burst of golden light.

  “Did you get him?” Joshua asked.

  A chilling laugh answered him. “Honestly, for a race that was rumored to be terrifyingly powerful,” Lirien taunted. “You're rather weak.”

  “You bastard!” Signeir screamed, tearing through the grass in a fiery blur and closing the gap almost instantly.

  He was impaled through the chest by a silver blade, so fast that I hadn't even registered that Signeir was dying.

  The fire spirit choked, spilling blood onto the pristine armour of the Elven Prince, then faded away.

  Lirien twirled his sword, confidently striding towards us.

  “Shit,” I cursed under my breath, swiveling my head to catch my companions making their way towards the swamp. “Atea! Run, now! You can’t do anything else!”

  “But—”

  “Go!” I commanded, and the Angel obeyed, flapping her wings and flying off towards the swamp behind the demon trio.

  “Joshua, we need—”

  I couldn’t finish my sentence, as the parasite did something unexpected.

  I had my suspicions about what would happen if Joshua used the skill that summoned Signeir. Perhaps he would come back, effectively doubling the duration. Or maybe it would summon a different being altogether.

  I wasn’t expecting this.

  [An error has occurred, system recalibrating.]

  “What is—” Lirien began, then stopped as a second message appeared.

  [Error rectified. Joshua, the Demonic Parasite, has been granted a new skill!]

  What?

  Suddenly, Joshua transformed, glowing with crimson flames. A medium-length, curved dagger appeared at his side, and circling spherical runes began to float around his head like a halo. He still looked like me, but fire clad his form, and his skin darkened to become a deep brown, similar to Signeir.

  [Spirit Unity]

  “What’s going on?” The parasite asked. His voice was different, layered, as if it were intertwined with another. He looked down at his new body, then turned to face the Elf with a confident smile.

  Lirien shook himself out of his confusion, then twirled his sword as he continued to walk. “A fusion with a fire spirit? Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected that from you,” He spat. “But it won’t be enough.”

  He abruptly picked up his pace, disappearing in the blink of an eye, then reappeared directly behind Joshua.

  But the parasite deflected the strike with a fiery dagger.

  “I can hear someone!” Joshua said breathlessly, holding out the blade with one hand, his other sharpening to form a claw.

  A flurry of motion followed, each strike fended off by a combination of claw and dagger. The runes spun, spitting out a burst of flaming orbs that exploded across the landscape.

  I ignored the confusion spreading across my face, instead rushing forward to assist in the assault.

  Finnlen and I attacked simultaneously, beating back the Elven captain with a combination of glaive and claws. Lirien skidded back a few feet, his boots dragging in the dirt, then Joshua roared between us in a burst of fire, allowing the Elf no room to breathe and slicing the dagger through Lirien’s side and drawing a stream of blood. Finnlen activated his Radiant Burst skill, blinding the Elf simultaneously.

  I ran forward, digging a claw into the Elf's chest, piercing his chestplate as a blood chain appeared from his side, slowing him drastically and dragging him backwards. Joshua held it with two hands, straining as the powerful Elf pushed forward.

  I struck with a storm of blows, each one driving the next with heightened speed. Lirien swung his blade, but I barely managed to dodge it, weaving my head to the side and slamming a claw into his chest, propelling him into the sky.

  He burst into several bloody explosions as Joshua slammed him into the ground.

  “The timer is almost up!” Joshua yelled, and I could see less than a minute remaining on Parasitic Nemesis’ duration.

  But we had a chance now. It wasn't just about saving my companion anymore.

  We can win.

  “We need to finish this!” I screamed, steadying my stance and preparing for our next attack.

  “No!” A commanding, regal voice called out, and even as I heard it, I had a sinking feeling that its presence meant our battle would culminate in a resounding defeat. “I need to finish this.”

  “Father! I can handle them! This is nothing!” Lirien protested, but he was silenced by a harsh stare.

  I had never seen the man, but I instantly knew who he was.

  The Elven King.

  I cursed under my breath, staring at the imposing figure. He was wearing a sleek, white suit of armour, similar to his son's. However, a flowing red cape flew from behind him, gently tossing in the wind. His hair was a mirror image of Lirien’s, a long mane of platinum silk. Six curved blades fanned out behind him, three on each side, pointing a sharp edge directly into the air. They hovered magically, as if suspended by an invisible string.

  And atop the Elf King’s head was a shining, white crown.

  “Is that Luminarch’s relic?” I whispered, addressing my parasite. But he didn’t have time to answer before fading away in a cloud of dust. Finnlen regarded me grimly, electing not to follow his master, but I knew that it would make no difference.

  [Guess you're on your own now. Damnit, I wanted to kill that bastard.] Joshua said regretfully, but I didn’t have time to wallow in his sentiment.

  I summoned a pair of blood lances, sending them flying through the air towards the Elven King.

  He moved his head slowly to the left, then to the right, as if he already knew where the attacks were heading.

  The crown of sight… it lets him see into the future, right?

  [That’s what the humans said.]

  I didn’t turn to check on my companions. I was sure that they had already escaped.

  At least I saved them.

  [How noble of you.]

  I stared into the Elven King’s eyes, fear gripping me, but I didn’t let it show on my face.

  “What is your name?” I shouted across the landscape.

  “I have great respect for a warrior who shows no fear in the face of a vastly superior opponent. It is a shame I will have to kill you, demon,” The man paused, then answered my question. “I am Calenvir, the King of Ilvareth.”

  “Lucivar,” I replied simply. The man nodded.

  His blades turned, pointing towards me, then tore a rift in the sky as they whistled forward.

  I closed my eyes, mind blank, as I accepted my fate.

  Six heavy thuds rang out, like fists pummeling a punching bag.

  But I felt no pain.

  [Living Forest]

  Thick, wooden branches extended from the ground beneath me, catching the blades with ease. Behind me, I heard a familiar voice.

  “Run, demon. Live to see another day.”

  “Ossara?!” I shouted in surprise, but the massive centaur lifted me with a gnarled branch, placing me gently behind her.

  “This is my fight, allow me to fulfill this duty,” She said gravely, slowly walking forward. The very earth seemed to answer her call, branches and vines propping out from behind her.

  “No! I won’t let you—”

  “Go, Lucivar! This is not your battle!” She repeated, then activated a skill.

  [Verdant Bastion]

  A huge dome of green energy encased Ossara, Calenvir, Lirien, and the collapsed body of Iseldrynn. I slammed a fist against it, but it was no use, bouncing off harmlessly.

  I stared hopelessly at the back of Ossara’s massive body, but she didn’t turn around; instead, she galloped furiously towards the Elven King, who regarded her with disdain.

  “After all these years, it seems it is I who will fulfill the duty of killing you,” He stated calmly.

  “Not if I kill you first!” She roared.

  I reluctantly turned away, sprinting towards Lunarius’ domain. Tears fell from my eyes, but I didn’t falter.

  I would not waste the Ruler of the Forest’s sacrifice.

  [Not bad.]