Seriously, what is going on right now? First, that bizarre dream, and now this! As I stepped out of the cave to investigate the aftermath of the sandstorm, I spotted a man heading straight toward me.
The man had light green, tousled hair and green eyes. He wore a brown cardigan over a white dress shirt, with a loosely tied red and black striped tie. On his right arm was a black armband with a symbol on it. The symbol was a blue, intricate design with an anchor at its center, surrounded by symmetrical, flame-like patterns that created a sense of motion and energy.
He stopped in front of me, his eyes widening as he saw the emblem on my uniform. Then he started speaking, "You! You're from the Tenth Division!" he exclaimed, glancing at my uniform with a mixture of relief and urgency. He muttered something under his breath, something about not expecting anyone but glad for the help nonetheless.
"I'm Sosome Kazetora of the Fifth Division. Two Oni have appeared in this area, and alone, I won't survive until reinforcements arrive. But with your help, we might stand a chance," he explained quickly.
Ehh, so the Oni is the cause of the vibrations. And that symbol—now I partially understand its significance. But he mentioned divisions, like the symbol I have represents the Tenth. I wonder how many divisions there are.
"How powerful is this Oni?" I asked.
Sosome glanced at my COMP. "Extend your COMP. I'll send you the data."
Huh? Sending data is possible? I mused. At least we won't waste time figuring out the Oni's strengths and weaknesses.
As Sosome fiddled with his COMP, a sound emanated from mine, followed by Burroughs' voice: "Oni of the Brute race has been added to the Demonic Compendium."
After receiving the data, I reviewed the Oni's statistics. I was shocked—this was the most powerful demon I had encountered so far.
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Name: Oni
Race: Brute
MP: 750/750
Resistances: [Physical]
Weakness: [Electric][Light]
Strength: D-
Endurance: D-
Magic: E
Agility: E
Luck: E+
Skills: [Heavy Blow][Crusher Onslaught][Taunt]
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When I kill demons, I've noticed that even if they have the same stats, their actual power can vary greatly. For instance, some demons with Strength E- can only destroy a wall, while others can take down small buildings. So this Oni could easily demolish a small town, I thought.
Sosome interrupted my thoughts. "I've shared my parameters. Can you send me yours? It would help us strategize."
Ah... I really don't want to, but I have no choice. If I don't share, I'll look suspicious, I mused reluctantly. As I extended my COMP, I realized I didn't know how to share data with another COMP. Then, an idea struck me. If I don't know how, I can just ask Burroughs to do it. That should work!
I stretched out my arm and commanded, "Burroughs, send my parameters to Sosome."
"Yes, Master," Burroughs responded promptly.
Sosome's eyes widened "You must be someone important, or sponsored by someone important, to have a COMP with an integrated AI," He said aloud, just as his COMP made a sound.
I decided to pretend I hadn't heard anything. On the other hand, this creates more questions for me, don't all Devil Summoners have AI integrated into their COMP?
"And your name is Minoru," he continued. "Sorry for not asking earlier; I was too focused on the current situation."
"It's okay," I replied. "I understand."
As Sosome began reviewing my parameters, I took the opportunity to examine his.
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Name: Sosome
Race: Summoner
MP: 650/650
Resistances: [Force]
Weakness: None
Strength: E+
Endurance: E+
Magic: E
Agility: E+
Luck: E
Skills: [Hellish Slash][Zan][Mazan][Kouha][Dormina][Patra][Tarakuja][Rakuja][Rakunda]
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I noticed they were superior to mine, except for Magic and Luck. He also had more skills than me, but I still couldn't see how we could defeat the Oni—especially since there were two of them. Wait, the goal isn't to defeat them but to survive until reinforcements arrive. Still, it's strange; if we just had to wait, Sosome wouldn't be gearing up for combat. We must need to lure them somewhere or keep them contained in the area. Judging by the vibrations, the two Onis might be fighting each other. If we're lucky, only one will be left when we arrive.
Sosome then pointed in a direction, saying, "We'll discuss the plan as we head over there." Just as he pointed, a massive explosion of sand erupted in that direction. "Well, at least we don't have to waste time searching for the Onis."
We started moving quickly toward the explosion site. As we advanced, I asked, "What's the plan?"
He then pointed in a direction and said, "We'll discuss the plan as we head that way." Just as he spoke, a massive explosion of sand erupted where he pointed.
"Well, now we don't have to waste time searching for the Oni," he said dryly.
We started moving quickly toward the explosion site. As we advanced, I asked, "What's the plan?"
Sosome replied, "One of the Oni's weaknesses is light skills, and fortunately, I have one, though it's weak. I also have Rakunda to lower the target's defense and Tarukaja to increase our strength. I noticed you have Sukukaja and Mudo; those could be useful. I also have four Zio Stones. The Oni are weak to these types of skills. Here, take two." He extended his right hand and handed me four stones of different colours, which I quickly stored in my COMP. "I also gave you a Dia and Patra stones. The Dia stones will help us heal, and the Patra stones can cure status ailments like the Oni's provocation effect."
"The two Onis are in the midst of battle," Sosome continued. "I suggest that as soon as their fight ends, I cast Rakunda on the survivor, and we both hit it with Zio Stones. Also, I want you to cast Sukukaja on us before we start the plan."
I thought about it. The plan seemed simple and improvised, but it had a chance of working. "Alright," I said, "let's do this."
As we moved toward the battlefield, we witnessed the largest explosion we had seen so far. I quickly conjured a wall of ice to shield us from the ensuing sandstorm. Once the sand settled, the ice dissipated. And then, just after that:
"▂▂▂▂▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅!"
A deafening roar assaulted us, forcing both of us to cover our ears. The sound was so powerful that it created small shockwaves and tremors. We then saw the Oni, standing in the center of the explosion's aftermath.
He had a striking and formidable appearance. His skin was a vivid red, marred with fresh scars, and he had a muscular build. A single, prominent horn jutted from his forehead, with smaller horns on the sides of his head. His eyes glowed a menacing blue, and his mouth was filled with sharp, jagged teeth.
He wore a blue and white cloak adorned with diamond-shaped patterns, and his lower garment was similarly decorated, with visible slash marks. His feet were covered with traditional-looking white and blue footwear. He wielded a large, curved sword that added to his intimidating presence. Suddenly, his head turned towards us, and he bellowed, "HuMan! MaGatsUhI!" before charging at us with a speed slightly faster than mine.
Just as we were about to execute our plan, the Oni extended his hand toward Sosome. A strange flow of Magatsuhi surged into him. Suddenly, I saw Sosome's eyes fill with an incredible rage. He glared at the Oni as if it were his nemesis. Without even drawing a weapon from his storage, he rushed at the Oni with incredible speed, his fists clenched.
"Sosome, wait!" I shouted, but it was too late. The fury in his eyes was blinding him to all reason. I had no choice but to adjust our strategy on the fly.
I cast Sukukaja on myself, boosting my speed and agility. The world seemed to slow down around me, giving me a crucial edge. I quickly grabbed a Patra stone and used it on Sosome, knowing we couldn't afford him to stay under the Oni's provocation for long. The stone worked its magic, and I could see the rage in Sosome's eyes dissipate, replaced by clarity.
Just as Sosome started to speak, the Oni moved. Its massive sword connected with Sosome's left arm before he could react. The force of the blow created a shockwave and he disappeared from my sight. Shocked by the demon's sheer strength, I turned to face it, its blue, bloodlust-filled eyes staring intensely at me.
Without hesitation, I summoned Mermaid to aid me. Even she seemed intimidated by the Oni's presence.
"Mermaid, use Dormina on the Oni!" I commanded.
Mermaid nodded and channeled her magic. A stream of Magatsuhi flowed into the Oni. It visibly slowed, its eyelids drooping slightly as the sleep spell took partial effect. The Oni was too powerful for Dormina to put it entirely to sleep, but it was enough to give me an opening.
I took advantage of the Oni's sluggish state and hurled the Zio stone at it. A bolt of lightning struck the demon. Despite its weakness to electricity, the attack caused only minimal damage.
"Bufu!" I shouted, lacking the time to concentrate and cast the spell silently. A stalactite of ice materialized and hurtled towards the Oni. In its drowsy state, the demon couldn't dodge and took the hit directly. The impact sent it reeling back, but aside from a wound on its abdomen, it sustained no major damage.
The attack seemed to snap the Oni out of its stupor. Magatsuhi concentrated on its sword, and with a single, powerful swing, the Oni unleashed a devastating slash. A brilliant flash erupted from the blade, carving through the air. The shockwave cleaved the sand, creating massive waves of dust and debris. Despite my enhanced speed, I barely managed to evade the strike. The force of the wave knocked me off balance and sent me sprawling to the ground.
I scrambled to my feet as quickly as I could, but the Oni was already upon me, ready to deliver another blow. "Damn!" I thought, bracing myself. I raised my katana with both hands, managing to deflect the Oni's sword. The impact shattered my arms and sent me flying hundreds of meters away.
"Ugh!" I groaned as I hit the ground. Pushing through the pain, I stood up again. Mermaid was doing her best to reach me, while the Oni charged at me with deadly intent. As I ran towards Mermaid, Burroughs's voice echoed in my ear, "Pixie has been restored and is ready to be summoned."
Without wasting a second, I summoned Pixie. She twirled into existence, exclaiming, "Ah! It feels so good to be outside—"
"Pixie, heal me!" I interrupted her. She began casting Dia, and I felt my arms mending, the pain subsiding. Pixie pouted as she worked. "Mouh! Why are you acting like such a brute! We finally reunite, and you greet me like this. What's—" She stopped mid-sentence, spotting the Oni. I could see the fear in her eyes, but she remained more composed than I expected.
The Oni was closing in fast, its malevolent presence palpable. "Pixie, we need to work together. No time for complaints now," I urged. She nodded, her determination evident despite the fear.
As Pixie and I closed in on the Oni, Mermaid launched a barrage of ice attacks at the demon. Sharp stalactites and waves of glistening ice surged toward the Oni, their edges gleaming menacingly. With a single swing of its sword, the Oni shattered them all, the sheer force of the blow even staggering Mermaid.
Pixie cast Zan, summoning small whirlwinds that buffeted the Oni, sending gusts of sharp wind in every direction. I alternated between casting Bufu and Eiha, conjuring massive shards of ice and waves of darkness that roared like flames. The ice crashed into the Oni, splintering upon impact, while the dark flames of Eiha licked at its form, swirling around it with an eerie, flickering glow.
Despite our relentless and coordinated assault, the Oni showed hardly any significant damage, its formidable presence undiminished.
As the Oni began to concentrate its Magatsuhi into its sword, preparing to obliterate us, a lance of light struck its head, halting its attack. "You took a long time!" I shouted, spotting Sosome arriving with three demons by his side.
The first was Azumi, a familiar sight. The other two, however, I didn't recognize. One had a mischievous, playful appearance: its bright orange, humanoid body had exaggeratedly large hands and feet, a wide, toothy grin with sharp, pointed teeth, and a small nose. Purple hair styled in a bowl cut framed its small pointed ears. Swirl patterns adorned its chest, arms, and hands, and a long, braided tail ending in bells added to its whimsical and energetic look.
The second demon resembled an anthropomorphic cat with purple fur and bright green eyes. It wore a swashbuckling outfit complete with a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a large white feather, a red cape, and red boots. A collar with a small cat face emblem and a belt with a large buckle encircled its waist. In one paw, it triumphantly wielded a curved sword.
The cat-like demon launched a bolt of lightning from its sword, striking the Oni. Great, it can use Zio! Thunder roared overhead, and the wind howled around us. Sosome cast another lance of light, intensifying the barrage of attacks. Ice spikes pierced the Oni's flesh, while shadows assaulted it from all sides. Amidst the chaos, Sosome's orange demon charged at the Oni, engaging it in close combat despite the elemental onslaught.
The Oni was taking significant damage. "▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" A powerful roar from the Oni momentarily halted our attacks. Then it began to channel a phenomenal amount of Magatsuhi into its blade. "Get back!" I shouted, but it was too late. The Oni's sword glowed ominously, and then—darkness.
I felt a surge of panic as everything went black. The air around us grew cold, and I could hear only the frantic beating of my own heart. When the darkness finally lifted, I found myself lying on the ground, disoriented. I pushed myself up, scanning for my allies.
None of Sosome's demons, nor my own, were there. Only the Oni stood in the center of the devastation, its body heaving with exertion. Sosome, though unconscious, seemed to be alive, albeit missing his left leg. As for me, my right arm was gone. The Oni slowly turned toward me, ignoring Sosome. I shouted in desperation, casting every spell I could muster to slow its approach. My legs felt like they were about to give out, but I kept retreating to maintain distance. The Oni's focus was entirely on me, having forgotten about Sosome.
Once again, the Oni concentrated its Magatsuhi into its blade, unleashing a horizontal slash. I tried my best to dodge, but the shockwave sent me sprawling. The explosion from the impact threw me toward the Oni. I landed at its feet, realizing my legs were no longer there. The pain was excruciating, but I lacked the strength to scream or even speak. My mind raced with countless escape plans, yet none seemed feasible. But even with zero chance, a true Eminence in Shadow would never give up!
A shadow fell over my face, and I looked up to see the Oni's blade poised to strike. Just as it was about to descend on my head, the Oni vanished, followed by a massive explosion in the distance. Confused but relieved, I watched as a gigantic pillar of flame erupted where the Oni had been sent. The heat was so intense it made the sun feel like a mere candle flame. My lungs felt like they were burning, and my entire body ached as if I were being scorched, despite the distance. I struggled to breathe, the air around me searing.
As the flames finally dissipated, I could finally catch my breath. I watched the pillar, exhaustion washing over me. I fought to stay conscious, needing to confirm the Oni's destruction. As the flames disappeared, I felt the Magatsuhi being absorbed into me. Just before I succumbed to unconsciousness, I heard Burroughs say, "The 'Taunt' skill has been assimilated."