“Now you see me as I truly am,” said Otozek. “Come at me however you wish.”
Ash screamed, gripping his sword in fury. He rushed forward preparing to swing at the demon.
Otozek flicked his tail forward. The pointed tip split open and several long black barbs shot out. Taken by surprise, Ash could only swing his sword in defense. He took out two of the barbs with one swing, but a third stinger evaded the blade by bending at an odd angle and moving itself out of Ash’s reach. Ash had to jump back just to avoid it. He blasted the barb with a round of flames, having to hold the fire on the tendril for several seconds before it finally burned to ash.
There’s a neat trick, Ash thought. Kinda ruins my short game, though. I guess I’ll back up and see how the long-range fight goes.
As Otozek stood patiently with his arms crossed, willing to let his tail do all the work, Ash backed off. After taking a few big jumps back the boy lowered his sword and redirected his wild flames. He pointed his empty hand at the demon prince. In a matter of seconds there was a fireball the size of a boulder floating in front of his open palm.
Let’s see how you deal with this!
Ash fired.
The giant ball of flames raced across the riverbed shoreline heading for Otozek. The demon prince showed no signs of reacting. He did not uncross his arms or step aside. Only his tail moved.
With lightning fast speed and perfect accuracy the demon prince’s needle-like tail cut the fireball in half. The two fiery portions passed Otozek on either side, fizzling out and leaving the demon unharmed.
Crap spackle! Ash thought, starting to sweat. Okay then, let’s see if he can keep up! He stuck his sword back in the sheath and pointed both his palms at Otozek. The demon stared coldly at Ash and stuck the tip of his tail in the ground. Ash wasted no more time and started rapidly firing off blasts of flames from both hands.
He was certain he’d hit the demon Prince with at least one of the fireballs. But before the first blast even got near Otozek, something black shot out of the ground. The long black thing stretched tall enough to block the demon prince from sight.
It’s a wall of those stingers that come out of his tail, Ash realized. That’s why he stuck his tail in the ground. He can spread them out anywhere through the ground and even use them to block my attacks. So cheap! Wait… that means he could… oh crap!
Ash stopped his pointless barrage of fireball attacks and brought out his wings. In mid jump, the ground split and a black stinger shot out from where Ash had just been standing. The stinger sliced through the air, cutting Ash across his exposed ankle. If he hadn’t jumped, it would have been his throat cut instead.
The demon prince’s wall of tail tendrils sucked back into the ground, exposing the demon once more. The stinger that attacked Ash sucked back into the ground as well, and Otozek pulled the tip of his tail out of the ground. The demon prince shook his tail a few times to get the dirt off, never taking his eyes off Ash.
“I can see why you’re the Prince,” said Ash, inspecting his small cut. “That’s one nifty ability you got there. Any chance it’s got a secret weakness or something I could exploit? Any limitations I should know about?”
“Begging for hints already?” replied the demon prince.
“I’m just mining for information,” said Ash. “Usually boss characters like to ramble on and on about their strength before a fight, and sometimes they give away critical information to winning the battle. Happens more often than you’d think.”
“If it is information about my tail you wanted, I would be more than happy to tell you about the despair that is to come in your near future,” replied Prince Otozek. Now a wicked smile spread across his face sending an avalanche of shivers down Ash’s spine. The Prince’s tail wagged playfully from side to side as he spoke.
“I did not strike a fatal blow, but I do not have to. My tail has many abilities. One of them is the powerful toxin that my skin secretes. It coats the tip of my tail and infects anyone I sting, no matter the size of the wound. Perhaps you’re feeling it now.”
Prince Otozek took a step forward, narrowing the gap between them. Ash tried to back up more, but his back was already up against a large overgrowth of dried vines with sharp thorns. The boy had other problems, as the leg he got cut on tingled and refused to cooperate.
“The toxin is like a poison, but don’t worry, it’s nonfatal. One of the effects is a paralysis-like calmness. Depending on the dosage, I could put your entire body into a state of idle bliss. This power to calm my opponents also puts them in a state where they’re easier to influence and control. I call this toxic cocktail Ultra Relax.”
The demon prince took another step closer and wasn’t slowing down. Ash tried to step away, but his leg was limp as wet ramen.
Damn! thought the human boy. He ‘relaxed’ my leg with just that tiny scratch! I’ve got to be more careful or I’ll end up skewered with more of that status ailment junk. I should keep him as far away as possible.
“Stay back,” Ash threatened. “I’m warning you, I’m a feral human.” He tried to make himself look intimidating.
The demon prince chuckled to himself. “A feral human,” said Otozek. “Then you should have no problems avoiding this!”
Before Ash could answer Otozek’s tail was flying at his face. The boy tried to jump out of the way using his good leg. It ended up being more of a dive, and Ash went rolling across sandy ground to avoid the attack. He shuffled up to his feet, but almost tipped right over again.
The boy retreated, hobbling like an old man to a safer distance. Once he had eyes on Otozek again, he saw the blue demon still slowly approaching him. With all his attacks failing, the boy resorted to his most desperate attack.
He raised both arms above his head and put palms up. He’d need to collect a lot of flames quickly. Ash cut loose again, releasing flames all over his upper body and collecting them in a giant sphere above his head. The flaming ball grew to enormous proportions as the demon prince continued nonchalantly toward the human boy.
I’ll smother you in flames! thought Ash. You can’t block or cut your way out of this! I’ll burn you into soot!
With a ball of flames the size of a minivan hovering inches above his head, Ash roared as he willed the flames forward. A ball of flames that big didn’t move very fast, but it wouldn’t really need to. Ash could always increase the size or direct the attack if his enemy tried to dodge. There was no escaping his raging blast.
But Prince Otozek did not need to dodge. The demon lifted its tail so the pointed tip was just above his head. With Ash’s massive fireball baring down on him, Otozek’s tail tip split again. This time, it shredded into hundreds of thousands of tiny strands, so much that it looked like one solid shape. The tail split apart and bent backwards, stretching and changing shape as it wrapped around the demon’s body from head to toe. Ash’s fireball slammed into the demon’s strange pod-like tail cocoon that it had hidden inside.
The demon prince’s pod-like protection disappeared in the inferno Ash dropped on him. The boy concentrated on increasing the size and heat of his flames, turning the burner up to eleven. When the ground was scorched black, Ash released the flame attack, certain nothing could survive. At the very least, he expected the demon’s defenses to be breached.
What he saw when the flames had dissipated came as a terrifying shock. The blackish pod that reminded Ash of a seed was unharmed. Once the heat had let up, the pod split at the bottom and deposited the demon prince with not a scratch on him.
“No way…” said Ash in utter shock. “That was my strongest attack. It doesn’t make sense. My flames burned through your stingers before…”
“What you just saw was another skill,” replied Otozek. “My second ability: Ultra Shell. The shell that my tail turns into is made from a different composition than my stingers. It’s more like your fingernails. It’s also hard as diamonds and completely impenetrable.”
Holy crap, Ash thought, speechless. I’
ve got to escape!
Around this time Ash realized he’d only been moving further into the valley and away from the only walking path out. In such a narrow canyon, flight would be trickier. Especially if he needed to evade possible attacks from the demon’s tail. The boy still didn’t know if there was a limit to how far the tail’s stretchy stingers could go, but he knew they’d definitely pursue him if he fled.
Ultra Relax, Ultra Shell… thought Ash. I need an ultra escape plan!
In that moment, Ash went from fight to flight. Unfortunately his powerful enemy blocked the route to the walking path. His only means of escape from the valley, unless he went by air. He doubted the possibility of getting past those stingers. Not with his bum leg. He decided he’d have a better shot at escaping by air and brought out his wings.
I was completely wrong about fighting him, the boy thought. He beat his wings and took off. There’s no way I could beat him. He’s way too strong! It’s like fighting Prince Killian, but ten times worse! Even Aura would have trouble fighting him, and he’s got a death touch!
As Ash flew he caught sight of Prince Otozek below. The demon prince was lifting his tail. He pointed the tip at Ash, tracing the boy’s path as he flew. Ash had a bad feeling about his enemy’s actions, and banked hard to the right just in case. Right in time too, as something shot past him and lodged into the canyon wall. Ash circled in place and inspected the damage.
Embedded into the side of the canyon was a black cylinder about the size of a pen. Ash knew from experience the tip would have been really sharp, sharp enough to pierce stone it seemed. Judging by its short size, it looked like some sort of projectile dart attack.
Great, he can shoot them too, Ash thought.
He didn’t have time to think much else. Otozek, with his tail leveled at Ash, fired off several more of his stinger darts. He changed the angle and elevation of each shot, making Ash really work to dodge them all. The boy twisted and turned through the air like the Red Baron. Hard as he tried, he still felt the stinging sharp pain between his shoulders.
Everything went numb. The boy couldn’t control his wings anymore. He could barely tell if they were even still out as he dropped from the sky, trying his hardest to just recall them in to his body.
Ash’s body hit canyon wall and bounced. Lucky for him, everything from his torso to his arms went tingly and numb. His wings, which hadn’t been recalled like he’d hoped, were wrapping around the boy as he rolled and fell to the bottom of the valley, back down to where Prince Otozek waited patiently.
By the time the boy’s body rolled into the bottom of the canyon, Otozek stood ready to intercept. The boy was in rough shape, with thick cuts and bruises all over his wings and body. Something finally went right and his wings sucked into his back. But he could see the figure of the demon standing over him and felt death breathing down his neck.
His arms, mostly numb, had to be flailed till he could get his hand into his pocket. He had just enough feeling left in his hands to be able to grip the pillbox. He rolled and tumbled on the ground till his hand came out of his pocket, spilling the pills on the ground.
Otozek paused and sniffed the air. “Strange time for a meal,” he said.
Ash didn’t bother with a response. He was busy wiggling around on the ground, trying to move his face closer to the pile of pills in the sand. He wriggled like a maggot until his face was inches off the ground, the pills just beneath his mouth. Ash chomped down as wide as he could spread his jaws, taking in the pile of pills and a large chunk of sand.
He swallowed it all in one big gulp. This caused him to start coughing and gagging as he choked the sandy mixture down. The demon prince approached him without fear. He knew there was no way the human could escape.
But Ash surprised Otozek by regaining control of his body. The boy pushed himself off the ground with his arms and legs, his eyes bloodshot and strained. Flames billowed off Ash’s body as the boy let out a low growl. Consuming so many of the pills had given the boy a tremendous boost of power, but there was a downside. He wouldn’t be conscious much longer.
As the boy regained his footing and prepared to make a break for it, flames still shooting out of his body, the blue Prince struck with his tail. The movement was too fast for Ash to match. Otozek’s tail split into five separate stingers. Two pierced his arms. Two pierced his legs. And the last one pierced Ash in the back of his head.
The five stingers stuck inside Ash, keeping him propped up on his feet, unable to fall forward. When the boy was good and stable, Otozek removed his stingers. He pulled his tail back to enjoy the sight of the frozen human. Ash resembled a statue.
“That was a small dose, too,” said Otozek. “Far less than it took to control the others. It should be more than sufficient for a human. Just stay where you are for now.”
Ash stood silently, arms at his side. Though he was terrified for life just moments ago, he felt a disturbing calm gripping his body. Like being wrapped in a warm, snuggly, blanky. Ash just didn’t want to move.
Can’t run. Can’t fight, the boy thought, barely holding onto consciousness. What’s the point in trying? I can either run myself tired trying to escape the inevitable, or I can just relax and let it all go. I’m dead tired, too. Why the heck not relax a little before I’m dead? It’s not so bad. I can’t even feel anything. I’ll just stay right here where he told me to and relax.
“Wait right there while I possess your body.”
Otozek took a step closer. He wanted to be in front of Ash to enter the boy’s body through his mouth. But before he could step in front of him, an even quicker event happened.
Someone with wings outstretched flew in and snatched Ash off the ground. The greater demon’s tail slashed at the air and made contact with skin, but it wasn’t enough to bring the person down. Otozek fired off several stinger darts but the stranger flew around a bend in the canyon and out of sight way too fast. Otozek made a break for the devil body of Commander Stryd he’d left laying in the valley. He needed cover before he could exit and pursue.
As they flew from the valley leaving Prince Otozek behind, Ash regained enough control of his body to bend his neck and look at his savior. He looked up to see Aralia’s determined face, hauling him off to safety in her arms. The boy felt a debt of gratitude to the girl before he passed out from all the toxins in his body.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Get it Together
The scared girl fled through the streets of West Hell. She was certain the strange being she’d rescued her friend from could be nothing other than a greater demon. The bizarre creatures rarely attacked the devil’s kingdom, but when they did, there was always mass death. The girl and her sister were among the majority of Hell’s devil population that could claim to have lost a loved one to the actions of a greater demon.
Now one of them was after her.
Aralia escaped the canyon valley by flight, but as soon as she cleared the rim of the canyon she dropped to the ground. The weight of the unconscious boy she carried was too much for her to sustain flight for very long, especially at such a steep incline. She made it to a more populated area without the blue demon catching up, which she considered a decent head start. But she could hear the invasion sirens sounding in East and North Hell. There were more demons on the loose in the kingdom.
If Ash was a target of theirs, that would make her one too. Aralia rounded a corner onto a street where some people were still congregating. Many of them carried weapons, prepared to fight if they had to. The sky was bathed in crimson as the Royal Guards flew into a confused state of action. They seemed to be lacking proper instruction. Even if they weren’t sure what to do, the invasion sirens told the soldiers which part of the kingdom they should be heading to.
No wonder he didn’t want me bugging him, Aralia thought. She wanted to look at the slumbering boy’s face but couldn’t spare a second of her concentration. Of course, it’s a good thing I followed him or else he’d be…
The girl tried not to thin
k about what could have been and focused on her escape route. She paused to catch her breath close to the group of armed men standing near a beer cart.
“Hey girl!” one of the men said. “You should evacuate! The public safe zone is just a block that way. They have a medic there who can patch up your friend. Get going!”
Raley didn’t like the idea of isolating herself into a stuffy, cramped public safety zone. She saw what the blue demon was capable of. She knew the walls of the safe zone building wouldn’t be enough to keep that thing out. She knew exactly who she needed to find. The problem was that she had no way of knowing how to find them, unless Ash woke up and told her.
That didn’t seem like it was going to happen anytime soon.
So Raley ran, boy in arms, to the only place she could think of. It was definitely the closest place that came to mind. Though she’d only recently committed the location to memory, it was one that would be etched in her mind forever. The orphan girl rushed through The Fire Arcade ignoring the booths with prizes on display and the isolated concentrations of devil muscle congregating here and there. She ignored their stares of pity as she passed by.
All she knew was that she had to get Ash home.
She ran through the residential area of West Hell, a vast series of structures carved straight into a long and winding canyon. In some areas the canyon walls were thin enough to carve straight through, connecting to an adjacent pocket valley. Around the rim of the canyon walls were the Royal Guard watchtowers.
Raley cut across town heading for Ash’s house. It might have been the closest place she could think of, but it was still on the other side of West Hell in the newer, ritzier expansion. It was the type of place she would never go if she didn’t know people that lived there. She still had about a mile to go, but already she was beginning to tire. Her arms were burning and she could barely feel her legs anymore. All the adrenaline her body produced earlier had run out. Now she was powered solely by fear.
Devil Ash Disarray (Devil Ash Saga Book 3) Page 33
