Claiming the Throne of the Demon King

Kajin, Ruya, and Cracknut stood in tense silence, their eyes fixed on the four figures before them, waiting for a response. The air was thick with anticipation as the figure closest to them slowly raised his hands to remove his hood. Kajin's gaze sharpened, his expression serious but calm, as he watched intently.

Finally, the hood fell back, revealing a man with wavy, dark brown hair that framed his face. His thick eyebrows, round glasses, and greenish-brown eyes gave him a scholarly appearance. His fair skin had a warm undertone, and light stubble dusted his jaw and upper lip. He smiled warmly, his full lips curving into a friendly expression. "You must be Kajin," he said, his voice calm and measured. "It's such a joy to finally meet you."

Kajin's expression remained stoic, though his eyes softened slightly. "You didn't answer my question," he reminded, his tone firm but not hostile.

The man chuckled, a hint of embarrassment in his laugh. "Ah, my apologies. My name is Liam, and I, along with the others here, am part of the Holy Resistance," he declared.

Ruya's eyes lit up at the mention of the Holy Resistance. "The Holy Resistance?!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. He turned to Kajin, shaking him by the shoulders. "Kajin! It's really them! Can you believe it?!"

Kajin remained silent, his expression a mix of awkwardness and suspicion. He turned back to Liam, his gaze steady. "Can you prove it?" he asked.

Liam smiled and reached into his coat, pulling out a golden badge engraved with the initials "H" and "R." Kajin's eyes flicked to the badge, his expression softening slightly. "The HR badge," he thought. "You receive one when you become a member of the Holy Resistance. Your rank is determined by the material: bronze, silver, or gold."

Before Kajin could voice his thoughts, Liam spoke again. "We've been waiting for you, Kajin, Ruya, and Cracknut," he said, his tone warm but deliberate.

Ruya and Cracknut exchanged surprised glances. "How do you know our names?" Ruya asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Liam chuckled softly. "We've been observing you," he replied.

The three of them froze, their eyes widening in shock. "They've been watching us?" Kajin thought, his mind racing. "They're good... really good."

Ruya's jaw dropped. "Since when?!" he demanded.

"After the fight with the Zardo," said the figure to Liam's right. He removed his hood, revealing a man with deep brown skin, dark dreadlocks, and intense brown eyes. His sharp, strong features were accentuated by a nose piercing and faint scars across his face. "We've been carefully observing you ever since," he added, his voice deep and steady.

A soft, melodic voice chimed in from Liam's left. "We've been keeping an eye on you until now," said the woman as she removed her hood. She was strikingly beautiful, with long, wavy blonde hair adorned with a green patterned headscarf. Her golden eyes sparkled, and freckles dotted her fair skin. She wore dangling earrings and layered necklaces, one of which featured a green gemstone pendant.

Ruya blinked, still processing everything. "But how did you guys enter the city unnoticed?" he asked.

The man with dreadlocks turned slightly, gesturing to the final member of their group. She removed her hood slowly, revealing sharp, piercing eyes and messy shoulder-length hair split between dark and white. Her delicate yet strong features gave her an air of quiet intensity. "She gives off a different vibe from the rest," Kajin thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Liam continued, "Hano, thanks to her teleportation skill, we were able to enter the city without much trouble." He paused, then added, "And we should properly introduce ourselves to you three."

He placed a hand on his chest and gave a slight bow, his gaze never leaving Kajin. "I'm Liam Amrom, Leader and Marksman of the Dash Party," he declared.

The man to his right crossed his arms, his expression serious. "I'm James Brown, the Tank of the Dash Party," he said, his deep voice commanding attention.

The blonde woman smiled warmly, placing a hand on her cheek. "I'm Klara Vikander, the Support of the Dash Party," she said, her tone cheerful and her smile radiant. Kajin's eyes widened slightly at the mention of her role, though he kept his expression neutral. "A Supporter? Is she a healer?" he wondered.

Finally, the woman with the split-colored hair spoke, her voice calm but distant. "Hano, Assassin." she said dryly, her eyes averted as her hands rested on the hilts of the two katanas at her sides.

Kajin uncrossed his arms and slipped his hands into his pockets, letting out a sigh. "Well, it's pointless for us to introduce ourselves to you all," he said, his tone dry but not unfriendly. "You already know everything about us up to this point." Ruya and Cracknut nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It's a pleasure meeting you, Dash Party!" Ruya added, his smile bright and genuine.

Liam, James, and Klara returned the smile, nodding warmly, while Hano remained silent, her sharp gaze fixed elsewhere. Kajin's eyes studied each of them carefully, his mind already analyzing their roles and personalities.

"Liam," he thought, his gaze lingering on the leader. "He's the main man of this party, the leader. Soft-spoken and slick, but there's more to him than meets the eye." His attention shifted to James. "James, the strong and tough guy. Probably around 190 centimeters tall, with a solid but not overly bulky build. He looks like a Fighter-Tank hybrid. His personality seems serious, and his face carries a hint of anger, but he still gives off the vibe of a decent person."

Kajin's eyes then moved to Klara. "A woman full of energy and the literal spirit of the party. Klara fits perfectly as a Supporter. Her face and body radiate warmth and kindness." Finally, his gaze settled on Hano. "And then there's her, the weapon of the team. Hano. Her stare is as cold as ice, and her body is as lean and sharp as a blade. She's the definition of a deadly assassin."

Kajin closed his eyes briefly, piecing it all together. "Together, they make up a well-rounded team. James is the body, Liam is the mind, Klara is the heart, and Hano... she's the weapon."

Liam's voice broke through Kajin's thoughts. "So, Kajin," he began, his tone friendly but purposeful. "We're looking forward to allying with you and your friends. We know your goal here is to rescue someone, and we're here to help you with that."

Kajin remained silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful but slightly suspicious. "I really appreciate your help," he said finally. "And I'm not questioning your loyalty to your words, but I don't believe you're offering this without expecting something in return."

Liam was caught off guard by Kajin's bluntness, but he quickly recovered, laughing softly. "Well, you're as sharp as they say, Kajin," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "You're right. We do need your help with something... something that would benefit not just us, but the entire Holy Resistance. We'd be incredibly grateful."

Kajin listened carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed Liam's words. Finally, he closed his eyes and nodded. "Don't worry. I'm willing to team up with you, as long as my friend is freed."

Liam's eyes sparkled with relief and joy, and he clenched his fists in excitement. "That's fantastic!" he said, his voice warm. Klara joined in, her smile radiant. "Thank you so much, you three!" she exclaimed, blowing a playful kiss in their direction. Kajin looked mildly awkward, while Ruya and Cracknut blushed furiously.

Liam cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Alright, let's get down to business," he said, his tone turning serious. "First, we need to explain the situation we're in. Slavara is flooded with troops, making it extremely difficult to move around. However, most of the troops are concentrated at the main entrance gate in the east. We're currently on the northwest side of the city, where there are fewer patrols, so it's easier to navigate, for now."

He paused, his expression growing more solemn. "We've got some good news and some bad news," he continued. "The good news is that Darius has ordered General Rhyver to leave the city. Hopefully, that means we won't run into him."

Kajin's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. "Excellent," he thought. "One less obstacle to worry about."

"But," Liam added, his voice lowering, "besides the Special Mage Force, another force is on its way. The Special Dragon Force."

Kajin's eyes widened in concern. "The Special Dragon Force too?!" he thought, his mind racing. "This is bad... really bad." He clenched his fists, his expression hardening.

"They're expected to arrive in about 40 minutes," Liam continued. "We don't have much time. If everything goes according to plan, we'll be out of the city gates before they get here."

Ruya, looking slightly worried, spoke up. "So, what's the plan, then?"

Liam turned to him, his expression calm but determined. "It's simpler than you might think," he said. "We'll split into two groups." He pointed to Kajin, Klara, and James. "The first group, Kajin, Klara, and James, will focus on the rescue." Then he gestured to himself, Ruya, Cracknut, and Hano. "The second group, me, Ruya, Cracknut, and Hano, will keep an eye on things and handle any complications that arise."

Ruya's face lit up with confidence. "Yes!" he muttered, his excitement palpable.

"Now, with all that said," Liam began, turning his head to face Kajin, his expression serious but calm. "We ran a background check on the man who bought that girl that night," he declared.

Kajin's expression shifted slightly, his body tensing for a moment before his face hardened into one of anger. His white eyes began to glow a faint red, his eyebrows furrowing as he spoke. "Tell me everything you know," he said, his voice low and demanding.

Liam smiled faintly, turning away from Kajin and beginning to pace in slow circles around the group. "His name is Zaria," he began. "A fat lizard-man and a mad scientist who conducts private experiments, mostly on human slaves. He receives most of his funding from the king in exchange for the results of his studies." Liam paused, adjusting his glasses slightly. "Luckily, one of our spies managed to infiltrate his lab and retrieve a copy of his experiment records and the list of his so-called «laboratory rats.»"

Kajin's eyes remained locked on Liam, his expression deadly serious but patient, waiting for the next piece of information. His heart pounded in his chest, the anticipation almost unbearable.

Liam stopped pacing and tilted his head slightly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "We found that..." he began, his voice deliberate. Kajin's gaze intensified, his breath catching in his throat. "Your friend is still on that list, and she's alive."

A wave of relief washed over Kajin, so powerful that he had to close his eyes for a moment to steady himself. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Behind him, Ruya and Cracknut erupted into quiet cheers. Ruya slapped Kajin lightly on the back, his grin wide. "I knew she was still kickin'!" he said, his voice filled with excitement.

"But," Liam added, his tone growing more serious, "we have no idea what condition she's in. We need to rescue her as quickly as possible." His voice carried a sense of urgency, his glasses catching the light as he spoke.

Kajin nodded, his expression resolute. "You're right," he said, stepping closer to Liam. "We have no time to waste." His voice was steady, filled with determination.

Liam smiled and reached into his coat, pulling out two black cloaks. He tossed one to Kajin and the other to Ruya. "You'll need these," he said.

Kajin caught the cloak effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. Ruya, however, fumbled slightly before managing to grab it. "It's... light but heavy at the same time," Ruya commented, running his fingers over the fabric before slipping it on.

Kajin examined the cloak for a moment, his mind racing. "It's now or never," he thought, pulling the cloak over his shoulders. The others watched him, their expressions a mix of anticipation and resolve.

"James will lead the way to the lab," Liam explained, gesturing to the tall, muscular man. "Meanwhile, the rest of us will keep an eye on the surrounding area and handle any complications."

James stepped forward, his expression serious but confident. "Understood," Kajin replied, his gaze shifting to James, who gave him a small, reassuring smile.

"Finally," Liam said, his voice firm, "once the mission is complete, we'll regroup here and escape the city using Hano's teleportation skill."

"Understood!" the group echoed in unison, though Hano remained silent, her sharp gaze focused elsewhere.

"Now, move out!" Liam ordered, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. With that, he leaped onto the roof of a nearby building, his movements swift and graceful. Cracknut jumped onto Ruya's shoulder, squeaking excitedly as Ruya followed Liam, scaling the wall with ease. Hano trailed behind them, her movements silent and precise.

Kajin watched them go, his expression calm but focused. His white eyes glowed faintly in the dim light as he turned to James and Klara. James walked toward the alley's exit, pulling his hood up as he glanced back at Kajin. "C'mon," he said, his voice steady. "We've got to break her out of there."

Klara followed, her movements light and quick. "Follow uppp!" she called in a sweet, cheerful voice, her tone a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation.

Kajin stepped out of the alley, his cloak billowing slightly in the breeze. "I'm closer than ever," he muttered, his voice filled with determination. "Vanessa, wait for me. The time of suffering is about to end."

With that, he broke into a sprint, his body moving like a blur as he caught up to James and Klara, the three of them racing through the streets.