Legend of the Misfit

Killian's eyes slowly opened, his vision hazy as he gazed at his chained legs. Slow but steady, he tilted his head upward. The dark moon hovered over, glowing treacherously. 

He snapped into his senses, his head snapping from side to side—there they were. On his left side stood the demons, dancing and cheering, yet their voices felt somewhat distant.

[I guess I'm still intoxicated.] 

Before he knew it, his head dropped toward the ground.

He was unconscious, his senses wavered and his head grew heavy, sinking under intolerable weight.

The next he felt was a warm liquid, repeatedly splashing against his feet, accompanied by a loud roar of triumphant cheers.

He forced his eyes open, straining against the chains, trying to force himself free through sheer strength.

Killian found himself restrained, suspended midair. His arms were chained against the post above, while his legs were chained tightly beneath it.

Before him was a demon peeing on his legs, while the others watched, rejoicing.

He continued to force himself out, but though thin, the chains surpassed his might. 

The demons stood before him, laughing at the top of their lungs as they watched him struggle.

His weight dragged him down, his limbs growing slack and his skin stretched—literally on the verge of tearing apart.

After numerous attempts to free himself, Killian gave up. He panted heavily, with his body drenched in sweat.

Killian began to cough, his lips cracked and dry, his body weak and dehydrated. 

[I don't want to die.]

He needed water. He tried to speak, but a violent cough seized him. Each attempt was met with another fit of coughing, but with unwavering determination, he forced the words out.

At the sound of his voice, the demons fell silent, their faces etched with confusion. Then, in an instant, they dismissed themselves.

"No… no. I need water, please."

He kept pleading, but voice fell into deaf ears. 

After hours of murmuring 'I need water,' Killian dropped unconscious. 

His heartbeat slowed, his skin paled and all he could think about was water.

In a swift, he saw something. He lay on the ground in chains, and there was a girl in white. Her wings fluttered gently against the ground as she held a pocket watch, which swung twice. She hovered midair, shielding him with her wings.

Killian began to smile, she was perfect—just like how Old Demon described angels to him when he was younger.

In an instant, he felt a splash of water hit his face. He forced himself out of the dream. 

He was released from the post but remained bound in chains. Before him, a girl squatted, holding a flask of water.

Without a second thought, he opened his mouth and the girl graciously gave him a sip.

[I thought I was dead.]

Before he could thank the girl, a demon appeared, yelling at her and gesturing at her to leave.

Killian had no understanding of what the demon said, but he was certain of one thing—the girl was in trouble.

The demon gave him a disgusted look, locking the gate as he walked away.

As soon as he left, Killian hurried and peeped through the window.

Before his eyes were demons dressed in strange robes strolling the alleys. Looking at the chambers around and what he was restrained, it was obvious—he was in a prison cell.

In an instant, he sensed an aura closing in on him. Quickly, he dropped to the ground, feigning weakness.

The demon closed in, opened the gate, tossing a piece of bread at him. He chuckled as he locked the gate.

Killian hurried to pick up the bread and stuffed his cheeks with it.

Killian had no idea how long he had been out for—or what awaited him. But he knew he had to play along for now and come up with a better plan for his escape.

As soon as he finished eating the bread, he lay on the ground, his hands crossed over his head and gazed at the ceiling.

For what felt like an eternity, Killian was left alone, only bothered when food and water were brought to him.

He continued to embrace his solitude, quietly observing his surroundings and studying the demons' mannerisms.

But his brief peace was shattered when an upper demon was suddenly thrown into his cell.

[Black ink?]

"Whoa… you might kill me."

[Finally someone I could understand.]

He was a middle-aged demon, holding his forehead and massaging it.

"A kid?"

Killian gave him an annoyed expression, but the demon had more than a question.

"Were you seeking shelter like I was?"

Killian looked at him with a confused expression.

"For almost a year, I've been fleeing from the monsters looking for shelter, just for these demons to hold me captive."

"Almost a year?" Killian asked, his eyes wide open and his mouth slightly parted.

"Yeah. The Wildlands have been chaotic since animals turned monsters and the lower demons were slaughtered." 

He said with a confused expression.

Killian squeezed his eyes. "Wait, what do you mean?"

The demon once enthusiastic to meet Killian, now seemed confused than Killian was.

"Yes, monsters. Animals turned giant, and some could even speak." 

[Could it be?]

At that moment, something crossed Killian's mind—the giant ant he had fought a while back.

"Do ants turn giant?"

"Yeah, every animal. Wait… how long have you been here?"

Killian paid no heed. He stood up and moved back and forth, checked his chains and rested his chin on his hand.

"I need to get the hell out of here."

As he stood there, two demons suddenly rushed into the cell, locked his collar and yanked him out of the cell.

Before he knew it, a fist slammed into his face.

"What the…"

Confusion dawned on him, and so did the demons. They swarmed around him, beating him to a pulp.

His body succeeded in the agony as waves of pain surged through his body. 

The demons suddenly stopped. He lay on the ground, holding his guard, watching as a few demons yelled out something and pointed at him.

[What did I do?]

This was the first time anything like this had happened, making it a completely new experience for Killian.

The demons dragged him back into his cell, hurled him onto the ground and locked the gate.

Killian lay there, breathing heavily with his eyes shut, allowing his nerves to settle.

The upper demon hurried to him, bent over and leaned toward his face.

"What did you do, kid?"

Killian turned away from the demon.

[Did they understand what I said?]

The demon kept buzzing his ears with questions, but Kilian's mind wandered beyond his voice.

"I don't think fleeing would be a good thing, kid."

[Are Morningstar and the others alive?]

In that instant, Killian sensed the demons approaching the cell.

[Ooh… I'm dead.]

But he wasn't going down with a fight. He quickly stood up and held his stance.

A demon shoved the gate open, casting a pitying glance at Killian as he held his stance. Without a word, he grabbed the upper demon and dragged him out of the cell.

The upper demon burst into tears, begging Killian to help him as they dragged him out. 

Killian watched in relief and waved at the upper demon, his voice trembling as he begged, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Killian sat down, baffled by what was going on.

[Why though?]

The demons had casted weird glances at him, and sometimes left him to starve. But this… this was strange.

[They are capable, but… naa.]

To quench his curiosity, he peeped through the window, watching as they beat the upper demon.

The scene was blurred by different shades of striked. The upper demon yelled, begging at the top of his lungs. His voice trembled, trying to flee.

[Whoa… what did he do though?]

Before Killian's eyes, a demon coiled a rope around the upper demon's neck and hurled it over a post, suspending him in the air.

The upper demon reached for the rope, stretching his body and trying to escape.

[Oh… he's dead.]

In an instant, the demon was lifeless as he hovered over.

They made a loud roar of triumphant cheers, jumping and dancing.

Killian immediately moved away from the window, and sat on the ground. His heart raced as his finger repeatedly tapped his cheek. 

Many black inks were cast out of the village before his eyes, but to this extent? It was anything but usual. 

[I guess it's my turn.]

Just as his mind drifted, a few demons hurried over and yanked him out of the cell.

[I won't die, not today.]

He was thrown in the midst of a dozen demons. A demon hurried over, and unchained him.

Killian's heart raced, his eyes darting around and his head snapping around.

They immediately tossed him a dagger and as soon as he caught it, he smiled.

It was clear—they wanted him to fight his way out. A lady stepped forward, carrying an artifact filled with a powdered substance. One by one, they applied it to their foreheads, their inks darkening.

[Whoa… artifacts could do that?]

He thought, holding his guard and his body trembling.