Legend of the Misfit

The demons braced themselves, chanting and jubilating, their voices rising in excitement. Gripping their weapons tightly, they moved in circles around Killian, closing in with every step.

Killian tightened his grip on his dagger, his eyes darting and his mind racing. 

[I can't win head on, I need a plan.] 

He needed a plan, but the constant movements of the demons troubled him.

The demons tightened their defense, waiting on Killian to attack, and he knew that much.

His heart was racing and body was trembling, but he held his guard. Snapping his head steadily, studying their movements and scanning a weakness.

In a brief moment, his heart sank. 

[Yes, I've got it.]

Seizing the moment, he lunged at a demon, giving him no time to ready his bow. Just as everyone expected him to go for the archer, he abruptly slid forward. Using his speed and their confusion to his advantage, he sprang to the left and slit the demon's throat in one swift motion.

As soon as he landed, he sprinted through the opening left by the fallen demon.

[They are black, I mustn't be stupid.]

He panted heavily, goosebumps surged through his body with his heart pounding heavily beneath his chest, but he paid no mind.

He could hear the demons' voices, yelling from behind. But he had been here before, and he knew hiding wasn't an option.

"Swoosh."

"Yes."

The demons began to close in, launching their attacks—but that was exactly what Killian had been waiting for.

Killian quickened his pace and the demons began to spread across the woods. 

As soon as Killian felt their aura spread out, he paused, and hid in the bushes.

He kept his breath on the slow, waiting patiently for a demon to emerge.

[Come on down, Kill.]

His body trembled, his grip shivering, almost loosening his grip. 

Pushing past his fear, he saw a demon closing in. He braced himself, his body burning as he crouched beneath the bushes.

Once he was within reach, Killian distracted him with a stick, and in a swift, he shoved his dagger into his neck and covered his mouth.

Carefully, he dragged the corpse into the bushes, steadily hurrying his steps away from it.

[Great… two more.]

Just as he scrambled to move, he sensed two more auras charging toward him. Without a second thought, he sprinted forward.

[They are three? Was it intentional?]

To his surprise, a demon was dashing straight toward him. The aura was too close—there was no time to dodge or hide.

He had to face it head-on. Relying on his knowledge, he decided to manipulate the demons' senses to his advantage.

As soon as he closed in on the demon, he propelled himself forward. In the split second before his strike landed, he planted his hands on the ground and launched himself upward, locking his legs around the demon's neck.

Without hesitation, he drove the dagger straight into his chest.

In the blink of an eye, Killian was sprinting away. 

[Whoa… that was fast.]

Yet, the other demons were right on his tail, closing in fast. Harnessing every ounce of strength within him, he quickened his pace.

After a while, Killian stopped sensing their auras, but he wasn't going to lower his guard.

Killian ran for nearly a day, his body screamed in agony, his limbs pleaded for rest, but his mind refused to give in.

[Yes… there.]

Within his sight lay a vast plain, and for some reason, he sensed that if he could just reach it, he would be free.

He forced his limbs to move faster, ignoring all the pain surging through his body.

As soon as he arrived, he spotted an empty field, covered in reddish grass. His movements grew sluggish, his legs trembling with each step as pain coursed through his head.

In an instant, he collapsed on the ground, panting as if his lungs were being crushed.

"What if those monsters find me?" He murmured.

In no time, his eyelids grew heavy, his nerves relaxed, and he drifted asleep.

He felt his head resting on her lap—a girl in white. Her white wings lay gently folded against her back and held a pocket watch.

It was a dream. He knew it was a dream. Yet, it didn't feel like a dream.

"Killian… Killian."

He barely opened his eyes, his vision blurry and unfocused.

"Hey… it's you."

He barely spoke out and he was unconscious again.

After what felt like an eternity of slumber, Killian woke up in an unfamiliar room.

[Am I at Lucid's?]

Yet the room wasn't furnished as Lucid's mansion. He instinctively stood up, glancing at his body.

The pain in his limbs and body had lessened. He threw a few jabs, testing his strength and mobility.

That's when he remembered—he had seen Morningstar and Ahvi. Urgently, he rushed to the door and swung it open. Before him stretched a long corridor, leading downstairs.

He hurried down the stairs, passing demons—both Red and Black Inks—making their way into their rooms.

To his left was what seemed to be a counter, and behind it stood a girl. As soon as she spotted Killian, she waved with a light smile.

Confused, Killian rushed outside. His eyes instinctively squeezed shut. What lay before him was a massive city. His eyes ached just from the sight of it, but the air was thin and warm—just one inhale was enough to tell him it was clean.

Over fifty feet above the ground, a massive light crystal glowed like the sun, similar to the Circuit's. Children ran through the streets, their faces etched with confusion.

His eyes shot wide open in shock. It felt as though he had stepped into the Circuit. A sudden rush of goosebumps spread across his body.

[I am in the circuit?]

He couldn't be in the circuit, the streets were full of red and black inks. How could this be the circuit?

"Where am I?"

He was in a standstill, perplexed about what he was seeing. His feeling tangled up—not knowing whether to smile or cry, emotions were complex to him.

A sudden sensation caused through his body.

"If this looks like the circuit… then… pancakes."

He strolled through the streets, seeing each of his steps vividly. It should have been an exciting moment, yet confusion clouded his mind.

Just a few minutes into the streets, before him was a street vendor with pancakes.

Without a second thought, he rashed over, stuffing his mouth with all the pancakes on the counter.

"Haaa… the feeling." He smiled.

The vendor began asking for money, but all those were gibberish to Killian.

All he could think about was the softness as the pancakes swiftly melted in his mouth—just like always.

"Whoa… clean water."

A cup of water sat on the counter, he reached his hand and drank it.

Killian's action stung the vendor's pride, yet Killian had no idea he was speaking to him.

"I am stuffed,"  he burped in relief.

He snapped his head around, scanning what he should do next. 

Before he could take a step to leave, he found himself surrounded by dozens of demons.

[Whoa… did I steal something?]

Killian immediately raised his guard as the vendor approached, demanding his money. But his words fell on deaf ears.

Killian feints a jab, striking the vendor in the throat, attempting to run away.

Before he could sprint away, Morningstar showed up and held his shirt.

He immediately apologized, and paid for the pancakes. 

That's when Killian realized the vendor was just asking for his money.

"You have to be specific, you know?"

The vendor hurled curses at Killian, shouting relentlessly as Morningstar dragged him away.

"I can walk, buddy."

Killian set himself free from Morningstar's grip. Morningstar led the way as they strolled the city, his hands tucked in his pockets.

"This is Fleeters city. We discovered it a while ago."

Killian walked behind, sniffing his cloak.

"Do you want to see what the city has to offer?"

"No. I want to take a bath."

Morningstar paused and turned to Killian.

"Don't you think you should have done that before coming out?"

Killian gave him a lazy look.

[I thought these people were dying. How is he this calm?]

Morningstar touched his forehead, shaking his head.

"Let's head to the inn. When you are done freshening yourself up, I would like to introduce you to someone."

Killian stood idly, watching Morningstar walk past him before following suit.

[Fleeters city, huh?]

Killian's eyes darted around, taking in the bright, carefree expressions on the demons' faces. These weren't the looks of fear or misery he had expected to see on the lower demons' faces.

[This sure is peaceful.]

Lower and upper demons coexisting was the last thing Killian expected. Yet there they were, happy and enjoying themselves as if inks didn't matter.

[What is going on?]

He tilted his head upward, staring at the glowing ceiling with his hands tucked in his pockets.

Morningstar snapped him out of his thoughts. 

"Kill… hurry up. I will be waiting."

Killian gave him a firm nod before walking past him.