Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

586. It's Been A Long Time...

“Salvos…?”

Haec stared at her. He saw her silver hair. He took in her pale skin— partially blemished at the arm by dark scales that resembled burn marks. She had six feathered wings, and a pair of horns that sat atop her head like a crown.

Here she was. Salvos. His leader. His companion. The world seemed to fade away all around him. Nothing else existed but the two of them at this moment. The broken rocks and fallen rubble cascaded around him, and the cracked sky of Revelation mended shut.

Taburas was gone— Haec didn’t even see how she warily created an ashen spear. He didn’t hear Betrugil’s shouts of panic, nor did he notice how Aemula was cowering in fear.

All Haec saw was Salvos standing before him. Like no time had passed since they last saw each other— as if they were still standing there, in the white plains of the Netherworld, wandering aimlessly and timelessly together.

Salvos took a step forward, and a thousand things raced through Haec’s mind. Did she even remember who he was? And if she did, did she recognize him? And was she really Salvos?

This could’ve been an apparition— a product of mind magic. He knew that Alia had been a master of mental assaults. If she had been the one sent after him…

And Haec tensed. He backed away as Salvos drew closer. Or— the illusion of Salvos. He didn’t know. But he was afraid. He wanted her to be real. He wanted this to be true.

However, what were the chances that Salvos would find him through pure happenstance? The Netherworld was a vast place. The possibility that they’d run into each other by sheer chance was infinitesimal. Or rather, the chances of it being a member of the Deathsquad Hunters was so much higher, it had to be a trick.

That was what Haec thought as he raised a wary fist.

And then Salvos hugged him.

He blinked a few times as he felt the warmth of her touch. His eyes went wide when he looked down at her, tightly holding onto him. He tried to work his jaw, and she just looked back up at him with a smile.

“Hey. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Salvos spoke as Haec as Taburas, Betrugil, and Aemula froze. Haec stared for a moment, before he lowered his head. He took in a deep breath. He tried to steel himself— to take in his surroundings and make sure it was all real.

But when Salvos didn’t let go… he couldn’t help himself. He hugged his leader back. And he refused to let go as he whispered softly.

“It has… it really has…”

Here he was.

I had seen him standing there before me. I recognized him immediately. It only took me a second to take in his brand new appearance, and I already knew it was him.

He was tall— taller than I remembered. He stood towering over me like a Cyclops would. Maybe even taller. And while he didn’t have four arms and a single eye like they did, he was just as well-built as they were.

I recognized him, but he was also different. His long black hair had been cut short, but it still had a single yellow streak running through it like a bang. His red skin was marked with strange markings. Like runes and symbols had been inked onto his chest. And his forearms seemed to bulge out from the elbow as if he was wearing a crimson-colored gauntlet. But it was simply part of his physiology.

He was different. And yet, he was also still the same.

I didn’t often dream— I never really had to sleep. But when I did close my eyes and doze off into the darkness of my mind, I would see him there. It was a figment of my imagination. One that felt so real.

I would imagine the various ways he could have changed. The various evolutions he could have undergone.

I would think about what our first conversation back together would have been. I would tell him all about my adventures in the Mortal Realm. I would tell him all about the weird Human customs I learned, while regaling him of the dangers I went through just so I could see him again.

I would touch him. I would hold him. And I would never let go again.

But when I woke up, he would be gone. He would disappear. He wouldn’t be standing there next to me. The life we both believed we’d share was gone. Things would never be the same again.

That was why I hate sleeping. That was why I hated having dreams.

And now, my dreams have finally become a reality. Now, I could touch Haec, and he was really here. I could cling onto him, and he wouldn’t disappear. The promise we made to each other— the life we imagined as companions— it finally could be real.

I continued to hug Haec, remaining silent. He didn’t say a word either. We both simply chose to luxuriate in this moment. The relief we felt was shared. I didn’t even need [Truth Divination] to know that he felt the same way as me.

He was Haec. He was my first companion. And he was here—

“Hey!”

A voice shouted, interrupting our moment. I blinked and took a step back. I broke away from Haec as he shifted, pivoting to face a group of Archdemons. I stared at them too. I had noticed them when I was arriving at this crevice, but then I got distracted when I spotted Haec.

I took them in. There were three of them. A [Fiend], an [Abraxas], and a [Succubus]. It was the [Succubus] who was shouting. She pointed an accusing finger at me as she took a step forward.

“What are you doing? Who are you? And what are you doing to Haec?”

Haec scratched the back of his head as I looked down at myself.

“What am I doing to Haec?”

I frowned— I wondered if it was a trick question. But when I studied her gaze, I could tell that that was a serious question. So I answered honestly.

“I’m hugging him! I am hugging Haec!”

She blinked, trying to work her jaw. For whatever reason, she was taken aback by what I said. Her eyes were bulging from their sockets, and her hands trembled. She vibrated where she stood— like she was trying to figure out what to say.

But Haec took a step forward and drew her attention. He shook his head, gesturing to me as he gave me a small nod.

“Taburas, this is…”

“Hi! I’m Salvos!”

I cut him off, beaming at the three staring Archdemons. Taburas just continued gaping at me, and the other two Archdemons exchanged a glance. I strode forward as I clapped my hands together.

“Are you Haec’s friends? His companions? It’s nice to meet you!”

I came to a halt right before Taburas as I proffered a hand. She recoiled, backing up warily for a moment. She raised an ashen spear as she eyed me with narrowed eyes. And I blinked, looking down at the hand I offered.

“Huh— right, shaking hands is a Human thing. Sorry! I won’t hurt you! I was just saying hi!”

I forgot that in the Netherworld, there was no such thing as social etiquette. There was only kill or be killed. Whatever social skills any Demon learned here was a result of necessity— or molded out of their individual personality.

But shaking hands? Bowing? Kneeling? Even simple greetings like waving? There was no such thing here.

I had to remind myself of that. I took a step back as Taburas lowered her ashen spear. She stared at me for a moment, before finally looking towards Haec.

“Who is this, Haec? How do you know her? She’s a Primeval Demon…”

“I’m not just a Primeval Demon— I told you, I’m Salvos!”

I answered on Haec’s behalf. He just chuckled at my response. But Taburas wasn’t as amused as he was. And it wasn’t just her. One of the other two Archdemons stepped forward— the [Abraxas].

He furrowed his brows as he looked up at me. He was rather short. Like an Elf.

“Six white wings, rainbow-colored flames, golden eyes, and silver skin… I have heard that description before! You’re the Primeval Demon that Regnorex wants to kill!”

His words made me pause. I saw the glint coming from his neck. He wore a metal collar. And it wasn’t just him. Both Taburas and the [Fiend] also wore the collar of the Demon King. I shifted back apprehensively as I muttered under my breath.

“Uh-oh.”

But they didn’t attack me. They just turned to Haec. And this time around, it was the [Fiend]— the lowest-leveled of them all— who addressed him.

“Haec, you need to explain to us what’s going on.”

He scratched his cheek as he glanced between me and the three Archdemons.

“There’s a lot I have to explain, huh?”

Haec sighed, taking a step forward. He steeled himself as he smiled fondly to himself, and I did too.

“Where do I even begin?”