Shadow Slave FanFic - Hopeful Life

As a strange-looking Carapace Scavenger made its way across the barrow, the demon noticed it. The scavenger had no tribute—no transcendent soul shard in its pincers. Truly, this was an insult to the demon. 

It lunged out of its lair and rushed toward the trespasser, its eyes ignited with fury and one of its scythes raised high. In only a few moments, the demon reached the trespasser. 

Bringing down its scythe, the demon cut through the scavenger like it was butter. But within the chitin, nothing was present. 

Unknown to the demon, three sleepers made their way to the tree. As planned, the demon, with its reckless attitude, behaved exactly as predicted. Now it was time for the second part of the plan. 

Just as the command came from its master, the scavenger acted. Its strange armor came apart, setting the echo that had been hiding beneath it free.

Pushing the pieces of chitin away with its powerful pincers, the echo rushed toward the towering demon, aiming to duck underneath and, hopefully, disrupt the giant's legs. 

Moving out of the way, the demon's eyes flared up with fury. It brought its pincers toward the scavenger, hoping to grab it.

The echo ducked and continued its attempt to move below the demon. 

But the attempt was futile. The demon swatted the echo away with one of its legs, tossing it aside. The echo barely managed to get to its feet. 

Not letting the echo have a moment to recover, the demon lunged, both scythes aimed upward. The fearsome scythes came down, but before they could pierce through the echo, it raised its pincers and caught them. 

Just barely holding onto the scythes, the echo struggled under the demon's immense strength. However, the demon had another pair of appendages.

Its own pincers clenched down on the echo's pincers, and soon the cracking of the echo's chitin began to echo through the air. 

Just as the echo's pincers were about to be completely severed, a black silhouette bolted down from the sky. 

Sensing the danger, the demon looked upward, just in time to see a raven descending toward it at terrifying speed. 

Like a bolt of lightning, the raven rammed into the human-like torso of the demon with unnatural force, sending it reeling backward and causing it to release the echo. 

Now a meter away from the echo, the demon looked upward and saw the raven ascending once more.

But with the demon distracted, the echo managed to reach its stomach. Despite its cracked armor, the echo plunged its pincer deep into the demon's abdomen, causing it to roar in pain. 

In rapid succession, the echo continued to jab one pincer in and pull the other out.

In just a few seconds, the demon's stomach began to bleed profusely.

The demon seemed to be boiling with rage as it focused all its attention downward. Its pincers pierced both sides of the echo. 

With immense strength, the demon lifted the echo, turned its body to the side, and threw it away. 

Now the echo lay several meters away, its side armor crumbled to the ground. The demon turned its full attention toward the echo and let out a loud roar. 

It dashed toward the echo, but right before its eyes, the echo vanished without a sound, leaving behind only a black feather. 

Unbeknownst to the demon, the raven was above it. Just as the demon charged forward, the raven plucked one of its feathers and dropped it onto the demon's head.

In an instant, the feather was swapped with the hulking body of the echo. 

With frightening force, the echo crashed onto the demon, causing it to collapse to the ground. The demon's legs buckled, and its head slammed into the dirt. 

Disoriented, the demon tried to stand but found it difficult. Struggling to look backward, it was unable to do so as a pair of pincers clamped down on its neck, and another swift blow struck one of its legs, nearly severing it completely.

Crack after crack, the demon's metal armor began to split. Then another force struck the same leg as before, this time completely severing it.

A furious roar tore from the demon's throat. 

In an instant, the demon felt a rage like never before.

It barely managed to stand as the echo's pincers loosened their grip. The demon swayed from side to side, desperately trying to shake the echo off its body. 

Just as it began to sway, the echo tried to hold on but lost its balance, falling off. In one swift motion, the demon spun to the right, its scythe slicing toward the echo with lethal precision.

If it continued, it would surely cleave the echo in half. 

But just as the scythe was about to strike, a powerful force slammed into it, causing the blow to veer off course.

The scythe barely missed cutting the echo in half, but it did sever one of the echo's pincers. 

Without losing momentum, the demon followed up with its other scythe aimed upward.

But before it could pierce the echo, the creature vanished once again, leaving the scythe buried deep in the ashen ground, kicking up a smokescreen of dust that blinded the demon. 

While it was blinded, the same force slammed into its scythe, causing it to loosen, and blood spurted forth. 

Roaring in fury, the demon thrashed about in a wild frenzy, its mind consumed by a singular desire to kill the creatures attacking it.

As the ash began to settle, the demon looked around frantically, but there was… nothing. 

No raven. No echo. Nothing. 

The demon continued thrashing, its rage intensifying as it searched desperately for its foes. But no matter how hard it looked, the raven and the echo had vanished without a trace.

*****

(That was... a sight to see.)

[Pfft, damn right it was. That little demon's throwing a tantrum. We really are its ops.] 

(Ops?) 

[Opponents. Or more like tormentors, really. Bahaha, that stupid little thrall!] 

While the battle had been raging below, we had safely reached the branch we'd aimed for, and we even had time to spare. 

The fight had lasted longer than it had in the original timeline, so everything had gone even better than planned.

Cassie had erased our footprints with her staff, and we climbed up the branch safely with the rope. 

It really had gone much smoother than in the novel. I'd been in control of Sunny's body for most of the battle, using [Load Amplifier] and [Antithesis] to further help the echo and raven in wounding the demon. 

Now, the demon had a limp, and one of its scythes was nearly torn off. Night was falling, and it was time for the third step.

I locked eyes with Nephis and smiled, perhaps a bit cockily, as I noticed her expression falter slightly. 

'Did she show this much emotion in the original?' I wondered briefly before dismissing the thought.

Taking the unlit torch we'd made, I grabbed the flammable liquid at my side. 

Looking at Nephis, I smiled. "Ready?" 

She nodded, extending her hand to take the torch. White sparks ignited in her eyes as I took a deep breath and let out a scream. 

"HEY BEEFCAKE! COME AND GET US IF YOU'VE GOT THE BALLS!" 

Attracted by the sudden burst of light and my scream, the Carapace Demon appeared out of nowhere, engulfed in fury. 

Its towering legs tore through the ashen sand, throwing up clouds of it. Two scarlet eyes locked onto me, and I grabbed two bags of oil. 

Just as the Carapace Demon reached the branch beneath me, I took another deep breath, aimed, and tossed both bags down. 

As they fell toward the demon's shining metal carapace, I weakened [Hachi] and sliced the bags open.

Oil drenched the demon, from its grotesque head to its equally grotesque body. 

Guided by the loud sounds of the massive monster, Nephis swung her arm and hurled the torch down with all her strength.

The torch streaked through the air like a meteor and landed squarely in the middle of the demon's carapace. 

In the next instant, the giant creature was engulfed in flames. Letting out furious roars, it staggered back, swinging its scythes wildly. 

The blazing demon shone like a beacon in the hungry darkness of the night.

Its polished armor reflected the flames, sending radiant glints in all directions. Burning oil dripped onto the ground, igniting ashen sand wherever it landed. 

Giving myself a fist pump, I turned to Nephis, who was still frozen in place, her hand outstretched from the throw.

Taking my chance, I quipped, "And our pitcher, Lady Changing Star, has hit a demon-run!" 

Flinching, she turned to look at me, her expression clearly annoyed. 

I shifted my gaze back to the burning demon and extended my arm.

The raven landed on it, perching proudly. Smiling, I patted its head, and it cawed in satisfaction. 

"Aww, you're such a good boy. I'll name you Blisto." 

Satisfied with the name, the raven cawed again and nuzzled its head into the palm of my hand. 

(Alisto and now Blisto? You don't have much of a penchant for naming, do you?)

I ignored him, Blisto perched himself on my shoulder and watched the burning demon with me. 

The Carapace Demon roared with fury, making my ears feel like they were about to bleed. Its roar sounded like a deafening cacophony of rusted metal being torn apart by giant claws.

Two bloody eyes glared at me through the flames, burning with murderous hatred. 

Smiling, I gave the demon a friendly wave. 

Instead of rushing toward us, the demon collapsed to the ground, rolling in the sand in a desperate attempt to douse the flames. 

But it was of no use.

The dark surface of the water rippled slightly, and from its depths, a thick fog began to rise. Slowly, it spread forward, reaching for the demon.

As the eerie fog spread and the noise of the world seemed to vanish, I turned to Nephis and grabbed Blisto, then i gave a firm command to her and cassie.

"Close your eyes! No matter what you hear, do not open them. I repeat, no matter what, don't open your eyes. Even if you hear me telling you to, don't listen. Understood?"

Nephis glanced at the fog, then at the demon, now lying on the ground attempting to get to it's feet in a hurry, the flames were completely extinguished.

After a brief hesitation, she nodded. Without a word, she moved back toward Cassie, who was waiting quietly.

We huddled together, closer now. I reached out and handed Blisto to Cassie, she didn't see what i was doing so i spoke.

"Take him, cover his eyes," I whispered urgently.

Cassie fumbled for a moment before her hands found Blisto. She gave me a bewildered look, but she obeyed, gently covering his eyes.

Blisto's confused caw was stifled as he nuzzled against her hands.

For a moment, the terror on Cassie's face lessened, her breathing slowed, and she appeared calmer. I caught Nephis' gaze, and together, we closed our eyes, mentally preparing ourselves for what was to come.

[Sunny, augment the shroud with gloomy. And don't look through its eyes.]

There was a pause before Sunny's hesitant response came. (Alright...)

'i should be fine, no mind attack can get me....' i reasured myself as the shroud Instantly felt thicker, warmer, more comforting.

We were wrapped in an almost suffocating sense of security as I slowed my breathing.

I kept my eyes firmly shut, steeling myself against whatever was coming. My breaths were slow and shallow, barely audible in the stillness.

Then it happened.

All sound ceased.

No wind. No movement. Not even the distant crackle of dying flames or the scuffling of the demon.

"Don't look... don't look... don't look..." I whispered softly to myself, trying to anchor my thoughts.

But then, through the suffocating silence, a voice emerged.

A voice I hadn't heard in months.

"Look, honey... open your eyes."

It was faint, almost like a memory, but clear enough to make my heart skip a beat.

"Look, honey... open your eyes."

It was her voice.

The one that had comforted me countless times in the past.

My mother.

Gentle, warm, and filled with compassion, just as I remembered.

Tears welled up in my eyes, my fists clenched as I fought the urge to give in, to open my eyes, just for a second, just to see her again.

My breathing hitched as the weight of longing nearly overwhelmed me.

'I should be immune to mind attacks! Damn It!'

For a moment, I felt like a child again, desperate for comfort. But deep down, I knew it wasn't real. It couldn't be.

I clenched my jaw and forced the tears back, resisting the sweet, familiar pull of that voice.

No matter how real it sounded, I couldn't afford to look. I wouldn't.

The idea of going to the soul sea crossed my mind, but that wouldn't do. If I entered it, my eyes might have opened.

Even though I have resistance to mind and soul attacks, I'd rather not take any chances.

"Son, look... I'm here... Son, look... I'm here." My father's voice echoed, and I bit my lower lip.

The taste of iron in my mouth brought me back for a second, clearing my mind slightly.

"Don't worry... Don't worry... I am here... Look, and don't worry... Look, son... Don't worry."

Gritting my teeth, I dug my nails into my palms, causing more blood to drip onto the ground. Finally, other sounds besides the voices reached me.

"Sorry, brother... Let me apologize... Sorry, brother, let me apologize." My brother's voice was even more soothing than my father's, offering me comfort.

But I couldn't look. I can't look. I mustn't look.

"Look... Look... Look... Look." The voices of my friends and family assaulted me. I felt my heart ache and my feet tremble.

"I… Won't." I whimpered weakly. The voices continued to reassure me, urging me to look, promising they would save me.

But everything they said was a lie. I needed to not look.

No matter what.

Next Chapter: Slaying a Demon (2)