Raising the next Demon Lord Chapter 1

 

Raising the next Demon Lord Chapter 1

 

Man had fought against the demonic scourge for years. Their magic, massive size and multitude of varying forms caused their human foes endless problems in battle; despite the humans out numbering them ten to one. Not until man had figured out the location of the Demon Lord, were they able to devise a plan to put an end to the war once and for all. They readied the strongest army possible, comprised of heroes the world over and planned to raid the Demon Lord’s stronghold. On the day of the attack, the army of man was met with a fierce battle, the likes of which neither side was truly prepared for. The clash lasted for two entire days. The demons refused to yield, as did the humans. A small group of ten made it past the battlefield and into the stronghold so as to confront the Demon Lord himself.

Part 1

“Alright…we’ve made it this far. Every one of you are to follow my orders to the letter, understand?” His orders were stoic, making no qualms about being in charge. This strong and handsome knight commanded his party with authority. The group all nodded their heads, noting that it was the most important day of their lives. They trailed behind their regal leader in a line, some praying, others drinking from small flasks, while some sharpened swords and arrow tips, however two who sat furthest toward the rear conversed in a hushed tone.

“Pewter, turn around and leave.” A young woman clad in leather armor, carrying a large broadsword spoke with the young man behind her.

“Are you insane? There’s no way I could turn back now, even if I wanted to. I followed you and Gerald in here knowing full well that this could end with all of us dying, that this could be our last stand. But…” The young man paused as he gripped his bow.

“But…?”

“But…Abigail, I want to stay with you, no matter what. I'm going to use this bow of mine to protect you. I... I love you after all.”

“…” The warrior woman stopped. Awe struck by her young ally’s sudden expression of love. “Pewter…no, Kris…we’ve known each other all this time. Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because, if this is the last thing we ever do together, our last adventure…I don't want anything left unsaid.” Abigail, hugged Kris. Pulling the shorter boy in head into her breast with a warm embrace. The others took notice of this sweet moment and held back sweet reactions.

“Kris…I feel the same. I love you too. You can hear my heart, right? It’s really going crazy right now. Not because of the fear of battle, but because of how happy I am to be with you.”

“Not to ruin the moment...” The leader of the team, the knight, Gerald called back to everyone. “...but we are about to face the Demon Lord here, so if you don't mind.” Gerald pointed to the end of the hall where a bright red light emanated. Every one returned to their positions; ready for battle. As the party broke the threshold they were met with a surprise.

An enormous empty chamber room with nothing but a single man. The man's long, crimson hair poured out of his scalp like a fountain of blood reaching all the way down his back, parted by two short ebon horns. His thorned, jet-black armor resembled a rose stem twisted with blackened steel. This man’s pale skin and eyes as red as his hair gave him a completely otherworldly look.

“This is the Demon Lord?” One of the warriors spoke up. He gave a hearty laugh at the sight of the nonthreatening looking man, but as he did, the laughter was cut short.

A spike shot up from beneath the laughing warrior; going right between his legs, through his body and out his mouth. The still living warrior gasped and chocked as he futilely struggled, pawing at the tip of the spike which was hoisted him higher and higher into the air. His agonizing cries echoing throughout the room, horrifying his companions.

“Grant!!!” One of the women screamed out in horror.

“Humans…to have made it this far…I must be letting myself get complacent.” The man, the Demon Lord spoke in a somber tone. He began to slowly close the gap between himself and the party. The warriors prepared their weapons for battle, all except for Kris who trained his bow and arrow on the skewered warrior. He launched his arrow, piercing Grant's head, killing him immediately. “Hmm…to think that humans could do something so calculated in such a short time.” The Demon Lord was impressed with Kris’s quick thinking to spare Grant from any further torture.

“You b*****d!!” The woman yelled at Kris. “I-I could’ve saved him. You didn’t need to kill h-” She was stopped by Gerald.

“Sabrina, this isn’t the time! Eyes forward!”

The Demon lord began to chuckle, which turned into a laugh, and then into a full-on cackle. “You humans are so entertaining. It’ll be a shame when there are none of you left. Maybe I’ll keep some of you to breed. Yes, we’ll keep some, then domesticate you. Turn you into pets; and hopefully after enough breeding you’ll lose that disgusting, unwarranted pride. But for now …show me that…pride that humanity is oh so well known for!”

Part 2

The battle between the small human group and the Demon Lord lasted for almost half an hour. The Demon Lord had a particular fetish for skewering people. Four of the ten warriors who’d fought their way into the room were already impaled on the demonic spikes. Kris made sure that every single person who’d been skewered had been shot as to not suffer. Gerald stood with his glowing white claymore, locked in combat with the Demon Lord.

A cleric that was a member of the party, started enchanting the tip of Kris’s arrow. “Kris, you need to hit this one, no matter what!” Blood dripped from a wound on her head and one in her gut, staining her white robes.

“GraeRain, you’re bleeding. Heal yourself!” Kris pleaded.

“No…we have to end this now! If this continues…then…” Just as the cleric, GraeRain spoke, Gerald was thrown back into the two, knocking them down. The Demon Lord began chanting in the demonic language as a magic glyph formed around the warriors. Suddenly, Abigail jumped in with her broadsword and swung down ending whatever spell the devious lord of demons was attempting to cast, though he blocked the blade with a single hand the frustration on his face was palpable.

“Human pride…I believe I'm starting to understand it, but your resilience bewilders me. Allow me to test it.” The Demon Lord grabbed Abigail’s hands that gripped her sword, hoisting her up off of her feet. Again, he began chanting another incantation as a glyph encircled his hand.

“Abigail!!!” Kris yelled.

“You’d better take this chance to kill me…you’ll regret it if you don’t.” The Demon Lord plunged his hand into Abigail’s stomach. “gg…GAAHHHH!!!” She howled in agony as what appeared to be black flames radiated from the hand jammed in her abdomen.

Kris jumped to his feet trying to help the woman he loved, but he was stopped by GraeRain. She continued to enchant one of his arrows. “We…we need to finish this…Kris…” Using every ounce of willpower to keep from charging in Kris gritted his teeth.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you show emotion, young archer. Do you care for this woman? Then…” The flames intensified, as did Abigail’s screams. Again, GraeRain had to hold Kris back. He bit into his lip, drawling blood as he needed the pain to keep his mind in check. “HAHAHAHAH!” The lord of demons laughed a hearty laugh.

“Kris…it’s done…” GraeRain said as she fell to the ground. Kris readied his arrow and took aim at the Demon Lord.

“Are you a fool? As if I’d allow…” The Demon Lord tried to pull his hand away from Abigail, but she’d slipped out of his grasp and gotten ahold of his arm.

“Told ya’…you should’ve killed me.” The warrior woman said with a toothy smile.

“You cur!!” As the Demon Lord spoke, Kris released his arrow, firing it directly into his forehead. “AGGHHHH!!” He bellowed, backing away from Abigail. Gerald leapt high into the air, claymore above his head and came slashing down; cleaving the Demon Lord and the arrow in his forehead clear in half. An explosion of dark mist blew everyone and everything back from the Demon Lord. “NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” He cried as the mist took the form of agonized faces and shot upward into the sky turning it from blue to a pitch black. A horrific face of fury blanketed the sky, but then faded…returning the sky to it’s beautiful blue color.

“Abigail!” Kris ran to her side dropping his trusty bow. “Abigail, please…open your eyes!!” Her hand reached up covering his mouth.

“You’re being way too loud…dummy.” She smiled at him, knowing that they were triumphant.

Part 3

After the Demon Lord fell, his army slowly dwindled and after hunting the last of his demonic forces down, they’d all but vanished. The few demons that stayed in the sight of humans pleaded for sanctuary with some taking up residence in human villages that would allow them. However, many still disliked them as the scars of war still ran deep and had yet to heal after just 2 years.

“Hey, Kris! They’re coming your way!”

“Got em’!” 4 arrows flew from a tree right into the skulls of four wolves as they ran from a barn. Kris, now an older man with a thin beard growing in leapt down from the branch. “Was that all of them?”

“I believe so. Thanks, Kris.” An old, chunky farmer cheered. “You should come inside, get some food in ya’. For a man your age, you’re way too skinny! Come on in, we’ll get you fattened right up real quick!”

“Sorry, Lermin, I’ve got to head home. See ya’!” Kris ran off leaving the man, Lermin behind feeling a bit disappointed.

The young man rushed through the small village. He saw many people working, building houses, stables and a few stores. As he rushed by, people called out to him happily. The village was secluded on a large plateau, located on a hill, far from any kingdom. Despite its distance from said kingdoms, some nobles would occasionally stop by, as there were many commodities; such as training from a certain hero.

Kris entered a small one story house. As the archer dropped his bow by the front door the sound of people training in the backyard caught his ear. He walked out back to see Abigail training some children in the ways of the sword.

The now, slightly older warrior woman noticed Kris standing in the doorway watching them. “Hey.”

“Hey. I didn’t notice until just now, but you’re letting your hair grow out again.” Abigail's auburn hair was normally kept short for adventuring purposes.

“Well, you know…not like we go out too often anymore. Give me a second.” She clapped her hands calling the training session to a close. “Alright everyone. That’s enough for today.”

As the sun began to set, aristocrats from the kingdoms came to pick up their children. Once the final one was gone Abigail let out a heavy sigh. She sat, placing her head on the dining room table with a yawn. Kris walked up from behind and proceeded to rub her tense shoulders.

“Don’t do that…you were the one out all day. I just stayed here with the kids.” Abigail pushed away Kris’s hands.

“Nah. Hunting wolves is nothing. I’ve done it since I was little. How about you go take a bath. I’ll make dinner.”

“…fine.” Abigail begrudgingly got up, not wanting to argue. She proceeded to the back, headed for the tub. Kris walked over to their cooler and began preparing dinner but a knock at the door stopped him.

When he answered, the men of the village, pitch forks and torches held high, looking distressed met him.

“What’s the matter guys?” Kris asked, only slightly concerned.

“Kris, we need you and Abigail’s help.”

“Help with…?”

“There were some remnants of the Demon Lord’s army seen close by!”

A chill ran up Kris’s spine. “I thought the Demon Lord’s army hadn’t been seen in months?”

“A small carriage of demons was seen transporting something that seemed really important. When the townsfolk asked about what it was, they sped off and someone saw the Demon Lord’s crest on one of the sides.”

“…Are you sure?”

“We are.”

“…” Kris took a moment and thought. “…Let’s make sure first. I don’t want to drag Abigail along unless we really need to.”

“What!? But she’s one of the strongest swordswomen in all the world.”

“I know. But if it’s just some lesser demons, then I can handle them myself.” Once again Kris picked up his bow from near the front door. “Hey, Abigail!” He called out to the back.

“What?” Abigail had just gotten into the bath.

“I’m going out for a little late night hunting.”

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing to worry about. I’ll be right back.”

“You want me to come?”

“Nah. I’ve got it!”

“Ok…”

“Let’s go before she asks again.” Kris and the townsmen scurried off to the woods.

The moonlight combined with the illumination from the torches gave the men more than enough visibility in the crowded forest. The trees expanded onward for some time, combined with the hills and streams, the terrain would be difficult for someone to cross on anything but foot. “Kris, do you want a torch?”

“No, I’m fine. Ever since I was a kid, I've trained to hunt at night with my eyes alone.” Just then a man ran up to the group.

“Guys! The carriage went over! We’re chasing down the demons now, but a few got away.”

“Alright…fan out! I doubt they’d leave the forest since there’s no real cover beyond the trees and they’d have to climbed down hill, so they should still be close by.” Kris took charge, just mimicking what he’d seen Abigail and Gerald do before. All of the men separated, checking every part of the woods for any demons. Kris got up high in a tree, attempting to get a vantage point. He noticed a few figures grouping together, all wearing hoods.

“I found them! Over there!” As soon as they were spotted, the hooded figures quickly dispersed. They spread out amongst the trees, at first, seemingly trying to escape. Kris noticed that they were moving oddly, heading for the townsmen; all the while allowing one smaller figure to run away. The archer leapt through the tree branches with ease toward the fleeing figure. He quickly caught up to them, jumping down to block their path.

He readied his bow and asked… “Are you one of the Demon Lord’s retainers?”

“…” They remained quiet, while shielding an even smaller hooded figure.

(I didn’t see that one before. Is it a child?) “If you’re a regular demon then you have nothing to fear. They don’t allow demons to live here, but they don’t just kill them indiscriminately.”

“P-Please…I don’t know what to say, but you don’t…seem to hate us, right? Our kind…”

“…No. Why?”

“Please let us go! This child…if they find him…”

“If they find him?” The figure pulled off her hood. She was a dragonborn, a small one, with red hair breaking in between her brown scaly scalp. She got down on her thickly scaled knees and pleaded. “Please! I’m begging you!”

“You haven’t answered my question. Also, the longer we wait, the more likely that they’re going to come over here.” Kris kept his eyes on the woman. Dragonborns were normally much larger, but the woman’s claws and fangs were more than thick enough to pierce him through were she to have the chance; not to mention her wide meaty tail.

“…” The dragonborn woman got back to her feet and pulled the boy’s hood off. A flood of crimson red hair poured out revealing pale white skin, and a tiny black horn on the right half of his forehead.

A chill was sent up Kris’s spine. If not for his ability to remain calm in stressful situations, he’d have released his arrow and killed the child immediately. “…This kid…he’s…”

“Yes…please, I’m begging you to let us go!”

“…”

“If they find us, they’ll kill him!” The sound of the townsmen began closing in and Kris could see the torches getting closer. “Please, please, please!!”

Kris gulped down his hatred, and lowered his bow. “Go…don’t get caught…”

“Thank you!” The dragonborn woman grabbed the hand of the child and ran past Kris. As she made her way past the ace archer, he took a second and considered what he was doing. It would only take one shot, and at the distance they’d made from him, Kris could still easily put an arrow through the back of the child’s head. He pulled his bow back up and took aim. His fingers strained as he thought about the horrors and atrocities that had been committed just two years ago, and how much he and Abigail had suffered.

But then Kris realized…he couldn’t. That he could never gather enough gall or hatred to kill a child…even the Demon Lord’s.

Part 4

The demons had been captured by the townsfolk. As they began questioning them, Kris rejoined the party. “Oh, Kris! Just in time. We were about to start questioning these demons.” They were mostly frogmen and fallen angels. Frogmen had skin like humans, but the faces and tongues of their amphibian counterparts. Fallen angels as were human like though with inverted skin tones, hair and eye colors. Some had wings, but they all had horns of varying sizes. “Why is it that you ran? And why did you have one of the Demon Lord’s carriages?”

“…” They all remained silent, looking at each other, as if to convey information nonverbally.

“Come on! I know at least one of you speak Human!”

“I do.” A fallen angel woman in the back raised her hand.

“Ugh…” The townsmen huddled together. “I don’t know if I trust talking to a fallen angel.” They spoke in a hushed tone.

“If she’s the only one that speaks Human, what choice do we have?” Another townsman replied. Kris sighed at their poor interrogation techniques.

“Why did you run before?” Kris took charge and directly jumped to the point.

“We…” The demon woman hesitated for a moment. The sharp-eyed archer noticed the fallen angel woman look in the direction of the fleeing Demon Lord’s child. “We…were the Demon Lord’s retainers.” The townsmen quickly raised their pitchforks. “But we aren’t anymore! After he fell we took many of his possessions, including that cart.” Her possible sincerity fell on deaf ears.

“Can we really trust her?” Whispering erupted amongst the townsmen. “She’s a fallen angel after all. They’re really good at lying.” Kris knew the truth. It was in fact a lie for the most part.

“What was in the carriage?”

“Just supplies. Mostly swords, food and armor. We travel, as we don’t have a home.”

“Why not just stay in a village or town that allows demons?”

“…As you can see, two of my companions, and I, myself are fallen angels. In many of the towns we’ve visited, fallen angels are nothing but fighters in colosseums, or sex slaves; if we’re even allowed in. We don’t want those kinds of lives.”

One of the townsmen mumbled under his breath… “It’s your own fault…” The others shushed him, but the fallen angel picked up on his comment.

“You’re correct. We followed Lord Uzziel. We have only ourselves to blame. I still beg of you…let us go. We aren’t a threat to you.” She got down on her hands and knees begging. Kris took a moment and thought. The fallen angel was lying to protect the Demon Lord’s child but was it a good idea to allow them to escape, he thought. A definitively correct answer wasn’t in the books, but for sure he knew one thing.

“Let them go.” Kris didn’t want to kill any more people. “If they ‘used’ to be the Demon Lord’s people, but have given up on that, they aren’t a threat to us. Let them be.” His somber and relaxed tone gave the townspeople a sense of security. They knew that with Kris around they’d be safe.

“Fine. We’re sorry about your carriage, but you should really take the Demon Lord’s crest off it. We’re the nice ones, but if any of the demon hating patrols were to find you guys, they’d kill you without a second thought.”

“We understand. Thank you very much! We can fix our carriage enough to get it moving again. After that, we’ll be fine.”

“Do you…want us to help you guys?”

“No. We’ll be fine. Everyone, thank you again. Come on, let’s return to the carriage.” The fallen demon woman directed her group back towards their cart. She paused as Kris and her locked eyes. Even though it was only for a brief second, it felt like minutes.

Part 5

“Thanks again, Kris.” The townsfolk thanked the ace archer for his assistance as they saw him off back to his house.

“It was nothing. I didn’t even need to fire one arrow. Let’s just put all of this to rest.”

“How about coming to the tavern? We absolutely owe you a drink.”

“Can’t. Abigail hates it when I come home too drunk.” Kris chuckled.

“Alright! You and your wife need to come and hang out with us more. Everyone in town loves you guys! Your heroes after all.”

“I’ll let her know. For now, though, I’m going to get some sleep. Take care everyone!” Kris bid farewell to everyone as he reentered his house. Upon closing the door behind him, he noticed Abigail standing in a bath towel boiling the food on the stove.

“Took you long enough! You left the food out, and it would’ve gone bad. I didn’t even finish my bath, so you owe me.” She walked over to him and gave him a warm ‘welcome home’ kiss. “Blech!”

“What?” Kris retorted.

“Your mustache tastes like leaves. Could you please shave it?”

“No way! I waited for years to grow this beauty!”

“…”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Just thinking…I’m kind of embarrassed at how much the tables have turn in terms of our relationship.”

“I don’t follow.”

“You’re taller than me now, look older, you’re so reliable too. It’s nuts to think I’m seven years older than you.”

“Well…” Kris leaned in close, now towering over her. As he reached for the top of her bath towel with his fingers laying between her milky cleavage. Slowly, the towel began to unravel. “I couldn’t tell that you were older…the way you talk to me at night…”

“…well…you are a big, strong woodsman now, and most of the time…I can’t talk anyway…” She reciprocated his advances by stroking his firm biceps. The two started making their way to the back of the house, to their bedroom, but were stopped by a banging at the door. “Don’t answer it!” Abigail grabbed Kris before he angrily stormed off towards the door. “Ignore it. They’ll go away.”

Kris almost did until he recognized the voice. “P-P…please!...help!” He heard what sounded like a person collapse up against the door and rushed to open it.

In fell the dragonborn woman from before…gravely injured. Two broken arrows protruded from her back as blood streamed down her cloak. She still held the hand of the Demon Lord’s child tightly. “What the hell happened!?” Kris lifted the dragonborn woman and brushed all of the plates off the kitchen table to make room for her. “Abigail, get medicine! Quick!”

“R-Right…” Abigail ran to grab some medicine and bandages but stopped to look at the child who still sat at the door with his head covered by a hood.

“Abigail!” Kris yelling pulled her back to attention. She ran grabbing many gauzes and some herbs.

“Th-they’re…coming…” The dragonborn women spoke as Abigail tended to her wounds.

“Please, don’t speak!”

“T-T…they’ll kill…him. Please…you…have to…protect…h…” Despite them trying their hardest, ultimately, they failed. The dragonborn woman died on their kitchen table.

“Oh no…Kris, what is going on?” Abigail asked, but Kris didn’t answer immediately. He looked at the child standing in the corner of the room. The boy was shaking like a leaf holding his head the whole time.

An angry sounding group could be heard closing in. Kris grabbed the boy’s hand then passed him off to Abigail. “Take this kid into the room and don’t let him come out.”

“What? What’s going on Kris?”

“Just do it!”

“…D****t! You’d better tell me when this is over. Geez…I haven’t had a chance to put on any clothes yet!” She uttered as her and the child ran into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. Kris reached over and grabbed Abigail’s broadsword and jammed it into the body of the formerly living dragonborn woman, only pausing to say ‘sorry’.

Someone knocked at the door. Kris opened it, and was met with a rather large, burly man with an eye missing and his group of thuggish looking cohorts. “Hey there, sir. You wouldn’t have happened…” He peered inside and noticed the dead demon on the table. “Whoa ho ho!” They pushed their way in past Kris. “Ah, you got this sucker good!” The man started messing with the sword as Kris walked up and grabbed his hand.

“I’m sorry; but who do you think you are?” Without so much as a break in stride the man laughed hard.

“Hahahahaha! We’re just some good samaritans! We were searching for this here demon and another one…speaking of which, did you happen to see another one with her?”

“No. She just burst into my house and I defended myself. Didn’t see anyone with her…”

“Hmm…maybe she dropped the kid and let him run for himself.”

“Kid? You guys are hunting kids then?”

“Relax, pal. It’s no ordinary kid…we think this kid may be one of the Demon Lord’s spawn.” The air in the room got heavy.

“Are you sure? For all you know, it could just be a regular demon.”

“...Less than a year ago, people started saying the b*****d had a kid. What makes things worse, rumor has it those b*****d demons are grooming him to take over for his old man.”

“Hmm...”

“Pal, we're serious here. If it's true and this kid is the Demon Lord's spawn, nothing good can come of it.”

“I understand that. My name is Kris Pewter; I was one of the warriors who fought the Demon Lord. So trust me when I say, I know how vile he was.” Kris looked the man in the eye, with unflinching resolve.

“...Alright. Just to let you know, we may be walking around the forest near here for a bit. Searching for the kid and whatnot...”

“Whatever you have to do.”

“We'll take the body, if you don't mind.”

“...What would demon hunters want with the body?”

“...”

“You don't need to pretend. I could tell you were demon hunters the second you walked in the door.”

“We're going to skin it, take the fangs, and maybe drain the blood. Dragonborns' bodies can be used to make a bunch of decent remedies and armor.”

“Fine. I won't stop you.” The men picked up the body dropping the broadsword on the floor. As the troupe made their exit, the large, one eyed man turned for one last short conversation.

“let us know if you see anything, pal. It's always good to see a hero still giving them the good fight.” Kris bid farewell to the demon hunters as they left.

Abigail opened the door to their bedroom, now dressed at least. She walked over to grab her sword, but Kris preemptively lifted it out of her reach. “What are you doing, Abigail?”

“If what they said was true, then that boy in there is the Demon Lord's son. Do you need to ask?”

“...He's a child Abigail...”

“The Demon Lord's child!”

“...”

“You knew about this. Why didn't you tell me?”

“I only just found out. It got out of hand too fast and I didn't have time.”

“My sword...give it to me.” Abigail extended her hand, wanting her weapon.

“Please, Abigail.” She snatched the blade from Kris and stormed back to the bedroom. Kris ran in behind her still concerned. The Demon Lord's son laid on the floor in the fetal position, shaking. “You see! This is a child.”

“You keep saying that over and over again! Doesn't that sound ironic to you? That b*****d's son is in our house. Our house! He took away my ability to bear children, and here's his. Laying on my floor! You expect me to make nice?”

“...”

“...D****t! Don't look at me like that. How do you not feel the same? You told me, you wanted a child just as much as I did.”

“Can you really kill a child?” Abigail struggled with the thought, but relented throwing down her blade.

“...What do you want to do? Keep in mind, this is all on you.”

“It's late. Can we figure this out tomorrow?”

“Whatever...” Abigail sat down on the bed.

“Um...” Kris knelt down to speak with the boy. “Hey, kid. We're not going to hurt you. I promise. What's your name?”

The boy, still shaking, looked up to Kris and said... “Timaios...”

 

End of Chapter 1