Demonic Conqueror: Heroic Valor - Chapter 11.1, 11.2

Half of Simon's proposed terms made sense to Lucia. They were what she'd expected.

The other half had her re-reading the paper again and again, asking for repeated clarification, more disbelief creeping into her tone with every assurance he gave.

It took Katarina's intervention to smooth things over. "This is just how he is," she had remarked, with an exasperated sigh. "Accept his offer before he changes his mind."

Preparations moved swiftly after that.

The first thing Simon requested was spare Warding Orbs. Powerful as this Fell Beast may be, it still possessed the same vulnerability to sacred mana as its brethren – otherwise it wouldn't have taken the trouble to bypass Springwater's perimeter by burrowing underground. When combined with Inventory, having Wards-on-command could prove invaluable against it.

Mayor Evergreen denied his petition, although not out of scorn or malice. Springwater's only Warding Orbs were all firmly embedded into a reinforced barricade surrounding the village border. It was designed to prevent any would-be thieves from deciding that making some quick coin was more important than ensuring the safety of thousands. Deconstructing the barricade to allow removal of the Wards would take days of time that they didn't have.

...Or so she thought. At Simon's insistence, Lucia had the barricade examined – and soon found that its infrastructure had degraded to the point where ten Warding Orbs could be easily removed. No one in Springwater had even noticed.

Someone's getting fired, the transmigrator thought. He chose not to comment on Lucia's understated embarrassment and fury. Watching the mayor direct her ire at others was far more entertaining.

There was risk involved with weakening the perimeter's Warding aura, but it should be fine as long as he returned the Orbs within the next few hours. Dealing with the enemy within was of greater importance than worrying over the enemies without.

While Lucia's people gathered the spare Wards for him, Simon took several minutes to peruse his Character Sheet. Specifically, he looked at his Unspent Points, wondering how to spend them.

Simon
Class: Fledgling
Attributes: Transmigrator, Fell-Touched
Level: 6
HP: 90 / 90
MP: 70 / 70
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 16
Vitality: 9
Intelligence: 7
Unspent Points: 5

One option was to scope out the Fell Beast before deciding...but he didn't want to get into the habit of hoarding Unspent Points. Choosing how to allocate stats required analysis, which required careful thought, which was a distraction. Distractions on the battlefield typically resulted in fresh corpses.

Nothing would be more humiliating than having his head lopped off because he'd been busy waffling over whether to put points into Strength or Dexterity.

Simon went for neither. He slotted 3 points into Vitality and 2 into Intelligence, bringing them up to 12 and 9 respectively.

Simon
Class: Fledgling
Attributes: Transmigrator, Fell-Touched
Level: 6
HP: 120 / 120
MP: 90 / 90
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 16
Vitality: 12
Intelligence: 9
Unspent Points: 0

Vitality and Intelligence were chosen mostly because they were lagging behind. Level-ups automatically assigned points based on recent life experiences, and he'd naturally acquired plenty of Strength and Dexterity through his various endeavors. Vitality and Intelligence seemed more difficult to earn.

Intelligence might start accruing points now that he'd figured out how to use demon magic, but Vitality hadn't gotten a boost even after Lucette barbecued and stabbed him. Most of his Unspent Points would probably be going towards it – at least until he'd achieved a measure of balance within his stat spread.

My HP increased by 30, Simon noted, and my MP increased by 20. Each point of Vitality and Intelligence is equivalent to 10 HP or MP.

Although...how does HP work in a real-world setting? It's not like I'm growing protective scales; my body can apparently just take more of a beating. What does that entail, exactly? Would a 100 HP Simon die from getting his heart ripped out, while a 1000 HP Simon would laugh it off?

It wasn't something he intended to test anytime soon.

Simon also considered asking for backup to accompany him, but decided against that for multiple reasons. Firstly, Springwater's best fighters were already out of commission. His 'backup' – charitably speaking – would likely consist of the five overeager warriors who'd fled with their tail between their legs when an Artifact failed to harm him. No thanks.

Additionally, if the people here watched him fight, they might realize that their mysterious, enigmatic Demon ally was no stronger than a common soldier. His victory would be much more impressive if none of them saw how it happened.

Lastly, he possessed serious doubts about whether even Springwater's best fighters would be able to contribute as anything other than glorified meat shields. A mob of dozens should've overwhelmed the Fell Beast through sheer attrition if nothing else, yet it had easily repelled them nonetheless. Springwater clearly lacked the means to wound it in any major capacity.

His theory was confirmed when he questioned one of the survivors of the Beast's rampage. They immediately took on a haunted look, shrinking into their cot as if hiding from the monster's unseen gaze.

"Just kept healing," the patient had muttered. "We stabbed it, filled it with arrows, but it didn't care. Used the Water Artifact's stolen mana to fix itself."

The Fell Beast's primary strength didn't appear to be...well, Strength. While it was still dangerously fast and powerful, those factors weren't as concerning as its boundless regeneration. It could take a licking and keep on ticking.

Perhaps an elite warrior could've slain the Beast anyway, but Springwater didn't have elite warriors, and requesting help from the nearest city would take too long – assuming it helped at all. Outside assistance always came with heavy strings attached. Springwater would be lucky to retain the barest sliver of autonomy afterwards.

Simon's presence complicated matters even further. If the nobility discovered that unwashed, rural lessers had been cavorting with a Demon, that...could pose a problem. They may very well put the entire village to the sword. Like pulling weeds from a ruined garden, clearing space so they could begin planting anew.

No. Springwater was on its own. And with the village as it was now, victory over the Fell Beast wouldn't be possible in a fair fight.

Good thing, then, that Simon didn't believe in fairness. If you weren't strolling into battle with the deck hideously stacked in your favor...what was the point, really?

--

The Water Artifact was located in a cavern below the central plaza fountain. Its only access point was a winding staircase that led underground, which had been blocked off by Lucia's subordinates the instant that their assault on the Fell Beast ended in catastrophe.

Simon waited patiently as they removed the blockade. He was the only person there who didn't appear nervous. The workers were sweating bullets, Katarina was wringing her hands, and Lucia's leaderly expression had hardened into a mask of forced stoicism.

You would think they were ones about to step into the Beast's den, he mused. Though I suppose their livelihood does depend on my success.

As if she'd read his mind, Lucia approached him. "Is there aught else you require?" the mayor asked, for the fourth time. "We don't have healing potions or more Warding Orbs, but my warriors are ready to assist you."

"That would be like sending toddlers into a wood thresher," Simon replied, for the fourth time – each response having grown slightly less tactful. "I will not needlessly expend lives just to better our chances by a fraction of a percent."

If his plan worked, then he could do it on his own. And if it didn't work...then no amount of extra sword arms would have made a difference.

Lucia frowned, seeming about to argue, before relenting. "As you wish. Best of luck to the both of you."

She walked back to her men, leaving Simon in a state of mild surprise. "The both of us?" He turned to face the red-haired woman standing by his side. "Did you tell her that you're going with me to slay the Beast?"

Katarina clenched, then unclenched her hands. "I did. Because I am."

"News to me." Simon crossed his arms. "You didn't strike me as the hopelessly heroic type. Read one too many stories as a young girl, I'm guessing?"

"This is your fault!" Eyes narrowed, she jabbed an accusing finger into his chest. "Do you have any idea the kind of black stain you've marked me with? These people think I'm allied with a Demon!"

"Well you did offer to pledge loyalty to me once before, so are they that off-base?"

"Don't you start." Katarina groaned, running her hands down her face. "Remember how Mayor Evergreen asked you to show mercy if a resident of Springwater attacked you again? Even though they'd have to be empty-headed imbeciles to try, she knew it was a possibility. Now imagine what those same fools might attempt if you're gone. I'm not a Demon – merely a Demon's 'vassal' or 'lover' or whatever in Helmund's name they think I am."

Her gaze fell to the ground. "Being taken as a hostage is the best I could wish for. A slit throat is far likelier. Executed as a traitor to my own kind."

Simon's mirthful grin was wiped from his face. "I see." He drummed his fingers on his thigh. "Will your father be safe?"

Katarina flinched. "Yes," she answered, without confidence. "I'm putting distance between us for now. Maybe people here will forget we're related. And the zealous types should have enough honor not to knife an unconscious sick man, anyhow."

For several long seconds, Simon remained quiet.

"Lucia." He called out to the mayor, raising his voice. "A word."

She hurried over quickly. "Yes, Simon?"

"You are aware that Katarina and her father Gerold are under my protection." He didn't phrase it like a question.

When Mayor Evergreen nodded, Simon clasped his hands behind his back, eyeing her with a placid stare. "Good. I don't believe I ever made it clear what would happen if they came to harm."

Suppressed panic flashed within Lucia's expression. "Nothing will–"

"No clemency shall be shown to offenders who injure, threaten, or abuse Katarina or Gerold Cartier. That includes impeding Gerold's recovery. All perpetrators involved will be identified with unerring accuracy. When I have found everyone directly responsible, as well as any conspirators hiding behind their pawns, they shall be, to a man, to a woman, slaughtered. I will reach inside their throats, pull out their entrails, then hang them from the village rafters. Their blood and organs will decorate Springwater like vibrant festival ornaments, painting this dreary place with splashes of much-needed color. If you desire for that not to happen, then I suggest you keep your people in line."

Silence.

"Must I repeat myself?"

Alert: Intimidation's Rank has Increased! 1 → 2

Lucia shook her head so rapidly that her neck cracked. Just in case, Simon cashed his chips in, finally using Identify on her. Its Description stated that she would do everything in her power to ensure that there were no oopsies in his absence.

It'll have to do. "That is all," Simon dismissed. To Lucia's credit, she mostly kept her cool, power-walking away before the dignity of her station vanished entirely.

Katarina was staring at him. "Why?" she asked, in a tone he couldn't quite parse.

"Because I'm sorry. When I led the people of Springwater to believe you were allied with me, I didn't properly consider that they might lash out at you or your father. Not to this extent. For now, this is the best form of protection I can offer you."

"...Thanks." She scratched the back of her head. "Should still follow you underground, just as a precaution, but, thanks."

Katarina sounded more befuddled than grateful. Simon preferred it that way. He didn't deserve gratitude for fixing a mess he had caused.

A fix with the potential to cause as many problems as it solved. That overtly evil monologue cost me points with Lucia. Was worth it to make things right with the Cartiers, but now she probably sees me as a monster playing at a veneer of civility.

Memories of Heroic Valor and its indictment echoed faintly in Simon's mind – that at his core, he was much more proficient at threats and deceit than forging sincere connections. He stomped the memory down, holding a sigh in his chest before it could escape.

It's fine. Everything should proceed smoothly as long as people don't act stupid. Simon gazed out into the village. I pray that you don't call my bluff. I'm not sure I'll be able to fulfill it.

At least not the organs-and-entrails part. That was a mite overly grotesque for his taste. Punishing anyone who harmed Gerold was certainly on the table, though. Simon wouldn't have much sympathy for whoever targeted – as Katarina had described – a sick, unconscious man.

No one spoke further. When the passage leading underground had been cleared away, Lucia beckoned Simon and Katarina forward. The mayor nodded to them, and they nodded in turn, venturing into the abyss without a moment's hesitation.

"Good luck," she whispered, before shutting the entrance behind them.

--

As far as subterranean passageways went, the staircase to the Water Artifact's cavern felt...reassuring, honestly.

Anything would've been after Caelryn Cave. These halls were lit by visible light-stones rather than ambient Fell magic. There weren't ancient skeletons littering the floor. Simon didn't even sense a foreign presence attempting to intrude upon his mind! He may as well have been going for a relaxing jaunt through the woods.

He also knew his perspective was...not the norm. Katarina was shivering, and only some of that was due to the cold.

She kept close behind him as they descended.

It was a longer trip than anticipated. The stairs were twisted and meandering, unnecessarily so, taking sharp turns and doubling back upwards at times.

Perhaps to discourage thieves from journeying down to pilfer the Water Artifact? Its theft would have damned Springwater Village just as much as any Fell Beast. Valtia's Severed Isles seemed to be wholly dependent on functioning Artifacts to survive – without them, civilization would crumble overnight.

But how are Artifacts created? And who sells them? Whoever owns the means of production would have a stranglehold on all of society.

Simon shook his head, centering his focus. There would be time to theorize later.

For now, he should use this opportunity to re-review his plan of battle before reaching the Beast's lair.

The first step was to acknowledge that he was putting himself at risk. He could strategize and scheme until his brain overheated, but no plan survived contact with the enemy – especially not an enemy so much stronger than him. Challenging this Fell Beast was like walking into the open mouth of a hungry lion.

Within the next hour, he might be dead.

Yet that was still a risk he was willing to take. Partially for the benefits it would afford him...but mostly because Springwater had no other recourse. If he didn't slay the Beast, thousands would perish. Simon refused to believe that inaction was free of consequences; he couldn't just wash his hands of the situation and pretend everything would turn out fine.

Which wasn't to say he intended on becoming a martyr. If all went as planned, he should be able to win with nary a scratch on him.

It was a simple strategy: don't butt heads with the unstoppable monster juiced up on stolen Artifact mana. Simon held no delusions that he could succeed where Springwater's militia had failed – not in a direct fight. However, his Fell-Touched nature afforded him unique advantages that normal humans lacked.

Most notably, Fell Beasts appeared to be terrified of his Shapeshifted demonic arm. The Red-Eyed Hunter had been sent screaming for the hills at the mere sight of it.

If that was because of an instinctual pecking order – where Demons sat higher on the Fell totem pole – then Simon might literally only need to lift a finger to win. With any luck, the Beast in the cavern would take one look at him and promptly exit stage left, burrowing another tunnel as it retreated.

Granted, this hypothesis was based on a sample size of one. Maybe the Red-Eyed Hunter was just that cowardly. He shouldn't count on things being resolved so easily.

That was where Fell Harvest came in. When Simon used the Skill on Lucette, it had immobilized the slaver, locking her body in place. Despite the longsword still clutched in her hand, she'd just laid there and watched as her life's embers faded to nothing.

He was hoping that same effect would happen again. If Fell Harvest's drain successfully paralyzed the cavern Beast, then their difference in strength hardly even mattered.

Simon would only need one well-timed grab to kill it.

In this scenario, I suppose that makes me less of a fighter and more of an assassin. The people of Springwater had been unable to defeat the Fell Beast because they couldn't outpace the creature's unnatural regeneration. Simon wouldn't do any better on that front. Raw power wasn't the answer here.

Yet even the most feral, hulking creatures could be toppled by a knife to the heart.

Of course, he couldn't expect this Beast to be as susceptible to Fell Harvest as Lucette. With respect to the monstrous slaving woman who had pushed his faith in humanity a few inches deeper underground...

Actually, never mind, no respect necessary. From what he'd heard, she did not measure up to the cavern Beast. They weren't remotely in the same caliber.

Neither was Simon, but Kill and the spare Warding Orbs should help bridge the gap. It was partially why he'd boosted his Intelligence; to give the Demonic Skill a bit more oomph.

With that in mind, Plan A could be summed up as:

Step 1. Get reasonably close to the Fell Beast (without dying, preferably).
Step 2. Hit it with a Kill empowered by all of Simon's MP.
Step 3. While the Beast is momentarily stunned, deposit all of the Warding Orbs around it in a circle, emulating Kirkelas' prison in Caelryn Cave.
Step 4. Fell Harvest.

Thus, the fight would end before it ever truly began. No matter how long it took to fully Harvest the mana-engorged creature, Simon would drain and drain until every last drop of its energy had been depleted. Weakened by Kill and restrained by Wards, the Beast would be powerless to save itself, staring up with fear as Simon presided over its final moments, his gaze cold and unfeeling.

Less of an assassin – more of an executioner.

That covers Plan A. Now, as for Plan B–

His thoughts were cut short when he turned a corner and found that the staircase had ended. Approximately six feet down, there was an open doorway, its thick metal gate ripped off the hinges and tossed aside like crumpled paper.

As soon as Simon caught sight of the entrance, an overpowering aura slammed into him in a tidal wave of emotion. Whereas Kirkelas' prison room had felt oppressive, dominating, and pitiless, this sensation was one of dread and despair. As if the Sealed Demon had been an apex predator, while the Fell Beast was cornered prey.

Desperate cornered prey. The kind that would tear your throat out in a panic.

If Simon hadn't already built up a tolerance to Fell auras when visiting Kirkelas, he would've probably struggled to maintain his balance. Nevertheless, his knees still trembled – which made it difficult to assist Katarina when the woman nearly collapsed.

"What is that?" she murmured, eyes wide as she leaned on him for support. "It can't be the...I've seen Fell Beasts before, they weren't...we aren't even inside the cavern yet."

"Yeah. It's strong. There's no shame in staying behind."

Katarina glanced forward at the entrance to the cavern, then back at the claustrophobic staircase they'd descended from. A fierce debate took place beneath her expression, weighing the pros and cons of waiting alone in a creepy-ass underground hallway versus waltzing straight into a potential deathtrap.

To Simon's surprise, she eventually gestured forward, a determined grimace on her face. The transmigrator took point, feeling increasingly concerned, but wanting to size up the Beast before making any rash judgments. Katarina followed.

Both of them started questioning their decision the instant they stepped inside.

This cavern was even more spacious than the one housing the Sealed Demon of Ruination. It was hundreds of feet wide, and far taller...with dim lights barely illuminating a scene out of a nightmare. Bloody stains of viscera streaked across the rocky floors, as if numerous people had been dragged or thrown with great force, their bodies rupturing and spilling out like squeezed toothpaste tubes.

Nine corpses were visible among the carnage. Some had been stripped of flesh, not a drop of blood on their skeletons, virtually licked clean. Others looked half-eaten, their assailant distracted by other prizes partway through its meal.

The people in Jonathan's clinic were those who'd managed to escape the Fell Beast's wrath. These were the people who hadn't.

Pieces of rock and debris were also scattered around the cavern. The solid stone floor had been dented in various locations, as if hammered by the fist of a rampaging colossus. Other sections appeared scratched and scarred, with long, frantic lines carved from what could only be a Beast's claws.

In the center of the cavern, Simon saw a raised platform. It was connected to a winding apparatus that snaked down from the ceiling – presumably to feed water up into Springwater's plaza fountain. And on top of that platform, clutching the glowing blue Water Artifact in its tender embrace...

Was the Fell Beast.

Twice the height of a man, and with ashen gray skin pulled tightly over its frame, the Beast was a creature of contradictions. It seemed both muscular and emaciated, with bulging limbs contrasted against a torso so thin that its rib cage nearly pierced through flesh.

Despite the wickedly sharp blades protruding from its hands and feet, the monster was attempting to grasp the Water Artifact as if its claws were fingers. It was a Beast, yet when looking at its two legs, two arms, and vaguely humanoid body shape, someone with exceptionally poor vision might have squinted from afar and assumed it to be a person.

Any notions of humanity went out the window when Simon's gaze traveled up to the Fell Beast's face. Instead of eyes, ears, or a nose, three-quarters of the monster's head was taken up by a jarringly gargantuan mouth. Said mouth was currently hanging open, drool and saliva collecting in a puddle below. Within, there were four rows of thousands of teeth that ranged in size from pinpoint needles to miniature daggers.

I hear...a sound. Heart pounding, blood pumping, Simon focused his attention. Think it's coming from the Beast. He peered closer, observing how the creature's body moved rhythmically up and down, its torso heaving, almost in time with–

Realization hit him like a bucket of poured ice water.

The Fell Beast was weeping.

Some indiscernible emotion coiled in Simon's gut. Identi-

Invisible knives stabbed behind his eyeballs. For an instant, his vision wavered as the world shifted and churned. Then the sensation passed, leaving behind an excruciating pain that faded so quickly he was half-convinced he'd imagined it.

Until the Beast's Identify window popped up.

Name: The Ravenous Wanderer
Description: Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Hungry. Always. So hungry. Eat. Eat. Feast. Still hungry. Why. Stop. Please. PLEASE. MAKE THE HUNGER STOP.
Estimated Level: 39 (17 when not mana-gorged)

Someone let out a harsh intake of breath. Maybe it was him, or maybe it was Katarina. Perhaps both of them.

Regardless, the Fell Beast immediately ceased its weeping. With jerky, stiff motions, its body shifted. An eyeless face turned to stare at them.

And in a voice like sandpaper dragging across their skin, it spoke.

"...Mana...?"

We shouldn't be here.

The thought came with startling clarity, all of the details Simon had seen and witnessed coalescing into one singular fact. They shouldn't be here. This creature exceeded even his most pessimistic expectations. It was a foe he should be confronting months if not years from now, with more Levels and combat experience and reliable allies at his side.

Plan B it is, he determined, with rising urgency. Plan B was much simpler than its predecessor. If the very first step of Plan A was unfeasible...if Simon didn't believe he could get reasonably close to the Fell Beast...without dying...

Then they needed to run. "Kata–"

It was his Shapeshifted right arm that saved them.

When Simon turned to warn Katarina, his demonic limb tensed, as if resonating with the Fell aura in the air. Its reaction seemed involuntary, like how some people's bones ached before rainfall.

That was warning enough.

Instinct propelled him. No movement was wasted. In one motion, Simon pushed Katarina with all of his Strength, using the rebound to help launch himself backwards as he jumped. They both went flying in opposite directions.

Less than a second later, a darkened beam of Fell energy lanced through the space where they'd been standing. The Beast screeched as it poured a concentrated line of mana out of its gaping maw. Its mana-ray impacted the hallway behind the front entrance, causing everything to shake as the cavern trembled like an earthquake.

The wounded Springwater soldiers had never mentioned anything like this. Either it'd slipped their mind – highly unlikely – or the Beast hadn't used this attack on them. Hadn't needed to.

We were fed bad intel. What else was the Fell Beast capable of when sufficiently motivated?

The mana-beam dissipated shortly after. In its wake, it left a picture of unfettered destruction. The cavern's front entrance had been demolished, the ceiling caving in entirely. An impenetrable wall of rock was obstructing what had once been a path to safety.

Escape was now impossible.

The creature tilted its head at Simon's demon arm. Although it lacked most facial features, he could still guess what it was feeling based on body language alone. Similar to the Red-Eyed Hunter, there was a primal fear of Demons lurking behind the Ravenous Wanderer's sightless gaze.

Yet that fear was nothing compared to the hatred. Nothing compared to the hunger.

"GiVe Me YoUR MANA!"

--

Link to Simon's Character Sheet

Author's Note:

For internal scheduling purposes, I'm moving Heroic Valor updates to Thursday starting next chapter. Chapter 12 will come out on October 17th (eight days from now). It'll be a long one.

Thanks for reading!