Chapter 25: Lula.
Creed and Dagga froze, their bodies rigid as the sound of water splashing echoed through the cavern.
The water moved as if something powerful was gliding just below the surface, closing in on them.
The air turned heavy, almost suffocating, as tension crackled like a storm ready to break.
Dagga's massive form shifted, his muscles tight and ready for a fight. His deep voice rumbled with confusion.
"How… did they find us so quickly?" His tone was serious, and for once, there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Creed didn't respond. His mind was already racing through the possibilities. The cave was small, the only real exit being the river behind them.
If an enemy blocked the water, escape would be impossible unless they defeated whoever—or whatever—was coming.
'This means that escape will depend entirely on the strength of whoever—or whatever—this is,' Creed thought grimly. He ran through the scenarios in his head with cold precision.
'If the enemy is of the next rank, as long as it isn't a chosen, we should be able to still take it down if we're careful.'
'If it has a Heavenly Node, even if it is of the same rank with us, we would still be defeated badly...'
Heavenly Nodes were Clusters of the Great Daos. They were living, ethereal entities that were deeply integrated into the essence of the world itself.
They were akin to sentient power cores, cultivated and assimilated by individuals to unlock extraordinary abilities.
The difference in battle power between those who wielded a Heavenly Node(s) and those who didn't was like comparing the sky to the ground.
'So if this demon possesses a Heavenly Node…' Creed's expression darkened. We'll be in real trouble.'
The water suddenly surged, breaking his thoughts. Creed snapped his head up, eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the river, cutting through the shadows.
It was a fiend demon—but not like Dagga.
Creed's eyes widened, taking in her form. She was leaner than Dagga, her tall frame lithe and agile but still rippling with muscle.
Like all fiend demons, her skin was a deep, blood-red hue, and carapace-like armour covered her vital points—her shoulders, chest, and forearms gleamed with an obsidian sheen.
A single, sharp horn protruded from her forehead, slightly curved back like a spearhead.
But there were distinct traits that set her apart as a female. Her features were sharper and more refined, her jawline smooth and elegant where Dagga's was rugged.
Crimson tattoos ran symmetrically down her cheeks and neck, glowing faintly with a fiery hue.
Her carapace plates were smaller, shaped to accentuate her more streamlined figure, and instead of thick claws, her hands bore claw-tipped fingers that seemed more suited for speed than brute strength.
Her eyes were slitted and golden, the pupils narrowing as they focused on Creed and Dagga.
Creed's body tensed. This wasn't a time for hesitation. "Now!" he barked, his voice sharp as he launched himself forward, his sword ready to strike.
Dagga roared beside him, a deep, rumbling sound that shook the cave. For someone his size, Dagga moved with terrifying speed, lunging toward the demon with all the force of a battering ram.
The female fiend demon darted forward, moving as fast as a shadow. Her body twisted gracefully, each step fluid and deliberate.
Her golden eyes glowed brighter, fixed on them as if deciding whether they were worth the effort.
As they closed the gap, Creed finally saw her face clearly—sharp features, glowing markings, and a confident smirk that could've belonged to a predator about to pounce.
Suddenly, Dagga's eyes widened, and his booming voice echoed through the cavern. "Lula!"
Creed blinked, mid-motion, as Dagga's massive hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. "Stop! I know her!"
Creed skidded to a halt, his body inches away from the female fiend demon. She stopped too, tilting her head slightly, her sharp, golden eyes moving from Creed to Dagga.
The female fiend demon—Lula—smirked, her sharp teeth gleaming. "Well, that was close," she said smoothly, her voice calm but dangerous.
She shook her head, her glowing eyes now focused fully on Dagga. "You haven't changed, Dagga. Still all brawn and no brains."
Dagga didn't respond immediately. His towering form stood still, his usually hard, aggressive features showing something unusual—softness. Kindness, even.
Creed stared at him, completely baffled. "Hold on a minute," he said, frowning. "I thought you said you were a single demon."
Dagga turned his head sharply, glaring at Creed as if he'd crossed a line. "I am single," he grumbled, his deep voice defensive.
Creed raised a brow, not buying it. "Then what's with the soft look? You look like you just found your long-lost demon bride."
Dagga shot him a warning glare that said, shut up.
Lula's smirk widened as she looked between the two of them, clearly amused by the situation.
"I see you've found some interesting company, Dagga," she said, her voice smooth and sultry but laced with the sharpness of someone not to be underestimated.
Creed took a step back, still on edge. His eyes flicked to Dagga. "Well? You're just gonna stand there, or do you want to explain why we nearly tried to kill your friend?"
Dagga exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to figure out how to explain. "It's… complicated."
Lula raised a brow, her golden eyes gleaming. "Oh, it's not that complicated. He owes me," she said with a teasing tone, though there was something deeper lurking beneath her words.
Creed frowned, trying to process the situation. 'Owes her? For what?'
Dagga didn't answer, shifting uncomfortably. The massive fiend demon, who could face a hundred enemies without flinching, now looked like a kid caught doing something wrong.
"Let's just say," Lula continued, her voice teasing but sharp underneath, "he's in my debt. And debts in the demon realm… aren't so easily forgotten."
Creed narrowed his eyes at Dagga. "You've got some explaining to do."
Dagga growled low in his throat, clearly irritated. "It's not important right now."
Before Creed could press him further, the cavern suddenly grew quiet—too quiet. The kind of silence that made your instincts scream.
Then, faintly, a ripple ran through the water again.
Lula turned her head sharply, her playful smirk disappearing in an instant. Her golden eyes darkened, now serious and focused.
Creed's muscles tightened, his every sense on high alert. He glanced back at the river, the surface now calm but foreboding.
Something was there. Something bigger.
Dagga stepped forward instinctively, his massive form casting a shadow over the water's edge. "We're not alone," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Creed felt the hair on his neck stand up. Whatever was coming next wasn't good.
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Power stone Goal!
20 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
50 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.