Jaron Igarlan lounged on a cushion, with a book opened on his legs. The noise of the battle outside didn’t even cause a twitch of his eyebrows. He reached beside him to pick up a cup of wine, took a sip and returned his focus to the book. It was a fictional book about the adventures of Old Joe, the hunter. Old Joe had myriad adventures, and Jaron had read most earlier adventures back in the Castle and then in Poles. He didn’t think he’d find an edition he’d not read before, here in Snakehills. He’d fished it from the entrance of the Snakehills library ruins, and was reading it for the third time now.His attitude since the start of the battles infuriated the demons, but he didn’t care. He only came out a few times to play with either Master Wrenz or Jhanice, so the demons wouldn’t think him expendable. But aside from that, he was content to keep hidden and enjoy his time. With Wyvrill out there, he wouldn’t act rashly, even with his clone already prepared and ready back in Pole

Their first clash was all Gilgal needed to know that he was outclassed. Their physical strength was equal, but there was a familiarity and fluidity to will casting that experience and advancement level allowed the Cambion. His Rhaido’s fury was easily countered – stopped directly from unleashing any of its deadly momentum and speed. His Isa’s thrust was deflected easily and his bolts of lightning were nullified. In every aspect, the Cambion outclassed him. The years he’d spent training his mastery of the sword seemed inadequate before this opponent. His rapid advancement revealed their flaw in lack of experience, and his powerful body didn’t have the advantage for once. Barely a minute had gone by, and Gilgal was already grimacing fiercely with worry and panic. His sword was deflected again, and his stance was altered, buckling him. He spun with the buckle, blocking his undefended back immediately. The clang of steel on steel rang and arcs of lightning spread from the impact.

“Bastard!” Jaron hopped away from the corpse of his former student. He didn’t even acknowledge the mad Wrenz. Escaping this field was the best option, and he didn’t dally. In a moment, Jhanice’s core would appear within her body, and the energy released from that collapse wasn’t something he wanted to withstand.“STAY for this old man!” Master Wrenz roared, his words becoming law.Jaron was startled as the world closed around him to keep him immobile. Then he frowned fiercely and resisted. The force around Jim dissipated, but it had already served its purpose. His glare took in Master Wrenz as the world exploded violently. His hastily formed shield did little to shield him, and not even his affinity with lightning was enough to absorb the entire impact. He was thrown far into the air, coughing up blood and leaving a trail of bloodied guts in the air. He fell. The world came to focus slowly, with the pain. His stomach was nearly hollowed out by the direct explosion, and his hea

Wyvrill was very furious. Every attack was countered by his opponents, and they attacked as one organism, seeming in perfect sync. At this rate, he wouldn’t last the entire day before exhaustion claimed him. Blast. Block. Pierce. Nothing seemed to work. He couldn’t even establish his Domain before they contested with him and nullified it. If it was a one-on-one duel, he was sure that none of them would last more than an hour against him. Angry and frustrated, he disengaged from them again and stood, watching them. The air was like solid ground to him still, so his concentration wasn’t fading. But he was taxed. He had no idea what to do now. Being entangled by these demons the entire day would mean that his Knights would be annihilated without his aid. His beard flowed in the wind and he reached out to stop it. He was angry and needed a calm mind to contemplate. Slowly and absently, he began to stroke his beard, while his sword stopped trembling in his other hand. His eyes were

Marius Trevor had not escaped as he planned. He merely returned to Soulwood and his curiosity got the better of him. He’d returned, spreading his sense tentatively, and then confirmed his assumption that no Transcendent being had descended. He’d been hiding around the outskirts of the battlefield for four days, watching the entire fiasco. He had no desire to assist at all, just waiting for the right chance to search the buried libraries. None of the demons had detected him, and it wasn’t unusual at all. He excelled in concealing his aura, and unless a practitioner at the Transcendent Realm came, he could never be discovered when he made an effort to hide. And he was making an effort to hide now. Which was why it was very shocking to him when he received a message from Wyvrill still. The old Master had found his hiding place, and was also able to speak to him telepathically through his mental barriers. If the aura had been foreign, he would have fled already, thinking a Transcend