Alceran grinned now more relaxed as he followed his new temporary allies.

  “If I am to take over things I am not opposed. I look forward to getting things started. How long have you all been in Orindor for?”

  Hans spoke in a calm echoing voice.

  “A few months give or take. We don’t keep track of time through days, more so evolutions. Yew is the most developed, he’s evolved twice. Mumbo and myself once as well. Trein has also evolved twice. By killing enough mortals we can evolve. It makes us more durable, stronger, and develops our skills.”

  Alceran seemed to be amused as he listened intently.

  “Yet me as a zero evolution being managed to overpower you. I am curious, does that make you all weak?”

  Mumbo's footsteps slowed down and Yew’s hands tightened up.

  “Or does that make me a true apex. It’s funny if a human is the key to your revolution against them isn’t it. I expect your Trein will feel insecure around me. Tell me…are you all against serving a human?”

  Hans went silent and thought hard. His body stayed still while his leg seemed to give out for a second.

  “It depends on the goals of said human. Anything is possible, if you are deemed a monster by your own kind then you are good in my eyes. Though not every monster would share that sentiment. Since you are here and you seem clueless, perhaps we can answer a few questions, ask whatever you need.”

  The mage went silent, he let out a laugh as he looked around. A new world, new possibilities, and an interesting power dynamic laying before him.

  “What are the biggest threats I can expect to find? What holds you all back?”

  Yew jumped off of Mumbo’s shoulders and landed next to Alceran. He let his knife gleam in the moonlight.

  “Adventurers. They vary based on many factors but they come in groups of four. They are highly trained with magic and kii to combat us. They are less in number than armies of a country but more dangerous. They are made up of magic from all five regions and often have various skills. You can’t predict them. This bone belonged to the man who killed my partner when we arrived here.”

  Mumbo listened and let out a small laugh

  “They are annoying. They get paid to hunt us down. We are sport to them but fighting them is usually the most fun.”

  Hans spoke again.

  “Alceran you should know. This region is most known for fire magic. You’ll find it in abundance here. The red soldiers all have it. The mortals though have four other types of magic. Thanomacy the soul magic. Hymnweave singing magic. Totem pact the animal magic. Your electricity will draw attention if you plan to visit.”

  Alceran looked at his hands and curiously thought to himself.

  “Interesting.”

  Walking deeper into the forest the air started getting more stale, like dead bodies. The group reached what appeared to be a destroyed village. With houses broken and collapsed. Frozen dead bodies and bones scattered all along the ground. At the center was a crude chair made of charred bones and flesh that laid empty. Hans turned back to watch Alceran’s reaction to the mass grave the beasts called home.

  “Welcome, this is where we reside at the moment. It was a place where a small stray community stayed. We picked it clean though. If the cold bothers you. Then you can make shelter.”

  Alceran though seemed unbothered looking around he smelled the air and nodded his head.

  “This will do.”

  Hans expected Alceran to vomit or look scared instead the mage took it all in and accepted it. This made him more happy. Mumbo walked and sat on the ground he instantly tore a limb from a body and chomped down on it.

  “I hate frozen meat. It’s tough and ice ruins the taste.”

  Yew looked to a tree and jumped to branch high off the ground and looked up at the sky as he sharpened his blade. Alceran walked to the chair and looked at it.

  “Why have a weird throne out here?”

  He was about to sit in it when Han’s warned him.

  “Stop, that is Trein’s. He made it after conquering this place. It’s his throne, he is protective over it. A human sitting in it might anger him.”

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  From the distant village a low laugh was heard that echoed through the air. A puff of shadow formed and in the throne an orange skinned demon showed sitting in it. He had fangs that were grey and each fingertip had a sharp nail that seemed to be giving off heat as ripples were seen disrupting the air. He had clean steel armor and had a great sword that pulsed with light.

  “That is correct Hans. My throne was a reward I gave myself to celebrate clearing out this area. Now I come back from hunting and even brought a body that is fresh, seered, full of blood, and soul intact. Then I see you all brought a human willingly here.”

  He stares at Alceran with a smug grin as Yew and Mumbo watched from a distance. Hans walked over and lightly bowed.

  “Hans. Not in that form. Show me the respect I deserve.”

  Han’s body evaporated away and the grey skinned man was gone. Now showed a ghost with glowing eyes who floated above the ground in tattered robes. He went low to the ground.

  “This is Alceran the mage. He is human but I swear he came out of a portal, he is one of us. Yet strong and he isn’t scared or worried about our goals. I think he would be very useful to our goals. Imagine a human that can infiltrate their settlements and cities.”

  Trein looked over to the mage with a fist resting calmly under his chin. He seemed to be judging.

  “What are your goals then Alceran the mage?”

  The devil waited for an answer. Alceran grinned widely showing his teeth.

  “What do I want? I want to rule this world and take everything for myself. I want to kill all forms of power that oppose me. I want men to piss themselves when I stare at them. I want everyone to bow to me.”

  Trein let out a sarcastic laugh. He then glared at the mage and slowly got up from his chair and started circling the mage.

  “Big words. From a big man. Make no mistake though I am in charge of this group. They listen to me cause I’ve kept them alive and they’ve grown stronger. I don’t think you mean for us to bow to you.”

  Alceran raised a hand to his chest and watched the devil pace around. He kept a confident look.

  “Oh me? It would be a nice sight. For you I think kneeling would be appropriate. You would be closer to hell down on the ground. I do suppose for now we can be equals.”

  Trein’s eyes narrowed. He stopped behind the mage and opened his hand lightly.

  “Equals. You are fresh from the portal. No evolutions. Yet you think you are equal to me. You are the one who should be kneeling. Now go. Do it and I will spare your life. Otherwise I’ll be feasting on your skin.”

  Hans got up and floated back behind a few trees. Yew smiled as he watched the show. While Mumbo stayed in place chewing on his food. Alceran's hands glowed purple while frost covered his hands. Waiting for Trein to strike.

  “Well devil? Gunna show me what you can do? Or are you gonna keep staring? I’m waiting. Make me kneel.”

  Trein growled, instantly his sword moved into his hands and took a swing at Alceran while flames licked the edge of his blade. Before he could strike Alceran waved his hands and a heavy ice wall stalled his strike. The metal slowly cut through the metal as the ice turned into steam. Alceran turned his back to face the demon and stared him down.

  “Very well then Trein.”

  Alceran’s hands now started glowing with fire. He aimed a flamethrower attack at his own ice. It gave way ,Trein barely had time to lift his sword to block. The fire bounced off his blade and went high into the air illuminating the sky. Yew looked nervously around.

  “Our position is going to be compromised by these two idiots.”

  Trein then glowed black and vanished. He appeared behind Alceran almost instantly and sliced at him. His sword instantly broke though his armor like it was made of paper. Alceran bled and stumbled forward. Though quickly he turned around and waved a purple energy in the air that combusted into a fireball. It flew towards Trein who was ready to block but Alceran merely closed his hand and the ball exploded mid air throwing back the devil before his blade could deflect.

  Alceran walked forward normally like his injury didn’t exist. He grinned and launched a cackling lightening that rushed towards Trein who was still trying to get to his feet. The lightning hit Trein; he only let a small grunt escape his lips. He glowed black again and vanished but his voice could be heard from the edge of the village behind Alceran.

  “You are strong Alceran but you are fragile. Your armor gave out faster than I thought.”

  The voice changed spots now appearing in front of Alceran still in the treeline. Still Alceran listened confidently.

  “You are a pathetic human—“

  Alceran looked around but saw the unmistakable eyes of Trein. He launched a firebolt in the direction. Trein stopped talking and countered with a flamethrower of his own. His attack swallowed the bolt as it rushed towards Alceran. While at the same time Trein teleported Alceran ready to cleave him through while he yelled a war cry. Alceran though had already prepared a spell. He snapped in the air and around him giant icicles formed from the ground. They hummed with strong mana that cracked and pierced through Trein’s skin as he laid helpless in the air. They blocked Trein’s spell and skewered the devil where he stood. He started leaking out black tar from his wound then he grabbed the ice as it melted down against his fists. Then falling to a knee he grunted while gripping his blade.

  “Mumbo kill him. I grow tired of this human.”

  The brown skinned brute stood still. Feeling unsure what to do he slowly rose off the ground. Alceran said loudly.

  “Stay where you are and watch how this ends.”

  Mumbo froze, he looked towards Hans who shook his head no. They both just watched as Alceran spoke to Trein.

  “They follow who is strong. You clearly aren't. Now stay on the ground or fight, Trein. Those are your options.”

  Alceran looked towards Yew who looked ready to attack as he showed his fangs. Yet seeing the mage's confident smile he sat back down and stared with an irritated look. Still Trein tried to resist; he channeled fire from his body and engulfed the area while roaring.

  “You are not the boss of me.”

  The fire forced Alceran’s wound to seer shut. The pain made him wince momentarily. He backed a few steps back while Trein grabbed his sword and tried one last time to impale Alceran. The mage though waved his hand and his own fire erupted, it quickly over powered Trein’s magic and blew him away. Landing on the ground with a hard thud he laid ground breathing hard, he felt his mana empty.

  Alceran stood above him and kicked him in the face. Keeping Trein on the ground. He stared down with the eyes of a killer. Alceran was burned lightly and cut deep on his back yet he remained unphased and laughed.

  “That was a pathetic attempt at resistance. To think I saw you as an equal for a brief second. Pathetic, now kneel.”

  Alceran swallowed the demon whole in a combination of frost and ice. He heard light screams as Trein tried powering through the spell. He managed to rise to one knee before collapsing onto the ground.

  Spells require either a channel or a focus. Magic itself is flexible, shaped by the user’s intent—what they imagine or desire—within the limits of their assigned school and their personal capability (based on level and aptitude).

  Thinking of “permanent death through a punch” = attempts to create an instant death spell.

  ? The user’s school of magic

  ? Their level and aptitude

  ? Whether the spell is too advanced or expensive to cast

  ? Whether the target has resistances, which may reduce or nullify the effect