“Stay behind me,” I commanded, stepping in front of the trembling angel. “I’ll deal with this.” Atea nodded in agreement, moving to stand closer to the edge of the floating island.

  Originally, the creatures surrounding the river had appeared like some sort of deer, snake, and bird, respectively.

  Now, they were considerably more… chaotic?

  Each one morphed grotesquely, transforming into eldritch horrors. The deer-like beast grew extra legs, now running towards me on six limbs. Its jaw had expanded, and its teeth had become similar to those of a lamprey. The snake-like creature split into three, morphing into some sort of hydra-like beast with four pronounced fangs, two on the top and bottom of its gaping jaw. It grew two legs… or hands? That dragged its slithering body toward us. The final creature was a bird, but the second the blackened energy had taken over and corrupted the beasts, its once beautiful crimson feathers fell away to reveal a skeletal structure with two glowing eye sockets.

  Three info panels appeared, telling me they were called the Mawstrider, Dreadcoil, and Skullwing, respectively.

  I summoned Signeir, who appeared in a flash of flames and whirled around to observe our new surroundings. “Where are we?” He asked.

  “Heaven, now, help me fight these things!” I shouted back.

  [Willing Host]

  The flame spirit glowed red, shrugged, then began to attack.

  [Infernal Draw]

  [Runic Fire]

  He disappeared, slicing through a Skullwing that had swooped down to attack. The skeletal bird exploded in a burst of bone and fire, and a barrage of flaming spheres tore into the group of land animals charging toward us.

  I went next, activating the newest skill I had received.

  [Blood Lance]

  Two red spears appeared above me, floating a foot or so above either shoulder. With my mind, I willed them forward, and they impaled themselves deep into one of the Mawstriders, but it continued to charge forward as if unable to feel pain.

  [Twin Blood Chains]

  A pair of chains appeared from my palms, latching onto the bleeding wounds on the grotesque deer. The animal slowed dramatically, and I pulled hard, sending the animal flying towards me. I dropped the chains, jumping through the air and cutting the beast in half.

  A Dreadcoil approached next, snapping its heads at me aggressively. I dodged two, but the third one landed a hit, sinking its fangs deep into my arm. I hissed in pain, then severed the snake’s head with my claws.

  Two more grew from the stump.

  Shit, maybe its like that thing Hercules fought?

  [Hercules? Seriously?]

  “Signeir! I need you to deal with these things!”

  The flame spirit answered my call, appearing beside me in a flash, slowly resheathing his blade. Two of the Dreadcoil’s heads fell, their wounds cauterized by Signeir’s fiery blade. They didn’t regrow.

  Greek mythology to the rescue!

  [This is ridiculous. And not impressive.]

  I summoned a swarm of blood lances next, sending them hurtling into the sky towards the circling Skullwings. It seemed like I had no limit to the number of blood lances I could summon at once, besides the HP cost, of course. While some of the attacks missed, a majority struck true, sending skeletal corpses crashing down into the lake and foliage around us.

  “Lucivar! Help!” Atea suddenly shrieked, feebly swiping at one of the Mawstriders approaching her. Its terrifying jaw opened up, revealing rows of serrated teeth. A pair of blood lances slammed into the beast’s side, but it continued to push forward.

  [Holy Light]

  A golden halo of light appeared above the angel's head, and the Mawstrider paused, staring intently at the sudden interruption. It gave me just enough time to close the gap.

  Its head fell to the ground, still open, but completely lifeless.

  “Alright, if you’re gonna stick around, you need to be able to fight at least a little,” I said, gently pushing the angel forward. Her wings fluttered with apprehension as she attempted to backpedal, nearly sending both of us flying off the edge of the floating island.

  “That’s alright! Maybe I should just get going—”

  “You’ve probably leveled up by now, right?” I continued, ignoring the angel’s protests. She sighed, then nodded. I had sent her a friend request back on the ground… or, the clouds, I guess. She had probably gotten a good chunk of ambient Exp.

  “Try selecting a new skill.”

  Atea stared blankly into the air for a second, then her eyes widened. She stepped forward with great confidence, then activated her new ability.

  [Divine Dance]

  The angel began to… get down, as one might say.

  It was an interesting set of moves, and while I was no dancer myself, even I felt that I could’ve done better.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I whispered, holding a hand up to obscure my lips from onlookers.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  However, even without answering, I saw for myself the effects of the skill. The creatures in attendance all stopped, staring intently at the robust movements of the angel. With each creature now completely frozen, it was fairly simple for Signeir and I to finish them off. The effect wore off after about twenty seconds, but it was enough time for there to only be one bird-like creature left behind at the end of the skill’s duration. Signeir made a move to strike, but I held out a hand to stop him.

  “Isarion, right?” I asked, looking at the two blackened eyes of the Skullwing.

  The bird tilted its head, then replied with a cruel, sickening voice. “I’m intrigued.” The creature began to transform, blinding me with an ominous light.

  The world around me fell away in a blur, and I collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. I sat up with a groan, rubbing my head. My body felt numb, and I was completely unable to move.

  Compared to the Aspects I had met thus far, Zerethiel and Seraphael, known for Justice and Mercy, respectively, the being before me was entirely different.

  He wore an almost triangular-shaped hood and was armored in pitch black plate armour, outlined with dark red accents. His wings were feathered, similar to Atea’s, but completely black. His armour extended down into a tattered cloth that obscured the top part of his waist and thighs. It was frayed at the hems and gave off a dark aura that appeared as if the angel, if you could even call him that, was floating. Two beady, deep red eyes glared at me as he slowly approached.

  He looks like he could be Lunarius’ cousin.

  A floating spear hovered beside the Aspect, with one sharp point at the bottom and a sleek blade at the top with two small prongs on either side, almost like a weird trident.

  Then, the spear began to speak.

  “Isarion, why aren’t you killing these fools?” The weapon questioned, its voice ebbing back and forth like it was singing.

  How is it talking? It doesn’t even have a mouth!

  [There are better things to be thinking about right now.]

  “Quiet, Noctulus, I wish to speak with the demon,” The Aspect replied.

  The weapon flitted around hurriedly, somehow full of personality for what should have been an inanimate object. “Don’t quiet me, Isarion, if your sister comes now, she’ll probably be furious!”

  Isarion smiled, it was unsettling, his teeth shimmering against his dark exterior. He stepped closer. Whatever presence or skill he was using to hold me lifted, and I was back in control of my body.

  How many gods are we gonna meet?

  [At this rate, all of them.] Joshua replied.

  “It is quite interesting to see a demon, a spirit, and an angel all traveling together. How did you get here?” Isarion asked, his voice calm, deep, and rumbling.

  How much should I tell him?

  [Let's fight him.]

  You’re useless.

  Signeir seemingly ran out of patience, activating his skill.

  [Infernal Draw]

  The fire spirit crumpled to the ground, then dissolved into nothingness.

  I stared at the ground where my summon once stood, jaw agape. Atea let out a tiny sound, like an insignificant mouse, then inched closer towards me.

  While I was comfortably stronger than the current iteration of the fire spirit, he was still a rather formidable being, and I would have doubts whether someone like Azazel or Lioren would be able to defeat him one-on-one.

  Seeing him evaporate like water splashing against the surface of the sun wasn’t exactly a good sign for my chances of survival.

  “How rude, to think that such a pathetic existence would dare raise a hand against me,” Isarion said casually, inspecting his blade.

  “A fool indeed,” Noctulus, the name the Aspect had addressed his spear by, agreed.

  The Aspect turned, gazing at me expectantly.

  “I have a skill that allows me to travel between realms, Joshua— err, one of my companions interrupted the channel, and I ended up here instead,” I explained in fear, gesturing frantically at the lush environment.

  “Between realms?!” The spear screamed, and if it had eyes, they would surely be bulging.

  “Only the God-King can willingly travel between realms. Even I, an Aspect, rely on the Tyrant to send me to the Mortal Realm,” Isarion stated. He regarded me carefully, then continued. “Show me.”

  “It has a long cooldown,” I replied truthfully.

  “I see.”

  We stared at each other for a few seconds. Notculus eventually broke the silence with a chilling question. “Then, couldn’t we use this demon to enact our plan?”

  Isarion smiled widely, and I shivered in fear.

  Use? Joshua, I have a bad feeling about this. Take us home, please?

  [Still waiting to be impressed.]

  “Hold on! Don’t use me! Look at this!”

  [Parasitic Nemesis]

  Joshua appeared, seemingly confused, then snarled at me. “What do you think you’re doing, Carter?”

  Most people get impressed, or at least confused, when they see Joshua…

  Isarion blinked, and I imagined his sentient spear mirroring the gesture. “What is that supposed to be?”

  Joshua smiled mischievously, then turned and addressed the god. “I’m gonna kill you!”

  I froze, boring a hole into the back of the parasite's head with my eyes.

  He’s trying to get us killed—

  The thought was interrupted by an earth-shattering sound.

  A full-on belly laugh.

  Isarion was keeled over, shaking with intensity. Noctulus spun around wildly, as if it couldn’t bear to withstand the words assaulting its non-existent ears.

  Then, the Aspect’s demeanor shifted, standing perfectly still. He stared into Joshua’s eyes with cruelty. “I’d like to see you try,” Isarion challenged.

  “What the heck is going on?!” Atea screamed, interrupting the ferocious face-off. It took us all by surprise, and I saw Isarion shake his head, as if trying to clear his mind of something.

  “Forgive me, I haven’t experienced such disrespect since… well, since I first met the Primordial White,” Isarion said. His gaze returned to me. “It seems you, too, are a master of a sentient weapon.”

  “I’m not a weapon—” Joshua began, but he crumpled to the ground, subject to the intimidating aura of the Aspect.

  “Look,” I began, now growing desperate. “I really need to return home, so if you would be so kind, would it be alright if I left, preferably with my body still intact?” I finished, remembering the dissolving form of my fire spirit.

  The Aspect sat in thought for a moment, glancing between me and his weapon. “Hmm, perhaps. However, on one condition,” Isarion replied, nodding to his right. “Take him with you.”

  “The spear?!” I shouted incredulously.

  “No, no. I need him,” The angel reassured me. “Take that one.”

  A glowing, golden glaive with a red ribbon suddenly began floating towards us.

  It could also speak.

  “I have awaited a master for some time!” It called out excitedly. “I am known as Finnlen!”

  What kind of name for a weapon is that…?

  “So… I just take this and we can be on our way?” I asked.

  “Of course not!” Notctulus replied.

  Isarion regarded me curiously, then answered my question. “I thought you would know, considering you have a sentient weapon of your own.” He paused, disappearing without so much as a sound.

  “On guard!” Finnlen yelped, charging forward with gusto.

  The Demon King’s Fate is becoming a big passion project of mine, and every little bit makes it all feel worth it! We are so close to making it to RS main, which will make the story explode! (Hopefully.)

  [Keep dreaming, bud.]

  please consider dropping an honest rating! I want to see the story grow, and I hope you do as well!

  [Why don’t I just kill everyone, and we end the story here?]