Book 5: Chapter 32: Demon or Devil

Book 5: Chapter 32: Demon or Devil

Everyone on the ship went silent as a transformation swept over Heather and left her looking very much like somebody else.

Heather? Frank whispered to avoid the crew hearing the use of her name.

She opened her eyes and smiled before nodding to put him at ease.

Its still me, she said and looked past him to the onrushing darkness. She came to the railing on the edge of the ship and looked down at the searing glass.

What are you planning to do? Breanne asked in alarm.

Well, I am a devil now, so I am hoping it will chase me, Heather replied.

Why would you want it to chase you? Blackbast asked as she turned on Heather. Is this one of your foolish plans?

I am an infernal, and I wont burn on the glass, Heather said defiantly. I can jump down and lead it away before it wrecks the ship and everyone dies.

If it can catch the ship, it will run you down in seconds, Blackbast pointed out as her ears twitched irritably.

Then I will fight and try to kill it, Heather replied as a towering shadow fell over her. She looked back to see her bone champion standing at the ready, his eyes glowing with green flames. "I also have a backup who won't burn as well."

Where in the burning blazes did he come from? That captain called with a hand pointed to the Bone champion.

Heather turned back and quickly explained that she used a spell to summon a death knight friend. The captain then pressed her on what happened to her. She dismissed it as a magical illusion to make her look like a devil. She planned to use the disguise to lure the beast away and save the ship. The answers didnt seem to put him at ease, but he nodded his head let her get on with business.

So, what are the rest of us supposed to do?" Quinny asked. "Were not going to run away and leave you to die.

Heather understood her concern and realized it would be pointless to try and convince them to run. "Those of you who can shoot spells and weapons at it," she said and turned to the captain of the ship. Does this ship have any weapons?

Weapons?" he repeated with a laugh. "We don't run into anything on the glass. Nothing can survive out here."

So no, Heather answered for him. Are any of your crew spell users?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Oh yes," the man said and whistled for his crew. Heather watched as they assembled into a small pack and waited patiently. The captain then nodded to a tall man and told him to go ahead. The man blinked his single eye and threw out his hands as he chanted a magical phrase. Then, in a flash of light of the captain and crew were gone, leaving Heather stunned.

They abandoned us? Frank asked as he looked around.

Blackbast growled and cursed under her breath. That coward will find my temple cold to his visits. She looked around the ship before turning to Heather with a frown. I know how to steer such a vessel, but what do you plan to do?

Try not to die," Heather answered and held up her scythe. "I have a spell that hits hard. I am going to see if I can kill it or drive it away."

You're talking about that skull spell," Breanne interjected. "Where do you plan to get a skull?"

I have a few ideas, Heather replied with a smile. Now that the crew is gone, I don't have to hold back. I can summon all the skeletons I want and let my necromancer powers fly."

What about your devil powers?" Quinny asked, causing Heather to pause.

The demon turned around just as she loosed the skull. The impact was close enough that she was blown off her feet, and the demon once again staggered away in a roar. The air filled with a high-pitched wail as Breanne rose from the glass. She screamed with all her might, causing the monster to stumble away from her. This drove it into her bone champion, who swiped at a thigh and caused another injury. Suddenly the beast was surrounded as Frank leaped and collided with it. A group of zombies led by Quinny was swarming around its legs, and Breanne began attacking it from above.

Heather used her teleport to close the distance and arrive mid-air behind the monster's back. A mighty slash-cut a line through its black stone-like skin before she teleported away to arrive on the glass on the other side. It looked as if it was going well, but suddenly the monster threw out its hands, and orange symbols circled its body. Before Heather could cry out, an aura of flame erupted all around it, and her friends were thrown back, burning with demonic fire.

Stop hurting my friends!" she shouted and ran across the glass with the scythe in both hands. The monster turned on her and reached out a hand as a hail of burning rocks began to rain down. Heather teleported out of the barrage and arrived knee-high to swipe. Unfortunately, the monster was faster this time, and a great fist intercepted her, and she was thrown back to slide across the glass and collide with Frank.

Heather? he said as she came to a halt.

Is that thing technically living? she asked as he picked her up.

I guess so, Frank replied and steadied her on her feet. Why?

Because nobody else is, she replied as her eyes began to glow blue. I need a distraction. Can you keep it occupied?

I can try," he replied and charged past her. Quinny joined his side, rushing in with sword in hand as blue light grew to blinding luminance behind them. Breanne was up as well and let loose with another wail before darting away from a mighty fist. Frank leaped into the monster's side and began to tear away at the flesh as Quinny buried her glowing sword into its leg. The monster started to thrash about, turning in circles as it lashed out and ignoring the chant Heather was completing. None of them knew what she was doing until a blazing blue scythe appeared out of a green flash and buried into the monster's shoulder.

Recede and rot! Heather shouted as she completed her spell and poured all the energy she was channeling into the beast.

There was an ear-piercing wail as the monster stumbled forward. It reached up with one of its left arms as the right shoulder began to crumble into a sickening black tar. It stumbled forward, coming to one knee and trying to support itself with an arm as the two right ones fell away.

Whoah?" Quinny cried in alarm and ran out of range as the monster gasped and spewed more of the black tar onto the glass. A few moments later, it fell face-first to the glass even as its body continued to break down.

You killed it, Breanne said in alarm as the group gathered to watch.

We killed it, Heather panted. I would have died several times if you guys hadnt helped. She turned and quickly began to cast her mend the dead spells, soothing away their injuries until all were recovered.

Get on ship, now! Umtha called as Blackbast threw a rope ladder over the side.

Heather grabbed hold of Quinny, and in a puff of green, both women were on the deck still smoking from the lightning. "Be right back," she said and returned to glass to snatch up Frank. She deposited him on the deck and returned for her bone champion and rescued him too. With a pant, she turned him loose and went to speak when a noise made her jump.

[Ding!- LilituDevil, level 22! Necromancer, level 16! Recluse level 15, Flower singer level 14]

[Ding!- LilituDevil, level 23! Necromancer, level 17! Recluse level 16, Flower singer level 15]

Whoah, we leveled twice! Quinny laughed.

That thing must have been twice our level or more," Frank replied and looked back at the palanquin. "And thanks to the door, we can go back to our lairs and edit our character sheets."

Heather is amazing, Quinny laughed. She beat something only the strongest players could fight.

I had a lot of help," Heather pointed out as the ship began to move again. "Pity we don't have time to look for its lair. I bet it has a lot of treasure."

It is in the deep sands and surrounded by more demons, Blackbast pointed out. "You would be foolish even to consider looking for it."

I will pass, Heather agreed and suggested they press on for the edge to focus on the egg, which even now Umtha was putting away. She was grateful for her friends and for surviving such a terrible battle. As the ship picked up speed and headed away from the battle Frank, and Quinny went through the magic door to spend their points. Heather remained on deck and ran a finger over the crystal ring. She gaped in awe at the Lilitu devil class and the world of possibilities it provided.