Tartarus Beckons, Edmund Batara [bts book recommendations .TXT] 📗

it was definitely more powerful by far. The way it handled the pesky demon was proof of that.

“The arrival of a more powerful entity, sire, and from all indications, also a denizen of the demon’s dimension,” said X.

Tyler kept his tongue in check. By now, he was familiar with how his guides stated the obvious when they had nothing new to report. It was irritating, frustrating even, but the mage had learned the patience to live with it.

“Though whatever or whoever it was, it will come to us,” warned Hal.

The mage looked around. Only Kobu and Ivar were beside him. The crew had already fled, hopefully, not to parts unknown. But Ivar’s presence surprised him.

“Shouldn’t you be gone?” he asked with a forced grin.

“No. I can’t leave a friend to die, and to tell you the truth, if the being decided to hunt everybody – which is highly probable – there’s no place to hide in this forest. I don’t want to die hunted,” replied the priest.

Kobu laughed.

“An admirable observation, priest. One which only a few realize and follow. Many prefer being hunted, hoping to live, even though deep within them they know that there’s no chance of survival. So, they merely give their hunters – free of charge – the extra spices of fear and terror which accompany the hunt and eventually, their deaths.”

The suspended sphere in the air moved slowly towards them, and whoever was carrying it apparently knew of their presence. Around fifty feet away, it stopped, and noiseless energy of extreme strength blew away the trees on both sides, leaving a small clearing. A casual display of power which emphasized to Tyler the kind of being they were facing.

Slowly, dark strands materialized, weaving into existence a giant shape below the sphere. It was a large and tall shape, not as high as the kraken, but imposing nonetheless. But the mage suspected the roughly twelve-foot height was adopted for their convenience. Finally, a dark humanoid form appeared, clad in full armor, with a long sword at its back. A large full helm covered its head. Looking closer, Tyler noticed that the massive, curved horns on the helm were not part of the armor. Instead, openings in the metal enclosure allowed the natural horns to be displayed. The armored figure looked at the trio for a few seconds.

“Mortals. A mage, a priest, and a warlord.”

The words were uttered in a deep and loud voice. It was not loud as to be deafening, but its timbre reverberated in their minds. Though Tyler was relieved to see the being had not drawn its sword or made any hostile movement. So far. A small consolation in the light of the unknown parameters of the encounter, considering that the newcomer could easily crush them with its magic.

“Our greetings, stranger. Who are you, if I may ask?” said Tyler. Fortunately, his voice came out in a conversational tone.

“A Demon Lord,” replied the being tersely as he removed his helm.

It revealed a weathered, though handsome human-looking face. Its grim countenance indicated a veteran of many battles. Around fifty years of age. Closer to late fifties, guessed the mage. The hair was pure white, and the left iris was also white. But the painfully tormented look in the demon lord’s eyes was an unforgettable and piteous sight. If not for the massive horns, he could have passed for a human. A distinctive one, but still a mortal. But the aura of power which emanated from him was overpowering. It was almost equivalent to a Titan’s might.

“And a demon hunter,” the stranger added.

“I beg your pardon? Did I hear that right?” asked the startled Tyler. “A Demon Lord? And a demon hunter too?”

The entity before him grinned, mouth opened enough to show a vicious, fanged array of teeth.

“Why, mageling? Is that so strange?” said the formidable being. A hand was lifted, and he opened his palm. The smoky sphere cleared, revealing a murky cloud trapped inside. It oddly behaved inside the orb, as if it was frantically seeking a way out.

“A gallu. Not one of the named seven, but still a powerful demon. Not of these lands, of course. But it must have sought patronage elsewhere after its lord lost to me,” the standing figure told the trio. Surprisingly, Tyler observed that the word demon was said in a way as if the speaker was not of their kind. Then the entity looked at the sphere.

“Didn’t you, you foul, cowardly fiend? You thought I wouldn’t hunt all of your house down? You think you would find protection in these lands?” shouted the demon lord furiously. Then a cruel smile appeared on his face. The entity started closing the fingers on his open right hand. The orb gave off a momentary yet dazzling blackish glow, and then began to slowly contract. The movements inside the magical bubble became more frantic, and the stranger looked on with a satisfied smile. The trio was stunned by the bizarre spectacle. It was a bewildering situation they never expected.

“Now, let’s hear you sing,” said the newcomer softly.

The stillness of the forest was abruptly shattered by the most unworldly and terrifying sound the mage had heard. It was a scream; Tyler was certain about that. But it was an utterance of unimaginable pain and suffering that bore through one’s soul, and echoed in the dimension where both demons came from.

The stranger merely laughed as he slowly continued closing his hand. Finally, the mage couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Don’t you think it’s time to get it over and done with?” he blurted out.

The demon lord looked at him, anger evident in his eyes. The human eyes now blazed completely red, except for the white iris.

“And who are you to tell me that?” the entity shouted as he flung his other hand, palm open, toward the three spectators. The trio suddenly found themselves unable to move or call upon any magic.

“This gallu would flay you alive, boil you in salted water, and wear your skin while it watches your torment. It would tear apart your loved ones