Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

"Blood, there's so much blood..." Aura's voice trembled as she spoke, her usual confidence wavering for just a moment. In the brief respite from the chaos, she finally had a chance to properly examine Frieren. The sight before her was alarming: Frieren's chest and abdomen were soaked in blood, a dark stain spreading across the elf's delicate frame.

Her hands moved with a practiced urgency as she lifted Frieren's clothes, searching for the source of the bleeding. After a moment of frantic examination, she realized with relief that the blood wasn't Frieren's. It was her own.

Hastily, she used magic to stop the bleeding from the axe wound on her back. It's not a healing spell so it didn't repair the wound, but it still enough to stop the blood from coming out. The spell was just enough to keep her moving without losing too much blood.

She then turned her attention back to Frieren, gently securing the elf once more. The wound on Frieren's abdomen had mercifully scabbed over, the bleeding stopped. Aura carefully adjusted the bindings she had made from the torn hem of her skirt, ensuring that Frieren was securely fastened to her back. Each knot was tied with precision, designed to prevent any movement that might reopen Frieren's wounds.

Aura let out a small sigh of relief. Frieren's life was no longer in immediate danger, as long as they avoided any further violent encounters.

But their ordeal was far from over. Aura glanced around the forest, the dense underbrush and towering trees casting long, ominous shadows. They were still deep within enemy territory, surrounded by the lingering threat of both human soldiers and demonic pursuers.

A purple-haired demon, carrying a white-haired elf on her back, holding a huge axe in one hand, walked step by step towards the direction of leaving the forest.

Aura wished she could use the "the magic of merging with the wind" spell as skillfully as Serie. Serie, with her graceful mastery of the elements, could have slipped through the forest unnoticed, carrying someone along with her. But Aura hasn't mastered it yet. 

So, she resigned herself to the only path she knew: brute force. From now on, she would fight her way out of this forest, relying not on delicate magic but on the strength of her arms and the sharp edge of the axe.

————

'Don't encounter demons!

Don't encounter demons!

Don't encounter demons...'

As Aura walked through the dense forest, she kept silently praying, her thoughts racing. Despite her confidence and power, she was acutely aware of the precariousness of her situation.

Humans, in their fear and pragmatism, valued their lives. They did not hold grudges strong enough to drive them to suicidal battles. With the right mix of intimidation and strategic bluffing, Aura could manipulate them into retreating. After all, no human in their right mind would engage in a fight to the death with a demon of Aura's caliber, especially when the threat level wasn't immediate.

The best course of action for humans encountering her would be to withdraw swiftly and alert their strongest warriors or mages. In the grand strategy of warfare, avoiding unnecessary losses was paramount. Sacrificing lives in a futile attempt to deplete a great demon's magic was far less effective than spreading the word of her presence. The moment her location was known, powerful human forces would converge on her position to eliminate the threat she posed.

So—humans were easy to fool.

But demons were different.

These lunatics who came only for killing, no matter how hard Aura talked, there was no way to convince the demons to make way. After all, they decided to fight for fun, so how could you persuade them to put down their swords by offering them something more fun?

"Ah, my luck is truly bad—"

Aura's voice trailed off as she stopped in her tracks on a gloomy forest path, her heart sinking at the sight before her. Three long-horned demons stood in her way, their terrifying auras radiating malice, surrounding her from three sides. The air around them seemed to crackle with the sheer force of their combined power, pressing down on Aura like a physical weight.

One was a towering demon general, clad in heavy, battle-worn armor that seemed to have been forged in the depths of the abyss. The armor was dense and rugged, bearing the scars of countless battles, with dents and scratches marring its surface. His form, though roughly humanoid, was far from human—his limbs were thicker and more muscular, and his stature was colossal, towering over most beings. The greatsword strapped to his back was equally imposing, its hilt protruding over his shoulder, the blade itself massive and forged from a dark, unyielding metal that looked as though it could cleave through anything. His posture exuded dominance, and even without seeing his eyes, one could sense the cold, calculated nature of his gaze, assessing every detail of the situation.

The other two demons, though not as physically imposing as the general, had an air of unsettling authority. The taller one had a lean, almost emaciated build, with long, thin limbs that gave it a disconcertingly graceful yet unnatural movement. Its face was obscured by short, unkempt hair that hung limply over its features, masking its expression and adding to its eerie presence. This demon was dressed in simple yet ominous robes, akin to those of religious followers, though the fabric was tattered and ancient, hanging loosely on its gaunt frame. In one hand, it clutched an astrolabe, an ancient instrument of the heavens, which it seemed to hold with reverence, as if it were a sacred artifact.

The shorter demon was stockier, with a more compact build that suggested hidden strength. It, too, had its face hidden by short hair, but its eyes occasionally peeked out, revealing a cold, piercing gaze that seemed to penetrate the soul. This demon wore similar religious garb, though slightly more ornate, with intricate patterns woven into the fabric. Around its neck hung a clock pendant, an oddly mundane object that seemed out of place on such a creature, yet it carried it with the same reverence as the taller one did its astrolabe. 

All three demon generals fixed their piercing gazes on Aura, their expressions unreadable but filled with an underlying contempt. They regarded her as if she were a traitor, a renegade who had betrayed the very essence of what it meant to be a demon.

'Damn it!'

Aura cursed inwardly, her mind racing. She had deliberately chosen this deserted path to avoid any encounters with her own kind, concealing her presence and suppressing her mana to the point of near nothingness. Yet, despite her best efforts, she had been discovered. These demons were not just any foot soldiers—they were elite, highly perceptive, and terrifyingly powerful.

"Are you a demon?" The demon with the astrolabe spoke first, his voice a chilling monotone. It stared at Aura's horns, then shifted its gaze to Frieren, unconscious on her back. There was no mistaking the suspicion in his eyes.

"I am a demon."

Aura replied, her voice steady despite the rising tension.

"A traitor?" The astrolabe demon questioned again.

"I am loyal to Lord Demon King!" Aura screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing through the silent forest.

The accusation struck a nerve deep within her. If there was one thing Aura could not tolerate, it was having her loyalty questioned. Her devotion to the Demon King was absolute, unwavering. Even when she had been captured and held behind enemy lines in the human stronghold, she had never wavered in her commitment. She had sabotaged the humans, weakened their forces, and done everything in her power to serve the demon cause. How dare these ignorant fools question her allegiance?

"Then why are you carrying an elf? Don't you know Lord Demon King's order? All the elves here must be killed." The demon general with the greatsword stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder.

The words hung in the air, heavy with accusation. Although the tone was questioning, there was an unmistakable finality to it, as if the demon had already passed judgment on Aura. The Greatsword Demon's hand moved to the hilt of his sword, fingers tightening around it. The air around him seemed to hum with anticipation, as if the blade was eager to be drawn and taste blood.

"I want to kill her! I found her just to kill this elf!"

"Then why haven't you?"

"I'm cursed, my life is tied to her..."

Aura's eyes dimmed, her expression hardening as she wrestled with the helplessness she felt. Her claim of wanting to kill Frieren was true—so true that the thought of it consumed her every waking moment. The seething hatred that had driven her to this point was rooted in the past, a burning grudge that refused to die.

Frieren had ordered her to commit suicide in a future timeline, forcing her to endure the agonizing process of traveling through time, only to be caught in a cruel paradox. It was an insult that festered in her, an indelible mark on her pride, something she couldn't simply let go.

Every moment she spent with Frieren was a reminder of her failure, of her powerlessness to enact the revenge she so desperately craved. Her hands, which should have been stained with Frieren's blood, were instead forced to protect the very one she despised. It was a twisted fate, a cruel joke by the goddess, or perhaps by the universe itself, that the one who wanted to kill Frieren the most was cursed to be her guardian.

"Haha, I've never heard of a demon foolish enough to create a curse that binds them to a human," the Clock Pendant Demon sneered, his laughter cold and mocking. His voice dripped with disdain as he continued, "The demon that developed this kind of rubbish magic is too idiotic."

His laughter echoed through the cold, barren landscape, a sound that grated on Aura's nerves. Of the three demons, he was the one who mimicked human behavior best—his laughter, his sarcasm, even the way he tilted his head slightly as he mocked her, were all eerily human-like.

"Who is the idiot developer of this garbage curse you're under?"

"..."

'Damn it! Spell of Obedience isn't trash! Before encountering Frieren, this was one of the top ten forbidden spells among demons for millennia!'

She had once been proud of her mastery over this ancient, powerful magic. To hear it now dismissed so easily as "garbage" was like salt in an open wound.

"Not answering? Are you deceiving us?" The Astrolabe Demon stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate, yet filled with menace. Aura could already sense the purple, ominous flow of mana gathering around him, seeping into the astrolabe on his wrist. It was a carefully measured approach, a predator closing in on its prey.

"Aura never lies."

"A liar indeed."

The three demons unanimously concluded that Aura was a traitor.

A demon claiming they never lie?

Hehe—

Who would believe that? Even the demons themselves don't believe it.

"Then there's no other way," Aura muttered, her voice tinged with resignation. She knew there was no room for explanation or negotiation. Carrying Frieren and attempting to leave the battlefield had already sealed her fate in the eyes of the other demons. Her actions spoke louder than any words could—she was opposing them, standing against her own kind.

"Shall we fight?" Aura's voice was now a low growl, filled with the grim determination of a warrior and not a mage, preparing for battle.

She held the axe in one hand, raising it in front of her like a banner, her grip firm and unyielding. Her eyes, once dimmed by the burdens of her curse, now flashed with a bloodthirsty light, a glint of the predator that lay dormant within her.

Her gaze swept over the three demons with a cold, calculating intensity, taking in every detail of their stances, their expressions, and the subtle shifts in their auras. The overwhelming mana and fierce aura that radiated from Aura were so intense that the three demons found it hard to breathe. It was as if the very air around them had thickened, pressing down on them with an almost suffocating weight.

They each took a step back, their cold eyes widening in shock and disbelief. This kind of aura, this palpable force of presence, could only be possessed by a great demon who had not only survived but thrived in the brutal, unforgiving world of demonkind. It was the mark of a warrior who had fought and won numerous struggles within the demon territory, who had clawed their way to the top through sheer strength and unyielding will, and who had finally claimed the coveted throne of a sage.

In the demon hierarchy, there was no room for weakness or mercy. It was a world ruled by the law of the jungle: survival of the fittest, where the strong devoured the weak, and the winner took all. The seats of the Seven Sages of Destruction were never inherited or gifted; they were seized through bloodshed, through the conquest of rivals, and the ruthless elimination of any who stood in the way.

Even though Aura had lost her most potent magic, she still possessed a solid magical foundation and hadn't forgotten the purest combat skills that had kept her alive through countless battles.

"...Unnecessary." The Astrolabe Demon spoke after a moment of contemplation, his voice measured and deliberate as he weighed the pros and cons of their situation, and stepped back, "We don't wish to fight you. If you want to take that elf and leave, then go."

"Each on our own, as if we never met?" Aura suggested, her voice deceptively calm, masking the tension coiling within her.

"Agreed." the three demons nodded in unison, their faces unreadable.

Their eyes met briefly, exchanging glances that spoke volumes. The three demons had hunted humans together many times, their silent communication honed through countless encounters. This tacit understanding allowed them to convey their intentions with just a flicker of the eye, making quick decisions in the heat of the moment.

The real decision had already been made. They would feign agreement and wait for the precise moment when Aura would be most vulnerable—when she had let her guard down, believing they were no longer a threat. It would be at this crucial instant, as she passed by, that they would strike.

Aura lowered her axe with a slow, deliberate motion, dragging it behind her with a weary but satisfied look on her face. The weapon left a long, deep trench in the ground, a testament to its weight and her strength. She bent slightly at the waist, careful not to disturb the injured Frieren strapped to her back. With every step, she moved towards the exit of the encirclement, her posture relaxed, seemingly content to avoid further conflict.

'Haha, fools—'

The Clock Pendant Demon, who appeared most human-like among the trio, allowed a sarcastic smile to curl at the edges of his lips. His long hair fell over his face, partially obscuring his expression. This was a deliberate move, meant to hide the gleam of malice in his eyes as he watched Aura approach.

The Clock Pendant Demon stepped aside, his movements smooth and deliberate, almost as if he were making way for a guest. He waited silently, his eyes fixed on Aura's retreating figure. The moment she passed close enough, he would act. The proximity would be perfect for a surprise attack—just when Aura was least expecting it.

'One breath.

Two breaths.

Three... huh?'

The Clock Pendant Demon, who had stepped aside, did not wait for Aura to pass as anticipated. His head turned with a slow, deliberate motion, preparing to strike when the time was right. However, before he could react, an axe came crashing down with ruthless efficiency, splitting the demon's face cleanly in two.

Splurt!

The sound was grotesque and unmistakable. The axe's edge sliced through the Clock Pendant Demon's nose, lips, and skull, severing them from the rest of his body. The once formidable figure now lay in a grotesque heap, his internal structures exposed and grotesquely displayed—an expression of shock frozen on what remained of his face.

"Bastard, what are you doing?" The Astrolabe Demon and Greatsword Demons who were waiting for a sneak attack were furious and denounced Aura's despicable behavior!

"Ah, I don't know why, but my hand moved before my brain."

Aura's voice was a carefully crafted mixture of confusion and sincerity. She looked at her blood-stained hands with an expression of genuine bewilderment, her tone seemingly innocent and very humble.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." She continued, her face taking on a look of sincere remorse. Her eyes were wide, and her expression was one of a humble plea, a stark contrast to the violence she had just unleashed.

Aura held the axe firmly but with a manner that suggested an unexpected vulnerability. Her hands were clasped together as if in a gesture of supplication, her body language conveying a sense of genuine regret.

"Can you trust me once more?"

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Alright, the votes is closed now. Unexpectedly, the winning side was number 2. I'm so scared o(╥﹏╥)o

Well anyway, the bonus chapter will be delayed a bit because I need to re-edit it to add more details... Can you forgive me???