Reincarnated In Vikings

As Merlin walked to Janista's tavern, a sudden chill washed over him—a sensation that pierced through the warmth of the midday sun. Merlin straightened, his senses sharp, the unmistakable pulse of demonic energy.

His keen eyes swept the crowd until they landed on a man standing a few paces away, his movements unnaturally stiff. The man's gaze was vacant, his breath shallow and uneven.

The victim begins to scream or gasp as their body contorts in unnatural ways, their bones cracking and muscles spasming violently.

Their skin begins to ripple, as if something is moving beneath it, causing veins to bulge and darken, pulsing with an ominous glow.

Before Merlin could intervene, the man tilted his head back, his mouth gaping unnaturally wide as clawed hands force their way out of the victim's mouth. The jaw is unnaturally stretched, dislocating with a sickening crack, as the demon's fingers claw at the edges, pulling the head back further.

Blood streams from the victim's eyes and mouth, accompanied by gargling screams of agony as their body tries and fails to resist the demon's invasion.

As demom inside gains control, both of its arms push outward, shredding the victim's torso from the inside. The flesh tears as though the victim were being unzipped, splitting apart from the mouth down through the chest.

The demon steps forward, literally ripping the victim's skin and limbs off as if they were a grotesque suit or cocoon. The sound of tearing flesh and snapping bones echoes chillingly. This was Agilieth a Higher demon from Hell.

Once freed, Agilieth stands tall, fully formed, towering over the remains of the host.

The demon has a towering and imposing physique, with broad shoulders and a muscular frame. The demon's chest is bare, exposing their scarred and weathered skin

His skin tone is a dusky, ash-like gray, there is scars and jagged stitching across their body add a grotesque.

He has long, thick locs cascade over their shoulders, adorned with metallic beads and ornaments. His face was angular face, sharp cheekbones, and intense, shadowed eyes exude a sense of wisdom mixed with danger. The black sclera with piercing pupils underscores their supernatural essence.

His monstrous claws glisten with blood.

The discarded remnants of the victim fall limply to the floor, a lifeless and empty husk, as if they were nothing more than a vessel.

Agilieth surveys the square, people look at him in horror and some ran, but many unable to because of fear. His crimson eyes glint with a predatory gleam as he spots Merlin standing firm amidst the chaos.

Agilieth with a smug tone."It must be my lucky day. A human with so much magical energy, just wandering into my grasp."

Merlin's jaw tightens as he readies himself, fingers twitching with latent power. His eyes narrow, assessing the threat as Agilieth raises a hand. A sinister tendril of black smoke, threaded with crimson veins, snakes its way toward the villagers nearby. One by one, the tendrils pierce their bodies. Their movements stiffen, their eyes turning pitch black as they fall under his control.

The once-quiet square is now filled with the eerie shuffle of possessed villagers, their lifeless gazes locked on Merlin. Agilieth's lips curl into a cruel smile and mocking."Let's see if you what you got human."

Before Merlin can act, the sharp clink of metal against stone cuts through the tension. He glances back to see Atalanta striding into view, her sword gleaming in the faint light, her eyes sharp with determination.

Atalanta's eyes scanning the villagers before locking onto Agilieth and questioned Merlin."Is that monster controlling them?"

Merlin nods sharply, his tone urgent."Yes. Try not to kill them all. I might be able to bring them back."

Atalanta lets out a scoff, gripping her sword tightly as a possessed villager charges at her.

As she muttered."Right, because that's easy."

Instead of striking with her blade, Atalanta steps forward and grabs the villager by the front of their shirt. With a grunt, she hoists them into the air like a sack of grain and hurls them across the square. They land with a heavy thud, unconscious but alive.

Another villager lunges at her, swinging wildly. Atalanta sidesteps the attack with ease, delivering a bone-rattling kick to their chest. The force sends them flying back into a wooden cart, which splinters under the impact.

Atlanata grinning slightly as she turns to Merlin."That's two. How am I doing so far?"

Merlin dodging a villager's strike, his hands glowing with magic."Efficient. But maybe avoid breaking their ribs!"

Sending the man wad thrown back with a concussive blast of air, sending him flying.

Atalanta mocking."You're welcome, by the way."*

As the fight intensifies, Atalanta seamlessly alternates between using her sword to parry and her fists to knock the possessed villagers out cold. A group rushes her at once, and she grabs a barrel nearby, hurling it into their midst, scattering them like bowling pins.

The chaos in the village square intensifies as Merlin alternates between casting protective barriers and launching stun spells, his every move calculated yet frantic. Agilieth stands at the center of it all, his crimson eyes glowing brighter, his cruel laughter cutting through the noise.

Agilieth mocking, with venomous glee."Futile. You can't stop them, sorcerer. Soon, you'll both kneel before me."

Merlin glances sideways at Atalanta, her movements a blur of raw power. She delivers a devastating punch to a possessed villager, sending them crashing into a stack of hay bales that explodes in a cloud of straw.

Merlin calling out with wry humor

"You've got this, right?"

Atalanta grinning, kicking another villager into a fountain, water splashing everywhere."Oh, I'm just getting warmed up."

Merlin smirks, but his focus sharpens as he turns his gaze to Agilieth. The demon is now drawing more villagers under his thrall, the tendrils of black smoke weaving their way into the minds of the innocent. The crowd grows thicker, their movements more aggressive.

Merlin narrows his eyes. I need to take him down, but not at the cost of these people.

With a flick of his wrist, a ball of fire bursts to life in Merlin's hand, its heat distorting the air around it. He hurls it at Agilieth, who casually swats it away, his expression unimpressed.

Agilieth sneering."Is that the best you can do, sorcerer?"

Agilieth's overconfidence is palpable. He looms over Merlin, his arrogance blinding him to the subtle calculation in Merlin's gaze.

Merlin muttering under his breath."Exactly what I wanted you to think."

In an instant, Merlin conjures a transparent, liquid-like sphere from thin air. It glistens with an eerie sheen, rippling as though alive. The sphere flies toward Agilieth with unrelenting speed.

Agilieth barking a laugh."Water? You think you can stop me with a ball of water ?"

The sphere engulfs him before he can react further. The substance wraps around him like a living entity, thick and viscous, flowing over his arms and torso. Its surface shimmers, refracting the light as if imbued with raw magic.

Agilieth struggling, his voice distorted within the sphere."What... What is this?"

Merlin's eyes glint with satisfaction as he steps forward and calmly."Not water. Ectoplasm. Infused with a temporal-displacement spell. You're moving at one-twentieth of your normal speed now. Enjoy the view."

Agilieth's movements slow to an agonizing crawl, his expression frozen in frustrated fury. The once-menacing figure now looks trapped in a gelatinous cocoon, his glowing eyes barely flickering through the translucent substance.

With Agilieth temporarily neutralized, Merlin whirls around to face the possessed villagers. He raises both hands, his fingers splaying as he channels pure telekinetic energy. The ground trembles beneath him, a surge of invisible force rippling outward in a powerful shockwave.

The blast sweeps through the villagers like a tidal wave, knocking them to the ground in unison. One by one, they fall unconscious, their bodies going limp as the blackness fades from their eyes. The village grows eerily quiet, the tension hanging in the air like a held breath.

Merlin spots Atlanta, who nods toward Merlin signaling"I will take on the remaining ones.", he quickly turns his focus back to Agilieth. The greater demon snarls, his crimson eyes blazing with fury as he shatters the temporal ectoplasm with sheer willpower. Agilieth steps forward, exuding dark energy, but Merlin doesn't flinch. With a calm yet commanding gesture, he casts the modified Crimson Bands of Cyttorak.

Ripples form in the air around Agilieth, radiating with fiery intensity. Suddenly, from the unseen void, crimson-red bands erupt, glowing with incandescent energy.

The bands are mesmerizing—semi-transparent, yet solid, as though forged from pure magic. They coil through the air with a serpentine fluidity, adorned with glowing, golden-orange runes that pulse with an unrelenting mystical force.

The bands snake around his limbs, torso, and neck with a precision that seems almost sentient.

Agilieth growling, thrashing as the bands tighten around him."What sorcery is this?!"

Each coil constricts with increasing force, nullifying his dark powers. The demon grunts and roars in defiance, struggling in vain.

Merlin his voice steady, eyes glowing with arcane energy. "You underestimated me, Agilieth. That was your first mistake."

Agilieth, sensing his power waning, changes tactics. His voice becomes smooth and manipulative, a dark allure dripping from his words.

Agilieth panting, with a cunning smile."Sorcerer, I am a greater demon. I can offer you anything—riches, power, women. Whatever your heart desires, just name it."

Merlin scoffs, his expression one of quiet disdain and coldly."I desire nothing from the likes of you."

He raises his hands, chanting an incantation under his breath. A radiant beam of divine light bursts from the heavens, striking Agilieth directly. The demon screams, a guttural roar of rage and agony, as the light sears his form.

Agilieth writhing, his voice echoing with fury. "Sorcerer, I will remember this! I will have my revenge!"

As his form disintegrates, a vortex of smoke and dark red fire envelops him. The ground beneath him splits open, and with one final howl, Agilieth is dragged back into the depths of the earth.

The village falls silent. The possessed villagers collapse, their eyes returning to normal. Merlin surveys the scene, his sharp gaze scanning for any lingering threats.

Merlin muttering to himself."A greater demon... straight from Hell."

Atalanta approaches, her sword resting on her shoulder, a sly grin on her face.

Atalanta teasing."I must admit, sorcerer, you're pretty amazing."

Merlin smirks, brushing off the compliment with modesty. "Thanks. You weren't too bad yourself."

Turning to the injured villagers, Merlin's expression shifts to concern.

Merlin to Atalanta."I need to heal them."

He moves through the square, tending to each villager with care, his hands glowing with healing energy. Atalanta and Janista assist, helping to comfort and stabilize the injured.

As Merlin finishes healing the last villager, Atalanta approaches him again, this time with a softer expression. She steps closer, her eyes scanning his form.

Atalanta gently, with a teasing smile. "Looks like you've got a few bruises, sorcerer."

Merlin frowns slightly, puzzled and thought."That's not possible. My wounds heal almost instantly."

Before he can voice his thoughts, Atalanta takes a towel and begins dabbing his neck and back.

Atalanta with a low whisper."There, that should do it."

Merlin glances at her, his voice tinged with gratitude."Thanks. I didn't think you'd have such a gentle touch."

Her tone shifts, becoming sultry, as she places a hand lightly on his thigh.

Atalanta leaning in, her voice a purr."Come back when you don't need repairs, and I'll... treat you even better."

Merlin chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes."Maybe I will."

Atalanta smiled and said."See you back at the smithy."as he turned and walked back,she sway her hips and it was alluring.