Rebirth of the Ruined Noble

"Hey Zephyr! Are you certain it wasn't the Master of Exile, but just a regular demon?" I gasped for breath as I collapsed on the ground, my body drained of energy. The intense battle had taken its toll on me, but I couldn't help but ask that question.

The monster we just faced was a low-intermediate rank monster, which was comparable to peak 3 star knight. It took both our struggle just to defeat one monster. Thinking that we are going to face at least a dozen of them ahead, my frustration jumped up.

Zephyr looked at me, his own breath labored. It was evident that his involvement with the Oni demon had left him even more exhausted than me. "I don't know, do you think I'm some kind of monster appraiser? But regardless, I'm glad I brought you with me," he replied.

"Well, of course! It would have taken forever to defeat that monster without my help," I quipped. If it isn't for me constantly distracting the monster, Zephyr would taken much more time to defeat it.

But, Zephyr shook his head. "No, I'm not saying that because of your assistance."

"Then why?" I asked, puzzled.

"Even if I were to die here, at least I would have a companion, right?" Zephyr's words hung in the air.

"You, f*cker!"

As we took a moment to catch our breath, I marveled at the surroundings. The air in this hellish terrain was oppressively heavy, saturated with demonic miasma that could prove fatal to ordinary humans. It was a stark reminder of the inhospitable nature of this realm.

Zephyr voiced his discomfort with the environment. "The air here is unbearable. I can't get used to it."

Indeed, the atmosphere was thick with malevolence, making it a constant struggle to breathe. However, to my surprise, I found myself unaffected by the miasma.

Even I struggled a lot in past life because of the miasma, but for some reason I wasn't having any problems with it now.

'Is it due to the Artifact?'

I don't know, but the fact that I was feeling refreshed instead of getting nauseating problems further confirmed my suspicions of this artifact having some connection with the hell.

As we pressed onward, our journey through the exile became increasingly treacherous. The once occasional encounters with the Oni demons now grew in frequency, their numbers multiplying as we navigated deeper into the labyrinthine depths. One by one, we confronted these formidable adversaries, each Oni demonstrating its own unique blend of power and savagery.

"Damn it! How many have we defeated already? It feels like there's no end to them," I cursed, swinging my sword to fend off yet another Oni demon. With Zephyr growing exhausted, I had no choice but to step in, knowing we would need his strength for the eventual battle with the Master of Exile.

Though grueling, each clash with the Oni demons honed our skills and strengthened our coordination. Drawing from my past life experiences, my battle instincts sharpened as I adapted to the relentless onslaught.

The Oni demons varied in size and strength, some towering over them with brawny frames, while others possessed a lithe and agile demeanor. Each encounter pushed us to the limits.

And then, amidst the chaotic fights, something caught my eye.

"Hey! I see something up ahead!" I called out, noticing a remnant of what appeared to be a grand chamber unlike anything I had seen before.

Zephyr's eyes widened with excitement. "Is it what I think it is?"

"I believe so," I replied with equal anticipation.

The ruined room emanated an aura of ancient power and mysticism. Half-destroyed walls showcased intricate tapestries and ornate carvings, while at the center, perched upon a grand throne, sat a figure that commanded attention—an Oni demon unlike any we had encountered thus far.

"That's got to be the Master of Exile, right?" I inquired.

"If it's not, then I don't know what else it could be," Zephyr responded, his voice filled with determination.

This particular Oni demon dwarfed the others in size and presence, radiating an aura of authority and command. It was clear that this demon held a position of great significance among the Oni.

As I approached the throne, my eyes fell upon the words written below it, partially obscured by debris.

"<The King of Oni's, Shuten Doji>," the inscription read.

'A king?', I got puzzled reading the title and it's name.

"A king?" I murmured, puzzled by the title and the demon's name.

In my past life, I had learned that titles for demons held significant meaning, titles meant much more to the demons than just displaying their status.

And even among such titles, the title of 'King' was exclusive to the highest echelons of demonic power, that too only seven monarch- level demons could hold that title. Yet, here we stood in a low-intermediate rank exile, facing a demon with such a regal title.

".....R....", The Oni demon, sensing our presence, rose from its throne, its massive form draped in majestic attire that further emphasized its status as the king of the Oni. Its eyes blazed with an otherworldly fire, fixating on Zephyr with a gaze filled with anger and ferocity.

"It has a weapon. Be careful," I cautioned Zephyr, noting the katana clutched tightly in the demon's hand. Until now, the Oni demons we had encountered fought with brute strength alone, but this one wielded a weapon, adding a new layer of danger to our confrontation.

"...Ru..." The demon's guttural voice rumbled, as if struggling to form coherent words. There was an air of desperation in its words.

The monster slowly descended from the elevated platform where the throne stood, brandishing its katana with a menacing air. Its actions seemed to defy our expectations, and for the first time, I detected a plea hidden within its monstrous growls.

Finally, I heard what the demon was saying!

"....Run away....."

My heart skipped a beat. The demon could speak? How was it possible? Intermediate demons were not known for their linguistic abilities!

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