The Prince of Demons

As the beast descended on us, we began dodging for our lives. Or more accurately, Nil was. How he was keeping up with the speed of the <Etzkal Nightbeast> was beyond me. The lightning field training paid off. Nil launched us at high speed away from it. Nil's <Mana Reserve> was draining rapidly as he moved us away from the onslaught of attacks. The <Spirit Beast> however, looked completely fine. Nil refilled his <Mana> in a heartbeat. That cannot be healthy or sustainable. He probably could only do that trick a handful of times. Wow his eyes are glowing a lot. Unlike yesterday, the <Etzkal Nightbeast> was giving us zero room to even breathe. It would launch passed us and try and hit us back towards where we started. This is not good. We couldn't get any distance. He might have a point on we need to see if we can deter it. Nil tried flying away, but the <Etzkal Nightbeast> finally used <Magic>. In a heartbeat, a cloud of death erupted overhead. <Death Magic>. It definitely doesn't want us to lose it a second time. Nil immediately returned to the ground, grimacing.

Why isn't it using that <Magic> on the ground? Nil managed to ask, while resuming to evade the beast.

Because it doesn't want to kill the forest in its territory. The <Etzkal Nightbeast> is likely concerned with maintaining its food supply. I told him. Still didn't stop it from breaking trees as needed unfortunately.

Nil let out a deep sigh as he was shaking a little bit as he found the resolve to do something. He used <Warp>, and I appeared in a thicket nearby. Wait. Where's Nil? He's not that crazy. No way that he decided to try fighting it more head on. I moved a bit and saw Nil staring it down. He was taking several deep breaths as he resumed dodging. Nil stepped in, slugging it straight in the jaw with what appeared to be a brass knuckles made of <Void Magic>. Once Nil attack actually connected, the <Etzkal Nightbeast> went ballistic. Nil was moving as fast as he could to dodge the flurry of attacks. The four arms were slashing furiously at him, destroying the forest around them. It's clearly stopped caring about collateral damage as much. The <Etzkal Nightbeast> seemed offended by the notion Nil caused it to feel pain. Nil, you aren't going to tire it out. Nil made distance, breathing heavily. Why? Why is he fighting it still? We needed to run.

The <Etzkal Nightbeast> didn't care. It didn't slow down. Only offence. The monster just kept attacking. Nil faked a <Warp> seeing the beast launch toward the end in the blink of an eye. It barreled back towards Nil, who reinforced his sword, trying to use the speed against it so he could stab the <Etzkal Nightbeast>. Nil went flying, slamming through a nearby tree. He was wheezing a bit to catch his breath as he shakily got back to his feet. The <Etzkal Nightbeast> didn't slow down, bounding right on top of the barely standing Nil. He chained a few <Warps> together, getting away. The monster slammed two paws in front of where Nil ended up. How did he dodge it by such a slim margin? Now that I looked better, where was his sword?

I looked at the <Etzkal Nightbeast>, seeing the sword was buried in a shoulder. Nil brought his sword back to his hand, making the inky blood of it start oozing from the wound. The monster roared in anger, resuming the onslaught. This time, <Death Magic> was running rampant in the area as the beast seemed to be consumed by rage. Each of the roars of the beast shook the forest around us. Nil, what is your plan? He made distance again, dodging like a maniac. Nil refilled his <Mana> again as he began running out. His eyes were absolutely ablaze from how much he was using his <Arcane Eye>. It was all over his face how much he was suffering. Do I intervene? I had no weapons. But if Nil is trying this hard, I have no excuse. I need to use him some support <Magic> on him. I was chiding myself for not doing it sooner. I should've backed up his idea no matter how ridiculous it was given I don't think we're easily escaping this thing twice.

I used <Spirit Shock> on the <Etzkal Nightbeast>, just to double check. As expected, the <Sprit Beast> didn't even seem to notice I tried attacking it as it immediately went for Nil again. In response, I began using <Soul Boost> and <Regenerative Aura> on Nil. He steadied his breathing, looking a lot better in a matter of seconds. The monster resumed its maelstrom of attacks as Nil found a small opening to retaliate. Now that he looked healed, I switched from <Regenerative Aura> to <Vitality Boost>. Nil looked a lot better not having to be so concerned with the <Death Magic>. Just because Nil was doing better, didn't mean the <Etzkal Nightbeast> wasn't near insurmountable. Nil was absolutely devouring <Mana> to simply keep up with it, and then refilling it instantly. What's the limit? There's no way Nil can just keep doing that. I couldn't even tell if there was a dip in the <Mana Reserve> of the <Etzkal Nightbeast>. My <Mana Reserve> was already crying from supporting Nil. To be fair, I'm giving him large buffs so he's not using as much <Mana>, but he's going through <Mana> faster than I am. The slog of dodging and counterattacking continued. Nil was clearly feeling the strain of maintaining the fight as he kept cutting the monster. None of the wounds were that deep other than the one in the shoulder, but they were all bleeding. His eyes were glowing nonstop. Maintaining an <Arcane Eye> for that long has to be causing strain. The only light in this abyss was the <Etzkal Nightbeast> was clearly getting angrier with each attack. It also was bleeding more and more from the thrashing. Regenerating blood is not easy, especially with this level of exertion. Unfortunately, Nil finally slipped up.

In one of the rushes of the <Etzkal Nightbeast>, Nil finally didn't dodge it properly. It's getting even faster despite everything as Nil is clearly feeling the strain. Its fangs sank into Nil's should and arm. I could hear the bones crunch. Nil didn't even grimace or cry out. He cocked his other arm back, launching his sword into the eye of the <Etzkal Nightbeast> as he gritted his teeth through the agony. Nil was immediately released as the monster howled in agony. He returned his sword to his hand while I switched <Soul Boost> to <Regenerative Aura> again. Thankfully, his arm was still attached, but the bite wound was massive. At least somewhat heal the wounds. Nil barely had enough <Technique> not to lose his arm there. The arm was still completely limp at his side as his breathing was getting jagged. It was a game of buying seconds at this point. We needed to win this. We need to end this fast. But how?

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Nil was not one to give up; his eyes began glowing even brighter. You know, I hated how no matter how desperate the situation he was in, Nil always persevered and fought till the bitter end; it's nice when it's on your side. For the briefest moments, the <Etzkal Nightbeast> took a step back, seeming to have finally broken from its rage. Two amber suns had descended into the forest as the <Mana> around us became weird. Nil did one, rapid slash. The <Etzkal Nightbeast> dodged to the side as Nil materialized in front of the monster already attacking. What? How did Nil <Warp> that fast? Why didn't he <Warp> like that sooner? In one simple motion, Nil sliced upwards. The <Etzkal Nightbeast> unleashed <Miasma> as it clapped all four of its claws together on Nil. The claws hit something, twisting around backwards as the head was cleaved right off. A massive burst of <Magic> erupted up from Nil's attack, slicing the sky. Nil dodged back, looking around him as his body was clearly collapsing.

Is it dead? Nil asked, turning around in a disoriented panic.

"Yes." I confirmed for him, and he turned towards me. Something is wrong. Nil crumpled to the ground, panting.

"Where are you?" Nil probed, his voice sounding weak, as his body was shaking.

Shiza; he's blind. Nil way overexerted his <Arcane Eye> in that last attack. I rushed over to his side, checking his shoulder. I realigned it, making needles of <Mana> to pin bones where they roughly belonged. That was an insanely reckless gambit. Nil was grimacing as I used <Rejuvenation> to heal him. He's barely alive; I can't heal his eyes either. My <Mana> was gone after his shoulder was healed. It at least looked correct. Please have not healed it in the wrong spot. The two of us were panting as Nil reached out and grabbed me. He doesn't have <Mana> to sense with either. Nil was completely spent.

"It's okay Nil. I'm here. I'm right here." I assured him, adjusting him so he was sitting more.

"We need to get the pelt from it." Nil stated. I was a bit shocked. Even now he focuses on the greater objective.

"I'll take care of it. Rest Nil. You need to recover." I ordered. Nil summoned his knife for me.

I turned around, beginning to process the <Spirit Beast>. Nil passed out after maybe two minutes. I'm surprised he even held on after learning it died. What did he do? He used his <Arcane Eye> for something. I looked at where the <Etzkal Nightbeast> died. He clearly used <Astral Slash>. I walked over, checking his <Mana Channels>, relieved they weren't fried. He did practice <Toughening>, <Tempering>, and <Transcendence> more. I stroked his hair. Good Nil. It was the only reason his condition wasn't much worse, and why he still had two arms. That was still beyond risky. I don't think the <Arcane Eye> is necessary for <Astral Slash>. But that movement of his; that was his full speed <Warp>. Nil also knew the exact path and attacks the <Etzkal Nightbeast> was going to use. He couldn't have made the barrier fast enough to block that attack. He poured every drop of <Mana> not needed for the attack into it. I resumed processing the <Spirit Beast>. I pulled out the <Core> now. This is rightfully Nil's. I might have helped and supported him in the fight, but he did the heavy lifting. And if he died, I might've survived because it may not have wanted to risk further fighting. The hide took me a while to get off. The fur is surprisingly soft to the touch. It reeked to the heavens, but it was nicer than I thought it would be. I processed everything the best I could. I'm not sure how edible this is. Not like we had much of a choice. We need some way to store it. I gently shook Nil, who bolted up before recoiling in pain. His face let me know how much he was hurting now that he had calmed down.

"What?" Nil asked, sounding on the verge of tears.

"It's okay. Do you have a <Storage Ring>?" I inquired, putting my hand on him so he knew I was right there.

"Yes." Nil informed me. He weakly lifted his left hand, wiggling his middle finger.

I gently took the ring and stored the <Etzkal Nightbeast>. It's midday. Nil couldn't move on his own. I returned the <Storage Ring> to Nil, gently putting it back on his finger. I returned to his side, where he quickly grabbed me. Nil looked utterly terrified.

"It's okay Nil. I'm right here." I informed him, which did little to ease how badly he was shaking.

"I'm sorry." Nil apologized in a frantic tone.

"For what? Slaying an <Etzkal Nightbeast> for us?" I checked. He managed it. Caught it off guard and did a desperate maneuver but did manage to kill it.

"I'm blind. How are we getting back with me like this?" Nil whimpered, trying to lean onto me.

"It's fine. Your eyes will heal. It'll take a while, but your vision will return." I informed him, trying to make my voice soothing.

"How's it fine? What if there's another one?" Nil checked. He's panicking. Not before fighting the murder beast, after.

"We'll be fine. Just might need to rest until your vision is back." I assured him, trying to calm him down.

"Okay." Nil sighed. I sat down next to him, leaning in a bit.

"It'll be okay. Just recover." I continued. Nil just hugged me as tight as he could in response.

"But. I severely hurt myself." Nil pointed out. His body was shaking uncontrollably still.

"Relax. We'll find shelter. I'm right here; I'm not going to leave you behind. It's okay Nil, I can heal your injuries slowly. We have food, and we have a way to get water. It's fine." I told him, hugging him back while he calmed down a bit.