The Prince of Demons

Onilin

Lux was some terrifying anomaly conjured by the Lords to terrify whoever crossed our paths. Our first spar felt close, but after a handful of spars beating her became a fading dream. Did she not grasp how strong she had become? Each time she fights she just seems to get endlessly stronger. Where did she come from? Why have I never heard of her? At first I just thought maybe Lux was from some far corner of Phestia, but her strength was making me wonder how she remained anonymous this long. She was Ikol's undeniable boss as he did whatever she told him to, which was mind boggling. If anything about King Miril I knew was true, Lux bossing him around like she did, and surviving, was nothing short of miraculous. Apparently, she also was taught by King Miril as well, which only added to my confusion. I looked at Vndrglz writhing on the ground, trying to heal his body from Lux's onslaught. Seriously? She ripped him apart. Ikol had been pretty much missing in action for the last three years, hiding behind his mother so most of us thought, but he emerged much stronger with vastly improved <Magic> while heralding the monstrosity of Lux. Ikol now tended to hide behind Lux, who made sure he was kept happy. I imagine because King Miril will have her head, though having to be on team keep Ikol happy is a bit annoying. Lux seemed quite intolerant to listen to or care for the feelings of beings weaker than her, so her protectiveness of Ikol was quite likely due to being scared of King Miril. I learned to keep an eye open for cover from rain after Ikol needed double wing covers beneath Lux's <Light Barrier>.

I heard there was some random light being and fox Beastkin that appeared from nowhere recently, seen talking or being near Sovereign Hoggdin, were they related to this? Did Lux come from wherever they did? It seemed a bit coincidental for them to be completely independent. What was Lux? Where on Phestia did she come from? Zagzin might not have realized what he initially challenged, but it became brutally obvious we were now part of her <Pack> one way or another. I was wondering if anyone could defeat Lux for the title of strongest of the new generation. There are only a handful that stand a chance. Ikol's elder brother Ufr immediately came to mind as someone who might be able to beat Lux as he was part of this <Journey>. Rpqlx also was the other major contender for the title. Who else? Piazul was likely the last one who could do so. Unless there is some other unknown monster like Lux hiding in the woodworks. I was grasping how she eviscerated Vndrglz clearly out of some half motivation to spar someone new and irritated someone bullied her musclehead.

Part of me hoped that possessive protection extended to all of her teammates, not just Ikol. Lux wasn't a complete tyrant when it came to leading, just tended to focus on the goal and getting there. Zagzin was rarely allowed to voice an opinion, but Lux did listen to Ikol and me a bit. Would be nice if she would be willing to fight some of the more problematic beings on my behalf. I can gladly stomach her ego if that's the case. Was it ego? She's forling strong and it's only getting worse. If someone told me the strongest <Sentinel Lord> in our generation wasn't Ufr, I'm not sure I would have believed them until now. Of the three I thought of, which was the strongest? Or at least had the best chance against Lux? That I was unsure of, maybe Piazul based off current opponents I'd seen so far.

There was also Ni, whoever that was. Lux immediately shut Ikol up about them. Her hint implied he was not from Phestia to begin with. Did that also mean Lux was not from Phestia? Where would she be from then? Ikol likely knew the answer to both questions but probing or trying to get information from him would only infuriate Lux. Originally teasing her was kind of fun, but seeing her meteoric growth in the short span I've known her let's me know that's not a great idea. Why was she growing so fast? It seemed unnatural how fast Lux was improving and growing currently. How was that possible? Was it some secret method from King Miril? I wanted to probe more but Lux always deflected when it came to King Miril and her lessons. Is it because she is not supposed to talk about them or something else?

Ikol honestly did us a massive favor with his fish of appeasement. That was some forward thinking on his part. Ikol was about as intelligent as I remembered, but he also grew way more than should be possible in three years. How? I knew it was connected to Lux somehow; it would be too coincidental for them not to be connected. Lux also shamelessly bossed him around. Is she not afraid of King Miril's wrath? Ikol was happily chewing on the fish head, looking completely disinterested in what was happening around us. I looked back at Vndrglz, seeing he was still healing. Lux pierced his carapace like it was nothing. That disruptor <Magic> of hers was truly brutal, but I never imagined it could be used like this. Maybe Vndrglz is weaker than I remember. Last time he and I dueled though, he won.

Sister, what are we going to do? Zagzin probed while looking at our <Sentinel Lord> companions.

I am not sure. I was not expecting Lux to so thoroughly defeat Vndrglz. I confessed. Part of me wanted to duel Ikol to see if maybe he also was much stronger than I was thinking.

She made it look easy. Do you think she was handicapping herself against you? Zagzin checked. I replayed our duel versus the Lux of now.

No. Whatever that light speed <Technique> is she is steadily getting better at. Her halo usage and <Mana Reinforcement> are also rapidly improving. I pointed out to him.

Wait, was that the precursor to King Miril's <Hyper Bound>? Or at least the same concept? King Miril refuses to teach some of her children how to do that from my understanding. How on Phestia did Lux get King Miril to teach her that? I knew Ikol said that his mother taught Lux, but just how much did King Miril teach Lux? Ikol had finished the fish head and was now standing at attention waiting for Lux's next command. Lux was making sure she wasted none of the appeasement fish Ikol had given her, seeming unbothered by the fact we were waiting for her. Part of me wants to sass her, but I am wondering if I want answers if playing into her ego would be the better approach. Vndrglz looked like he was finally about done recovering from his duel with Lux.

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Who do you think Ni is? Zagzin inquired, looking kind of defeated. Yea, Lux was doing my pride zero favors.

No idea. Lux clearly doesn't want to talk about it, so unless we somehow trick Ikol into telling us we're probably never learning the answer. I answered. I did not want to believe there was another <Spirit Beast> like Lux I hadn't heard of; one unknown monster was already enough of a surprise.

You could have warned me. Vndrglz spat bitterly at me as he was testing how healed he was.

I tried. Even I wasn't aware of how strong Lux has gotten; that surprised me too. I confessed. I could feel his deadpan stare in reply.

Thank you for using me to test. I'm assuming she beat you and your brother? Vndrglz verified as he seemed pleased to be fully healed.

Correct. Ikol also has been thrashing my brother. I explained to him.

Really? That moron? Vndrglz probed, sounding surprised. Lux glared at Vndrglz almost like she could read his mind. She really didn't like beings insulting her musclehead. To be fair, Ikol all but blindly worships her from what I can tell.

"By the way, you're healed now, right?" Lux asked Vndrglz who immediately looked alert in case Lux felt like round two.

"Yes." Vndrglz replied while bracing for impact.

"Duel Ikol now." Lux demanded. What? She wanted Ikol to duel him? Ikol looked less than sure about the idea as well.

"Why should I?" Vndrglz cried at her. Lux's expression made it clear she did not appreciate being questioned by something weaker than her.

"Did you think this was a discussion, bug? That was an order." Lux snarled as her <Mana> got threatening.

"But Chef, I don't know." Ikol mumbled next to her. Lux looked at him with a stern stare.

"Oolle oolle into pipi pipi. Follow up with woosha woosha and sun." Lux told him. Vndrglz, Zagzin, and I all stared at her. She speaks Ikol? What did those sentences even mean? Lux seemed to think that would let Ikol win, whatever she said.

"Yes Chef!" Ikol chimed, saluting her.

"I am not losing to Ikol of all beings. I am stronger than him; it is beneath me." Vndrglz growled at Lux. Her stare in return made him take a step back.

"No, it is not. He is going to win faster than I did. After which, my newest servant better fix his attitude." Lux snapped back. What was Lux on about? There was no way that statement was true.

"Servant?" Vndrglz challenged, sounding quite offended.

"You lost, it is only right to serve the glory that is me." Lux answered. Vndrglz looked at us as it clicked in his head.

What if I try to flee from her? Vndrglz checked in a tone that made it clear he knew the answer.

Lux very likely will cripple or kill you because if you aren't serving her there is no point in leaving you if I were to guess. We've been making a <Pack> for the <Journey> under Lux where whoever wins the duels determines pecking order; it's likely just temporary. I explained to him. After the duel I needed to explain how to deal with the arrogance of Lux.

Has Ikol somehow gotten much stronger? Vndrglz asked while Lux was looking angry that her order was not immediately followed.

Maybe. I am not sure just how strong he has gotten because he hides behind Lux. I replied. Vndrglz let out an annoyed sigh.

"Fine." Vndrglz conceded, going to a starting position.

Ikol did a small bound over, making a fair gap between him and Vndrglz. Why was Lux so confident in Ikol? Did she know something I didn't? Lux used <Light Burst> to signal to begin the duel. Ikol immediately rushed Vndrglz, which I expected. Vndrglz made a <Dark Shield> to stop him in response that Ikol simply shattered with one of his tails as he kept running. What? Vndrglz went to strike with a pincer as Ikol had his front paw coated in what looked like liquid <Mana>. What <Technique> is that? I think Lux has used a similar one, but never coating it with that much if she does. Ikol twisted his body around Vndrglz's attack, uppercutting him with the coated paw. My brother and I then learned that Ikol had been holding back when he dueled Zagzin as with a massive explosion Vndrglz was launched flying into the air. Ikol's halos began glowing as his <Mana> got rigid. What was he doing? Ikol rapidly kicked off the ground, adjusting in the air to grab the surprised Vndrglz, before pivoting his entire body with Vndrglz to slam him head first into the ground hard enough to shake the earth. There were several crunching and cracking sounds that echoed over the massive plume of dirt and rubble Ikol kicked up from that move.

"Winner, Ikol!" Lux declared as I saw Ikol trot away.

My jaw went slack when I saw Vndrglz. He was limp, buried halfway in the earth with massive cracks going through his carapace. How did Ikol do that? How did Ikol overwhelm Vndrglz? That… that shouldn't be right. What was that liquid <Mana>? Where did he learn it? I immediately looked at Lux who I was pretty sure used it too. Is that how her needles and weapons work? Her coating of them was much finer and thinner if that was the case. It explained that obnoxious <Technique> of hers. Zagzin looked in horror as he realized that he had been challenging Ikol regularly hoping to win. Being honest brother, that was way cockier of a challenge than I thought.

"I won! I won! You're so smart, Chef!" Ikol cheered, giving her a happy head bump.

"Told you that you'd win faster." Lux quipped with an expression that made it clear she expected this outcome.

"How?" I asked as I could not comprehend what I just witnessed. Zagzin looked at me a bit surprised as he went to help Vndrglz.

"What do you mean, how?" Lux checked, her tone making it clear I needed to tread carefully.

"How did Ikol win? What was that <Technique>? That liquid <Mana>? I thought you just formed your <Mana> a bit off, but it is an actual <Technique> of some sort." I clarified. Lux mulled over her response as she pat Ikol on the head for a job well done. Vndrglz was out cold from Ikol's attack.

"Ikol is not weak, he is just a hammer; you all just failed to grasp his strength. As for that <Technique>, it's a secret for now. I'm shocked you don't know it because Miril could do it." Lux taunted. She doesn't even call her King Miril?! Is she insane? Or are they that close?

That was not the important part of what she said. Have we all just underestimated Ikol because he's dumb? I saw the condition Vndrglz was in, knowing I couldn't hope to do that. Just how physically strong was Ikol? He just lifted and slammed Vndrglz hard enough to almost shatter his carapace. Ikol was a hammer? What did Lux mean by that? I looked at Vndrglz, seeing just how injured he was from a few hits from Ikol. Lux told Ikol what to do, and that was the result. One thing was brutally apparent as a realization was dawning on me: Lux quickly grasped how to use Ikol's strength against Vndrglz. Ikol was dancing happily around Lux, overjoyed that he defeated Vndrglz. This <Journey> was proving to be much more surprising than I ever thought it could be. What was the next surprise going to be?