The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"Ugh..."

Devin groaned, grabbing the left side of his body.

Blood was gushing out of his wound, seeping into his left gauntlet, staining the steel with dark crimson.

A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed through his torso, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to show too much weakness.

"That looks like it hurts."

Allen mumbled, glancing at him with a blank expression, his sword still loosely gripped in his hand.

And with a frown on his face—

"No shit, Mister Detective."

Devin grumbled, voice laced with slight irritation.

He was still kind of annoyed at Allen for constantly using him as bait earlier, letting the demon attack him head-on just so he could land a surprise strike.

The two of them didn’t fight as a team, rather, they just fought individually, reacting to each other’s actions rather than coordinating.

Their so-called "teamwork" was just taking advantage of whatever openings the other created.

And Allen had it better since he was fast and agile, vanishing from sight and reappearing at will.

Meanwhile, Devin had to tank the demon’s wrath, bracing himself against every attack while Allen darted in and out, striking from blind spots.

He wasn’t complaining—he could take hits, sure.

But still.

"Tch..."

Devin clicked his tongue, rolling his shoulder as another wave of pain surged through his side.

Anyway—

"..."

Devin and Allen turned their attention back to the demon they had just fought.

Its decapitated head lay a few feet away, twisted in an expression of frozen rage, its mouth still slightly open as if mid-snarl.

Its torso was utterly wrecked, a gaping, charred hole in its chest, the edges still smoldering from Devin’s flames.

This was the result of their last combined attack.

"Hmm, I can’t believe we really defeated a demon."

Devin mumbled, exhaling deeply as he looked down at the corpse.

Even though he was exhausted, there was a strange sense of satisfaction in his voice.

But then—

"Well, it might be mid-rank, but that demon was nothing special in their ranks."

Allen said that, shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

"What do you mean?"

Devin asked, turning to him.

"..."

And looking at him straight—

"Look at his form."

Allen muttered, pointing at the demon on the ground.

Devin went and took another look at the demon’s corpse.

But even after staring at it for seconds...

"...?"

He still doesn’t know what Allen was talking about.

And seeing him like that—

"Haaaaaa..."

Allen let out a frustrated sigh.

Then opening his mouth—

"His form, it’s ugly and looks more like a monster."

He stated that.

"Strong demons with high bloodline tend to look humanoid. The only differences are their dark wings, claws, horns, and reddish skin tones... But the demon we fought, he looks like a combination of a pig and a cow."

Allen continued, explaining.

And after hearing his words—

"So what you’re saying is that we just killed a nobody?"

Devin frowned and asked.

And casually—

"Yep."

Allen responded with a nod of his head.

"..."

"..."

The two of them became silent after that.

They don’t know what to say.

And looking at his bloodied left side of the body—

’Just a nobody, huh.’

Devin thought of that, complicated feeling swirling in his head.

"..."

And just then—

"Guys, we’re here!!"

Devin and Allen heard a familiar voice not far away.

"Huh?"

Fwish—

And when they went to check who it was—

"Ah..."

They saw Sofia running towards them.

"..."

Lena was casually following her from behind.

And in their hands—

Vials of potions.

And seeing that—

"Ah...! I need one of those, I’m injured because of two crazy bastards!"

Devin shouted that, pertaining to Allen and the demon.

"Ugh, just let it go."

Allen said.

"No."

And Devin simply replied to him without hesitation.

...

*****

If Allen and Devin had just finished their fight—

Well, not far from them—

"..."

"..."

Leon and Lycus’ fight with the demon in front of them was just about to begin.

Swoooosh~

The air between them was heavy. The scent of blood lingered, mixing with the faint static of demonic energy crackling in the atmosphere.

-...

The mid-rank demon, on the verge of evolving into a high-rank, stood tall, his piercing red eyes scanning his opponents.

Fwish—

His long, razor-sharp claws gleamed in the dim light, a clear warning.

-Humans.

The demon muttered, his voice deep and smooth, lacking the arrogance of his lesser kin.

-I can see that you will not be as easy as the others.

He said.

And then—

Tap-

A slow, calculated step forward—his movements were unnaturally precise.

"Fuuuu..."

Fwip-

Leon exhaled, tightening his grip on his steel sword.

"..."

Lycus, on the other hand, bared his teeth in a smile.

Fwooosh~

FWIP—

His daggers twirled between his fingers before locking into his reverse grip, his stance lowering.

"Finally, we’re going to get some action too."

Lycus whispered, his voice filled with anticipation.

"..."

Leon heard him, he just didn’t say anything.

Though, he feels the same excitement as Lycus.

Fwish—

Leon tensed his muscles on his lower body, especially on his legs and foot.

And after that—

BAAM—

He kicked off the ground!

FWOOOSH—

He closed the distance between him and the demon in a blink, his blade was gleaming!

And when he got the demon in his attack range—

SWOOSH—!

Leon’s steel sword swiftly slashed in a clean arc!

Though—

The demon was faster.

TIIING—!

A claw intercepted Leon’s strike with unnatural strength.

"Urgh...!"

Leon groaned.

But as a response—

Fwop—

He twisted his wrist and pressed forward!

CLANG!

—only for the demon to parry his blade with ease again!

"...?!"

SHHHHIIIICCK—

Leon was sent skidding back, he was frustrated.

But at that moment—

FWOOSH—!

"..."

Lycus was already there!

And with a fast swipe—

SWISH—

He launched a rapid, precise slash with the dagger in his right, aimed at the demon’s neck!

-Oh...

SHIIING—!

The demon just leaned back, dodging by a hair’s breadth.

Fwish—

And as Lycus’ second dagger followed up—

-You’re too slow.

The demon said that.

THWACK—!

"KEUK...!!!"

SWOOOOSH—

And then he kicked Lycus while he was mid-air, launching him backward!

Though before he could hit the ground—

FWIP—!

Tap-

Lycus twisted, flipping mid-air and landing gracefully.

Then looking at the demon with a frown on his face—

"...He dodged that?"

Lycus muttered. And even though his expression is like that, his excitement was increasing.

And then—

Tap-

"..."

Leon stepped beside him, his eyes narrowed, glaring at the demon.

"This isn’t going to be easy."

He said.

And looking at him—

"Well duh, of course it isn’t."

Lycus responded to him, fixing his stance.

Seeing them side to side—

-Both of you at once? That’s better.

The demon said that and smirked.

And the next moment, without even a sign or warning—

SWISH—

The demon vanished!

"...!"

Both Leon and Lycus’ bodies immediately tensed, their eyes shot open.

And then the demon appeared!

F W O O O S H—!

From above—!

The demon descended like a shadow, claws aimed straight for them!

But being ready—

"!!!"

SWOOSH—

Leon reacted instantly and swung up his sword with both his hands tightly clenching it!

T A A A A N G—!

His sword met the demon’s attack, but the force was overwhelming!

"URRRRRGGHHH—!"

CRACK—

Leon’s feet dug into the ground as he was pushed back in terms of strength!

And Lycus, making use of that opportunity—

FWOOSH—!

He vanished from his spot!

FSSSH—

A blur moved behind the demon.

And sensing that—

-Another sneak attack?

The demon whispered.

FWISH—

Then he twisted mid-air!

S L A S H—!

His claw shot out, meeting Lycus’ incoming dagger mid-strike!

And with that—

CLANG—!

Another parry!

FWOOSH—

And as Lycus’ second dagger thrust forward—

THWACK—!

The demon struck first!

"GAHH?!!"

Lycus received a knee to the stomach—!

"Ghh—!"

He coughed, he became vulnerable to attacks.

But before the demon could even follow up another attack—

FWOOSH—!

Leon suddenly appeared beside him!

And opening his mouth—

"!"

Leon exclaimed that!

S L A S H—!

And then he swung his sword horizontally!

WHOOOOOOSH—!

A powerful gust exploded from Leon’s sword!

-Tch.

The demon clicked his tongue.

He couldn’t dodge mid-air because of Lycus.

And so—

B O O M—!

He received the attack head-on!

SWOOOSH—

-Ugh...!

The wind forced the demon back, giving Lycus time to recover.

"...Damn."

Lycus muttered, shaking off the impact.

"He’s something else."

Leon said, keeping an eye on the demon.

(The demon just landed elegantly just a few meters away from them. Leon’s attack barely did anything to him.)

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"He’s calm. He’s not making mistakes."

Lycus stated, recalling every exchange that had happened so far.

And opening his mouth again—

"Then I guess we’ll have to force him to make one."

Lycus declared that.

The demon, hearing their conversation, rolled his shoulders.

-Very well.

He muttered.

F w o o s h-!

Then his dark claws extended further, glowing with demonic energy.

And with a confident smirk om his face—

-Try it if you can.

The demon provocatively announced that!

"..."

Lycus and Leon became silent at his words, chills ran down his spine.

And briefly glancing at each other—

"Mhm."

"..."

They nodded in unison.

Then—

B A A M—!

SWOOOOSH—

They kicked off the ground and dashed straight to the demon!

Their battle resumes!