A shockwave cut past Eliron, pushing him back and blowing the rest of the elves to a distance.
Eliron hugged Yennefer close to his body as the wind cut past them, ruffling their clothing.
The elves around had already begun to flee towards the village, so of them hiding at a respectable distance away from the scene.
Yennefer looked troubled as she watched the dust settle. "What is happening? What was that thing he ate?"
"A demonic fragnt..." Eliron said coldly.
"It is a product of black magic, an item used to draw upon power from the abyssal realm."
"While spirit shards are fragnts of a monster’s spirit core, a demonic fragnt is an imitation. A spirit shard corrupted with abyssal power, to act as a host for a demon’s will."
When consud, the individual will manifest traits of the demon whose will infused into the shard.
It was a major part of the story, Titan’s Tribulations. But that was in the later arcs. What then was a demonic fragnt doing in Artaris??
Whoosh!
A wave of sinister energy washed passed them, followed by another burst of cutting wind that blew the dust away.
Finally, they had a good view of Drakili.
His clothes had been torn to shreds, and his skin had turned a shade of dark purple.
Right before their eyes, black bones shot out of his skin, ripping through flesh. Drakili scread as they contorted.
His flesh seed to lt, reforming itself in horrid ways.
Jagged spikes tore out of his shoulders, hardened, black bones covering his chest like a plate of corrupted armour.
He grew considerably larger, now standing at about seven feet in height, his body taking on a demonic appearance.
And finally, his head was shrouded with dark energy that swirled around it viciously.
Blood spewed out, forming a mist around it before it cleared.
Artie and Ash got to Eliron, watching the transformation with astounded looks.
"What the hell is going on?"
"This... I have a bad feeling about tbis..."
Ash spoke first, while Artie was next, both of them drawing their weapons.
Two curved horns shot out of Drakili’s skull and his eyes glowed crimson as he placed his head right back atop his shoulders, the wound closing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter bood over Artaris.
"I—I feel amazing!" Drakili scread, flexing his arms. "So this is the power of the high elves?! Magnificent!"
Ash gritted his teeth. "Is this what you have beco, Drakili?" He said in a disappointed tone.
"You have been selling out your people for years, hundreds have died because of you, the elven lord died because of you!"
"Shut up child!"
Whoosh!
Purple aura blew past them—sinister energy that made them feel like vomiting, rolling past the grass and decaying it.
Only Yennefer and Eliron seed unaffected by it.
"You stand at your position of privilege and question my decisions, but in truth you know nothing about this world."
"All that matters in this world is absolute dominion, strength to carry out your will. Without it, you are nothing but a hollow log, a loud cymbal."
He slamd his foot against the floor, causing a net of cracks to form.
Then he smiled maliciously. "I sold out the elves, yes, and so fucking what?! The weak are dood to be trampled upon while the strong reign supre."
He lifted his hands in the air, basking in the glory of his strength, then glared down at Ash with slit-like pupils.
"Look around you! That is the way of this world!"
Ash clenched his jaw, his face fraught with rage. "You swore an oath to protect these people!" He scread at the top of his voice.
"You swine! You are just like what you have beco, a demon through and through!"
Drakili seed offended by his insults, but it was only after Ash said the next words that he lost it...
Ash shook his head and looked up at Drakili, sadness visible in his eyes. "If Drakeni could see you now... he would spit upon you, and curse the very day the forest gave you life."
Drakili’s eyes widened, a lost look on his face as he watched Ash.
And then he vanished.
Bang!
In an instant, Drakili was in front of him, a deafening clang reaching their ears as the dust scattered.
He had intended to crush Ash, but instead, Eliron was standing in front of him, pushing back his attack with his saber.
"Curse you, Ash, I will have your head for that statent!" He spat, his mana flaring.
His fist was pouring out a trendous amount of mana, the energy feeling like needles against Eliron’s skin
Ash raised his sword. "Let fight him my lord, I will bring justice to this traitor!"
"Stay back! You may be strong, but a demon is still too much for you." Eliron frowned.
"Besides, You have other obligations do you not? Do not let your emotions get in the way of your duty!"
Ash looked reluctant, but nodded. "Yes my lord!"
Bang!
Eliron shoved Drakili back with an explosive kick to the gut, then he sliced upward in a clean arc, the sword flashing in his vision.
Drakili drew his head back just in ti, the blade slicing his chin open as he jumped back, his feet screeching against the floor as he pulled himself to a stop.
He smirked and wiped the blood off his chin. "Not bad."
The injury closed back up, disappearing as though it was never there.
’Regeneration huh?’
Eliron was not surprised because he already knew this through the novel.
"Will you be alright alone?" Yen asked, watching him with concern.
Eliron nodded. "Go."
Artie stared at the demon for a few seconds and then at Eliron. "Be safe."
Then the three of them turned to leave, running towards the village.
Drakili did not bother going after them, because he knew that he could not risk turning his back on Eliron.
"Fighting alone? How foolish."
He swung his arms downwards, and thick, bone-like substances surrounded both hands like demonic gauntlets, short spikes rising out of each knuckle.
Eliron raised his blade and watched him coldly.
For a few seconds, there was absolute silence as they sized each other up.
And then they moved.
Bang!
Eliron’s blade t Drakili’s fists, sparks forming as they grinded against each other.
Drakili swung his other arm widely, dark mana curling around his fists. Eliron swerved to the side, the fist whistling past his head.
’Wind Slash.’
Vwoosh!
Two slicing wind currents slamd into Drakili’s abdon, pushing him back and scattering dust in his vision.
Eliron tore through the haze, his sword following a curved arc towards Drakili’s throat.
Reacting imdiately, Drakili blocked the strike with his elbow, exposing his right side which Eliron made him pay for, as a mana-infused knee dug into his side.
Drakili darted back, his expression twisted with rage, then he clasped his arms together, letting out a battle roar as he brought his fist down.
Bang!
A small crater was ford on the point of impact, the ground caving from the sheer destructive power behind the blow.
Drakili stared at the empty space. "Where did he—?!"
Eliron was right above him. The ornants in his hair jiggled, his garnts caught the wind, and his sword reflected the sunlight as he swung the blade.
Drakili crossed both hands above his head to protect himself, the arms coated with fragnts of bone.
BOOOM!
A shock wave cut past them, tremors running down Drakili’s hand.
Part of the bone shattered, sending fragnts flying in the air.
’How did he get so strong?!’ Drakili thought.
Drakili was in partial demonic transformation, due to the strange power the high elves had given him.
He expected to have easily trampled Eliron, yet, he had not even managed to lay a single punch on him!
Drakili tried to shove Eliron, who was still in the air away, but the elven lord did a flip, his arms gliding past him.
Then he placed his foot atop Drakili’s shoulder, delivering a kick to his face that dazed him, saliva spewing out of his mouth.
Drakili tried to grab him in a bear hug, but Eliron’s sword moved faster.
Drakili twisted his head just in ti, his eyes wide—
Swish!
The sword missed.
Instead of splitting Drakili’s head, it cleaved his arm off, right from his shoulder down.
Before Eliron jumped away, landing smoothly on the decayed grass.
Drakili caught his arm before it could fall and slamd it back in place. Bone reunited with bone, flesh nding with flesh, nerves and arteries reconnecting as the wound sealed.
Eliron on the other hand swung his blade, sending the blood off the steel.
Drakili clenched his jaw as he watched Eliorn.
"I’ve had enough."
SWOOOSH!
His mana suddenly flared, visible aura rushing out of his body as it surged around him, scorching the floor.
A turbulent sound akin to rolling thunder filled the area.
Drakili’s eyes glowed a bright shade of crimson as he fixed his gaze on Eliron.
"Demonic fist—First Stance, Soul Corrosion."
A dark smile painted his lips.
"This is the day you die, oh righteous lord of elves!!"
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