A/N: Oni=Demon

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The horizon darkened, casting a foreboding veil over the city near the border. The town's inhabitants were thrown into a state of upheaval and distress, confronted with a spectacle they had never hoped to see.

Seth along with Arata and now appearing out of their tents were Maydeath and Anabelle stood side by side as they witnessed the emergence of what seemed like a nightmare crawling out from the deepest depth of the abyss.

"What the hell is that thing..." Arata couldn't help muttering under his breath with his eyes never leaving the rise of the behemoth.

The creature's skin bore a deep green hue, reminiscent of trolls from ancient lore. Its elongated limbs showcased powerful muscles, a testament to its formidable strength. The torso was bare, save for a loin cloth draped around its lower half. Standing at an imposing forty feet, its sharp burly face featured a single eye, meticulously scanning its surroundings. The pronounced ears and a broad nose only heightened its menacing presence.

The presence, which the creature wore as a shroud was threatening enough to snatch consciousness out of many citizens and the guarding soldiers trembled in fear. 

"We have to save citizens and take this thing away from the town." Arata's protagonist's side spoke up, acting primarily for the people's benefit before they could engage in a battle against the Oni.

"We have got no time for that...we need to face it right here. " It wasn't like Seth chose to cause mayhem in the town rather from what he could sense, they had no other option.

'But how...and why?' Seth detected no nearby temple that might have allowed the creature's sudden breach from its confines. The entity's unexpected emergence remained a mystery.

Not to talk about the amount of Soul energy this inhumane radiated was even higher than Valarie's. 

'It's surely above tier 1...' Seth laughed inwardly to think all the complications had to arise at this critical period.

Regardless, he needed to get over this happenstance by any means possible, "Until the soldiers evacuate people, we need to keep the fight within the range.  In no circumstance, we could let this thing run away from the battlefield or who knows what city would turn to dust under its presence."

Everyone nodded at that, Arata convinced by the strategy. 

It was the first time that Maydeath and Anabelle wore such an expression of trepidation since everyone in the group could sense what strength those grotesque arms of the monster carried.

*SLIN*

Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of bloodlust, as heavy as a mountain, washed over the four. The creature had shifted its singular gaze to the group, silently but forcefully exerting its aura upon them.

"Tch!" Anabelle clucked in frustration, biting her lip and making a quick, forceful movement to shake off the unseen bindings. She then positioned her palm before her chest, invoking one of the most potent offensive spells at her disposal.

"Enhancement, Terrestrial Spikes."

The ground around the creature glowed with the same cyan shade as the spell circle rotating around  Anabelle's palms before the Oni glanced downward.

*SPIKOOO*

Over a hundred spikes, crafted from mere mud and amplified by Anabelle's soul energy, rocketed skyward. While their sizes differed, the sharp tips of each were undeniably menacing and not to be underestimated.

[Grr?]

A grunt akin to the rumbling of clouds left the Oni's throat as it allowed all the spikes to graze past its tough impenetrable skin. 

"It didn't even leave a scratch..." Maydeath muttered under her breath after regaining her composure.

Maydeath wasn't a mocking Anabelle; her assault was potent enough to slice many high-ranking monsters or seasoned warriors. However, the one-eyed behemoth appeared untouched, as if a mere insect had brushed against its skin.

"That's not the concerning part...it hasn't moved at all like it's allowing us to give our best. " (Arata)

This thought was shared by Seth as well as he assessed the situation and calculated the best outcome of this confirmation head-on. The first thought that emerged in his mind was to run away but for some reason, he didn't want to.

Was it adrenaline influencing his decision? More like rationality which stated that this creature was here for no one but them.

"Anabelle, stay behind and on my signal, bind the monster with your strongest spell."

Anabelle nodded with a sense of duty, striving to conceal her mix of anxiety and excitement upon being entrusted with a task by Seth.

"Maydeath, keep your distance enough to dive in for assistance, and Arata, try dealing damage to weaken that thing. No direct confrontation that could let the monster catch you."

"Will try."

"Understood."

Arata called forth his sword while Maydeath surrounded herself with a protective layer. She would have tried creating a barrier around Seth as well but due to lack of any prior battle experience might hinder both of them.

"Alright, now let's go."

The three individuals shot forward, leaving cracked asphalt behind as they approached the behemoth at a frightening pace. The said demon was holding his stance with its hands crossed over its broad chest and the huge eye roaming around, tracing every movement these four individuals made.

Maydeath was the first to spring into action. She extended her hand, momentarily slowing her advance, before unleashing her spell.

"Magma Floor!"

The area surrounding the creature's feet began to shift, the shade of brown mud contoured into fiery crimson, as the floor began to turn alive magma.

[Grrr!] 

This time, Oni's reaction was more pronounced. The sizzling sound of its skin searing against the ground bore witness to its agony. In response, the creature leaped away, eager to escape the scalding terrain.

The creature's colossal feet touched down nearby, forming a modest crater under its immense weight.

It was a silver lining for the aggressors: at least the demon wasn't impervious to all forms of attack.

"Uaaaaahhhh!!" With a fervent battle cry, Arata raised his great sword aloft, it crackled menacingly with white lightning. He then lunged, targeting the behemoth's feet.

[Grrr!] Yet, before Arata could bring his blade down in a sweeping arc, the creature swiftly drew its leg up to its chest, causing Arata to misjudge and falter in his advance. This minor oversight left the raven-haired youth helplessly positioned beneath the vast, plateau-like foot of the monster, now descending upon him with alarming velocity.

"I am fucked..."

Even Seth was far enough that he wouldn't have been able to reach Arata on time. There was a mere second worth window and nothing seemed to have possibly saved Arata from his gruesome demise.

However...

[Grrr...]

Just a breath apart from Arata's head, the Oni breathed a huff before tilting his feet and kicking Arata away.

Arata rolled on the ground with dirt covering his clothes, however, it was far better than being squashed into a pulp.

Seth's eyes narrowed at that, his lips thinning in a smirk as he muttered under his breath.

'This Oni is testing us...on someone's command...'

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A/N:- Drop a comment. I won't make the battle long so don't worry.