CHAPTER 229: MY DARLING NIECE!

Beneath a dark sky, Raegar and Selene stood on the cliff’s edge, their gazes locked on the shadowy horde of monsters prowling below. A chill wind swept through, and Selene, the fierce Demoness, trembled as the storm’s breath grew colder.

Without a word, he pulled her close and enveloped her in the warmth of his cloak, its folds a silent vow of protection against the gathering storm. Her yellow eyes sparkled, and a radiant smile curved her lips.

In a tender, fleeting moment, she leaned in, her breath a whisper of warmth, and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, a delicate spark that set their hearts ablaze amidst the encroaching darkness.

’’What was that for?’’ the Demoness questioned.

Raegar glanced at her before answering. ’’Because I wanted to, but let’s find your uncle. There are some carriage tracks over there.’’

Following that, the two jumped off the ledge and skidded down the side of the mountain until they hit the bottom. They continued until a loud screech echoed across the landscape, causing the two to rush in its direction.

While running, Raegar summoned his daggers as Selene took out her sword just as a horde of Goblins rushed toward them. When the Demoness saw this, she looked at him, grinning. ’’Are you ready to fight?’’ she asked.

They charged into the fray, their movements a synchronized dance. The Goblin horde swarmed, their crude weapons flashing under the storm-lit sky, but the lovers were untouchable, bound by an unspoken rhythm.

Raegar spun low, his daggers carving arcs through the air, slicing through flesh. Selene, in turn, wielded her sword, her blade singing as it cleaved through their foes, her laughter a melody that echoed over the chaos.

The duo fought as a single force, their strikes surging like a storm, each anticipating the other’s moves with battle-honed instinct. A goblin lunged at Selene, but he was there, his dagger slicing through the air to drop the creature in its tracks.

Selene countered in kind, her sword carving a wide arc to scatter a trio of Goblins closing in on him, her gaze meeting his as the couple continued slaughtering the monsters as their numbers started to dwindle.

When the last Goblin collapsed, its body joining the pile of defeated foes, Raegar and Selene stood amid the chaos, panting just as a horrible aura bore down on them causing him to jump in front of the Demoness.

’’What is it, Rae?’’ she questioned.

’’Something powerful is coming,’’ he warned, readying his blades. ’’A Tier Eight monster at least.’’

The Demoness gulped just as a massive Hobgoblin rushed out of the nearby forest and threw something at the pair. Raegar instantly reacted and cast a Lightningfire Blast, sending the projectile soaring off course.

It was a massive axe, but he couldn’t;t focus on it for too long as the monster rushed toward them. Without waiting, he rushed forward and ducked under a wild swing as his dagger sliced through the enemy’s side.

The Hobgoblin let out a roar but was hit by dozens of Lightning Blasts, sending the beasts staggering back, as Selene was only a Tier One Warrior. Moments later, Raegar quickly cast Hydra Blades to help.

As the Aether weapons materialized, Raegar hurled them at the monstrous enemy, which raised its massive arms to shield itself. The projectiles slammed into its hide, embedding deep as Raegar charged forward.

Closing the distance, he unleashed a barrage of twelve Stormfire Bullets, each searing into the creature’s chest, the force launching it backward. Selene darted in, sweeping its legs, sending the beast crashing to the ground.

With the hobgoblin sprawled on the ground, Selene seized the moment, she leaped onto the beast, driving her blade downward, piercing through its skull in a single, brutal thrust. The creature’s body convulsed once before going still, its guttural roars silenced as dark ichor pooled beneath it.

Raegar stepped back, nodding grimly at Selene as she cleaned her sword. Just as the dust settled from their latest skirmish, a portly, red-skinned demon burst from a nearby bush with all the grace of a drunken ogre, his arms flailing like a windmill in a hurricane.

’’My darling niece!’’ he bellowed, his voice a mix of glee and desperation. ’’You’ve come to rescue your dear old uncle at last!’’

His bulbous nose twitched, and his mismatched boots squelched in the mud as if he’d been hiding in that shrub for days, plotting this dramatic entrance. Raegar’s head snapped toward the newcomer, one eyebrow arched so high it nearly escaped his forehead.

’’Who in the nine hells is this clown?’’ he muttered, gripping his dagger tighter, half-expecting the man to start juggling flaming torches for an encore.

Selene let out a giggle that was equal parts amusement and embarrassment, leaning in close enough for him to catch a whiff of her sweet scent. ’’Ignore him,’’ she whispered, her crimson eyes twinkling. ’’Uncle Zargoth’s about as eccentric as a three-legged troll .’’

Before Raegar could process this family reunion, the chubby demon doubled over, hands on his knees, panting as he’d just sprinted while carrying a sack of potatoes. His polka-dotted tunic strained against his belly, and a single, wilting feather in his cap bobbed sadly.

’’Oh, my sweet niece!’’ he gasped, wiping sweat from his brow using a handkerchief that looked suspiciously like a stolen tavern napkin. ’’You’ve no idea the trouble I’ve been through! Trapped in that bush for hours, dodging squirrels with murder in their eyes!’’

Raegar straightened up, puffing out his chest due to exaggerated pride, only to trip over a root and nearly face-plant into a pile of goblin corpses. He stifled a snort, exchanging a glance with Selene, who was fighting the urge to pretend she didn’t know this man.

’’Eccentric?’’ he whispered back, smirking. ’’That’s one way to say it.’’

Zargoth straightened up and looked at him, narrowing his beady red eyes as he spoke. ’’And who might this be, Selene? A lover perhaps?’’

The Demoness nodded while taking his arm. ’’Yes, this is Raegar Blackwood, the famous Ghost of the South! Though we haven’t made it official until we meet the head wife!’’ she exclaimed.

When the older man heard this, he offered his hand with a big smile. ’’It’s a pleasure to meet you. If I remember correctly, the Blackwoods are a Count Family down south?’’

’’Yes, it’s in the Western Lands but borders the southern regions,’’ he answered. ’’We live just outside Southwood City.’’

Zargoth’s eyes went wide as he nodded. ’’I know it! A brilliant place to trade if I do say so myself.’’

Following that, Selene stepped forward and questioned while glancing around. ’’Where is the rest of your caravan?’’

’’Dead,’’ the older man revealed. ’’During the Goblin ambush, they managed to hold the monsters back.’’

The Demoness looked annoyed before replying. ’’Alright, we’ll camp out for the night and head for the city in the morning.’’

As Raegar absorbed the weight of the conversation, a heavy sigh escaped his lips, his breath visible in the chill air. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, settling on a secluded alcove he had noticed earlier, tucked away from the road.

He made his way toward it, his boots barely disturbing the soft earth. Kneeling in the shadowed nook, he began inscribing a series of intricate Dark One Runes into the ground, their jagged, pulsating lines glowing faintly with an eerie, obsidian light.

The runes wove a subtle enchantment, designed to muddle the senses of the two demons lurking nearby, their guttural whispers now faltering as confusion took hold. Zargoth, his towering frame casting a long shadow in the dim light of the setting sun, approached with a measured stride.

His weathered face, etched with scars from countless battles, betrayed a flicker of curiosity as he observed Raegar’s work. Leaning closer, his voice rumbled low, cautious not to disturb the delicate magic at play.

’’Are those runes meant to ward off those vile creatures that stalk the night?’’ he asked, his tone a mix of respect and skepticism.

Raegar paused, his fingers still hovering over the final rune, its glow pulsing in rhythm with his steady heartbeat. He glanced up at Zargoth, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

’’Not just to ward them off,’’ he replied, his voice calm but laced with an edge of confidence. ’’These runes make it seem as if the area is empty.’’

His words carried the weight of experience, hinting at the countless nights he had spent outwitting foes far darker than the ones they faced now. Zargoth nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the runes as they shimmered faintly.

’’Clever,’’ he murmured, folding his arms across his broad chest. ’’But let’s hope your tricks hold when those beasts come sniffing closer.’’

’’They will old man,’’ he snapped back. ’’I’ve been in the wild enough to know how to beat back the Creatures of the Night.’’

When Zargoth heard this, he was about to speak, but Selene stopped him. ’’Listen to him, uncle, or I’ll tell Mama you’re being combative.’’