A month had passed since their last mission, and Team 7 had been busy completing numerous tasks. They had successfully finished 10 C-rank, 5 B-rank, and 2 A-rank missions, and they were well on their way to becoming Senior Members of the Demon Slaying Squad.
The team had Ashton to thank for this, really. If it weren't for his sheer expertise when it comes to Aiding Spells and Healing Spells, the missions would've been more difficult and their progress would be a lot slower.
Actually, Ashton had created a decent reputation within the guild already because of his skills as a Healer.
Today was going to be different, though.
Ashton arrived at the guild and discovered that the atmosphere was tenser than it usually was.
As it turns out, a special guest had arrived at the guild, and it was none other than the 7th Prince of the Sylvenvale Imperial Family, Prince Feanor.
pAnD a(-)n0ve1.com When he asked around, he learned that the Prince had enlisted the help of several squads to travel with him to the Shadow Woods, a dangerous area where many demons were known to reside. The mission he had in mind was to retrieve a rare and powerful relic that was said to be hidden deep within the woods.
Just hearing the location of the mission already caused him to dislike the Prince...
The Shadow Woods is a place of darkness and terror, known to be one of the most dangerous places in the entire Sylvenvale Great Forest.
The woods are shrouded in a thick, perpetual mist, which makes it impossible to see more than a few feet in any direction. The trees are gnarled and twisted, their bark black and withered. The branches are gnarled and sharp, often resembling bony claws reaching out to grab passersby.
The air is thick with the stench of decay and rot, and the only sounds that can be heard are the rustling of leaves and the eerie whispers of unseen creatures. The ground is slick with mud and covered in tangled roots that reach up like tentacles, waiting to trip the unwary.
The Shadow Woods is home to all manner of malevolent creatures, from the smallest and most insidious of pests to the largest and most terrifying of monsters. Demons roam the woods freely, preying on any who dare to venture into their territory. Giant spiders with razor-sharp legs and venomous fangs lurk in the shadows, waiting to ensnare their prey. The very trees themselves seem to come to life, reaching out with thorny tendrils to ensnare the unwary.
Navigating the Shadow Woods is a harrowing experience, and only the bravest and most skilled of adventurers dare to venture into its dark depths. Many who have tried have never returned, their fate unknown and their bodies lost to the eternal darkness of the forest
Yet despite the harrowing destination, a lot of people seem to be thinking of joining the Prince. And frankly, Ashton couldn't blame them.
This was the Prince of Sylvenvale. One small act of his can affect many lives, if he puts in a word for any of them, their future would be brilliant.
Being part of the Demon Slaying Squad was cool and all, but nobody could truly blame the others for pursuing an easier lifestyle. And if that means that they need to curry favor with the Prince, then they wouldn't hesitate to do so.
Ashton felt conflicted as soon as he heard the news. He remembered that the Prince was related to him, but he knew that he had no love for his family. He was an outcast, exiled since infancy because of his impure blood.
This dislike and irritation came from the depths of his being. It didn't belong to Ashton. Instead, it's coming from the subconscious part of this body he's inhibiting.
'Right, in some ways, I am a Prince too. I can't believe I nearly forgot that.' Ashton found this nearly laughable.
He already expected that his team would be joining as well. Elias and Kaida looked eager to work with a Prince, and Roderick thought that this might be a chance to gather a sufficient reputation for the team, which will inevitably help them when they decide to apply for promotion.
As they prepared for the mission, Ashton noticed that the Prince kept glancing his way a couple of times. It's as if he recognized him or something, which shouldn't be possible since Ashton was exiled the moment he was born.
He felt annoyed by the Prince's attention towards him but he quickly pushed it aside. He knew he couldn't let his emotions get in the way of the mission.
Once everybody made sufficient preparations, they didn't waste time and immediately set out to the Shadow Woods.
The journey to the Shadow Woods was long and treacherous.
They had to pass through several dangerous territories, and the demons they encountered were much stronger than what they had faced before. The Prince seemed unbothered by the danger, and Ashton couldn't help but feel uneasy around him.
Ashton had worked with many people in the past, and that allowed him to develop a keen sense of a person's thoughts. It wasn't all that hard for him to notice that this Prince was just pretending to be nice to them.
In short, he had an ulterior motive for bringing them here. And judging by the location they're in, Ashton could only think of this being a bad situation for all of them.
"Your Highness, we arrived at the place marked on the map. However, we have yet to see the relic that you spoke of." One of the Demon Slayers said.
That's when the Prince suddenly faced them wearing a rather sinister expression. He waved his hand and all of a sudden, all of the Demon Slayers found themselves trapped by thick vines which greatly restricted their movement.
"Prince Feanor! What is the meaning of this!!?" One of the Demon Slayers demanded.
The Prince smirked coldly and said: "My dear demon slayers, I have a confession to make. I never cared about that relic in the Shadow Woods."
"In truth, there was no relic at all! My true intention was to strike a deal with a powerful demon who resides here."
"What? You lied to us?"
The other demon slayers exchange worried glances.
"Yes, I did." Prince Feanor sneered: "You see, I need an army to help me overthrow my own father, the king. I initially wanted to gather many from our kind but most of them are useless. An army of demons, however, they're stronger and more loyal. With them, I can finally claim the throne that is rightfully mine."
"How dare you use us for your own selfish gain! You put us all in danger!" An outraged Demon Slayer said while struggling with their bindings.
"I see you're upset, but this is just how politics work. Sacrifices have to be made, and you demon slayers are simply collateral damage." The Prince added.
"We won't let you do this. We can't let you put the kingdom at risk like this."
Prince Feanor laughed and said: "Oh, but you can't stop me. The demon has already agreed to my terms, and his army is already mobilizing. You're outnumbered and outmatched. It's too late for you to do anything."
"We'll see about that!"
As the Demon Slayers struggled to free themselves, they suddenly felt the ground shaking violently. Then, they heard a sharp whistle followed by an intense impact landing near them.
"Astaroth, you finally came." Prince Feanor greeted the demon who just arrived with all smiles and expectations.
Astaroth is a towering figure, standing over 10 feet tall. Its body is muscular and covered in black, leathery skin, with large, bat-like wings sprouting from its back. Its head is that of a bull, with two long horns that curve menacingly towards its back. Its eyes glow bright red, and its teeth are sharp and jagged.
He wields a massive, spiked mace in one hand and a fiery whip in the other. It exudes an aura of darkness and fear, causing all who stand in its presence to feel weak and powerless. It is known to be one of the most fearsome and dangerous demons in existence, feared even by other demons.
"I see that you've held up to your promise." Astaroth's deep and archaic voice echoed in their ears.
"Why, of course! I told you that I want to work with you, didn't I? It's only normal for me to do this. After all, I'm expecting you to do the same."
Astaroth snorted and said: "Don't worry. Us, Demons never break our promises."
"If that's the case, then feel free and help yourself with these sacrifices." Prince Feanor chuckled coldly as he regarded the Demon Slayers he fooled.
"Damn! God damn it!" Roderick snarled as he struggled from his bindings to no avail. "Not like this! This isn't what I wanted! I can't die knowing that I failed yet another team!"
Elias, Kaida, and Leila similarly struggled as well. Their expressions were painted with fear and desperation as they feel the demon slowly approaching them.
"A Prince teaming up with a Demon, eh?" Ashton's voice echoed across everybody's ears, causing them to look at him. "I guess I should've seen this coming way sooner. But, oh well..."
Ashton's body then glowed with a brilliant white light, and all of a sudden, he was freed from his bindings.
"It's not too late to punish a traitor isn't it?"
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