The Gambling Hero

Chapter 19: Bastrin's Dedication

astrin was sitting still a few feet away, and it seemed he didn't sense the presence which was odd considering demons had very good sense. I let out a yell to warn Bastrin, "Bastri-" My mouth was shut before I could even start the green eyes dashed out of the nearby bushes at lightning speed. Bastrin was a bit quicker however, and used his flesh to block a sword strike aimed directly at my stomach. The attacker retreated backwards once the attack had failed, and stood before us with a cold face. The person in front of me was a human, and she was around my age with black long hair that went down to the middle of her back. Her green eyes were beautiful, but impossibly cold she showed no emotion on her face, or in her eyes. She wielded a katana with a red, and black hilt with a red gemstone in the middle; she seemed to have trained her entire life to use it so skillfully. Lilith was up, and around now she had a fire spell at the ready, and looked like she would be shooting to kill. Lilith said violently, "Who are you girl?! Why did you attack us?"

She said nothing, and pointed her blade towards us it seems trying to reason with her was pointless. I decided it was best to take action before she decapitated me, "Bastrin, Lilith don't bother holding back if she wants a fight we will give her a fight." It was a face that she was human, but she moved unlike a human typically could, and something was weird about her sword. The gemstone on the hilt had started to glow when Lilith had casted her fire magic, and I figured out quickly exactly why that was so dangerous. The magic Lilith had been casting had quickly faded away into nothingness which confused Lilith. I explained, "Lilith it seems that sword drains magic, so keep your distance if you plan on casting fire magic."

I felt it was impossible to try, and sway someone who has steeled their mind to this degree, so I got out of both of my friends' ways. I backed up, and would leave this fight to them I would only interrupt if I felt that I needed to. It seems the girl had finally decided to attack again she slashed towards Lilith who barely avoided a strike from the human girl. Bastrin tried to attack in this opening, but it seemed he couldn't morph his body in the right way and was kicked a few feet away. I shouted, "Dammit she's a human just like me remember she is physically vulnerable, and try to hit her at the same time she cant dodge then." My friends picked themselves back up, and proceeded to follow my plan, but this girl was insanely fast; she had already managed to quickly blow back Lilith's daggers out of her hand fully disarming her. Bastrin had recovered somewhat, and proceeded to leap at her, turn back in response she swung her sword around, and cut his flesh clean in two.

He didn't morph quickly back together as usual, and instead laid on the ground seemingly easily defeated. I shouted at him, "Dammit Bastrin no! Let's retreat, we can't handle this girl!" It seems shouting was the wrong move the girl fixed her gaze on me with her unfeeling green eyes she punched over to me at blinding speed. Three things happened in that moment Lilith tried to stop her, but wasn't quick enough, the girl glowed blue briefly before striking me in the stomach, and my ring glowed green in that fraction of a second all at once. I fell to my knees, and heard Lilith shout something, but it was too late. She got me good. I was bleeding everywhere. I looked up to see the girl who had cut me down, and the ring showed me that she was surprised she said shakily, "You fool why didn't you dodge? Are you suicidal."

I laughed calmly as could be given that any fear I should be feeling was gone, "I guess I just figured that you would stop before you hit me he he guess I was wrong." The girl now showing some emotions looked down concerned had she really never killed someone before? Lilith came running over, and examined the wound she stared back at the girl eyes filled with hatred, "Dammit you stupid child stop making a face like that if you truly care get something to close the wound quickly!" Lilith had really come a long way before she would never ask her enemies for help. I was proud that she had matured in such a short time. The girl ran away further into the forest it seemed she intended to help me, I guess she wasn't completely heartless. Bastrin limped over since the girl went away it seems that meant he could reform himself how he pleased now. He spoke in a worried tone, "Dammit kid don't let that stupid ring be the end of you."

Bastrin shot flesh out of his body, and covered my wound in new flesh trying to forcefully close the wound, but for now slipped into unconsciousness. I had a vivid dream. I felt the ring vibrating as I slept it seemed to connect me to Bastrin as his flesh sunk into my body. In the dream I was looking down at my own body, and I was much smaller than usual. I felt Bastrins thoughts flowing into my own mind. Damn kid I guess the ring really did prevent him from dodging, dammit I wasn't strong enough to deal with that girl. I never meant to get too attached to this human anyways. I only followed him because I was curious to see how he would meet his end. I can't say that my goal has changed at all, but the kid had started to grow on me a bit. We had only traveled together for a short time, but I was never really bored as long as I was with Dante. He always had some stupid ideas after all, and I didn't want to admit it, but of the people I had met in my long years of life he was the closest thing I had to a friend.

Bastrin looked at Lilith, even Lilith seems to have grown somewhat attached to this human I felt that Dante was very naive, and sometimes was a little stupid, but his youthful spirit is somewhat refreshing. I had never had anyone close to me, and was locked away for years, but this human despite what I had done had chosen to travel with me anyways. I had to also respect his unyielding will even when faced with extreme odds he isn't one to cower in fear. I decided as I looked at his now injured body that my dream was to see him realize his dream, but to do that I would need to get stronger. This boy will die in one hit in any fight he gets in, so in that case I will need to have immense power. Dante doesn't need to know, but my new dream was now to become the strongest demon. I would elevate my status to demon god, and protect this boy from harm.

I glanced over at the girl approaching Dante. It seems she had brought a sort of stretcher I presume for carrying Dante. I proceeded to relax my guard. Lilith helped her lift Dante, and they carried him on the stretcher deeper into the woods, nobody saying a word I followed closely behind. Dante was carried through the forest, and into an open field the girl put down Dante on the field she took out her katana aiming it towards the boy. I was about to strike when she held her hand up, and touched the ground with her sword, the ground seemed to disappear from next to Dante. What the hell did this human actually use magic? I remember Dante saying he used some, but I knew right away he was powerless. I just played along out of curiosity. This was impossible for a human to do. This had to be some kind of trick I glanced at Lilith who seemed equally surprised.

The girl bent down, and took Dante off the stretcher, rubbed something on his wound which seemed to seal it further. The girl then proceeded to point downwards towards the open hole, and we climbed down. I hitched a ride on Lilith's shoulder who was now carrying the injured Dante on her back, as she climbed down the ladder which seemed to span many feet in the dark. After a few minutes we reached the bottom which I can tell you was a sight to behold. The corridor glowed almost brighter than the early morning sun, it was lit up by tiny gems that glowed a deep red. The girl led us to the end of the small corridor where she again held up her Katana, and the door swung open. The sight before me even made a demon like me drop my jaw as I glanced at the large underground town before me. I had told Dante before we arrived in Ruthan that there had been rumors about humans living in this area, but I could never have anticipated that they lived underground. Bastrin stepped forward to explore the new underground village, but the dream cut off at that, and the scenery faded into black.