Since the battlefield was so chaotic and filled with rampant fighting, Toz and the cats expected every step they took to leave their boots and paws dripping with blood. But it seemed as if the ground absorbed the blood before it could even dry. The battlefield was also bigger than it first appeared to be since they walked for a while before they encountered their next opponent.
And this time, it wasn't another demonic beast. But Toz and the cats weren't quite sure what it was either. But the gushing demonic energy and the humanoid figure strongly hinted that it was a demon. But unlike the demons that Toz and the cats had seen previously, the one off in the distance had grey skin.
The stone-grey figure, with nothing but a leather skirt, showed off its bare, hairless body as it trudged across the wasteland.
Toz and the cats looked at each other before deciding to attack the demon. They were in a relatively tranquil part of the battlefield, so it wasn't likely that the demon would get reinforcements. And demons were probably worth more merit than the demonic beasts they had already defeated. Not to mention how it would be a more suitable opponent if they wanted to improve their skills through experience.
The only problem was deciding who should go first. Since they wanted to hone their individual strengths, Toz and the cats weren't interested in ambushing and grouping up on the demon to kill it as fast as possible. It might give them more merit in the short run if they followed such a tactic. But it would eventually reach its limits. However, if everyone could defeat powerful opponents by themselves, they would be able to amass merit rapidly.
Spending some time training and improving their strengths would delay their accumulation of merit and achievements in the beginning, but in the long run, it would lead to them having accomplished more in the end. And since they had an entire year to get as much merit as possible, it would be more worth it for them to improve themselves and hone their skills.
It would also help further down the line after they have entered the Transcendent Realm. Toz and the cats will most likely require sufficient strength and combat ability if they want to rescue Taienra from the grasp of the Obsidian Empire. Taking every measure possible to increase their strength would be the least they were willing to do to save Taienra.
Although cooperating would allow them to display great fighting power, that strength still relied on their individual capabilities. So if each of the cats and Toz grew stronger, the might they displayed while working together would soar exponentially.
Things might have been different if they had been up against a horde of demonic beasts or an entire group of demons. But now that they were up against a lone demon, it was the perfect opportunity for one of them to experience direct combat with an intelligent high level enemy while betting their life. Of course, the others wouldn't just stand by in case the chosen one was in danger, but they would make sure to remain out of sight so that their presence wouldn't interfere in the fight, which might lead to some close calls.
Eventually, after careful deliberation, thoughtful consideration, and heated discussion, Scrael became the one who would fight against the demon that had stopped walking and started looking around as if it could sense someone looking at it. Considering Toz and the cats were practically piercing it with their gazes, it wasn't weird that the demon sensed them, even if its skin was tough. But the demon didn't have any intentions of retreating or reacting, and it just waited until Scrael stepped out of their hiding place.
Lucy pouted a little as he walked Scrael walk forward. He had been suspiciously keen on fighting the demon. Toz had sensed something regarding Lucy's smile, and after some cajoling, Lucy admitted that higher level demons also had more intense darkness in their minds. Their minds were also tougher and more resistant to his manipulation as the demons got stronger. But as long as Lucy got in, there was nothing the demon could do against him.
Calling what Lucy would have done to the demon a fight would have been a disgrace to anyone that's ever been in a fight, and it wouldn't help him actually hone his abilities, except maybe make him slightly more adept at intruding in the minds of demons. Something he already had a knack for doing. So the others unanimously voted him ineligible for the fight with the demon and possibly even future fights with similar opponents since it would even be any fighting. It would simply be Lucy toying with his targets.
Thankfully, Lucy was easily consoled by Nil, who had actually been fairly beaten by Scrael in a game of guessing the falling stick's direction. Nil and Scrael had been the only ones participating in the game, so Nil was a little upset that he lost, but he wasn't very surprised that Scrael won.
Toz and Mindle had already had their opportunities to fight or at least practice their magic, so they were automatically excluded from the draw. Although they were different situations, Toz had unleashed and experimented with his fireballs on the Earthworm, and Mindle had charred the Demonic Bull.
Asilean had helped Mindle with the bull-scorching, but it was not enough to actually count as using magic or participating in battle, so he would have had a chance to fight against the grey demon. But he willingly withdrew since he wasn't confident about being able to defeat the demon. He could run circles around it or escape from it without even needing to think, but Asilean didn't feel like he had a way to defeat it, so he willingly let go of the opportunity.
And until he figured out a way to use his magic more offensively, Asilean wouldn't participate in the games for the opportunities to fight individual battles. The others respected his decision since it couldn't have been an easy one to make. He was, after all, still closest to Taienra and the one most desperate to find and free her. The feelings of powerlessness and uselessness gnawed at him. But even if he forced himself to fight, it wouldn't lead anywhere. It would just delay the others' progress. Asilean might be desperate to grow stronger, but he wasn't stupid. He had realized that the others were with him. Even if he didn't immediately become strong enough, Toz and the other cats would pick up the slack until he caught up.
Since he had almost always traveled through the Void with Taienra, the feeling of having someone on his side wasn't exactly new. But it was the first time he felt such a sense of belonging. Asilean's heart filled with love and trust as he watched Scrael approach the demon that looked like a stone statue as it stood practically motionless in the middle of the battle-scarred wasteland.
Scrael didn't hide her approach, and the Stone Demon's head flicked around as her presence appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Scrael stopped walking. The two of them looked at each other, neither moving as much as an eyelash.
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