145
However, here in Sodom's ruins there weren't many humans the spirits could possess. Their only options were the undead creatures. That was why their revived forms were mutated forms of the creatures in this realm that they possessed becoming demons.
And not just any demons. Their powerful auras radiated danger, marking them as mid-tier Svad at the very least. These were among the strongest threats the ruin had to offer.
"If they spot me, I'm dead," Leo muttered, his pulse quickening.
Then his mini-map lit up again—new dots, this time behind him.
"Shit. Those idiots caught up to me already," he hissed, glancing over his shoulder.
Desperation sparked a risky idea. Pulling out a mask from his pack, he slipped it on and darted toward the demonic horde.
"Die, you fucking demons!" he bellowed, his voice ringing with defiance. "We human army shall destroy all of you!"
As if on cue, a meteor streaked from the sky, slamming into the center of the demonic gathering. The explosion scattered debris and sent the demons into a frenzy of anger.
It was Leo's combo spell.
"Raaawwwrrrr!" The monstrous creatures roared, their fury now focused on him.
"Come this way, you fuckers!" Leo shouted, sprinting away from his pursuers.
As the demons thundered after him, Leo activated his invisible cloak and veered off, scaling the remnants of a nearby ruin. He perched silently atop the crumbling structure, watching as the demons closed in.
The expeditioners from Sodom City were coming from the other direction looking for Leo.
"They came at the right time. Serves them right."
-----
"He's there. I can feel him," the blind Seer declared, pointing toward the deep ruins with unwavering certainty.
"Move quickly! We must catch that bastard, the Demon of Gullee!" Ananda barked, his voice sharp with urgency.
Without hesitation, Ananda and his men poured out of the cathedral, leaving the body of Agathae behind in its coffin. Bringing the corpse along was impractical during a chase, so they entrusted its care to Bogarth and pressed forward.
The group charged deeper into the ruins, following the guide of the Seer.
"We found his trace again", Seer told them suddenly.
Soon, the air thickened with an ominous stillness.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet, a deep rumble reverberating through the ancient stone. Moments later, the thunder of hooves echoed ahead, growing louder with each passing second.
Out of the darkness, grotesque figures emerged.
The malformed creatures were a nightmare made flesh: humanoids with horse-like bodies and cow heads, goblin-like brutes wielding enormous maces, and twisted humans with the heads of rams and horses. Their horns, sharp and curling, glowed with an eerie crimson light.
Kaledon froze, his face pale as the realization struck. "Hell! They are the demons of the Sodom ruins!" he cried, his voice trembling.
"How are they here? They're supposed to stay in the deepest parts of the ruins!" Jarvis shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Sakema answered grimly. "We've ventured farther into the ruin than we thought. The chase brought us dangerously close to demon territory."
Before the group could process the danger, the demons attacked. Their brutal weapons crashed into the expeditioners, shattering bones and tearing through armor with horrifying ease.
The adventurers fought back valiantly, but the demons' strength was overwhelming. Their strikes landed with the force of boulders, sending men flying and leaving only devastation in their wake.
Few among the group had the skill or power to withstand the onslaught, and the ruin's echoes filled with the sounds of battle, pain, and despair.
Kaledon gritted his teeth, his blade flashing as he cut down a demon that lunged at him. "Hold your ground!" he roared, though his voice carried a flicker of uncertainty.
-----
Soon, the battle thinned the ranks of the escorts, leaving only the strongest players among the expeditioners. They regrouped quickly, weaving powerful shields of magic to encase themselves in a shimmering barrier.
"We should be safe inside the shield," Sakema reassured the others, her voice steady despite the chaos.
But the demons, now circling the humans with curiosity, weren't deterred. Their movements were predatory, calculating, as they tightened the noose.
A towering figure emerged from their ranks—a grotesque demon with the body of a hippo and the head of a ram. His glowing crimson horns radiated malice as he strode forward with deliberate menace.
The other demons thumped their chests in unison, chanting his name with feverish devotion.
"Azuthol! Azuthol!"
The air thickened with dread as Azuthol bellowed, "How dare you humans trespass into our territory!"
Ananda stepped forward, gripping his weapon tightly. "We're looking for a demon," he replied, his voice defiant.
Azuthol laughed, a guttural, mocking sound. "A demon? You've found us. We're all around you!" He gestured at his horde, his smug expression daring them to act.
"If demon you are looking for you've found them", Sakema murmured worriedly.
Ananda's group had come seeking a demon, the Demon of Gullee. Lilleo Gullee wasn't really a demon. He was persecuted because he was extraordinarily powerful with powers that only demons could possess. That for Ananda and his group was as guilty as being a real demon.
But Ananda and the geniuses of Sodom city hadn't expected this—they found a swarm of demons, real demons in flesh and spirits.
"We are dead now."
Watching from a hidden vantage point, Leo smirked. "Those who live by the sword can't complain when they die by it," he muttered to himself, amused by the humans' predicament.
"There's no reasoning with them now," Jarvis said grimly, glancing at Ananda. "They're demons. We'll have to fight our way out."
Azuthol sneered, his massive form radiating menace. "We were planning to hunt you sheep eventually, but it seems you've saved us the trouble. Offering yourselves up so willingly... how delightful!"
His booming laughter echoed through the ruins, sending a shiver down the spines of the human players.
The demons prepared to attack, emboldened by their leader's presence. The humans braced themselves, their shields trembling in anticipation of the impending onslaught.