The wolves' bodies were scattered throughout the forest. Some had been defeated by my sword, others by the spells I had been testing ever since I found that strange book in the hot springs city. Silence gradually began to return to the area, interrupted only by the sound of the wind swaying the tree branches.
I took a deep breath as I surveyed my surroundings.
That had been far too easy.
A pack that large normally wouldn't organize itself like that without a reason. The attacks on the village had been going on for far too long to be the actions of hungry animals. Something was controlling all of it.
I kept my sword in hand.
My instincts told me that the real threat had yet to appear.
A few seconds later, I sensed a different presence.
A heavy pressure emerged from among the trees.
It wasn't strong enough to worry me, but it was clearly different from the wolves' energy.
I turned toward the source of that presence.
Heavy footsteps began to echo through the forest.
One.
Two.
Three.
The figure finally emerged from the shadows of the trees.
It was a demon.
He stood over three meters tall, with dark skin and massively developed muscles. Curved horns protruded from the sides of his head, and a gigantic axe rested on one of his shoulders.
His red eyes scanned the battlefield.
Then they turned to me.
Next, they examined the wolves' bodies scattered across the ground.
His expression darkened with irritation.
"So I've found the one responsible."
The demon smiled.
"Human."
His voice was deep and heavy.
"So you're the one who killed my servants."
I raised an eyebrow.
"If you're talking about the wolves, then yes."
His expression grew even worse.
"You ruined weeks of work."
"Weeks of work just to attack a village?"
He slammed the handle of his axe against the ground.
"You wouldn't understand."
I observed the demon for a few moments.
His aura wasn't even close to the great generals I had already faced.
He was also far below Vaelthor.
Even so, he was stronger than ordinary monsters.
Probably a mini-general.
Perhaps someone assigned to secondary tasks.
"So you were the one controlling the wolves."
He smiled again.
"You figured it out quickly."
"It wasn't difficult."
The demon spread his arms.
"Animals are useful. They're numerous, obedient, and easy to manipulate."
That caught my attention.
"Manipulate?"
"Yes."
He pointed at the bodies scattered around.
"These creatures aren't intelligent enough to resist. All it takes is infusing them with demonic mana and taking control."
I remained silent for a few seconds.
That was interesting information.
If demons could control wolves like that, perhaps they could control other creatures as well.
That could become a serious problem in the future.
The demon continued speaking.
"You humans are fools. You only pay attention to great armies."
He began walking slowly toward me.
"Meanwhile, we observe every possibility."
I tightened my grip on my sword.
"So that was your objective?"
"It was a test."
Those words immediately made me pay closer attention.
"A test?"
"Exactly."
He pointed at the dead wolves.
"A small experiment."
His expression turned arrogant.
"But you ruined everything."
I shook my head.
"Then you should have chosen a better place."
The demon let out a laugh.
"Confident."
"Realistic."
For a few seconds, we simply stared at each other.
Then he vanished.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
His speed increased suddenly as he charged forward with his enormous axe raised.
The weapon sliced through the air toward my head.
I dodged with a simple sidestep.
The axe slammed into the ground.
A small crater appeared instantly.
The demon spun around and launched another strike.
I dodged again.
Then another.
And another.
None of them hit me.
The difference in speed between us was simply too great.
He realized that quickly.
The irritation on his face intensified.
"Stop running away!"
"You call this running away?"
I blocked the axe's handle with my sword and shoved the weapon aside.
The demon stumbled back several steps.
I took that opportunity to observe him more carefully.
His movements were simple.
Brute force.
Little technique.
Little strategy.
He definitely wasn't someone important within the demon army.
Even so, he had to be eliminated.
I couldn't allow someone with that ability to continue conducting experiments near human villages.
The demon roared.
Black mana began to envelop his body.
The pressure around us intensified.
Several nearby trees started swaying.
Then he charged again.
This time even faster.
The axe came crashing down violently.
I raised my sword.
The weapons collided.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the area.
Leaves were blown in every direction.
The demon smiled.
Apparently, he believed he was overpowering me.
I simply remained where I was.
His smile vanished.
Because he realized I was holding back his attack with only one hand.
"Impossible..."
"No."
I pushed my sword forward.
His body was hurled several meters backward.
The demon rolled across the ground before regaining his balance.
His expression changed completely.
Now there was caution.
Perhaps even fear.
"Looks like you finally understand."
He gritted his teeth.
"You..."
"I'm just the adventurer who accepted the mission."
It was a simple answer.
But apparently, it wasn't what he wanted to hear.
Demonic mana gathered around him once more.
This time with even greater intensity.
It seemed he was preparing his final attempt.
I watched calmly.
At the same time, I remembered the book.
Perhaps this was a good opportunity to test its methods once again.
I extended my free hand.
I focused my mana.
Instead of reciting a long incantation, I spoke only a single word.
"Fire."
A flaming sphere immediately appeared above my hand.
The demon's eyes widened.
That once again confirmed that the old mage had been right.
The spell had been cast much faster.
Without wasting time.
Without unnecessary steps.
The sphere shot forward.
The demon barely managed to dodge.
An explosion struck several trees behind him.
His face was filled with surprise.
But I was already preparing another spell.
"Earth."
Stone spears erupted from the ground.
He leaped backward.
"Wind."
Invisible blades sliced through the forest.
The demon managed to block some of them with his axe, but not all.
Several cuts appeared across his body.
His breathing grew heavy.
That battle had already been decided.
He knew it too.
Even so, he kept charging.
Perhaps out of pride.
Perhaps out of fear of what would happen if he returned defeated.
Or perhaps simply because he had no other choice.
When he came close again, I vanished from in front of him.
I reappeared behind him.
My sword flashed.
A single strike.
Silent.
Precise.
The demon's body froze.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then a line appeared across his chest.
Soon another.
And another.
His body began to split apart.
The axe fell to the ground.
The demon's severed body collapsed moments later.
The battle was over.
I observed the creature's remains for a few moments.
Then I sheathed my sword.
It had been quick.
Much quicker than I had expected.
But what truly caught my attention wasn't the fight.
It was the information he had let slip.
Controlled animals.
Experiments.
Tests.
None of that seemed like an isolated incident.
I knelt beside the demon's remains.
A dark magic stone had fallen near the body.
I picked up the item and examined it.
Then I stored it away.
It would probably serve as evidence when I reported everything to the kings.
I slowly stood up.
As I looked around the forest, a question began to occupy my thoughts.
If a mere mini-general was capable of controlling dozens or even hundreds of wolves, what would happen if the demons began doing the same with larger creatures?
Orcs.
Monsters.
Magical beasts.
Perhaps even other less intelligent races.
That could significantly increase the size of the enemy armies.
It wasn't something that could be ignored.
I cast one final glance at the battlefield.
Then I started walking toward the edge of the forest.
The mission was complete.
The wolves had been eliminated.
The demon responsible had been defeated as well.
But as I walked among the trees, one feeling lingered in the back of my mind.
The demons were making their move.
Perhaps slowly.
Perhaps from the shadows.
But they were definitely preparing something.
And I had the feeling that this was only the beginning.