Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Laris's face was masked with irritation and impatience. After being repeatedly obstructed, anybody would lose their mind in frustration. The demon had repeatedly foiled his plan and even now he was messing around with the people he had to kill.

Without wasting time any further, and before the target could become aware, he used his [Hell Lightning Slash] which was a culmination of [Swift Slash] skill and [Lightning Magic Mastery] towards the enemy.

Before anybody could even blink, a piercing blue light erupted from the sword and flew towards them. With a thundering sound, a thick bolt of piercing lightning taking a vague form of a sword flew towards the pair of Lisa and Chuck who had their backs turned towards him.

Lisa felt the surrounding mana convulsing and approaching towards her at a very fast speed. With their current state, there was no way they can survive an attack dished out by Laris with all his might.

Dread and fear apparent in her face, Lisa hurriedly tried to dodge the blue lightning sword but failed since her body was way too exhausted plus she also had to carry Chuck. Thinking it was too late, she closed her eyes and accepted her fate.

However, just as she was about to surrender, from the corner of her eyes she saw a crimson light flash that covered her field of view in an instant.

RUMBLE'¦ the crimson flames clashed with the lightning sword and the force of the two attacks meeting was so great that her body was sent airborne and flew a meters back.

Embracing Chuck tightly, Lisa cushioned his fall with her delicate body. Seeing that he didn't suffer any more injury, she turned her head to look a the place where the two attacks met.

A huge hole appeared where the flames and lightning met evident of the immense might of their wielders. Both the attacks packed enough power to neutralise the other and flatten the land around them.

But what shocked her wasn't their might but the person behind the attack that blocked the lightning sword. It was the very same demon that dropped out of the sky and told her to get out of here.

There was no mistaking it, she saw it clearly. Just when the lightning sword was upon her, the demon ignited his flames to offset the attack that would have otherwise claimed her and Chuck's life. The notion of the demon saving their lives sounded absurd to her.Â

"Leave," the demon said in an indifferent voice without even turning back. Clenching her hands, Lisa once again struggled to get back up and supported Chuck before retreating back. If she was confused before, she was completely sure now that the demon was deliberately helping them.

Thinking about it now, even his fall from the sky at the nick of time that knocked Dale unconscious before he could hack at them, was probably his way of saving them. The thought sounded so funny that she couldn't help but laugh at herself.

If somebody had told her that she and Chuck would be one day saved by a demon, she would no doubt laugh at that person questioning his sanity.Â

However, the exact same thing had happened right now. The demon had saved them not once but twice.

In her mind, she didn't even know who was the real demon anymore. The humans who had set up a trap to kill all her comrades, at this moment seemed much more demonic to her than the demon himself.

If somebody had heard her inner thoughts right now, they would no doubt say that her mind was tangled and disoriented right now to think clearly, but she knew that her mind was clear and rational than ever before.

She retreated back, this time without even slowing down her pace because she knew that the humans wouldn't be able to make a move with the demon in front of them. It was laughable that she was scared of the people from her own race than the demon.

"Tch... how many times will you get in my way demon?!" Laris cursed loudly after he saw that his attack to kill the pair was deflected by the demon who was the root of all of his troubles.

Giving a low snort, Simon beckoned with his finger "Your opponent is me". Cold fury burned inside Simon's crimson eyes as he looked at Laris. the guy even dared to distract himself when he was standing right in front of him.

"Looks like the lesson last time wasn't enough that you came in front of me once again to seek some more. Be as it may I was going to look for you after all this was over, but I guess you saved me the trouble by showing up willingly"

Laris smiled before pointing the blade towards him "This time you won't be able to run away. But before that tell me demon before I make you regret being born in this world. Where are the enslaved Forest Spring Spirits?".

Laris made a smug face as he looked down on Simon and questioned. The twenty and more adventurers behind him glared at the demon with the eyes of a tiger. Each of them ready to engage with the demon at a moment's notice and all it took was a signal from Laris before they start casting their magic and skills on him.

Unfazed by all of their display, Simon acted as if he didn't see anything and simply shook his shoulder. "Forest Spring Spirits? Doesn't ring a bell. Why don't you go and search for whatever you are searching for deep inside the western part of the forest? I believe you have a better chance of succeeding" Simon said with a wicked smile on his face.Â

The western region of the Ghastly Winding Forest is where the strongest monsters resided forget about him, even his entire Seven Swords guild would be wiped out if they carelessly entered that region.

Simon saying him to enter the western part to search for the Forest Spring Spirits, was nothing less of a humiliating remark one that was trying to make a fool out of him.

The western region of the forest was so dangerous that all the neighbouring cities were aware of it and all its adventurers whenever they entered the forest made sure not to wander towards the western region carelessly.

There were even some unfounded rumours going on among the adventurers that there are extremely rare treasures inside the western part of the forest guarded by some extremely strong monsters.

The rumours and tales might sound enticing to many but all the adventurers were well aware of how perilous the journey was. It was not worth losing their lives to search for treasures that may or may not be there.

Despite all the dangers and perils, there had been many adventures blinded by greed in history who had wandered deep inside the western region of the Ghastly Winding Forest and nobody heard what happened to them afterwards. No one after delving deep inside has managed to return back. It was as if they had disappeared.Â

There were even legends and lore told by bards and minstrels that all the adventurers that went looking for the treasure inside the western region of the forest were all dead. Others say that they were cursed and unable to leave the forest for eternity.

Such talks also flowed inside the city of Morgress and Laris was naturally aware of them. Even when he chased after those Forest Spring Spirits, he didn't dare to delve deeper inside the western region of the forest. Hence Simon's words were nothing but demeaning, a slap to his face.

"I see'¦ I see, it seems like you won't open your mouth that easily. But that's alright with me, I was itching to make you spill it all out. Don't think that I don't know that you used an item to change your appearance to lead us out of the village while your subordinates could take those Forest Spring Spirits away".

Laris smirked arrogantly when he saw Simon knitting his brows after he said his piece and he was finally sure of his assumption that the Forest Spring Spirits were inside the dungeon.

'So the attack from that time which washed away the effect of the Elixir of Metamorphosis gave me away huh' Simon thought inwardly.

However, it was no big deal for his enemies to find out it was him as he had already planned to take all of them out since leaving them alive would risk the possibility of the information about the Forest Spring Spirits reaching the ears of other adventurers.Â