I Hate Systems

Bang!

A humanoid Magic Beast flickered as it appeared behind the boy, constricting him to the ground. The boy struggled, but now that he lost the element of surprise, he wasn't able to do much.

He was only an Expert Wind Warrior after all. The Experts Warriors in the village had already been slaughtered by the Master Magic Beasts.

He wasn't thinking much other than to take revenge on the Demon that had killed his friends.

"This damn human dared kill one of us…" A Demon raged, ordering his Magic Beast to kill the boy. The Magic Beast rushed forth under his orders, intending to jump the boy when suddenly, it paused, trembling in fear.

"Did I tell you to kill him?" An angry voice resounded as everyone shuddered in response, kneeling to the ground under the pressure. Even the Magic Beasts were the same, not even daring to squeak.

"This child is interesting. Bring him up!" The voice resounded as a Demon got up in a hurry, bound the child, and carried him to the back of a gigantic Magic Beast that was exuding the aura of a Pseudo-Saint.

It was a Golden Elephant. And affixed on its top was the skull of a Magic Beast, covered by leather as it exuded a primal feeling, but one of authority.

The Demon gulped nervously as he kneeled before the tent with the child in tow, hearing the heavenly voice resound, "Enter."

The tent's entrance was opened by a pair of Elven slaves, revealing a throne on which a lady sat.

Copper skin with dark circular tattoos riddling her heavy mass, reddish eyes drunk with blood, and hair resembling a mane, giving her an aura of authority. She was a Demon princess, a Pseudo-Saint wielding the professions of Tamer and Elementalist.

Her crimson eyes stared playfully at the kid, beckoning with her finger as the Demon brought him before her.

"You can leave now." She said, watching the Demon bow in response before exiting the tent.

The Demon Princess extended her hand, placing it on the child's head as runes revolved around her hand before seeping into his mind. Her eyes lit up in response, "You have the potential to even become a Pseudo-Saint. Not only are you highly attuned to mana, but you're also aware of the ways to use your profession. Without anyone to instruct you, you've reached such a high level."

"I commend you." Her eyes were glued on his tiny face as she grinned, "What do you say about becoming my slave?"

"I-I won't!" The child shouted in response, barely controlling his fear. He didn't move her hand away though, for that didn't seem possible. Her hand felt like a mountain pressing down on him, preventing him from budging an inch.

"I wasn't asking you." The Demon Princess smirked as she continued speaking, "I can forcefully enslave you. But, that's not in my taste."

"Submit your heart and soul to me. And in return, I'll spare your village." She said, "A word from me, and no Demon would ever dare lay their sights on your village."

The child gritted his teeth as he heard the sounds of the women in the village crying, mourning the loss of their children.

"A-At least, they will live…" The child clenched his hand into a fist as he teared up, nodding weakly, "As long as you leave them alone, I'm yours."

"Express it." The Demon Princess grinned widely in response, watching the frail child kneel on the floor.

His voice choked as he still shouted at the top of his lungs, "I, Gilthru, vow to follow your highness with my everything."

"It was pretty crude, but that'll do." The Demon Princess nodded nonchalantly as mana suddenly gushed into his body, causing him to grunt as a seal formed on his forehead, a mark that was a mixture of circles and bladed wings.

It was her signature seal, symbolising that he was her slave, her property, and her tamed beast.

"Good," She smiled in response, now able to sense the child's talents better through their bond as she gave her decree, "From today onwards, this village is under my protection. No Demon or human will dare set foot here."

"Your Majesty!" All the Demons bowed immediately, accepting her decree.

Even though they were protecting a human village, all Demons were full smiles, aware of their lord's nature. If she told them to protect this village, it meant the child she got was talented enough to warrant such treatment.

"I've got enough tamed beasts for now. I need time to consolidate my gains and nurture them next." The Demon Princess said as she ordered for the army to withdraw, heading towards the nearby Demon Empire.

"Your task is to stand next to me." She pointed at the child, Gilthru, "Understand?"

"Yes, your highness." Gilthru nodded as he did as told.

"Say, Gilthru…" The Demon Princess asked next, "Why didn't you use your Metal Magic?"

"Metal…Magic?" Gilthru tilted his head, "I am only a Wind warrior though."

"No, you're also a Metal Mage." She laughed in response upon seeing his confusion, "You're one of the rare talents among humanity with two professions on your side. Had you lived in a city, your talents would have allowed you to bloom into a powerhouse of the humans."

"Especially the mobility of a Wind Warrior and the destructiveness of a Metal Mage would have spilled the blood of your enemies on the battlefield." She roared in laughter before patting his head, "Well, you're mine now. So, you'll be fighting my battles."

'I'm…a Metal Mage too?' Gilthru stared at his hands in shock before regret piled up in him, 'If only I knew, I could have fought…'

"Nothing would have changed." The Demon Princess said, staring at him with a smile, "I can hear the thoughts of my slaves you know."

She then said, pointing at the Magic Beast they were seated on, "This isn't a regular Golden Elephant, but a Pseudo-Saint Golden Elephant King that earned the nickname of Stomper."

"This is…Stomper?" Even he had heard about it as Gilthru lost balance, collapsing to the ground in fear as only now did he realise that his master was way more terrifying than he had assumed. It implied that even if he knew about his Metal Mage power, nothing would have changed.

"Yep, the very same Magic Beast that had stomped ten human cities to rubble overnight." The Demon Princess smiled as they entered the Demon Empire.