Chrysalis

I make out five demons in total, judging by my mana sense, all of them tier six, thank heavens. If they'd all turned out to be a higher tier than me, we might have just been dead and buried right there. According to the information that I've managed to barter out of Al, the vast majority of demons, the properly sapient ones anyway, are tier six.

Due to the generally short and barbaric lives they tend to live, most don't make it to tier seven, but those that do can be considered powerful, standing above the masses. Apparently, tier eight demons do exist, but only deeper down, where the mana is thicker on the border between the third and fourth strata.

Considering their natural, inborn advantages, a tier eight demon is not something that I want to tangle with. Not one bit.

For now, these five demons on their hovering, dark red disc of pure energy continue to move closer at a rapid pace as we spread out to receive them.

When they draw close enough, their momentum slows and the closest demon, standing proudly at the lip of their disc, looks down on us with thinly veiled contempt. It's not easy to judge the expression of a non-human monstrosity, but with enough practice you can get the hang of just about anything.

The demon in question is what I've come to know is a 'pride' demon. A humanoid physique, with more blades and spikes than one would generally see on a person, accompanied by a strangely thin but elongated head with a long vertical mouth that is open more often than it's shut. According to Al, pride demons are considered generalists amongst the tier six demons, equally capable at spell flinging and up close chop-work with their claws and spikes.

After a few moments, I feel a mental connection seek me out and I allow it to snap into place, my multiple mind constructs warily monitoring the connection, prepared to rebuff any assault that takes place.

[FOUL creature,] the demon's mental tone positively drips with condescension, [why do you roam the plains within the bounds of the GREAT city of Orpule?]

Uh, what? Even without turning my head, I can still see the enormous pillar that supports Roklu behind us. Is this guy telling me we've left the borders of that city already?

we still in the area of Roklu?] I ask back, [and by the

with indignation at being questioned by what it probably considers a

admit that you originate from lowly Roklu? Has the

I brighten up.

isn't he? I personally am not one for body shaming or anything, but that guy has rolls on his rolls. He must weigh eight tons at least. The dude has so much mass,

it comes to Grokus' more unbelievable features. The city lord of Roklu had to evolve a second mouth, since his first one

you part of the war games? Is this an

not even a demon, why would I be part of your war games? What are the war games

the bridge, the demon appears to grow more and more offended. Not that I think I'm to blame. I

not be fooled by your PATHETIC lies! This is clearly a ploy by Roklu to gain the upper

this idiot is on about, he makes a cutting gesture with one clawed hand and just like that, the other four demons on the disk begin to rain hell down on us. Lava, brimstone, ash, all sorts of nasty magic takes shape in an instant and

These guys mean

KRAKOOM!

one crackling arm to the sky and lets loose a devastating bolt of lightning that crackles into the disc, burning away a portion of the energy that sustains it and shrinking its size. Even

to be a good decision in

up! Crinis, see if you can reach them.