Cucking The Demon King
Chapter 108: Cynthia appears

Chapter 108: Cynthia appears

Lela’s fingers tightened around the picture frame, her eyes lingering on the faded image for a few seconds longer.

Something about it unsettled her, but she wasn’t sure why.

With a frustrated huff, she flung the frame to the ground.

The glass cracked upon impact, but she didn’t bother looking at it again.

She had more pressing concerns.

Her gaze shifted toward the door at the far end of the room. It was slightly ajar, revealing a thin sliver of light from outside. The hut was cramped and dusty, the air thick with the scent of decay and neglect. There was no point in staying here any longer.

Without hesitation, she strode forward, pushing the door open with one hand. The hinges creaked loudly in protest, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent space.

The moment she stepped outside, she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh air.

Before her lay a small garden, though calling it a garden felt like an overstatement.

Most of the plants and grasses were wilted, their leaves curled and lifeless.

The soil beneath them was cracked, dry as if it hadn’t seen rain in years.

A few vines crawled up the side of the hut, their once vibrant green now a dull brown.

Lela clicked her tongue in irritation.

’So this place is abandoned,’ she thought, scanning her surroundings.

Her hands instinctively drifted down to the sides of her waist, her fingers brushing against the hilts of her daggers. The familiar touch sent a wave of relief through her. At least she wasn’t unarmed.

With one last glance at the withered garden, she stepped forward, leaving the ruined hut behind.

The street she emerged onto was just as lifeless as the garden.

Buildings lined the road, their wooden walls worn and cracked.

Some had shattered windows, others had doors hanging loosely off their hinges.

Dust coated everything in sight, and the air was thick with the eerie silence of abandonment.

She walked cautiously, her boots making soft thuds against the dirt road.

Each step felt heavier than the last as she scanned the area for any signs of movement.

But aside from the occasional gust of wind kicking up dust, nothing stirred.

Minutes passed in silence as she continued forward.

Then, without warning, the scenery changed.

She stepped past a crumbling stone archway and found herself in a bustling street filled with people.

The stark contrast between the lifeless road behind her and the vibrant scene before her made her pause for a brief moment.

Men and women moved about, chatting and laughing as they passed by.

Market stalls lined the street, selling everything from fresh produce to handmade goods.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread.

Children ran around, their laughter ringing through the air as they weaved between the legs of passing adults.

Lela frowned.

The people here seemed happy, despite their simple clothes and modest surroundings.

It was almost too perfect, like a scene ripped straight from a storybook. And yet, something about it felt... wrong.

She turned her head, studying the buildings around her.

The architecture was familiar, but the details were different.

It was as if someone had taken the village of Willowbrook and altered it slightly, changing just enough to make her question whether she was truly in the same place.

’Is this really Willowbrook?’ she wondered. ’Or did that heretic teleport me somewhere else?’

The thought unsettled her.

She needed to find answers, but before she could take another step, a deafening growl tore through the air.

The cheerful chatter around her ceased instantly.

Lela’s head snapped toward the source of the sound just in time to see a massive creature burst onto the street.

The beast resembled a giant dog, but its proportions were all wrong. It was larger than any canine she had ever seen, its thick, black fur bristling as it moved. Its eyes burned a deep crimson, glowing ominously beneath the shadow of its skull.

But the most striking feature was the two massive, red horns protruding from its head.

They pulsed with energy, red lightning crackling along their length before arcing off into the ground. Each pulse sent waves of heat through the air, distorting the space around them.

Panic spread through the crowd.

Villagers screamed, dropping whatever they were holding as they turned to flee.

Some tripped over one another in their haste, while others desperately tried to shield their loved ones from the looming threat.

The beast let out another earth-shaking growl, its eyes scanning the scattering humans with a predatory glint.

Lela’s grip on her daggers tightened.

’I-is that... a demonic beast?!’ She thought, her eyes widening in shock.

She had seen many beasts before, but this one was different—more monstrous, more unnatural.

The sheer energy radiating from its horns made the air feel heavy, crackling with an oppressive force that sent chills down her spine.

Before she could process anything further, the beast let out a thunderous growl and lunged at her.

Lela barely had time to react.

Her body moved instinctively as she threw herself to the side, rolling across the dirt road just as the massive creature crashed into the spot where she had been standing.

The ground trembled beneath its weight. A small stall behind her was obliterated on impact, wooden planks splintering and flying through the air.

The beast howled in frustration, its red lightning flaring even more violently. Sparks of energy leaped off its horns, lashing out in all directions.

Screams filled the air.

Lela turned her head, eyes widening in horror as some of the villagers were caught in the beast’s wild surge of lightning.

The moment the crackling energy struck them, they convulsed and collapsed to the ground.

She gritted her teeth.

’Are they... dead?’ She thought, her mind racing.

She wasn’t sure. Their bodies weren’t moving, and the burns on their skin looked severe. A few others scrambled away, dragging their fallen loved ones with them in sheer terror.

Lela’s hands clenched into fists.

She didn’t know what was going on, but she did know one thing—this thing had to be stopped.

Before she could act, the beast locked onto her again. With another furious roar, it charged straight at her.

Lela tried to move again, but the beast was too fast.

Her body tensed as she saw it closing in, its massive frame a blur of speed. In mere moments, its red horns were right in front of her, crackling with destructive energy.

She shivered.

’Is this the end?’ She thought, frozen in place.

The air itself seemed to vibrate from the sheer power surging through the beast’s horns, and she could do nothing but brace herself for the inevitable impact.

Then, out of nowhere, a brilliant light flared in front of her.

A door-shaped shield materialized just as the beast struck, its radiant glow standing as a barrier between her and certain death.

The beast’s horns slammed into the shield, and a powerful shockwave erupted from the point of contact.

BOOM!

A pulse of force shot outward, sending dust and debris flying through the street. The monstrous dog let out a pained howl as its body was violently hurled backward, skidding across the ground for several meters before coming to a stop.

Lela gasped, her hands trembling at her sides.

She could still feel the force of the impact reverberating in the air, but more than anything, she felt the cold grip of fear wrapping around her chest.

’If that shield hadn’t appeared... would I still be alive?’ She thought, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

The beast let out a low growl as it pushed itself back onto its feet. Its sharp claws dug into the dirt, and its eyes burned with even more rage.

Stomping the ground in frustration, it released another surge of energy. The red lightning around its horns intensified, now crackling wildly across its entire body.

Lela could barely keep up with what was happening.

Then—

"Get your act together!"

A loud voice cut through the chaos, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She turned her head toward the source of the voice.

Cynthia appeared from the side, one hand stretched toward Lela.

Her right hand, the one she had extended, was glowing with a bright white light, remnants of the shield she had just conjured. In her other hand, she gripped her spear tightly, its sharp tip gleaming under the sunlight.

Her face was set in a deep frown as her eyes locked onto the beast, analyzing every movement it made.

"Cynthia!" Lela shouted, a wave of relief washing over her at the sight of her teammate.

She hadn’t been sure how much longer she could hold out, but now that Cynthia was here, things might just turn in their favor.

ROAR!

A sudden, deafening roar from the demonic beast shattered the brief moment of relief. The sheer force of the sound sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Lela was forced to shield her ears, wincing from the intensity of the beast’s cry.

Cynthia, however, stood firm.

’Damn, it’s strong!’ She thought, gripping her spear even tighter.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of the creature in front of her. Was it a dog? A wolf? A lion? It was as if it had traits from all three—a massive, hound-like body, the piercing howl of a wolf, and the deep, earth-shaking roar of a lion.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t normal.

’This is bad,’ she thought, gnashing her teeth.

The beast stomped forward, its horns surging with even more red lightning. Sparks crackled violently in the air around it, burning into the ground like tiny flames.

Cynthia’s muscles tensed. She had to be ready.

This fight was far from over.