Rearing Demons
Chapter 58: Finding Ris

Chapter 58: Finding Ris

"Want to go get revenge?"

Velmira’s confidence surged.

Not only had her strength returned, but it had surpassed what it once was.

Even Valgath demons would find it difficult to compete against her now—unless they were titled.

"Yes!" Jisvruul answered, his speech much clearer than before.

His evolution had granted him more than just strength. He had become sharper, faster, and infinitely more dangerous. Now, powerful Kyrrath demons would fall before him with ease.

Just as Azure essence surpassed human essence, Jisvruul and Velmira now wielded a higher-tiered demonic essence.

The demonic energy Yur provided was far purer and more potent than what most demons used. It coursed through them, elevating their power beyond the norm.

"Alright, let’s go then." With a grin, they broke through the ceiling of the tower and shot into the sky.

Their immense auras spread outward, scanning the land for the best target.

Jisvruul, find Ris, we need to head back to Barren Canyon. I need to break through. Yur’s voice echoed in his mind.

Jisvruul, now fully healed and stronger than ever, acknowledged the command with reverence.

Unlike Velmira, who had yet to fully submit, Jisvruul was Yur’s, through and through. A loyal servant. A weapon with no hesitation.

Yes, Master.

His voice carried unwavering devotion.

"You. We need to find Ris." He turned to Velmira, who was sweeping the land with her aura.

"Why does Master want her so badly?" She frowned, puzzled. "He has you and me. If Ris joins, she’s just dead weight."

Jisvruul shrugged. "I don’t know, but if Master wants something, we obey." His answer was simple. Absolute. Yur’s desires were unquestionable.

Velmira rolled her eyes. She didn’t share Jisvruul’s blind devotion, but she understood the benefits of following Yur.

He could give her what she truly wanted. That alone made him worth obeying. "Fine. But I don’t know which direction she ran in." She scanned the land, frowning. "Finding her won’t be easy."

"That’s fine. Let’s just go look."

Jisvruul shrugged again, unconcerned.

Velmira’s eyebrow twitched. "Idiot. Can you let me think for a second?"

She ignored his brainless approach and began analyzing the battlefield. She ruled out the Gravesong Waste immediately. That place was too dangerous—not the kind of place Ris would willingly run to.

Using the previous battleground as the centre, she narrowed down the possibilities.

"Alright, there are two likely paths she took."

Jisvruul suddenly turned, ready to leave. "Let’s split up then."

Before he could take off, Velmira grabbed his shoulder. "Can’t you let me finish?" Her tone was exasperated. "Do you even know where you’re going?"

"I’ll go one way, you go the other."

"Let me check your head—do you even have a brain in there?" She snatched his hair, moving his head back and forth, irritated. "Now, listen."

Releasing him, she conjured a map with her aura. A holographic image spread before them.

"We’re here. This is where the battle happened." She pointed at two possible routes. "She either went toward the Land of the Mother or here."

Both were viable options—but the Land of the Mother was the safer bet.

"Alright, I’ll go this way." Jisvruul pointed toward the Land of the Mother.

"We search for three days. Whether we find her or not, we meet back at this tower." She looked at him sharply. "Understood?"

"Just find me." Jisvruul dismissed her instructions outright.

Velmira scowled. "No. Come back here." Her voice was firm. Final.

Jisvruul grumbled but complied. "Fine."

Without another word, he turned and vanished into the distance.

————————————————————————

Ris had managed to slip away from the battlefield, avoiding the chaos of Husked Lords and Mawstriders.

But she was trapped.

No matter where she turned, patrols were everywhere.

Each group was strong—too strong for her to fight head-on.

"I’m stuck here." She gritted her teeth, frustrated.

Although she had the Demon Transformation pill, it wouldn’t help her against these patrols. They were slaughtering demons indiscriminately.

Using the pill would only paint a bigger target on her back. "I’ll hide here for now and see if things change."

She sighed, pressing herself deeper into the shadows of a cave near a river of pus.

The stench was unbearable—but it was also her best protection. The patrols avoided the river, disgusted by its toxic fumes. Unpleasant as it was, it kept her safe. Then—

"ARAA!" A familiar howl tore through the air. Her head snapped up.

A figure flew overhead—human in form, but radiating a powerful, oppressive aura.

"RIS!" The voice echoed, loud and demanding.

Her body tensed. "That human is looking for me?"

She narrowed her eyes.

She had never met Jisvruul; not formally. And the human form before her was impossible to connect to the monstrous demon she had once seen.

"Ris! Come out!" The shouting drew attention.

Nearby patrols snapped their heads toward the sky, snarling.

Three Husked Lords howled in response, their bodies shifting as they prepared to attack.

"RAAA!"

Jisvruul met their howls with a smirk. Unlike before, he wasn’t worried. Even a full Valgath demon might struggle to kill him now. He wouldn’t be able to defeat one easily, but he was confident they couldn’t kill him either.

"Come, come." He raised his hand casually. "Die." A single word.

And from his palm, a swarm of fragmented eyes erupted, rushing toward the horde of Mawstriders.

The Husked Lords resisted, their bodies barely affected.

But the Mawstriders; they didn’t even have a chance.

The eyes burrowed into their flesh—embedding in their skulls, their torsos, their limbs. And then...

"RARR!"

The Mawstriders turned on each other.

Snarling.

Tearing.

Ripping flesh from one another with clawed hands and gnashing teeth.

Blood splattered as limbs were torn away, intestines spilling onto the ground.

Jisvruul laughed. "You tore me apart before—how does it feel to do the same to each other?"

But even as he mocked them, the Husked Lords moved. A wave of decaying energy erupted, faster than before. One Husked Lord drew a massive bone scythe, nearly twice its own eleven-foot frame. Another ripped its own arm off, and a thick smog of black energy exploded from the wound. The last one... disappeared. It sank into the ground, vanishing completely.

Jisvruul’s smirk didn’t falter. He rushed forward. His fingertips elongated into claws.

The scythe came down, but he parried it, deflecting the massive weapon with a counter jab.

Then, he glanced at his hand. One of his fingers was missing. He frowned. Annoyed.

"So you can still hurt me, huh?" His eyes burned.

He lunged again, claws sinking into the Husked Lord’s throat.

With a sharp rip, he tore a chunk of charred flesh free. The demon didn’t even react. It stood there, unbothered.

"Just die!" His rage exploded. He moved to strike again, but a withered hand shot from the ground, clamping onto his leg.

"Tch—!" Jisvruul struggled—but couldn’t move. The Husked Lords, though weaker than him individually, were still powerful demons.

Humiliation flared in his mind. His rage deepened.

His body began to bloat.

His jaws widened.

The eyes on his throat swelled—becoming larger, more menacing.

And then—

He transformed.

Towering over the battlefield, his new form was even more monstrous than before. Four wings. Two gaping maws. The eyes on his neck fewer, but larger, hungrier.

"ARAA!!!" With a furious shriek, he punched the ground. A massive crater split the battlefield. The Husked Lord’s head was exposed.

Jisvruul lunged. His jaws snapped shut. Crushing. Tearing. Swallowing it whole.

One Husked Lord; gone.

Without hesitation, he spun toward the next one.

Bone spikes erupted around it, forming a defensive barrier—

But Jisvruul didn’t care. He plowed straight through. The spikes sliced into him, but he ignored the pain. Reaching the Husked Lord, he ripped into its flesh like a wild beast.

Then, with a final shriek, he froze it for a mere second, long enough to tear its head off and devour it.

One left.

The final Husked Lord swung its massive scythe, aiming to cleave him in half.

Jisvruul shrieked again, but the distance was too great. The scythe came down.

"ARAA—!"

His right arm was severed. The blade sliced into his side.

Jisvruul, become human! Yur’s voice cut through his mind.

Without hesitation, his body shrank down. His missing arm still bled, but he dodged the next strike.

With a sharp step forward, his hand shot out, gripping the Husked Lord’s throat.

He ripped.

The decaying flesh tore apart—

The Husked Lord’s body collapsed.

A thud. Silence.

Jisvruul laughed. His chest heaved, blood dripping from his wounds. But he had won. He had taken his revenge.

Find Ris! Yur’s voice snapped in his mind.

He straightened, scanning the battlefield. "RIS!"

Use my name!

"I have Master Yur!" A sharp breath.

From her hidden cave, Ris froze. Yur? Master Yur? Her eyes narrowed.

Hesitation clawed at her. But the Oath forced her forward. Even if Yur wasn’t there, she had to check.

She emerged cautiously, her muscles tense, ready to flee if needed.

Jisvruul turned, spotting her instantly.

"You are Ris?"

"Yes." She kept her distance.

"Good."

"Where is Yur?"

Let me out, Jisvruul. Tell her what I tell you.

Obeying, Jisvruul’s jaw distended. And he vomited Yur onto the ground.

"What happened to you?!" Seeing his condition, Ris was completely shocked. "How are you alive?!"

"He was injured in the Antic Tower," Jisvruul stated plainly. "He fought against dozens of Antics at once." He didn’t go into detail, simply repeating what Yur was telling him. "I serve him, so I saved him."

"You serve him?" She frowned, suspicion creeping into her voice. "I’ve never seen you before."

"That’s none of your business," Jisvruul said bluntly. "Now that we’ve finally met up, you’ll follow us until the deal between you and Master is done."

From the very start, he disliked Ris. She was irritating to look at, despite being considered beautiful.

"I don’t like you," he added, without hesitation.

Ris raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I think you’re ugly. The other one is better than you." His tone was flat and unwavering, as if stating a simple fact.

She blinked, genuinely confused by his reasoning. Still, her attention remained locked on Yur’s mangled body, unable to look away.

She reached out, about to touch him—

Smack!

Jisvruul slapped her hand away without a second thought. "Don’t touch the Master."

"I can help him," she said, pulling out a pill.

"You can’t." Without another word, he opened his maw and swallowed Yur again, his face stretching unnaturally to accommodate the process.

Then, before Ris could react, he grabbed her by the nape. "Now, you’re coming with me."

He didn’t wait for her to protest.

With a powerful push, he shot into the air, carrying her along.