Chapter 25: Chapter 24 Try Your Luck

The Imp holding the knife leapt at its distracted opponent. The hesitant Imp suddenly snarled and grappled the knife-wielder to the dirt. The gambling crowd erupted in surprised cheers upon seeing the practised skill of the takedown. The hesitant Imp got on top and gripped the other’s wrist. Helios could faintly hear the sound of consecutive fists slamming into flesh. The crowd went wild, urging on their chosen competitor to win.

 

The dominant Imp got careless, allowing the knife-wielding Imp to break free of his grasp. It slashed the dagger across its mounted opponent’s belly, disembowelling it. Guts spilled from the sickening wound but the expected outcome didn’t happen. 

 

The dominant Imp went berserk. It pinned the knife hand to the ground and smashed savage elbows into its opponent's face. With a scream of rage, it picked up its own intestine and wrapped it around the knife-wielder’s neck and wrist, tying them together. Holding its grip, the Imp pried the dagger from the other’s hand. It buried the Unda stone weapon deep through the pinned Imp’s eye socket before collapsing forward. 

 

The pinned Imp shrieked in pain and terror while the limp dominant Imp abruptly started twitching. The announcer attempted to calm the crowd as they became unruly, whistling and fist-pumping. The shrieking and twitching stopped at the exact same time, causing the crowd to turn silent in anticipation. 

 

The announcer had his back to the fight with his arms outstretched to hold back the crowd. After noticing the silence, he glanced over his shoulder. Seeing the still pair of Imps, he frowned and walked over to them. He kicked the dominant Imp over which spat out a mouthful of blood. His opponent remained motionless in the dirt, its tongue lulling out lifelessly.

 

“Winner!” the announcer declared, throwing his hands out at the Imp gurgling blood. 

 

Groans of disappointment echoed throughout the gathered mass, accompanied by exuberant cheering of the victors. Helios noticed the blue llama demon’s head droop as it grabbed a handful of hair in distress, cursing to itself. 

 

I guess it’s better luck next time. I think you just got played though, buddy. That Imp only played dumb at the beginning. Probably to lure in the crowd. There’s no way someone who’s that skilled in fighting would carelessly ignore an opponent. Even letting go of the knife didn’t seem like an accident. Also, look at the announcer’s reaction.

 

The announcer was looking down at the winning Imp laying on the ground. He had a satisfied gleam in his eye. A few of the veteran gamblers in the background quietly snickered to themselves. It was obvious that they expected the outcome.

 

“Nightmare apprentice, eh? What can I do yer for?” the meat vendor asked, snapping Helios out of his reverie. 

 

Helios turned his attention to the meat vendor, discovering he was pointedly ignoring Tuktuk on Krutak’s back. He was hungrily staring at him with avarice. 

 

“I don’t know what we’re here for. Ask him,” Helios curtly replied, diverting the merchant’s gaze back to Tuktuk.

 

“Snort. Alright, Imp. It looks like yer the brains of the outfit. I have a few special items yer might be interested in,” the meat vendor said with a snort of his pig-like nose.

 

He pressed his hands and clambered to his feet from the stool, pulling a rough key from his apron. He hobbled over to the cart and inserted the key into a locked compartment. One of the flayed demons hung on the meat hook reached imploringly toward him. 

 

“Hey! Get yer filthy hands off me. Yer shouldn’t have tried running away from the slavers or they wouldn’t have sold yer to me. Yer lucky my customers like their meat fresh. Maybe one of them will take pity on yer and buy yer worthless carcass while you’re still alive,” the meat vendor reprimanded, slapping the hand away. 

 

He finished unlocking the compartment and swung open the door, stepping out of the way of their view. Inside, a black-scaled demonic skin was pegged to the wall. In front of it was an assortment of teeth and claws. The meat vendor puffed up with pride displaying the contents.

 

“What do yer think? Nightmares love to come and visit me from time to time. So, I keep a stock of the things yer interested in. It all belonged to this worthless carcass over here. It’s been a while since I got a Dolore of this quality. Let him be a lesson to yer, apprentice. Always respect Fastidium’s law and the King’s rule,” the meat vendor said. He proudly thumped a fist against the dangling flayed demon’s chest, making it swing. “He toed the line of becoming an oathbreaker but he still refused to when the slaver released his contract to me. Too bad for him, he fucked up and killed a Primus in his escape. All he’s good for now is meat. Snort, snort, snort.”

 

Helios was repulsed by the meat vendor’s snorting laughter. He ignored everything around him, his third eye opening and making eye contact with the suffering flayed demon. It became entranced by the eye’s hypnotic effect, turning limp. Helios stepped forward and placed a fingertip against its neck. A large hand clamped down on his wrist. Helios looked to discover it belonged to the meat vendor staring at him.

 

You are reading story Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] at novel35.com

“What do yer think yer doing? Don’t touch the merchandise without buying it first,” the meat vendor said.

 

“Okay, how much?” Helios indifferently asked. The meat vendor was taken aback by something in the tone of his voice.

 

“For the whole thing, five Peon Ethos.”

 

“And those?” Helios replied, pointing to the compartment.

 

“Another five Peons,” the meat vendor greedily replied, sniffing a large sale.

 

“Agreed. I, Helios, swear upon my true…”

 

“Hold up. Do yer want this one as well? I cut yer a deal because he ain’t fresh. Two Peons,” the meat vendor interrupted, holding up two stunted fingers.

 

“Not interested. Should we do this?” Helios said, his gaze locked on the flayed demon, easing its suffering.

 

“Snort. Alright, apprentice. I, Yargug, vouch that this transaction is acceptable,” the meat vender intoned in disappointment.

 

“I, Helios, confirm this transaction is true,” Helios replied.

 

“I endorse the proof of sale. Beebo, King of Fastidium has acknowledged the transaction.” Satan’s voice echoed in his mind. 

 

Helios’ Soul Brand reacted to the words, his Sigil appeared in the air. It created a proof of sale that flew into Yargug’s impatient hand.

 

“Are we done here?” Helios asked.

 

“Yes…” 

 

“Good.”

 

Helios focused his attention on his finger, a tendril emerging from the tip to burrow into the immobile flayed demon. A moment later it split into multiple threads and erupted outward, tearing apart the demon’s insides without affecting the exterior. A thick strand of lifeforce rose from the suffering demon’s mouth to be inhaled directly by Helios. It abruptly ended with the demon crumbling from the meat hook into a pile of ash.

 

“Hey, quit messing up my stall!” Yargug exclaimed, rushing forward to dust off the counter.

 

Helios ignored his protests and joined his companions. Tuktuk chuckled in wry amusement while tapping Krutak’s shoulder and pointing at their purchased supplies. He understood the message and retrieved the scaled skin first and neatly packed the other items inside. He picked up the bundle and tucked it under an arm.

You can find story with these keywords: Hellion [A Demon Progression Story], Read Hellion [A Demon Progression Story], Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] novel, Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] book, Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] story, Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] full, Hellion [A Demon Progression Story] Latest Chapter