Hmm... It seems they've switched up their order again.
Such strong, unmistakable energy can only mean one thing.
"At this point; I question why are we even pursuing you of all beings? It seems you've blended in with humans quite well."
"I would prefer if you've left me alone."
"Unfortunately it's not something we can do! Sense of duty you know? Besides if we're to bring your head to our master; all our transgressions should be partially pardoned!"
"Quite talkative today aren't we? Usually you would ambush me without any pretense."
"Come on, we're very kind daemons! We just wanted to respect your time by not talking your nerves off! And today we just wanted to clear up some details."
"... You're truly the worst."
Unlike many modern daemons, these ones go by many names. Yin and Yang, Spear and Shield, Laelaps and the Fox, Minor and Major, Proton and Neutron... But it seems they've taken a liking to Sakuyoukyo culture nowadays, as odd as it sounds.
Nigen - DAEMON of POSITIVE; Teki - DAEMON of NEGATIVE
Those are primordial daemons; and have taken many forms throughout their existence - apparently they lived even before what they describe as a "shift".
---
"Before, we were the meanings at their deepest core. We were not bound to our shells at all. We were all akin to natural forces. Yet now; if we ever fall and break - we're now replaced by you - the impure ones: those whose desires are still lingering. Those, whose identity is still lingering. It's nice that at least your egos is what is erased."
---
"Now, perchance you entertain us? As always, we will go easy on you to make the fight fair!"
"... Sometimes I question yer logic and true allegiance. If you really wanted my head, then you would've taken it long ago."
And so, we engage.
=ACT 1: SUN AND MOON - LIGHT OF HOLY=
"Ages shift, yet two guiding lights remain the same"
=ACT 1: TOWARDS BRIGHTNESS - INTO VISION=
"Ever since primordial times, beings leaned towards the light as it brought comfort in being seen... And danger in being perceived."
=ACT 1: TOWARDS DARKNESS - UNTO SHROUD=
"Ever since primordial times, beings learned how to deal with darkness as while it brought the fear of the unknown, they could use such shrouding fear to their advantage"
Hm, it seems they decided to split up for now. Perhaps they're feeling more serious now...
Their forms shift into the ball of light and the sphere that nulls light and they begin pursuing me, shooting bullets along the way at high speeds. I've shifted my acts to be more appropriate to dealing with them, as they're much serious threat than any other Daemon. I wasn't born in the age of primordials; but from what I've heard of them - they're absolute behemoths that challenged the Three Kings' reign.
Channeling the light of both the moon and the sun, I direct it towards the opposites with magical mirrors.
"Not bad! Not bad! Will you keep up with us though?"
They begin to phase through each other, creating explosions of lights and I'm forced to switch to the defensive, reflecting the lights instead of redirecting them from the natural source.
Eventually they fuse with each other and they blast the projectiles everywhere, without the care in the world. Guess it's about time I cast the reflective barrier...
I seriously hate bringing any kind of attention to myself, but it seems now I have no other option. I have to summon my domain...
///Domain: Reflective Chamber of Holy that is Unveil///
The area around us turns into a mirror dome, and taking cover, the bullets reflect back to the twin daemons.
""AUGHHHHHH!!!!!"" The twins disengage from each other in pain and fall down the ground, returning to their original shape
"... Are you done yet?"
""Full Course!!! Full Course!!!"" They cheer and they start their new act...
=DOUBLE ACT 2: GIVER AND TAKER=
"It is nature's law that one gives and one takes, regardless of intention. One's death is a gift for others; from carcass blooms grass, and in turn it is eaten by live creatures. Cycle of life."
They've decided to team up for this one... Good; that means they'll be taking collective damage.
Twins turn back into their spherical forms, Nigen begins to shoot out energy spheres, but Teki begins to absorb and redirect the spheres, avoiding the domain's mirrors. I immediately shatter them and the pieces fall down on the ground, turning into stakes.
While Teki absorbs the bullets, Nigen is pinned to the ground, screaming in pain; and just as they're distracted I activated my shock ability, which electrocutes them.
""GGGGRRGRGRGRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!""
"Now?..."
"Just one more... One more...!"
=FINAL ACT: DUALITY=
"One that is creating. One that is destroying. One that is the embodiment of virtue. One that is the embodiment of crime. Yet one does not exist without the other."
They fuse with each other once more and begin to spin rapidly. Bullets of red and blue, black and white begin to spill from everywhere. And along with them, numerous things that are considered positive and negative. I duck and weave, trying to get closer, dodging anything that is positive or negative, for one will make me so elevated I'll explode into numerous pieces, the other will make me so weakened I will be crushed into mush...
=ACT 2: JUDGEMENT EQUALISER, DAINSLEIF=
"At the end, none of it matters. I'm merely a humble executioner. And blood must be spilled."
Rapidly approaching the pair, the silver turns into a guillotine blade and I cut through the pair. The cuts continue going through the twins until eventually... They break.
"...
AHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHANONONONONONONONONONOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGHHHIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEARGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTHIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-------------!!!!!!!!!"
They shine brightly than any sun and disengage one last time. Both of them then sink into the ground, laughing maniacally.
... It's still a miracle that they're going too easy on me. Their sheer destructiveness alone is something that should be feared. If they wanted... They would've killed me already.
But... Is it their master that is keeping their leash particularly tight or do they truly treat it all as one big game?...
Primordials... I fear your power.
---
"Hm... We arrived at the scene."
Before us stands a shack, presumably that's where those hunters lived, but...
This... Stench... It's way too familiar... It's way too familiar...
Virgilia then looks at me, and in that moment I saw deep regret in her eyes
"Fortune. As much as the kid like you shouldn't be exposed to such sights: this is the reality of being a magician. So unfortunately you have to step inside with us."
I instinctively clung closer to Virgilia as Aden opens the door
"... Shit..." He gasped and then he looked back at Virgilia "... Are you sure Fortune needs to see this?... Please take a look..."
Virgilia looks through the creak and nods "... Unfortunately yes... It's... It's for his own good... For it is... Inevitable."
Aden gulps and opens the door wide open.
What I saw... Was a stuff of nightmares
The inside of the hut... Is covered wall to wall with blood, and it is infested with decay. The hunters... They were all scattered around... I could see two of them by the table and three on the floor, their jaws torn apart as their face translated sheer agony and fear. Some had stomachs ripped open, with their guts being strewn around the place, some had their arms split in two, and there were signs of struggle, with bullet holes sprayed onto walls.
Going to the sleeping quarters, the sight is even more terrific. There is a hunter hanging from the ceiling, half of his head is missing - he is just stuck here, all bloodied. There is also a hunter who is just... Scattered all across the room, his face is mangled to look like a psychotic smile in spite of the eyes telling the tale of utter terror. Another hunter had his head crushed beneath the leg of bunk bed, his body was repeatedly bashed with the hammer.
And another had his legs bashed flat and arms split in two.
"Elise... Elise..."
He spoke. I tried to help him, but Virgilia stopped me
"No... It's too late... Let's just... Interrogate him... Then spare him the misery."
Virgilia kneeled over the only survivor and began asking questions
"Elise... Is that the farmer's daughter?..."
"Please... Save her... I heard her... Yet I couldn't reach her..."
"... Was that the work of a daemon?..."
No answer...
"Is there anything we can do for you before you pass away?"
No answer...
"... It'll be quick. May you, and your compatriots, rest in peace..."
In the blink of an eye, mushrooms began sprouting over the hunters body. He is dead.
Why?... What is all this?... Why couldn't we save him?.... Why?... Why does this room feels so... It's not...
Geheh...
Gahaha... KEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Fortune, you're still so lovable, yet so stupid self! Didn't you see this guy bleeding? Didn't you see this beautiful work of art?
Don't you know? Us DAEMONs hate humans. We feed upon them. We feast upon them. All so they would suffer lots!
... You...
You know, if your father wasn't so generous, I would've done this to his sorry family. Yet he is truly a genius. He gives me all what I want. Seeing them bleed out made me feel ecstatic. Ahh~ he truly has the qualifiers to make him a full-fledged daemon. Seeing your sister--
SHUT UP!!!
SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP!!!
IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU MY LIFE WAS RUINED BEFORE IT BEGAN!!!
If...! If you weren't here...! I...!
"Hey bud... Are you alright?..."
"HANDS OFF OF ME!!!"
I need to run. I don't want to be here anymore.
"H-Hey!... Fortune, wait!!"
I hate this. I hate this all. Why...
I wanna go home... I don't want this...