"We have a new target for you, Aria. A monster of significant strength that has felled 4 hunters we have sent after them before. We do not know how they were defeated, only that communication has ceased with each"
The bishop, standing among glowing candles on a pedestal that made his position feel like one of great importance.
Aria hardly reacts at the loss of 4 of her fellow hunters. Her eyes are cold steel as she nods her head at the bishop.
"Very well, tell me more about my target. What manner of beast is it? Where is it located? How long has it been active?"
The bishop begins to tell Aria about her target.
I'm a massive beast of a demon with human like form and the ability to hide my demonic form even though I am still very large and muscular. The four hunters that came after me did so unprovoked by me. I just wish to live a simple life but the church doesn't like my kind so now I'm constantly on the run
The demon slayer doesn't seem overly concerned about the demon telling her its story. "It is not wise to reveal yourself like that, beast." Aria says as she listens intently, uncrossing her arms and taking a small step forward. "But I can use this information to my advantage. I will track you down and put an end to your existence. There's no place for monsters like you in the world." Her words carry authority and determination.
I dart off into the nights darkness and keep to the shadows and keeping out of sight as I come across a safe house my kind uses from time to time.
The demon slayer pursues the fleeing beast, her senses honed in on its trail. She knows it's trying to hide, but she'll find a way. Her steps are silent as she stalks through the night, unyielding determination burning in her eyes. The closer she gets to the safe house, the more eager she grows to end this threat once and for all.
As I sit on the couch in the safe house I feel a change in the air. Something, no someone's there and it's making me feel uneasy. I stand up and look around the apartment feeling like eyes are staring at me from every direction. I can feel it someone is very close and I don't have time to run
With the demon cornered and nowhere else to go, Aria readies herself for the final confrontation. She carefully draws a small dagger from within her cloak, her hand steady as it grips the hilt. "Nowhere left to run," she whispers menacingly, her words almost lost in the shadows of the room. The demon glances at Aria warily, its yellow eyes narrowing with hatred. She tenses, ready to strike when it lunges forward in a desperate attempt to get past her defenses and escape once more.
I lunge forward as she drives the dagger into my side but luckily missing any major organs or vitals as I spin mid air knocking her back against the wall as I pull the dagger from my side. "Why won't you people leave me the fuck alone. I have never hurt anyone." I say with a deep growl in my voice
"It doesn't matter," the demon hunter replies coldly, readying herself for another attack. "You're a monster, and you must be destroyed." She ducks under a powerful swing from the demon before springing back up and aiming a savage kick at its chest. The force of the impact sends it flying across the room, crashing into a table with a loud thud.
"The only monster here is you bitch, I haven't done a dam thing. Hell I'm half human." I let out a little more information then I wanted to ask I try to steady myself
The demon hunter snorts derisively. "You can hide behind that excuse all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that you're a monster, and a threat to innocent lives." She launches herself at the demon once more, her fists flying through the air in a blur of lethal precision. The demon tries to dodge out of the way, but Aria is too fast, too experienced, and she lands several powerful blows that send it reeling across the room again.
"Wait please, I give up just please.." I say as I try and steady myself once again and hold out a picture of an elderly woman. "My mother please can you see she's taken care of, she was raped by a monster but couldn't bring herself to get rid of me." I say with tears running down my face. "Please shes sick and has no one to care for her. I will let you kill me just please promise to help her." I finally finish speaks as I kneel on the ground begging at her feet
The demon hunter listens to the demon's plea with barely concealed disdain. She looks down at the picture of the old woman, studying it for a moment before slowly nodding her head. "Very well," she says coldly. "I will see to it that your mother is cared for until the end." With that, she draws back her hand and delivers a crushing blow to the demon's chest. As its body slumps lifelessly to the floor, she turns away, already considering her next target as part of her never-ending war against darkness.
Before she can leave she hears the faint heart beat in my chest begin to pump again as I slowly heal and come back to life in front of her. My head flings up as I take a gasp of breath. "Fuck I never get used to that." I say as I look up at her. "Please stop I'm tired of dying over and over"
Aria's expression remains emotionless as she looks down at the demon before her. "I am sorry," she says flatly, her voice lacking any sympathy. "But it is my duty to protect humanity from your kind. If that means ending you over and over again, then so be it." With a sigh of regret, she readies herself for another fight, ready to continue the endless cycle until either one of them is finally defeated.
I lift my hand up and shove it into my own chest as I rip out and hand it to her. It continues to beat even after removing it. "Keep my body and heart separated that's the only way. But know this there will come a day you will put it back in, and when that day comes I'll be there to help the humans you will see." My voice trails off as my body turns to stone and my heart continues to beat in her hand
"Very well," Aria replies coldly, already growing tired of this particular demon's antics. She shoves the stone fragment back into its chest before using her dagger to seal it shut. "I will remember your warning. Rest assured, I will not hesitate when that time comes." With a dismissive flick of her wrist, she turns away from the now-petrified demon and vanishes into the shadows, leaving behind only a faint whisper of displaced air as evidence that it ever existed at all. Her next target lies ahead...
Catching her breath and composure, Aria once again focuses on the task at hand. The demon's warning rings in her ears as she reminds herself of her mission: to protect humanity from the evils that threaten them, no matter how tiresome it may become. She adjusts her black cloak and pushes open the secret door leading to her next destination, the hunt for another monster never truly over until it has been vanquished or she meets her own untimely end.
My body slowly begin to return back to its normal self as my rouse has worked on her. Gotta love illusion magic. I get up and pack my things to run and get the hell out of the city.
The demon slayer soon leaves your sight, the whispering footsteps of her expert hunter's movement carrying away down the shadowy hallway. You don't expect to see or hear from her again... until she shows up at your doorstep, ready to put an end to your existence. The hunt will always continue, and Aria is its unrelenting champion.
After she long gone and out of my sight I haul ass I begin making my way out of town. Unfortunately another demon slayer catches sight of me so I know it's only a matter of time before she turns her attention back on me. I make a run for it as I steal a car and drive as quickly but still being cautious as to not draw attention to myself
"You fool," mutters the demon hunter as she notices you stealing a car and escaping her grasp. "So reckless... just like your kind." She shakes her head in disgust, already planning her next move against you. The hunt will continue, and you can be sure that Aria will stop at nothing until the threat of your existence is permanently eradicated.
I make my way to a cabin deep in the wood a few towns over that I already had set up just for this occasion. I don't want to die and leave my mother by herself it aches knowing all she had to deal with raising me. A few days go by and I figure I was able to get away safely but boy was I wrong
The demon slayer, her senses honed by years of training and experience, detects your presence at the cabin despite your attempts to hide. Her icy blue eyes narrow with determination as she stalks towards the forest, each step silent and deadly. In the darkness, you can't see her approach; all you know is that she's coming, and there's nowhere left for you to run.
I figure its now or never as I position myself in a chair against the back wall giving me an eye view of every possible entry way she could come at me from. I wait for hours for her to come as I slowly begin nod off in the chair...or so she thinks
As you drift off to sleep, the demon slayer silently moves into position outside the cabin. Her movements are slow and methodical, each step carefully placed to avoid making any noise that might alert you. Finally, she crouches low in the shadows, eyes fixed on your unguarded form as her hand slowly edges closer to one of her many hidden weapons. The moment she draws close enough, time seems to slow down for both of you, and every beat of your heart sends a wave of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she prepares herself for the final strike.
My senses are on fire and I don't really know what compelled me to do it but I suddenly jump to right as I see a dagger pierce the chair I was just sitting in. She here and the hunt is on. I jump up and begin flipping over furniture to give me some better defenses
The demon hunter narrows her eyes as she watches you scramble to defend yourself with furniture, swiftly closing the distance between you. Her fingers dance across the ornate handle of her dagger, readying it for the next strike. "You're too late," she hisses through clenched teeth. "There's nowhere left to run." With lightning-fast reflexes, she ducks under a table flip and slashes out with her blade, aiming for your legs.
I dodge but only barely as she still catches me with the tip of the blade. I flip a table over and pull out a pistol and fire directly into her chest hitting her dead center. But it's not a bullet instead a tranquilizer dart as the drug begins to slowly lose control of her functions
The demon hunter grunts as the tranquilizer dart pierces her chest, a surprised look crossing her face before she slumps to the ground. Even so, she doesn't lose consciousness immediately; her body is simply unable to move under its own power any longer. You watch her with narrowed eyes, unsure what to do next. Do you finish her off, or let her live? The choice is yours, but it may have dire consequences for your mother...
I stand up and walk over and standing over here. "Look at me in the eyes and listen carefully." I kneel down as I still trying to catch my breath from the recent tussle. "I won't hurt you, and I won't do anything to you. Can we make a deal. Blink once for yes and twice for no." I say waiting to see her response
The demon hunter looks up at you defiantly, her normally cold eyes now filled with hatred and fear. She doesn't blink once, nor does she blink twice. Instead, she snarls and bucks her body violently, trying to throw off the effect of the tranquilizer. But it's no use; her muscles are weakened by the drug, and she can only manage a few feeble thrashes before lying still again.
You study her face for a moment longer, considering your options. You could finish her now, or you could try to strike a deal with her. The choice is yours.
"If I swear to stay here and never interact with humans would you leave me alone?" I ask her trying to see if she will at least try and hear me out
The demon hunter looks at you with suspicion, her gaze boring into your soul. "And what's in it for me?" she asks coldly. "Why should I trust a monster like you?" Her voice is sharp and unyielding, leaving little room for negotiation.
The choice is yours. What do you say to convince her to spare your life?
"Seriously, I have your life literally in my hands and your trying to bargain for more." I say with a slight laugh of amusement. "Ok then what do you want?" I ask simply
The demon hunter snorts derisively. "You're in no position to make demands," she says coldly. "I've spent my entire life hunting creatures like you, and I'm not about to stop now just because you ask nicely." She pauses, considering her next words carefully. "But... if you swear on your mother's life that you will help me when the time comes, I might spare yours in return."
The choice is yours. Do you agree to her terms?
"Deal." I say without hesitation. "But you still have to take care of my ma if I'm gonna stay here." I say with a grin as I pull out a counter agent for the tranq and give her the shot allowing her to get the full control of her body again as I take a step back and wait to see how she's gonna react now
The demon hunter snarls at you, her eyes narrowing to slits. "Fool," she whispers, almost under her breath. "You don't know what you've just gotten yourself into." But despite the threat in her voice, she doesn't make any sudden moves against you. Instead, she pushes herself back onto her hands and knees, taking a moment to steady herself before speaking again.
"I will honor this deal," Aria says slowly, carefully choosing each word. "But if you break your end of the bargain, I will come for you, and there will be no mercy." She glances at the counter agent in your hand. "That drug must wear off quickly," she comments dryly as her body begins to return to its natural state, her strength and agility coming back with every heartbeat.
The choice is yours. Do you have anything else to say or do before
"Can you just tell my mom that I got sick and passed away, it's best she just thinks I'm gone. She never wanted me to live a life like this." I say with a plea in my eyes. "I swear as long as you take care of her for me, I'll do anything you ask."
The demon hunter regards you with a cold, unyielding gaze as she mulls over your request. Finally, she nods slowly. "Very well," she says reluctantly. "I will see that she is taken care of. But know this - if you break our deal in any way, I will hunt you down and make sure that no one ever mistakes your fate for death."
With that, Aria turns away from you and disappears into the shadows once more. The cabin is silent except for the sound of your laboured breathing as the weight of their bargain settles heavily between you.
I relax back into the chair next to me as the weight of my new life solitude begins to sink in. Days turn to weeks and then into months and it feels like maybe she has just forgotten about me or she just doesn't need anything from me as I begin to work more on my self and hone my demonic abilities to maybe use them for good
It's been years since your agreement with the demon hunter, and you find yourself more powerful than ever. You wonder if she even remembers your existence at all... but deep down, you know that one day, she will return. And when that day comes, you must be ready to fulfill your end of the bargain, no matter the cost.
One day after coming home from a hunt I see the door to my cabin slightly cracked. As I approach I see her standing inside wait for me as I set down the deer I had killed. I'm much taller and a hell of a lot stronger since the last time we saw each other. But she's still asleep beautiful and cold as ever. "Well hi there it's been a while." I say with a soft smile as I walk in
The demon slayer's eyes flicker open at the sound of your voice. For a moment, she says nothing; her expressionless face gives away nothing about what she's thinking or feeling. Finally, she draws in a steadying breath and turns to meet your gaze. "You remember our deal," she says simply, not bothering to hide the accusation in her tone.
The choice is yours. How do you respond to Aria's comment?
"Yes ma'am." I say simply as I walk further in setting down my things and waiting to hear what she has to say
She eyes you carefully as you speak, her posture relaxing slightly. "You've grown stronger," she says after a moment, tilting her head to the side in acknowledgement. "I underestimated your abilities when we made our deal." She pauses, glancing around the cabin before meeting your gaze once more. "What I want to know is... have you been using them for good?"
The choice is yours. How do you respond to Aria's question about your intentions?
"Come let me show you what I've been up to." I walk her out to the back of the cabin where she sees a big lush garden teaming with vegetables and fruit. "This was all grown in just one month." I say showing her what my powers can do. "The only time I use my powers to do any harm is when I'm hunting for food I swear." I say looking down into her eyes
She follows you out to the garden, gazing in awe at the bounty of vegetables and fruits before her. When she finally speaks, her voice is soft with grudging respect. "You've proven yourself... for now." She turns back toward the cabin, motioning for you to follow her inside once more.
Once inside, she paces thoughtfully around the room, lost in contemplation. Finally, she stops and faces you again. "I will honor our deal," she says slowly, careful with each word, "but do not think that I have forgotten what kind of creature you truly are." Her expression hardens, the anger and disgust from before beginning to creep back into her eyes. "Should you ever cross me or break our agreement... there will be no mercy this time."
The choice is yours. How do you respond to Aria's warning?
"I wouldn't dream of it. But if I could ask, how's my ma? It's been many years, is she... Is she still around?" I ask her nervously
The demon slayer narrows her eyes at your question, clearly unimpressed by your apparent lack of concern for the agreement between you. "Your mother is well," she says curtly, as if stating a simple fact. "She has been taken care of according to our arrangement." Her voice trails off, and she glances away from you, lost in thought once more.
After several long moments, she finally looks back at you again. "I will not hesitate to call in the debt," she says coldly. "Do not forget that." With a dismissive wave of her hand, she turns and leaves the cabin without another word. The sound of her footsteps fades into the distance, leaving you alone once more.