CHAPTER 44: DEMON HUNTERS

Caelen groaned as he yawned, the sound deep in his chest. He sat up, stretching until his shoulders popped, feeling a surprising lightness in his body. It wasn’t just being well-rested, there was an extra spark of energy humming through him.

"Man..." he muttered, rubbing his eyes before finally waking enough to look around.

His gaze inevitably found her. Evelyn. She was lying peacefully beside him.

The way the morning light slid across her brown skin made the events of last night replay in his mind, and along with them, the expression she’d worn when she’d lost herself to him.

His weapon between his legs stirred at the memory, and he shut his eyes for a second.

"Calm down..." he whispered to himself, dragging in a slow breath.

Needing a distraction, he brought up the system interface and pulled up her details.

[Personal Info]

Name: Evelyn Sylraen

Race: Dark Elf–Succubus

Age: 32

Affiliation: —Title: The Golden Princess

Status: Stable (Fully Restored)

Affinity: Earth and Gold (Earth affinity mutation)

-

’Still the same as last night,’ he thought. But he hadn’t checked her numbers yet.

[Evelyn Status x3]

Intelligence: 315

Strength: 130

Agility: 160

Endurance: 144

Resistance: 195

DM Count: 50 100

-

"What the hell?" Caelen’s eyes widened.

That intelligence was... insane. Even her physical stats were far above what he’d expect from someone who had never trained for combat.

And DM counts that high? "These are crazy for someone who doesn’t fight," he muttered, glancing back at her sleeping form.

The other thing is that it’s not written demon form like Emma and Lucy, which intrigued him, and he wants to know what’s up with that, but how does he do that?

Is it maybe because she was now a dark elf? Or had she been one before, and the transformation just amplified it?

Did he... accidentally awaken something that had been dormant? No, if she were an elf, she herself would have known, is this related to the elf curse stuff? He only has to find out to see and find that elf.

He shook his head. Those questions could wait, he does not have answers anyway.

For now, he let himself just... look at her. She looks amazing, which shows how dangerous succubuses are.

Pride warmed his chest—an emotion he’d felt before. It was a strange mix of possession and something gentler. He knew, with unsettling clarity, that he’d go to great lengths for her now.

"Heh... am I that easy?" he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered along her cheek.

Her lips moved faintly. "Mmm..."

She was waking.

He kept stroking her cheek, and from the way her breathing slowed again, she clearly liked it.

"I’m trying to sleep, you know," she murmured, voice still thick with dreams. Something about the way she said it tugged at him, it was like she was the one charming him now, even though it wasn’t.

"Sorry. Couldn’t help it."

"It’s fine... I was half-asleep anyway." She opened her eyes, and for a moment, he felt strangely bare under her gaze.

"What?" she asked with a sleepy smile.

Instead of answering, he pulled her close and kissed her. She blinked in surprise but didn’t pull away. When he finally let her breathe, she asked, "What was that for?"

"I just think... I kinda like you," Caelen admitted, the words slipping out with more honesty than he expected.

Her brows lifted. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah." He gave a short nod, deciding right then that he wanted her with him beyond just this.

She chuckled softly. "Alright... I was going to give you everything, remember?"

"Yeah, but..." his eyes narrowed a bit, "I want to know how you feel about it."

She made a thoughtful little hum, clearly teasing him, before leaning in and kissing him in answer. He returned it, the kiss deepening until minutes blurred.

Then—

ALERT!!! ALERT!! INTRUDER!! ALERT!!

They froze. Caelen pulled back instantly. Evelyn sat up, all trace of sleep gone.

"What’s happening?" he asked.

"Something’s wrong—let’s go!" she snapped, already off the bed and moving to her clothes.

[Ten minutes earlier]

"Good morning, Lucy," Emma said cheerfully, back in her maid uniform as she passed through the hall.

Lucy barely looked at her. "Morning."

Lucy slowed, then turned to see Emma heading for the elevator. "Hey, Emma," Lucy called suddenly.

Emma stopped. "Yes?"

"Are you not worried about Caelen?" She said quietly

"About what?" Emma asked with brows raised.

"Losing him." She said in a slower voice

"I’ll never lose him," Emma replied flatly with no worries.

"How sure are you?" Lucy pressed.

"A hundred percent." Emma tilted her head. "Why? Are you worried?"

Lucy frowned faintly. "I... don’t know." She sighed. "Forget it. Sorry." She turned away and walked off.

Emma watched her go, muttering, "Is she gonna be alright?" before a few seconds after sigh, shaking her head, "never mind" as she heads in the elevator.

Lucy wandered the corridors, thoughts tangled, until she found herself back at her own door. She sat on the bed, staring at nothing.

"Should I just do it with him?" she muttered under her breath, recalling the way Evelyn had walked into Caelen’s room last night wearing that maroon gown that bared her thighs.

She couldn’t deny it. Evelyn had looked... stunning, and Caelen would be with her the whole night. What if he fell for her? She would have to compete with.

Then—

RUN!.

The word slammed into the back of her mind like a cold spike. She froze, eyes darting around the empty room. Nothing. Still, instinct had her on her feet in an instant.

She stepped into the hall, senses stretched thin. Something was wrong, bad wrong. She started toward the elevator, only to stop dead when the doors slid open.

Six men stepped out.

Their armor was black, so black it swallowed the light, trimmed with a deep, blood-red etching that only revealed itself when they moved beneath the hallway lamps.

Elite Demon Hunters.

Her pulse spiked.

"DEMON!" one of them barked, pulling a device from his belt. "Lord Desmire, you can come to Floor 3. We found her."

The name hit her like a blow. Lord Desmire. Her father.

If she couldn’t even beat the elite squad before... she had no chance against him.

Her eyes narrowed. Then I don’t give them the chance.

Power surged through her veins as she released her primordial energy. In an instant, frost whispered along the walls, and she launched forward.

The squad reacted instantly. The leader stepped forward, a heavy shield in hand. He braced for impact—

An ice spear formed in midair. Lucy caught it without breaking stride, driving the point into the shield. The metal frosted over in a heartbeat, and the instant it reached the man’s hand, he hissed, tossing it away. His sword cleared its sheath with a hiss of steel.

"Lucille." His voice was sharp, commanding. "Come quietly and surrender yourself. Your death will be painless."

Her eyes widened. "...Uncle Vatrax?"

His expression was unreadable beneath the helm. "Do not speak to me."

ALERT!!! ALERT!! INTRUDER!! ALERT!!

The walls flared crimson, sirens howling.

Lucy didn’t so much as glance at them. She couldn’t afford a distraction. If her father were here, she would not be caught standing still.

Vatrax seemed to be waiting. Waiting for him.

She gave a sharp, bitter exhale. "Sorry, Uncle Vatrax."

"Stop—"

He was on her before the word finished leaving his mouth, his speed blinding. One second, she was mid-step, the next, she was pinned to the wall by her throat, air burning in her lungs.

Her power flared outward in a violent pulse, ice crawling up his arm in jagged spikes. His grip faltered just enough for her to wrench free.

"Block the exits!" he roared to the others.

They moved to intercept, but her wings unfurled in a burst of frost, and she took to the air, spearing upward. A second ice spear materialized in her grasp, and she hurled it between them, and frost blossomed across the floor, freezing them in place for the crucial heartbeat she needed.

She dove, landing hard near the elevator. Fingers brushed the elevator button—

The doors slid open.

A weight crushed her instantly, unseen yet absolute. Her knees buckled, and she slammed to the ground, limbs refusing to obey.

"Good morning, Lucy. Did you sleep well?"

The voice was like steel, very strong and powerful, and also familiar, hated.

He stepped out of the elevator. Tall, broad-shouldered, his presence filled the hall as easily as the frost filled the air. His eyes fell on her—on the pale skin, the blue hair, the horns.

A sigh. "You really have turned into a demon. I was hoping your brother was lying. Hoping he simply wanted you gone. But no..."

She strained, trying to rise, but the weight on her body only increased.

"Stay like that. I do not want to see your face." His voice was colder than she’d ever heard it and laced with something she’d never felt from him before, especially directed to her. Malice.

"You are my daughter," Valen said, each word deliberate, "but this... is unacceptable. No member of my family will be a demon."

-

[Hope you enjoyed the Chapter, drop a comment and send in some power stones might help me.]