Arden clenched his fists and frowned. "Damn it."

He took a slow breath, then let it out. "My [Unique Physique] is nature-based. This place is a terrible match for me."

He glanced at the cracked ground and the dead air around them. "There's nothing living here to work with."

Dahlia leaned over and gave him a light shove with her shoulder. "Relax."

She grinned. "Master is here."

Garion didn't even turn around. "Stop using me as emotional support."

Dahlia laughed. "Too late."

She looked back at Arden.

"And it's not like you're useless. It's only affecting you more than the rest of us. Dion's fine. Eliza's fine. I'm definitely fine."

Dion raised a hand. "I would like to confirm that I am, in fact, fine."

Eliza nodded quietly.

Arden sighed. "I know. It's just annoying."

Before anyone could say more, the air ahead of them twisted.

Figures began to appear one by one.

They were demons, but very different from the two Garion had killed earlier.

Some were tall and thin, with long arms and sharp fingers.

Others were bulky, with thick hides and jagged horns.

One crawled on all fours, its eyes glowing faintly.

Another floated slightly above the ground, wings twitching slowly.

They stared at the group.

One of the demons spoke, its voice rough. "Humans?"

Another demon laughed. "How can there be humans here?"

A third tilted its head. "Didn't you hear? A Demon Gate appeared recently."

It pointed at Garion and the others. "They must have come from that gate."

The demons murmured among themselves.

"But this far?" one said. "They got teleported all the way here?"

The bulky demon grinned, baring sharp teeth. "Lucky us."

Another demon licked its lips. "It's been a while since we tasted human flesh."

Garion smiled.

"Well," he said calmly, "that answers one question."

Dahlia glanced at him. "Which one?"

"They know about the Demon Gate," Garion replied. "That saves us some searching."

He took a step forward, then stopped and looked at Dahlia. "Handle them."

Dahlia cracked her knuckles. "All of them?"

Garion nodded. "Leave one alive."

Dahlia's grin widened. "Got it."

She stepped ahead of the group, her posture relaxed but confident. "Alright, demons."

The demons laughed when they saw her come alone.

"A single girl?"

"This will be quick."

Dahlia rolled her shoulders. "You guys talk too much."

Her hands shifted.

Scales spread across her skin as her fingers sharpened into claws.

Her arms thickened slightly, muscles tightening as dragon traits surfaced.

With a sharp sound, wings burst from her back, powerful and wide.

Dahlia flexed her claws and smiled brightly. "Let me see how strong demons really are."

The demons' laughter stopped.

Garion folded his arms. "Everyone else, stay back."

Dion muttered, "I almost feel bad for them."

Eliza quietly shook her head.

Dahlia rolled her neck once, wings spreading wider behind her. "Alright," she said cheerfully. "Let's warm up."

She pushed off the ground and shot forward, rising into the air in a smooth arc.

The demons reacted instantly.

"Flying human!" one of them shouted.

"Careful!" another yelled.

A tall demon with long arms slammed its hands together.

Dark red mana burst out as sharp spikes formed in the air.

[Blood Spike Barrage]

The spikes shot toward Dahlia like arrows.

Dahlia laughed. "Too slow!"

She twisted midair, wings beating once.

The spikes missed her completely, crashing into the ground below and exploding into red mist.

Another demon opened its mouth wide, chanting quickly.

[Demonic Howl]

A wave of distorted sound blasted forward, strong enough to shake the ground and rattle bones.

Dahlia winced for half a second, then grinned. "That tickles."

Her body surged with power.

Blue-white energy wrapped around her as the air itself bent around her wings.

She flapped once.

The sound wave was torn apart, scattered like it never existed.

Below, Dion whistled. "That's unfair."

A bulky demon slammed its fists into the ground.

[Hellquake]

The earth cracked and rose upward in jagged chunks, trying to smash Dahlia from below.

Dahlia's eyes lit up. "Oh, you're fun!"

She dived straight down, dragon claws glowing.

The rising rocks shattered the moment she passed through them.

She landed hard in front of the bulky demon and punched forward.

The demon barely had time to widen its eyes before it was launched backward, rolling across the ground and slamming into another demon.

"Idiot!" one of them shouted. "Don't fight her alone!"

Three demons moved together this time. One raised both arms as dark fire formed.

[Abyss Flame]

Another gathered wind mixed with demonic mana.

[Corrupt Gale]

The third spread its wings wide.

[Demon Rush]

Flames, twisted wind, and raw force surged toward Dahlia all at once.

Dahlia crossed her arms in front of her face, wings folding slightly.

"Okay," she said brightly. "Now that's more like it."

Her wings snapped open.

[Sky Dragon Roar]

A thunderous blast of compressed air and lightning exploded outward.

The demonic fire was blown apart.

The corrupted wind vanished.

The charging demon was smashed flat into the ground.

The remaining demons stumbled back, panic flashing across their faces.

"What is she?" one whispered.

"She's not human!"

Dahlia floated down slowly, hovering just above the ground.

She pointed at them playfully. "You guys talked about tasting humans, right?"

She smiled wider. "Bad habit."

In a blink, she vanished.

Then... She reappeared behind two demons and slammed their heads together with her claws.

Both collapsed instantly.

Only one demon remained standing, shaking badly.

Garion finally spoke. "Leave that one."

Dahlia stopped mid-motion and nodded. "Got it, Master."

She grabbed the last demon by the neck and lifted it off the ground effortlessly.

The demon struggled, gasping. "M-Monster…"

Dahlia tilted her head. "Rude."

She dropped it at Garion's feet and stepped back, wings folding neatly behind her.

"Done," she said cheerfully. "So… questions time?"

Dion looked at the demon, then at Dahlia. "Yeah. I don't feel bad anymore."

Eliza nodded once.

Arden clenched his fists, eyes sharp. "They're stronger than demonic beasts."

Garion smiled faintly. "And now we have directions."

He looked down at the trembling demon. "Start talking."

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