Crave the Avarice

"Those daemon were much tougher than I expected them to be." Zhao Fan said. "Very tough."

"Makes it worth being here, doesn't it." Ricardo said.

"Nah, just makes it stressful."

"Yeah, right. We both know you enjoyed yourself."

"Really? You do know me." Zhao Fan said, as she squeezed Ricardo. Ricardo groaned. Jacquez was going to have to answer to him.

"You know, Leti and Pop are way over there." Ricardo said, looking far up the hill. "We could get to meet them."

"For fun?"

"No." Ricardo said. "They've got Anderson."

"Ugh...Anderson. He's not even a proper healer, just wraps people up with duck tape."

"It works."

"What's the point in healing someone if the healing process is slow. Ever wonder why Kanon laughs at us sometimes."

"HQ doesn't even have a healer."

"Better nothing than someone who does a half-assed job."

"Oh c'mon." Jacques said from the tree he sat on, "Go easy on the guy, Zhao. I kinda like him."

"Wow, there's actually someone you like." Blake said. "I've got to meet this guy."

"Shut up, Blake."

"Whatever."

"How was your end?" Ricardo asked, "You guys don't look like you went through any problems."

"Neither do you." Jacquez said, "I'd say you faired better than us."

"Now that's just overestimating us, Jacquez."

"Humility. Nice."

The four walked into an open field, the air cool under the crescent moon in the sky. The trees swayed from side to side, their leaves scattering all around. Zhao Fan spun round and round while still walking forward, seeping in the fresh air. Blake and Jacquez were at the rear, silent. Ricardo took the lead, his hands in his pocket as he contemplated about what meal he'd reward himself with once all this was over.

None of them saw the figure that stood in the sky, watching them, hence none of them expected what happened next.

The vestorer shot straight through Ricardo's side, leaving a gapping hole in where it had pierced. The veteran inquisitor groaned as he fell to the floor. The three inquisitors immediately became alert, Blake and Jacquez already looking up while Zhao Fan run to Ricardo's side.

High up in the sky, barely illuminated by the light of the moon stood the daemon. Its features could not be seen but Jacquez could guess it was at least 6ft tall. The daemon immediately crash down to the earth right between Blake and Jacquez, sending both of them in opposite directions. From up close, its characteristics could be seen and Jacquez immediately knew that this was a sin. From the hair on one side of its face, blocking its eye while leaving its other side of its face bare, only designed by a vertical gapping hole which was its mouth as a tongue emerged from it. Its structure was almost identical to Kyler's; slim yet muscular, sporting a short white jacket. Its finger and toenails were blackened.

The daemon stood up erect, glancing at both Jacquez and Blake, as if deciding who to take out first. Considering how long it glanced at Blake, his guess was that it'd attack him first, hence Jacquez began to prepare a ball of licht energy in his palm. He was wrong.

The daemon jumped at Zhao Fan, ready to disconnect her head from her body, and it would have succeeded had Blake not jumped in to, blocking the daemon's hand with his dagger. Jacquez fired at the daemons face but it did nothing. Blake jumped back as Zhao Fan escaped with Ricardo. The daemon stood still, facing Blake, both of whom did not move an inch.

Blake made the first move, conjuring a black claw and striking at the daemon. The daemon blocked it and punched Blake in the guts, following up with a kick to the chest. Jacquez shot more blast shots at him, while keep his distance. The daemon fired vestorers at him, make it harder for Jacquez to keep his position.

Blake charged again, striking with his left fist and firing a null with his right. The daemon caught the punch, avoiding the null entirely. Pulling Blake towards him, he struck Blake's elbow, breaking it. Blake couldn't cry out as the daemon flung him away.

Jacquez continued to fire at the daemon from afar, irritating the daemon rather than harming. Turning in the direction of the last shot, the daemon charged, stomping on the ground. Jacquez popped up from above, firing a blast right at his face. The daemon staggered backwards, its hair singed. Cracking its neck, it grabbed Jacquez with one arm and pulled back its other hand. Jacquez braced himself for the punch. Jacquez was rammed with a palm strike, causing his nose to bleed as he was dropped to the floor and kicked into the forest.

Zhao Fan came from behind and wrapped her chains around the daemon's neck, pulling it back. Blake rushed to attack with his black claw, But the two were not ready for what happened next. The daemon pulled Zhao's chain, dragging her and punching her in the face. Catching her hand, it flung her at Blake and kicked them away. It began to walk in the direction of Ricardo only to be shot in the back. It turned but saw no one. A second blast was fired at it and it grunted, headed for Jacquez.

"Yeah, that's right." Jacquez said, "Come and get some.