Bad Omen

Jamile growled as the demon blocked his sword. "You're one tough bastard. I've no intention of damaging my blade."

The demon growled, lifting its arm to swing at Jamile's head.

In the blink of an eye, Jamile pulled a dagger that he hid on his waist and stabbed the demon in the throat. As the demon's blood gushed out, he pulled the dragger down, sliced him to the hips, and then stabbed him across the thighs.

Spikes emerged from the demon's chest and launched at Jamile's face, but he dodged them with a spin and kicked the demon's ankle, spinning him in the air before swinging his sword and cleaving him in half. "Tough spikes are all you have, nothing to worry about, except my sword's wellbeing."

"Lord Jamile!" Liam approached Jamile with a water bottle and a sharpening stone. "Good job." He said with a smile.

"You! What are you doing here?" Jamile gasped, "It's dangerous with all the demons around." He could see several drops of blood on Liam's face.

"Just some imps, don't worry about me." Liam pointed back, "The battle ended so we came with supplies. You never know what's ahead so make sure your blade is always sharpened and that you're hydrated." Back in the shadows of the layer, the corpse of another spiked demon lay on the ground, gouged out.

Good thing I went to explore ahead of the supplies group. Those demons were trying to surround the adventurers. Alice and the B-ranks that were there gave Liam a harsh earful for running ahead alone to chase imps, but he needs the adventurers to survive until the boss so he had to stop the pincer attack.

At the same time, and outside of Liam's knowledge, there was a third group of demons that tried to get a surprise attack on the supplies team. By working with the B-ranks, Alice had managed to clean that group by acting as their support, and that is why they were angry for him rushing ahead.

Jamile giggled, "You're right. Thanks…" He took the water bottle and took a sip, spitting it back out, "SALTY!"

"You need some salt." Liam stared at him with a smile.

"You bastard! Trying to get back at me and wasting salt!" He rushed after him. Liam ran away laughing, "Come and get me!"

The adventurers stared at them, "Those two are fooling around despite their age."

"Let them be. Fooling around in a demon dungeon could be beneficial; a relaxed and cheerful mind can easily shrug off demons' mind manipulation." An adventurer said.

Alice nodded, "They do feed on negative emotions, and stress is considered one."

"You've read about demons before coming here?" A wizard stared at her, "Adventurers like you are the ones to survive. Demons can amplify negative emotions, if you are stressed, they'll make you feel even worse and lead you to make mistakes." She pointed back at several adventurers who carried drums, and guitars, and some who barely wore clothes, covering themselves in sexy jewelry.

"Bards and dancers for buffs." Alice replied.

"And moral support, they are here to cheer the adventures on and keep them in a positive mindset." The wizard replied, "I can also buff them with defensive spells."

"All the basics covered. I hope this will be a successful expedition." Alice nodded.

"You don't look that excited about it. Are you okay? Want a bard to sing for you?" The wizard looked at her with a smile.

"Demons are unpredictable. Be careful, death could be just around the corner." Alice said as she lifted the box of empty potions and water bottles. "Liam, we're heading back to the camp. Hurry,"

Liam was wrestling Jamile, and losing. That A-ranker had too much strength and Liam couldn't win against him in a straight wrestling match.

"What are you two doing?" Alice sighed.

"They are horsing around. Let them be." An adventurer giggled, they were enjoying the wrestling match.

"No…" Jamile let Liam go, "She's right, we can't waste energy here. Liam, head back to the camp and get ready for the second supplies demand. We're counting on your team."

"Got It! Lord Jamile." Liam replied enthusiastically.

"Stop it with the lord, just call me Jamile." Jamile sighed, "And don't dare fight demons stronger than imps, you won't win with such a physique."

"Wait! You did call it his team?" A B-ranker from the supplies team approached Jamile and Liam, "I thought I should be the one in charge of the team."

"It doesn't matter who is in charge of the supplies team. Your job is getting us supplies after each battle so we stay in top shape. Work together and get along, do your best for everyone's sake." Jamile stared at him.

"Fine, fine, I got it. No fighting among each other." The adventurer sighed.

Liam wrapped his arm around the adventurer's shoulder, "Come on, Jack. We're on the same team. Let's work together so everyone survives."

Jack pushed Liam's arm away, "Don't act so friendly with you. I hate that smile of yours. And you charged forward killing imps, your kind is the first to die and I can't order you to stay down." He growled.

"So that's why you asked for the leader position?" Jamile stared at Jack, "You're quite caring, unlike your appearance."

"Shut up!" Jack growled.

"You're the leader of the supplies team, keep this fool from getting himself killed." Jamile pointed at Liam.

"Wait! We said no leaders!" Liam gasped.

"I changed my mind. I want everyone to live." Jamile turned around, "Get along and don't die."

The supplies team headed back to the entrance as the adventurers advanced forward followed by the cheers of the bard and dancers teams. Clearing the first layer wasn't a problem and the only issue they faced with the horrid, shitty, and rancid smell filling the whole place.

"Wait!" The wizard that talked to Alice walked toward Jamile as they were exploring the first layer. "I sense magic. The stairs to the second layer should be around here somewhere." She said.

"You sure?" He asked.

"No, but I sense magic. We need to check it out and determine the rest." She nodded.

"Don't listen to Sara. She can't determine the difference between traps and illusion magic since illusion magic is always used to hide traps. We'll all die if we went there without a plan." Another wizard approached and stared at them.

"And what do you think, old beard." Sara growled at him.

"From how the magic seems I say it's a trap. A stair that seems to be leading to the second layer, but in fact leads into a place where all we would get killed." He stared at her with a grin, "I suggest we steer away from it."

"And how could you tell?" Sara growled.

"I sense a powerful demonic presence behind it. It must be an ambush room." He replied, tapping his long staff on the ground.

"What shall we do? Expedition leader Jamile."