“Who are you?” Merlin asked, and necrotic magic flew out of the corpse as it talked.

“Amorin Cuchilla,”

“Hold up,” Merlin pulled a scroll from between her breasts, “We need to keep this.”

The scroll opened up and burst into flames, creating a blue magic circle above her and Amorin.

“This is Merlin, Archmage of Alina. We found Amorin Chchilla’s corpse amid the demonic infection. I can only ask it one question due to him being dead for a while, so let’s make it count.” She smiled.

“Amorin Cuchilla, what does your family have to do with the demonic infection?” She asked.

The corpse twitched, “Our ancestors summoned the demon centuries ago. We’re been exploiting the contract for drug production, but we kept the infection in check by sending blade dance masters to kill the infected demons.”

The corpse fell to the ground. The magic couldn’t force it to speak anymore.

“You heard him,” Merlin looked at the magic circle with a smile, “We’re going to find a way to deal with this infection.”

CLAP! CLAP! She clapped her hands, and the magic circle disappeared, transforming into a scroll.

“What did you do?” Arad asked.

“We can use this as proof of what happened here in case we were framed, or at least Merida.” Merlin looked at Arad, “She at least killed the son of a noble. This would prove to be in her favor.”

“Precautions,” Arad nodded.

“Of course, it won’t…” PLOP! Two hands emerged beneath Merlin’s feet, pulling her into her own shadow in the blink of an eye.

CRACK! Nina was about to lung into the shadow, but her legs sank as if she stood on water. SPLASH! Immediately, she found herself drowning in water before falling from a ceiling into a large black room.

“Where am I?”

PEW! A projectile flew beside her head, taking a chunk of her right ear.

“What’s up, bitch?” In the darkness, the demon she almost killed earlier stared at her with a smile, “Welcome to my land,”

Nina glared at him, “It’s you again. What do I need to do to kill you? Mince you down?”

“I’m flattered. You remember me even though you were raging. All barbarians I fought before were mindless animals,” The demon laughed, standing and aiming at Nina. “Here you die,”

“Is that so?” Nina stared at him, pulling her axe from her back, “I was told I’m a mindless monster, not an animal.”

****

The moment Merlin and Nina were snatched, Alcott pulled his sword, but the next thing he knew was seeing infinite darkness, standing alone in the abyss. “Where am I?”

“Our lady said to separate and kill you one at a time.” A demon spoke from the darkness, on its mouth showing.

“I see,” Alcott looked back, “So I have to kill you first,” Veins were bulging on his forehead.

****

“Ginger! Ginger!” A woman rushed to Ginger, “It’s been a while.”

Ginger stared at the woman, then stabbed her with her hand. “Illusion, do you think this is enough to fool me?”

The woman turned into a mushroom and withered down.

Ginger was standing in a vast mushroom forest, stared down at by a large demonic tree.

“That was your sister,” The tree replied.

“And? She’s already dead,” Ginger replied with a bored face. Her fangs grew longer, and her eyes burned red. Two bat wings emerged from her back and slowly floated, “Probably I should teach you demons how to be evil for once.

“You’re a mere vampire,” The tree growled.

“Demon, start begging for your life.” Ginger smiled, “I’m known to break my toys faster the more pathetic they are.”

****

Merlin looked down, seeing the woman pulling her into darkness by the legs. “Succubus? No, you’re infected.” She pointed her staff down.

Chain lightning

CRACK! CLAP! A lighting bolt incinerated the two succubus into ash.

Fly

Merlin looked around, sensing the mana around her. “This magic, it must be the abyss. Dimensional warp? No, that was shadow magic, the shadow phase.”

“You think aloud a lot,” A voice came from the darkness.

“Now I’m hearing things,” Merin said, “Matter not. I think aloud since it helps me focus.”

“No, you think aloud since your mind is writing the magic inscription. You can’t have two voices in your head, can you.” The demon replied emerging from the shadow.

“Look at you, an Oni,” Merlin could see the demon, a ten-foot-tall woman with purple skin and one horn on her forehead. Her body oozed with magic signaling her as a wizard.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of demon I am.” The Oni smiled, “I was hired by Her Highness Zuggtmoy as a battle wizard. I asked to be one to the one to kill so I can keep your spellbook,”

Merlin pulled a book from between her breasts, “You mean this? Good luck deciphering it. I created my own language to encrypt it.” She put the book back in her storage.

Death cloud The Oni pointed her hand at Merlin, unleashing a wave of green toxic smoke.

“Really? A fourth tier?” Merlin waved her staff, Gust of wind Blowing the cloud away.

“Really? A first tier?” The Oni mocked her, “I have a larger mana poll. How about this?” Force Blast A beam of concentrated magic flew at Merlin at a blinding speed.

****

Arad looked around, finding himself standing alone in front of a large throne with a woman sitting on it.

“You know I can hear and see everything my servants do?” The woman said with a smile, resting her head on her hand.

“Who are you?” Arad growled, his wings expanding and his tail spiking like an angry cat.

“Zuggtmoy, queen of the fungi,” She smiled, “You claimed to be a shadowend while aren’t, and thought that deceiving my servants is easy.”

She giggled, “The moment I heard that blatant lie I sent my servant to blow your head off, but you didn’t remain dead.”

^So that attack was a retaliation,^ Arad stared at the demon queen, trying to figure out any weakness that he could exploit.

Zuggtmoy stood, walking down of her throne. “I need a new servant. I’m sure you would fit the role,” She extended her hand, “Of course, I only need your corpse.”