"What's wrong?" Why are you crying?" Marie asked again but James continued to cry uncontrollably. She then raised his head up to look at her.
"Look if you are gonna keep crying this way , then I think you are not fit to stay out here. Come on let's go in. By the way where is Maczed? I thought he set out with you." Marie asked. James stared at her and that instant he felt more endebted to Maczed and everyone. He began to sob again .
"Wait... is he..." Marie muttered as she stammered. He pointed at a spot forward. Marie panicked as she turned slowly to see Maczed's head on the ground far ahead. She gasped in shock and fear. James cried more as he pointed at the head.
Marie rushed over to the head and tears poured down from her eyes. She could only imagine what had killed him. Then she turned left to see a pile of chunk of Rasoqura's bodies. Her eyes then met the face of Rasoqura. She freaked in fear.
"Was that the thing that killed Maczed? You had already faxed the boss?" Marie asked as she stared at Rasoqura's face. James clenched his fists.
"Yes. It killed Maczed and I slaughtered it." He said coldly.
Marie looked at James and stood up. She wiped away her tears and walked over to James. She knew how close Maczed was to him. She also knew that he would be through pain. She could phantom what pain he would be bearing for his lost friend. She stared at him for a while.
"I know what pain you would be going through but I want you to know that Maczed will rest in peace. He knows you love him and he loves you too. He wouldn't like you to be like this." Marie said in between tears.
James stared at her in shock. He never knew that his friendship with Maczed was well too noticed by others. Another wave of emotions hit him and tears dropped from his face .
"Hey are you guys gonna help me or what?!" Zohn exclaimed from the top of a building. Both Marie and James turned to look at him. Zohn smirked and looked at them.
"What the..." James stammered . "Are you guys actually slaying demons? No you don't have to go against the orders of the Central Hunters Association." James said.
"Yes. We could not let you and Maczed go out alone to say demons. Besides our lateness caused his death. We owe him one." Marie said as she wiped her tears.
"Ohh come on!! Another wave of demons are approaching us. Huh!" Zohn muttered. "Is she... is she crying?" Zohn said as he saw Marie wiped away her tears . He jumped down from the building and landed safely on the ground.
"Damn it!! Those bastard demons are still flowing ?" James said in anger. Marie stared at him.
"I think we need to seal the portal . That way we will stop the out flow of the demons. But wait..." Marie said and James turned to state at her. Zohn approached them.
"If you did kill the boss, then the demons are supposed to have stopped reinforcing themselves. The boss is the one who gives then orders and as such , they wouldn't have come out without a leadership on board." Marie said.
"So what are you insinuating?" James asked even though he knew but he feared that fact.
"What you killed was the fore runner of the demon boss." Marie said simply. James heaved a deep sigh. Zohn stared at them getting a bit confused.
"Not that I didn't suspect but the power of that thing was just too much . I just had to believe otherwise. " James said.
"What is happening here? Which fore runner are we talking if here?" Zohn asked. Marie turned to him.
"Well just look back. You could see the dead demon and his awful handwork."
Zohn turned backwards and saw Rasoqura's body. Shock etched on his face as he also saw Maczed's head. He was rooted to the ground on horror.
"So this means the boss will be overpowered. Well we still do not know the exact rank but it sure will be overpowered." Marie said and Zohn turned back to them.
"Now I see why the Central Hunters Association wanted to call of any attack." Zohn mused. James and Marie turned to him.
"The boss of a raid or Dungeon does not proceed until its preceding wave of demons are wiped out.
The Central Hunters Association wanted to gather up time to strategise on how best to slay the boss. Whether to seal the portal and venture into it as a Dungeon or slat it whole on earth." Zohn said. Marie nodded in affirmation.
"I'm not sure we can handle this alone." Zohn said. James clenched his fists tightly and grinned.
"Which is why I will slay it alone. No one follows me. I will do it all by myself. I do not want anymore deaths in my hands . If thus is what it takes to please the heart of Maczed, so be it." James said in anger.
"You know you can't do that. You will be risking your life more than you know. You could get killed out there. You need assistance. " Marie pleaded.
"Thanks but no. No one gets a hell close. I lead Maczed to his death and I do not want anyone to die out my stupid demands. Now if dying in the hands of the demon boss settles my score against him, so be it. I do not want another death in my name. All I want is to clear my mess."
"I would advice you wait for the Central Hunters to arrive first. Then you can set out with them." Zohn advised.
James grinned lightly at him. His eyes went white in a glint. A glint if fury and anger.
"I will take the demon down. The Central Hunters would be late. By the way, you've got demons on the other side, I guess you should be handling them by now." James said.
"Well then you can't go without a weapon. If you reject us from following you then at least have yourself armoured against the boss." Zohn said and brought out his two swords. He stretched them to James who was utterly shocked.
"Why was he leaving himself unarmed only to give him two swords? Why was he putting his trust in him? Why was he feeling this way all of a sudden? " James thought to himself.
"Don't just stand there! Take it !" Zohn thundered on annoyance.
"I will not bear the loss if two of my friends dying in a single raid. I want you alive and you have to be."
But...but you will..." James stammered. Zohn shoved the swords into James's hands.
"Just take it . I can handle those demons with my bear hands. You are the one who needs the swords. I only have to face a bunch of demons. Just stay alive for me." Zohn said.
A wave of emotions hit James as tears poured down his cheek. He was being given much more love than he deserved. He never knew why people loved him. But he knew one thing– he could not let them down. Never!!
"Remember this. We will always be there for you. Friends stick together. Just go and do not get yourself killed. You have a pure heart and that's what makes you strong." Marie said and walked to Zohn. Zohn smiled at him.
It took a while for James to reciprocate the action.
Zohn and Marie jumped up to the top of the building Zohn had emerged from. James watched them disappear out of his sight. His very own friends were fighting solidly behind him. All that was left on him was to prove to them and Maczed that he was worth their love. Moreover he had a debt to pay. One that was required of him fir a friend he was endeared to. He clenched his new swords tightly.
"I will slay that beast. Even if it costs my life." James said firmly.