Elemental Cats

The Flesh Golem made use of the Blood Fiend's strike to pulverize every last bit of itself in an explosion of death attribute demonic energy as it self-destructed. All of the demonic energy locked into its flesh, keeping the Golem together, was released in a cloud of black smoke that filled the pool of blood supporting the Blood Fiend. The cloud of death also seeped into the Blood Fiend's body and started clashing with the blood attribute demonic energy.

Toz and the others stepped back even further when the Flesh Golem self-destructed out of fear that the explosion of black fog would be indiscriminate in its attack. However, it turned out that they didn't have to be so cautious. All the Flesh Golem's demonic energy targeted the Blood Fiend and only the Blood Fiend. The mist of death attribute demonic energy swirled around the Blood Fiend and fought to corrode it, similarly to how the blood attribute demonic energy tried to corrode the firestorm.

And, because some of the death attribute demonic energy seeped into the pool of blood, the Blood Fiend seemed to lose a significant amount of strength as it fought off the Flesh Golem's last-ditch effort.

But the death attribute demonic energy created during a single battle wasn't enough to compare to the blood spilled during an entire war. The black fog eventually started losing against the Blood Fiend's puddle of blood and the neverending surge of demonic energy coming from the magic circle.

But the two different attributes still clashed and waged war inside the Blood Fiend's body. The Flesh Golem's lingering resentment powered the demonic energy and delayed the Blood Fiend's recovery for as long as possible. However, it was impossible for the death attribute demonic energy to defeat the Blood Fiend and make it last.

The Flesh Golem's sacrifice had bought the others a few precious moments of rest. But it wasn't enough for the Alliance of Kingdoms' troops to reach the base camp where the ships were.

Even the combined forces of Toz, Mindle, Kahglia, and the Death Knight wouldn't be enough to stall the Blood Fiend long enough to let the Alliance escape. But there wasn't much they could do except their best.

There was the option of trying to flee and outrun the Blood Fiend before they were completely exhausted. However, there was still no way to get off the battlefield. Since the Obsidian Empire had decided to sell out the Alliance of Kingdoms, it was entirely possible that they sabotaged their means of escape.

The Alliance of Kingdoms' troops were only relying on the faint hope that there would still be a way to escape, despite knowing about the Obsidian Empire's betrayal.

But in the midst of the despairing battle against the Blood Fiend, Toz didn't show any of that despair. That was something Kahglia couldn't help but notice as she waited for the Blood Fiend to get rid of all the death attribute demonic energy.

"Hey. You have a way out, right?"

Kahglia didn't bother whispering just so that she could get the Death Knight on her side. And as she expected, the Death Knight turned its helmed head to look at Toz. But Toz didn't feel pressured by the two gazes of the giants. Both of them were tired and too drained to be able to fight him, much less catch up to him if he wanted to flee. But Toz wasn't going to do that just yet.

Although the Obisidan Empire had sold out the Alliance of Kingdoms in favor of the Tribe of Blood and Toz probably wouldn't be able to tag along to the Transcendent Realm with Dyra and Yill anymore, he didn't want to give up against the Blood Fiend. Since he wasn't at risk of getting caught and dying at the hands of the Blood Fiend, he could, at the very least, help General Scoll, the Lightning Rascals, and the other members of the infiltration squad make it out alive.

"And if I do?"

Kahglia's expression perked up at that. She already knew that forcing Toz wouldn't work, so she changed to a different tactic. She looked with a gaze that was clearly hinting toward something as she scanned his half-naked body and the baggy pants covering his legs.

"You don't have a lot of money, right?"

"Don't really need it, either."

Kahglia clicked her tongue. But she wasn't giving in that easily.

"You like women, then?"

"I appreciate the offer, but no thanks."

"Fucker. You know that's not what I meant."

Toz just shrugged.

"What about men?"

"Are you trying to convince me to help you out or to leave you behind?"

Kahglia shrugged.

"What do you want then."

"A ride to the Transcendent Realm, for starters."

"And…?"

"Information, I guess."

"What kind of information do you want?"

"Oh, and some help in rescuing a family member from the Obsidian Empire."

"..."

"Deal?"

"I can bring you to the Transcendent Realm, sure. And depending on the information, I can help you with that as well. But if you want help against the Obsidian Empire, you'll have to talk to my dad."

"Sounds risky. Not really worth it. I can probably find another way, and I am pretty decent at gathering information."

"Dude. It will be a proper audience. I'm not asking you to talk to my dad so that he can take revenge for how you have mistreated me."

"When did I mistreat you?"

"Dunno. I haven't decided yet."

Toz sighed.

"Who even is your father?"

Kahglia's annoying smirk was replaced by an astonished gasp. She looked up and down her body and made sure that she was, in fact, over nine meters tall.

"Are you fucking around right now?"

"No, but I am about to fuck off right out of here. Without you."

"Fucker. My dad's the Mountain King. I am the Mountain King's daughter. Have you lived under a rock, or what? How have you not heard of my father?"

"Well, have you heard of my parents?"

"No."

"Exactly."

Toz had a smug face as he crossed his arms.