[Level Up, +4 to all stats]

Ken looked at the screen for a second, then turned it off. He looked at the body of the demonic human, the sword laying beside his massive body, which was without a head.

’The stench of blood makes my stomach churn, the sight of a human body on the ground causes my heart to ache, even for a demonic human.

I’m happy about that. This feeling tells me I still have humanity. This feeling is what I’ll cling onto as time goes on, to not lose myself completely.’

He grabbed the massive sword and dragged it back to where the battle was happening. His footsteps were heavy across the ground covered in dried grass and leaves. Every step drew him closer to the sounds of weapons and explosions, the smell of burning mixed with blood was heavy.

He arrived and saw the battle that had taken place and was still going on. The mages had come to help, and with them, the battle turned in favor of the elves, but even they had suffered some losses, though not great.

Even then, the battle was not over yet. Ken gripped his sword, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, about to attack.

"Ken." Suddenly, the voice of Sierra cut through the air and reached him. His eyes snapped open as he looked at her.

"Your town, a few demonic humans have made it through the flanks and are headed there. I’ve sent elves, but you should go as well."

Hearing that, he nodded and charged in that direction, leaving behind the sword of the leader. Sierra looked at the sword that lay on the ground.

"He managed to kill the leader. He is more impressive than I expected." She turned, looking in the direction that he had run. "This world might have something unexpected coming."

[.....]

Ken moved fast through the forest, his sword in the sheath by the side of his waist. His eyes locked ahead as he ran, his nose twitching. He tried to catch a scent of elves or demonic humans, but it seemed they were too far ahead.

He sped up, passing so fast that the winds from his body pressed hard against the trees and bushes as he moved. The edge of the forest came quickly, and so did the sound of a battle. He knew that the enemies were ahead.

He burst out of the forest, his eyes instantly scanning. The elves were locked in battle, as over twenty demonic humans entered the town. Ten hindered the elves from getting into the town and providing defense for the people.

Ken heard the screams of women and kids alike in the town. They were all running. Ten demonic humans to a town this size was an apocalypse. One alone would be a near unstoppable force, and now they were forced to take on ten. If the elves could not make it in, then for sure the people would die.

Ken gritted his teeth and then dashed. He moved so fast that he crossed the distance in a second. The demonic humans spotted him, and they all got ready to counter him as well, only for Ken to leap over them cleanly. He landed and rolled into a standing pose again. He did not bother to look back, his feet pressed against the hard ground, and he launched inside the town, leaving behind a small crater and a cloud of dust.

His ears were already working to know where the demonic humans were located. Not long after, he heard the scream of a woman close by and immediately turned to search for her.

He arrived as fast as he could, only to see the woman suspended in the air and a sword right through her heart. The blood seeped down the blade and dripped to the floor. The demonic human turned their head and looked at Ken, who had come there. They pulled their sword from the woman and tossed her to the ground. They licked the blood off their sword and then got into their stance.

Ken stood there with no particular emotion on his face, but behind those eyes, he had given a verdict on this demonic human. The demonic human launched forward fast, slashing down in an attempt to end it quickly. The blade cut air as Ken vanished.

SPLASH!

Blood gushed from the neck of the demonic human, the head fell off and hit the ground. Ken appeared behind the demonic human and did not even look back.

[50 EXP gained]

He walked forward and stopped when he saw the body of the woman, her eyes were still open, so he bent down and closed them. He leaped onto the roof, with a higher point he would be able to end this fast.

Much to his benefit, the demonic humans had managed to chase the humans right towards the center of town. Everyone had run that way, chased by ten demonic humans. The demonic humans were unbothered because they believed they had all the humans cornered, and indeed they did.

Ken looked over to the center from where he stood. He made sure to see the fastest route to get there, and then he made a move for it, ripping through the air fast, not a single ounce of panic on his face.

The demonic humans chased the people with grins on their faces, and when they finally got them all at the center of town, their laughs got loud.

"Hahaha, this town does have some tasty looking young women," one said, licking his lips like a depraved beast.

"This town was meant to be cleared and under control before they even got here," another, who was evidently worried about the state of their mission, spoke.

"Tch, you worry too much, for now let’s enjoy what we have before us," the first said.

"Stay back!" one of the young men from the people yelled. It was the same person that Ken had slapped, and in his hand was a footlong dagger.