True Incubus: The Demon with No Limits

”Dorian, my old friend~”

Lucian greeted him with a big grin.

Dorian looked away, not even acknowledging his existence.

That one gesture alone showed how much the man actually hated Lucian. Lucian chuckled at that, then leaned towards Naomi and—

”He’s just being shy.”

He whispered softly.

Before things could get any worse, Alaric looked at Lucian and—

”Join us.”

He offered.

He could see the blood on Lucian’s clothes. Clearly, he had been in a rather difficult battle, though it did seem like he had recovered. Alaric also did not fail to notice the nearly endless amount of Desire Energy seeping out of his body.

Something had obviously happened. Alaric did not know what.

What he did know, however, was that Lucian would be a great asset and judging by the number of Waymarks they had, they clearly had a better understanding of the Trial than his group did.

Joining forces was indeed the better choice here.

”No.”

But Lucian instantly shook his head.

”...why is that?”

”I am on a personal mission right now. I do not represent the Enclave.”

Lucian answered directly.

Alaric paused at that, then, after a brief silence—

”Are you sure the four of you will be enough?”

”What do you mean?”

Lucian tilted his head.

”You four have eleven Waymarks. That is much more than what most groups have. It is bound to make you a target.

Are you sure you will be able to handle that, especially when you have a normal Human in your group? You are essentially a group of three dressed as four.”

Those words made Lucian pause for a while.

Alaric pressed forward.

”Join us. We have enough people to control multiple paths. With your group added to ours, we can protect the Waymarks already collected and search more efficiently. Your friend would be much safer within an organised formation.”

He made the offer and Lucian narrowed his eyes.

”What about the Waymarks?”

He asked curiously.

”Naturally, they will be given to the one with the highest contribution at the end of the maze.”

Lucian laughed at those words.

Just as he expected.

This wasn’t an invitation. This was more like the Ashcrofts asking for his surrender.

Dorian grinned at those words as well. He could understand what was happening.

”So what you are saying is, you will take the Waymarks we gathered, then distribute them amongst your people depending on their contribution?”

”If your people contribute mor—”

”There is no contribution here, Alaric.”

Lucian raised his voice, instantly dropping all his previous playfulness.

”We gathered our Waymarks. You or your people cannot have them, not unless you eliminate us.”

He spoke as he lowered his body a little, taking his battle stance as he stared at all the Hunters gathered there.

”Watch your mouth, Cross.”

That was when Dorian spoke up.

”You are talking to an Ashcroft.”

Lucian turned towards him and—

”I don’t give a fuck.”

He grinned as his eyes glowed with a dangerous light.

”You of all people should know that, especially since you were the first man I slammed into the ground when I arrived.”

Dorian’s anger shot up.

”You... You think you can get away with saying those words?”

”What are you going to do? Attack us?”

Lucian took a step towards Dorian.

”So if I do not agree to join you, you will use force? Is that it?”

He spoke and for a moment, it almost looked like Lucian was looking forward to it.

”Cross.”

Alaric called out, narrowing his eyes.

”What is it, Ashcroft?”

Lucian turned towards him with the same glow in his eyes.

”This is good. I was actually looking forward to our next spar. It has been a while, hasn’t it? I have many things I wish to show you.”

Those words made Alaric pause.

His mind unconsciously remembered the Form Lucian had used when they were surrounded, that impossible speed, that dense, terrifying energy...

Alaric looked around at the Hunters present.

And for a moment, he did think about it.

Should he... go for it?

He looked at Lucian’s allies.

The Human and the thief wouldn’t be a problem.

Isolde would be a little difficult to deal with but then again, she was only a Witch. As excellent as she was, without preparation, his people should be able to defeat her.

As for Lucian...

If Alaric and a few of his subordinates took him together, victory wasn’t impossible.

Just that...

Was it worth it...?

Sure, eleven Waymarks were a lot, but if he pushed Lucian too far, Alaric knew he wouldn’t come out uninjured.

Heck, it wouldn’t be surprising if the battle took out more than half of his subordinates and injured the rest.

The eleven Waymarks wouldn’t mean much once they were in that state.

After all, from this point onwards, as they continued deeper into the maze, the likelihood of finding other participants would only increase.

And these participants wouldn’t be weak.

The weaker participants were already out.

Only the strong remained.

Alaric could not possibly weaken his side during a moment this critical.

So he—

”Leave.”

He looked at Lucian.

”It is unwise to fight here. I apologise for my insensitive offer. I failed to realise how important this was to you.

I will not force you to join us. Let’s separate here.”

”You... are letting him go?”

Dorian blinked in surprise.

”He made his decision clear, Dorian.”

Alaric spoke directly.

”But he works for the Enclave!”

”He works with the Enclave.”

Alaric corrected.

Lucian grinned at that.

”Yes, Dorian Ashcroft.”

He called.

”Listen to your brother and be a good boy.”

He spoke like he was talking to a child.

”There are bad people out there who would do bad things to you if you keep running your mouth like this, understand?”

”Cross.”

Alaric stared at Lucian.

Lucian laughed before placing a finger on his lips.

”Which path do you want to take?”

The Commander asked.

Lucian turned to Naomi. She pointed to the left. Lucian did the same.

”Very well.”

Alaric nodded.

”We will take the right.”

”Good luck.”

Lucian smiled.

The two groups separated.

Dorian continued glaring at Lucian. Lucian kept smiling, trying to provoke him further. It was almost as if he wanted the Ashcroft to lose control, however—

Alaric kept an eye on his brother, making sure he didn’t interfere with his plans.

And with that—

The two parties separated.

Without a fight.

”...that was anticlimactic.”

Sabine yawned with a bored look on her face.