After watching the battle between humans and the blade. Steel had no motivation to even move or eat.
If his theory about the Blade using the reflections to watch is true. So It is already fair to assume that moving in the day is a death sentence.
He needed a night that is dark. And just to ruin his mood, the second night living in the tent was brighter than ever. Even if he had motivation to move he couldn't do it in a night like that.
So Steel spent another night in the tent.
Next day steel woke up early. He had a whole day of waiting ahead of him so he could rest a little more. But his mental state wasn't great. So he may as well distract himself with preparing for the escape instead.
He still has fair share of food can supply left. He's been very meticulous at using these supplies. After all, escaping this place isn't the only thing that he has to worry. There is still the journey of carrying River to the human community.
Tent itself doesn't have any useful things for him to take. Most of them are just papers about the Devil spawn's migration charts.
However, there is also a map with all the important and dangerous locations marked on it. if he can figure out how to read the map then it would make his travels much smoother.
Steel check the rest of the tent in the hopes of finding something useful. But didn't found anything much.
With nothing to do, he made his makeshift bed back into the table that is was suppose to be. It wouldn't like he be staying here.
Third night would be his last night here.
'A demonoid.'
There isn't a real meaning behind it. In the past time, people who showed demonic abilities are considered demoniods. A creature that is half demon. Giving them an excuse to execute them in front of everyone out of fear or just hatred.
It could be that few of them were real demonoid but most of them were the very first creatures who unlocked their Soul paths. But they died due to paranoia of others.
But these days, it is used for a specific creature. A demon that is corrupted by a devil spawn. Or fallen to an imperfect imperfection.
What do devil spawns want?
It is unclear to everyone and everything. Even the demons who were created by the same God, Mother. Has no idea why would she create such a troublesome being.
Whatever that crazy deity wanted isn't really important. Right now, Steel is worried about his own survival.
He would have preferred it to be a devil spawn or something else. But a demon that is corrupted by a devil spawn is the worst of all world.
Demon knows their own kind. Even the most elusive disguises aren't enough for a demon to not recognize their own kind. It probably goes the same way for a corrupted one too.
Even if Steel manages to hide in the dark and not make even the slightest of sounds. It would all be useless. The demonoid would be able to tell that he is here.
It is a miracle that it hasn't found him yet. Perhaps, it is just too far away to see his existence. Or it is just choosing to ignore Steel. if that is the case then he doesn't have to worry. If not, he would be having a bad time.
Steel sighed. Waiting for the sun to go down.
It sure is taking its sweet time. Maybe he should've spelt a little more.
***
Steel stepped out into the darkness of the night. It wasn't a perfect dark night cause of the misshapen moon. But he can manage.
He couldn't see properly. The air is stagnant and everything is quiet. He observe his surroundings but fails to notice the Blade. It is hidden way to well in the darkness.
Steel would be panicking if he wasn't aware that the blade is also blind to the presence of Steel. For now at least.
He moves slowly and with absolute caution. Even his breathing is steady and minimum.
River have already been instructed to immediately alert him about anything odd in front of him.
Steel leaves his safe temporary home behind. He would miss it for sure. It was warm and cozy. He even had made a bed for himself. It is regrettable that he had to sleep on the cold ground again after all this.
It is funny. Why is he so sure that he would survive? Maybe he is confident in his ability to escape. He has escaped from many predicaments all by himself. So why not be a little positive.
Moving through the area on his tippy toes. He catches the smell of decaying of the human flesh.
He suppresses a shiver and kept on moving.
It is visible to him a little bit. The bits and pieces of the flesh of that human who was shielding all other humans with his own body. He was probably the captain of the whole group.
They probably were investigating that devil blade. No, it is the Demonoid that he wanted to investigate.
Was that there goal? To find out what's the main culprit?
The human who find out about the Demonoid must be talented. Could they sacrifice such an important tool? Probably not.
They underestimated the Danger and got themselves killed. But at the very least, they find out who was behind it all.
Too bad, they died without being able to communicate that information to any other human. Only Steel knows that information now. Or maybe, humans have different abilities that can help in communication. Who knows.
It is all so odd.
Steel doesn't understand what is teamwork or what is the meaning of protecting someone else or completing a mission with all the heart. It is all so meaningless to him.
If he is in a group of fighter. He would end up using them as a bait or a meat shield for himself to escape or abandon the mission if he were to ever get into a dangerous situation. His priority is his own life, you see.
Mother's curse is always with him. So he can't really abandon a mission that is given to him.
Steel shakes his troubling thoughts away and move on straight.
If he kept this pace. By the morning, he would be out of the area of the blade. Then he can just run out of this hell. Then he would have to find the location where he buried River. It shouldn't be too hard for him to find her.
Half of this night is spent carefully moving through the area of the blade. The area itself is a jungle. So of course, there is long grass or other weeds covering the ground. Not making any sound is impossible. So he just have to be extra careful to not make too much noise.
He is gonna have his bones hurting after this ordeal. He had took a nap, back in the tent, so it isn't like he is tired. To be fair, who would be crying about not getting sleep in a life and death situation?
The night is still quiet and dark enough that the blade can't notice him. He is sure in his ability to sneak around. Maybe he should be an assassin or something. How hard can it be?
Demons are known to be traitorous. It would be easy to back stab a human or anyone. And then, steal all their loot and treasure. That would be a sweet dream.
These thought are fun to think about. But what is this voice?
"Are you in trouble? Come to me. I will keep you safe…"
Steel grins in terror and stops on his tracks.
'can you be any more obvious..'
Maybe it would work on a normal human. But his suspicious nature would never let even the most trustful person to get near him. And this voice is so obviously wants to lure him.
Even though the deception didn't work. This is still not a good sign because now he has to worry about another danger.
A devil spawn is in the domain of the blade. Not just any but a clever devil spawn that is capable of mind attacks.