"Just me and you boys!" Zeus threw an arm around both Azazel and George shoulders. He took a deep breath of the crisp, forest air. His glorious, ripped pecs flexed in rapid succession. His torso was on display, living up to his namesake.
The duo decided Azazel needed some time away from all the catty women - mostly Emilia - who seemed hell-bent on making the demon lose his cool. Ever since his attempted registration in Serdona, the fem-demon had been following him and relentlessly teasing.
That, and it had been revealed by Granny that a tribe of cat people lived far-removed from society, deep within the forest. If they could get these people to join them, it would make their kingdom seem even more legitimate, and they would have hoards of strong, feline men to help construct buildings and keep watch against future invading forces. Who could possibly fight against the pectoral muscles and biceps on a gaggle of cat men - aside from Zeus?
"Can you smell 'em, the cats?" Zeus asked as he gave Azazel a hearty smack on the back.
Azazel took a whiff in the air. He could sense the blood...of a lot of things, but couldn't pinpoint any feline blood as he had never had to sniff a cat as a demon. Or a human. He wasn't one to go around sniffing cats.
"No." He shrugged.
"We will find them anyway. Ho ho ho!" His little orc fangs poking upward toward his nose as he smiled. His delicious yellow-tinged orc fangs.
Zeus led the way through the forest, going off the beaten path. The forest became denser the further they ventured. Zeus kept swinging his axe to clean a path, destroying nature in his wake.
"BllarrhhjsWarg!" A vicious noise was heard approaching and the air smelled like a wet dog.
Azazel turned around, spotting George block an attack with his axe.
It was a huge wolf-like creature with black and blue hair. Unlike everything they had encountered thus far, the wolf seemed to be out to legitimately kill the trio of men.
"BllarrhhjsWarg," the wolf snarled as it jumped backwards, landing on its massive paws.
Zeus flexed his biceps, spinning in circles with his silver hammer. He summoned a whirlwind in his wake, hitting the wolf.
The wolf fell over with his paw bleeding. "BllarrhhjsWarg! BllarrhhjsWarg!"
Azazel sniffed the air- the smell of wolf blood filling his nose. He leaped forward and made a dive, his fangs slipping into the wolf's skin.
Ah, its been ages since I tasted blood...
The demon's eyes blazed red as he swallowed the thick blood.
The wolf whimpered as Azazel slumped up every last drop, injecting his venom into the creature with every taste.
Azazel tamed the wolf, turning the animal into a loyal follower. "BllarrhhjsWarg," it roared, as it turned into a zombie. Thankfully, a zombie wolf would prove to be much more useful than the deer lost in the carriage crash.
Zeus stood there with a blank face as Azazel finished his meal. He scratched the side of his head, attempting to make light of the demon having a real-life feast in front of him. He witnessed him revive the orcs, but this seemed different. It was raw and feral, like the demon was a monster himself. In that moment, Zeus was thankful his blood tasted like a toilet bowl.
"Well then," Zeus stated with a flat voice. "Better continue on."
Azazel stood up and wiped his lips with his sleeve. I suppose wolf blood is a suitable meal.
He took the BokeBall from his pocket and captured the newly undead creature. Unlike the deer and the bunny, he sensed this beast would be extremely useful later on.
Azazel spotted Zeus crouching behind a bush. "Shhh," the orc placed a finger to his lips.
George and Azazel joined Zeus behind the bush. The demon narrowed his eyes on the small tribe of feline people ahead.
It altered these felines lived in makeshift huts. Their clothing was primitive, but they seemed joyful in their lives. A campfire was lit and both male and females danced next to a fire.
Azazel noted the cute cat ears adorning each of them and fluffy tails. Their faces were a mix of feline and human - whiskers, but human eyes and mouths.
"Should we approach them?" Azazel asked.
George scribbled on his paper. "Send bro."
Zeus nodded. Out of the three men, Azazel, though a demon, probably would be the most tolerable to strangers.
"Really?" Azazel sighed.
Why do I have to be the most appealing? More and more disadvantages keep popping up.
Azazel took a deep breath then stood up.
"You got this, " Zeus whispered as he flashed him a thumbs up.
Azazel approached the dancing cat boys and cat girls with a fake confidence in his step. He watched as they turned around many surprised looks on their faces.
One of the cat boys, one with red hair and deep, copper ears, walked forward.
"Why are you here?"
Azazel bowed and smiled. "I simply wished to meet with your wonderful species."
The cat boy raised a brow, and swooshed his fuzzy tail to the left. "We do not usually have visitors."
The rest of the cat people were chattering amongst one another, gossiping about the demon who suddenly approached their forest sanctuary. One cat woman in particular, who looked around the same age as Granny, came out of one of the huts. She adjusted her monocle and stood a foot away from Azazel. With a swish of her grey tail, she opened her mouth.
I know what's coming...
"I ain't afraid of no demon, nya."
I knew it. Although, with a suprise ending.
"I am well aware at this point," he responded
The little cat lady adjusted her monocle once more. She motioned for Azazel to follow her.
Azazel followed the woman into the small hut. She took a seat on the ground around a wooden table. Azazel followed her lead ans took a seat across from her. The cat boy from before also came in to chat.
"I am Ethel, the elder of our humble village, nya~" She spoke, gesturing to the cat boy. "This is Oliver, nya~"
This nya thing is pretty cute.
"I am Azazel of Britannica," the demon introduced himself. "I wanted to ask the people of your lovely village to join us; to build an empire of peace."
Ethel narrowed her eyes at Azazel.
"What's in it for us, nya?"
Azazel scratched his head. He didn't really have a good answer to that question , but he would give it a go.
"A place where all people, no matter what species, may feel at home."
This is a bit of a stretch, but considering we have orcs and demons... and even the undead...
"Only if you get rid of the Evil Witch of the North, nya."
"Witch?" Azazel inquired.
"She has been slowly charming our men and taking them captive with her unholy spells, nya. She must be stopped, nya. It should be an easy job for a demon, nya."
"I will assist you if you agree," Oliver chimed in, slamming his fist against the table. "I can't stand to see any more of our people lost! She stole our best warrior! Even our tailor!"
Oh, a tailor! I definitely should save that one.
Azazel figured it was a pretty good deal. If worst came to worst, he figured he could just chow down on her neck for some reverse charming ritual.
"Alright, I agree."
"Excellent, nya. Please find her right away, nya. Bring her dead body, nya. We shall fill her carcass with catnip and kick it around, nya."
This is a little extreme, isn't it? But I suppose she is fundamentally a cat.
Azazel stood up, brusthing off his clothing. After a journey through the forest, eating a wolf, and sitting on a dirty cat floor, his clothing was becoming quite unkempt.
"I guess...I will search for this so-called witch. "
Azazel exit the building with Oliver following close behind. He noticed Zeus and George had already greet the community. The orc was performing his signature pec flexing move while George was well, being George.
The lady cats were clapping at Zeus' muscular circus.
Azazel slow clapped, which caught Zeus' attention. Apparently, the cat girls were impressed with elderly orc men built like Greek Gods.
"Well, my boy, good news?"
"Not exactly," Azazel responded. "The elder wants us to kill some kind of cat obsessed witch."
"She lives in a cave to the north," Oliver explained. "We should head there quickly."
"By the way, this is Oliver," Azazel introduced everyone while pointing to said individual. "Zeus. George."
Zeus flexed for the cat, while George remained George.
"A pleasure to meet you," Oliver bowed.
"Oliver, are you able to lead us to the witch?" Azazel inquired, not wanting to waste any time.
"Absolutely," Oliver point north. "If we travel that way, we should come upon her hideout."
Oliver led the group forward. This would be Britannica's first real squabble with a powerful entity. Hopefully, they had enough power to down the witch.