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“Who are you?” fired Thor.

“The king of monsters,” he replied, “-Mjolnir a damned weapon,” the tip of his feet held the metal-head, “-go on, try to call thy weapon.”

“How dare you,” lines flowed from the forehead outward, the normal blue color swapped for one glanced in a yellow sea. Electricity flickered, the air cackled, “-MJOLNIR,” he thundered and held out a hand. The handle reacted by a violent struggle. He clenched to no avail; the weapon remained stationary despite the pull.

“How very unfortunate,” said Igna, “-this feeble a thing must only be used to hammer nails,” he reached and grabbed the beast, lightning of unworthiness exploded.

“You foolish,” said Thor, “-Mjolnir knows only one master, and tis I. Any who wishes to steal its power must face the wrath of the thunder god.”

“And the thunder god is you?” said a voice through the deluge of mini-explosions.

.....

“What are you made off...” escaped from the heroes.

“Skin and bones,” he clenched the handle as if to strangle, the reaction matched one of the people being choked, the fierceness dwindled, “-How very precious,” he smirked, the smoke cleared, “-a thunder spirit hidden inside a weapon.”

“How dare you...” exclaimed he, “-MJOLNIR,” a forceful tug and it escaped. “What’s your purpose here?”

“I came for a visit,” glancing the demon general, and monster corpses, “-good work on killing the fiends. The latter are very much resilient o’ things. They learn, adapt, and outgrown the potential of fighters. Thus,” he sat on the stairs to the throne, “-the reason to evoke powers from another world. This dimension doesn’t have enough mana to allow for greater power, martial arts and weapons are the only bastions. Elemental spirits are stray and rare, granted, if one masters its power, they’ll be akin to a demi-god.”

“Doesn’t answer my question,” thundered he, “-I admit, deflecting my attack was impressive. Still, I cannot falter when the people need my help, tis my duty as guardian of this mortal realm.”

“The demons have long preyed on our kind,” fired hero,”-we won’t stand by and watch. Look at the hostages,” he pointed, “-maimed and tortured, how can people stand by and allow for it to happen.”

“The ever-confusing question of good and bad raises,” said he, “-from my point of view, you humans have tortured and killed my fellow compatriots,” he nudged to the monster, “-I say the monsters showed mercy in letting the pest live,” turned to the general, “-were they good enough as breeding grounds?”

“No,” returned a woeful response.

“Breeding grounds?” gasped a hero, “-where they used as...”

“Yes,” said Igna, “-a matter of fact,” he smugly approached the hostages and gave his back to the enemy, “-they’re in rather bad shape,” he pulled on one’s chin, “-pitiful creature. A horrid contraption of man and monster,” the hostage but silently ignored his gaze. Prior pain and suffering spoke volumes.

*Woosh,* arrows lunged for the neck, ‘-how easy for them to fall for the trap.’ Nails sharped, he spun, took the head of five clean off their shoulders, *Blood-Arts: Bloody Mary,* a downward gestured split the arrow vertically and parted along his cheeks.

“How sad,” he said, the lifeless remains fell, “-if only you had chosen to stand thy ground, the ladies here would have been healed and released. Hostages were taken by my people ultimately become my people. As a servant to their king, they paid the ultimate price to serve as my muse.”

Words fail to recount the pain they felt, the single motion in which the heads were cut, the emotionless response, ‘devil,’ they thought and charged. Thor watched and stared, the chosen heroes, compelled by a strong will for justice moved before even thinking. The mages and support stayed to provide enhancement, The four knights leaped,’-we’ll win, we have the priestess of Olson guarding our backs.’

“QUICK, SHIELD THEM!” screamed Thor.

“I c-can’t...” her face paled.

“Word of advice,” whispered Igna, “-don’t bother fighting if you’ll lose,” *click,* the gentle sound of bells masked the slashes. Armor or not, vivid glances dulled to a stop.

*Cough,* “-don’t underestimate us,” said one, a revival potion snap, “-wit always wins against raw power.”

“That it does,” he sidestepped and gave the last stroke, “-only if your opponent is daft,” the sword sheathed. “-Remaining heroes, I’d strongly advise against taking arms. The foolishness to realize weakness is one I abhor.”

“DON’T TAKE US LIGHTLY,” Thor teleported into his blind spot, a lightning-charged Mjolnir backed by tremendous brute strength made contact, “-it’s over... vile demon.” The expression spoke of hope, the evil was bested by a god.

“Try again,” the heroes turned in horror, “-look at who he killed.” Rosy-colored cheeks ghastly paled, “-the priestess of Olson.”

‘Impossible,’ he trembled, the blood-soaked hammer fell before the gruesome aftermath of cracked bones, ‘-I killed one of the heroes...’

“Now, now,” said Igna, “-the battle has yet to start,” *clap,* the fluid atmosphere sunk into his fingers, “-what thee saw was but a glance at a potential future.” Those killed were revived, the shattered Thor watched enviously.

“Heroes of other worlds, heed my words closely. I will kill every single soldier on this island and take back what the monsters reigned over. The king’s ring conjured countless portals inside the throne room, “-go my minions,” he proclaimed, “-fight to thy heart’s content, your king watches dearly.” Minotaur, hobgoblins, wolves, demon-spawns, insects, and countless others flocked outside. The war screams of victory marred by the sound of slaughter. Distant as it was, the screeching screams of dying men resounded physically and emotionally.

“What say you,” he turned to the heroes, most of which were teenagers, “-how did it feel to be almighty in your world, being the only ones who could use magic. How did it feel to be praised and graced by a greater power, did it feel good?” Fear slit their tongues; the visages folded by the sound outside. “I bet it did,” he patiently turned to Thor, “-a demi-god of brawns, I’ve heard thy exploits, and I dare say, you’d make a great opponent if thy life was on the line. Alas,” he patronizingly held his shoulders, “-you’re weak. My companions are far stronger than me. Trust when I say, them using their powers would break the dimension.”

“Who are you?” whispered the priestess.

“King of Monster, inheritor to Death, Origin, and Godslayer’s will, Igna Haggard.”

“How did you get so strong?”

“By suffering,” he said woefully, “-unlike you children, my stories started as a magicless boy working as a mercenary in a cruel war of magic. No matter,” wings of a fallen-angel sprouted, “-an attack on me deserves a reply in full.”

A flap bristled the interior, “-what’s going to happen...”

“Are we going to die?”

“I think we are,” they gulped, “-Thor, please, tell us what to do...”

“He can’t speak,” said the Demon general, “-the trauma of failing as guardian has shut him silent. If I were to guess, my lord has flown to meet the leaders of the allied nations.”

“HA-HA-HA-HA,” laughed a Knight, “-he won’t stand a chance against the Templar Knights. I swear, the moment he steps closer to the royal palace, the movable statue of Glace will give divine retribution.” Imagination and hope were naught but figments to what he wished to happen. A parade of goodwill sparkled the land of humans, a city surrounded by a cream-colored wall hid a magnificently advanced castle of countless peaks. Celebrations spanned the streets across, ‘-the vintage architecture sure brings memories of the good old days,’ few flaps locked onto the imperial procession.

Blue carpet layered with gold-hosted knights of talent hoisting their swords. The opened roof-square arena accommodated nobles from the empire over. The pretentiously dressed imperial family promenaded under the cheers of the people. The emperor chosen by the gods was akin to an angel in human form.

*Woosh,* a whirlwind spooked the ceremony. “-WHO GOES THERE,” fired the general, a line of knights wedged into a wall.

“A humble visitor,” the dust cleared to a sparkling young man of noble expression and attire. “-Do pardon the intrusion,” he glanced to the Imperial family, “-I’ve come to audience with the rulers of the alliance against the monsters.”

“Why?” thundered the guard, “-if thee wishes audience, do with the required procedures, we can have you executed for lack of courtesy.”

Bravado of the brave knight scored points with the ladies in wait. Impressed chatter from the stands had the man broaden the shoulders, other knights smiled under their helmets, and allowed the young recruit to have his time. “You heard the man,” fired the general, “-take your leave or face our wrath,” he pointed his sword.

“Impudent insects,” the eyes rolled defiantly.

“Excuse you?” interjected the general, “-mind repeating what you said, brat?” the wowing crowd spawn confidence, ‘-the limelight.’

“Yes, I said, impudent insects,” an emotionless scan of the area divided the crowd. “-I care not for weakling’s sense of hierarchy. Tell me, general, are your knights worthy of my sword?”

“OUTRAGEOUS,” cried the nobles, “-EXECUTE THE MAN FOR INSOLENCE.”

“My, young boy, you have the talk, can it be backed?”

“How about a duel,” he smirked, “-if you can scratch my body, I’ll concede the fight. How about this, I won’t use magic and fight using my body and natural abilities.”

“It would be insulting for a general to fight a commoner,” he glanced to the recruit, “-he shall be a perfect candidate. I see no reason to sully my hands.”

“Pardon me,” interjected Igna, “-the duel is issued for every knight to fight against me.”

“THAT’S IT!” he spun and dashed, “-SAY YOUR PRAYERS!”

‘I knew it,’ the man ran in slow-motion; ‘-lack of mana forces the body to be weak. They’re barely fit to join as adventurers, is this truly this world’s natural ability. No wonder heroes had to be called.’ He thrust for the neck. A duck and an uppercut shattered the blade to the hilt, “-slow and weak,” he commented. The obnoxious crowd shut; the knights were taken aback. “I’ll formally reintroduce myself,” *smack,* a palm to the chest sent the general into the opposite wall, “-Igna Haggard, the King of Monsters, else known as the Demon King.”

“THE DEMON KING!” yelled the crowd, “-EMPEROR, PLEASE, GET AWAY.”

“SILENCE!” thundered the emperor, “-Igna Haggard,” he climbed down the stairs, “-have you come to kill us?”

“No,” said he, “-I came to evaluate your people’s strength,” they met in the middle, “-and I say, they’re not worth the effort.”

“What happened to Thor and the heroes,” the confidence blatantly showed in his expression.

“Defeated,” he smirked, “-I made sure to leave a damning message. I doubt them to ever try and attack us again.”

“Imperial Majesty,” cried the captain, “-please allow us knights to dispose of this miscreant.”

“Emperor,” he muffled, “-I’m not in the mood to slaughter weaklings. The strongest have been defeated without using magic. Tell me, should I destroy the empire to prove my strength?”

“Show me thy strength,” he fired.

“Very well,” *Mana-Control: Five Fingers Variant- Rainbow,” air, water, fire, metal, and earth hovered above each finger.

“Our world doesn’t have enough mana, how can?”

“I draw my strength from my domain,” he smirked, “-no matter the world, dimension, or universe, I’ll remain the same.”

“What do you want?”

“A deal,” said he, “-do not ever invade the isle of monsters. My people will keep spawning across the world as tis a good training place. In return, I promise the monsters to be equal to thy people. Beat us in might and skill, and I might reconsider and take leave from this realm.”

“What’s in it for us??”

“Items and money. Each monster defeated gives experience, in turn, the people will get strong. If they lose, tis death.”

“I see,” the brows pressed, “-I understand, you have a deal.”