The Demon Among The Knights-Chapter 42 - 38: The Bathhouse Massacre – Luci’s Wrath Unleashed

Chapter 42: Chapter 38: The Bathhouse Massacre – Luci’s Wrath Unleashed

Steam rose from the destroyed bathhouse, pillars cracked, and the ground was littered with debris. Water pooled in the crevices of shattered tiles, reflecting the dim light filtering through the broken ceiling. Chunks of marble lay scattered, some partially submerged, their once-polished surfaces dulled by dust and ash. The scent of damp stone and burnt wood hung heavy in the air.

A toppled brazier smoldered in the wreckage, faint embers glowing beneath a layer of rubble. The once-pristine bath, once filled with clear, warm water, was now a murky basin, choked with debris. Splintered beams jutted from collapsed walls, their edges blackened and charred.

The wind stirred the rising steam, revealing glimpses of the destruction beyond. Statues, now faceless and broken, lay in pieces along the courtyard. A fine mist clung to the ruins, softening the jagged edges of the devastation. Somewhere beneath the wreckage, water still trickled from a fractured pipe, the only sound in the heavy silence.

Luci stood at the center, his chains dangling over his shoulders, water dripping from his body. His golden eyes gleamed, surveying the five defeated knights sprawled across the ruins.

He stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that was fun," he said casually.

Then, his grin turned predatory.

"See you guys later. I hope none of you die too soon." His voice was low, menacing. "Because I’d like to fight you again."

The knights, battered and bruised, tensed up.

Then—

Luci’s eyes sharpened.

"Actually," he added, "let’s see if any of you can take two of my punches without dying."

Silence.

A cold shiver ran through the air.

Gasp.

Darian, still recovering, gritted his teeth.

"Do you even know who you’re talking to?" Darian spat. "We hold high positions—"

CRACK!

Before Darian could finish, Luci grabbed his face and hurled him across the room.

BOOM!

Darian’s body smashed through the wall, shattering marble and stone, sending dust flying everywhere.

---

Meanwhile... In the Women’s Bath

The women’s bath was peaceful—a sanctuary of warm waters, soft chatter, and relaxing fragrances. A few female knights, battle-hardened but finally at ease, enjoyed the rare moment of peace.

Then—

BOOM!

A man burst through the wall.

And not just any man.

A NAKED MAN.

Darian flew across the bath, his bare buttocks making direct contact with the face of a horrified female knight.

The impact sent them both spinning into the water.

Screams erupted.

"AAAHHHH!!! A MAN?!"

"WHERE DID HE COME FROM?!"

"KILL HIM!!!"

A moment of shocked silence passed. Then—

SPLASH!

Every single woman attacked at once.

Darian desperately flailed, his arms waving above the water.

"WAIT! THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING—"

WHACK!

A wooden bucket hit him straight in the face.

WHACK-WHACK-WHACK-WHACK!

A barrage of punches, kicks, soaps, and towels rained down on him.

"SOMEONE GET A SWORD!"

"NO, WE CAN’T KILL HIM—BUT WE CAN BREAK HIS LEGS!"

"DIE, YOU PERVERT!!!"

Darian, half-drowned and beaten, wailed, "I DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO BE HERE!!!"

---

Back in the Ruined Men’s Bath

The other knights turned to Luci, their faces pale.

They had just witnessed one of their own get obliterated through a wall and into hell itself.

Luci, still dripping wet, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, as if nothing had happened.

Then, slowly, he turned toward the remaining four knights.

"Now..." he murmured, cracking his knuckles.

CRACK. CRACK.

"You guys should not try anything stupid," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Steam hissed around him. His golden eyes burned.

"Because right now," Luci said, "I’m not in the mood to fight."

The knights tensed.

Then Luci’s aura exploded.

"I’m in the mood to KILL."

They trembled.

They couldn’t breathe.

Even though Luci was smiling, they felt it—an abyssal terror creeping up their spines.

This wasn’t a battle anymore.

It was a warning.

A promise.

If they moved, they wouldn’t survive.

For the first time in their lives...

They feared.

Luci walked down the stone corridors, water dripping from his damp skin as the air around him shifted.

Just as he turned a corner—

"Master Luci!"

A soft, cheerful voice rang out.

Luci’s golden eyes flicked over.

Standing before him were four figures.

Mary, a tiny fairy, hovered in the air, her glowing wings fluttering like a hummingbird’s.

Vic, a frog-like humanoid, his slick green skin shining under the torchlight.

Two goblins, their yellow eyes glinting under the dim hallway lights.

Luci froze.

His gaze fixed on the goblins.

"...Oh, gosh. Goblins."

His mind churned.

Back in Hell, goblins were filthy, rotten creatures that lurked in pits of decay. They were treacherous, disgusting little pests. Seeing them here, alive, in a military stronghold sent a shudder down his spine.

But he kept his expression blank.

Mary, unbothered, smiled. "It’s been so long since I last saw you, Master Luci!"

Luci glanced at her.

"...You’re?"

She giggled. "Mary! One of the warriors you led during the war!"

Luci’s mind clicked.

"Ah. You," he muttered.

Then his eyes drifted to the frog.

"And... that thing?"

Vic croaked. "Yeah, I’m here. That ’thing’ you’re talking about is Vic."

Mary sighed. "The horse isn’t here, though."

Luci raised a brow. "What horse?"

"The one you used to call ’Hey You.’ The warhorse that carried your orders across battlefields."

"Oh." Luci paused. Then shrugged. "Where is it?"

Mary’s wings fluttered slower. "...He passed during the war."

Luci stood silent.

A beat.

Then, flatly—

"Sorry to hear that."

But inside, he thought:

"Even if I don’t feel anything about his death well it’s obvious I’m a demon I shouldn’t care about sacrifics."

Mary smiled softly. "Well, he carried out his duty with pride. Anyway, Master Brian sent me to call you. He’s waiting in the map room for you he said it’s urgent."

Luci, already half-turning away, grunted. "Fine I will go now."

---

The Map Room – A Place of Strategy and Secrets

The map room was vast—a grand war chamber bathed in the glow of hanging lanterns.

At its center stood a massive wooden table, its surface covered in a detailed map of the kingdom.

Small stone figures, each carved to represent armies and strongholds, were positioned across the terrain.

The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, hanging banners, and shelves stacked with records of past battles. The faint scent of aged parchment and candle wax filled the air.

Brian stood at the table, his fingers lightly moving the stone markers, adjusting the battle formations.

As Luci stepped in, he didn’t knock.

He simply pushed the heavy door open and strode in.

"You asked for me?" Luci said, his voice indifferent.

Brian didn’t look up.

Instead, he picked up a small rock figurine, examining its placement.

Then, he moved it slightly to the left.

Only after doing so did he finally turn toward Luci.

"Yes," Brian said.

He walked over to a tall wooden shelf, running his fingers over the spines of ancient books and scrolls.

Then, after a moment, he pulled out a rolled-up map.

"Follow me."

Brian unfurled the map, revealing a secret passage hidden within the stronghold.

Luci’s eyes narrowed.

Brian stepped forward and pressed his hand against the stone wall.

A low rumbling echoed as the wall shuddered and parted, revealing a dark, torch-lit tunnel.

Without hesitation, Brian grabbed a torch, lighting the path ahead.

"Let’s go," he said.

---

The Hidden Passage – A Journey into Darkness

The air inside was cold and damp, the walls rough with time-worn carvings. Shadows danced wildly from the flickering torchlight.

Luci walked behind Brian, his chains clinking softly with every step.

Minutes passed.

Then—

"Aren’t we there yet?" Luci asked, mildly annoyed.

Brian chuckled. "Just a little bit longer."

They continued deeper. The air grew heavier, denser.

Luci exhaled sharply. "This better be worth it."

Then—

They reached it.

A massive, ornate door stood before them.

---

The Holy Gate – A Door to the Unthinkable

The door was carved from ancient stone, covered in divine inscriptions that glowed faintly in the darkness.

At its center was a symbol—a golden circle surrounded by chains, with a single keyhole at its heart.

Luci stared at it.

The energy emanating from the door was familiar... and foreign.

Then Brian stepped forward.

He placed his hand on the symbol, and the chains rattled as the door slowly creaked open.

---

The Fountain of Holy Water – A Power Beyond Comprehension

Inside the chamber, at the center of the room, a fountain stood.

But this was no ordinary fountain.

It was made of pure white marble, its surface engraved with ancient divine symbols.

The water within it glowed faintly, an ethereal silver-blue, as if infused with raw celestial energy.

It didn’t flow like normal water—it hovered, suspended in air, moving as if it had a will of its own.

Soft whispers echoed around them, as if the voices of long-dead gods still lingered within the sacred pool.

Luci’s eyes widened slightly.

"This..." he murmured.

Brian turned to him.

"Yes," Brian said.

He looked Luci in the eye straight.

"This is the water that can free you."

---

To Be Continued...

---