However, as with any pact with a demon, there are consequences. And, like some more modern military establishments, if one person screws up, everyone has to pay the price; things were no different with this demon.

If someone working under the person it made a pact with stepped out of line, the penalty was death to a tenth of the ranks, randomly selected. It played by its own rules and, sometimes out of spite or boredom, would find something to nitpick at to grant itself the chance to wipe out some humans.

This demon was simply referred to as Decimation, to represent and remind others of its specific way of picking off those who didn't play by its rules.

The dark figure stepped forward, out of the shadows of a dying tree, to reveal itself; at its full height, it exceeded 7 feet. Horns protruded from its head, each one curving back but also branching off into a curve towards the other horn near the base. Also atop the head was dark crimson hair of sorts, sticking up of its own accord; and though it couldn't be seen, the hair got more coarse the further down it went, ending just above its tail. Piercing crimson pupils on an otherwise mostly dusty grey facial structure stuck out like a sore thumb. Ears stood erect, the dusty grey color substituting for black for most of them, with the color change having the appearance of dark tendrils creeping their way up. It had an elongated snout, the nostrils and mouth covered in the same black as the ears. A matching dark crimson goatee sprouted from its chin. Behind, a long tail sprouted; black and slate grey, its fur unusually long and silky-looking compared to the rest of its features. As it moved forward, a distinct clop, clop, clop could be heard, and upon gazing down, one would notice that the feet were actually hooves. However, it had very distinct hands in place of hooves. The clothing adorning it was unusual; it appeared to resemble an old-timey suit with overcoat, and dress pants. A matching top hat was carefully being held in one hand in addition to an aesthetic and fancy cane.


It wasn't long before whatever had been making the clanging noise had stopped; instead, the sound of a heap of metal falling into a pile signaled the last noise. The hooved being paused mid-step to stare at the scene before it; a single armor-clad warrior from some country or group it could not be bothered to remember had decided to approach it. Previously erect ears were now stiff and tilted forward, accompanied by a look of extreme disdain on its face.

"P-please... I beg of you... end this for us. We can't take much more," the armor-clad warrior stuttered.
"That was not part of the agreement," the creature said. Its voice was rough, deep and rumbly, almost primal-sounding.
"B-but, our numbers have been reduced to almost nothing. Our enemy has something helping them, too. We need more--" the armor-clad being said, but stopped after the ground began to shake rhythmically, like something was taking quick steps towards them.

As the ground continued to shake, the armor-clad figure that had been sitting up against the boulder suddenly began to slide sideways. Upon hitting the ground, the helmet popped off -- along with the head, and rolled a ways before coming to rest against the hooves of the standing creature. Without a second thought, the hooved creature casually gave a sideways shove to the severed head, its gaze still fixated on the currently alive armor-clad being.

"You're not the first to come to me, asking for an exception to the contract," the creature said. With a snap of its fingers, an ancient-looking parchment appeared out of thin air, surrounded by an ominous black aura. "Beginning at line seventy-three of the contract clearly states, '...Assistance is to last until the third sunrise, at which point any assistance will be withdrawn and those affected returned to their normal states of being. Any argument henceforth will result in any punishment as seen fit by the contractor'," the creature stated. As it talked, the text it was quoting glowed to help serve its point.

"And now... for your punishment."

There wasn't enough time for the armor-clad warrior to argue further or complain, as the ornately decorated blade that had been left on the boulder shot forward at a blinding speed, and soon there were two armor-clad warriors without heads. As quickly as it left the hand of the creature, the ornate dagger had returned, fresh blood dripping from the tip of the blade. The creature sighed, kneeling down and wiping the blade on the ground. At about that moment, a monstrous bear-like creature, about the same color as the blood, boomed into view; the source of the shaking ground. Tiny, dwarf-like wings hovered slightly above its back, looking too small to be of practical use. As it lumbered toward the creature, the creature stood up calmly without casting a glance.

"Wrath? You can do what you want with the rest of them. There were two too many asking to make an exception to the contract, and I tire of their lack of intelligence. I give them all but immortality... and they still don't know how to defeat the enemy. It's about time to retire from this realm once more."

The monstrous bear-like creature, Wrath, paused mid-step, a pleased and evil grin slowly forming along its muzzle.

"Good times... it's not often you allow me to let all hell break loose, pardon the pun," a deep, almost slurred-like voice sounded.
The other horned creature, Decimation, simply smirked a little and shrugged.

"I've decimated their forces twice already the past two days. All that are left seem to be stragglers, deserters, or those with a general deathwish. I don't let you rampage enough out here when we're working together; I need to let up a little more often."

Without further words, Wrath reared on its back legs; the impractical wings suddenly growing in size to support actual flight, as it launched itself in the air.

"I'll hold you to that," it roared as it disappeared quickly over the horizon.

The hooved creature chuckled a little as it slowly rolled its neck from one side to the other. Nothing like making another army disappear and be lost to history.