The Devil Struggle

Sage teleported behind him, and on on the other side of the pond, and began humming to himself

Dimae's attack missed, he immediately looked around confused where he had gone. He then turned around and saw him on the other side of the pond, being all smug. Dimae of course sprinted after him, going around the pond to get to him. He tried to grab him with all of his arms to stop him from moving, to push him against his own body with the blades and then eat from there. It was the Tight Embrace.

Before he could sage teleported away again staying just ahead of him "Last chance to back down kid" Sage calmly warned the pursuing demon, sage was certainly amused by the creature's gumption, and seeming lack of self awareness. The kid had a certain strength of spirit if not a strength of mind, but he really would like to enjoy his fruit now "What is with you youngsters, and your lack of brains these days, are you incapable of picking your battles?" sage asked as he cast a petrification curse on Dimae

Dimae's rage only grew when Sage avoided his binding attack, he also did not like how he spoke to him but as the curse came his way he froze wondering why he was unable to move. You could hear him grunting as he tried to move himself in vain.

Sage sat down a rock, and enjoyed his fruit, now free to do so

Dimae continued grunting as he tried to move, but nothing happened. Dimae never had an encounter like this before, it surely was annoying to him. But as he calmed down being forced to stay still he spoke. "This isn't a proper fight! You coward! You act all high and mighty but really you just use cheap tricks like this to avoid straight up confrontation. Such a pitiful and weak being like you does not deserve to live!" Dimae said, he was all heart.

"And yet it is I, not you who is in a position to decide who deserves to like, my "tricks"as you call them seem more formidable than your strength of arms" Sage said munching on the fruit as he spoke "And you call running to skewer and unarmed person who has done nothing to you on your blade a proper fight do you?" He asked the warrior who hadn't seemed too concerned about having a proper fight until he had lost.

Dimae hissed and spoke more. "No one is unarmed, demons that do not wield weapons use magic, that is a thing on itself. So what are you trying to do? You should know this is the norm, this is the law. What else should I have done when another demon gets close? The only way we know is killing others, why do you try asking me why I attacked even if you did nothing!?" Dimae questioned, since this is the way demons have lived their lives for a long time.

"I'm not asking you that, I'm telling you if you're going to do what it takes to survive, don't cry like a child when others do the same" Sage said calmly "For your transgressions against me i shall give you a choice, I can kill you or bind you to my service"

Dimae was unsure what Sage was talking about, he spoke. "Unlike some I go head on and don't use debilitating stuff like this! And what do you mean by binding!? No demon can do that sort of thing!" Dimae said grunting in frustration of still not able to move.

(they can't?)

(Dimae doesn't know about items.)

"Oh i'm afraid you're incorrect about that..." Sage said cheerfully, "now answer me or i'll assume death"

Dimae spoke to answer. "Hmph... I have no plans to die in here like this... I still have much to do and I would rather die, but you don't seem like you would eat me. So I choose life, even if it is with your mumbo-jumbo." Dimae said still very unmoving.

"You're right i wouldn't eat you, i'd leave you for the buzzards" Sage confirmed the demon's suspicion that he would not in fact eat him, since he tried to eat demons as little as possible. he used his amulet to bind the other demon to his will

Dimae was not sure where this was going, but he was right that Sage was not going to eat him, exactly the reason why he did not choose death by his hand. He did not like the look of that amulet though or what Sage did with it.

"Sit" Sage said to him as he let the petrification curse dispell

Dimae now free from the curse, sits down as that was Sage's command. "What did you do!? How!?" Dimae questioned furiously.

"You're now bound to my will, you cannot harm or disobey me" Sage calmly explained to him "It's my retribution for trying to kill me

Dimae growled at Sage, he did not like it but guess he had no choice. "Damn you... In all my years I never thought this possible... What are you?" Dimae questioned in confusion.

"I'm just your average, run of the mill ten thousand year old demon magus" Sage replied to him calmly

Dimae shook his head, this guy claims he has been alive that long? It was rare, so rare that he had not think it was possible for anyone to live that long and gain such power. "So you are old... Way old... Aren't you a bit too old to wander in a desert like this? Shouldn't you be in a gloomy cave savoring the wine of the ages?" Dimae questioned since who in their right mind would want to go around a desert?

"I prefer a menacing tower surrounded by my acolytes, and some lovely she demons. You're lucky you know, there are demons who submit themselves to my will willingly just so i'll teach them magic; you have no idea the power i wield." The demon said to him with a chuckle "The material that makes up my body doesn't age the way most demon's do. Anyway, i'm here hunting a magical artifact"

Dimae was unsure why would anyone submit to this guy willingly, but it would seem it is the power hungry type if he really is that powerful. "Hmph... A magical artifact? You are likely wasting your time, a lot of those are just stories and rumors. The way I see it, this desert is mostly empty. So, how long will you keep me under your will?" Dimae asked as he was not interested in wasting his time like this forever.

"Yes, but i seem to recall there was a great warband located here a few thousand years ago give or take" Sage said to the demon