Series: In Solitude Lies Strength||Story: A Greater Demon
Characters: Skull Bishop, Haou (Yuuki Juudai), Belial - Marquis of Darkness||Pairing: N/A
Word Count: 4,006/38,274||chapters: 1/8
Genre: Drama, Adventure||Rated: PG
Challenge: Diversity Writing, L18: a series containing 2-5 fics; Advent 2015, bonus #1, roll dice to determine story length: 20,000-40,000 words; Word Count Set Boot Camp #35, 38,274; Include The Word Boot Camp, #4, watch; Novella Masterclass, prompt #10, Wild Card; Valentine's Day To White Day Advent 2016, day #23: write a fic where everything comes out all right (no one said it started off that way); Character Diversity Boot Camp, #14, revenge (Belial – Marquis of Darkness)
Notes: This begins at some point after the defeat of Brron, when Juudai has established himself as Haou for a couple of weeks.
Summary: Not everyone in Dark World chose to accept Haou's rule without question. And battles can be fought with more than cards in a world of magic.
To say that it began in the middle of the night wouldn't be perfectly true, but only because Dark World didn't have a night in the way that people from other worlds thought of such a thing. The comet's energy dimmed for hours at a time and for the most part, that was when those who lived in that world – by choice or by chance – chose to sleep or recharge their energies or whatever it was that they had to do to be ready to return to work or pleasure.
But in the deepest part of that time, when clocks from other worlds would've struck the peak of midnight, the castle of Haou-sama shook from the highest turret to the lowest basement.
Skull Bishop rose from his rest, reaching for his weapons, as the sudden noise from outside became much too loud to ignore. He didn't recognize any of the voices offhand, which did nothing at all for his mood.
Where is Haou-sama? In the last handful of weeks, he'd learned that his new lord and master did not look kindly upon those who disturbed him without due cause, and whatever caused all of this had to be something important, something worthy of the master's attention.
But he stepped outside cautiously regardless, because if whatever this was couldn't be handled by their master and his overwhelming power, then he wanted to step into it with all due caution.
Demons, spellcasters, and warriors of all type surged through the hallways, and while some of them were familiar to his eyes, there were others who he knew shouldn't have been there, for one reason or another.
Invasion! It took only seeing one of his own underlings cut down by one of the strangers hardly five steps away from him to understand that. He still didn't know where his fellows of Haou's close court were, nor Haou-sama himself, but he knew a time to defend himself when he saw one.
Without a thought he seized hold of the warrior who'd slain his servant and thrust his blade deep within. This wasn't a battle one would fight with cards, as thrilling as those were. This was a battle of the old-fashioned sort, where only strength and skill held sway.
Skull Bishop quickly lost himself in the thrill of the fight, taking down enemy after enemy, with little thought for his own safety. What did he need safety for, when he devoted himself entirely to fighting those who would invade his home and strike him down if he let up for a single moment?
He'd devoted himself to Haou-sama's cause. He would not let himself be taken down before seeing that cause brought to fruition. Not if he had a single thing to say about it. And his sword gave him many things to say about it.
He threw his head back and laughed as he cut down the last of those who had invaded his particular corridor, with the survivors who'd pledged themselves to Haou cowering behind him, too weary or too terrified to continue fighting for themselves.
Fools. He marked all of them; when this invasion had been thrown back, then he would report all of them to Haou-sama, and they would suffer for their weakness and cowardice.
Until then, they would make useful cannon fodder, one way or another. He leaned against a wall and caught his breath, not letting his blade slip from his hand, keeping himself alert in all ways. He did not trust this ended the battle, not completely. Not when there were still more shouts and cries and clash of steel and spell coming from the other levels of the castle. Not when he would trust nothing at all until Haou-sama stepped in there, preferably with the head of whatever fool thought they could get away with all of this.
Once he could think of more than the stench of death and battle, he reached out to seize whoever came first to hand. It was Command Angel, a common soldier who'd recently been appointed to his own personal troops. He didn't always trust angel-types, but this one had proven her worth over the last week or two.
"Do you know what happened?" Skull Bishop demanded. He needed more information than he had in order to decide what to do next.
Command Angel didn't even try to get out of his grip. He couldn't yet guess if she was too tired – he'd seen her fight until she could stand no more – or just knew that she couldn't get away from him.
"I don't know, my lord Skull Bishop. I was off duty when everything started." She tilted her head a little and it took him a moment to realize she was trying to point out someone else. "I think that she might know more, though."
He followed her gaze to see an elf slumped against the wall. He searched his memory but couldn't recall whoever it was, seeing only a cloak pulled tight over their head.
"That's Learning Elf," Command Angel replied to his unspoken question. "She was on guard duty when it happened."
Skull Bishop nodded, dropping her to one side. "Bring her over here." He would get his answers, no matter what he had to do.
Command Angel caught her breath for a few moments, then hurried over there. "Hey, the big guy wants to talk to you," she said, her voice low and gentle. "He needs to know what's been going on."
Learning Elf lifted her head. Only the fact Skull Bishop had seen war and injuries far beyond what he'd seen in the last hour or so kept him from being revolted. Her cloak covered still-bleeding gashes, one of her eyes looked as if she might never see again, and blood stained one side of her mouth. Part of her hair had been scorched to her scalp and she no longer seemed able to move her right hand. He could not imagine what kept her in life.
"I don't know who leads them," she said, her voice low and harsh and tense. "But I stood on the battlements and there wasn't anything to indicate they were there before someone unleashed at least four or five earthquakes."
Skull Bishop wasn't certain if she meant the spell card or something else altogether. But that did explain why the castle shook like it had. Whichever it was, this was beginning to be more than he thought he could handle. The bulk of the army slept elsewhere; what he had to work with here were a few pieces of his own command and many of those who fulfilled their duties to Haou-sama by working at the castle. Not nearly as many duelists or warriors as he would have wished for.
A small slithering movement caught his eye and he snapped two words.
"Flame Snake!"
The one-eyed snake flinched, then turned to him with the usual broad smile of a creature that knew it wasn't going to get out of this unharmed. "Skull Bishop-sama?"
"Go find Haou-sama and the other Death Duelists. Tell them our situation here. Inform me of what they have to say."
Flame Snake ducked his head. "Of course, Skull Bishop-sama!" He darted away; as small and fast as he was, he was Skull Bishop's best choice for learning information. Presuming, of course, the idiot didn't try to slither away or got caught by the enemy.
For now, he gathered up the survivors and dragged them all into his own room, setting those with the least injuries to guard the windows, while he sat himself in front of the door and waited. Here at least he knew they couldn't be ambushed easily.
Who would dare attack Haou-sama? He knew that the young warlord hadn't been in power all that long. Time wasn't easy to tell in Dark World, but by his estimate, the comet's light faded and revived perhaps twelve times since he'd first heard of Haou-sama. Not all that long, really.
The usual procedure during times of change was to simply wait to see if the new warlord survived. The closest place to find enemies was within one's own ranks and according to all Skull Bishop had ever heard, when Brron had first established his rule in Dark World, he'd dealt with no less than five assassination attempts and two minor uprisings in the first handful of days alone.
But ever since Haou-sama ended that, no one had dared to rise against him. There were those who avoided fighting and tried to stay away from him, fearing him and Super Fusion, but the cowards didn't attempt to strike at Haou himself.
This didn't make as much sense as Skull Bishop wanted it to, and he hoped Flame Snake would return soon with more information.
As the hours ticked by, the survivors grew quieter and quieter. A few whispered words here and there broke the silence, but not very well, and it soon descended again. Even those who were wounded said little, only silently tending their injuries, and waiting to see who would require the services of a healer and who would not see the new day.
Learning Elf became one of those who did not see the new day. Not long before the comet's light began to strengthen, she closed her eyes and did not open them again, fading away into pale sparkles that spiraled up toward the comet, where the souls of all those who perished were said to reside.
Unless, of course, they became part of Super Fusion. Skull Bishop couldn't say which he would have preferred.
"Skull Bishop-sama!"
It was Flame Snake. He wriggled out of a small crack between stones and flopped himself at Skull Bishop's feet, panting, eye even rounder than usual, this time in raw terror.
"Dreadful news, Skull Bishop-sama! Dreadful!"
Skull Bishop wasn't ready to fear just yet. He'd used Flame Snake as his spy and messenger for longer than he could remember, and he'd seen the small creature panic over the fact there wasn't enough of his favorite snack. This would have to be dire indeed to disturb him.
Flame Snake raised his head to meet his master's gaze. "The castle has fallen! Your fellow Death Duelists are in chains and Haou-sama… Haou-sama..."
In all of his life, Skull Bishop hadn't ever known true fear for more than a handful of moments. Often it was quickly followed by awe or wonder or even the desire to serve whatever force inspired it. Now, for those few moments before Flame Snake spoke again, he wondered what the result of this would be.
"Is he dead?" Skull Bishop asked first, wanting to get the most dreadful news out of the way and already planning vengeance for his king should it be so.
Flame Snake quickly shook his head no. "Worse. He's been taken."
"What?"
In all of his days, Skull Bishop couldn't grasp why someone would not slay their enemy at the first chance. If somehow Haou-sama had been defeated – and he wasn't ready yet to entertain such a notion – then why would the victor take him captive and not kill him outright?
All that made sense for that was if they needed him for something else. A dozen options flickered through his thoughts, but he didn't dwell on them. He still needed to know more.
"I still don't know who is in charge," Flame Snake continued. "But I heard some of their underlings speaking. Haou-sama is not to be harmed, but kept somewhere under guard and under spell. The new master intends to round up all of the survivors and find those who are willing to pledge to him, and all others are to be slain as soon as possible." He twisted around carefully. "There are few left of Haou-sama's troops. The invasion was very, very thorough."
Skull Bishop ground his teeth for a heartbeat before he glared down at his small spy. "Haou-sama is still in charge in this castle and there is no new master." His king still lived. His king would rule again: he would see to it personally.
But first and foremost, he needed to find out which fool thought they could take over the castle and get away with it. Then he would set his hand to destroying them and all that they held dear.
He turned back to Flame Snake. "Get out there and find Haou-sama's location, and who is at the head of this. Don't come back until you know."
Flame Snake breathed out, ducking his head. "Skull Bishop-sama, I..."
Skull Bishop gave him the sternest look that he could muster. He had no desire to play around. Flame Snake murmured something unintelligible, then scurried off, vanishing into the same crack he'd come out of.
He wasn't the only one who heard Flame Snake's report. A few of the others stared in his direction, murmuring among themselves, nothing very clear, but enough so he could tell their worries. He wasn't surprised; to hear that Haou-sama had been captured by the enemy wasn't what any of them expected.
Magic had to be involved, Skull Bishop decided. What else could have taken down such a talented duelist?
But what else? There were many options, too many for him to make up his mind on what it might be. There had to be something else. No one could enter Haou-sama's quarters without his permission or knowledge except a few. He had that privilege, as did Guardian Baou, Skilled White Mage, Skilled Black Mage, and Chaos Sorcerer. A few servants, but none of them were the type who would have dared to raise a hand against him.
Figure it out later, he told himself with a sharp shake of his head. He had to rest and find a way to get into a position to do more.
For that, he needed whatever information Flame Snake could bring him.
"Report." He lounged back into his new throne. He would have to add some cushions. The boy could attempt to be stoic all he pleased, even to sitting in a throne of solid stone, but he preferred more comfort.
His seven servants knelt before him. Their leader spoke first.
"We've defeated or captured about three-fourths of the castle's inhabitants."
"And the fourth remaining?" He tilted one eyebrow. He wanted to get them all cleared out of the way as soon as possible. Then he could establish his absolute domination without any fear that someone would attempt to rise against him.
The second in command tossed her hair. "They're in the third corridor on the fourth floor. As near as our information has it, they're likely under the leadership of one of the boy's servants: Skull Bishop."
"Our forces dealt a heavy blow to them," the third of seven added. "Some of them have likely perished by now."
He nodded; that was the kind of information that he wanted to get. "How long to clear them out?" He wasn't very specific on if they died or not. Either way could suit his purposes.
"We can't be certain just yet. It's difficult to get close to them," the leader said. "We'll have to gather enough troops and overwhelm them. Skull Bishop is a talented warrior and duelist. Getting past him won't be easy."
The side of his mouth twisted into something that would never be mistaken for a smile. "Then I want him. Make certain he's taken alive." He'd made certain that all of those who called themselves the 'Death Duelists' were captive already. They would become useful servants or perish.
All things considered, he really preferred 'perish'. He didn't trust anyone that he hadn't recruited himself, and preferably hadn't served any masters other than him. Those who had other loyalties of any kind could never be fully trusted.
There were other uses that such captives could serve, though. He saw no reason not to amuse himself with them in gladiatorial combat. Brron had had the right idea for that.
He dismissed his servants with a wave of his hand and with another sent an order to the kitchens to have a meal prepared. So far as he was concerned, he'd achieved victory, which meant he could celebrate.
And he saw no reason not to celebrate with the delicacies normally placed before a defeated foe.
Skull Bishop could hear noises: footsteps. Quite a few of them, at least a battalion's worth, marching towards him. He breathed in carefully.
"Battle is coming," he murmured to the other survivors. "Prepare yourselves." They knew the extent of their injuries better than he did. They could decide to fight or flee.
Anyone who fled would be hunted down once Haou-sama regained his proper glory, of course. Skull Bishop didn't approve of cowardice.
But now it was time for him to display his own courage and strength. He wasn't at his best. He'd picked up a few injuries during the first combat, though nothing life-threatening. He'd had time to rest, but not nearly enough food. He could, and would, power through this.
Before the approaching warriors could find them, he threw open the door and charged forward. A few followed him, roaring battle cries, as he fell on the first of those who dared to come against them. He didn't even bother to see who it was, just registering that it wasn't someone who served Haou. He needed to know nothing more than that before his blade drank deeply.
This castle was his home. He'd not lived there long, but he'd never had a home quite like this before. So he wouldn't let it go without a fight: without far more of a fight than they'd already put up.
He could see his fellow warriors falling. Command Angel shrieked and fell to a blast of fire that scorched her from head to foot. Someone that he didn't recognize also fell to flames. He caught sight of who wielded them: a human-like being clad in robes of fire-red and white and purple. He knew the card on sight, though he'd never met the person.
He couldn't tell if this were the leader of the battalion, but he charged toward them anyway, ready to finish them off before they could do more damage to those who stood by him.
Mr. Volcano only smiled as Skull Bishop came closer and then raised one hand. Skull Bishop tensed, ready for the flames.
He wasn't ready for the blow of ice that came from behind, nor for the embrace of the darkness that came afterward.
"Inform Belial-sama that we've done it," Mr. Volcano said, dusting his hands off. "The brat's castle is ours."
He stared down at the prone form of Skull Bishop, kicking at his horned helmet briefly. What an idiot to charge outward without even being aware of who he fought. Being taken was exactly what he deserved.
It was the beginning of what he deserved, Volcano corrected himself a heartbeat later. The foolish fiend would soon understand the depths of his folly when he found himself in Belial-sama's arena.
He took another look before he glanced to Neo Aqua Madoor, whose – revolting – ice magic had taken Skull Bishop down.
"You did leave him alive, didn't you? Belial-sama has uses yet for him." Volcano quite anticipated seeing some of the matches that would occur in his master's arena. He'd started himself as a gladiator, roasting all of his enemies to ash, until his skill and cunning caught the master's eye.
Not that he thought it would happen that way with any of these. Belial-sama never promoted those who served any master who wasn't him, no matter how long past that master was.
Neo Aqua Madoor rolled his eyes, even as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Of course. I heard our orders as well as you did. Do you have the chains?"
"That I do." Volcano snapped his fingers and held a hand out. Fire Eye at once handed over the manacles, designed by Belial-sama's servants and empowered to keep all other powers tamed and under control.
Belial-sama allowed no one with power to use that power near him save in his own service. Volcano absolutely approved.
It took but a moment to get the bulky fiend chained up, then dragged away. He might wake on his way to the dungeons, but he would be able to do nothing. This battle was all over.
Mr. Volcano cast another look over the captives as they were led out under a combined force of his underlings and Neo Aqua Madoor's. Some were chained, some were not, but all of them stared down at the floor in defeat. They had fought a good fight, but Belial-sama and his forces won in the end.
What's that? Volcano's eyes darted to one side. Something small and quick darted out of sight. Some kind of vermin? Either that or a small monster that had escaped their attention.
Whichever it was, if it had any sense, then it would either flee to a new master or bow before Belial-sama. Volcano suspected it would bow. Small creatures such as that had little power of their own and were best off serving those who could protect them.
Satisfied that all was well here, he followed the trail of captives, looking forward to hearing his master's praise, and to finding out what his master had in mind for the victory celebration.
Flame Snake scuttled to the highest region of the castle that he knew of and curled himself into a tiny, tight ball, trying so hard not to whimper.
Belial! Marquis of Darkness! He shivered over and over, closing his eye and biting back a moan of terror. This could not be worse, not even if Brron himself somehow rose from the dead to exact his revenge.
He didn't know how it could have happened, but it was amazingly clear what had happened. Belial and his forces infiltrated the castle and somehow took down the mighty Haou. That had been their first act: cutting off the very head of their forces.
At least it wasn't a literal cutting off. Haou-sama still lived, if everything that he'd overheard was true. But maybe not for long.
If he were ever powerful enough to hurt others, then he wouldn't keep someone like Haou-sama around. So probably Belial intended to get rid of him at a later date.
Flame Snake twitched the end of his tail over and over, trying to figure out what he could do. He'd seen all five of the Death Duelists defeated and taken away in chains. Would they be kept in the castle? For how long?
Too much that he didn't know. Too much that he didn't know if he could do in the first place to help anyone. He was small. He was practically helpless. His skills lay only in being speedy and in hiding.
But he couldn't bring himself to flee or to surrender. He'd sworn himself to Skull Bishop-sama years ago and he couldn't just abandon him. He had to do something.
Again his tail twitched. He tucked his head down against himself. Maybe if he rested, he would figure out an answer. There had to be one, even if the answer was merely to seek out someone who could do what he couldn't.
That would probably be it. He couldn't imagine right now what else it could be. There were others of great power in Dark World. Some rumors even said that some of Brron's servants roamed the land. But would they be willing to ally with Haou-sama and bring him back to his true glory or did they already flock to serve Belial?
Full of questions he had no answers to and fears that nothing could soothe as the comet's light began to strengthen and a new day began, the smallest and weakest of them all, the last survivor of Haou-sama's army drifted into an uneasy slumber, while the forces of Belial, Marquis of Darkness, celebrated their victory.
To Be Continued
Notes: New story! Story that will be updated every day for WIP Week. The bulk of the story will be told from the POV of various Dark World inhabitants… and visitors. Things are going to shift just a little from canon.