Hello! Round one of the Challenge! Here we go!
Thank you to glowzilla and guest for the reviews! I'm happy to see that you guys are enjoying the story. This chapter will finally see the Dib/Liz team in actual action!
Imagined-Ink: An ekimmus isn't original. I actually found this reference a while ago when I was looking up something else and 'Guest's' suggestion of a ghost-like demon that sucked out life energy reminded me of it. Here is some more information about them if you're interested. . ?title=Ekimmu, i just googled 'ekimmus' to find it. Skoodge is one of my favorite characters (besides Zim and Dib of course) and I love writing him as over-protective, yet completely oblivious to his own actions. I'm glad you like Liz too :) Liz doesn't want to be a leader, but old habits die hard and she's just so good at it lol.
Littlebirdy, thank you for all the reviews! I'm happy to see that you are finding the story funny and entertaining. Irkens are oblivious and i love writing scenes with Dib all flustered and freaked out. :P poor dib lol. Not many opportunities have come up but Liz can be just as possessive as Zim, that may be why she gets his actions, it doesn't stop her from being pissed at him, but she also loves to tease him. Zim is such a spaz sometimes :) i'm glad you found the water scene funny :)
Dib sat against the stone wall opposite of Liz. She had her head back against the wall behind her with her eyes closed, she wasn't asleep but she looked deep in thought so Dib turned his own thoughts inward. He glanced down at the dagger she had given him and turned the small blade over in his hands. He hadn't noticed before, but the entire thing was one smooth piece, handle and blade. It looked sharp too, but thinking of the spike he didn't try testing the edge in case there was poison on it. It was a dull silver color, but the more Dib inspected the dagger the less it looked like metal.
"It came from a demon that belched blades," Liz suddenly spoke up.
Startled, Dib snapped his head up to see her watching him, her hands dangling over her knees. He studied the dagger again and was equally fascinated and disgusted that this came from a demon's stomach. "How does that even work?" Dib mused.
"Don't know," Liz said with a small smile. "But the demon that he was fighting with just held his snout shut when he was about to spew the blades and then he exploded, piercing right through a few near by demons, killing them. Only demons can kill demons, but I got the idea of using demon parts to kill other demons from that. Luckily for us it worked."
"But I killed those cockroach demons," Dib said trying not to smirk when Liz flinched at the 'c' word. He'd have to get some realistic looking fake ones and use them to prank her next time Liz teased him too bad. He'd never pranked anyone for fun before. The mere thought of pranking his sister terrified him. Liz might hit him, but she wouldn't sic otherworldly demonic dolls after him. The idea lifted his mood.
"They aren't considered full demons, they're very weak, I'm surprised a colony demon was even present in the Challenge," Liz said with a shrug.
"Dib-thing," Zim's voice cut in. "There is something going on in the arena." The two turned their attention to their gate. The ground was shifting around.
"They're changing the setting," Liz said after standing up and walking over to the bars. Dib followed suit and went to stand next to her. The dust and rocky grounds were morphing into a darker stone and a few small pools of water with large pointed rocks jutted up, making the arena look like the ground inside a cave. A shadow fell over the ground and Liz and Dib craned their heads to look up. The walls behind the spectators had begin to grow and stretch over the arena blocking out a lot of the light. In the stands blue glowing orbs hovered above the onlookers supplying them with soft light, leaving the arena shrouded in shadows, though there were a few scattered blue orbs offering small pockets of visibility.
"So the first opponent will be a cave dweller?" Dib mused.
"Probably," Liz agreed. "But it's hard to say if we'll be fighting it, or the other entries will. Either way the opponent will either be very fast or very large, and will most likely be able to see in the dark."
"Fellow Dwellers!" The voice of the announcer boomed across the arena earning a cheer from the crowd. "The arena has now been set for the first round of the Demon's Challenge!" Another cheer louder rose up. "There are a total of fifty contestants that have qualified for the first round. As always we do not encourage betting, but winnings for the elimination round can be picked up at the Arena Service booth. We have a good mix of entries that are sure to entertain. The first competitor we have lined up is a strong Lizard-demon, with a total of 25.3 kills in the elimination round, LIIIIIIIZARO!"
A spotlight appeared over one of the gates. The bars lowered and a demon stepped out, he really was a giant lizard. He walked on two legs and had a long thick tail. The crowd cheered at his entrance and the demon, Lizaro played to the crowd, flexing his muscles and posing much like a muscle builder would. He did pose after pose, eating up the cheers and various other otherworldly sounds coming from the audience. He made his way to the center of the arena the spotlight followed him until he made it to an area with a glowing orb, then it cut off. Lizaro could still be seen clearly by the audience and he didn't seemed to mind the lack of light as he made one last wave at the audience before turning to face the darkness in front of him.
Lizaro squinted into the darkness, and shifted his footing. Something lashed out from the dark and a tentacle wrapped around the lizard-demon. Lizaro pulled at the tentacle around his waist for a moment before it just as quickly withdrew back into the darkness. There was a shrill scream and a horrible crunching sound and shortly after a soft ding ding echoed across the arena eliciting a mix of cheers and boos from the audience.
"Oooo, so much for Lizaro," the announcer voice said semi-sympathetically. "Hopefully our next entry will last a bit longer. A demon of strength and iron, with a total of 27.0 kills let's give a screaming welcome to IronFist!"
Dib couldn't tell what the demon looked like except that he was big with large hands, as his entire body was covered in thick iron armor. He didn't play up to the crowd but dragged his heavy hands along the ground as he made it to the center of the arena where a very similar event happened. Though IronFist was able to smash one tentacle before another grabbed him, shook him furiously then smashed him on the ground before retreating into the darkness. Not long after the soft ding ding rang out signaling the end of the match.
After the sixth match with similar results Liz turned away from the bars and sat back down. "Liz," Dib turned, startled by her leaving. He hadn't even been blinking as much as he should. He didn't wanted to miss anything, any small detail about the mysterious demon in the dark might prove useful. "Why aren't you watching? This could be vital information!"
"I doubt it," Liz said sounding bored as she sat down. "They're weeding out the heavy hitters. The demons they've called all have high kill counts and more brawn than brains. Whatever is out there is swift and quick, they'll send out all the slow but strong ones first. What we'll need to pay attention to is when they send someone out with a lower kill, meaning they aren't stupid-strong, but smarter. They'll probably beat the thing and then the next wave will start, hard to say if they'll try and get rid of the quick ones or the smart ones next."
"Systematic elimination," Skoodge's thoughtful voice came from Dib's collar, making him jump. A quick glance at Liz showed that she saw and smirked at him.
"Pretty much," Liz said to Skoodge's comment. "So how are you and Zim holding up?"
"Er, well," Skoodge said and then they heard Zim's voice in the background.
"GO! GO! Doomy tentacle! HAHAHA! Squeeze the pitiful demons like jelly!"
"Sounds like he's having fun," Liz said dryly, Dib rolled his eyes.
"Yes," Skoodge agreed. "He says watching destruction is almost as fun as causing it."
"Well," Liz said grinning at Dib. "Your dates will never be boring."
"Liz!" Dib hissed in a hushed voice and clamped his hands over the collar hoping that Skoodge hadn't heard.
"Liz," Skoodge began sounding anxious and Dib's hands doing nothing to block out the sound. "We have been preforming the dating ritual unknowingly. Have you been bored during our rituals?"
Liz chuckled. "Skoodge, I've never been on a date unknowingly, and no. I've never been bored when I'm with you. But we're two different people. Zim and Dib have the patience of a room full of puppies, which is to say none at all."
"Hey," Dib protested, feeling a bit slighted. "I have plenty of patience. You have no idea how long I've waited when I was stalk-observing Zim," Dib quickly corrected himself. "I was really patient when I was looking for proof that he was an alien."
"Hmm," Liz said thoughtfully and oddly enough didn't comment on his slip-up. "I'll give you that one. You're going to need to be a very patient and tolerant lover when it comes to Zim, and perhaps a little bit kinky too."
Dib felt his face flush a bright red and he stammered unable to form words. Completely aghast that she would say such things in front of Skoodge, especially since Zim might hear them. Zim would ask questions and Liz, damn her, would probably answer them.
Liz laughed out loud at his expression.
"Kinky?" Skoodge questioned.
"AH!" Dib shouted unable to cope with this topic anymore. "Look at that ugly demon!" he said trying to distract from the topic. And the demon that just walked out was rather ugly, it looked like an elephant that had been crossed with a troll that had then been left out in the hot sun too long making it's features become warped.
"It is ugly." Skoodge commented, successfully distracted. However, just as in the previous fights, the new demon didn't last long. The next demon to come out was very different, it was tall and skinny with brown skin, two large yellow eyes and one curved antenna out in front that gave off a slight glow at the end. It didn't have another other facial features but the eyes and only wore a scrap of cloth at his loins. Dib had missed what the announcer said, but Liz was back at the bars.
"This should be interesting," she mused.
"HA! Look at how pitifully weak it is!" Zim shouted gleefully in the background. "DOOM HIM! Doom him tentacle beast!"
"Geez, which side is he on?" Dib mumbled as he watched the demon stumble forward. Instead of strutting right into the middle he slipped from rock to rock, his antennae bobbing out in front of him and poking out from behind each rock before he moved to the next one. Zim did have a point though, he looked so extremely nervous, shaking and ringing his long thin hands as he slowly crept forward.
Finally he was at a rock just outside of the area of light where all the other demons had died. He bobbed his antennae out from the rock, it twitched to match his anxious movements. Dib was just about to comment on how stupid the thing was to give away his position like that, when on the opposite side of the lit area something could be seen coming out of the dark.
The demon that slunk into the light was a large octopus-squid like thing. It had the body of a squid, long with a pointed head, and the base of an octopus with numerous long thick tentacles. It was using the tentacles to crawl across the ground. Perched midway down it's head were two bulbous eyes, weirdly enough right next to each other and not on the side like all other cephlopods Dib had seen. The eyes were all black, but still Dib could tell that they were transfixed on the bobbing twitching antennae.
When the squid-topus demon was close to the bobbing light the second demon stepped out from behind the rock and a line appeared from just under his mouthless face to his loins. A moment later the demon's skin split apart to reveal a large sideways mouth full of jagged and sharp needle-like teeth. It sprang toward just as the squid-topus showed signs of shock and stretched its large mouth completely around the creature swallowing it whole. When it was finished the demon was fat and squat his yellow eyes squinted in satisfaction.
Ding Ding
"And the winner! My Fellow Dwellers!" the announcer said excitedly, earning a mixed reaction from the audience. "Now don't worry, we still have more challengers for his round. After our contestant leaves the arena," the announcer said and a light appeared over a gate. Seeing his que the demon waddled over to the gate patting his full belly as he did so. "We will begin with our next entry, and this one is a real treat Fellow Dwellers!" the announcer said drawing out his speech to get the audience hyped up. "We have with us a team entry of extremely rare demon-human hybrids."
"Shit," Liz swore and Dib swallowed, the announcer was talking about them.
"One is a distant descendant of the previous Demon King," There wasn't much cheering or booing at this just a slew of noise and Dib couldn't tell if it was positive or negative. And that made him pause. He knew the Demon King had ordered for Liz's parents to be killed but hadn't connected that to mean that the Demon King was actually Liz's biological father. Dib glanced at Liz's face, she was serious, her eyes set forward and a slight scowl furrowing her brow.
"The other is a twice-over direct decedent of the previous Demon King and was a part of the infamous Membrane exorcist family," that statement earned a clearly negative response from the audience with screeches and hisses and boos.
"Twice-over?" Dib repeated confused. Liz turned to face him her eyes cold and her face contorted with hate.
"He fucked Nonna and my mother," Liz said bluntly her words almost a hiss.
Dib stared at her wide-eyed. "You mean he's your father and-" Liz slammed him against the bars cutting him off.
"That thing was not my father," she hissed viciously. "My father was a great man, a respected member of the Family."
Dib nodded and held up his hands trying to placate her. "Sorry," he mumbled not knowing what else to say.
With a sigh, Liz backed off, her anger slipping away. "Sorry, Dib," she said giving him a small apologetic smile. "It's not your fault. And I can't let my anger get the best of me. We need to-" she paused as the bars to their gate rose. "We need to focus," she said. "Let's be cautious until we figure out what we're up against."
Just as all the other fights a spot light shown on them earning a chorus of boos and jeers from the audience. Liz gave the audience the finger before turning to Dib. "Let's not make ourselves targets, yeah?" she said pointing off into the dark near their gate.
Dib nodded, he hadn't thought it was too smart for the other demons to walk right into the arena in the middle of the spotlight, but he thought it was the rules. When they stepped out of the spotlight's path it moved on without them towards the middle, leaving them adjusting to the darkness.
"It can't see a thing in front of my face," Dib whispered to Liz and yelped when something grabbed his hand. A soft chuckle told him that it was Liz's hand.
"Chill, Dib, let's stick together."
"Liz-human you will release my Dib-slave this instant!" Zim demanded.
"I am not your slave!" Dib snapped back automatically and Liz shushed him.
"Zim, can you see us clearly in the dark?" she asked and Dib wanted to smack himself for forgetting Irkens had excellent vision even in the dark.
"Of course," Zim said arrogantly confirming Dib's knowledge. "My Irken ocular implants are far superior to stinky human eyes."
"Great," Liz said more than a little irritated. "So can you use your superior eyes to tell us what the hell we're fighting against?"
"Eh? Of course Zim can. My superior-"
"Get on with it!" Liz snapped.
"Do not tell Zim what to do, inferior-human!"
"Ohmigod," Liz mumbled. "Dib, I take everything back, you have the patience and tolerance of a God."
Dib chuckled softly.
"Zim, I'd find you much cuter if we weren't in a life or death situation," Liz exasperated.
Over Zim's loud protests that he wasn't cute Skoodge's voice in the background said, "Liz you are my potential mate, do not look at Zim."
"Yeah? Well if you want us to ever get past the potential phase then tell us what the hell is happening out there."
Zim protested in the background as Skoodge's voice came in clearly through the collar. "There is nothing on the ground that can be seen. Nothing is moving. Wait," Skoodge said quickly. "There is something shadowy in the air, it is fast and difficult to see clearly. It is systematically sweeping around the arena."
Dib peered into the darkness and he imagined that Liz was doing the same. Nothing could be seen around them but pitch blackness, so Dib scanned the areas where the small orbs of light provided some illumination keeping his focus upward. Eventually he saw a shadow swoop just in the orb's light.
"Did you see that?" Dib whispered to Liz.
"Yeah," she whispered back, careful now that they knew something was looking for them. "It's fast, I can't tell what it is." Out in the arena they saw it again swooping through the light, this time closer to where they were.
"We can't stay here," Dib whispered. "We need more information and a plan of attack."
Liz made a thoughtful noise. "I'd suggest one of us go as bait to draw it out, but it's quick. It might just snatch us up before we get a chance to fight back, and falling from the height it's flying at would defiantly break something if not kill us."
Dib nodded in agreement, then realized that Liz couldn't see him, "Yeah," he whispered. "Plan B then, is there anything in the arena that looks of any use?" Dib asked Skoodge.
"There are many rock formations, but little cover," Skoodge answered, in the background Dib could hear Zim grumbling unhappily. "However, there is one rock that has a slight ledge that could offer some cover, enough for one. It is ten steps forward and ten to the right."
Liz mumbled the directions out loud. "Is that ledge near a orb of light? The one that's illuminating that small cluster of three stalactites?"
"They're stalagmites," Dib corrected softly. "Stalactites are the ones that form from the ceiling."
"Well, Skoodge?" Liz asked, choosing to ignore him, but Dib had the feeling that she rolled her eyes at him.
"Yes, the over hanging rock is five steps from the edge of the lit area."
"Okay, so if one of us gets close enough to throw a rock into the light it may be enough to draw out the demon, and the overhang can act as a safe point in case it's smarter and is attracted to the thrower and not the rock," Liz said.
"That would split us up," Dib pointed out, thinking about Liz's plan. It was a good one, but there were dangers involved for both of them. Whoever went to throw the rock had a good chance of being attacked. If they separated Liz would have no way to communicate with Skoodge and get any advance warning about the demon. It would also be hard to coordinate an attack, or even tell where the other was. If they risked both of them going, one of them wouldn't be covered by the ledge. It was a risky plan.
"What about if I go for it?" Liz asked.
"No," Skoodge said firmly.
"Well," Dib said thoughtfully. "I think the best chance is for you to go. I'll know and you'll know exactly where you are and I'll be able to find you easily with Skoodge's help. If you stay behind it will be harder for us to regroup and you won't have any protection or advance warning if you stay here."
"My thoughts exactly," Liz said. "Okay, I'll go for it. Skoodge keep a look out for the demon and tell Dib whatever details you can. If our plan works and it doesn't attack me, make your way to me."
"Right," Dib whispered and Liz squeezed his hand, he squeezed back before she let go. Dib heard her boots against the rock for a few steps before he couldn't hear anything anymore. "How is she doing?" Dib asked.
"I am not pleased with this choice," Skoodge said. "But she has made it to the covered rock. The demon is still sweeping the area but did not come near Liz. She is feeling around on the ground. She picked up a rock in her hand."
Dib fixed his attention on the area of light near to where he knew Liz was. He saw a rock wiz out of the darkness and knock into the cluster of stalagmites, dropping down into the center of them.
"It's going over," Skoodge said his voice tense. Dib could understand, this was the moment of truth. Would the demon go for the rock or Liz? The dark shaped flew into the light and landed inbetween the two stalagmites, it's clawed feet gripping the pointed tops as it's small eyes peered into the cluster.
"It's a bat demon," Dib whispered, finally getting a good look at it. "A giant bat," he added seeing as how it was as big as a human.
"Bat-creatures are blind, correct?" Skoodge asked.
"Actually," Dib said in low tones as he watched the bat demon spread it's wings and take off into the dark again. "That's a common misconception. Bats can see, they just use echo-location to find prey in the dark."
"Does Liz know this?" Skoodge asked.
"I don't know," Dib said. "Probably why?"
"Because she is moving towards the light."
"What?" Dib hissed in alarm and still trying to keep quiet. "Where is the bat now?"
"It is flying in circles above the light."
"Shit," Dib swore softly and moved towards the area where Liz had been. As he neared he could faintly make out a figure slowly moving along the rocks towards the light. A rock flew out into the light again and the bat demon swooped down snatching it out of the air and back out of sight. It screeched and Dib heard a crunching sound then the light tapping of small rocks falling. While the bat had darted back into the dark, Liz used the distraction to leap into the light and press herself flush against one of the stalagmites. Horrified, Dib called out from the dark, "LIZ! Bats can still see!"
"What?!" Liz's head snapped in his direction, her face gone pale and her eyes wide with shock and horror at her mistake. The bat screeched in the dark and dove into the light straight towards Liz, she barely dodged in time, rolling in a circle to come to her feet again, the small dagger out and ready.
"Liz is injured," Skoodge said his voice coming out in a hiss, Dib heard a weird static and Zim's panicked shout in the background.
"What happened?" Dib asked, though his attention was on the light and watching Liz. She hadn't moved, but remained crouched and ready.
"Skoodge is stupid," Zim's voice said clear once more. "He tried to crush the communication device with his stupid claws. What is taking so long Dib-worm? Why haven't you killed the smelly-demon yet?"
"It's fast and strong," Dib said defensively.
"Zim is faster and stronger," he said simply.
Dib opened his mouth to protest, but Zim had a point. In their battles Zim moved with a quick grace that was unparallelled to anything Dib had ever seen. Sure this thing could fly, but it couldn't maneuver as quickly as Zim could. Zim could change directions in an instant. This bat demon was fast, but only in one direction. "You're right, Zim," Dib said grinning in the dark.
"You dare—eh?" Zim said confused that Dib so easily agreed with him.
"Just let me know which direction it's coming from," Dib said and bolted towards the light and Liz. He shifted his grip on the dagger Liz had given him.
"Don't tell Zim—left!—what to do," Zim said pointlessly.
At Zim's warning he lunged forward and felt the demon whiz past behind him. His grin widened. He sprinted into the light skidding to a halt right next to Liz. She went from alert to surprised as she stared at him.
"Get to cover, I got this," Dib said standing at ready, his dagger out.
"Don't be stupid, Dib—," she began
"Trust me," he said cutting her off without loosing his smile. She eyed him suspiciously for a second before sighing.
"Don't die," she advised then dashed into the dark.
So the bat wouldn't go after her, Dib began waving his arms and shouting, "Hey! Come get me!"
"Dib-monkey! Do you have the brain-worms?! Front!" Zim shouted.
He ignored the insult and, prepared for the attack, dodged to the right. As he moved Dib lashed back with the dagger and felt an intense amount of satisfaction when the demon screeched. He hit it! Not by much, but just enough to piss it off. It took another dive at him and thanks to Zim, it missed him again and Dib was able to slash at it again. He dodged a few more attacks and Dib knew the demon was getting frustrated and it was bleeding from the wounds. Eventually it would wear itself out.
Perhaps sensing this the demon dove at him but stopped short and landed in front of Dib. It screeched loudly, it's mouth full of sharp needle-like teeth. Just like a bat, the ends of his wings had clawed thumbs and it used them to try and slash back at Dib. In the air it was fast, but it didn't have much maneuverability in dives, on the ground it could react quicker and go after Dib when he changed directions. The bat demon chased him around the stalagmites, it caught him once grazing it's claws across his stomach. Luckily, Zim hadn't been lying when he said that the material was super strong. The material didn't cut, but he imagined that he was going to have a large bruise and a swelling red mark. Now that the demon was on the ground Zim's help wasn't necessary, but that didn't stop the invader from unhelpfully shouting at Dib every time he thought Dib was messing up, which seemed to be the entire time.
Dib was getting tired. His stomach really hurt where the bat caught him, he just hoped that the blow hadn't cracked any of his ribs. He needed a new tactic and quick. Barely dodging again, a movement to the side caught his eye. Liz was at the edge of the light on top of one the rocks, after seeing she had his attention she waved her dagger pointed to the bat that was turning around to attack him again and then to the spot in front of her. Dib caught on immediately and nodded, turning his attention back to the bat.
It screeched and Dib ran back towards where Liz waited. He stopped in front of the rock and turned to face the demon. Thinking that Dib was cornered it screeched and stood back on it's legs, spreading out its wings to make it seem larger.
"Hey! Batty!" Liz called out, gaining it's attention. Dib heard a scraping of shoe on rock behind him and seeing that the bat was distracted, Dib lunged forward as Liz launched herself from the rock. Together they collided into the demon, it hadn't been expecting a frontal attack and Liz smashed into it's face driving her dagger into it's neck, while Dib dove low then shot up pushing his dagger up into it's chest cavity. The demon fell backwards and thrashed only for a moment, before going still. Panting Dib staggered back from the demon, the dagger lodged well into it's ribs. Liz pulled the dagger form it's neck and blood spilled out slowly.
Ding Ding.
"Well then," the announcer said sounding surprised. "That just goes to show that anything can happen in the Demon Challenge. Let's hear it for the human-hybrid pair." At his words were mostly angry cries and other unhappy sounds, but Dib couldn't hear much over the piercing jubilant scream coming from his collar.
His ears ringing, Dib didn't hear what else the announcer said but Liz touched his arm and pointed to a gate that lit up. Without wasting time they made their way over the rocky terrain back into a holding area. Once the bars closed behind them Liz said something to him, but Dib was still having a hard time hearing over Zim cackling and proclaiming his victory. Even though Dib that had been the one fighting Zim was acting like he had killed the demon.
"What?" Dib shouted over Zim's laugh.
"I said," Liz said loudly but slowly so he could lip read as well. "We survived."
Dib nodded back. They had. They survived the first round.
Thanks again to Guest for the bat suggestion. Glowzilla your suggestion you sent me will come up next chapter :)
The angler fish demon was my idea, if you want to get an idea of what the inside of its mouth looked like, look them on google. They are terrifying. and awesome.
