Chapter 26 – Concept of a Breaker
The room with the burning criss-cross came for a short period of time then faded away. In the center of the chamber was another blue outlined Grim Reaper. Grabbing the pistol and aiming at it, he waited for the magma to come and go in the room. During that, he selected the "PCS" and heard it being ready. When the liquid rock cross dissipated, he squeezed the trigger.
The space in front of him vibrated before a short thick beam launched out of the muzzle. Upon impacting with the death being, a violent explosion occurred. The massive kickback launched him back a few yards. Upon landing and sliding, he was back in the previous room. Knowing that a shockwave was coming, he ran to the wall adjacent to the passageway entrance. Once reached, an invisible force rushed through the opening pushing dust and gravel in multiple directions.
Heading back to the room, the death being was no longer there. A caption came up showing that a death gem was on the ground. He picked it up and shielded his eyes when all he saw was bright lights heading quickly toward him. After a short time, he put his hands down seeing that the magma cross died down. Going toward the passageway, he eventually got back to the first chamber in the dungeon.
Other than the arcing magma segments, no new monsters were in the room. Walking toward the other passageway on the opposite wall, it led to another red stone chamber. Two fire imps were standing in the middle of the room. Looking to the right, the bottom portion of the wall was missing. Suddenly, a wave of magma flowed out and rushed to the other side of the chamber. Despite the level of liquid rock covering the hell beings, they were not harmed.
After capping both of them in the head, the gunslinger looked around to see a hallway opening on the far left wall. Waiting for the wave to come and go, he jogged to the passageway. Upon making it, a bright and growing hue of red came from behind. Turning around and take a few steps back, the oncoming molten earth was flowing fast as well as dying away. The wave never reached him and he turned around going to the next chamber.
The passageway opened up at the end revealing a red stone room with a glass floor. Wondering what it could be, there were two fire imps in the center. Pulling out the gun, the floor suddenly was replaced with magma. Bright colors blinded all sight making him close his eyes and use his free hand as a shield. The blinding light died down. Opening his eyes, he shot the two putting them out of their existence.
Rushing toward where the imps were and picking up the dropped fire fragments, he ran toward the passageway on the right wall. Upon making one foot on the passage floor, the other felt like it was sinking. Looking behind, the ground was covered with magma making him shut his eyes. Slowly pulling his leg up and freeing his caught foot, the blinding liquid rock colors faded. The floor became glass again and the foot appeared to have no damage.
The next chamber was the size of a large airport baggage claim area for passengers. It had no monsters in sight. Upon looking around, there was a hallway in the right wall and one in the left wall. Viewing the floor, it was littered with holes. A thought of rising columns of magma came to mind. Just as the thought occurred, molten rock shot up to the ceiling and died down. The rate at which the columns were occurring was rapid and random. If not for the fire bracelet, he could have died from heat stroke or melted. Deciding that the path to right was closer, he started hoping over holes while readying to quickly shield the eyes.
[…Stop…] Selbith messaged.
[Huh? What?] he replied stopping.
[…Go to the other pathway…]
[…alright.]
Turning around, the sense of a magma column coming made him shield his eyes. A dull brightness engulfed him for a second then dissipated. Removing his hands, he leaped and hopped to the other side. Continuing down the passageway, it opened up to a little bigger space. Looking around, he didn't see anything that indicated something out of the ordinary.
Walking forward a bit, a narrowing hallway came up. It seemed like it was wide enough for only a single person to go through. Upon entering the hallway, something slammed on the ground. Looking behind him revealed a glass wall that covered the side walls, floor, and ceiling. Remembering the semi-translucent floor turn into a magma bed, he looked forward and bolted down the passageway. As he ran and made quick movement around corners, he could smell the burning liquid rock flowing quickly into the hallway.
After continuously bolting down passages and running up walls to round corners faster, he could feel many hellish presences. There was one that felt immensely powerful yet seemed like it was restrained somehow. Enabling sneak, he silently ran toward the opening at the end of the time trial maze. Exiting out of the passageway, a red stone wall slowly closed cutting off access to the hallway. A moment later, something loud and dull impacted with the sealed door.
Taking deep breaths to calm down, he felt ready. Turning around, there were many things in the room. In the middle of the circular room, there was a translucent figure. Its arms were locked in a standing contraption as well as its legs. Upon looking closer, the ghost like figure was an adult female in only a black toga. From the distance he was standing, getting a better description of her features was rather difficult. However, what was surrounding her took his attention.
In a circle around the trapped female, there was a dozen of sleeping fire imps. They were a bit different than the other ones as they had more armor and bulkier mass on them. Getting close to one, the "special" attack option came up. About to select it, someone grabbed his insides. Shivering and halting his action, he gave a deadpan expression to no one.
[…what is it now?] he messaged.
[…nothing…] Selbith replied
[Giving me a death chill doesn't sound like nothing.]
[I didn't say anything!]
"…" Jin said feeling his eye twitch.
[…alright…what will it be?]
[…(o.-)…how will what be?]
[The way these imps should perish]
[…why are you asking me?]
[I can break each of their necks in their sleep. I can change to the reaper and do various ways to eliminate them. Or, I can just blast them to make them into Swiss Cheese… wondering if you had a preference.]
[…I…um…w-whatever…do what you want. I don't care.]
[…(-_-ii)…you know you are a pain, right?]
[Shut up!]
[…(9_9)…(6_6)…(9_9)…]
[I SAID SHUT UP!]
"…" Jin said pressing his lips together to frown. Bring his hand to his face, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Shaking his head a little, he started his slaughter.
After snapping the last of the imps' neck, all of them broke into shards and disintegrated. A dozen of fire fragments were picked up. After closing the item window, the gunner moved in front of the translucent figure and got a better look at her. Other than the female having the same quality of beauty and height as Eve, there was a resonating demonic presence within the person. Looking at the contraptions that held her hands and feet, he touched it.
Suddenly, there was much materialization of blue outlined Grim Reapers. Six of them surrounded him and the translucent figure. The signature blade swiping sound came as the death beings welded their scythes. All of them hissed and started hovering toward him. As they converge, the gunner suddenly was set ablaze by black fire.
When the death beings looked again, they stopped to see a red outline Grim Reaper with very intense crimson eyes. All of them hissed in confusion when they heard a female talk to them within the male Grim Reaper in the middle of the chamber. The red outline death being raised a left fist above its head. A dark orb surround the limb with blackened electrical sparks.
[All of you have shamed me and this son of a Grim Reaper…we will show you that our genocide amongst all beings will be merciless!] the spirit messaged. Merging out the teen, she mimicked his attack. The black orb doubled in volume and the sparks became more festive and intense.
[…die…]
Both punched the ground causing a massive dark spherical field to rapidly expand. It rushed through the Grim Reapers and instantly blew their bones away and disintegrating their hooded robes. The ground rumbled a little then ceased. Black fire engulfed his body while the Selbith stayed outside of the teen. When the dark blaze dissipated, the image of the gunslinger came back. Six death gems were obtained for defeating the death beings.
[I must say that attack Jin…is unusual for a Reaper…but very effective] she commented pleased on the result of using the attack.
[…genocide?…(-_-)…really?]
[Unlike you who DOESN'T take pride in being Death, our brethren must pay for putting me through such disgrace!]
[…(-.-)…sounds more like a vendetta to me.]
[Shut up Jin! Your nonchalant attitude makes me irritated.]
[…(9_9)…]
[Don't roll your eyes at me!]
[Whatever]
[Mmm…such a strong familiar dark essence…has awaken me from my slumber…who might you be?] the translucent prisoner messaged and moving a little.
"I'm Jin and the presence you speak of is Selbith."
[Selbith?...Oh yes…the defected reaper. How are you?]
[Can it Haurette! I'm just fine] the death spirit stated and crossed her arms.
[That I can see…and you have brought a gunslinger…have you come to rescue me?]
"I guess so."
[Wonderful.]
"So…how do we get you out?"
[I believe you need many fire fragments to unlock each contraption.]
Nodding, the gunner walked in front of the female and opened up the items menu. Selecting the fire fragments, all of them were used. The four contraptions made an unlocked sound and freed Haurette's hands and feet. The translucent figured stretched while sitting on the ground.
[It has been ages since I last sat down and walked around. Now only if I had a physical form, I could roam about in this world freely.]
"Here," he said. Going back into the item's menu, he pulled out an item.
[…a Hell Amulet…Selbith…is he the "Breaker"?] the demon messaged in surprise.
[…(-_-)…regrettably…he is.]
[You do realize gunslinger that I am a fire demon and will cause destruction to the mortal world] she stated with a straight look on her face.
"…really…I would never had guess that," Jin said with fake surprised face. It instantly dropped to look at her with indifference.
"Do you want it or not?"
[…I will accept it.]
The female figure put a lace through the amulet and tied it around her neck. The demon's translucent form became bold with color showing rich red hair that came down to her rear, emerald eyes, and dark tan skin tone. Haurette blinked a couple of times then felt her body and looked into her toga.
"This feels amazing…to have a real body again. It's like being born again."
[Whoop-dido] Selbith stated with impatience.
"I don't know why you still want to be a spirit Selbith when—Hey! Where are you going?" Haurette stated. The gunslinger had turned around and was walking away.
"Finding a way back. There was another passageway we didn't explore," he stated. Suddenly, strong hands grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace from behind.
"—w-w-what are you doing?!"
"I haven't hugged a mortal…especially a male in so long," she stated seductively into his ear.
"T-that's n-nice…could you let go of me?" he stated freezing in place. The eerie and dark aura she was emitting felt just like how Eve's would.
"Awe…but I want to remember what it feels like kissing a man," the demon stated. Turning him around and holding onto him, she cupped his face.
"…couldn't… you…indulge…me?"
"…!?"/[…(o.o)…(=.=)…(o.o)…]
Haurette descended onto his mouth. At the same time, the resonating presence of her was stronger. Despite being use to the eeriness, he leaned his head back not wanting to know what would happen if lip contact was made. However, the fire demon saw this instantly gripped his face stronger. She went in for his lips only to be blocked by a hand. It had a strong aura of corruption behind an angelic atmosphere.
"My my…if it isn't Eve," the fire demon stated with a tight smile.
"Looks like I saved darling just in time," the she-devil replied with a similar expression.
"Really? You see him as another mate? Don't you have two Adams to fond over?"
"That doesn't matter. I claim darling first."
"Hmph! Sounds like your typical lustrous self. He probably will seek sanctuary in death than being with you all over him."
"Ha! You are just jealous of the wonderful bond that I have with darling," she said sticking her chest out a little.
"Hardly…" the other demon stated copying her body movement. While both Eve and Haurette touted each other and puffed out their chests, both the gunslinger and the reaper watched with deadpan faces.
"…"
[…]
"…I feel like I'm in a harem cartoon…" Jin stated quietly and started rubbing his face.
[Ugh. That reminds me of the desire the creators had of this world.]
"…I don't want to know…"
[What's wrong with you? You're a male mortal. They always think about lust.]
"…right…sure…you really believe that?" he asked looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
[Well…of the common man, yes…you…are confusing] she messaged turning to him.
"Good."
[…good? What are you talking about? How's that good?] Selbith asked confused. Seeing him turn around, he recoiled seeing that the sea demon was standing behind him.
"L-Lamia…s-sup."
"He he he. Did I startle you gunslinger?" she asked leaning a little forward with hands behind her.
"Yeah," the teen replied leaning a little back.
"Good. I wanted to get confirmation that I did," the sea demon stated with a pleased smile. Leaning back, she looked at the two touting demons at the center of the room.
"I see Haurette has been released."
"…yeah…seems like both of them have a history though," he stated looking back at the two demons still bickering.
[A little too much 'keep up with one another' type of history.]
"…ah…that explains it-!" Jin commented. While looking back, Lamia embraced him in a sultry matter. Caught by surprise, she moved her mouth to be barely touching his.
"But Jin…you shouldn't let your guard down…with me," she whispered in an enticing tone. Seeing that he looked at her with wide eyes, she started licking his mouth slowly. Despite only getting a brief feeling of his top lip, the male suddenly vanished. Flinching and getting her balance, she blinked and looked to her left. He was a few feet away from her.
"…!?" the gunslinger said with a semi-panic expression. Seeing that, the sea demon giggled happily.
[Lamia…what…why…why?!] Selbith messaged in shock.
"I like seeing him get terrified. Besides, why are you bent out of shape?"
[I don't give a damn what happens to him! I'm not the one you should be worrying about.]
"…he he he…yeah…I kn…o…w," Lamia said feeling the she devil's hands around her neck. Feeling an intense squeezed, the water demon's voice was much weaker.
"Please for…give me…Eve. I was on…ly tea…sing…honestly."
"I know," the she devil stated evenly with a cruel smile. "…but if I catch you again influencing darling…I will kill you."
"I…g…o…t…i…t...w…o…n…t…h…a…p…p…e…n…a…g…a…i…n," Lamia stated with barely a whisper. She was turning blue in the face.
"That's a good demon," Eve stated with an intimating smile.
Releasing her, the water-snake woman dropped to the ground. Breathing harshly for air, she coughed. Feeling something else a miss, the she-devil turned to her right. The fire demon was hugging the gunslinger from behind. He looked a tad irritated and terrified.
"You have quick reflexes for a mortal…don't you want to be rewarded for saving me?" she asked touching his cheek with hers.
"…maybe some other time," Jin stated with an icy shutter going through him. Blinking and looking what was developing, he couldn't back up with the fire demon pressing against him.
"…uh…Eve looks…mad."
"I know," Haurette said licking his cheek.
Using the "Fast Reaction" skill, he vanished out of the woman's hold before Eve collided with her. Looking back as both demons were fighting, he sighed loudly. Turning around with a frown, he walked pass the reaper and sea demon as they watched him go by. Before they said anything, the gunner was engulfed in black flames and transformed into his Grim Reaper form. He started hovering toward the wall that closed off the passageway that he came.
[H-Hey!? Wait!] the death spirit stated and saw him stop. She quickly hovered and merged into his body. After that, he went through the wall leaving the other female demons behind. Only Lamia noticed as the other two were still fighting each other.
'Hmm…Selbith is acting strange…he he he…he is different from the creators though…in a good way.'
Not knowing what to expect after passing through the closed up door to the passageway, he closed his eyes. Upon passing through, the darkness was now dully illuminated with bright colors of magma. Reaching the walls with arms out, he hovered his way back to the previous chamber. About half way through the passageway, the time meter to be in the death form expired transforming him back into human form.
Upon feeling around and continuing, he finally felt a wall in front of him and pushed on it hard. Instead of feeling a strong resistance, it gave and he tumbled through it to the floor. The intense light that surrounded him was replaced with darkness. Shielding his eyes with his hands from the residual falling bedrock, nothing hit him. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw only his palms near his face. Getting up, he dusted himself and checked to see if anything was damaged. Satisfied, he reentered the rapid magma column room.
No monsters were around despite the constant rapid bright lights that would occur. Keep his hands at the ready to shield his face, he hopped and leaped over the holes. Eventually, the passageway was reached on the opposite side of the room. Putting the hands down, he walked down it only to see it become brighter with a mixture of red, orange, and yellow.
The passageway opened up and revealed a very large magma pool chamber. Close to him, a third of the space had nine pillars with enough space to walk around and jump to one another. The rest of the space was just molten rock. Not seeing anything else, he jumped to the first pillar. Landing on it, a fierce rumbling occurred which made standing difficult.
In the extremely hot earth pool, something was forming out from it. Slowly, a sphere was coming up as liquid rock dripped from its sides. It was the size of a two-story apartment. Once out of the magma, depressions in the ball of fire formed. Only the places where the eyes and mouth would be were made. Eventually, the massive thing started deeply breathing.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?" it spoke. The tone and volume of the thing's voice echoed and vibrated things a little. Not moving, the gunner tried to use "Sneak" but it was disabled. Despite this, he kept still and didn't say anything.
"…wait…there is a mortal here…what are you doing down here? Answer me now!"
[…you better say something Jin] Selbith messaged and poked his insides.
[Uh-uh. You talk to the fireball]
[Stop being an imbecile and grow some hair on your chest!]
[…(-_-*)…fine…] he stated. Taking a nervous step forward, he took a breath before speaking.
"I came down here to explore and—"
"Explore! HA HA HA HA HA!" the large ball of fire stated while bellowing in mirth. "Why would a mere mortal come here to explore the fiery pits of hell? What are you, a fool?"
[Yes] the reaper stated quicker.
[Shut up.]
"…anyway…I—"
"Be gone mortal and take your defect with you."
[…(-.-*)…Jin…]
[Are you nuts? How can I take down this-]
[I don't care! You better kill him or else!]
[…(-_-)…you are insane]
The huge fireball saw that the human was jumping toward the middle section of the pillars and got into the first row. The teen pulled out a pistol and pointed at the monstrosity making it laugh harder.
"HA HA HA HA HA! STOP! THIS IS TOO MUCH! HA HA HA HA HA!"
Selecting the "PCS" and hearing the gun indicate it was ready, the gunner aimed for the open mouth. Squeezing the trigger, the space around the pistol vibrated. A short, thick beam came out and launched toward the laughing pseudo sun. While being launched backwards a few yards, the shot entered the magma being's mouth. Bouncing off the middle pillar, he landed and slowed to a stop on the rea one.
The magma being closed its mouth startled. Looking at its body, its lower half seemed to sink a little into itself. A health icon appeared next to the monstrous floating being and about a quarter of it went down. Angered, it intensified the flames around itself.
"YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME! PREPARE TO BE MELTED MORTAL!"
The magma being unleashed fire shots that rocketed toward him. Timing the evasions with jumping to the next platform, he dodged all of them. Seeing that the mouth was closed, the only opening available was the eyes. Targeting one, he fired another beam. It went through the socket causing the fireball to close the eye. Getting launched back again, he bounced off the middle pillar then stopped at the rear one again.
Upon observation, its eye socket that was closed sunk in a little causing fire guts to pour out of it like a waterfall. The fireball shook itself from side to side while the health icon went to the halfway point. Getting angry again, it intensified its blaze more too almost being hard to look at. Instead of unleashing another volley of flame shots, it sunk into the magma pool. It came out to be in a little a ways from the front row pillars.
"If I cannot get you from a far, then I will roast you closer with my intense radiant heat!"
The fireball chuckled evilly at the gunslinger seeing him not moving from a rear pillar. The teen raised the gun again and waited for it to indicate it was ready for a "PCS". The magma being stopped laughing when it saw the space around the mortal vibrated. A short, thick beam came out of the weapon heading toward its other eye while launching the gunslinger back into the chamber wall.
Closing its eye when the beam entered, fire guts flowed out of the socket. Its health went down another quarter. The teen impacted the wall causing a crater to form. A painful gasp exited his mouth as some of his health went down. Quickly recovering, he kick-jumped off the wall and landed on the rear pillar he was on. Breathing a little, he saw the fireball sink back into the magma and resurface a bit further.
With both its eyes closed, it unleashed a low, deep roar that shook everything. The walls and pillars were swaying and the pool of magma was creating vicious ripples from the vibrations. The gunslinger and the reaper were both affected by the roar as they covered their ears. Despite that, Jin felt his insides vibrate and move around making him feel sick.
Dropping to his knees, he threw up while still cover his ears. Suddenly, he felt something wet on his hands and smelled iron around his nose. The red liquid cooked and crisped away giving him a nauseating smell of burnt blood. Standing back up, he couldn't hear well and smell much of anything. Thinking that he could rely on sight, the fireball intensified its brightness even more.
It was like starring right at the sun. He could only look for a few seconds before his eyes felt blinded. Now that two of senses were disabled, he wondered how was he suppose to fire the last shot when he could only standing opening his eyes for a couple of seconds. Recovering from the strong recoil, the gunslinger tried to figure out how to shoot the last beam. However, there was a possibility of making another black hole when the fireball was this hot and bright.
Selbith was thinking the same thing when the gunslinger raised his gun and quickly opened his eyes to point in the direction of the fireball. As long as the thing died was all that mattered. The pistol sounded it was ready and he closed his eyes and squeezed the trigger. Air around the gun vibrated and a short beam burst from the muzzle.
While the volley traveled to the mountainous blazing being, he got launched back near the same crater he made previously. Another crater formed when he impacted the wall hard. A painful gasp and blood came out of his mouth as he kick-jumped off the wall to the same rear pillar. Landing on it and closing his eyes, an explosion sounded. The environment shook again and seemed vibrate the air as well. Shielding his eyes, he tried to feel what was going on.
After a short period of time, the explosion and shockwaves stopped expanding. Seeing the brightness toned down a few notches, he was able to open his eyes a little. Peering straight ahead, there was a small black orb in the middle of the fireball. Watching the massive thing and its surroundings, everything started to get pulled into the black hole. Muted low, deep roars and howls were heard.
Suddenly, the sounds went silent as well as the blinding light. Blinking his eyes open, he saw spots. Shaking his head, the surroundings started to feel different. Looking back to where the gigantic blazing ball was, the black hole had swallowed it. Feeling the gravitational pull from it, he converged to his reaper form. Once done, he was floating without feeling the forces of the small black orb.
[…this one is bigger than the other one] Selbith messaged.
[…that it is…]
[Why is it not going away?]
[When black holes reach a certain size…they won't disappear.]
[…then…that means…] the reaper continued. Both saw the object of astrophysics starting to suck up the magma and pieces of the chamber.
[…(0_0!)…do something Jin!]
[…you are telling me you have no mystical power that can just cancel that thing?]
[I am a dealer of death…not a witch!]
[…great…]
Pulling out his pistol, it was a blackened version that was twice the volume than before. Looking at what magic shots he could do, there were three selections. "Blackened Charge" used dark magic and some life force to shoot out a projectile of larger mass than a regular one. There was "black hole" which would make the same type of space phenomena that was on the opposite side of the massive chamber. The last one, strangely, was labeled "white hole". Both last options used dark magic, life essence, and energy from the gun.
[…Jin…] Selbith stated tugging his insides. He focused back at the black hole and saw that half of the chamber had been sucked into it. His reaper form made an audible hiss sound in terror.
Selecting "White Hole", darkened chains started whipping out of the ground and gripped on all limps of him. He was locked pointing the pistol at the black orb and couldn't move. The weapon started producing magenta electrical sparks. They grew in mass to where they were equivalent of lightening arcs being generating. Seeing the Stalker window appear, it stated that the weapon was ready.
About to squeeze the trigger, three other presences were behind him. Quickly looking around him, Eve, Lamia, and Haurette where holding onto his back while looking forward intrigued. Frowning a little and looking back at the black hole, he swallowed. Clenching his teeth together, he squeezed the trigger. A white orb about the size of a basketball formed and launched forward.
Rocketing faster that the beams from the "power charged shots", the shot made Jin confused. Surprisingly, there was little to no recoil which made him wonder why all the chains. When the shot hit, the black hole started to enclose on itself rapidly. It shrunk to nothing then something flashed blindingly bright. Violently, a rapidly expanding explosion erupted.
"Here it comes darling!" Eve shouted excitedly.
A massive and rapid shockwave slammed into him instantly changing him to his human form. All the chains stiffened and pulled keeping him from being blown away. None of the demons got blown away as they held on to him with inhuman strength. The spirit held onto his insides sending a cold jolt through him. However, all the things holding him weren't the problem.
The shockwave that slammed into him made him feel like he was being ripped out of his skin. His brain and organs felt they exploded in their cavity of the body. All that he could do was muster a scream. Tightening his muscles made the experience worse and he screeched harder.