A/N: This chapter is a bit different. I know you guys expected a full-length chapter but bear with me because I'm not doing this without a good reason. This is basically an announcement, but I hate throwing an empty chapter, so I decided to fill it in with a side story I had planned for a while. So just know that your curses fall on deaf ears and the next real chapter is on the way. We're getting on the important bits, so I have to take extra time and care in writing those. Some questions will be answered next chapter. This chapter is an event between chapter 1 and 2.
There will be a voting poll on my profile for the next couple of Extra Story. There's not that many chapters left, so I'll start to put more one more Extra Story from next chapter onwards (Side Story is canon unlike Extra Story by the way). They'll be longer than usual too. One from my own, and the other from the most voted idea. There will be a new poll every new chapter, so if you're interested, please check it out. If the idea is already written, I'll remove them from the list. I will update the poll if I think of an interesting idea or if my reviewers point out an interesting scenario (some of you already did by the way). There seems to be a demand on the scenario where Shirou meets Rance despite my statement in the first chapter on how the encounter would go. Seriously, its almost like they want to see how many ways Shirou can kill the horny boy.
Anyways, check my profile for the poll section. I'll probably post it ahead of time before this chapter is even up. Oh, and by the way, I recommend playing the Rance Ontology (both Kichikuou and Sengoku version works, but the Kichikuou one is better imo) soundtrack for this chapter. The arranged version fits more for Gele's part.
Now, onwards to the untold side story.
(Side Story: The Fall of the Opiros Empire)
The Opiros Empire was a nation whose territory encompassed the entirety of the north-eastern part of the Continent. A huge, militaristic nation that prided itself as humanity's shield and spear against the Demon King and her army of Monsters.
Fifty years ago, they were defeated by Demon King Nighcisa. Though they suffered crushing defeat, the Empire did not fall. Through the expenditures of a great deal of time and resources, as well as their connections with the other smaller nations, they were able to recover a good amount of their soldiers and wealth.
Their army stood strong. The number of soldiers within their disposal was over two million. Their arsenal of weaponries was unmatched amongst humanity; within their ranks were the strongest of warriors and Mages. They were humanity's hope, the strongest nation to ever exist in mankind's history; a nation which was built on the promise to eradicate Monsters and the Demon King from the face of this world.
However, that Empire was no more. Because from this day onwards, the Empire, its rulers, and its dearest capital was razed to the ground.
That day is today.
(Break)
"Hey, did you hear? About the recent news?"
"Ah, that one? From the AL Church? Yeah, I heard about it. That's some crazy stuff. It's about the new Demon King, right?"
Two armored soldiers, stationed in a heavily fortified watchtower, spoke in hushed whispers.
"To think that the newly crowned Demon King is just a little girl. My ancestors would be rolling in their graves right now if they knew."
"I heard she's quite the beauty though. Did you see the pictures they spread all over? Man, what I'd do to lay my hands on her. I'd make her moan my name all night long. Hehehe…"
"Oh please. You'll just keel over and die before you even know it. She's the Demon King, you know? If they were so easy to kill, we wouldn't be stuck here waging war with them for decades. But that's not even the craziest thing. Did you hear the other news? About that nameless hero?"
"That guy? Ah, the one who got sentenced to death by hanging? The declared traitor of humanity who killed our Empire's head of research? Pfft, Hero my left nut. Yeah, what about him?"
"Apparently there are rumors around saying how that man was the current Demon King's lover."
"…Seriously?"
"Yeah. That execution grounds and the town, Parnas? Gone. Not even a trace of it left. That was two weeks ago."
A frown appeared on the other soldier's visage as a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Any survivors?"
"None. I was able to see pictures of it from my pal in another division who was patrolling a nearby area. He sent me this. Look."
It was a picture from a small recording device. However, there was nothing on it but flat ground.
"…What the fuck? There's nothing in it!"
"Exactly. There's no way my friend got the wrong place. He had been patrolling the same area for years! The town just disappeared, as if it was never there in the first place. And the scariest part? Do you know when this picture was taken?"
"You're shittin' me. Don't tell me…"
"You guessed it. The day right after the execution date. Definitely smells like the Demon King's work right there."
"Oi, oi. Isn't this bad? Does this mean they'll come to attack us soon?"
"Maybe. The Empire had always been on alert since the new coronation of that blasted Demon King. Who knows when that bitch will come for us? We should be fine here though. We're near the heart of the capital. No Monster had ever pierced through our defenses even during the previous Demon King's reign."
"R-right. There's no way they would come all the way over here, right? Their realm is thousands of miles away from us!"
"In any case, be ready. There's no telling when we'll get our orders to dep-" his sentence was interrupted by a sudden tremor.
"W-whoa! What the hell?!"
Both soldiers almost fell to their feet from the unstable ground had they not reach out to the nearby wall for support. A couple more seconds passed before the tremor finally ceased.
"W-what the heck was that?!"
A sudden armored figure rushed fumbled through their post as he panted for breath. His face pale as a sheet of ice, as if he had witnessed something terrifying.
"Y-you two! W-we're being attacked! Hurry to your posts! The capital is being invaded!"
The figure, who just barely managed to stand and recover their balance, felt their hearts drop down their stomach. They rushed to the outpost's sole opening to get a better view, reaching for the nearest binocular.
"N-no way. The capital is burning? Don't tell me, a Dark Lord attack?!"
The soldier watched as pits of smoke danced through the air and fire blazed through their once illustrious capital. He could hear the terrified screams of the civilians even all the way up here in their watchtower.
"O-oi. You've gotta be kidding me, right?"
A terrified voice resounded as the soldier pointed at a particular direction. His fellow soldier's gaze followed, and he too was petrified by the scene before him.
"N-no way. The Monster Army…"
Out in the distance, they could see a group of black silhouettes. They approached ever so slowly, but there was no mistaking their identity. As the proud soldiers of the Empire, they knew exactly what was coming. However, that was not what terrified them the most. No matter which direction they were looking from, it was the same. They were surrounded from all fronts. There was no warning; there was no preceding reports of a Monster army invasion.
And if what they were seeing was real, then the number of Monsters coming their way surpassed what they had faced during the Death Toll War. Millions of Monsters were marching to invade.
The ground rumbled from their march. The sound of steel and fire encroached. Death was approaching.
"H-huh?!"
The march stopped. The opposing army stood still, but their weapons were raised and ready. The soldier could see sharpened axes, claws, and growling teeth from the opposing side. However, they did not attack.
"They stopped…?"
In any case, now was not the time to be bewildered by the enemies' actions. They had to act fast. The capital was being attacked; they needed to inform the higherups and the rest of the stationed soldiers without any further delay. Just as the soldier was about to turn around and run to inform his allies however, he spotted something from the opponent's end.
The enemy's formation split and revealed a certain figure in black and red. It was difficult to see due to the distance, but it was a human figure with white hair. That man was holding something. It was a giant black bow.
The soldier couldn't believe what he was seeing. Impossible. There was no way that man could shoot an arrow from that far of a distance. They had to be at least a couple of miles away!
Something appeared on the white-haired man's hand. Whatever it was, it was not an arrow. When the soldier saw the man nock his bow and pulled, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
He could feel the cold scythe of death approaching as motes of power began to converge on the man's bow.
"A-Activate the Automated Defense Barrier System! Hurry!"
"R-Right! Hey you! How long are you going to stay sprawled on the floor like that?! Hurry and inform the rest of the soldiers! We need to defend the capital!"
When the still fallen fellow soldier scrambled to his feet and began to run to the opposite direction, the two stationed soldiers began to move. They had no time.
"Done! The barrier is activated. This should give us some time…?"
Layers and layers of defensive Magic materialized from the far distance. However, the soldier had also realized that the man had already released his bow.
"Ah…"
They could only witness in trepidation as layers of powerful defensive barriers were pierced and shattered like spear through a paper towel. It didn't take long for the projectile to reach the last layer of defense; the strongest defensive spell administered by the most powerful Mage in their ranks. That too, was showing signs of giving away as indicated by the large crack that was quickly spreading.
"Our glorious Empire…"
The soldier muttered as the last barrier gave in, and the projectile reached them. There was a flash of white, and then there was nothing.
The attack had only just begun.
(Break)
Chaos erupted. The once wondrous capital of the biggest empire of mankind was in turmoil. Even still, the strongest Empire of man would not simply topple over. Battalions of soldiers equipped in heavy armor poured out and formed a strategic line. Soldiers trained from years of discipline and strict training, lined up in a regulated formation. Standing calm and proud in front of them was a bearded man with grey hair. There was a deep scar across his visage, indicating the man's experience in the field of battle himself.
He was the commander of the second squadron of the Opiros Empire.
"Sire, reporting in. The enemy number is estimated to be five million. The exact number is unknown. However, they have yet to attack us. They don't seem to have any intent to do a siege. We're not sure what they're trying to do."
"…They're cutting off our escape route. A crafty one, this new Demon King. They didn't have any intention for a siege warfare since the beginning. How many Dark Lords did they bring?"
"Six, sire. However, there seemed to be a new addition to their ranks. It was the man who dismantled our fortified defensive barriers."
A heavy silence loomed between the two. The commander closed his eyes in resignation.
"I see. So, this is the end. Vice-commander, immediately go to the Royal Castle and tell the head guard there to evacuate the king and the queen. They must not die, even if the Empire falls."
The soldier saluted, before running to the direction of the castle. As he did, screams began to resound from all sides as the fire spread further. Dead bodies began to pile as the fire consumed all. Broken bodies covered in blood, buried under the rubble that was once their home. Several soldiers within their rank retched and puked as they witnessed the gruesome scene before them.
Within all this chaos however the commander could tell that something was not quite right. From a certain direction where fire was still spreading, there was a strange silence. From that direction, they could see an armored, limping figure.
"H-hey! Are you okay? Someone, give him medical attention!"
Several soldiers ran to support the figure. As they did however, they noticed the man's pale face and bloodshot eyes. But it was too late.
"Gyaaaaaa!"
"W-What?! S-Stop it! Why are you attacking us?!"
The figure leaped and bit the neck of the closest soldier, tearing apart soft, warm flesh. As blood and life drained out of its victim's body, the latter began to undergo several uncanny changes. It was a fatal attack, yet the man did not die. The color of his skin began to twist into a sickly, pale color as the man turned his hungry, bloodshot eyes at his former comrades.
"It's the Chupacabra disease! Hurry, kill all the infected!"
"I-It's impossible! The infection is already spreading! They're closing in behind us!"
True to the soldier's words, the infected had already made their way into their ranks without them noticing. It was a disaster; their great number was being used against them amidst the chaos. The commander closed his eyes, accepting their doomed fate. His years of experience against the Monster Army had already told him of the culprit of this phenomenon.
"Dark Lord Kesselring."
"Correct."
A mass of darkness enveloped the space before the squadron, before it faded and revealed a pale blonde man in a noble outfit. The Dark Lord approached as he calmly fixed his red gloves.
"A good day to you, commander. However, we have no time for pleasantries. Draw your blades and come at me all at once, before my vampires devour your entire squadron. Your numbers mean nothing to me."
The noble vampire's words were correct. Time and time again they had faced him, only to be bested every single time. They could not pierce the vampire's Invincibility Field, nor could they best him in sword nor Magic. They were outmatched in every single aspect, and no mere numbers could help them overcome that gap.
"…How surprising. To think a noble like you would do something as despicable as attacking innocent civilians. Though, I guess it's to be expected from you Monsters. None of you have pride nor honor. Color me surprised though, I heard you were dead."
The Dark Lord was not fazed by the cheap taunts. The noble merely gave a pitying glance at the man, before that pity abruptly turned into disdain.
"You are correct. I was dead for a time, slain by a great warrior that exceeded what you lot could even dream of. That same warrior was killed by your Empire's hands; hanged for a crime not of his own make. Do not speak to me of honor when your empire has none of its own, human. You have earned our King's ire, and now she seeks retribution. I shall be your guide; I will bring all of you to the afterlife myself. The Lord of the Night shall begin his hunt now."
The commander gritted his teeth, knowing that his attempt to buy more time was futile.
"All capable soldiers! Vanguard formation! We'll defend the capital to our very last breath!"
Even as the squadron roared in defiance, it was muffled by the screams of pain and terror that surrounded them. And as their numbers dwindled amidst the unnatural darkness of the Dark Lord's make, the commander took one last look at the castle they swore to protect.
It was burning.
(Break)
"Close the gates! Hurry!"
The heavy sound of chains resounded as the heavy gate closed with a loud boom. Several soldiers sighed in relief.
"They must not be allowed to enter the inner capital! Go inform the Magic Department to release the Toushos! They are our only chance to survive this!"
A commander urgently shouted to his subordinate, who saluted and immediately departed. Behind him was an organized group of foot soldiers, numbering over ten thousand. Still, their expressions were pale, and morale was at an all-time low due to the suddenness of the assault.
"Dammit! They attacked us out of nowhere and are now rampaging in our capital! Why wasn't there any signal from the watchtowers?!"
"S-Sir! Something is coming!"
"W-what?!"
Heavy, powerful footsteps could be heard from behind the gate. Something big was coming. Whatever it was, they couldn't afford to sit around.
"All troops! Standby!"
Swords and spears were immediately pointed towards the gate. Arcane spells took shape as magic circles hovered in the air, threatening to be unleashed at any moment.
A loud crash resounded as the gate shook violently. Once, twice, and then thrice. By the fourth count, the giant gate was reduced to mere splinters. Behind it was a hulking giant with multiple limbs, equipped in a variety of powerful looking weapons. He stared at them menacingly, before smiling at the feast that was prepared before him.
"Fire! Fire all your spells! Don't let him get any closer!"
"White Destruction Beam!" "Fire Blast!" "Fire Laser!" "Ice Laser!" "Light Spear!"
Powerful spells bombarded the giant. However, it never reached him. Something invisible was preventing their attacks from reaching the giant.
"S-Sir! It's useless! We can't pierce his Invincibility Field!"
"Grr, dammit! Are the Toushos not here yet?!"
The giant laughed mockingly as it approached the army.
"Gyahahaha! Do you really think attacks from mere, pathetic humans like you will ever reach me, a Dark Lord?! Prepare to die, vermin! I will feast on your blood and flesh and evolve even further!"
The giant leaped into the formation of soldiers as he brandished two giant broadswords. A giant pair of extra arms grabbed onto the bodies of the nearby soldiers before it crushed their bodies to death with sheer pressure. The giant began his onslaught as his swords danced through the rank of soldiers. More blood spilled as the piles of bodies increased at an alarming rate.
"Wooo! Go Kay-chan go!"
"Kay-chan is on a roll-nyan!"
From behind the leftover of the once sturdy gate was two child-like figures with canine and feline appendages respectively. They childishly peeked their heads out as they cheered for their Master, uncaring for the piles of dead bodies left by the giant's wake.
"Eiii! You two are annoying! Just stay still and keep watch! I need to know if Camilla is watching!"
"She already flew away somewhere-wan."
"You missed her-nyan."
"GODDAMMIT!"
The giant, enraged, further increased the speed of his attacks as more and more soldiers were blown away from his sheer strength. It was a massacre; the soldiers, heavily armed as they may, was unable to do anything as the giant rampaged through their ranks.
"Dark Lord Kayblis. To think that the Demon King would even send you."
The commander glared at the giant, pulling his sword out of his belted sheath. Though his fighting spirit remained strong, the man knew that the battle was already long lost.
"…Heh. What, did you expect your pathetic Empire to last long against us? Know your place, human. Today is the day you rabble of worthless insects die."
The giant guffawed, enjoying the slaughter. With each brandish of his sword, ten lives were slain. With a single swing of his gigantic arms, fifty more were blown away. Truly, a monstrous act that befitted his position as a Dark Lord. He mowed through their ranks as he slowly but surely approached the squadron's commander.
"Sir! We'll hold him back! You must fall back to the castle!"
The commander flinched at his subordinate's suggestion, but eventually nodded with heaviness in his heart. Beyond the life of his subordinates, he still had his duty to protect his liege.
"Main squadron, fall back! We'll retreat to the castle's gates! Backup squadron, assist the vanguards! We'll send backup as soon as we can!"
A roar of compliance came from the vanguards. They threw their bodies recklessly at the hulking giant, determined to stop the latter's march.
"Tch! Insects!"
It proved effective enough however as it gave enough time for the main troops to fall back and retreat.
However, all of them missed the purple blur that shot directly towards their commander's neck.
It happened within an instant. It was so fast that nobody had the time to process what had just occurred. What was once the proud figure of the armored commander was abruptly turned into a headless corpse, a bloodied stump where his neck used to be. The body fell lifelessly with a heavy thump, as the nearby soldiers stepped away in instinctive fear.
In front of their retreating squadron was a purple insectoid creature. On his right hand was the head of their former commander, a fountain of blood pouring out from its bisected stump.
"N-No…"
"F-fuck! It's Dark Lord Meglass!"
The insectoid did not say a word as he let the commander's head fall towards the ground. Without warning, the insectoid had already left their vision and charged towards the now leaderless group of soldiers. Within the blink of an eye, their ranks were thrown into disarray once more as countless heads were bisected one by one.
"Grr… That bastard Meglass. He stole my prey."
The giant's attention focused on the flash of purple as he decapitated another soldier's head. The fellow Dark Lord was moving at a speed that even he, a Dark Lord, could not comprehend. It brought a bitter sense of rivalry within him as he let anger fuel his onslaught once more.
"Fine. I'll just have to kill more than him, then!"
With a deafening, bloodcurdling roar, the Indomitable Ancient continued his massacre.
(Break)
"Quick! Activate the Toushos! There's no time!"
Several figures in thick robes shouted as they hurried back and forth. There was panic in their movements, as if they were being chased by time.
"How about the Toushins?!"
"We can't! They're still not ready yet! To unleash one right now will just kill the host and damage the unit!"
"Fuck! Fuck! That Dark Lord is already on us!"
"There! All Toushos have been activated! The ones hidden underground is also being released! This should buy us some time for our escape!"
"ESCAPE? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"
A distorted, maddening voice suddenly emerged out of nowhere. It was a Monster with a huge red eyeball sticking out of it. A parasitic abomination of a creature.
"S-shit. It's too late. That RedEye is here…"
"T-Toushos! Stop that thing! Buy us some time!"
Twenty metallic humanoid bodies moved in tandem, each of them equipped with a deadly weapon. Yet, the creature before them barely looked fazed. In fact, its parasitic eye seemed to curve in glee as if reveling the sight before it.
"KEKEKEKEKE! A PRESENT, FOR DEAR OLD ME?! WHY THANKS YOU GUYS! ME HAPPY! A NEW VESSEL IS GOOD! ME ABLE TO MAKE MORE DRAMAAA! BUT FIRST, LET'S START THE MASSACREEEEEE!"
Flames began to congregate on the the Dark Lord's palm. Within seconds, hovering above the Dark Lord's hand was what appeared to be a miniature sun. The searing heat could be felt even through the relatively far distance between the Monster and the panicking Mages.
"T-That's… the Legendary Fire Spell Zetton?! No… It's even stronger than the original! Quick, run!"
"Toushos! Stop that creature!"
It was too late, for the spell had already been unleashed. The inferno consumed all, melting even the durable bodies of the metallic dolls. Not even screams could be heard as the scorching flames engulfed the entire laboratory. By the time the attack ceased, there was nothing left except for black soot and charred remains.
"HUH?! FUCK! ME FORGOT TO CONTROL POWER! NOW EVERYTHING IS GONE INCLUDING ME NEW VESSEL! FUCKKKKKKK!"
The sole figure in the laboratory remains cursed as it stomped the ground in frustration. The damaged floor cracked under its hosts' weight.
"Hmph. How unsightly."
A voice came from behind it. It was a winged female figure with pale hair. She gazed at the destruction caused by the thing before her with apathy.
"KEKEKE! WHY HELLO THERE, QUEEN OF DRAGONS! MIGHTY FINE DAY FOR DRAMAAAA DON'T YOU THINK? ME SEE YOU LIKE DRAMAAAA TOO!"
The parasitic creature cackled as it witnessed the pile of bodies lined up behind the draconic woman. Her claws were stained red, dripping with blood and viscera. However, the woman did not return her fellow Dark Lord's maddened smile. She merely snorted in disdain, as if speaking to the thing before her would only serve to stain her pride.
She left the fellow Dark Lord to its own devices as she shifted her attention towards the burning city. Her draconic eyes, capable of seeing things beyond the human eye, was focused on a lone figure. Intrigue and interest filled her as she crossed her arms. She continued to observe, ignoring the sound of massacre as the abominable creature continued his rampage.
(Break)
"Shit! Shit shit shit shit! We're doomed! They're almost near the castle!"
"Don't falter! It's just a single person!"
"Who is it?! Which Dark Lord is it this time?!"
"We don't know! We've never seen this one!"
Soldiers lined up as they readied their crossbows, each of them loading their arrows. However, just as the squadron was about to unleash their arrows, their heads were met with the ends of pointed steel instead. Bodies fell as the nearby soldiers flinched in fear.
"I-it's him… it's that nameless hero…"
"H-Huh?! Didn't he die during the execution?!"
"I don't fucking know! That Demon King must have turned him into her Dark Lord!"
A barrage of swords appeared out of thin air as it rained down their ranks. With a single sword, one life was taken; not a single blade was wasted. Steel kept raining down, whittling down their numbers with great efficiency. Fear started to grip their hearts as death approached.
Soon, not even one of them could bring forth the will to lift their swords. Some even began to sob as they begged for mercy.
"P-Please, nameless hero, sir! We were wrong! Please, spare us! We had nothing to do with this! We have a family to go back to! Grant us mercy!"
One of the soldiers ran out of their now useless barricade as he groveled before the Dark Lord. Every other soldier thought that the man went insane from fear, but soon realized that the onslaught of steel had ceased.
When they turned to look at the man's face, they thought they were going to be given the chance to survive. The man stared at the groveling figure with pity and a hint of sadness. There was no rage, anger, or bloodlust in his visage other than cold acceptance.
"I'm sorry."
A black falchion appeared out of nowhere as it quickly ended the groveling man's life. The remaining soldiers felt a chilling cold grip their hearts as once more their ranks were bombarded with cold, sharp steel. They soon realized that the man had no intention of letting them go.
"Was this perhaps, our punishment?"
Such thoughts began to surface within their minds as steel took shape and hovered over their heads. There was no time for regret however as their lives were swiftly taken by cold, unforgiving blades.
And with that, the battlefield was reduced to a bloody silence. The man continued to walk but was stopped by a voice.
"Whew! Now that's sure some unique Magic right there! They don't call you our Dark Lord of Steel for nothing, eh?"
A green-haired Dark Lord approached, leisurely following the man from behind.
"Galtia. Are you sure Gele is inside?"
"Yup. Pretty sure that's the case. A scary one, that new King of ours. She instinctively casted Spatial Magic to teleport inside the castle right after casting a devastating area spell that destroyed one-eight of this capital. Now that's a prodigy of Magic right there. H-Hey wait, you're still going inside? It's not gonna be a pretty sight, you know. When a Demon King goes on a rampage, there's no stopping them for a while!"
"…I know. Galtia, do me a favor and stop any soldier from getting inside. Please."
The man didn't stop to wait for his fellow Dark Lord's reply and proceeded inside, leaving the green-haired man alone. The gluttonous Dark Lord sighed.
"Man, we sure got ourselves one hell of a new Dark Lord and Demon King. Thalgo, Samezan, Launea. You three can come out now."
Three female, anthropomorphic figures crawled out of the dark abyss of his stomach. They lined up and stood ready before their Master. Just as they did, the gluttonous Dark Lord noticed the dull clanging of heavy armor quickly approaching.
"It's time for dinner, girls. Remember, not even one of them gets inside, got it?"
"Yes, Master." "Pi!" "Roger-ki!"
Not long after, the Dark Lord and his Apostles were surrounded by a huge squadron of heavily equipped soldiers. Not only that, but there were also several uncanny looking humanoid figures in pure metal.
"Dark Lord Galtia! Get out of our way!"
"No can-do commander. Nobody gets inside. Unless that is, they want to be introduced to the insides of my stomach. Spare me the thought though, I'm not a fan of eating tin metal. Launea, do it."
The spider-girl, accepting her Master's command, began to weave steel-like silk out of her arachnid appendage as it covered the entrance to its entirety. Following their sister, the harpy and the primate beast growled at their adversaries, claws ready.
"Curses! All soldiers and Toushos! Ignore Galtia and kill the Apostles! We need to get inside the castle! Save our king and queen!"
"My, my. To target my cute girls like that, have you no shame? Thalgo, Samezan. Go."
The two beasts leaped into action, diving into the groups of armored soldiers without a hint of hesitation. As they did, the Dark Lord pulled something out of his stomach. It was a jagged sword glowing an ominous red.
"It's been a while since I've had proper exercise. Come, then. I hope your rabble of metal soldiers are good enough to pass the time. Let me give you a small warning though."
A nearby soldier's head was lopped off as a thin, web-like string passed through the poor victim. The spider-girl, moving her limber fingers like a puppeteer, continued to weave her threads. Not far from the fallen soldier, piles of bodies began to form under the primate, who proceeded to lick her claws clean from the blood that stained her. The harpy continued to dance in the air as she gracefully dodged multitudes of arrows and Magic, plucking off the lives of the backline squadron as she did.
"My girls are starved. I haven't fed them for a full day, after all. Would you do them the honor of becoming their nourishment? That is, if I don't eat you myself."
The Dark Lord grinned as he charged at the group.
(Break)
It was an exhilarating feeling. Crushing each of these insects gave her a sense of euphoria that she could not describe. Even if she knew that it was wrong; even if she knew that there was no turning back her actions, she could not stop herself.
Kill them. Kill them all.
"S-spare us. P-please!"
Useless words fell on deaf ears. The girl pointed, and the noisy distraction exploded into a pool of blood. She did not run. Every single one of her steps was laced with grace and dignity. There was no need to rush; there was no escaping her.
"It's the Demon King! All soldiers, enter defensive formation! We must not let her approach the throne room!"
She giggled at the futility of their actions. Their numbers kept pouring in like moths to a flame. It mattered not what they threw at her, she never stopped her march.
Show them our despair. Show them what it means to defy us.
Her hand reached for the empty air.
"Void."
A wave of pitch-black tar erupted from the ground as it swallowed the group of armored soldiers into nothingness. Even so, they never stopped resisting. She could hear the loud sound of footsteps of knights as they immediately entered her line of sight. She smiled, amused at their persistence.
"Black Destruction Beam: Enhanced."
A huge burst of power rushed through in a straight line, vaporizing everything within its path. The spell razed everything on its line of sight before piercing through the walls, all the way to the horizon. Nothing was left minus the cauterized remains that were missing their top half.
"M-Monster!"
"R-run! We can't beat her!"
"It's no use! Something is blocking our path of exit! We can't escape!"
"S-Shit! Where are our remaining Toushos?!"
The Protagonist Race must die. They are filth that must be cleansed. Insects less than the dirt they step on.
"Run, filth. But know that no matter where you go, my darkness will always find you. All of you will die here, and your ruler next."
They scrambled on their feet, trying their hardest to preserve their pathetic lives. But it was for naught; this fortress had already been sealed of all escape routes minus the sole entrance on the first floor. Those who try to escape from anywhere else will soon meet a painful demise.
"N-Nooo! H-Help me! S-something is…!"
"I-It's eating me! The darkness is crawling into my body!"
"W-what is this?! A barrier?! D-Don't go near it!"
Like a fly caught on an electric net, they fell one by one, their life drained by her curses. Pitiful fools caring only for the preservation of their lives, dying as pathetically as they lived.
And just as their escape ceased, sharp tendrils of darkness exploded from the ground and dig into their bodies, skewering them from one end to the other. Their screams of despair were like music to her ears; she didn't know that human screams could be so delightful. Eventually however, there was only silence as they all dropped dead, every little bit of life drained from their bodies. In a couple of seconds, all life nearby had been exterminated. All that was left was a giant door.
That insect lied beyond this door, the object of her ire.
She swiped her hands, and the sill was sliced in half as it revealed throne room within. There were two figures: a male and a female. The king and the queen of this accursed Empire. The people who betrayed her and her hero.
They did not escape, perhaps already realizing the vanity of such an act. They stared at her with fear, but they did not run. The dignity of a ruler would not allow them such a thing. But that was not acceptable; she would allow no dignity for these insects who took the one thing she valued the most from her.
Rage filled her very being as her Demon King's blood boiled. The very grounds shook under her presence as malevolent energy seeped out of her in the droves.
They took him away from you. Therefore, it is only right that you do the same.
She did not wait for the thing before her to utter even a single word. Without warning, darkness spread from her feet as it advanced towards the female figure, whose eyes widened in alert. But it was too late; the darkness had already bound the woman, subjecting her fate to her whims. She dragged the body of her victim closer.
"You accursed Demon King! Unhand her at once!"
She did not stop, further constricting the woman as the latter gasped in pain from the pressure the tentacles were exerting on her limbs and body.
"Oh, dear pitiful king, do you believe in karmic justice? I could still clearly remember that day. The day you took my hero away from me. It was so very painful. My demonic heart continued to cry even now, as I proceed to take away everything you had ever loved."
She snapped her fingers, and the dark tendrils rose to the air along with the constricted body. It continued to bind her still, as a single tentacle reached for the woman's neck.
"N-No!"
The insect, perhaps realizing her intentions, moved to attack as he desperately tried to stop her. A futile effort: a mere snap from her fingers and the pitiful thing was bound by her darkness, immediately immobilizing him.
"Shush now. You should be grateful; it is not every day that the Demon King will share an experience with a mere mortal. No matter how hellish it is."
"…You! You are that girl!"
"Oh? Did you finally remember? Yes. I was that foolish girl who gave you the fruits of my research. The person you betrayed. I guess you didn't go senile from old age after all."
She approached the immobilized ruler as a giggle escaped her. The coils of darkness around her danced wildly, ecstatic at the violence that was soon to come.
"Would you listen to my story, oh foolish king? Fufu. Don't worry. Even if you don't, I'll pry open your ears and force you to listen either way."
The tentacles binding the woman's limbs was released, save for the one on her neck. The woman's body fell, and her face immediately paled as she desperately gasped for breath.
"On that day, I watched still as my hero's body was mercilessly hanged. His body resisted as he gasped for dear breath. His life, ever so slowly fading away as your people took him away from me. Why did he have to die? Why must it be him? It was because of you. You and your despicable people. Ungrateful wretches, unable to see beyond their own self-interest and profit. They too, have been exterminated."
Concentrated Magic, in the form of pellets, shot towards the hanged figure as it riddled her body with small holes. Blood began to shower down as her victim's body instinctively shook from the pain. The body flailed even more violently still, clinging onto life in desperation.
"They chanted for his death as they threw sharp rocks at his body. His flesh and skin were ripped, pelted by an enraged audience. They did not care for reason; they could not care less that they were killing the very person who could have saved them from this unforgiving world. And so, I cleansed their filthy existence. They accused him of evil, and so I showed them an even greater evil. I swallowed every single one of them with my darkness, and not even a single trace of them were left."
The insect struggled still, his eyes and face red from rage. She reveled in his expression of despair and anger; there was no longer the dignity of a ruler. Just a pitiful insect that would soon join his equally pitiful partner.
And when her victim took her last breath, so did she finally release the lifeless body as it crumpled on the floor, its limbs crushed from the height of the impact.
"And then when he died, so did I. A new Demon King was born that day, all because of you and your miserable people. How does it feel, oh pitiful king? Does your heart not ache? Does the pain not destroy you so? Do you feel the same anguish I did?"
"YOU! I WILL DESTROY YOU AND YOUR KIND, YOU VILE WENCH! EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!"
"Fufu. You pitiful little thing. Where is your God now, mortal? What can you do alone? Your warriors, all gone, disposed personally by me and my Dark Lords. Where did your dignity as a ruler disappear to? The hardened king of the great Opiros Empire, the pride of mankind, known to be one of the strongest warriors in the Continent. Ah, but I see no warrior before me; just a pathetic little insect that lingered in this world for a second too long. But I am a generous King; I will allow your insolent existence just a little bit longer. Ah, but I forgot one little thing."
"Krghh!"
The insect resisted the urge to scream as with inhuman strength, she ripped off one of his arms. The sickening sound of skin and flesh tearing as she threw the useless appendage away from her. Then, following her will, the awaiting darkness erupted and pierced the insect's body from multiple directions, all of them purposefully missing his vitals.
"A little payback for when your people blasted one of my arms away. As their ruler, you should be willing to carry the burden of responsibility, no? They even had the gall to shoot my back with arrows! Me, a weak, frail maiden who couldn't even lift a finger against them. Ahhh~ how terrifying that memory was. How could they be so cruel? Well, I guess they're all dead now. But I digress. Here, take her."
One of the tendrils violently threw the lifeless broken body of the woman towards the crippled insect before her. Blood splattered as the insect was thrown from the force of the impact, sending both bodies under the golden throne.
The insect struggled to get up as copious amount of blood escaped his body which was now riddled with holes. Even still, life had yet to fade away from his body.
"Don't underestimate us… don't underestimate humanity! the Guardian Hero will come for your head one day, Demon King! Your tyranny will not last forever!"
She laughed at his folly.
"Then let them come. I will do to them what I did to you, and much more. I will vanquish your pathetic heroes just as I did your paltry Empire. Each of their deaths will be worse than the last. And now, I will show you proof of my conviction. Starting with you."
End him.
Just as the voice beckoned her, so too did she move her body. Just as she was about to finally end the pathetic thing's life however, something unexpected happened. She could feel a familiar presence. She smiled in joy even as a sudden gust of wind blew, and something flew pass her.
It was a sword. It soared and planted itself on the insect's forehead, immediately taking his life. The figure approached her.
"Gele."
She could feel her body gleefully turn around as she circled her arms around the man's neck, ignoring the two lifeless, broken bodies and the welling river of blood behind her.
"Shirou, you came! I'm sorry, I got here way before you did. I left quite a mess back there, didn't I? I didn't know you wanted to kill him yourself, but I guess that makes sense. That pathetic king is dead now, isn't that great? I made sure to kill his queen too while I was at it. Now they can be together in Hell. Fufufu…"
She could feel her body getting hotter as her hand unlatched his neck and started to caress her hero's chest. She pushed her breasts against him as she began to slowly pant, the heat having spread to her lower stomach. She slowly cradled her head over his shoulder as she peered closer to his ear and whispered.
"Don't you think that throne over there should suffice as a good support? You can take and ravage me over their lifeless, broken corpses. Would that not be a good idea? We can show them our love for each other as we embrace in untold passion. Does the thought not arouse you so, my hero? Let these pathetic souls witness our blissful union from the afterlife before we turn this Empire to dust. Ah~ how wonderful!"
But the man did not give her a response. And when she pulled away in confusion, she saw of his look.
"Shirou?"
Something weird was happening. She never saw him make such an expression before even with all the years they had been together. She did not understand. Why was he making such a bitter, crushed look? Why did he look so sad? Why? Why? Why?
"Ah… did you want to kill that woman too? I'm sorry… I can't bring her back to life. We can bring her back home and make a Homunculus that look just like her! Then you can kill her again and again until you're satisfied. We can even do it together! Wouldn't that be great?"
When he took her head and embraced her tightly, she was ecstatic for a moment. However, his next words caused her to pause.
"I'm sorry. I was a fool."
His body trembled. She could feel the tightness of his embrace getting stronger.
"I thought I could save you. I thought I could save them as well. My indecisiveness brought you to this horrible fate. My hypocrisy had caused me to fail yet again. Gele, I'm sorry."
Why was he apologizing? Why did he sound so defeated? It was wrong. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They finally killed the perpetrator of his death. This accursed Empire was finally going to meet its end. This was supposed to be a happy occasion.
So why was it that her demonic heart was filled with anguish? Why couldn't she stop the tears that welled up in her eyes?
"It's okay. Gele, you can stop now. I won't let you kill for my sake anymore."
What was the despair that filled her? What had she been doing all this time? Was she always this cruel? What kind of monster had she become? To so callously dispose of one life after the other; to commit genocide without even a single thought.
Once more, she had caused pain to her beloved hero.
"N-No. Shirou, don't look at me... Get away from me!"
She struggled as she made to push the man off her. However, the man did not let go even as he let out a cough of blood. She widened her eyes in shock; she could not control the strength of her inhuman body. She stopped struggling, fearing that doing otherwise would hurt the man even further.
"Shirou… please… I'm a monster. I can't control this power… You have to let me go!"
Within the corner of her eyes, she could see her coils of darkness, looming behind them. Yet, the man kept still as he continued to hold her.
"No. Gele, you are not a monster. You are just a girl, condemned by a curse beyond your control. You are the kind girl who saved those orphaned kids from a life of misery. You are Gele, the genius Mage and researcher who dedicated everything to help better this world."
His finger moved to wipe a tear from her face.
"And because you are her, I know for a fact that you will never hurt me. Because had it not been for you, I would have already died long ago even before that day."
The gentleness of his tone soothed her, yet it did not stop the tears from pouring down her face. When the tendrils of darkness approached him, so too did he reach out his hand to them. She was about to warn him against it, but she was struck into silence by the sight of her coils snuggling gently against his hand. As they did, they immediately retracted back into her shadows.
"I-I…"
It took her everything she could to not just return his hold and bawl her eyes out right there. However, the guilt and hesitation in her heart would not allow it.
"W-Will you still accept me? This corrupted self of mine? E-Even if these hands are stained by the blood of the countless lives of others? Even if I can't control this power?"
She started hiccupping as she begged him for reassurance. Sure enough, the kind fool did not reject her. Even now, corrupted as she may, there was no hesitation in his words.
"Even if this world ends. Until the day I die. I swear I will stay beside you."
That was the last straw before she finally broke down. She clutched his body as she cried out her despair; her sins for the numerous life she had taken and the countless more she will take. He did not move; he accepted her tears as he continued to brush her hair, soothing her from the maddening feeling of anguish. For the she knew that the path before them was a thorny one filled with suffering. She cried tears of pain, but also tears of happiness. The pain of knowing that she would subject the man to a fate against his ideals, and the happiness that she had not been left alone by the one person she cherished the most. She let it all go, and the man remained beside her.
When it was finally over, she pulled away from him. She wiped the awful tear marks from her face as she resolved herself. When she saw his face once more, he nodded. She returned his nod with her own.
It was time to settle this.
(Break)
The entire capital continued to burn fiercely. Buildings toppled; the proud banner of the biggest Empire of man shredded into pieces as fire continued to consume it from within. However, the capital, however shattered it became, was still standing.
Surrounding the capital was a giant wall; it was designed to prevent intruders from pouring in from all sides. As it was now however, it was just a giant piece of decoration bereft of its original purpose. Standing on top of that wall was eight figures. The Demon King and her Dark Lords.
"KEKEKEKEKE! LOOK AT IT BURN! MAKE DRAMAAAAA!"
"Ahh… What a beautiful sight! Don't you think so, Camilla? Watching those insects struggle as they try to run for safety, trapped in a burning cage. Romantic, is it not?"
Two figures reveled at the destruction before them, but they were quickly silenced by their King.
"RedEye. Kayblis. Silence."
Just as she gave the command, the two immediately followed. For they could not resist the absolute order from the liege they were enslaved to.
From the girl who was dubbed as Demon King, power began to congregate as she raised her hand towards the atmosphere. However, in the middle of doing so, she was stopped by the man beside her. He shook her head at her, before stepping forward himself. She stared at him for a while, before clutching her chest tightly and opted to observe instead. The other Dark Lords curiously gazed at the man, unsure at what he was trying to do.
Out of thin air, a giant black bow appeared on his hand. On his other, motes of Magic gathered and formed an uncanny looking sword. It was oddly shaped like a drill instead of a proper blade. Then, something else happened. The drill-like sword began to alter its shape, twisting into a more suitable, arrow-like form. When the man began to pull however, all of them noticed the unmistakable amount of power it exerted. Power crackled as the projectile was seconds away from being released. And when it did, the man uttered his mantra.
"Bend and twist. My core of madness, Caladbolg."
A loud boom resounded as the projectile was shot. It was so powerful the nearby Dark Lords had to put in some effort just to not get blown away from the wind pressure that was created from its release alone. When the shot met its target, a wide, powerful explosion enveloped the capital, razing everything within its radius. The man did not stop. Once, twice, thrice did he shot. He kept repeating the same actions over and over until there was nothing left resembling what used to be the glorious capital of a proud Empire. There was nothing left minus the wall that supported them and the collapsed, burning remains of the former castle. What was once a city full of life became a wasteland of nothingness.
"Such power…"
The draconian woman muttered, as she marveled at the destruction of the man's make. The rest was not any better as they gawked at their newest member for the level of power he had displayed. Even the previously silenced Dark Lords were not exempt from this; the hulking giant was looking at the man with terror whereas the parasitic entity appeared gleeful for some weird reason.
Yet, the man did not show any emotion as he dismissed his bow; the weapon that caused the mass destruction before them. He left, and so too did their King who walked beside him. The silent insectoid followed, then the vampire, and then the tattooed glutton. The Queen of Dragons quietly spread her wings and soared, before finally the still muted giant and parasitic Dark Lord ran after the group. There was nothing left to do except go back. The awaiting Monster soldiers welcomed their return.
The once glorious Opiros Empire had fell. All left in its wake were mere piles of rubble and a charred wasteland.
Today, the new Demon King and her army had left their mark in history.