Daniel has couch thoughts. Killua is nearing the end of the game.

The room was quiet, the buzzing of the TV series being nothing more than static noise to the man. This is the first time in a long time, he has felt lonely… which he knows isn't the case. He's been living with Killua, or considering their situation… they've been living with him.

Although it has been pretty much a week since Killua had started living with him, every conversation… every moment they've spent together… has made it feel like it's been much longer than that.

He has loved the conversations; from discussing the differences between their cultures, to teaching them slang and idioms. Seeing Killua quirk their head in confusion every time, made him appreciate the alien's ability to learn and discover new things.

Plus, the action made him believe Killua not only looked cute, but it was also an action that made him feel valued, something he couldn't quite agree with when it came to his previous relationship. He was used more, than valued…

But at the same time, he can't deny what he has also been doing during that time…

Besides masturbating to Killua… Well, masturbating…

No, there was an underlying issue, one Killua has pointed out numerous times. He had indeed been flirting with Killua, no matter how much he wanted to deny it. Was there even a point, when he clearly, had a chance…

If not a relationship, at least a fling… or two.

The problem is he's at that point where he doesn't want a fling… he wants an actual relationship, not one based on lies to get in his pants. What he wants, is something he's been failing to do… a relationship built on communication.

He wants what he originally had at the start of his previous relationship before his stupid beer goggles contaminated his view. He wants a relationship built on trust, now more than ever. However, at the same time… he can't deny his previous relationship has screwed him over in that department.

Deep down, he was still trying to get over his feeling for that man… the one that lied to him, their entire relationship.

He couldn't even drink alcohol to wash away his grief as one would normally do…

It's not because he's allergic, he just hated the foul taste, plus, he was super lightweight. One drink and he'll be singing while swinging on a chandelier. That's the last thing he needed, to be intoxicated, especially, when Killua could call him to pick them up at any moment.

"Fuck…" Daniel muttered quietly, "I'm even waiting for their call like a worried lover."

Taking a sip of soda, Daniel chuckled at the absurdity of the situation.

The man changed the channel several times, only to frown when there was nothing good on. Why couldn't there be anything good to drown out his predicament? Why did he have to feel like a love-struck teenager, for a person he barely knows?

What about Killua, makes them so different… to Yannick?

Is it because Killua's an alien, a figure from another planet…?

Is it because both of them are on two different spectrums of knowledge…?

Or is it a stupid feeling, believing that because Killua is completely different to him, there's somehow a chance, that a relationship of all things… will work out in the end.

Daniel broke down, laughing at the absurdity of the situation…

He'll never have a chance with Killua, not because they or he weren't interested. It was something factual. They were different… they belong in different worlds. At the end of the day, if Killua could escape the planet… they probably would leave him behind without a second thought.

Yet, as that thought swirled around in his mind… he was still waiting for that call.

His hand was trembling, waiting for the moment his home phone called…

To hear Killua, call for him… to come to pick them up…

He wanted to be there for his friend when they needed him the most, to be wanted and needed…

Daniel groaned in frustration when he felt himself, hardened at the idea. Of course, his fucken mind had to go there… to get a rager, over a feeling, rather than an actual reason to get hard. Why couldn't he be normal for once towards his friend and get hard for a real reason…?

Like the idea of Killua riding him… or at least in the equivalent position how an alien of Killua's species would technically, ride a human.

With a frustrated sigh, Daniel got up "Time to beat these thoughts out of my mind… again."

"~"

The group of three make their way to Barracks, while the other two head towards the mess hall. Kairakas stuck their head between the door, peeking into the barracks. At least three guards were wide awake, kobolds.

On the beds, there were six unarmed kobolds.

From here on out, they'd be fighting stronger minions.

Kairakas pulled back from the door, now motioning to Sarmenor and Irilrig, "Three armed guards, six asleep. Making that nine in total. There's a chance the six will try to go for weapons."

Sarmenor paused, thinking about the best tactic to apply. If he goes in first, he can go straight after the guards. That will leave Kairakas and Irilrig to kill the other six before one or two of them could arm themselves.

The other option would be to send Irilrig first, since he's a little tankier, he'll be able to take fewer hits, unless, he's unlucky with his rolls.

"Who would be better to send in first… Irilrig or myself to draw their attention?"

"Why would you send the healer first?" Irilrig pouted at the situation, wondering why that was even an option. Sure, he's got a little more defence, but he's not immune to all damage.

"Either way, sending in Kairakas and one of us, to target the six unarmed kobolds will be our best bet. We don't want any of them to arm themselves."

"Me running in with my short and stocky legs, clanking armour and taunting scream, will be one sure way to wake them up."

"Right…" How could Sarmenor forget, Irilrig was a walking trashcan, in terms of making noise… sneaking was the last thing he was capable of. At least he could perform a sneak attack, to kill at least one of the guards before they knew what hit them.

Kairakas posed the better plan, in terms of the most damage before anyone knew what hits them "The best plan of action would be to send in the two fastest to clear the room before the one wearing loud clanking armour enters the room. Sarmenor goes first, you target and taunt those three guards. I'll go for the three unarmed guards, the ones closest to the weapons. Irilrig goes for the three closest to the door."

With the three in agreement, they enter the room, charging the group of enemies before they knew what was going on.

"~"

Meiphanis and Korarall leaned into the room, noticing a few unarmed guards sitting down to eat. Meiphanis was quick to point out they weren't exactly unarmed. Their weapons were on the table or chair, close by to them.

Korarall shifted uncomfortably "Six guards and only two of us… can we pin them down?"

"Before they arm themselves, unlikely. Our best bet is for you to charge in and draw their attention. I'll swing into the room and try to snipe them. The more I kill, the less you have to deal with."

"Sounds like an even plan… if it weren't for the fact, I'm not a tank… but rather a barbarian. I dish out damage, not take it…"

"Considering your hit points dropped from ninety-three to forty-nine, I'd argue you're doing a good job of taking hits."

Korarall's expression dropped. While it's true, it didn't make him feel any better about the situation "While that's true… if you miss once… and hit me instead, I'm going to use your body as a shield."

"I wouldn't make for a good shield… especially at close range. Can't snipe them…"

"Like you couldn't snipe that one goblin in five arrows, ehh…"

Meiphanis sighed, "Damn it…"

A loud crash from the other side of the hallway echoed, signalling that the other group had already begun to battle. The kobold within this room had already begun to grab their weapons, leaving the group of two with no choice, but to engage.

Meiphanis rolled into the room, drawing back the string on his bow. He let loose an arrow striking one of the kobolds dead. As the man prepared another arrow, drawing back his bowstring, Korarall charged into the room, heading towards the closest kobold to his ally.

He cleaves the kobold's face, leaving behind a pile of bold and gore, his axe already being lifted, raised once more in defence.

When the second arrow sailed through the air, missing the second target by a few meters, a loud "Damn it…" being uttered in response, the battle continued.

"~"

The moment Sarmenor entered the room, his movement was swift, punching one of the kobolds across the face. While it wasn't an instant kill, the mere act enraged the others, drawing their ire. The man's fist connecting with bone, signalled for the others to move.

Kairakas crossed the room, their knife plunging straight into a kobold's throat. There was no cry of agony, just their eyes flicking open as the blade pierced their neck. It did gurgle, attempting to try to scream, but the creature was unable to alert anyone… not that it needed to, once Irilrig came running into the room.

The constant clanking of metal feet and dangling of chainmail alerted the remaining kobolds. He managed to take out one before it got out of the bed, smashing its face in. Three were dead within the first round.

Having been woken due to the loud clanging, the four kobolds barely had time to register anything. They lose a turn due to confusion. The other three, however, target Sarmenor, while calling upon their other allies to arm themselves against their enemies.

Sarmenor's steps were quick, able to avoid their blades, he was quick to counter one of them, taking them out with a seamless strike. One was badly wounded, while the other had barely taken any damage.

The group worked together, slaying the remaining kobolds with ease, only suffering minimal damage.

Irilrig only suffered one damage during the whole fight.

Having searched the room, they find nothing of value, leaving only two entry points. One door led to another hallway, a sign pointing them towards the laboratory. The other was a staircase most likely leading them back upstairs, towards the exit point of the labyrinth.

With only one way forward, the three take the other hallway, now heading towards the Laboratory.

"~"

Korarall pulled the axe free from the wall, the dismembered head falling to the floor with a wet splat. As the barbarian turned, Meiphanis had recovered the last of his reusable arrows from a kobold. There was only one way to exit the room, besides the entrance they used to enter.

The mess hall contained food, food that look unappetising, but great for slaves who weren't fussed. The deeper they go, the more twisted this dungeon seems to be.

Between the nightmarish Tiefling, which was starting to look like the boss of the area and the lack of treasures they were finding along the way, must mean either they were getting closer to the treasure, or they were getting closer to their demise.

Meiphanis let out an irritated 'tsk' once he checked the hallway. On the other side was a library. Either the boss was going to be in that room, or there was going to be nothing of value to be obtained.

It'll be far too early to return to the others to report their findings, so, they progressed further into the level, checking to see what the library had to offer.

They found the room to have another entry point, a set of stairs leading up… if it leads to where they think it does, they're in serious, danger. Given the fact, the room was not only a library, a library that remains unharmed, even after all these years…

It most likely leads up to the room, the other pathway they could've taken after being freed… the Warlock's original spawn point.

Korarall, cracked his knuckles, "Let's do a quick sweep of the area, then move on. As much as I'd rather not search this library, it could have one or two magic artifacts we can't afford to miss."

"As much as I don't like the idea…" Meiphanis looked through the undisturbed room, "You're probably right. Try to see if there are any books on Demonology. Maybe we might get lucky and find a way to defeat the boss…"

Iason grinned cruelly, "Let's roll on it…"

"~"

The trio peered into the laboratory cautiously, finding nobody inside. When they entered, the room certainly looked the part.

Several vials and bottles lined the shelves, organs harvested from unnatural, eldritch beings. The room fills the trio with a sense of dread, something was unnerving about the place.

As Irilrig looks at one of the containers, the heart beats as if it were still within its host, thrumming with constant dark energy.

Irilrig takes a step back, "Definitely… warlock materials."

Several other chemicals lined some more shelves, a couple of organs too… but the one that stood out from the rest was ethereal blood, it glimmered like the cosmic sky, bright lights constantly fading and glimmering in the darkness.

It wasn't demon blood… that was for certain.

"Shit…" Sarmenor murmured. They were dealing with a mentally unstable, warlock… one experimenting with not just out-worldly being's blood, but its organs too, most likely. While it's mainly a demonic being's heart that's usually used in alchemy, especially one that's linked to a warlock… he highly doubts any of these materials were from a demonic creature, nor were they being used in a sense of alchemical discovery.

It seemed the laboratory, was more ritualistic, in nature.

There was probably a library somewhere on this level, a list of facts and discoveries found along the way from using the creature's blood and organs.

Kairakas went further in, stumbling across something far too unnatural to ignore. Red tendrils pulsed, spanning across the floor from an area yet to be seen. They followed the path, avoiding stepping on any of the tendrils.

The tendrils started to expand, thickening as they got closer to the target.

"I think I found something…" Kairakas motioned to the group, even though none of them had eyes on them right now.

At the last corner, they saw an altar. A demon's carcass, the chest ripped open, organs being used as a makeshift table. While the organs still moved, the skull on top remained in its natural position, thrumming with dark powers, drawing those near with its call of corruption.

"Killua, roll for a resist against dominance…"

Killua rolled the dice, the dice landing on the infamous one. He swallowed thickly, even if modifiers get involved, that was some serious bad luck headed their way.

Your character's eyes glaze over, no longer caring about stepping on anything. The tendrils squelch as you step on them, moving towards the object calling you. Even as you heard Sarmenor and Irilrig tell you not to touch it, your mind had already been tainted.

Your intent was clear…

They were unable to grab you, a field of unnatural energy stopping them from reaching the rogue.

Kairakas' fingers tremble across the red unnatural skull, moving to wrap around the horns. It had too many open sockets, places where eyes or holes could've been. It was like staring into an endless vast of nothingness, and even though the skull belonged to a creature that now should be dead…

The hollowed darkness looked as though it was staring back at them.

With little effort, the skull was lifted, weighing nothing to them. A black wave pulsed across the room, knocking Sarmenor and Irilrig down, including the hood that once kept their features hidden.

With their hands atop the skull, the field surrounding the area was now gone and their sanity returned…

Kairakas obtained the Skull of Etykl'gniss…

"I'll explain more about the skull as we progress… but say hello to the McGuffin."

"Seriously, the skull sounds like it belongs to a Lovecraftian-style monster, rather than a demon…" Irilrig was quick to point out, "Which means… it's most likely cursed by something a cleric, let alone a bishop couldn't remove."

"Exactly…" Iason smiled widely, "Also, I made sure to reveal Kairakas is a Tiefling…"

"I see…" Killua frowned at the news, "I assume I can no longer put my hood on… and I'm stuck with the cursed object."

"Yes…"

"What if I resisted its dominance…?"

"I was planning to make it a very difficult roll, like fifteen or up, but jeez… you made it super easy for me. I would've made it tempt you via race next, making it impossible for you to ignore its call. But for the first roll, I wanted to give you a chance to resist it."

Knuckle invited himself into the discussion, "So you planned for Killua to obtain the object… no matter what. You also made it as evil as possible, limiting exactly how much we think it does…"

"Sure, but none of that matters for right now. The McGuffin is now introduced, and with that… the plot now thickens… which means… boss time is incoming!"

With the skull removed from the altar, the building shakes, and parts of the building now crumble. The door you entered from collapses under the weight of the cave-in, with more chunks falling at random locations.

You needed to escape now before you're buried with the treasure you came for…

With no other option but to run, the three head into the hallway, ignoring the sign that said towards the library and the throne room.

"~"

As Meiphanis closes the recent book, the room shakes; heavy, yet slow steps descend the stairs, a deep and out worldly voice echoing across the walls on every step, "You should've died, when you had the chance… Now… Now I won't be forgiving to the thieves who touch my artifact…"

There was a silent pause, Meiphanis now acting confused "What…?"

Korarall grabs his ally's arm, heading towards the door they just came from.

Tendrils start to grow from beneath the wood, pulsing like a heartbeat. The sheer weight of the appendages, like an overgrown parasite, closed off the area, stopping anyone from exiting through that pathway.

Korarall turns, not wanting to attempt to chop through the unnatural growth. He instead opts to drag his ally through the other door, ignoring the sign that says towards the laboratory… and the throne room.

The two groups bump into each other at a T-intersection, the two now noticing the Rogue's hood is down, along with the dark artifact within their grasp.

Not wasting any time, Meiphanis draws his bow, an arrow now aimed at Kairakas "I knew it… you're a Tiefling!"