{|} Canto 8: Some Perverted Fantasy's for these Maiden's {|}
The cyclone summoned by Lilith to help the four girls in crossing her realm tore across the plains at a record pace. At its current rate of travel, they would easily make it to the entrance of the next realm before they knew it. Not that any of the four were currently aware of that, seeing as their minds were being entertained by... other things.
Within the mind of Cielo, she was sitting in the hot spring bath hidden behind the wine cellar. She had just had a long hard day of training and was in much need of the soothing and relaxing waters of their personal spring. But despite the water's effects, her shoulders just wouldn't start relaxing for her.
"My shoulders. Why are they still so stiff? Sigh, I guess the only thing that will help me there is a massage"
"Perhaps I can help you with that"
Cielo jumps in surprise as she hears a voice that shouldn't be in here. Before she could turn her head, she could feel [his] touch against her shoulders, making motions that immediately earn a satisfied sigh from her as she leans back and allows herself to enjoy it. How he suddenly showed up and why didn't matter right now. All that mattered was that his touch, his technique, was really-really pleasant.
She then hears [his] voice say in a whisper into an ear "I was watching you practice earlier you know. I can tell you've come a long way since the day we first met. Would it surprise you to hear that I too have been developing my own personal [fisting] technique. Would you like me to give you a taste?"
Cielo smiled at the thought, she was intrigued by the offer. She turns her head to one side to see his face as she says "Alright, consider my curiosity aroused. Go ahead and show me [your] technique right here and now, Kazuma."
Within the mind of Lynn, she had taken [him] with her to a secret and special place, one that was sacred to her people. It was a sacred location, one a girl was only allowed to bring another too in order to perform a special ritual, one that she wanted to enact with [him] and [him] alone.
"I see this place is filled with a lot of exotic looking flowers. While I'm not an expert on flowers, I have to admit I can tell there's something special about them" he said which made Lynn smile happily. She then instructs him to breathe in their scent, their fragrance which he does without hesitation.
He then asks "So, what is this place anyways? Why is it so special and sacred to your people, Lynn?"
Lynn's response was to also take in the scent of the flowers before leaning in close and taking in his scent as well which makes her growl with a tone filled with lust. She then says into his ear "You really want to know? OK, then allow me the opportunity to show you what purpose this place serves for my people."
Within the mind of Darkness, she found herself in quite the serious and dangerous position. She was surrounded by orcs; horny male orcs at that that towered over her. Worse, she had no weapon or even any armor to protect her. No, all she had were the simple clothing she was wearing.
She then looks up to see the lust in their eyes and that's when she took notice. Each of the orcs had the face of a person she knew. One looked like Kazuma, another looked like Walther. There were also orcs with the faces of Taylor, Keith, Dust, Ruffian, Verdia, Vanir, and so on. In fact, all the men in her life she had good relations with were the faces upon the orcs, even if they still had the pig noses and teeth of an orc.
"Look friends... woman... let's say we make bond with her" said one of them. Darkness faked a defiant look as she retorts "Fowl, ugly beast. Don't think you can just do as you wish with me. As a loyal servant of the goddess Eris, my body must remain pure in her eyes. Even if you somehow break my body, you shall never dominate my heart."
The orcs with familiar faces all look at each other before back at her with one of them saying "Challenge accepted." They then all went at her as the lust filled orgy began.
And within the mind of Megumin, she was being carried piggyback by [him] after a successful day of practicing Explosion magic. They had reached the mansion where upon entering, he called out for the others, getting no reply in response. "Hm, I guess they must all be out right now... Kazuma?"
He had been strangely quiet for a while now, ever since he had given her a favorable score. After a moment, he looked back at her and say "Megumin, it has occurred to me that we haven't done a shared daily Explosion in quite some time. In fact, we haven't done such a thing since your fourteenth birthday."
That was true, they hadn't. She'd not given it a lot thought but now hearing him say it aloud, she remembered how amazing that day had been and just how much she longed for such a day to come again. "You're right. OK, tomorrow then. We'll do a shared Explosion together tomorrow."
"But why should we wait till tomorrow. What about today; right now, in fact' he said in counter to her offer. Megumin blinked, surprised with hearing him being impatient with the wait. Not that she didn't agree with that desire. "But I've already used up all my mana. How can we...?"
"True, we can't do the normal kind of Explosion till tomorrow. But there is another type of Explosion that we could do with each other as an inbetween... if you think you can handle it."
"Another type...?" she said, taking a few moments before his words sunk into her mind and an intense blush arose on her cheeks. She immediately starts to spurt and stammer out this and that which makes Kazuma chuckle before saying "What's wrong? Don't tell me that Megumin, the greatest of the Crimson Demons, is scared of having the experience that leads to this kind of Explosion magic."
At those words, Megumin's mind shifts from shy overloaded nerves to one of defiant will as she shouts out "You said I was scared? How dare you. Kazuma... saying that something as simple as that would be enough to strike fear into my being. Alright, I accept that challenge. Let's take this upstairs and I'll show you what a true Explosion can really feel like." And thus, he did as she commanded...
The cyclone was drawing closer and closer and closer to the borders and if anyone was close enough to the cyclone but was able to avoid being swept in themselves, this is what they would be hearing.
"ahh... ahh... Kazuma, that feels good... SO GOOD. Your technique... it's simply the best. More, please let me experience even more of your technique!"
"ggrrrr-gahhhh Kazuma... can you feel it? Our combined scents filling the air. It's driving me wild... so wild that my inner beast is awakening. Keep going... don't stop and show me just how much of a beast man YOU can be."
"ah-AHHHHH so many... so-so many... This is everything I've ever wanted in life. Don't stop now. I can still keep going. Go ahead and show me exactly what it is you can do."
"Kazuma-Kazuma; you were right. This is... an explosion. I can feel it coming, a true Explosion. Please Kazuma, let's unleash our Explosions together. Kazuma-Kazuma... Kazuma-Kazuma... Kazuma-KAZUMA...!"
And then it happened, just as the cyclone was about to reach the drop off point, a flash of light became visible within the spiral of winds followed by a massive blast that dispersed the whole thing and the sight of four figures came flying out, flying across the borders between realms before they came crashing down. This was followed right after by the sound of groans; a product of the harsh landing three of the four had just suffered.
"Ah, now that was quite the experience, wouldn't you all agree? I feel like I can finally bring this particular chapter of my life to and end and move on to the next... though I wouldn't mind 'rereading' this chapter again one day. How about you three. How did your personal fantasy make you feel?"
Megumin, Cielo, and Lynn refused to answer the question Darkness asked them as they weren't sure if what had just happened should be seen as a betrayal of the feelings in their hearts or a foreshadowing of what those feelings could one day bring them with that special someone they held in their hearts.
Regardless, they had reached the third realm of Perdition and thus their rescue mission could continue.
{|} Canto 9: Let this Lich Reap {|}
'Run... Run... I need to run... as fast as I can.'
'Escape... escape... I have to escape from these things.'
They were gaining on Kazuma, they were gaining on him rather quickly here.
Despite that, there was a respectable space being maintained between them and him.
Was it because they were running as fast as they could already or was this all just a game to them; the thrill of the chase as they say. Kazuma didn't know for a certainty, but he wasn't interested in slowing down to find out either.
But how long could he keep running before he would start to tire himself? He had already been going at it for a fair amount of time from his personal viewpoint here and he was certain that by now he was running in circles within this place.
The reason for that was that the rooms he was going through were starting to look familiar, which wasn't saying to much here given he was in an enclosed space, that being a cave and all.
As he passed into another chamber, he looks back and sees that the excited imps were starting to get closer. Either they were starting to get bored with the chase or he was starting to get slower. He wasn't sure which though it could even be both.
'OK Kazuma, now would be a good time to come up with something to save your ass here. But what can I do? I don't have any weapon to defend myself with, nor do I have any special powers to... rely...?'
Wait, didn't he have something? It was true his head wasn't quite working at full power here, but he couldn't help but feel that there was something he could do. As he passed into another room, he decides to close his eyes, turn back around, and trust his next move to his instincts.
"Freeze."
A blast of ice shoots from his hands, covering the entrance to the room in solid ice. Beyond the ice, he could hear the sound of the imp's chatter amongst themselves though he couldn't understand what was being said.
Kazuma, finally having a moment to catch his breath, does so. He knew he should be running for it, but he needed time to get his thoughts together. After that moment had passed, he straightens himself up and begins to scan the room he was in.
Well, he could say this about the room. This was the first time he had been inside this one as the only path available to him would require a little climbing here. Despite that, he makes his way over to the wall of rock that stood between him and the passage to the next room and starts to climb upwards...
Only for one of the Ravager Imps to sudden come jumping out from the hole, impacting against him. It then immediately uses one of its clawed fingers to dig into one of his shoulders while mercilessly biting hard and deep into the other.
Kazuma howls in pain as he loses his grip and falls back onto the ground. He then begins to struggle with getting the creature off him which he succeeds though it takes a piece of his shoulder with it. As it slurps down the stolen piece, Kazuma quickly gets back to his feet, just in time to see something troublesome for him.
The imps were beginning to pour into the room via holes he hadn't seen before; holes that blended well with the natural rocks that made up the cave. Kazuma begins to back away as the imps begin to advance on him. He knew there was no time to try climbing out of here now. He would have to trust his instincts again and let them guide his hand.
And then, another tense blast of pain shoots through him; causing him to collapse onto his knees. His head was first tilted towards the ceiling as his voice gags out a cry before lurching forward where he sees it happening...
The glowing cracks upon him began to move around suddenly, changing from looking like cracks to being ornately detailed lines that had a continuous glow to them. He could then hear it inside his head; a voice speaking up from deep within him.
"10"
Two imps then charge at Kazuma, claws raised and ready to start tearing into him.
"9"
Just as they reach them, Kazuma's arms jerk forward; shredding into their bodies like they were nothing but paper.
"8"
The other imps, who had also been moving towards him suddenly stop their advance on him, their eyes gawking at what they were seeing.
"7"
Kazuma's hands were sticking out of the two dead imps, but they weren't normal looking soul hands and arms no more. Instead, they were seeing the hands and arms of a skeleton.
"6"
Kazuma's vision then began to blur as everything he saw was slowly shifting into a different series of images, like he was seeing the energy that made up their very beings.
"5"
"Hey Creezach, what's up with this guy? Did you bring us some kind of freak soul or something?"
"4"
"Who cares what his deal is. A soul is a soul, and we haven't had a good one to play with in centuries."
"3"
"Agreed. Besides, freaks like this one help to keep our fun times interesting. Let's get him!"
"2"
All the Ravager Imps then jump at Kazuma, easily overwhelming him. They pile onto him without remorse; biting and clawing, ripping and tearing into Kazuma who screams out in unimaginable pain.
"And now, Kazuma. Let us show them our..."
"LICH REAP!"
Without warning, a massive blast of energy explodes from Kazuma's body the moment he screamed out those words. All the imps in physical contact with him are immediately vaporized by the power he had unleashed. The other imps immediately jump back as they see a dome of arcana and miasma mixed together take shape around Kazuma.
"Uh... what just happened with that guy?"
"Dunno, but maybe we should cut our losses and run while we can. My gut is telling me that... thing there is dangerous."
A sudden gravelly growl comes from the dome of dark power as the glow of eyes become visible. After a few moments more, the dome begins to shrink down before fading from existence, revealing the creature that had once been Satou Kazuma. Creezach stares at the creature for a moment before looking back at his remaining brothers and says-
"Well, I think it's safe to say that were fucked here."
The imps try to turn tail and run for it but the entity that had been Satou Kazuma makes what sounded like a chuckle like noise before pointing towards outwards before aiming them straight upwards while saying in a cracked and gravelly tone.
"EX-PLO-SION!"
A moment later, the entire world that made up the cave system explodes skywards, leaving nothing but a deep smoldering crater in its place and at the center of the crater was a figure draped in jet black cloth, ratty and torn in places. And beneath the hood of the tattered cloak it wore...
Was the face of a Lich with teal-colored lines flowing with power across the bones.
{Insert Image 1}
{|} Canto 10: 3rd Realm; Glutton's Path {|}
To look at the third realm which was laid out before them, it was both easy to see the difference between it and the second realm yet also hard at the same time. On the one hand, both had the look of vast open fields that seemed to stretch on for miles though in the case of the third realm, there was a clear mountainous region that was within the line of sight any who stood at the entrance could see.
On the other hand, the environment of the land was vastly different as well. Unlike the vibrant greens on the Plains, filled with many rolling hills and other pleasant looking things, the mostly flat earth of the third realm was dull in color as it was dusty in appearance. Little in the way of grass in the area and the little that could be seen had a sickly yellowish color to it. Not quite a desert but still as void of life as a desert would be.
"So, this is the third realm, the Glutton's Path. What does that scroll thing we were given have to say about this place?"
Cielo had already pulled the scroll out as Lynn had asked her question, her eyes moving fast as she scanned the contents before reading aloud-
"It says this area is divided into two distinct parts. The first is this massive open area we find ourselves in right now. For the most part, it's a straightforward walk for us with our destination being the mountains we can see in the distance. Oh, it says no matter what we must NOT leave the visible path and tread upon the open earth."
"Why is that?"
"Well, according to this. This area is the home of massive creatures called Feast Worms that will emerge from the ground should they detect anything moving upon the surface. Should they succeed in catching you within the jaws and dragging you under the earth, don't expect to ever see the sky again."
"OK, so don't leave the path. Easy enough given that the path is quite visible and easy to see. We also have our wings so we can easily fly over the earth without issue... well, so long as those worms can't detect anything flying over the ground that is."
"Wait a moment there, Darkness. There's even more we should be aware of here. It says that staying to the path is easier said than done. As a way to draw the foolish off the path and onto the open earth, the worms will fill the air with the fragrant smells of many delicious and tasty treats. The kind that can make one's mouth water in anticipation over eating it."
"I think I can get what it's talking about. Look..."
Cielo turns her gaze while angling Darkness so that she could also see it as well; the spots Lynn was pointing them towards. Out upon the open fields were mountains of food they hadn't taken notice of before, for some strange reason. Upon first sight, it did look mighty tasty here.
"That's how they get you, according to the scroll. The smell in the air will ignite our taste buds, filling us with a gluttonous madness that can drive us out off the safe path and onto the fields. The goal is to lure us out and keep us occupied while we gorge ourselves on the food we see, thus leaving us open and vulnerable to the worms to arise from below and capture us."
"So, in other words, we must all show some serious restraint while walking along this first area of the Path. Anyways, let's go ahead and hurry through this area. The quicker we go, then the quicker we can be out of this area and the danger it presents to us."
Cielo nods to Lynn suggestion before looking at Megumin and asking her-
"So, does the thread lead us along the path?"
"Yeah, thankfully. Even if it does divert later on, then we should still be good so long as the assumption that we're safe when flying is concerned. Anyways, what about the other area we'll have to pass through for this realm?"
Cielo scans the scroll again before saying-
"It's not anything we need to worry about here... at least not yet anyways. Once we reach those mountains in the distance, then I will talk about the next part seeing as that's were the second part of the Path is located."
"Understood. So, what do you all say we get this show on the road now."
With that, the three girls take to the air, deciding to go ahead and it safe and keep to the air while traveling through this open area. As they go, Darkness decides to speak a thought she was having aloud to them.
"You know, it's too bad we can't come up with some way to summon these worm things to the surface. Now that I've heard of them, I can't help but be a bit curious as to what they must look like."
"Yeah, you would want to know, Darkness. Only you..."
"Wait, there's someone up ahead."
Lynn's words makes everyone look further ahead of them. Sure enough, there was another who was walking the path; a tall and gangly looking demon from what they could see with long thin arms and a boney overall appearance. In truth, he looked to be rather weak from first glance.
(AN: If anyone has seen Death Note, then imagine a wingless version of Ryuk here)
"A demon? Do you think it could be a problem for us?"
asked Megumin. Darkness does something rather rash as she says-
"Only one way to find out."
She then forces herself off Cielo's arm and hops over to the demon. Luckily, he was also walking the path so she would be safe though her actions had caused the other girls to freak out all the same. Darkness reaches the demon and politely says-
"Wait up friend, may I ask if you are a resident of these lands?"
"Hm, who said... a talking shield? Well, this is certainly a first for me. From where have you come, strange creature?"
"That's a long story, one that's rather boring in its telling. It is enough to say we are on something of a rescue mission to save a dear friend of ours who has been dragged into the deeper recesses of Perdition."
"We?"
Darkness hops to position herself to look back, making the demon look as well to see the others who let out an audible groan then a sigh as they accept what has happened and walk over to join them. The demon gives them a curious look while saying-
"A succubus, a pixie, and an angel too? Surely, your group is an odd one. So, this talking shield says you all are here searching for someone. Some kind of rescue attempt if my understanding is correct. Do you know where this person is exactly?"
"According to Judge Midas, he was located within the sixth realm and was in the process of being led into the seventh by someone or something. What about you, stranger?"
"Me, oh I am... or I was a resident of the eight realm, where all the demons versed in the ways of lying dwell. Honestly, that lifestyle never sat right with me. I always wanted to be something more than just another cog in the liar's game, you know. Maybe be a warrior or a debater or something. To that end, I wanted to pay a visit to the fifth and sixth realms to give those lifestyles a try here, but I ended up overshooting my destination and found myself arriving in the second realm. Since then, I've been working on making my way back down to the fifth. You pretty much know the rest."
"Well... sucks to be you, I guess. Anyways, we need to be on our way here seeing as we are on a time limit so... good luck with your personal journey here."
With Lynn's words, the other nod as Cielo goes to pick Shield Darkness up but she just hops away for some reason. Megumin takes notice of a smirk having appeared on her face, making her think-
'What are you thinking here, Darkness?'
"Excuse me, I have a question. How familiar are you with the roads of Perdition?"
"Eh? Well, I would say fairly knowledgeable seeing as Perdition is my home. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was thinking you could come with us. Help us make it to the fifth realm, maybe even see us all the way to the sixth as well. If we all travel together, then it would serve us all better wouldn't you agree?"
"Darkness, what are you doing? Shouldn't this be something we should discuss between each other first?"
Darkness ignores that comment as her gaze stays upon the demon who was thinking about it. After a few moments, it says-
"Sure, why not. If nothing else, I can make sure I'm heading in the right direction here."
"Excellent-excellent... now, before we set out, could you do something for us?"
"Sure, I guess I can. What is it that you need?"
Darkness's smile grows wider as she turns her gaze off to a nearby pile of food. She then says-
"You see that pile of food over there. We've been traveling for a good while here and haven't had anything to eat for the longest time. Could you go over there for us and grab us a bite to eat?"
"Hm? Oh sure, I guess I can do that. Be back in a few moments... friends."
With that, the demon turns and walks off the path, moving swiftly onto the dusty earth towards the pile of food. Darkness watches it go before looking back and sees the others glaring at her, making her say-
"What? Didn't you hear me before? I wished I could see one of those worms in the flesh and thanks to that guy, We'll be able to see one now."
"I can't believe you... and that guy seems so nice too."
"Well, he did say he was from the realm of liars so can we be sure he wasn't here to trick us in some way. Besides, seeing as he's already going out there for us..."
"Yeah, I agree. Seeing as we've come this far, let's see how it all plays out. Besides, it's his own fault for not being aware of the dangers this realm has to offer."
The four of them turn their attention back to the demon, seeing he had reached the pile of food and was quickly grabbing as much as he could with one hand and placing it upon his open arm. Once he was done, he turns back and waves with his free hand...
And then a massive worm with plenty of smaller worms around it burst from the ground. The demon shrieks in surprise as he is quickly grabbed by the lesser worms, making him drop the food as they pull him up till he was dangling over the big one. He's then dropped into the waiting maw of the big worm.
"NNNOOOOO, I should have listened to my mother when she told me to become a lawyer..."
As soon as the demon had fallen into the mouth of the big worm, it closes its massive mouth before sinking back into the earth. Within moments, a new stack of food appeared from nowhere like it had never vanished to begin with. The four girls, meanwhile, just look on for a bit until Cielo says-
"We're bad people, aren't we... for letting that poor demon go out there and become some worm's dinner here."
"Yes... yes we are bad people. Anyways, let's just hurry up and get out of here and forget about this little incident."
"Hey, look on the bright side, you guys. At least we now know what those worm creatures look like and have a better grasp on how it is they function."
Yeah, there was that one could guess. After that, Cielo picks up Shield Darkness and gets her back onto her arm before the three-winged girls took to the air, flying fast across the ground as they kept themselves following the path. They decide to also play it safe and not stray from the path, just in case those worms could sense anyone flying around above them.
Luckily, the thread of fate that Megumin was following didn't deviate from the path either and soon enough, they had reached the entrance to a mountainous path. Before entering, they took a moment to look to see both how high up the mountain reached as well as how far it stretched in both directions.
As far as the height went, it was fairly decent. Not the highest mountain any of them had seen before but a good size none the less. As far as how much it stretched on for? Well, the fact they couldn't see where it ended from either direction was a good indicator that it was a long boy. Anyways, with their wings needing some rest from the flying, they decide to walk for a bit as they stepped onto the now mountainous path.
It was a surprisingly wide path with enough room that they could stand side by side and still have plenty of room to move around. In fact, it would probably take six or seven of them standing side by side before they would be touching the rocky walls along the side of the path.
"OK, let's see what we have to be wary of for this part of the path. It seems another source for the sweet smell that induces hunger in people comes from here. Some sort of immobile plant demon produces it from higher up and it filters down here before being carried out onto the rest of area."
"So, in other words, this is where the real test of our strength of will shall come into play."
Cielo nods to Megumin's question before continuing to read what the scroll says.
"Yes, expect us to see even more of the piles of food as we pass through here. Oh, this is interesting. According to this, all the food here while it looks great and said to have a 'heavenly' taste to it is actually worthless. It holds no nutrients whatsoever. In fact, eating it will only add to the feeling of hunger one will experience while in the third realm."
"Well, guess it's a good thing I'm a shield at the moment so I shouldn't be effected by any of this. And even if I was, I don't have an actual mouth that can eat the fake food with anyways. Out of curiosity Cielo, do we have to deal with any worms around here like out in the open area?"
Cielo scans the scroll for a moment then says-
"Nope on the worms as they don't do to well with rocky areas like this place. All the demons we could see shouldn't be anything to bothersome. Mostly little bugs that will try to entice us into eating the food we'll see and keep us in one place for the long term. Oh, there are two things we need to be on guard for though."
"And those would be?" (x3)
"The first are called Bouncers. They are really fat demons whose lower bodies have become so pudgy that they lost their legs and as such, they bounce around. They move around the area and occasionally stop to stuff their faces with food. If we see one in the middle of eating, don't bother it. If we do, or if we encounter one that isn't eating, it'll attack us to defend its claim on the food here and will try to crush us under its immense weight. As for the second threat..."
"Megumin... wait! What are you doing?"
Cielo quickly turns her gaze away from the scroll to see Megumin having moved away from them, her attention being drawn to a pile of food along the side of the path. She joins Lynn with shouting at her as Megumin digs into the pile, pulls out some tasty looking pastry and after a moment of studying it, eats it without any hesitation.
"Megumin, what are you doing? Didn't you hear me when I said happens if you... Megumin?"
Megumin had a confused look as her chewing slowed, her face now one of thought and consideration before she swallows and looks back at the others who move over to her. Darkness then asks-
"Why did you just eat that? I'm pretty sure Cielo said eating that won't actually do anything for you, apart from making you even more hungry."
"Yeah, I know. She also said it was supposed to have a heavenly taste or something. After hearing that, how could I NOT take a taste test here."
"Yeah, I guess Megumin does have a point. So, what's the verdict?"
Megumin was quite for a moment before giving Lynn and the others her answer.
"Honestly, it was... OK. Sure, it was better than MOST things I've eaten but it has nothing on the food Kazuma has cooked for us. I doubt even my little sister would be impressed with the taste, not that it would stop her from eating more all the same."
Hearing that makes Cielo and Lynn also reach out and take some food and chow down onto it as well. After a moment, they look at each other, then at Megumin before letting her know they agree with her assessment. It was good in an OK sort of way, but after having enjoyed Kazuma's cooking for so long, it was a poor substitute in their opinions.
"Well, I think it's safe to say we can avoid the temptations of the stomach now, knowing that little detail here. So, shall we get going already."
For the next few hours, they alternated between walking and flying when their wings allowed them to do so. They were finding that they were getting better at flying as they were beginning to move faster and stay airborne longer with each usage.
They also noticed the path they were following had many-many branching points along the route. According to the scroll, they would ultimately lead them to various entrances into the fourth realm or circle around back to the start, not that they had to worry with Megumin leading the way.
It was funny though; all the paths Megumin ended up taking were the ones with the most temptation food within not that the girls felt any more desire to stop and have a bite. They did see plenty of demons here and there, including those Bouncer things but they were too busy eating to pay them any mind.
That is until...
"Darkness why did you go say that to it?"
They were currently dodging here and there as one particularly large, and by that I mean FAT, Bouncer was trying to crush them under its immense body.
"What, all I said was it was the fattest of the fat we had seen since getting here. Honestly, I thought it wouldn't take any offense to being called fat when it's the truth. Also, I didn't think it would hear me say anything as it looked to lost in eating to pay us any mind."
This Bouncer was indeed the fattest of its kind they had seen, as well as a little bit bigger in size. You'd also think that a creature like this would be slow as hell, given its sheer chunky size but no. It was surprisingly agile, moving with such speed that it made dodging it very difficult.
Megumin had tried launching a Dragon Slave at it, seeing as prior events had revealed that she could in fact still use her spells here when she had exploded the cyclone by accident. But when she tried to create the Dragon Slave, it had failed to activate. Even attempting to unleash another Explosion had failed her so she was left with nothing other than dodging here.
Cielo, for her part, was trying to punch the demon and even testing out her new Angel Striker skill but the thing was moving too fast for her to be successful. She had managed to block a few attacks from it with Shield Darkness who seemed to be taking pleasure from the various impacts.
As for Lynn, she had tried hovering over the area and raining down various negative status effects onto it by way of the dust from her wings, but nothing seemed to be affecting it. She growled in annoyance as she sees Cielo barely manage to avoid being hit while Megumin's dodging it was getting closer and closer to failing.
'Damn it, why is it I can only attack with this magic dust? If only I could use more offensive spells here. Wait, I haven't yet tried using THAT.'
Within her large number of spells, there was one she had yet to try activating; the very spell Kazuma had created for her. Quietly saying its name over and over, Lynn could feel her power flowing into her hands and then...
The bracelets upon her wrist suddenly expand, now floating around her wrist as they emit light. It took her a second before understanding what was going on before she says-
"Cielo... Megumin, quickly cover your ears otherwise this will affect you too."
Though they didn't understand what she meant, the two girls do as asked while Lynn aims her arms at the Bouncer, balls her hands into fist and shouts out-
"Equilibrium!"
Immediately, the bracelets around her wrist begin to release sound waves that fill the immediate area. It takes a few moments but soon the movement of the Bouncer started to slow as its bouncing around become less difficult to deal with and soon, it had come to a complete stop as it wavered back and forth. Seeing this, Cielo moves quickly and delivers an uppercut that hits with enough force to send it flying out of the path they were on and into the sky, possibly sending it onto another path.
"Glad covering our ears was enough to keep us unaffected there. How do you feel, Darkness?"
"Ugh... if I had a stomach right now, I know I'd be feeling nauseous."
"Then be glad that you don't. Anyways, I need to remember I have that spell at my disposal from now on and I really need to thank Kazuma for it later. Speaking of, shall we hurry up and get out of here before another of those guys happens to show up?"
With the others being in agreement here, Megumin once again takes the lead as they all fly along the path. As they go, Darkness recalls something and says-
"By the way Cielo, you said that the Bouncer demons weren't the only danger we should be wary of along the path. What were the others?"
"Huh? Oh right, the only other thing we should be aware of is some big three headed dog that roams the area. I think its name is 'Cherbus' or something. I'll look at the scroll again here in a moment to double check. Anyways, I recall it said to avoid it at all costs, especially if its hungry as it won't hesitate for a second to go eat us if we let it."
"That doesn't sound like a fun time."
"No, it doesn't. There is some good news there though. If it does eat us, we won't stay inside its body forever. We'll be allowed to leave after a few hours... but the way we'd be exiting its body isn't exactly the best way we could get out. Long story short, let's do our best to avoid..."
Cielo doesn't finish as they turn a corner onto a new path only to stop as they see the very creature they had just spoken of before them. It was massive in size, easily towering over them. The three headed dog with jet black fur; Cerberus.
"OK everyone, let's turn around and take the other path. Nice and slowly here..."
said Lynn in a whisper, making the others nod as they turn and slowly slink away. But they don't get far before a sudden blast of air makes them look back to see the three heads of the giant dog looking right at them. Two of the heads then sniff the air followed by them licking their lips...
And once again, the three girls let out a scream before flying away at high speeds while the giant beast was quick to get up and give chase. Once more, their quest to save Kazuma had hit a proverbial roadblock.
{|} Canto 11: Arise, oh Prince of Darkness {|}
The surface of the blood red water was calm and tranquil, and it had been for fair bit of time.
And then came the first ripple and then another and another and another, the time between ripples growing shorter and shorter with each new ripple. And then came the bubbles forming upon the surface that would grow to various sizes before popping, faster and faster.
Ripple after ripple, bubble after bubble; this was the pattern until a hand soaked in blood burst out of the water, flexing the open air before coming down hard onto the surface of the water like it was solid ground. And then, the entity connected to that hand slowly pulled itself out.
{Insert Image 2}
Once fully freed from the blood water, the figure stands tall as droplets of blood fall from its body. The blood looking liquid then begins to glow, creating more defined shapes out of the entity. From that glow first appeared clothing like garments of red and black velvet with frilly fluff along the ends of the sleeves and around the collar of the posh looking coat. It was a fancy old timey look the figure wore.
Then, the blood liquid around the face and hands melted away, revealing pale skin beneath. A sleek and slender build with fingers that had pointed nails, long shoulder length hair, and a neatly trimmed jet-black beard with hints of gray om his angular face.
This man had been known by many names across his long life, but the name that had been his first in his memories was Vlad Dracula. He opens his golden eyes, gazing outward before turning his attention to examine his hands. He noticed strange scars on the palms of his hands that he found curious.
He then closes his eyes, willing knowledge on the new him to arise from within his mind. He then looks at the scars again, seeing them open suddenly to reveal strange looking demonic eyes of red with green slit like pupils. And from these [eyes] came blood leaking out.
"Hm... curious."
He then holds his hands out, allowing the blood to pour out onto the ground. To his surprise, the blood immediately began to shape itself into the form of a wolf. He was confused at first but then he realized what it was this represented for him.
"Blood Shaped!"
It was one of his new powers. As the name suggested, he could use blood to create beast that could aid him in battle. A blood wolf could attack his foes to help weaken them. He also knew he could form bats in mass that could act as a distraction in their swarming.
He could also form weapons using his blood, including his signature weapon, the pike. He could also float through the air for a limited amount of time. He could turn into mist in order to pass through cracks, create a glamor to alter his appearance in the eyes of those who see him.
And, he had another powerful tool at his disposal if the situation truly demanded it, though it came at a cost.
"So, you have finally emerged, my friend."
Dracula turns to see a ghostly image of Maxwell appear before him. After a few moments, he says-
"What's going on, Maxwell. I would have thought you'd want to be here for my... rebirth."
"Apologies, my friend. But there was an unexpected development. While you were 'becoming', those girls who have close ties to Satou Kazuma arrived within Perdition."
"Probably to perform some sad and pathetic rescue attempt on him, no doubt. Have they found him yet?"
"No, they haven't. Currently, they are within the third realm while the boy is currently causing no small amount of chaos within the seventh. From what I can tell, his transformation into a true Lich has been completed which means you will have quite the fun battle ahead of you where he's concerned."
Dracula can't help but smile despite those words. If nothing else, he loved having a challenge just as much as he loved the thrill of the chase.
"Will they be able to reach him before I can?"
"Not unless you intentionally take your time with getting to him. Here, allow me to make the trip quicker for you."
The image of Maxwell shifts and becomes a portal. Dracula looks at the portal before taking a step only to stop as Maxwell adds-
"Just so you know, this portal won't take you directly to his side. It will only see you taken to the seventh realm yourself. You'll have to find him yourself after that though I doubt that will be difficult for one of your talents. If nothing else, see the search as a chance to get use to your new powers."
"Yeah, about them. Are there any limits to these powers I should be aware of?"
"Not when you're down here. At present, your new powers are being fueled by arcana, just like that boys Lich powers. Once you return to the mortal realm, in his body, you will need to 'feed' on the blood of others in order to recharge your powers or wait till you recharge in a natural way."
"Good to know. And those girls who've been ever so nice to join us down here?"
"Do not worry about them. I have been following them, keeping an eye on them in order to make sure nothing to upsetting happens. After all, I know how important they are to you."
"Very good. Now, let this hunt begin."
Dracula smiles an evil smile as he steps into the portal so he could begin his search for Satou Kazuma.
{|} Canto 12: 4th Realm; Vaults of Avarice {|}
Well, the encounter with the three headed dog named Cerberus hadn't concluded at all in the manner the girls had expected it to. There had been running; lots and lots of running and no small amount of screaming to be sure.
In fact, ever since they had found themselves arriving down here in this place, there had been plenty of both going around for them. They had soon found themselves backed into a corner with the scary looking beast bearing down upon them. And then...
He proceeded to shower them with plenty of affection in the form of licks. Turns out Cerberus wasn't trying to eat them but rather play with them. Once they had realized that, they returned its kind affection with plenty of ear scratches and belly rubs... and questionable comments from Darkness about a certain something the others refused to listen too.
They also found out Lynn and Cerberus could communicate with one another, in a manner of speaking. Cerberus could seemingly understand them well enough from the way he acted and Lynn, for her part, seemed to have the ability to understand the big guy's thoughts. After a quick explanation of their situation and needs here, Cerberus was kind enough to give them a ride.
And so here the four were, riding on the back of the massive three headed dog as it raced through the many paths that made up this area of the third realm and before they knew it, they had reached the fancy looking entrance to what they assumed would be the fourth realm. Cerberus waited as the girls took to the air, landing on the ground before it before Lynn flies up and presses her head against the space between the eyes of the central head.
"Thank you for see us all the way here. Now, make sure you be a good boy and don't play to rough with others in the future."
The central head gives her a nod while the other two heads turn their gazes away; likely their way of saying we make no promises or something. A moment later, all three heads quickly look upwards as they sniff the air before they all get an excited look. Cerberus then quickly turns around and rushes off back down the path.
"No, don't go so soon. Aw, and here I was hoping maybe we could take him back with us."
"Of course you would say THAT, Darkness. Seriously, what's with you and wanting to take in creatures that are bigger than what we can keep inside the mansion. I mean, first was that mechanical minotaur creature. I think you wanted Medusa as a pet too and I'm pretty sure you would have wanted to adopt the Golden Nemean back then if you had been in the right frame of mind."
In response to Cielo's words, Shield Darkness averts her gaze while saying=
"N-No... No, I wouldn't have..."
She so would have, and everyone knew it. Lynn sighs before saying to herself.
"I wonder what made it go running off all excited like that. Anyone think he heard the dinner bell or something?"
"Hey, what are you slugs doing just standing around for. We have to hurry up and find Kazuma already."
Megumin's sudden yell had come before anyone could give a response to Lynn's self-question. They turn to see Megumin had already gone on ahead, her head currently looking back at them from beyond the entrance to the fourth realm and she had a rather annoyed and impatient look to her at that.
Cielo and Lynn look at each other then run over to join Megumin; following her deeper into the next realm. After passing through a long hallway, they emerged into a room that was surprisingly bright in their eyes. Sure, there was plenty of illumination from the many burning torches, but that wasn't the reason for the sheer amount of brightness they found within this room.
No, the true source was from the walls and floor and ceiling all appearing to be made of gold and silver with plenty of gems carefully placed all over. The amount took the light from the many torches and enhanced by leaps and bounds.
What's more, the floor was covered all over with piles of treasure. Silver coins, gold bars, and many precious stones and other trinkets. There was no doubt about it in their sparkling eyes. If Hell had its own form of currency, then the fourth realm had to be the treasure vault the majority was stored within.
Almost immediately, they lost themselves within their own greed as they rushed forward and began to line their pockets with as much loot as they could hold. Well, Darkness couldn't, what with her being a shield and all but there were several empty sacks that just so happened to be there that were quickly filled as the greed of wealth quickly won out within them.
"Wait, do we really have time for this? I mean, weren't we hear to... what was it again?"
"I think we came here to save... someone. Yeah, this is a rescue mission. One we'll definitely get back to here... in a few moments."
"I'm sure... whoever will understand. Even commend us for adding to our already existing wealth."
"Less talking, more looting."
And thus, it continued on for a bit. As they looted, something strange began to happen to the girls. Their movements began to slow down, become sluggish as they found just simply standing to be a chore. Finally, they found themselves being unable to move at all despite all their best efforts.
"Damn it, what's going on? Why can't I move at all here. I still have room to store more goodies with."
At hearing Megumin's words and question exactly where she was actually keeping her ill-gotten gains at on her person, considering her current state of dress, Cielo has a sudden moment of clarity as she quickly says-
"What are we doing. I can't believe just how easily we fell for the trap of this realm."
"What do you mean, Cielo?"
Instead of an immediate response, Cielo cast purification upon herself and them before she started taking all the treasure she had on her person and tossing it off to the side. As she does this, she says-
"All this loot here in the vault; it's cursed. If my guess is correct, the more we have on our person, the more we'll be weighed down by it until we can't move at all."
"In other words, this is the price we pay for our greed. The more we claim, the more we..."
"Exactly!"
Hearing that, and having their minds cleared by Cielo's purification spell, the girls remove all traces of the loot from their persons, finding their bodies becoming lighter as they do so. Once they had finished and back on their feet again, they all agree to not go doing that again.
"As a safety precaution, you should probably have more purification ready to be cast should any of us start to suffer from loot fever again, Cielo."
Cielo had been thinking the same thing Darkness had suggested and was already prepared to cast another at a moment's notice.
"Cielo, go ahead and see what that scroll has to say about this place. I doubt this danger is the only one we'll have to worry about here."
"Good idea Lynn. Give me a moment to...HEY!"
As Cielo was about to open the scroll, something fast had suddenly swooped in and grabbed the scroll away from her. They all look to see a winged goblin looking creature flying off with the scroll in hand; it stops just long enough to look back at them and give them the stink eye before flying off out of their line of sight.
"Hey, get back here you thief." (x4)
The girls took to the air without any hesitation, following the path they had seen the winged creature fly off too. They moved from room to room, always just managing to catch sight of it just as it moved on to another room. Deeper and deeper they went, not once considering the possibility that they could be getting themselves lost in this place.
Soon enough, the emerged into a rather curious looking room; one that had a pillar of violet colored light rising from the floor to the ceiling. They then spotted the scroll laying on the ground before the pillar of light and its thief flying around the pillar in an absentminded manner.
"Hey, little troublemaker. Didn't anyone ever tell you that stealing is wrong?"
shouted Lynn which makes the creature repeat her words in a mocking fashion. She rolls her eyes as Cielo moves closer to reclaim the scroll.
"Wait Cielo, doesn't this feel like a trap kind of moment here?"
Cielo stops for a second at hearing Megumin's question. Was this a trap? Why would that thing go stealing the scroll like that only to leave it laying on the ground... next to something they hadn't seen before. Lynn then suddenly shoots forward past Cielo and picks the scroll up herself.
"Seems safe if you ask me. Here you go, Cielo."
Lynn then hands Cielo the scroll who then opens it to see what it said about the Vaults.
"Suckers?"
The girls look at each other in confusion before they hear the winged creature laugh, making them look to see it holding another scroll; their scroll, in its hands. It had been a prank, and a trap as in that moment, tendrils of light shot from out of the pillar of light, latching onto each of the four and began to pull them in.
"Damn it, I should have known this was going to happen."
"I know we're here to save Kazuma and all but... hey Kazuma, any chance you can save us first?"
"That's it. Once this is all over, I'm going to take a page from out of Kazuma's book and join him with never getting involved with the affairs of the outside world ever again."
"Ah... I wonder what sort of fun we'll be getting to experience here this time."
Their wait wouldn't be a long one as no matter what they did, they were pulled into the light.
(Darkness)
I found myself sitting in a chair within a room.
Around me were three doors, each with writing upon them.
One said 'My duties as a noble', another said 'My want to be
an Adventurer', and the last said 'My desire for my fantasy.'
A voice then rang out from all around me, saying one simple thing:
"Choose!"
Without needing to ask, I already knew what it meant in its words.
I was to choose one door, one path in my life, if I wanted to leave
this place. But how could I honestly choose one over the others.
As my father's daughter, it was up to me the lead the family into the
future. As an individual, I also wanted a life where I could live as
I pleased without regret. And as a dreamer, I wanted to feel safe in
knowing I could partake in those dreams if I so wished it.
"Choose!"
I heard the voice say again, this time with my force than before.
It wanted me to take one and forsake the others, but I couldn't.
I turn my head to the sky and I shout out as loudly as I could-
"I choose them all!"
"There is no door for that option. Choose one and be done with it!"
Its words were like a command upon my will.
I would take that command and refuse it entirely.
"I will not. I've made my choice here. If there is no door for that choice,
the I will make that door a reality myself."
I could say and think all I want that I was ready to give up my perverted
fetish, my masochistic nature. But that was me simply lying to myself.
I already knew that it would always be a part of me in some form or fashion
until the day I die, and I would stand proud by that choice.
In that moment, the three doors moved closer to one another, merging into one.
I smile as I walk to that door and place my hand upon its handle.
"Your choice is a greedy one, you know. Are you sure you'll be fine
accepting this form of greed. You won't regret it?"
I smile as I open the door, then look again to the sky as I proclaim aloud-
"I can live with myself if I'm being a little greedy here. So long as my greed
doesn't hurt anyone else, then I see nothing wrong with being greedy in life.
After all, we're all a little greedy when you think about it!"
And with that, I step through the door into wherever it was it would take me.
(Lynn)
I was standing in the middle of a forest; one I was quite familiar with.
The forest that surrounded my village; my home that was hidden from the world.
There was a dense fog in the air, far more so than what was the norm for us.
But from that fog, I felt a presence which I call out to.
It then emerged; a being made from shadow, yet I knew what this being was.
It was myself, in my [true] form, a form none had seen save for that one person
here recently. My shadow approaches me, coming to a stop just an arm's length
in front of me, and then she asks me this question.
"Are you sure about this path you have chosen to walk? Are you sure you want
to trust him, put all you hope and dreams into the palms of his hands, knowing
what you know the stakes for you people, your kind, are. What it could mean for the
world?" That was the question my other self asked of me.
I close my eyes and allow myself to think on those words. There was no need to
ask myself what that question could possibly mean for I already knew what it was
about. In truth, it was a question I asked myself each day, every day. I asked myself
that question every time I saw his face, every time I breathed in his scent.
"It had failed with mother and father, you know that. They both tried so
hard to be the ones to change everything for our people, for the world.
In the end, they failed. In the end, mother died far too young and father
has been left doubting if any hope is left in this dying world of ours."
Once again, my shadow self spoke the truth, I couldn't deny that.
But still, I wanted to believe in myself as my mother had believed in me.
I remember her final words to me, how she said that I would be the one
to make the great change, alongside MY chosen one. She had seen it.
Yes, that's right. Mother had said it would be up to us, me and... him
to find the answer that we all needed. Both humans and...
I turn my gaze to my shadow self and give her a confident smile.
I reach out and touch my hand to her chest and say with confidence-
"You're right, in so many ways. But you need to remember that all
of that is in the past. I've already decided to not drown myself in that
past but to instead turn my gaze towards the hope that is here before me.
I believe... no, I KNOW I have found him, the one who will realize the dream."
"You would risk the lives of all on him. On a stranger not of our world?
How can you be so sure that he can make the difference. How do you know
you aren't letting yourself make a foolish choice because of your greed?
You want him to be the one. Are you certain you can live with that choice?"
In response to that, I smile with all the confidence I could muster here.
"If I couldn't, then I wouldn't be here now, taking such a risk to see him saved.
Now, I need to be getting back... getting him back so I can fulfill the promise
I made to mother all those years ago. The promise to birth a new age
for this world!"
My shadow looks at me for a moment, then smiles before joining
with me. I then step forward, into the light that would lead me home.
(Cielo)
"Will you be satisfied leaving things as they are?" asked a voice.
I opened my eyes and found myself inside the very cell were the
Dullahan named Verdia had once held me captive. But there was
something different about it. Something that didn't seem right, felt off.
"Will you be satisfied leaving things as they are?" the voice asked again.
I now found myself inside the Erisia Cathedral, around me my fellow
followers and mother Clerica herself standing just before me as well.
But there was also something that didn't feel right about all this.
"Will you be satisfied leaving things as they are?" I was asked yet again.
I now found myself inside the mansion with the others all sitting here
and there within the living room. And again, something felt off with the
scene. I finally ask the voice "What do you mean? Satisfied with what?"
"Are you sure this path is enough for you?" it now asked me.
The scene shifted to that of the courtroom from during the trial.
Then it shifted to being within the Labyrinth located near Arcanretia.
And then again the scene changed, now being at the Crimson Demon village.
"Are you sure you can be happy? Are you sure you'll be content with this?"
I was starting to get tired of being asked all these vague questions so I
shout out as loudly as I could "What do you mean, I don't understand.
What is it you're trying to ask me here. Stop beating around the bush and tell me."
And then the scenery around me changed one more time and it was now I
understood. I was now seeing the little cafe in Veridae, the one that was close
to the amphitheater. And I saw Kazuma and myself sitting at that cafe
eating pastry's and drinking tea and having fun with one another.
It asked one final time "Will you be satisfied with just this being the extent
of things between you and him?" Now I understood what was being asked of
me here. The very question I have been asking myself for a good while now.
Back then, I had told Kazuma that because of the path I had chosen, that path
being one that will one day see me become the next high priestess of the Eris faith,
I would not be able to marry but I could still become a mother so long as I had my
child or children before a certain point. I had asked Kazuma if he would help me,
if he would be the father of my children.
He had accepted which made me happy though he did point out that depending
on his current relationship status at the time I came calling, I might have another
I would need to convince which I was fine with. He had also inquired if I knew why
this was the way of it for those who walked the path I had chosen to walk.
To be honest, I still didn't have an answer to THAT question as I had forgotten
to bring that topic up with mother Clerica, as well as with both Darkness and
Chris. I close my eyes as I smile before calling out to the voice that had been
speaking to me and I said "Thank you for reminding me of something I need to do."
"Can you be satisfied with things staying like this?" it now asked me. I
understood right away what it was asking me right now. Would I be content
with staying just friends with Kazuma even after having him hemp me to become
a mother here in the future. Would I be fine with not having more than that with him?
The truth was... "No, I don't JUST want to be friends with him, nor do I feel I can
be content with us being friends with benefits either. Like Megumin, like Yunyun
I know that I to love him. And it feels like I have for a long time here, longer
than what I've even known him for. It feels like this love has existed for lifetimes."
"Then what will you do? Give up your dream to join in alongside the others then?"
In response to the voices question, I shake my head before saying confidently.
"No, I won't give up my dream now will I accept this as it currently is. I'll become
the high priestess who changes things. The one who will set the course to the future."
"Isn't that being a little greedy though? Changing hundreds of years of tradition,
perhaps even thousands of years just to suite your personal desires here?"
"If I'm wrong then let Eris herself come down from the heavens and stop me.
I've made my choice here and that will be the road I'll walk going forward."
And that's exactly what I did; I started walking forward and I will never
ever look back again...
(Megumin)
Just where am I? What was this strange place. Wasn't I just with the others
inside a room with... Well, I wasn't with the others right now. I look on ahead
of me, seeing a pedestal with a book sitting upon it. I start to take a step forward
only to stop and look back, seeing Kazuma standing there looking at me.
"Kazuma!" I shouted out as I try to run to him but find my body strangely
unresponsive. Try as I might, I just couldn't move at all. It was then I heard
a voice speak to me. "Before you is a question. What will your answer be, I
wonder?" Who was it that had spoken and what was this about a question?
A figure then appears, a cloudy image of a girl wearing a rather cool looking
dress that appeals to my sense of style, both in design and colors. Shortish hair
similar to my own but with a red sheen upon black and yellow cat like eyes
that reminded me of my old teacher, lady Wolbach who I was searching for.
The figure says "Before you is a book. Contained within are the secrets to
becoming the greatest mage of all and the master of Explosion. The answer to
making your dreams come true. And behind you is Satou Kazuma, your treasured
friend and your one true love. Tell me... which will you choose?"
Eh? What does she mean. Which will I choose? I didn't understand the question.
Perhaps to elaborate, she said "Only one of these two things can be taken into
your grasp. Will you select your long-standing dream at the cost of having him at
your side or will you choose him and see your dream forever out of your reach?"
"What the hell are you going on about? Why would I ever need to choose either
here?" I shouted out in defiance. Her face remained unchanged, neutral in its
expression as she gives me a nonchalant look. "To take one in hand will forever
separate you from the other. A wall that can never be broken will arise to
forever keep you from other obtaining the other. So, what would you choose?"
I was quite for a moment, a long-long moment as I stared at the ground.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't asked myself such a similar question here in
the past. It was something we Crimson Demons had been told to always
ask ourselves whenever new developments came around within our lives.
And my answer now was the same I had come up with back then, when I had
first asked myself that question. I then take on a stance, the very stance I was
famous for. I gave this person my most confident and serious look here as I
shout out with all the pompous and arrogant tone I was skilled at using.
"My name is Megumin; archwizard and greatest amongst the Crimson Demons.
She who wields the power of Explosion and will one day be seen as its master.
You tell me if I choose one then the other will be walled off to me forever.
Know that if such a thing ever happened, I would blast through that wall and
all others that may arise behind it till I was at his side where I would stay forever!"
"After all, I have always been a greedy girl and I see no reason to ever stop being such."
I then step forward and take the book into my hands, seeing it fade from sigh. Perhaps
being absorbed into my being. I then look back to see the wall rising up from the earth,
baring me from MY Kazuma. I chuckle as I unleash an Explosion against it, over and
over till it crumbles and I was standing at his side, a smile on my face as was on his.
I then reach out and connect my hand with his before the two of us then walk forward
into the future... as it was always meant to be for us!
Slowly, the four girls came back to reality as they sat up... well, three of them sat up while the last had to wait till another had helped them into a vertical position. They then looked around and saw they were back inside the room with the pillar of light that had sucked them all inside.
"What happened?"
asked Cielo, getting an answer from an unknown voice.
"That was the test of greed you all just experienced. I was meant to determine just what it was a person was greedy about so I could sort them accordingly. Gotta say, you four are a most interesting kind of greed."
The girls turn to see a figure sitting off to one side. A man with a fairly well-built form wearing some strange metal helmet with a rectangular shaped piece of glass around where the eyes would have been. He had no shirt on, just a pair of pants with shoulder straps. He was dirty and grimy, having the look of a worker of some sort. Lynn asks-
"And you are?"
"Hm? Oh right, where are my manners. My name is Plutus. I guess you can call me the guy in charge around this realm. Archduke Plutus the builder, at your service."
He then jumps to his feet and does a bow while the four girls all shout out "WHAT?"
Soon after, the girls found themselves being led into another room by Plutus who had offered to help them with their journey. They had told him everything and he in turn had told him it was his job to keep watch over the little kleptomaniacs that called the realm their home. As for why he looked all dirty like he did. Well...
"I'm a bit of an inventor. Guess you can say it's a personal hobby of mine."
They were also surprised to hear he was way into the charity scene. Yet another major contrast to the realm he lived in. It seems Archdukes held dominion over realms that were the opposite of their personality types. Soon, they arrived at a door with Plutus saying-
"If you four step through here, you'll find yourself being sent right into the middle of the Battlefields of Wrath. From there, you should be able to reach the walls of Dis and from there the entrance to the sixth realm within a few hours if you're lucky."
"IF we're lucky?"
asked Megumin.
"Yeah. Of all the realms of Perdition, the fifth is known to be the most chaotic of the lot. Over half the demons down here hang out on the fields, constantly fighting and training themselves in the hopes that maybe one day they can earn the right to become a Devil and maybe even become an Archduke on top of that. As such, there's no way you'll be able to make it to the sixth realm without getting into a few scraps here and there. Sorry I can't get you all the way to the sixth realm right now but..."
"No-no, it's fine. If this door will see us delivered to the halfway point of the next realm, then we can't complain any. Question though, is there any chance you can get the scroll that was stolen from us back. It's been helping us with knowing what to expect with each area," said Darkness.
"I could but it would probably take longer than you all are willing to wait on. Even for someone like me, finding and catching a Klepto can be a pain in the ass. But no matter, I'll tell you what you need to know. Like I said, the fifth realm is the place all demons and even some lesser devils hang out to enjoy a little brawl. While fighting isn't something you can skip when there, try to not let yourselves be kept in one place when fighting back. Also, little angel. I would recommend casting Purification on everyone every few minutes. There's something about the air there that makes you combative and angry. And also, don't fall into any of the water in the fifth realm, unless you want to go all berserker on everyone."
They nod before he moves on.
"Now, the sixth realm or Heretic's City will be a mostly peaceful place to get through. It's mostly a maze of buildings but I'm sure you can lead them through it succubus girl. Just be mindful of the locals that live there. They won't attack you, but they will chew your ears off as they go on and on and on with talking about their religious and political views and they DON'T-EVER-SHUT-UP!"
"Ah, so they're basically like the Axis Cult then?" said Megumin, getting a laugh from Plutus.
"A good analogy there but between you and me, those Axis cultists that follow the goddess Aqua are even worse. The heretics in the City will talk your ear off, but that's it. The Axis cult, on the other hand, can and will become more physical, even invading your personal space as their faith permits it. Now, for the seventh realm. Don't trust any demons in that place. They are all bred to be violent and will do whatever they can to make you scream. And the demons in the eighth realm, if you end up there, are liars through and through. Never take anything they say as the truth. And now, I'll open the portal."
Once the gate had been opened, the girls thank Plutus for helping them before stepping towards the door. Cielo stops though and looks back to ask-
"By the way, you gave us a quick warning about the realms coming us all the way to the eights realm. Hopefully we won't have to go that far. But what about the ninth? What should we do IF we end up going down that far?"
When Plutus answers, his tone had changed, becoming one of dead seriousness. His answer-
"Don't go there. No matter what, never enter the ninth realm. There are no demons, nor does it have an Archduke ruling over it. All the same, never go there and especially never ever touch the ground in that place. If you do, then you will never leave that realm again. You will be trapped there for all eternity."
The girls gulp upon hearing that, then nod before the pass through the door and into the next realm.
{|} Canto 13: Flight of the Crimson Eyed Maiden {|}
Since the incident with her father over the mana seal that had been placed upon her without her consent, Yunyun had been keeping herself busy with reading. More specifically, she had been reading up on the nature of the seal and how one could go about ridding themselves of it.
Not surprising that the information she was looking for was super easy to obtain. Perhaps too easy which went a long way to show just how lax the clan was with keeping important information like that under wraps. After all, if Yunyun's guess was correct, anyone with any ill intent towards the clan could not only enter the village with little issue but gather vital intel that could be used against them as well and all with little to no effort.
Yet another thing she would need to remedy once she became the leader of the clan.
What was even more surprising to her was the fact all the information she would need on the mana seal was right here inside the house. She had thought her father would have the foresight to go through the shelf with all the magic information books were stored and remove any that she could use to aid in her early departure from home.
Or maybe he had figured she would just accept the way of things like she probably would have in the past. Little did he know that her time with Kazuma had added a rebellious nature to her mind. Either way, she would need to thank her father one of these days for not thinking about this possibility.
Currently she was in her room, having busted out her old potion making kit and had been able to gather all the needed ingredients that the book spoke of. Luckily, all of these were also inside the house, part of her mother's collection which meant she would need to apologize to her at a later date too.
"Almost done. Just one more thing."
This last part was going to be tricky as she needed to mix in three drops of a liquid called Distilla and only three drops... in quick succession too. Adding it to slowly would cause the potion to lose its power and adding even the slightest bit more than that would make it explode. Nothing serious though she would be spending the rest of the day cleaning her room if she fudged it all up now.
She was nervous but regardless, it was now or never. Drip... drip... drip...
Yunyun breaths out a sigh of relief as she sees the potion she had been brewing emit a light glow from within, signaling that it had worked. She then pours some of the liquid into a vial. She then brings the leg that had the mark of the seal up to rest on her other leg before tipping the vial over and pouring the potion directly onto the seal that lay upon her ankle like a tattoo.
Yunyun waits and watches, seeing the seal suddenly light up before expanding off her ankle, the glow of the seal flicker for a few moments before the light fully returns and it shrinks back down onto her ankle again, making her sigh in annoyance.
"No good but at least I know I'm on the right track. I wonder if there's a way to make it stronger?"
"Yunyun, can I come in for a moment?"
Yunyun turns to see the door to her bedroom open and her mother comes walking in. For a moment, Yunyun panics at the thought of her mother seeing the potion in her hand as well as the book she had out but she quickly dismisses that worry as her mother would be far more understanding than her dad had been. At least, she was hoping that would be the case.
"Mom, you finally got back home. Where did you go off too anyways? Dad never told me where it was you went off to."
"Just a little while ago. Speaking of your father, he told me about what happened... concerning your discovery of the temporary seal."
"Guess that means you already knew about it too. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anyways, is dad here right now?"
"Nope, he's out doing his duty rounds within the village... which we both know means he's probably trying to do something perverted with someone. Never mind him though. Also, I did know about that and I'm not all that happy about it myself, but I was overruled when push came to shove."
Rikarika then takes a moment to gaze at the book Yunyun had on her desk, seeing what page it was on before taking note of potion making kit she had set out and the empty vial in her daughters' hand.
"So, am I right in assuming that you're trying to make a potion to break the seal so you can head back to Kazuma's side."
"Yeah, I am. It actually worked... sort of but it didn't last long. It just weakened it for a second. Nothing more than that."
"I'm not surprised as you need to use three different potions all being dropped onto the seal at the same time in order to break it."
Yunyun blinks in surprise before asking her mother how she knows something like that.
"How do I know? Simple really; when I was still young, right after leaving Red Prison to be more exact, I spent a few years as a student of the curse breakers. I happen to know quite a lot about how they do things and how their seals work and such."
"Really, then can you please help me get this thing off me then. I want to... I need to get back and join the others. I can't explain it, but I feel that they're going to need my help, mom."
Rikarika was quiet for a moment before she asks a simple question.
"You really love him, don't you. Kazuma, I mean."
In response, Yunyun places a hand over her heart while a gentle smile forms on her lips.
"Yeah, I really do. If there had been any doubt before, then it had been cleared up when THAT night happened. When me and Megumin... with Kazuma."
Suddenly, Rikarika draws close and says with an almost excited tone-
"Oh, what is this I just heard. Has my little girl, along with Megumin, gone and done some interesting things with Kazuma by chance. Wanna give me the details my surprisingly bold daughter."
"Honestly, there isn't much to tell. Me and Megumin got drunk, dressed in our most adult night attire. Then we went to Kazuma's room with the intention to 'thank' him for all he has done for us. And then we fell asleep. Honestly, it was really embarrassing. Anyways, can you help me get this seal off?"
"Hm, seal? Oh yeah, that. Sure, I can do that... quite easily here to. In fact..."
Rikarika then extends a finger out, says a few quiet words, and the seal immediately shatters like glass in the eyes of the astonished Yunyun.
"Mom, how did you..."
"Remember what I said just a moment ago, I was once part of the curse breakers. Honestly, breaking a seal like that one is child's play for me. I'll teach you the secrets on the how another time. Now, you had someplace you needed to go to?"
Yunyun takes a moment for her thoughts to catch up with her before nodding as she quickly gets to her feet, then she hugs her mother before beginning to grab her stuff.
"Yunyun, be careful once you get back to his side. It may just be motherly nerves, but I can't help you're walking into quite the troublesome series of events here."
"I agree but I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, things have a way of working out for us, so I'm not really worried at all. Anyways, I'll be going now. I'll be sure to write once things have settled down and I'll see you... and dad too, here in a few weeks when I return for my trials. And also, tell everyone sorry for taking off like this. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel so strongly about this."
"I know, and I will too. Also, when you do return, I'm guessing Kazuma will be your partner. Make sure you both come a day beforehand so we can explain the ways of the trial properly to the two of you. And also, the two of us will also need to have a little private chat when you come back around too."
"About what?"
"Just... important truths to keep in mind about our clan. Truths about us female Crimson Demons in particular. Now go and do what you need to do, my little Yunyun."
Yunyun nods as she does her chant. She then activates teleportation and goes to begin her troublesome period of having to play catch up.
{|} Canto 14: 5th Realm; Battlefields of Wrath {|}
"Whoever is in charge of this place sure must love the color red."
The moment the light had faded from around them, the four girls had found themselves standing in the middle of an empty field. They had been told to not be surprised if they saw a lot of fighting going on once getting here. Instead, there was no one or nothing of interest as far as they could see here.
Because of that, they had instead allowed themselves a moment to take in the sights of the place. There was pretty much no grass nor any other sign of vegetation that could be seen. The ground was mostly flat though there were traces of craters that pocketed the land. Cracks upon the earth with smoke rising from beneath and in the distance the imagery of mountains when they looked to their backs.
There was also another detail that caught their eyes as well, which Darkness was the first to verbalize here. Everything had a red color to it or at least had a reddish hue. The ground was red, the clouds in the sky were red now. The mountains back in the distance appeared red and the one river they could make out also had a red color to it. Like Darkness had said, the archduke for this place must love the color red for it to cover everything. Lynn then chuckles as she flies over to Megumin and asks-
"Sooooo, does THIS place appeal to your sense of aesthetics, Megumin?"
Megumin allows herself another moment to look around before shrugging her shoulders and saying-
"Eh, it's... OK I suppose. While I love the color red and all, I can't help but feel the over saturation of the color on everything kind of takes away from the overall charm that could be had. Maybe throw in some black or yellow or something as a secondary color, then maybe I would enjoy it more."
"Wow, I feel bad for the guy in charge. Pleasing a Crimson Demon can be a difficult challenge to overcome."
"Damn right. If my clan was so easily pleased by stuff, then the world would be a poorer place for us all."
As Megumin and Lynn had their little back and forth, Darkness couldn't help but notice Cielo was being strangely quiet here. As such, she called out to Cielo a couple of times till she finally got the angel girls attention.
"Huh, what? You say something Darkness?"
"Yeah, I did. I asked if you were doing OK here. You were spacing out just a moment ago."
"I was? Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. And I wasn't spacing out... exactly. I was using an old Monk technique I know to see if I could sense any nearby dangers. The fact that we're supposed to be in the middle of the Battlefields, according to what Plutus told us, don't you find it at all strange that there isn't any sign of any demon or devil fighting. Not even a sound of battle being carried through the air?"
"Yeah, that is strange. Maybe we just got lucky here."
"Maybe, but I don't want to place all my eggs into that basket, if you know what I mean. Better we get out of here before any fighting happens to find us. Hey Megumin, which way should we go here."
Megumin and Lynn's banter comes to a stop. Quickly turning her attention to the thread of fate coming from her chest, Megumin points in the direction it flowed towards. With that, the girls took a few steps forward, preparing to take to the sky...
And do so immediately, not because they were ready to fly here but rather because of necessity as the ground beneath sudden burst outwards. They barely managed to escape before looking back and seeing a creature made from stone rising from the ground.
It was a massive beast, probably standing over thirty feet tall. It was bulky though that didn't seem all that surprising given it was made entirely out of rock. Once it was fully standing, it looked around till it saw them and then it immediately went onto the attack. Luckily, it seemed to be a bit on the slower side thus dodging it wasn't too hard though the wind force created by its failed punch had still caused them to become off kilter when it came to staying in control of their flight.
"Terrific, looks like a fight has found us after all. What should we do, run for it?"
"Works for me. Let's book it."
Immediately, the three girls that could fly turned their flight path towards the location Megumin had said was the correct path before shooting forward like rockets. But they had just barely started before a sudden danger from behind them made them look back and just in time too as they saw some massive boulders being flung their way. What's more, the rock giant was running after them, and moving at a surprisingly fast pace too.
"Oh great, rocky back there doesn't seem to want us to leave yet. Should we try to ignore him and keep going?"
In response to Lynn's question, Cielo stops and turns back, barely dodging one of the thrown rocks in the process before she cracks her knuckles.
"That would be nice, but something tells me unless someone else shows up and starts attacking it, I doubt that guy will leave us alone anytime soon. Oh well, I'll bring him to his knees with just one hit."
Cielo then shoots back at the rock monster, bringing her fist up to the ready as she prepares to punch it. Sensing her intentions, the rock creature also stops and sends its fist flying towards her as well. Cielo's fist collides with the fist of the demon and...
Her strike had only managed to crack the rocky fingers of the rock demon; something that caught her and the others off guard. The rock demon was also surprised though it was probably taken aback by the fact its attack hadn't sent Cielo flying.
"This guy looks like he's going to be a tough one. So, what will you do now, Cielo?"
"Easy Darkness. Like my dad always says. If the first hit doesn't do it, then just hit it again... HARDER!"
Cielo puts more power into her fist this time, preparing to send out another strike only to be tackled in midair by something. She's sent flying off away from the rock demon, as well as Megumin and Lynn, by whatever it was that had slammed into her, and she found herself being sent a fair bit away before hitting the ground hard. Groaning, she tries to pull herself up though finds it more difficult than she had expected it to when Darkness yells out for her to watch out, which she does although just barely.
Throwing all her strength into her arms, she pushes off the ground to send herself into a self-thrown spin just a second before something else impacts the spot she had been laying at. Looking while picking herself up, she sees a Diablo glaring down at her. Before she could finish picking itself up, it was already continuing its surprise attack with its sharp claws, both the ones on its hands and the pointed three toed feet as well.
"Hey... can... you... cut me... some... slack... and let me... get up... first..."
she yelled as she kept finding herself back on the ground from its relentless barrage against her. Finally, after the umpteenth failed attempt at getting off the ground, Cielo became mad as she grabs some dirt and flings it up at the Diablo which forces it to stop for a second, which was all she needed to finally get back onto her feet and quickly take to the sky.
Unfortunately, this moment to get herself into a better position came to a quick end as the Diablo uses its tail to grab onto her leg and sends Cielo whipping around before smacking her back onto the ground again. And once again, Cielo found herself struggling to avoid being hit while trying once more to get back onto her feet so she could finally start mounting a proper offense and defense here.
Back with Megumin and Lynn, the two of them were doing everything they could just to avoid be punched and mushed by the rock demons attempt at crushing them between it's massive hands like they were nothing but flies in its mind. They believed that since they could fly and it could not, they would have the aerial advantage here.
What a joke as the big guy was surprisingly good at jumping despite probably being unbelievably heavy. There was also the fact it could launch parts of its hands like they were projectiles and all it had to do after was scoop the stumps of its arms down into the ground to get new replacement hands to work with.
"Megumin, not to rush you or anything but we sure could use one of your famous Explosions right about now."
"You think I don't already know that small fry? I would have already nuked this guy already if I could fire off an Explosion spell."
"But you should be able to, right? Remember that cyclone we were all inside? You ended up blasting us out of there when you went all Explosion orgasm from whatever naughty thoughts it was making you have of Kazuma. So, do that again except with this guy now."
"Oh yeah, like it's that easy for me to do. You know what, alright... FINE. You want me to explode here, then I'm going to Explosion like you won't believe."
Megumin then shoots higher into the sky, higher than what the rock demon could even reach with jumping. She then begins her chant her spell, all the while dodging the incoming rocks sent her way. Finally, she thrust both arms outwards with open palms as she shouts out.
"EXPLOSION!"
What followed was a poot of a fart of air from her hands, making her look on in disbelief and Lynn giving her a "Really" look. Megumin then repeats saying Explosion a few more times before shouting out-
"Damn it, why isn't it coming out. I did it before so it should still work now. I'm pretty sure I have enough magic to do it too."
"Are you thinking perverted thoughts about Kazuma?"
asked Lynn, getting Megumin to look at her.
"Does that really matter?"
"Of course it does. Think about it, you're a succubus right now. A SUCCUBUS! Their whole shtick is about sexual stuff. Odds are, you need to be stimulated in some form or fashion in order to use non succubus powers. Think of it like happy thoughts and anyone who trying to use fairy dust to fly around. Just in your case, the more perverted your thoughts, the more power you'll have here."
"Oh great, that's just terrific. Don't tell me I need to start 'playing' with myself here now too."
"No dummy, just think naughty things. That should be enough. Look, I'll be the nice girl and fly down there to keep rocky busy for you so you can let your perverted imagination run wild here. Now hurry up and start fantasizing right now."
Lynn then shoots back down towards the rock demon while Megumin yells some questions things her way. Lynn then begins to dodge the attacks though her smaller size was proving to be both a blessing and a curse at the moment. It was a blessing because she was a smaller target and that made keep up with her more difficult. It was a curse because she had even more that needed to be avoid as well as the fact that if she was hit, it would likely hurt her even more than the others.
Lynn then comes up with an idea. It was a weird idea that probably wasn't going to work but it was worth taking a chance on all the same. She flies up till she was hovering over the rock demon and begins to rain down dust upon it.
At first, she tried using a form of sleep powder but that didn't seem to be working, then she tried paralysis dust but that didn't work either though these two attempts did make the rock demon stop and look up at her before it sudden said-
"Won't work... don't need to breath..."
"Well thank you for pointing that one out for me here. Is it OK if I try something else before you resume your attack?"
To her surprise, the rock demon gives her a nod as she flies out to hover before it. She then activates her Equilibrium spell, making the bracelets on her hands expand out as sound waves begin to emit outwards, impacting the rock demon though it only cocks its head to the side before saying-
"That won't work either. No inner things that can be affected."
"Well shit. Um... thanks for letting me try though. Any chance I can get the name of your kind here?"
"... Atlas..."
No sooner had it said that, the Atlas renewed its swipes at Lynn with even greater vigor than before, making her yelp as her attempts at dodging became even more desperate than before. Meanwhile, higher up, Megumin had her eyes closed as she tried to think of something, anything, that could work to 'stimulate' her as Lynn put it. But due to the current situation and all, Megumin's mind was coming up blank here.
'Damn it all, why am I the one who's current status works like this. This is the sort of thing that would be better suited for Darkness, not me. Come on, Megumin. You're supposed to be the best and brightest out of the clan. Can't you come up with something that could work here?'
'I mean sure, there was that one time when me and Kazuma ba... bathed together. What would have happened if Cielo hadn't walked in on us. And also, what could have happened if her reaction alongside ours had been different. And then there's that morning back at my parents' home. If my mom and Komekko hadn't been there when I was about too... And what about the night me and Yunyun had joined Kazuma in bed. If we hadn't fallen asleep like we did, what would have..."
And that's how it started. Suddenly, images upon images began to flow into Megumin's mind from all these scenarios. And from that, she could feel power well up from within her. She smiles, a renewed confidence as she shouts out for Lynn to get clear. Megumin then thrust her arms out again and says with raw passion in her voice.
"EXPLOSION!"
Immediately, the Atlas was consumed with light as its entire being was vaporized in an instant. In the aftermath, Megumin panted heavily, feeling very good in the moment as Lynn reaches her and takes notice of something.
"Did you know your little horns have a glow to them whenever you get your rocks off?"
"Really... I mean, shut up, Lynn."
"And pray tell what it was you imagined that gave you that little blast back there?"
"I said shut..."
Megumin didn't finish as something caught her and Lynn's eyes. Off in the distance yet coming their way fast was more demons. Hordes upon hordes of them. Had they picked up on the fighting here or had they been drawn this way because of the Explosion. Before they could take any action, the ground erupts as several more Atlas began to rise into the air.
"Looks like we're going to be here for a good while?"
"Great, that's just what we need. Let's hurry this up before the incoming annoyances can reach us so we can try to make some progress with getting out of here."
With that, Lynn goes back to acting as a distraction while Megumin 'charges' herself up for another round of Explosion. Meanwhile, back with Cielo and Darkness; Cielo had finally managed to get back onto her feet again and was now engaging in a dance with the Diablo.
She would send out a punch and it would dodge. It would make a swipe at her and she's either pull back or bring Shield Darkness up to guard. It was a back and forth with neither side seemingly gaining any ground here. Or at least that's how it would look to the naked eye.
But the truth was that Cielo had a plan, she just needed a few moments to let it build up within her. The sacred angelic power she now had at her disposal. She had come to realize that she had been making a big mistake since coming down to this place. She hadn't been taking enough time to really get use to the new anima power she had flowing within her.
Sure, she had cast a few Purifications since their arriving but that wasn't quite enough or as frequent as need be to be considered proper practice time. She would have to change that once this was over and right at this moment, she was finally ready for as soon as she dodged another swipe of the Diablo's claws, the brings an open palm out before her and shouts-
"Piercing Light."
Immediately, a blinding light explodes from her open hand, blinding the Diablo and, from the sounds of its sudden wail it had made, possibly hurt it as well. When the light had faded enough, Cielo could see it writhing on the ground, its claws covering its face as it looked to be in utter pain here.
So, to say she was sorry and help relieve it from the pain it was suffering, she shoots down at it and sends her fist slamming hard into its gut. The impact was so strong that it split its upper and lower bodies apart. She then lands on the ground and watches as the two halves of the Diablo break down and disintegrate into dust.
"Yeesh, now that was an intense fight. If my dad was here, he's probably have taken a moment to offer that guy a prayer for being such a good fight. Anyways, I better hurry us back to..."
"Cielo, watch out."
cried Darkness, making Cielo quickly turn as she raises her left arm with Shield Darkness on it...
Only to watch as said arm goes flying into the air along with blood following right after. Cielo blinks, unsure what had happened before the pain finally reached her, making her scream out while bringing her right hand up to hold the stump that had been her left arm just moments ago.
She then turns her gaze towards a figure she could now sense had arrived. It was tall, perhaps around twelve feet in its height. Its body was thin, and its head had a strange oval shape to it with big black eyes with a hint of green along the edges. Its arms and legs were like metal blades from the elbows and knees downwards. And it sent her a feeling that it only had one desire, that being to hurt her.
"Cielo..."
screamed Darkness as she was forced to watch as Cielo could barely respond in time as the new arrival began its attack. It was already bad enough that this thing was much faster than the creature that Cielo had just killed, but Cielo was also seriously injured now too. Because of that, her movements were already starting to become sluggish which was making the attacks of the creature succeed in leaving cuts here and there wherever it swung at her.
'Damn it (x4), of all the times she could need a shield to guard her, why is it the one time I can't... just why was I made into a literal shield here anyways. How can I protect anyone like this. Come on, think Darkness. You have to do something here, otherwise you're going to see another friend suffer.'
A new problem had suddenly come. More of the same kind of demon like the new arrival had appeared, also go right at Cielo. One of them manages to get in a deep cut into her leg, causing her to fall as another prepares to strike her down with a final thrust.
This makes Darkness scream, wishing with all her heart there was something more she could do now.
And then, her shield body begins to glow as it frees itself from Cielo's arm and floats into the air. This sudden action makes the demons stop and look back her way her shield body then begins to grow outwards and takes on a humanoid form. Darkness then hears herself self without warning-
"Aegis Mode."
And then, she understood as her shield body finished its transformation, becoming a sentient suit of shining gold armor. Once the change was done, Darkness tests her new fond movement such as flecking her fingers. Satisfied, she turns her attention to the demons and motions for them to come her way.
One of them does so, shooting at her before sending a swing her way which she easily grabs before snapping the metal bladed limb like it was a twig. This shocks the demon though its shock doesn't last long as Darkness then smacks her large hands against its head, crushing its skull in one go.
"Darkness...?"
"Cielo, you just focus on healing up right now. Let me take care of these guys."
Shield Darkness... no, Aegis Darkness then begins running towards the demons who also turn to attack her in turn; the battle on this battlefield of wrath having only just started.
{|} Canto 15: The Lords of Shadows {|}
"...slurp ...slurp ...slurp ...slurp"
Dracula stood within an open field within the seventh realm. In his grasp was a single lifeless demon. All around him were dozens upon dozens more, also lifeless. Most of them weren't dead because of severe injury. Instead, all their deaths were from something far simpler and more insidious.
All of them had suffered from having their blood loss. Once he finished drinking this last demon, he tossed its lifeless body off to the side before he throws his head back, his tongue sticking out to lick a trickle that clung to his lips before making a satisfied sigh.
"Mm, after so many semblances, I have forgotten just how pleasurable the taste of blood could be. Once I return to the mortal realm, I'll have to start up the practice once again. Perhaps this will be a fitting end to all those girls I shall bed in the future. My own personal way of thanking them for their time and their touch. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I should first take care of a certain matter."
A sudden sound draws his attention, making Dracula turn to see another demon of the realm of vengeance having arrived on the scene. Perhaps it had been planning on attacking him by surprise like these other fools had. But upon seeing as the dead demons around Dracula, it was clear it was having second thoughts as it turns to make a run for it.
Not that it was able to as Dracula moved at a speed it couldn't see before being grabbed by the vampire and being lifted into the air. It tries to struggle, hoping to free itself but the attempt was in vain as Dracula pulls him close and says in a cold tone.
"I'm only asking you this question once. Have you seen any sign of a human soul around this realm of yours? If you want to be freed from my grasp, you will answer me now."
The demon turns to look at Dracula, probably planning on spitting in his face or perhaps say something offensive. But when its eyes met the cold eyes of Dracula, any thought of defiance and resistance was lost as it became meek and said with a scared voice.
"Haven't seen him but heard some Ravagers had lured him into their home. Also heard a mighty blast come from direction of place. There... over that away."
The terrified demon then timidly points off to the side, drawing Dracula's attention for a moment before he turns back and says-
"Thank you..."
Dracula then violently attacks the demon, quickly drinking up all its blood as well before crushing the neck of the corpse before tossing it off behind it like it was trash. He then turns fully in the direction he had been pointed to go as bat like wings of blood form on his back, allowing him to take to the air as he quickly races off in search of his prey.
He moved fast, easily covering vast ground quickly and within a few moments, he arrived at the edge of a massive crater. Once he lands, he scans the crater and quickly spots a lone figure sitting quietly at what he was sure was the very certain. There was no question in his mind that the thing he was saying was his target, his prey. He could see it flowing in the air; the same chain that he himself bore on his chest.
"I finally found you, Satou Kazuma. You should know you have caused me much annoyance, such as being responsible for me being here in this place right now instead of being where it is I should be; that being in bed right now with my dear Lalatina. Perhaps maybe even another of the girls as well."
Dracula then steps into the crater, walking slowly towards the figure named Satou Kazuma. His body was hidden beneath a black cloak that looked worn and tattered. While his face was also not entirely visible, the motions of the wind made enough movement that the figures boney chin became visible fairly often.
"But at the same time, I must also thank you as well. Because of my short time down here, I have come into ownership of a new power. One that I will quite enjoy using once I have returned to the mortal realm. I have also remembered the joy I felt from the drinking of blood; another thing I must thank you for. And of course, there's also the many beautiful women you have befriended as well."
He then reaches Kazuma, finally able to fully see his skeletal face with glowing, teal-colored lines upon it. Dracula then holds his hand out to one side and a blood pike forms in his hand which he then aims at Kazuma.
"So, you really did become a Lich. How curious. As much as I would like to ask you how that event came about, I'm afraid I don't have the time to spare here. But, as my way of thanking you for what you have done for me, I will make your final fall a quick one. Goodbye, Lich..."
Dracula then thrust his blood pike forward into Kazuma, his smile wide as he does so. But that smile quickly turns into a confused frown when he sees that while he had indeed penetrated Kazuma, it hadn't done anything. And that was because just before his weapon could make contact, Kazuma had...
"Specter!"
Lich Kazuma then slowly turns his head to look at Dracula, who's mind was still processing what had just happened. And then, in his right hand, a long staff of bone began to form, curving into a blade at its end. Lich Kazuma then smiles a terrifying smile before sending his newly made weapon slashing right through Dracula.
"Bone Scythe!"
But as with Lich Kazuma himself, the assault didn't land on its mark as Dracula had managed to shift into his mist form at the last second. The mist then escapes back a ways before reforming. Dracula watches as Lich Kazuma finally stands, its attention focused solely onto him now.
"Ooo, that was way to close a call for me there. So... friend. You can turn into some kind of spirit like form if attacked and I can become as mist if I'm ever attacked. Sigh, we're going to be doing this all day aren't we. Oh well, no matter. I suppose I should see that as a helpful training experience for my new powers. So, I'll let you make the first move here."
Lich Kazuma let's out a growl, wisp of miasma coming from out of his mouth. He then brings his scythe up and to the ready as he goes to move. But before he does, his head suddenly jerks to the side, its gaze locked onto something off in the far distance.
Dracula carefully and cautiously turns his head to look in the same direction, though he doesn't let Lich Kazuma leave his sight either. He couldn't see anything of worth in the direction that Lich Kazuma was looking, making him turn his full attention back onto Lich Kazuma and say-
"Is something wrong there, boy? What is it you can see... or perhaps I should say sense, that I cannot here?"
Instead of answering that question, Lich Kazuma just keeps looking for a few moments more before doing something rather strange. He jams its scythe into the ground before bringing his boney hands together which makes them start to glow.
"Bone Scythe..."
He says again before slowly pulling his hands apart, a new scythe forming as he does so. Unlike the previous scythe, there was something different about this one. This new scythe had a tint of yellow to it as well as glowing lines of ether flowing upon it. And as for the blade itself, it had a serrated edge to the blade. Once it was fully finished, Lich Kazuma took a moment to examine this new scythe.
"So, want to share with me why you felt the need to create another one here? Planning on using the two of them to fight me?"
Lich Kazuma spares him a glance, then turns back to looking off into the distance. And then, it sends the scythe it had just made flying into the air; having thrown it with all his might. Dracula watches as it goes spinning off into the distance, fading from his line of sight. Once it was gone, Lich Kazuma then takes hold of the original scythe it had made before, pulling it from the ground. It then turns to face Dracula once again, once more showing a readiness to begin their battle.
"If I were to ask you what that was all about, would you be willing to tell me? No, I guess you wouldn't, would you. Never mind then, let us do battle with one another and let the winner be the one who shall see a return to the state of living life."
Dracula also takes up a battle stance as he and Lich Kazuma stare each other down. For what felt like forever, they stare each other down. And then... they advance upon each other as their death battle commenced.
{Insert Image 3}
{To be continued...}
Image 1: Two scenes; one being a shot of the dome with an outline of Kazuma's Lich form with clearly visible glowing eyes while the other being an image of Lich Kazuma unleashing an Explosion upon the Ravager Demons and the cave they are all in.
Image 2: Dracula rising from the dark pool.
Image 3: Lich Kazuma with scythe in hand and Dracula with his blood pike as they face each other down before their fight begins.
(Expect the next chapter sometime next week. Don't have an estimated release date yet due to external delays with writing.)