Strongest
Chapter 14: Salome's Soiree
Written By Illuminet
Disclaimer: The cast of character from Makai Kingdom : Chronicles Of The Sacred Tome do not belong to me, and are the rightful property of N.I.S (Nippon Ichi Software) America.
"..."-Indicate Speech
'...'-Indicate Thought and/or Telepathy
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Salome's Netherworld, Canyon
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"It's already night time. Have you decided yet?"
Alex asked. Pram had her arms folded and eyes closed as she thought deeply. After a few more minutes, she nodded.
"Alright, I'm in. I'll help you kill Salome. Zetta's the ungrateful bastard who brought this on himself, and you did indirectly help me escape after all so I do owe you one. Let's go."
Pram said, beginning to hover into the air. Alex followed suit, and Al last.
"Stay here, Al. Overlords fights are no place for kids."
The God of Destruction said. Al pouted.
"Hey...you may need my help. Salome did kick your ass once after all."
The boy said. Alex glared.
"Pram's here to compensate for any back attacks. I won't be caught off guard a second time. I'll be the one catching Salome off guard."
He declared, flying off with Pram not too far behind. Al sighed.
"So he says, but...maybe I'm just being paranoid. Big bro will be fine, but I'll tag along in the back and out of his way just to make sure.
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Salome's Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, solemn looking Throne Room
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"What the hell? It looks like Salome's forces are assembling."
Alex said. Pram nodded.
"It's as if they might have been suspecting us. I see an open glass door over there on that balcony. Looks like it leads to the throne room."
She mentioned. Alex frowned.
"Seems all kind of suspicious, as if she was waiting for some sort of hostility to arrive."
He said. The former Oracle nodded.
"It does, doesn't it...still, it would be best to head in there than be detected by all the soldiers because it might just be pure coincidence."
She offered.
"Guess there's only one way to find out."
Alex said, shrugging.
"Alex and Pram? Why are you two here?"
Micky asked, seeing the God of Destruction and the former Oracle fly in through the mentioned open glass door. The two Overlords looked at him with confusion, having never seen this form of his before this night.
"Micky? What happened to you?"
Pram asked as she looked at him, only really able to recognize him by voice alone.
"Oh yeah, you haven't seen my true form yet. Truth be told, I wasn't aware I had it until Zetta was able to bring it out during a fight a few weeks ago."
Micky said. It had been a mistake to say Zetta's name, however, as it made both Alex and Pram go on edge.
"So your on his side then, eh?"
Alex said, lighting starting to crackle all around him as he powered up. Micky took a step back.
"What are you doing? You want to fight with Zetta now even though he's in trouble and needs our help?"
The Star Overlord asked. Pram narrowed her eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about? Zetta doesn't need any help, seeing what he's done to takedown both mine and Alex's Netherworlds. Get out of the way, Micky, before I have to hurt you."
Pram threatened, moving forward. Micky drew his beam saber, Devine Light.
"There's no way Zetta would attack both of your Netherworlds when they are so far from his it would be out of his way, and besides, it's been such a long time since he's tried conquering any Netherworld lately so he must be satisfied with how things are already. I suspect that you want to harm Zetta by getting to Salome. That's beyond low. Pram might be understandable considering she can be quite manipulative, but I'm rather astonished with your behavior, Alex."
Micky said. Pram snickered.
"Still the same goody two shoes Overlord, aren't you, Micky? We are Demons however, and when we want something we get it by any means necessary. Zetta himself summed it up best. Your too much of a nice guy to make it as a more powerful Overlord, Micky."
She said to him. Micky growled.
"Hold your tongue, Pram. I'm much stronger now than you would like to believe. You'll find it much more difficult to frighten me now, because our powers are much closer to each other than before!"
Micky stated as he powered up. Pram gritted her teeth in annoyance, seeing that he was indeed speaking truthfully.
"Who's the bitch now? GAH HAA HA HA!"
Dryzen said as he took over. Ophelia took control soon after.
"Enough! There is something much greater about to occur than your hostilities towards Zetta. It's been a month, so whatever's pissing you both off, get over it for the time being."
She warned in a commanding tone.
"Shut up! If Zetta didn't get his body back and attack my Netherworld and take Raiden and the rest of my solders lives a few days ago, I wouldn't be forced to have to do things this way! He's the one who started all this shit!"
Alex argued fiercely. Ophelia was now puzzled.
"Got his body back? That's impossible, and you know it. Trenia predicted it."
Ophelia stated.
"Yeah, well she predicted wrong! My Netherworld was also attacked by Zetta, and I saw him in his original body as well."
Pram snarled, joining Alex's side.
"Impossible...unless...! No! -He- must have gotten the body...but how?"
Ophelia face read shock. Alex was getting annoyed.
"That's what we've been trying to tell you already and only now you get it?"
He questioned. Ophelia narrowed her eyes.
"You idiot! I'm not talking about Zetta having gotten his body back because he didn't. I'm saying it must have been stolen by..."
Before Ophelia could say more, Salome came bursting through the bedroom door hitting her back against the floor. Seedle came walking out calmly.
"What's wrong, Salome the Traitor? I know your better than this."
Seedle taunted. Salome got up swiftly, aiming her weapon at him.
"You seem to have improved yourself, Seedle, but it's not going to be enough."
She stated, not scared in the slightest, much to Seedle's anger.
"Insolent bitch...you think hiding behind Zetta is going to save your pathetic life? Hah, not likely if he isn't even here. He's too far on that contraption of his probably to help you now!"
Seedle said as he lunged at Salome again. The female Overlord blocked with her short sword.
"Contraption? What are you talking about?"
Salome said as she pushed against his weapons with her own. Seedle didn't get a chance to say anything as the two jumped away from each other to evade the flurry of lightning balls thrown their way. The female Overlord had little time to react as Alex came flying towards her at rapid speeds.
"SALOME!"
The God of Destruction roared as he pounded on his Devine Beat to send more lightning heading her way. Salome summoned a small fire ball to her left hand before hurtling the spell to barely cancel out his own.
"Alex! Why are you attacking me?"
She asked with surprise.
"To kill you before that psycho does of course! What does it look like?"
He growled back as his drums crackled with more electricity. He was nearly side swiped by an attack of Seedle's, as the Samurai Overlord intercepted him.
"Stupid brat! You dare to interfere a third time?"
Seedle said in a deathly calm voice as he attacked the God of Destruction with his powerful katanas.
"Get the hell out of my way!"
Alex warned as he attacked Seedle back.
'What is going on around here?'
Salome pondered as she watched the Samurai Overlord and the God of Destruction attack each other. She felt another magic attack coming and leaped away before possibly being impaled in the back by an ice spike that popped up from the ground just behind her. That's when she noticed Pram coming towards her.
"Pram...not you too."
The female Overlord muttered. Pram sighed.
"Unfortunately for you, yes. You'll be dead before you can thank Zetta for putting you in this predicament. Now die!"
Pram stated as she hurled a Giga Ice spell at Salome, who countered with a Giga Fire spell.
"This is pointless. Our magic is of the opposing element. Stop this nonsense and tell me what Zetta has to do with any of this when it's impossible."
The female Overlord said. Before Pram could do anything, Micky had taken repossession of his body and flew in between both of them, aiming his weapon at Pram.
"Salome, get out of here! You've got three Overlords who want to kill you and that's not good odds. Something may have happened to Zetta if they keep blaming him for something. Go back to his Netherworld and find out!"
Micky said. Just then, the doors to the Throne Room burst open, revealing some of Salome's troops.
"Lady Salome! Some massive black...thing is heading for the castle at incredible speeds. Our Vehicles can't stop it!"
One of them said, and it was then Al came in through the open window.
"Big Bro! Pram! Zetta's black ship is coming! We have to get out of here!"
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Space Battleship Yoshitsuna
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"They seem to have been expecting us, dood. You sure you don't want to dispatch any of our troops, dood?"
The right hand Prinny said. Zetta-Baal glared at him.
"This will be a matter I will take care of personally from the beginning to its conclusion. Now follow orders and retreat once the Yoshitsuna has rammed into her castle and I have disembarked. Don't ever dare question my authority again."
Zetta-Baal warned as he stood up and prepared to go to the top of the ship. The Prinny gulped audibly in fear as the Overlord left.
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Salome's Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, Throne Room
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The castle was left with a decent sized hole in one side by the rattling collision. Al was propelled forward, luckily into Alex's hands, and the God of Destruction held Al close to him.
"Hey, you okay?"
Alex asked his little brother. The boy nodded.
"I'll live."
The boy reassured as both of them along with the rest of the Overlords peered at the new arrival.
"Zetta..."
Salome murmured, seeing the Overlord appear on the tip of the Yoshitsuna's nose. He hopped off to stand on the edge of the hole made by the large battleship as it backed out of the castle and ascended to the night sky.
"I won't be denied my revenge! Not again!"
Seedle said, taking Alex's momentary distraction to his advantage as he rammed past the God of Destruction to fly speedily towards Salome. A black fire ball went ahead of him and went for the shocked female Overlord. Salome barely evaded, and now shock spread to all the other Overlord's as they all looked to Zetta and his outstretched arm with black flames dancing around his palm.
'He tried to attack Salome himself...'
Pram realized and took a nervous step back. The magic spell was clearly aimed at Salome, not Seedle.
"What are you doing, Zetta? Don't you love her?"
Micky asked, but Zetta did not answer verbally and only summoned the Genesis into his lowered hand by his side.
'...dammit...what happened now? Wait a minute...! Salome...I'm on her Netherworld?'
Zetta was completely confused when he came around.
'All the other Overlords are here, too? But...'
Before he could think more on it, his body reacted swiftly as it flew towards Salome.
"Zetta, why?"
Salome asked, but his answer was to bring his sword forward with an upward slash which she was forced to defend against. She went skidding into the wall as the Overlord pushed against her weapon with his own.
'What hell are you doing, you stupid body! LEAVE HER ALONE!'
Zetta roared.
'There will be no tolerated weaknesses. She must die.'
Another voice said. Zetta growled as he witnessed his body pull back suddenly with a full spinning motion, leading the blade to strike Salome from the side with great speed and accuracy. She could only defend partially with her weapon as she was sent to the ground by his attack, a medium sized gash now on the side of her waist.
'She's not a threat of any kind. Stop this now!'
He pleaded. The other voice began to laugh at him. His body lead with a downward strike that Salome partially evaded, receiving a small cut on her arm.
'Then why are you so avidly trying to defend her? Face it, she is a weakness for whom you can't stomach to kill with your own two hands!'
His body would have attacked again, but quickly turned to intercept Seedle and his swift moving blades.
"Zetta...so Salome is no longer a weakness, is that what your trying to convey here?"
The Samurai Overlord asked as one Devine Wind crashed against the surface of Zetta's blade. Seedle went towards the side, trying to strike at Zetta with his other katana. The Overlord back stepped to evade.
"So the silent treatment once more, is it? Then listen well, Zetta, because you will not have the privilege of killing her. Too long have I strived for this moment and you will not take it away from me as you have repeatedly done so in the past! Understand? You will NOT have her!"
He spat vehemently in between attacks. It was rather ironic that he would defend Salome just so that he could obtain the chance to kill her later rather than just letting anyone else do the deed. Such was the result of his obsession with his revenge. Zetta-Baal retreated back as the flurry of attacks kept coming.
'Micky, Zetta is...'
Ophelia began to speak to Micky, but he cut her words off.
"Not now, Ophelia. I must keep complete focus!"
He said while blocking off the rest of Ophelia's words as he rushed towards Salome, who stood up and remained leaning against the wall with some of her vassals who snuck over to her while Zetta-Baal was being occupied by Seedle.
"Salome, call the rest of your solders and castle retainers off and have them evacuate from the Castle! They don't stand a chance against him."
Micky informed the female Overlord.
"It doesn't matter! Lady Salome needs our support."
A Witch said.
"Why is Lord Zetta doing this? You've given him no reason to harm you at all, Lady Salome."
A Healer said as she healed the female Overlord's wounds that had been incurred by both Seedle and Zetta. The physical wounds were not nearly as deep as the emotional ones, and Salome was kept pondering about Zetta's strange behavior. If he had his body back, wasn't he suppose to be happy? She watched as Zetta-Baal knocked Seedle back before zooming back towards her, only this time Valvoga stepped in to guard against Zetta-Baal's sword with his beam saber.
"Salome, call them off."
Micky said in a strained voice as he tried to keep the Overlord at bay. Salome seemed to regain some resolve as she stood straight.
"All of you retreat from here. Valvoga is correct when he says none of you stand a chance. I don't want to hear any objections. Let the Overlords worry about the Overlords."
She ordered. The vassals looked as if they would object, but ultimately stepped down and left to spread the word to the remaining castle members who weren't caught in the Yoshitsuna's crash. Salome readied herself as she saw Micky get pushed out the way. The former master and apprentice's blades crossed in a blaze of sparks.
"Zetta, I'll ask again...why are you doing this?"
She asked, barely able to hold him off. He did not answer. He was much more powerful than he had previously been, and she could tell. Somehow he seemed to have amassed a great deal of Mana in a very short amount of time.
'Salome...there should be no reason why I should be feeling sorry you. That voice is right. You are a weakness, yet...somehow I don't care if you are. Shit, why do I have to be so damn weak when it comes matters concerning you? Tell me...why? I couldn't kill you even if you were only a insignificant dream? That's how fucking weak I, the Strongest Overlord, really am?'
Zetta asked himself, finally admitting that he did indeed have a weakness. He had known it all along but kept the feelings repressed. He felt nothing but disgust for himself, that he had the gall to pronounce himself as the Strongest when he couldn't even pretend to eliminate Salome even if he wanted to. His body eased his sword off against Salome's blade slightly, faltering little by little. Salome noticed and looked deeply into his eyes, hoping to find the answer to her question but they remained as they always have been. Empty. The voice spoke to Zetta once more, anger becoming ever so evident in the usually calm and collected tone.
'Zetta, you don't need her. You can destroy her...just remember...who and what you really are. The true Zetta...'
The voice was interrupted as Micky came to Salome's aid and struck Zetta in the side of the head with the hilt of his beam saber. The Overlord was left open to an attack as Micky followed up with a wind spell to try and knock him on his feet. Zetta went skidding on his back but flipped back into a kneeling position.
'...the Demon who stained everything crimson with the blood of all other Demons using only the Warlord DX.'
The voice concluded. Zetta's body stood up with difficulty, head lowered as he breathed heavily. Micky used that moment to speak to Salome again.
"I don't get what's going on, but let's try and subdue him. We might be able to obtain some answers that way."
The Star Overlord suggested.
"Something seems... to be distracting him. Just like that one time when I fought him on my Netherworld."
Alex said to himself, noticing that Zetta wasn't really fighting back. Alex started to hover in the air, starting to move towards Zetta.
"What are you doing, big bro? Shouldn't we get out of here while Zetta's distracted?"
Al asked. Alex turned back to his brother, but said nothing and went to look at Pram who stood a few feet away from their location.
"Hey Pram, if your planning to retreat, can you take Al with you?"
He called out to her. She looked at him in surprise.
"Your not planning to retreat? Even if he's not fighting back, Zetta may be biding his time and toying with the others and preparing for an even more devastating counter attack."
She said to him, watching as Salome intercepted a writhing Zetta and tried speaking to him while he clutched his forehead. Seedle had used that moment to his advantage and tried to sneak up on the female Overlord while her attention was diverted completely to Zetta, but the Samurai Overlord was then intercepted by Micky who used the Devine Light to keep Seedle occupied. Alex simply shrugged.
"I'm starting to find Valvoga's idea rather appealing. I'd like to know what crawled up Zetta's ass that would lead to his personality change. I mean, come on, he even attacking Salome before our very eyes. Zetta would never do that in his right state of mind despite all that tough talk of his, correct? I just wish the number of Overlords here was greater so me, Valvoga and Salome would stand more of a chance, if your going to retreat, Pram. Seedle will be a mixed bag in terms of help considering he'll only fight Zetta when Salome's life is potentially threatened. Even old gramps Babylon and that stupid King Drake would be appreciated at this moment."
The God of Destruction inquired. Pram had to admit she was intrigued, but not sure if she would be inclined to follow through if it meant losing her life(most Demons do look out for number one first and foremost, of course). When Alex mentioned King Drake however, she decided to help.
"I guess you can count me in, then. It would be nice to get some answers."
Pram spoke up, much to Alex's relief for her wanting to stay, as well as dread since no one might be around to take care of Al if things didn't work out. Pram, of course, had her ulterior motive for continuing the fight.
'If the old man was captured, he's probably held in the big black ship Zetta has. If we can beat Zetta, I can capture the old man back and keep my secret safe!'
The former Oracle believed. Meanwhile, Zetta's body attacked Salome. However, the swinging of his sword was not wild per se as much as it was unfocused. The female Overlord could evade the strikes easily.
"Come on, Zetta, talk to me. What happened to you? How did you get your body back?"
She asked, but he remained silent while clutching his forehead and covering one eye with his palm while the visible one glared at her.
"Zetta, please...don't do this."
She kept pleading, unaware of the struggle within.
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Unknown
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The darkness had ensnared Zetta once more as his imposter stood before him in the vast expanse of space, drowning out Salome and her Netherworld.
"Your becoming a great hindrance, Zetta. It is time to sleep once more or else no progress will be made."
The imposter said. Zetta was prepared to strike him, but held back.
"I don't want to have any part in this dream any longer, so I won't attack you. I'm gonna wake up now."
He told his imposter, who only scoffed at the book.
"Wake up? You want to throw away all your desires to become the strongest just for some woman? Disgusting...this was not how you were raised to be."
The imposter said, eyes narrowing.
"I haven't thrown away anything. I AM the strongest. I've reached it so long ago and I'm satisfied already. I don't need these dreams anymore about being in my body. It's gone and I accepted that already, so just get the fuck out of my head. It's been fun, but now I'm getting out of here. Got to start the day off right with the minions and all."
Zetta said as he turned away, floating away from the imposter.
"You know all that you just said is a lie. Deep down the desire to become the strongest keeps pulsing along with your heart beat. To be satisfied now and simply rule the sheep is not the desire of the one created by Baal. Remember well, for your desires are his desires."
The imposter spoke back, making Zetta stop. Those words brought back the memory of the child left in a near death state in darkness before the red clad Demon showed up. Zetta didn't know if the imposter's words triggered that odd memory, but his eyes began twitching with growing fury.
"What the hell is that suppose that mean?"
When he turned, he was faced with nothing. It only made his anger peek further.
"ANSWER ME!"
He yelled to the stars but no answers were offered, only more questions as the voice spoke again.
"What? Did you think you were brought to life by normal means? Did you think your purpose was so simple? Of course not. It was why you were branded with that name. Zetta. The final piece to the destruction of all things living and non-living in all universes currently in existence and beyond. Even the destruction of his entire being."
Zetta spotted the red clad Demon from the corner of his eye and turned to face him.
"Who the hell are you? Why do I keep feeling as if I know you? Or are you really a part of me?"
He spoke to the Demon, who did not answer immediately.
"Sleep. The time of your sacrifice has not yet come. Regardless of that, forget about this universe you know so well, forget about the woman you foolishly fell in love with, or the child you foolishly decided to shelter within your Kingdom. Forget about it all. For you Zetta, there is only one relevant truth in your entire existence..."
The Demon said, as a black fog engulfed him, taking shape of the large black giant. The Demon's voice came out twisted and distorted.
"...and he is known as Baal the Almighty."
:ToBeContinued:
Note: First update within the new year, but unfortunately it's not a good chapter, though it is a fairly long one. Too much chaos is occurring since so many main characters were put into one scene that it made it tough to decide who were the most important ones to write about and who were the ones who didn't need quite as much emphasis. Well, at least Ophelia seems to have figured out Zetta already but keeps getting interrupted and unable to explain anything, even to Micky himself. Zetta and Baal's relation is revealed even more clearly than before while still remaining in the general sense. Things will get more specific as the chapters go on, but that has been obvious since the very beginning so I'm rambling in my statement, aren't I? I apologize for the many areas wrong with the characters in this chapter, but I'm still only used to spotlighting about two or three characters in a chapter at once, not like seven or eight but I'll keep trying to improve. As always, I apologize for updating so late.