"So. We meet again, Primal Element." Vaskul smiled inwardly as he saw Ilias recognize him.
"Y- You really came back..." Ilias trembled with happiness.
"Of course I did. I said I would be back soon, didn't I?" Vaskul responded.
"I... I didn't expect this. I had thought you were gone forever, for one reason or another," she seemed surprised, not quite sure how to take this in.
"I did say I would return. I'm a Lich of my word," Vaskul said, starting to wonder if this was truly a good idea in hindsight.
Well shit. I should've probably gave the aftermath of meeting her more thought rather than how I would manipulate her... Vaskul thought as he began to sweat from nervousness. He had hoped she was a bit more emotional or friendly towards him when he reappeared before her... Should've given a bit more thought into actually, y'know, manipulating her instead of being entranced by the thought of simply making her feel overwhelming shock and nostalgia...
"... I never realized you were so... skeletal, in nature. Had it not been so obvious to me that you're an undead, I would ask if you if you were malnourished," Ilias brought a finger up to her lip, her brow furrowing as she thought about what to do in this situation.
This is getting really awkward... Vaskul just opted to stare and wonder why this was happening. ... Maybe just being stuck with either Lucifina, Luka, or Chrome for a few years wasn't good for my social skills... Sheesh. And I used to be so good at inspiring people too, back in my paladin days. Now... Eugh.
"So. What made you come back to me after all this time? It's been a long time, there has to be a reason for this," Ilias suddenly pointed out.
"Um. I only left for a short amount of time-..."
"You left me alone for over 3 million years with a whore. And even then I couldn't talk to her. Not like I'd want to anyways," she glared at him. But despite that though, she still looked a tad bit adorable. Between her, Luka, and very rarely Lucifina, Vaskul was starting to really think cuteness must be a running trait in the elements family line. At least, when they're young. Well, very young. To him practically everyone was a child.
Huh. I feel flashbacks to my old party members. The old bastards and bitch. Vaskul thought idly, ... Now I'm getting sidetracked. Gah... This really is feeling awkward...
"You're damn right it's awkward," Ilias commented, "It's one of the reasons why I keep the angels around me. So I don't wind up hearing my pious followers' closet perversions and fetishes. Do you know how many mental scars I got over the years from that? Too many!"
"Oh would you look at that. Still capable of mind-reading... And honestly, you should've seen that coming, becoming a Goddess," Vaskul suspected as much. He would have to be careful about his personal musings later... Though it could come in handy for teasing her later.
"Yes, I really should've. Now, please explain why you're even here. There has to be a reason why you're here," she said, tapping her finger impatiently.
"Oh, is it so bad that I want say hello to an old friend?" Vaskul answered, deciding to put off the talk about Estark later.
"I'd hardly describe us as 'friends...'" Ilias mused, "In fact, I quite despise the undead. Disgusting creatures who live off the Darkness, the exact thing Alipheese I represents."
Aaaaaaand that's when I knew, this is when I fucked up. More than usual, anyways, Vaskul mused, "Hey... Rude. Don't compare all the the undead to the whores and mockeries this world has.
"I see... So you're implying a rotting whore and a rotting abomination are two different things?" Ilias had a doubtful look on her face.
"Yes. Yes I am. What wonderful listening skills you have," Vaskul promptly snarked, knowing fully well that she should know he wasn't nearly as respectful as the other humans she knew. "I would expect you to at least have respect for the corpse that can keep its dick or vagina inside a pair of underwear or pants."
"I should have respect for anyone who doesn't even have such disgusting thoughts in the first place," Ilias sighed, "... But, even then, at least you came back."
"Indeed I have... And it would seem you've been quite busy," Vaskul smiled thinly as he started to get tired of her (verbally) pinning him down like this, "I did not think you were able to create lesser elements from yourself."
"Ah, yes. I learned about creation and destruction from you before you left, and I eventually learned how to replicate and do it myself!" Ilias proudly puffed out her chest in pride now, "I learned about how to create others long before Alipheese!"
"Ho ho... While you are certainly good at creation, I have a question... How do the Angels reproduce? I don't see any Angel males." Vaskul asked with an undertone of snark.
"Oh! Um..." Ilias reddened, "Well, I didn't have anyone but myself to see, and I was a bit afraid to show myself to the humans at the time... And all I remembered of you was a blue misty cloud... So I based my first creations off of myself and a few humans I saw from a far off distance, and I wound up with Micaela, Lucifina, and Eden."
"That didn't answer my question completely though... You've had plenty of time to observe a man at length. Why didn't you do it later?" Vaskul frowned at her. She was avoiding his question for some reason.
"And eventually I found out how to make all of the others, and create one known as Throne Eggiel to make even more!" Ilias continued, pretending to have not heard his remark.
"Yes, yes. That's good and all... But why are you avoiding my question?" Vaskul sighed. There's something she's hiding from him isn't there? Well, it probably didn't matter, and it was likely that it was something he didn't really care about.
Ilias waved that aside, ignoring him as she instead asked her own question, "How did you make it here anyways? Nobody in this world except for maybe the monsters in Hellgondo know the Gate to Heaven is here... And the Gate of Heaven should've stopped you along with Eden and the others. Finally, why did you come back?"
"Oh, I tracked a cupid here after I took some time to learn the area." Vaskul answered plainly, "Your little 'spies' are not as stealthy as you would think them to be, though I will teach you how to perfect them and their skills... As for the Gate of Heaven and Eden? I just snuck by them with my magic. Don't underestimate my skill in the arcane arts..." Vaskul answered.
"That's... worrying, to say the least," Ilias seemed troubled at that answer, "I suppose they've gotten too comfortable being the top of the food chain..."
"Hm hm hm hm... Indeed. Give them a few weeks in Faerun. They'll either come out champions and paragons or dead... or worse. But..." Vaskul leaned in and hugged her suddenly, "I need you to help me..." He gently whispered in his faux-pleasant voice.
Ilias appeared slightly taken aback by his sudden move, but decided to listen, "Go on..."
"I have been tracking down and hunting an Ancient Demon Lord since time immemorial... Even before I met you I was trying to find him... I found out quickly that the Demon Lord had crashed here, and you and some other Element managed to seal him away..." Vaskul whispered.
Ilias paled at what he implied, "Y-... Yo-you mean Esturk?... Why would you be tracking-"
"Because, my dear Elemental, Estark holds something that could make anyone into a living God. Even a worm could become a God if it got a hold of and used the Secret of Evolution... Just imagine what it could do to you and me... Imagine the two of us transcending Time and Space, beyond what any limited being could do, we could even will things to exist just by thinking about it... All I need is your help... Or would you rather let yourself be equal to Alipheese?"
"Truly?" Ilias seemed to be very interested in the prospect of becoming a full-on God.
"Indeed... No one could stand up to you or me, not even Primal Alipheese... Not a single person could stand up to us..." Vaskul's smile spread from cheek to cheek when he saw Ilias' eyes. They had a lust for power, knowledge, and Godhood in them... And probably disappointment in his undead nature, but who gave a damn about that?
"... I would assume you know what to do? I don't want to unseal The Dark Goddess because Estark got loose..." Ilias shivered in excitement and fear.
"I do. All I need to get the Secret is your help... Only you can help me with this. I do not wish to turn to a whore for Estark's location..." Vaskul assured.
Ilias' Pupils contracted into pinpricks of pure insanity. "Then I believe we can finally get to know each other once more. Let bygones be bygones, and forget your undeath and abandonment. For now, let's focus on Godhood."
"Indeed, my dear Elemental," Vaskul mentally pumped up his fist in triumph. Yes! YES! He was finally going to gain the Secret of Evolution after so many eons and ages of searching! It was going to be his and his alone... Because obviously Ilias didn't need to know that she needed the Armlet of Transmutation to have a perfect form, nor did he really have any intentions of letting her gain the Secret of Evolution either.
...
"Lady Ilias? I'm afraid there's an intruder in the Heavens..." Seraph Eden hesitantly flew just before her Master's domain to inform her about the Necromancer. I just hope she won't take her anger out on me... Though, perhaps I deserve it for allowing such a horrible error.
She didn't get an answer, "Lady Ilias?" she called out again.
Still no answer.
Does she want me to go in...? Eden guessed quizzically from her Goddess' silence. Ilias usually answered and didn't need anyone to go into her private quarters unless it was something she wanted to be kept secretly even from the other Angels. "Lady Ilias? Are you there?"
"Eden?" Ilias finally noticed her, and seemed to mutter: "Hm?... Yes, yes. She's my right-hand... Do you-? You don't care? I see then..." Eden noted her Master was talking to someone. "Come in, Seraph Eden."
"As you wish my Lady!" Eden flew up into her quarters, and entered one of her Goddess' rooms.
"Now then, what did you need?" Ilias inquired to Eden as she motioned for Eden to take a seat.
"I'm afraid to tell you that somebody has managed to break into the Heavens... He's supposedly one of Promestein's subordinates, and I believe he has necromantic origins," Eden informed as she looked around, noticing a man dressed in a black robe with ivoric carvings decorating it. He smiled calmly, waving at her as if she was a friend. "There he is! Don't worry Lady Ilias! I will subju-" Eden was cut off by Ilias raising her hand in a "cease" or "calm down" sort of way. "M-my-my lady?... What are you doi-?"
"Don't worry about Vaskul. He just didn't know I had you and the Heavenly Host with me now since our last encounter," Ilias waved off the so-called threat of Vaskul doing anything... for now.
"Me and the Host?... Last encounter? But we were the only ones with you in the beginning, how could there be-" Eden was cut off again, this time by Vaskul.
"What we are about to say is to stay between the three of us and us alone, until either me or Ilias says it's fine to talk and divulge it to the others, understood? Yes? Good..." Vaskul strictly ordered Eden, who decided to listen for now instead of arguing with him out of respect for Ilias' approval, "I met Ilias long before she truly had a mind when I was exploring the Void with an Astral Projection of my mind, and after some time I directed her here so that I may find her again when I could return in a Physical Form. Quite clearly a lot of time has passed since then... Much more time than I intended." Vaskul explained.
Eden wanted to smite him for casually talking about Ilias like that... But her Goddess had not a single complaint about that, so he had to be telling the truth, even if she didn't like it.
"I eventually returned here, and quickly found out that not only Ilias had became the 'Goddess' of this world, but Estark had been crashed here as well, and rests somewhere..." Vaskul finished, implying Estark was important to him or his goals somehow.
"Esturk? How do you know about him? And why would you care? He's long gone by now, and for as long as any sane person should care, he should stay gone, sealed, and forgotten!" Eden sharply responded to the mention of Estark, now curious as to why this man knew so much about their past, even though they had long since torn and eradicated the records of Estark from most humans and monsters.
"I've known him for a long time... Even before Ilias was born, I was tracking him down. As for why I care, Well... That is between me and Ilias. You might find out in time... If we decide it's not important enough to keep a secret..." Vaskul cryptically answered.
"Really? You not only want to risk breaking Primal Alice and the Ancestors out, but you want to risk awakening Estark as well!? Lady Ilias, surely this goal, whatever it may be, is not worth whatever this wizard says?" Eden questioned, unsure about letting this Necromancer so casually join their forces and redirect their goals and ideals...
"Eden, my loyal Seraphim, you'll understand in time... Vaskul is much older and (possibly) wiser, and is most likely more skilled than me magically speaking... He should know what he is doing. All we have to worry about is Promestein or Black Alice finding out our true goals, and even then, we can deal with them rather easily," Ilias reassured her uncomfortable follower.
"I see then..." Eden said, though her expression said anything but that. "I will tell the Host the truth of the false alarm, and say nothing about what has transpired here," she turned to leave, but was stopped by Vaskul. "Yes? What do you want Necromancer?"
"Would you mind telling them I'm on their side as well? It would be a shame if I had to break in every time I had to go here." Vaskul asked.
"But of course... Necromancer," Eden said with false obedience as she continued on, biting her tongue from having to agree to make her brethren think that this wizard, whoever he is, is some sort of "friend" or "ally" to them...
...
"Hm hm... So, who is Black Alice? I know Promestien is most likely the red-headed scientist angel who creates and supplies your technology, but I have no memory of a 'Black Alice' being mentioned." Vaskul chuckled as he watched the various expressions of relief and surprise among the Heavenly Host down below as Eden delivered the news.
"Oh, her? She's a descendent of Primal Alice, the Eighth to be exact," Ilias' face twisted in disgust at the mention of her name, "The only reason I let her live is so that the balance between Light and Darkness stays in shape."
"Light and Darkness?... Ah, the system that would allow Primal Alice and her Ancestors to break free should too many monsters die off if I recall correctly. Does that also apply to if Light gets too weak as well?" Vaskul mentally noted to try and meet this "Black Alice" later, as she was likely the only major commander of Ilias's army he hasn't seen or met yet. Perhaps she will provide some form of entertainment just like the current Maou.
"Hm, that's a good question. The treaty was made to mostly keep me from killing off all of the monsters and tipping the balance too far in Light's favor, but I'm not sure if Primal Alice will break free if Darkness is too overpowering of Light... Though I am not sure how one would kill me or any of the Angels, as we can only be killed off for good in Heaven," Ilias thought, now interested as to what would actually happen if that was the case, but only as a mental scenario. The last thing she wanted other than Estark's revival was Primal Alipheese coming back with Darkness being stronger than Light in the scale of things... "I think it truly works in that the seal is undone when too much Darkness energy permeates the atmosphere. As such, if the Darkness is overwhelming the Light through "
"Just like a Faerunic Balor..." Vaskul muttered under his breath.
"A what now?" Ilias caught his mention of some "Balron" or "Balrog."
"Balors are the Demon Generals of my world, just under Demon Princes and Lords like Estark and Demogorgon. They're tough bastards, and can only truly be killed off if they're found and destroyed for good in Hell in a spectacular explosion, and even then, that doesn't completely assure the chance they might reincarnate as a lesser demon and rise again to Balor status one day... I've had many incidents where one was ordered to annoy or troll me by Kyous (The Wormy, Overkilling Bastard...)" Vaskul elucidated.
"Hm, interesting. I guess they're the equivalent of monsters in your world?" Ilias perked at the thought of learning more about Faerun.
"To an extent, I guess. I suppose Demons and Devils represent the Malice and Evil of my world, while Beholders and Mind Flayers represent Xenophobia and Megalomania, and the Tribe of Baramos, especially the ones that served under Zoma, represent pure hatred and nihilism. All the other monsters are just there to cause havoc and do whatever they want." Vaskul mulled, never really having thought about how this world had its perverted equivalents to Faerun, Nadiria, and Alefgard.
"Hm, that alone says how hard it must be to live there... You must be really strong to live in such a world." Ilias mused, thinking about what the heck was a "Mind Flayer" or a "Baramos." Faerun sounded quite harsh and focused on "Survival of the Fittest" to her.
"Indeed. While your world only has rapists and sluts, I lived in a world where Male and Female Monsters exist en masse and cause mass havoc and destruction everyday. It's actually rare to hear of rape and prostitution being a major issue among all the horrible things that go on in Faerun, and it's rare to see a man get tempted or fall for a monster, unless the monster is a Succubus... About the only thing Faerun has in common with your world is that Succubi are still sluts and whores. There's nothing in Faerun relating to the perversion of the First Alipheese, and if there were, it'd be wiped out... Though I suppose the Succubus Queen is a close equivalent? I don't know..."
"No Alipheese? My, it sounds like you have such a colorful and wonderful world!" Ilias said, immediately changing her mind on the subject.
"... Anyways, back to the topic at hand. What would happen if Black Alice is somehow killed?" Vaskul sighed, annoyed by how Ilias always managed to confuse him. Why would she think Faerun was a wonderful and "colorful" world? Her current world was like a paradise compared to his, especially for mortal men, what with all the perverted women and lack of demonic overlords trying to destroy the World.
"If she's killed?" Ilias cupped her chin and mouth and thought for a moment. "I believe it would be very easy for either Primal Alice or just one Ancestor to break free if Black Alice dies if your overwhelming energy manages to keep the others sealed. Even then, that's unacceptable, seeing how much of an issue they caused me during the Great Monster Wars."
"Estark seemed to beat them up rather easily. Then again, he cut Primal Alice in half and tore off your wings, so they never really stood a chance to begin with." Vaskul snarked.
"Sh-shut up!" Ilias blushed, flustered as to how Vaskul knew she got pulverized by Estark once. "I'm still recovering from having eight of my wings ripped out!"
"So that book was right after all," Vaskul chuckled, "Anyways, is there anything to fall back on in case Black Alice dies?"
"Not that I know of. Granted, we could keep the current Maou alive, but she would only provide a nuisance later on when our plans really start to develop." Ilias theorized.
"Hm... I think I have a servant waiting for me back at my old base that could remedy this issue." Vaskul Wished a portal to his old crypt to open! "Want to tag along?" He offered Ilias a hand as he stepped into the portal. [1]
"Sure?..." Ilias took his hand, and was quickly sucked into the portal. "Wah!" She cried out as they were swallowed by the vortex.
*At Vaskul's Old Crypt...*
...
"Helmer? I'm back!" Vaskul called out to his Helmed Horror as he began walking down the freshly cleaned crypt. "Hm, no bodies lying around, and there's not much dust..." he proudly noted as Ilias looked around in awe.
"So this is where you used to live?" Ilias asked, "I quite like the architecture. Impressively carved and crafted!"
"Ah, thank you! In this Crypt, my skull used to rest there," Vaskul pointed at a pedestal where his skull used to lie in, "And explore the depths of the Multiverse with my mind alone!"
"I see..." the Goddess soon gasped, finding something, "A-am-amazing!" Ilias gaped in awe at how many artifacts and priceless jewelry dotted the place around them, it far outstretched her own horde of treasure and valuables!
Slowly, they heard some shuffling and clanking coming at them. It was dressed in gleaming and shining plate armor, with a crossbow and a bastard sword on its back. It had a large rapier strapped to its side as well, as if it was a backup weapon. Overall, it looked like what a princess would think her dream knight to be. "H- Hello?" Ilias spoke to the figure.
"Oh! Helmer! You even cleaned your armor up! Good job!" Vaskul walked up to Helmer with no fear.
Helmer pointed at Ilias, as if to ask Vaskul if she was an enemy or not. [2]
"Oh, her? She's with me. No need to fear, my loyal f(r)iend!" Vaskul laughed at the minor pun.
And, in response to being called Vaskul's 'F(r)iend', Helmer flipped him off.
"Still as hateful to half-assed jokes as ever I see! Honestly, get a sense of humor my dear f(r)iend!" Vaskul chortled with laughter.
"So... This is the one who we're supposed to rely on if Black Alice dies somehow?" Ilias poked around at the Knight, not afraid anymore, "It seems to lack darkness energy..."
"Oh, that's because Helmed Horrors are designed to be like average folk. Truthfully, they have more darkness in them that animates and empowers them than most normal undead do, the only ones that supercede them to my knowledge are Liches, Full-blooded Vampires, Undead Baramoses raised by Zoma, and Nightshades," Helmer seemed to recall something upon hearing "Baramos."
He suddenly grabbed Vaskul by the cloak and dragged him over to the stairs leading to the first floor, where he then threw Vaskul up at the stairs, pointing at it.
"Tch, rude much?... Is there something up here you want to show me Helmer?" Vaskul inquired, deciding to ignore Helmer's rude way of leading him where it wanted him to be at.
Helmer kept pointing vigorously up the stairs.
"I know there's something up there, but what is it?!" Vaskul yelled at his mute Horror.
Almost as if Helmer was rolling his eyes, he pulled out a crossbow arrow and began writing something in to ground...
"Hmm... 'B-A-R-A-M-O-S'... 'U-P-S-T-A-I-R-S'..." Vaskul's eyes bulged in fright once he realized what Helmer was saying. "Oh hell no..."
"What? What is it? What's a Baramos?" Ilias kept asking. Just what could scare Vaskul this much so suddenly?
"A Baramos is a rare Demon-Devil hybrid that often vaguely resembles a Avian-Reptile creature... Zoma used to have three disciples that would do his bidding, and two of them were Baramoses, and one of those two was training to become a Master Archfiend like him..."
"I don't see how this 'Zoma' affects anything... And this might be a different Baramos anyways. I'm sure that there's more than two of them in the world," Ilias thought aloud.
"You don't get it! I met Zoma himself and I was nearly obliterated from existence itself!... A Single Baramos can easily usurp your control over your world, and wipe out every single human there, and that's talking about an averageBaramos. Ones that are old and wisened, or trained, like how Baramos Bomus and Gonus were trained by Zoma, can easily conquer, enslave, and destroy entire worlds and establish a terrible Empire if left to their own devices..." Vaskul shuddered, faintly hearing the roars of a Baramos ahead. [3]
"W- Well then..." Ilias tried to find a way to make their chances look better, but couldn't.
"We're fucked." Vaskul finished for her, sighing, he went on, saying, "If we're especially unlucky and this an Elder Baramos, then we can't even just run back to your world either, because those kinds can easily find and track magic spells and those who casted them."
"Oh dear me..." Ilias sweated, "This isn't good, not at all..."
"Indeed. This isn't good at all," Vaskul looked at Helmer. "Is the Baramos here on peaceful terms or is he just roosting here? And is he as capable as Gonus or Bomus?"
Helmer opted to write out the words on the floor instead of futility trying to paint it out with hands and half-assed sign language.
"B-A-R-A-M-O-S... I-S... H-E-R-E... O-N... P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L... T-E-R-M-S. H-A-S... B-E-E-N... W-A-I-T-I-N-G... F-O-R... Y-O-U... U-P-S-T-A-I-R-S," Vaskul read aloud. He sighed in relief knowing that, "Thank god... It's not violent," Vaskul took a deep breath, and turned to his Light Elemental, "Ilias?"
"Yes?" Ilias squeaked, terrified at the prospect of meeting something like what Vaskul described.
"If you hear fighting, GET OUT and destroy the portal, understood?" Vaskul strictly told her.
"Y-Yes, of course..." She piteously murmured.
"Good, good..." Vaskul took a deep breath and rose up the stairs.
...
Almost immediately Vaskul was assaulted by a massive heat-wave coming down on him. The Chamber was tinged red, and the distant place swayed from the sheer amount of heat that being emitted. "You can do it Vaskul, you can do it..." He muttered to himself as he ventured down the chamber.
Eventually he came to a place that was scorched black, with a makeshift Dais made up of bodies and bones before it. [4]
On top of it was a Baramos.
Oh by the Luminous One, I am completely and utterly fucked...
The Baramos was dressed much like how Gonus and Bomus were, though his robe was jet-black with a crimson cloak. He wore a silver-white necklace that was jeweled with a Moonstone, and his cloak was pinned with a similar gem. His scales/skin were a light-silver, though not albino like Bomus was. He was massive as well; he was easily five times larger than Vaskul himself... His tail, like Bomus and Gonus, were probably hidden underneath his robes. [5]
He also distinctly had some sort of strange aura of darkness that didn't originate from him... Possibly some sort of ally or friend "ghost" of sorts that was currently dormant?
"Ah, so thou hast finally come eh Vaskul? I was wondering if thou would ever acknowledge my presence..." The Baramos began.
"What are you here for, Baramos?" Vaskul shot, wanting to get to the point. Might as well put up a brave facade to prevent the Baramos from thinking it was in control.
"Ohoho! Thine art quite rude, though thou Knight warned me as so..." The Baramos laughed.
"Helmer? He warned you? How long have you been here?" Vaskul questioned.
"Oh, I've been hither for about..." The Baramos pulled out a stopwatch from among the corpses, "Roughly eight years."
"That long!? How is Helmer still alive!?" Vaskul shouted, gobsmacked at the thought of Helmer putting up with a Baramos for such a long time.
"Eh, we're like roommates. He stays down there, I stay up here." The Baramos elaborated, then he cleared his voice, "Regardless! I've been awaiting ye, and now I wish to offer thou and thine cohorts a proposal!"
Vaskul blinked, processing this information. So this Baramos wasn't actually here to kill or overthrow him? "Go on."
"I've heard about thine quest to uncover Emperor Estark, and I wish to accompany ye so that I may gain the Secret as well!" The Baramos offered.
So he's here for the Secret of Evolution... It's bad enough that Ilias knows, but at least she's more or less under my control... Vaskul mulled, Then again, this Baramos said "Estark" instead of his ancient name "Esturk," so he must be very young... And it may help to have a Baramos helping me for a time, he'd help balance out the amount of women I'll probably have to deal with on a daily basis now that the Angels know about me. Still, I can't help but at least try to disinterest him and change his mind!...
"I would warn you that his resting place is filled with attractive, though unsavory women..." Vaskul warned.
"What kind? The Amazon-Kind, the Banshee-Kind, the Drow-Kind?..." The Baramos asked, interested to hear what kind of vile monster they would be like.
"The Succubi-Kind of Unsavory Women." Vaskul answered. Even if he was terrified of what'd happen to him, he still almost fell over laughing when he saw the Baramos' face.
"You're not kidding?"
"I'm not kidding. I swear the lesser ones alone will rape a 3 year old boy to death... And all of them are female." Vaskul solemnly swore.
"Ugh... By the Dead God of Sin Asmodeus damn it... It's a world populated and filled with literal bitches," The Baramos cursed, not wanting to leave this wonderfully dark and gruesome world for a perverted one where he was probably the only male monster there. "Will I be gender-bent if I go there?"
"Um... Good question. Probably not, due to the local monsters there being created by a perverted Elemental, so you'll be fine. (I think.)" Vaskul hesitated, but then answered, and gradually got more confident as the conversation went on. This Baramos seemed to be really young, so maybe it was weak enough for him to take down and kill...
The Baramos thought it over, seemingly angry over the thought of such a world, "I'll take my chances," he decided, climbing down from his makeshift throne of corpses.
"Oh. Okay..." Vaskul cursed mentally. He should've suspected as much from a Baramos. They were renowned for being extremely determined, to the point of coming back from the dead to extract revenge on a killer. "Very well then... What is your name, Baramos?"
"I am Baramos Sigmus! It is my destiny to gain the Secret of Evolution, and with its power and my own, become a fully-fledged Archfiend and join the ranks of the Great Demon Kings!" Sigmus shouted proudly as he came up to Vaskul, "Now then, I assume we are ready to depart for the other world?"
"Indeed we are. Come, let's get going." Vaskul sighed as he led the Baramos down back to Ilias and the portal.
...
"Ilias? Ah, there you are. Come along, we're going now." Vaskul motioned for Ilias to come out.
"A- Ah... I see that's the Baramos you were talking about?..." She stuttered, slightly frightened at the demon, who was nothing like any of the monsters she knew of. Vaskul could understand. He too was actually scared shitless at the prospect of having a Baramos tag along, and for the Secret of Evolution no less! But, his confidence was kept up to a slight hope that this Baramos was very young and was weak enough to be killed without much help.
"Yes. It would appear that the Darkness will not be threatened any time soon if we bring both Helmer and Sigmus along," he answered, putting on a calm facade to go with his confidence. He didn't want Ilias to start distrusting him now afterall.
"Hm hm hm... I presume this one is your associate?" Sigmus sneered at Ilias, who seemed quite weak and diminutive in comparison to him. "She looks tasty." Sigmus snapped his beak at her, and laughed when he managed to make her flinch, much to her displeasure and consequent glare.
"Now, now Sigmus. It wouldn't do to have your first impression of your new allies to be a demonic devil with a taste for flesh... Even though that's exactly what a Baramos is," Vaskul lectured Sigmus.
"Hmph. Whatever." Sigmus strode past Ilias and stood by the portal. "Everyone has what they needed?"
"Yes." Vaskul tapped Helmer by his helmet, and Helmer talked (signed) trash behind Vaskul's back..
"I was just tagging along..." Ilias stated, standing besides Vaskul.
"Then let's go!" Sigmus crouched down and crawled into the portal... The portal was meant for human-sized beings after all.
Vaskul, Helmer and Ilias soon followed suit.
... Something, or someone, seemed to... follow them, jumping from Sigmus and getting near Vaskul instead...
"...Huh?" Vaskul felt something rather strange brush near his soul, as if to hop along for the ride... It felt like... Despair? "Curious..."
*In the Heavens...*
...
"Sssth!" Sigmus immediately hissed and covered his eyes when he arrived along with Vaskul. Helmer and Ilias didn't react much to it, since both were used to bright flashes and light. Ilias because she was the Goddess of Light. Helmer because he frequently saw Vaskul's soul gems light up like a sun in anger whenever Vaskul's astral projection found or spoke to something that pissed him off.
"With that chore said and done, the First Monster Lord and her Six Ancestors should hardly be able to break free now," Vaskul remarked, and while starting to get impatient with the constant ramifications and small nuisances that he had to deal with in order to get Ilias to finally tell him where Estark was to gain the Secret of Evolution, also said: "Now... We should begin a meeting to form a plan to attack and reseal Estark if things go south while I wrench the Secret from him... Do you know anyone else who can help Ilias?"
Almost as if either the mention of Estark or the light of Heaven was starting to get to him, he suddenly held his head for a split second from pain... Why was he suffering from a headache? Probably nothing to worry about... Just stress, that's all.
"I believe Seraph Eden could provide some support from a distance, and I believe Promestein and Black Alice will be interested in this venture," Ilias answered.
"Good, good. Get them here now." Vaskul was also seemingly cranky from a close encounter with PTSD (Baramos), and a lack of a certain imp (Chrome) to pester. Speaking of which, where is Chrome? I miss annoying the small imp, He idly thought as Ilias guided them to the meeting room.
*Meanwhile with Chrome and La Croix...*
...
"So... It's really you, Shirome..." Chrome mused, seeing her sister again. However, she could easily tell it really wasn't her as she remembered. She was obviously undead. "I see you've managed to raise yourself as a zombie."
La Croix remained silent as she removed her mask, revealing her face. She looked a lot like Chrome, though with white hair and blue crystals. "You know I don't go by that name anymore, Chrome. You know I'm not really Shirome."
"Does it matter?" Chrome immediately shot back, then recomposed herself. "... So..."
... A bit of an awkward silence passed before Chrome decided to finish her sentence after Shirome missed the hint.
"How have you been doing?" Chrome said shyly.
"Considering my body was practically bisected by an explosion you accidently caused, and then I... Or Shirome to be accurate, had to freeze this body's tissues and replace my blood with preservative fluids and revive myself as a zombie, I would say... Pretty fine actually." La Croix summarized, "How have you been doing?"
"I was upstaged by Vaskul and quickly found myself turned into his apprentice," Chrome admitted, still slightly flustered at the thought of being his apprentice.
"Vaskul? The new lich that just joined and the one most likely to skip out on meetings and barely, if ever, talk to any of the Seekers?" La Croix asked, just to verify.
"Yep. That one." Chrome sighed. "It feels so humiliating to think that I was once one of the best necromancers in the world, and then an even stronger and wiser one saunters along and teaches me just so he can stay in the mansion."
"He teaches you magic? Of what kind?" La Croix was most interested in the thought of learning the magics this strange man used.
"He uses two different types he says. Faerunic and Zenithian, one uses the local magics nearby, and the other uses mana and willpower." Chrome said as she demonstrated Zenithian Magic by casting Blaze at the air, shooting forth a small burst of fire.
"Interesting... I assume that was Zenithian Magic?" La Croix guessed.
"Precisely! Zenithian is more of a combat and easy to cast magic, while Faerunic..." Chrome closed her eyes and began chanting Create Undead. La Croix watched in fascination as a simple ghoul crawled out of the goop that seeped from the floors. "Though Faerunic is not always complicated. According to Vaskul, he can easily cast something much more advanced by simply thinking about it, so it probably gets easier the more advanced and wiser the caster becomes, and the more they understand the inner workings of the arcane arts."
"Hm..." La Croix studied the Ghoul. It was quite simple minded, but its shape and behavior alone made it a freak even by her standards. While most zombies she made were relatively similar to their previous life and had a similar body-shape, this thing only had a vague resemblance to what could've once been a normal human. It didn't help that the Ghoul was chewing on a bone as well. "I assume this spell doesn't require a corpse?"
"It doesn't. But most beginners will have to have some sort of thing to cast the spell... But since Vaskul didn't want me grinding up all the bones to practice with, he just taught me how to do it without material components. It's quite useful for summoning lower-class undead beings," Chrome answered, then casting Blazemost on the Ghoul and burning it to ashes.
"Lower-Class Undead?" La Croix tilted her head in confusion.
"Hm? Oh yeah, apparently where Vaskul comes from, there's four things that help narrow down the endless amounts of undead he can choose from. Two are either Physical or Incorporeal, like the obvious difference between a zombie and a ghost, and non-sentient and sentient, like the difference between you and that ghoul," Chrome elaborated, "Whether something is physical or not doesn't really matter, but sentience, like what you and Vaskul have, are what makes an undead 'Greater' than some average zombie. He said Vampires and Liches are an excellent example of this type of undead."
"Very interesting..." La Croix nodded in understanding, mentally taking notes, "I assume then, that Vaskul is quite open about the information he gives out? I believe he wouldn't really just talk about this unless it was common knowledge for him."
"I guess. I never learned much about Faerun or Nadiria though, but from what I've heard from Vaskul and the few Demons I have summoned with the Lich's permission, there are different types of male and female monsters roaming around those worlds, and Demon Kings like Esturk lurking around in Nadiria," Chrome shrugged. "Even after all of the years I spent learning under him, I still don't know much of anything about where he came from or who he is. The only things I know is that he used to have an old master named Kyous and once knew two other liches known as Acererak and Vecna. That he talks to and deals with something named Mildrath among others... Or at least he used to."
"What a curious man... I hope to be able to meet him again in the near future." La Croix mused, thinking deeply on the knowledge she just learned. "You've certainly gone where no Artiste has gone before, Chrome. Be proud of it. While you've been inferior to me in Necromancy for most of your life... I must give credit where it is due. You learned something I had no idea even existed, and learned an entirely different form of Necromancy..."
Chrome blushed at the sudden praise, "I certainly am, Shirome, I certainly am..."
*Back in Heaven, In the Meeting Room*
...
"So... Why was I called here again? I believe we were scheduled for next Tuesday," Promestein absently thought as she arrived into the room.
"Indeed, I don't know why we were called here this early." Black Alice gave off an accusing look at Eden.
"What? I didn't call this." Eden responded, unsure of why Black Alice implied her to be the caller of the meeting.
"Rrreeeally? Then why in Heinrich's name was I called from my Tea Party back in Hellgondo all the way into the mountainous center of Sentora?" Black Alice drawled in a cutesy tone, "I know Ilias can be dim at times, but even she wouldn't make something like this happen so quickly without good reason, unlike you, Third."
"Tch!" Eden glared at her, "You know I'm the first Seraphim! Lucifina and Micaela were failures, I'm quite clearly not like them! I'm superior to my sisters, and I always will be!"
"I wouldn't be so sure. I'm fairly sure being in constant denial is considered to be a failure in someone," Promestein remarked off-handedly.
"Silence!" Eden shot back, "Both of you know I can easily wipe the floor with you two at once!"
"And Estark could wipe the floor with you and the Ancestors," Vaskul joined in as he came into the room.
"Vas-" Promestein began, confused as to how her new associate managed to find a way into Heaven so quickly.
"Eh-Hem!" Vaskul cleared his throat, cutting Promestein off and getting the bickering Black Alice and Eden to focus on him. "I would like everyone here to remain calm when they see the giant demonic duck walk into the room. That's all, thank you," he then took a seat.
"What? Demonic Duck?" Black Alice blinked at the man's random comment. That was even more random than her, and she caused all sorts of things to happen! "What are you even talking about...?"
The Three paused when Baramos Sigmus came into the room.
... He's a bit funny-looking, actually. Both scary to look at and somehow so damn hilarious at the same time... They all generally thought.
"... It's rude to stare you know..." Sigmus muttered as he massaged his temples, already feeling stressed from being around angels and a bright heaven. He honestly preferred that tiny girl and Vaskul over any of this bright and holy shit... "Also, really? Demonic Duck?"
"Yes. Would you rather be called a Demonic Platypus? Or perhaps a Bipedal Hippo?" Vaskul snarked, still cranky from the headache he was suffering from.
"Better to be a Bipedal Hippo than a Bipedal Bitch," Sigmus retorted.
"That's quite funny coming from a race who practically became Zoma's bitches, don't you think?" Vaskul and Sigmus were cut off from further insulting by Ilias arriving along with Helmer.
"Now, now you five. Let's not argue... (At least not until those three manage to get over Sigmus' bizarre appearance)." She lightly scolded.
"Oh, Ilias. Who's that?" Promestein looked at Helmer, who gave a light wave in greetings.
"That's Helmer. He's my meat shie- My very wonderful and marvelous creation, who also happens to be a mute." Vaskul explained as Helmer appeared to (somehow) give him a stink eye behind his back. "He won't be doing much. He's just there to help if something goes wrong."
"Oh. Okay." Promestein lost interest in the seemingly human knight. "Why are we here again?"
"Ah, I've called you all here for a special reason..." Ilias said, now starting the meeting, "I've reunited with my old 'friend,' Vaskul, and he had some... Wonderful secrets he was gracious enough to bestow upon me."
Strange. Ilias never acts like this. She doesn't think of anyone as truly being a friend, more of a servant or worshiper... Who is Vaskul to her? Promestein thought as she formed all sorts of thoughts and hypothesis for who Vaskul was. Either way, I've found quite the interesting man...
Meanwhile Black Alice was staring at the oversized hippo she knew as Baramos Sigmus. Ok. Really, what is this? I have no idea what the hell Sigmus is supposed to be, and I know every type of monster in the world. Is he a human twisted and corrupted by black magic? Is he a magician who ingested a magic mixture of dragon and harpy blood? Is he something else entirely? She squeezed her teddy bear in anticipation. Whatever Sigmus is, I'll be sure to get to know him later on...
"One of those secrets was about out primordial enemy, Estark," Ilias continued, immediately snapping everyone from their musings. "... My friend, if you would..." She motioned for him to talk before she sat down on her throne.
Vaskul stood up, looking over everyone. "Estark, as you might know, is an ancient Demon Emperor of Hell, who, until now, has been long forgotten and covered up by the dusts of time. But he still lives. I have been searching for him for a long time now... Even before I met Ilias, I was searching for him to gain the Secret to his power. I am quite frankly not interested in Estark himself. What I want, is the Secret of Evolution, an alchemic mixture so powerful and potent it can grant its users the power of the Gods, and for those who already have godhood or godlike powers?... Well, I am sure you can figure it out," he paused, letting them process what he said, "But perhaps we should retell a story about some users of the Secret to help make a point. Though I should not tell. It would be better if I got someone else to agree with me that this is fact... Perhaps someone who does know of it... Perhaps someone who is a Demon... Perhaps a Baramos?" Vaskul motioned at Sigmus, "Your turn, Sigmus. After all, you too desire the Secret as much as I do..." He finished as he sat down.
"And so I shall tell of two prevalent tales of the Secret of Evolution," Sigmus stood up and shadowed over everyone, even Eden, in his presence. "After the fall of Lord Zoma and Emperor Estark, as well as the banishment of Nokturnus, there were three users of the Secret of Evolution. Psaro, Aamon, and Great Mildrath. Psaro was the first to use it, though it did not work as effectively as it could've, due to his rushing of the formula and subsequent insanity. Because of this, Psaro had rapidly mutated over the course of his evolution, and eventually it became too unstable and got him killed... Until he was revived, but that's another story. Aamon's Evolution was more concise and stable, his was far more powerful and agile than Necrosaro's Form, but he grew arrogant. So arrogant, as to where he lost a battle and died before he could evolve to have true immortality. Lastly, we have Grandmaster Nimzo, who still lives even to this day. He was smart. He waited until no one was left, and slowly perfected and adjusted the Secret so that he could take it with relatively little to no issues... That power made him become the Satan of our world." Sigmus recalled, remembering the tale from back in his youth. "There is more to their tales, but that's the gist of it. Your turn, Vaskul." He rumbled as he sat back down.
"Hoho, thank you Sigmus... As you can tell, I am not lying when I say the Secret of Evolution has its advantages... But we must take care not to get arrogant and rush it!" Vaskul tittered when he saw the lust for power in Ilias, Promestein, and Black Alice's eyes. If things went his way, none of those lusts for power would be satisfied, none save his own... "Hm? Yes Eden?" he then asked, noting Eden had her hand up.
"What is the point? We can easily take over the world as we are now. Why should we risk that for gaining more power?" she inquired, quite clearly not trusting the implications of this Secret and possible insanity.
"A good question... Here's another good question. Do you want to transcend the limits of average mortals and gods alike?" he looked at Black Alice when he said that, "Do you want to learn the Secrets of the Multiverse?" he looked at Promestein when he said that, "Do you want true and absolute Godhood?" he then asked, looking directly at Ilias, "Do you want to continue being limited to the ground, or do you want to soar through the skies, and create an everlasting paradise for yourself?" he then asked everyone.
Silence passed as nobody answered him.
"Because I do."
... The Five paused in silence as if to think about this.
Slowly, Black Alice and Ilias had smiles that spread from cheek to cheek in a disturbing fashion. Promestein soon followed their example.
"You are not alone, Vaskul!" Ilias' eyes dilated a little, fantasizing about what she could do with that much power.
"I do not know who you two are..." Black Alice giggled in madness, "But I think I already like you two a lot!"
"Ho ho... Then I presume, that you two agree to my little idea?" Vaskul smirked, knowing that he managed to catch them into his trap... Of course he wouldn't really give any of them the full power of the Secret... He would only give a small fraction of its full potential and use the true Secret for himself, taking it and perfecting it just as Nimzo had, and finally, using the Armlet of Transmutation to take the Evolution even further.
"Now then, is there any more concerns that need to be addressed?" Sigmus grumbled.
No one seemed to be complaining.
"Then we shall reconvene when we are ready to unleash our plan..." Vaskul and Sigmus stood up, "Ilias, would you be so kind as to personally continue talking with me? I need to talk to you. Ensure of a few personal things, you know?" he inquired to her, causing her to think for a bit.
"... Sure, I see no reason why I shouldn't spare you some of my time," she decided as she rose up and began walking with him.
Eden narrowed her eyes and thought deeply on this and actually began to question Ilias' judgement on this man for once, a thing she never dreamed she would do.
I don't believe for a second that he genuinely cares for her like we do... He definitely doesn't care at all. She silently mused as she glared daggers at Vaskul. She knew for a fact that there was something wrong with him when he returned after bringing that Baramos with him... There was just an aura of... Darkness, no, despair, surrounding him at all times. Granted, it wasn't nearly as obvious as the Ancestors or the Dark Goddess, but while their auras were playful and sometimes silly, his was always oppressive and hateful... It was as if something in him was feeding off of pure despair, pain, and hatred, and it was slowly consolidating its power... Whatever the hell you are Vaskul, I will make sure to protect Ilias and find out what you truly are! she silently swore.
...
"Hohoho... I must be going now as well." Sigmus growled as he got up and began to move to some random place. Where, he didn't know. All he knew was that the world would soon bow before his might... Soon Black Alice followed suite right behind him, smiling childishly. "Hm? What is it?" He questioned, noticing the small child walking beside him.
"Oh, I just thought I might want to get to know you a little better~!" She playfully answered, squeezing her teddy bear while she said that.
"... Hmph," The Gigantic Baramos rolled his eyes and allowed the child to follow him. What's the worst that could happen, letting some kid tag along with him?
*At Heaven's Gates*
"Ah... I presume you are Lord Baramos, correct? (Good Goddess you're ugly...)" Heaven's Gate asked, slightly shocked at how hideous and horrific Sigmus was. "And Black Alice as well..."
"Yes." Sigmus replied. Hm, love the ring to that... Lord Baramos. Just like Gonus... Though unlike Gonus, I will not have something like Zoma constantly supervising and controlling me, he thought lightly as he passed through the gates.
*In Sentora*
...
"So this is the world of Sentora... Rather amusing at first glance!" Sigmus chuckled as he scanned the new world around him. "I wonder how I shall make the name of Lord Baramos known to this pathetic world..." He mused. "Perhaps an army... But that would take too long..."
"Oh, you can easily gain followers among the monsters!" Black Alice interjected in his musings, "You see, most Monsters have a Leader or Queen among their respective races, like the Harpy Queen, Succubus Queen, Slime Queen, and Vampire Queen, etc... But you get the point. Gain their respect and defeat them in one-on-one combat and you could easily gain control of most of the monsters... Especially seeing how your aura alone makes the current Maou look like a joke... But then again, ever since my sister's line took control, the Maous have been a complete and utter disgrace!"
"Eheheh... That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Sigmus cackled, "Soon this world will be wrapped up in the terror of the Archfiend, Lord Baramos!" He bellowed.
"Already you make Alice XVI look so weak and pathetic..." Black Alice said, already quite fond of someone as chaotic as her, "I think I'll tag along if you don't mind~!"
"Very well then, Black Alice..." Baramos Sigmus paused for a moment, "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, don't you think?" He laughed as he began to move towards the nearest group of humans he could smell.
"Oh ho, I know we'll get along!" She promptly responded, enjoying how the Demon Lord thought and planned. It was so much simpler than Ilias' petty schemes and Vaskul's mysteries!
*Some time later, at a Human Settlement in the Grand Noah Region...*
"Ah! Someone- Anyone! Help! Help us!" Various humans and monsters screamed as explosions and hellfire rocked the small village.
"Wahahaha! Thou and Thine doth not knowest that no mortal could ever hope to oppose I, Lord Baramos!" Sigmus cackled as he took a deep breath and exhaled a large inferno that immediately burned up half of the remaining guards left.
"Guh! So strong!" The Guards shivered and shook before the large demon. "What manner of Devil is this?... No matter, we shall not let an oversized hippo destroy anymore lives!" The Captain bravely yelled as he rushed forth to try and fight him.
"Gahaha!" Baramos threw his claw out and tore through the Captain's shield as if it was wet paper, "Cry if you want, Fight if you want, Scream if you want - It is all ultimately prayer to I, Almighty Baramos!" He shook off the shield and stomped the ground, creating a shockwave.
"F- For Ilias!" The Guards then all came to the assistance of their captain, charging at the demon in a group. One managed to cut him, but that wound quickly regenerated. [6]
"Mortal insects! Realize your place in this world!" He bellowed as he chanted Explodet. The resulting explosion rocked and levelled the entire village, destroying everything.
... From behind a tree, an excited and gleeful Black Alice came out. "That had to be the best demonstration I've seen yet!" She gleefully cried out as she danced in the falling ashes.
"There is more to come, I assure you." Sigmus licked his beak when he saw a particularly tasty-looking lamia still alive under some rubble. "Ahaha, a meal..." He grinned, twitching his claws in a hungry fashion. [7]
"P- Please, no... I swear I'll tell no one about this, just please don't kill me..." She stared in horror as Sigmus pinned her to the ground while he lifted the rubble off.
After that... Well...
The Tribe of Baramos was known for cannibalism for a reason.
"Dear Primal Alice, that was..." Black Alice was at a loss for words as the scarred and beaten Lamia fled in shame and tears.
"...?" Sigmus waited for her to respond in either sheer disgust or apathy.
"Completely awe-inspiring! The way you took your time! Fantastic! The way you made the most of her tail! Excellent! The way you treated her like she was a puppet and a mere slave to be eaten! Wondrous!" She praised, clapping him for his works.
"Um..." Sigmus had an expression that said, "The Fuck?"
"Though I do have to take points off for only snapping her arms at her shoulders, that was pretty quick and impatient of your part. Another thing is how you didn't choke or strangle her while you were feasting, but I suppose you wanted her alive when you ate, so I'll let that slide... But it was overall very great and amazing!" Black Alice applauded, confusing Baramos Sigmus quite a bit, as well as worrying him that this girl may be a bit more freakier than he thought she was... "Though I do have to ask, why did you let her go?"
Sigmus snapped out of his confusion when she said her question, "Oh, that? Just a whim. I figured that she was the only survivor, and I didn't feel like leaving a message saying 'Baramos wuz here,' or something stupid like that. I wanted someone who was scarred to pass around tales of a supposedly invincible Archfiend that no one could defeat... That would attract much more attention, and thus more servants looking for power, don't you think?" He answered, trudging along the dirt road with her to the next village to destroy.
"Oh, I might even have to take lessons from you at this rate!" she cheerily stated, satisfied with his reasonable answer.
"Hm, yes, yes. I wonder how Vaskul is doing?" he idly thought as he came to the next town of monsters and humans.
*Meanwhile with Vaskul and Ilias...*
...
"And that is why I stay the fuck away from Zoma and Baramoses." Vaskul just now finished his tale of how he had an encounter with Zoma and Baramos Gonus and Bomus once as he and Ilias sat together in a bed in their private quarters, Ilias hugging him tightly in actual fear of what she had heard.
"Oh dear..." Ilias was at a loss for words, "... That was very visceral and disturbing. Even the ancient monsters weren't as violent and brutal as these demons..."
"I know, right? I wasn't even there in physical form, and I still felt goosebumps watching Baramos Gonus torture the people he occasionally enslaved! And I don't even have true skin of my own!" Vaskul shuddered, feeling as though Sigmus was, or has, done something very similar by now.
"Um..." Ilias grimaced at the thought of what he must've seen during his adventures as an Astral Projection throughout the multiverse, "Let's take our mind off of that unpleasant topic... What about Kyous? I've heard of him, but I never really gotten to know who he is to you." she asked, silently hoping it wasn't another bad memory.
"Oh, Kyous? My old master?..." Vaskul looked off in fond memory.
"Ah yes... I remember... He may have been a complete douche at times, but he was quite frankly the only person I ever truly held dear and trusted... We first met when my old party had abandoned me and left me for dead in the same crypt I brought you to earlier... He could've easily killed me. He could've strangled me and used my corpse for his experiments... But he didn't. H- He showed mercy... He actually took me in, showed me the truth in life... I bargained a deal with him, and in exchange for my heavy armor and weapons, the same that Helmer now uses, he would teach me Necromancy and other arts of magic..." Vaskul seemed to actually relax for once upon reflecting on this memory.
"For many years, we would pull infantile pranks and learn together, as Student and Master, and eventually I gained the power of Lichdom when I finally mastered Necromancy," Vaskul closed his eyes contentedly, "Eventually he died to a pack of adventurers, the same that abandoned me years ago... Though they died quickly afterwards die to my immense power... But Kyous wasn't dead yet. He was a determined man... He came back as A Worm That Walks... Granted, he was made up of insects and arachnids, and now had that putrid smell... But he was still my best friend." Vaskul sighed.
"Eventually we learned of the Secret of Evolution, and sought to obtain it... One day, Kyous said something about having to leave, thinking that he found where Esturk rested at... I waited, but he didn't return. When I came there, I didn't see him. I didn't see him ever again... I've been alone with Helmer ever since..."
"I see... I didn't think you've had to deal with so much in your life, Vaskul..." Ilias' eyes welled up at hearing how many things Vaskul had to go through during his mortal years, and how many losses he suffered through and how long he was alone for before he finally met her. It reminded her too much of her own sad life, of how she herself was betrayed and left behind by the people she valued most...
"It's fine..." Vaskul rested against a pillow, "I may not be able to avenge Kyous' death, but I can finish our goal, and make him proud at long last..."
"I see..." Ilias trailed off, unsure of what else to talk about.
"I would've gone and continued our plans out, but... I think we would both benefit from a small rest, don't you think? I'll take the floor."
"It's fine... You can stay beside me in bed. I'm not that cruel. You did give me a brain after all," she said, before beginning to drift off to sleep...
"Oh... Why... Thank you, Ilias..." Vaskul said, shocked that he was offered a spot... Before his head began to hurt... "Ouch... What is going on? Why is that happening?" he mulled, before trying to fall asleep as well...
...
*In the Mind of the Dread Necromancer...*
...
"You may have thought me to be dead because of Erdrick, you miserable fool, but I still live on!... Soon I will bring about the end of life and plunge the world into Despair once more! And it will all be thanks to the misery of your life sustaining me..." A Tall Demon King with pale-blue skin and four fingers stood in the midst of nothingness. He wore a long red robe with bluish-black pauldrons and a dark-blue cape with a white oval-like cloth fanning out behind his neck. On his head, he wore a lofty black helm with a large, unblinking eye staring out into the distance of the perverted world, and two golden horns that protruded out from the sides of the helm. His eyes were a pale-ivory white with pure black pupils, and they emitted a threatening red glow.
It was Lord Zoma, The Master Archfiend; The Source Of All Evil...
"Soon enough I will return... And none will stand in my way again this time!"
Notes:
[1]: Originally Vaskul had to take the long route via the Void due to being seperated from his body. Now that he's in a physical form that knows specifically where to go, he can easily Wish open a portal between Faerun and the World of MGQ.
[2]: Helmed Horrors are mute, but Helmer (Creative, I know) is intelligent enough to make basic letters and spell out what he wants to say if he can't sign it.
[3]: In this story, Baramos is not a unique demon. Rather, the one first seen in DQ3 that acted as the Big Bad (As in the one dressed in orange) at first was Baramos Gonus (The Purple Undead Dragon thing you fought before Zoma himself) and Baramos Bomus (The one dressed in blue robes and a green cape) is a separate being. I thought this little interpretation after seeing some fanart and my first experience with Baramos Bomus (He was named Barabros in the version I played, so I thought he was the first Baramos' brother or something like that.)
[4]: A Dais is like a small pyramid. You know, that throne-thing the first Baramos sits on when you meet him in DQ3. Just look it up, it's much easier than explaining it.
[5]: In one of the spin-offs of Dragon Quest (Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D and Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key to be exact), Baramos Gonus (The Undead Version) got a redesign that removed his wings and showed he had spiky shoulders and a tail that was hidden under his cloak.
[6]: In Dragon Quest 3, there's a hidden regeneration system for the Bosses like Baramos and Zoma, so I figured I might as well make that a natural ability of theirs.
[7]: When you initially meet Baramos, regardless of the version you play, he always makes some sort of threat about ripping you open and devouring your innards/intestines to make sure you never come back. I decided that he and his kind probably enjoy the taste of other humanoid beings and their organs in general.
Author's Notes:
Wahaha! Didn't expect a Baramos to be thrown into the mix, didja now!?... Anyways, I figured that since Vaskul mostly bides his time and waits, that maybe we should focus on another character while he's doing nothing. Ilias was crossed off since she's mostly going to be near Vaskul, Eden wasn't chosen because she doesn't really do much outside of Ilias' commands, Promestein was considered, but she probably spends her time building and creating things rather than pose an active threat to Luka and Alice, Black Alice was partially chosen because she was responsible for several Monster Kingdoms rebelling against Alice, but she wasn't really seen that much either in the grand scheme of things. Ultimately, I decided to pull a Dragon Warrior 3 and had a Baramos who wanted the Secret of Evolution get pulled into the fold because, hell, why not? I think it will be most interesting to see how the self-proclaimed Archfiend does to pose a threat to Sentora, Ilias (The Continent), and Hellgondo as a whole.
Another thing... I'd like to thank all of you guys (again) for practically doubling the reviews I got! This is the most successful story I've ever written, and I hope that you guys continue to criticize and review my works!
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And so without further ado, I bid you all farewell until next time!
EDIT: As of 2/13/19, I removed the Gore and Lemon scene. Honestly, they were just badly written and hardly relevant to the plot.