Chap 21 – Wounds from the past

- A magic inhibitor necklace and a ring that opens portals? That's pretty useful, too bad I didn't get that idea while destroying that nerd's AU. But go on. - Although Dream didn't care, to his surprise that Killer's story was entertaining enough to keep him entertained while a pathlighter didn't approach.

- The plan after that was divide and conquer, that depressive hooded guy kidnapped Blue but was dumb enough to betray the boss afterwards. Not that it would make much difference since I would have found an excuse later to kill him anyway. - Killer remarked as he noticed the ring on his finger, but was frustrated to learn that it wouldn't work here.

- Wait, you wanted to kill Dust? Why did you want to kill him? - From the moment his story began to be told, this was the first noticeable reaction that Shattered Dream had. It was easy to recognize a slight amazement in his voice.

- Yes, and why should that be so surprising? He was a jerk who only allied himself with the boss out of self-interest, he had no real loyalty to him, so much so that he let that smiling little guy into his head and betrayed him afterwards. How stupid could anyone be to be manipulated by his own prisoner? - Feeling the negative emotions from the monster next to him, Dream could sense the deep contempt this Killer had for the hooded skeleton.

- This may come as a surprise to you, but after my brother's death, I became the new gang leader, and my Killer and Dust were brother in arms, close friends. And I have been here long enough to know that this kind of relationship is more common than it seems. - Upon hearing this sentence, Killer was mature enough to make a gesture with his mouth as if he were vomiting, which generated an irritated roll of the eyes from his listener.

- So the other Killers are just weaker, more pathetic versions of me, because in order to complete the boss's final objective I was the only one who managed to stay by his side until the end, all the others fell. - Said Killer as he clapped his hand on his chest in pride.

- Yes, yes, I get it, you want to start a fan club for my brother. Now continue the story before I throw you into the darkness outside. - Figuring that the gift of annoying others was something that all Killers possessed, Dream remained observing his surroundings in search of a pathlighter while listening to the rest.

- Long story short, first we had a quick alliance with the destroyer to kill Ink. - While mentioning this fact, Killer noticed a slight spasm in Dream next to him, but decided to ignore it. - Soon afterwards we betrayed him and together with Horror we killed that filthy glitch, although I had to kill Horror in the process. Which honestly I don't miss because he was also on my list of targets to be eliminated.

- Do you have a fetish for killing your teammates? - Said Dream in a disgusted tone. Suddenly a thought of regret at having agreed to adjust this monster popped into his mind.

- No, if there was someone truly loyal to him like me, I would never hurt him. - But to Shattered's surprise, Killer replied in a serious tone. Confirming that somehow the alternate version of his brother had somehow managed to create a fanatic. - After that it wasn't too hard to do the rest, with all the EXP I gained I was able to easily kill Blue and his brother as well as defeat Dust and the guardian of positivity's allies. As for the guardian himself... - Realizing how strange it was to say this to his listener, Killer continued. - Nightmare turned his brother into stone and smashed him to the ground, resulting in thousands of shards. In the end there was just us, the winners... until that Nothing guy showed up and... well, here I am.

- Defeat. - Dream whispered.

- What?

- You said you defeated Dust, didn't you kill him?

- I wish I could, but he was alive when I woke up in the darkness from Zero Infinity. Which makes no difference since that thing ate him not long after. The idiot ran into it with open arms. - Remembering the foolish death of his former companion, a smile came to Killer's face.

- Intriguing...

- What's interesting about the death of an imbecile? - Supporting his chin with one hand, Dream assumed a thoughtful posture before answering.

- Normally only a single individual can survive the death of his multiverse, but in your case it was two. I have heard that this is only possible if someone wishes to leave their multiverse of their own free will during the moment of its destruction, or something along those lines. But this is almost impossible, because who would wish such a thing? Remembering that many do not know about the existence of Zero Infinity before they are in it.

- First of all, you sound nerdier than Science when you talk like that. Secondly, that crazy guy said something like "Take me" when everything started to fade away. Apparently he had given up living at that point, so I guess that explains things.

- First of all. - With one of his tentacles emerging from his back, a powerful blow was delivered to Killer causing him to roll on the ground a few times before he could get up. - Secondly, so that explains why you two came here together. But what I didn't understand was his reason for doing this.

- Apparently he was having an affair with Blue or something, after he died that idiot lost all will to fight.

- As I said before... I have been here for a considerable time so I have seen many things, for example, these two having a relationship is something that happens quite often in some multiverses. Right here in Zero Infinity there are rumors of a Dust that somehow created a bond with a Blue that is a pathlighter.

- And here I thought this place couldn't get any worse. - Said Killer as he simulated vomiting for the second time.

- Most probably if those two had survived, they would have created one more of the many stories of couples that their alternative versions share..., but reality is cruel, things do not always happen as we wish. - Remembering stories he had heard about two opposite emotion guardians who had a friendly relationship in other multiverses, and knowing that he had ruined this chance in the past, a slight expression of sadness could be seen on his countenance for a short moment. But it disappeared as soon as he noticed the movement of two approaching figures. - And speaking of pathlighters, our ride has arrived.

Ahead of the duo two monsters entered the safe zone, these being a Toriel pathlighter and a Sans that according to its clothing resembled the FarmTale skeleton. From his countenance the word "terrified" was the best description that could exist for his current state.

Noticing two sinister beings approaching, one of which seemed to be able to literally sniff out his fear, his uneasiness didn't help.

- Wh-Who ... are you? What is this place? - Except for the lack of courage that was replaced with cowardice, this Sans' confused state reminded Killer of himself when he first arrived here.

- Your new hell. - Replied Killer as he made a thrust that resulted in a swift slash across his victim's chest.

With a pathetic scream, this Sans fell to the ground and without noticing that his wound was healed as quickly as it appeared, he then ran out screaming in despair. This scene caused Killer to laugh and Shattered to look bored.

- The habit of playing with his victims must also be something that all Killer possesses. If you are done having fun, let's go. - Walking towards Toriel, who in turn showed no reaction to what had happened, Dream said. - Take us to the next cluster.

Apparently already accustomed to such requests, Toriel then, without saying a single word and with eyes that conveyed no emotion, simply turned her back and walked back into the darkness as she illuminated the path with her flashlight. A lantern that, like Chara, was also illuminated by her soul.

And like two sheep led by their shepherd in total darkness, Killer and Dream followed behind.

- I will never understand why someone would become a pathlighter. I mean, to be forever guiding others, being practically a slave where you don't do anything else seems like eternal torture to me. - Killer commented.

- What you call torture, others would call empathy for others, something you lost when you sold your soul to your boss. - If this was an attempt to offend Killer, it didn't work, because Killer seemed proud that he no longer had any weak feelings in his eyes. - And considering that she is a Toriel, she should have had this nature of helping others even before she chose this destiny. - Remembering how his life was before he ate the black apple, Dream could understand what would drive someone to make that decision. Though he himself had long since turned that page.

- Is there at least some reason why they don't talk?

- I don't know, but that is something you could learn from them and shut up once in a while.

- If it's like the last time I walked with a pathlighter, the journey will be long, so you will hear my voice several times yet.

- So tell me why you are so obsessed with following a king, don't you want to be free?

- I think I've already said too much about myself, what about you? What made you eat the black apple to look like this?

- We are not close enough for me to satisfy your curiosity about things that are none of your business.

- That's not fair, especially after I told you my story, and besides, I noticed how you reacted when I said that my Ink died. Does this have to do with your transformation? - With a sigh, Shattered gathered patience before answering.

- If I tell you, will you promise to keep your mouth shut for the rest of the trip? - And as usual, Killer responded in his usual childish way by mimicking a key that was supposed to lock his mouth.

- Well... as usual, it all started with Ink screwing up.