Chapter 12: Final Destination
When the black torpedo dissipates, it reveals a muscular, gray-skinned humanoid creature wearing a tiger skull mask.
Cao Cao: What the hell?! Does that sort of creature even exist here?!
Jia Xu: Last time I checked we're not playing a fantasy Western-RPG…
Xun Yu: You mean the one where some dude took an arrow in the knee?
Yue Jin: Pfftt! In the knee?! Oh, that's lame. Try checking out SOMEONE who got far worse than that…
Meanwhile at the (party-ruined) Wei palace….
Xiahou Dun: ACHOO! Oh damn, was someone talking about me? Oh well. TRALALALALALALAAAAA!
Back at the Hefei Fortress…
Yu Jin: Okay, that's enough! That joke is way too overused anyway…
Zhang Liao: What…the…who are you?!
The creature then summons dual scythes.
Cao Cao: Oh, gimme a break! Now he's using the weapons of that crazy-as-hell version of Mitsuhide?!
Jia Xu: This is getting ridiculous…
Cao Cao: Well, IT IS! THIS ENTIRE MISSION IS RIDICULOUS!
Yu Jin: Well, whatever it is, it seems that it's not friendly. Be on your guard!
Everyone: Tch!
The creature then speeds towards the group.
Cao Cao: Uh-oh, here it comes! Huh- AGH!
Jia Xu: Uh?! GWAH! Whew, that was close- GAH!
Yue Jin: Huh?! Hey, whoa whoa whoa- AAAHHH!
Yu Jin: Tch! Come, you demon from somewhere! COME AND GET- ARKH!
Xu Shu: slightly pisses himself, then gets knocked out anyway
Xun Yu and Guo Jia: widens eyes, then hugs each other KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- gets knocked out
Zhang He: KYAAAAHHH! Eh, uh, uhmm….seriously! Why is it a trend to have the final survivor of a serial killer to be a girl?! Eh, I'm not a girl, but still! gets knocked out
The creature manages to knock out all the 8 participants in one fell swoop, and he later speeds toward his final target: Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao: WHAT?! Shit…all the other 8 have been knocked out clean by that creature all by itself! Tch!
However, it later turns out that Zhang Liao is a tougher foe for the creature, being able to avoid and counter all of its attacks, even managing to steal one of the creature's scythes to fight him, much to the amazement of the other 8.
Cao Cao: Ergh…hmm?! Zhang Liao?!
Zhang Liao: GAH! Grrhhh….oh, Lord Cao Cao! Tch! HYAH!
Cao Cao: Hot damn! WHOOH! Go go, Liao! YEAH! Kick that thing's ass!
The others: Errrgghhh….em?! AH! Zhang Liao!
Zhang Liao: Grrrhhh…..HYAH! Pant…pant…what is this thing? It's so tough…
Cao Cao: Ah! Don't give up, Liao! You can do it!
Zhang Liao: Pant…pant…okay! Be careful, everyone! HYAAAAHHHH!
After that, Zhang Liao and the creature continued to duel, but neither had the upper hand.
Zhang Liao: GRRRHHH…..tch, this will not do! Gah! Pant…pant…it's really weird, indeed. It and I have almost equal strength and speed…huff….okay! HYAAAAHHHH!
Zhang Liao landed one quick strike at the creature, which broke its mask in half. When it's face was revealed….
Everyone: widens eyes GASP!
Zhang Liao: …what….what the…no…this can't be happening…wha…..you….WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE ME?!
Yes, the creature turned out to be a demonic, gray-skinned, white-haired and snake-eyed version of Zhang Liao.
Cao Cao: What the hell…
Jia Xu: Something tells me that it looks like an unholy lovechild between Zhang Liao and Orochi…
Xun Yu: You idiot! Don't encourage the yaoi fanfiction writers!
Jia Xu: Well, not even the craziest yaoi fangirls would even THINK of something like that…
Creature: …heh…hehehehehe….hahahahaha….WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
Zhang Liao: Tch! YOU! WHO ARE YOU?! What….WHAT ARE YOU?!
Creature: Ahahahaha….is there even a need to ask me? Do you even know about yourself?
Zhang Liao: What the hell do you mean by that?!
Creature: Hah…of course. If you know about yourself then you would've known about me. You see, the day where you, along with your two trusty subordinates Yue Jin and Li Dian, and the 800 other nameless peons charged and managed to tear down Sun Quan's army, even almost managing to kill Sun Quan himself…that's the day when I was born.
Zhang Liao: What?
Creature: Ahahahaha…the strength, the might you conveyed. The anger, the rage, the valor, to tear through the Wu forces…that was what formed me. I am your rawest strength given form, Zhang Liao. I am…'Demon of Hefei'.
Zhang Liao: …no…NO! NO WAY!
Demon of Hefei: Yeah way. Isn't that what your nickname is after that legendary event? The very mention of your name is enough to scare the children of Wu…that's just how feared you are. And yet, you still deny being called a 'demon'. What a foolish way of thinking, I'd say.
Zhang Liao: Tch…you…what do you want with me?!
Demon of Hefei: Hahahaha! You still haven't realized it, huh?! quickly grabs Zhang Liao by the collar
Zhang Liao: GAH! Urkh!
Cao Cao: AAAHH! ZHANG LIAOOO!
However, when Cao Cao runs toward Zhang Liao, suddenly a barrier of dark energy surrounded both Zhang Liao and the Demon of Hefei, preventing Cao Cao from interfering.
Cao Cao: GAH! Urgkh! ZHANG LIAO!
Zhang Liao: LORD CAO CAO! Tch, YOU! What…is it…that you WANT?!
Demon of Hefei: Wahahahaha…why, you ask? Of course, what I want is for you to accept me.
Zhang Liao: Accept…you?! What the hell do you mean?!
Demon of Hefei: What I mean is, that you accept for what you are. Look at you now. You're known as a demon everyone in Wu. And that really is what you are. A demon that tears through enemy armies like they're paper. That is what you live for. And yet, for the longest time, you've always been trying to deny it, even spewing out that 'honor' and 'path of the warrior' nonsense. I mean, who needs some useless shit like that? You've been holding back your potential because of that. However, during that fateful moment, at this very place, you unleashed everything you've been holding inside you. The moment you became known as 'The Demon of Hefei'. And that what you should be for the rest of your life.
Zhang Liao: Engh…no…NO! I will…never!
Demon of Hefei: Hahahahaha….you can't resist any longer!
Zhang Liao: Tch…you…dumbass!
Demon of Hefei: Huh?!
Zhang Liao: Hahahaha…you fool! I still got this! shows the cat badge
Demon of Hefei: What the…NO! What…what is this?!
Then suddenly Zhang Liao shined brightly and blindingly.
Everyone: WAAAHHH! What…is happening?!
When the light subsides, it shows that Zhang Liao has transformed into wearing his cat Fairytale DLC.
Demon of Hefei: …what….WHAT IS THIS?!
Zhang Liao: Hmph! So you've always thought of me as a mere 'demon' who kills others mercilessly, eh, haven't you?!
Demon of Hefei: No…what is this horrific figure you've turned to! No…you're supposed to be a terrifying demon! NO! STOP!
Zhang Liao: Well, too bad! Good thing Koei gave me THIS DLC so that the fangirls could portray me as a cuddly kittycat! Watch this! proceeds to do all the 'cute kittycat' routines
Everyone: jawdrop
Cao Cao: …hnggghh…must…..resist….KAWAII LEVEL OVER 90000000000! HWAAAAAHHHHH! ZHANG LIAO, WHY MUST YOU BE SO GODDAMN CUTEEEEEE?! GYAAAAHHHH! LEMME HAVE SOOOMEEEEEEE! tries to run after Zhang Liao, but gets restrained by Jia Xu
Jia Xu: My lord…don't interrupt his ONLY way of defeating the enemy…and have patience.
Yu Jin: blushes, but desperately tries to hide it from the others
Yue Jin: …whoa.
Guo Jia: I WANNA BE A KITTYCAT TOO! I bet the ladies will come flocking to me in an instant!
Xun Yu: Sigh…how many times I tell him to think with his brain not his dick…
Xu Shu: faints due to excessive cuteness
Zhang He: Ooohhh my! Ah, that gives me an idea of keeping few cats at home…
Demon of Hefei: No, NO! STOP IT! STOP DISPLAYING SUCH CUTENESS! YOU, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DANGEROUS!
Zhang Liao: Hmph! Who said being cute can't be dangerous?! releases his cat claws, then jumps on top of the Demon of Hefei
Demon of Hefei: UWAAARGH!
Zhang Liao: Now! TIME FOR YOUR PUNISHMENT! NYAAAA! proceeds to kitty-scratch (is that even a word?) the Demon of Hefei to death
Demon of Hefei: HUAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!
3 hours of brutal cuteness later…
Zhang Liao: Hmph! That'll teach you! puts off the cat badge which reversed him to his normal costume
Cao Cao: WHOOOOHHHH! ZHANG LIAO! YOU ROCK!
Zhang Liao: Heh…yeah…though it's still fucking embarrassing as all hell…
Yue Jin: But really though, your skills were amazing! Like really, if you could teach me-
Zhang Liao: Unless if you were talking about battle skills, then nope.
Yue Jin: Aww…
Jia Xu: By the way, now that we've defeated the enemy, what should we do?
Cao Cao: Hm? I don't know, maybe there would be some door or-
Suddenly, a light pillar flashed in the exact center of the floor, and then a floating sign appeared on it.
Cao Cao: Huh? The fuck is this?
Jia Xu: Normally, the signs are…you know…physical? Not some floating, energy thing now, ain't it?
Cao Cao: Hm, let me read…"Congratulations! Truly, I can't express how I am amazed at how you 9 have managed to go this far! After this, you nine will be facing your last challenge to save your damsel in distress. Normally, I would tell you where to go next, but since the Author is too fucking lazy to make another adventure arc before the finale, then I'll just skip right onto the finale: step on the middle of this platform right here and you'll be teleported right onto your next, and final destination, where your final challenge awaits. Good luck."
Everyone: sweatdrop
Cao Cao: …oh well! You all heard what it said. After this is our final battle to finally save Cai Wenji! We have no time to lose! Let's go!
Everyone: YO!
Everyone did as the sign told, and they were then immediately transported to their last destination: Chibi.
At Chibi
Everyone: WHOAH!
Cao Cao: Oof! Shit, did it REALLY have to drop us from midair like this?!
Jia Xu: Don't know…
Guo Jia: Um? Hey guys, look!
Everyone: Huh?
It turns out that a massive battle arena has been built in Chibi.
Cao Cao: Whoa…what the hell is that?!
Jia Xu: I certainly NEVER remembered Chibi having something like this…
Xun Yu: Well, maybe it's just like that 801-floored Hefei Fortress?
Yue Jin: Seriously, is the kidnapper of Cai Wenji an expert architect or something that (s)he was able to build stuffs like the Xiapi Castle, 801-floored Hefei Fortress, and now this!
Cao Cao: Hmm…oh, yeah! The sign! Hmm…"Good. Now you've finally arrived at your last destination. The final challenge to decide who's worthy to rescue Cai Wenji. All of you 9 are to enter this coliseum, and once you're in, there's truly no turning back. Only one person can come out carrying the rescued damsel in distress. Good luck."
Everyone: Gulp….
Yue Jin: G-g-guys? Now, isn't this…terrifying?
Jia Xu: I know. It seems from the way it sounds, only one of us can come out alive with Cai Wenji…and the rest are killed.
Everyone: Gasp!
Guo Jia: NOOO! I DON'T WANNA DIE! I CAN'T DIE AT THIS AGE!
Xun Yu: History said 'too bad'.
Xu Shu: pisses himself, again
Cao Cao: Now now, calm down gentlemen. While what Jia Xu said COULD be true, the sign never explicitly said that 'the rest will be dead', either, so don't worry over such indefinite things. Regardless, we've come so far, and it's now the time to finish this once and for all.
Everyone: Hm!
Cao Cao: Alright, now….let's enter.
Inside the Coliseum.
Everyone: WHOOOAAAHHH!
Yue Jin: Holy shit! I thought that this entire place is big, but now…damn!
Xun Yu: Was it actually necessary to build a battle arena this big? Like, what? Are we going to face some sort of a Lovecraftian abomination or something?
Guo Jia: Lovecraftian? You mean the one with the tentacles?
Xun Yu: Well, some.
Guo Jia: Ooh boy! I'm gonna enjoy this! grins widely
Xun Yu: …for the love of GOD.
Yu Jin: …hm? Hey, did you hear that?
Cao Cao: What?
Yu Jin: I don't know, it sounded like...
Everyone: Like wha-
.
.
.
.
.
Everyone: Nggghhh…
Cao Cao: Oh god…hm…guys?
Everyone: Ah! Everyone's here!
Cao Cao: Ah, yes right, at least we're not suddenly separated like befo- WAAAAHHHH!
It turns out that the 9 have been placed in a really, REALLY tall platform with a seemingly-infinite abyss below.
Cao Cao: shudder …..huff….WHOOOHH…god, THAT WAS CLOSE. W…where are we, anyway?
Everyone: shrugs
Suddenly, a stage light shines down the center of the platform.
Everyone: AAAHHH!
?: WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AT LAST, WELCOME, GENTLEMEN!
Cao Cao: Gaaahhh…ah! YOU! WHO ARE YOU?!
?: Ahahahahahaaaa…oh well, there's no need of knowing me. AT THE MOMENT. However, I do believe that she is more of an importance to you at the moment, yes? shoves Cai Wenji to the front
Cai Wenji: KYAAAAHHH! Huff…huff….
Everyone: CAI WENJIIIII!
Cai Wenji: Pant…pant…Lord Cao Cao! Jia Xu! Guo Jia! Xu Shu! Xun Yu! Zhang Liao! Yue Jin! Yu Jin! Zhang He! All of you guys…
Cao Cao: Tch, don't worry Cai Wenji! I'll save you- GWAAAHHH!
Suddenly, an explosion set off and hit Cao Cao.
Everyone: MY LORD!
?: Oh…how ignorant you are. Haven't I told you right at the beginning of the journey that any form of disobedience of rules will be rewarded with a world of pain? And that's me playing nice and deciding to set off an explosion near you. If you proceed to disobey once more, I'll set off the explosion near HER instead.
Cai Wenji: Aaahh…
Everyone: Gulp…
Cao Cao: Tch…you…YOU BASTARD! JUST WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!
?: Ah, yes, good thing you asked that. Well, I did say that back then I didn't have to tell you who I am, but I believe now is the right moment. steps forward to reveal itself
Everyone: …..GASP!
Cao Cao: What….THE! HELL!
?: Mwahahaha…
Cao Cao: No…..NO! WAY! NO FUCKING WAYYYY!
To Be Continued….
Okay! Nearing the end here, so please leave a review and have a good day!
Note: By the way, that Demon of Hefei thing was actually inspired by a particular fanart I came across in pixiv, where upon seeing that version of Zhang Liao, I immediately dubbed it as 'The Demon of Hefei', essentially a demonic alter-ego of Zhang Liao.