I do not own Dragon Quest 11 or any of the characters.
Dark Art
Kai sighed as Jade walked over to him. They'd taken a detour at the Champs Sauvage to Phnom Nohn at Sylvando's behest, and with the general acceptance of checking everywhere for either an Orb or a lead to one. But this was their second day there. The first had been spent investigating an odd mural, then searching for some little girl's parents. Kai hadn't bothered to take part. The mural had been uninteresting, and he didn't care about lost children. Instead, he'd been relaxing in the inn and waiting for the others to decide what he had, that this town was a waste of time.
"Kai, please help us," Jade said. "We have no idea where Dora is, either, now. And all of those people that were at the mural yesterday are missing now, but the mural's added people to it."
Kai frowned. "It's done what now?"
"There are more people than yesterday," Jade said.
"Show me," Kai said, pulling his Cobblestone Sword's strap across his chest.
She nodded, leading him over the nearby mountain and down into the ruins of Nhou Wat. They walked into the room with the mural, and sure enough, there were more people in the mural. Before, there was a large, red-haired woman taking up the center of it, then three people to either side. Now, however, there were six on one side and five on the other, and unless Kai was mistaken, the new five were the five people who were so desperate to see the mural the day before that they drove David's group out of the ruin.
"Um, Honey, there's nobody here except Kai and Jade," Sylvando's voice said from behind them, both turning to find the rest of David's group present. "I thought you said you saw Dora come this way, but are you sure?"
"Yeah, what gives?" Erik asked.
"Shut up, you two," Kai said. "Take a look at the mural. Turns out it's pretty interesting after all."
The others all looked, only to stare at the five new additions.
"What is this?" Erik asked. "Am I going crazy or were those people not there yesterday?"
"They weren't," Kai said. "And do you notice anything strange about the people specifically? Something familiar, maybe?"
"That one looks like...Bazza," Erik realized, staring at the new person closest to the woman in the mural on the right side. "The grumpy one. The lady at the inn said he didn't come back last night."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Veronica said. "We need to get out of here, now!"
Just then, the room began to tremble.
"Too late," Kai said. "We've been trapped."
Everyone but Kai turned to the door just as it slammed shut. Jade sprinted to it, struggling to shove it open, only for it to not budge an inch.
"It won't open!" Jade announced.
"It's the mural," Kai said. "This thing's more than just a pretty painting." He drew his Dragovian King Sword. "Wonder what'll happen when I smash it."
As if in answer, a blinding light shone from the key hanging around the woman in the mural's neck. They all shielded their eyes, but as they opened them again, they'd been transported. Now, they lay on a circular platform floating in a void.
"What is this place?" Erik asked as they all stood. "It feels like we're dreaming, but...we're not...right?"
"If this is a dream, it's a pleasant change of pace from my normal ones," Kai snorted. "We're inside the mural."
"Uuhhh..." Erik said as Serena nodded in agreement to Kai.
"Uumm..." Veronica hummed.
"That doesn't make any sense!" both of them snapped.
"Look," Kai said, pointing to a huge, elongated light, like a gash in the void. "It's that crack in the mural."
They stared at it, eyes widening.
"Is this what happened to little Dora, too?" Sylvando asked.
"I doubt it," Kai said. "You said you saw her head into the ruins, right?" Kai asked David.
"Yeah," David nodded.
"But we were already there," Kai said, gesturing to himself and Jade. "And no one but you entered. I think there's another explanation for Dora."
"What's that?" Robert asked.
"I think Dora is the woman in the mural," Kai said. "The child you saw was an illusion to lure you all here so the mural could claim you."
"But, then...why a child?" Serena asked.
"Well, that group we saw in the mural were brought there by greed, but none of you are the kind to be lured by that sort of thing," Kai said. "You all went there only to help a lost child find her parents, but if they'd gone to the mural and disappeared, we'd have seen them in it."
"But, then, why wasn't I trapped when I went to look at it this morning?" Jade asked.
"Because it wanted me, too," Kai guessed. "But I can't be lured by greed or sympathy. Instead, it correctly guessed that you would tell me about the mural changing, and my curiosity would be piqued. It let you leave that time so that you could bring me."
Jade's eyes widened, but Sylvando shook his head.
"That's ridiculous, Honey," Sylvando said.
"I've told you before, don't call me that," Kai growled. "And is it any more ridiculous than a mural changing to include five people who went missing just because it wanted to? Or the Magic Key in the mural shining and transporting us somewhere, specifically to a void that includes a light the same exact shape as the crack in the mural, but we can't believe that the mural may be both magic and evil?"
Sylvando hesitated. "Whatever the case, we should look around. If we are in the mural, those others should be around here, too."
"Good point," David nodded. "Let's go and see."
The others all nodded, and Kai sighed, sheathing his Dragovian King Sword, drawing his Cobblestone Sword instead.
"Why do you use that one?" Erik asked as they walked along the pathway connected to their platform. "Isn't your other sword better?"
"Yes," Kai nodded. "But where's the fun in using a sword that can smash through any weapon brought against me? I like a challenge."
Erik shook his head. "I should have figured it was something like that."
As they walked, several rotting corpses dotting the walkway stood and staggered toward them, only for Veronica to blast the first, Kai and David to slash the second and third, killing both instantly, and Sylvando to slash the third before Erik slashed one of its legs, severing its muscles and sending it staggering off of the walkway. Finally, they stopped as they reached the end of the walkway, finding the five people they were looking before kneeling before the mural, arms over their heads in worship as they swayed side to side.
"Hey, look," Erik said. "It's our pal Bazza. Hey. I said, HEY! What's with all the waving around?"
"They're worshiping," Kai said, watching the mural. "That mural's got them under a spell."
"It does appear that way," Serena nodded. "But what is this mural? Who exactly is she?"
"I don't know, but she's a charmer, alright," Veronica nodded, walking forward a few steps and putting her hands on her hips. "Kai's right. She's got this lot under her spell."
A high, feminine voice laughed. "Does my beauty not captivate you, too, child? Perhaps when you are a little older."
Kai snorted. "Child."
"Shut up!" Veronica snapped, then froze, everyone but Kai looking around in confusion.
"It's the mural," Kai said. "Hadn't we already established this?"
Everyone looked up at the mural, mouths dropping open as they saw its irises glowing an eerie orange, its sclerae black. Its eyes darted around, taking them all in, stopping on Kai.
"Very good, child," the mural said. "I'm so glad the girl brought you to me, as I'd hoped. Let me see, now...Red, orange, green, yellow, blue...Yes. All the colors of the rainbow! The eight of you will be very welcome here!" Her eyes turned to David. "Especially you. There's something...different about you. Something especially...vibrant."
"I'll show you some red," Kai smirked, then began to inhale, only for Jade to cover his mouth.
"You'll kill those people!" Jade snapped. "Mural only!"
Kai rolled his eyes, huffing and sending twin jets of flames from his nostrils into the ground harmlessly. "You're no fun, Jade."
"Get used to it," Jade said, pulling her spear from her back. "Let's break that mural."
"Come, little ones," the mural purred. "Brighten my world. Let me squeeze the color from you as I did the others. Let me add you to my masterpiece."
"What?" Erik asked. "What are you talking about?"
The mural laughed. "You will soon see! You will soon be immortalized in vivid streaks of color!"
She let out a loud laugh and vanished, leaving an open doorway, and the five people worshiping her staggered along the path, searching for the mural. Kai sighed, shaking his head.
"Let's go," Kai sighed. "I'm getting annoyed by this over-sized child's drawing."
"Let's try not to antagonize her, shall we?" Veronica warned.
Kai shrugged. They followed the path quickly, being attacked on every platform the pathways connected to. First it was a group of poisonous slugs, then a pair of Hypothermion, black-skinned demons, then it was a jockilles, a massive, four-armed monster with enormous muscles and a devastating punch that even Kai was wary of. However, aside from the punches themselves, it was slow, and its muscles got in the way, leaving its overall range of motion lacking. Plus, it was flammable and not human, so when Kai immediately exhaled a jet of flames onto it and sent it plummeting off of the platform, no one said a word about it. Then, finally, they reached a stairway that was barred by massive, thorn-covered vines. Bazza and the other enthralled humans were kneeling before the vines, and as soon as Kai and the others arrived, a massive vine with a flower bud shaped like a massive set of jaws burst up from the far side, then leaned down, bright blue light shining from inside of its mouth.
"What the heck is it!?" Veronica asked.
As if in response, the thing opened its mouth, revealing a spiraling, glowing, white and blue vortex inside its mouth, and Bazza's group floated up into the mouth before vanishing in flashes of light. As soon as that was done, it turned its head toward Kai and the others, massive vines surging to surround them.
"Watch out!" Erik warned. "It's looking this way!"
"So this...thing has been luring people in here so it can have them for dinner, eh?" Robert mused. "Lucky auld us."
"If you're so worried about being eaten, I could always kill you off first so you don't have to feel it."
"I don't think that would solve the main issue," Robert said dryly.
The thing slunk forward slowly, reaching for David, only the mark on his hand to shine blindingly, forcing the creature back. The vines around them also vanished, clearing a path away from the creature.
"We need to run!" Erik snapped. "Right now!"
Everyone took off without argument, except for Kai. He chuckled darkly, drawing his Dragovian King Sword as the creature recovered from whatever had repelled it before.
"Kai, run!" Jade shouted back at him.
"Nah, I'm all set," Kai smirked back at her. "I'm just going to kill it instead."
She opened her mouth to argue, only for Kai to leap into the air as David grabbed Jade's arm, dragging her away. A pair of the massive, thorned roots swung up toward him, but he let out a bark of laughter and flipped, kicking off of one and slashing the other off, then turned, slashing the first off as well as it whipped down at him. The painting shrieked in rage, almost a dozen more swiping at him, only for him to roar, bathing them in flames and burning them to ash in seconds.
"Such vibrant orange and red!" the painting squealed. "I must have it!"
"I'd be happy to give it to you," Kai sneered, then transformed.
Instantly, roots swiped at him from the sides, only for him to catch them all and tear them off, then whip the flower bud serving as a head with them. It shrieked in pain, then lunged, jaws opening wide to bite into his torso, only for his hands to catch it, halting it.
"Here's your vibrant colors!" Kai smirked, then inhaled deeply.
A moment later, he exhaled a jet of flames directly into the swirling portal inside its mouth. For a moment, the Mural cried out happily, thanking him, only to then begin to shriek in surprise and pain as the portal began to crack like glass. Then, it shattered, and the flower ignited instantly. Less than a second later, it had been reduced to ash. Kai dusted his hands off and reverted to his human form just in time for the others to reappear at the crack, running over to him.
"Where...Where'd the vines go?" Erik asked.
"I burned them," Kai said simply, walking down the path the vines had been blocking before, drawing his Cobblestone Sword as he did.
"There you are!" the painting cackled. "Such pretty splashes of color! And so kind of you to visit me in my world! Now that the canvas has been prepared, let the brutal artistry of battle commence!"
"Have it your way," Kai shrugged, ascending the stairs ahead of the others, who followed him uneasily.
"You're really not afraid of Dora at all?" Jade asked.
Kai snorted. "Hardly. An animated piece of shoddy art? I'd sooner be afraid of my own shadow."
He stopped as they reached the top of the stairs, staring at the path ahead of them. It was a long, winding maze of stairs and platforms leading up and down across multiple dozen sets of stairs, and scattered across the path, occupying nearly all of the platforms, were more than a dozen different types of monsters.
"Oh, yeah," Kai growled. "This is going to get real old, real fast."
"Nothing for it but to continue forward," Robert sighed.
Kai growled loudly. "Did you just tell me what to do?"
Robert merely sighed, passing him. Kai eyes the back of his neck, his grip on his sword tightening, only for Sylvando and Jade to step between them, following Robert. Kai growled lowly again, stalking after them and quickly passing them before beginning to skip the stairs each time he reached any by leaping up or down over them. The others were forced to run to keep up, and by the time they reached any of the platforms, Kai was already finished with the monsters, regardless of what type they were. There were knee-high, snail-like enemies called Drohl Diabolists, zombies called Corpse Corporals, Hypothermions, demonic umbrella-like monsters called Brollygaggers, Jockilles, living wood puppets called Magic Marionettes, little green imps with swords riding on skeletal mounts called Demonriders. Nothing that Kai met lasted more than a handful of seconds against him. And then, finally, they'd reached Dora. She was in the form of a small, red-haired child, and was seated on the edge of a fountain that was sending a pillar of violet light into the sky.
"It's over!" Veronica declared. "We've got you cornered!"
"Just stand back and let the adults deal with this, pipsqueak," Kai said, walking forward. "I'm going to make this quick."
"Cornered?" Dora scoffed, laughing. "Make this quick?" Her laugh turned into a cackle. "It is you who've painted yourselves into a corner! Poor, drab fools!" With another cackle, she flew into the air, retaking the form of her mural. "Behold! I am beauty personified! Artistry made flesh! I am Dora-in-Grey! Worship me!"
A blinding light shone from the Magic Key around Dora's neck before fading, leading a pale-skinned, green-haired woman with glowing red eyes, a blue dress behind, a coppery-gold crown, and blue spheres for earrings. Except that instead of legs, the bottom half of her dress was replaced by a large cage.
"Why would I worship something that looks like a child drew it?" Kai scoffed. "I could paint a better mural with my eyes closed and using only my mouth."
"What!?" Dora shrieked. "You insolent whelp!"
She swiped at Kai, shrieking in rage as she did, but Kai's blade met her arm, knocking it up over himself at the same time as carving a deep gash into it, though it didn't bleed any, and was little more than a papercut, given that Dora was roughly ten times his size. She snarled, flicking her finger at him, and a blast of magically compressed air slammed into him, sending him skidding backward a few feet, though he was grinning wickedly.
"Is that it?" Kai sneered. "This'll be easy!"
He leapt across the distance instantly, slashing Dora across the face, before slamming a kick into her face, hurling her backward as he leapt back to the platform where the others were. Dora shrieked in rage, her eyes shining suddenly before unleashing a beam of golden energy. Everyone scattered, evading the twin beams as they swept across the platform, then anyone who could cast offensive spells returned fire with them. Veronica hurled a fireball as tall as she was at Dora, Robert hurled a Zammle at her, David sent a bolt of lightning at her, and David roared and sent a massive jet of flames raging across the distance at Dora. All of the attacks slammed into Dora as she was charging back toward them, and Dora shrieked in pain, thrashing around as Kai's flames raged across her whole body. Finally, she crashed back-first into the platform, toppling over and crashing to the ground, and in an instant, Kai, Jade, David, Sylvando, and Erik all struck for her head, their blades carving through her rapidly. Dora shrieked in pain, hurling herself upright, only for Kai, who had stabbed into her head, to come up with her before yanking his sword downward, tearing down her face and chest before leaping off, landing in a roll with the others again. Dora shrieked, light shining from her wounds as she clutched at her ruined face, thrashing around in agony.
"H-H-How did you..." Dora gasped in a ragged breath as the light faded and she slumped forward, beginning to dissolve into darkness. "An ugly victory, but listen well, foolish humans! Your battle cannot be won! You will never defeat my master...my muse...my inspiration...my...MORDEGON!"
"Mordegon?" Robert gasped.
"When his vision is at last realized...When his world comes into being...I shall...return!" Dora vowed.
"Wait!" Jade shouted. "You have to tell us more about Mordegon!"
Dora laughed exhaustedly. "You will learn more soon enough! Master! May these unsightly souls be cursed...and may you live...forever more!"
Then, in a flash of blinding light from her wounds, she was gone, leaving the crack the others had exited the mural through before in her place.
"Mordegon," Robert growled. "Finally we're getting close." He frowned. "Wait...We know that he corrupted an ancient kingdom by possessing one of its most powerful people. Could Nhou Wat be the ruins of that kingdom?"
"She said something about wanting him to live forever," Jade said. "Is that what Mordegon wants? Is that all this has been about?"
"Immortality is a curse that everyone wants until they've lived with it for a while," Kai grumbled. "Let's get out of here.
Just then, the Magic Key Dora had worn before floated down in front of David.
"The Magic Key, eh?" Robert mused. "Well, if nothing else, we'll be able to open a door or two we couldn't before. Who knows what we'll find." He nodded to himself as David took the key from the air. "Well, there's a nice wee bonus for our troubles, eh? Now, I don't know about you, but I'm about ready to-" He stopped as there was a bright flash of light as David leapt through the crack. "Och, he's so impatient."
"Come on," Jade sighed. "We shouldn't let him get too far ahead, or he might decide he's done traveling with us."
"Good riddance," Veronica huffed.
"Veronica!" Serena scolded her. "He's alone!"
"Yeah, and his one goal in life is to kill Old Man Rab and massacre all of Heliodor," Erik said. "So maybe we should keep an eye on him."
"Agreed," David nodded. "Come on."
They all headed forward together and leapt out of the mural through the crack in the air ahead of them, waking on the floor of the ruins. As they looked around, Kai was crouching over Robert, his sword held over him.
"Kai," David said warningly.
"You're lucky that I want your death to mean something, Robert," Kai growled. "That I have a much more personal score to settle with you." He sheathed his sword, standing. "I'm leaving. I'll wait in front of the village for half an hour, then I'm leaving for Heliodor."
Then, he turned, walking away and leaving them to deal with the other few dozen humans who'd been freed from the mural.
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