Littorio gently spins her wine glass and quietly watches the deep red liquid stir smoothly. As she lets out a faint sigh, her free right hand rubs her left forearm with the tip of her fingers.
"What's the matter?" Vittorio Veneto stops her wine glass midway before she can take a sip
"Queen Elizabeth and Sovetsky Soyuz sided with Bismarck after a meeting over the revelation that they have Beelzebub contained after that creature escaped death by parasitizing on Tirpitz"
"Considering your experience with Beelzebub, I'm not surprised you're displeased" Vittorio Veneto takes a light sip
"Truth to be told, the time I spent being captured by Beelzebub was strange. You'd be surprised to know that there was less torture involved and more on Beelzebub questioning their existence" Littorio lifts her wine glass again
"Is that why you refused to detail about your encounter?"
"It was strange. Beelzebub was confused at their own existence. They questioned their gluttony and their survival. Beelzebub was learning from humans...because they learned to think about their survival and question their future"
Littorio briefly closes her eyes for a moment and vividly recalls Beelzebub's towering figure looming above her. Rather than kill her on the spot, Beelzebub simply pinned her on the ground and begins questioning themselves.
"Beelzebub was like a clueless child. They're prone to anger and yet curious to a lot of things" Littorio scoffs
"A rather grotesque and putrid child" Vittorio Veneto scoffs
"Just like a child, they're afraid of adults. To the Leviathans, it was Lucifer. The domineering and bored self-proclaimed leader of the Leviathans"
"Speaking of Lucifer, they attacked Iron Blood and failed. According to Iron Blood, Beelzebub rebelled and fended them off. It was hard to believe, but the fact that no one died, and Tirpitz is still herself means it must be true" Vittorio Veneto places her glass down
"If Beelzebub started parasitizing ever since their supposed defeat, it means Beelzebub has mingled with humans longer than they should. They're behaved and quiet, but I don't want to think Beelzebub learned to be more human. They are sins - the worst reflection of humanity"
The wine faintly reflects a bit of Littorio's eyes. As she stares the calm surface, she's briefly lost in thought again as she also recalls a human's head between Beelzebub's jaws. With a single snap of their jaws, Beelzebub swallowed the head like miniature candy. They easily yanked off the arms first, effortlessly snapping the bones and joints with a simple pull, then proceeds to throw the arms to their mouth like soggy fries.
"Gluttony is the lack of self-control and restraint. The insatiable for hunger for anything we desire is best presented with how Beelzebub continues to grow and learn more of their desires" Littorio clenches her fists
"You learned all of that from being captured by Beelzebub?" Vittorio Veneto blinks in surprise
"Beelzebub's rationality is growing as they continue to feed. That's why they rebelled against Lucifer and decided to be behaved under Iron Blood's custody. Still, we need to find a way to destroy that parasite"
"I doubt Bismarck would just quickly agree to have her sister be killed" Vittorio Veneto massages her temples
"It seems I have to chat with Beelzebub again...if they can come home in piece after dealing with Belphegor"
A minute of silence follows. Vittorio Veneto observes Littorio who has been staring at her own wine glass without even blinking.
"Still, I know I would know I would be looking at a hollowed-out host than an actual person. That's how parasites are after all..."
Littorio hallucinates a reflection of one side of Beelzebub's face grinning at her, but she only stares at it with indifference since she's used to it.
Tirpitz collapses on the shallow water in Beelzebub's mentalscape and writhes in pain. She holds her pained grunts because of the sensation of Beelzebub's stomach caving in, the worst part being Beelzebub being slowly ripped in half from the waste. The way Beelzebub's skin and muscles stretch to the limit until it snaps one by one until the bones creak until they snap.
"It feels...like...I'm the one getting beat up..."
[Of course. We're dealing with Belphegor. I grow by feeding and absorbing. Belphegor gains power by suppressing and feeding on others]
"Hmph. Both of you are parasites..."
[If you keep lying there. You will die]
"Just me?"
[I'm a parasite. I can simply abandon your pathetic corpse and find another unfortunate soul as my new host]
The tip of Beelzebub's claw is an inch away from piercing through Tirpitz's head. Their quivering lower jaw indicates they're itching to end her even only in the depths of the consciousness.
"Then I'll just have to bound you to me then..."
Tirpitz tries to curve a confident smile, but she can only manage a wry smile and sweat coldly. Even if she's a stoic and reserved person, she can feel as much pain as everyone else. The pain of being horribly torn apart and beat up until the face caved in stings her in more ways than one.
[Ha! Arrogant as your sister. That's the biggest flaw of the mighty Bismarck and the nation who felt superior. It seems none of you looked back at history]
Belezebub grins and lowers their head until their snout is close to Tirpitz. They open their jaws, their lips unmoving but words echo from deep inside them. The partially melted and fused human faces making up their tongue let out hollowed laughs and gasps.
"..." Tirpitz frowns
[Although I said before that I needed a blank slate like you to experience flavors, you lack the drive to hunger and crave for more. You don't have grand ambitions or selfish desires which I hate]
"Well then, I'm sorry for being incompatible with a hungry monster like you" Tirpitz's voice is stoic with a hint of sarcasm
[As much I despise your tempered desires, we both need to survive. I need you alive]
"So you can eat my sister?"
[Hmph]
Beelzebub pulls their head away and grins, exposing rows of jagged teeth that can tear through battleship hull with ease.
[You said you wanted to bound me further a while ago. Are you prepared to take that risk?]
The pair of pupils and irises inside each of Beelzebub's eyes simultaneously stare down at her. They lower themselves again, so their eyes can have a closer and clearer view of the stubborn and unfazed battleship staring at them.
"I'm going to make sure you're stuck with me until I die. It would be a problem if you jump into a stronger kansen"
[Aaah...you just made your own flaw as clear as day. I thank you, brat. You just confirmed my suspicion all along]
A pair of large and clawed hands closes on Tirpitz's both sides. It's as if Beelzebub wants to either squeeze her throat if they're the same size as humans.
[You just spat out the way for to dig further inside your head]
"What are you-"
The world around Tirpitz quickly darkens and Beelzebub's red eyes seem to only gleam brighter. Her senses are robbed from her, and she feels the suffocation of the deep sea's pressure. The light begins to fade away and so does her cling to her consciousness.
...
...
The red lump that broke through Beelzebub's torn spine grows even further. The red glistening flesh inflates, and hollowed human faces attempt to stretch out of the flesh. Wriggling tendrils stretch out and pierces through Beelzebub's severed lower half.
"That's..." Belphegor recognizes it
The tendrils swiftly pulled the severed lower half and absorbed it within the lump. The throbbing lump that constantly secretes acidic mucus absorbs the motionless torso as well. The additional biomass causes it to sporadically stretch and mold in various shapes. Beelzebub reforms, sprouting their mutated dragon head with a lion's mane, stocky torso. Their hind legs become reptilian, and they gain a serpent for a tail.
"They mutated..." Prinz Eugen frowns
"Worse. They adapted and evolved" Friedrich der Grosse narrows her eyes
Beelzebub screams in a high-pitched and distorted tone as their freshly reformed body first exposes their red, glistening and lumpy flesh. It takes about a minute for cracked and jagged metallic plates to cover some areas of their body, but it still exposes some of their throbbing veins.
"How strange. In perceiving isolation and solitude, I've grown more motivated for my meals. Even someone unremarkable has a hidden flavor after all. Kansens are fascinating, aren't they?"
Their mind is fresh, but their demeanor is calmer than usual. Beelzebub speaks more clearly, sternly, and with a touch of a stoic and detached view.
"Is it me or why is that hungry abomination...talking like Tirpitz?" Prinz Eugen rubs her chin
"...!" Bismarck widens her eyes
From a single response, and Bismarck can easily compare how Beelzebub is mimicking Tirpitz's reserved, gentle, and stoic nature. It's only a bit twisted since Beelzebub chuckles a bit, amused and entertained by the idea.
"You absorbed more information from your host..." Belphegor growls
"We are parasites, aren't we? Such is our nature" Beelzebub shrugs their shoulders
"I see why Lucifer is upset at you. You've gotten too curious"
Belphegor lifts their right arm and curls their fist so tightly that their bones are cracked. They prepare to strike while Beelzebub silently watches in anticipation.
"...!"
The moment Beelzebub moves the slightest, Belphegor blinks and slowly turns their head to the right. Their right arm is completely severed from them, leaving only a fleshy stump squirting thick red fluids and torn veins fluttering in the air.
"Chewy, somewhat juicy, a bit salty, and overcooked. Your arm can use a bit more spices and control in heating them"
Beelzebub appears behind them, already sinking their teeth and tearing a portion of Belphegor's right arm. They start with the forearm, slurping and chewing with all their might as they struggle to grind the thick fibrous muscles in their mouth.
"When did you get so fast?"
"I mimicked you. Belphegor, you gain a tremendous amount of strength by absorbing the vitality and stamina of those within your field. I digested that information, but it's not as effective as I hoped. I needed more biomass to process it. That means I have to eat more of you, by the way"
Beelzebub continues to chew through Belphegor's severed arm until the forearm area is cleaned off its bits of fats and hardened muscles. They slurp the snapped strings of muscles between their jaws and lick all sides of their mouth.
"You're...feeding on me - your own kin?! Have you gone mad? Cannibalizing on your own kind"
"Has your lack of productivity and effort dulled your mind, Belphegor. Hunger doesn't choose and differentiate. MY hunger sees everyone as a potential meal, even if they're my own kind"
A snap and crack echo in the air. Beelzebub severs the hand and upper arm from Beelzebub's right arm. They widely open their maw and drop the severed upper arm and hand straight into their mouth. They don't even chew, just directly gulp down the remaining parts down their thick throat.
"Although I made clear that Bismarck is my meal, my goal hasn't changed" Beelzebub pats the closed second month on their stomach
"You? Goal? You think of the short term, Beelzebub. Thinking far ahead isn't your forte"
"That was before, but I did gain more perspective by absorbing memories of my host. A good meal isn't prepared on short notice. It takes diligence to gather the finest ingredients and patience to ensure the right amount of ingredients is mixed and stirred"
"You're more talkative than before" Belphegor growls lowly
"Ironic, isn't it? This 'one' doesn't speak much, let alone initiate a conversation, yet words keep spilling out of my mouth"
Beelzebub lifts themselves and straightens their back as they put one hand behind their back and the other hand waves the air.
"...!"
Without warning again, Beelzebub appears behind Belphegor. After the right arm, Beelzebub rips off the left arm.
"..."
The second and large mouth on Beelzebub's stomach opens widely, the exposed teeth dripping hot and corrosive saliva. Long and barbed tongue lashes in excitement. Beelzebub shoves the arm into their second, letting it bite through the severed arm and slowly pulls it inside the mouth and down to the throat.
(This strength won't last much longer. My growth is still imperfect without the right nutrients to fuel it. As much as I despise it, I need to be patient and let those Iron Blood pests open the opportunity for me)
A wicked grin stretches on Beelzebub's mouth, their eyes briefly glancing at a speechless yet furious Bismarck. They know why Bismarck is upset and unhappily glaring at them. It amuses them with the more intense and purer the emotion is, the more it provides flavor. They intend to exploit as much as they can.
"You'll keep going after me until one of us drops dead, aren't you?" Belphegor lifts their head
"Yes"
"You're difficult. Doing what you want, whenever and wherever you feel like it. That hunger makes you more impulsive"
Belphegor lazily turns their head from left to right, staring at hoe they lost both of their arms because they never raised their guard or put much effort in the fight.
"Aaaah. This is why I don't want to move and put effort in anything. It's not worth the risk and doesn't even benefit the slightest..."
Belphegor falls on their knees as the severed stumps on both sides continue to squirt lumpy bits of fat and red gelatinous substance. What little motivation they have earlier is quickly replaced by their lethargy and defeatist mentality.
"You and Lucifer are both the same. Doing what you want regardless of how it affects others. I suppose I'm the same too since I truly don't care whether I win or lose. I don't want to put effort into anything..."
Belphegor yawns and the wriggling extra arms on their back grow limp and hangs like shadowy and squishy tassels.
"Hmm? Even if it means dooming the others in the process?" Beelzebub tilts their head
"Beelzebub, do I look like the kind to care about others? I only wish to stay idle, and I thought I could keep doing so if I get rid of you, but you're not going to stop. You'll never stop just as you'll keep pursuing to fill your belly" Belphegor sighs long
"I wished I never had to resort to restricting my own freedom, but in the end...I know I'll reap the rewards" Beelzebub grabs Belphegor's head
The Iron Blood kansens stare from afar, seeing only Belphegor falls to their knees and lower their head, a sign of immediately giving up even if Belphegor can also regenerate. Beelzebub grabs Belphegor by the head. A single tight squeeze and dark red fluids, shards of Belphegor's skull, and curly strings of flesh splashed around Beelzebub's fists.
"That wasn't fun at all. My appetite is ruined..."
Beelzebub growls as they removed their hand from Beelzebub's squished head. Mucus and red fluids soak their palm and fingers. Rather than shake it off or wash it off, Beelzebub stuffs their entire hand into their mouth and suckles it like a sloppy child.
"I left the spine and torso untouched. This should be enough, right?"
Beelzebub grabs Belphegor's body by the tail and lazily drags the motionless and mutilated corpse. They swing their hand and let Belphegor's armless and headless corpse slide in front of the Iron Blood kansens.
"What have you done with Tirpitz?" Bismarck ignores Belphegor's corpse and approaches Beelzebub
"Huh?" Beelzebub goes on all fours
"You did something to her, didn't you?"
"What if I did?" Beelzebub grins
"...Your vague answer means you want to provoke me"
Bismarck takes a deep breath and tries to focus their mind, reminding herself that she's still facing a parasitic Leviathan who's notorious for their insatiable hunger.
"Right now, you don't have anything to worry about. Your sister is still intact - body and mind. We have a deal after all. It's not worth losing...a taste of you"
Beelzebub extends their claw, the sharp teeth just an inch from Bismarck's chest. They lick their lips, still seeing Bismarck as their next main dish. Their teeth lightly chatter at the thought of finally tasting Bismarck whole.
Meanwhile...
Satan's lower jaw barely hangs by a thread with the left side of their ramus is shattered. Their molten for a saliva drip to the waters beneath them, sizzling and causing steam around them. Their ribs caved in after it's been punched through, and their 'heart' is ripped out. Mammon stares at one of their arms, the hand completely disintegrated, and their wrist charred in the process.
"Belphegor lost. No, it's more accurate to say they gave up. That's to be expected..." Mammon scoffs
"Is profit and opportunity all you can think off, Mammon?" Satan's voice echoes in a deep and beastly tone
Despite their jaw barely hanging from their face, they don't need to move their mouth to speak much like the other Leviathans. Their eyes flare a bright orange glow while their hollowed chest spurts out bright red lava with bits of volcanic rock.
"The same way you can only think of violence and bloodshed, Satan"
The charred wrist ceases to sizzle. Lump of peach-colored flesh with bulging purple veins emerge from the fleshy stump. It's slow, but the wet lump of flesh is attempting to reform their hand. Five bumps pop out as their fingers contest with the hand on what to regenerate first.
"In the end, we're following our own desires. Belphegor has no ambitions or goal, so they will gladly accept defeat if it means they will avoid putting effort. As for me, I crave to gain more of what I already have. You, on the other hand, is much more difficult. You are rage and vengeance - so your primary nature is to be impatient, harsh, indiscriminate...and explosive" Mammon takes off their monocle for a second before it back on
"Why did you let Beelzebub do as they please. Aside from Asmodeus, you encouraged Beelzebub to follow their whims" Satan's jaw regenerated and snaps back in
"Perhaps I have my own motives, perhaps I don't. What's clear is taking out Lucifer will greatly benefit me. Beelzebub's actions are a bonus" Mammon grins
"Aargh! I hate your schemes! The way you slither around and let everyone do the dirty work for you"
"Opportunistic is my defining trait after all" Mammon's several hands do a money gesture
"You're even unapologetic!"
"Enough about me. What will it be, Satan? Will you keep fighting me and let yourself be consumed by Beelzebub or value your life for once"
"Fuck you!"
Boiling blood replaces the lava within Satan's body. Their eyes shed tears of blood, and their mouth drools the same kind of fluid as well. Their armor cracked open, forcing them to break apart. The heat they emit causes a small area around them to boil and release vapor.
"Are we really allying with this Leviathan who makes it clear they will betray us at the slightest opportunity?" Ulrich von Hutten whispers to Graf Zeppelin
"Of course not. We already have our fair share of backstabbers and manipulators in the form of Sirens" Graf Zeppelin sighs
"T-that burning one is freaking me out. I want to go home..." Leipzig whimpers and sobs
"I wonder if Bismarck made the right choice in trusting not one opportunist, but two..." Graf Spee looks at both Mammon and the Arbiters
They observe the fight that turned into a scuffle since Mammon's touch cause Satan's boiling blood to become mercury and stab them from the inside. Poisonous liquified metal pierces out of their body, repeatedly forcing them to regenerate. A large thorn that sprouts through Satan's eye sockets and skull cause them to stumble back for a moment.
[That's enough, Satan! Belphegor is already compromised!]
Lucifer's impatient and furious voice rings inside Satan's head. Despite the distance, Lucifer's dark purple chains with a faint crackle of thunder, coils around Satan from head to toe.
"Lucifer! Stop meddling!" Satan tries to wriggle free, but the chains create thorns and only coil tighter around Satan
[I won't let you ruin my plans further. Grr! It was a mistake to send you. I should have sent Abaddon instead!]
"How about you come instead!"
[Enough! Perhaps it's time to completely fix you you]
"Lucifer! Don't you dare-!"
A flicker of fear sparks in Satan's eyes when they gasp, but their complaints are immediately cut off with Lucifer spreading a pool of shadows beneath Satan. Slimy and pitch-black hands grab Satan's screaming and wriggling form, helplessly sinking into the bubbling black puddle until their large and fiery form completely disappears.
"Lucifer. It seems the Arrogant is getting desperate"
Graf Zeppelin only scoffs, neither thrilled nor disappointed at the victory. Rather, they feel a slight tremble in her fingers after seeing Satan panic instead of rage as the Rageful is helplessly dragged into the shadows while bound.
Two hours later...
Bismarck and the other kansens of Iron Blood return safely. Manjuus help chain Belphegor's motionless body and lift it off from the port. It takes several thick chains to even lift a body lacking a head and both arms. The small bird-like helpers sweat profusely as the large corpse looms over them and slowly gets hauled away. As for Tirpitz, she manages to revert to a human form, but she feels a change in her body.
"That parasite clings tighter. I feel like I made a huge mistake..."
Tirpitz clutches her chest with Beelzebub's presence clearer now. She feels the slimy tendrils pulsate and crawl deep inside her core. A little more and she would imagine a deep red flesh secreting red fluids is wrapping around her wisdom cube.
"..."
Tirpitz rolls up a bit of her sleeve on her left hand. For a few seconds, bright red veins become visible beneath her skin, a sign of her body undergoing gradual physical change or at least a sign of the infection worsening.
"Tirpitz"
"...!"
When Tirpitz hears Bismarck slowly approaching, Tirpitz quickly rolls down her sleeve and restrains the throbbing headache by maintaining her usual stoic and gentle appearance.
"Tirpitz, you should have Neumark check-up on you first. I don't know if you can remember, but Beelzebub changed after they reformed and mutated"
"...Is the parasite growing stronger, Bismarck?" Tirpitz softly asks
"There's no evidence yet, but I feel like Beelzebub will continue to grow if we don't act. When that happens..." Bismarck averts her gaze
"I know very well of the danger. I won't be able to contain Beelzebub any longer and the parasite will overtake me" Tirpitz softly sighs
"That's why we're keeping Beelzebub stagnant with Belphegor's fluids. It's only a temporary solution, but it will buy us time"
"What's our next plan aside from my last resort of ending myself...?" Tirpitz stares at the horizon
"The Northern Parliament will immediately take action and create a poison to weaken Beelzebub. It will alarm the others if Beelzebub is indeed evolving even while restrained"
"I can offer my assistance. For a price, of course~"
Mammon interrupts them, by appearing in a smaller form no bigger than Geryon. Alongside the monocle, they actually wear a necktie, as a parody of a gentleman and businessman.
"It's part of the deal to handle Beelzebub as well" Mammon grins and clears their throat
"..." Bismarck silently glares
"Don't be so guarded, my dear Bismarck. All I ask is blueprint to Geryon. Your special move is quite fascinating"
Mammon purrs in a gentle, but their sarcastic and cheerful tone makes them more obviously suspicious and not very trustworthy. Considering their methods, it's natural for them to sow doubt and confusion out of sheer curiosity and boredom.
"Not so fast. Out discussion is far from over" Empress steps on Mammon's tail
"Ha! Ever the mood killer, little smug Arbiter" Mammon faintly growls while grinning
"You want to study Beelzebub because you knew they're changing, you sensed what happened when Beelzebub regenerated" Empress stares up at Mammon
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bismarck frowns as she steps forward
"Why don't you ask your sister?" Mammon turns their attention to Tirpitz
"Tirpitz...?"
"You let Beelzebub in the second they sensed the slightest crack in your mind. That crack will continue to grow until they will propagate and devour what's left of your consciousness. That is if there's anything left in your head. You're dead after all" Mammon shrugs their shoulders
"I'm...what?" Tirpitz lightly shakes her head in confusion
"Dead? What do you mean Tirpitz is dead?" Bismarck stomps her left foot
"Oh? You didn't know? This will be a long discussion..."
Mammon licks their lips, savoring the nervousness and confusion on both Bismarck and Tirpitz. Their eyes gleam at the opportunity that has been presented to them once again. Another scheme ignites in their mind, and they limbs tremble in anticipation of their leverage.