The [core] is quiet.
The black plate and silence are as usual, so…
“Ouch!”
“MEW!”
“Gron, what are you doing here!?”
Gron removes its nails from my skirt and paws around. It keeps its eyes wide open and looks at the plate, the branches fluorescent with purple light.
“I!? I had to talk to you and I sensed that you were about to use your teleportation ability. What place is this!? Something very serious has happened!”
“Oh, yes, I know! I rushed to the core for this. I must defeat the Champion of the God of Wisdom!”
“Huh?” Gron is reflected in the dim light on the black plate. “And what problem would that be? It’s different.”
“In what sense? It's a very serious problem! It reached this area in hundreds of thousands of years less than expected!”
Ci-cin.
“I don't think I understand—I was telling you about that big fish in the desert. While I was wandering around, undecided whether to forgive you or not, I scanned that being and…”
“Ah, did you see that it shares my title?”
“Did you already know?”
I shake my ears.
Luckily… no new problems are in sight.
“We've already talked. It seems that if I lived for millions of years I too could…”
Clang-Crack!
A crash booms and Gron bolts to hide behind my heel.
«Fsss!»
My snake tail hisses in the direction of the noise.
“Prrr… The problem you mentioned!?”
“It moves too fast. Even by accessing this room, it cannot already be that close to the core.”
I peer into the darkness waiting for any sign.
Only the pulsating purple veins of the tree interrupt that monotonous environment.
That [Half-demon] has a short teleportation that makes it disappear in a cloak of feathers… what enhanced its ability?
That the God of Wisdom allowed it access to my [Dungeon path]?
Maybe I should have brought the [Emperor] with me. It may be a carcass, but in terms of stats, it could help me without any difficulty.
I look around. The piers are barely visible and creaking under the feet of those who want to cross them.
No.
The [Emperor] in this space would find itself imprisoned between roots and buildings. The inside of the dungeon is not its ideal environment.
The body odor comes first.
I wrap my tails around the hilt of the Atmosphere-eater, while I unsheath the sapphire blade with my hand.
Will I be able to fight with two blades?
This time I am stronger and immortal.
Come on.
Come on!
“Well, I sense a bit of tension, and since I can't compete with creatures of divine rank and, I mean, we understand each other… I think I'll hide behind that big black slab and…”
The [core]?
Gron talking about [core]?
“Gron don't touch…”
«Creee!»
A familiar halfway between a raven and a vampire glides beneath the dark lights. It opens its beak wide and croaks, diving towards me.
I raise my free hand.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
The familiar engulfed in flames falls to the ground and shatters. Frozen on the spot.
I take two steps towards the fragments. The tails drag the living blade by rubbing it on the ground and producing an ominous screeching sound.
The eye of the monstrosity is crystallized but I feel it staring at me.
[Judgment]
[Judgment: Nightmare]
Being evaporates.
I turn back to Gron.
“N, watch out!”
«Creee!»
«Creee!»
«Creee!»
«Creee!»
A flock approaching me from the same direction.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
The bodies fall, breaking upon impact with the ground. I start to get closer but a ball of acid and green fire crashes into me, producing an explosion.
“It went badly for you! This time I'm equipped!”
The [Atmosphere-eater blessing] protects me and converges the magical energy into crystals which it then devours. The blade shudders into an intricate monstrosity in my tails.
It's hot and I can see my tails getting burned.
But it does not matter.
This pain is nothing compared to the taste of revenge.
[Will-o'-the-wisp], [Will-o'-the-wisp], [Will-o'-the-wisp], [Will-o'-the-wisp], [Will-o'-the-wisp], [Will-o'-the-wisp]
I illuminate the direction from which the attacks came.
No possibility of error.
Statuary on the deck above mine. Perched like a gargoyle.
I tremble.
I shake with anger and grip the hilt of Umbrella of murder. Its blue light radiates and waves around me, but does not reach the [Will-o'-the-wisps].
I can't decipher its expression hidden by its beak. But I see that the four arms have grown back. An acid-green miasma envelops it and the tip of its halberd is corroded and glittering.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
My sneak attack only freezes a bunch of feathers.
Clang!
This time I'm ready. With the [Premonition] [ability] of the sapphire blade I parry the blow of the halberd.
“Creeee!”
The being's breath irritates me and I slash with the sword held by the tails. It dodges without difficulty.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Poison cloud]
Like the previous time, magical attacks are of little use. A flap of wings. Dissolved.
I thrust the blade in and at the same time make a slash with the other. It can't avoid both but!
Ci-cin!
“Cgha! Coff!”
In front of me only a sea of feathers illuminated by the blue of my sword and the purple lights of the roots. The Atmosphere-eater blooms like petals to devour that magic. But it matters little: the corroded blade of the halberd comes out of my chest.
“God. Obliterator.”
It hurts terribly. The being lifts me into the air.
I can't help but laugh hysterically. “Ha… ha-ha… hahaha! HAHAHAHA!”
“You, die.”
How stupid.
How stupid.
How stupid.
How stupid!
I glance at the monolith as the crow shakes me, making my green blood splash.
Gron is terrified and looks at the scene hunched over, with its fur standing on end.
I feel the blood coming out of my mouth and I smile at it.
The God-obliterator can no longer do anything against me.
[Dungeon path]
♦
The gargoyle lords keep watch from above the arena.
I'm still hanging and letting go of both swords.
Kirlh'iau must have become agitated because it shakes me as if it is trying to keep its balance. It must be difficult for it.
The black stone battlements extend beyond my field of vision. Steps, arches, and ancestral statues are all that make up that dusty construction.
Obelisk-shaped headstones stand on the ground around it, a sign of the previous existence forgotten by the arena. Each stone is fused to an emerging weapon
Ci-cin!
A sudden shock knocks me to the ground, slipping me away from the blade.
Plotch!
I feel the slime between my fingers and toes and hold my breath so as not to inhale it. The marshy ground, composed of a viscous bitumen, is what makes the Arena an impervious terrain.
But not for me.
[Shadow wall]
By merging with the dark surfaces, I put a distance between myself and the contender. Climbing the stands would be a mistake.
Now I see. Kirlh'iau's armored boots half sunk and the two lower wings tarred at the tips. My blades standing there alongside.
“Creeee! Core! Me, Core! Duty, God, wisdom!”
Get angry, get angry. I planned all along to teleport you far away with [Dungeon path].
So, the [core] is safe and we can close this game.
“This is the Arena of the night. It's a place I fear, but it's right for us.”
“You. Dead. God, wisdom, me, intercession!”
As it speaks the acidic aura becomes more phosphorescent.
“Here it's like the Ocean. Here you are swallowed up and disappear. It is an emergency solution, which can unbalance the Underwasteland. But you earned it. I cannot judge you, Kirlh'iau!”
“Creeee!”
“Getting excited won't help. We can only fight now, this area is sealed. Every time we enter, at least one body must remain there.”
The crow doesn't want to listen to me and screams with all the strength it has. The echo is lost but I have to cover my ears with my hands due to the pain.
A green flame. Explosion.
I am thrown against the wall.
[Shadow wall]
Injuries are not a problem. It shoots wildly, getting bogged down, and splashing mire, and debris everywhere.
Since its level is too high, I can't judge it. Before letting it sink, I would prefer to question it to understand more about this enemy; who is the God of Wisdom?
But Kirlh’iau doesn't seem willing to give me any encouragement.
So.
The time has come.
The moment of phase two of the plan.
[Necromancy]
[Necromancy]
The body of a green-haired woman takes shape from the mud. She doesn't look in my direction, as lightning comes to her sword.
Kirlh'iau sees her. He immediately understands and…
[Poison cloud]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Poison cloud]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
I step out of the shadows to cast spells on repeat.
Mircalla is not the least bit upset and grabs the handle of the Atmosphere-eater. The sword turns to coral and devours the surrounding magic.
A spear emerges from the toxic cloud.
“Mircalla, watch out!”
My cry is useless. Useless since she moves at the speed of lightning. Also, thanks to [Necromancy: 4] all my undead minions share my compatible abilities.
Ergo.
Mircalla uses [Shadow wall].
She sinks and resurfaces like a predator of the depths. Bogged down, Kirlh'iau is forced to parry as best it can and throw greenish flames.
An arm, another, a wing, and a leg. The Atmosphere-eater strikes into Mircalla's hands and with each blow, it takes away a piece of the bleeding enemy.
The sludge's grip becomes stronger the more its [hp] drops.
Now only the head is missing.
Mircalla steps aside, darting to my side. I wink at her smiling.
“Tse.” She spits at my feet. “My duty does not prevent me from despising you.”
“Oooh…” I lower my ears.
Do my zombies remember who I am?
Up to its chest in the bog and with its spear on the ground, Kirlh'iau croaks and writhes. it remains a mere torso with a head, whose limbs regrow. Nothing compared to [Immortality], but still a remarkable regenerative ability.
The sapphire blade shines before it.
It is the final act.
Casting [Necromancy] twice had only this purpose. My heart is pounding. This is the first death I've made disappear, am I doing the right thing?
Ci-cin, Ci-cin!
“Take your revenge too!”
A shadow stands beside the sword. Although his hand quickly reaches for the sword, his orange eye is focused on me.
The dull orange of poisoning. The corrosive poisoning of Kirlh'iau miasmas.
You wanted revenge.
“Here's your chance.”
“Creeee! God, Help, God, Wisdom, Servant, To…”
A clean cut and the crow's throat are torn open. Since it is already dead it cannot die. But it doesn't matter, not at the Arena.
Its [hp] hit zero.
Its fate is sealed.
The mud envelops Kirlh’iau and buries it. It gasps, unable to speak due to the wound.
Ilnerio remains there motionless, watching it sink.
Sink into the oily earth.
Something inside me is disappearing. Buried together with that terrible enemy.
Ci-cin!
A ray of light.
Two.
As white and pure as I've ever seen. They emerge from the pool which swells like a bubble.
I cover my eyes from the heat and burning.
Ci-cin!
Splatch!
Steaming oil splashes everywhere.
«Fsss!»
I look at the direction my snake tail is pointing. I'm left speechless.
«Plrr, plrr, prl, prl!»
A white dove with bat wings flutters crookedly towards the dark immensity. The gargoyles and statues stare motionless, Mircalla is catatonic, and Ilnerio…
“No!”
Ilnerio pulls a throwing knife from his belt and aims at the dove.
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
[Will-o'-the-wisp]
I try to lend a hand but the dove, in its weaving flight, avoids any assault.
“Scan!”
Too late.
A white glow.
Some incense-smelling feathers fell onto my nose. “Etciu!”
Ci-cin.
A pointed obelisk high up to my belly grows and takes root where Kirlh'iau was swallowed up. Its halberd emerges as a dirty tip.
This is how obliteration is avoided. You are reverted to part of the dungeon. Now I understand. A dark mechanic…
Ilnerio and Mircalla look at me, illuminated by my fires. The light disappeared. Darkness swallows the statues and steps. The exploded pool closes with the remains of Kirlh'iau.
Kirlh'iau the [Half-demon].
Kirlh'iau the listened to by the God of Wisdom.
I twitch my toes in that slime.
I failed.
I failed again.