[May 3, 1:30 pm, in the game world]
[Jōbun/Junkitsu's POV]
'Oww... my back...' Just when I thought I can cut some slack after setting foot in the final level of the dungeon, only to fall into the pitch black of... nothing. Eventually, the floor broke my fall, which in turn, broke my back. Good thing I have [Regeneration] with me. 'Where is King, by the way? Tsk, can't believe we split again...'
Thankfully, my eyes adjusted to the dark but is it just me or did I get tunnel vision?
I need to check out this place. Those clues aren't gonna walk upto you, do they?
It hasn't been a full minute when I bumped and tripped onto something.
'Are these props?' Along with them, I see racks of costumes and make-up sets. I'm pretty sure this is the Green Room, one of the most important rooms vital to a theatre. This is where many artists groom into their roles, crack jokes to stave off stage fright and boredom and hype each other for great performances. 'Man, it's been so long going through all this. I wonder how my club members are doing.'
Enough nostalgia, onto the business. Now, on checking through my stats and notices, I found something. The reason I end up getting Mythical Beast form and lightning aura is because a new Pool opened- The Faucial Pool.
This happened because of the tug-of-war between my [Regeneration] and the constant damage of lightning inside the clouds. My body adapted to absorb lightning as aura and kindled the pool to open.
Thanks to that, I was awarded with 15 star points, each in STR(32▶47) and COG(67▶82).
Next, after absorbing my Pool Tokens, the Heart Pool and the Faucial Pool are enhanced, meaning that I can now have access to Wind and Lightning auras
Third, the mementos. I got Oakman's locket, Marlowe's rosary. The husbands' might be with King, who is missing right now...
'Huh, guess I still have the Dacoit's dagger. Poison affix, I see. What happened to the bleeding one? Ah, right, I used it on the Plower. Shame it broke.'
So, in short, I have 5 open pools, 3 weapons and 2 mementos.
Lastly, the title [Ruthless Liberator]. '.....What?! This is crazy! Had I read this earlier, the previous boss fights would've been easier!' Then again, after I killed a good bull, I had no heart in looking at this. Perhaps, this might be Oakman's will, telling me to save others from his fate. Saving people the hard way would bite a hero's back, one day.
*KNOCK KNOCK* "Hey, how are you feeling?"
Sounds like a woman on the other side of the door. "Who's that?"
"It's me, bud! Who else?" Someone's being sassy.
"Listen, I know you've got big shoes to fill in and I know how hard you worked for this. So, sock your inner demons just this once and put on a good show. Okay? Your buddies got you back." This gentle voice really knows how to encourage people.
"Thanks."
"Hey, what did I tell you? Call me Big Sister, you dork."
"Alright, Big Sister. Thank you."
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! TONIGHT, WITNESS THE BIRTH OF A HERO! TONIGHT IS THE FINAL ACT OF [THE LEPER KNIGHT]!!"
'Oww, what the hell?! What's going on?! When did I get up on the stage here?' I was in the green room a while and now, everything's a bit confusing now.
Extravagantly decorated auditorium and stage, cheering animals on seats, very bright spotlights- talk about a sensory overload. 'On top of that, what's with this gaudy costume?! I look like a Chuunibyou at the peak of the phase!'
And this mask... no wonder it felt humid above the neck. This is why I am a writing person, not an acting person. Back in the day, my clubmates often ask me to act or substitute a role, but I never budged. Anyways, let's just play along and-
...
'King?! Why is he in a cage?! How did he end up there?'
*THUNK* Owww! What's it with the level design here?! So many walls, dammit! Especially when I'm trying to get off the stage! Wait, does this mean the auditorium's off-limits?
Why did it go silent?
...
Okay, jeez, easy with the glares, people... If looks could kill, I'd be dead now about a million times and counting. Alright, I'm in my position. Anytime now...
"Scene 7: Act 1
At last, the Leper Knight have set in the Demon Lord's castle.
He entered the throne room, to be greeted by the Demon Lord, whose sword thirsts for his blood.
With weapons hoisted to trade blows, the foes poise themselves, for the final battle of Good and Evil."
Ooooh, a fight scene! I think I'm the Demon Lord, whereas the monkey across me is the protagonist, the Leper Knight.
I don't know when and how I'm able to know this, but according to the story of this play, the Leper Knight is the story of a commoner who fought against all odds to be a Knight, eventually blessed to duel the Demon Lord, despite his leprosy, the source of his lifetime of contempt, mockery, discrimination, ostracization- you name it. In short, this is a dark fantasy play with a linear story and a unique premise. Except with one flaw, the Demon Lord is one-dimensional!
I get that you want someone to hate upon, but that doesn't mean you can slap googly eyes and black paper on a trash bin and deem it as a villain to pelt rotten tomatoes in it. It's still a cleverly decorated trash bin to throw trash in it!
I hope the fight scene is good enough to cover this.
The duel started. Initially, our fight wasn't that serious. It was an exchange of light blows, as a way of guessing and gauging each other's prowess.
On a closer look, the monkey seems to be a macaque, but his features look familiar but not yet recognizable, and he's sporting some props related to foxes too, like the ears and the tail. Those are excellent, to be honest.
Gradually, the duel's pace picked up, with the Protagonist leading the blows. Most of the time, his blows were parried, whereas some grazed my costume. Although he is impatient, it's my job as the antagonist to keep the flow of the story steady. There's no way I would let him hit me nor I would hit him.
At this rate, my Task to impress the audience will be complet-
*SWOOSH* *WHISH, WHISH* 'What the, hold on! What am I doing? Why can't I control my body?!'
Damnit, my actions are becoming a mess! Someone's tripping me on purpose, just so the Protagonist could land some blows. This is utterly lazy! At this rate, I'll be bludgeoned to death!
*BATHUNK* "Gaaaah!!!" What the hell?!
Stolen story; please report.
Huff, huff My stomach... Ugh...
That mace is... real. Even this sword. Moreover, how strong is that guy?! He sent me back flying. That guy's a monster! How can I win against that thing?! If only King is here to help me or at least give me a hint.
'That's right! Despair, kneel down, accept your doom!'
'Who said that?!' Why's everything so dark all of a sudden?
'My identity is none of your business. All you have to do is keel over and die. Die for the sake of art! Just like those who came before you!'
Where did this mask come from? What is it talking about? What did it mean by saying those before me? Could it be the previous players? No, that's not possible. King said that he and the previous players struggled with the first three levels. There's no way they can enter the final level. Unless...
'I can hear your gears grinding~! Sacrifices have no necessity to think. Just lay down and give up!'
The spirit of this mask's bloodthirst is strong. Perhaps, the props are all cursed or it's only the antagonist's props worn by the players. In that case, the spirit may be the same.
If I can coax out some info out of it... Well, there's no harm in trying it. First, I need to poke its ego.
'Screw that. Why should I die? What's in it for you?'
'This isn't just for me. It's for every~body here! Our hunger, our envy, our longing for life and treasure- we want to be satiated. We want to be whole. Thanks to that eagle and our Mother, we are enjoying the abundance!'
This confirms it, albeit unbelievable that it's easy. The drama theatre is the epicentre of the tragedy. This 'Mother' the mask's spirit mentioned about might be the ring leader. And King must be cursed. His community service has some link to this whole quest, I guess.
That means, the place I'm in right now must be the Subconscious. This spirit dragged me to brainwash me into dying during the scene.
It's all starting to make sense now. Why the antagonist's role has no substance.
It's just a metaphorical altar, designed to give players false hope and then robbing them of their control and force them to watch them die in vain. I'm the latest sacrifice in this mess. Shit's getting worse than I expected.
But all is not lost. From another angle, the antagonist's role is a empty book. This means I can write whatever I want to enhance the character and drive the story forward. After all, the Task is to impress the audience. But first, I must deal with this spirit.
*BZZT* 'Hahahahaha, I'm surprised you have the guts to lay your filthy hand on me! Worry not, soon you'll pay the price for your insolence!'
*BZZT, BZZT* *ZZZTRRIPP* 'Impossible! How are you able to tear my force field apart?!'
'I realized.'
'Gugh... Unhand me, you pest! Hand off my face!'
Whoa, caught those claws. Now, you've nowhere to run.
'Release me! Release me, I say!'
'No. Thanks for the mask, by the way.'
'NO! NO!! NOOOO!!!' *RRRIIIIPPP* 'AAAAHHH!!! IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS!!!'
'Put a lid on it, will ya?'
'Aarrrgh... who... are you?'
'Me? I'm the screenwriter.'
'I see... You better hope... your words... carry weight... The people... are hard to please...'
Finally, the spirit is gone. Time to get back in the show.
...
*WHOOOOSH* 'Woah!' *CRASHH* Thank God for my reflexes. A second later and my head would be crushed into a pulp. Now, time to turn the tables!
"What was I thinking? Swordsmanship is not my strongest suit, after all." Okay, the Protagonist is confused, since I threw my blade. Now, I need to infuse wind aura in my claws. "Hey, knight. Think fast!" '[Vulpine Claw]!'
[Critical Hit!]
Yes, a crit! Good thing he's dazed now. He looks like he didn't know what hit him, haha. Alright, with this, I can solidify the antagonist's standing as a deadly adversary, overwhelm the Knight and make the atmosphere murky. This way, the audience's collective hopelessness can be invoked.
Hahaha, the audience is doing a good job, engrossing themselves into the drama. But, strangely, the female red squirrel beside King is glaring the hell out of me. Very suspicious.
Everything is set. Winning antagonist? Check. Bound protagonist on the verge of losing? Check. Now, the final ingredient for this scene to become the most impressive highlight of the play, to burn into the memories of the audience.
"At long last... I thank you for coming to my abode, my Conduit."
"What?!" Good, the Protagonist's genuine expressions will be the catalyst for the revelation, the plot twist of the century!
"Now, tell me, are you interested in a little chat?"
"You foul demon, how dare you! From the moment your servants have set foot in my homeland and laid waste upon us, all talks have lost meaning. Your words can't bring the innocents back to life, can they?"
"Yes, I agree. My words can't bring the innocents to life, but my actions can. *Snaps*
[The Knight became free from his restraints and was instructed to take a look from the window.
He sees a large crowd of people, confused.
The Knight sees some familiar faces and realised that the beastfolk down there are the deceased.]
"How? How is this possible?" Yes, he took the bait! From now on, the plot twist must be carefully revealed. Before that, I need to reveal I just paid the price for resurrected them and punished my servants thoroughly.
Slowly, I began to narrate his origins. How he was a mannequin made out of demonic wax. How he was designed to be a faux body, meant to be a vessel for the Demon Lord. He was incomplete by the time he got stolen. This is why he has those white, leprous patches that catches on fire. Completely impervious to it.
Of course, this was made up at the last moment. A high-stakes gamble at the edge of the cliff. Whether this play would soar or sink lies with the Protagonist's response. So, what'chu gonna do?
"This is madness... I'm a Beastman... I'm a Beastman! Your lies cannot poison me, demon!" Yes, there's the denial!
"Then, tell me your childhood." Of course, he can't. How can he remember a memory that never existed in the first place? He's basically 'born yesterday' type character, to be exact.
The Protagonist knelt down in shock, but he has no tears. To be precise, he can never cry, out of sorrow because he only possesses the positive emotions and expressions from the Demon Lord. Although he can comprehend sadness and other negative stuff, he's not equipped to emulate them.
Finally, all I need to do now is appeal to him and boy I did good. The Protagonist's worldview has been shattered and built back up, thanks to my last-minute addition.
"Alright, in summary, you built me to act as a vessel for your soul, so you could live in this world among mortals, and to honor your friend's promise. Is that right?" Yeah! This is what I wanted!
"Right. I understand if you refuse. Even my rectifications wouldn't absolve my crimes. And I-"
"I accept."
"Pardon?"
"I accept your request." Check and mate!
"Wonderful!"
"So, what should I do?"
"You stand still. I'll do the rest." With that, everything is completed. With the help of wind aura, I lifted us and levitated, pushing slowly towards each other.
[MP is less than 10%. Limit the usage.]
Tsk, right now?! Well, gotta keep up the charade as long as possible.
"Finally... I'll get to see my friend. Thank you so much for granting my wish, my other half." After this last dialogue, we embrace. Now, if only I could search for the host...
...
Oh~, so you're the culprit, Ms.Squirrel. Glare at me as much as you can for I'm gonna put an end to this goddamn farce!
[Antagonist's role recorded.
The plot of the Leper Knight has been fundamentally rewritten.]
[Assimilation of the Demon and Beastman halves commencing.
The Demon Lord is fully restored. The true identity is Ifrit, Brazen Sovereign of the Flames.]
[Congratulations! New tether for Mythical Descent detected.
Mythical Beast: Sankōyō-no-Onibigami has descended.]
Another Mythical Beast form... thanks to the drama. My mask became whole, the costume is basically a fiery yukata. Not to mention, katanas! Twin freakin' flamin' katanas!
"[Title equip: Ruthless Liberator]!"
Guess tonight's menu is Fried Karmic Squirrel...
[To be continued]
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[Titles equipped]
[Ruthless Liberator: Save the innocents from their dark selves, no matter the cost.
Assimilated Bosses receives 50% DMG
True Bosses receive 200% DMG]