"Finally." The Vampire Lord muttered as one of the Devourer's Underlings left the Necklace. "Didn't expect it to be you, but at the same time... It makes sense, doesn't it?"
He was the one to have been my the Master's side for the longest time. Perhaps that was why he was the first to take Raven's offer.
Letting go of those whose strength lacks was a normal thing for the Devourer.
He had seen it happen many times.
He could feel it, deep inside of him.
He was different from Krista or Elisa. As a matter of fact, Light thought that all the Underlings held inside the Necklace were different from those two.n0veluSb.c0m
For those held inside the Underling Necklace, strength was necessary to remain by the Lord's side.
"You're even dumber than your Master." The Fire Spirit muttered, which didn't fail to make the Vampire Lord chuckle.
The latter stared at the Demonic Dark Wolf for a bit.
"Those eyes... I don't dislike that color."
Light's snout twitched menacingly.
Of course, Raven wouldn't dislike the color. The Demonic Dark Wolf's eyes simply shone a different shade of red than his.
"Now-"
The next second, the rest of the Devourer's Underlings appeared.
Levi, Grey, and Fiery.
They immediately positioned themselves between Light and Raven.
"Oho..." The latter muttered.
The Fire Spirit chuckled internally.
The Underlings' gazes were cold as ice.
Light let out a heavy exhale and blinked.
The Demonic Dark Wolf's eyes did not run away from those of his brethren.
A time when all Underlings agreed, acted, and thought the same.
A time when Light, Cer, and Sin, had rushed to place themselves in front of their Lord. As if one. As if the three shared one Soul.
Simpler times.
***
Mark, Elisa, and Krista continued their way towards the border between Sloth and Lust.
"Oh. More than the usual."
"Looks like there will be more Beasts from now on." Elisa said as she made her Timeworn Elven Daggers spin.
Mark stepped forward, but she extended an arm to the side, stopping him.
"Mm?"
"It's been a while since I showed off."
"Guess I'll be taking notes then."
"You do that."
Mark chuckled.
She was already gone.
He couldn't tell whether she had spoken those three words before launching herself forward or after.
In any case, Mark extended a hand to the Moonlit Feline, and the latter climbed up his body.
Drops of a dark liquid appeared on his back.
The drops grew larger and larger, until they turned into two large and distinct masses.
It didn't take long for those masses to turn into wings.
'Some things are easier to control than others...' Mark noted internally as he spread those dark wings.
The white-scaled Monster took to the air.
It opened its right Eye slightly, and keeping up with Elisa's position through the tree became a bit easier.
From above, Mark watched and studied Elisa's movements.
It wasn't the first time he was doing so.
Mark was reminded of the Fire Spirit's words.
Is she calculating or simply lazy and can't be bothered to move until the last moment-
"Definitely calculating..." He whispered to himself.
The head movements of a Terrified Monster that's been driven to a corner-
"That's not it either." Mark chuckled.
He could tell now.
'After fighting that Commander, it's obvious. She always moves her head around to keep up with her surroundings. Something I don't do enough. Something the Commander was doing too. But now...' Mark reached for the piece of cloth. 'With the same Eye as he had, I'll have to start doing the same...'
The white-scaled Monster found itself getting lost in its own thoughts when it was supposed to be studying.
Its "Teacher" was going out of her way to make a demonstration after all.
But,
You're arrogant and insecure. I'll say it bluntly because no one else will-
'I can't wait to get all of you back.' The Devourer thought, a wide smile on its face.
The next second, the Moonlit Feline hissed and Mark's body shivered.
An arrow pierced the air a couple of meters away from them.
His gaze moved towards her.
'Keeping an eye on me too, huh? What...'
Mark chuckled, but Elisa stared with a serious expression on her face.
A diligent Teacher-
***
"Shaamah." Draconia called out as she knocked on a door.
She was back in Pride.
It doesn't take long for someone with Stats such as hers to cover the distance.
"Don't come in." The Connector's voice was cold.
A tone filled with boredom.
Nia's eyebrow twitched.
"Where is he?" She asked, not letting one drop of anger or annoyance transpire through her tone.
The Connector stared at the door.
They could be seen.
Her anger, annoyance, contempt, and shame.
Perhaps Shaamah's eyes had something to do with that.
"So he made a fool out of you. Trusting Raven is always a gamble, isn't it?"
"Where is he?" Nia repeated as she lay a palm on the doors separating her from the Connector.
"Raven? He's-" The Connector's words stopped suddenly. Shaamah could tell what was about to happen. "Last time a Follower Of Gaavah let its presence be known was in the Forest Of Yarnha. South East of Sloth. I can't be sure whether that is your Candidate or not."
"That'll do." Nia sighed and walked away.
She walked about two dozen steps before she started running at top speed.
Two dozen steps seemed to be enough to be out of the Connector's range, but it wasn't.
'Nia, Nia, Nia... You're the only General that I'm interested in.' Shaamah thought while yawning. 'I want to see more of your Soul, but this won't do... This just won't do.'
***
"Katiii! You gotta work harder if you want to beat the Demon Lord Of Pride!" General Zerha shouted.
"Shut... Shut... Shut up!" The Candidate shouted, clearly out of breath.
"Oh, come on. You didn't even move that much."
"You know that... It's not about... Moving..." The Beastman let his body collapse onto the burning sand.
"Yeah..." General Zerha pressed her lips together.
-Get up and keep going, you weakling-, is what she wanted to say.
"Keeping these Illusions up... Is already hard enough. Doing so while moving makes it... Extra hard."
"Inside the Dungeon... Well, that Dungeon. You could get by since your Titles were strengthened. Now, it's all you."
"All me, huh?"
"Pretty exciting, isn't it?"
The Beastman pushed himself off the ground.
"I need to study this place better, if I want my Illusions to work better. Status is something that builds up with time, right?"
"Well... You can't get notoriety overnight. Usually?" General Zerha shrugged.
"Mm." Kati nodded. "My Illusions only work on those with equal to or lower Status than mine. I get why Status is important for me now but..."
[Your Title "Mind Bender" looks at you with shining eyes.]
'Making these Illusions in and of itself... Is pretty damn fun. If I make a good one, I wonder if I could fool Zerha...?' Kati scratched his head. 'It'd have to be a pretty damn good one. An amazing one. An Illusion that could make her forget about reality.' He thought as he raised his gaze towards the sky. 'How do I do that?' Kati asked himself, a wide smile on his face.
***
A dozen explosions scorched the Boss Monster's body.
It jumped away to the side, only to find more of the scary and tiny weapons on the ground. The same weapons that had hit it over and over again earlier. Weapons that were filled with the power of thunder.
They were so numerous that its feet couldn't land on anything but them.
Immediately, an electric shock went through the Boss Monster's body, temporarily keeping its body from moving.
And while the Boss Monster's muscles were twitching uncontrollably,
"I kept this one hidden, so let me show you what it can do!" The Candidate shouted as he appeared behind the Final Floor's Boss Monster.
In his hands, a flaming Spear.
The Boss Monster's heart was pierced and scorched.
But that wasn't enough to bring it down. Not right away anyway.
The Boss Monster's hands reached for the Weapon's tip and,
"Did you see it yet? Left a little surprise for you there."
The Boss Monster's eyes widened as it noticed.
The Weapon Master pulled its Weapon back and a powerful explosion scorched the front side of the Boss Monster.
Smoke filled the area and the Candidate jumped back.
Seconds later,
[You have defeated the Final Floor's...]
"LET'S FUCKING GOOOO!" The Weapon Master shouted as he swung his arms, letting go of a dozen red marbles which exploded upon coming into contact with the walls, ceiling, or ground.
Someone suddenly came into the Boss Room from a door that he, previously, hadn't noticed appearing.
The Weapon Master's nose twitched.
"What's my Rank?" He asked, immediately noticing who the person in front of him was.
"Rank?" The General had already described himself, so it wasn't hard to recognize him. "Oh... That's what you mean? You're Third. Congrats."
"FUUUUUCK!!!" The Candidate shouted at the top of his lungs. "WHO MADE IT BEFORE ME? I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ME AND THAT FIRST GUY! WHAT THE HELL? WHAT THE FUCK?"
The General sighed and turned around.
"Stop worrying about useless things. Come..." He waved a hand. "We have a long way to go."
'Not even humoring me for a bit?' The Candidate thought as he let out a dry chuckle.
"Yes, boss."
