Capítulo 38: Nightmare
The plan amazingly worked, with Alex armed with his naginata made from Binky's horn, which he decided to name it "Nightmare" due to the brutal experience he felt when he was fighting Binky, he didn't tested the weapon yet, so he didn't know if there were some secret abilities or whatever.
Darkness was charging happily, somehow being able to kill some dolls…
Darkness: Hahaha! Alex, look! I hit it, I hit it! Even I can hit these fellows accurately!
Since the attack method of the dolls was Kamikaze, Darkness came out only with some dust on her face and armor, while she swung her sword excitedly.
Meanwhile Alex held Nightmare with a single hand as he kept moving forward, behind Darkness. He still remembered the way to Keele's room, so he guided Darkness in the darkness… Huh, that's a bit strange to say…
Alex: Keep it up Darkness! Go straight down the passage and keep charging ahead.
Darkness: Okay, leave it to me! Ah, such a thrilling experience! I think this is the first time I'm fulfilling my role as a crusader!
Soon, they reached their destination, they were currently near the lich's room, going through a hall. But they soon stopped and looked at the figure in front of them.
He was sitting down, making dolls. He was wearing a black and white mask that didn't cover his mouth with a small star design placed under each eye hole. He was also wearing a black suit with white gloves which made him look like a gentleman.
As Alex's hand tightened around his Nightmare, Darkness took large steps towards the masked man.
Darkness: Hey… What are you doing here? If you're making those dolls, that means you're the mastermind behind this commotion, right?
The masked man only faced the two of them now, and stood up, he was pretty tall and didn't have any weapon, but he gave off a feeling similar to Beldia…
The eye part of the mask gleamed with a red light, and the exposed mouth smirked.
?: Ohhh… I didn't expect anyone to be able to reach here. Adventurers, welcome to my dungeon! Thou art correct, moi art the source and the origin of all evil! Moi art a general of the Demon King's army, the duke of hell that commands the devils! The arch devil that can see through anything in the world, Vanir!
Alex: Tch…
He prepared himself for attacking and summoned 2 Oblivion Blades of Nulgath because there wasn't much room for more, while Darkness held her sword cautiously against Vanir.
Alex: Darkness, we will need to leave right now, we can't handle this just with us, maybe if I was still level 52…
Darkness: What are you saying? As a devotee of the Goddess Eris, how can I retreat in the face of the devil and a general of the Demon King's army on top of that! Even if it'll kill me, I'll bring him down!
Vanir: Ohhh, thou wish to defeat moi? Defeat Mr. Vanir, who some say is stronger than the Demon King?
You… The girl who's worried that the man over there will leave you alone, I can't fathom why art thou are so angry, but moi heard that eating some small bones will help in alleviating your nature of being quick to anger. Part of my mask was made from the bones of magic dragons, I don't mind letting you bite it.
Darkness: W-Worried…?! Who's worried!
Alex's Oblivion Blades restricted Darkness before she could throw herself to Vanir.
Vanir: Please calm down. I didn't come here to pick a fight with thee. It's because that fellow, the Demon King, asked moi to investigate something. Also, I have some business with the useless general in Axel who became more impoverished the harder she worked.
Alex: '...It's Wiz, isn't it?'
Alex ignored the thought and slightly calmed down, however Darkness still held her sword high, ready to strike at any time.
Vanir: First, although I'm a general of the Demon King's army, I'm just maintaining the barrier of the castle because of his request, so I'm just a general in name. I'm known to others as a devil. The best delicacy for devils are the negative feelings produced by the hatred of humans.
In my eyes, humans are the producers of delicacies, so I won't perform stupid things such as killing or harming thou. Whenever a human's born, I'm so happy that I'll dance in the courtyard.
Alex: There's a courtyard? ...No wait, does it mean that you will need to stimulate our negative feelings? There won't be negative feelings in times of peace.
Vanir: For negative feelings, there are tons of them in various intensity. The tastes of every devil are different and have differing preferences. Some devils like fear and despair while others are like me, transforming into a great beauty to approach men.
And after working hard to make them fall for me, I'll then reveal my true form and say, "Too bad, it's actually moi". Then I'll taste their feelings as they cry tears of blood.
Alex: What the hell?
He looked at Vanir with a weird gaze, while he kept talking.
Vanir: As I was toying with the Demon King's subordinates and feeding off their negative feelings… He pleaded with me, "Don't sloth in my castle and bully my subordinates. Go work occasionally…" i was thinking about visiting my old friend residing in this town, so I took the job.
On my way here, I found this dungeon without a master. I thought that it suited moi and came in on my own.
Alex: You mentioned that it would be troubling for you if humans were harmed, so what's with these dolls? They kept spilling out from the dungeon like cockroaches and gave plenty of trouble to the townsfolk.
Vanir: ...Hmm? These things are used by moi to exterminate the useless monsters inside this dungeon. I see, since they've made their way out, it means that there are no more monsters inside the dungeon. It's time for moi to stop the mass production of Vanir dolls and begin the next phase.
Alex: ...The next phase?
Vanir: You see, I have a grand dream as a devil. I came to this place to fulfill that dream. For moi who had existed for near eternity… I've been harboring the urge to go out with a bang for quite some time now and that's to pass on elegantly after dining on the finest negative emotions.
I've been thinking for a long time, that I don't even remember when I first had this thought. I had been thinking, what do I need to do to dine on the negative emotion I'm most fond of. And I've finally found the best idea…
First, I'll obtain a dungeon. Next, I'll dispatch my evil minions to standby in each room, setting grueling traps in them! Powerful veteran adventurers will then come forth to challenge themselves! After experiencing numerous challenges, someone will finally make it to my residence in the depths of the dungeon!
And waiting in the depths of the dungeon will of course, be moi! I'll then say "It was impressive for you to make your way here, adventurers! Come, great fortune awaits if you can defeat moi…!" After my opening speech comes the final battle! After a fierce fight, the adventurers will finally defeat moi.
In the end, a treasure chest with heavy seals will appear behind my tattered body. As I start to lose consciousness, the adventurers who overcame immense hardships will open the treasure chest before my eyes…!
Darkness and Alex gulped for the climax, and Vanir finished.
Vanir: ...Inside the box will be a piece of paper saying "Thank you for your patronage!" The adventurers will then look at this paper with a blank face. That's the scene I want to see as I head towards my demise.
Alex: ...Please, anything but that… That's too pitiful.
Darkness: Hey, Alex, I think we should take out this fellow after all.
Vanir: A friend of mine's operating a shop here. Moi original plan was to work in her shop to save up money, and use those funds along with the help of my friend to create a large dungeon. But when I passed by this dungeon, I realized there was no owner. So, I changed my mind and decided to use this place instead.
Alex didn't want to deal with him, so he just said.
Alex: Look, Since you won't be creating more dolls, there's nothing more to discuss. We're here because we need to do something in the room behind you, specifically we're here to dispel the magic circle in that room.
Darkness: Huh…? Hey, Alex, instead of that magic circle, we should take care of this guy! You want to ignore this General of the Demon King's army? The enemy of humanity's right before us!
Alex: I'm not going to get myself killed, besides, I already gave up on the thought of remaining an adventurer.
Then he stood up and headed towards the room behind Vanir, who said.
Vanir: ...Magic circle? Oh, that magic circle that gave moi quite a bit of trouble. Thou art too kind. I don't know which annoying fellow did this, but this irritating magic circle's keeping me out of the room. If thou are willing to dispel it for me, I'll gift you a Vanir doll made by moi which will laugh in the middle of the night.
Alex: Keep it for yourself… We will be leaving after dispelling, and we never seen each other after that, ok?
Vanir: Why would the existence of this magic circle be bad for thee? Let moi peer into thou's past…
Alex: Huh…? No, wait…!
Before Alex could stop Vanir, the latter already did everything and started to laugh dryly.
Vanir: Fuhahahaha… Should I say this is as expected or unexpected!? So, the magic circle that's troubling was set by thou's party mate! Even an arch devil like moi couldn't breach it. To be able to set up such a magic circle, could that priestess be…??
Alex's eyes widened, knowing what Vanir was talking about, meanwhile his eyes glowed with a blood red glow.
Vanir: Oh, the vision's clear to moi! On the surface! At the entrance of this dungeon! I see the priestess who set up the magic circle drinking tea leisurely while looking bored. All right. Girl who's really concerned with moi. Boy who's worried about a contract done with an archfiend even stronger than moi.
Don't worry, "Not killing humans" is moi iron rule. That's right, I won't kill humans… All "Humans"! that girl who gave moi so much trouble with her magic circle, I'll show her!
Alex: Shit!
Vanir seemed to have found out about Aqua's identity, and took a step forward, Darkness lifted her long sword and pointed it at Vanir who was closing in on the two of them.
Darkness: If you're planning to harm Aqua, there's no way I'll back down. As a crusader serving the Goddess Eris, I swear on my honor that you shall not pass!
Vanir: Girl, if I'm serious, it'll be easy for me to finish you off. But I'm not planning to kill humans. It's hard to judge which person will produce an exquisite negative emotion after all. Step back before you force moi to defend myself.
Alex: *Sigh* I'm not prepared to deal with this shit…
He said it while he used his free hand to rub his head, before he took his stance and pointed Nightmare towards the devil. This was one of the cases that Alex wanted to talk about to Darkness back to her home, where she could get killed immediately.
Alex: You won't come out from this Dungeon, Vanir.
Vanir: Hmm…? That's a really dangerous weapon, boy who's too strong to be one of the weakest… Nevermind, all my skills are so powerful, they'll kill you in a single hit. For example, moi lethal laser.
Because it's a lethal laser, thou who art a human will perish with one hit; thou shall perish even if it doesn't hit. Aside from this, there's the Vanir eye beams, but it has the side effect of burning moi eyes after using it, so I haven't tried it before...
Darkness: Enough, enough! I'll go crazy if you go on! I won't let you go to Aqua, you'll have to defeat me first if you want to go there!
Then she slashed at Vanir after saying that, but the latter effortlessly dodged. Meanwhile Alex tried to stab Vanir, but he also dodged that while he was careful from not getting hit from the 2 Oblivion Blades.
Soon, Alex made a feint and slashed horizontally, managing to slightly scratch Vanir, when suddenly time seemed to stop.
Everything was frozen in their spot, even Alex himself, and some strange informations entered in his mind…
Alex: ...So that's why the cost to get this weapon was so high…. [Noxious Decay]
Time started to go forward as Vanir flinched and jumped back, before his gaze turned over his arms, which were slowly reduced to dirt.
Vanir: Moi am decaying…? That's…!
Alex: One of Binky's abilities… It seems this naginata is able to replicate them…
Then he pointed Nightmare to Vanir and called out.
Alex: [Curse of Blades]
Blood red blades appeared out from thin air and pierced Vanir's body, paralyzing him in the ground, then Alex went for the final strike on his chest with the Combat Soulreaper of Nulgath.
Vanir seemed terrorized as his body and tuxedo crumpled into dust, leaving behind only the mask.
Alex sighed in relief, and at the same time he unsummoned his Oblivion Blades and then eagerly took out his adventurer's card to see his skill points… They were still at 27…
Darkness: Alex! Look out!
Alex: Huh?
He turned around, before his sight turned black.
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