Chapter 195 – Final Lord

Chapter 195 – Final Lord

(Ikarus) “Dang, just what the hell is this place?”

(Zeki) “You seriously asking that orangey? It’s obviously some secret illuminati style organization where they practice necromancy, duhhh!”

(Ariza) “Uh, no one gets your sense of humour Zeki. This place is pretty weird though”

(Asmodeus) “Hmm... I remember the oracle having a workshop like this once upon a time... Ah, sorry silent one, just realized your troubled past”

(Mute) “...”

(Petra) “It’s okay Mute, she’s long gone now”

Having gone through the endless corridors and now into the place I thought was a dungeon, instead we find an ancient laboratory of sorts. The place is filled with all kinds of medical shit, vials, jars, surgical equipment, basically anything you can imagine in a makeshift laboratory.

Ah, the thing about Mute getting horrid memories is down the that fact the oracle apparently used to experiment on her or something like that. She seems alright for the most part, if you exclude her unwillingness to speak and things like that, just it’s obvious both sisters are going to hate their oracle mother. Best just leave that depressing shit alone.

I’m also purply ignoring the elephant in the room, that being the five or so frozen human sized pods. I’d make a frozen TV dinner joke if those things still had occupants in, is it safe to presume that some of the undead came from inside these?

All of us have a quick search around the facility when a door left slightly adrift catches my attention, leading into a much darker room. I walk into said room and the lanterns inside begin to light up as I make my way onto the catwalk...

“Blood hell... hey guys, you may want to see this”

Ahead and all around me stands a storage facility filled with thousands and thousands of frozen corpses, stored inside pods all viewable from this walkway. This is actually insane, no Ikarus over exaggerating will change things because there are literally thousands more of these bodies.

Obviously, all the undead must’ve came from this facility answering that question, something that doesn’t get answered is why there’s a stranger inside this room...

“It’s an interesting thought, no? Knowing just how many people once lived in these lands, now all lost and frozen in time scattered around this world like ancient relics”

A mostly red, black horned creature stands to the far end of the catwalk, almost looking down on us as he gives his inner antagonist speech. He’s going to be an enemy, right? The way he expects us entering, then stands around without a care as we enter the frozen room full of corpses. All that’s missing is a white cat, a piercing laser and we have a real spy villain on our hands. His outfit kinda fits the role as well.

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Spoiler

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‘The final demon, the one and only... Lucifer! Status’

[Name: Lucifer | Species: Demon Lord | Level: 1,000]

[Health 166,666/166,666]

[Stamina 62,021/166,666]

[Magicka 32,642/166,666]

‘Magic and stamina are surprisingly low, maybe the necromancy has something to do with that? I presume this is his work’

“The dead you see and the ones outside are only a tiny percentage of the entire continent that once lived in these lands, all dead even further up north. You’d find more life in a world of pure devastation rather than these lands, pretty good for building an army though”

‘At least this guy is providing some decent background lor-, hold up. Was mother responsible for all this?’

A very long time ago, back at that peace conference between the dragon fam and the dead prince, a little comment mother made has always stuck around. Once upon a time, there was a continent to the north, a continent she was responsible for destroying after witnessing her first child die...

“Whether we’re friend or foe Lucifer is irrelevant right now, did a dragon cause all this devastation?”

My question actually unsettles him, making him seem a little unhinged.

“Who’s to say if a dragon were involved or not? This place was always cold but it did thrive once upon a time. If a winged lizard were to cause all this, you could probably find evidence around if you spent enough time looking. None of that matters right now though”

I know this guy has a point but something about him is making me unsure, like he knows much more than he probably should. Maybe mother didn’t cause this then because fire is supposed to be her speciality? Eh, I’ll have to ask this another time.

“Brother Luci, what a strange and unforeseen encounter this is! We can try and end this amicably with no more bloodshed if possible, let bygones be bygones and all that”

For what might be the first time ever, Asmodeus has a face that ever so slightly resembles fear. That’s definitely not good.

“Don’t even bother trying Asmodeus, I figured out what your little pet project was centuries ago, as if something like that would ever get past me”

‘This guy defo seems a little arrogant, guess Luci is supposed to be the demon lord of pride after all’

“Heh, at least my plan involves the living rather than the dead, a pack of wolves is stronger than that army of yours that now lies destroyed”

“Undead can always be raised anew Asmodeus, much quicker and painlessly then involving life. Another pointless conversation that doesn’t need to be discussed”

Where the conversation was heading, or no longer is, has clearly made Asmodeus a little dejected from his brother’s reluctance to talk with him.

“Point taken... look Lucifer, you obviously know why we’re here so let’s try and end this peacefully. I never held any distaste to you so if there’s any chance you’ll be reasonable, now’s the time”

Even though I can only speculate on the reason, it seems Asmodeus really doesn’t want to get in combat with him. I think I can understand why this time, this demon is like an unknown entity, a foe I just can’t get a read on despite his SP and MP being drained. It’s probably the exact same for a guy who constantly relies on the future, he hasn’t visioned fighting this brother so anything is on the table.

“I don’t hate you either Asmodeus, but the tides of fate lead us to this very moment. If you want my horn for your little birdy, then you’ll have to pry it off my frozen corpse...”

The demon Lucifer snaps his fingers and all the lanterns in the room roar into flames as he charges us down, blade in hand almost surprising us if we hadn’t literally just taken our weapons out. You won’t be catching us off guard this easily.

[<Take this fight extremely cautiously Ikarus. Despite stats being matched and demon not appearing to have any insane resistances, Aesa is feeling unsettled>]

“I’m sorry everyone but I don’t know brother Luci’s skillset, treat this fight like your lives depend on it”

Two warnings flock my and the others way, making me curious just how powerful this guy is supposed to be. When you think of demons and anything resembling hell, the names Satan and Lucifer first come to mind, right? This guy must be somewhat comparable to that guy we nuked, maybe more in wit rather than brute strength though.

‘Aesa?’

“We need to group up quickly, then-... fuck!”

...

(Petra) “Ikarus? Ikarus!”

The person wasn’t Petra. Dear God, that definitely wasn’t Petra...

Somehow in my disorientation caused by the idiot, I’ve walked like a headless idiot straight into the blade of the surviving Lucifer, red skin torn from his face as he looks like he’s barely clinging onto life. I’m pretty sure I’m now in worse condition considering the damn sword completely going through my midsection.

The surprise of the attack has caused me to drop my weapons and clench up as well, even when the creature’s blade still pierces me.

‘Argh! Fucking Zeki... status’

[Name: Ikarus | Species: Phoenix | Level: 999^]

[Health 56,278*/166,666]

[Stamina 161,692*/166,666*]

[Magicka 124,236*/166,666*]

[You currently have 149501 unassigned points]

---

[Name: Lucifer | Species: Demon Lord | Level: 1,000]

[Health 1,666/166,666]

[Stamina 1,666/166,666]

[Magicka 1,666/166,666]

‘Argh... how much damage did that sword do!? I’m freaking stuck on it as well’

This’s guy’s stats are somehow at one percent and I’ve got his freaking blade impaling me, causing a searing pain to course and jolt through my entire body. Ariza’s magic and a healent can heal this, I just know it but it’s like this sword has barbs crafted into it. I can’t even make the obvious animal penis joke here; I can’t break free!

[<Warning, Ikarus needs to get out of this ASAP! Demon Lucifer’s blade is currently draining HP by thousands every second it remains inside Ikarus>]

‘That’s what I’m freaking trying to do Aesa!’

Trying my best to get myself free from his sword, he takes a hold of one of my shoulders and pulls me in even further, causing the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. All but the smallest of smiles appears on his face, like he was aiming for this situation from the start. Where the fuck is everyone else!?

“Two can play your game of second chances, little phoenix. Say hello from me to your mother when you get the chance, she’ll be joining you down in the Underworld someday as well”

‘Second chances and mother? Fuck this, I don’t have the time to be curious on this guy’s hatred’

That clearly comes from a place on anger towards mother and in time, I’ll try to put the pieces together if I can just get out of this fucking draining sword!

“Someone fucking shoot this gu-... you irritating demonic piece of shit!”

Without even realizing it, there’s a thick barrier completely surrounding us and everyone else, a barrier so thick even Petra can’t break through despite her best attempts. This situation was intricately planned, I know that now...

‘This fucker knows bits of the future... it’s obvious now’

[<HP is currently at 33922*... Ikarus!>}

‘Would changing form help in any way?’

[<Negative Ikarus, form change won’t work in this situation while HP is rapidly draining>]

‘Then you need to find me some way out, I just can’t do it Aesa! I don’t even have the strength to lift my arms up right now!’

[<...>]

Complete silence from Aesa, am I seriously going to waste my death right now!? Argh, this stupid demonic fuck! It’s almost like my system is being paralysed as well, I can’t even roast this guy full of magic!

The demon’s smile seems to be building every second I get closer to death, almost relishing the fact he’s gotten me beat. If I’m to pass this very moment, I’m not letting him win this way.

“You know, I only wish I could be there to see the look on your mother’s face when she loses another daughter. It really would be worth dying for”

I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out what happened now, I’m basically fucked so I couldn’t care less about speculating. Mother must’ve killed someone really close to this guy and his way of getting even, is by killing me. Always knew the oracle would end up screwing me over someday, something seems off from this situation though.

“You fucker... you do know this won’t kill me, right? I’m goi”

Despite knowing I probably shouldn’t play my only card like this, that statement completely destroys his morale, making that smile reverse instantly. That was totally worth it then, I guess the future he was foretold involved me already dying once and this would be the very last.

“That’s... annoying. Even in death, the oracle knew this would happen. I’ll just have to kill you again”

“Hmph... dare you to try it... heh. If I’m going down... you’re coming with me”

[<HP is currently at 11306>}

It doesn’t matter how much I try to break free; I’m still stuck. Exhaustion is now starting to kick in and it won’t be long before I inevitably pass out. Since things seem bleak, might as well go out in a way I know will destroy him. If he somehow has another chance to revive from this, then this is unbalanced bullshit.

[<HP is currently at 2712 Ikarus... Aesa guesses she’ll see you on the other side then>}

‘Heh, right... activate everything Aesa, would you? One hundred percent is a given... I’m going to rest... just for a little whil-...’

...