“Dante,” the familiar voice said “you need to come back to me Dante.” It said insistent. “We don’t have long before they will be checking on you. Please Dante, please wake up. Thy can live if you can get free!”
With those words Dante woke in the darkness of his cell shackled and alone. Something was different though, something told him that he was not alone and that it was not a hopeful dream. Focusing on this feeling he formulated a semblance of a plan. If what the voice said were true he would see his friends again, all he had to do was escape.
They came for him a few hours later to find him as he usually was curled into a ball shivering in the corner of the room where they had left him, with his health now fully recovered the Demon King was ready for more entertainment. Dragging him along as his limp body hung there in the arms of the two Elite Shade Warriors he was tossed at the feet of their king who was using one of Dante’s blades to clean some other poor soul from the king’s teeth.
“Let’s see if we can make him scream louder today.” The Demon King announced causing a cheer to erupt from his subjects.
Knowing that the king loved to display Dante’s gear as his favored trophies Dante called at that moment upon the power of chaos that surged through his being. In a flash of gray and purple light he was again armored and his blades were in his hands. All went silent, even the Demon King was too afraid to speak as he felt the presence emanating from Dante at that moment.
“I think it’s my turn to play.” Dante announced now shrouded and shadowy chaos magic. Then before anyone could move or think he was unleashing attacks on every dark creature in the room. To them it seemed like he was everywhere at once. Faster than one might expect any living creature to move every servant of the Demon King fell to the floor dead and powerless around Dante as he looked to have not moved at all glaring the whole while at the Demon King.
“How!” Shouted the Demon King “How can this be?! You were powerless! You were broken!” Reaching out with a large clawed hand trying to snuff out the power of his enemy.
With a swift motion Dante cut away the hand as if cutting through paper “I was only as powerless as I allowed myself to think I was.” Stepping slowly forward as the king toppled backwards shaking the room with his massive size as he backpedaled away. “I was put here to end your power. To take from it what I need and to toss the rest into the void.” Cutting away one of the Demon King's legs causing a scream of pain. “You are the ones who are powerless. You will die a final death, but I decree that you will not move on like the others. You will suffer eternally in agony adrift in the world unable to manifest. Unable to live or move on but only to suffer for what you have done!”
Another leg was cut away and then the left arm followed by the right one. As Dante was about to strike the final blow a shout went out from behind him drawing his attention.
“No!” Nero said “You must return him to the aether. If you don’t then you can’t return your friends.”
Seeing the little black cat perched on the stairs behind him Dante began to relax and the power of chaos he had been channeling disappeared leaving his normal self perched atop a trembling Demon King who coward in fear. “Why?!” Dante Shouted back with tears streaming down his face. “After what he took from me, after” he hiccupped as he began sobbing “after what him and his minions did to me. Why should he not suffer?!”
Slowly walking over with his tail peacefully swaying back and forth Nero hopped up next to Dante and looked down at the pitiful creature underneath them “Because from chaos balance can be born. If you reap chaos with chaos you will throw the world out of order and this would all be for nothing. You and your friends would have suffered for nothing. He,” pointing with a nod of his head at the Demon King “can only be what he was made to be until the power of chaos releases him to be reborn again in a new form. If something as powered by darkness as him can be reborn into a being of balance or light then we must risk the chaos for the chance at the balance this world needs.”
Pushing Nero away Dante sobbed saying “Fine.” Them plunged his weapons into the Demon King taking the last bit of his life and revoking the curse he had placed upon him. The body of the Demon King faded away slowly underneath Dante as he was slowly lowered to the ground as messages popped into view.
Congratulations!
You have destroyed the worldly embodiment of darkness known as the legendary beast Demon King. Having lost non-player companions during the battle they will be resurrected now at the nearest node with all gear and experience intact. Showing mercy to the dark being has given your group a boost in experience and allows each to receive the maximum reward from the loot table.
Rewards: 15,000,000 exp, 15,000,000 gold, Weapon Box of the Demon King, and the title Legend of the Legendary Beast Slayer normally only offered after killing all legendary beasts in game at least once solo.
Nero vanished without saying a word and Dante stood up and made his way out of the dark halls of the Demon Kings Sanctuary. He was angry at having to show mercy to the foul creature but knowing now that it did indeed allow his friends to return it softened the blow a bit. Stepping out into the light of day, all the fog now having dissipated Dante was tackled to the ground and hugged painfully tight by all three of his friends.
Terrance spoke first after showering Dante with kisses “I thought we were goners!”
“Me too.” Laurina said with a tearful smile letting go of Dante as she spoke.
Erchik stood up and wagged a finger at Dante “Don’t ever let us worry like that again friend.” Smiling as he admonished Dante.
Sitting up with Terrance still clinging tightly to him Dante laughed “I promise I will do my best to make sure nothing like that happens again.”
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 44.21
Attack Power:351
Defense Power:427
Health:2204/2204
Mana:1562/1562
Stamina:1478/1478
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +5
Critical Hit +5
Movement Speed +5
Gear:
Main Hand
+20 Blade of Chaos +125 Attack power, +200 Accuracy
Off Hand
+14 Short Sword of Chaos
Helm
+19 Hidden Circlet of Chaos +150 HP
Armor
+25 Leather Breastplate of Chaos +250 HP and +30% Damage Reduction
Gloves
+17 Leather Gloves of Chaos +250 Mana/Stamina, +22 to evasion
Shoes
+18 Leather Shoes of Chaos +250 stamina, +87 to evasion
Set effects:
2 pieces: + 1 to casting/ attacking speed
3 Pieces: +1 to critical hit
Full set: +1 to movement speed, and +40 to Attack
L Earring slot +20 Earring of the Enchantress +50 Mana/Energy, +20 Attack, +20 Accuracy
R Earring slot +20 Earring of the Enchantress +50 Mana/Energy, +20 Attack, +20 Accuracy
L Ring slot Ring of Attack +1 to attack speed
R Ring slot +10 Ring of Stamina +25 Stamina, +8 Attack, +10 Evasion
Necklace slot +12 Assassins Necklace +10 Attack, +6 Defense, +6 Evasion
Belt slot +13 Snakeskin Belt +14 Attack, +10 Accuracy
Skills:
Basic Attack
Swift Strike
Cascading Blades
Scatter Blades
Chaotic Shield
Hidden Power
Cycle of Fate
Chaos Hold
Shadows of Chaos
Intertwined Fates
Chaos Dash
Plight of Chaos
Chaotic Blast
Chaotic Subterfuge
Light of Chaos
Dominion of Chaos
Core Attack: Annihilation
Chaotic Flow
Evasive Blade Stance
Lashing Chaos
Burst of Chaotic Blades
Leap of Chaos
/> Imbalanced Blades
Companions:
Terrance Walsh: Warrior
Level:39.42
Attack Power:315
Defense Power:372
Health:2411/2411
Stamina:1499/1499
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +2
Critical Hit +5
Movement Speed +5
Erchik: Crossbowman
Level:39.61
Attack Power:331
Defense Power:301
Health:1803/1803
Stamina:1188/1188
Attack Speed +5
Casting Speed +0
Critical Hit +3
Movement Speed +4
Laurina: Healer
Level:38.94
Attack Power:337
Defense Power:330
Health:1640/1640
Mana: 1204/1204
Stamina: 805/805
Attack Speed +1
Casting Speed +5
Critical Hit +5
Movement Speed +4
Chapter Forty
Deciding it was best to take a small break the group took up camp with the creatures of the forest who celebrated to demise of the Demon King. Though they pleaded with Dante to join in he begged off and hid away in the hut they were given for the duration of their stay. Still mentally and emotionally bruised and battered he caught himself shying away from physical contact once the elation of the fight being over wore off. He knew it was not his friends or even the creatures of the forest that had done the harm to him but the thought of being touched right now still made him shudder in panic.
Sensing something amiss Terrance tried to get Dante to talk about it but Laurina quickly stepped in and dragged Terrance away letting Dante rest in peace while she did her best to explain some of what was going on mentally and emotionally for Dante. When she was done Terrance wanted all the more to hold and comfort Dante but he also understood that he would have to wait for Dante to reach out to him so he gave him his needed space.
Two days of rest and recuperation and the group bid their friends farewell. Trying to keep the mood light Terrance and Erchik made a point to take turns getting on each other’s nerves and even managed to get a genuine chuckle from Dante who otherwise seemed lost in thought.
“We’ll take care of Regem Ligno on our way to the elven capital. It’s in the woods directly along the path we need to take to reach Silva anyways and I want to be done with it as soon as possible.” Saying clearly for everyone to hear Dante announced.
Seeing that he was back into his more somber and calculating mood the rest of the party decided to leave him be and walk alongside him up the mountain trail. A few times Terrance caught himself trying to take Dante’s hand out of habit only to have Dante quickly move his own away instinctively. Internally Terrance was kicking himself at not being able to help but he showed no external signs not wanting to make Dante feel bad about his actions. Most of their travel went like this. Uninterrupted and otherwise unbothered by any mobs they were over the worst of the mountain climb before night fell.
Camp was set up on the ridge that night with everyone taking a turn at lookout including Dante against the arguments of the group. During his shift which he took alone shortly after midnight he caught himself looking up at the stars. They were not constellations he recognized and though he somewhat knew the constellations based on the game lore he was otherwise unable to pick any of them out. Sky full of alien stars, and a world full of strange and otherwise impossible creatures Dante contemplated whether or not he would rather be back in his mundane world or still be here after all that had happened. Weighing the pros and cons of everything that led up to now his eyes fell on Terrance which after only a moment’s observation Dante realized was still not asleep and only pretending.
Sitting up Terrance stared at him a long moment before Dante smiled and waved him over to sit by him. They sat there in silence close but not touching just looking at the stars.
“I.” Dante began “I don’t know if I will ever be the same Terrance. I just know that even with everything that has happened I would not change it or give it up if it meant that I did not have you three in my life.”
Gently placing his hand on Dante’s feeling him tense up in reaction but not pulling away Terrance looked Dante in the eyes “I could never guess what happened, and I won’t ask what led to you feeling the way you do inside. I just want you to know we are all here for you and willing to give you the time and space you need until you can come to grips with the situation or at the very least are ready to move forward from it.”
Tentatively Dante reached out and cupped Terrance’s face and lightly kissed it before burying his face in Terrance’s chest and beginning to sob uncontrollably. Hours later they were lying there with Terrance having finally fallen asleep and Dante resting his head on his slumbering chest while keeping an eye on their surroundings. Only the sounds of nature could be heard with birds beginning to wake and insects of the night going to bed as the morning bugs woke up while the sun slowly began its crest over the horizon.
Knowing that they would have to continue soon Dante stoked the campfire and fished out some of the food provisions that the forest creatures had provided. Waking the others to the sounds of and smells of cooking breakfast and rich coffee. He was still shy about physical affection Dante did manage to offer a good morning kiss to Terrance before handing him a warm mug of coffee and a wooden plate heaped with delicious smelling food.
Moods lighter and bellies full the group sat out that morning with a sense of ease and took in the sights of change as the forest of the human lands shifted into the forests of the elven lands. More colors, shades of blues, greens and hues from every spectrum of the rainbow could be seen all around them. It seemed to ease the tension further as they walked through the forest and deeper into the elven lands. New bird sounds akin to something tropical could be heard all around them, and though it was warm it was not uncomfortably so even for Terrance who was in full plated armor.
After a bit they found themselves surrounded by wispy creatures that were somewhere between a cottons dandelion blowing in the wind and a jellyfish floating in the sea. They were harmless but did not stray far from the group, occasionally landing on them and taking off again. It did not bother anyone only fascinated them as their path became more overgrown with rich plant life. Without warning the floating creatures scurried off and the group heard the roar of a wild beast along with the rustle of foliage heading in their direction from somewhere ahead.
Readying themselves they were caught by surprise by what they saw. A green furred fox-like person was riding a dark brown boar the size of a bull. The fox creature atop the boar was hooting with laughter until it saw the group at which point it leapt off and ran back through the trees the direction it had come from. The boar on the other hand now free of its rider and enraged by having been ridden charged at the group only to be quickly put down by a coordinated attack from Erchik and Terrance. While they were dealing with the boar Dante had activated Shadows of Chaos and was close behind the fox-like creature.
Tripping it Dante pinned it down and waited only briefly for the others to show up ready for a fight. Reading the information Dante was surprised by the stats of the little thing squirming under him.
Vulpus Clan Foxling
Level: 52
Health: 142,000/142,000
He sat up still holding tight to the creature and asked in a calm tone “Do you understand me Foxling?”
Growling at him until Terrance walked up and clipped its ear as one might a badly behaved dog causing it to whimper and nod. Dante continued “Are there any others nearby of your kind? We don’t want to hurt you or them. We’re just on our way to Regem Ligno then we will leave your forest alone.”
“Do you wish to pay tribute to our God elf?” The Foxling asked confused.
“Your God?” Dante retorted loosening his grip a little.
“Regem Ligno is the God of
this forest. Only those who wish a swift death or wishing to pay it tribute would want to make way to it.” Saying matter-of-factly the Foxling chuckled.
Letting the Foxling go Dante stood up and helped it up “We have business with it. None of us wants to do harm to your beautiful forest or any of your people but I will not lie we do plan to face Regem Ligno in battle.”
Laughing the Foxling spoke “A swift death it is then. As long as you hurt none of this forest I will travel with you to pay my respects. With me as your guide you will not be assaulted nor will you get lost.”
“We aren’t lost.” Terrance said pulling out the map and pointing at a section. “We are around here somewhere!”
Taking a look at the map the Foxling laughed heartily “Oh then you were more lost than you knew.” Pointing to another section further west “You are more around this area.”
Causing Terrance to look over the map and mentally calculate their trajectory. Before he let out a sigh and put the map away admitting defeat.
Dante Alexander: Knight Mage
Level: 44.42
Attack Power:351
Defense Power:427
Health:2204/2204
Mana:1562/1562
Stamina:1478/1478
Attack Speed +5
From the Beginning Page 24
