"Guess I'll do that then!"
I said enthusiastically as I began running towards the source of that frightening roar.
'I really am messed up, yet... I'M SO EXCITED!' were my thoughts as I finally made my way into an open area of the cave. It was as big, if not bigger than the arena in the adventurer's guild. Furthermore, there was a giant red and orange crystal flaming at the ceiling of the cave illuminating the scene that was before me.
There was a giant black dog... with three heads... iron-like jet-black fur... bloodshot eyes... and fire coming out of its three mouths... It was by far the toughest monster I've encountered since arriving to this world. Immediately after seeing it, I decided I had to use [Master Appraisal] on it, to know what I'm dealing with here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Cerberus
Gender: Male
Age: 3956
Race: Hellhound
Danger Level: S
Lvl: 964
HP: 6,373,086/8,543,236
MP: 4,295,241/4,656,784
STR: 1,543,654
DEF: 3,453,765
SPD: 543,876
MRES: 3,543,876
Skills: [Demonic Howl], [Hell Fire], [Detached ring], [Dark Athos], [Fire Penumbra], [Fire Beam], [Demonic Beam, [Hell Beam], [Volcanic Rage], [Dark Extasis], [Fire Breath]
Affinities: [Fire], [Demonic]
Titles: [Emperor of the Torching Cave], [King of Hellhounds], [Underworld Gatekeeper], [Invasive Monster], [Man-eater], [Impenetrable Fur]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'What have I gotten myself into...'
Were my thoughts as I looked at these ridiculous stats of this hellhound. 'I have leveled up quite a bit since I've been slaying those ore golems, yet, I don't think I can defeat this without Boukyaku...'
But as I was staring at the semi-transparent screen before me, something caught my eye. There was a young wounded maiden standing before the Cerberus. But she wasn't any ordinary maiden to be completely fair. She was utterly beautiful, with brilliant-red eyes, white long hair, blood-red lips and snow-white skin. She was beautiful in any way you would look at her... despite her having pointy ears... Yes, she has pointy ears... 'I don't think she's an elf though...' Anyways, the mysterious girl was bleeding significantly. I could tell from the way her black battle dress was torn, showing several scars along with blood flowing down her arms and face. She was in a detrimental state, yet still stood before the terrifying Cerberus. There was one thing that for some reason attracted my attention in an unnatural way. For some reason, her necklace, a purple glowing stone, seemed overly appealing to me. 'Hmm, this is strange. But I want to check this out...'
I approached a little but kept my safe distance without anyone noticing me, due to [Master Hide Presence], as a battle unfolded before me. I began to spectate the battle:
The beautiful girl suddenly showed a smirk and chanted:
"[OBSCURUM CHAINS]!"
At that moment, eight dark spheres appeared behind the girl. And without her even paying heed to them, she made a small signal with her finger and out of the spheres emerged countless black thorned chains moving towards the Cerberus. I thought it was a direct hit, considering how fast the chains were moving but...
*ROAAAAAAR*
Unluckily for her, the Cerberus managed to burn down all of the chains, with its [Fire Breath].
I was quite surprised by this girl suddenly chanting magic of the demonic element. Only a select few individuals of races other than demons were able to use it. And to use it one must've still come into contact with a demon at some point. 'Just who is this girl?'
"[Master Appraisal]"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Scarlet Inferna
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Race: Demon
Danger Level: AA
Class: Grand Demonic Caster
Lvl: 657
HP: 312,543/1,543,954
MP: 132,543/3,543,870
STR: 142,965
DEF: 354,123
SPD: 312,543
MRES: 2,546,876
Skills: [Umbra Beam], [Obscurum Chains], [Aftermath], [Penumbra Field], [Dark Ignition], [Demonic Summon], [Instant Vanishing], [Greater Athos], [Dark Nova], [Aria Shot], [Dark Essence],
Affinities: [Demonic]
Titles: [Calamity], [Demon Princess], [Demon Monarch], [Empress of Demonic Magic], [Rebel Princess], [Conqueror of Dungeons], [Runaway]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"..."
'Just how much trouble do I need to find myself thrown into? Minor complications, they said...'
But as I was still becoming depressed over my luck, a dark nasty aura seemed to be concentrating on the Cerberus' center head's mouth.
'This is bad...'
Was my sole thought when suddenly a huge beam of dark magic shot out from the Cerberus' mouth directed at the young girl. I am sure she would have dodged if she was in optimal condition... but she wasn't.
*BOOOOOOM*
The dark magic beam sent her flying, only to smash against...
...
...
...
Me
"OUCH!"
I complained in response as a speeding wounded girl crashed into my unexpectant body.
"WHA- WHO ARE YOU?!"
She said surprised as she tried to get off of me but ultimately failed because of her wounds.
"Hi, I'm Reika, how are you doing! How about we RUN!!!"
I said in a hurry, as I grabbed her hand and started running at full speed.
*BOOOOOOOM*
The place, we had just been standing at, was now completely obliterated... We were both incredibly surprised, but I think my friend over here, was actually surprised at my speed rather than the fact we almost just died.
As I kept running dragging her along, she began to speak:
"Yo-you... A-are you even hu-human?"
She asked nervously. I'm not sure why, but she actually seemed a little scared of me? In order to calm her down a bit, I responded with a warm smile, yet I don't think it helped much...
"I don't know. I don't think so though"
I said bluntly. 'My status does display my status as N/A after all.' Suddenly, her face went from distress into relief?
"Oh, thank goodness. I wouldn't have known what to do if there was a human as strong as you..."
"Eh... even if I was human, I don't think I'd do much."
"Really now... Well anyways, I'm Scarlet In...sir...nal... Yeah! Scarlet Insirnal!"
'Too obvious...'
'Did she just lie about her name? Why wouldn't she want me to know she's actually a princess? Well, I don't care, but she seems kind of funny. But first..."
I stopped dead in my tracks, released Scarlet's hand and pulled out my blessed katana and turned to face the angered Cerberus. Just before running off, I told her something which petrified her:
"Yeah sure, Scarlet Inferna... I'll deal with this Cerberus. Just stay here and rest."
I immediately charged at the Cerberus. As it saw me approaching, it howled. And unexpectedly several balls of fire shot out towards me. Luckily, I was able to dodge all of them and close the distance between us. In the blink of an eye, I jumped and thrust my sword at its central nose. But just before my sword could connect...
*BOOM*
The left head had charged a [Fire Beam]... and hit me at point-blank. Luckily I'm a lot sturdier than what I used to be. So while I did, get knocked back a bit, I was quickly able to regain my footing and begin another charge.
The Cerberus looked surprised by my quick recovery but it howled once again...
This time, huge spikes made out of demonic magic began emerging from the ground in my direction, preventing my advance.
"Hpmf!"
Was my sound as I gave the single biggest leap, I had ever taken in my life. I used all of the strength available in my legs and made a ground-shaking jump over the deadly spikes growing under me.
"TAKE THIS!!!"
I yelled as I brought down my sword at full speed on its head. It was a sure kill...
...
*CRACK*
...
Without my noticing, a strange crimson fire had appeared on the mouths of the Cerberus. And when I was close enough to hit the Cerberus, the right head managed to chomp the sword... shattering it in a thousand pieces...
Me, simply stunned wasn't able to react when the front paw of the Cerberus struck me at immense speeds and sent me crashing against the crystal in the ceiling... only to fall to the floor shortly after, increasing my wounds... I now laid in the floor as the Cerberus slowly approached me, ready to eat me... (AN: Hmmm, this seems oddly familiar to Chapter 8. No originality at all, the author must be really bad huh?)
"REEEEIIIIIKAAAAA!!!!"
...
'You shouldn't have done that...' Was my sole thought...
Scarlet had just yelled from the top of her lungs my name, attracting the attention of the Cerberus in the process...
It had now changed direction, and was slowly walking towards the wounded Scarlet...
'I have to do something...'
...
'I cannot allow her to die...'
...
'I cannot be useless ever again!'
...
"You don't have to be..."
It was the female voice resonating within my head once more... But this time... I needed her...
'I want to save Scarlet...'
"You can do it..."
'How can I do it...?'
"You already know the answer..."
The answ... That skill...
"Yes... If you want to save her... use it."
'...'
"[Absolute Obli...]
Scarlet Inferna's P.O.V.
'This is the end for me...'
My life was being played before my eyes, as I prepared myself to die at the hands of this monster...
'To think, I, heir to the demon throne, would sacrifice myself for a complete stranger... Well, it was worth it...'
I prepared myself to be killed when all of a sudden...
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
In the middle of the room, a tornado of blue and purple flames was now present. The entire lighting of the cave had dulled and become a cold blue tone. And the atmosphere wasn't the same... I was now speechless and motionless since an indescribable amount of killing intent was being released from the hurricane of flames.
'What is generating this amount of killing intent?!'
It was unimaginable... The amount of pressure I was currently feeling was as if the gates of hell had literally just been opened before me, a thousand times over...
But that was when I saw her...
Reika, the cheerful, peculiar and stunning girl who had just saved my life a few moments ago, now stood in the middle of the column of blue flames. She no longer had the joyful eyes or smile she wore when I first saw her... rather, what was left was a gaze that seemed to contain all of the evil in the world... Further increasing her terrifying appearance, she was holding a wicked sword covered in blue flames. Her eyes also seemed to be glowing as bolts of purple lightning constantly ran along her body...
The Cerberus had completely frozen up and was wailing as if pleading for its life. It was impressive how the beast who had just come close to murdering both of us, was now begging for mercy...
But...
"Disappear..."
This took me completely by surprise, it seemed Reika, was the one who was speaking, yet... the voice that just said that was completely different from hers...
However, I wasn't the only to react to this... It almost seemed as the Cerberus understood what Reika just said because, in a last moment's panic, the Cerberus rushed at Reika in desperation.
However...
...
Reika slashed the air, without the Cerberus even being close to her... yet...
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Huge unprecedented shockwaves ran through the air as the sound made my ears ring...
It was indescribable... the Cerberus had literally just been disintegrated before me... There was no trace of it left... But most impressive of all...
In the direction where Reika had cut, there was no longer a wall... rather than that, there was now a huge opening which seemed to be miles deep...
'What... power... Is she even the same person...?'
But as I was still thinking about what had just transpired in front of me, I felt a strange sensation in my neck...
'Wha- MY SEAL!?'
Reika's P.O.V.
*Ding*
[You have obtained the demon lord seal, you are now the next in line to the demon throne!]
I had been semi-aware of what I had just caused and how I had pretty much steamrolled the Cerberus, but when I heard that sound... that ugly, hateful, life-ruining sound... All of my senses returned instantly... (AN: PTSD, this *ding* is actually the same one from when she died, so it's quite triggering for her. So yeah, I guess being reminded of the time you DIED is enough to bring back your senses)
I quickly sheathed 'Boukyaku' and rubbed my eyes to see if I had perhaps, misheard or misread...
...
...
...
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"