Nergal glared at Jacob with a hawkish expression. "Who are you supposed to be?"
Jacob gulped, "Well, I'm….er-"
Nergal cut him off, "And where are we?" His head spun slowly around in the air as he took the room in. Nergal stopped when his eyes fell on a carving of himself riding a dragon. "Is that supposed to be me?" Nergal snorted. "That image does not come even close to capturing my physical perfection. I mean look at these arms!" Nergal made a strained expression like he was doing something incredible.
Jacob frowned at Nergal, "Are you supposed to be doing something?" Jacob asked, the words tumbling out before he could stop them.
Nergal's face twisted back into a scowl. "Obviously I am showing you the perfection that is my biceps!" he declared.
Jacob paused, unsure of what to say.
Luckily, Nergal took that moment to look down at himself, and Jacob did not have to say anything. "My body!" Nergal shrieked. "Where is my body!!?!�� Nergal's head began to bob and search the room frantically. "Where is my glorious form?!?!"
Jacob felt a sick twist in his stomach. Should I tell him that I kinda ate it? He wondered. Not ate, a voice in his head corrected, assimilated it. You assimilated Nergal's body-
"You what!?!" Nergal screeched.
Jacob froze. "I what?" he asked weakly.
"You ate my body!?!" Nergal hissed, his cheeks puffing out in rage.
"I er- well…" Jacob began, and then ended because he wasn't really sure what to say next. I don't know why he cares so much. A rather snide part of Jacob wanted to say. He's dead. Not like he's been using it.
Nergal froze. "I'm...dead?"
Jacob frowned at the floating head. "You didn't know that?"
Nergal glowered at Jacob, "Of course I didn't!"
"How can you not know that you're dead?!?" Jacob demanded in exasperation.
Nergal puffed out his cheeks indignantly, "Who are you to address me in such an informal manner peasant!" Nergal roared.
The Thirteenth Demon King, The Dark One Summoned From Another World. The words of the priests echoed through Jacob's head. Jacob cleared his throat to speak, but Nergal cut him off.
"You?" Nergal hissed. "You are the Thirteenth? You pathetic weak peasant! How is this possible?"
Jacob's mouth dropped open. "How did you…." then something occurred to Jacob and he felt a flash of anger. "Are you reading my mind?"
Nergal sniffed. "Don't be ridiculous, why would you think that?"
Jacob felt his blood starting to boil. "Because you keep on responding to things I am thinking like I am saying them to you out loud."
Nergal considered this for a moment. "Really? How fascinating. I suppose that our minds must be linked somehow, even if I am now in a...diminished state."
"You mean that you're a floating ghost head?" Jacob asked dryly.
Nergal's scowl deepened, "Such impudence! Peasant! You shall give me the respect I deserve as a Demon King! No as a life form superior to yourself." Nergal hissed like a cat with water thrown on it. "You're human aren't you? The stench clings to your flesh like a musk."
Jacob glared at Nergal. "So what if I am?"
Nergal glowered. "You are unfit to sit upon the Devil's Throne!"
Jacob turned his back to Nergal and started walking to the other side of the crypt. A door leading further into the catacombs leaned out slightly as if something on the other side was pushing it inwards. Jacob reached the door and lay a hand upon the ivory inlays.
He ignored Nergal as the 12th Demon King continued on his rant. "Unworthy...filthy….Lesser creature! You belong in a stew pot or a slavers yard!"
Jacob closed his eyes, and he pushed on the door. It swung open silently. Jacob held out a hand. "Mage Light." A ball of light left Jacob's hand and began to illuminate the tunnel as Jacob journeyed deeper into the catacombs. He tried to ignore the sound of Nergal's shrieking protests as the floating head was pulled along by some unseen force.
Jacob groaned inwardly. He had been hoping that the ghost head would just stay behind. He had not known Nergal long, but thus far he was not the biggest fan. Nergal sounded like all of the ministers when they had realized that Jacob wasn't anything special. "Worthless human. Filthy lesser creature. An arrogant fool who thinks himself our king."
Jacob was lost in these memories as he continued down the twisting tunnels of the catacombs. Nergal's shouts of protest at being dragged along by a 'sniveling upstart boy' fell on deaf ears.
Jacob had always felt worthless. It hadn't started here in this odd fantasy world so similar yet dissimilar to a game. Teachers, friends, family….he never seemed to be able to live up to their expectations. A dark cloud settled over Jacob's thoughts.
Why is it that wherever I go, no matter what I do, I'm never good enough? He wondered.
Jacob was torn out of these broodings when his foot stepped on a tile that seemed to sink underneath him. He gave a cry of alarm as the floor fell out beneath him. The Mage Light pitched forward with him, and Jacob could see that the floor had shifted into a pit. The bottom was adorned with black twisted spikes.
Jacob fell down face first.
Jacob screamed.
Without thinking his hand flew out. "Air Slash!"
An arc of wind tore itself from his fingers in a crescent arc. It slammed to the ground and pushed upwards. Jacob flew into the air violently and slammed into the ceiling. His back made a slight popping noise. Then he was falling again.
Jacob thought quickly, "Air Slash!" once again Jacob flew into the air, and once again he slammed into the ceiling. He grimaced as pain tore its way through his back in a vengeance. But Jacob still threw his arm to the side. "Air Slash!"
Jacob flew again and cleared the pit. He hit the ground in a roll, finally finishing on his back. He stared up at the ceiling in a daze.
"Wind Manipulation Level 1 Acquired." The status screen greeted Jacob. Jacob moaned in pain.
Nergal's head floated over and stared down at Jacob. Jacob stared back at the 12th Demon King's scowl.
"Why can't you just die?" Nergal asked.