The voice had failed to warn me that I was going to be doing a vertical fall.
"I guess that was why she mentioned using mana, in my case sin energy, to help me" was the thought that ran through my head as I descended, screaming at the top of my teenager lungs.
Rubbing my butt, groaning, I slowly supported myself up.
"We finally meet child."
I felt the blood drain from my face as my mouth gape open and eyes bulge. Feeling lightheaded as my legs failed to support me, I crumbled back onto my aching butt, staring at the one who's been helping me this whole time.
"W-What are you?" I managed to stammer out.
Despite having lived two lives, what my eyes saw, my brain refused to believe. A monster, for a lack of a better word, which easily towered over twenty meters high, was seated cross-legged, on a crudely carved throne of jagged stone with an arm lazily supporting its head. With petrifying red eyes that gazed down at me, while menacing, carried an oddly tranquil quality. Two massive horns protruded out the of sides of its head, arched down and around it's head, curving up to a point near the front, reminding me of something almost akin to a crown. It had a mouth with two fangs peeking out of its lips and while its body was adorned in a sleek black armor that had generous gaps showing her sexy hips. She could be described as a drug, because she was tempting, but if taken, would only make your suffer.
Yet here it was, in all of its glory… with its head resting on its arm, while its other hand nonchalantly scratched its nose.
What I had failed to notice until now, though, because of the dim lighting in the cave and its body being completely black, was that this being had a gaping hole in the side of it's chest, blood continuously oozing out.
"We finally meet," it repeated with a lazy half smile that revealed a row of pointed teeth.
I tried getting up, but failed halfway and end up back on my butt, my face still slack from the shock of what my eyes were seeing.
"Bugs will fly into your mouth if you keep it open that wide."
Great. At least it has a sense of humor.
"As for what I am, I won't say anything more than what you can see from looking," the horned humanoid monster said with its eyes seeming to gaze straight through me.
"…"
"Don't just stand there, its been some time since I've seen a mortal, sit next to me." the creature said as she moved to the side, leaving space for me to sit.
"Ok." I knew I couldn't offend such a monster, otherwise I would die, I would have to play this one smart.
Giving a courteous bow, I replied, "Thank you for everything you've done for me and what you will do. If there is any way I can repay you, I will do for you whatever is in my power."
"Such good manners for a child. Do not worry; I am expecting neither a favor nor your gratitude. I am simply doing this for my own amusement."
"Uhh… excuse me for being rude, but you don't exactly look like a normal human. How should I exactly address you as?" I said, making eye contact with the being.
"You're right. I look pretty intimidating now, do I? My name is Jigoku." she replied, letting out a soft chuckle.
This giant demon lord-like monster looked just like a Jigoku to me, Jigoku in my native language, Japanese, means hell. I chose to keep that to myself.
"Elder Jigoku, do you mind if I ask a few questions?"
"Go ahead young one, although I may not be able to answer everything."
I immediately rattled off all of the questions that had been on my mind ever since waking up and after meeting Jigoku. "Where is this place? Why were you here all alone? Where did you come from? Why do you have that huge wound? … Why did you save me?
She patiently waited for me to finish before replying.
"You must have had a lot on your mind. The first question is easy to answer. This place is a narrow zone that is between the Beast Wilds and the Forest of Helmfire. No one knows of this place because I've been warding off anyone who came close, although the cases are rare in the first place. You, young child, are the first to enter into this domain," she easily explained.
"Please call me Akatsuki! My name is Akatsuki Verio but everyone calls me Aka! You can too!" I blurted out before shutting my mouth with my hands, confused as to why I was acting like an excited child.
"Kukuku… Very well child, I will call you Aka!" Her red eyes glazed, looking afar while answering my next questions.
"Continuing on to your second question. I am here alone simply because I have no one left to be with. While I do not think telling you everything would be wise, I will tell you that I have many enemies that desperately wish for something that I have; my last battle with my enemies left this wound. As for where I come from… very far away, haha."
There was a moment of pause before Jigoku continued on, this time her eyes looking straight at me, almost studying me.
"As for why I saved you… even I do not fully know the answer to that question. Perhaps I have been alone for far too long and I simply wished to have someone to talk to. I first noticed you when you teleported here. All those dead men have just been mysteriously teleported their too, you were the first to live. How did you live?"
I shook my head. "Frankly , I don't know, all I know is that my sister became kidnapped and the rest of my family have been taken hostage to tame her."
"Why did they capture her?" her eyes glowed red.
I knew I couldn't hide anything from her. "My sister has a god mark."
"Very powerful! Someday, she might reach my level, or more. But that will take millions or years..." Jigoku said as she started to play with her silver hair.
So she is telling me that she has nearly an infinite amount of experience under her belt, plus an unknown race, and that gear. She might be more powerful than a fucking king, no wonder people want to kill her, but who could be powerful enough to inflict such a wound?
"Guess you have to stay with me for a while... what do you want to do?" Jigoku asked.
"I want to leave this place and bond my family together." I said, hoping Jigoku will guide me.
"Well, for that, you need to get stronger. I can train you, but I'm a bad teacher, you can handle that, right?" she asked.
"It's better than having no one." I replied, ready for anything.
"Ok! Your first task is too...