Another pillar of shadow shot towards Gary before halting its trajectory, hovering a few centimeters away from an outstretched jewel.
"Nuh uh, no you don't." A shitty grin was plastered on Gary's face as he held the staff forward, teasing the demon.
They exchanged looks: one a glare and the other an enthusiastic smile, before Gary continued:
"You know this staff, don't you? What am I saying? Of course you do. Merlin's staff," He paused, before slightly shrugging his shoulders. "Or 'The Staff of Merlin'. It depends on who you're talking to. You wouldn't believe how much sorcerers worship this thing, giving it a bona fide title. Oh, it is also known as the 'Demon Repellant 3000'. But that's just me."
"But why is that?" Gary questioned, ignoring the snort he got in response. "None of the other weapons got the same treatment. Sure, you became more wary of attacks, but nothing made you hesitate. And--"
A small snap originated from the staff as Gary pulled the gem from its bezel. "The only difference I see is this lovely centerpiece."
It had to be something. Anything that would make the Demon King hesitate was something. What that 'something' was though... He had no fucking clue.
But that fact wasn't gonna stop his mind from spinning. He was sure he could find a way to make use of it.
The shocking result:
'I'm gonna fucking smash it.'
Gary was impressed by his own genius.
It wasn't the worst idea. The main thought being -- "If he doesn't want this broken, I need to break it."
That was what he figured, at least. It was the only explanation he could see for the refusal to hit the gem.
His grip tightened around the stone as he considered it. The gem began to rise with his arms as he began to raise it before the demon interrupted.
"Conduit." Harsh smoke seemed to seep through his orifices as he spoke for the first time. "It's a conduit. Used to transfer mana, even from a great distance. It acts as a power source for the staff. As well as... other things of interest." He cast a gaze towards the center of the room, where only chains once existed.
"...That doesn't really answer the question," Gary responded, rather confused by getting a semblance of an answer. He had half-expected to receive either a threat or dignified silence, but his assumptions proved incorrect. You would think a demon would be more resistant to interrogation, but who was he to say no to more info?
"I would argue otherwise, but no matter. If you are asking 'What happens if I break this?', then I will oblige in simplifying it for you: you will die." The demon spoke with confidence to Gary, who didn't share the same sentiment.
"...Yea, I'm calling bullshit on that." He snorted.
The demon paused, muttering under his breath about 'proper etiquette' before continuing: "Believe what you want, but remember it will change nothing. You will die. That has been set. Though the method is still up to you: You can perish at my hand, or get killed by some sparkly rock. I would rather the former, if you don't mind."
Gary absorbed the words, surprised to find that the words rang true. Why the words of a demon held an air of truth, he had no idea. It was as if he trusted whatever would come before it was spoken, like he had already assumed its veracity. He could only recall having such a feeling... well, never.
Yet his taut nerves and beating heart refused to let their guard down, clamoring for action as his mind recalled a similar scene.
A demon, explaining the workings of something he knew nothing about. Forthcoming in delivery. While Gary was in a superior position. It all felt too familiar. And if the ending was the same...
"You're stalling." He called out as a flush of adrenaline pulled him back to a state of concentration he had somehow lost.
He hoisted the gem aloft the moment he realized, emblazoned in his decision to shatter it on the ground beneath.
Yet, a small grin still hung on the demon's lips despite the lifted stone. Only uttering a single word before Gary could finish his throw:
"Correct."
His hands unfurled their fingers as they reached out, as if grabbing some intangible object, before they grasped together and yanked back with force.
A shock ran through Gary's body as the motion was completed, this time not from some spell or emotion, but by a blade that now protruded from his gut.
One forged of familiar metal.
Only when the metal edge was removed with a wet squelch could he finally see the source:
Brandus.
Confusion swept over Gary as he saw that it was his ally's blade. An ally that had been in no condition to --quite literally -- backstab him.
But as his dazed eyes turned to focus on Brandus, he could finally see the blank eyes, slack face, and mass of white tethers that held his body aloft, like a puppet whose strings had been pulled taut.
'... Son of a bitch.'
A bloodied hand covered the gaping maw in his chest as Gary stumbled back, meeting the gaze of his foe.
An almost smug expression met him, along with the teasing wave of a hand.
'Not like this.' A sliver of crimson dripped from his paper-white face, stumbling as heavy exhaustion assaulted him. 'I can't go out like this.'
Not when that disgusting smile still existed, taunting his very existence.
Gary turned his face to the ground, feeling the weight of the gem still in his hand.
'I can't win...'
His head gradually rose to meet the demon, this time with a smile of blood-coated teeth.
'--But I can at least wipe that ugly ass smile off your face!'
It was then that Gary gave in to the growing numbness in his legs, finally collapsing to the ground... gem first.
The twisted expression of fear and shock decorated the demon's face, barely able to let out an exclamation as he went to brace himself.
'Yes, that's the look.' He reveled as he neared the floor.
'That's the look I've wanted to see.'
It truly was the most beautiful thing he had seen.
Then, he landed.
Tink!
A sound that resembled no explosion Gary had heard before filled the room.
Huh?
'It was supposed to explode, right?'
Gary and the demon both cracked their eyes open, showing an equal amount of confusion.
The gem in his hand had indeed struck the ground, with the only thing breaking being a tiny piece of stone flooring underneath the jewel.
The thin eyes of an annoyed adventurer shone down on the unapologetic rock, which was promptly given another round of bashing.
Tink!
Tink!
Tink!
...
Tink tink tink tink—!
"—Enough of this stupid game!" the demon snarled.
Gary was forced to give the poor jewel a brief respite from the assault with the arrival of a blade, this one ready to end him and his antics.
As the blade began to near, Gary grit his teeth as he forced his body to move. Not away from the blow, but towards it.
'This better work.' He thought, royally pissed at the sturdy gem.
Making use of his rage, his hands clasped the glowing jewel and thrust it above, the clear and polished surface meeting the point of the descending weapon.
Tink!
Both seemed to freeze as they locked together, before the metal tip finally sank a mere centimeter into the rock. A cascade of cracks and fractures spread across its yellow surface like webs. Light peered through each newfound fault, illuminating the room around it.
Suddenly — before its chipped fragments could even hit the floor — the world was consumed by a veil of white.
Boom!