It is an altar directly behind the now vanishing corpse of the false Hydra. The source of the terrible miasma. The source of the black fire surrounding the castle. The owner of this castle. The horrible one whose very name struck fear into the hearts of many.
"Ugly as ever, even if you're only a head" [Merlin].
"Boastful as ever, insignificant fry" [Devil King].
The Devil King's head lies there, in a table covered in black colored metal. Looking down on us all, confident that he's the superior among us all. Just looking at it terrifies me. With five horns, six eyes and a fang that looks sharper than a blade. It inspires fear, and yet
"Thunderbolt!" [Diana]
"!" [All]
"Futile, descendant of Aru" [Devil King]
My lightning spell goes right through him and hits the wall behind him. I'm confused, I'm sure he didn't use any spells, so why?
"Thunderbolt, Fireball, Water Spear!" [Diana]
"Hahahaha, you're reckless, even more than that despicable woman Aru, you're weak, and yet you have the nerve to bare your insignificant fangs at me. How disgusting" [Diana].
Again, it went through him like nothing. My actions seem to anger him more and more. I am the descendant of the one who killed him, and now I have given him reason to hate me even more.
"Meow" [Fie]
"Finally come to show your face, have you?" [Devil King]
"Long-range teleportation is difficult, you know, and you have the nerve to show your bloodlust on my sweet sweetie" [Merlin]
"I don't care if you're a Devil King yourself, do you think you can get away with threatening my little sister?" [Nar].
"Just a mere head and your prideful tone just irks me" [Sas].
"I guess you will die a second time for threatening my family" [Khamisah].
"We've only just met, and yet I already have the urge to blow your head into smithen" [Dana].
"Girls younger than me standing up against you, how could I ever let them down" [Randy]
The others quickly come to my front to protect me from the devil king. They're even braver than me. My legs give out. I can hear the sound of my heart beating fast. Fear. How my ancestor Aru was able to stand up to him is a mystery when I see how terrifying the devil king is. Now, the others are doing the same thing, which is why I don't want to back down!
"THE THING controls you for a second time, fitting for a man whose ambitions fall short" [Merlin].
"Watch your manner and tone with the great I! You stand before the greatest being of all time! A perfect embodiment of chaos! A perfect being who rules you all!" [Devil King]
"And yet, you are killed my the dear Aru. Sure, it's me, Aru, Maria, and Titania against you, and yet you fail, and now you need THE THING to help you rise again. Pathetic, aren't you?" [Merlin]
Master Merlin continues to taunt him. My families are ready to attack at a moment's notice. The others in the back are still holding their breath in fear. It is obvious that they are paralyzed by fear. I don't blame them. The aura emanating from the Devil King's head is terrifying. Even the forest below the castle is silent, cowering in fear. Birds stop flying for fear of incurring the Devil King's wrath. Tigers hide in a cave with a bear for protection.
"That thing, you don't even know what it is, do you?" [Devil King].
"Do you?" [Merlin]
"And yet you stand before me, boastful. Fine, even if THE THING is the one who reincarnates me, I'll accept it. I'll kill you first, along with everything you love! Tear your body apart. Crucify all of you, so that the world will see the consequences of having me beaten. Once that's done, I will destroy THE THING myself! You humans and mortals are bound to be my slaves!" [Devil King]
"And yet they, the mere mortals are the ones who help in your reincarnation. I think the soldiers here are getting greedy, thinking they can handle you, not realizing they're playing the role THE THING has assigned them" [Merlin].
Again, they exchange taunt after taunt. Master speaks to the Devil King in equal terms, as befits her legendary status. I'll back her up.
"I WILL STOP YOU! I won't let you hurt Master Merlin!" [Diana]
"Thank you, sweetheart" [Merlin]
"That's Diana for you!" [Randy]
"Diana... It's not just you, it's us! We will stop you, hear me, Devil King!" [Nar]
"Aru... As in the name of our village... I see... Now it makes perfect sense. In that case, I will also stop you, just like my ancestor did!" [Dana]
"You're wrong when you say you're a perfect being. A mere head still clinging to its former power" [Sas].
"You underestimate us too much, and that will be a second downfall. Ironic, a being who claims to be a perfect being, and yet I can fully imagine the reason for your first fall" [Khamisah]
"Say what you will. Ten years. My body is getting ready. Once I do, this is the place where I will rise again, and when I do, the world will tremble again as I set my foot to conquer it once more" [Devil King]
The Devil King's head disappears. The other can finally breath. Kat and the head knight run quickly to our side, confused and yet concerned for our safety. The knights and soldiers become dizzy. The victim begins to panic. Even the remaining surviving Imperial soldier, though in pain, realizes the mistake their platoon has made. The regret in their eyes is something I couldn't fathom.
The Devil King's miasma and fire, though weak, still remain. A testament to how powerful he is.
"For now, we should go back and report everything we have seen and heard to the king" [Chief Knight].
"You go ahead, I'll be with you shortly. I wanted to examine the altar a bit more" [Merlin].
"Normally, I wouldn't allow it without permission from our governance, but based on what I've seen, you really are the legendary witch, so I'll turn a blind eye for now" [Head Knight].
"I'll go with you" [Diana]
"That is not good. You're clearly exhausted. Don't worry, it won't take long" [Merlin]
"But..." [Diana]
"Sigh... Fine... Come here and let me carry you" (Can't win against her puppy eyes) [Merlin]
"This is embarrassing, but I'll compromise..." [Diana]
"Hey! Let me carry her!" [Dana]