I didn't plan on waiting around this large creature, he could sneeze and I'd be splat against a wall.
A risk I'm not taking, I had to leave here.
"W-Well I gotta run, b-b-but I'll c-come again sometime, bye!"
I made my way for the door through which I came, I didn't plan on fighting this one, I wasn't aware that there were creatures like this.
He just referred to himself as one of the true demons, no one would mess with something like that.
The only time I've felt mana this intimidating was from Aleksander and his somewhat fell short of this demon.
The Di-Primordials I encountered namely, Vesperia and Animus may have been powerful, but they weren't scary. I took wobbly steps to exit the room.
"Hold it!"
Perses ordered and because of this all the blood in my body dried up, figuratively that is. His voice was something I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to.
"Something isn't right, adolescent Homo sapiens are usually low ranked beings that have little skills, yet you seem to be able to see through this thick mist which most experienced mages wouldn't on first try... Are you unique?"
"Honestly, I don't know what you mean..." I didn't, was he referring to my status as the Revenant or was he stating that a Cross shouldn't be able to do this, especially one that was just sixteen.
Either way, I didn't know the right answer to his question.
"I see... well, uh... you may leave if you like."
He turned to the side.
'Is he seriously sad? I can't tell, the flaming skulls and intimidating helmet doesn't really scream I'm lonely..' I didn't know "true" demons could feel lonely. It was somewhat overwhelming.
Initially, I planned on leaving, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad to stay.
"I guess I could stay a while longer.." I scratched behind my head while I nervously spoke, "I mean there's no rush I guess." I must've spent only about three hours here, no one would look for me yet.
"That's resplendent! Uh, you may stay as long as you like.."
It bugged why he still stayed here isolated from a majority of the world, I chose to ask him since we were on talking terms now "Uh, you seem like a pretty strong guy, you could be anywhere you want besides here, or are you one of those Floor bosses that just stay here to protect treasures..." honestly, that'd be lame.
"It's a bit complicated than that. But it's a great story... It was 1,500 years ago in the mythical age. I was laying waste to the forest of the spirits, accidentally.."
"Accidentally huh?" I made a rhetorical question.
"And because of that, a challenger had come to subdue me, I wasn't aware of his status as of the time and chose to underestimate him instead. And even when I finally started using my full strength I still lost!"
"Seriously? But you seem like a pretty tough guy. How strong was your opponent?"
"Extremely powerful, so much so that he was called a Demon Lord, blessed with unfathomable power and using his unique skill he overpowered me in battle and then sealed my powers completely into my sword... Etherious the claymore of eternal damnation."
He pointed at the sword, it was far larger than me.
A curved blade with jagged sides that pulsates a dark, ominous energy.
He also informed me he had no choice than to stay, as the sword erected a barrier around him that prevented him from leaving.
My [Mana Sense] could observe it with clarity but I initially thought it was some kind of energy his powerful presence radiated. Meaning, I had to work on [Mana Sense] so I could learn to distinguish between phenomena.
"This Demon Lord transitioned from a mere human. It took more than a 100 mages to imbue him with the power of a Demon Lord, you must've heard of the name Alkaedius Div Nedra..."
"What?! It doesn't make any sense! Shouldn't a demon lord protect his subjects.." they were obliged to protect their subordinates. Even if demons were the gnarliest, putrid, most hated creatures on the planet.
"I don't know what the world is like now little one, but in the mythical age the only thing that mattered was survival of the fittest." Perses' voice had more strength now than his previous responses.
His point was clearly debatable from my perspective, but I didn't exist in such an age so I didn't have much points to bring up, "So you've been stuck here for over 1,500 years?" well that's what Perses said at least.
"That is correct and I'm so unfathomably bored."
'Loneliness was the worst thing that could happen to anyone. I can't imagine being alone for a day and he's been here for 1,500 years?' it was deserving of pity, 'With no one to talk to, that's an absolute bummer.' I thought.
Who could imagine being in such a position, I'd have lost it instantly.
But it gave me an idea, "Hey! Why don't we be friends?!" I offered Perses.
"Are you serious?! Me?! The Mighty Lightning Forger, become friends with a lowly human!"
I immediately realized my mistake, "It was a stupid idea! Nevermind!" I panicked, forgetting that even if he had no other person to talk with didn't mean he'd choose to lower his standards.
I dismissed my offer as quickly as I brought it up.
"Now wait, I never said that I didn't want to.." he averted his gaze from my presence, "I suppose I could make an exception, I'll consider it.." he added moments after.
'Is he honestly playing hard to get?' it was mind-boggling.
"Okay, I guess if you don't wanna be friends with me I'll just get going to the next floor.." I took my leave, although it was all a ruse to get him to call me back.
"Okay wait!" He desperately called me back, before I turned to face him again I couldn't help but snicker menacingly.
"Today's your lucky day, you get to be friends with me, Perses one of the seven true demons.."
Now that Perses and I were "friends" I felt bad that he'd been stuck here for so long it was unfortunate so to speak.
"So how do we get you out of here? Any ideas?" I asked him.
He folded his arms, unwilling to cooperate for reasons I did not know.
So, I chose another alternative, "What's the sudden reluctance all about?" I asked spreading out my arms.
He informed me, "I only have about 10 years or so before I die, and the magic from my sword is leaking at an exponential rate, if it diminishes before my lifespan then I'll die." he tried, living for many centuries but his immortality wasn't as potent as when his magic was directly within him.
Remember, mana is the source of life for every being, so if the magic in his sword which he's linked to finishes, then he'll die.
"Hmm, that explains why this dungeon is magical heaven, no wonder there's so many valuable items.." I rubbed my chin, ruminating, "But three hundred years of solitude followed by dying alone? It doesn't get any worse than that." I had to think of a way to help him at least, and who other to ask than Scentia.
[Unique Skill: Oracle Engine ]
[>> Analyzing all valid possibilities <<]
[>> Survey completed: Possibilities include dark magicube analysis and breakdown <<]
It seemed so simple and likely to work, but it also meant that after analysing the dark magicubes and understanding the components it would not only breakdown the magic seal within the sword– Etherious, but it would also deconstruct and reprocess Perses again right from the start.
It was basically giving birth to him all over again.
But it was still a chance, so I relayed the information to him.
I also explained how the [Oracle Engine] would be in charge of analyzing and reprocessing him again.
Yet he didnʼt make any expressions which got me scared for a moment, 'Is he angry?' I asked myself.
All of a sudden he exploded into laughter, expressing his willingness to participate in this risky but interesting endeavor.
It was better to try than to not have tried at all.
"Then let's do it... I trust you completely friend!"
"You're sure? No questions asked?" there was a big possibility that it wouldn't work, but it wasn't beyond trying.
"None at all! Before now my only other option was to lay here and waste! This is much better! Go on with it little one!"
I gave Scentia the go-ahead, whilst also remembering that I hadn't told Perses my name, "Oh! And my name is Nyx Besimios.."
He nodded to my words although I couldn't tell whether he was smiling or not, the helmet made it difficult.
But I knew for a fact he trusted me completely.
"Alright, well I'm gonna free you now!" I smiled at him.
I then placed both my palms on the sword. It was as if information I'd never felt before was uploaded into my brain in gigajoules. My body coursed with dark magicubes that needed to be processed. My body never felt this much power before but it was working at least.
The first stage was completed which was releasing all the magic from the sword but I had to do it sequentially if not, the entire place would've been blown sky high.
"I'm sure we'll meet face to face again soon.." I told Perses.
"I hope so, my friend.." his body was faded into magic particles, it worked.
[>> Processing dark element <<]
Successful...
[>> Breaking down component matter of dark magicubes <<]
Successful...
[>> Isolating harmful components that cannot be analyzed <<]
Successful...
[>> Storing complete data reference of subject analysis <<]
Successful...
By this time, the sword had become nothing but a powerless large armament and Perses vanished to become one with the pure state of his elements.
Overall, it basically dealt with the law of constant composition. Where a singular compound will always have the same proportions or amount of each element or in this case magicubes, by mass.
The work was done.
[>> Accessing demon lord element <<]
Unsuccessful...
Huh? I didn't hear that correctly or did I?
"What do you mean unsuccessful..." and there was a delay before Scentia responded which is notably unusual.
[>> Demon lord element cannot be processed under normal circumstances, a failsafe designed to keep the host protected. But this will not affect the reprocessing of subject analysis. <<]
I could put my mind at ease again, but I couldn't help but wonder how he would manifest again, would he just phase out of me or something more painful, after all he is a big guy.
Then, I realized the dark mist was no more, meaning I had no need for [Mana Sense]. But infact I still did.
The majority of the minerals and monsters here were either created or evolved from the dark magicubes of Perses. Perses, who was now within me, meant I could use these energy traces like breadcrumbs to find my way out.
Scentia handled the process and I simply used it to make a workable facsimile of a three-dimensional map to find my way out of the dungeon.
When I finally did make it out, I discovered that not much time had passed here.
Whereas in the dungeon about six hours there was mere half an hour outside.
Supposedly the high magicube density caused not only spatial distortion in a fixed land mass ratio but also the distortion of time and in turn changing my perception of it.
What a stressful day...