Viktor's curiosity overpowered his astonishment. "Why are you here?"
Malphas's laughter danced through the room like a melody. "Hey, I'm the gift Elara bestowed upon you for freeing her. Have you forgotten already? Tsk!"
Viktor couldn't help but smile. Despite the bizarre circumstances, he was relieved that he wasn't dreaming. Elara and Malphas were indeed real.
"The power is real," he muttered, smiling.
As he savored the taste of the nearly expired noodles, Viktor couldn't help but wonder what otherworldly surprises awaited him in this new chapter of his life.
***
The night wind caressed Viktor's skin with a cool, gentle touch, its presence magnified beneath the watchful gaze of the tranquil full moon.
This celestial spotlight bathed the world in silvery luminescence, conjuring an atmosphere ripe with mystique and lending credence to age-old tales of supernatural entities that prowled the night.
Viktor's return from the day's bustling campus activities carried with it a sense of both relief and resignation.
In the realm of academia, the necessity of group projects was an enduring rite of passage.
These collaborations, while occasionally burdensome, were deemed an essential component of college life, fostering not only academic growth but also the forging of social bonds among students.
As Viktor walked under the moon's benevolent glow, he sighed, "Another group project, another set of sleepless nights."
A voice emerged from the shadows, resonating with a touch of wry humor, "Ah, the joys of higher education."
Startled, Viktor turned to find Malphas standing there, a sly grin on his face. "Malphas? What are you doing here?"
Malphas chuckled, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. "You ask again?! I have my ways of traversing realms, my friend! By the way, I couldn't help but overhear your thoughts about those group projects," Malphas remarked.
Viktor couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. "Well, they do have a way of haunting my nights."
Over time, the looming figure that trailed Viktor bore the ominous presence of Malphas.
This entity manifested as a dark silhouette, characterized by a commanding stature and two prominent horns that adorned its head.
Its form exuded an aura of malevolence, which clung to it like an ethereal shroud.
Even upon reaching the confines of his dismal room, this enigmatic figure materialized unbidden, its unwelcome presence causing Viktor to slip into unconsciousness for a harrowing half-hour.
"No need for such startlement. I am a gift bestowed upon you," a voice, cold and laden with menace, reverberated through Viktor's mind.
After grappling with his initial fear, Viktor nodded in comprehension, acknowledging the presence and purpose of this shadowy entity.
Upon his return to the squalor of his room, Viktor retrieved a photograph from his drawer, his thoughts and emotions swirling in the wake of the profound and unsettling events that had unfolded.
"I need to ascertain the extent of the power you possess. At the very least, make this person suffer before you end them," Viktor cleverly stated.
The monster chuckled heartily. "Indeed. What use is goodness and innocence if they serve as a mask to conceal one's true nature?" it quipped at Viktor.
A gust of wind blew forcefully in Viktor's direction, accompanying Malphas's swift movement as it darted and shifted, bridging the distance between itself and the awestruck, depressed young man in a startling and unexpected display of power.
Malphas rudely patted Viktor's head. Their eyes locked in a piercing gaze. The sheer intensity of Malphas's terrifying visage compelled Viktor to surrender, and he asked, "What do you want?"
Malphas's laughter reverberated in the room, the shadows flickering with each menacing chuckle.
Its fangs, sharp and gleaming, were deliberately revealed as the laughter echoed, shattering the silence that had filled the room.
"Don't ask me," Malphas taunted, its voice a chilling whisper. "Don't you yourself have something you desire so greatly?"
Viktor's gaze was ensnared by the creature's eyes, pools of darkness that seemed to reflect the depths of his own desires and fears.
The sheer intensity of Malphas's presence left him feeling powerless, as if he were a mere puppet in the hands of a malevolent puppeteer.
"The darkest facets that draw you into his realm. Torment? Agony? No! You yearn for more than that, my child," Malphas hissed, its words dripping with malevolence.
Viktor began to grasp the direction of Malphas's conversation. What he had desired all along wasn't just a simple victory by obtaining the heads of those who had hurt him in the past, but...
"Satisfaction... I need satisfaction from going beyond the boundaries of humanity with them," Viktor replied, his tone filled with uncertainty.
"You're still hesitant, aren't you?" Malphas inquired.
Viktor remained silent, his fists clenched, and his beads of sweat trembling in his eyes.
Malphas laughed once more. With its long, blood-red nails, Malphas cruelly gouged both of Viktor's eyeballs.
He screamed in agony, yet not a single soul was willing to come to his aid.
Miraculously, Viktor's body detached from his own, similar to what had happened before.
Unfortunately, this time, the beloved monster of the demon goddess led him to someone he despised deeply.
A bustling bar filled with customers from various cities came to visit. The owner himself was relaxing in an exclusive, high-priced cafe, enjoying the company of a beautiful girl dressed in attire that, while relatively modest compared to beachwear, still exuded a sense of allure.
Various aged wines, some decades old, competed with equally exclusive, expensive drinks that befitted the venue's exclusivity.
Viktor recognized those two faces instantly. His memory surged, navigating through the past and bringing forth unpleasant recollections he had tried so hard to forget. Unfortunately, they clung to his mind like an indelible stain.
Jansen, his former close friend, and Emilia, his ex-girlfriend, were right there.
"Both of you! You'll be my first victims! Emilia and Jansen!" Viktor muttered like a curse.
Next, Viktor was pulled back by Malphas into his consciousness.
"Both of their souls! I can't stand them living happily after they pushed me so deep into despair!" Viktor asserted.
"Is that all? You truly don't desire something else?" Malphas teased.