Nidhogg POV:
I watch as Gerald steps forward. I was expecting him to throw his underlings at me in an attempt to test me out, however, I was surprised when he raised a hand and began chanting. Half of the members follow suit and begin chanting along with him, as the other half draw their various weapons and charge towards me.
At that moment, I come to a decision. I should kill some of them, as I had a reputation to keep. Not everyone, just the weaker ones or those who hesitate on their actions. I had no use for them as they would just get in my way or hinder the others.
I watched as those with swords would come at me, trying their best to use their sword skills to attempt to hit me through my ghastly body at my feet. I spied two who were standing back, most likely trying to evaluate the best way to take me down. However, they were the weakest ones out of the group, so they made themselves prime targets instead.
My tongue whips out, cutting their heads off as I survey the rest of the group. The mages finish their chants, unleashing a fury of dark bolts that zip towards me. Judging by the lack of power behind their spells, I know that they'll do no damage to me. So instead, I decide to test myself by dodging all of them as I have a newfound speed while in this form.
It would seem that I had overestimated myself, as every one of their spells still hit me as I was still not fast enough to bob and weave through them. I wasn't disappointed though, as I had figured as much. The one person I knew to be a challenge was apparently done with his spell.
"My Lord. I present my best spell. May it bring you pleasure." He announces.
My senses alert me to danger as I feel mana gathering in front of me. A dark orb of black begins to gather as it pulls the very air into it. Did he just summon a black hole? I could feel parts of myself threatening to be pulled into it. If I wasn't careful, his spell could actually probably kill me. His spell began to grow bigger, as the lives of his own men started to get jeopardized as they struggled to not get sucked in.
I was left with little choice but to deal with the matter. Energy gathers at my mouth as I prepare to fire off a Cero. The Anti-Light watch in wonder as I shoot off the Cero into the dark void of Gerald's spell. His spell revolts, violently shaking as it swells with power it absorbs from my own. For a brief moment, I question whether I made the right decision in how to deal with this, until it collapses from all the energy its collected.
My Cero continues on into the distance as everyone watches stunned as an explosion goes off where it lands, momentarily turning the dark night brighter. After that display of power, even the survivors who couldn't see me knew that something powerful was before them and remained quiet in fear.
Seeing how no one was moving, I decide to take the initiative. "You show promise. I might lend you a bit of the help you. However, you will have to prove yourselves." I tell them. That guy who turned into a demon gave me a bit of inspiration to experiment on something. I wondered if I could turn humans into whatever I am.
Hearing my words, all members of the Anti-Light prostrate themselves on the ground before me. Gerald steps up to me, "You honor us. We will work diligently to prove ourselves to you."
"Good, don't disappoint me. Now, explain everything about your organization. Leave nothing out. I need to understand your strengths and weaknesses." I command him.
"Understood my Lord." He rises to start but I interrupt him.
"However, first, you should make sure the area is secure. I do not want to be interrupted." I caution him.
He looks to men on his right who nod at him and dash off into the woods. Other members check the survivors cages, however, they do not attempt to escape as they can hear me but not see me and fear for their life. Once the guys come back, Gerald turns back to me.
"I can say that the entire planet is secure right now and no movements have been made by the church to come here. Should I be incorrect, I am prepared to pay for my incompetence my Lord." He announces, falling to one knee.
"The entire planet you say. Very good, I hope for your sake that you are correct. Nevertheless, as I have deemed you at the very least worthy of not killing, I'll reveal to you my name. Remember meager humans, the name Nidhogg." I announce proudly reveling too much into being worshiped as a god. Before I would ridicule those people, who would get too arrogant from being in a position like this, but I understood the appeal now. It was a nice change of pace and it felt good having someone grovel before you.
"Now, you may continue." I tell him.
"Our group was first formed when the church decided that those who have a natural affinity for dark magic was too close to that of a demon and declared us enemies. Many of us were captured, where we were tortured, or even executed. Therefore, the Anti-Light was formed. Our sole purpose is to rescue any dark magic users held by the church.
Our dark magic enables us to invoke rituals to summon beasts that have demonic origins but are not demons. Not only that, but our spells counter light magic spells as they do the same to ours. Thankfully, those idiots at the church have allowed us to have sleeper agents within their ranks who report back to us what they do."
This was great news. I had no idea how effective they were, but that was still beneficial to me. It was starting to look like letting them live was the correct idea.
"Though, I will say that our numbers are low, and need non-dark magic users who are bound by a mark to ensure their loyalty to make up for most of our ranks. So far, we have settled on this planet that has remained unknown by the church but our reports were showing that it wasn't going to be long before we were found." He explains.
Seeing that he was done with his explanation, I considered what to do here. Obviously, they were fighting a losing war, as they didn't have the numbers to contest the church. Plus, from comparing their grunts to the church's average, they were outclassed. What they needed, was quality over quantity.
"Gerald. Go amongst everyone in your ranks on the planet and find those who are willing to be sacrificed for the chance of obtaining power. Should the numbers be low, fill them with those you've captured if you have to." I command him.
"I can assure you, Lord Nidhogg, that those numbers won't be low, as even I will volunteer myself." He responds.
At first, I went to admonish him for foolishly volunteering when I was making it as clear as possible that I was going to be experimenting on them, before I realized just what he meant. After seeing my Cero, who wouldn't volunteer for a chance to obtain that.
"I want those volunteers here by tomorrow night. Now, excuse me, I have a hunger to quench." I say turning to the remaining survivors.
"At once my lord." He responds, standing to carry out his orders.
As he walks away, he can't help but feel relief at their situation. Leaving the site, he hears the screams of the remnants of those who weren't sacrificed and smiles.
'You have your god, church, now we have ours.'