For a moment, the demonic colossus shrouded in majestic, abyssal armor stood there before the countless chains vanished, and soon, the enormous figure dissipated as well with a nefarious wind.
[Transformation: Sin Incarnation: GOETIA]
[SKILL OVER]
[Cooldown: 23:56:39]
The black swirl of air pushed away as the giant, imposing figure was gone, returned to the normal form of Zero, who slowly breathed out.
"...Phew," he exhaled tiredly, looking around the garden that was now eerily quiet.
He watched as the monitoring drones, which tried to stay secretive with cloaking devices embedded into them, observed him before beginning to pull away.
"Hey! Zero!"
Running up to him, the yell came from the spike-toothed warrior, who looked as if he had come out of a battle himself.
"Oh, you survived. Good job," Zero casually said, sheathing his weapon as he looked at his companion.
Vangrave gasped, "Hey! 'Course I did! Don't act like you're surprised I'm alive! Anyway, we should probably hold off on goin' deeper in this place…"
"Yeah? Why's that?" Zero asked, somewhat surprised by the seeming caution that the warrior held, someone who he believed to be utterly reckless.
Vangrave aggressively swiped his index finger in the air, causing his personal interface to pop up for them both to see. The menu popped up, showcasing what was seen from the perspective of the drones.
It was all there; the battle between "Zero" and the Black Moon Assassins–or rather, the one-sided massacre that it was. By the way the drones caught the angles of the fight, and whatever editing had already gone into it, there was definitely not much done to make the snowy-haired man look well-meaning.
"...Hold on, the Abyss Impact broadcast is available to us here, too?" Zero observed with his hand to his chin.
"Yeah! Ya know what that means, dontcha?!" Vangrave asked.
"It means everyone watching knows exactly where we are," Zero responded, understanding with a small exhale, "That gives us two options: we can try finding an exit gate, or we continue on locating the boss room. Finding that exit will be just as hard as finding the boss, I might add."
"Ya got a point," Vangrave quietly mumbled, scratching his head of messy, gelled-up hair.
For the player that withdrew himself from the spotlight in his tenure, the sudden surge of spectators, fans, and even those who rooted for his downfall, the new situation felt foreign.
"Let's finish what we came here to do–if anybody else wants to come try challenging us, let them," Zero decided, speaking confidently.
"That's what I'm talkin' about! Exciting," Vangrave said with a smile.
Exploring the dungeon itself felt easier after having dealt with the hostile guild; the predictable monsters that inhabited the crimson marble lair were a nice change of pace. Zero didn't have to think much, mainly operating on instinct as he dismantled the mobs that stood between himself and the boss' lair.
Using his sword, he plunged it into the body of a blood-forged beast, ending it without breaking a sweat as he looked towards his companion. They were in a small, dome-shaped room filled with bookshelves, though many of the books were scattered, along with countless papers.
Vangrave finished off one of the crimson beasts himself, using his halberd to cut right through it, though with some trouble of his own, "--Hyraaah!"
The movements of the hot-headed warrior were definitely sluggish, though it was clear to Zero as to why.
"Nice one," Zero complimented.
The words of respect didn't seem to do much to please the warrior, who huffed and wiped the sweat from his chin, "Gah! I can do better than that."
"I wouldn't think too much about it. The Millenium Zone wears you down–here," Zero said, extending his hand.
[Coat of The Abyss]
The debuff-clearing skill washed away the various afflictions that the reckless warrior had acquired, like hot water to a stain.
"Where to next, Boss?" Vangrave asked, tugging on the collar of his tunic as the humidity within the domain had grown hotter the deeper they went.
Zero was quiet as his eyes were locked on one of the ivory bookshelves that stood within the room before answering, "The final chamber."
"Huh? Waitt, didja find it? Where–" Vangrave began to ask.
The question answered itself as Zero extended his hand, grabbing onto the skeletal-spined book that sat on the middle of one of the shelves, tugging on it. Just like that, the room began to rumble as the heavy bookshelf began to move.
"Hah! Nice find, man! Is that some skill or somethin'?" Vangrave questioned as he watched the shelf slide itself out of the way.
Zero shook his head lightly, "Nope. I've done this dungeon enough times to know what kind of tricks to look out for."
As the path was opened, a dark staircase was revealed, leading low to dreadful depths. Dormant lanterns awoke as white flames flickered into existence before either player descended a single step.
"Let's go," Zero said.
"Right behind ya," Vangrave responded.
There was a noticeably cold air that permeated through the claustrophobic descent, one that Zero remembered well as he took slow, careful steps.
"Say, how much time ya put into Abyss? I mean, seems like ya know everythin' there is to know about anythin' here," Vangrave asked while following behind, repeatedly tapping the staff of his halberd against his shoulder.
"I don't know everything. The fact you think that just shows that you don't know much," Zero answered, brushing the question off, "I just know enough. Satisfied?"
"…Sheesh, not very open to questions, are ya?" Vangrave expelled the words with a grumpy breath.
The remark wasn't responded to as Zero found the bottom of the steps coming into view. A single door of black steel, etched with countless, white dots that sparkles like glitter awaited the two.
Zero stopped in front of the door, not opening it yet as he glanced back at his companion, "Now is the time to use your skills."
"Yeah, I know that," Vangrave said, taking him up on his advice.