Kalika stood tall on Bjorn. Gazing around she now found herself in a large cavern-like dungeon. The ground was rough and stony, and all around there were tables of blacksmiths and craftsmen with the only thing separating them being flimsily constructed walls and pillars that littered the ends of the room.
Kalika jumped off of Bjorn who lay motionless. The searing heat she felt cooling from the breeze from the enormous hole behind her. Her excitement continued to surge as she looked around.
Demon. Demon. Demon Demons. They were everywhere she looked, there were demons of blue and red alike with different affixed horns of varying sizes and tails that either hung free and wrapped tightly around their waist.
She couldn't contain her own excitement looking around like a child in a candy store. Her own blood lust arose Even further alongside the darkness that covered her once again. Only one question ran through her mind as she flashed a devilish smile.
"
Donovan within the crowd fell to his butt seeing the strange and eerie reaction of the demon women before him. "W-what's going on!?"
"Get the hell up-!" The demon behind Donovan gained a dagger to the throat, killing him.
Donovan turned quickly, seeing the dagger suddenly vanish into dark mist from the demon's throat. "H-holy crap!"
Sounds of slashing and cutting started to become louder as demons around Donovan started panicking. "
Kalika suddenly killed another demon in front of Donovan showing her full satisfaction. She then slayed one! This time one of the demons he worked with. She continued to slice and cut demons and either by some miracle or complete ignorance, Kalika herself was unaware of Donovan's presence.
"
"
Arrows soon shot through the air past him and demons equipped the sword, alongside guards rushed straight into battle.
Donovan recognized his feeling well. The scorching heat at the back of his neck, the thick suffocating air, even the clash of steel and blood curdling cries of the dying. This was a battle. A battle between some demon women and all the demon craftsmen on this dungeon floor.
Glancing back, Donovan could see the parts of demons flying through the air. Each part landed far from the battle as the floor became stained in red and the maniacal laughter filled the air.
A demon in front of Donovan was suddenly smashed into the wall. Another demon sent flying almost hit Donovan. He quickly hid behind the largest pillar in vain as it was quickly destroyed soon after. He was forced to hide within a shabby storage room filled with barrels. And a few pipe weapons from his army.
Donovan peeked back out the door to see that even more guards rushed forth to battle Kalika as she slashed and sliced. Blocked and parried. And dodged and stabbed through the crowds of demons surrounding her. Ripping through each one like a killer in a massacre.
Donovan could only watch in horror at the one sided battle that brought back memories of his step mother that ran around, sick with power. Unknown to Donovan and Kalika however, the demons on the attack had already killed her many times over.
Cuts that should've beheaded her, practically phased through her. And arms that should've been sliced, stitched itself back in an instant. She was a level beyond their and even her own comprehension
"
the entire dungeon was filled with a plethora of booming explosions coming. Blazes and torrents of fire left the iron pipes of the weapons the demons used. The torrent of fire ripped through Kalika, leaving fatal and burnt holes throughout her body. Everyone witnessing this was taken aback, including Donovan and Kalika herself.
"
Abrupt cheers and laughter filled the large room.
"They… They finally got her." Donovan sighed, a little relieved.
but this victory was short lived. Kalika laughed again. "You demons. I hate all of you damned demons." Kalika said.
"Wait a minute…" Donovan jerked his attention back to Kalika. A subtle air of familiarity surrounded her that he couldn't put his finger on.
Everyone else did the same as Donovan. Out of nowhere a demon closest to Kalika was killed. And to everyone's shock she completely reverted back to her prime form.
"
Kalika killed the shouting demon. She snickered. "
Kalika began to giggle to herself. "
Demons started running away, Taking advantage of the brief reprieve from the chaos.
"Rakon…" Kalika then looked back up with much more crazed eyes. "
Kalika giggled as she stumbled forward, frightening the surrounding demon. Even more demons, frightened by her, opted to turn tail, running away.
"[You want to kill more? Channel the power into your hand,]" a voice said to Kalika.
Kalika looked at her hands curiously. She felt a power in her and focused it to her hand. "What's this?" she laughed.
A dark energy slowly accumulated in her hands until it became the size of her head. "
"[Now lift your hands. And let it go,]" The voice said.
Kalika listened and in that instant, the dark energy imploded, sending a pulse, destroying the surroundings in front of Kalika! Most of the demons on the run evaporated in an instant, leaving behind a black mark where they stood. While others were lucky enough to escape. And for some unfortunate few, they lost their backs or limbs with lingering dark energy being emitted from their bodies like a fire.
The walls to the other dungeon rooms became exposed including the one Donovan was housed in.
Donovan, seeing the newly empty room left behind, was in complete disbelief. He watched as some guard in front of him writhed in pain with the strange black fire on their backs and their completely exposed bones.
Kalika laughed maniacally. "I can make them go away…! I can make them disappear!!"
"[This is only a taste of my power… 'Our' power. There's no one to stop us from doing what we want!]"
Kalika, Hearing the voice grinned.
********
Gaz slammed Rakon's door open. "
Magnus and Mae looked back to Gaz. All the while Rakon narrowed his eyes as he sat himself at his desk.
"
********
Prison cell slammed closed, locking the inmates in their cells. Prison guards rushed one by one into the dungeon corridor.
"
"
"
The second guard grimaced. "
"
"
********
Clueless guards from the dungeon floors above soon arrived. "
Seeing this new wave of demons brought Kalika some excitement as they all rushed in head first to attack Kalika. One after another, those demons were mercilessly slaughtered as she not only killed them with her dagger, but also this newly discovered power.
She conjured balls of darkness into her hand and shot it forth like a fireball to those attacking and hiding.
The result of this magic was the complete and utter decimation of each target. Each demon hit by it completely disintegrated before Kalika, fueling her satisfaction.
And as the battle ensued, Donovan continued to hide and dodge the oncoming and reckless attacks made by Kalika. Each more deadly than the last as each ball of dark energy she shot out seemed to get bigger.
Eventually he found another pillar next to the dead body of another demon holding another of the piped weapons. He peeked out and watched the carnage continuing to unfold before him as he clenched his fists in frustration.
"Argh! What am I supposed to do!? S-she's just killing them all like fodder. And that's not even mentioning that she can't die like Kalika…" Donovan fixed his gaze upon Kalika. "I don't understand it but…No it can't be, Whoever that is, It can't be her…"
He turned his glance toward the piped weapon, grabbing it. "I have to get out of here. This might be the only opportunity I get to actually escape…" Memories of Tilus and Kalika flashed through his mind. "...and to keep my Tilus." Donovan quickly looked around, spotting the exit across from him past Kalika.
Seeing the unfortunate location, Donovan took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. He burst out in the sprint back into the oncoming war by the wall. He ran past the huge red demon seeing a subtle flinch. He ignored this running and dodged the ball of energy and demon corpses the best he could.
Donovan inched closer and closer to the only hall that led to freedom. But eventually after a long fought battle Kalika finally slain the last standing demon in sight. She stood victorious over the many bodies that littered around her, breathing heavily and happily.
"[there's more left. ]" The voice said.
"
She pulled the dagger from his body readying to end his life too.
Seeing this Donovan quickly closed his eyes, readying for impact… but nothing happened,
He opened his eyes seeing the shocked look on the demon woman's face before him. A familiar face that reminded him of Kalika.
"D-d… Donovan?"
That very voice that was awe so familiar.
"No. It can't be. That's impossible!" Donovan still didn't want to believe what he was seeing.
Donovan began to stutter, unable to make any comprehensive sentence.
The voice returned. "[Kill him. You know you want to. He is nothing.]"
Kalika, listening to the voice within, slowly placed her dagger at Donovan's neck. She looked into Donovan's eyes with her hypnotized gaze. "That's right… This is a dream. So killing him here… Doesn't matter."
"KALIKA!!!!"
Kalika was suddenly hit with a huge earth formed club!!
Bjorn stood Tall, covered in blood and wounds healed. Ready to fight once more. He looked around as Kalika got up angrily.
"
Bjorn ignored her, instead turning his attention to Donovan who looked on in shock.
"Do you find it easier to kill others now that you're a demon? Does it come more naturally to you... Kalika?"
"Shut up! I'm still human! When I wake up all of this will disappear!" Kalika turned back with a smile. "Besides I don't want to waste this opportunity to kill you all here. You, Rakon, my sister. Everyone!"
Bjorn furrowed his brow and readied his club. "You've lost your mind."
Donovan could only watch on as Kalika channeled a ball of dark energy into her hand. "I-it can't be true! It can't be... Kalika turned into... A demon!??"
Without a moments hesitation Kalika shot out the dark ball at Bjorn. He quickly blocked the deadly sphere with his club. Glancing back at his club, he found that it left a sphere shaped hole in his club.
Looking back to Kalika she was already posed and ready to attack. using the tip of his club, he blocked this too!
a shockwave erupted between the two. The floor shatter. surges and flashes of dark energy shot out. And the satisfied, manic smile Kalika once had turned to that of frustration and anger.
"JUST DIIEE!!" Kalika shouted.
After a while, Bjorn finally deflected Kalika's attack, sending her back sliding on her bare feet. she stopped close to the wall, seething.
Bjorn breathed heavily, trying to catch his breath. He then looked back at his club, finding git practically destroyed. Using his earth magic, he repaired it in seconds.
Donovan could only look with his pipe weapon still in hand, in shock and awe by their sheer strength. At this point, he was simply amazed to still be alive. He couldn't help be feel shame, bringing his gaze back to the pipe he held.
"Human." Bjorn suddenly said.
Donovan looked back up seeing Bjorn with is eyes on Kalika, as he spoke to him. "If still want to live I suggest you leave now. As long as I'm here she won't be chasing you anytime soon."
Kalika cackled to herself, hearing Bjorn's words.. "I thought you hated humans Bjorn."
"I do. Humans have been a blight on our kind for millennia. Keeping us locked away deep in the pits. In a hell we were given, just because we exist."
Bjorn narrowed his eyes. "But I'm not so blinded by hatred to not show mercy to those weaker than me."
"You're a damn hypocrite. If that's true, what did that make me when you pummeled me down back then Huh? or the other humans, your kind killed for fun, trapping here for your own enjoyment?"
"That's just the way of this world Kalika." Bjorn said.
"'Way of this world'? No! The way of that world was too cruel. I'll never be freed from That World." Kalika forced a smile to herself. "But this world... This world I can do whatever I want now. I'm finally freed."
"[Yes. you are free.]"
"Kalika…" Donovan couldn't help but look, on much more worried.