Rudra and Ultear stepped into the eerie chamber, the walls glistening with a sinister sheen as pulsating cocoons emitted an unsettling rhythm, like an ominous heartbeat.
At the center, a massive cocoon hung from the ceiling, its presence suffocating the air around them with an almost tangible sense of foreboding.
Rudra let out a slow breath, his sharp eyes scanning every inch of the grotesque room. "You should head back," he said, his voice calm but firm, as if he'd already made up his mind.
Ultear crossed her arms, her defiant stance unyielding. "Why? I'm perfectly capable of handling myself," she replied, her tone unwavering.
Rudra gave her a pointed look before gesturing dramatically to their surroundings. "Really? Take a good look. Creepy sewer? Suspiciously giant cocoon? Tentacles everywhere? If this isn't a boss room, then I'll eat my sword."
Ultear raised an eyebrow, skepticism painted across her face. "Boss room?"
Rudra tapped his temple as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm telling you, I can hear the boss music in my head already. Dramatic violins. Creepy choir. And if I had to guess, it's only building up to the drop." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Trust me, when the soundtrack kicks in, things are about to go sideways."
Ultear sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation, though there was a faint twitch of a smile at the corner of her lips. "You're insane."
"Insane?" Rudra smirked, his expression playful. "Maybe. But alive. Big difference."
Ultear shook her head and stood firm. "You're not getting rid of me that easily. Like it or not, I'm staying. You'll need backup."
Rudra tilted his head, his gaze flickering to the tentacles swaying ominously from the walls. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as if weighing her resolve. "Fair enough," he said at last. Then, without missing a beat, he added casually, "But just so we're clear… you've noticed the tentacles, right?"
Ultear's expression hardened. "What about them?" she asked, her tone wary.
"Well," Rudra said, glancing back at her with a faint grin, "tentacles and girls… it's a tale as old as time. And, uh, it rarely ends well."
Ultear blinked, her brain taking a moment to process his words. When it did, her face turned a vivid shade of crimson. "Are you serious right now?!" she snapped, her glare sharp enough to cut steel.
Rudra shrugged, completely unfazed. "Just saying. I've seen enough stories to know the patterns. No need to get all flustered."
"I am not flustered!" Ultear sputtered, jabbing a finger at him. "You're impossible! Do you even think before you speak?"
"Nope," Rudra replied smoothly, his smirk widening. "Keeps things interesting."
Ultear groaned, pressing a hand to her temple like she was physically restraining herself from smacking him. "You are unbearable."
"And yet," Rudra said, turning his attention back to the massive cocoon, his tone suddenly shifting to something more serious, "I'm usually right."
Together, they approached the massive cocoon in the center, the air growing heavier with every step.
As Rudra and Ultear approached the massive cocoon, the pulsating sound intensified, echoing like a twisted symphony of heartbeats in sync with the smaller cocoons scattered around the room. Rudra halted, his eyes narrowing as he studied the grotesque scene.
He turned to Ultear, his voice calm but carrying an edge of command. "You handle the small fry. I'll deal with the big guy."
Ultear arched an eyebrow, her irritation evident. "Are you seriously pulling rank right now?" she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms. But after a moment, she sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Fine. Just don't get yourself killed."
A faint glow radiated from Rudra's left hand as his katana materialized, the blade gleaming in the dim, eerie light.
Without a moment's hesitation, his figure blurred, disappearing and reappearing atop the massive cocoon in the center of the room. "Rise and shine," Rudra quipped, his voice tinged with amusement as he slashed the cocoon with a single, precise stroke.
The cocoon split open with a grotesque, wet sound. Rudra reappeared beside Ultear, his katana resting loosely in his hand. "Be ready," he said, his voice low and serious.
Before Ultear could reply, the massive cocoon burst apart in a violent explosion of ichor and flesh, followed by every other cocoon in the room. From the largest cocoon emerged a grotesque creature—a hulking monstrosity with no face or mouth, a human-like torso, and blade-like arms that glinted menacingly in the faint light. The creature was Nidhogg.
Rudra turned to Ultear, his gaze sharp. "I think this is your cue. Handle the small pests," he said calmly.
Ultear hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Be careful," she said before darting off to engage the smaller creatures spilling out from the other cocoons.
Rudra redirected his focus to Nidhogg, his grip tightening on the hilt of his katana. The monster stood tall and imposing, its faceless head tilting slightly as it spoke in a deep, guttural voice. "So, you've finally come, Sparda."
Rudra raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "Oh? How do you know?" he asked, his tone laced with mock surprise.
Nidhogg's bladed arms twitched as it responded. "Cavaliere Angelo told us about you. The half-demon who protects humans, despite your bloodline. He said if people began disappearing, you'd inevitably show up."
Rudra chuckled, his expression turning smug. "Damn," he said, pretending to be impressed. "When did the dumb demons start getting smart?"
Nidhogg snarled, its body tensing with rage. "Enough! This is where you die, Sparda!" it roared, sending a massive tentacle lashing toward Rudra with blinding speed.
Rudra sidestepped the attack effortlessly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Wow, that's original. You know, that's the kind of one-liner every third-rate villain uses," he quipped, unsheathing his katana fully.
His movements blurred as he darted forward, meeting Nidhogg's attack head-on with an elegant slash of his blade.
The clash began, with Rudra's sharp, calculated strikes meeting the monstrous might of Nidhogg, while Ultear fought fiercely against the swarm of smaller creatures in the background.
As Rudra and Nidhogg clashed in a violent storm of steel and grotesque sounds of slashing flesh, the battle raged on.
Ultear was locked in her own fight nearby, skillfully cutting down smaller creatures that swarmed around her. Her blade flashed as she sliced through tentacles and dodged with precise movements. But as her focus sharpened, a conversation reached her ears—one that nearly made her lose her concentration entirely.
"Half-human? Half-demon?" she thought, her mind racing. Who is he really? And what's with this 'Sparda' demon keeps mentioning?
She almost considered asking, but quickly dismissed the thought. Now wasn't the time for questions. Even if she did ask, she knew Rudra wouldn't answer. They barely knew each other.
A tentacle shot toward her, and she spun to the side, cutting it down in one fluid motion. The severed limb splattered a vile, viscous liquid onto her, and she recoiled instinctively. Wiping at the substance in a panic, her eyes widened in alarm as it began eating through her clothes.
Great, just what I needed…
She quickly backed away, trying to distance herself from the creatures, her heart pounding. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she scanned the battlefield. More creatures emerged from the ruptured cocoons, their numbers seemingly endless.
With a grim look, she tightened her grip on her sword, her gaze narrowing. "They don't stop, do they?" she muttered under her breath, frustration flickering across her face.
Ultear cast a glance at Rudra out of the corner of her eye—and what she saw nearly made her lose her footing.
Rudra sat casually near Nidhogg's smoldering remains, wiping his katana with a cloth as though he'd just finished a light sparring session rather than a deadly, chaotic battle. The faint glow of his blade shimmered ominously in the chamber's dim light, and the nonchalance of his actions stoked her frustration.
"Don't just sit there like some smug prince—help me!" Ultear shouted, ducking under a swinging tentacle before slashing it clean off. The acidic ichor sprayed onto the ground, sizzling as it ate through stone.
Rudra looked up lazily, quirking a brow as if she'd just interrupted his moment of peace. "You're doing great. Keep it up."
Ultear's temper flared. "Are you insane?! I'm dying over here!" she yelled, parrying another attack and leaping backward to gain some space.
Rudra sighed, finally standing and brushing off his pants. "Fine, but you owe me for this," he said, slipping the katana back into its sheath with an almost theatrical flourish.
"I don't care! Just—do something!" Ultear snapped, her voice edged with panic and anger. She danced around another grotesque creature, her blade flashing as she cut it down, but her movements were slowing, her stamina waning.
Rudra smirked, stepping forward as if he had all the time in the world. "Alright, but you might want to step back. Unless you enjoy being roasted, that is."
Ultear narrowed her eyes but didn't argue, retreating a safe distance while keeping her blade raised. "This better be good," she muttered under her breath, not entirely sure what to expect from him.
Rudra ignored her and raised a single hand, beginning a series of intricate one-handed seals with an effortless grace. The air around him grew heavy, charged with an almost oppressive heat. His voice cut through the tension, calm and commanding:
"Fire Style: Majestic Flame Destroyer."
The moment the words left his lips, a colossal torrent of flames erupted from Rudra's mouth, roaring like a living beast. The inferno surged forward, engulfing everything in its path. The heat was overwhelming, forcing Ultear to shield her face as the fiery wave incinerated the creatures in an instant. Their screams were drowned out by the crackling of flames as the entire chamber was bathed in a fiery glow.
When the firestorm finally subsided, the silence that followed was almost deafening. The once-crowded battlefield was now a scorched wasteland, the charred remains of the creatures littering the ground. Wisps of smoke curled lazily into the air, and embers glowed faintly in the darkness.
Ultear lowered her arm cautiously, her wide eyes darting around the destroyed chamber. "What… the hell… was that?" she managed to say, her voice tinged with awe and disbelief.
Rudra casually dusted off his hands, his expression cool and unbothered. "That," he said, gesturing to the smoldering ruins, "was me solving your little problem. You're welcome."
Ultear stared at him, a mix of frustration and admiration bubbling up inside her. "You could've done that sooner, you know," she said, her tone sharp despite her exhaustion. "Instead of watching me fight for my life like it was some kind of spectator sport."
Rudra gave a half-smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Where's the fun in that? You looked like you had it under control."
"Control?!" Ultear gestured to the scorched battlefield around them, her voice rising. "Does this look like control to you?!"
He shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. "You're alive, aren't you?"
Ultear groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose as she struggled to find words for the infuriating man standing before her. "You are impossible," she muttered, shaking her head.
Rudra chuckled, his demeanor as relaxed as ever. "You're welcome, by the way."
Ultear let out a sharp exhale, deciding to drop the argument for now. She turned her attention to the charred remains of the battlefield, her thoughts drifting back to the questions that had been haunting her. Who is he, really? And how is someone like that just casually walking around?
Her gaze flickered back to Rudra, who was now examining his katana with a faint smirk. One thing was clear: she needed answers. And the next time they weren't surrounded by chaos, she was going to get them.