Davi Hawker had a weird life. He was starting to accept the fact that things happened around him that often made very little sense.
He had survived an attack from a dragon, even though his heart had been impaled; traveled through time; fought magical beasts from another dimension that wanted to corrupt the planet; and been the target of seven evildoers who wanted him and Susie dead for some reason, and most importantly, he was literally bred and created for all of it by his mother.
Somehow, though, the princess of another race of almost elves, asking him to blow up the sun, caught him more off guard than anything else.
"I beg your sweet pardon?"
Princess Ever took a calming breath, and she glanced up toward the sky where the colorful orb of light resided. "We need to break that thing."
"Why?" Max asked, just as confused as everyone else.
"You don't hear the voices, do you?" Ever asked.
"I don't? Voices? What voices?"
"The sun's talking," Davi explained casually. "It says a lot of stuff, most of it not good, and to be honest, I don't particularly want to help it because of what it wants. It sounds like a monster, and breaking the sun might be the key to freeing it, so it's way too risky."
"You don't understand!" Princess Ever spoke up and took a step forward. "That thing needs to come down!"
"Look," Sera held a hand up. "This is a lot; we're still trying to process everything. You're going to need to explain yourself."
"Yeah." Susie nodded. "This is a lot. Even for me, and I've literally got weird guys that want me dead for simply existing. You can't just show up and say Davi needs to destroy the sun without at least explaining something."
The princess let out a sigh and clenched her hand into a fist. Her eyes met Davi's, and for a moment she was silent, as if debating what she should and shouldn't reveal. "Okay," finally, she spoke. "If that orb doesn't come down, my people are going to die."
"The Licht Fulk?"
"Yes." Princess Ever gave a weak nod. "Do you see what I look like?"
"I do?"
"Do you know what this is?"
"You're a magical mutant?"
"Close, but that's something only humans can do." The princess said softly. "Monsters create dungeons, and those dungeons give off a type of radiation, but beings such as dragons and, in this case, demons are not monsters. Or rather, I should say that the dungeons they create do not give off the same level of radiation that others do. Humans are immune to this level of radiation just as elves are immune to the radiation monsters give off. Elves aren't immune to the radiation that demons give off, though."
"A-Are you saying there's a demon in this dungeon?" Sera asked, suddenly growing nervous.
"Maybe." The princess shook her head and shrugged. "Only Himvel truly knows what the great beast is, but I can tell you this. It's giving off a level of radiation that, if not put in check, will cause my people to cease to be. As you can see, I am one of the first ones being affected."
"If this is happening, why are we just now finding out?" Susie demanded. "And we've seen other Licht-Fulk. Why aren't they panicking or freaking out?"
Princess Ever let out a tired sigh. "It's because they don't know."
"Not even your people know?"
"Very, very, very few do." The princess explained. "And the ones who do know refuse to listen to reason."
"What do you mean?"
Once again, the princess looked conflicted. "I-I don't know how much I should say."
"You're asking us for help." Max folded his arms and gave her a stern look. "I'd say you need to explain a lot."
She gave a weak nod. "King Sylas was a man who became affected by fear and hate. He allowed it to rot his soul and mind, and insanity took root within him. Using Himvel, he built machines from the very ships the Almighty once operated and created gods of metal to rule the world. Eventually, he was stopped by Haru and defeated, and after this incident, Haru was betrayed by one of her Knights. Run through by his blade of ebony, the world's strongest being bled, and it is said that a virus unlike any other was unleashed from her wound. This same virus is the one that will now affect my people and do to us what it did to the elves. It is transforming me, slowly but surely, into the image of a demon."
Davi glanced back up toward the orb of light. He heard it whispering, saying dozens of things, each faster than the last. He got a sinking feeling in his gut. One that wouldn't fade.
Princess Ever continued. "We, the Licht Fulk, were made near the end of the war, before the virus. King Sylas and Himvel created us after the king sealed many elves away. The Licht Fulk were meant as a replacement for the elves. I think at least. No one truly knows, as Sylas was defeated and killed at the hands of Haru. Haru showed our people mercy and allowed us to live out our days in this dungeon and powered it with a machine built by Himvel, using the All Mother's light and a great beast that Haru sealed away. For years, we lived and created our society, watched over by Himvel. And then he vanished."
"Himvel did?" Sera frowned. "He's an elf, right? If you say vanished and not killed, does that mean he's still around?"
"He might very well still be alive." The princess hummed. "Some believe he is beneath the city, in the land we do not speak about. Others believe he left us behind. I do not know which is true. After he left, I was tasked with trying to maintain the machine that he built. I studied under him when I was a child, and so I know it better than anyone. That was when I learned the cruel truth. One that Himvel and Sylas hid from the world. We, Licht Fulk, are changing. Slowly but surely. Our very DNA over the course of new generations is being altered into a new form. One of the elves of old, and with this new DNA, we become susceptible to the radiation that is filling the dungeon we're in. I am one of the first to be born afflicted by the radiation, but in the coming time, the Licht Fulk's skin will morph, and they'll become more and more like true elves, and then they'll fall to the same effect that is taking me. Soon, this will be a dungeon of demons. King Sylas's final solution if he lost the war. A weapon set to go off after Haru was long gone from this world."
"T-That's insane?" Susie stuttered. "Y-You're saying that your people are all going to turn into demons eventually?"
"They are." The princess gestured at herself. "No one believes me, however. Since, at the moment, only I am being affected, they think it was a genetic anomaly, but the truth is that I am just the first wave. I believe that in only a year's time, the Licht Fulk born next will all be like me, and their kids in turn. Even my own mother thinks that the situation is still under control. She thinks she can just use the Rite of Marriage and merge me with a new host in order to combat the virus that pumps through my veins. She's willing to sacrifice someone else to try and combat the impossible, not realizing that it is already too late. Even if I become cured, my people will still be doomed, and so, that is why, if we wish for them to be cured, we must stop the rot directly in its tracks. We must destroy the thing producing the radiation. Himvel's machine must be destroyed."
"Damn. The rumors are true." Max glanced at Davi. "You have a way of getting drawn into trouble, don't you, Davi?"
"It is both a blessing and a curse." Davi's look grew serious. "So, let me get this straight. The Licht Fulk will all eventually become demons, like you are becoming, because of Himvel's machine? In order to stop that, you need me to destroy it? Why not do it yourself?"
"Well, for one, I'm not strong enough." Ever glanced down at her hand and winced when she saw the mix of red and purple that was her flesh. "The closer I get to it, the more it'll affect me. You're a human, though, which means it shouldn't corrupt you. Also, the reason it has to be you is because only those who can hear the voice are able to approach the core. Himvel placed a barrier around it that only allows those with the Hoarder trait to interact with the machine."
"Oh! That's why I hear the voice!" Davi nodded as it all began to click into place. "Hoarder is connecting to it or something, just like with Storymaker. I guess because it is elven tech or something? Okay, so you can't get near the machine, and only someone with the trait we both share can interact with it. I have some elven blood in me, which is why I have the trait. You also having it means your earlier statement checks out. You're similar to an elf, at least enough to gain the trait they all had. I still don't know if breaking the machine is the best choice, though."
"You must!" Ever exclaimed. "It's the only way."
"What if we just have all the Licht Fulk leave the dungeon?"
"That won't work." Ever shook her head. "The machine placed a barrier around the dungeon. I can leave, but pure Licht Fulk can't. They're stuck here. Sylas and Himvel made it that way so that when the Licht Fulk that are like elves appear, they'd transform into demons and slaughter the rest of the Licht Fulk, feeding off them and gaining power for when it was time for them to exit the dungeon."
"Dark."
"Indeed."
"Susie?" Davi looked toward the raven-haired girl. "Is all of this true?"
Susie nodded. "Yeah. My lie detection trait isn't going off. I can't say that everything she says is actually correct, but I can tell you, she believes what she is saying. I think we should still try to figure out more before we do anything rash."
"I agree." Davi glanced back at the sun. "My biggest worry is if I break Himvel's machine, it could free the sealed thing inside."
"Demons were one of the biggest threats in the world," Sera muttered. "They were so powerful, Haru had to lock them all away into the realm known as hell. They can control curses and weave tales of tragic ends through fate with a mere glance. If something like that is in the machine, it would be bad to let it out."
"At the same time," Max began. "We're worse off if multiple Licht Fulk transform into demons. Even one is bad, but an army of them? Without Haru, the world might very well be doomed."
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," Davi stated. "I honestly don't know if I could beat a demon. I doubt it." He rubbed his chin. "Then again, I guess I wouldn't have to beat it."
"What?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about it. Just know that I have a plan."
"So will you help?" Ever asked, finally sounding hopeful.
"I won't promise anything right now." Davi tried his best to put on his best leader voice and show that he was in control of the situation. "I need to talk with my captain and the others. They have to know about this, and we'll try to figure out where we go from there. You should come back with us also. My captain needs to hear everything you told me."
Ever smiled. "Yeah! That should work-"
"Row Liquid Spear."
Ever felt pain as Davi suddenly slammed his hand into her stomach and shoved her out of the way just in time for a bolt of compressed water to ram into his side. Davi winced as it tore right through him, and he gritted his teeth. "Row Shadow Vault." He swung Storymaker up, blocking a second spear, this one made of oil, which ignited the instant it touched his blade.
Susie jumped off the lid of the trash can, and three golden orbs appeared around her while Max entered a boxing stance, his eyes narrowing. Sera was the only Squire who didn't. Instead, her face paled, her shaking body grew far worse, and her legs gave out as she collapsed to the ground, her teeth chattering.
"Y-You!" She managed to scream out. "W-Why are you here!"
Standing at the entrance to Ever's barrier, a monster faced them. He had the body of a man, but his flesh was covered in green scales and slime. His head was that of a horse, and his lips were torn back, showing bleeding gums.
Rage's eyes were focused on both Davi and Susie. "I smelled you." His snout twitched, and his foot began to tap up and down. "Seven. Two of the seven stand before me." His fingers twitched and twisted, and he began to claw at his own scaly form. "I killed my number, but it wasn't enough. Adam promised it would be, but it wasn't. I want more. More, more, more, more! I rage for more! More blood, more gore, more bones, more carnage. I want to cut loose and rage out. Bloom and the Lord of Threads aren't here. I found you both first, and that means I can kill you both myself." The floor began to crack as his foot tapping got faster and harder. "I'll kill all the seven and use your power to flood this world! I'll bring back my lost paradise! A paradise of rage! Vil Liquid Slicer!"
The moisture in the air swirled and grew, becoming a twisted blade that started to tear through the alleyway! Susie slammed her hands out and unleashed her golden orbs, which flew forward and exploded, destroying the blades. As soon as she did that, Davi charged forward, his armor forming around him.
He got ready to cleave into Rage, but before he could even swing his blade, he was forced to dodge when a figure appeared in front of the horse monster and slashed out at him with a clawed hand.
"Remember me!" A woman in robes laughed, her fox tail swishing back and forth, and jagged claws stabbed out of her fingertips: Huli, a kitsune who could sneak up on anyone.
"You're that kitsune?" Davi winced.
"That's not all!" On the other end of the alleyway, behind them, Farkiss, a lung who was a master of fire magic, appeared and puffed out his cheeks.
"Dodge!" Davi yelled.
Max managed to grab the downed Sera and Ever, then leaped into the air as Farkiss unleashed a blast of fire that scorched the alleyway! Susie made it to Davi's side just in time to form a massive golden orb behind her, which worked as a barrier keeping them both safe, but the heat still washed over them.
Farkiss's attack died down, and he puffed up, about to blast again, but Max came crashing down with a drop kick directly onto the man's head, hitting him so hard the alleyway shook! At the same time, Susie twisted herself around Davi and slammed her hand into Huli's gut, hitting her point-blank with a mini golden orb that blew a hole through the fox lady!
Rage growled, and with a single swipe, he smacked both Susie and Huli out of the way and threw a punch at Davi, who dodged it and swiped up with his blade, spilling Rage's blood. That only made the horseman smile more. "Vil Liquid Detonation!" The blood glowed and erupted in a mighty explosion! Davi's armor withstood most of it, but he was forced back when Rage sucker punched him hard enough to shatter his helm. "Vil Liquid Detonation!"
Davi's eyes glowed, and then everything went dark as the moisture that coated them blew up! He screamed in agony as fire filled his eyeholes and he thrashed around blind.
"Vil Liquid Freeze!"
Suddenly, all the sweat, blood, and spit in his mouth froze, and Davi was hit with a wave of chill. The blood that filled his destroyed eyes twisted into jagged shards of ice that tore into his skin, and he was unable to react as Rage smashed another punch directly into his face, nearly breaking his neck.
This wasn't like with Adam or the Lord of Threads. Those two clearly had some sort of rule that they were following. They mentioned an order and a number for who died and when. Rage didn't care about that. He was fighting to kill. The rules were of no concern to him.
Over with Max, he wasn't doing much better. Ever had been knocked by Davi's slap, and Sera was on the verge of having a panic attack. He managed to place them both on the ground and tried fighting Farkiss in a hand-to-hand battle, but the lung was faster and stronger than him. Every punch he landed on the monster was deflected by Farkiss's mana.
Farkiss, on the other hand, had no issue leaving massive amounts of damage on the Squire. No mana coated Max, and he didn't use any to defend himself either. One punch from Farkiss shattered most of his ribs and made him wheeze and drop to his knees. Farkiss ended the battle with a single punch to the chest, sending Max flying back.
Susie dodged out of the way of his flying body, then cried out when she was cut by Huli's claws. The kitsune laughed, and her body glowed. Then, suddenly, there were two of her as she split apart. The two Huli's both smirked at Susie and charged, dodging out of the way of her orbs and cutting into her faster and faster with their claws until she was a bloody mess. She then picked Max up and swung him like a weapon, smashing him into Susie and sending the both of them crashing next to the downed Sera and Ever.
All that was left was Davi. He wiped his eyes, blinking away shards of ice and blood as his vision blurred. Rage's grin only grew brighter, and he threw another strike out, but Davi dodged to the side and impaled the horseman. That only caused him to get hurt, though, as Rage once again blew his own blood up! Again and again, the monster would detonate anytime he was harmed, pushing Davi further and further back.
Davi blocked another strike and allowed himself to calm down. The blue aura around him stilled, and he breathed in. "I guess this is as good a time as ever."
"Die!" Rage swung again, but before the strike could land, a blinding white glow appeared around Davi and cleaved right through Rage's arm, ripping it apart. Then in another instant, he dodged away, avoiding the blast. Rage winced as his flesh mended and started to heal, the blood flowing back in. "Sit still."
"I'm good." Davi gave him a cold look and suddenly created one of his white orbs, smacking it with his blade and sending it to the monster. Farkiss intercepted the attack and blew a wave of fire at it, blocking it while the two Huli's charged at Davi and tried to rip him apart.
"That's enough!" Huli froze, as did Farkiss, and even Rage hesitated. Davi wiped away the last of his blood and looked toward the entrance where High now was.
Rage's eyes narrowed when he saw the cloaked man. "You're still alive?"
"Oh? Sea God? I thought you were dead?" High also sounded surprised. "Don't tell me you're trying to rebuild your lost kingdom. And what's with that new form? You're pretty fucking ugly now."
"I will have my world returned." More blood flowed from Rage's gums. "Everyone will know the depths of the void!"
"Yeah, yeah." High waved the weird man off and then suddenly flickered and appeared in front of Davi and the others. He held up a piece of chalk. "That's gonna have to wait. You being here throws a wrench into my plans, but maybe we can work something out. See you later, horse face!"
"Row Liquid Spear-"
A circle appeared around High and the others, and it glowed with a bright white energy before the spear could reach them. The group vanished, leaving Rage and the other monsters behind in the alleyway. He howled, and the barrier behind him cracked. Suddenly, he could sense the outside world, and they could sense him. Rage glared at the entrance, feeling a strong wave of energy as someone rapidly approached.
Laerton used a Mana Step and appeared in front of the alleyway, ready for combat, but stopped and let out a sigh of relief. "There you four are. I was worried when I stopped being able to sense you."
"Sorry?" Max let out a laugh and waved at the woman. "Did we worry you?"
"A little bit," Laerton huffed.
"Our bad." Susie nodded.
"Yeah, we're sorry." Sera agreed.
"Why don't we head back?" Davi suggested.
Davi, Max, Susie, and Sera all stood in the places where the monsters had been, all looking perfectly calm and collected with not a scratch on them.
Laerton eyed them up for a second and then turned away. "Yeah. Let's head back." She was followed by the others. All but Davi. "You coming?"
"Yeah." Davi nodded, then glanced back at the faded mark of chalk where High had taken his targets. Unseen by Laerton, his lips quivered, and blood gushed from his gums.
Rage and his group had successfully impersonated Davi and the others.
Meanwhile, near the middle of Enforcer City, the castle of the royal family resided. In a very fancy-looking room, the queen of the Licht-Fulk sat up.
"Ah. It seems he has arrived. Good." She smiled. "Rage was it? Yes. At last. We can start making moves. The true games are about to begin."