The Multi-Armed Horror of Death's Fog
Something began to slowly reveal itself from within the fog of the Land of Death. At first, it looked like just a shadow in the darkness, but its outline gradually sharpened.
"Ugh..."
Levy let out a small groan. Her hand unconsciously gripped her bow, her knuckles turning white from the force.
The being that appeared before us was a monstrosity beyond imagination. A tattered black robe draped over its body, but from within, countless arms writhed and twisted. It was impossible to tell exactly how many there were—they seemed to shift in number as they moved inside the robe. Its face was shrouded in a deep hood, with only two red points glowing wickedly from the shadows. Every time it opened its mouth, black mist leaked out, carrying a rotten stench mixed with an oddly sweet aroma.
"A demon..."
I murmured without thinking. The memory of that encounter with Ricoris flashed vividly in my mind. The apostle of Abraksas... I could almost feel that overwhelming presence again.
The demon tilted its head slightly.
"Oh ho? A human who's seen a demon before. How intriguing."
A deep, viscous voice echoed, like sinking into a bottomless swamp.
"...I've seen a demon called the apostle of Abraksas. Are you one as well?"
The demon extended even more arms from beneath its robe. Each hand had a different number of fingers and form. Some resembled human hands, while others bore sharp blades. One looked like a webbed fin, and another mimicked a bird's talon.
"Abraksas? You mean that vain evil god?"
A hint of mockery laced its voice.
"Some humans believe in gods, some deny them, and others follow evil gods, don't they? Demons are no different. We're not all cut from the same cloth."
There was truth in its words. This demon's aura was definitely different from the one I'd met with Ricoris. It seemed demons had their own factions and beliefs.
"Then you are..."
"I serve Lord Ivolg, ruler of the Great Labyrinth of Death. I live only for her."
The demon's voice suddenly turned fervent. A wave of fanatic worship crashed over me, like from a zealot. The intensity made me step back involuntarily.
Ivolg. A name I'd never heard before. Likely the master of this Great Labyrinth in the Land of Death.
"What is your purpose? Why harm us?"
"Lord Ivolg has a craving for human flesh after so long. That's why I lured you here."
It was a shocking revelation. So this demon had manipulated the coachman to draw us into this place. Turning an innocent man into that horrific state...
Rage boiled up, but I suppressed it. Reason had to come before emotion now.
"In that case..."
Suddenly, the demon assumed a battle stance. Countless hands emerged from the robe, each wielding a different magical tool. One held a wooden staff, another a crystal orb, and yet another clutched something made from human bone. Dark mana flowed from every tool, drying the air and withering the surrounding plants.
"That's enough talk. Now die quietly."
I reacted instantly, raising my staff and chanting.
"Lightning Chain!"
Lightning tore through the air toward the demon. But it casually lifted one hand, forming a black barrier that nullified my spell effortlessly.
Damn... the power gap is too wide.
"You thought that could harm me?"
The demon sneered. Then Levy nocked an arrow.
"I've got your back!"
The arrow glowed with a holy light of red and gold intertwined—the blessing of Michael that Ricoris had bestowed.
"Holy power...?"
The demon eyed the light warily. But in that instant, the holy glow on the arrow faded away. Both the red and gold lights vanished, leaving a plain arrow.
"Wha...?"
Levy stared at it in confusion, her face draining of color.
"Hahaha! Your god has abandoned you! Think you can fight me with that pathetic thing?"
The demon laughed uproariously, its caution gone, replaced by arrogance. Still, Levy loosed the arrow. The black barrier blocked it easily.
But why had the holy power suddenly vanished? It didn't seem like the demon's doing. Had something happened to Ricoris?
"Foolish humans."
The demon sneered further and began drawing a complex magic circle with its many hands. Purple glowing runes formed in the air, and at their center, a black spear of mana materialized. The moment it hurled the spear—
Whoosh!
Lote shot in front of us at blinding speed, using its levitation to move faster than I'd ever seen. The black spear collided squarely with the rapidly approaching Lote.
Boom!
Lote blocked the spear with its tiny body. A massive explosion rang out, but when the smoke cleared, Lote floated unscathed.
"Wh-what? It took my spear... and it's fine?!"
In that moment, the demon's red eyes fixed on me. A throbbing pain pierced my head, like needles stabbing my brain. My vision blurred, consciousness fading.
Mental attack...!
The demon had begun its mind control. That was what had afflicted the coachman. I felt my awareness slipping away.
No... I have to hold on...
Then flames filled my vision.
Bang!
A massive blast and searing heat surged forth.
"Gaaahhh!"
The demon's scream echoed. Cecilia had flown in, unleashing a torrent of fierce flames that incinerated the black barrier in an instant. The mental attack broke, and my senses returned.
I blinked to clear my eyes and assessed the situation.
"Liandel! Are you okay?"
Levy asked worriedly.
"Yes... I'm fine."
I managed to reply. Fortunately, I'd escaped the mental assault quickly.
At the same time, Glessia sprang into action. Gone was her usual laziness; she dove in aggressively, firing her ice stinger in rapid succession.
"Guh!"
The icy venom pierced the demon's robe. Black mist leaked out as its body began to freeze.
"Now!"
Levy shouted, nocking another arrow and unleashing a volley. Without the barrier, several struck true.
I didn't miss the opening, raising my staff.
"Electro Spear!"
With Cecilia's flames and Glessia's ice tormenting the demon, Levy's arrows and my magic formed a devastating combo attack.
The demon desperately counterattacked, hurling dark spells from its hands, but Lote blocked them all. Cecilia intensified her blaze, setting the robe ablaze and burning the arms. Glessia's stingers embedded everywhere.
The bugs' teamwork was flawless, like a veteran knight order with decades of experience.
The demon's body was a wreck—burns and frostbite mingled on its arms, the robe charred and frozen solid.
"W-wait! Mercy... spare me! I'll let you go!"
Its voice changed completely, arrogance replaced by pleading screams. But Cecilia and Glessia didn't stop. Flames and ice continued to ravage it.
"Ughhhh... please! Lord Ivolg! Save me!"
The demon crawled pathetically, but its ruined body wouldn't obey. Finally, Lote charged.
Splat!
Lote pierced straight through, destroying what seemed to be its life core.
"Impossible..."
The demon's body crumbled to dust. Only the black robe fluttered away on the wind.
"Haa..."
I let out a small sigh. It had ended more anticlimactically than expected. Levy scanned awkwardly around, exhaling softly too.
"Cecilia... Glessia... Lote..."
The battle had been easy, but the bugs had saved us. Without them, we'd be dead for sure.
To think Ricoris's bugs were this strong...
Compared to Abraksas's apostle, this demon seemed much weaker. But I'd underestimated the bugs' power.
Flutter flutter. Bob bob. Buzz buzz!
The bugs suddenly buzzed with excitement. Glessia especially seemed thrilled, zipping around energetically, her laziness forgotten. They all stared in one direction—like they'd sensed something.
Deep into the Land of Death... toward what must be the Great Labyrinth.
"Where are they headed...?"
I muttered, and Cecilia flew right up to me. She flapped insistently, gesturing at me, then Levy, then far ahead.
"You want us to follow...?"
Cecilia flapped even harder.
"Sorry, but we can't leave the coachman."
I was still worried about him. The demon was dead, so the mind control should be lifted, but the aftereffects might linger.
Cecilia tilted her tiny head, pondering, then zipped to the carriage. Moments later, a massive wall of flames encircled it. But the fire felt warm, not harmful—more like a healing embrace.
Soon, the coachman groaned, stirring back to consciousness.
Flutter flutter!
Cecilia returned, flapping emphatically. This time, it was unmistakably "follow us now."
Levy looked at me.
"Liandel... what should we do?"
"Hmm..."
The bugs had clearly sensed something vital. And after seeing their prowess, they could protect us easily. But a Great Labyrinth...
"No way... they don't plan to conquer it, do they...?"
Levy's face paled at my mutter.
"The Great Labyrinth...? Ricoris hasn't come back yet, and we're supposed to go in...?"
Buzz!
"Oof!"
Glessia lightly headbutted me—not light at all for me. Her glare screamed "hurry up."
"Looks like we don't have a choice."
"Yeah..."
In the end, we followed the bugs deeper into the Land of Death.