With the Intent to Kill
After riding in silence for nearly half a day, we finally spotted the colossal monstrosity towering in the heart of the wasteland.
"So that is the Predator Root... I reviewed the reports, but it is far more enormous than I imagined."
"It wasn't originally that big. It's grown to about twice its normal size."
"You mean the Demon King made it that way? A Demon King indeed."
"...Damn it. I knew I shouldn't have tagged along."
Listening to Muriel, Rebecca, and Cacciola each offer their commentary on the field boss, I scanned our surroundings. If we had spotted the boss, there was no chance the Demon King hadn't spotted us.
"!?"
"Wh-what... is... th-this...!?"
"Whaa...aat...!?"
The very moment the thought crossed my mind, time fractured.
Saying time "fractured" might sound absurd, but there was no other way to describe it.
Swish, rustle, whooosh.
The winds sweeping across the wasteland split into localized sectors, each bound to a different current of time, producing bizarre, conflicting drafts. Billowing plumes of sand and dust clumped together like dense boulders under accelerated flows, scattered like buckshot under decelerated ones, or whirled erratically along mangled drafts. Sparse weeds poking through the dirt withered to husks in an eyeblink or shot upright with sudden, verdant life.
"Ugh...!"
Beneath us, the horses' legs suddenly began pumping twice as fast.
"U-uuugh..."
"Aaah... aa..."
By contrast, our bodies slowed to a crawl. Merely shifting my gaze from left to right demanded an agonizing eternity.
Thump... thump...
Once every three seconds.
Once every ten seconds.
Once every full minute.
Before the dread of my elongating heartbeat could truly settle in, the fractured timeline shattered into even finer shards.
An arm would move at normal speed while the fingers lagged behind in bizarre slowness. My right eye was swept up in a fast-forward torrent of time, while my left sank into sluggish deceleration. With hundreds of disjointed temporal currents coursing through my body at once, my brain overloaded, short-circuiting under the sheer volume of contradictory sensory input.
"Kh... ugh...!?"
Monstrous vertigo flipped my vision upside down, and an intense ringing bored into my skull like an awl. But that wasn't the end of it. Next, the surrounding space began to warp violently.
Like heat haze mashed together and scattered anew, or as if the entire wasteland had been crudely pixelated, space blurred in sporadic patches before tearing open to expose its raw innards.
A deep, abyssal void.
The terrifying unknown that triggered primal dread.
"...!!"
The shock of witnessing things mortal eyes were never meant to behold overwhelmed my already straining mind, threatening to melt my thoughts into mush.
Right then.
—Found you.
Amid the sensory chaos where sight and hearing had lost all meaning, a woman possessing an unnervingly clear, distinct silhouette slowly materialized. It was a bizarre sight, as though her body were being woven out of thin air, sprouting from the earth, and descending from the heavens all at once.
Standing before us, the woman curled the corners of her lips into a wide smirk and spread her arms in welcome. At that exact moment, the disjointed currents of spacetime that had crawled over our flesh like swarming vermin snapped back to normal.
"Haaah!? Cough, hack!"
"Haa! Haa! Haa!"
"Kh-agh! Heuuugh...!"
"Kyaaah...! Gasp! Haa! Damn it...!"
Unable to handle the violent transition, we gasped for breath, drenched in cold sweat. Muscles twitched as if our skin were caught in a tug-of-war pulling in opposite directions. My hands and feet trembled, and my heart hammered wildly against my ribs. Nausea surged from the world-spinning vertigo, twisting my stomach tight enough to stick to my spine.
"Haa, haa... L-Lord Aljen. Please calm yourself and breathe slowly. Your body is unharmed."
I felt Muriel's gentle hand rubbing my back. The soothing warmth passing through my clothes miraculously expedited my recovery.
"Khh, haah, haaaah..."
Panting heavily as I steadied myself, I narrowed my eyes and glared at the unfamiliar woman before us—the Demon King Rubias.
The vertical, beast-like slits of her pupils radiated immense pressure, but I didn't avert my gaze. From this point on, I had to pour my soul into putting on an act. Just as I had bought time by spouting nonsense to Deacon back at the Duke's Castle, I had to stall here as well.
"What a dogshit entrance. Did you really have to pop up like that?"
"Heheh. Well, I am a Demon King. Shouldn't I maintain a certain level of dignity and intimidation? Besides, why make such a fuss over this? Didn't you claim we were in a relationship where we tried to kill each other? Then you should be used to it."
Her tone wasn't bizarrely hyperactive or gloomy; it was surprisingly ordinary. It sounded relaxed and familiar, almost as if she were accommodating us.
"Ha... Fair enough. Guess I should be grateful you didn't fling a Spatial Cleave my way."
"Fufu, fufufu... To even know my techniques... You grow more curious by the second. Were you truly my friend?"
"What, you didn't believe me?"
"Of course not. Who on earth would believe such nonsense? I merely came out of curiosity to see what kind of fellow managed to unravel my curse. Yet to think a mere human would claim to be my friend..."
"Then why did you agree to meet?"
"Because your very existence is an impossibility to me! In all my vision spanning past and future, you never existed!"
Her excitement flared in an instant, her eyes locking onto me like a predator stalking its prey. Only then was I able to take her in from head to toe.
She hadn't taken the mortal form she used for her little games; she was displaying her true visage as a Demon King. The first thing that caught my eye was a pair of towering, spiral horns. Their sweeping curves drew such an exquisite line that an air of noble intimidation and elevated majesty radiated from them, keeping my eyes glued to her crown.
Drifting downward from the horns, my gaze met a cascade of jet-black hair flowing like a dark river, framing a face so breathtaking, alluring, and sensual it felt sculpted by the gods. Despite inhuman traits like her slit predator pupils, long pointed ears, and sharp shark-like teeth, her beauty was more than enough to leave anyone spellbound.
Her clear, deep eyes framed by long, dense eyelashes, a high nose, and plump lips... Her entire countenance was steeped in thick boredom and ennui, yet that very lethargy cultivated a decadent glamour that drove people wild. Add to that a slender, voluptuous hourglass figure draped in a thin, revealing dress, and she was an overwhelming presence.
"Hmm..."
Seeing her in the flesh was infinitely more overpowering than looking at 2D illustrations on a game screen. I'd felt something similar with Rebecca and Cacciola, but with Rubias, the sheer disconnect from reality was on another level.
...Come to think of it, all the Demon Kings possessed such absurd beauty that players of Origin World constantly voiced their grievances. The official forums and community boards had caught fire multiple times over why the developers wouldn't let players romance the Demon Kings and high demons.
"...Unfortunately, I can't be your eternal amusement and plaything."
Striding forward, I met her gaze at point-blank range. Being quite tall herself, her eye level aligned almost perfectly with mine. Hearing my words, her eyes widened slightly before her red lips curved upward in an intoxicating smile, as if she couldn't contain her delight.
"Ha, hahaha...! You hit the nail right on the head! To understand my psyche so intimately! I truly cannot believe this!"
"I get your excitement, but stop yelling into my ears. Calm down. Every time you show emotion, your aura bleeds out and gives me a headache."
Gulp!
Downing a swig of liquor to dull the throb in my skull, I casually reached out and patted her shoulder. Pat, pat.
"Hmm?"
She stared at the shoulder I had touched with a strange expression, then brushed her fingers over the spot a few times.
"...No one has ever touched my body so lightly. Stanashila Aljen. Do you realize the magnitude of what you just did?"
"Haha. Why make a big deal out of that? I've killed you before."
Shrugging with a brazen grin, I gestured toward Muriel, who stood stiff as a board with extreme tension. Keeping a wary eye on the Demon King, she handed over the fruit basket I had purchased beforehand.
"What are those creatures?"
"Ah, my escorts."
"Escorts? Did you honestly think mere humans like that could stop me?"
"Nope. But what can I do? They insisted on coming no matter how much I told them not to."
"Hmm... Loyal subordinates, then. Yet your tone sounds as though you wouldn't care if they died?"
Flicking her tongue past her sharp teeth, she eyed Muriel, Rebecca, and Cacciola with mischievous malice.
"Cut it out, punk."
Knowing she might swat any of the three like flies if left unchecked, I gave her forehead a firm shove. Fine creases instantly pinched between her brows.
"...Aren't you being far too insolent, Stanashila Aljen? Do you think I won't kill you simply because you hold all my interest?"
As she began to subtly unfurl her terrifying presence, I met her gaze and let out a smirk.
"Kill me? Go ahead. If I were scared of dying, I wouldn't have shown up in front of you in the first place."
I casually held out the fruit basket.
"You certainly have an excess of foolish bravado. In any case, what is this...?"
"Didn't read the future, did you? It's a gift. We're friends, after all; the least I could do is bring something."
"Ha, haha... Hahahaha!"
Laughing as if dumbfounded, she took the basket and glared at me.
"Are you offering a tribute to win my favor? If so, I must say I'm rather disappointed."
"Sorry to disappoint, but no. Win favor between enemies who try to kill each other? Hardly. I just wanted to see an odd spectacle for old time's sake."
"...?"
Though it was never implemented in the game, the setting books described in detail what fruits she preferred and how she consumed them. Since I needed to achieve my objective anyway, I figured I might as well see it with my own eyes. Reading about it and witnessing it in person were worlds apart.
"Here, you love bananas. Go on, eat it. I brought an unripe one on purpose."
When I handed her a completely green banana devoid of any yellow, she accepted it with a suspicious look.
"...You even know how I eat them? How on earth...?"
"Haha, does it matter? You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway."
"......"
Plucking a banana from the bunch, I peeled it and took a bite right in front of her.
"...Pleh, way too unripe. It's downright astringent."
"Haha, what an absurd sight... You are the very first human to peel and eat a banana in front of a Demon King."
"I'm honored."
"Fascinating... Though you clearly have no appreciation for taste. One must savor every stage slowly."
Peeling her green banana, she took a bite.
Crunch, crunch.
Her jaw worked with a loud, coarse crunch that made the tough, unripe texture plainly audible. But the real show started now.
"Oh... As expected."
By the time she took her second bite, the banana was noticeably riper. It must have developed a softer texture and a sweeter flavor. With every bite she took, the banana ripened before our eyes, until by her final bite, it had turned overly ripe, soft and mushy.
"Mmm, sweet. Exquisite quality."
Finishing the last bite cleanly, Rubias tossed the blackened peel behind her.
"Heh... Hahaha! Man, what a show. Using an authority like that is something else."
"Hmm, I fail to grasp your motive. Did you wish to observe my authority? To gauge my power within the Divine Realm? If so, what is your assessment? Think you can kill me?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? I was just watching. Watching you make a clown of yourself."
"...What?"
"Eating what a human feeds you and doing tricks—it was quite entertaining. Not even an Emperor could buy a performance like that. Heh... Ah, should I pay for the show?"
Ting!
I flicked a gold coin from my pouch with my thumb. Spinning through the air, the coin struck her horn with a crisp chime before dropping to the ground.
Rubias stared blankly down at the fallen coin, then slowly turned her head toward me.
Twitch, twitch.
The corners of her mouth convulsed into a twisted grimace.
"...Ha, haha... I ask only because I cannot comprehend what is happening... Is this crude, frivolous circus act... an attempt to provoke me?"
"Who knows? What do you think?"
The moment a mocking grin spread across my face, every trace of expression vanished from hers.
"...In all my existence, I have never felt such rage boiling within me."
"Congrats. Your first time, huh? Enjoying it?"
"It is novel, certainly. But I doubt I can control my temper... I shall make sure not to kill you."
Kzzzzzt!
"Lord Aljen!"
"Damn it!"
"Hyaaaah!"
Sensing the spacetime warping violently around us, Muriel, Rebecca, and Cacciola moved to charge forward, but I raised my left hand to hold them back.
"I'd prefer it if you came at me with the intent to kill, Rubias. And if you won't do it willingly, I'll make you."
In that split second, the Absolute Ring of Taunt flared with a sinister crimson light, its malice sinking straight into Rubias.
"...!?"
Her face warped into pure shock and bewilderment.
CRASH!
The very next instant, a cataclysmic strike that shattered space itself descended upon me before anyone could even react.