Chapter 41 "Death King"

Chapter 41
Death King

Logy and Thorn have been standing outside the cavern for a while. The Dark Team is taking a pretty long time but their presences are getting further and further.

Thorn is bored. And he even knows himself that being bored means trouble for him. He needs to talk or do something before he gets in trouble for sure. He says to Logy, “Hey.”

Logy doesn’t acknowledge him at first. Thorn wonders if he didn’t hear him at first or is just distracted by something.

“Yoooo.” Thorn moves over and waves his hand in front of Logy this time.

“Hi.” Logy finally notices Thorn waving his red-skinned hand. “What’s up?”

Thorn cannot help but admire Logy’s confidence. He wonders if Logy was always like that. He takes in his physical features and outfit. Messy (like he recently got out of bed) brown hair and hazel eyes. Seems to be tall but it can also be because of his ridiculously long legs since Knapp is just a couple of inches taller. Maybe that’s why he was good at soccer. A little worn out black jacket with ‘F’ on both sides of upper sleeves, white tank-top, black pants with white belt, black gloves without tips, black combat boots, and white bandana with 5U wrapped neatly around his neck. He looks like a motorcyclist rather than a fighter. Does he ride one?

“Thorn?” Logy cannot help but feel a small smirk on his own face when he reads Thorn’s thoughts.

Thorn stops right in the middle of licking his lips as soon as he hears his name. “Ah, sorry! I was just thinking about what it’s like to be out there… You know… Traveling through space?”

“Well…” Logy starts to say only to realize that Thorn has never gotten off the planet ever. He remembers how it felt like to be trapped in his own home with his mother back then. Just because he stole a few medicines for his mom doesn’t mean he is a criminal… right? How long ago has it been? Two decades? So many things have happened since then, especially with the loss of his comrades. Most of the time they couldn’t be undone… 

He continues, “At first, it was really fun! But I learned so much about just how vast this universe is. I met so many people… Many good and bad ones. You never know who anyone is until you step in their footprints. If you have seen what Knapp did, you would’ve thought he was amazing. He may look cold on the outside, but he has always been warm towards the people, even if some of them are from different universes.”

Thorn takes his time processing what Logy said before he says, “The first time I’ve ever heard of aliens sneaking into our universe was the day the Universe Warrior appeared. You know… That’s when the Head Priest visited here for the first time in centuries. A few of us were there when he talked with the Death King.”

“What?” Logy asks.

“They were concerned that the Universe Warrior just existing out of blue means it’s one more step until a Savior appears.”

“Savior? Like a Messiah?”

“Honestly I’m not sure but even the word ‘Savior’ did really shake up Death King and Tenshu-sama. I was told by another demon of higher rank that the most powerful alien might have sneaked by, and none of us noticed. Someone who’s probably stronger than even Double God. Someone who is…” Thorn shakes his head. “What’s the word? Unnatural? Abnormal? Deviant?  Someone who is not supposed to be here? Anyway, yeah, so that’s when the Savior will show up.”

“And that’s why the Universe Warrior is here?” Logy rubs his chin thoughtfully only to get a shrug from Thorn. Was it the Locker? Didn’t we already beat him? Did Kawaii from the future even tell Knapp anything else? He only mentioned the Locker and then sent him back to the past. The Locker almost destroyed not only Earth but also the entire universe. What would happen if Knapp didn’t become the Universe Warrior in the first place? Was that to prevent the Savior from appearing?

“Well, I saw how powerful Knapp was last night, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” Thorn gives a light chuckle.

That’s not enough… Knapp’s strength isn’t even close to Double God’s level yet. Logy begins to worry. Kira has been growing more powerful every day. What will happen if she defeats the gods once again? Damn, we still have a long way to go.

They quickly spin around as soon as they sense a fast approaching presence heading their way. 

“Death King!” Thorn cries in panic. “What do we do?!”

Knapp-- Logy barely sends his one single message into Knapp’s head when Death King slams his feet on the rocky floor from the sky. He is even faster than I can catch…!

Death King dangerously narrows his red eyes in anger. “It’s just the two of you?”

“Yes,” Logy says without hesitation before the little demon can answer.

“L-Logy,” Thorn stutters in fear. 

“Who the hell are you?” Death King asks as he withdraws his sword from his scabbard linked to his thick belt. A sudden roaring burst of red energy appears surrounding him.

Logy flashes a big grin on his face. “Just a deaf warrior who serves the universe.”

“You’re with the Universe Warrior? Where is he? You have two seconds to answer,” Death King says impatiently.

“I’m so sorry…” Logy scratches the back of his head. He asks politely, “Can you please repeat? I’m deaf so I didn’t hear you at first--”

He barely has time to dodge from the sudden sword attack. He did not even see him moving at all. He has no choice but to turn on his mind energy, making his eyes glow in lime green color. Normally he uses it to predict his enemies’ next moves. 

Except this time he can’t get a single thought from Death King at all. 

“Ha, I’m the fucking Death King! You think you, a mortal, can invade my head just like that?” Death King has moved closer to him already. He thrusts his sword towards Logy’s chest, about to pierce cleanly--

Only to miss him. Logy has vanished from his sight.

Death King raises an eyebrow in a brief confusion. He relaxes his posture as he turns towards where Logy has moved to… He scoffs at himself because he realizes that the deaf warrior did not move. “Not only do you have the power of mind but also the power of teleportation?”

Logy stumbles and falls back onto the floor. One second he was able to get stabbed to death and then the next he is ten feet away. Without even a movement, he has somehow evaded Death King’s second sword attack. He takes a quick look at his hand. What the hell is this power I used just now…

Death King grins widely at him. “Ah, is that your first time using it? Damn… I could have killed you and not known that you have two rarest powers in the universe! So can you kindly die so you can become one of my personal demon guards?”

“Wait, sir!” Thorn yells as he jumps in front of Logy. “It’s not his fault! I’m the one who led him here. Please… please spare him?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Thorn, the Captain of the 77th demon guard!”

Death King tilts his head a little bit in confusion.

Thorn sighs lightly. “The group you sent to protect the River of the Dead?”

“Right, right…”

“Can you please let him go? I will go to the dungeon in his place!” Thorn asks pleasingly.

“Really?” Death King grins maliciously with two large front fangs, his red eyes burning with passion making Thorn flinch. He gets in the sword attack position. “Letting him go while he has both the mind and teleportation powers? You are fucking kidding!”

Logy forcibly pulls Thorn, who yelps in surprise, with his soccer jersey out of his way as soon as Death King makes a move. Only to realize that Death King is in the perfect position to sever his head cleanly. Please, please teleport somehow!

“Well, well…” Death King chuckles. His sword attack has been blocked by another sword. Black one, to be specific. “I figured you’d be here sooner or later, but honestly I did not expect you this soon… Is this person very special to you… Eh, Universe Warrior?”

Knapp’s dark brown eyes meet Death King’s red ones. He is still holding his sword handle firmly. His wrists are already throbbing from the shock transfer from the clash of both of their swords.

Get Thorn and go! Logy receives Knapp’s thoughts. He wants to stay and fight but he knows he will not stand a chance against someone at the god level. He runs to grab Thorn’s hand. “We’re leaving!”

“Wait, what about him?” Thorn cries, his voice fading away in the distance.

“Your little boyfriend wouldn’t tell me what you’re doing on this planet… You should’ve known that no mortals are supposed to be here unless you have the death wish?” Death King leaps away from the Universe Warrior, his mischievous grin not even going away from his face.

“We have business here,” Knapp says simply. 

“With the core?” Death King jerks his head towards the cavern. He scoffs when he does not get any answer. “Well then, at least I’ll finally get the soul of the Uni--”

Knapp raises an eyebrow when Death King stops himself. It’s as if Death King is having second thoughts about taking Knapp’s life but the Universe Warrior decides to take advantage of Death King’s brief hesitation.

Knapp hastily takes off his scarf, his symbol on the back of his neck suddenly burning hot. The universe energy is being drawn into his sword from the symbol. He points his sword at the King of Death as he shouts, “Sword of the Fifth Universe!” 

Before Death King knows it, he takes a direct hit in the face. 

Universe Warrior is not done yet. As he leaps away from his opponent, he yells, “Jasper, Takakai!”

Just as he finishes calling out his attack, Death King has already moved closer to him while also being in a sword attack position. Suddenly, hundreds of thin yet sharp crystal cylinders emerge from the floor and pierce through Death King cleanly.

Knapp is panting shakily and breathlessly. He has already used up half of his universe energy, especially after possibly hundreds of miles he had to run all the way from the core to the cavern entrance just to save his comrades.

“I see…”

Universe Warrior freezes as soon as he hears Death King’s voice.

“I’m truly glad you were chosen to be the Universe Warrior if that means a Savior will not appear for a long time,” Death King chuckles lightly as the crystals begin to crumble into nothingness. His entire body is now glowing with pure red energy. “But that doesn’t mean I’m done with you!”

Savior? Before Knapp can further process the information that Death King said, he begins to feel the entire mountain starting to shake more and more violently every second.

“Elixir of Hell!”

A large, bright orb comes crashing right out of the top of the mountain, followed by a loud explosion, which sends dozens of large boulders all over the place.

I-isn’t that where the core was? Knapp thinks to himself, completely worried about what Death King’s power would be like if it were at full power.

A symbol that strongly resembles the devil's face suddenly comes off Death King’s upper arm and is floating in the air right behind himself. 

“Congratulations. You’re the first mortal to witness the King of Death like me using the power of Elixir.” Death King says as he watches the large orb shrinking smaller and smaller until it fits the palm of his hand. He gently grabs it, and immediately it explodes into pieces sticking closely to his skin. The symbol hovering behind him gets bigger in an instant, its size equal to Death King’s body.

The red energy surrounding his body is changing its form. It’s very similar to flames, very hot just like the core.

“I-is that the core?” Knapp asks a little nervously. When was the last time he was this nervous? The Elixir. I’ve heard of it but… It feels very similar to the power Gules’s sister received from their father.

“Is this your first time seeing the Elixir?” Death King’s grin widens. “You went to dozens of planets, yet you’ve never seen one?”

Oh good, this elixir is radiating with so much life. Most of the planets I went to are practically dying, and often I had to save them from destruction so I wonder why I’ve never seen one? Knapp cannot help but display a small smirk. “Thanks goodness. I’m relieved.”

“What?” Death King raises an eyebrow.

“Before I explain why we’re here…” Knapp relaxes his posture a little bit now that Death King is interested in hearing what he has to say. He jerks his thumb at the mountain, without the tip now. “Do you mind letting my friends go if I tell you everything? You have me right here if that’s who you want.”

Death King narrows his eyes. “Are you sure you want to negotiate with me?”

“Wouldn’t you want to know why we’re here? Unless you don’t, well then feel free to kill us all if you wish to. But if that happens, then I wouldn’t talk even in the afterlife. Nor would my team.”

“Damn…” The King of Hell frowns as he is thinking deeply for a minute. He finally says, “Fine. You got the deal. Talk, then.”

~*~

“Boohoohoo!” Viola is sobbing loudly.

Clear’s lightning attack has sent Viola across the rocky floor inside the dark cavern. As soon as Viola tried to get up, Johnny blew up a small orb of energy just to scare her. At the end, Jade used his gravity power to keep her down to the floor.

“Why are you crying?” Gules squats down along with a fireball hovering his palm with the sole purpose of lighting up the area. “You attacked us first, didn’t you?”

“It’s because you’re not supposed to get close to the core!” Viola cries.

“How the hell did Death King appoint you to guard the core?” Raven places her fists on her hips. “Did you exaggerate your dumb illusion power again?”

“I was recommended!”

Raven widens her yellow eyes in surprise. “By who?”

“Nekros!”

“Eeps! You better not be lying!” Raven jumps at Nekros’s name just being mentioned.

“I swear on my grave!” Viola pleads. 

“Okay, what are you both talking about? Why are you afraid of this, uhh Neko?” Clear asks.

“Nekros!” Raven exclaims in worry as she turns fast to Clear. “He used to be in the class as us at the training academy for soul cleansing over in the kingdom. He’s one of the strongest demons in Hell! He’s even one of Death King’s personal guards! Wait a damn minute… Why did he recommend you if he knew you were that weak?”

Viola shrugs her shoulders. “I got to eat all the souls I wanted. And nothing big happened for thousands of years… until you all showed up.”

“What in the he--”

All of sudden, a violent trembling causes all of them to fall, followed by loud boom ringing throughout the cavern.

“Fuck, that was loud!” Jade cries.

“Wait… Is Knapp fighting Death King outside right now?” Clear asks nervously. “Then what the hell was that just now…?”

They shiver at the sudden raise in the power level nearby.

“It’s the core!” Viola exclaims. “Death King is using the power of Elixir!”

“The life of Hell?” Gules asks only to receive a rapid nodding from the little girl demon. “Shit, I think Knapp may be in trouble!”