Nightmares of the Past

"Urgh..."

I grumbled as I slowly opened my eyes.

'What a strange dream... Whatever.'

I quickly put the dream out of mind and forced myself to sit up, despite the complaints from my aching headache. I can't let some silly dream distract me. I have an audience with Atofe today. That's right; I was in Fort Necross.

I conjured a cup and filled it with water.

*Gulp, Gulp*

Hopefully getting hydrated will help rid me of this headache.

"I see you're awake", Moore called out to me from outside the cell door.

Fort Necross was hardly a hospitable place for guests. When I arrived yesterday, Atofe's guard told me she was expected back tomorrow. When I asked If I could spend the night here, they offered for me to spend the night in their prisons. Maybe they still held a grudge over what happened last time we met?

"I just hope Atofe arrives back today. I've come to learn that the Immortal Demon Kings have a terrible sense of time."

"Don't you worry", Moore answered with a smirk. "Atofe is already here. She made sure to hurry back when she heard that you were here.

"I'm honored that she would remember the likes of me."

"True, she's not known for her memory", Moore admitted. "But you left quite the impression on her."

"Let's get this over with", I said as I used gravity magic to fling the cell door open and walked out. "Is Atofe ready to see me?"

"Follow me..."

Moore guided me to Fort Necross' audience chamber... well it was more of a courtyard really; no ceiling and open to the air. Two pillars stood in the center of the courtyard and were engraved with images of ancient demons. Between them was a large staircase which led up to a large platform. The platform was decorated with candles burning with purple flame, dotting its perimeter. A soldier in jet-black armor was stationed at each corner of the platform, standing at attention. The sun's rays barely peeked over the walls of the fortress, lighting only the side where I stood, leaving the platform lit only by the purple flames of the candles.

At the very back of the platform was a menacingly decorated throne of stone. Upon it sat none other than Demon King Atofe, her legs crossed and her cheek resting on her right hand, as though she were bored.

"Lady Atofe, may I present to you... Rudeus Greyrat", Moore announced by my side before taking his place next to Atofe.

A vicious grin spread across Atofe's face.

"I commend your bravery... coming here... after that- After you and Perugius! After that trap you set for me! You just stroll on in here! Did you come looking for a fight!?"

"No, nothing like that", I answered calmly. "I have a couple questions for you."

"Questions!? You came here with questions!?"

"Yes. Tell me, have you ever heard of Hitogami?"

For just a moment, Atofe paused, as if to think.

"The name sounds familiar... but it doesn't matter. I won't be telling you anything", she said as her vicious smile returned. "I hate talking. Nothing you humans say ever makes any sense."

"Ugh...", I sighed. "Very well. I suppose I'll have to make you talk."

Atofe's grin spread even wider. She stood up from her chair and picked up her greatsword which had been resting against it.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

I reached out my hand and fired an [Electric] spell at her.

"Hahahah!", she laughed maniacally as she weaved out of the path of the spell, literally dodging lighting. "You think the same trick will work against me for a third time? I'm smarter than that!"

She ran along the side of the castle wall, defying gravity, charging straight towards me.

"I guess I'll have to try something new then", I mused.

I poured as much mana as possible into my next spell as I unleashed my Gravity magic upon Atofe. She fell down from the wall and crashed into the ground, the stone floor cracking beneath her. The force of the gravity was such that she couldn't even manage to speak or move an arm. She was pinned helplessly to the ground.

"Not so tough now, are you", I mocked as I picked up her sword, albeit with a bit of a struggle. And then tossed it behind me.

'It's a lot heavier than I expected'

"Veil of fog, arise - [Deep Mist!]"

Suddenly a dense fog spread throughout the courtyard.

'It must be Moore! I thought Atofe's guard wouldn't intervene unless she gave the command!'

I quickly countered with a [Wind Blast] spell, blowing away the fog with ease.

"Surge, molten fury! [Magma Gush]!"

Before I had time to survey my surroundings, Moore had already cast his second spell. A stream of molten lava burst from his hand straight towards me.

[Water Cannon!]

I reeled back in surprise and shot forth a [Water Cannon] spell at the incoming lava. Huge amounts of steam erupted from the collision and quickly filled the courtyard, obscuring our vision once again.

"Graaaaa!", Atofe howled in fury!

'Oh no! I was so surprised by Moore's spell that I stopped concentrating on holding down Atofe!'

*CLANG!*

A deafening strike echoed through the courtyard, originating from just beside me.

[Wind Blast]

Once again, I cast the [Wind Blast] spell to blow away the steam obscuring my vision. To say I was surprised by what I saw was an understatement.

Eris lay on the ground right beside me, Atofe yanked her sword free from her side.

'What? What just happened? Did Eris just take an attack that was meant for me?'

"Grr...!"

Atofe's face contorted and flushed red as she looked angrier than ever.

"HOW DARE YOU BETRAY ME!", she roared.

Eris grabbed her side and struggled to her feet. She was bleeding and breathing heavily, but it looked like it wasn't a mortal wound. On closer inspection I saw stone debris embedded into the wound. I looked down and saw the remains of some sort of Earth magic on the ground between us.

'Did someone intervene and dampen the attack by using some sort of Earth magic to absorb the impact?'

I reached down to her side and immediately cast [X-Healing] on her wound. The flesh knitted itself back together and her broken ribs moved back into place.

'Wait... was I always able to cast healing magic without incantations..?'

The thought crept into the back of my mind, but this wasn't the time for idle thoughts. Atofe was still roaring mad and now her entire guard was against us.

"Graaaa!"

She let out another battle roar as she charged at... one of her soldiers?

*CRACK*

Her sword struck against a pillar of solid ice that suddenly shot up from the ground. The pillar shattered instantly and her sword struck its target. The soldier was sent flying across the room, landing on the ground right at our feet. Their helmet rolled across the floor, cracked down the middle.

The pillar of ice must have slowed Atofe's attack just enough to allow the soldier to survive. Sylphy struggled to her feet, taking her place beside Eris and I. Her beautiful green hair stained red with blood after that attack.

"Sylphy! Are you alright!? What are you doing here!?"

She turned and smiled.

'Wait, why is Sylphy's hair green? Didn't it turn white? Wait... Why is she here at all... didn't she... die?'

"Agh!!"

I clutched my head in agony as an intense pain radiated from within.

'What's going on!? I don't understand!'

Atofe, her guards, the courtyard, the castle... everything began to fade away. Only one thing radiated brightly through the darkness.

"Rudy, you need to wake up", Sylphy said warmly as she leaned down and kissed me.

"Gah!"

I woke up in a daze. I looked around and saw that I was in an unfamiliar room with no exit. The only furniture of note were three chairs, one of which I was sitting in. The other two chairs were occupied by Sylphiette and a Blue Slime.

"It's a pleasure to meet you", the slime somehow spoke. "I am Abyssal King Vita."