Chapter 216: A New Duke

Hate.

Malice.

Anger.

As the Red King laid onto the ground, wounded beyond repair, his breath being hasty and nearly making him pass out, he'd lie there, looking blankly at the sky. He could hear cheers being made on his side. He could hear his men, or at least the one's remaining, panic and run away, only to be ensnared and dragged away to ensure their punishment is due. He can't get up, not without straining his body and forcing more blood to leave out of his system. He'd close his eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to desperately see if he can push forward.

Something nudged against his bloodied hand as he tried to recall his failures. Something warm..

He briefly opened his eyes and looked, noticing it was the Monster. The Nuckelavee. It whimpered as it brushed its skinless head on the King, acting Docile for the first time. He was confused, looking at the Devil of the Sea and wondering why it behaved in this manner. He could see its claw-like hands reaching upwards, petting the King's chest, trying to nurture him as he was downed. As he lays down in the grass, a revelation came to his head. "You.....saved me....Didn't you?" The King breathed, his voice hoarse from the damage. The Nuckelavee merely cooed in response, hugging the King as it mourned. The Man couldn't help but give a small chuckle as he closed his eyes again, petting the monster as he reminisced. He couldn't help but feel a bit empty through it all. He could still hear the words spewed from the Runt's voice about his own men being defeated, and already came to the conclusion the same result happened towards Juboko. He doesn't have the heart to say they were useless, however. He knows they were still trying, and he can acknowledge that. As he tried to position himself, the King would feel one more thing brush against his hands: His Crown.

It somehow fell over during his scuffle, and despite it merely grazing his palm, he knew that it was something he disdained. His efforts in being King, vanishing before his eyes.

Fwooosh!!

As the group, more specifically the Monster's, cheered in their victory, with the Magician's allies joining in and trying to meet up with Harvard to celebrate, one of the Monsters was quick to notice something was coming down from the sky. The Clouds were shifting, morphing into solid hands, attempting to reach down and grab ahold of the King. Harvard, quick as he was, casted a spell of Lightning, attempting to dissipate the Clouds, but as he did, they would snap their light fingers, destroying the bolt almost instantly, as well as pushing everyone back. Harvard would try to cast the spell again, before recognizing something else in the sky. Eyes. Eyes and a disgusted mouth, staring down at the army as if they were a cardinal sin. Despite not seeing his full face, Harvard can deduce who it was, his eyes widening as he came to such a conclusion.

It was Mari Valmond, the one that trapped everyone in this fantasy hellscape. The Author who was trying to kill them.

SHIKK!!!

A Slice. A Cut. A Shear to dissipate the very clouds. Harvard's eyes widen as he'd see Malak reject the author, assuming he was going to help the King. The King was somehow standing on his own two feet, with the Nuckelavee acting as support in case he falls over. "Helsing....." He'd began, coughing out some blood as he stumbles, struggling to still talk. "Make no mistake on this...I loathe you....I despise you....I want nothing more than to see the color of your eyes fade as I take your life.....I want nothing more...Ghh..Than to make you bleed for everything.....and everyone....you stand for. I'm saying all this...because this is My emotion. This is My path....And I'd be damned....if it is ruined. I want to win.....with my own tools. My own plans. My own army. All I brought was my people....Publiq.....Juboko....and my treasured beast. That is all I have. That is all I wish to have.....to defeat you. To be given a method to kill you....by something outside of my control...."

"Is Blasphemous..."

The group remained silent, watching as the King started to walk, grabbing ahold of a sword, still wanting to fight. "This.....is MY battle....MY WAR!! I will NOT have anyone else....take PITY for what I did. I will NOT let someone else....give me a HANDICAP. I MADE THIS DECISION, AND AS A RESULT, I SHOULD BE THE ONE TO SEE ITS END!!! I do not care....Gh...if I fail. I do not care...if I die without accomplishing it. It is an end, regardless. Hear me, Helsing.....I resent everything about you...and I would damn ANYONE ELSE if they take my Kill. All I know, throughout my newly given life.....is Hatred. Vile....Repulsive....Wicked....Disgusting HATRED. This is what such Hatred.....wishes to amount to. I will kill you....with what I have.....and nothing more. DO YOU HEAR ME, BRAT!?" He'd yell at the top of his lungs while giving his speech, coughing and spewing more blood from his throat after such strain.

Harvard looked on at the King, shocked at his words. He'd gave a soft smile as he'd prepare himself. "Y'now what? I was wrong. I thought you were just nothing more than a bully. You really are a Hero. You really do want to prove something..."

"The title....of being a 'Hero'.....has already died when we first met. I could care less....of what I am now. All I care....at this point.....is to make you rot." After such Acknowledgment, giving a genuine smirk to the Magician, recognized as someone worth fighting against, the Nuckelavee would throw itself towards the Red King, its body opening like a prison, swallowing the King, invading his anatomy and empowering him, his energy reaching higher and higher as he bonded with the beast. His limbs gained blades, reaching the same length as the Nuckelavee's arms. His feet were more clawed, containing itself like the hooves of its horse. His wounds were healed, stitched together as his body became a skin-like suit of armor, spikes protruding out at every angle possible, from his shoulders to his forearms and legs. A cape was made from such muscular fibers, woven beautifully into a tapestry that reflects his monstrous nature. His hair became a crimson red, and his eyes were almost similar to Zazel's. His energy output was enough to cause a beam straight upwards, piercing the clouds and pushing the author away further. He stared at the army of Monsters, and prepared himself. "COME ON, THEN!!! FACE ME!!! KILL ME, EVEN!!! TRY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TO BRING ME DOWN!! I WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOUR HEADS ARE MY NEW MANTLE!!! I WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOUR BLOOD BECOMES MY WINE!!! I WILL NOT REST UNTIL YOUR HIDE BECOMES MY CARPETS!!!"

"FACE ANNIHILATION WITH ME, AS WE DESCEND TO HELL TOGETHER! BRING!! IT!! ONNNNNNNNNNN!!!!"