mountain of terrors(7)

The remnants of the Titan's shattered form lay strewn across the frozen landscape, its once-mighty presence reduced to crumbling debris and dissipating dark magic. The blizzard had calmed as if even the storm itself had been humbled by Dakota's overwhelming power. The towering fortress of black stone loomed ahead, jagged spires piercing the sky like the claws of some ancient beast.

Dakota strode forward with measured steps, his sword sheathed, his expression unchanged—calm, focused, as if the battle against the Titan had been nothing more than a warm-up. The oppressive aura of the fortress grew heavier with each step, the very air thick with the stench of death and decay.

The massive gates of the Devil of Envy's stronghold groaned open as if recognizing the arrival of someone who didn't need permission to enter. No guards stood watch—none were needed. The fortress itself was a labyrinth of traps, cursed beings, and nightmares designed to break the will of even the most determined intruders.

But Dakota was no ordinary intruder.

As Dakota crossed the threshold, the darkness inside swallowed him whole. Faint flickers of green flame lit the corridor, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. The temperature dropped further, but Dakota remained unaffected, his breath steady, his steps unwavering.

The first wave of monsters emerged from the shadows—twisted abominations with elongated limbs, gnarled claws, and soulless eyes glowing with malice. Their bodies were stitched together with dark magic, a grotesque mockery of life.

The creatures lunged without hesitation, their screeches echoing through the hall.

Dakota didn't slow down.

His hand moved in a blur, unsheathing his sword with a clean, precise motion. A flash of fire—then silence.

The monsters collapsed mid-attack, clean lines carved through their grotesque forms. Blood and ichor sprayed across the stone floor, but none of it touched Dakota. His sword was already back in its sheath before the first body hit the ground.

Dakota (thinking):

"Sloppy. No coordination. Just fodder."

More emerged from the darkness—larger, faster, stronger. Hulking beasts with jagged teeth and armor made of bone. They roared, charging like wild animals, hoping to overwhelm him through sheer numbers.

Dakota sighed softly, his expression bored.

He raised his hand, fingers twitching slightly. A pulse of invisible force exploded outward. The creatures froze mid-charge, suspended in the air as if time itself had been paused. Then—

CRACK.

Their bodies twisted unnaturally, bones snapping, flesh tearing, before they collapsed in heaps of broken remains. Dakota didn't even draw his sword this time.

Dakota (softly):

"Pathetic."

He continued walking, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent corridor.

Dakota navigated the fortress with ease, slicing through waves of monsters without breaking a sweat. Each battle was over in seconds, his movements efficient, precise—like an artist perfecting a masterpiece with every stroke.

Eventually, he reached a massive door adorned with ancient runes, pulsating with a sickly green light. The aura behind it was overwhelming, thick with the essence of envy, hatred, and ancient darkness.

Dakota placed his hand on the door. It disintegrated at his touch, reduced to dust that scattered into the air.

The chamber beyond was vast—a throne room carved from black stone, with towering pillars etched with runes of forbidden magic. Green flames flickered along the walls, casting long, shifting shadows. At the far end, atop a raised platform, sat the Devil of Envy.

He was unlike any of the creatures Dakota had faced. His skin was pure white, almost translucent, stretched taut over an unnervingly lean frame. His eyes—void of pupils—were a blank, milky white, yet they seemed to see everything. Long, thin fingers rested on the arms of his throne, tapping rhythmically.

A faint, unsettling smile curled his lips as Dakota entered.

Devil of Envy:

"I have been waiting for you, Creator."

The title echoed through the chamber, laced with both reverence and mockery. Dakota's expression didn't change, but his eyes sharpened slightly.

Dakota:

"Finally. Took you long enough to show yourself."

The Devil chuckled softly, his voice like silk wrapped around broken glass.

Devil of Envy:

"Impatient, are we? I suppose that's fitting. You've always been like this, haven't you? Always rushing toward the end, as if afraid of what lingers in the journey."

Dakota stepped forward, his aura flaring slightly—a subtle shift, but enough to make the very air tremble.

Dakota:

"Enough talk. Let's get started."

The Devil's grin widened, his fingers tightening around the throne.

Devil of Envy:

"Oh, but this isn't just a battle, Creator. This is… a fight with important meaning."

With a flick of his wrist, the chamber shifted. The walls melted away, replaced by a void filled with swirling green energy. Floating platforms hovered in the endless abyss, connected by fragile bridges of light.

Dakota stood firm, unaffected by the change in environment.

Dakota (coldly):

"Important or not, you'll die all the same."

The Devil rose from his throne, his smile fading into a look of pure malice. Dark energy surged around him, twisting the space itself.

Devil of Envy:

"Then come, Creator. Show me the power that shaped this world. Show me why you deserve to be feared."

Dakota unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming with a faint, ominous light. His aura exploded outward, dispelling the oppressive darkness around him.

Dakota:

"You'll regret waiting for me."

Dakota thinking: well I have finally reached the devil of envy, now I have to kill him, and after I kill him I have to get out of here so I can't use all of my mana otherwise I'll be paralyzed. Well I don't think I will have to use my full power to beat him anyway, but you never now... Actually nah I made sure that my power will at least be stronger that fiannas but I don't think I'm stronger that blazer. I won't fight blazer alone anyway so I don't have to worry about that, I have something else to worry about now. I already spent a week here, so I have to get this done quick. Don't want to arrive later that I said.