Combined Quests
As we stood in the ruined wastelands of the Demon Realm, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and blood, Henry crossed his arms and looked at me with a smirk.
"How about we run some quests together first?" He suggested, rolling his shoulders. "Let's get to a level where we don't just beat Baron—we completely annihilate him."
I cracked my knuckles, the energy from my Black Heart humming through my veins. "I was hoping you'd say that. I'd rather not fight him half-baked."
Henry pulled up his system screen, and mine followed suit.
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[COMBINED QUESTS]
1. Demonic Bat Gauntlet – Survive five waves of demonic bat creatures without rest.
(Reward: +15 Strength, +10 Endurance, Night Vision Upgrade)
2. Baron's Secret Hideout – Locate and destroy one of Baron's hidden strongholds.
(Reward: +12 Intelligence, +8 Strength, Hidden Skill Unlock)
3. Twin Demonic Generals – Eliminate Baron's Right Hand and Left Hand, Cybris and Astern.
(Reward: +18 Strength, +15 Endurance, Dual Combat Mastery)
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Henry let out a low whistle. "They're really throwing us into hell, huh?"
I smirked. "Wouldn't be fun otherwise."
He adjusted his coat, golden light flickering along his knuckles. "I'll take the first wave. Let's see if you can still keep up with me, Demon."
I rolled my shoulders, summoning my dark gauntlets. "Careful what you wish for, Executioner."
As we walked through the desolate landscape of the Demon Realm, the weight of the skies pressing down on us, I turned to Henry with a grim smile. "You ever wonder why we're stuck in these stories? Why did we have to reincarnate into these messes?"
He shrugged, a grin playing on his lips. "No idea. It's like we got the short end of the stick in the reincarnation lottery. I mean, why does this story need two of the most powerful beings ever created, right?"
I chuckled, nodding in agreement. "And not just any story—Marriage Turned to War and A CEO's Wife Cheating with Other Men. What a joke. I mean, who thought these would be fun?"
Henry sighed dramatically, adjusting his cloak. "Seriously. I'm just glad we're not the main characters. Imagine being Samuel Gebb in that mess, or Henry in that other depressing one. People in those stories get torn apart, their entire existence twisted by things out of their control. Hell, I had to watch Katerina ruin me—"
I interrupted, my voice cold but laced with the same twisted amusement. "At least in our cases, we didn't have to care about any of that. We're not tied down by the constraints of those pathetic main characters who are so bound to 'love' and 'sacrifice.'"
He smiled darkly, "Exactly. It's like we just get to sit back, do what we do best, and let the world burn around us. We don't need to be heroes, and we don't need to be villains—just do what we want."
"Freedom," I said with a slight laugh, my voice echoing in the empty expanse around us. "That's what makes this different. We don't have to be good, we don't have to be bad. Just two forces of nature doing what they please."
Henry glanced sideways at me, a gleam of admiration in his eyes. "Hell yeah. And we're damn good at it. We've got the skills, the power, and none of that moral baggage weighing us down. The story wants to tie us to fate? Not happening."
We both slowed down, surveying the wreckage of the Demon Realm, knowing there was more blood to be spilled before the day was done. "That's why I can't help but laugh when I think about these 'moral dilemmas' characters get stuck in," I continued, my voice low. "Like, who cares if they win or lose, live or die? In the end, we do whatever we want, and if anyone gets in the way, they get crushed."
Henry gave me a sidelong glance, his expression turning contemplative. "Yeah, it's liberating, in a way. You can't get hurt by the drama of these stories because you know you're not bound by it. If the story gets too annoying, just change the plot."
We both chuckled, the sound echoing in the emptiness.
"So," Henry said, breaking the silence with a smirk, "what do you think? Should we go out in a blaze of glory? Kill everyone, take what we want, leave the world in ruins?"
I grinned back at him, my eyes dark. "Sounds like a good time. But you know what? The best part is, we don't have to do it for anyone but ourselves. No saving anyone, no saving ourselves. Just... chaos."
As we continued to walk, the weight of our words settled in. We weren't bound by the constraints of heroes or villains. We weren't even bound by fate or the whims of gods. We were free, and in that freedom, there was nothing that could stop us.
For once, it felt like we were the ones writing the story, and everyone else was just there to watch us burn it down.
As we walked through the barren wasteland, the eerie glow of the Demon Realm casting shadows around us, Henry suddenly let out a chuckle.
I raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
He shook his head, smirking. "I was just thinking… Abigail and Katerina. Both of them are supposed to be these powerful, high-class CEOs of billion-dollar companies. Yet, their dignity and decision-making skills are cheaper than a two-dollar street snack."
I let out a short laugh. "You're not wrong. How the hell does someone run a billion-dollar empire while acting like an emotionally unstable teenager?"
Henry nodded. "Right? I mean, if you have power, influence, and money, at least have the mindset to match it. Instead, they're out here playing cheap soap opera games—cheating, manipulating, humiliating their husbands just because they feel like it. And for what? To prove a point?"
I scoffed. "And the men they cheat with—let's talk about that. They're not even high-caliber guys. Joshua? That guy wouldn't last five minutes in a real business meeting without Abigail spoon-feeding him deals. And Katerina? She was throwing herself at men who couldn't even pay their own bills without her help."
Henry burst into laughter. "Exactly! And the worst part? They actually think they're making smart choices. Like, imagine being rich, having the world at your feet, and then willingly throwing your entire reputation away just to 'punish' a guy for leaving you years ago."
I smirked, shaking my head. "That's what gets me. If they were smart, they would've just moved on, built their lives stronger, and let their exes regret it naturally. But no, they had to drag them back just to make their lives a living hell. That's not power, that's desperation."
Henry sighed dramatically. "And here I thought intelligence was a requirement for running a billion-dollar empire."
I crossed my arms. "Apparently not. Guess all you really need is arrogance, daddy's money, and the emotional stability of a toddler."
Henry chuckled. "Makes me wonder how their companies haven't collapsed yet. I mean, running a business isn't just about throwing money around. If your mindset is that cheap, your empire is built on sand."
I smirked. "Maybe one day, we should take over those companies ourselves. Show them what real power looks like."
Henry grinned, his eyes flashing with amusement. "Now that would be a fun way to pass the time. But honestly? The best revenge is watching them destroy themselves. Because at the rate they're going, it's only a matter of time."
I nodded. "True. And when they finally crash and burn, we'll be right here, enjoying the show."
Henry chuckled. "Now that's entertainment."
We continued walking, the conversation leaving a smirk on both of our faces. Some people were just doomed to be their own downfall. And we? We were just here to watch it all unfold.