Black Moon Overture IV

Killing, torturing, or inflicting pain upon others in any capacity—I don't care. I never did. There was only me and those I treasured, and then there was the rest of the world.

However, now there's only me.

I don't remember those others. I don't even remember why I treasured those others.

Then, what does that make of me? Am I not just a… monster? An empty shell?

I don't have any goals in life. I don't have any pursuits in life. Rather, slight disappointment with the world and with me. Myself. Why so? How so?

Perhaps the key to understanding myself lies therein. Not without, but within. Inside of me.

Yes, if I remain oblivious to myself, the desires will one day inevitably prevail over me.

Then I won't know why I kill. I won't know why I live. I'll know nothing, living as a walking dead. With no self, no intent, no thought, and no thorough understanding.

The circular box with a kaleidoscope of colors and symbols disrupts my reflection by eventuating before me.

Tripartite Mandala

What the hell is this? What do I even do with it? It's like Pandora's box. You open it, and you either get the world's riches or straight up die.

Doesn't help that it looks like the real deal from the myths. Wait… what myths?

How do I remember that?

I can even remember the cost of living in modern Hong Kong, yet I can't reckon the face of anyone I knew.

The blonde drums the table, cheering. I look at her with a nod of approval.

Forget about the suffering and setbacks; what matters is that I have the potential to obtain the power to dye the world into my coloration.

Only the powerful have the privilege to decide whether to spare or kill, to die or live.

As such, I'll first need to guarantee my strength.

Yet, to my surprise and terror, healthy laughs of the rainbowhead pierce through the fog.

"Hahahaha!"

Immediately, I get a terrible premonition.

"I haven't witnessed anyone get that in all the previous iterations!"

What went wrong?

"With this, the first phase is concluded," he says funnily, his shoulders shaking and cheeks flush. "Exactly this time after a year, the Walpurgis Night will commence, where you'll compete amongst yourselves to recruit as many Demon Lords as you can into your faction."

"Before that, you must raise your respective dungeons, resisting the constant onslaught of people and monsters alike." He raises a hand to wipe away the tears of laughter.

"Some may even die in the process."

He looks at me with a smug face.

"That's all. Figure out the rest by yourselves."

The space fractures in the center once more, and The Great Dao leaves.

The next moment, various portals of varying colors appear on each throne belonging to an Archdemon.

The first to leave is the Pride Sin.

Without hesitation, the Envy Sin and the Greed Sin follow.

Sloth Sin lingers her gaze on me, sighing in exasperation and following suit.

Lust Sin sends the rainbowhead a kiss and winks suggestively, buckling back and teleporting. 

Only the blonde and I remain beside the rainbowhead.

"What?" he asks.

The blonde points to her mouth. 

"Fine, speak, tell what you will," the rainbowhead tiredly points at her, unsealing her voice.

"No cakes for you. I'll feed you your coc—" Before she can finish her words, she's forcefully plunged into the portal.

"And you?" the rainbowhead asks, pointing at me. "Must you also show your colors before departing?"

"What is wrong with what I got?" I ask with a questioning face, forcefully suppressing the anger welling within me.

"Oh?" The rainbowhead smiles, condescension flashing in his eyes. "Do you remember the gifts you've received?"

"Yes. The Hero's Curse and The Reverse Plot Armor—"

I still. It can't be…

His smile deepens. "For the sake of balance, among a few other curses, the Demon Lords have their luck halved. You realize now, don't you?"

I gulp, my throat dry.

He continues, "The Luck Pathway… Perhaps among all the other fragments you could get…"

"Luck is the unluckiest," I finish.

"Bingo!" He points with both fingers. "You're unusually smart for Wrath. Truly an exception among exceptions. Hahahaha!"

"Hahahahahahaha!" I, too, laugh.

The rainbowhead is the first to cease his laughs. "What's so funny?"

"You tell me," I say, raising my palm. "Because it's a sin to be wrathful at the world. Who can control fate? One can only plow its rivers."

"A strange one," he says, clasping his hands.

"A dumb one," I deadpan, pointing at his twitching expression.

Then everything goes dark.

Darkness so pure not a single ray of light can reach the bottomless pit of malice within.

Until I'm greeted by a tall green creature with shark teeth as sharp as the sword attempting on my life, held in their thin hand.

I should've known better than to spew shit at a deity—

I spring to the side and thrust my arm out and down at the tall creature.

Just when my claws are about to pierce his guts and he is about to drown in despair at his inevitable doom vivid from the fear in his mad eyes a speeding arrow creeps its way toward my shoulder.

I barely dodge by backing away.

"Gunter! Be careful!" cries ring in the cold. "The dungeon boss seems to be unclassified! We don't know of his powers!"

A squawk. Then silence.

A staredown.

We size each other up.

Tattooed and scarred abrim.

A toothy grin.

And an even wider hook-nose.

And a greenish and rough skin.

Pointed and long ears just like his arms that are thin yet as muscular as they can get.

A goblin?

More like an ogre and a goblin banged and had a child then 'Hooray!' they shouted and 'Gunter!' they called this very abomination before me and called it a day.

Gunter— he jumps at me— the tip pointed at my heart.

How crude.

I can see where he's aiming. So I dodge. Tighten my fingers. Then punch.

Yet—

Accelerate |E|

He dodges. He shifts. He switches to a horizontal slash. And slashes. All in an instant.

Fuck—

Blood spurts.

Accelerate |E|

He thrusts his shiny blade toward my heart before the blood can even fall. Before I can even process the pain in its entirety.

I dodge this time. To the left. Though barely.

An arrow pierces my chest.

Paralyze |E|

"Got him!"

Shock. Despair. And—

Accelerate |E|

Here he comes.

I try to dodge—

Shackle |F|

Something grabs at my feet.

Shit—

Gunter pierces my heart before I know it.

My body splays onto the floor as my skull cracks. Blood. Blood everywhere. Pain. Pain anywhere. My head–mmy–my hea-he-ha… Ha—

HAHAHAHA—