Chapter 227: Kranox

Vakra and I arrived near a small village on Kranox.

"Why did she bring us here, of all places...?" Vakra said.

"Is there a problem? We can get some food and proper rest in that village," I said as I shielded my eyes from the sunlight.

Seriously, it was extremely bright out here... This particular area was a blazing-hot desert.

"No, you fool. The people of this village aren't people at all. They're brain-eating parasites. They'll lure you in and crack your skull open to feast on your brain," Vakra said.

"I think I understand why this is a terrible location."

"Exactly. Also, it's a desert. They make my bones dry..." Vakra said.

He was wearing his mask, but I could tell he was still a skeleton. He had yet to change back after what happened on Delvandal.

"Well, if the location is so terrible, why don't you tell Valtheim to move us? She's definitely nearby. I can still feel her presence," I said.

"Because there's no need. I'll just open a subspace pathway and go to a part of the world that isn't infested with Kraalek Parasites."

Vakra made a motion with his hand as he grabbed my arm and suddenly we were pulled to a rocky area near a river.

Once we were there, he looked around.

"Not much for prospects, here... How are you with mining?" Vakra said.

"I've never done it before, so I can't say that I-"

"Excellent. That'll do."

"Why can't you do it?" I asked.

"Because in my skeletal form, I have the physical strength of a little girl. That's why."

"Why can't you just use your crazy-ass magic to remove the other rocks or use gravity to force everything out? I'm here for protection, not manual labor!" I said.

"I don't feel like it. Plus, I need to look for more Paradite. Now, change that sword of yours into a pickaxe," Vakra said.

I rolled my eyes.

Lazy bastard.

"Fine. But when Rose shows up, you have to put forth some effort to get the rocks out, yourself. I can't mine and defend against her attacks at the same time."

"That will do. Now get mining!" Vakra said.

With that, I started mining wherever Vakra pointed.

Hours passed... Eventually, we stopped to rest and get some food.

By that, I mean I went hunting and made some for myself because Vakra didn't eat as a skeleton.

We slept in shifts and the next day, we got right back to it. Once we had an adequate amount of Paradite, we moved to another version of Kranox in this exact spot.

Sometimes, we would find areas with other people. They were normal, unlike the desert parasites.

Although, they weren't happy about us disturbing their mining operations.

They wanted the Paradite too.

Unfortunately, Vakra and I had no choice but to threaten them. Vakra needed exact copies of the paradite I mined from the previous Kranox variants. With enough force, they backed off. We took what we needed, including what they had already mined, and went to the next world.

We repeated this process for three days over the course of four worlds.

They were all exactly the same and it was maddening how I would arrive to find all my hard work reset.

Story of my life...

On the fifth world, I heard a sound from across the river.

"Oh. Finally. Took her long enough," Vakra said.

Please don't be who I think it is...

Unfortunately, I felt her presence before I even looked.

I turned and saw the pink hair and icy blue eyes of Rose.

I narrowed my eyes at her as she leaped over the river and landed near us.

"DEMON LORD MIZIK IRATUS!!! YOUR TYRANNY ENDS HERE!!!" She shouted.

"Give it a damn rest already. Are you really stupid enough to think I'm actually a demon? WHAT PART OF ME IS DEMONIC!?" I shouted.

"Mizik, I'll take over the mining. You keep her busy," Vakra said.

I nodded and changed Vengeance into a pair of swords.

"Tch...if you must know, I'm fully aware that you aren't really a demon," Rose said.

"Well then, why do you keep calling me a Demon Lord!?" I asked.

"Because you act like one! Taking over the hearts of the good people of those worlds and turning even my own sister against me! Your evil plan to use her failed, by the way. She's safe in Excelsis, now."

"Evil...plan...? WHAT EVIL PLAN!? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!?" I roared.

"DON'T PLAY DUMB, YOU BASTARD!!! I KNOW YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER EXCELSIS!" Rose yelled.

I had to stop and blink a few times.

"No. That's literally not what we're trying to do. And what is Cassandra doing? How is she? You haven't hurt her, have you!?"

"My sister is still feeling the residual effects of your control. She is still so mean to me that I can't even have a proper conversation with her. But one thing I know, is that she is free from your control. Although, I wouldn't have expected you to care about her well-being..."

"You're missing something, Rose. Cassandra has hated you for years. That isn't anything new as far as I know. But...no. Nevermind."

She looked like she realized something for a second.

Then she glared at me.

"You may have a point... But I will not be swayed by your lies!" She said.

I could feel my frustration rising to a breaking point.

"Now then, come with me and face Grandma Oracle! Your crimes will be brought to light by her. If you're lucky, your death will be quick," Rose said.

"Why would I do that?"

"What? What do you mean? I have the upper hand. You don't have a choice!" Rose said.

"LOOK HERE, YOU DENSE IDIOT, I HAVE NO LOGICAL REASON TO JUST DROP EVERYTHING AND WILLINGLY GO WITH YOU TO THE PLACE WHERE I KNOW I'LL BE EXECUTED!!!" I yelled.

"Oooh. Good one. I like the logic in it," Vakra said.

"SHUT UP, VAKRA!!!" I yelled.

"You...I WILL NOT STAND FOR SUCH-"

"BE QUIET, YOU BITCH!! I'M SO DAMN SICK OF YOUR CONSTANT DEMON LORD THIS AND GRANDMA ORACLE THAT!!! HER NAME ISN'T ORACLE!!! SHE IS CALLED THE ORACLE!!!"

"H-hold on a second-"

"I SAID SHUT YOUR DIRTY MOUTH, YOU MOCKERY!!! HOW DARE YOU TAKE THE FORM OF THE WOMAN I LOVED!!! HOW DARE YOU HUNT ME DOWN LIKE AN ANIMAL!!! AND HOW DARE YOU WIELD THAT SWORD AGAINST ME!!! WHY DON'T YOU JUST DROP DEAD, YOU GENOCIDAL MURDERER!?!? HOW MANY LIVES WOULD BE SAVED IF YOU JUST DIDN'T EXIST!? I HATE YOU!!! GO AWAY AND NEVER SPEAK TO ME AGAIN!!!" I yelled.

Rose clutched her head for a moment and looked sadly me as I glared daggers at her.

"How could you...say such things...? Why...? Why are you looking at me like that!? Mizik...why!?" She suddenly said as tears began forming in her eyes.

Excuse me?

I was speechless.

But then...

"Gah...ugh... Why is this happening now!? Stop it!!! I'm not trying to say those things!!! I hate him!!! He's the enemy!!! No...he's not!!! Make it stop!!!" Rose said.

Suddenly I heard a sound behind me.

"I...I'M HUMAN AGAIN!!! YES!!! FINALLY!!! IT'S NOT PERMANENT!!! I MISSED HAVING SKIN AND MUSCLES!!!" Vakra shouted.

I ignored him and kept my eyes on Rose.

I used channeled power and assumed my older form. Immediately, I felt my power coursing through me. The increase in strength I had gotten from resonating with the other swords was immense. I was sure I could deal with her.

I stepped forward and was almost hit by a stream of light.

"You won't...take advantage...of this!!!" Rose said.

"What's going on here!? Are you Rose or Isabella!? SPEAK!" I said.

"Stop...CALLING ME THAT!!! I AM ROSE!!!" She shouted.

Rose composed herself and prepared for battle.

"Guess I can't just hold out hope that you're still in there, then... Hand over your sword and I promise to spare you. If not, you have to die. Those are the rules," I said.

"I won't! Never!" Rose said.

"So be it... I'll show you what a Demon Lord looks like!!!" I said.

Rose's almighty presence activated and I was momentarily stunned by pure terror.

She shot forward and I narrowly avoided her sword strike.

"FLAMES OF RAGE!!!" I shouted.

I was cloaked in emerald flames and forced them to form of wings.

She gasped as the flames washed over her and backed away.

"W-wait...are you actually a demon!?" She said.

"NO, YOU IDIOT!!! FUSILLADE!!!" I shouted.

I changed my swords into two shotguns and let loose with a barrage of gunshots.

They bounced harmlessly off of her shield as she blocked them and I could feel my frustration rising even higher with every failed attack...

Rose smiled confidently at me.

"Your attacks can't pierce the shield of justice that I hold in my hand! Your power is worthless here!" Rose said.

When I thought about it...the idea of trying to hold her off seemed ridiculous to me.

Rose wasn't even using Crown of the Hero right now and her power was still incredible.

She held off Difar of all people.

Even in his second form he had trouble breaking her defense...

And his stats were off the charts.

This was a war of attrition. Eventually, I would lose.

"By the way, Mizik. I have enough Paradite. I just need to form it together. Keep her away just a bit longer, would you?" Vakra said.

Damn you, Vakra!

"Just give up, already! You can't win against me!" Rose said.

"Clearly. As strong as I am, I probably can't break your defense right now. But I'm curious...have you been having strange dreams lately? Weird memories that never happened?" I asked.

"Why are you asking something like this all of a sudden!?" Rose said.

"Just answer the damn question. Humor me."

"Is this some form of mind control?"

"What do you want me to say? No? Would you even believe me? HOW STUPID ARE YOU!? JUST ANSWER YHE DAMN QUESTION!!!"

"You're so rude... Ugh...the answer is yes. I have been having all of those. Sometimes I say things I don't mean as well. Why do you ask?" Rose said.

"Because it verifies my story from before. The one I told you about having been your husband. Actually, let me be clear on something. I wasn't YOUR husband. I was the husband of the Isabella before you. You, however, are a vile and evil woman. A mockery of her loving kindness and motherly nature. I truly despise you almost as much as that asshole I'm working with right now."

"What did I do!?" Vakra said.

"NOT YOU, VAKRA! I MEAN DIFAR!!"

"SPECIFY!! YOU SAID WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW, YOU NITWIT!!!" He shouted.

I just sighed and Rose glared at me.

"I refuse to believe a single word that comes out of your mouth!!! It doesn't matter what you say to me! I won't stop until I've brought you to justice! Grandma Oracle will judge you once I bring your half-dead body to her feet!" Rose said angrily.

"Ugh...this. Right here. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I HATE YOU SO MUCH! YOU'RE A DENSE, NAIVE, OVERLY SELF-RIGHTEOUS IDIOT!!!" I said.

Rose stepped forward and readied her sword.

Just then, she looked up and around.

"What...? No... But that's... I see. Very well then," Rose said.

She looked up at me and narrowed her eyes.

"Listen...I will have to bring you in another time. If you feel like repenting, wait here and I will return for you. If not...I promise to hunt you down and slay you like the dog you are!" Rose said.

"I won't be staying much longer. Regardless, we will see each other again whether we both like it or not. As long as you carry that sword and mock the memory of my beloved Isabella, you are marked for execution. You are an abominable false wielder and the tool of that loathsome Oracle. I'm going to tear out your heart stone and stomp it into dust. And before I do...I'm going to burn Excelsis to the ground."

"Tch... We'll see about that, won't we?" She said.

She sheathed her sword and turned to her side. Then she unsheathed it and slashed the air in front of her.

A portal appeared and she walked onto it.

Once it closed, Vakra approached me.

"All done. Good job with the ranting and insults," he said.

"I meant every word... And it seems like part of Isabella might still be in there," I said.

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say... That woman is crazy and that's coming from me of all people. Anyway, we should get going back to the Abyss," Vakra said.

"Fine..."

Once we finished our preparations, we called for Valtheim and made our way back to the Abyss.