Going somewhere (remade)

"Stay away from Albern!"

Fury, anger, and resentment could be felt from the ferocious and deadly monster in front of me. She was restrained in time with a Spell, blue chains bounding her wrists and ankles, and another around her neck to finally put a stop to her advance.

"Easy there. Is she normally this rude, Albern! Attacking someone even though she-"

"Shut it, he's not yours for the taking! Begone, Death! Fucking die and vanish!"

"..."

"S-Sher! That's not someone you should speak like that to!"

With a sigh, I spoke while massaging the bridge of my nose.

"It's fine, Albern. Vulgar language is something I've been accustomed to, so it's fine if it's just this much. Now, mutt, I am here to-"

"No! Shut up! You're the enemy, my enemy! I'll never let you take Albern!"

She interrupted me once more, baring her fangs and spitting out disgusting saliva as she shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Easy there, Sher, I'm fine, he's friendly, he isn't going to harm you. We're here to recruit you, or, in an easy to understand way, we need your strength again."

Albern went to intercept this development from progressing for the worse, but still the mutt in front of me didn't stop her aggression.

"Grrrrr, my strength is to vanquish and eradicate my enemy, and right now, my sworn enemy is in front of me."

"...Why are you saying that when he's not even an Undead."

Something dawned on me, of course, an exceptionally powerful Demi-human would've sniffed it out of me, and worse, this one isn't one to kill.

'Calm down, let's think this through.'

"An Undead? She smelled the scent of those unholy creatures on me?"

"Yes… she's a stalwart woman in my group from a very, very long time ago. She's part of the hero's team that I once ventured with, and she was also a massive contributor to the defeat of the strongest Undead at that time. They call him, as did we, the Preacher of Death, a follower of Absolute Death."

"Huh… So what is her problem then? I suspect tragedy?"

"Yes… one that struck a great deal of trauma to her."

She was struggling very hard, so hard that blood started to trickle down from where she's restrained.

"Sher! Stop, that's enough!"

"But!!!"

"I said, that's enough!"

Albern unleashed his Aura, a red Aura that was threatening like a sword against one's neck. The Demi-human in front of me, who was baring her fangs with a menacing glare, stiffened and stopped resisting slightly. She slowly eased off, and I gradually lessened the chains' power on her. When the chains completely vanished, all that's left is a very angry-looking giant Demi-human woman with black canine ears and a bushy tail.

Her height was very tall, close to 2 meters and a half. Her height wasn't the only outstanding thing about her, scars littered across her body and one big scar was diagonally positioned on her left eye. Her black hair with crimson tips was so long that it touched the ground. Her entire body was toned to the extreme with no visible excess fat, just pure muscles.

"Albern, what is this… thing that he was talking about?"

"Hahhhh, finally, we're on a quest, Sher. Like the old days. A new threat has appeared, and it has become our duty as the strong to defeat it, or at least stall it to the best of our abilities."

"...Our target, who… what is it?"

"It is the ruler of this realm, of this entire World, Absolute Death."

"Hieekk!!"

The giant woman shivered unexpectedly from the mention of my nickname. She dropped to her knees, a somewhat surprising display of fear and dread.

"C-Calm yourself, Sher."

"A-A-Absolute Death… you said that he will be the target?"

Her fear, although very visible, was blended with a smile of extreme excitement. Her shivers were both of fear, and excitement as she looked up at me, or rather slightly since even while crouched, she's close to my height.

"So, who're you?"

"I am Merlin A. Avalon, Grand Mage and also one responsible for this mission. We are gathering capable people, Albern and I, to face off against Absolute Death's arrival. But, even though this is the case, we won't be killing him."

"Huh? Why?"

She was genuinely confused, and I sighed.

"If you don't know, Absolute Death is an entity that can't be killed, only stalled for a while longer. Trying to kill him, it is a very far away wish that even the other Gods cannot reach with their ultimate power."

This was Merlin speaking, not me.

"So, I'll ask you, no, Albern, you do it."

I was about to ask her, since technically I am the leader of this operation, but she probably won't listen to me. So, I requested Albern to do it.

"Cerkaros Sherby, listen to this old comrade of yours, take up your spirit and rekindle that flame of vengeance of yours. Another calamity has come dawning on the horizon. It is up to us now, along with others, to put a halt on that calamity for a while longer. Will you, even though it may cost your life, accompany this foolish elf into battle again?"

She turned her head towards Albern who's behind her. Her face was that of reluctance, but that wasn't for long as a smile soon spread.

"Hehahaha! Do you think I'll refuse such an offer? Killing Undeads have been the only calling for me. How can I reject a fight to put a stop to the very source of it?"

And so, a new member has been recruited for the slaughter.

......

'Huh, why are Daemons here?'

In the Black Castle's Boss Room, two unexpected Daemons appear and engage in combat with Saulian. They seem to be very adept with fighting with each other's company, as they weave, dodge and distract Saulian with attacks when one of them is caught.

{Arsuriel Renoldan}

{Race: Daemon (Awakened)}

{Statistics}

Strength: 45,338

Vitality: 33,543

Defense: 443,225

Agility: 22,001

Intelligence: 2,435

Demonic Energy: 66,896

Brutality:34,556

[Health Point: 435,447/500,000]

[Mana Point: 22/22]

[Demonic Power: 70,342/80,000]

{Skill Board}

[Devouring Sword – 4th tier]

[Demonic Enhancement – 8th tier]

[Devil's Burst – 2nd tier]

[Ability Boost – 4th tier]

[Unleash Calamity: Agnos Karnas (Ultimate) – 1st Ascension]

{Passive Board}

[Swordsmanship – 10th tier (MAX)]

[Evil Eyes – 3rd tier]

[Bloodthirst – 4th tier]

{Title}

[Monster Blade – Rare] [Immovable Sword – Rare] [Loyal Knight – Common]

{Soul Grade: Rare}

{Kalven Killian}

{Race: Daemon (Awakened)}

{Statistics}

Strength: 12,564

Agility: 443,548

Vitality: 22,564

Defense: 33,540

Intelligence: 7,453

Demonic Energy: 59,998

Brutality: 33,245

[Health Point: 21,557/30,000]

[Mana Point: 500/500]

[Demonic Power: 89,557/100,000]

{Skill Board}

[Stalking Shadows – 10th tier (MAX)]

[Death Enhancement – 3rd tier]

[Taunting Whispers – 5th tier]

[Instant Acceleration – 8th tier]

[Last Breath – 1st Ascension]

{Passive Board}

[Shadow Affinity – 3rd tier]

[Predator's Senses – 8th tier]

[Fast Instincts – 5th tier]

{Titles}

[Shadow Hunter – Uncommon] [Monster of the night – Rare] [Playful Hunter – Common]

{Soul Grade: Rare}

The two Daemons were pretty Leveled-up, might even be on the normal scale of requirement for raiding the Black Castle.

"Argh! God fucking… damn you!"

"Woah woah there! Careful with that, you could've killed me, hehehe."

Saulian was wielding his signature weapon, the Kingslayer that shines its trademark golden gleam even after such a long time. A long sword that's grafted with gemstones and a necklace at the bottom hilt. The blade constantly discharges golden energy particles. It's a formidable weapon that many newbies have fallen under.

'It's most dreadful effect is the Passive [Dignified Existence], gained after killing many Kingly existences, Players. It's a nasty ability that reduces the Stats of the opponent, and it's also an AoE that applies to anyone within a 50 meter radius.'

Kingslayer was formidable, but against those that came prepared for the Passive, equipping Items that have Skill Effect Resistances, will have little trouble in dealing with the weapon.

'But, they don't have any. So this is them in a disadvantageous state. They're making up for the disadvantage with their cooperative strength, quite surprising considering they're Daemons that are the embodiment of strife, deception, and chaos.'

The new era's Daemons, though significantly weaker, are able to cooperate to a certain degree, if these two are anything common for the new generation.

"Perseverance."

An orange colored Aura temporarily washed over Saulian. His offensive aggression boosted and he made his approach much fiercer.

"Aura: Penetration, Focus Slash!"

The golden particles converged and formed an entire layer. Saulian aimed the blade precisely at his knight opponent, Arsuriel Renoldan. A horizontal slash came in from the left, which prompted the latter to dodge backward to avoid a swift decapitation.

"Dash, Focus Slash!"

Suddenly, a yellow Aura engulfs Saulian as momentum was given to him out of the blue. He charged forward and bumped his shoulder roughly onto the Daemon knight. Following the maneuver, he swung his sword charged twice with the Skill Focus Slash.

'Kuh!'

"Oi oi, you picking on someone that's not capable again? I thought you're a proud being that only fought equals. Am I perhaps wrong and you're just a shameless monster?"

"Tch! Such rudeness will not be excused.''

Influenced by the taunting words of the Daemon, his focus shifted and his sword stopped. This gap allowed Arsuriel to escape safely to a distance. Saulian was stunned for a moment, and became inactive for a few seconds. These passing moments were invaluable in a fight between strong people. One careless mistake like this and it would spell doom upon their fate.

'Gotcha!'

Using this gap, Kalven jumped in and used his ultimate immediately without hesitation.

''Taste the final gasp of your life, Last Breath!"

However, the Ultimate Skill of Kalven was interrupted while it was heading to decapitate Saulian. It was because of one simple oversight.

From the beginning, Kalven was able to use Taunting Words to distract and make Saulian reveal gaps. But, that was exactly what Saulian was planning from the start.

The thing with Daemons is they're easily 'persuaded' that they have the upperhand. This little detail was what became the downfall of many Daemons, and it seems like the later generations are no different.

"Foolish, just like the previous blundering fools of your kind."

Saulian gave it his all from this moment on.

"Shunpo!"

He teleported to where he was looking, behind Kalven. The figure of the Undead disappeared from Kalven's sight in an instant, like he didn't exist at all, and a faint trace of fear washed over the Daemon's Soul.

''Now perish, Sword Rend."

A white Aura coats the blade of Kingslayer and he smites the Daemon in front of him down like it was nothing. It was done in a swift manner that seemed casual.

"Ahh… shit."

But of course, this wasn't the end just yet, not like this. Daemons also have another feature to their Race. It is the incredibly durable body that can tank even modern weapons of the 21st century, and fast regenerative cells capable of healing any wounds, eliminating illnesses and foreign bodies within, making them practically immortal in a sense.

"Sataniel damn… that was painful."

Being rend in half wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone. It was the same for a Daemon, as Kalven regenerates and stitches himself back whole.

Saulian spins and kicks Kalven away with an audible bang to show how big of a force he used.

From now on, Saulian Reilan Arscheen, the fragment of the powerful Absolute Death, would show his glorious power that still shines brightly even though untold years have withered it by bits.

"Enhance Ability: Max, Heightened Awareness, Warrior's Spirit, Aura: Maximum Output!"

Several Buffs overlaid on Saulian, making him spread a formidable Aura mixture that sought only to destroy its foe.

Instead of the Kingslayer in his hand, he took out another blade that was the personal gift that his creator and father gave to him. The blade that's enhanced with the very essence of Absolute Death's existence. A blade capable of vanquishing even Divine Beings. The dark blade that symbolizes the encroaching black of nothingness. The All-Black Sword, a sword that's only colored black from tip to bottom.

"Your end is here, Daemons. My father is busy at the moment since he just awoke from his long absence, and would be more irritated if you two were to intrude onto whatever he's doing. Let this be a fantastic show for me to tell my father."

He swung his sword in the empty air, a vile stench accompanied with bizarre coldness expelled from the blade that made the Daemons unbearable and collapsed to one knee. The stench of Death made manifest, it was the most mysterious smell as it reproduces the smell of their most recent brush with Death. For the two Daemons, it was naturally the stench of thick sulfur and iron, blood to be precise.

"Kuh…!!"

"...!!"

The two Daemons were awestruck by the power of a single swing of the blade.

"Consider dying by this blade a mercy, as you can serve my father after your death and give meaning to your lives."

[All-Black Sword]

[Item Rarity: Only One]

[Item Effects:

*Upon slaying an enemy, their Soul will be allowed to enter Absolute Death's realm as one of his soldiers

*Able to call upon the Night Creatures stored within the blade to battle

+Deal extra damage except to Undead

+Small Probability to instantly kill except to Undead

+High Probability to convert a portion of the damage dealt to Health and/or Mana

+Probability to trigger the Passive {Creeping Darkness} with every successful hit

+The Skill {Hollowing} is available (LOCKED)

+The Skill {Dark Reality} is available (LOCKED)

+The Skill {True Form} is available (LOCKED)

-If wielded by a non-Undead Race, the blade will consume the wielder's vitality, eventually killing them and has the extremely small probability of turning them into Undead.

[Item History: A blade forged from countless unique metals with the intent to drown any and all in the darkness of its creator. It was made from the being known as Absolute Death, by his unique Aura that spreads a dizzying and disgusting feeling everytime it is exposed to the living. It has a mind, but never thinks. It has a heart, but it never beats. The only time it shall ever be truly whole, truly alive, truly express the darkness it is made of, is when it is wielded by its true creator and father, Absolute Death]

[Item Durability: ?????]

[Item Usage Condition: Sora Kuroka, Saulian Reilan Arscheen, Level 700+]

The terrifying blade hid its true forms, its true strength, but even when it was suppressed the power it could demonstrate was immensely overwhelming. The Item was shaking faintly, showing disobedience to its current wielder, Saulian Reilan Arscheen.

This disobedience was soon silenced as he pointed the blade towards his enemies. The blade was discharging a faint black Aura, as if it yearns for the lives it's presented with.

"If you submit, your death shall be swift. If you resist, it will turn into a futile struggle. Accept, or be tortured until your mind breaks to hundreds of pieces."

Saulian gave the two Daemons a chance for a silent, peaceful exit from this life. But, that was never any Daemon's wish. If one dies peacefully, they would be ridiculed for all eternity, for as long as the Daemon Race continues to exist.

"Hahaha, what a funny joke, bag of bones. As if a Daemon would accept your proposal. We'll be laughingstocks when another arrives here and learns of our death. We would rather die with a bang, than to lay down and give our heads to you." Kalven Killian expressed his disdain with a bittersweet smile.

"Dying peacefully is and will always be a foreign concept to us Daemons. Fighting and dying in it, that was always how we have lived, as a species, as a Race, as another unique existence in this World. If Absolute Death wants us, then he'll have to fight and kill us." Arsuriel Renoldan said with a solemn, yet resolute and determined voice.

These two Daemons were like any other Daemons both before and after them. Warriors, monsters, and existences that have meaning only in battles and wars. That is and forever will be, the 'meaning' of Daemons.

"Then, come Daemons. Let this be your final hurrah, your final battle."

Saulian accepts them for what they are, for what the Daemon Race is and will always be, and decides to complete their final chapter in this life.

"It's been a good run, Arsuriel. But, it seems like this is the end. Our journey was brief, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Kalven… I am glad to have you as my brother in arms."

"And so am I, brother."

With those parting words, they gave it their last efforts to try and resist Death. To try and paint their last moment to be as epic as possible, to write the last meaningful sentences of their final chapter, together.

"Ability Boost, Demonic Enhancement, Devil's Burst, Devouring Sword!"

Arsuriel powered up with every technique he has. He released the suppressed power of his Sword. And with a roar, he charged forward with bravery.

"Death Enhancement, Stalking Shadows."

Kalven disappears from sight like a mirage, and fills the air with a sudden inexplicable chill.

"Hahahahahaha! What fun, but ultimately futile."

Arsuriel's monstrously deformed blade of flesh met with the cold All-Black Sword. Upon contact, the All-Black Sword caused sparks of black darkness to explode out. It floated toward Arsuriel, and it wasn't so good for him when one landed on his skin.

"Kuh!!"

His vision darkened rapidly, and he was plunged into darkness. His immediate reaction was to jump back, reassessing the situation as he frantically looked around.

"The endless darkness, you'll get used to it after you're killed by this blade and return to my father's side as his servant. Consider this as a showcase of how your life will be like afterwards."

Arsuriel turned around and raised his blade up on its flat side. The edges expanded outward and completely shielded him. His senses picked up danger, grave danger that would kill him if he didn't defend against it.

"Good instincts, but wrong person."

When the darkness cleared, it was Kalven who had his knives embedded onto the fleshy sword. Then, with one swift swing, the All-Black Sword cuts the two Daemons in half at their abdomen.

"What…?"

"Kalven…"

The two stared at each other's eyes dumbfounded by this development.

Kalven clearly saw and targeted Saulian in his point of view, but when he blinked as he presumably struck the back of Saulian's neck, Arsuriel's sword was the one he struck.

"You two are pretty easy… but this isn't enough to kill you two yet, is it?"

The two Daemons, recovered from their injury, moved and distanced themselves from Saulian in an instant.

"Instant Acceleration! Taste the final gasp of your life, Last Breath!"

"Be reduced to nothing but crimson blood, Unleash Calamity: Agnos Karnas!"

They unleashed their ultimate techniques, the combined might was immensely powerful that it shook the place they're in. A red Aura spewed and violently blasted into the air, reaching the high ceiling and lighting the place up brightly.

Meanwhile, Kalven was right in front of Saulian in an instant. Their distance wasn't that close, a couple of hundreds of meters at least, and yet the distance was narrowed so quickly like he has just teleported.

"Futile, didn't I say?"

With yet another casual swing, Saulian was able to make quick work of Kalven. He was sliced into two, and then three, and then four, and so on.

"Acceleration Sword."

Slowly, blue Aura began to envelop the blade of the All-Black Sword, but it was soon drowned by the encroaching darkness.

"There, now you should be dead."

It was in a matter of seconds, and now the giant pillar of red Aura moved down to strike him flat.

"Still, this amount of effort is commendable. Others were better, but you two are good enough so I shall recognize your strength."

Kalven's bits of meat disintegrated into black ash the next moment, as Saulian pointed his sword upward to the fiery pillar of Aura.

"Take this, and vanish into the darkness. Know the difference between us, Daemon."

With yet another casual swing of the All-Black Sword, a cone shaped black Aura spread out and grew as it traveled through the air. Silence, as the ultimate technique that could cut down even a Great Daemon was vanquished without a trace.

"Farewell, Daemon."

It wasn't known how Saulian managed to arrive in front of Arsuriel, and when his sword was plunged through his heart. It all happened so fast, yet it seems like Arsuriel didn't care.

"Haha… the end, it isn't so bad. Cold…"

With that, Arsuriel also reduced to black ash and fell to the ground as flakes. The black ash soon also disappeared without a trace, the same with Kalven's.

'Well… this is uneventful and one-sided as heck.'

I was disappointed, really. Saulian must also be disappointed somewhat, as he returns the All-Black Sword to where he retrieved it.

"Now… I can wait in silence again."

It's been a while since a battle had lasted for several days like this for Saulian. The Daemons were weak, but still Saulian didn't kill them immediately. It's not in his nature to finish the fight quickly, if it's possible he would like for the opponent to exhaust everything and then he'll kill them.

'Still quite a good show, I suppose.'

The fight was nice, but I should get back. A few days would undoubtedly change those three for the better no doubt

......

Monster, I was a monster once. A monster that was curious. A monster that was seen as a disgusting thing that shouldn't exist.

My existence is a curse, a failure, something unnatural that shouldn't exist in the first place.

No one accepted me, no one wanted to embrace me, no one wanted to spare me.

So, I killed. I killed not in self-defense, but out of the same curiosity that drove me to leave my home and respond to something's calling. I can't recall it, but it didn't matter.

My mindless curiosity continued. It continued until I met him, the person who saw more than a monster in me. He sheltered me, and comforted me, something very odd and foreign to me. But, I was curious, so I stuck around and came to know of him.

Sora Kuroka, Saurosh Koravek Solomon, an Undead and God of Death. He was the most curious person that I wanted to know most about. My curiosity led me to call him Older Brother, a title that I once heard of from the many things I ate.

Older Brother, he's a compassionate and lovely man. He's married. He has the others, who I consider to be my brothers and sisters as well. And he shares me stories, nutritious and lovely stories to satiate my hunger of curiosity.

But one day, he suddenly disappeared. He has disappeared before, but he always returned the next day or hour so I wasn't worried. It only began to worry me when he didn't return for a whole year, and then another, yet another, and one more year afterwards. In a blink of an eye, eons have passed and now, finally, I spotted him. Within the dreams of uncertainty and murky realities, I foresaw his return.

I'm delighted, oh so very delighted. But, he has changed. I couldn't seem to discern his two forms anymore, like he was now whole as the Older Brother that I know instead of two separate entities. He's a little stranger now, but still, he's my Older Brother.

I can't wait for him to arrive at my floor, oh the joys I wish to inflict on him for his long absence. I know it's not his fault, but everyone's going to do it, so why not? Hehe, I can't wait!