[67.5] The Beast of the Dungeon

[****Disclaimer: This chapter involves violence against children that some reader's may find disturbing. There is mentions of cannibalism, child abuse, and torture that may be too uncomfortable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.]

Over the next few days, I stayed in the cave while attempting to open up those strange black holes again so I could go back to my time. However, nothing I tried ever worked. During my breaks from brainstorming, I would explore the mountain. After looking around for several days, I grew bored.

I stared down at my torn dress, "I can't believe I'm just now realizing I'm walking around in a dress perfect for Halloween. I don't want to go back to those clingy villagers… But… I really do need something new to wear."

I shivered once I thought of the villagers calling out my name and grabbing onto me desperately.

"Maybe I should find an actual town."

After counting my rations to ensure I would survive several months if necessary, I hopped back on my ice chunk and left the mountainside. Luckily, there was only one mountain top as high as my new home, so I could never get lost. I searched around for days, occasionally encountering a few humans or demons who needed my help. I showed them in the direction of the villagers leaving it up to the barrier to determine if they could be trusted or not.

I've been here for so many days…

It might have even been months.

As I flew, I let out a sigh.

What am I going to do-

Wait!? What is that!? 

  I lowered myself down, my eyes lighting up when I saw two obvious lines in the ground.

It's a road!

A real road!!!

Or at least, I think it is…

I quickly rushed forward, crossing my fingers that I was going in the right direction. As I did, I noticed a strange contraption being dragged.

Hm? 

That doesn't look like a carriage… It looks like-

As I got closer, steel bars came into view. My eyes widened in shock, "Is that a cage!?!"

I hopped down off my ice chunk, landing in front of the men pulling the cage. Inside, I could see the frightened faces of a few demons around the age of children or teenagers trapped inside.

The men suddenly jumped to attack me, but I blasted them away. 

I left one alive just so I could grasp his neck tightly in my grasp. I held the guy's neck with my hand as my skin scorched his skin. My eyes were dark as I stared down at him, "Tell me. What are you doing with these demons?"

"I-It belongs to one of our Lords! It's for his personal outpost!!!"

My grip tightened, "And for what purpose were you bringing these poor demons there?"

"T-To be eaten by the beast he raises!"

I felt my teeth clenching as flames burst in front of me. I ignored the screams of agony coming from the flames before me and turned to the demons huddling in fear. I melted the steel bars and opened the cage, "Come out."

They came out one by one, each of them holding onto the other. 

I stared at them silently, mentally noting how small they all were.

I pointed into the distance, "There's a village not too far that will take you in as long as you hold no malicious intent."

They all stood frozen in fear, prepared to meet the same fate as the pile of ash beside me.

I scowled, "Or don't go. Do what you want."

I turned back in the direction of the outpost, feeling a surging fire building in my chest.

I'm putting an end to this.

I stormed the outpost, blowing away anyone who dared try to stop me. There were no demons inside, only multiple guards protecting a building that led underground. I went down the hidden stairs, each step filling me with a strange sense of anxiety.

The air was heavy and it was eerily silent.

It was odd to not encounter any guards when I had just blasted several on my way inside.

As I entered the dungeon's main chamber, I searched for any human or demon being held against their will. Without finding either, I wandered around until I finally came across a wooden door. There was something off about it, so I paused in front of it, taking a deep breath. 

Deadly black shadows filled my sight, alerting me to the danger behind the door.

Didn't they say those caged demons were to be fed to a beast?

Could it be… The beast is just past that door?

If that's true, I have no choice but to go inside.

I have to take care of the beast so no one else will be fed to it.

I took a deep breath and forced open the door.

My eyes widened, surprised to see what looked like an office. I went inside, looking at the papers strewn across the floor.

"You can't be in here-"

I snapped my fingers, turning the two guards into ash as I read those papers.

Day XXXX. I recently picked up a pup. He tried so hard not to cry when I killed his family. I bet he would be even more lovely if I broke him slowly.

Day XXXX. The pup is truly extraordinary.  He can steal any demonic ability just from coming into contact with another demon. I knew I was right in taking him.

Day XXXX. The pup is just so fun to tease! He calls me Father and begs me not to hurt him. It's just so fun!

Day XXXX. The pup is so smart. No matter what I do to him, he won't harm me. As long as I remind him about how much I love him, he always comes running back to me.

Day XXXX. I made the pup kill his new friend. He looked so cute as he cried! I should think about other ways to make him cry just like that.

Day XXXX. My lovely pup didn't throw up his meal this time… I guess he prefers to eat Demons who take the form of chickens.

Day XXXX. The pup has a tendency to cry at night when he thinks he's alone. Whipping seems to have a positive effect.

Day XXXX. The pup has a unique regenerating ability as long as it's not a holy weapon being used.

Day XXXX. The pup is begging me to stop… His whimpers are just so adorable! I think next time, I will force him to eat a child demon.

I covered my mouth in horror as I read the notes.

This man… Is he torturing a child?!

This…

This is really f*cked up!

I raised my head, noticing a dark hallway.

Is that where he is keeping the "pup"?

I slowly stepped toward it, dropping the papers on the ground. Eventually, it led to a room without any natural light. There was a bed, a toilet, a table…

It looked like a studio apartment from a horror movie.

There was dried blood everywhere and the smell of death was so powerful, it made me so sick that I felt faint.

My voice croaked as I tried to hold my breath, "Hello?"

*clang clang*

I heard the sound of chains being dragged on the ground and looked at the floor for the source of the noise. Bolted to the stone floor was a chain with a magic circle sketched into it. 

It's just like the collar they put on me as a child…

I followed the chain and noticed it led under a table.

I bent down, sneaking a glance under a table pushed against a wall.

It was so dark, but I could make out dull eyes staring back at me in fear.

It's…

A child?

Is this the pup from the notes?