Verse Nine

Malphas has no love for his subordinates. Daemons are beings that live according to hierarchy and with the mentality of 'survival of the fittest'. That's how it's been, and that's how he managed to sustain his rank. His legion of subordinates merely obey out of fear, and loyalty born out of lust for his power.

On days where prey of an 'appropriate power' failed to enter the dungeon for days, daemons resort to cannibalism to satiate their hunger and absorb power. This was also the time when the stronger demons right among themselves and see who was worthy enough to be fed to Malphas. In the end, they end up killing themselves, and Malphas feeding on them all, thus increasing the power gap between him and his subordinates.

But having little people to match his power, Malphas ended up disliking the dungeon. He was confined within its space and kept in the company of simple-minded daemons that were hardly a joy to be around. For centuries, he was bored in his castle, waiting for something to amuse him.

Then 'that' day came. The day when he was forced to kneel before a young girl at the age of seventeen. She wasn't 'powerful' like those who challenged him before. Those fools were adorned with weapons and armor with the grace of gods, with flamboyant attires to match its power. But in the end, he was defeated by a girl wearing nothing but a school uniform and a glass pen in her hands. There was one other person that time, but he remained behind with a watchful gaze upon the school girl.

The battle didn't even last fifteen minutes. The dungeon was under his command, but a few foreign words uttered by that girl, and the energy around them was hers to use. 

"Kneel."

That was the last thing she spoke before he was restrained by an energy he never expected could be used. It was ridiculous. He eventually learned that this power was not considered 'overpowered' and was quite common among those people; the ones they call 'wordsmiths'.

But the amount of danger the girl reeked of did not compare to that man she called 'master'. If he only lasted fifteen minutes against the girl, he reckon he would only survive for five against that man. Of course, not wanting to die, Malphas opted to bargain. Despite the humiliation of serving a human, he knew he made the right choice.

Brief memories of their first encounter visited Malphas as he witnessed CK's performance against three high-ranking daemons. The sleeves of her sweaters were rolled against her elbows when she realized they were a little troublesome.

"Raah!" the werebat screeched, causing sound waves to manifest. CK conjured blocked her hearing, but this also prevented her from hearing the rushing footsteps behind. CK barely turned in time to dodge the claws of the weretiger. The claws made a gash against the hem of her sweaters.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she said, dodging each swipe and slash with each step backward. CK's glanced down when it crumbled. Her eyes widened as a shadow loomed from behind, where the ape raised a fist to punch her.

'Yikes,' CK thought before swiping her glass pen upward. A barrier absorbed the force of the punch, causing it to vibrate violently. CK's eyes glimmered viciously before extending a palm, "Dimittis!"

The barrier released the absorbed force, causing a large shockwave to spread out like a violent echo. The ape stumbled back, but the werebat was sent flying back as it was the lightest among the three. CK dismissed the barrier and watched the daemons recover.

'Their teamwork is impeccable,' CK thought, a little more impressed than before. The werebat's maneuvers mid-air synched with the speed of the weretiger, both supporting the ape to fight against her. 

It was funny. It was as if CK herself was the boss they had to form a team to beat. She held her chin and tilted her head, "Hey, I got a question. Does this dungeon have a new master right now?"

How she learned about the dynamics of their dungeon baffled the daemons, but they raised their guard. <There is, but it is useless to ask. You will be dead before you can meet him.> the ape answered.

"So, there is? Nice, nice. Say, is he stronger than Malphas, or is he just like on your levels?" CK asked. The weretiger's eyes turned into slits, <Do not utter the Earl's name so lightly, human. You are worthy.>

"Not his name? I'll just come up with a nickname for him, then. Say, how does 'Mal' or 'Malphie' sound?" CK taunted with a smirk, triggering a chuckle in her mind. The daemons snarled in anger and attacked once more.

"Hm, whatever. I'll judge your new boss' abilities myself," CK smirked excitedly and wrote in the air, "Let's end this quickly."

The werebat was about to unleash another set of stunning waves when a cluster of stalactites hung over it and dropped, pinning the werebat unto the ground like a pin cushion. It let out a weak cry before dying out.

CK stepped to the side as a pair of flaming claws sliced towards her. She swiped her glass pen, causing the marble floors to break into splinters. Like expected, the ape was waiting to ambush her from behind.

CK jumped to the side as the ape tried to pounce on her. "Constringere et suffocare," she spoke. The splinters of marble floor cut upward, latching itself on the body of the ape to create a crushing prison. The ape roared as it tried to break free, but the cracks of marble closed and crushed its body tighter.

CK heard a snap, and she decided to dismiss the cage. The ape dropped with a lifeless thud on the ground along with the debris that caged it. She cast a barrier as the weretiger rushed towards her speedily.

She sent out a barrage of conjured spears, but the weretiger dodged them all and was a close inch away from nearly snagging CK's arm off. CK's eyes narrowed, "You're quite difficult to aim at."

The weretiger snarled in response before gaining speed, throwing a series of slashes towards her. CK blocked each claw by conjuring a brief wall of energy. The weretiger's claws glowed like magma beneath the grounds, and it slashed against the barrier, cutting through successfully.

'Impressive. It knows how to adapt to the enemy's movements,' CK thought and cast a screen of green smoke before her. It's a shame she was first.

She blew the smoke towards the weretiger as it got ready to attack with its fiery claws. However, the savage slits of its eyes dilated dully seconds after inhaling the smoke. Its movements became sluggish, and CK did not waste any more time. She conjured a stalactite from the surrounding debris and dropped it against the weretiger, stabbing it against the ground in a dark splatter of blood.

The weretiger died on its feet. CK brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes, 'Where can I find the new boss of the dungeon, Malphas?'

<The same place where we first met, little mistress. In this dungeon's 'throne room'.>

'Alright,' CK thought and prepared to phase away. She didn't want to waste time on the weaker daemons and give time to the boss to prepare.

<You know, I would always respond to whatever name you choose address me as. Pay no attention the underlings' fuss over my name. They were prohibited from speaking only because they are unworthy.>

'I wasn't paying much attention to that. I was just joking to piss them off,' CK responded. <Alright. But my point still stands> Malphas said amusingly.

CK remembered vaguely about how the throne room was like. There was a lone throne at the center of that room, with banners of Malphas' sigil propped up in formation. There were large windows allowing a glimpse of what was outside: a violent storm where the more adaptable daemons could take flight unaffected. At the back of that throne room would be a large flag draped from the ceiling, the symbol of Almadel and its 72 constituents as its tapestry.

At least, that was how it was back then. Upon CK's arrival, the first to greet her was the beheading of an armored man. Her eyes widened in surprise as the head came off swiftly with a slice of a wing, and the rest of the body slumped to the ground limply.

The head rolled until it came to a stop before CK, leaving a splatter of blood in its trails. CK took notice of the sigil upon the helmet attached to the head: a four-pointed star with six wings. The symbol of the Radiance Church.

<Ah, so this was the one who killed daemons we passed by earlier. He made your journey smoother, hasn't he?>

"Mm," CK spoke and lifted her gaze to the towering figure a few distances before her, "I ought to show my gratitude in the sincerest way possible."

The daemon before her was unlike the three daemons CK dealt with. Almost seven feet tall, the daemon was a hybrid that took the torso of a man but the lower body of a bird. His helmet resembled the feathers on the back of an eagle's head, but with wings of a bat. This dysmorphic cluster of features led CK to a conclusion in her mind.

<Your thoughts are correct. The daemon standing before you is Araglio, a corrupted chimera that was possessed by one of my more competent subordinates few decades ago. However, his arrogance upon getting such powerful body annoyed me. He tried to stage coup against me once.>

"Oh, really?" CK mused out loud. <Yes. As punishment, I forced him to morph into an amphibian and made eat his own tail teach a lesson. It's fun making human idioms literal. In case, it was after he 'chased tail' thinking could best me.> Malphas chuckled, <It seems he still hasn't learned his lesson. Please teach him for me, little mistress.>

"Why does it sound like you're just sending me to clean up your annoying subordinates for you?" CK grumbled. However, she immediately tilted her head to avoid a dangerous laser beam shot towards her forehead.

"You missed," CK taunted, sticking her tongue out. Araglio's eyes squinted as he sat on the throne made from a spine. 

<If it isn't the killer of Earl Malphas. I always wondered whether a pubescent human killing him was true or not. As turns out, is both and false> he spoke, <I sense him. He's with you at this moment, is he not? Reduced to being nothing but a soul decorating human's essence... What joke he's become.>

"From the looks of it, you're just the same. A soul possessing a chimera's body thinking it belongs to him is a rather undignified thing for a high-ranking daemon to do…or not," CK smirked, "I've no idea what daemons consider 'superior' among themselves. One thing is for sure, though: Malphas thinks you're unworthy of ruling his dungeon and wants me to kick you out."

<Hah! Utter foolishness! Tell him to face me himself if he wants the throne back, not sending his own killer do job out of desperation!> Araglio guffawed, <Why put him back on this throne for? He's weak if he lost to a human, and I can do better job as master. I'll bring dungeon into the physical world build it upon those deformed chunk of islands. This sift is falling apart, after all. It's sign for Crow's Legion conquer take over other territories, don't you agree?>

"How can I agree with something I didn't understand a word about?" CK deadpanned, "However, I'll demolish this flimsy quest of yours. Those 'chunk of islands' belong to my school, and the uneducated have no right taking away what belongs to us."

"Also, I'm not here to give Malphas the throne," CK smirked, "I'm here to take it. So get your deformed butt off. You're sitting on my chair."

<Ha… HAHAHAHA!> Araglio's booming laugh caused the floors to shake slightly. <Simply because you managed to defeat Malphas doesn't mean can match every other daemon there is. I admire arrogance, but your stupidity is even greater.>

<I am the master of this dungeon. I control everything that happens in> Araglio's wide smile was disturbing. CK looked around as the throne room morphed violently. The grounds became a jagged mess, and the ceilings became inverted.

CK's eyes widened as the ground beneath her gave away, causing her to fall. The environment shifted, and CK found herself free-falling. A shadow loomed over her, and she saw Araglio summoning a large fireball and blasting it towards her.

"Ridiculous," CK snorted and wrote runes in the air while chanting, "Aperi mihi pagina scribere novum mundum."

Her free fall suddenly came to a halt, and the fire ball paused on its trajectory. Araglio's eyes widened in shock as the entire dungeon froze in time before it converged into one, large swirl, overwhelming his sense of what exists.

The swirl kept churning and churning until it made a violet explosion, a surge of colors spreading over. Araglio shielded his face against the sudden force of energy. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in a throne room seemingly made from living scribbles of sketches. It was as if sketches on a paper came to life, with him as the only three-dimensional being inside it.

He gazed in front, where a long flight of staircases led to a throne decorated with a pair of crow wings enveloping the throne. CK was seated on the throne. She made a small snort, "There's no appeal sitting on a throne, after all. How anticlimactic."

Araglio's eyes widened to see the bird cage above the throne, where a vantablack figure stood with golden eyes full of amusement.

<O…Overlord Malphas!>

Malphas snorted. It was this same incantation that spelled his unexpected downfall. It still sounds so casual coming from CK's lips. Looks like there will be no battle after all. What a shame.

The translucent man lounging comfortably in the bird cage waved lazily at him. <She didn't give you a chance to show off, did she?> Malphas chuckled. Araglio's brows furrowed in confusion.

But his confusion immediately turned into alert as the grounds he stood on disappeared, leaving him to float. CK descended the stairs and clasped her hands behind her back.

<What…is this place?! Filthy human, what have you done?!>

"I did you a favor. You were so happy talking about being able to control an entire dungeon. But the thing is, it's not that impressive," CK smiled, "So I had to show you what being in control really is like."

CK twirled a finger in circular motion. Araglio yelled in pain as he felt his wings twist and stretch against his will while CK continued with her gesture. Malphas lounged in his cage idly. They were inside a sift CK created herself, separate from the outside world. He and Araglio are at her mercy.

"The only arrogant and stupid one between us is you. From what Malphas told me, it seems you were not a big threat to his rule. And yet when you heard he was defeated, your first reaction is to rejoice," CK tilted her head, "Had you had any instinct for self-preservation, your first choice would have been to run."

Then, she shrugged. "But I guess if you did, I'd have to deal with the Radiance Church instead, so… I guess you had some use warming the seat for me," CK giggled, "I'd indulge you in maybe, ten minutes' worth of fighting, but I'm on a tight schedule.

"Time in here flows a little faster than the physical world's, and you're not worth showcasing my abilities to," CK smiled as she stopped right in front of Araglio, "Don't worry. You will have a merciful death."

Ptu!

Araglio spat on her face, causing her gaze to turn cold. <You're nothing but talk, filthy coward. You can't even face me in my own dungeon and weak enough to not kill Malphas after all! Fake, little bitch. I'll cut your body parts eat them over the days to—!>

Slash!

Araglio's body was cut in half once. Then, a few more slashes resounded until all of his body were dismembered, limbs and joints no longer attached. CK's lips were curled into a smile as she created a handkerchief out of the energy around her.

"Did you mean to cut me up like this?" she asked as she wiped the spit on her cheek. She dismissed the handkerchief back into dusts of energy before turning on her heel, not expecting an answer out of the dismembered dungeon master.

<Heh. I thought you would make his death merciful.> Malphas mused. "I changed my mind the last minute," CK replied and looked up at the bird cage, "Come here."

Malphas watched as the cage dispersed, freeing him momentarily. <Hmph. > his lips curled before floating towards CK's location, obeying the girl's order. 

The dismembered body parts turned into orbs of energy that clustered together, turning into a brass-colored orb of shining light. CK held it within her hand as she stared at it observantly. 

Malphas was now behind her, and she turned to him while clutching the orb. Malphas' brows rose in realization.

<Ah, this. This is the soul of dungeon, something we like to call a 'crown'. Only masters dungeon can own it, therefore being able command everything that belongs dungeon.> he explained and smiled, <Now that you killed Araglio, the crown of Crow's Legion is yours.>

"Alright," CK said, absorbing the crown until its glow was half its former brilliance. She extended what remains of the orb to Malphas, who raised his brows.

"Take it. You wanted to gain physical form, didn't you?" CK said. Malphas bowed his head lightly, <I do. Then, if you will excuse me…>

Malphas took the brass-colored orb and swallowed it. His eyes glowed an intense light before his translucent body manifested physically. It was for a moment, but CK caught a glimpse of intricate marks on his torso before Malphas was engulfed in a shower of feathers.

It did not last long. The feathers floated around Malphas before shifting, turning into a new set of black robes for him to wear. Golden bracelets clasped his wrists, a golden anklet on his left foot, and varying golden necklaces adorning his neck, where the sign of his allegiance to CK remain visible.

"Hot damn, you're good looking," CK said in astoundment. <But of course. I take the form whatever you find most appealing in your mind, body, and heart. So please, do try to avoid catching any nonsensical feelings for me. This is merely a manifestation desires.> Malphas' eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Ah, well that's it, then. You just had to expose me like that," CK rolled her eyes. <Aha, my apologies. Sadly, this is only a form I can take in your subconscious and the dungeon. Once we step into physical world, however, assume of lower being due to restraints Chalk Prison.> Malphas explained.

"I see. That means you'll need more energy in order to take better forms," CK said, which Malphas only smiled to. The girl found this suspicious, but she said nothing else.

<From what I see, you have no trouble dealing with your opponents on own. Is my mistress so uninterested in entertaining others battle or is it something else?> Malphas wondered. "They're not worth my time. That's all," CK said.

<Ah, perhaps they're not powerful enough to contend with you at your current form?> Malphas mused, <In that case, I look forward to the day you will someone who shall entertain in battle.>

"Hehe," CK's lips curled as she looked at the glass pen in her hand, her eyes twinkling viciously, "I'm looking forward to that day as well. Things are too boring at this point in time."

"Well, if there's nothing else, let's leave. I'm expending unnecessary power maintaining this sift," CK spoke and pointed her glass pen in front of her, "Finiendum fabula."

The surroundings turned paper white until it faded to transparency. CK was now back inside the dungeon throne room with a crow flying closely next to her. CK noticed this and nearly jolted in surprise.

"Oh? Malphas, is that you?" CK asked. The crow's familiar golden eyes glinted as it looked at her with sentience.

<It's still me, little mistress. If I will be accompanying you, this is the form can take for now. Please, don't worry. powerful enough, that other you like so much. You just need to a patient.> Malphas said bemusedly.

"I won't fuss over it. If they aren't interesting in other ways, some handsome faces can get boring if seen too frequently," CK said and giggled, touching the golden necklace adorning the crow's neck, "This form is adorable, too. Keep it like this for now."

<…As you wish, little miss.>

"Alright, back to business. The trip to the dungeon showed a few interesting things. The paladin from the Radiance Church…" CK trailed off as she frowned in thought. Both Winslow and Ms. Dulia are from the same church that knew about the existence of the sift. What would their church want from the dungeon?

"It must've been Ms. Dulia's doing," CK muttered. <You were wise to come here first, little miss. Something that Araglio said suddenly piqued my interest as well.> Malphas said. CK frowned deeper.

"I know. It's something that has to do with 'that'," she said. She was glad she listened to Malphas and took over the dungeon first. Otherwise, that paladin would have seen something more concerning, and CK and Erzem will be blamed for it.

"We're going back. I'll have this poor place a makeover when I have the time," CK said as she opened the sift, disappearing into it with Malphas following behind.

They appeared in front of CK's dormitory. CK walked in and was ready to get some snacks until she saw a group of students hustling and crowding around the living room. 

She raised an eyebrow. That's the school press. What were they doing in the girls' dormitories? 

She got her answer when they saw her, and their faces lit up. "Miss CK!" they said. Before she knew it, CK was surrounded by student journalists and overwhelmed by dozens of incoherent questions buzzing off all at once.

"Miss CK, is it true that the Nonaphrontistery has withdrawn your graduation due to criminal charges against you?"

"Miss CK, what are your thoughts on Professor Erzem's supposed involvement in illegal transactions using the school's name?"

"Will you be able to graduate, or are you going to be sent to prison after the trial?"

"Miss CK, when, where, and what is your trial going to be about?"

"I heard you are being tried because Professor Erzem could not answer for his charges at the moment. What are your thoughts?"

"Slow down, you lot! I can't understand a thing!" CK said in annoyance. She can't make heads or tails of anything they were asking, let alone be bombarded all because of the trial.

"This is the second ever case the Nonaphrontistery has ever held since its founding! How does that make you feel?"

"Miss CK, were you aware that using forbidden technology is the reason that the Juris has attacked the school's expedition armada recently."

CK's eyes widened. "Who asked that?" she looked around. A sophomore boy with a notepad flinched but gained composure, "It was me, miss CK."

"What is that you asked about forbidden technology?" CK asked firmly. "W-Well… A source has said that you are being tried for using forbidden technology to catch a high-ranking entity of some sorts for your thesis," the sophomore answered, "Forbidden technology can also hurt wordsmiths when used wrongly. This was also the reason speculated for the Juris to attack the school."

CK's eyes narrowed. This is another piece of information she didn't know. What was going on?