Spooky Diaries: Halloween Special!

Enjoy this 100% canon, definitely happened, chap of Spooky Diaries!

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[The Hidden Door in the Labyrinth.]

"I'm telling ya, it wasn't there before, and I definitely didn't put it there!" Ramiris insisted, her voice wavering slightly as she pointed to the peculiar door tucked into an unassuming corner of the Labyrinth. It looked oddly mundane, except for the faint glow seeping from the edges, as if something on the other side was waiting.

"We should check it out then, no?" Veldora replied, curiosity gleaming in his eyes as he stepped forward. But Ramiris grabbed a tuft of his hair, stopping his progress.

"Are you stupid? What if there's a monster in there?" She asked, her wings buzzing anxiously. "We should just tell Rimuru and let him deal with it!"

"Nah, I'm here!" Milim declared, grinning as she cracked her knuckles. "If there's anything spooky in there, I'll just punch it! Besides, I'll keep you safe, Ramiris." Without waiting for approval, Milim marched confidently through the doorway.

Ramiris gulped, her eyes darting between her two friends and the shadowy tunnel. 

"Uh… fine, but if we see anything… creepy, we run, got it? What if this thing messes up the Labyrinth?"

The passage twisted and turned, stretching longer than it seemed it should, and by the time they emerged, they found themselves… back in Tempest. Or was it?

They exchanged uneasy glances. The familiar structures of the city surrounded them, but everything seemed… off. Colors were slightly muted, shadows lingered too long, and the usual hustle of Tempest felt hollow. It was like a ghostly imitation of their home.

"Hm?" Milim muttered, squinting at the strange town. But before she could start exploring, Ramiris shoved her forward.

"Let's not stick around! Just a quick look, and we're outta here." She whispered, taking the lead with a forced bravado.

As they walked, a figure shuffled into view, a Hobgoblin, yet there was something really strange about him. Where his eyes should have been, there were large, black buttons, stitched onto his face. His mouth stretched into an unnaturally wide grin as he waved.

"Well, howdy there! Newcomers, eh?" The hobgoblin greeted, his head tilting just a little too far as he looked them over. "Welcome to Tempest! You must be here to meet Mother, aren't you?"

"Mother?" Veldora repeated, eyes narrowing as he took in the Hobgoblin's unsettling appearance.

"Oh, yes." the Hobgoblin said, his smile growing even wider. "Mother, our wonderful creator. She'd just love to meet you." He chuckled softly, but it had an edge, like a joke only he found funny. "Oh, she'll be thrilled to have you for dinner."

Before they could respond, a strange noise echoed through the quiet streets, a low, rhythmic clinking, like chains dragging across the ground. The hobgoblin's laughter grew louder, his grin stretching almost unnaturally. 

"Oh, she's here already… Mother must have sensed you the moment you crossed through."

"Um… this feels… bad." Ramiris whispered, gripping Milim's arm with surprising strength. "Maybe we should turn back, yeah?"

Milim, however, looked unfazed, though her fists were clenched and ready. 

"Oh, come on, Ramiris. I've punched scarier things than some creepy button-eyed hobgoblin. Let her show herself!"

"Perhaps Ramiris has a point…" Veldora's gaze shifted uneasily as he looked around. "This feels somewhat familiar…"

"Shoulda run when ya had the chance!" The Hobgoblin's delighted voice rang out, still laughing, as the metallic clinking grew louder.

As the clinking grew closer, the shadows around them seemed to thicken. Milim clenched her fists, eyes gleaming with excitement, while Ramiris looked ready to fly out of her skin. Covering her mouth to stop any sounds from leaving her.

Then, a figure appeared from around the corner, a towering silhouette wrapped in an old-fashioned, flowing dress, with long, slender fingers dragging chains behind her. Her face was a perfect, unsettling porcelain mask with large, gleaming button eyes, and a fixed, eerie smile. She moved slowly but with purpose, each step echoing ominously in the unnaturally silent Tempest.

"Welcome, my dear guests." She said softly, her voice silky and sweet but dripping with something sinister. "I'm so delighted you've come. I'm… Mother."

"Uh, yeah, we just kinda stumbled in here." Veldora said, scratching the back of his head, though he couldn't hide his apprehension. "Nice place you've got here… very, uh, unique decor."

"Y-y-you see, we didn't mean to intrude. We'll just… head back the way we came!" Ramiris whispered softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Oh, but why leave so soon?" Mother's voice softened, her head tilting just a little too far as her gaze locked onto Ramiris. "Stay awhile. I've prepared so much for you…"

Milim's expression hadn't changed much as she stared at Mother, glancing back between her and Ramiris, hands on her hips. But, after a few moments, she nodded.

"Look, if you're gonna try something, just know I'm not scared of any 'Mother,' especially one with button eyes." She took a step forward, clearly unimpressed. "You mess with us, and you'll regret it!"

Mother's smile didn't waver. Instead, it seemed to widen, her button eyes glinting. 

"Such brave words, little one. But don't you want to know what makes this place special?" She gestured around, and suddenly, the entire town seemed to shift, taking on an even more nightmarish quality. Windows grew black and hollow, rooftops appeared to twist and loom like claws, and every surface glistened as if wet.

"M-maybe we don't need to know what's so special about it. I'm already plenty freaked out." Ramiris gulped, taking a step back. 

Veldora, curious but cautious, whispered to Milim. 

"I think we should listen to her this time… I've got a really bad feeling."

But Milim, however, finally wavered. 

"She… her power levels… she stronger than aunty Velzard?!?" Milim said dramatically, causing Veldora to shiver even more. "We— we should—"

Mother watched them with gleeful amusement. However she interrupted before Milim could burst out running.

"Well then, since you're staying, I insist you meet the family." She clapped her hands softly, and the sound echoed like a distorted lullaby through the air.

Out of the mist, figures emerged, familiar but unsettling versions of their friends in Tempest. There was a button-eyed Shion, her usual warm expression eerily absent, replaced with a blank stare and that same chilling smile. A button-eyed Benimaru stood beside her, his posture rigid and doll-like. Even a version of Rimuru stepped into view, his eyes replaced with buttons that somehow managed to look as lifeless as they were uncanny.

"Welcome, friends." They chanted in perfect unison, their voices hollow, almost mechanical. "Mother has been waiting for you."

"Th-this is so creepy! We need to go now." Ramiris whimpered, hiding behind Veldora. 

"Hey… you're not the real Rimuru, are you?" Milim asked with some fear.

"Real?" The button-eyed Rimuru tilted his head, voice echoing with a strange, hollow quality. "Mother is our real family. She made us perfect."

"That's right." Mother said softly, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Why settle for a flawed world when you can live here… with me?"

"Uh, alright, I think we've seen enough! Let's get out of here while we still can." Veldora swallowed, glancing at Milim and Ramiris. 

Milim reluctantly nodded, taking a step back as the button-eyed versions of their friends began to edge closer, blocking the way they'd come. 

"You've got a plan, right?!" Ramiris tugged frantically at Veldora's cloak, her wings buzzing in pretend panic, though she barely held back a grin as she saw the nervous gleam in Veldora's eyes.

"I'm… I'm working on it!" Veldora whispered, his gaze darting wildly, searching for an escape. "Just… don't look them in the eyes!" He tried to sound confident, but a tremor betrayed him as he watched the button-eyed figures slowly closing in.

Mother's eerie voice echoed through the empty streets. 

"Why would you want to leave?" Her smile seemed to stretch, impossibly wide, as her button eyes gleamed. "I can give you everything you've ever dreamed of. A perfect Tempest… just for you."

"Veldora! Don't move until I tell you to!" Milim suddenly shouted, her tone unusually serious. "And when you run, you must go as slowly as possible. Too much speed will make this place crumble around us… and trap us here. Forever."

"Wha—Are you serious?" Veldora glanced between them, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he tried to process Milim's bizarre command. "But what if they—"

But the button-eyed versions of their friends didn't wait. They stretched out their hands, inching ever closer, their hollow voices echoing through Tempest.

"Mother will keep you safe… forever…"

"Oh, NOW we're running!" Ramiris squeaked, eyes wide as she gripped Veldora's hair even tighter. But she threw a strange look at Milim before holding back a smile. "So, let's go! And remember, walk slowly, Veldora!"

Veldora's brows knitted in utter bewilderment, but he nodded, taking his first tentative steps backward, forcing himself to move at a snail's pace. His eyes darted wildly to the sides as the figures continued to close in, reaching for them with lifeless, button-eyed stares. Every instinct screamed at him to bolt, but he forced himself to follow Milim's strange instructions.

The three of them crept back, step by painstaking step, and as they moved, Mother's voice grew quieter, fading with each painfully slow step they took. Yet the strange button-eyed replicas kept on getting closer.

It wasn't until button Rimuru reached Veldora and grabbed at his clothes that Veldora finally broke, and ignoring the warnings picked up Milim and grabbed Ramiris before running as fast as he could out of the strange tunnel.

Once outside, he snapped the door shut. Laying his body against it as he breathed heavily.

"Screw that shit, I am calling Rimuru to nuke the Labyrinth." Veldora muttered, yet as he glanced at Ramiris, he couldn't help but frown.

"Hehehe…." Ramiris let out before bursting into a mad chuckle. "I got you!"

Veldora looked in confusion as he turned to Milim who was giggling to herself.

"You… what?" He asked, only to frown as realization struck him. "You were messing with me?!"

"Yeah, it was really funny, you should have seen your face." Ramiris chuckled.

"I only found out once we were inside, but I played along."

"Man, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to recreate Tempest, even if it was just a portion of the real city." Ramiris said with a sigh, which quickly turned into a smile. "Worth it."

Then, Veldora snatched her out of the air.

"I am feeding you to Irys." Veldora complained with a frown causing Ramiris to suddenly let out a legitimate scream of fear.

"Wait! No! We can talk about this!" She began to shout. "Milim!" She shouted, only to see Milim was nowhere to be seen.

Veldora froze as he looked back, with a chill in his back as he saw Milim being dragged by the button-eyed replicas into the fake Tempest.

Milim was struggling but she couldn't get out, and as Veldora focused he could see a replica of Milim dragging her back.

An explosion rang out as fighting began, yet after a few moments, the three collapsed on the floor.

"Did you do that?" Milim asked with some fear.

"No…" Ramiris answered honestly.

"Let's never talk about this again." Veldora muttered, standing up and dusting his clothes off. "This never happened, and there definitely aren't any Button Monsters hidden in the Labyrinth."

"Agreed." Milim and Ramiris answered at the same time as all of them left the Labyrinth without saying another word, yet as they stepped out the world felt off.

"We are out, right?" Veldora asked.

"..."

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[The Cursed Game.]

"Hey, guys, look, I found this strange game. Do you want to play it?" Kenya asked as he brought out a board game titled Jumanji.

"Jumanji? Sure?" Alice answered, looking at the game curiously.

"Here, lemme open it up." Kenya muttered, yet as he put the game down, he felt something was wrong. "Oh? It has a lot of magicules? Why didn't I feel it until now?"

"Maybe it's a magical game!" Ryota exclaimed. "Do you want me to call Chloe to play too?"

"Yeah, we can—" Alice began before the door burst open and an angry Chloe walked in.

"Huh?" all of the kids asked in unison.

"Chloe, we were going to ask if you— ahh!" Ryota shouted as Chloe took out a sword and began charging at them.

Yet, she ran past them until she was right in front of the board game. Then, without mercy, she began to stab the game board over and over, even casting a few fire spells to burn it into ashes.

"Stupid game! Stupid bullshit! Dumbass game!" Chloe shouted, causing all of the kids to look around in fear until Chloe finally stabbed the ashes a few more times.

"Chloe?" Alice asked with some fear.

"Huh?" Chloe asked, turning around and letting a wide, soft smile appear on her face. "Hey guys, sorry about that. Anyways, have you seen the weather lately? Crazy stuff, it's about to start snowing, brrr am I right?" Chloe chuckled awkwardly.

"Yeah?" Kenya asked with some fear and disappointment as he looked at the ashes.

"Well, crazy night. I am going to go look for Rimuru, see ya." Chloe said with a smile before strolling out like nothing had happened.

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[The Clown Witch Project.]

Souei moved through the dense, misty forest with his team close behind, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Something about the woods tonight felt… wrong. Shadows stretched further than they should, and an unnatural silence clung to the air. He signaled for his team to stay alert, but a gnawing feeling crept up his spine.

Ahead, they found the first sign of something amiss, a crude totem, strung together with sticks and bits of fabric, dangling from a branch. It swayed slowly even though there was no wind.

"Sir." One of his team members whispered, eyeing the totem warily. "Do you think… we're being watched?"

"Stay calm." Souei said, keeping his voice steady, even though he felt someone watching him and observing his every move.

They continued deeper into the forest, but soon, they found more totems, each more twisted and grotesque than the last. One was splattered with something that looked suspiciously like blood, and another seemed to be made from twisted vines knotted in the shape of a grinning face.

Suddenly, there was a soft rustling behind them. Souei whipped around, tanto in hand, but found nothing there. Just shadows and the rustling of leaves. Yet… he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being toyed with.

"That laugh… did anyone else hear that?" One of his team whispered, looking around with wide eyes.

But Souei hadn't heard it; instead, he noticed a strange symbol etched into a nearby tree painted in crimson. It was a twisted, almost mocking face, clearly meant to unsettle them. A chill ran through him as he turned back to his team. 

"Whoever's out here wants us to feel scared. Don't give them the satisfaction."

Yet even as he spoke, Tear, hidden high above in the tree top, stifled a gleeful giggle, carefully setting up her next move. She placed small, delicate containers filled with a noxious gas mixture onto nearby branches, designed to break open with the slightest touch.

Souei continued to lead the team forward, but the further they went, the more unsettling things became. Tiny scarecrows fashioned from sticks and torn cloth popped up along their path. One of the team accidentally brushed against a branch, and the container Tear had placed burst open, releasing a nauseating smell that left everyone grimacing.

"What is this?" Souei muttered, waving a hand in front of his face, the irritation starting to show.

But Tear wasn't done yet. She slipped through the shadows, letting the team catch occasional glimpses of her mask, always just out of reach. She'd made sure her eerie giggles would float through the forest, echoing off the trees, creating the illusion that they were surrounded.

Finally, as the team reached the heart of the forest clearing, they found what Tear had arranged as her masterpiece, a twisted "altar" of stones and branches, stained red with what looked like blood, with another totem placed neatly on top. Around it lay scattered remnants of torn cloth, pieces that looked disturbingly familiar, like the scraps from their own cloaks.

Souei stepped closer, his brows furrowing in annoyance as he analyzed the altar.

"Who built this?" Souei whispered.

But before anyone could answer, the laughter burst out again, louder, unrestrained, and unmistakably mischievous. Tear, unable to hold it in any longer, dropped down from a tree, landing with theatrical flair before Souei and his bewildered team. She grinned, throwing her hands out wide.

"Surprise! You should have seen the looks on your faces! Especially you, Mr. Spy! Fear suits you, makes ya look cute, hehe."

In an instant, Souei's team moved to capture Tear. Yet she simply vanished, appearing behind a random Shadow member and nocking them unconscious with a single move.

"Come and catch me Mr. Spy! Unless you wanna run off like last time?" Tear taunted, Yet Souei didn't let it get to him. 

He charged and sent his countless Universal Threads to capture her, only to freeze when he noticed Tear didn't try to escape.

"Stop!" Souei commanded, stopping another Shadow just in time as he was about to charge in.

"Hehe. I gotta give it to ya, Mr. Spy? Spider? Mr. Spyder! You are smarter than you look!" Tear giggled, breaking the threads with ease before jumping to a tree. "Sadly, I gotta go, Mr. Spyder. But I will see you again soon. Hopefully, no one did anything to Tempest while you weren't looking. Hehe."

In an instant, Tear vanished, though Souei had let her escape because his strength was still not up to par. However, he sunk into the shadows and moved as quickly as he could to Tempest. Only to arrive at the foul stench of iron. A smell he recognized immediately as blood.

"No…" Souei whispered, his heart sinking as his eyes took in the scene before him.

Blood splattered the streets, staining the cobblestones. Bodies lay motionless all around, their faces frozen in… peculiar expressions. The only one standing was Shion, visibly trembling as she surveyed the aftermath with a haunted look.

"Lady Shuna…" Souei whispered, his stomach twisting as he saw Shuna lying among the others, her usual serene smile absent. His mind raced, the world seeming to collapse around him.

With a surge of panic, he ran to Shuna, kneeling beside her and pressing his fingers to her neck. Relief washed over him as he felt a faint pulse. She was alive, just unconscious. But as he looked up at Shion, dread crept in as he caught sight of her guilty expression.

"I… I tried to make a Blood Wine for them for Halloween…" Shion stammered, her voice wavering as she held back tears. "I thought it would be a special treat if I didn't use my Cook Skill. But it exploded as I was serving it… and then… then everyone just collapsed!"

Souei's head spun as he tried to process her words. 

"They… collapsed?" He glanced around at the bodies scattered about, looking less like casualties and more like festival-goers passed out mid-party.

"Yes! I-I thought the Hydra blood would add a nice touch…" Shion continued, looking at him with desperate eyes. "I drank some, and I was fine! I didn't know it was… dangerous?"

Souei's mouth fell open in horror as he tried to stay composed. 

"Lady Shion… what exactly did you add to the Blood Wine?"

"Uh…" Shion hesitated, looking away with shame. 

"Hydra blood, obviously… and some salvia, ayahuasca, jimsonweed, and starstruck herbs… you know, just herbs and stuff. To make it taste better?"

Souei felt a sudden need to sit down as he processed the list of ingredients. 

'Herbs and stuff?' He felt his vision swim as he gave out orders through Thought Communication.

'Shadows, bring a medical team… Emergency level 10!'

Scanning the bodies again, he realized that, thankfully, everyone seemed to be breathing, albeit in various states of dazed unconsciousness. Still, they would be out for a while.

"They're alive, just… disoriented." He murmured, more to himself than to Shion, who looked both relieved and distraught. "But those ingredients, Lady Shion… all of them are highly hallucinogenic. And Hydra blood by itself is—"

Before he could finish, Souei's head began to feel light. The world spun around him, colors warping and twisting. Shion's face started to morph into strange, exaggerated shapes, her eyes growing wide and her expression blurring into one of concern that looked almost cartoonish.

"Souei, are… are you okay?" Shion's voice echoed, stretching and distorting.

His vision swam, the ground seeming to melt beneath him as he finally registered that his clothes had soaked up the Blood Wine when he ran to check on Shuna.

'I'm… fine.' He tried to say, but his voice sounded like a distant echo, the world tilting as he struggled to stay conscious. 

He had Poison, Abnormal State, and Paralysis Resistance. Yet Hydra blood was just too strong, even bypassing everyone's resistances here. The last thing he saw before his vision faded completely was Shion's worried, wavering expression, and somewhere, Tear's mocking laughter seemed to echo through his mind.

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[The Daemon's Ritual.]

Masayuki wandered through the quaint streets, feigning a relaxed smile despite the growing tension clawing at the edges of his mind.

"This place... it's really nice." He murmured, trying to convince himself as much as anyone listening.

'This was supposed to be a simple job.' He reminded himself. 'In and out, then straight to the hot springs. Easy.'

Yuuki had set him on this mission to investigate rumors of strange occurrences in this sleepy town, a job Masayuki suspected was a convenient excuse to let him relax. After all, the town was famous for its medicinal hot springs and masseuses. It was mainly a recreational and vacation spot for most travelers and adventurers.

'A "hero's reward" in advance, right?' He thought as he looked around to search for his team. He had sent them off ahead of him since he wasn't much help either way. He just wanted them to figure it out so that he could relax and enjoy the place in peace.

If they found anything, he would simply join them and be the cheerleader to help them win. And by a cheerleader, he meant just standing there. Just being in the general area was enough for his Unique Skill, Chosen One, to take effect and give them all the luck and good vibes needed to succeed.

Sometimes, it was hard being a passenger princess, but who was he to complain?

He didn't bring much to the team, but he at least brought the vibes. Honestly, if anything that was the most important part. With him around the 'Bad Guys' would just get bummed out and surrender. And if they didn't, then his team would just womp them.

"Five-minute job, in and out. Then I can go relax in the springs…" He muttered, suppressing the uncomfortable prickle along his spine. "I am going to ask for the soul search massage." Yet, his smile faded as his steps echoed louder in the sudden stillness.

He'd just started to feel comfortable, tuning out the lurking worry, when he bumped into someone. 

"Oh, sorry about that!" he said, glancing up. His apology fell flat. No one was there.

He blinked, glancing around. The streets, once bustling, now lay disturbingly empty, save for an eerie fog inching its way down every corner, swallowing the town whole. 

"Uh… guys?" He whispered, trying to sound casual, but even his whisper was swallowed by the fog. 

'Something's seriously wrong here.'

He took a cautious step back, and his heel caught on a rock, sending him sprawling onto the cobbled ground. Pain shot up his back as he realized he'd landed on something hard, a stone marked with unsettling, spiraling symbols that seemed to writhe under his gaze. 

"AHHH!" He yelped, tossing the stone away like it burned. "Why did I even pick it up?!"

He scrambled to his feet, the cold chill of the fog creeping deeper, as if clinging to his skin. 

"I gotta get out of here." He thought, glancing around for any escape. A flicker of movement caught his eye, something shambling toward him through the mist. He froze as he heard the faint grumbling sounds and as the figure revealed itself as a Zombie.

'Nope, nope, not dealing with that.'

"Crap!" He gasped as he stumbled, but then an arrow shot past his head, striking the figure square between the eyes. He let out a small, panicked laugh, almost delirious. 

'Thank you, Chosen One'. Luck or not, he wasn't waiting around. He took off running, nearly toppling over barrels and tripping over his own feet, each clumsy step punctuated by the twang of another arrow narrowly missing him.

Before he knew it, he'd barreled into the town square, skidding to a stop as he took in the sight. 

'A summoning circle?!' It was massive, pulsating with ominous energy, and at its center, a cloaked figure chanted in a language that sent chills down Masayuki's spine.

"How did you get here?" The cloaked figure hissed, eyes narrowing. "I used spatial magic to lock this area; only I can access it!" The figure's voice was filled with frustration. "No matter, I've prepared for intruders." He snapped his fingers with a dramatic motion…

…but nothing happened.

"Huh?" Masayuki stared in stunned silence, trying to suppress the shaky relief creeping in. The cloaked man's face contorted with rage, but before he could respond, another arrow whizzed by, grazing Masayuki's cheek. 

'Crap, crap, crap! This is real danger here!' He looked around for his team, only to see the shadows of more zombies closing in. He felt the all-too-familiar weight of panic, his mind racing with wild thoughts. 

'Damn it, this is what I get for sending them off on their own to solve the problem while I relaxed!' Masayuki thought as he turned back at the cloaked man. 'Should I just drop to my knees? Beg for mercy?'

"No matter! You've seen too much. Now, I must kill you!" The man complained, dark energy crackling at his fingertips.

'Guess that's a no on the begging.' Masayuki thought, taking a shaky breath. 'Think, Masayuki. You're a hero, right? Act like one!'

In a burst of panicked determination, he flung the first thing he could grab, a rock near his feet, at the cloaked figure. 

"Random Bullshit, go!" He yelled, charging forward with no plan other than sheer, desperate energy. To his shock, the rock hit the figure's face and then detonated in a blast of sickly green energy, sending the man sprawling backward with a cry.

Gasping, Masayuki didn't stop to question it. Instead, he spotted an apple lying nearby, snatched it up, and, without thinking, chucked it at the reeling man. Yet he missed him entirely, the apple flying past the man.

"Uh…" Masayuki let out a conflicted sound as he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He had expected the apple to do something cool, yet now he was worried his Skill had decided to stop working.

Yet, an arrow suddenly shot past him directly to where he would have been had he kept running.

"Enough!" The cloaked man shouted as the fog began to disperse. "You have caused enough damage. Damn it, my preparations are incomplete, but it will do. Oh, Greater Daemon of Vert! Listen to my call! I offer you the lives of all in this town!"

The magic circle began to glow brightly, yet that's when the fog dissipated enough for Masayuki to spot the apple he had thrown, which had accidentally rolled through the circle and broken the intricate summoning spell.

As the crimson light began to fade, he felt a massive magical shield appear behind him just in time to block the next arrow.

"As expected of the Lightspeed Hero! I can't believe you found the entrance to this place so easily! If it wasn't for you breaking the seal, I might not have stumbled upon it. Bernie and Jiwu are dealing with the rest of the cultists around here. But judging by that shield, they must have already finished!" Jinrai, one of his party members, shouted with excitement as he charged past him towards the confused, cloaked man. "I call dibs!"

In the blink of an eye, his entire party surrounded him, dealing with the horde of Zombies in an instant, and by the time he snapped out of his daze, the fog had fully dispersed, leaving the confused citizens to look on with amazement before one of them shouted.

"Ah!" Shouts began to echo as the citizens who had been under a confusion spell snapped out of their trance, yet their shouts quickly quietened down, instead turning into excited muttering.

"It was the Lightspeed Hero! He must have saved us from Barnabas!" One of the citizens shouted. "My memories are somewhat foggy, but I can remember being hypnotized by him. He was going to sacrifice us!"

The excited muttering began to grow until a small girl stepped forward.

"It was the Hero Masayuki. I saw him fight the mean guy!"

"Ma— Sa— Yu— Ki!" The whole town began to chant together, yet the subject of their praise couldn't help but sigh.

'Guess I won't be able to relax in this town…'  He thought as he put on a smile and began to wave, following the usual protocol.

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From here on I am going more unhinged lol, enjoy.

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[Interdimentional ???]

Chloe took a steadying breath, steeling herself as she spotted Rimuru enjoying the Halloween festivities from a quiet corner of Tempest. She watched him, noting the soft, warm smile he wore as he observed the town's decorations and the joyful chaos around him. 

'Now's the time.' She thought, clenching her fists in determination.

Stepping forward, she caught Rimuru's attention. His smile grew as he turned to her with some curiosity in his eyes.

"Rimuru…" Chloe began, her voice trembling slightly. She hesitated, but then her resolve returned, and she took a deep breath. "You rejected me before, but… I still need to tell you. I love you!"

"Oh, uh—" Rimuru stammered, his expression shifting from pleasant surprise to awkward uncertainty. "Chloe, that's, uh, kind of… I mean…" He scrambled for the right words to reject her without making her feel bad, only for his eyes to widen in shock as a strange surge of energy pulsed nearby.

"What the—?!" Rimuru managed, but before he could react, two figures appeared seemingly out of nowhere. A man and a woman, both clad in sharply pressed blue jackets emblazoned with three glaring yellow letters, FBI.

"FBI?" Chloe whispered in confusion, her head tilting.

But before she could process, the agents were upon her. In one swift movement, the female agent tackled her to the ground while the male agent snapped handcuffs over her wrists. Chloe barely had a chance to blink as she felt the cold metal binding her hands.

"Chloe Aubert." the male agent declared in a deep, officious tone. "A timeless entity with an existence older than the dawn of creation. You're under arrest… for attempting to lewd Rimuru."

"What?!" Rimuru exclaimed, caught halfway between horror and surprise. He tried to intervene, but before he could do more than budge, the female agent turned to him with a flick of her fingers. Rimuru instantly felt his power drain, and he collapsed into a harmless, flopping little slime.

"But… he's…" Chloe protested, looking desperately up at the agents. "He's not a child, he's—"

"He's only a year old. And a slime, a mindless species. Have you no shame?" The male agent shot her a look of utter disdain, his tone dripping with judgment. 

As Chloe gaped in speechless horror, the female agent leaned closer, whispering to her with nothing but disdain and disgust.

"An ageless being like you… should know better."

Rimuru, wobbling on the ground, sighed helplessly, his tiny slime form only able to watch as the agents stood up, dragging a handcuffed Chloe to her feet.

"This is ridiculous! Who are you people?" Chloe shouted, struggling to break out as the agents began escorting her away.

"We're with the Interdimensional FBI. Keeping realities safe… and free from questionable intentions." The male agent looked over his shoulder, a proud smirk on his face. 

"Freaking Otherworlders, they have no shame." The FBI woman said with a shake of her head.

"You are going to be locked up for a long time."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

[The Green One.]

Leon's footsteps echoed through the silent corridors of his castle, his gaze sharp as he moved with a purpose he barely understood. 

'Why am I walking here?' He wondered, yet he couldn't shake the strange compulsion pulling him onward. Soon, he found himself at the door to his summoning chamber, the flickering torches casting long shadows that seemed to beckon him forward.

"Perhaps… I shall summon again." He muttered aloud, his voice resonating in the still air.

He entered the room, the familiar surge of anticipation tugging at him as he stood in the center. 

'Chloe.' He thought, his heart quickening slightly. 'Today, I have a feeling… I will finally find you.'

He raised his arms, channeling his power as the summoning circle beneath him glowed, magicules swirling like a tempest(hehe). The energy crackled, filling the room with a blinding light as the spell took shape. Through the blinding glow, a faint silhouette began to appear, a figure both familiar and cherished.

"Chloe?" He muttered, hope filling his voice. Her form took shape, clear as day… but then the spell faltered. Leon's heart skipped as Chloe's form wavered, twisting and fading as if swept away by some unseen force.

"No!" He cried, reaching out, but it was too late. Chloe's figure vanished, flung through the veils of reality, leaving him staring at an empty space. A pulse of dread washed over him as the summoning circle began to glow anew.

A shadow emerged, a hulking, imposing shape, larger and stranger than anything he had summoned before.

"Who… are you?" Leon demanded, his voice wavering between anger and disbelief. His fists clenched as he watched the figure materialize.

The being stepped fully into view, standing at a towering seven frame. Mud ran along his back, and when he opened his mouth and called to him, he felt as if the world was turning black.(hehe)

The figure stared at him with a grumpy, flat expression, eyes narrowed.

Then, the figure spoke, his voice a low rumble. 

"Get off me swamp, Leon."

Leon froze, blinking in shock as he processed the absurdity of the demand.

"Swamp?" He echoed, his usually unflappable composure slipping as he stared into the large, impatient eyes of the strange creature.

The green figure glared, crossing his massive arms. 

"Ya heard me. This summoning nonsense? Over. I've got onions to tend to, and you're in me swamp." His voice was thick with irritation, and the room filled with a strange, earthy smell.

Leon's mouth fell open, utterly speechless. But before he could gather his wits, the figure stomped a heavy foot, and the walls of the chamber began to melt away, transforming into dense, murky woods dotted with stagnant ponds.

"Begone, noble fancy-pants." The green figure muttered, swatting at Leon as if he were no more than a bothersome fly. The spell's energy waned, and the world around him faded into darkness, the swamp smell lingering as the figure's voice echoed one last time.

"Stay outta me swamp!"

Leon awoke with a jolt, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he sat up in bed, still half-expecting to see that green behemoth looming over him. He shook his head, exhaling sharply. 

"I need… I might need a vacation."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

[Vampire Diaries.] (hehe)

Dear Journal,

It is I, the true ruler of this realm, Luminous Valentine, with thoughts only worthy of the finest parchment. Today has brought both delight and, regrettably, irritation of the highest order.

First, the delightful part:

Hinata Sakaguchi. She visited me this week, standing with that perfect, statuesque poise of hers, and I found myself entirely captivated. 

Though they share the same body, Hinata brings an entirely different air about her.

Such strength in her convictions, so utterly dedicated and uncompromising. It's both aggravating and enchanting. Of course, I refrained from making any mention of my admiration; it would hardly do for a queen to appear soft. But, oh, the way she commands a room. She'd make an exquisite vampire. I can only imagine her standing by my side, a vision of grace and power…

My little spawn. How fun it would be to order her around.

And then there is my friend, my best friend, Chloe.

She spent the evening telling me about this tradition of hers, Halloween. The day people dress as monsters and go ask for candy. I must say, it is quite a strange tradition. However, seeing her dress up in that Princess outfit was strangely appealing. 

I somehow managed to get her to try out different outfits with me, and it was of the finest order of magnitude that my heart was filled with affection.

Too cute. It is almost dangerous. She even convinced me to dress as a Zombie. The strange little creatures. Yet she seemed to love it.

It would help if she stopped yapping about how "Rimuru saved her from Jumanji on Halloween." "Rimuru this, Rimuru that."

The girl is obsessed, but sadly, with the wrong person. I believe I am far better than this person. I bet his hugs and pats on the head are nothing to my Kiss of Love. She would know that, too, if she let me seal her lips instead of her cheeks and forehead.

Perhaps time shall fix this inadequacy.

Where was I?

Ah yes, thankfully, my long lifespan has granted me quite an array of skills. And amongst such skills is the skill of art.

With one glance at Chloe's outfits, I was able to engrain them into my heart, and now I am in the process of slowly recreating them, turning them into art pieces worth more than stellar gold coins.

I even indulged myself and drew a portrait of Hinata as if she were a Vampire.

However, the annoyance of the highest order had to approach. Just as I was enjoying dressing up with Chloe. The lizard decided to attack another city, and Chloe had to leave to assist in its protection.

Stupid Monsters, they wait like little ants, and once the lizard attacks they crawl out of their caves and try to reap the rewards now that the gates are broken.

I swear, it brings me pain to the depths of my soul that I must wait until the right time for them to seal the lizard. However, when the day comes, I shall celebrate with them.

Who knows, one thing might lead to another.

"Who am I kidding…" Luminous muttered, putting away her journal as she looked up to her painting. "Maybe I should turn this into a tasteful nude…"

Then, after staring at the painting, Luminous let out a warm smile, humming Chloe's favorite song to herself. A song that fit their situation quite well.

"Will happen, happening, happened… 'Cuz you, and I will always be back then…"

Following the spirit of her friend's favorite song, she kept drawing. Small portraits to remember them by. Every special moment, every special day, she would draw a painting to remember them by.

"I guess one more day with them means one more day closer to them leaving…" Luminous muttered as her brush stopped.

"We'll be back, sooner than you might expect. And if things go wrong again, we will see you again on the next one. No matter what, you won't be able to get rid of me, ok?"

Her friend, Chloe, had told her that with a bright smile. However, Luminous wondered if she knew what that sounded like to her.

Picking up her journal once again, Luminous let out another sigh.

Is it wrong for me to be upset?

How many versions of me has she met?

Isn't she throwing me away every time she returns?

I'll never know her the way she knows me. I'll never know them the way they do me.

If the future is so bad she is forced to reset the timeline over and over again, then why doesn't she tell me so that I can be prepared?

Am I too weak?

I train, I try…

Stopping herself, Luminous let out a sigh, tossing the journal to the side as she picked up her brush once more.

"Maybe journaling isn't for me. Strike that off the list of hobbies. Back to painting nudes… Tasteful nudes… Maybe I shall try sculpting next week."

— — —

Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)

Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?" 

https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK

I did a bunch more images in the discord, so you can check them out there if you wanna see more lol. Plus, you can request, and if I have time, I'll try to make a few. Sadly, there was no Chronoa Lora, so I couldn't make any Chronoa pics. Plus, was running out of time to try to make one, so no Chronoa pics today.

~A/N~

Hope you enjoyed the Spooktober special chap. I am planning one for Christmas, too, so leave down your suggestions. Also, this won't mess with regular uploads. It's still gonna be a new chap this Sunday. See ya!

Also, feed me comments. I am hungry.