The main stage of the Kabuki-Ordo Theatre was packed from wall-to-wall. Not with an adoring audience ready to be wowed by a mystical performance but warriors at the ready, observing their larger-than-life commander stand at the forefront of the golden stage. There were Slayers here belonging to Royals Guilds and a dozen others. There were soldiers from the present battalions.

Many of whom, Damien was told, weren’t actually going to infiltrate Darkrealm’s Hold itself but with the absence of a sizable yet powerful force, including Monarch, Windvent needed to double their patrols and ensure the borough’s security for the duration of this operation.

Which only meant that the threat was on the same vein as the Sungrazers.

Damien and Problem stood amongst the cast members for this performance as the guest stars, accompanied by key Royals personnel such as Mark and Levin, commanding generals and officers, and High Dominion—he spotted the rest of its members: White Herald, their leader; Pilgrim, Temple, Divineer, Ivory Knight, Zeal, and of course Votary, whom he had gotten to know a little better.

Since their conversation, High Dominion and the Royals were treating him a little better. More cordial. Like he wasn’t a walking disaster waiting to happen.

A whining buzz was heard over the quiet chatter, caused by the stage projector which was now used to supplement the briefing. From the projector screen, an assortment of images and diagrams were broadcasted: the most noticeable one was various maps discerning the labyrinthine layout of Darkrealm’s Hold, then photographs and documentation of monsters found within the catacomb’s depths. Finally, there was a single paper detailing the overlord itself: the Void Demon. No picture.

Once everyone had time to settle in, squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder even in this large space, Monarch stepped forward in a booming thump of her sabatons, silencing all unnecessary chatter. “Thank you for attending this meeting. For many of you, we won’t take long and you’ll be dismissed shortly. Soon, me and my forces will storm Darkrealm’s Hold and subjugate any and all monsters present, including a demon present at the Abyss Layer.

“Because this will be a large operation requiring an extraordinary amount of manpower, there’ll be a significant reduction of Windvent’s forces especially in this area. While we expect this operation to take eight hours, double that at most, expect for the worst and prepare yourself for intense work for a prolonged period. The Colonel here and Levin will take over and explain the finer details.”

Monarch motioned for the residing Colonel and Levin to step forward. The Colonel spoke first, doing exactly what Monarch said: giving the honestly boring and flat specifics, changes to protocol, recommended contingencies, and that was when Damien stopped paying attention. He would’ve toyed around on the System if it wasn’t for the fact that he was literally standing on the same level as Monarch.

So he gave his best and pretended to look as professional as possible. With the one arm and a tied sleeve flopping about.

When the Colonel finished, Levin took over, saying basically the same thing but for the Slayers here. Because Monarch would be absent throughout the operation’s duration, she automatically took command of Royals Guild as the Acting Guild Master.

Once the pair exhausted their information and questions were taken and answered, about seventy percent of the audience was dismissed and it took five minutes for them to sift through the doors, leaving the ones who were participating in the operation itself.

Damien’s eyes lit up, excited.

“Now, let’s begin,” Monarch said and took her place as the commander once more. The projector screen shifted and emphasized the layout of Darkrealm’s Hold. “I’m sure everyone here knows what the Darkrealm’s Hold is but I will go over its history just so we’re on the same page and any misunderstandings are squashed.”

The projector split the Hold into its separate layers: all six of them shaded in different colors.

First Layer, green: Cinder Forest.

Second Layer, violet: Sandvale

Third Layer, orange: Flesh Cavern.

Fourth Layer, gold: Gauntlet.

Fifth Layer, red: Deepmarsh.

Sixth Layer, black: Abyss.

“Darkrealm’s Hold is the personal creation of Darkrealm, a member of the Sovereigns, during the foundational period of Ordo, where she…” Monarch paused, realizing how absurd the situation was even for her, “...where she decided to establish the very first dungeon in our world despite protests from literally all parties involved. Each layer follows a theme with each progressively being more environmentally dangerous than the last.

“During the dungeon’s beginnings, Darkrealm had placed monsters within each realm but they were almost immediately killed in fear for the world’s safety. So instead of being a dungeon you’d find in other worlds, the Hold essentially became a twisted amusement park for Slayers to test their mettle in different, hazardous environments.

“But during an outbreak like the one today, the Hold is closer to its inventor’s original vision now more than ever. Because of the inherently magical environments, monsters were attracted and we find ourselves living on top of a growing army that needs to be rightly culled. Within that army lies the central target of this operation: the Void Demon. We aren’t sure if it holds any real leadership but it poses the most threat.

“An SS-class threat.”

The last words sent shivers down most people here.

Damien felt a laugh coming on but bit the inside of his cheek. Problem glared at him.

The projection focused on the single page detailing a Void Demon. From below, the same paper was passed around the audience for them to look over. Monarch gave the floor to White Herald.

White Herald took a few moments for them to read the material before elaborating, “I am White Herald of High Dominion, Angels. I’m afraid we’re not the Demon Regiment from ESOC but we are more than capable of subjugating a demon of this magnitude. Thus we will be going over the Void Demon first, then following with other troublesome monsters that surveillance noted.

“The Void Demon is an astronomically rare demon born from the intense apathy within a world. It is by far one of the most destructive of its species. Its appearance may vary from instance-to-instance but its power is unmistakable. Its existence can be summarized in a single word: consume.

“This demon can consume anything and everything, assimilating whatever properties it so chooses through a visually empty space. This can be a dark, gaping emptiness or a haunting white. Whatever the appearance may be, that is the Demon’s work. It can be as simple as rendering the theatre into a blank white space, deleting a car from existence, or even attempting to consume the Earth itself at a high enough level. The real terror lies in the concepts. What you cannot see.

“Like for example, it can choose to consume your memories. It can consume your ability to perceive time. Disrupt your biological functions and puncture your homeostasis processes. Even taking your skills. They can be deleted as though you have never developed them. Or halve your stats, rendering you permanently powerless. Or terrifyingly enough, consume your life expectancy and you wouldn’t know. You’ll simply, spontaneously, die as though Death wanted you.

“A quick death is preferable when encountering the Void Demon.”

If Monarch’s declaration of an SS-class threat didn’t send the fear of God into these people, then White Herald’s explanation had.

Again, Damien wanted to laugh but had to bite on his tongue.

White Herald motioned for Votary to come up and she pulled a large green crate with her, opening it for everyone to see. Inside were racks of solid, copper-colored circular plates painted intricately with white. Its design wasn’t like Althea’s runes or Problem’s rituals, but these were more intimate—if that was a good word for it. Less formulaic.

Damien’s core shifted uncomfortably.

“This,” Votary began, holding one of the objects up, “is an accessory, the [Daemon Ward]. Surveillance have detected an intense demonic energy—” (glancing at Damien,) “—within the Hold so we have created these wards to protect you from the harmful side effects. Think of demonic energy as a more serious form of mana poisoning, with harsher consequences at a fraction of the dosage.

“To give you a better understanding of the dangers, the side effects of overwhelming demonic energy are but not limited to: severe hemorrhaging, intense hallucinations, mana overload symptoms, mana poisoning symptoms, systemic shock, insanity, self-mutilation, vomiting, diarrhea—“

White Herald patted her shoulder but she continued to list off side effects. It took multiple pats for Votary to stop with a “Huh?” and turn to the old man.

“They understand the point,” he told her.

Votary’s mouth hung open as she horrifically turned to the audience below who were incredibly intimidated by what she had said. Pinkness swarmed into her face and quickly she gave White Herald the [Daemon Ward] before scurrying off to the rest of her peers.

Damien himself had to physically look away to prevent an untimely fit of laughter.

Problem kicked him in the leg with the awesome strength of a child. “I need you to stop acting like a five-year-old!” he exclaimed in an angry whisper.

“I won’t, I won’t!” he promised but he frankly didn’t know if he could keep it.

White Herald continued where Votary left off, “Now that you’re fully aware of the dangers of great demonic energy, please wear the [Daemon Ward]. This will protect you even if you’re standing one meter away from the demon itself. However, put this somewhere safe on your body. It cannot be in your [Inventory]. The wards are fragile.”

Three High Dominion members stepped out: Pilgrim, Zeal, and Temple. They began distributing the [Wards] in packs so the men and women below could give them to their respective teams.

Votary began giving out single [Wards] for everyone on stage, beginning with White Herald and Monarch.

Problem took his and inserted it underneath his cloak.

Damien was preparing a snarky, slightly mean-spirited but well-meaning comment as he reached out to take a [Ward]. However he stopped mid-way through, hesitated. Votary stopped as well. They looked at each other, the [Ward], and each other again.

Problem shrugged. “I suppose you should take it...?”

“Alright…” He took the [Daemon Ward], and it burned his fingertips and startled him. The [Ward] tumbled free and shattered on the stage in ceramic-like pieces. “At least we tried,” he said as he sucked on his thumb, feeling a constant, reduced pain.

Votary sighed and mumbled an apology, picking up the pieces and continuing with the distribution.

“That thing ate through my [Constitution]. It’s the most pain I’ve felt in my life,” Damien admitted somewhat exaggeratedly, looking down at his already-welting flesh. The most pain was the Pseudo-Slayer Emergence process.

“What does ‘most pain’ qualify for you?” replied Problem as they watched Votary.

“I don’t know. I’d say a wasp sting.”

“You’re irritating.”

Once the [Wards] were passed out and settled, Monarch and White Herald continued their briefing, going over the rest of the high-grade monsters. And when that was done with, finally they discussed teams and positions.

Slayer Teams were the main fighting force typical of these monster subjugations. The Ordoian Army would pull security and secure the Hold’s levels after they were cleared. Monarch called out names and assigned them to specific targets.

As for the Problem Children and High Dominion? Their target had been stated from the beginning: the Void Demon resting at the final layer. However they couldn’t enter the Abyss Layer thanks to the very advanced defenses that Darkrealm constructed—so advanced that not even researchers today knew how to pierce them—so they had to start from the very beginning.

Damien was starting to dislike Darkrealm.

*

[Subquest]

Operation Darkspace

Cooperating with Royals Guild and its Guild Master—Monarch, the Magnanimous King—you will dive deep into the depths of Darkrealm's Hold and locate the Void Demon. Either through entering a contract with the apathetic creature or subjugating it, Ordo will be safer once the threat is removed.

DIFFICULTY

SS

VICTORY CONDITION

1. Darkrealm's Hold is clear of threats

2. The Void Demon is either A) Contracted or B) Slain

DEFEAT CONDITION

The Void Demon escapes

REWARDS

1,000,000 standards

1 Great Essence Core

2 Medium Essence Core

5 Light Essence Core

*

Fortunately for the Ordoians, they had mapped out every inch of Darkrealm’s hold and knew every little secret it contained. Unfortunately for them, the dungeon was hell to navigate even with the best equipment and prior knowledge, and as monsters roamed the halls, progress was oftentimes slowed and unexpected obstacles prevented development.

Illusions, lost supplies, missing people, and occasionally a monster that they didn’t anticipate. Some of the intel gathered by the scouts had been wrong or plain old.

But that wouldn’t stop them. Couldn't.

It had taken about four hours just to penetrate the first three layers, clear them clean of wicked beasts. Slayers took shifts, rotating between dungeon diving and resting, and the specialty teams were called when their assigned monster was located and needed pruning.

Damien disliked each layer more than the last. The Cinder Forest was exactly what it stated: a hellfire of greenery as a constant blaze poisoned the air and generated a sickly smoke where areas required gas masks or air purification spells. Some, though, fell victim and had to be extracted for their own safety.

Sandvale took on a desert theme where sand got into crevices that Damien didn’t know existed, having him trudge through the heavy “plains” as though he was walking through snow; about half the locations turned out to be mirages, artificial illusions generated by the Hold itself. A few traveling parties got lost although they had maps.

And Flesh Cavern reminded Damien too much of the Tormented Flesh. This layer was the most grotesque so far: the walls were stitched together with monster-matter through Darkrealm’s twisted imagination. Blinking eyes and biting teeth. Flopping tongues and hands grabbing. Blood dripping from the ceiling and sinews dropping onto his shoulders.

The sight almost made him a Christian.

Surprisingly the fourth layer, the Gauntlet, was normal. Somewhat. Darkrealm had took inspirations from the Romans and constructed endless hallways and grand chambers resembling the Colosseum and its blood-sports. She was inspired too much in his honest opinion. Lots of animal heads, random blood and guts—though most of them were recent—crimson-stained weapons and the odd skeleton.

Plus traps, which were somehow reactivated despite Ordo having disabled them.

What led to Damien’s general hatred of the Gauntlet. To its environment and what was living within.

[Skill Activation: Conjure - Mountains]

Constructing a thick wall of spiked rock, it caught the lashing tentacles, pushed forward and crushed them against the wooden barricades which broke first, then the thrashing black whips. Before his eyes the barricades reconstructed itself back to its original form.

Darkrealm’s work. She wanted to ensure her props were timeless.

“Stay back!” cried Votary, as she had decided to take on the monster for herself.

It’d been the luck of God and Darkrealm’s sadism that they were separated from the rest of the group. While they were traversing down a hallway with Mark, Problem, and a few High Dominion members, suddenly multiple traps had been sprung and everything went off: gated spikes, flamethrowers, pitfalls, the whole nine yards. The path ahead had been marked as treacherous and retreating meant the same fate.

There was little time to improvise an escape so everyone split up amongst themselves, fleeing into the nearest inauspicious corridor. Coincidentally Damien had ended up with Votary, and right away they encountered this monstrosity that would haunt him in his dreams. Battling in a small, open arena.

It resembled a deep sea squid but that was the closest comparison he could draw. This thing was far from a squid but more like a horrid mass of ink from a painter’s demented fantasy.

As large as an adult elephant, it held itself up through a bouquet of blooming dark tentacles that grew long and far—half a football field probably—and naturally oozed a foul acid that abused Damien's already-tainted nostrils. They connected to the main body: a clump of tightly knotted-together tentacles forming a rough and slimy sphere around its core like a ball of yarn dunked in expired grease.

Damien gritted his teeth as the next tentacle swept across the stone floor coming at him swift and furious. He leapt over and spun in the air, facing the tentacle upside down as his staff was raised, bursting hot.

[Skill Activation: Conjure - Fire]

A fiery explosion split the tentacle and the force launched Damien further back, and he landed square on his feet like a cat.

Away, which was what Votary had asked of him.

Because she was determined to slay the tentacle beast herself. And by all means she could, given from what she’d demonstrated in the past four hours. White Herald had been understating when he said that she was a specialist in faith-based weaponry.

Outside of combat she was a sweet woman who wanted to impress her seniors, motivated yet sometimes self-critical of her own enthusiasm. However combat was a different place and thus she was a different woman. A Slayer fit for High Dominion. Votary, Kezia Astaril, was an unparalleled killer of beasts. In that regard, Alexander could compare, for he was a killer too beneath his jokes and self-depreciation.

Damien watched and became the adoring crowd for the brutal yet beautiful spectacle before him.

In her hands were twin sawn-off shotguns plated with engraved silver of Vatican design: [Luna & Ella].

The raging beast shivered and multiple tentacles curved from various angles and trajectories. Surrounding her like a snaring net, they cut off all paths of escape. A single meter in any direction would have her body crunched underneath the weight and pulverized.

That was what the beast had thought, probably.

There came the ear-popping bangs, slabs of meat flying into the air and an orange blur coursing across the air. All of the attacking tentacles had been blown off faster than Damien could observe, laid on the floor shriveling and fletching. If the walls were closing in, then break through them—an admirable philosophy.

Votary came into view behind the dark mass, smoke dancing from the twin’s barrels.

[Skill Activation: Divine Creation - Silver Bullets]

A hot cloud of silver riddled the center body and the smell of corpses burned. Heated holes oozed ink-blood and steam. Again and again and again until Damien's ears rang.

This monster suffered and suffered badly. Its demeanor changed. Wherever the world it came from, it probably had enjoyed a sense of superiority being the top of its food chain but that changed. It was now being hunted.

As Votary reloaded her girls through the same projectile creation skill, the beast clumped its tentacles together and pushed off the ground in a startling burst of blitzing speed. Like a jet engine’s propulsion. Startled, Votary hesitated to move for half a second, and that small fraction of time costed her dearly.

An orange smear smashed into the free-standing pillar behind, broke through to hit the wall further back in a violent uproar of dark smoke. The pillar rebuilt itself.

Fear shot through Damien, poking holes in his [Cognition]. He ignored the sentiment and regained rationality. She hadn’t been labeled as incapacitated by the System nor deceased, but that did not mean she was fine. And once again a nonsense thought told him to run to her side.

He probably would’ve if he wasn’t so damned slow against the ugly squid-thing. But this was as opportune of a chance as any. Votary showed she was the greater threat, leading the beast to completely forget about Damien.

Damien pulled on his birthright as he watched the smoke subside. Votary was on her hands and knees, guns scattered, head bloody.

Triumphantly, the beast cantered forth with its many tentacles thumping against the stone like a drum, slithering towards the fallen Angel and casting a large shadow over her with its pillar-large appendage.

The demon called to his power—

A golden arc stopped him in his tracks. It’d been a trick. There was a wave of black blood splashing upon where Votary stood now, dousing her in the filth, but her [Aurum Scythe] was dazzling.

With a single slash she had carved open one of its walls to reveal a ghastly poison-green core inside.

Shadows fell upon her like the night. An impossible number of tentacles to count.

Votary twirled her scythe.

The tentacles fell and seemingly crushed her. Seemingly, but the truth of the matter was obvious. Sharp golden lines splattered monster flesh and blood across the arena floor, eviscerating the black lashes into nothing more than chunks for a stew.

But the beast was not deterred and propelled—

[Skill Activation: Divine Conjuration - Wrathful Chains]

It couldn’t.

Because Votary had conjured thick golden chains and leashed the tentacle beast to the wall. It did not have the strength to move, and in that few seconds of vulnerability, Votary would end it.

In a fantastic show of agility, she leapt off the ground and bounced all over the arena. Using the free-standing pillars, the walls, creating enough momentum to finally use the ceiling itself as her platform. There, she had a direct line below. As blood poured down her head, Votary allowed herself the smallest yet proudest of smiles, then launched.

And she cleaved the beast in half, shattered the core.

The tentacles went limp and it folded open.

Damien, who had already halted his magic, sprinted to Votary. Her combat ability was enviable but he couldn’t say the same for her health. She was hurt, expended a lot of energy, and had trouble standing after her kill.

“Easy, aren’t you a healer?” he teased her even in the midst of it.

Votary wanted to scowl but winced instead. “Just h-hand me a potion, demon—“

The ground rumbled. From the northern tunnel.

The light from the braziers revealed only a few meters within the tunnel, hiding the next monstrosity inside. But the pair didn’t need to consult the [Bestiary] when two prominent reptilian eyes glowed in the dark and a venomous hiss chilled their blood.

A basilisk.

Votary’s expression faded. “Quick, a potion—! Damien? What are you—?!”

[Absorbing the B2 Ocularfiend….]

[Max Essence reached! You cannot absorb more Essence from the Ocularfiend.]

Damien pushed through.

[Warning! Absorbing more Essence beyond the established limit may cause severe damage to your body!]

He could handle it. The pain was reduced thanks to [Demon Constitution] and thus the mental burden was minimal.

[You have completely absorbed the Ocularfiend’s Essence!]

[Essence: 2136.13/1391]

Damien had already dropped his staff and now extended his sole hand. He didn’t bother waiting for the basilisk to come out.

[Skill Activation: Lesser Duskfire]

In a column of [Duskfire], the basilisk was destroyed.

[Essence: 0/1391]