Chapter 626 Dog Eat Dog
~THUD!~
The Elves all collapsed before Rey, and he watched them with barely any emotion in his eyes. He simply turned away from them and looked at the room's entrance.
He seemed to be the only conscious person in the room, at least until he uttered some words.
"So, are you done?"
As he said this, a purplish black slime appeared from among the flowers, hopping towards Rey with what appeared to be excitement.
The moment it jumped at him, however-
-SPLAT!~
Its gooey form splashed on the barrier that surrounded Rey and the Elves.
"What do you think you're doing? Your job isn't finished yet."
-Uwaaah! Master, you're so mean!~
Emil's whining voice was something Rey hadn't particularly missed. However, compared to the cries of the Elves, this was music to his ears.
"I'll grant you your reward if you can pull this off well. I'll be taking my leave now, but before that there are a few things to do."
-Yeah, I remember the plan.~
"Good." He smiled, nodding at her intently.
His gaze went to the sleeping Boss, as well as the giant flowers around him, and his grin grew much wider than ever before.
"This should be fun."
[Moments Later]
"U-urgh..."
The Elves groaned as they slowly gained consciousness. They held their heads, chests, and other parts of their bodies while acclimating to the world around them.
It was all fuzzy at first, with the only concrete thing they could feel being the Divine-Tier Weapons in their grasps.
However, before they could fully even understand their predicament-
"ROOOOOAAARRRRR!!!"
-The loud roar of a terrifying beast echoed within the vast room, waking all of them from whatever remnant grogginess they were experiencing.
All of them, without exception, were now fully awake.
"EEEEEK!" Their annoying screams responded in a chorus, as all of their tear-filled eyes rested on the source of the explosive roar.
It was the five-headed giant dog that stood at the center of the garden-the same place they were also standing in at the moment.
The creature was awake, and it was glaring at them with sheer killing intent.
To call the Elves terrified would be an understatement.
They simply clung to their weapons as they huddled together in fright. More screams filled the air as the creature roared at them.
"We're going to dieeee!"
"Help us! Someone help us!"
"Save us! Pleaaaseeeee!!!"
All of their screams fell on deaf ears as they all begged whatever invisible figure in the expanse with them to deliver them.
But there was no one present.
No one knew where Rey went, or how long had passed since his disappearance.
All they knew was that they were currently in mortal danger-one that would kill them if no deliverance arrived. -BOOOOOM!~
The mere stomp of the five-headed Monster sent all the Elves flying in multiple directions, separating them from one another.
"Uwahhhhh!!!"
"Hiaaaaaaaa!!!"
"U-uuuuuuuu!"
They all scrambled for their lives like little children, flinging their weapons in any direction as they continued their confused dance for survival.
The Monster watched them without doing anything- perhaps confused or amused by their display of sheer incompetence.
It was a truly a pitiful sight to see.
Then-
"GRRRRRRR..." Seemingly fed up with their nonsense, the Monster stretched out its hand to one of the flailing Elves who had a spear.
Its massive hand neared her, and the moment she saw this, she screamed in fear.
"Arghhh! Stay away! Stay away from meeee!" She fumbled her weapon and began waving it in the air as she closed her eyes for the fear of certain death.
But, death did not come.
In fact, what happened next served as a surprise to both her and the other girls who were also running for their dear lives.
-SQUISH!~
The Divine-Tier weapon cut through the skin of the Monster like a hot knife through butter, easily slicing most of its gigantic paw clean off.
"E-eh...?" The Elf in question noticed this, stunned by what she had just done. All the other Elves also saw this and gawked at the shocking sight.
As the Monster's hand fell to the side, creating a light tremor in the room, the mood within the room slowly began to change.
The wide eyes of the Elves stared at their dear sister, who was now looking at her weapon with child-like wonder.
They cast their gaze on the beast, and on the limb it had lost.
Then-
-SWOOSH!~
One of the Elves sliced at the creature's tail, easily cutting it off with even sharper proficiency. Lightning crackled as she did this, electrocuting the Monster who now bellowed out in severe pain.
"Huh..."
Sounds of curiosity began to echo from the lips of the Elves as they now started to stare at their weapons, and at each other.
Something similar to instinct took over, and they began to feel their legs move without them even realizing it.
-SWOOOSH!~
~WHISH!~
-WHUUUM!~
In clean strikes, they were able to cut the Monster from several ends, making it completely incapable of standing upright.
At that moment, the Elves realized that they were no longer in danger.
Their minds were clear as they all tightly held onto their weapons. They further closed in on the wounded Monster, who was now whimpering and staring at them in horrified shock.
"Kill or be killed..." One stated.
"Law of Nature must be obeyed..." Another echoed out.
"This is how Nature operates." Yet another mentioned.
They all seemed to be of one mind as they chanted together, allowing their voice to permeate the entire room.
"Nature is dog eat dog. Monsters kill people and other Monsters, so we are permitted to kill Monsters."
They marched forward with those words oozing from their lips, making everything they ever said and believed in until this moment a complete lie.
[Meanwhile...]
"W-where are the girls? What do you want? W-why... what do you want from me?"
Gratiana, now conscious, was on a chair right in front of the man who caused her to reach a new realm of pleasure that she never thought was possible.
She fidgeted on her sofa as she studied the interior of the fortress' living room, where they both occupied at the present moment.
The man, who sat opposite her, was smiling calmly as he stretched out a hand to her.
Gratiana still shivered anytime she saw him... anytime she thought of what happened with him in the past, and how she had lost herself entirely.
Yes, she was worried for the Young Ones.
Yes, she was concerned about her people, as well as wary of the one before her.
But, more than any of those emotions, she couldn't help but also feel an overpowering sense of curiosity about the man who casually stood before her.
"How about we make a deal?" He suddenly spoke, causing her body to quiver in his presence.
It seemed every ounce of her being already recognized him for what he was to her-and what he could do at any moment.
"W-what deal?" She stuttered as she spoke.
Gratiana no longer had the confidence and grace she once possessed; not in front of a man like this.
"Your girls... why don't we bet on what they will do to escape their current predicament?"