- The Black Serpent - Part 2 -

Akari and Aoi clash weapons. Sparks fly as the two monsters duke out their old rivalry. Taro meekly takes cover behind the altar. Akari appeared to be technically stronger physically, or more so her hits would leave larger craters, whereas Aoi appeared to have a minor edge in speed. For the majority of the time they seemed evenly matched in dodging and parrying.

Akari swings at Aoi with swift rallies which she deftly avoids and makes smaller shallow cuts as she evades her.

“Agh! Stay still!” Akari angrily shouts,

“Hah! As dim as ever sister!” Aoi jeers, “You could never keep up!”

Aoi sweeps under Akari causing the red oni to trip on her back,

“Akari!” Taro yells in concern,

The blue oni glares at Taro and grins at Akari.

“So that’s how it is,” she smirks,

Aoi dashes to Taro, ready to take out Akari’s lifeline. She prepares to swing, but then-

She looks down to see one foot on a trap rune.

*KABOOM!

The rune Taro preemptively set during the battle went off! It knocks the blue oni several meters into the air. Unfortunately, Taro had not expected the size of the explosion either and it knocks him off his feet!

“Taro!” Akari shouts,

Taro lands against a bookshelf. He recoils in the pain of the impact.

“Taro!” she yells again,

“I’m ok!” Taro reassures her, “Focus Akari! She's coming again!”

But it was too late. Aoi was behind her and took a great swing at her.

“Aghhh!” Akari writhes in agony,

“Heh,” Aoi wipes the blood from her chin.

She then grabs one of Akari’s twin tails and drags her as she approaches Taro. Akari barely conscious, weakly pleads.

“Taro.. run…”

“Not bad, human boy,” the blue oni praises the young boy, “I didn’t expect a pipsqueak like you to think so fast on your feet.”

“Tch” Taro clicks his tongue in frustration,

All hope seemed to be lost but then he got an idea.

“ASMODEUS!” Taro screams,

“You cur-!” Aoi curses, “You dare speak to my master?!”

“I CHALLENGE YOU!” Taro continues, “ASMODEUS! FACE ME IF YOU ARE NOT AFRAID!”

“Human- !” The blue oni hisses,

The ground shakes with a ferocity that even takes the oni aback.

After a moment the atrium calms and a deathly stillness permeates the air.

Quiet refined footsteps walk from the darkness. A tall dark figure walks into the atrium.

He was a darkly handsome man, long wavy hair hung to his shoulders that accentuates his sharp features and deep red eyes. His countenance was regal and his black high collared coat was vastly more posh than anything Taro had ever encountered. He strokes his goatee with his long sharp fingers.

“You have some gall, boy. Bring him to me.”

Aoi drops Akari and instead pulls Taro by the hair to be set before him.

“Agh!” Taro exclaims as he’s thrown to the ground.

“You have no recourse to challenge me, boy.” He scoffs, “My champion has bested yours. What chance do you think you have against me?”

“In physical combat, yes.” Taro rebukes,

“What? You wish to debate philosophies? A needless exercise,” Asmodeus appears disgusted, “I have nothing to gain from this,”

“You paused when we mentioned Orochi,” Taro points out, “I think you may have some scruples that are yet to be resolved.”

“I am a being from a different plane mortal foils eludes me. An eternity stretches out before me.” he retorts, “Any ‘scruples’ as you call it will resolve itself.”

“True enough, though there is also the possibility of an eternity of regret as well,” Taro glares

“Hmph how boorish, your insistence would normally earn you the separation of a head off your shoulders,” Asmodeus threatens, “However, you may ease my boredom for a time. Do not make me regret it.”

“You mention that you are from the divine lands, meaning you currently do not reside in that realm correct or could not?” Taro asks,

“Your point?" he impatiently answers,

“Would that not make you kindred spirits with Orochi?” he continues, “Why hold such contempt?”

“Do you intend to call attention to a point of hypocrisy?” Asmodeus scoffs, “A futile attempt. Her departure was a result of her own failings. My exile, however, was through no fault of my own.”

“What was the reason for the exile? If I may ask?” Taro questions,

“You may not, but I will answer,” he makes a contradictory answer, “Affection. The fleeting endearment with a traitor.”

“?!”

“I know that look. Do not bother. Such affections were severed as soon as their treachery was discovered.” Asmodeus speaks plainly, "Regardless, to the powers that be, my supposed disloyalty was decided all the same.”

“It is a cruel story.” Taro concedes,

“I don’t need your pity. Nor do I relish in recounting my exile.” Asmodeus adds, “I am not bitter, I am beyond such petty trifles.”

“And now? Here you have power beyond any in this plane?” Taro explains, “ As they say: it is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven? Is there any reason to feel bitter?”

“I resent that metaphor…” he hisses, “...however, there is truth to your words.”

Asmodeus ponders for a moment, “Those that cast me out are beyond my reach. In such knowledge, it vexes me.”

“Would it not vex them?” Taro refutes, “To know their brash punishment does not in fact harm you at all, but instead serves as a boon! Here you accumulate power beyond their understanding! Could they even reach you if they tried?”

“Pft…” Asmodeus stifles his laughter before exploding, “HAHAHAHAHA”

The Dungeon lord laughs heartily. Aoi looks around worried. She notices Akari on the ground, who smiles weakly.

“(Tch!)” Aoi thinks,

“Very well,” he finishes his laugh, “You’ve amused me. You and your ally have earned your lives.”

“Hah… ” Taro lets out a sigh of relief,

“But that’s all. It will take more than idle chatter for me to part with a relic of my people.” Asmodeus says, lifting his arm to heal Akari’s wounds.

“Wait!” Taro shouts, thoughts rush through his head of a solution, “What about a trade?”

“Hm?...” Asmodeus smiles, “You are an endless supply of amusement aren’t you?”

“You shouldn’t push your luck pipsqueak!" Aoi shouts impatiently,

Akari walks over smugly, and stands next to Taro.

“What treasures could you offer me that I haven’t experience?” he humors him, “I own a mountain of valuables that could rival even my power. Every possible pleasure afforded to me both divine and earthly. What could you possibly have to offer?”

“...” Taro thinks, “What about stories?”

“Stories?” laughs the Dungeon Lord, “I have lived a millennium and will continue to live through far more. I will have my fill of tales for a lifetime.”

“But what about tales from another world? Neither this one nor the Divine Realms'” Taro beams, “You can achieve few treasures more unique!”

“Hm… Interesting,” Amodeus ponders,

“Here!” Taro outstretches his hand, “My favorite manga Vol. 1!!”

The manga appears in his hand. He hands it to the Dungeon Lord.

They all stood around while Asmodeus thumbs through the manga.

“I… don’t understand,” he questions, “Why must this story revolve around a meek child, it befuddles me.”

Both Aoi and Akai side eye Taro.

“This girl keeps bending over, what purpose does this serve?”

Taro is sweating buckets now. The girls’ stare could bore a hole in Taro.

“My goodness they’re getting stuck together in this enclosed space precisely at the time no person will arrive to their aid, how unlikely!”

Taro tries to quietly exit, but Asmodeus holds him by the collar still reading.

“Is there a reason why women are so magnetized to this child?”

This continues until the Dungeon Lord finishes the book.

In the end Asmodeus makes an assessment.

“I find this tale lacking in many areas, the motivations are confusing, the actions: trite, and the art focuses on the most odd places.”

“Y-Yeah… ” Taro says with his brain fried from the overwhelming cringe.

“There are more, correct? This is incomplete!” He slaps the cover.

“Hm hm! Addictive isn’t it?!” Taro exclaims, “We need one thing, however…”

Asmodeus skews his eyes, “I do not fall for feeble concepts like ‘addiction”, however you have proven the value of this ‘man-ga’,” he continues,

“I demand the complete story, and more!”

“I can do that!” Taro says, “You can have my whole shelf if you want! That’s my life’s collection!”

“Very well,” he finally says, “I can agree to that.”

The two men shake hands. Finally coming to an agreement transcending worlds, power, class and influence.

“...”

“... Gross.” Aoi says.