Slithers

It was done. Gyria was no more, and with that certainty Berus was ready to celebrate. After all, with her gone, King Flavis had no one whose strength could match him. And he was a human, after all. Maybe now they could actually talk to him. Berus turned around to him.

The king looked absolutely terrified. He was the only one left in the room, as everyone else had already fled. Suddenly, he looked small and old.

“This can’t be…” His voice quivered. “Hey, machine! You swore your loyalty to me. You have to obey me!”

“I have to do nothing. That’s what’s great about free will.”

On the inside, though, he sent out his thanks to Ki-Rai once more. Without her, he wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. She grinned at him, as he was still in his combat menu, and didn’t think he would leave it any time soon. Not until the last bit of danger was banished from the castle.

“Well, I’m glad you can see my greatness,” Ki-Rai said, her cheeks blushing, and giggled.

Before he could answer her, Mikkah ran to his side. “How are you? Is everything alright?”

“I’m as alright as I can be, considering the circumstances. I’d appreciate it if you could check if everything is alright later. But first, we have to deal with him.”

With those words, he walked over to the king. He let out a pathetic scream.

“Stop it, please!”

Berus turned around towards Iuria. It wasn’t his decision, what should happen to him. He would let her decide. Iuria was exhausted still, but her wounds slowly closed. Her eyes were heavy with sadness.

“Father…”

His eyes lit up. “Iuria? My Iuria!”

Berus flinched at his words. How strange, that the king would react like this. As if he had a complete turn in his behavoir. Maybe he really had been possessed?

“Oh, Father!”

Her face lit up with happiness as he recognized her. He smiled back at her, his smile just as warm. He opened his arms wide and hugged her.

“I knew it,” she sobbed. “I knew that it wasn’t you.”

“I’m so happy to have you,” he said back.

But then, something changed about his demeanor. “Come here, my precious daughter.”

She flinched back, but he didn’t let her go.

“Good. Just stay here.”

His smile became a grin, and then the corners of his mouth grew wider and wider, until all of his teeth were bared. He opened his mouth so far that it had to dislocate his jaw. And with his hands, he tried to pry open her mouth as well.

“What are you doing? Stop it!” She tried to get away from him, but to no avail.

“Don’t you want to help your poor father?” He could still talk, even though his mouth wasn’t moving. “I was close, so close! For decades I toiled away in the Demon King’s army, and for what? I finally managed to get here, to take what is rightfully mine-- and now my best fighter is dead, thanks to you! This body is old and weak. And you are his flesh and blood. So give me your body and your powers. You should be weakened enough for an easy transfer.”

His tongue slithered out of his mouth, much longer and thicker than any human tongue should be. Its color was still that deep, unnatural crimson, and it was completely smooth.

Only then did Berus understand.

The king was long dead. His body was being puppeteered by a demonic parasite which took over the body of other living beings. That’s what happened in one halloween special quest, which still sparked debates with players even after it had long been gone.

Berus acted on instinct. He definitely didn’t want to lose Iuria. Even as exhausted and weak as he was, he was still faster than the demon. While it unfurled its tiny body with branch-like appendages, he rushed over. With almost unbelievable precision he stabbed the parasite before it could reach her.

The body of the king fell limp, and with it, the parasite as well. For a moment, only Mikkah’s labored breathing echoed through the throne room. Iuria stumbled back, her gaze still locked on her father’s dead body.

“Father… I can’t believe it…”

“That thing wasn’t your father. I’m sorry, Iuria.”

“I…” She looked away.

Berus knelt next to the king’s body, and with his hand, he removed the parasitic demon from his body, before he closed his mouth and eyes. That way, he almost looked peaceful.

“Thank you.” Iuria took a deep breath. “I’m sure he is now relieved, as well.”

Silence settled on the throne room. Iuria stood over the body of her father, and muttered some inaudible words to him. Berus sat down next to Mikkah. They both were covered in dust and grime, and while she had some minor cuts, his armor was full with scratches and dents.

“It’s over, isn’t it?” She finally said. “It feels… empty. I thought getting my revenge on the demons in the castle would feel more fulfilling.”

“Be proud, Mikkah. You did well.”

“I am, but…”

She tilted her head to the side, until it rested against his arm.

“...but I’m not done yet. We might have done good here, but if the rumors are to be trusted, the other shards are still oppressed by the Demon King. I want everyone to be able to live in peace.”

“I’m also interested in finding out more about him,” Berus agreed. “Also, we need to find more materials to upgrade this body.”

She let out a snorting laugh. “You’ll never stop with that, will you?”

“There are good reasons for it!” he argued back. “Also, would you be able to get Ki-Rai her own body?”

“I don’t know. Not with my current knowledge, I think.” She smiled at him.

“Also, our prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled yet.”
“Right.” She let out a sigh. “There’s still a lot to be done, isn’t there?”

“We can do it.”
“We are the heroes of prophecy, after all.”

They laughed.

Finally, Iuria came over to them.

“Thank you,” she said. “For everything, really. I know you two are exhausted, but can I ask you for a little more of your strength?” She rolled her sleeves up. “I think it’s time for me to take charge here. So, could you find the remaining humans that are here in the castle? We have to get some changes done here.”

Mikkah and Berus exchanged a glance.

“Of course! You can count on us,” Mikkah grinned back.