Chapter 30:

Beyond the Known

Brought into my Unfinished Game World


The silence that followed Bolg's words felt strange after the chaos of battle. After a few seconds everyone were notified that they gained a bunch of levels from this fight. Not so much that it would make a difference at this point, but gaining a level is always a rewarding feeling.

The party regrouped around Bolg, catching their breath as the adrenaline began to fade. Suzaku approached them, no longer showing signs of exhaustion from her earlier spell. 

— You handled that fight well, she said, her voice carrying rare approval. Your coordination was much improved.

Kuria walked over to where Bolg was crouched beside the unconscious Maat, doing something to the demon's face.

— What are you doing to him? she asked curiously.

Bolg looked up with a mischievous grin, holding a piece of charcoal he had found among the debris.

— Just leaving him a nice souvenir from our encounter.

Kuria peered closer and saw an unsymmetrical mustache drawn across Maat's upper lip, along with various crude drawings and written obscenities scrawled across his cheeks and forehead.

— Bolg! she scolded, knocking him lightly on the head. That is petty and childish.

She paused for a moment, then held out her hand.

— Give me that charcoal.

Bolg handed it over with obvious delight as Kuria began adding her own artistic contributions to Maat's face.

Suzaku watched this display for a moment before small blue flames appeared around her fingertip. With surgical precision, she burned a perfectly round hole through the back of Maat's pants.

— Everyone, please stop this immediately, Alpha said, trying to maintain some dignity. This is beneath us.

His three companions looked up from their handiwork and replied in perfect unison.

— No, it is not.

Meanwhile, Dave floated toward the fallen demons' equipment, attempting to open their data panels. To his frustration, the familiar interface appeared but his [re_coding] ability had no effect.

— Their gear is protected too, Dave reported to Alpha. There is some kind of new code I have never seen before: [#DL_defense#]. I cannot manipulate any of their stats. I'm guessing "DL" stands for Demon Lord - he's definitely been preparing countermeasures against life benders.

Bolg looked up from his vandalism with surprise.

— That protective seal was only being developed when I set out to capture you. I did not think it would be ready by then. The Demon Lord's researchers must have finished their work faster than expected.

Alpha sighed as he watched his companions return to their artistic vandalism of the unconscious assassin.

— Bolg, why do you bear so much contempt toward Maat? Alpha asked, genuinely curious about the animosity he had witnessed during the fight.

Bolg paused in his vandalism and looked down at the defaced demon with obvious distaste.

Maat was one of the first elite demons to emerge from the Horizon Canvas modifications. He is certainly far from being the strongest among us, but because he has seniority over the rest of us, he feels entitled to being nosy, pesky, and downright condescending whenever the opportunity arises.

Bolg resumed his work with renewed vigor.

— He never missed a chance to remind me of my junior status or to criticize my methods. So I suppose this is simply my way of evening the score.

Kuria's eyes began to glisten with tears as she processed Bolg's explanation.

— That is terrible! No one deserves to be treated that way, she said, her voice filled with sympathy.

Suzaku, who had been watching this exchange, turned toward the unconscious Grimjaw with small flames flickering around her fingertip.

— Wait, Bolg said firmly, stepping between Suzaku and the fallen demon. Leave my little brother alone. He did nothing wrong.

Suzaku's flames died out as she looked at Bolg with surprise.

— Little brother?

Grimjaw is the latest elite demon to have emerged from the Horizon Canvas. I was not even aware they were creating him until he appeared. But I was horrified when I discovered they had made him into a nobody without his masks - his base form has virtually no power at all. It is cruel to create someone so dependent on external sources for strength.

Suzaku considered this for a moment, then nodded and stepped back.

Kuria wiped her eyes and looked thoughtful.

— Suzaku, perhaps you could burn off some of Maat's hair as well?

Suzaku considered this suggestion with unusual seriousness.

— A bad haircut is a fate worse than death.

Alpha, Dave, and Bolg all nodded in solemn agreement, as if she had just shared profound wisdom about the nature of existence.

After their moment of petty revenge had run its course, the group set about securing their prisoners. They stripped both unconscious demons of their weapons and equipment, leaving them with only basic clothing.

Bolg found a sturdy oak tree and Dave enhanced its durability while Alpha gathered rope from their supplies. Dave reinforced the rope's strength before they bound both Maat and Grimjaw securely to the trunk.

— That should hold them until someone finds them, Alpha said, testing the bonds one final time.

— Or until they wake up and realize what we drew on Maat's face, Kuria added cheerfully.

Alpha pulled out the small glass bottle the blacksmith had given him and knelt beside the unconscious Grimjaw.

— What are you doing? Bolg asked with curiosity.

— He took quite a beating during our fight, Alpha replied, carefully dripping some of the healing potion onto Grimjaw's wounds. It is the least I can do.

Bolg watched as the minor cuts and bruises on Grimjaw's face began to fade.

— Thank you, he said quietly. That was... kind of you.

Alpha corked the bottle and tucked it back into his pack.

With their prisoners secured, the group gathered their belongings and resumed their march toward the waterfall. Bolg took point once again, leading them deeper into the forest along paths that seemed to exist more in his memory than in any visible trail.

After another hour of walking through the dense woodland, they began to hear the sound of rushing water echoing through the trees ahead. Soon they emerged into a clearing where a magnificent waterfall cascaded down smooth granite cliffs. The water caught the afternoon sunlight, creating dancing rainbows in the mist. Ancient moss covered the rocks around the pool, and delicate silver ferns swayed in the gentle breeze.

— This is beautiful, Alpha said, setting down his pack near the water's edge.

— We can rest here for a while, Bolg said, gesturing toward the waterfall. The entrance to the shadow corridor is behind the falls, but there is no rush.

Alpha knelt by the crystal-clear pool and refilled his healing potion bottle, watching as the water automatically restored its magical properties. The peaceful atmosphere was a welcome change from their recent battles.

Small woodland creatures began to emerge from the undergrowth, drawn by their presence. Luminescent butterflies with wings like stained glass fluttered around them, while tiny crystal-furred rabbits hopped closer with curious, fearless eyes.

Kuria clasped her hands together with delight as a particularly brave rabbit approached her feet.

— Oh, how adorable! Suzaku, Bolg, you should pet them. They seem so friendly.

Suzaku looked uncertain as one of the crystal rabbits sniffed at her boot.

— I do not want to accidentally hurt them with my flames.

— Your fire only appears when you will it, Bolg observed, carefully extending his hand toward one of the creatures. It is safe.

The rabbit nuzzled against his palm, its crystal fur catching the light like tiny prisms.

Dave floated near Alpha, both of them taking in the serene beauty of their surroundings.

— Hard to believe this peaceful place is the gateway to demon territory, Dave said quietly.

Alpha nodded, watching as Suzaku finally allowed one of the butterflies to rest on her outstretched finger.

— Sometimes the most dangerous paths begin in the most beautiful places.

The group decided to camp beside the waterfall for the night, finding comfort in the peaceful surroundings before entering unknown territory. They set up their sleeping arrangements on the soft moss near the pool, lulled to sleep by the gentle sound of cascading water.

As the first pale light of dawn began to filter through the canopy, Bolg quietly woke his companions. The forest was still wrapped in morning mist, and the crystal creatures had retreated to their hidden resting places.

— It is time, Bolg said softly, gathering his belongings.

He approached the waterfall and placed both hands against the smooth rock face beside the rushing water. His red eyes focused with concentration as he began to chant in the demon tongue. The cascade gradually slowed, then stopped entirely, as if an invisible force was holding back the flow.

Behind the curtain of suspended water, a dark opening became visible in the cliff face.

— The shadow corridor, Bolg explained, maintaining his concentration. I can only hold the water back for a few minutes. We must move quickly.

One by one, the group passed through the opening into darkness, leaving the peaceful waterfall behind as they entered the demon realm's hidden pathways.

Once inside, they found themselves in a vast underground network unlike anything they had expected. The corridor stretched in multiple directions, with passages branching off at various points like the roots of an enormous tree. The walls, floor, and ceiling appeared to be made of a translucent, spectral material that shimmered with an otherworldly light.

Dave floated closer to examine the strange substance.

— These walls... they look almost like solidified moonlight, he said to Alpha.

The spectral surfaces pulsed gently with soft blues and purples, casting an ethereal glow throughout the network. Dozens of archways led to different passages, each one marked with glowing symbols that seemed to shift and change as they watched.

Kuria approached one of the entrances cautiously, her staff providing additional light.

— So many different paths, she murmured, studying the shifting symbols.

Alpha looked around at the numerous options with growing unease.

— How do we know which one leads to the Horizon Canvas?

Bolg pointed toward a passage marked with symbols depicting grain stalks and livestock.

— There is no direct route to the Horizon Canvas. But that passage leads to an exit point we use for food supply runs. The demons only use it once per week, and that was three days ago. It should be safe to emerge there today.

He gestured toward the glowing symbols.

— From that location, we will need to travel overland for several hours to reach the Horizon Canvas. But it is the closest safe entry point to demon territory.

The party formed a single-file line as Bolg led them toward the chosen passage. Suzaku positioned herself directly behind him, close enough that Bolg could feel the subtle warmth radiating from her hands. The heat served as a constant reminder that despite their cooperation, she remained ready to incinerate him at the first sign of betrayal.

Light.

Don.Coals
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