The Basilisk Queen

“Woah… This place is so pretty.” Komoria smiled to herself as she inspected the crystalline walls and roof. Even the floor had been constructed from these light blue crystals.

“It is pretty impressive, I must say. My home looks quite...tacky in comparison,” Lyra concluded.

My focus was solely on the super-sized bed at the end of the room. There was nothing living in the crystallized cave except for the one in the bed. Inside it was someone sleeping soundly—like a baby; It must have been the boss. To each side of her was a kobold, unmoving as if frozen in time. One held a cup in their hand, the other a bowl. The bizarre sight caused something obvious to click in my head.

She has fucking basilisk in her god-damn name! I've totally seen shit where they can petrify people from a simple gaze. Greek mythology was a class I somewhat enjoyed. 

I came up with a simple solution while the girls were still taking in the scenery.

“Hey, you two. I’m gonna wake her up and then one of you will pick me up. I have a plan.”

Komoria seemed perplexed. “Pick you...up? Wah? How will I do th—!”

“Don’t worry about it. Just give me something to toss at her.”

Lyra balled her fist and took a fighting stance. “I shall be ready when she stirs. You two, please don’t get close to her. I think her mind control magic requires contact.”

“B-but what about you, Lyra?”

Komoria was right. Lyra was the one that fought in hand-to-hand combat because she lacked magic. Wait a sec... When did I start calling her Lyra…? Anyway, I don’t want to have to fight that tanky bitch again so protecting her from that bs status effect was a priority. 

“Yeah, you...Lyra..er, scorpion...stay back unless she comes out to you. We can handle the rest.”

"...." Lyra lost her calm composure for a second but brought it right back before Komoria could notice. “I'll be fine. Please think about yourselves. You two are not nearly as durable as me.”

Yeah bitch, we know.

“But…”

“She’s right,” I said. “I’m sure this tanky skank has another trick or two up her sleeve. Anyway, hand me something.”

“O-oh. Okay. Fine!”

With a worried look on her face, Komoria reached into her backpack and handed me something that looked like a tall and skinny version of orange.

“I don’t know what the hell that is but it should work.” I took the item and hurled it like a baseball at the sleeping person. It hit them square in the chest, forcing them to stir.

The second she started to move, I transformed.

“R-Raze? What the hell?!” Komoria picked up the gold Olympic medal I turned into and placed me around her neck.

This was an extra precaution. Just focus on her. I’ll turn back in a sec. I whispered into her mind like she had done when I turned her into a flamethrower.

Ughhhhh. Ok… , she slowly replied. 

The woman rose from her bed and stretched her long, nimble limbs. “...Hmm? Rex, is that you?” She spilled out of bed, seeming dazed if only briefly. She’s easily over six feet. “Oh...it's you.”

What a rude way to reply to someone.

Even though she had just woken up, she was well-dressed and sported a gothic black dress with a hood behind it like one of those venom lizards from Jurassic Park. Her eyes were the same color as blood with verdant green cracks surrounding them like snake scales. Her hair was shoulder-length and had green highlights at the tips. 

Simply from seeing her speak, I could tell she had long canines like a viper mixed in with her pearly whites. She had a similar body type to Komoria, which meant she was slim and big-chested. Most dudes would surely shout "hubba hubba" when she walked by then or smoother pervy shit like that. Her long heels dug into the ground as she walked towards us with increasing hunger in her feral eyes.

“I was expecting a male to come as well...but where is he? Ah, see. He must be in hiding, using his companions like little mice the serpent out. I heard that this Savior had quite the unsavory personality.”

“You will be dealing with us first!" Komoria confidently declared. I got an eyeful of skin as she moved, but unlike a virgin loser, I wasn't even middle aroused. Take a [Fireba—”

She froze mid-sentence. Lyra said nothing as well, but I couldn't see her from my angle.

The Basilisk Queen bared her fangs and licked her scarlet lips. “I wanted to save this ability for the Savior, but you cuties two will make up for it~”

She strutted towards us at a slow and delicate pace. Starting with Komoria, she placed her pristine hand on the bat girl’s forehead. Her pale hand gleamed red like a million rubies, the light reflecting off her long black nails.

“That should do it.” She removed her hand and made her over to where Lyra should have been. This was the worst timeline. Both my companions were already useless and the boss fight hadn't even started yet!

Shit! I think I may have fucked up. At least she used that paralysis thing and she did make it seem like it had a long cooldown period. Before I turned back to fight her, I took a peek at her stats. As much as I hated to admit it—Komoria was right. Using this scanner really helped you in battle or preparing for it. It’s kinda like looking up a guide to kill the boss you are on.

[Name: Basilisk Queen Elenoira]—[Class: Beast-kin Basilisk Empress/Mindslaver]—[Level: 120]

[Skills: Paralyzing Gaze (MAX), Transform (MAX), Hibernation (MAX), Acidic Breath (MAX), Grand Control Mind (MAX), Twin Maws (MAX), 18 Skills Hidden Below]

[Status: Hungry]—[Attack: 20,000]—[Defense: 76,000]—[Magic: 100,000]

Hot damn her stats her high! They far surpassed that imp—like what the fuck is this disparity?! She was only the next of the bosses! That guy shouldn't have even been considered one of those big baddies! Either way I was in a pickle and couldn't do shit in my stationary form. The only one that could take her on at this level would be…

I transformed back, appearing at Komoria's side. She and Lyra were both frozen in time, stiff as statues but still looking perfectly human.

Elenoira clasped her hands together in glee, blushing. “Ah, there's my little Savior! You must have seen my food stand over and there guessed one of my Skills. Bravo, though you will be punished greatly for it. Your allies' abilities were quite impressive, especially the bat girl. Oh-ho-hooo, I like her....”

Komoria blinked a few times, her eyes darting my way with immense distress. then it all but disappeared. Now, I saw a face I had never seen on her cheerful visage since we were first forced together—expressionless. It was as if someone wiped her smile into the trash and tossed it out back. She was essentially a human-sized doll, her features appearing more superficial behind her hollow expression by the minute.

“She will take her on first. I look forward to seeing my newest possession in action.” She snapped her fingers and Lyra sputtered to life and walked over to her. She kneeled down before Elenoira and formed a bridge with her body. The smug Basilisk hoe then took a seat right on top of her. She looked extremely amused.

I wanted to wipe that look off her face. It's not like I cared for that scorpion, but seeing her in that position just made my blood boil. If anything...she should do that position for me!

Elenoira made eye contact with me and giggled. “Ehehehe, mad are we? Well, you will be a little more miffed soon enough…”

She snapped her fingers again and Komoria transformed. It was because of [Envy] either; I could tell when that happened. It was a completely different type of transformation. When I saw the form at the end, I may have let out a gulp or even a gasp.

She was him? Really? how did I not notice?!

Who stood before me now was a mechanized badass ninja with two blades on his back and slit red eyes. He seemed entirely made out of parts from a jet or something that didn't belong in this fantasy setting. It didn't belong in this world—period. At least this explained how she got us that ticket, but why and how could she do this? I would have to ask her after icing this smug piece of garbage.

“You...bitch! I'm gonna kill your ass!” My voice was full of disdain and malice. I guess these were my true feelings—no matter how much I said similar things on a daily. I couldn't dwell on them now, though. I had to fight what Komoria had become. I used my scanner once more, internally hoping she would naturally snap out of her trance.

[Name: Jinzo, the Mecha Ninja (True Name Hidden)]—[Class: Cyber Ninja Machine]—[Level: 41]

[Skills: Flight (MAX), Soul Bond (MAX), Skill Share (MAX), Character Change (MAX), Invisibility (MAX), Extra Arms (MAX), Keen Eye (MAX), Shuriken Birth (RANK 5), Multi-use Arms (RANK 4 (True Form Skills Hidden)]

[Status: Self-destructive]—[Attack: 5,000 + 1,500 (from weapon)]—[Defense: 4,234]—[Magic: 800]

She was a completely different character, stats and all. Her stats also increased exponentially, except for her magic since it doesn't look like any of her Skills relied on it. Forget taking down the boss, how the hell was I going to be taking down this Overwatch character?!

“Ah, yes. That unease is perfect. You look truly shocked by her transformation. Do I sense some inner-term oil? Hmmm?”

“Will you shut the fuck up?” I stammered while trying to come up with a plan. Jinzo gave me no time for that, though, and dashed straight at me with a blood-crazed scream.

Fuck.

I use the [Rabbit] and leap back, keeping my distance. Jinzo was not fazed by my sudden movements, dashing after me with his sick twin katanas ready to slice me into pizza. This would be a great time to have a weapon, don’t you think?

I jumped back from another one of his attacks, barely missing my shoulder. The sheer speed from the slice pelted me with specks of wind. As he landed, he locked eyes with me, his body shaking. I thought maybe he was having diarrhea or something, but particles engulfed his body and as they left, nothing was in his place. 

Shit! He went invisible! Komoria's Hyde has so many OP Skills!

I had to fight a fucking pre-boss who was also my designated support. If only I had a fucking spell that could melt away that cress or something…

He reappeared to my left and tossed two shurikens my way. I sidestepped one of them, but the other grazed my knee, causing me to wince in pain like a wounded dog. If it had been any closer I would have lost my leg for sure.

Fucking hell! I can’t do shit! Don’t want to hurt him because it's actually Komoria and I don't even have a weapon to put up a fight against this turbo crackhead!

“Well, then—allow me to assist you.”

Huh? Who?

I looked around in disbelief. Elenoira, Lyra and Jinzo were all frozen in time.

“In here. In here. See?” I annoyingly gazed into my scanner to see a familiar face. “Long time no see, Razy.”

“The fuck do you want while I'm knee-deep in bullshit?!”

“Sheesh man, you seem to be in quite a pickle right now. Since I’m a nice guy and a big fan of your craft—especially how you crushed the spirit of that hero—I have come with a gift.  And not just any gift, the perfect plot armor-killing kind to save your hide! You have been managing all this time without even a weapon! It's sad! it's unfair! It's...starting to get boring. Truly a tragedy.”

I grit my teeth and glared. “Get to the point. I’m kinda busy at the moment as you can see…”

He put his face up close to the camera, or whatever those stupid gods used, his red eyes and dark skin reminding me of my Skyrim days. Resa Sin—I think that was his name—was a truly strange man. 

“I have stopped time in your area. I can only pull it off for a few minutes with my current authority, so I’ll cut to the chase: I’m going to grant you a weapon that will help slice through your current endeavor even though you haven't finished maxing out the Sins. This weapon also comes with a bonus, granting you a quite useful ability. I hope you enjoy it! Now, I think I said everything I needed to say right? I'm just the greatest, right?”

He started counting his fingers and muttering to himself. “Hmm hmm, yup. I told him about the weapon and its benefit. I greeted him. Told him about the Destroyer that has been sent to kill him. Called him Razy as per usual. Yup, that’s all”

Something he said caught my ear. “What do you mean when you said there was a Destroyer out to kill me?” It sounded cringy but serious at the same time.

“Oh, you didn't know? Some of us dark gods are conspiring with the Lord of Calamity to kill you before you get too strong, but don't worry about that now; I'm on your side, and thats all that matters. He’s on a whole different assignment thanks to some internal problems among the demon ranks.” He turned his head around as if someone called out to him before twisting his head back around to face me. “Welp, I got to go, Razy. We dark gods have some other matters to attend to. Booop!”

And with that, he poofed from my screen and my terrible time once again resumed. 

—That would have been the case, if not for the impressive piece of work that was gripped by both of my hands.

The hell is this?

In my hands, I gripped a long, sleek black scythe. It was the same kind that a grim reaper would hold. Definitely. I will admit, though—it seemed pretty goofy in my hands. This was the first time since I came to this world that a weapon felt like it was meant for me. It was made for me and me alone. 

I leaped back near the entrance while I read its stats. I liked what I saw.

Maybe my solo run had a better chance of success after all.