The Wrath of Domination Part 2

 It was the calm before the storm.

Daichi, Furbolt, and Goblin were all positioned ready to strike. Roughly 20 meters separated them from their foe sitting just ahead on a marble stage. Dracula-esque Domination sat with crossed legs and clasped hands as he waited with bated breath. Not a single other sound permeated around the vast cavern.

Then, Furbolt and Goblin rushed forward, splitting apart together in a V-formation. Domination observed as they rapidly approached and surrounded him in unison. His crimson eyes stared straight into Goblin while it launched a bludgeon attack. 

"Marfarfu!" Goblin screamed its battle cry.

The vampire's arm easily blocked the blow but Furbolt attacked from behind. It leapt at broad shoulders and sank pointed teeth into them, unleashing an electric surge. Domination barely winced as he finally retaliated, hurling Goblin away and reaching to pry Furbolt off.

But too late. Domination's surprised eyes met Daichi’s as the teen sprinted right at him and cast a third summon.

“Sentinel! Activate!”

He aimed the green ball above Domination as blinding light took the form of a hulking, two-meter tall stone warrior. Sentinel and its massive shield crashed down on Domination like a meteor, crushing the stage’s edge and billowing clouds of dirt everywhere. Daichi raised his arms to shield from blasted debris.

Did that get him? I can’t tell!

As the dust settled, a black explosion erupted that sent Sentinel flying away in burning chunks. Domination emerged standing from within the rubble, patches of black flames covering his body. He patted himself off and gave a clapping ovation.

“Well done, young man! Well done!" His earnest smile showed no signs of insincerity. "You launched a pincer attack as a diversion to drop your heaviest summon on me. Barbaric, but you fully utilized your weak invocations by embracing unconventional warfare. Weaponizing Sentinel's cumbersome weight requires quite the dynamic thinking."

Daichi was unfazed by the praise. “I don’t suppose this means you’ll tell me everything I asked for now?”

“Oh heavens no,” he sneered. “I'm the type of person that plays with their food. We’re just getting started here.”

"Tsk." Daichi peered around. Sentinel’s scattered pieces began dispersing into green particles, while Goblin in the distance lay beneath an impact crater along a boulder. The little green creature gave a thumbs up as its body vanished into nothingness.

Sentinel! Goblin! I’ll make him pay for that! But where’s Furbolt? If you’re out there little guy, just stay hidden!

Domination by the stage cracked and flexed his neck. “I admit I’ll feel acrimonious when I end you, but until then, extracting your limits will be my honor.” He bit into the tips of his right glove and unsheathed his delicate hand. Patches of black and purple flames traveled down his fingers to form a new, fiery glove. “I need not concern myself with damaging piano keys anymore, so I’ll grant a taste of what Raid Bosses are capable of.”

Then Daichi blinked and Domination disappeared.

What? He backed up, but before he formulated another thought, Domination reappeared behind him—fiery glove up to Daichi's back. A powerful snap blasted the teen forward dozens of meters as he thudded along the ground like a pebble over water.

Ack! Daichi rolled to a halt but didn’t have time to register pain. Domination already stood over him the moment he looked up.

“I may appear like I’m teleporting, but I’m only moving at a brisk pace,” Domination said. “The weaker they are, the harder time someone’s eyes have computing a boss' movements."

In the corner of Daichi’s vision, faint apparitions of Domination started manifesting, starting from where Sentinel crash landed earlier. The apparitions walked in unison along a ghostly line back to where Daichi was before he launched across the cavern. The lead apparition snapped its fingers and raced down the same path, until every ghostly clone combined back into one solid being standing overhead.

Domination smirked. “Have you noticed it yet?”

Sheer dizziness muted his sense of pain as he puked up his earlier meal. Drops of vomit splattered on Domination’s black shoe, making him raise and plunge it down onto Daichi’s shoulder.

“AAAHHH!”

“What? I'm doing you a favor. Black fires burned on your robe and I’m snuffing them out. Just a graze of these cursed flames would extinguish your life before sunrise.”

Sanae’s healing spell supported Daichi once more as it worked to mend his shattered clavicle. But the vampire's sole continued digging down, birthing a cycle of unremitting agony as Daichi's bones broke and healed over and over.

“Your friend up there isn’t doing you any favors. Here, I’ll help again.” Domination removed his last glove and tossed it aside. He stepped back, aimed his finger at his own head, and plunged it inwards knuckles deep. Blood pulsed out as he twisted the finger around like a crank.

Above him, Domination’s health bar appeared, ticking from 100 to 99%.

“Oh dear, we’ll never progress like this. Let’s speed things up.” He pulled out his finger and aimed it into his mouth like a gun. A small, fiery ball of black energy formed at the tip. Purple flares and dark lightning bolts lashed out as the ball’s potency intensified. With a bang it blasted into Domination’s mouth, blowing off the back of his head. Immense recoil made him stumble backwards and decreased his health from 99 to 97%.

What is he doing? Daichi was watching everything unfold from the ground. Is he trying to kill himself?

The vampire's limp body stammered around until his gaping wound healed. Calm, collected lips soon grinned on his handsome face. “Let’s try that once more.”

He aimed his finger into his mouth again and repeated the ritual, destroying part of his head with an explosion; his health ticked to 95%. When he recovered, he aimed two index fingers into his mouth—powerful, twin bursts obliterated everything from the neck up as his body flopped to the ground.

This is my only chance! Daichi picked up his tome and cast a last ditch summon while Domination was incapacitated. One careful invocation was aimed at a precise location . . .

Domination's head soon regenerated atop his body alongside a 90% health bar. He smoothed back his long, pristine hair and glanced above. “There. Our solace is assured now.”

Behind them, the balcony's pink veil darkened and Sanae’s healing wore off before it could finish. The last bit of contact with Lone Star had severed.

Wait, did he just lower his health to 90% so I couldn’t be healed anymore? Makoto's instructions earlier warned of a cutoff point.

“Now," Domination cracked his knuckles, "let’s see how your comrades adapt to situation changes. Will they interfere . . . ?" Heavy footsteps echoed as the solemn vampire approached.

Crap! It'll all come down to this! Daichi stumbled to his feet then backed up towards the cavern's center. “W-Wait! Me and you—we could work together! I’ll look for Dominion's secrets out there while you do what you can here! We can walk away as each other’s informants!"

Domination continued to force him back. “Unfortunately, I’ve no interest in you anymore. You’re merely bait now to lure your friends.”

“But didn’t you want to validate your existence? Your purpose? Are you really happy just being Dominion’s pet?”

Domination laughed. “You’re calling me a pet? What are you then, who hails from a ‘fascist utopia’? You’re little more than a hound trapped in a cage within a cage. Any freedom you possess compared to me is but a farce.”

Ghostly figures appeared again. They all picked up and slammed Daichi onto the stone stage. He rolled next to the grand piano as true Domination stepped under bright crystals above.

“When something shines too vividly, it drowns out the light of everything around it. Like a moth I'm attracted to that light within you Adventurers, as if I’m longing for something I’ve lost. So tell me: how interwoven are our worlds truly?”

Daichi scooted backwards along the floor until he had a good view of the ceiling. “No idea, but I’m going to find out one day. And if I die here, at least I’ve left my mark.”

“Hmmm . . . ?”

A rustling emerged from the open piano. Domination’s head turned to see Furbolt leaping towards him as it grabbed onto his arm. The scorched feline climbed up then sunk its fangs deep into Domination’s nape, pumping him with thunderous electricity. Limbs spasmed and convulsed as the vampire fell to one knee.

"NOW GOBLIN!"

From far above in the ceiling crystals, a little green man dived off with a wicked grin. 

"Marfarfarfu!" As Goblin picked up speed, he raised his bludgeon and utilized momentum to strike an execution-like blow—directly atop Domination’s head.

"Gack!" The boss' neck was forced downwards when the powerful blow registered. Devastating pressure shattered Goblin's bludgeon on impact and spewed splinters everywhere. The resounding echo sung the sweet anthem of success.

Goblin landed with both feet but almost tripped over himself. He signaled for Furbolt to regroup, and both creatures huddled in defensive poses around their master, awaiting orders.

Without wasting time, Daichi checked the boss' health bar: it had ticked from 90 to 89%.

YES! It was a total, indisputable victory worthy of accolades; for an ant had managed to make a lion flinch. 

Then, sinister cackles—Daichi could hear giggles coming from his vampiric foe. Long, now disheveled hair kept his face hidden, but then excited chuckles broke out into howling laughter as Domination’s whole body contorted with nirvana. His hand rushed to his chest to calm himself.

“Amazing. Spectacular. Incredible. You lobbed Goblin up towards the crystals, likely when I was headless, then slowly but surely lured me here into your trap. Fascinating.”

“I wasn’t even sure it’d work; you’d probably just dodge it." Daichi took a few cautious steps back. "But when I saw Furbolt hiding in the piano, I knew stunning you was my best chance at landing a solid hit.”

“To be fair, I could’ve dodged any of your attacks today. But what would be gained from that?" Domination raised his fingers as if to snap them. With a quick spark, Furbolt and Goblin ignited into black flames then disintegrated into nothingness.

“Hey! Why’d you do that?” Daichi yelled.

“Hmmm? Do you not burn detritus in Japan? I’ve heard multitudes of captivating trivia, like how your people call Paradise an ‘Isekai', but the reasoning still confounds me."

Daichi started looking over his shoulder for a chance to escape. “I’d happily explain everything if you just hold up your end of our deal.”

“I apologize—it seems I must rescind my offer. You’ve certainly impressed but also proven yourself a potential liability. Who knows what you'll become in the future with your uncanny intellect and philosophies?"

“Isn’t that what you want though? Someone that can shake up this world and free you one day?”

Domination shook his head. “Saccharine words. I’ve already resigned myself to this fate, just as I hope you’ve accepted your own.” He raised his fingers, ready to snap.

Shit! Daichi turned and leapt off the stage. His tired legs sprinted towards the balcony, aware he could be ashes any moment. I’ve done what I can! If someone is still up there, please help! Sanae! Hiro! Makoto! Anyone!

A click and gust of wind knocked Daichi forward, making him fall face first. Domination was strolling up without hurry but wore a melancholic face, like a man preparing to euthanize his dog. The boss' hand ignited into a black, sparkling blaze as he prepared to strike.

“Do you wish to die on your feet, Ayanami? I’ll grant the opportunity.”

Daichi’s trembling body forced itself to rise. His tome had been flung away in the blast and now he stood defenseless. With defiant eyes, he stared straight into the vampire’s crimson gaze.

“You think you’re starved for answers?” Daichi said. ”You don’t know the hunger, or the fear—the feeling of always being watched like some zoo animal. Killing me just sends me back to square one, but I’ll never stop searching for the answers Dominion tries to bury!”

“Then, I grant you a temporary respite.” The thunderous inferno in Domination's hand reached its climax and he swung his fist.

“DAICHIIII!” A voice roared from above as it descended upon the scene. Hiro was plunging towards Domination, gigantic sword readied in hand.

The boss’ eyes widened. He raised his blazing hand and collided with Hiro’s mid-air slash. Black flames alongside purple sparks sprayed everywhere, showering Hiro in fire while Daichi watched helplessly from behind. The huge sword forced back Domination and overpowered him, severing the boss' hand and blasting him away with red magic.

"We're not done yet!" Hiro shouted. He positioned himself to unleash a powerful spell. “Medusa Sword: Activate!”

The giant, demonic eye in his sword’s hilt blinked open. Red snakes poured out and wrapped around Hiro’s arm, biting into him. His muscles bulged to almost twice their size as he plunged his sword downwards.

“Scarlett Scourge!”

From the floor's fresh cracks, giant energy snakes erupted out towards Domination. He attempted to evade but was overwhelmed by their numbers. A snake’s jaw clamped his arm and dragged him across the cave like a ragdoll, pinning him as other snakes dogpiled one by one.

Hiro pointed his infested fist to the scene. “Scourge Finale!”

The snakes engulfing Domination ignited, rocking the cavern with a cataclysmic explosion. Blinding red light flashed as plumes of dust scattered everywhere, forcing Daichi's arms up to shield himself. Pebbles clinked and clanged against him until everything was at last still.

"Ack . . . Ack . . ." Hiro fell to his knees, panting. The snakes attached to him slithered off then buried below as his sword's eye shut once more. “T-That’s all I have. I can’t beat him alone."

Daichi glanced around. “Where are the others?”

Silence.

“Hiro?”

Daichi's hand stung. He looked down to see a black flame burning over his wrist. His other hand reached to pat it down.

“Don’t t-touch it!” Hiro half-coughed.

The small flame spread to both hands—Daichi collapsed and writhed. His entire nervous system besieged itself with torture incarnate. Every limb spasmed as black, burn-like marks crawled up his arms like a spreading virus.

"AAAAHH! It hurts! It hurts!" All Daichi could do was pathetically squirm on the ground. His instincts all commanded him to roll around even if futile.

Then from giant dust clouds ahead, a demonic figure began emerging.

“My, my. I didn’t expect Ayanami to have such strong allies,” Domination said. His Dracula clothes were in tatters and his health bar now read 80%.

Only to 80? From 89? That’s all Hiro’s attack managed! Daichi's body was still grappling with hellish torment. It took all he had to hold back another scream. Fuck!

“Hmmm . . . ‘Giant red snakes, huge sword, bulging muscles’—you wouldn’t by any chance be the one who defeated Domino recently would you? He was quite peeved about that.” Domination fixed his white cufflinks then watched his remaining wounds recover without issue.

Hiro tried to stand but fell back to one knee. He was covered in bundles of black flames while copious curse marks spread across his body. Life seemed literally being drained away from him by the second. "D-Damnit . . ."

"Fate is quite a fickle thing, correct?" Domination fiddled with his fresh hand as he walked up to a helpless Hiro. Each new finger wiggled as if being tested out. “Though I’m relieved you didn’t use your trump card. My piano takes quite a while to regenerate if it’s destroyed, unlike my appendages.”

“Hiro—run,” Daichi said from behind, trying hard to stay conscious.

A small, fiery ball of black energy concentrated itself into Domination’s finger. The ball expanded in size until he pointed his hand like a pistol. "Two birds, one stone."

Hurry! Run! Daichi tried crawling towards the scene but then a sudden energy bubbled within him. Pink glows soon overtook his body and he felt himself floating upwards. Wait, what's happening?

Out of Hiro's back also, a pink energy rope unraveled itself and hauled him up. The slow pull morphed into a yank as both comrades rocketed towards the distant balcony.

"Trickery?" Domination’s blazing finger followed their movements, aiming for a perfect shot, but at the last moment he tucked it back into his hand and canceled the attack. There was an unknown look in his eyes as he whispered something then returned to his grand piano. 

A destiny even Raid Bosses didn't wish to impede awaited Lone Star's returning members.