CHAPTER 29: NOT TODAY, SHINY

Dante was sitting outside his tent, drinking wine he stole from Thornbrooke as Big John slept nearby, keeping an eye on him alongside the other Death Giants. Raoul was sharpening his sword. The Death Knight looked in his direction with narrowed red eyes. ’’You shouldn’t drink so much human wine, my lord.’’

’’It’s delicious and I never drank in my previous life,’’ he revealed, taking a swig of the sweet drink. ’’I was too much of a goody two-shoes, never having vices, never having sex, never drinking, or having fun. I was too full of myself.’’

’’I doubt that,’’ Raoul retorted. ’’Seems like you were strong but naive to the way of the world.’’

Dante got pissed at that; he jumped up and retorted to the Death Knight’s words. ’’Who are you to call me naive! I trusted too easily, loved too much, and I was blinded to their betrayal. I never wanted to cross that line, yes, I wanted to kill, but my principles stopped me, the Goddess broke those chains and now I am free to do whatever I want!’’

He looked at Raoul as his face morphed into something monstrous. ’’I will get my revenge and bring this world back into Death’s embrace; there is nothing that can stop me.’’

’’And we’ll be there beside you, my lord,’’ the Death Knight reassured. ’’You gave us a new life, and now we use that to help.’’

He stared at the Goblin and nodded. ’’Thanks, now I need to rest so we can capture even more monsters.’’

Following that, Dante continued drinking the wine while eating some of the rations he got from the survival kits, but soon realized he was running out, forcing him to go hunting in the morning. After some time, he crawled into the tent as Raoul stood outside on guard, thanks to all the monsters lurking beyond the firelight.

Big John unleashed a low growl that resonated through the night, driving off the skulking creatures. When Dante awoke the next morning, he felt invigorated. Stepping outside, the humid air clung to his skin, sparking a bead of sweat that only fueled his irritation. ’’Damn Dark Forest, this place is horrible.’’

Just then, Raoul appeared, looking battered as Big John roared in the distance. Dante was confused, and when he healed the Death Knight, the Goblin revealed. ’’A powerful warrior is heading this way! I think he’s tracking us using mana.’’

Without waiting, he sent the Death Giants back to the Domain so this newcomer couldn’t destroy any of his new monsters. Once that was done, he turned to Raoul. ’’You and the others can help me if the enemy outmatches me, like most things do nowadays.’’

Their laughter at his words faded as a potent aura surged through the forest, stopping abruptly as it reached him. The enemy’s focus sharpened, locking onto him, making Dante’s wicked smile eiden. From the underbrush emerged an adventurer, blue-haired and eyed, standing slightly taller.

He used Death Eyes on the newcomer.

[B Rank Human - Knight Hero]

Clad in the plate armor favored by humans here, he wielded a longsword with quiet confidence. ’’So you’re the reason behind many of my comrades going missing?’’ the young man questioned.

Dante shrugged. ’’I guess so, I did butcher Ashville and Thornebrooke for fun. There were a few adventurers I’ve met along the way,’’ he answered, unbothered by the human’s power. ’’But now they belong to me and will be serving me for the rest of time.’’

The hero looked annoyed before turning angry as he declared. ’’The Light Goddess showed me your evilness herself. I’ve seen what you’re about to unleash on Dreadport, and I cannot allow that to happen. You will bring death and chaos to Darkmoore, my homeland.’’

’’Oh, there’s nothing you can do,’’ he responded with venom. ’’Everyone will die, including yourself, but the difference is you will be joining my Death Army while they become cannon fodder.’’

The hero’s face twisted at his words, his power erupting in a luminous burst as he gripped his sword, ready to strike. Dante flashed a shit-eating grin, drawing his daggers. As he prepared to clash once more, he sent Raoul back to the Domain, reassuring the Goblin that he had a plan.

Dante faced off against a formidable foe, a Darkmoore hero, an A-Rank Warrior Mage radiating raw power as the human declared. ’’False hero! You will fall here and the Light Goddess will rejoice!’’

The air crackled with tension as he gripped his twin daggers, knowing he’d need every ounce of skill to survive this duel. The enemy lunged, his blade a blur, forcing Dante to parry with a twist of his wrists. Steel clashed, ringing through the battlefield, but in a heartbeat, the hero vanished, reappearing behind him with a wicked strike aimed at his heart.

"Henry! NOW!" Dante roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

From the shadows, the Black Knight erupted onto the scene, his massive frame a wall of steel. With a thunderous bellow, Henry blocked the hero’s blade using his shield, sparks exploding like a storm of fireflies. At that moment, Sulla unleashed his necromancy, dark tendrils of magic slicing through the air like a predator’s claws.

The hero countered, his sword cleaving through the inky mana as he struck, but Sulla jumped in the way, taking the blow, sending the Death Knight back to the Domain with a smile on his face. Just then, Dante and Raoul struck as one, a perfectly timed onslaught. Their blades danced, catching the Darkmoore hero off guard.

Moments later, the enemy charged, his aura flaring like a storm. Raoul met him head-on, their weapons colliding in a shower of sparks that lit the underbrush. Dante danced around the fray, his movements playful and agile. ’’Come on, shiny,’’ he taunted. ’’Is that all you and this slutty Light Goddess got?’’

The hero’s eyes narrowed, his strikes growing fiercer, but his experience shone through. He read every swing, every feint, his years of battle-honed instinct outweighing the human’s raw power. Raoul parried an overhead strike; he remained unmoved, but the foe’s strength forced him back a step.

Dante seized the moment, slipping through the enemy’s defenses like a shadow. With a wicked laugh, he ducked under a wild swing, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Before the hero could react, he slammed his forehead into the young man’s nose, and a sickening crunch rang out.

The hero staggered, eyes watering, but Dante wasn’t done. With a mischievous glint, he drove his boot hard into the enemy’s balls, the idiot’s face contorted in agony, his sword clattering to the ground as he crumpled, clutching himself. Raoul froze, his red eyes conveying shock.

’’My lord... what in the Abyss was that?’’ the Death Knight rumbled, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe.

He spun a dagger, grinning ear to ear. ’’Experience, my Goblin friend. Doesn’t matter if he outranks me, he fights like a rookie, and these idiots don’t deserve a fair fight.’’

Dante kicked dirt at the groaning hero, who was still curled up on the forest floor. The young man’s pride was broken just like he was. He stood a few paces off, his cocky grin growing wider, but it froze when an overwhelming sensation suddenly appeared. His gaze fell on the young man who threw his head back, a horrifying white light igniting in his mouth.

’’Oh shit,’’ he muttered.

A powerful glow swelled, crackling with energy that warped the air, casting jagged shadows across the clearing. Raoul tensed, his blade raised, but his eyes narrowed. ’’Not today, shiny,’’ he growled, muscles coiling as he sprang forward.

The hero’s mouth opened, the blinding beam surging forth, but Dante was faster. He closed the distance, his fist rocketing upward in an uppercut. The impact rang out like thunder, snapping the human’s head back. The white beam shot skyward, tearing through the forest canopy and erupting in a blinding explosion that lit the heavens.

Following that, he watched the enemy’s body go limp mid-air before crashing down, his neck broken by the power of the strike. The human crumpled to the ground, lifeless, his aura snuffed out. Dante landed, flexing his bruised knuckles. ’’Told you experience wins,’’ he muttered.

Raoul stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the corpse. ’’A reckless end,’’ the Death Knight rumbled, almost approvingly. ’’He fought well, but not well enough.’’

After that was said, Dante pointed his hand at the dead hero and cast. ’’Arise.’’

His Death Magic surged, flowing into the young man’s body, reshaping him into something new. The former human rose, transformed into a knight similar to Henry, but smaller in size. Raoul’s eyes narrowed as he studied the newcomer, who knelt before him. ’’I am ready to serve you, my lord,’’ the knight declared.

[Bloodraven Knight - Rank B]

’’Interesting,’’ he muttered in fascination as a notification popped up.

[Death Army Total: 186/250]

Dante shook his head and sent the Bloodraven Knight to the Domain as Henry, alongside Bella, appeared. The blonde Elf stepped forward and apologized. ’’I’m sorry for being so scared, the Dark Forest is a nightmare for my kind.’’