"To be honest, a part of me wanted to tell him to stop hurting me," Edirup rolled her eyes in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing again as she looked away for a moment. "But I am the undefeated Spirit of Chaos; I never concede defeat!"
She was smug about one part though;
That when the champion tried to separate her body parts around the world to prevent her rebirth, she held through, her blood and essence pulling back together with stubborn force.
"Hah! The look on his angered face was sheer bliss," She recounted, her fangs glinting as she smiled widely. "I strengthened my blood and the connecting pull of regeneration. So he had no choice but to toss my minced body into this enchanted cave."
She said it was a mere cave when she was imprisoned.
But now, after about 250 years or so, it had become a labyrinth of which this is the last floor.
So she's literally the last boss.
"Is this the 100th floor or somethin, then?" I asked her, my eyes swiveling upward to the dripping stalactites far above.
"100th?" Edirup raised a brow, her horns catching the crystal light. "More like 1000th. We are extremely deep in the ground. Perhaps due to the numerous enchantments meant to keep me locked up, this place seem to keep going down and creating more caves above."
Sigh. It was a bit saddening... because when I leave here, it'd be a high climb.
Ah, are there going to be those things too?!
Let's ask her.
"Uhm, Edirup?" I asked politely, but she seemed quite taken aback, her head tilting as the golden stars in her eyes trembled slowly.
"Only a few beings have the authority to say my true name in my presence, and even fewer regard me with such casualness... But I will allow it, count yourself honored."
Damn, she was sassy.
"Well, it is my pleasure," somehow I feel compelled to mirror her arrogance, my blob form rippling as I spoke to her. "but tell me, are there going to be dangerous monsters and beasts on the way out of here?"
Edirup observed me for a while, then tilted her head in thought, one clawed toe tapping against the stone floor.
Then BOOM!!
Before I knew it, in a really fast burst of speed, her claws shot out to impale me, the air whistling as her massive hand blurred forward.
"Wh-what are you doing?!" I asked, feeling a sweat run down my... except I had no spine nor do I think I can sweat.
But... parts of my flesh had turned into this eerie octopus's tentacles that wrapped her hand and stiffened.
So much so, it restrained her hand from coming closer, the claws hovering and vibrating a few inches from me but never penetrating.
The tentacles felt strong and flexible, pulsing with some inner power as they held her wrist in place.
"Do you see?" She said calmly as she retracted her hand and sat back on her throne, the tentacles retracting smoothly back into my grey mass. "You are already too strong for a newborn monster. Most Level B monsters cannot move properly in my presence, and not all Level A beings can touch me and not die from the sheer mana inside me."
Huh? Is that supposed to mean I'm already Level A?
"So... I can defeat the monsters outside?" I asked her, my golden eyes focusing on her from multiple angles.
"Monsters are tricky..." Edirup answered, crossing her arms under her red jacket. "But some of them could have Special Skills. Those could potentially destroy you if you're not paying attention."
Ugh... Thought it'd be easy peasy.
"But I have a Special Skill of my own, so I might manage," I offhandedly said.
But Edirup started to stare, her red eyes narrowing as she leaned forward on the throne.
"You have an Extra Skill... not a Special Skill," she said, her voice carrying a hint of doubt. "Special Skills only exist with beings that have nearly died in battle, or have lived for a long time, or have attained a substantial achievement. A newborn such as yourself cannot get a Special. Maybe Extra, if you're competent enough."
"Uh... No, I do have a Special Skill. I have two of them, in fact." I answered, my blob form staying steady on the floor.
Edirup observed me again, squinting closely as she bent her back and leaned forward, her long hair cascading over one shoulder.
"Oh my self..." She whispered shocked.
Oh my self? So she's replacing herself with God, then.
"You indeed have a Special Skill... How is that possible?" She wondered, her golden-starred eyes widening slightly. "Ah, must it be because I am something of a parent to you."
"Hm...? Parent...?"