Thanatos had vanished after that day. Well, in truth she wasnât so much gone, but rather became invisible and dogged my every step. Although I didnât know the full extent of her powers, she was sure to be useful. Also, it was good to know that no one else could see her besides myself.
The problem was that regardless of where I went, she was sure to follow.
The bedroom was a given, the lab, during dinner and even while I was bathing or in the restroom.
Just imagine a God of Death hovering beside you, watching your every move.
The only situation where she couldnât stay by my side was when Vez wasnât around
I was the only time which I was free of Thanatos.
âJillian, Jerna, Mayardus, donât stray too far from me.â
âYes Master. Are you expecting it to become dangerous?â
âHmph! Iâm not that weak.â
Although Jillian was quick to accept my concerns, the Princess was too proud. She was also a Nosferatu which was an elite vampire, so her strength was decent. At a B+ rank, she was almost on the level of a regular dragon.
At the moment we were clearing a floor of the Killion dungeon which none had previously come to, but my assistance wasnât at all required. Over the past year my party members have really gained a lot of experience and strength, becoming first rate adventurers.
âJerna, get ready there are a group of lizardmen ahead.â
âMayardus was the first to notice the enemy with her enhanced perception. Jernaâs class had already advanced to an Archmage.
âSpirits of Ice heed my call, descend and freeze all before us!â
Following her spell the dozens of Lizardmen who were charging towards us were instantly rooted in place, having become monster popsicles. Lizardmen were genetically modified creatures so they were quite weak towards ice magic.
âMy turn, Firestorm!â
Jillian had the same mastery of the fire element just like the Human Torch did. Only it was different from conventional, but rather some esper ability. Unlike regular magic which usually existed as an external force, Jillian could even control the fire within his own body.
Hwarrrrr
Kieeek Kieek
According to Lenaâs readings his Firestorm reached up to 2,000 degrees Celsius. Between the Ice magic, Firestorm and Mayardus personally piercing their hearts with her bare hands, The group of Lizardmen were quickly taken care of.
âWhat do you think, Johra? Still worried about us?â
âIf there was something to worry about, it wouldnât be versus some puny Lizardmen.â
Truth, I the reason I wanted them close to me was to keep Thanatos away, but I couldnât very well tell them that.
âJohra seems to be staying quite close to us ever since Melpomen escaped, are you thinking that we will also run away?â
âItâs not.â
Jillian cut Jerna of, but the Princess continued.
âThat was Johraâs fault for overdoing it with her. Melpomene must have suffered too much at his hands so her running away is justified since she must have feared for her life.â
I saw Thanatos give me a creepy smile from afar.
âItâs fine if she escaped because I can still know where she is and that sheâs safe. Iâm in no hurry to go and fetch her and Iâm willing to leave her alone.
âWhat, did you go so far as planting some tracking device on her?â
Jerna asked me somewhat bewildered.
âWell itâs for her safety.â
âItâs okay Johra, we wonât run away from you, weâve already sworn to serve you until the day we die.â
I was touched by the Princessâ comment, but was worried that sheâd later become like Thanatos.
âWant to continue? I was planning on going a bit further today.â
âI understand, hurry along Jerna. Princess, you too.â
Everyone nodded at Jillianâs suggestion, and we all headed deeper into the dungeon.
We had already achieved the limit of what had previously been mapped out in the Killion Dungeon, but hadnât discovered any path which led to the deepest levels.
Two of the five paths hadnât yet been explored, so it should be in one of those two.
âWill we do the blue today?â
âHadnât we decided on the red?â
At each of the five entrances, the magic circles leading in had a certain magic jewel placed within them. All that were left now were the red ruby and blue sapphire.
âIâd prefer the blue one.â
âHow about we let the majority decide?â
âWhatâs a majority?â
âHuh, you donât know about the majority?â Itâs when you choose something based on what most people picked.â
It seemed that democracy hadnât yet appeared in this world.
âIf you decide that way, then wonât the few whose opinions were ignored, complain?â The Princess asked coldly.
âRight, but if you follow the opinion on the few and ignore the many, wonât it be the many complaining instead?â I countered.
âI donât know, in such situations isnât it easiest to ask what is the Godâs will?â
âRight.â
âMaster has such unique ideas.â
âLetâs give it a try, so how is it done?â
The Princess ended up agreeing in the end and it was put up for a vote.
âBlue! Todayâs color is blue.â
The sapphire magic array was the one which we expected to go the deepest.
âDoes this one lead to a next stage?â
In these dungeons the transition area between stages was usually protected by a boss monster.
This time around we arrived at tunnel which only one path which was being guarded by a huge black dragon.
âI donât see any other way round it.â
I nodded back worriedly. Although the three look excited to face off against a dragon, I knew that their recent success had gotten to their heads and that they were not its opponent.
âWell, it wouldnât be too bad for them to suffer a setback or two.â
âThe dragon can likely speak so why donât we try communicating with it first?â
âIs it possible that it would let us through without a fight?â
I nodded back.
âThere is still a chance of settling this peacefully.â
âHas it happened to you before?â
âYeah so what should I tell it.â
Unfortunately things didnât go as expected since it never even bothered responding.
Kooooooooh
As soon as we approached the dragon began to breathe in deeply.
âDamn, get behind me, itâll launch a dragon breath!â
âOh, but then what about you, Master?â
âSpiritâ
â Jerna! Quit fooling around and get behind me. Princess, you too!â
Pooooah!
I stepped forward to receive the brunt of its attack; however, just as the dragon breath was about to dissipate, the black dragon lifted its claw and pointed behind me.
The three lightning bolts struck behind me. The Rohim shield was barely able to cope with the Lv. 9 dragon breath and shattered instantly when faced with the three lightning spells.
âSorry Johra, I wasnât able to block those spells, they overwhelmed the shield far too quickly.â
I looked behind me and saw three charred corpses. Only the Princessâ was twitching ever so slightly due to the enhanced vitality of the Nosferatu, but it would still take quite the long time to resurrect.
âDam you Krishna! How dare you kill my disciples!â
Kung Kung Kung
âHo ho~ My breath was blocked by a mere mortal, not to mention that you even know my name.â
The black dragon Krishna eyed me curiously as it approached.â
âYou donât seem to be afraid of me.â
I quickly reached out to its giant maw which was now within arms reach and grabbed hold of an exposed tooth.
Phaassss
The dragon which had previously been confident that its defenses could never be breached by a mere human, now scuttled back in fear.
âWhat you canât be human! Are you a Messiah? No, it canât be, the seal of the Gods is still in place so you wouldnât be able to enter if that were the case. Just what are you?â
It had backed off cautiously, staring at me from a distance of one hundred meters.
âJust stay there quietly like a good little boy. If you move, youâre dead.â
I turned my back to him and began casting my Resurrection Song.
âYou dare turn you back to me, the incarnation of death and destruction? Ha ha, Iâll crush you like the little bug that you are!â
Kung Kung Kung
It angrily rushed towards me in an attempt to stomp on me.
âHuh? Why did the dragon stop? Of course the Rohim shield had been raised to its maximum power so there shouldnât be a problem, but it couldnât have known that.â
âJohra the black dragon seems to be lowering its head to something.â
âHmm bowing down? Oh, right.â
I remembered that Thanatos was still nearby.
Black dragons were said to represent death and destruction, so it was only natural for it to be subservient towards the God of Death,Thanatos.
Kuuuooo How come you can hear me?â
I bunch of loud sounds originated from behind me, but I couldnât turn to take a look or it would interrupt my Resurrection Song.
âJohra the dragon was just blown up into thousands of pieces.
âWhat.â
Finally my spell ended. It would still take some time for the three to regain consciousness, but they would surely be shocked by the scene before them.
âThere are pieces of flesh everywhere.â
âHow are you doing, Master? I put that rude fellow into its place so I deserve some praise right?â
Thanatos lowered her head expectantly, perhaps wanting to be petted.
âHmm you did well, but I was hoping to use it to temper my disciples.â
I rubbed her head with an expression of regret.
âOh I didnât know. Next time Iâll leave it half dead instead.â
âNo, just donât attack it at all. These young kids wonât grow if you deal with every troublesome situation. A difficult opponent is a chance to stimulate their growths.
âOh~ Masterâs wisdom is beyond compare. Iâm so silly so allow me to punish myself.â
Shaak!
Thanatos instantly severed one of her arms and presented it to me.
âPlease accept the apologies of this incompetent slave.â
I frowned seeing her severed limb.
âIn the future donât do that again. You belong to me in your entirety, so you canât hurt yourself without my permission.â
âForgive me I was too impulsive, Master.â
âStop that Thanatos, my disciples will soon wake up.â
âYes Master, Iâll continue to observe from afar.â
Thanatos vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
âHuu. the biggest stalker ever, just what has my life devolved into.â
As i muttered to myself, the three of them finally woke up.
âUgh what happened?â
âMaster where did the dragon go?â
âHow are you.wait, werenât we fighting a black dragon?â