The following days was just a repeated cycle. Yue and Noir became friends quickly as the prideful and quietly playful types. They embarked on an endless slaughtering of monsters in the labyrinth. The floors were endlessly diverse. There were similar ones, but there were more frequently unique ones. One had an environment akin to a rainforest, another was akin to a desert, and one was in a blizzard.
Throughout the nonstop assault of our two sorcerers, there were numerous suspicious attempts by Yue—the girl who Noir rescued. There were times where Yue would make all kinds of false blunders just to have Noir pamper her, or times she'd presumably, coincidentally, accidentally, just out of chance, sit on his lap.
After leaving that room that sealed away the vampiric princess, she insisted that Noir gives her a name. She legit pledged undying and eternal loyalty, deeming herself "Noir's One True Slave," which kind of creeped out Noir surprisingly. So, he settled for Yue on a whim, reasoning that her hair shone like the moon upon entering that room.
Now, the two sorcerers are on a killing spree. Yue was an incredibly talented sorcerer, something Noir complimented her with. She had an abundant amount of mana and can directly manipulate it at will without the need for incantations of any kind. Not only that, but she was nigh immortal, which was the reason she survived 300 years of being sealed. She won't die unless she's out of mana completely. She also has incredible mastery over the main elements, making her extremely versatile and troublesome as an opponent since she can fire off spells at long-distance instantly and effortlessly. She didn't possess the standard weakness of sorcerers.
Of course, Noir fed her well. He gave her food and drinks created through his own authority of creating matter from mana. Unexpectedly, Noir himself developed a sweet tooth. He frequently creates food and beverages directly from Hajime Nagumo's memories, the delicacies of Japanese tongue. And the demon enjoys it very much.
•••
Three more days passed. Just like that.
"Is this it? The final room?" Noir spoke out amidst the silence. The new floor they'd descended to had nothing else around aside from a suspiciously luxurious looking door. It was gigantic, too. "Probably like a boss room, right?" He added as he side-eyed Yue while pointing at the door. It reminded Noir that this was a vast world, sixty percent larger than the world Hajime Nagumo came from. He almost forgot since ever since coming into this world, he's seen nothing but the inside of the Orcus Labyrinth.
Noir donned a smile of mischievousness and excitement. "I can finally leave this place once and for all!"
Yue just responded with a smile of her own. Talking as if he can't just bust his way up to the first floor, she thought. She almost said it out loud, but she managed to hold it in. She didn't doubt it. Witnessing a glimpse of Noir's insurmountable power, she'd never ever doubt his reliability in battle. Nevertheless, Yue also spent a moment to take a look at their own states. By Noir's own will, he gave her fashionable clothes. She was wearing modern Japanese casual clothes.
Draped in fabrics of contemporary style, she strides through the chaotic labyrinth like a walking canvas of urban elegance. She wears a cropped faux-leather jacket, its sleek lines accentuating her silhouette. Beneath, a delicately knit sweater in a soft pastel hue peek out—a subtle sophistication. Adorning her lower half, high-waisted tailored trousers flow effortlessly, their wide legs swaying with each step she takes. Completing the attire, is a pair of chunky platform sneakers to add a playful touch of urban chic, while oversized sunglasses perched atop her head imbue a hint of retro glamour while complimenting her crimson radiant eyes. With her hair styled in loose waves, and a confident stride that speaks volumes.
Her style is one so terribly unbefitting of combat—so inefficient to wear in a labyrinth full of dangers. Despite it all, she liked it, and Noir was not totally against it.
Noir, meanwhile, looked impeccably clean, as he always is, his attire transitioning from historical noble garments to a fusion of modern Earth fashion. Clad in a button-up polo shirt beneath a flowing black coat, paired with sleek black trousers and formal attire, he embodied the essence of Primal Black. The monochromatic ensemble was a testament to his literal existence. However, it was not just his appearance that is captivating; he has this entrancing presence. A subtle yet alluring scent enveloped him—crisp and fresh, reminiscent of freshly ironed tuxedos at a lavish prom.
It's been numerous times since Yue changed outfits, since she would always get dirty from all the fights she had with the monsters. She was borderline pissed at how Noir can stay so effortlessly clean and neat the whole way. It's as if dirt and blood avoid him, when he's from a dimension literally filled with battling for an eternity.
"Well, shall we?" Noir asked with a grin. To which, Yue also responded with her own grin. There wasn't any reason to think it over. They just had to go, that was their resolve during the conquering of this entire labyrinth.
The two strongest sorcerers opened the door, where the guardian of the depths lie in waiting.
•••
The power of being "eternal." Noir's power elevated him to the status of a god. He IS a god. A god of the underworld. The mortals thought of him as a deity, but he proclaims to be the devil. Blessed by the heavens, or cursed by hell.
Hajime Nagumo himself, oblivious to the far reaches of strength for being the lowest of power, didn't doubt his dying wishes would be fulfilled. Yue, the vampiric princess of the ancient vampires, fought with him in many battles throughout the Orcus Labyrinth.
By then, will I be left behind? Yue pondered as she observed in awe. She has regained her full strength by now, but even she was troubled with the guardian of the depths, the Hydra. It was a massive, towering monster. It reminded Noir of the kaiju monsters from Earth legends, Ghidorah. It wasn't farfetched. Yue didn't know how that thing managed to fit inside this underground labyrinth in the first place. The Hydra was big enough to dwarf mountains and reached a towering height of almost 160 meters.
A monster of that size will normally be an unbeatable opponent. Yue thought so with her vast amount of experience in combat. She herself did not have the confidence she could fully destroy it. It had three heads and possessed the power to generate powerful electrical fields. It was an incarnation of disaster.
Yes. It was supposed to be an incarnation of disaster. But...
Noir's lips curled into a fierce grin as he eyed the towering Hydra before him. Without a word, he launched himself into action, his movements fluid and precise. The creature roared in defiance, its three heads snapping and thrashing as it prepared to face its challenger. Dodging effortlessly, Noir danced around the Hydra's attacks, his grin widening with each evasive maneuver. With a lightning-fast strike, he delivered a powerful blow to one of the creature's heads, sending it reeling back in pain.
But the Hydra was not so easily defeated. With a deafening roar, it unleashed a barrage of lightning bolts, each one aimed with deadly accuracy. Yet Noir remained unfazed, his grin never faltering as he dodged and weaved through the electrified onslaught. Closing in on his monstrous enemy, Noir continued his relentless assault, his fists a blur as they struck with deadly precision.
With each blow, the Hydra's defenses weakened, its roars of pain growing louder with each strike. Suddenly, Noir's grin widened into a savage smirk as he redoubled his efforts, raining down an immense number of slashes from his Severance upon the creature with a ferocity that bordered on madness. The Hydra fought back with all its might, but it was no match for the invisible slashes that possessed unrivalled sharpness.
"Severance Series: Maximum..." Noir chanted calmly as he nimbly and effortlessly dodged the countless barrages of lightning hauled at him by the Hydra. It has been five minutes since the two engaged in combat. Compared to the large size of the hydra, Noir looked almost invisibly small. Yet he can match it blow for blow. Noir's superhuman strength and speed has allowed him to easily traverse the vast room and forcibly suppress the giant monster with brute force. "Absolute End!" He finally finished his chant as he reached above the head of the monster.
Swish
A slash. An invisible slash that seemed to cut the world itself was launched at the Hydra with unstoppable force. It decapitated the three heads of the Hydra in an instant, terminating its essence. It was an expression of the end.
"..."
170 meters high, Noir began his descent. The hydra was decomposing to dust from its head, so it seemed like its decomposition and Noir's momentum was occurring on a relatively equal pace. By the time Noir landed in a strangely quiet swish, the Hydra had been consigned to oblivion. The dusts in the air, remains of the titan's own body, fell like an ashfall in the entire room. It permeated and propagated, turning the entire battlefield, which had gone quiet, gray.
"It was beautiful," Noir muttered as Yue calmly and quietly walked up to him.
"What is?" Yue asked, confused as she observed Noir's hand. His hand had the titan's ashes. Did he enjoy that fight? Yue doubted it. It was an overwhelming trampling, and it was over so quickly.
"That creature. I found it fascinating. I don't even think it's from this world. How regrettable, indeed. I would've loved to keep it as a caged animal."
"I think that was a titan... though I don't know how they managed to put one here. They are like natural guardians of nature. Gigantic beasts that preserve the natural order of the world. When I was active in the surface, most of them were either inactive or in hibernation though." Yue explained what she knew. The Titans were a legend to this world. They're something even the church can't touch, so their power is a testament to their status as guardians of nature.
"And how many are there?" Noir asked, still seemingly so fixated on the idea of titans. Perhaps, since the Cardinal World also had its own dragons--embodiments and incarnations of nature.
"I believe there were around 17-20. Can I ask why you're so interested?"
"Nothing in particular. Just for the curiosity of it."
Yue questioned Noir's thoughts. His words would normally be interpreted as nothing more than the ramblings of a madman, but Yue saw sincerity in those words. It seemed Noir found something about the hydra beautiful. Not its strength, but more like its origin and constitution as a whole.
"Never mind that. Let's get going!" Noir blew away the ashes from his hands and began walking towards the opposite end of the entrance he and Yue entered.
He's so laidback and nonchalant... but that's exactly why I cherish him. Yue thought in ecstasy, acting like a maiden in love. So, so, so much.
In the earlier fight, its not that Yue felt so hopeless against the Hydra. Of course, she tried to support Noir, but none of her spells did a thing. Before she can think of another way, it was over.
And that was why she reaffirmed her resolve. She was determined to grow stronger just so she can stay by his prince's side. There was nothing else she wanted. That was, as she believed, the purpose of her existence. And she takes pride in that purpose.
As she eyed Noir leisurely walking forward, a genuine and satisfied smile on his face, Yue's gaze held a peculiar mixture of emotion—a mixture of affection and something more profound. A rose-tint red blush donned her snow-white cheeks, a tasteful view. Unseen yet palpable, her gaze followed Noir as he walked. Unbeknownst to him, her heart whispered its utter devotion for the thousandth time.
"I am now your property, my lord. And that will stay true for the rest of eternity," her voice, dripping with allure, murmured softly with incredible determination. The curve of her lips formed a seductive smile. She carried a spoken promise, a vow woven in affection and loyalty from the depths of her being.