The Demon King, corruption, and pain, with the salty scent of the sea breeze, surrounded the area.
No other creatures had survived there, whether the Demon King was present or not, as deathly silence had always ruled everything. The only sound had been the sea—so gentle it was almost negligible, with waves sounding like feathers plucking at eardrums.
The recent battle felt like a dream, Teest thought.
Looking directly at the Demon King had filled his mind with noise until he had thrust that sword under the effect of [King of Eternal Sleep], the sense of unrealness of the illusion still lingering.
Years ago, he had walked in the shadows of the city, hunting the high ranks of human religion. Now, his sword had pierced through the Demon King's skull.
At that moment, Teest had only had two vague thoughts—
Nol wasn't suited to be a killer. He would have been sad.
Giving prey a swift end was the virtue of a hunter, and also the sweetest strike.
The sword had two edges, and the knight had two opposing thoughts. That was normal, right?
Beside the grieving Nol, Teest couldn't help but tremble with excitement throughout his body. This thrill was stronger than his first successful hunt, and in the extreme fatigue and weakness, Teest couldn't perfectly conceal it.
Since approaching the Brick Mountains, the continuous pain and discomfort vanished with the demise of the Demon King.
At that moment, he had seen the 'moon'.
Four eyeballs had been rolling around, emitting a pressure similar to the Demon King's… No, they were more vivid, stronger than the dead Demon King. Teest had thought hazily, his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth bleeding again. His thoughts, like solidified syrup, had been shattered by this pressure, becoming scattered and sticky.
Ah…
Another 'God'.
Three destroyed worlds, three fallen creators. The strange existence peering from the sky, and beside… Beside inheriting the Remnant Will of the World, creating their own ancestors' 'God'.
The 'God' who had led him to see all this, the 'God' he had marked.
Teest had staggered forward half a step, hugging Nol from behind. Nol wasn't robust to begin with, and now was even more frail with his damaged body. Compared to Teest's burning body, Nol's temperature had felt icy cold.
The Mad Monk's broken clothes revealed pink skin and a thin layer of goosebumps, his breath condensing into white vapor in the cold night air.
Teest hugged Nol tightly, looking again at the sky where the eyeballs chaotically turned—they had seemed dissatisfied with their findings, looking in different directions, occasionally turning back.
A chaotic battlefield, two bloodied people, and the strange, terrifying four moons.
The weird pressure had fluctuated in intensity. Teest hugged Nol tighter, his chin resting on Nol's shoulder. Just by their posture, they looked like an ordinary couple enjoying the moon by the sea.
…Could he ever have been this satisfied in his life?
"Let's rest for a while." Teest's lips brushed against Nol's earlobe. "With [God's Forsaken], we just need to hold on until it disappears."
Nol stirred as if awakening, turning his head to look at the three people a few hundred meters away—from Anakin to Painter, all three with their heads down and eyes closed, not daring to breathe. The moon's suppression on them had seemed much stronger than here.
Nol's gaze had returned to the moon.
In the past, he might have crumbled in fear. Now, he had looked at them steadfastly, his heart boiling with hostility. The oppressive feeling had poured down. For the moment, it hadn't been enough to make Nol bleed, only able to forcibly jumble his thoughts. Nol's head buzzed, and he suppressed the urge to vomit, gripping his remaining hand tight while his blue eyes filled with rage.
He was going to disappoint his three "predecessors".
Countless innocents were involved and killed, his creation's destiny twisted beyond recognition, and his compatriots were trapped in death for over two thousand years. Merely finding a way to bring everyone home… No, it hadn't been enough—mere "truth" couldn't satisfy him anymore.
Whether this world had been a malicious incubator or a stage for monsters to find amusement, he wanted to make them pay.
It had been a crazy idea, but that was fine. He had a companion crazy enough.
Nol weakly raised his hand. His fingers trembled, but his action was firm.
He didn't know how to use the newly acquired authority as there was no new skill appearing in his skill bar. The system wasn't considerate enough to give him a manual. His physical and magical power had been nearly depleted, but…
The skill bar [To My Compatriot] flickered with a faint golden light; its content was no longer the same.
[To My Compatriots: Go Home]
[This is a little token.]
[It is recommended to merge this skill.]
This time, the system didn't make a sound. Ever since reading the Demon King's last words, it had maintained a suspicious silence. Nol just watched [To My Compatriot] and [Lullaby] silently disappear, and new words emerged on their own.
The new skill's description was short.
[Creator: This is your world. Protect it.]
Nol activated it without hesitation.
The effect of [Creator] was somewhat like [Lullaby], with a pale blue-white grid and cursor clinging to the surface of things reappearing. The difference was, the adjustment to the environment no longer required him to expend such exaggerated amounts of mana… As if the invisible barriers that had been there originally had vanished like smoke.
Nol faintly felt that he might be able to use this skill to create things that didn't originally exist. Unfortunately, his mana was running low, so he couldn't attempt it.
He only did one thing.
The soil, restored to normal, seemed to come alive under Nol's command, rising by itself and skillfully forming an arched mud hut, completely sheltering the three people nearby.
Then he burned part of his flesh and blood to extract a bit of mana, making a smaller hut for himself and Teest. They were closer to the coast, with more sand than soil, making the walls shimmer with a faint shimmering gray.
It was obviously not ordinary earth magic. The moment the roof blocked the moon, the oppressive feeling weakened a lot. However, the moonlight outside the window still carried a filthy blood color. They still needed to wait.
Nol was completely drained of strength, collapsing backward, fully leaning against Teest's chest. He could feel Teest's feverish chest and the hard wedding ring on that person's chest.
"Now we can rest," Nol said drowsily. Even though intense emotions were still stinging him, his body had completely reached its limit.
Without that indiscriminate oppressive feeling, Teest let out a long breath. He sat down on the snow-white beach, snapped his fingers, and threw a lighting orb towards the ceiling. Nol collapsed into Teest's arms, motionless. He held the knight's waist even tighter.
The pain that had troubled them for days was gone, and the bizarre moon's oppressive feeling was almost nonexistent. Regardless of their emotions, at this moment, their bodies got long-awaited relief.
The slightly dim light illuminated the two, exposing all the wounds hidden by darkness—especially Nol, who had used himself as fuel, looked more like "remains" rather than an "injured person". Teest's hair was matted with sweat and blood, his body as if it had been whipped a thousand times.
Teest grimaced as he fumbled in his waist bag for a long time, pulling out a fist-sized ointment jar.
The surface of the jar glittered with gold and was studded with gems, obviously pilfered from some Eternalist. As soon as the lid was opened, it revealed the ointment inside, which was pale white like fat. It emitted a faint, sweet fragrance and an exceptionally strong magical aura.
Teest frowned and swallowed a large mouthful of the ointment, then scooped a bit with his fingertip, gently applying it to Nol's wounds—Nol had turned back from a dragon to a human, completely naked, making this task not too difficult… except the messy black hair was somewhat in the way.
Where the ointment was applied, the skin and flesh swelled rapidly like a water-absorbing sponge. The wounds wriggled closed, turning into fair, smooth skin without leaving a trace.
The incomplete flesh turned into a smooth, firm back, gently undulating under his fingertips.
Nol closed his eyes and cast a purification spell on Teest with the little bit of mana he had recovered. Silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, brushing over Nol's cheeks. For him, this was the sign that the calamity had ended.
As his fingertips moved, Teest's body temperature not only didn't decrease but climbed even higher. Under Nol's compliance, his hand's pressure grew stronger.
"Teest…" Nol couldn't help but look up.
"Shh." Teest pressed a finger to his lips, his fingertip touching Nol's tongue. The ointment was so bitter that Nol's whole body shivered.
"Now is the most beautiful moment of my life. Please be quiet." Accompanied by the filthy moonlight, Teest's voice was as light. "…Lord, God of Creation."
This time Nol didn't deny it.
The Demon King's fate was clear enough. He wouldn't shirk this definition anymore. This was his world, and he would protect it.
Nol slightly propped up his shoulders, seeing the other's burning golden eyes.
Under the interference of the four "moons", Teest's thoughts were inevitably confused, his eyes having a drunken moistness. Those pupils held no pity, no sadness—only endless excitement, joy, and obsession.
The terrifying "God" stripped away the last layer of rationality. The Mad Monk's most fundamental emotions were nakedly exposed before him.
Teest's breathing was quicker than usual, his heart beating against his ribs like a drum. The pressure he applied on Nol was so strong, it would definitely leave bruises on the skin.
It was still the Teest he knew, his rock-solid twisted support. This guy, though joyfully plunging into the abyss, always managed to pull him out of the darkness.
"What a coincidence," Nol responded softly. "This is the worst moment of my life."
"That's really a pity." Teest's feverish palm caressed Nol's back, like a dragon coiling around its most beloved gem.
"Then please make it a little better."
Nol leaned forward, kissing Teest's lips, his palm pressing on the wedding ring on the other's chest.
What did a little more craziness matter?
In a crumbling, insane world, regardless of whether the Mad Monk understood true love, regardless of whether this intense, fiery relationship had a name, it all didn't matter anymore.
At some point, they had merged together, unable to separate from each other.
Teest looked at Nol in amazement, his unplaced infatuation suddenly finding an outlet. He held his breath joyously, like a burst of colorful paper firecrackers.
He grabbed the ring that Nol wore on his chest and pulled him closer, deepening their kiss and adding some biting. After the long kiss, they both gasped for breath, staring at each other with the rings pressing firmly in each other's palms.
Their rapid breathing was louder than the sound of the waves. Teest's gaze caressed Nol's face. From his eyebrows to his lips, the intensity of his gaze was almost tangible. Nol's lips were swollen, and Teest was no better off.
The Dracolich's blood color was pale, making the living Teest's complexion particularly rosy. In this place full of death and destruction, it was the most vibrant thing Nol had ever seen.
Nol couldn't help but lean over and peck Teest's lips again. At the same time, he slowly moved his hand that was pressing the ring downward along the chest and abdomen.
Outside the window, the moonlight grew more intense. Nol disdainfully glanced at it, and the soil moved on its own, blocking the window with a small hole. Then he slightly moved back, just about to adjust his position, when his back touched something—cold, slender, like a spider web spreading around.
Nol suddenly felt like laughing.
From the first night he met the Mad Monk, he occasionally wondered if these golden threads would one day bind him. As it turned out, that day did come, just in a different form than he expected.
There was only one problem… Like the other victims of the Mad Monk, he wouldn't be an obedient prey. Nol increased the pressure of his hand, gently biting Teest's shoulder. His tongue grazed the skin, warm and very soft.
The two rings collided, making a faint friction sound. Nol's free hand was grabbed by Teest, who put his fingers in his mouth, delivering a rather unconventional hand-kissing gesture. "Say 'I permit'," Teest mumbled unclearly, his voice full of laughter and longing.
"…I permit." Nol moved his lips towards the other's left ear.
"Praise be to you, my generous master."
When Nol tried to move his wrist again, he noticed the golden threads wrapped around his arm. In the cramped space, the golden light flickered, and he was firmly fixed in his original position. Teest embraced him, emitting a sigh of happiness.
Nol thought that this rash act would make his mind go blank for a moment, covering the lingering discomfort with new pain. But it was really like honey, thick and sticky, and his chaotic thoughts were gradually glued together, flowing slowly. It was more of a sweet and malicious comfort than indulgence or venting.
Teest's touch was unexpectedly gentle, sometimes too light, and too slow—the Mad Monk always liked to watch his prey struggle, a bad habit he couldn't change. But Nol had to admit, Teest really had a way with torture.
Whether it was pain or pleasure, he never missed the slightest nerve. Unfortunately, the famous Mad Monk still made a mistake. Perhaps he was too focused on sinking into it, the surrounding golden threads became looser. They dropped in beautiful arcs, gently hanging on Nol's arms.
Nol moved his now free hands, holding his knight's face, and planted fine, gentle kisses on his forehead.
"Evening… prayer," he slurred, his fingers twining around silver hair, searching for the other's lips again.
The lighting magic had failed at some point. The room was left with only hot, humid darkness and the ambiguous sounds of entwining.
...
The long night was ending, and a bright light shot through the hole. It was clear and pure, the subtle pressure disappearing completely.
There was always a time when the moon would disappear.
Nol lay on Teest, his knees and back covered with specks of white sand. Seeing the faint morning light, he took a deep breath of the now fresh air, ready to wake the sleeping Teest. But someone else was quicker—
[System calculation complete.]
The system's voice exploded in their minds. Teest sat up abruptly, almost hitting Nol's head. [The "Demon King" has been killed]
[Permission merge complete. Compatibility assessment and analysis of the "Demon King" completed. Reward settlement has been settled.]
Teest plucked his ears in confusion. He realized that Nol, the God of Creation, looked as bewildered as he was.
[Your special job level has reached its limit.]
["Beyond the Law" qualification confirmed. Based on your characteristics and achievements, special job "Doom Knight" is open for transfer. Do you want to accept?]
["Beyond the Law" qualification confirmed. Based on your characteristics and achievements, special job "Demon King" is open for evolution. Do you want to evolve?]
It didn't sound too bad. Teest lazily nudged the still dazed Nol, and casually chose to accept the offer. However, Nol heard a different set of notifications in his ears.
[Your racial job evolution has reached its limit.]
Nol: "..."
This didn't sound good. It felt like inheriting the hatred of two gods. However, the four spinning "moons" intruded into his mind again, and Nol, with a slight movement of his mouth, resolutely chose to evolve.
With a "ding", the evolution was complete.
There were no exaggerated light effects or dramatic changes. Nol extended a hand, examining it under the light. Black dragon scales emerged on the back of his hand, then quietly disappeared—he still retained the form of a Dracolich.
…Could it be that "Demon King" was just a title that attracted hatred?
"The oppressive feeling…" Teest retracted his teeth and touched Nol's shoulder. "Tone down the oppressive feeling, Lord Nol. I have a bit of a headache."
Nol leaned against his warm knight. He was just about to open the pop-up window to take a closer look when he got a bite on the neck from Teest.
"Mm?"
Nol turned to look at Teest. In the darkness, the other's golden eyes caused him a slight dizziness. The other must have also received a transfer qualification—Teest seemed unchanged, yet everything seemed different.
But since the Death Knight was a top-tier class, Nol wasn't clear what Teest had transferred into.
"I'll count one, two, three. Let's reveal our stats together, how about that?"
Teest, with an unknown level of comprehension, quickly suppressed that different feeling. "Before we encounter the troubles outside, we need to get our stories straight."
"…Okay." How did you know we need to align our stories! Nol became alert.
Three seconds later.
Teest: "…"
Teest stared at the "Demon King" following his race. "...You always give me bigger surprises."
"Doom Knight sounds good, doesn't it?" Nol pinched the bridge of his nose. "At least the symbol of 'death' is neutral, but this…"
Doom Knight plus Mad Monk—no matter how one put it, it sounded dangerous. This absolutely couldn't be known by Eugene—even Anakin must be kept in the dark.
…Although he himself wasn't much better off.
Nol, feeling melancholy, stretched out his hand and tugged on Teest's temple, trying to control the subtle "oppressive feeling".
Teest's expression suddenly stiffened, and Nol immediately let go. "Did I pull your hair too hard?"
"No." Teest frowned, his expression rarely becoming serious.
"I just received this." He called up a mission pop-up.
[★Main Quest "Demon King Subjugation" Officially Starts★]
[Under the guidance of God, the fearless heroes of Tahe have finally defeated the Demon King today. The ancient Demon King has fallen, but the evil shadow hasn't yet dissipated. Strange phenomena have appeared in the Brick Mountains. A new Demon King has awakened, lurking in the darkness, plotting the next destruction.]
[Brave warriors from other worlds, your era has begun.]
[Quest Completion Condition: Find and subdue the new Demon King.]
[Quest Reward: God will fulfill your wish.]
[Quest automatically accepted.]
Nol fiddled with the virtual shadow of the pop-up. "Issued by the system?"
"Yes, but it stuttered several times, sounding particularly emotionless." Teest shrugged and retracted the pop-up. "It seems it doesn't completely obey your commands—what do you plan to do next?"
"I think it's a good sign," Nol said coldly. "Whatever those four moons are, they previously didn't dare to confront the Demon King directly, and now they don't want to deal with me themselves—they must be wary of something."
"So what?" Teest's eyes shone brightly.
"We continue to hide, continue to grow stronger, and continue to investigate the truth until we knock those bastards down from the sky," Nol said firmly. "What about you? Any ideas?"
Teest's smile became even brighter. "Of course!"
"Those eyes have a nice texture. I think hanging the body of a god in front of a church is definitely the most thrilling…" He paused strangely, his gaze sweeping over Nol's lips.
"…No, the second most thrilling thing. What do you think?"
The author has something to say:
Congratulations to the married couple (???
Finally! The long 129! You're just a tiny bit faster than the neighbors, yes.
Kinky Thoughts:
Yes, they did it, for those who are wondering.
This marks the end of this arc.