Rise Of The Death Monarch

Dante felt his world going black thanks to being near death, and as the last of his consciousness started to fade, a voice echoed in his ear. 'I'm sorry for your loss, but I did warn you, yet you started getting attached.'

Moments later, his eyes snapped open, only to find himself in a cave, lying on the ground, covered in blood, just as the pain washed across his body like a tsunami. He clenched his jaw, struggling to sit up, but a guttural growl reverberated through the cavern, freezing him in place.

A chill coursed through him as he locked eyes with the creature, its glowing blue gaze piercing the darkness. ''You have the same eyes as her,'' he murmured, voice barely above a whisper, his heart twisting, remembering everyone he'd lost.

The beast's growl deepened, and it took a menacing step forward, only to halt at his words. A brilliant light erupted from the creature, blinding him momentarily. As the radiance faded, a gentle voice filled the cave. ''You're different, Master. You've become something we used to hunt hundreds of years ago.''

Dante blinked, confused as a woman emerged from the shadows, her dark brown skin radiant against the cave. Her large blue eyes shimmered with a whirlwind of emotions, curiosity, warmth, and something deeper, unreadable. Snow-white hair, tied into a messy bun, framed her striking features, and her beauty left him breathless.

His heart pounded, caught between awe and uncertainty as he noticed the pair of wolf ears atop her head. ''Who... are you?'' he stammered, his red eyes fixed on her, searching for answers.

She tilted her head, a faint smile crossing her pretty face. ''I remember the night you spent brushing my fur by the fire, and it used to anger the others as it was clear you loved me.''

''Luna? he whispered, shocked to the core.

The woman nodded, a bright smile appearing. ''Yes, master, it's been a while since I've seen you, but I'm glad the Death Goddess told me to wait here many years ago.''

Dante's eyes narrowed, suspicion gnawing at him. He clenched his jaw, holding back anger, and glanced at the woman in front of him. ''What did I tell you the night before we arrived at the capital?'' he asked, testing for a truth only Luna could know.

''That you love me and thanks for always being there for you,'' she revealed. ''Then I watched them drag you away, torture you. I tried to rescue you, but I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry, master, I failed.''

''No, you never!'' Dante snapped. ''We were betrayed, and I remember you trying to fight your way to me.''

When Luna heard this, she looked at him with wide blue eyes as he continued. ''But enough dwelling on the past, how did you get this form? And what are you now?''

''A Shifter,'' the Wolf beauty answered, beaming. ''The Death Goddess said you'd need someone strong, so I became S-Rank. Thought now, I'm even stronger thanks to eating the disgusting old human and destroying some villages days ago.''

Dante began laughing, something manic as he announced. ''We're wiping out every human on Nemaroth before heading to Dawnfen to destroy Darkmoore!''

''Seriously? I can finally leave this place?'' She mumbled, hope filling her voice.

''Yes, but not before I get my revenge for those rats destroying Bella and Mary along with the others,'' he responded, anger boiling up inside him. ''They were becoming something apart from a servant, but those humans ripped it away from me.''

Just then, Luna rushed toward him and suddenly hugged him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, getting comfortable in his lap. Dante was baffled as the woman began sniffing him as her black tail swayed side to side. He let her do whatever she wanted, but she leaned back.

''I'm sorry for what you lost, master,'' she sweetly said. ''But from now on, the humans won't be able to hurt you as you get stronger.''

Dante stared at the wolf woman and nodded before letting out a tired yawn, making Luna giggle as she jumped up. ''I have covers to keep you warm during the night, I took them from one of the villages!'' She jumped up, exclaiming.

The wolf woman tore through the cave, her movements swift and feral, only to stop. Her piercing gaze locked onto the tunnel ahead, and a guttural growl rumbled from her throat, bouncing through their hideout. The sound of scraping claws followed, as the terrified monsters fled from her wrath.

Luna's giggle echoed against the stone walls. ''The forest creatures always sneak in, but they learn fast when I kill them,'' she said with a sly grin.

Dante barely registered her words, pain searing through his body. He glanced down, wincing at the sight of his left side, blackened and ruined by Theodore's vicious light magic. Gritting his teeth, he fumbled for his dagger, slicing away the tattered clothing fused to his oozing wounds, with no means to heal himself.

His hands trembled as he worked, the edge catching on the last scraps of fabric clinging to charred flesh. The pain was pulsing through his blackened side where the human's light magic had struck. He cursed under his breath, knowing no poultice or bandage in his meager pack could counter the divine toxin eating away at him.

With a grimace, he rummaged through his satchel, pulling out a small vial of murky salve, a makeshift remedy he'd scavenged from Thornebrooke weeks ago. It was better than nothing. He smeared the gritty paste over the wounds, hissing as it stung. Wrapping a torn strip of cloth around his torso, he tied it tight, hoping to at least slow the bleeding.

Luna tilted her head, watching him struggle, her earlier playfulness replaced by a flicker of concern. ''You're wasting your time with that,'' she informed him in a knowing tone. ''That light magic isn't just a wound, it's the Light Goddess's venom. It's poison to beings like us.''

Dante paused, his bloodied hands stilling as he met her gaze. ''Like us?'' he rasped, his throat dry. ''What's that supposed to mean?''

The beautiful woman stepped closer, crouching beside him, her claws clicking faintly against the stone floor. "You're not human anymore, Dante, you're a being of death, a walking grim reaper, and Marzanna's chosen. What you were before is gone, and now that magic's eating at the darkness in you. And no normal salve's gonna fix it.''

He clenched his jaw, the weight of her words sinking in. ''Then what's the plan? I just sit here and rot?''

Luna's soft lips curled into a knowing smile. ''There's someone on Dawnfen. Old, powerful, and not exactly fond of the Light Goddess. They call her the Death Witch. She's got knowledge of forbidden arts, spells that can purge divine magic, even from ones like us.''

''Good,'' Dante's eyes glowed. ''We'll destroy Nemaroth and meet that Dark Elf, she's waiting at Blackharbour.''

''We cannot go yet,'' she answered, a worried look on her face. ''A mana storm is coming, and it will cause chaos outside.''

''What about the entrance?''

''We're high above the forest, the waves won't get us.''

Dante looked concerned, but Luna waved him away. ''I've lived through hundreds of the things, just get some rest while the moon is out.''

She threw him a few soft-covered, continuing. ''Make us a bed, I want to sleep with you. I've missed your touch.''

Without thinking, he began piling covered in one corner of the cave while hobbling around thanks to his left leg being badly damaged. After some effort and pain, he finished setting up their cubby. When the older woman saw this, her blue eyes lit up as she beamed. ''I remember this! But now I have a human body like you!''

Dante let out a dry chuckle, but his thoughts drifted to Mary and Bella, their faces vivid in his mind. His laughter faded, replaced by a heavy silence. Luna approached, carrying a steaming cup of tea, her eyes soft with understanding. She pressed the warm cup into his hands, her touch gentle.

''This world is steeped in death, master. Countless people cross to the other side; those two women chose their path. I saw it in their eyes that they wanted to protect you. Their sacrifice was their strength.''

''You were watching?'' He asked with narrowed eyes.

''I had to make sure it was you,'' she honestly answered. ''I needed to ambush that S-Ranked human; he was strong, as you already experienced.''

Dante sighed before asking something that had been on his mind. ''Do you know where I can find some powerful monsters?''

Luna nodded, smiling as she went about making tea. ''Yes. They're all over the Dark Forest. Once the storm stops, I'll take you to some Mountain Trolls. If I remember correctly, they're A-ranked monsters.''

The wolf woman turned to him, a curious expression appearing on her face. ''Why do you want monsters?''

''We'll kill them and I'll make them my undead soldiers to attack the other villages,'' he informed her of his plan.