After getting my new clothes. The bumbling dark lord poked a few holes in the soundproof bubble before towing me around the castle. Showing off every square inch before finally taking me to the treasury.
"It's about bloody time you took me here."
"Oh, does my Noxy want a treat. Since you've been such a good girl today. I'll let you pick out one thing."
"Have you forgotten our deal already playboy?" I spoke. My irritation reaching new heights, as the torches lighting up the extravagantly large double doors began to flicker blue.
"Oh, that's right. You were supposed to protect me from any dangers until we reached Latnos. But as I recall, you let me get molested, beaten and even crippled on the way there. I do believe that is a breach of contract."
"I only said I would take you there alive, and last I checked you were still breathing. And besides, I fixed you up and even helped you advance. I see no reason why I shouldn't get paid."
"You seem to not understand your situation."
"You got something to say playboy! Speak up!"
Just then the bubble disappeared as he grabbed me by the waste.
"You're powerless right now."
"…"
"Don't think I didn't notice that core inside you is damaged. I don't know what that is, but it seems like you can't control the elements as easily without it."
"…"
"So, if you understand theEEEAh!"
I kneed him in the crotch. In his stunned state he let go of me as he knelt down in pain reaching for his pained crotch. Just as he looked up at me with teary eyes, I took both my middle fingers and jabbed them into his eyes. Intending to pierce them right into his skull as a lethal fuck you to his brain. Unfortunately, his words weren't completely off base, as I didn't have the physical strength needed to do anything more than cause him genital and optical pains. I was about to reach for a torch to stick up his ass to get a triple combo, when the guards grabbed me and pinned me to the ground. Ruining my high score.
"Ah. You really don't know fear, do you?" Tian Taio said as he bent down to look me in the eyes.
His eyes were still red from the eye poking, and I could tell he wasn't completely unaffected by the crotch shot as his knees were wobbling.
"Maby some time in the Frost Palace will change your mind."
"I know something You don't know. ♪" I sang in mockery, as he was about to send me away.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"I may have fixed your core, but that sleepy bastard fate will still have your head one day. That is unless you follow our agreement."
Just then, it seemed like that arrogant bastard remembered something. He gestured for the guards to let me go and leave the room, before turning back to me.
…
"You mentioned earlier that you know of a method to get rid of my curse. You're not just lying to get what you want, are you?"
"Believe it or not, you're not the first nor the last persons fate I have altered so far."
"What?"
"Ever heard the saying 'God works in mysterious ways'? Well, so does the devil. And if you want this devils' help, then you better follow your end of the deal. After all, devils like me are very particular about our contracts."
At Nox's words, the room began to dim, as the color of the lit torches began to change from an orange-red hue to a black and blue that seemed to suck in the surrounding light. Her tone began to lower into a raspy almost inhuman tone. The whites in her eyes turned black, while her blue eyes started glowing. She sent chills down the dark lord's spine as it seemed as if she was staring into his very soul.
"…"
"What's the matter oh powerful dark lord, too scared to make a leap of fate, or are you just too poor to pay my price?" Nox said in an amused tone.
Meanwhile, Tien Taio, who was intimidated by her appearance, was backing up as Nox moved closer.
"Ok. If you can prove you can do what you say, th-"
*BANG*
After Tien Taio backed up against the giant gate leading to the treasury. Nox opted to slam her hand against the door right next to his face, to prevent him from escaping as she raised her knee between his legs and grabbed him by the chin. She forced him to look her directly in the eyes as she brought her masked face closer.
"You seem to not understand your situation."
"…?"
"We made a deal and now after I fulfilled my end. You refused to pay what you owe me, so I offered you a bonus just because I felt like it. And now you are demanding I prove my credibility. Meanwhile, I've been putting up with your empty promises from day one. If anyone here should be making demands, it's me. Now be a good little lord of darkness and. OPEN. THOSE. DOORS!" She said in an increasingly angry tone.
The dark lord, for the first time in his life, had just been scolded. As he looked at the terrifying little girl in front of him, he recalled the favorite saying of his purple palace friend after he suffered a breakup. 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'.
…
After recomposing himself, the dark lord opened the treasury, before he guided her through the mountains of gold and gems. They eventually stopped in front of a black scaly ring giving off a malicious aura floating atop a podium at the center of the treasury.
"How about this ring, don't you think it would look go-"
"Pass."
"Excuse you?"
"I already have something like this." She said as a collar and chains binding her limbs appeared out of nowhere.
The dark lord was shocked and appalled that someone would dare place such constraints on his woman.
"So? Who exactly dared place those on you?" The dark lord said trying and failing to conceal his rage, as crimson flames kicked up around him.
"Just some losers I beat up."
Giving no further explanation, Nox wandered off ahead of the simmering dark lord. While vowing in his heart to track down whoever those 'losers' were, the dark lord grabbed the ominous looking ring and stashed it in his sleeve.
…
After leaving Tian Taio in the dust. Nox went around exploring the mountain range of gold looking for something interesting, before finding herself in front of another set of double doors. These ones, unlike the ones at the entrance, were normal sized doors, though the material was anything but normal. The outer layer was encrusted with adamantite, but as an expert on metallurgy and a high-level enchanter, Nox could deduce that what lay underneath was a far more powerful material with numerus alarms and traps engraved on it. She couldn't place her finger on it, but something seemed familiar about these doors.
"Did my little Noxy enjoy her little treasure hunt?"
Before she could figure out what bothered her about this doorway, the dark lord had appeared behind her. Sporting a suspicious smile on his face, he moved to open the door as he pulled out an oddly shaped key.
The inside of the next room was much tidier than the former, while giving off more of a sci-fi vibe. Inside the dimly lit room were a number of podiums lighting up the item floating silently above them. Each and every one of them gave off a powerful or unique energy, whether it was an almost angelic looking golden spear that oozed with a prideful aura. A pill that was practically bursting with elemental energies. Or a box containing what appeared to be a miniature galaxy. Every item stored in this room could be considered at least a legendary grade item.
"So, what do you think? Am I still too poor for this little devil's time?" Tian Taio said with a smug grin on his face.
"Fifty."
"Hmm?"
"If you add the cost of curse removal, then subtract the stuff that piques my interest. What you owe me comes down to fifty high-grade magic stones."
"What? You got to be kidding me! The thing's in this room is worth more than ten times what I owe?"
"There is only one or two things in this room of interest to me. And some of it is technically not yours. Hell, I even see those losers' stuff in here."
"What? Who?"
"Either way, I've seen enough to know that you can afford it."
"Afford wha-"
Just then, Nox grabbed Tian Taio by the collar. Her head literally caught fire as a black and blue fire began to cover her body and she head-butted him.
In that moment, the dark lord could feel that warm feeling enveloped him once again as there was a shift in his soul. He felt this strange feeling of safety, as if even if the world itself turned against him, he would be okay as long as this flame enveloped him. However, as that flame eventually retreated, he felt an indescribable sense of loss. When he came to, he was lying with his head on Nox's lap while she stroked his head. The last vestiges of that beautiful flame retreating into her body. As the dark lord could feel the fog in his mind cleared up.
"Okey, all done. Here is your lollipop now get the fuck off me!" Nox said as she shoved a lollipop down the dark lord's throat then unceremoniously pushed his head of her lap and stood up.
"Ugh! What just happened."
"I sealed that curse of yours."
"Sealed? How?"
"Curses can get pretty elaborate, especially when it comes to those made by gods like that bastard fate. So, I just added an extra condition to it."
"Condition? What kind of condition?" Tian Taio said, while giving Nox a curious stare.
"I'll tell you after you cough up the rest of your debt."
"Haha. No, I don't think that'll be necessary."
"What are-"
Just then, some yellow glowing chains wrapped themselves around Nox, restraining her. The dark lord seeing this, stood up as he walked up to her and grabbed her hands. Pulling out the ring from earlier, as he went down on one knee, he did the unthinkable. He proposed.
"Nox Manus. I, this Dark Lord, Tian Taio of the Dark Palace, claim you as my woman, and declare you both my bride to be, as well as the future empress of the world."