After Dante had introduced Zhen Liu to his elite kaijin, he then proceeded to introduce him to the rest of the kajjin that would be joining in on this expedition of futility.
Zhen Liu didn't bother to rember the nas of these other kaijin.
Partially due to how weirdly generic their nas were, partially due to the fact that he was busy coming up with a plan on how to take Dante during his hunt.
Thankfully, this et-and-greet didn't last too long.
^Well then, now that we have all of this settled, I am going to turn in for the evening,^ Dante excused himself after dismissing most of the kaijin he had summoned to et with Zhen Liu. The only ones remaining were himself and his Demon Knights.
^Delictum, can you escort the curator to his new quarters?^
[Of course.]
^Thank you.^
[This way, curator.]
As Zhen Liu followed the suited owl kaijin out of Dante's quarters, Dante's expression went from a polite smile to being strangely flat and grave.
Once Zhen Liu was out of earshot, Dante turned his attention to the remaining Demon Knights.
^Now that you lot have seen him for yourself, do you think he's telling the truth about the [Demon's Archive]?^
[I don't think he's lying,] Gumba gurgled. [But the curator is definitely hiding sothing.]
[He didn't flinch or falter when I started exerting pressure on him,]Slavina added. [Then again, that could be because they know how to use Chaos.]
[I still don't trust him,] Obsidious stated. [Sothing about him irks .]
[Everyone and everything irks you, Obsidious,] Slavina retorted. [That's why you're the embodint of hatred.]
[Doesn't change the fact that I don't believe the words of that so-called curator.]
^Fair points, all around,^ Dante exhaled as he digested the observations presented by his kaijin. ^Regardless, if there's even a chance that he's telling the truth, then that ans there's an opportunity for us to evolve way past our current level. You all should know the old stories. Of the End Bringers and their horde? Imagine reaching their level.^
[Hmmm.]
The thought pleased the demon knights, so much so that they actually began to show off sadistic grins.
^Either way, it's in all of our best interests for us to go along with the curator's plan. Best case scenario, he's telling the truth and we'll be able to take out a future rival and gain a great harvest. Hell, maybe we can move the archive into the mines.^
[And if this curator is lying to us?] Obsidious asked while toying with his claws.
^In that case...^Dante trailed off as he thought of the scenario where they were being played with.
^We gut him like a fish and I learn why he can use [Chaos] like ,^ Dante answered before realizing there was a more interesting path to take...and taking a golden [Core] from his pockets.
^Actually...perhaps there's a fate we can impose that's even worst than death.^
...
'Okay, being alone with this guy confirms it. Their [Chaos] aura is a distorted version of Dante's.'
When Zhen Liu first encountered Arbalest and the rest of these knock-off kaijin, he imdiately noticed that their auras of [Chaos], their ability to instill emotions into people, was noticeably weaker in comparison to his own aura and that of his kaijin.
As far as Zhen Liu could tell, this weakness was due to these other kaijin lacking a true [Core] that could continuously generate [Chaos]. In other words, Zhen Liu was certain that while the inherent weakness of his own kaijin weren't as exaggerated in these knock-offs, this ant that they were extra vulnerable to [Chaos]-based attacks.
This weakness, however, didn't seem to apply to the so-called Demon Knights.
For all intents and purposes, they were much closer to the kaijin that Zhen Liu was able to produce, albeit, with a a caveat.
Every single one of Zhen Liu's kaijin had unique auras to them, much like how no two aether warriors were alike, due to a combination of their [Cores] being sourced from all sorts of people and the aether formulas that were inscribed into them.
The Demon Knights, as far as Zhen Liu could tell, all had auras that were similar to Dante's with just a few key changes.
If Zhen Liu hadn't t with any of them, he would've assud that these guys were just clones of Dante.
Albeit, modified clones.
'I feel like this information is important, but I don't know how I can use it. How frustrating,' Zhen Liu thought to himself.
Eventually, as Zhen Liu continued to mull over the implications of what he had learned, Delictum had finished escorting him to his new quarters.
[Here are your new quarters, Curator.]
[Thank you, Delictum...it looks lovely.]
In comparison to the cell that Zhen Liu was sharing with Olstenna and Lythero, this new private room was an obvious step up.
However, the quality of the furniture used was...questionable.
[I will leave you now, so that you may rest in peace,] Delictum politely bowed before leaving. [I hope you can sleep well.]
[Thank you,] Zhen Liu said verbally, while ntally thinking, 'I am like ninety percent sure that touching any of this furniture would give an infection.'
Zhen Liu's observation about the room wasn't an exaggeration.
There was an animal skin rug on the floor that seed to have been improperly treated, as evident by the rotting head yet pristine body.
The bed was done in a Western continents style, i.e., a wooden fra with a mattress; however, the aforentioned fra looked mildly rotted and Zhen Liu swore he heard the scuttling of termites.
The only other pieces of furniture of note included a lantern that was empowered with special heat stones and a wooden table with chair, both of which looked like they would cover Zhen Liu's body with splinters unless he coated himself with aether.
Technically, he had a way of resolving all of these issues, but he had the distinct feeling that using [Chaos] here was just asking for trouble.
'Then again, maybe that's the point?' Zhen Liu mused. 'They could be trying to see if I am the curator of the—'
[Executor, are you there?]
'Ah.'
But before Zhen Liu could think about the status of his room any further, Blazejudicator decided to chi in in his head.
...
'Ah,Perfect timing, Blazejudicator. Any updates I should be aware of? I've been busy playing ideal guest to...well, I can just send those mories over.'
[I am fully aware of just how infuriating and weird Dante's kaijin are, so you don't need to send that information] Blazejudicator assured Zhen Liu. [Also, good to know that a pieve of your old life might actually be present here. As for updates...well, the major ones are that we managed to retrieve Olstenna and Lythero from what appeared to be an experintal prison.]
'That's good.'
[But they're also in a weird poisoned state that will keep them unconscious for...a bit. Shouldn't be an issue unless you're trying to cause a coup in the next day or so.]
'I wasn't going to, but good to know.'
[We have also reconvened with your cousins after being briefly separated. They even managed to recruit so slaves into helping us attempt to overthrow the mine when the ti is right.]
'Excellent news! Anything else?'
[Well, aside from us also eting your traitor spy kaijin...there is one thing, but it's...weird.]
'Blazejudicator, you and I both know that weird is just shorthand for an absurd opportunity for us to access wonderful abilities that everyone else seems to ignore,' Zhen Liu replied without skipping a beat. 'So tell what's weird?'
[Well..okay, while we were all separated, Master Zhen Xing got caught in the middle of the caverns as the enemy kaijin were in that weird rally. At the sa, Nepeherage and I got stuck in the prison cave with no clear exit,] Blazejudicator began to explain.
'Okay...'
[But, before we could suffer the consequences of poor timing, a strange spiritual fox manifested before Master Zhen Xing and guided him to a hidden cave elsewhere.]
'I...what?'
[At the sa ti, a strange four-legged box that resembled a sheep suddenly appeared before myself, Nepeherage and Arbalest and guided us to that sa cave. After it had reached the destination, though, it suddenly turned into a regular, inert box.]
'Huh...'
[Executor? Why do I feel a weird feeling coming from your connection through ?]
'Nothing, it's just...I get the feeling that if Logos and Pathos were able to communicate with right now, they'd have better insight on what I'm currently thinking about.'
[Did you want to try and relay any of this information or not?]
'I...no. I think it'll be fine.'
...anwhile...
Pathos groaned as they laid face down in the floor.
Again.
=Hang on, why the fuck can't I find any records of us finding this fucking probe?=
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