The Dreamer's POV

[You Are Dead]

<Dream Sequence Has Ended>

{Based On Exclusive Skill: <Dream>, your recent experiences have been dissolved into a dream}

<You Will Now Be Returned To The Preset Save Point>

[You Will Now Wake Up]

The notifications rang out in my drowned mind sunken in darkness. Time shrunk and pulled back, I could see my previous actions. I watched as I died to the spear of the Warbeast.

And then, I was done watching, and I stood on the rocky arch once again, watching as those Wicked Worms ate the poor damned souls of hell, and once again the Warbeast appeared and destroyed the worms with his controlled hellfire.

"Are you just going to stand there?" It asked, and those words pulled me back to the present. I had been thinking of our previous encounter until I heard the words.

"No," I said and jumped.

I landed loudly in front of it, the ground shaking, and I walked right up to it. I noticed it tensed, and saw its clenched fists but then I spoke before it could do anything.

"Do I seem evil to you?"

It seemed rather surprised by this question, confused even, and it fought to not catch my gaze.

It didn't give an answer, but it didn't seem like it would drive up a spear in my heart at any second.

"I saw you fight those worms and saved those people. I think you believe sinners and terrible people deserve not to be hunted forever. Eternal suffering is an overkill, don't you agree?"

It slowly nodded, and I smiled. We were finally getting somewhere.

"I may ooze malice and evil, but there's more to who I am than you realize, and it's not like me to be this patient with anybody, especially since I can sense your killing intent."

Its eyes widened when I said that, but I could tell its bloodlust reduced.

"Who are you?" It asked, its voice coarse unlike before.

"Another person thrown into hell."
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I was surprised by my reaction to this Warbeast, had it been anyone else, I would have slaughtered them, but perhaps it is the trapping eternity of this place, or the great suffering that is pervasive, I didn't know, but I chose dialogue, and it had felt good.

"You saved those people, or rather, you gave them a short reprieve."

It looked away from me, and answered,

"There's no saving anyone here, the only way to save any here is to destroy this plane, and that will not happen, we are trapped for eternity."

'I hope I'm not.'

"But yes, a reprieve, however short, is the most merciful thing you can do to these people. I'm lucky to have to be a powerful Warbeast, and that I had reacted early."

"Lucky you."

As soon as I uttered the words, a new notification rang in my mind.

[Etonos: Capital Of Hell]

[Time remaining to find the hellish dark blade: 26 minutes.]

"Twenty six minutes!" I blurted.

The Warbeast raised an eyebrow, seemingly curious.

'Just how would I find a hellish dark blade in this terrible place? Without clues too!'

I was sure a vein popped on my forehead with how frustrated I was getting.

I looked to the Warbeast who seemed to be interested in leaving me to my business, it had begun walking away when I called out to it.

"Hey, does the name Hellish Dark Blade ring any bells?"

The Warbeast closed its black eyes and then let out an exhale.

"Yes, I know of the Hellish Dark Blade. It is a well-known relic amongst those that haven't succumbed to the terrors of Etonos."

"Oh, is that so? Is it claimed by anyone?"

The Warbeast suddenly roared with laughter, arching its back. It took about a minute before it regained composure.

"No it isn't, and gladly so. The people here, those that are powerful like I am aren't the best of people. Sure there are good ones here and there, but largely, they are bad news, and if any of them got their hands on the hellish dark blade? Well, all I can say is that I probably wouldn't bother stopping the wicked worms."

"So it's unclaimed, but it's desired by a number of people."

"That's what the case is."

"Do you know where it is?"

There was a silence, the Warbeast simply stared at me, unwilling to utter a word, and we remained like that for about five minutes. It seemed like it was in the middle of deciding whether to tell me or not what more it knew of this hellish dark blade.

Finally, it spoke,

"Yes, I know where it is, we all do, why don't you?"

"You see, I recently just died" I said which technically wasn't a lie as it did drive a spear through me claiming my life, but of course, that wasn't how I got here.

"Hmm, and I didn't notice?" It said.

"Were you supposed to notice?"

"Yes, the clouds part shortly and a dark cloud which is the new soul falls from it."

"Ohh." I said, trying to scout for a cover up lie.

"Point is, I don't know where this Hellish Dark Blade is, and I need to get it."

Once again, the Warbeast roared with laughter. The laughter was even louder and longer this time around.

I awkwardly looked away from it the entire time as it did so.

When it stopped, it looked at me sternly and asked, "Why do you seek it?"

Right there, I knew I had to tell the truth, and so I did,

"I need it to get home."

"Home? What are you talking about? The Hellish Dark Blade has no power to make any escape from here."

I couldn't refute the statement, it was unaware of the demands of the system, and I couldn't explain all that to it.

"I just need it, please."

"You will have to ask another. That blade is too powerful to be in the hands of whoever, it is better left unwielded."

There was another long silence, and then it turned to leave.

"You'll get used to this place. Just don't fall victim to the hell guards.