The Monster's Terms for a Bitter Bargain
"A Succubus?"
Platinum's voice echoed with a sharp, metallic edge.
"Why would you ask about such a myth? You speak of the legends from the Yggdrasil entities—beings of pure carnal malice created by the Players. They are not found in the natural ecosystem of this world."
Zia'till let out a sound that was half-purr, half-growl. He shifted his immense weight on the crystal dais, the prismatic scales on his chest grinding together like diamonds in a crusher.
"Do not play the ignorant hermit with me, Char. You were the one who walked among the Players of old. You saw their 'NPCs'—those artificial lifeforms they crafted in their own twisted images. My research into lineage has hit a wall. Mortal flesh is too predictable. Too fragile. It breaks before it can bear fruit."
The Brightness Dragon Lord leaned closer. His breath, hot and scented with sulfur and ozone, fogged the polished surface of the Platinum Armor.
"The winds have carried a restless murmur to my ears—whispers gathered from the masters of secrets.. This 'Sorcerer King' you speak of... they say he is surrounded by monsters of peerless beauty and terrifying power. If he truly is a Player, he likely brought his 'collection' with him. I seek a catalyst,
Char. A creature of high-tier demonic essence whose biology is bound by will rather than just blood. A Succubus... that would be the ultimate prize for my next century of study."
"You are looking for a specimen, not an ally," Platinum retorted coldly.
"In my world, they are the same," Zia'till corrected, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"You want me to act as a deterrent in the Dragon Kingdom? To risk my neck against a being who might possess a World-Class Item? Then give me a reason to be interested beyond simple geography. If this Sorcerer King has such a creature in his court, I want your word that I may... claim her, once he is dealt with."
Platinum remained silent. The optical sensors of the armor whirred softly.
He did not know the name of the woman he had fought—the guardian in black armor who had protected the Sorcerer King during their skirmish in the Kingdom's capital. He only knew she was a monster of physical perfection and overwhelming strength.
That woman, Platinum thought, analyzing the memory. She possessed a World Item. Her defensive capabilities were absurd. Even my wild magic bludgeoning strikes were shrugged off.
"The woman who serves the Sorcerer King... I have seen her," Platinum admitted slowly. "She is a winged horror of immense power. She is not a 'specimen' you can simply pluck from a cage, Zia'till. She nearly shattered this armor with a single blow."
"Wings? Horns? Power that rivals our own?"
Zia'till's long, forked tongue flickered between his razor-sharp teeth. He did not know her name, nor her title as the Guardian Overseer, but the description alone was enough to ignite his obsessive curiosity.
"It sounds like the legends are true. A Prime Succubus. Imagine, Char... the strength of a Dragon Lord infused with the essence of a High Demon. The offspring would be a god among insects."
"If you move against his court for such a petty reason, you will provoke a war we aren't ready for," Platinum warned.
"Oh, Char... I am the war."
Zia'till laughed. His scales flashed a brilliant, blinding white, illuminating the cavern with the intensity of a miniature sun.
"I will go to the Dragon Kingdom. I will play the part of the noble ancestor and keep your 'evil players' at bay. But keep your eyes open.
If this Sorcerer King reveals a queen of that caliber, do not expect me to simply kill her.
I have much more... productive fate in mind."
Zia'till rose to his full height then, his massive wings unfurling and brushing against the gem-encrusted ceiling. The sheer majesty of his form was undeniable. He was a calamity given sentience.
"Tell the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom—my distant, diluted little brat—that her 'ancestor' is coming home. I trust she has kept the royal vaults open and the guest chambers ready?"
The Platinum Armor bowed its head slightly—a gesture of both agreement and profound weariness.
"I will deliver the word. Just ensure you focus on the Sorcerer King first. If the Dragon Kingdom falls, you lose your laboratory."
"Fear not, Char. I find I am suddenly very motivated to see what this new 'King' has brought into my world."
The Platinum Armor turned, its sabatons clanking heavily against the crystal floor as it walked back through the golden halls, past the frozen harem of stone statues.
To the outside world, Tsaindorcus Vaision was the protector of the world, the Platinum Dragon Lord who watched over the balance of power. But as he stepped out of the gilded cave and into the howling mountain blizzard, the cold wind biting at the empty armor, he could not help but feel a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature.
To suppress the tide of corruption, he had entered into a grim bargain with a monster he could not hope to control.