Enemy of the Inferno (Disgardium Book #8): LitRPG Series

by Dan Sugralinov

  Returning to Staffa, frozen open-mouthed, I messaged the group chat for my friends to come to me, then left Clarity.

  Rion Staffa, human, level 214 Leader

  First Councilman of the city of Tuaf.

  “Hello, Mr. Staffa,” I said politely.

  “…sure as death, Raul!” he finished speaking and cut off, blinking and rubbing his smooth-shaven chin. “Well, now. I dare say you are not Raul. Where is he?”

  “Oh, he’s fine, nothing to worry about. I’d like to talk to you, Mr. Staffa… Or should I call you Nettle?”

  He didn’t so much as twitch. Just smiled, his cold eyes drilling into me, then made a gesture, extending his arm toward me and sharply closing his fist. Nothing happened, and his smile grew still wider:

  “To what do I owe the pleasure, Ragnar the viking? What do you wish to discuss?”

  “What was that?” I asked, repeating his gesture. My Persuasion skill gave me hints for the right line of conversation. “Were you trying to put a curse on me?”

  “A curse…” the councilman scoffed. “That’s nonsense. Horseplay. Who are you, how did you get here and how do you know about my… other activities? Answer me, and quickly!”

  Persuasion practically yelled at me to mention demons, a topic close not only to Staffa’s heart, but more to the point, his soul. Before killing him, I wanted to find out who he’d signed his immortal soul away to, and what he got for it.

  “I have a few demon acquaintances,” I answered.

  “A few, eh?” The councilman raised a brow. “And this sudden appearance of yours… Heh… You’re an interesting man, viking Ragnar. Is that old man Odin sick of hiding from the New Gods? Has he taken Valhalla to the Inferno and ordered you to pay homage to the demonic princes? Who are these demons you know?” he asked with a sneer. “Some lesser servant imps? Been playing with a little black magic, have you?”

  The boys’ markers showed that they were in the house, but standing immobile at the entrance. Without answering any of Nettle’s questions, I said:

  “Councilman Staffa, you must know that we’ll both go to the Inferno after death. My clansmen no longer raid Bakabba and Latteria. We’re mercenaries now.” I remembered the viking brothers Bjern and Bjorg, guards of the Lion’s Pride and Jolly Bear taverns in Darant. “There is no more Valhalla! My people are disappearing in the masses of sentients! Is that fair? Is that just?”

  Thunder boomed in the perfectly clear sky outside the window.

  “Hear that? Even Thor agrees with me!” I exclaimed, although the peal of thunder could have easily meant the opposite.

  “Of course. The gods care not for justice, only their own interests. They don’t give a shit about your people, or any other mortals! But where is this going, Ragnar?”

  “There is no more Valhalla. We do not bow to the new gods, and since we all have the same end – the Inferno – then why not get at least some reward for it in life? You are wrong, Councilman, I am no warlock, and the demons I know are far from servant imps.”

  By mixing lies and half-truths and adding a little fire and grief to my speech, I got what I wanted.

  “I understand you, Ragnar. You speak sense and seem clever… for a viking. What did you get in exchange?”

  “You’ve seen what. I can swap places with people,” I smiled. “That’s how I got here in Raul’s place.”

  “Intriguing ability… But you sold yourself cheap, viking. You’re more foolish than I thought.”

  Persuasion showed a chance for a good continuation of the conversation if I said nothing. I did just that. Thinking for a moment, Staffa nodded:

  “Very well, I believe you. Why are you here?”

  “I want to join your organization. You’ve seen my abilities. You must understand what they can do. All I need is a glimpse of my target, and King Bastian and Emperor Kragosh aren’t hard to lay eyes on. You get where this is going now?”

  “What do you need me for?”

  “I don’t have your capabilities, your loyal people… And money isn’t the only reward for important sentients.”

  “Forget about Bastian,” Nettle cut me off. “But… Hmm, Kragosh is an interesting prospect. I only have influence on Latteria. On Shad’Erung, I am powerless.”

  So that was it! His abilities, whatever they were, worked only within the bounds of the pentagram drawn on Latteria?

  I will think about finding a use for you…” Staffa continued. “But… Not before I find out what you’ve lied to me about. Take your axe in hand and cut off your little finger! Either one!”

  And then it hit me. That gesture from Nettle was supposed to… what? Force me to speak only the truth? To obey? Without thinking, I removed my gauntlet, place my hand on the table and struck with my Scythes, transformed by Imitation into an axe. Blood sprayed. The Councilman dipped a finger in the blood, licked it, smacked his lips and nodded. I saw relief in his eyes.

  “Good boy! Very well, Ragnar, welcome to the Dark Brotherhood! I am glad I could trust you to be open. What you took for a curse was actually a demon’s gift. I can make any sentient obey me on two conditions: that he has led a life that will lead him to the Inferno, and that none of the New Gods have a stake in his soul. As you know, all the rabble of the Commonwealth fall into that category.”

  “Thanks for the honesty, Mr. Staffa!”

  “Oh, no, my dear, to you I’m Nettle the boss!” he laughed. “And why wouldn’t I be honest with you? Once we end this conversation, I’ll order you to forget everything I’ve told you. Anyway, we’re sort of brothers in misfortune, aren’t we? Who is your contract with?”

  “With Balber, boss.”

  “Not heard of him… A weaker demon, no doubt.”

  “Who is your contract with? One of the higher ones?”

  “Hah!” Staffa’s eyes lit up. “The highest of all, viking! A prince!”

  I made as if thinking aloud, started to improvise:

  “Doubt Lucius would have taken you. His specialty is elsewhere. Diablo? No, too smart for him… I think your soul belongs to Azmodan, boss… Although… No, Belial! Am I right?”

  “You drop big names, viking! But you are right. Great Prince Belial condescended to transform my boring life as a city councilman! But enough of this circus… Forget everything I told you about demons!”

  “Consider it done, boss!” I said, picking the suggested phrase from Persuasion.

  “Let’s go look at your fellow thugs. Balber’s gift allowed you to get into the house, but the other four got stuck in the Temptation Trap. Follow me! We’ll see if they’re worth anything, and if not, they’ll feed the pigs!”

  Staffa headed for the office door. So he’d known about the boys all this time, and they were stuck in a trap?

  I saw my friends from the third-floor staircase. All four were frozen in the hall, dribbling, smiles plastered on their faces. Their eyes wandered. Hiros was bowing over and over again.

  The Temptation Trap debuff worked only in a limited area by the entrance.

  Nettle and I walked down to the house’s main hall. Slipping into Clarity, I pulled my friends out and arranged them around Staffa. Like he said, enough of the circus – I’d learned all I needed.

  I returned to my real form, then sped the world back up. The councilman froze on the stairs, surrounded by the Awoken. Freed from the debuff, the boys quickly realized what was happening.

  “Do we finish him off, Scyth?” Bomber asked, pulling out his sword.

  Rion Staffa looked at me piercingly, paying no mind to the boys. It was like he didn’t see them, or didn’t see them as serious opponents.

  “I’m not Ragnar, Nettle, and your control talent didn’t work.”

  “Scyth?” The councilman’s dead eyes brightened. A smile spread across his face. “Now that’s far more fun! Enemy of the Inferno, oh my! For your head, the prince will grant me influence over all Disgardium, and name me his legatus after death!”

  “Summon the dark brothers!” the Chief
Councilman of Tuaf shouted.

  Staffa turned sharply, his eyes flickering with devilish light, the noble lines of his face distorting. Smiling wickedly, he used two fingers to draw a five-pointed star in the air, flashing with scarlet light. At the same time, his skin darkened and seemed to blur. His mouth twisted, baring fangs, and his nostrils started to turn inside out.

  I could activate Clarity and finish Nettle off right there, but I decided to wait and see what was happening first. The beams of the fiery pentagram lanced into the floor and ceiling, and Nettle himself grew broader, taller, expanding until his head bumped the ceiling. Brown leathery wings appeared behind his back, and he grew a second pair of limbs, articulated like an insect’s and tipped with spear-like blades…

  The last thing I saw before going into Clarity was a half-orc emerging from the pentagram, and the name above the Chief Councilman’s head:

  Net’Tulion, level 1305 Untransformed Demon

  Now that was a surprise! The Demon Fighter’s Ferocity medallion had come in handy!

  I’d sensed there was something off about Staffa, but nothing like this… I could have spent time trying to figure out what ‘Untransformed Demon’ meant, but I wanted to take him down quickly and get to the Inferno.

  A sharp spear-arm shot toward me, so fast that it moved noticeably even in Clarity. He had attacked first, and I rushed forward, diving right onto the bony spear. The damage was insignificant, but Nergal’s Fury and Sleeping Justice kicked in.

  Slipping out of the line of attack, I decided to use one of my new techniques from Oyama, tapping into Hurricane Ferocity. My first strike with Combo should have sent the level 1305 demon sprawling, but I was hit with such a backlash that I somersaulted end over end, smashing into a wall. Circles swam before my eyes. How? I lost 2% health, but worse than that, I was knocked out of Clarity. Did this damn demon have something like my Reflection?

  “Surprised?” Net’Tulion rumbled.

  Now he seemed as if made of flowing red magma which had frozen in place and faded. That must mean it was a defense that activated only when Staffa took damage…

  “Stop!” I shouted, seeing Hiros, Bomber and Crag about to bring their blades down on the demon.

  I wanted to warn the boys not to hit Staffa, but I was too late. They all attacked at once: Crawler fired off Frost Breath, Bomber struck with Ruination, Crag attacked from another side, and Hiros started to slice into the demon with his daggers – fiery spray flew out in all directions.

  The backlash hit Bomb, Hiros and Crag. The damage went to me, but the titan was stunned for some reason. Crawler kept firing his icy spears, dealing meager damage and trying to freeze the demon, but failing due to the level difference. Staffa seemed to consider him the most dangerous, and spat magma at him. Crawler roared in pain, although I took all the damage again.

  In the meantime, the summoned Dark Brotherhood, Nettle’s inner circle, climbed out of the pentagram portal. The first to emerge was a half-orc, then came a minotaur and a dark elf, and all three launched themselves at me at once. Just as a grinning hobbit appeared, I went back into Clarity, dodging the attacks.

  The world froze again. I couldn’t hit Staffa, but his summoned reinforcements were fair game. Four strikes reduced the Dark Brotherhood’s number by four sentients.

  A leg stuck through the portal. Cutting at it as I passed, I approached the demon and activated another of my new moves. Since I couldn’t deal physical damage to Staffa…

  Spirit Shock! I watched as all the channels of my inner spirit dried out at once, lost their color, pouring all their energy into the ball in my chest. It didn’t grow – on the contrary, it contracted like a spring, then… exploded outwards before me.

  The invisible deadly wave traveled through the demon, apparently dealing no damage. And then I left Clarity.

  The world surged back to full speed. The heathen demon lost all his health in an instant, collapsing into disappearing dust and revealing Rion Staffa, still alive. The portal closed, cutting an orc in half as he tried to climb through. Guts splattered out of the half that crashed to the floor.

  The councilman ran to the window, but couldn’t get away – I caught up with Flight, copied his form, struck, and he collapsed. Forever, this time.

  Unlocked achievement First Kill: Nettle, Leader of the Dark Brotherhood!

  You are the first in the world to reveal the true nature of Rion Staffa, Chief Councilman of the city of Tuaf, who turned out to be Nettle, Leader of the Dark Brotherhood! You have defeated this mysterious mob boss whose tentacles extended throughout all Latteria!

  Nettle, Leader of the Dark Brotherhood, is dead, but before death, he inadvertently transferred a modicum of his power to you.

  Reward: Subjugate Sinners perk (sentients whose souls already have a place assured in the Inferno will follow your orders without question; does not affect members of the Dark Brotherhood).

  Penalty: Vendetta perk (all members of the Dark Brotherhood will try to eliminate you!).

  Fine black threads shot out from beneath Staffa’s feet as he fell – the floor seemed to melt, covering over with holes that exploded with sinister purplish light. His body lost its material form and turned into a spirit, a ghostly golden form crisscrossed with black veins.

  The black rays wove together with the veins, strengthened and began to pull the soul down. The spirit opened its mouth in a silent scream and threw back its head. You’re not getting away that easy!

  The spirit’s ghostly arms were already pouring into Reaper’s Scythes. Swearing, I tried to leave with Flight, but despite my carrying capacity, multiplied by thousands, I only moved an inch.

  Staffa’s soul was being pulled in different directions, and if it had been material, it would have long since torn. My arms twisted out of their sockets, the ligaments began to tear along with… Staffa’s soul. Reaper’s Scythes seemed to have hooked into it and put down roots in an attempt to swallow the dead man’s spirit. But I didn’t give in. I gritted my teeth, felt sweat pour down my face as I watched Staffa’s soul seeping into the Scythes drop by drop.

  The boys careered around us. Bomb was trying to cut through the invisible threads pulling Staffa’s spirit into the Inferno, but it wasn’t working.

  “How can we help?” Crawler asked, but I said nothing – I barely had the strength to resist the Inferno as it was.

  “Spirit fills me!” I shouted the words of my mantra and immediately used the spirit for Clarity and Hurricane Ferocity at once.

  My strength remained the same, but my movement speed shot up. A final push and Nettle’s spirit sank into Reaper’s Scythes. I flew head over heels into the wall.

  Rising, I went back to the expanding hole, which emitted a soul-wrenching groaning, screeching and grinding. Little by little, the light began to pale – it was clear that the hole would soon close up, so we had to hurry.

  “Hiros, Astral Fury!” I shouted, speeding the world back up.

  The ninja had been saving his talent for this moment. In the same instant, my soul entered the astral plane and I launched myself into the hole…

  But I was thrown back! Nether!

  “It isn’t working!”

  Bomb had raised his two-handed sword above me, but shook himself and lowered it. Crawler was holding his head. Hiros stood like a totem pole and stared, enchanted, into the abyss leading to the Inferno. Crag touched me on the shoulder:

  “Cast that suicide thing, or whatever that crap you got from the Sleepers is called! Quick!”

  I remembered our plan B just fine, and activated Self-Sacrifice.

  And fell down dead.

  Herald!

  You have taken the path of self-sacrifice in the name of the Sleeping Gods. All your health is converted to Faith.

  You are dead.

  Reviving in 10…

  The respawn timer froze at ten seconds. I felt myself being sucked through the portal. Black and white flames flickered before my eyes, then disappeared, and I was in darknes
s.

  Moving to new in-game dimension: Inferno.

  Synchronizing… SUCCESSFUL.

  Attention! Unable to apply active abilities at time of transfer: Astral Fury, Sleeping Vindication, Nergal’s Fury, Unity, Sleeping Invulnerability, Sleeping Justice, Synergy, Assistance of the Sleepers.

  Analyzing… SOLUTION: capture current numeric variables.

  Inserting player ‘Scyth, Human, level 774 Herald’ into dimensional database… SUCCESSFUL.