HEX: Aspect Of The Void

Forest Guardians… Entities the entire world knows to symbolize nature.

They possess green bodies, constituted by vines of various kinds. Having a humanoid shape, they possess nearly every feature of a typical man. Two limbs and two legs. They, however, do not possess eyes, noses, and the likes. They use the Aspects around them to observe and interact with nature, spreading their senses throughout the area.

Their bodies are incredibly erroneous, and they possess an immense density of Aspects, making them an existence that stands above most creatures.

The Fairies worship their existence, second only to the gods. They are like angels, divine beings who are custodians of the flora… Immortal so long as their duty remains.

A creature such as this, serving as the Boss Monster of the 5th Floor, of course, Talia would be shaken. The very entity she worshipped would now be taken as an enemy, subjected to subjugation.

"That is… A Forest Guardian…"

Talia's eyes were wet from tears. They streamed down her cheeks as she clasped her hands together and gazed upon the gigantic sight with paddle and admiration.

While I am not surprised by this sight, it still disgusts me. It displeases me to see my slave showing subservience to another, especially when it's a mere boss that I manufactured. Talia shouldn't make such an expression to anyone but me!

I am a jealous god, after all.

"Ana, do it!" I commanded her.

Ana, who was surprised by the enormous size and identity of the monster was also fazed. Seeing a Forest Guardian here, of all places, shocked her as well.

What's with this overreaction? It's just a Boss, no special than the others.

I glanced over to Shamac. His expression made me smile, entirely different from the two girls.

"Would you like to have a go?" I smiled at him.

Shamac's wild and exciting look shone even further. He looked at me with wide eyes as he asked in excitement.

"Can I?!"

Of course, he'd be excited. He hasn't seen or heard of this beast before. All he sees when he looks at it is a powerful boss that he wants to fight and defeat.

If any of them fought the Guardian, they would win, though it might take them some time since it's kind of tricky.

"No" I replied.

His face fell upon hearing my answer.

"Ana, do you want me to repeat myself?" I said to her, releasing a tiny bit of pressure.

Immediately, she snapped out of her daze and looked at me apologetically, with fear and trembling.

"I-I'm sorry my Lord, I got carried away. It won't happen again, I swear!" She said, flustered by her disgraceful behavior.

"Sigh, whatever. Just do the needful, already. There's no time to waste" I replied to her.

Ana stepped forward, leaving the rest of us behind. She slowly walked toward the monster while we watched her. As Talia saw her move to kill the Guardian, her eyes widened with horror and shock.

"N-No, don't!" She protested, desperately stretching her hand to reach Ana.

"Oh? Are you defying my will right now, Talia?" I asked with a mean tone.

Her body shivered as she heard my voice and turned to face me slowly.

Her eyes beheld my glare, as I looked down on her low estate with a condescending expression. She was beyond pathetic in this state. I haven't properly dealt with her, after all.

"N-No, Hexarion… It's n-not like that, b-but…" She tried to explain herself with a stuttering tone.

"But what?" I interrupted.

"That's a Forest Guardian! It's a deity to my people, to me… I-I…" She sobbed now, her eyes pleading with desperation.

She wants to spare it? It's so pathetic that it isn't even funny. This creature is nothing but a specimen I made for this elaborate game. Others have defeated it in the past, and it just respawns, forever trapped in the cycle of this Dungeon.

Surely, she should have realized that. Yet, she's pleading mercy from me? I've changed my mind. I looked at the Forest Guardian and glared at it. How can such a worthless existence garner such love and admiration from my slave? Forget Ana beating it, I think I'll just snap it out of existence right now and get this over with.

As Ana's eyes glowed, indicating she was activating her Grace 'Realm Of Limbo', and I prepared my hand to make short work of the insignificant creature, I suddenly felt something… It approached our location at a terrifying speed and the power accompanying it was significantly great.

"This is…" I muttered.

Suddenly, the wide ceiling above us shattered apart, with the stony debris scattering all around the room in loud crashes and bangs.

A large wave of smoke filled the area due to the abrupt destruction that occurred. Ana stopped dead on her tracks and dashed back to my location, summoning one of the Treasures within her 'Realm'. She took a defensive stance as she glared ahead to see the intruders that forcefully made their entry to the Boss Room.

Amidst the smoke, the silhouette of two individuals became visible. My slaves and I all looked in the direction of the intruders.

There is a lot to say about them, but…

"Making a gaping hole from the ceiling, eh? I suppose that is one way of gaining access into a Boss Room. However… I do not appreciate that you've disregarded the rules of this game… Whoever you are…" I said, glaring in the direction of the approaching figures.

This feeling I'm having can only be as a result of an existence I've become recently acquainted with.

"Filthy mongrel, you dare to speak before me… How absurdly conceited of you…" A voice emerged from the foggy area covered in the debris of destruction.

This pattern of speech, the arrogance in the tone, and ignorant ideology, as expected. These are the very characteristics of the members of the foolish group which continue to defy me.

"This presence… I-It can't be…" Ana muttered.

Her eyes bulged and her body trembled. I can feel it, she's frightened, Scared… Shocked… Just what kind of person is able to demand such an expression from her?

I saw one of the silhouettes wave their hand, and instantly the dust which impeded our sight was cleared. We saw them all clearly, though I had seen them beforehand due to my enhanced sight.

The culprits behind the mayhem that has just ensued are none other than these two women who have shown themselves after the smoke dissipated. Clad in white attire and elegant accessories, they are none other than Apostles.

"I've been expecting you…" I smiled to myself.