Chapter 126

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Chapter 126: Moved

Demon Lord Victor became a thing of the past, but Victor did not completely disappear from this world.

The old trap set by Tasha started to work. She watched as Victor’s severely wounded spirit floated down unsteadily and landed safely in the library below. Victor’s body remained in the abyss, while his soul was banished and then struck by legendary attacks. After a series of trials, his shattered soul struggled to merge into the Book of Dungeons, beginning a long sleep.

This part of history was not recorded, maybe because the heroes couldn’t confirm Victor’s death, or perhaps because more important news overshadowed the death of a Demon Lord. The records were blank, but Tasha, standing in the front row of witnesses, finally saw Victor’s "origin".

For the Abyss Demon Victor, the memories Tasha saw were its beginning and end. Its soul was born when humans saw heavy snow and bonfires, and ended with the exposure of lies and goodwill. However, for Tasha, that "end" was actually the beginning, as the Snake of Lies died due to a good intention, leading to the encounter with Victor and the creation of the abandoned dungeon.

If Victor had acted differently at the beginning, there would have been nothing left in the self-destructing dungeon. Even if Tasha had arrived, there would have been no safe place for her. If Victor had not been so severely injured, even without power, his cunning intact, Tasha, naive and unfamiliar, would have undoubtedly lost and become one of his victims. The death of Demon Lord Victor marked the beginning of Tasha Aryan’s great adventure.

The reading of memories had ended, and the Magic Pool began to gently simmer, like a pot of slow-cooking stew.

In that moment, Tasha couldn’t help but wonder what if the soul of the Snake of Lies had not been born in the Primary Material Plane, and if Victor, like other Abyssal Creations, had never been able to perceive the beauty of the world, would his achievements and fate have been better?

It’s hard to say, there are so many powerful demons in the abyss, some strong, some smart, and the turnover is fast. Those who swim well drown, those who ride well fall, born of greed die in greed, and Victor once said that he climbed to his position for a different life from monsters. His unique adventures and rebellious heart made him the famous Snake of Lies, but also an exiled traitor. These intertwined causes and effects were like a tail-biting serpent.

Ever since swallowing the remains given by the Astral Mage, the black cocoon had been wriggling constantly. Now, in the boiling pool water, it expanded like a heated rice cake, begging to be poked. The expansion reached its peak, the black cocoon burst, and then contracted, suddenly shrinking back into a human form. A tall man lay at the bottom of the Magic Pool, as quiet as a Sleeping Beauty.

He looked remarkably similar to the Victor from the earlier memory. It was unclear if Tasha subconsciously recognized this body or if she unintentionally shaped him this way. The thin lips slightly parted, as if taking a breath.

A cough suddenly sounded.

Sleeping Beauty started to move, and as soon as he regained consciousness, he choked on some water, instantly making a face, coughing uncontrollably. He shivered, trying to get up, but accidentally fell back down, all his limbs feeling weak, like a newborn lamb – he even had a head of white wool and horns like a sheep. Tasha was crouching by the Magic Pool, watching him thrash around senselessly for a while until he finally opened his eyes.

His amber eyes widened suddenly, filled with confusion and fear, as if haunted by memories of death and torment. He gasped for air, quickly looking around, alert and cautious.

"Good morning," Tasha said.

Victor followed her voice and saw Tasha, his shoulders relaxing. Before, he had masked his anxiety and helplessness with false bravado, but now he lowered his gaze, the shadow of his eyelashes covering his relaxed eyes.

Tasha’s heart fluttered at this eye contact.

Yes, this was the Victor she knew.

Struck by the vulnerability flashing in his eyes, moved by his unconscious relaxation upon seeing her, it sounded strange, but it was the moment of transformation. She had known Victor for over a decade, read through his thousands of years, enjoyed his company, been drawn to his past strength, intelligence, and danger – but if the Victor here was just the past Demon Lord, he would just be a charming enemy, a charismatic yet unreliable partner.

But this was "her" Victor.

With time, feelings can transform into love. Right now, at this moment, love and joy fill Tasha’s heart like a sweet candy dissolving in hot coffee. "This is nice," Tasha thought, "this is good." She held Victor’s hand, feeling fondness and contentment.

Victor grasped her hand back. Tasha pulled him to the edge of the Magic Pool, brushing aside the strands of his hair that were dripping with water. His silver hair, not soft but a bit prickly, shimmered like metallic threads.

"Did we… win?" Victor asked, looking confused.

His voice was hoarse, like someone who had been asleep for a long time. He seemed a bit disoriented, as if waking up from deep anesthesia, looking puzzled. "Unfortunately," Tasha said, "you haven’t slept long enough; the Abyss hasn’t come yet."

"Only a few years?" Victor raised his head in astonishment. The sudden movement triggered something in his nerves, causing him to slump on the edge of the Magic Pool, forehead against his arms, groaning as if in pain. Clutching his head pitifully, he mumbled vaguely, "Wait, I think…"

Victor was rapidly recovering, the silly expression on his face gradually fading, and Tasha could almost hear the sound of countless gears turning in his mind.

The once great demon was gone for good, but this time, the restoration brought not just a body. The demon’s remains reshaped his form, the dungeon’s protection stabilized his shattered soul, and many chaotic memories that were once unbearable would be sorted out. Victor was not "recovering"; he was simply becoming whole again.

"This has been a long time coming," Victor muttered to himself.

As the chaos subsided, the demon reborn stood up in the Magic Pool, reaching out to Tasha once more. While Tasha had reached for him just now, his grip was as tight as clutching a lifebuoy, now Victor reached out gracefully, hand extended palm up, as if inviting a dance in a ballroom. Tasha raised an eyebrow at him, and he flashed a smile, as if unable to get out of the act.

"You are so kind, dear hostess," Victor said flamboyantly as he was pulled out.

"Don’t call me ‘dear’," Tasha said, "whenever you’re attentive, nothing good comes out of it."

"Really? I’m just trying to express my deep gratitude and love for you," Victor innocently said, quickly changing the subject in response to Tasha’s indifferent expression, "Good morning! By the way, shouldn’t you say to me ‘glad to see you safe and sound’?"

Tasha paused for a moment, realizing which scene the other was referring to — the first time Tasha gained a physical form, she had requested Book of Dungeons to exchange pleasantries like "Good morning" and "glad to see you safe and sound" before discussing serious matters. Back then, Tasha was a damaged dungeon, just receiving her first title, with tentacles beginning to spread on Aryan’s ground, a far cry from her current state.

In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed, dungeons hiding everywhere had risen to be on par with the human empire. The wolf-headed form had been replaced several times, Book of Dungeons had taken on a human form, things had changed significantly, but as the speaker turned their head, the conversation between the two remained the same. Dungeons and demons had incredible memories, jokes from over a decade ago could still be played out.

"Why aren’t you saying that I haven’t praised your beauty yet," Tasha teased.

"That would be the best," Victor responded smoothly, opening his arms, and even generously spun in place like a peacock seeking a mate — except he had no feathers, not even clothes.

Tasha went along with it, her gaze sliding from his handsome face to his damp neck (the white fur still dripping with water), then to his chest, not stopping, all the way down. His newly born body was completely bare, the muscles on his bronzed skin were sleek, droplets from the Magic Pool shimmering on it. Victor’s hair was silver-like, his warm-colored skin devoid of scales or metallic texture, feeling the same to touch — he blinked when she touched him, as if unsure if he was being sexually harassed.

Tasha’s fingertips glided from Victor’s shoulder to his chest, giving it a light press on his well-built chest, the touch surprisingly pleasant. Like chocolate, Tasha thought out of the blue, he looked just like a Cadbury milk chocolate…

"What is Cadbury chocolate?" asked Victor, looking puzzled.

"Uh-oh, you’re thinking too loudly," Tasha thought to herself. Reshaping within the Magic Pool had indeed made their connection tighter, but being distracted by wandering thoughts was also a reason. It’s clear that a wise ruler must avoid being consumed by desires.

"It’s a sweet treat to compliment your beauty," Tasha said calmly, without changing her expression.

Victor looked at her skeptically.

"It’s nothing serious," Tasha said coolly. "You’re stronger than I thought, I used to believe that the Snake of Lies was a pale, frail character with only words as their strength."

"That’s totally biased!" Victor protested. "Every demon is different, you can’t assume I’m weak just because I’m witty and eloquent. By the way, do you plan to give me some clothes? Don’t touch there, ouch!"

"Don’t worry, there’s no one else here," Tasha casually withdrew her hand. "Besides, you’ve seen me so many times, it’s only fair I get to look back now."

"Do you realize you sound like a duchess from the medieval times demanding her husband’s first night rights?" Victor reminded her. "That was at least five hundred years ago, when rulers could have absolute power over their territories and claim such rights."

"How does your new body feel?" Tasha asked.

Victor didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t hide the truth because the contract still applied.

"Not bad," he said as he cracked his neck and spine. "This new body I made is similar to my previous human form. I still need to do some experiments, but I’m no longer the useless mascot I used to be."

"Can it fly?"

"Um, no. Not all demons can fly!"

"Can it use magic?"

"It can… but since I’ve been banished to the abyss, I can’t use the abyss magic I once knew. I was never good at magic to begin with, so, um."

"You don’t seem to be injured now?"

"Of course not!"

"So, have your intelligence and memory returned to their former levels?" Tasha asked. "As one of the most intelligent Demon Lords, you must have a solution for the Abyss Passage, right?"

"…"

Victor looked at Tasha.

Tasha looked at Victor.

Victor looked at Tasha with sadness and anger.

Tasha looked calmly at Victor, her serious expression finally breaking into a smile.

"Oh, you’re teasing me again." Victor said irritably, pushing his wet hair aside. "Broken bottles can’t be restored, if you want a brand new demon, untouched and sealed, you’ll have to go back to the abyss. Anyway, this is how I am now, there’s no returning it…"

"Are you still hungry?" Tasha asked.

Victor paused, his eyes flickering at the reminder. His face blanked out again, like a person who had been bothered by noise all their life, suddenly finding peace in the quiet.

"Not hungry anymore," he exclaimed. "That relentless craving, it has stopped."

The dark Abyss gives gifts and forever restrains Abyssal Creation with chains, from cannon-fodder monsters to Demon Lords, always wearing a collar around their necks. The curse of emptiness and hunger never ends, until death, unless the Abyss itself cuts the puppet strings.

"You don’t get hungry when you’re reading the Book of Dungeons, right?" Tasha asked.

"That’s true, but there are no other sensations at that time." Victor squinted his eyes, seemingly lost in memories, "Using tools as vessels always feels like this, seeing and hearing as if through a mist, devoid of desires and unsatisfaction, touches perceived as if through thick fabric, pain reduced to a minimum. But if using these flesh-and-blood bodies, they will quickly be eroded by the Abyss, losing touch with the original feelings, still feeling hungry."

He paused, and involuntarily started to smile.

"I have some souls that I really like, but I don’t often visit them," Victor said, "These exposed souls look so delicious, I can’t fully appreciate them because a part of me needs to restrain myself, as demons never feel full. They are like a bunch of nuts cracked open, a group of crabs peeled, dancing on your table, while you are starving and just need to reach out to partake, without consequences. The most exhausting part is, you don’t really want to do it."

"Can you imagine?" he looked up at Tasha with the joy of a child sharing experiences with a playmate, "I won’t run away from others’ kindness, they are just too close… Imagine, a piece of meat you resist eating, but it insists on kissing your lips?"

Victor licked away a droplet from his lips as he did with the splattered blood on his face before. His eyes sparkled, and his lips were shiny from licking. Tasha suddenly thought, it would be better if this fellow still wore a suit, suits have collars which are convenient to pull down.

The current demon was naked, so Tasha had to press down on his head from behind.

Thank goodness, after the rebirth, those horns had become smaller, and wouldn’t clash with Tasha’s antlers.

Amber eyes widened in surprise, Victor hesitated for a moment, then without asking why, he lowered his head and wrapped his arms around Tasha’s waist. His tongue was truly forked at the tip, his teeth were tiny triangles, making Tasha feel like she was kissing a gentle shark or another predator – the most exciting part being, you know he won’t bite you.

This is the heart of the dungeon, they were standing right next to the Magic Pool. As one of the perks of being in the dungeon, even with her eyes closed, Tasha could still see everything.

She could see Victor’s tense back muscles when he lowered his head, her hand resting on the back of his neck, the other half circling his broad back. Their skin colors contrasted sharply, like milk poured into hot cocoa. His chocolate-colored skin felt soft, warm, and firm to the touch, with no reptilian features. Tasha’s hand slid down, crossing his cinched waistline, moving to his well-defined abs. They twitched when touched, tightening as if ticklish.

She could see that Victor still had his eyes open, his vertical-pupiled gaze fixed on her, similar yet different from the past Snake of Lies. The Snake of Lies had eyes with a cold, inorganic feel, like icy colored glass. Even with a smile on the face, those eyes held no laughter, coldly watching from the sidelines; this pair made Tasha think of honey, or the finest maple syrup, as if tasting sweetness with a lick.

"Judging a book by its cover," Victor said after the kiss, sounding like a complaint yet teasing, "you used to be reserved with me, now you’re as warm as fire, must be lusting after my looks."

"Good to see your thick skin is still the same," Tasha said, "I’m really sorry, I can’t muster much interest in a book."

"Too narrow-minded, you are a fortress, yet I still love you!" Victor remarked.

"Your sexual preferences are too free-spirited," Tasha sighed.

"I call it ‘attracted by your soul’!" Victor said, licking his lips.

"This is very convincing for a demon," Tasha teased, "I bet you say the same things to all your contracted partners, regardless of their gender or race."

"You are being prejudiced," Victor muttered, waving his hand in front of Tasha, "Is it an illusion or something else? Why does your gaze always drop when I speak to you?"

"I believe you have noticed the height difference between us," Tasha said firmly, "For the sake of spine health, it is normal for my gaze to be below your face. It’s not for any other reason, otherwise I could easily view you from a dungeon’s perspective, seeing all sides of you, front, back, top, bottom, right?"

"You should look into my eyes, not my chest – I thought only girls needed to say that," Victor complained.

"Your eyes are in the Book of Dungeons, I’ve been staring at them for a while," Tasha said, "And as for the other parts of you, I feel it’s necessary to get a good look before they are covered by clothing."

"Wait, are you admitting to staring?!"

"How do you feel about the consequences of being exiled to the abyss?"

"I feel complicated emotions… Hey, you can’t keep slamming on the brakes like this!" Victor lamented, "Dear master, I have no objection to your gaze and attention, and I am willing to show you some other things you haven’t seen before. Just pity me for dying and reviving so many times, trapped in books and pools for so many years."

It wasn’t entirely about flirting or seeking sympathy, as he stretched his toes on the stone bricks, leaned against the Magic Pool, still with his hands on Tasha’s waist, fingers hooked on the seam of her clothes, touching the exposed skin. The newly revived demon stretched his body like a snake awakening from a long hibernation in the sunlight. After hundreds of years, how did it feel to regain memories and senses? Tasha didn’t need to guess, as a sense of contentment almost had him humming a tune from the other end of their connection.

"You know, I don’t really hurry to find something to wrap myself in," chuckled Victor, resting his head on Tasha’s neck, knowing that Tasha was also not focused on work at the moment. "As long as you like it, I don’t mind talking to you like this in the future. The Book of Dungeons doesn’t always have its cover wrapped around, I’ve been naked in front of you for many years."

His voice ended with a gentle curl, his forked tongue trembled in the air, licking Tasha’s ear. His hands were still in place, his voice deep, his eyebrows and eyes alluring. His charm was much higher than the Book of Dungeons, finally resembling a seductive demon.

"So, many people have seen your naked body," Tasha said seriously. "Such as Ahuang, Marion, Ragehorn Simon, Saro Saint Child Samuel."

The guy who had just smirked devilishly was instantly back to his original self. With each name mentioned, Victor’s face darkened a bit. When he heard Saint Child of Saro, he couldn’t help but let out a disgusted groan. "How could you do this! You’re ruining the mood!" he accused, his shoulders dropping, then sliding down, showing his sad mood. His tall body shamelessly hung on Tasha’s arm, his warm head pressed against her chest, like a dejected big dog. Tasha finally burst out laughing, grabbed him and tossed him next to the Magic Pool.

There are as many things to solve in the future as mountains, the unraveling puzzles are not optimistic, and the unknown parts are still unclear. A world’s trouble awaits Tasha to solve, an enemy from another realm watches closely, but at least at this moment, Tasha feels relaxed and happy, she got what she wanted.

You no longer belong to the abyss, you belong to me.