Lances and Daggers

29. The Claw

"The soul that summoned me is now imprisoned in the Maida." Belphegor said. "Kenos Vir, this is the end for you too."

He crawled on the ground with a grimy lower body that resembled a snail's. Above the grime was a stomach that gaped open like a tunnel, and from inside this cavity, tens of demonic arms jutted out. They crowded together and clawed at the air. Further up, a humanoid face was attached to a stout column of flesh, and tentacles extended out from around it.

"You are young," he said with a wry smile. "You understand so little."

"I don't need to understand anything." I pointed my sword at his face. "I just need to stop you."

"I am not your enemy. We can strike a deal that will benefit both of us."

"Yeah, why not? I should definitely trust you, given your charming looks and benevolent nature."

"You will end up a demon no matter what you do, but you can live a fulfilling life and die as an old man."

I noticed that his tentacles were furtively moving.

He continued, "There's nothing to fear if the end is decided. You can live your life the way you want. I can give you the power to be a king, an emperor, a hero―anything your heart desires."

I moved sideways with light, inconspicuous steps.

"You cannot erase me from this world, Kenos Vir. Years will pass, and I will be resummoned. Will you be alive to stop me? Can you not see the vanity of your struggle in the face of immortal beings?"

Suddenly, Belphegor's tentacles whipped at me. I was ready for them and jumped out of their way at the right moment. For a few seconds, I scuffled on the dirt, but then I dashed forward with unwavering determination.

"Your whole lives are pointless!" Belphegor roared and whipped his tentacles. "A series of wild dreams! One disappointment after the other! This is why you humans seek our powers. This is why you have needed us since the dawn of time."

I sidestepped one of the tentacles. It hit the ground and created a dust cloud. As I raised my hand to cover my mouth and nose, another tentacle whipped at me horizontally.

"We've never needed your likes, Belphegor." I shredded the tentacle into pieces. "You're the ones who've always forced yourselves on us. Even Faust could've met a different end if it hadn't been for your deception."

"Faust wanted to be a tool," Belphegor said and waved two other tentacles toward me. "He wanted to serve me, and you should, too."

"You're more conceited than I thought." I ran forward, cut the two tentacles, and prepared to slash Belphegor's ugly face. I was going to end the battle here and now, but I suddenly found my feet stuck to the ground.

What's happening?

I tried to move, but my feet wouldn't budge. A miasma surrounded my body. It wasn't one of Belphegor's attacks; it was something different. I looked in front of me and realized what was happening. The demonic arms that extended out of Belphegor's stomach were the source of this dark aura. They were clawing for anything near them. I could feel hate, regret, sorrow, and despair—all radiating from these cursed claws.

"Why are you hesitating?" Belphegor roared.

I was absorbed by the horrible sight and trapped in the thick miasma. My body refused to go near Belphegor; any move I wanted to make was overridden by instinct. Weakened by blood loss, I lost my concentration for a second and woke up to a swing from one of the tentacles. It was so close that I didn't have enough time to dodge. The impact felt like a lightning strike. Before I knew it, I was on the ground with more blood splattered around me.