NOVGO.NET Chapter 414: Splish Splash Fun!
Chapter 414: Splish Splash Fun!
Jack almost found it sad…
While his opponent had been chasing his shadow, he had been sneaking around and looking everywhere for her core memories, for anything he could exploit to beat her.
In this huge pink and happy castle, this was like finding a needle in a bucket full of countless similar-looking needles! Yet he had finally found it…
A room? It could barely be called one.
It was the size of a supply closet and filled with cobwebs.
Then, on the floor was a bit of hay, a makeshift bed that was barely fit for a dog, one that even then had a cute-looking sign made out of the rubble.
< ♡ Lizzy’s Happy Castle of Dreams! ♡ >
The hearts were the beautiful blue of blood…
The Pink Castle outside? The lavish rooms? The plushies all over? It was nothing but misdirection. He could feel it; this shitty place was her core.
And as soon as he used Ghoul Touch on it…
[Ding! Successfully Accessed Core Memories!]
[Corrupt It All?! Please Reconsider For it Could—]
Corrupt? He wouldn’t just do that; he’d go even a step further! As soon as the Demonic Mana invaded the cute sign, the thing started screeching murder! And yet, this was but the start.
[Warning! What You’re About to Do Is Suicidal!]
“YES! And I’m the Demon King…”
That’s when he went in.
Staying in her Soul of Consciousness wasn’t enough for him. Without hesitation he slipped even further inside her, invading even her most hidden memories. He’d see it ALL!
— RIPPLE! RIPPLE! RIPPLE! —
That’s when it happened: the castle collapsed.
Actually, no, it didn’t collapse as much as it rippled away. It was as if it had all been a mirage, one getting flushed away under pressurized acid. As for what appeared…
Blood, so much blue blood.
Tiny Lizards happily skipped in it.
Even happier laughter as they splashed one another.
But just as it seemed like the fun would never end, a tiny, hesitant voice came out. “I-It hurts. Can we play another game already?” That’s when the pool puddle spoke.
No, it was actually another tiny lizard, one that seemed about 8 or 9 years old, if in human years. She lay in the middle of the puddle, bleeding endlessly. Actually, it was all her blood!
But the other lizards turned a blind eye to her plea…
“No! Keep your mouth closed, Lizzy!”
“Be an obedient fountain!”
“That’s all you are!”
“Splish! Splash!”
The innocence of youth and the horrors of the world, all stacked into one package. When confronted with that, one could only feel terror or disgusted anger. Yet, they happily played.
And they would have probably kept playing if not…
— Tap! Tap! Tap! —
The sound of heavy footsteps.
Hearing this, the young creatures warily raised their small claws toward the newcomer. It was an adult, one that would definitely chastise them for messing up the road.
Except, this one was FAR different.
Jack approached with the intensity of a bulldozer!
As they sensed his gaze, their tails flailed in alarm. As for the little girl, the one still bleeding in the middle, she felt something. This guy… why did he look so heroic?!
Never had she encountered someone like this?! She didn’t just have her breath taken away. She had her entire existence smitten, especially as he approached next to her.
Then he gave her the warmest smile and….
— STAB! STAB! STAB! —
He kept stabbing.
Blue blood rained out of her, sticking to his hair, his face, and clothes, which seemed way too nice for the caverns in the area.
Yet, as he felt the stickiness covering him from head to toe, he grinned as he turned to the other kids. “What, done already? Splish Splash in Lizzy’s Blood! Splish, Splash it all!”
[Increased Affinity With Scaly Bullies!]
[Corrupted the Youths Further!]
[H-Host What Are You Doing?!]
“Obviously getting revenge!”
He stared, seemingly at the sky, as if this was just a normal thing to do, the wary little lizard suddenly erupting in chilling laughter.
“Pfft— Mister, you’re weird!”
“Grown-ups usually hate this game!”
“You don’t have claws? Are you a weakling, too?”
As they excitedly turned toward him, all he gave them was a single look, enough to make them shake in their scales and ignore all designs of bullying him. They resumed splashing!
The scene would have traumatized anyone to the bones!
Yet, Jack kept doing it over and over, endlessly…
[Increased Affinity With Bullies!]
[Increased Affinity With Bullies!]
[Increased Affinity With Bullies!]
….
“Oof, that was fun!”
“Let’s do that again another time!”
“For sure, Splish Splash is great, hehe!”
As night came, the group happily disbanded, and the kids headed for their respective homes. But just before they could truly leave, a certain “Very fun” adult held them off a little bit.
“One thing, guys, can you tell me more about that Lizzy girl?”
“SURE, MISTER!” With max affinity, they spilled it all. The good, the bad, the scaly, and all the potential blackmail they had unknowingly accumulated over the years.
The girl? Lizzy Regen
Her ability? Regeneration, just like her family.
Said family? Absolutely rich, enough to cover her many times in gold, which sadly couldn’t even buy friends. As for the earlier display, it was them ’playing’ with her.
Hearing all this, Jack happily waved…
“I see. Thanks for the info, guys! See you all tomorrow?”
Never had kids so enthusiastically agreed, already raising their claws in the air in cheers. Then, left alone, Jack walked back through a city that looked as cavernous as fiery.
At this moment, he couldn’t stop grinning. Information gathering like a Boss— or a devil. But even then, he wasn’t done. Akin to a hyena, he hunted his prey.
“Lizzy, oh Lizzy, where are you?”
And then he found her.
Her regeneration truly was no joke; even after getting stabbed so much, even after bleeding entire vats of blood, she was still wobbly going home. But as she saw him, she froze.
She was just like a tiny gecko faced with a predator. And his next words didn’t help one bit. “Lizzy, oh Lizzy, tell me, do you bleed? Why don’t you show me one last time…”
[Warning: This Footage CANNOT BE Recorded!]
[She’s Merely A Child! This isn’t the same—]
“Not the same Lizzy as the one out there?”
Jack couldn’t help but chuckle. Of course, he knew. This thing, this whole thing, was akin to a dream, one that showed her inner insecurities. And he was about to play them all!
“System, dear system. Let me show you how one creates inner demons…”
Inner Demons?! A certain system shivered…