The Demon Lord's Successor

Judging by what quick work the Doom Brother made of Elza, you figure Epsilon’s suggestion of a united direct attack stands no chance. You clench Rosette tighter, trying to come up with a way out of this predicament—Ah!

If the Hellfruit could bring a human back from death, what would it do to an undead knight? You remember hearing the phrase “Healing opposed undeath” somewhere. What’s the worst that could happen?

You put unconscious Rosette on the stone floor and rise to your feet. Here goes nothing, you think and shout atop your lungs, “Wait don’t kill me! I give up!”

“…” Steven halts the build-up of his fireball. “Really? You do realize I’m just going to kill all your friends anyway, right?”

“Friends?” You raise an eyebrow and walk towards the dark knight. Once you’re past everyone, you look behind and wink. “They’re nothing more than slaves, and I can always get new ones.”

“I see how it is,” Steven’s voice echoes. “Very well, get over here.”

The scorching heat radiating from the dark knight intensifies with each step you take toward him. As you approach, you put one hand behind your back and summon a Hellfruit.

[-40 Energy]

[Energy 204/402]

The Hellfruit does feel noticeably heavier in your hand, though not much bigger. It still easily fits in the palm of your semi-closed hand.

Once you’re aligned with Steven, you are reminded of his height. Steven is a whole head higher than you, and you’re no short man yourself. Your attention is all on the eye slits in Steven’s black metal helmet. They’re within your reach. You waste no time and say, “Say “Ah”!”

“Wha—” Steven doesn’t even get to finish a single word—you shove that fruit straight into the slits of his helmet, crushing and squeezing it inside.

“Gharghl!” steven gurgles, drowning in his own helmet.

“Hellfruit!” you scream and shove in another Hellfruit for good measure.

[-40 Energy]

[Energy 164/402]

“How do you like them apples!?” You scream at Steven who falls to his knees. His armored hands are at his throat. He’s audibly choking and trembling. Then an invisible shockwave slams you in the chest and knocks you back.

You land on your butt. When you look at Steven you see he’s still on his knees, but something’s not right. He seems… Bigger. His entire armor suit is pulsating, and with each pulse, the armor expands. Grows. Another shockwave blasts you further away from the knight.

As you slide on the stone floor you hear Steven’s deep voice echo through the hall, “Yeeeeeees…”

You see a fiery vortex surrounds the dark knight, spinning, storming, and howling across the hall while the knight grows in size faster and faster. Ten feet, fifteen feet, thirty feet. The dark knight not only grows but also morphs. His armor grows twisted, thicker, sharper. It melds and binds with Steven's molten flesh.

“The power,” Steven growls as his back presses against the stone ceiling far above. But Steven only keeps growing and pressing against the stone until it breaks and collapses around him. “The absolute POWEEEEEEEERRRR!!”

“What have you done?” Epsilon shouts. You can barely hear her through the chaos of fire and destruction.

“Trust me!” You shout while thinking, Jesus, what the fuck have I done?