Arshay and Misty rushed through the gates, leaving Ramza behind to face Marco. Most of the city had been reduced to rubble and King Garland’s prized castle had become nothing more than a towering dustbin. Only a handful of common homes remained, all trapped beneath a mass of sprawling roots spawned by the World Tree of Gluttony. The capital’s streets looked far more battered and bruised than those of Roundheart.
“Any being deemed evil by that child has been murdered, absorbed, or both,” Misty noted. A few moments later, she noticed a few skeletons on the side of the road. Based on the pieces of Heim armor scattered around them, these departed warriors were once soldiers in the kingdom’s army. “Just what happened when you lost control, Arshay? Did you retain any shreds of your consciousness?”
“A few, yes,” Arshay replied.
Misty looked surprised. “And you couldn’t fight back?”
“Nope.”
“Then, how did you feel at that moment?”
“You know, that’s a mean question to ask now of all times.” Arshay groaned and racked her brain for an answer. In the meantime, Misty just smiled as she patiently waited for the girl to speak. “It’s kind of like the time I wasn’t sleeping at all, but somehow evolved from that.”
“Excuse me?”
“I felt so achy, annoyed, and asphyxiated. I couldn’t even sleep in my own bed! My body rubbed directly against the sheets and then my thighs kept rubbing together... Gah, it was all so infuriating that I thought about tearing myself to shreds. Then right as I clicked my tongue, a strand of hair fell out and onto my pillow. Oh god, I wanted to burn that blanket so much... It felt like sandpaper against my skin.” Misty remained silent as Arshay continued, “Every creature that entered my gaze appeared to me as a filthy insect in need of extermination. It was only when I bathed that I felt refreshed... So, I guess that’s how I felt when I went berserk.”
Misty had heard of Arshay’s experience for the first time, but the girl had explained it in a way only she could. The Elder Lich parsed out that Arshay had struggled, but not much else.
“How in the world is that anything like an ‘evolved’ form of extreme sleep deprivation?” Misty inquired.
“I-I told you that it was a difficult question to answer!” Arshay replied. She stomped the ground.
Misty chuckled. “In short, you want to save Ein as soon as you can.”
“Right! Yeah!”
And with that, the Elder Lich pointed her staff in the direction of the August estate—the World Tree of Gluttony’s chosen home. In an instant, Arshay switched gears and a wave of purple-tinged magical energy emerged from her body.
“Where should I attack?” Arshay asked.
“Wherever you like,” Misty replied. “We have to attack the entire tree anyway.” But right at that moment, a series of vines sprawled out from the duo’s blind spot. “Arshay!”
“I know!”
The battle was now underway. Misty didn’t even bother to turn around as she reduced the vines to sand, just as she’d done to Heim’s men. Arshay joined the fray, and the mere presence of magic in her breath caused another set of vines to instantly wither. Was the tree trying to size them up? Despite letting out sighs of relief, the pair remained vigilant as the tree seemed to be enjoying itself. Something started falling from the tree’s branches—crystallized fruit in the dozens. It was as though a star shower were raining down upon the duo.
Then all of a sudden, a peculiar kind of laughter came rustling out from the roots.
“Ah ha ha ha ha!”
“Heh... Hee hee! Heh heh!”
The laughter moved to surround each fruit as new creatures emerged from within the magical pulp.
“What...is that?” Arshay asked.
“Well, they clearly aren’t friendly,” Misty replied.
Each creature stood about two stories tall and looked like walking rose gardens. However, their petals had sharklike fangs, and repulsive tongues sprouted from their heads. The pair couldn’t help but shudder at the horrific army of gleeful plant monsters that now surrounded them.
“I wonder if they’re strong,” Arshay muttered.
The disgusting flora turned to the Demon Lord with repulsive delight; the sheer sight was sickening.
“When one considers they spawned from crystallized energy, they can’t be weak,” Misty replied. “But perhaps their numbers are more troublesome than their power.”
“I can see that,” Arshay said. “But why are they all looking at me? I don’t get it.”
“Hmm, ah, I might have an idea.” Misty clapped her hands together. “I was summoned by Ein, but you weren’t. Maybe that’s the deciding factor.”
“I-I don’t get it! Is that why they’re so hostile towards me?! They don’t have to treat a small girl like me with such animosity!”
She took a step forward.
“Arshay!” Misty called.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll handle this myself,” Arshay replied.
She paid Misty’s warning no head and quietly walked ahead, exuding an overwhelming pressure as she approached the rose monsters. Her long, silver hair fluttered about as though a gust of wind had hit her. The Demon Lord slowly outstretched both arms, her gaze fixated on the World Tree of Gluttony.
“Those that are awake shall all fall asleep. There are no exceptions,” Arshay murmured. A peculiar sound rang out in the air as the ground at her feet started to crack and spread to the nearby homes, which quickly crumbled away. “So...”
Even Misty fell to her knees, struggling for air. The Elder Lich could only purse her lips and watch on through her blurry vision while Arshay continued her attack. This was the very Demon Lord who had ruled the land and gone berserk five centuries ago. In fact, she was so terrifying that her name had been forever etched in the annals of history as the Great War’s instigator. Her power hadn’t waned just yet, and she exhibited a might that struck terror into anyone who had laid eyes upon her, exactly as she had done all those centuries ago.
“This is just a dream,” Arshay said. “It’s a little scary, but a dream nonetheless.”
A sonorous orchestra of curious laughter filled the air. It neither belonged to Arshay nor the rose monsters, but laughter from men and women of all ages echoed throughout the city, creating a cacophony of sound that ravaged the ears of those who heard it. Once the laughter had latched onto an unfortunate victim, it refused to release them from its grasp.
Anyone who heard the laughter would fall to the ground. The houses that remained standing were instantly reduced to dust, and the rose monsters’ petals were swept away. The creatures seized up and writhed on the ground in agony for a few moments before they never moved again. It all happened so quickly. In a flash, Arshay’s voice had sent everything around her into a deep slumber. The Demon Lord’s awesome display of power was nothing short of shocking.
“See? They’re all asleep,” Arshay said in her usual languid manner.
The dignified visage that she’d shown moments before had dissipated as she clenched her fists victoriously.
“Don’t look at me with that smug attitude! That was dangerous!” Misty shouted.
“E-Eep!” Arshay cried.
Beads of sweat appeared on the Elder Lich’s brow as she watched from afar. She went down on one knee and leaned heavily on her staff for support. The pressure was simply overwhelming.
“D-Don’t get mad...” Arshay said. “I did my best, you know.”
The little girl looked visibly dejected, and Misty could only hang her head in exasperation. The Demon Lord was in a class of her own. Despite Arshay’s easygoing attitude, she was indeed powerful enough to exert her will over the entire capital. She would be a capable and reliable ally in this battle.
“We’ll pick this up when we get home,” Misty said.
Arshay looked relieved. “Whew. So you won’t be angry with—”
“I’ll scold you once we’ve cleared things up with Ein.”
“Ugh...”
It was time for a counterattack. With renewed vigor, Misty gazed at the World Tree of Gluttony, but quickly noticed a metamorphosis taking place. A good distance away from the pair, more fruit fell to the ground while several thick roots and vines emerged from the dirt. Clearly, the tree now viewed Misty as an enemy as well. The two ladies were certain; the real battle was about to begin.