At that moment, Antigonus felt a poke at his back, nearly jumping out of his skin. Whirling around in panic, he caught sight of a figure both unfamiliar and eerily familiar. Instinctively, he shrank back, wishing he could shrink to half his size.
"Are you awake or not?" Alaric said, eyeing the Antigonus who seemed desperate to vanish. Pinching his chin, he teased, "Hmm, looks like you're not quite there yet. Guess we'll need another round of treatment…"
"No, no, no! I'm awake! I'm very awake! I've never been this awake!" Antigonus blurted out without a second's delay. The writhing worms on his body even arranged themselves to spell out "AWAKE," His survival instincts kicking into overdrive.
"Pfft!" Alaric couldn't hold back a laugh, shaking his head at Antigonus. "If you're awake, why are you still in that wormy form?"
"..."
Because he'd been too startled to revert to human form, obviously! Antigonus felt wronged but didn't dare voice it. Silently, he commanded his spiritual worms, swiftly reshaping his appearance.
And so, a sleek, majestic demon wolf appeared on the throne, its fur gleaming with an air of regal authority.
"Whoa!" Alaric's eyes lit up as he took in the impressive demon wolf. His hands itched with excitement. "Can I pet you?"
Antigonus didn't respond, leaving it unclear whether he was refusing or silently consenting.
Amon, standing nearby, adjusted his monocle and chimed in, "To think the great Duke Antigonus has fallen to selling his wolfish charm for a living. What a shame!" He even let out a mock sigh, dripping with feigned pity.
Only then did Antigonus notice his old acquaintance. His massive wolf eyes glared at Amon with a hint of ferocity, as if he might lunge and tear out his throat in the next moment.
But before he could act, a hand landed on his head.
"That's the look! So fierce, so cool! I've always wanted a big, ferocious dog like you," Alaric said, enthusiastically ruffling the demon wolf's head.
Alaric was a genuine fan of fluffy creatures, whether adorable cats or fierce dogs... he loved them all.
Antigonus's fierce glare instantly morphed into one of utter resignation. He stole a glance at Alaric, who was lost in petting him, and, certain Alaric wasn't paying attention to his subtle movements, shot Amon a pointed look.
They'd both served under Tudor, after all. While Antigonus and Amon weren't exactly close, there was some unspoken understanding between them. Amon caught the look and understood its meaning: What do you know about this guy? What's your deal with him? What's going on here?
But catching the look didn't mean Amon would answer. Especially not when he was certain Alaric would notice their little exchange. So, Amon merely adjusted his monocle and gave Antigonus a helpless shrug.
"..."
Damn it! He knew Amon was unreliable.
The unhelpful Amon refused to share any intel to rescue his可怜 former colleague, leaving Antigonus frustrated. But he wasn't the type to rely solely on others. When Amon declined to assist, Antigonus quickly started piecing together what he could from the situation.
First, Antigonus was certain this self-proclaimed Lucifer was a terrifying figure. Traces of his power lingered in Antigonus's body, a subtle madness that sent chills through him. The Celestial Worthy's will, which should've been half-awake, was now dormant again, underscoring just how dangerous this man was.
Antigonus wasn't some naive Beyonder. He'd dealt with Sequence 0s and even glimpsed Quasi-God Almgihty, like the Sun God in action. That experience made him all the more aware of the sheer weight of Lucifer's feat... suppressing the Celestial Worthy's will to awaken him. This man was at least on par with a Great Old One.
Moreover, Antigonus could sense the lingering madness in his soul. That madness had awakened him and subdued the Celestial Worthy. As a master of marionettes himself, Antigonus knew this power could do far more than suppress... it could easily control him if Lucifer chose to.
Yet, Lucifer hadn't.
That was why Antigonus was letting himself be treated like a pet dog. He knew full well that resistance was futile against someone like this.
Better to play along and be cooperative.
After assessing Lucifer's strength, Antigonus couldn't help but wonder about his motives. He stole another glance at Alaric, still engrossed in petting him, and a thought crossed his mind.
Could it be… this guy saved him just to keep him as a pet? No, no, that's absurd! He was a King of Angels, for crying out loud! Antigonus dismissed the ridiculous notion, but then something else hit him, and he froze.
Wait... saved him? What had happened before?
Long-buried memories resurfaced. Antigonus's eyes widened as he belatedly pieced together his situation.
He looked around. The familiar palace was as it always had been, except for the unfamiliar marionettes hanging from the ceiling.
No, not unfamiliar. Antigonus gazed upward, memories flooding back... the absurd dreams, the glimpses of reality within them.
He remembered that night, the one that cost him everything. His kingdom, his followers, his sister... all gone. And he, lacking enough anchors, had lost control and become a monster.
So, the monster that had taken over his favorite throne… was himself.
Antigonus's mind reeled. He finally understood the source of the sorrow in those dreams... the wail of a demon wolf who had lost everything.
"…I remember now. Amanises locked me here," Antigonus said, turning to Alaric. At some point, Alaric had stopped petting him and was now watching him quietly.
"So why are you here?" Antigonus asked, the obedient facade of the little wolf fading. A glint of danger flickered in his eyes as he finally grasped what he had lost.
***
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