I headed toward what seemed to be the exit of that place. My legs were failing and my eyelids were closing on their own; I wasn't going to last much longer without fainting. Upon leaving the room, I found an extensive hallway that I traversed by leaning against the walls to keep from falling. Finally, I reached a small room. It was empty, but at the back, I managed to see a sort of bed. Without hesitation, I threw myself there and, immediately, I was fast asleep before my head even touched the surface.
I don't know how much time passed, but I woke up due to the discomfort of the surface where I was lying: it was solid stone, cold as snow. The fatigue had diminished and my body had recovered a bit after so many blows.
—I must escape from this hell —I said with difficulty as I sat up on my improvised bed.
I stared at the floor, as if hypnotized. So many things had happened since they knocked me out and brought me to this place: I fought a demon, killed it, and ate it; I suffered a painful evolution; I killed another demon; I found my parents dead in the worst way; I escaped a horde; I encountered the Demon King; I was thrown into a waste pit and almost died from an infection. Definitely, this is the perfect amusement park.
[Side Quest initiated]
[Teach the Demon King a lesson]
[Reward: Unknown]
[Penalty: Unknown]
The letters appeared again, this time in a bright orange color. "Now I have to teach the Demon King a lesson? That fourteen-foot beast?" But what exactly does it mean by "lesson"? Something philosophical, or does it want me to give him a beating? Well, I'm leaning more toward the philosophical side... I don't want to face that giant; it would be suicide. I could also just ignore it, but according to this, the penalty is unknown. It could be anything coming from this system.
—I'll worry about that later; right now I must find a way out of here —I stood up, stretched my body, and returned to the hallway, ready for whatever comes.
I haven't eaten since the incident with the first demon. My body consumed all the reserves it had to recover; I am hungry and thirsty again. How am I going to get food? Maybe there's a kitchen around here to feed that Demon King; I'm going to find it and steal some nourishment.
I walked down that hallway for a long time; it seemed endless. There were stretches where it went down and then climbed steeply, until I reached what seemed to be the end. Upon exiting, I realized I was back in the chamber where my parents were hung. For some reason, this time the room was empty and the bodies were no longer there.
Exploring the site, a beautiful smell made itself present: it was roasted meat! My stomach began to growl and I couldn't help but have my mouth water. I followed the scent and ventured into another passage; I walked a few meters and entered a new room. It was immense, and in the center was an equally large table. Could it be the King's dining room? I didn't care; that roasted meat was calling to me.
I jumped onto the table and there it was: the holy grail. A plate nearly three feet wide, piled high with steaming meat. I didn't care about the consequences at that moment and began to swallow like a pig, sinking my new teeth into that delicacy.
—This is so delicious! God! —I thanked the heavens for that wonderful banquet. Without realizing it, I had eaten it all; my stomach was about to burst. Suddenly, I felt a drop in energy.
—I think that was too much food... I should leave before someone discovers me.
I climbed down from the table and prepared to escape, but small tremors began to shake the floor. Heavy footsteps could be heard in the distance.
—I AM VERY HUNGRY, JANETH! GIVE ME FOOD RIGHT NOW! —Shit! It was the giant's voice, and it was heading exactly toward where I was.
—I have to hide —I searched desperately for a refuge and saw a hole in one of the walls; I ran there and tucked myself in just in time.
—Sir, your meal is already served in the dining room —responded the woman's soft voice.
—IT'S A GOOD THING YOU ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH! —The door swung wide open. The colossus entered and sat down, making the wood of the chair creak.
—WHERE IS THE FOOD, JANETH?! —he bellowed with fury a second later.
—It should be served, my lord. The chef confirmed it to me —she responded, her voice trailing off.
—THERE IS NOTHING HERE! —The blow he gave the table made me jump inside my hiding spot.
—I'm sorry, sir... I will go immediately to see what happened.
After a while, the girl returned.
—My lord, apparently someone has eaten your banquet. I will find the culprit and make them pay; the chef has already been executed —she said, without a hint of compassion in her voice.
—FIND THAT BASTARD AND BRING HIM BEFORE ME! —the King roared.
—Calm down, sir. Apparently, we have some stinking rats around here... —I felt her approaching my hiding spot at full speed. With a sharp blow, she broke the stone of the wall, and a tentacle made of hair gripped my foot tightly.
—I've found the rat, sir. Apparently, he wasn't very smart —she dragged me toward the center of the room and kept me hanging upside down, face to face with her.
—How dare you steal the food of our sovereign, you cursed vermin? —While she insulted me, I couldn't help but notice her: she was incredibly attractive. Don't blame me; I know I'm about to die, but if she were my executioner, I wouldn't mind as much. It had been an eternity since I had seen a woman like that; she stood nearly ten feet tall, had purple-toned skin, a curvaceous figure, a model's face, and... well, some front attributes that captivated me.
—What a pretty and tough girl —I said without remorse, ignoring that I was hanging like a piece of meat.
—I'm not in the mood for compliments, you damn usurper! —she spat, tightening her grip.
—Isn't that the piece of garbage that was in the throne room when I arrived? —the King asked, narrowing his enormous eyes—. Apparently, you were playing dead.
—Well, as your majesty can see, I am quite alive and in top shape.
—Stop disrespecting his majesty! —Janeth seemed about to strangle me with her own hair.
—I like your audacity, inferior creature —the King said while signaling the girl. Following that, Janeth let go of me and I hit the floor with a thud.
—What is your name, little thief? —the giant's voice boomed.
—I am Samuel, and I am here to serve you —I said, kneeling before him with an elegance I didn't even know I had.
—So, Samuel? And what brings you here? You are not from this place, although I notice you are part demon.
—Yes, as your majesty can see, I am a Demonic Liva.
—A Demonic Liva? Don't make me laugh. How could one of those little animals that spend their time hanging around evolve to speak and be a demon? —the King said with suspicion—. Could you be an Envoy?
That "Envoy" thing again... What exactly is that?
—I don't know what you mean by that, my lord. I was kidnapped and brought to this place. To survive, I had to eat demon meat, and I obtained this form —I let the truth out all at once, without thinking about the consequences.
—Do you even know that eating demon meat is blasphemy?! —Janeth intervened, taking a step forward.
—So you dared to devour one of my subjects? —the King asked, staring at me fixedly with a seriousness that made my blood run cold.
I swallowed hard. For a moment, I forgot what kind of snake pit I was in.
—Something like that, my lord... —I responded, my heart in my throat.
—So you want a duel with our lord? —Janeth blurted out with a malicious smile.
"What? I want a what? A duel? Now I'm really screwed," I thought as I broke into a cold sweat.
—Did you know that if another race mutates into a demon, it is because they are claiming the throne? —the King asked, standing up and looking more gigantic than ever.
—I had no idea, my lord. I just wanted to survive —I responded, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
—THAT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE! IF YOU WANT A DUEL, THAT IS WHAT YOU SHALL HAVE! —the King shouted, making the walls vibrate.
Damn it! Now I had really gotten myself into something serious. Janeth grabbed me by the feet again and dragged me to what looked like the entrance of an arena; then, she threw me into a small, damp room.
—Cursed, failed vermin! Daring to go for the throne... although I can't deny you have courage —she said with a cynical smile—. You can "prepare" for the duel here. I hope the King tears you apart slowly.
With that said, the girl left, leaving me in the shadows.
—Dammit! Dammit! Now I'm really screwed, I'm going to die. Cursed system and its side quests... —I collapsed onto the floor; for a moment, I just wanted to cry and flee from this place of madmen.
A few seconds of silence passed. I forced myself to take a deep breath.
—Well, it doesn't matter anymore. If I'm going to die, at least it will be fighting.
I prepared for my possible death. Ready for anything, I stood up, clenching my fists and ready to face the most absurd challenge of my life.