The Vampire Queen - How I Became The Worlds Last Boss: Chapter 10

Celestia

As we got closer to the cradle, according to Hieko, we came across a very dark forest. It was even eerily dark in the middle of the day. She told us this was the frontal base of the demon army from one thousand years ago. I can only imagine the type of creatures that inhabited it having left it in such a state.

Black, moldy goo was all over the trees, with decrepit bark festering as if diseased. The water was nothing but sludge and many other unidentifiable entities. The tree leaves were all either brown or black. What a disgusting environment to have to live in.

“I can only imagine what kind of grotesque monsters must have been in the demon lord’s army to leave this forest in such a sorry state.“ I was very happy that my gag reflex seemed to be much stronger after the awakening. Otherwise, I would probably be throwing up my stomach right about now. “How do you feel, Rhea?”

“It makes me want to take a long, hot shower. I feel dirty just traveling through here. I’m just going to close my eyes; please tell me once we're out.” Rhea sighs as she buries her face into my back as she holds my midsection tightly.

‘Don’t worry, the area surrounding the cradle is very beautiful and unaffected by the past demon lord's fixation on the creation of the most disgusting beasts he could imagine.’ Hieko gave us some reassuring words.

The journey through hell took us another thirty minutes before we saw light at the end of the tunnel. Once we exited the dead forest, we were hit with a sight you would expect from a fantasy novel.

There was a massive lake with crystal-clear water capable of viewing clearly all the way down to the very bottom. I didn’t even know such a lake could exist with such clean water and within such close proximity to Hell Forest. The backdrop of the scene was a massive mountain thousands of feet high, with white caps of snow at the very top.

Both sides of the mountain and directly below were all covered in beautiful, tall oak trees that reached extremely high into the sky. Those trees must be very old to have grown to this extent. If I didn’t know any better, this whole scene was like a painting I saw in my past life that you would hang on your wall for decoration.

“Wow…” I hear Rhea in awe as she looks at the beautiful landscape in front of us.

“It’s very beautiful; Hieko, is this where the cradle is located?” I ponder.

'Yes, master, it's located deep into the base of the mountain in front of us. I’m sure the other four are also impatiently waiting for our arrival.’ Hieko said it with a bit of contempt.

Hmm, she must be the one who keeps the others in line, from what I can tell by her words. Four more spirit beasts, just like Hieko. I wonder what types and if they will be as accommodating.

“That’s great! Out of curiosity, what kind of beasts are the other four?” I ask with intrigue.

‘There is Lightning Wolf Rollo, Ice Dragon Astarot, Battle Ape Onyx, and Whirlwind Pegasus Mila. My full title is Firefox Hieko. They will all be very gentle in front of the master, but it’s when you or I aren’t around that they like to cause havoc. Mila is a female, and the other three idiots are males. Those three like to cause a ruckus.’

It seems like she’s had it rough over the last thousand years, trying to keep them in check. What I don’t understand is that, with a dragon being one of them, wouldn’t we have already seen such a huge beast? I can only assume they’re also able to adjust their size in the same way as Hieko. I’m starting to get nervous at the thought of meeting each of these mythological beasts.

“Hieko, how will they treat me as I’m not the master?” Rhea asks nervously.

‘You don’t have to worry about that; being the mate of the master means they will see you as a second in command and treat you accordingly. I’m sure you don’t notice it within you, Rhea, but when Master turned you into one of her kind, she left a mark of her magic on you. With the mark, none of the five of us would ever try to hurt or ignore you for any reason.’ Hieko reassures.

“That’s great to hear!” Rhea says it with relief.

I grasp onto both her hands tightly, holding my waist, to also reassure her. She will be fine as we hit the tree line of the excessively massive trees. Clearing the lake with Hieko had been extremely easy, with her skillfully running over it. She used her flames as a form of levitation, sending small explosions under her feet as she ran. The water had no impact on her speed whatsoever.

After we enter the large forest, it doesn’t take long before we have our first contact, and it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. There were multiple different-color lights that kept fluttering around us at high speeds. Taking a closer look at them, they look like little people with wings. No way! Are these fairies?

“Wow…” I mutter to myself.

“What are those fluttering lights?” Rhea muttered.

‘Those are the caretakers of the forest.’ Hieko replies, ‘The reason everything around here is in such pristine condition is because of these fairies. They have the same ability to notice who the master is; just put out your hands.’ Hieko suggested.

Nodding my head, I put out both my hands as Hieko slows down her speed and a few cute-looking girls land on my hands. They were all wearing different-color short one-piece dresses. Very colorful metallic wings that flicker with multiple colors on all their backs. Each of their eyes was like a crystal that reflected multiple colors, just like their wings.

“Master…master…master…” The little fairies cheer.

“Hello.” I said as I looked in awe at the little people in my hand who were no more than a few inches tall. I felt Rhea put her chin on my shoulder, probably also trying to get a look at these interesting little creatures.

The three little girls in my palm all stood at attention and bowed their heads. “We’re so happy to serve the true master!” All the surrounding fairies start cheering. Hmm, true master, what does that mean?

Looking at my surroundings, I couldn’t help but have a huge smile. “I will be in your care.“ At my words, the three fairies in my hand flew off and started darting around in excitement.

That’s when I heard a few massive roars from multiple types of beasts off in the distance, and I could also tell they were coming in this direction at high speed. All the fairies scatter as the trees in the distance start to shake. It’s pretty obvious what those roars were, and I’m about to come into contact with the source. I don’t plan on calling them the five terrors because it’s lame. I will have to think of something better in the future.

Hieko came to a complete stop as the beasts in question came into view. Just like Hieko had described, a wolf, a dragon, an ape, and a pegasus all descend onto our location. I can’t say I don’t feel a bit intimidated seeing all of these huge creatures charging in this direction. Rhea’s arms also wrapped around me tighter; she was probably feeling quite nervous, and of course I could relate.

‘Calm down!' Hieko roared with anger at all four of their actions, stopping the four giant beasts in their tracks. With all of them seemingly in their true forms, they all towered over us. ‘Master and Rhea, please step down while I teach them some manners.’

Both Rhea and I jump off Hieko’s back as she transforms into her three-story size, and with four of her nine tails, she smashes all of their heads into the ground. She was a bit gentler to the Pegasus, but the other three were not so lucky; Hieko showed no mercy.

‘Why do you always have to be so rough?’ Rollo roars.

‘Always act as if you’re superior, Hieko.’ Astarot snarls with a snort.

‘I’m so sorry, Hieko; I was just a little too excited.’ Mila just accepts the punishment.

‘It’s really the master... the master!’ A big smile was plastered on Onyx's face.

‘As you can see, master, these are the other four terrors, as the humans like to call us. Why don’t you four introduce yourselves?’ Hieko looks on with a solemn face at the other beasts.

‘How unfair! Hieko has already completed the contract with Master! What about us?’ I look on in awe at seeing such majestic creatures just casually talking with each other. They were obviously jealous of Hieko’s power boost.

‘Why don’t you stop trying to show off to the master and shrink down to a more respectable size? How dare you all look down on her like this?’ Hieko once again unleashes her will on the others, forcing them to abide by her words.

It’s pretty obvious from the glimmer in their eyes just how much Hieko has grown by forming a contract with a new master. She effortlessly forces all four of them into the ground, exerting almost no effort. I guess she wasn’t lying when Hieko said the Demon Lord from before was truly weak.

“Um… Hello.” I spoke cautiously as I approached, with a very nervous Rhea holding tightly to my hand and trailing behind. “If all four of you also want to create a contract, I have no issue, but would you please shrink down to a size where we can talk more comfortably?” Right now, it was like having a conversation with five buildings.

With my words, all five of them instantly transform into miniature versions of themselves. They all line up in front of me in anticipation of getting much stronger than before. I couldn’t help but laugh at all their eager reactions, feeling as if they had all become my kids in some strange way.

First up was the dragon: ‘My name is Astarot, the ice dragon, the most powerful in the world.’ The other four beasts sigh at his words.

“It’s nice to meet you, Astarot; you sure are an amazing-looking dragon.” His color was a light blue with some white around the edges. He also had black horns. The eyes were probably what stood out the most, being a deep blue sapphire. I bit my finger as I did with Hieko and put it in front of his face. “Here you go.” I encourage him to consume the blood.

I watch on as the dragon starts to calmly lick my finger, and at the same time, I see his eye’s flash. That’s when he flew back suddenly, a good twenty feet. His body starts to grow just as Hieko did before, but unlike Hieko, he went back to his full size and kept growing. He was multiple times bigger than before; his head was far into the trees, where I couldn’t even see his eyes.

‘You see what I mean, master, we only have the remnants of the former demon kings power within us. Just forming a contract with a true master will spike our power into the sky. So you have nothing to worry about with your safety in the future!’ Hieko said it resolutely. The other three beasts watch on in awe as they can tell just how much Astarot has gained from the new master.

‘Thank you, my master! Now I can truly claim to be the strongest of them all!’ Astarot gave off an ear-shattering roar louder than anything I’ve ever heard. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole continent was startled by it. With that, Astarot took off into the sky, flying off towards the peak of the mountain.

Watching as the dragon just flew away, I felt a little sad at his actions, but at the same time, I could feel the connection between us and his utter excitement.

‘Normally he stays up in the mountains with his other kind,” Hieko mentions.

“There are more dragons?” I ask with intrigue.

‘Yes, but over the years they have become more and more difficult to control because of Astarot’s dwindling power. I’m sure he’s heading there as we speak to once again become the alpha and command obedience from the other ice dragons.’

“That’s great to hear more forces fighting against our enemies in the future.” There's no telling just how many and how strong my enemies in the future will be. So having as many forces fighting in my name is much more reassuring.