Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-430

David and his party capabilities had developed as he explored the Fiery Lava Dungeon, the intricate mazes filled with hellish flames and boiling lava pools were obstacles amongst many. The number of creatures that thrived in such a place was outstanding. Fiends of all shapes and sizes, several of them of Basilisk, Dragon, or Reptile species, which David was capable to prey on to gain new strength and abilities.

After many hardships and days, David's party had defeated two more Boss monsters, having crossed twenty more floors.

Since then, the party had changed even so slightly, Kaze had become sharper and his physique had become swifter, while new equipment obtained through battles and prizes adorned his slim body. He had evolved after defeating the fourth boss of this dungeon, becoming a Windstorm Werefox Ninja.

Leonia had her arms covered in burn scars, after crossing her fist against the Blaze Basilisk Emperor, her arms had been burned completely, but healed through Blaire's magic. Her body seemed sturdier and even stronger. She wore a new set of lightweight armor and clawed gauntlets. Leonia's physical appearance changed slightly, as she had evolved as well after the fourth Boss, becoming a Berserk Lioness Brawler.

Blaire's appearance had changed the most, her red scales had become pale white, and her burly hands became more delicate, through the sharp claws remained. Her tail had grown more, and the claws in her feet became sturdier. She was now covered in slim, yet incredibly sturdy white scales, and from her forehead, white horns, seemingly made out of jewels grew. Having evolved after the fourth Boss, she had become a White Flame Half-Salamander Priestess.

Meanwhile, David's appearance had matured, he did not look like a naïve young man anymore, but his growth and the ability to obtain Bloodlines from creatures had increased his development exponentially.

His body was slim, yet sturdy. His muscles had been tightened and refined. Smooth, yet hard skin covered his body. Although his face still held some of the youth's naiveness. His eyes had become more serious and fiercer, he resembled a beast in the skin of a young man.

His armor had changed as well, through the mysterious powers of David's Epic, his entire armor had evolved into Mythic+++ rank, one evolution before finally reaching Legendary. In the other case, his sword had finally become Legendary. The blade shined brightly as it was now covered in an indestructible material.

Having defeated the Blazing Basilisk Chimera Empress and the Lava Leviathan Emperor, David devoured their flesh and became stronger. He had gained the 'Blazing Basilisk Chimera Bloodline' and the 'Lava Leviathan Bloodline' Skills. He gained extra stats that finally made him upgrade from his 'rookie league' into something more respectable as a fighter in the entirety of the Realm of Vida. His skills leveled up as well, and he had changed Jobs to 'Draconic Blaze Champion'.

David glanced at the door in front of him, seemingly the last trial that this dungeon offered. Through their trials and explorations, the party had found several clues that the Dragonoid Sage was currently living in this dungeon, but his whereabouts were still unknown.

Now that they had reached the last floor, the only place where this old mand could be was in the Boss Room itself.

"Perhaps that old man was eaten by the lizards in here?" asked Leonia.

"Leonia-san… t-that's… I remember that he was an immensely powerful wizard. I don't think he has just eaten!" said Blaire.

"We cannot leave that possibility aside…" muttered Kaze.

"Kaze, Leonia, be patient. Perhaps he is with the Boss? Or he was eaten by it. The only way to find out if he was either eaten or escaped from here is by passing through this door" said David.

Kaze, Leonia, and Blaire nodded in agreement. They had gone through several hardships already, even if they were not to find the Dragonoid Sage, they would still be thankful for having come in here, as such exploration had increased their strength to levels that they had not expected.

"We have grown a lot since we got in here… quite fast, to say the least," said Blaire.

"It must be David-sama 'Epic' supporting our growth. The more he grows, the more we do as well" said Kaze.

Although David's Legendary Party had been killed aside from Blaire, it was possible to create a new Legendary Party if the main Hero, owner of the Epic, was still alive.

David's Epic had already automatically added Leonia and Kaze as part of his Legendary Party, and they were granted increased growth in all aspects.

Vastrasz seemed excited, his voice voraciously guided David towards the next prey.

"Kid, you're not half bad! Now defeat this Boss and eat it! I think that you may finally awaken into a Hero if you do so… this trial will be decisive to your growth" muttered Vastrasz.

"A Hero… me?" wondered David.

Since he had escaped from Athetosea, the only 'Hero' that he had known as 'the Hero of Raging Winds', a wicked man that did not even represent what the word 'hero' meant.

The rest of the Champions were not different than him in several things, each one seemed like someone that would never fit into the 'Hero' role. People twisted and wicked by their destinies, becoming greedy or obsessive assassins. Or people that could not find a purpose and fell to mundane pleasures.

Some were filled with revenge, others with grieve, and some even had their minds traumatized from a young age, becoming deviant individuals with strange tendencies.

David and most of the Ten Elemental Knights could have been said to be the sanest between the group of humans that protected Athetosea… but even in their group, some were already wicked and corrupted.

But David still remembers those younger than him, whose eyes were filled with determination and hopes for the future, to guide Athetosea towards the prosperity that they desired so fervently.

However, from all of them, he was the sole survivor. The one that was supposed to protect them, the one that was supposed to fall before them, their teacher, had survived.

David holds those feelings, the wills of his companions deep within his heart. The desire for the prosperity of humans in this wild and dangerous Realm.

But David could not simply risk his life for the rest of humanity, he had a family to protect and prioritize first. He could not simply become detached from them and begin his own crusade against Kireina.

About a month has gone by since he had stayed in this dungeon, and his family was still residing in the village that he had previously rescued from Orcs while being protected by his loyal servants.

However, for him it has been an eternity, David desired to see his sisters and parents more than anything now. He had understood how much he needed them in his life. If he were to choose to abandon them, he could never forgive himself.

"David-sama?" asked Blaire.

David had been immersed in his own thoughts and had lost the notion of time, Blaire, the last member of his original Legendary Party brought him back to reality.

"Blaire… I was just… thinking things" muttered David.

"David-sama, do you miss your family?" asked Kaze.

"I… I do…" answered David.

"There is nothing wrong with missing your loved ones, David-sama. After all, they are always a force that makes us strive to overcome difficulties and challenges. Holding them always within our hearts makes us stronger" said Leonia.

"Indeed. It does not mean that you are immature, David-sama. It means that you have a beautiful heart. I do miss your family as well. I have become attached to them" said Blaire.

"Everyone… I do not want… I do not want revenge. I have a large family; I cannot bring myself to abandon them to seek the destruction of a creature that may be too far from my grasp… I only want the best for us, and I must prioritize that before humanity… I may sound selfish, but this is what I believe. I do not have the drive to avenge the fallen… even my wives and master when there are several other people alive that I must still protect" said David, with a firm voice. Melancholy could be heard from within the tone of his voice.

"There is no problem, David-sama," said Blaire, hugging David from behind.

"Blaire…?" muttered David.

Blaire's scarlet eyes were teary, crystalline tears began to flow from her eyes like rivers.

"David-sama… I understand your pain… I really do… And I also understand what you meant. There is no problem. No matter what you decide, I know it is for the best of all of us… So please, do not feel afraid of expressing your thoughts. We would never dare to defy you, someone who has given us so much…" said Blaire, crying. Her tears flowed through David's red-colored armor, but the intense heat of the dungeon made them quickly dry out.

"It is just as Blaire-san says. There is no issue with your decision. We shall always be at your side, David-sama" said Kaze, with a warm smile.

"Count on me, David-sama. I will protect your family no matter what" said Leonia.

"Everyone…" David moved towards Blaire and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Thanks, Blaire… Kaze, Leonia" he said, while he hugged both of his retainers as well.

Unlike many humans who possessed servants, David was someone highly sentimental and held his retainers as if they were his siblings and family. He did not saw them as disposable pawns, but as companions, friends, and close family.

Kaze and Leonia could not resist the hug of their beloved master, smiling even more. Leonia in specific used her herculean strength to grab on David and hug him even tighter.

"Sigh… David-sama is really a very sentimental man, it shouldn't really be a thing, coming from someone who will one day become Hero" chuckled Kaze.

"Well, he's still developing. Isn't he? Only in his early twenties… Though, how many years do human life?" asked Leonia.

"Around eighty years…" muttered David.

"A-Anyways, I think we are going too off-topic here… David-sama lets go defeat the Boss and end this once and for all! If the Dragonoid Sage is in here, then we'll drag him out forcefully!" said Blaire.

"You're right, Blaire. Everyone lets go!" said David, heroically, his figure radiating greatness.

Opening the large, crimson door. An unexpected view was revealed at the party.

A large red and brown-colored dragon was lying in the ground, motionless, its stomach was wide open, and its innards were being devoured by another dragon. This dragon was large and dark, its scales resembled an armor, and its flesh seemed to be rooting. Several of its bones such as ribs could be clearly seen, its large head held twelve crimson eyes, glaring with an intimidating gleam to the party that had just entered the room.

The overwhelming presence of the fiend before them made the party led by David freeze.

"Aah… the Hero and its party, you're finally here. I have been waiting for you, kids…" said the fiend… with a cracking and old voice.

David was the only that could barely look directly at the rooting dark dragon.

"Hm? Ah, where are my manners? I am Zudig, the Dragon Zombie Demigod… Of course, this is a mere vessel… I think he used to call himself the Dragonoid Sage…? Heh, his body seemed a bit hard to possess, but my curses mutated his body and finally made it comfortable enough…" it said.

"Zu… dig?" muttered David.

Vastrasz's soul, which was inside David, became finally aware of who this being truly was.

"Kid! You need to run away! This bastard is not a good Demigod! He once preyed on my siblings… and he also was the one that took my life!" shouted Vastrasz from within David's soul.

"What…?! But I can't even move…!" said David through his thoughts.

"Aah… Vastrasz, is it? I remember you… bwehehe…" laughed Zudig.

"Gh…!"

The moment Zudig directed his gaze to the entire party, they had suddenly become completely paralyzed. This was thanks to his 'Devil Dragon Eyes of Paralysis' and 'Devil Dragon Eyes of Fear'. Such a combination could make any weak-enough mortal become completely frozen.

"Now, now… there is no point in fighting or remembering old grudges. Isn't it? Why don't we cooperate? How about it? David, you are an exceptional mortal. I will not let those other Dragon Gods take you away for themselves… I am already too tired of this physical body, become my vessel!" shouted Zudig, its entire body becoming covered in darkness as an eerie presence filled the room, Zudig showed its true Divine Soul!

Flash!

A slash of blazing flames stopped Zudig's soul from possessing David.

However, Vastrasz was not affected by Zudig's powers, even if he could not showcase his true strength, he had regained enough power to make David counterattack. A large slice of flames rushed towards Zudig's soul, but it was useless, a Divine Soul could not be simply damaged by a mortal's techniques.

"It's useless, Vastrasz! I killed you already, give up the kid! He's mine!" shouted Zudig, its Divine Soul shaping as if it were a furious and deadly dark dragon.

David could not move, and Vastrasz had already sued everything he had to make David move for at least a split second. His body was shrouded in the darkness of the Dragon Zombie Demigod's Soul.

"Gyyaaaaaaaaaahh!!!" David shouted in agony as his soul was being slowly parasitized by the evil dragon demigod! An excruciating pain clouded all his thoughts as he could only cry in pain.

However, just at this very moment, the divinity projections of other Dragon Gods appeared.

"Stop right there, you fiend!" shouted the projection of a giant red dragon, opening its jaws, it fired a powerful blazing breath, capable of damaging Zudig's soul.

"That's…! David, resist!" shouted Vastrasz, using his powers to help David's soul resist the corruption of Zudig's powers, which had already begun to parasitize David's thoughts and psyche.

Another divine projection showed up, that of a long and sea serpent-like dragon, opening its jaws, it fired a turbulent breath of high-pressured water towards Zudig, diminishing its soul.

"Uaaghh…! So you three came at the end! But it is too late! I won't give this vessel, no matter what!" shouted Zudig. Still not giving up on David's soul.

"Leave our Champion, Zudig! You are nothing but a Lone God, don't dare touch David!" shouted the third dragon, resembling a fatty lizard covered in golden scales. Instead of releasing a breath, he released a powerful aura all around the room, making Zudig's soul tremble in pain.

"Ugh, Life-Attribute Divinity…! But… it is too late! The boy is mine, fools!" shouted Zudig.

"Gyaaaaaaaaahh- …"

David had suddenly stopped crying. His red fiery eyes became completely dark.

Due to the intervention of the other Gods, David's party had been freed from Zudig's eyes, and they were now able to move on their own.

Blaire glanced at the scene with horror, she did not even comprehend what was happening, everything was too sudden.

"D-David-sama…?" asked Blaire.

David glanced at Blaire with a pleasant smile.

"Ah, Blaire! Come, Zudig-sama is a benevolent god. He will gladly accept you as well… Kaze, Leonia too! Everyone!" shouted David, with a wicked and fanatical smile.

"Damn it! It's too late! Zudig, you bastard! You won't get away from this!" shouted the giant red dragon, preparing his blazing breath to annihilate David, despite him being his precious champion a few seconds ago.

"Wait! No! David-sama!" shouted Blaire, running towards David to protect him.

"Blaire, you stupid mortal, move away!" shouted the red dragon god, he was aware that Blaire was still useful, and could not just kill her off.

"You're such a nice girl, Blaire… Thanks for helping me out" said David, with a smile, his black eyes gleaming in a scarlet presence.

"D-David-sama?"

Slash!

Blaire glanced at David's smile, as she saw his blade stabbing her stomach.

"Buegh…! D-David-sama…? W-Why…?" lamented Blaire.

"Your soul shall become my nourishment!" shouted David.

"No! Stop right there!" shouted the sea snake-like dragon god's projection, rushing towards Blaire. Opening its jaws and eating her!

Without stopping, he 'ate' Kaze and Leonia, and then rushed to reunite with its allies.

"He's done for! Let us run!" he shouted.

"Before I kill him, of course!" shouted the red dragon.

David laughed as he revealed an item from within his hands. It was a spherical red crystal.

"That's… the dungeon core?!" shouted the fatty and golden dragon god.

David laughed maniacally as he leaked the divinity of Zudig's soul, the red sphere quickly turning deep black.

"He stole the Dungeon authority! That is impossible! How could…"

"It is possible if he possessed a Champion… mortals don��t have such restrictions… Or perhaps he already had the Dungeon Snatch Skill?"

"Run! We do not stand a chance if we stay in this dungeon! It is his authority now!"

The sea snake-like dragon god and the fatty and golden dragon god forcefully grabbed the raging giant red dragon god as their ethereal presences disappeared from within the dungeon.

David stood in the dungeon, alone.

"I did it! I managed to obtain a Champion as my vessel!"

Zudig was the one speaking now, as David and Vastrasz's souls were parasitized and suppressed by the Dragon Zombie Demigod's divinity.

Their consciousness was suppressed, and their thoughts were assimilated. They had become one with Zudig, and the Demigod was the dominant mind. His powers and mental encroachment abilities were far superior to the two.

"Kid… I failed you… I'm… sorry…" muttered Vastrasz, as his mind was completely taken over by Zudig.