854  Into the Darkness: Confronting Niccoli's Domain           [Filler Chapter]

Leonel, Isolde, Roz, Avaris, and Lethargia

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"I'll be on the sidelines, cheering you on, of course," Avaris replied with a nervous laugh. "Not like I'm scared or anything, but I have Lethargia to worry about. She's asleep, and she needs me in case something happens."

The others looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.

"Why are you a warlord if you're scared?" Leonel asked bluntly, his tone accusatory.

Avaris frowned, his pride wounded. "How rude! I'm a warlord because I'm strong, of course. One of the strongest demons in the entire Netherworld!"

"If you're strong, you can take care of this demon yourself, then," Isolde challenged.

Avaris looked away, muttering under his breath, his facade crumbling under their scrutiny. "I'd like to, but as I said, I need to take care of Lethargia."

"We'll take care of her," Leonel reassured him. "Don't worry about Lethargia, we will take good care of her while you fight this Niccoli kid."

"What?! No! Lethargia doesn't want anyone taking care of her but me!" Avaris protested, his desperation evident.

"You're just making that up so you won't have to fight," Leonel accused him.

"I am so not," Avaris retorted, his frustration mounting.

"Admit it, you're scared, aren't you?" Leonel pressed, his gaze piercing.

"What?! No warlord is scared of anything!" Avaris protested vehemently.

"Hey, guys," Roz interjected, pointing towards an ominous-looking castle looming in the distance. "I think we've reached the place."

As they eyed the castle, an eerie chill swept over them, sending shivers down their spines.

The imposing structure stood as a testament to centuries of dark secrets and untold horrors, its crumbling facade a stark reminder of the darkness that lurked within.

Undead and spectral souls lingered around the estate, their movements disjointed and aimless, as if they were lost in a perpetual haze of confusion.

Leonel couldn't suppress a gulp as he observed the eerie sight. "T-there are undead here," he stammered, his voice trembling with apprehension.

Avaris nodded knowingly. "Of course, there are undead here. This is a lich mansion, after all," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact as he guided his companions forward with a cautious stride.

With a deep breath, they braced themselves for the challenges that lay ahead as they went to the door.

Before they could knock on the door of the mansion, Avaris felt compelled to issue a warning to his companions.

"Alright, before you guys say anything, remember that Niccoli holds his personal perspective in the highest regard," Avaris cautioned, his tone serious. "Forever trapped in the limited outlook of youth, Niccoli acts with immature selfishness and childlike ego."

His words sank in, and Leonel and the others exchanged a concerned glance.

"So . . . you want us to do what exactly?" Leonel inquired, trying to grasp the full extent of Avaris's warning.

"I want you all to keep your mouths shut when talking to him, okay?" Avaris clarified. "A peculiar side effect of achieving lichdom at such a young age is Niccoli's mental state becoming perpetually locked at that of a thirteen-year-old."

He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle among his companions.

"Despite all his great intellect and experience, Niccoli is still prone to outbursts, immature behavior, and impulsive action," Avaris continued. "This juxtaposes terrifically with Niccoli's magical power, making him a dreadfully unpredictable figure at even the best of times."

Roz nodded solemnly, his expression reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

"So, he's childish and easily angered, and you want someone like him to be on your side. Got it," he remarked with a somber face.

Avaris raised a hand in defense. "Hey, all demons are prone to outbursts, okay? And Niccoli is strong. He'd be a valuable ally against the elders if it came to it," he reasoned, trying to assure them of Niccoli's potential usefulness despite his volatile nature.

Leonel cast a doubtful glance to the side. "I doubt that," he murmured, his gaze lingering on the unsettling scene before them.

Roz voiced his apprehension, his tone tinged with uncertainty. "I'm having second thoughts about this," he admitted, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Isolde's suggestion cut through the tense atmosphere like a blade. "Let's just kill him to eliminate the threat," she proposed, her voice edged with determination.

Avaris swiftly silenced them with a hushing gesture. "Shh!" he admonished, his hand raised to forestall any further discussion.

"That's precisely why you leave the talking to me. You three tend to act like children at times. If any of you engage Niccoli in conversation, it could spell disaster for us. So, once we're inside the mansion, I don't want to hear a single word from any of you, understood?" Avaris instructed firmly.

"You're more childish than any of us," Leonel muttered under his breath, his words barely audible amidst the tension of the moment.

With that directive firmly in place, Avaris stepped forward and rapped his knuckles against the door, signaling their arrival.

An undead butler emerged, causing Leonel to nearly lose his composure at the sight of the ghastly, gore-covered figure.

"What can I help you with, Master Avaris?" the butler inquired, its voice hollow and eerie.

Avaris maintained his composure despite the unsettling sight before him. "Is Niccoli here? I just want to talk with him," he requested, his tone steady but tinged with a hint of urgency.

The butler blinked slowly, its undead gaze fixed upon Avaris, before it widened the door with a creaking groan.

"Come in," it intoned monotonously.

The group stepped over the threshold, and Leonel couldn't suppress the chill that ran down his spine as he beheld the horrifying sight that awaited them inside.

The interior of the mansion was a chilling tableau of decay and darkness. Cracked and mold-covered walls loomed over them, cobwebs hung like drapes from the ceiling, and the air was heavy with the stench of decay.

Eerie shadows danced in the dim light, casting grotesque shapes upon the worn and tattered furniture that dotted the room.

It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, and Leonel couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over him as they ventured further into the darkness.

Soon to be COMPLETED

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