The Transmigrated Author

[Maledictus Nihilus Flashback]

[30 Years Ago...]

"You did it again." a calm voice spoke. "2 hours of solving simple puzzles and traps."

"Captain, your temper is unmanageable..." another added.

The man's vision blurred as he awoke, the two figures coming into focus.

These events took place years before Rel's arrival, long before the main characters were even born...

This is the old era...

"WAHAHA... How fun!"

The man, brushing the dust off his clothes as he stood, declared, "Alright, to the next!"

He pointed down the hallway, and the other two men followed.

The man had a long dark blue coat that flowed open, revealing a black button-down shirt with two buttons undone, exposing the bulk of his chest.

The shirt's cuffs shimmered in gold, catching the light with every movement.

The coat's shoulders were accentuated by gleaming gold epaulettes.

His legs were dressed in loose, black trousers that protruded slightly as he strode, giving him an air of carefree confidence.

A lavish belt, crafted from dark leather and fastened with an ornate gold buckle, cinched his waist.

A heavy gold medallion, a symbol of his power, hung from the belt, swinging gently with each step.

The weapon of a long-bladed sabre hung to his hip, The hilt was a work of art, crafted from polished dark wood and adorned with silver filigree.

"Well, lads,"

The man grinned rubbing his hands together with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a classic dungeon scenario. Do we go in as 1 or do we split off?"

"Don't be stupid, you dragged us in here... Garrick."

[Garrick Florentina - Captain Of The Golden Horizon - Alias: Conqueror Of The Dungeons]

"Aw... come on!" Garrick shrugged "Have some sympathy for your captain... I didn't even mean it!"

...

"Dawn."

[Dawn Frisk - Vice-Captain Of The Golden Horizon - Alias: The Dragon Slayer]

Dawn sighed, adjusting his glasses with a practised motion.

"You're a drunkard who sobered up after you left Vincent and me to do these puzzles."

As a massive battle axe hung from Vincent's back he turned around with a lazy grin.

"Each room has symbols on top, lead the way... Captain"

[Vincent Nazara Celeste - 3rd Captain Of The Golden Horizon - Alias: The Uncrowned King]

He gestured towards the three archways before them, and Garrick stepped forward to examine them.

Garrick chuckled, slapping Vincent on the shoulder.

"See Dawn! Why can't you be like Vincent, he doesn't act up against his captain-"

BANG!

"Ahhhhh!"

Vincent had swung his fist down on Garrick's head, annoyed by his antics.

"Hurry up, I wanna go home."

"Okay, okay!" Garrick rubbed his head, looking at both of his captains.

He quickly switched into dungeon mode, studying the symbols with a focused gaze.

...

...

...

"The bishop's hat... knowledge and faith? Sounds like a headache waiting to happen. The wings? Agility and cunning? Hmm, intriguing, but perhaps a tad too...

subtle for our tastes."

His eyes settled on the horns, a predatory gleam returning to his gaze.

"Strength and brutality, you say? Now that's a challenge worthy of the world's greatest guild, no?"

Dawn raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"I see you're still full of yourself after everything that happened, huh? After all, we're now considered heroes..."

Garrick turned to Dawn with a wide smile.

"I assure you, my love for adventure is more than just being a hero." He winked.

"We've faced worse together. Besides, what's done is done!"

He laughed heartily, and with a confident stride, Garrick approached the archway marked with the bishop's hat.

Dawn and Vincent followed, their expressions a mix of amusement, resignation, and anticipation.

"We'll clear all three if the gates don't close," Garrick declared, his voice echoing through the chamber as they stepped into the darkness beyond.

...

...

...

[??? - Chamber Of Sin]

The chamber beyond the bishop's archway was a sight to behold.

Towering pillars stretched towards a vaulted ceiling, casting elongated shadows that danced in the dim light of flickering torches.

Stained glass windows, depicting religious fervour and sacrifice scenes, lined the walls, their once-vibrant colours dulled by time.

"Well, this is certainly atmospheric,"

Garrick remarked, his voice echoing in the vastness of the room.

Dawn's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in every detail.

"Indeed. Note the intricate carvings on the pillars and the strange symbols etched into the floor. This place reeks of ancient power."

Vincent, his gaze drawn to the far end of the chamber, pointed towards a massive stone gate.

"And what's that imposing figure guarding the exit?"

Garrick turned to follow Vincent's gaze.

A towering statue of a skeletal bishop, draped in tattered robes, stood sentinel before the gate.

Its bony hands were clasped in prayer, and its hollow eyes seemed to pierce through them with an unnerving intensity.

"Interesting," Garrick murmured, his curiosity piqued.

He strolled towards a series of stained glass murals lining the walls, each depicting a cryptic prophecy.

WHOOOOOOOOSH...

As he studied the images, a cold wind swept through the chamber, causing the torches to flicker violently.

The bishop's statue creaked and groaned, its eyes suddenly glowing with an eerie white light.

"Who dares disturb thy slumber?"

The voice, ancient and raspy, echoed through the room.

"...!"

Vincent and Dawn instinctively stepped back, their hands reaching for their weapons as the bishop's robes billowed outward, revealing a skeletal form beneath.

The empty eye sockets fixed on them, radiating an aura of malevolence.

"Ah... intruders... how long has it been since I've tasted the fear of mortals?"

The bishop's voice laughed with amusement.

"I am Maledictus Nihilus, Arch-Bishop of the Fallen Deity. The Accursed Void of Darkness... and you shall be my next sacrifice."

Vincent and Dawn instinctively grouped up, taking a defensive stance in the center of the chamber.

"Hey, you think that thing is strong?" Vincent whispered to Dawn, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Dawn narrowed his eyes, observing the skeletal figure. "Hmm... there's no telling. It looks like that skeleton is sustained by some external source."

"I see," Vincent replied, his grip tightening on his battle axe. "Should we finish it quickly then?"

But before they could act, Maledictus's voice boomed through the chamber. "You three... you will be the most interesting challenge yet. Something worth using my full power on!"

He erupted from the remnants of his stone shell, dark energy swirling around him like a tempest. The staff he'd held as a statue shattered, transforming into a menacing obsidian blade.

Huuoohhhh

The dark energy intensified, and skeletal hands and bodies clawed their way out of the floor, walls, and ceiling, attaching themselves to Maledictus.

He grew taller, his sword morphing into a monstrous weapon with multiple jagged blades.

In a matter of seconds, the transformation was complete.

Maledictus towered over them, a monstrous figure casting a long, chilling shadow.

Vincent placed a hand horizontally above his eyebrows, squinting to get a better look at Maledictus's face.

"Damn, his head even got smaller," he remarked, pulling his axe from his back.

"Let's be careful fighting this thing."

Dawn drew his saber, taking a defensive stance. "Indeed."

"Dawn, Vincent!" Garrick bellowed, a wide grin spreading across his face as he charged forward. "I don't want you guys to get hurt!"

The two captains swiftly moved out of Garrick's path, exchanging amused glances.

"You just want to fight him," Dawn scoffed.

Maledictus watched Garrick approach, a dark chuckle escaping his skeletal jaws. "Ah, I smell the monster within!" He took a stance, holding his blade with both hands.

"HEY, BISHOP!" Garrick's voice boomed as he unsheathed his sword, gripping it tightly in his right hand.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM,

Garrick's blade turned black, and a massive flame of golden aura enveloped it, creating shockwaves of lightning that coursed through the chamber.

Maledictus froze, his skeletal form trembling as he watched Garrick run freely, wielding an unordinary qi he had never encountered before. A power that surpassed even his own...

WAHAHA!

STOMP!

Garrick let out a wild laugh and, with a ground-shaking stomp of his left foot, exploded forward. His blade, a golden black arc, cleaved the air in a single, blindingly fast motion.

_______________________

DESTINED RUPTURE!

_______________________

S

L

A

S

H

!

_______________________

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A deafening boom echoed through the chamber, followed by a blinding explosion of golden light.

The ground erupted, launching debris and geysers of molten rock skyward.

The air throbbed with power as jagged forks of golden lightning rippled outward, leaving scorched trails in their wake.

Vincent and Dawn, relatively unaffected by the attack, simply watched their captain's display.

"Seems like Captain is still in battle mode," Vincent commented, casually slinging his axe back over his shoulder.

"Show off," Dawn muttered, sheathing his sabre.

BAAAAAAANGGG!!!!

As the dust settled, the chamber laid in ruins.

Craters scarred the earth, molten rock oozed from gaping fissures, and the gate, along with everything beyond it, had been obliterated by the slash that pierced through countless layers of the dungeon's defences.

In the centre of the devastation stood Garrick, his sword resting on his shoulder, a victorious grin on his face.

___________

Authors Notes:

- Dawn Frisk (Vice-Leader): Appearance

A dark purple, knee-length coat, opens to reveal a very dark purple suit with a matching tie. The suit's buttons and cufflinks gleam subtly in gold.

- Vincent Nazara Celeste (3rd Captain): Appearance

A dark green, button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, paired with black pants and a short, dark brown coat with silver buttons.

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