Bloody Odyssey

Chapter 73: Madeka.

"Children of my broken mind… you all have grown marvellously."

Dax's face held zero expression—blank, almost serene. His eyes darted slowly across the physical manifestations of the rooms, taking in every twisted silhouette and flickering shadow. At the center of the distorted landscape, a throne materialized by the sheer will of Level 1.5—jagged, black, and pulsing with faint crimson veins.

With dangerous grace, Dax lowered himself onto it. Cil rested gently in his palm, humming softly like a contented predator. In that moment, a shadowy, oppressive figure stepped out from the wall—its form shifting constantly, flickering between every creature the Backrooms had ever birthed. With shaky hands, it reached forward and wiped Dax's face in utter reverence, as if cleansing something sacred. Then, with a no-clip glitch, it vanished toward the far end.

Madeka approached with swaying hips, long hair draped in unnatural gloss that caught light from nowhere. Her perfect curves were wrapped in a beautiful black dress. Crimson gems adorned her ears and neck—inside each stone, countless spirits danced in endless spirals.

She walked right up to Dax, her hand rubbing along his arm, his chest, his being.

"So strong…" Her aura blended perfectly with his—dark, seductive, hungry.

"Madeka… how are you here?" Dax's tone was calm, questioning. "I ate this lady… When I fused the angel's core with the killing demon, I expected an unknown outcome, but not… this."

Madeka—the 66th leader of Planet Lotus, a Tier 1 civilization of extremely powerful women. Dax remembered the horrors of their last battle: her brutality, her title that reached the stars. The Ten Thousand Queen. Her movements had been almost perfect; her mind functioned like a supercomputer.

She sat on his lap, leaning back against the throne with dramatic flair.

"Is that what you should be saying when your darling is here?" Her expression was playful, teasing—but Dax let her be.

"From the endless darkness, I found myself in the depths of the sea… drowning among struggling corpses." Her tone grew solemn. "I looked at my palms… they were all bones."

"In our desperate struggle, we were carried by the dark waters. Dax… what is that place?" She asked as if he had been there beside her.

Then she continued. "A voice—your voice—reached out to me. 'Swim to the surface.' At first I couldn't believe it… but reality proved it true."

She placed her hand on his face and drew closer, lips brushing his.

Dax raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Crazy woman… do women fall in love with their killer, or is it just you?"

His tone carried sarcasm, but she ignored it, leaning in further.

"…Don't you hate me?" Dax asked quietly.

She remained silent.

"You see, loving me isn't easy." He raised her chin teasingly. Deep down, he was happy—seeing someone familiar who ignored their rough past.

"Ahh! Darling!" She pulled him into her bosom in excitement.

Gently raising his hand, Dax waved at the rooms—dismissing them. As they departed, he commanded Level 63, Paradise, to return Nadia.

The hallway rippled. Nadia no-clipped into the space.

Opening her eyes, she was immediately hit by a dreadful feeling. The environment felt off—oppressive. Distortions twisted at odd angles of the room.

Her body tensed. She equipped her blade in an instant, aura surging.

"Where am I?" She looked around. "What is this place?"

Her eyes darted in confusion—then locked onto a baleful shadow.

It was Level 1.5, releasing a wrathful screech. But one thing surprised Nadia: the shadow entity didn't release a hush even as it forced itself forward.

Nadia shivered. An intense sense of oppression weighed on her. "What is that thing?" She took her stance, fear washing away.

Her heart beat faster than ever. This thing is full of malice… here he's spun. I'm in a strange space with no time to think.

She vanished faster than a blink. Her voice gentle, she drew her blade and cut at 1.5.

But he wasn't idle. He raised his hand—with every motion, the space his hand passed distorted.

He punched toward Nadia with dangerous might.

Just when they were about to clash, Dax appeared—blocking both attacks.

Crack!

Level 1.5 felt his own attack ripple back through his being. He was sent flying. Nadia's blade snapped in half.

In that split second, Dax caught the flying fragment. A grin spread across his face. He looked at the hand he'd used to block Nadia's attack—deep cut already healing.

With unnatural, bizarre speed, Level 1.5 bowed, banging his head on the floor.

Nadia was shocked. "Dax?"

"I'm sorry." She retreated. Sheathing her sword, she noticed it was broken.

What is going on? Though not comparable to the original, it was a powerful Rank 9 weapon.

Dax returned the other half. "Don't worry. It will be repaired."

That astonished her even more—but she had questions.

Dax turned, waving his palm. They all appeared in Level 0—except Level 1.5.

"I see the laws still apply in this world. The levels can't harm the stone."

Suddenly his train of thought broke. Nadia's questioning tone cut through.

"What is this place, Dax? I thought we were on our way to the Sky City?" She tugged his robe gently, her golden eyes piercing into his, completely ignoring Madeka.

Hastily Madeka held onto Dax, pulling his hand toward her bosom. Jealousy washed over her heart. Even in this world he can't help himself but be surrounded by beautiful women.

"Darling… who is this woman?" Madeka's tone was seductive, but jealousy dripped from every word.

Dax ignored her for a moment. "This place is called the Backrooms. This is the first layer—Level 0."

"You were attacked by Entity 1.5 because you were on his floor. He's hostile to anything that isn't me."

Nothing really made sense to Nadia—but in that moment she noticed her eyes locked on Madeka.

"Lord Dax…" she addressed him formally. "Who is this woman?" Nadia's gentle tone grew cold.

That made Madeka smile even wider. She leaned in closer.

Dax felt tension surround him. He looked at Madeka, flabbergasted. She squeezed his arm with insane intensity.

"Madeka… if you don't let go, my arm will be gone."

"Then that will be better—because that other arm will solely belong to me?" Madeka replied playfully.

On reaching the exit, they had introduced themselves. While Nadia and Madeka familiarized themselves with the laws of the Backrooms, everything started to fall into place.

He governs his own reality.

They looked at the concept of the liminal space and came to one understanding:

Dax was a god-like being.

One by one, everything began to make sense—even to Nadia.