Death, decay, the end.

It all looms around your life. Getting closer and closer with time.

What I'm going to do/have done! (Section)

I got a tiny bit of progress done on the outline yesterday. Plan to do more today.

Also I really like the combat of this chapter, feels really dynamic/cool. What do you think?

Things I wrote just for you (And the others here as well!...Section.)

BANG! BANG! B-

Thh! Thh! Th-

SWOOSH!

I side-stepped the demon's slash at the perfect moment,

and so my cheeks burned with the deep cut the blade had made.

Blood spilled down my chin and plopped onto multiple roots as I dashed away.

The demon of tales: "STOP DODGING!"

Vines sharper than blades came in every angle I could imagine, and a few I couldn't as well.

I leaped over the vines beneath that had tried to lock my feet, gunning them down mid-air before they could reach me.

I spotted the shadow of a vine and snapped my head to the side right before it could pierce my mind.

Landing on one foot I realized too late it was the one the demon had damaged.

I did not fight against the fall. I let my feet bend and give away.

THUD!

I'd smashed into a tree, the blood from my shoulder spilling onto its trunk.

For a moment the sharp but deep pain in my sides controlled me, but I awoke from my daze just soon enough to block a vines strike with the side of my guns.

The metal dented and my feet were pushed off the ground. I slid against the grass and entered a shadow right before a vine could poke my eye out.

I had only a moment of utter silence before the light consumed me.

I felt a pregnant women's gut be opened up by a knife, a man's hand chopped off by a demonic chief, and a kid stepping on a ligo brick.

I didn't bother holding my tears in, and the demon stuck true to its word, making dozens of portals from the few words I'd managed to mumble out.

I tossed away my guns and leaped into the third closest portal to me.

*Skkkrch!

I gripped the sharp peak of the tree at the perfect angle, it cut into my palm and the blood slipped down its wood like rain on a stormy day.

I was above the trees, above the leaves, above the darkness that was underneath. Thanks to that, I could see the moonlight and countless stars in the sky.

Beautiful. Maybe the last beautiful thing I'd ever see.

I enjoyed the sight as much as I could, then switched hands to shake my now profusely bleeding palm. The blood dripped onto a few other trees. I did the same with my other hand once it bled and then waited for the inevitable.

*SKRKSKRSKRSKR!

The leaves rustled, then were blown away as the demon of tales swung its blade at my hip. I leaned into the tree, bending the thin wood just enough to avoid the slash.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The next strike left no room for cleverness, so I let go and began to fall once more.

I manifested two more Ak47's and then looked down, ready to shoot at whatever vines the demon had sent after me.

I did not expect to see ghosts.

The crimson-bodied and dark-eyed spirits went right through all my bullets. Latching their hands onto me they brought my body high into the sky.

I tried to fight off their grip, but it was like pushing against water.

The demon of tales: "Y'know, now that I've had a moment to breathe. I think that I get it. After all, even after my wonderful speech, I don't think you understand how FUCKED you are! How much agony and pain I'm going to-"

BANG!

Thh!

The demon raised a brow.

The demon of tales: "Still struggling? OH, how thoughtless! OH, how stubborn! And OH HOW POINTLESS! You really SHOULD'VE paid more attention to my tales."

Most of my vision was already red thanks to the ghost's efforts, but the little I could see of the forest was turning crimson as well.

No, it was more like...a wall of red was rising up. Yet touching nothing.

...Holy shit.

The demon of tales: "Ooh how delicious! I do love the sight of a bloodless face, but for you, I wish to see a bit more."

The wall of ghosts rose from as far as my eye could see. The entire forest was covered...except for one small spot, the tree on which the demon stood upon.

Its blade arms were raised to the sky, and I was directly above it.

Its blades began to elongate.

Agent Instakill: "MMPH! MMM-"

Thousands more souls crashed into me, and I felt like I'd been thrust into an ocean of blood.

Even then, I could hear the demon's voice clearly.

The demon of tales: "Ahh, so close, but I need more acceptance. Perhaps a reciting will help."

It cleared its throat, and then...it began to sing?

♪ The demon of tales: "In the forest with no life, you'll see that the soil's not quite right. That it's as black as ash and moves like a lake's ripple. And though you might think an earth quakes bound to come, that is not the cause. For any life taken, in the forest's soil, will cause the soul to be sucked into the land. Burned by hell's hottest flames, the soul will be bound to the ground! And your minds shall be torn and hurt. Your heart shall be full of malice and callous to the plights of those you once considered friends. And with the demon's guiding hand, you will give frights and plights to the village of Cafir!" ♪

Damned Soul: "AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH!"

The souls screamed, and I heard the high shrieks of babies, the deep roars of men, and the cracking and shrill voices of women who'd been pleading for help for far too long.

No...that was but a simplification, one that I'd clung onto to try to mitigate the pain. To box off all the sounds into something I could understand.

But the truth was that every voice was different. Some young, some old, some coarse, some fierce, and plenty that made sounds I couldn't describe at all.

Yet none, not a single one was the same.

And I could hear them all.

...

...

...For a long moment my mind was deep in the ocean of red, all my thoughts consisting of its screams and cries.

But on my neck, I felt a burning, and a flash of memories so horrid and bitter that it awoke me enough to act.

I tried to shoot with my guns, and I might've succeeded, though I couldn't hear the bangs.

The screams were louder.

I tried to enter a shadow. But there was no light or darkness, just bloody red.

With no options left, I decided to cut my losses and called upon my tattoo's power.

Only to realize I'd been screaming the entire time.

...I tried to call the demon's name. When that didn't work I tried to close my mouth. But that was impossible as well. Finally, I decided I'd scream the demon's name if I had to.

...But the...the souls screams got even louder, and...t-the name...r-re...

...So loud...

...So sharp...

...So...So much...fear...

♪ The demon of tales: "Soooooooo-" ♪

The demon's voice was like a blade, cutting through the thick mist that had filled my mind.

♪ The demon of tales: "If you must die somewhere-" ♪

I felt the crimson ocean pull my body to its surface,

Swoosh!

The screams turned to nothing but memories as all but my feet were out of the ghost's reach.

♪ The demon of tales: "Then die somewhere else-" ♪

I regained my reason just soon enough to see what was an inch away from my head. I screamed. I cried. I struggled to move away and sobbed even harder when I realized I couldn't.

♪ The demon of tales: "Then the forest's, Laaaaandd." ♪

The demon's blade cut into my mouth. And at that moment I was sure of but only one thing.

That I was going to die, and return to the bloody ocean.

Forever.

The final section! (Section.)

The end is looming...actually the end of the chapter is right here lol.