I knew at some point my stealth bonus was going to wear off. As I attacked the second Rude Demon in similar fashion to the last, the baseball swing to the head made a little too satisfying of a crunching sound, alerting a demon a bit further down. I looked at it beginning to frantically waddle its way towards me. Its arms hanging awkwardly above its head, claw like hands flexed outwards, eyes filled with the fury of a thousand car wreckers.

Fucking freaky man. I forewent the knife and just opted to downward smash the demon on the floor. My pipe met its neck with another crunch. As the demon began gasping and choking for air I prepared myself for the incoming demon. I loaded a baseball swing in prep for the pounce. And if on queue it leapt at me. I feel like there was a moment to which it may have realised its mistake. Its eyes looked a little concerned as it flew through the air right into my strike zone.

WHAM!

The cast iron bar flew like a brick, utterly decimating its ribcage. It made a squealing sound as it bounced off a nearby honda accord landing with a thud. I looked down at the gasping demon I had hit previously, curb stomping it before slitting its throat. Letting it bleed out I walked to the makeshift baseball of a demon who was desperately clutching its ribcage

I swung at its eyes. I might’ve felt a degree of pity if the image of my destroyed Mazda didn’t come back to haunt me. Its skull collapsed into itself as it flopped onto the floor. Simultaneously light motes released. I looked around me, making sure that there weren’t any other demons nearby. I didn’t want to be interrupted during my dopamine consumption.

I grabbed the two crystals and crushed them. I quickly diverted some of the energy so my legs were covered. I felt the pathway reach my feet. I thought for a moment feeling my muscles, before sending some of the energy down to my abdomen. As the pain subsided, I thought for a moment about sending the next batch to my head.

Now that would hurt. I’d hold off on that until I reached a relatively safe environment.

Some car sirens around me began to peeter off. Which was a good thing for potential tinnitus, a bad thing for my stealth bonus. I needed to move quickly. I broke into a light jog, which was considerably faster than I anticipated.

Holy shit I feel fucking GREAT!

My heart was jubilous as well, it pumped away sending energy to every part of my body. I squinted at the street. A few guys here and there, but honestly with how I feel right now…

The sky above was still a deep red. I was heading in a direction opposite of the Chad Demon but the sound of destruction could still be faintly heard. As I was looking at the sky I saw a few helicopters incoming. It seems like the military is finally responding, though I don’t know how they’re gonna hurt that thing. I shook my head, I dont give a fuck about that right now I gotta reach Liliana.

I sucked in some air and concentrated. The cold metal in my right hand and the chef's knife in my left felt extremely light. I had to use both hands for a powerful swing before, but now I don't think I do. I dashed forwards in a sprint.

It's a speedrun.

I came across the first demon fairly quickly, my speed caught it off guard as I used my momentum to send it flying to the floor with a right-ward swing. Before it could even hit the floor I was already sending another double-tap hit to its head. The second hit had immediately killed it. I pocketed the crystal continuing my rampage.

One after another these little car wreckers toppled like dominos. Even when it was two to one they couldn’t react well enough in pairs to stop their skulls from caving in. At one point when 3 of them came at me I had to narrowly dodge a claw before implanting my knife swiftly into its neck.

Honestly I felt pretty badass.

But I couldn’t be stupid, I don’t know what diseases these things are keeping in their claws. I kept my distance as much as I could using the length of the cast iron to my advantage.

It wasn’t much, but it was honestly work.

By the time I reached the end of the street, I had about 13 crystals on me. I almost began salivating. The adrenaline in my body had me juiced up and I was kinda enjoying finally having something distract me from my sadness.

Is this a hobby? A new coping mechanism perhaps?

Not the time to consider it however. I had reached my destination, the small stores had turned into two story houses, the kind with the porch that was always a little too small to hangout on. Nice lawns and shrubbery all around. Liliana lived in a smaller house, one that was thinner than the rest. The lights were out, though, admittedly the entire neighborhood had gone out when Chad landed.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Knock, knock, knock…

For a moment, there was silence. I spoke out since it'd probably help assure anyone inside that I wasn't a little goblin demon.

"Yo! It's Quil.". I said, my voice was still slightly excited but I quickly calmed myself down and breathed in. Controlling one's breath is highly important in times like these. Gather the oxygen in, then calm your nerves with it going out.

For the short moment that I practiced my breathing I felt the energy inside me slowly churn. Now that's interesting. The feeling was comfortable, like a warm massage given to you by someone you—

"Quil?". A voice from behind the door asked.

Against the foreboding tone of the current circumstance I replied rather relaxed.

"Yeah, how's it going? Just thought I'd pop by check on y'all—"

The door swung open, and there she stood. Even through the red lighting that hung in the atmosphere, her green eyes shined bright. Her sharp cheeks and small nose seemed to—

"What the hell are you doing here? Don't you know what the fuck is going on right now?!" She whisper-shouted at me.

I was momentarily stunned. I guess she’s right. What am I doing here? I just fought through a damn near, horde of demons, of which have only existed for the time span of an hour, started inducing this foreign energy in my body like crack or someshit all so I could come see her face. holy shit, this is HILARIOUS!

My head tilted back as I began to laugh at the sheer stupidity that was happening. What the hell was going on. People were getting slaughtered downtown by the incarnation of satan himself, and I felt like popping over to see an ex? I looked back down at her wiping a tear from my eye.

She was glaring at me, but also taking slight peeks behind to make sure there wasn’t anything there.

“Hah, I really don't know what I’m doing here… I just wanted to make sure you were safe.” I said scratching my cheek. She stared at me for breath before sighing,

“Haah...” a tired breath.

"Come inside you absolute loser.". She said turning away, her short black hair flipped behind her.

I closed the door behind me and followed her into the living room. Two couches in v shape faced a black screen. The room was filled with plants and illuminated by candle light.

"Who was it?" A soft voice asked from one of the couches.

"Who do you—" Liliana tried to say.

"Hey Maia!" I cheerfully interrupted giving a wave.

"Quil?" She said quickly looking at Liliana, I could tell from her face that she was communicating the lines ' I thought you weren't seeing each other anymore?' Liliana sighed, placing her fingers on her forehead.

I lightly chuckled and looked around.

“Where’s the roomies?” I said walking over to the couches.

Before I could sit down Maia shouted at me.

“WAIT! What the hell is that stuff on you!” She stammered out, pointing at my clothing. At this point in time, after the minor horde of Rude Demons my clothing had understandably gotten stained with the green blood that flowed through their disgusting veins.

“I uh, I had to fight a few of those things to get here.” I said sitting on the floor instead. Don’t wanna stain their couch y’know.

“You fought monsters just to check if Liliana was safe… ” Maia said incredulously. She looked at Liliana again, who shrugged and looked at me.

“He’s not like the other boys, he’s edgy.” She said sarcastically sitting down next to Maia across the room.

I laughed. “You’re right, but this edgy guy had to make sure you were safe” I said looking at her dimly lit green eyes. She rolled them and looked away. Maia looked back and forth at us.

“You guys are stupid, what the hell is going on.” She said, placing her face in her hands. Her red hair flowed over covering her expression of slight despair and confusion.

I coughed lightly, adjusting my throat.

“Its the end of the world!” I said matter of factly.

“Hell has come to wreck havoc, but I’m pretty sure that we’ll be fine. The setup is too cliche for a protagonist to not show up.” I added lying back onto the couch.

I took a deep breath, and closed my eyes slightly. Yeah, we’ll be fine. I’m sure someone is going to figure out what I did and be even more proficient with it all. I’m not even that good of a fighter.

“So what? We just wait?” Maia asked, also laying back into the couch.

“I mean, the lack of information means that we should just stay in place.” I said getting up and moving out of the living room.

“Where are you going now?” Liliana asked.

I looked over my shoulder, lowered my voice and said smoothly.

“I got some business to take care of.” But before I could step out of the living room a pillow came flying over at me.

I dodged it with surprising ease and looked over at the culprit.

“Can you just be serious for once!” Liliana said, reaching for another pillow.

“Piss, I’m going to take a piss!” I said quickly. As I made my way through the kitchen towards the bathroom I heard an ugh from the living room. I chuckled lightly before closing the bathroom door.

Reaching into my pocket I pulled out a crystal. I had been feeling something for awhile now, there has been a slight itch building on the inside of my chest. I could tell what it was. The energy from my heart was yearning for more. It had only been a handful of minutes since I absorbed my last crystal but I was already experiencing a form of withdrawal. I might’ve fucked myself over.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could feel my heart pumping, but with each pump that newfound strength that I had received was slowly slipping away. And with each slip the itch increased.

* Human | Stage 0-1 | Average Potential

* Forced Pathways (incomplete )

Is it because it's ‘incomplete’? I had the odd premonition that it was. But, did I want to complete it? Now that I think about it, inducing demonic energy into my body haphazardly was a terrible idea. But god…

Does it feel fucking good.

I stared at the crystal. My thumb rubbed over its cold and rough texture. I could feel the energy inside it. As long as I can protect what I want to protect…

Live and learn right?

Right?

Crush.