I blacked out for a hot second. When I sent the energy to my mind my vision blurred. Firstly was the migraine. It felt like two spoons were trying to dig their way through my temples. As I collapsed onto my knees with my head in my hands, the dark turquoise bathroom floor began to swirl. I closed my eyes in pain, and placed my forehead on the floor.

It was hot, I felt something hot around me. I quickly sat up looking around.

What… the fuck is this, hell? It was highly likely. The sky was gone, instead filled with an unceasing void that was highly reminiscent of a television's eerie static. The land all around was a barren scorched field, seeping with blood and screaming with pain. The atmosphere felt like it was trying to die, but something wouldn’t let it.

My eyes began to sting terribly as I wiped the blood—blood? How much fucking edgy can this fucking GET! I mentally screamed. As if to answer my question out of the silent screaming a deep reverberating voice that crawled down my spine spoke.

“Hmmm? That's odd, to think another race would establish a connection?” It spoke curiously.

I looked towards where I felt the voice had come. Three massive pillars stood in the near distance. Their height taller than anything I had ever seen, piercing into the cold expanse of the void, almost tearing apart the fabric of the sky. At the center of the three pillars stood a demon. It was the least demon of the demons I had seen. It wasn’t bulging with muscles, its face was fairly familiar, unlike the noseless skull demon downtown. It was still huge, but not towering probably three times my height. Large horns slicked back like hair curving to subtle upwards points. And unlike the other demons, this one wore clothing.

Some rather elegant black robes that contrasted its sharp glowing yellow eyes. It looked at me, smiling slightly, as if it had just found another only slightly interesting thing to bide its time.

“Oh we did begin another harvesting operation recently didn’t we, to think that they’d be capable of connection, isn’t that wonderful?” He said turning around towards the three pillars. I looked past him towards his target of conversation.

For each of the pillars, a figure was tied to its enormous structure. Despite the pillar's ridiculously large circumference, probably the thickness of a football stadium, chains had been wrapped around locking the three figures into place. And unlike the well dressed demon, they felt less terrifying, more warm.

Angels and demons huh? What a stupid fucking trope. The three figures looked at the demon with blue eyes that seemed to want to tear into his chest. I expected white feathery wings behind them, but found instead another set of arms. Their scarred blue skin stood in defiance of the bloodied world around us.

“Ha ha ha, don’t give me that look. How are you still angry at me? The war was eons ago!” He said towards the blue eyes sounding slightly dispirited that they didn’t converse back.

“Ahem. Unfortunately this poor fellow has just doomed his entire race. Tsk tsk tsk, come now, complete the connection and enjoy eternal damnation like these poor idiots.” He said pointing his claw-like hand towards me. Instantly the air around him vibrated and golden energy began to swirl around his forearm rushing towards his finger. A bolt of golden lightning erupted shooting towards me.

Death. I was about to die. The world slowed as my mind raced. I flipped through years of momentary joy, of mistakes, of all the people I cared about. I would have laughed if I had the time. It was so dumb. Even now, I just want to see her face.

I didn’t apologize, I still gotta apologise, did you hear me “YOU FUCKER!?” I screamed at him. The energy in my legs exploded outwards as I threw my body to the left. The bolt tore past me, evaporating the air narrowly missing. I landed roughly quickly getting to my feet and reaching into both of my pockets. In my right hand I held the chef's knife, in the other all the crystals. I clenched my hands around both of them.

Immediately energy bursted into my body. My heart roared in joy at the dopamine inducing energy. I felt an insane amount of power searing through my body. It actually began to hurt more than it felt good. I looked at the demon who was momentarily shocked at my actions, his metal-like eyebrow raised slightly.

Everything was still slow, I could barely feel reality currently. I knew that I was fucked, but still, fuck this guy.

I loaded my right arm for a throw, the cold grip of the knife felt comfortable in my hand. The energy roaring in my body filled my muscles as I sent the knife tearing through the air. It made a satisfying sound as it left my hand. My eyes weren’t the only ones following its trajectory, the demon looked at it in confusion, stunned at the fact that I'd even struggle. The angels behind him looked pleasantly surprised and seemed to exchange a million words between each other in a split second.

The knife was met with a nail. A nail. The expensive steel immediately shattered upon contact.

“Hah?” The demon mockingly laughed. It quickly swiped its entire hand lazily at me and a wave of golden lightning filled my vision. Yeah no dodging that, fuck.

“Pathetic foo—” It said before being interrupted. A luminescent blue energy wave had erupted from behind the demon. The angels all screamed into the air, their silvery hair fluttered upwards like some sort of procession of witches.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The golden energy dispersed and I was quickly enveloped by the blue. It wrapped me like a warm blanket, like her warm embrace. My mind began to swirl again. The migraine kicked back in, and I fell to my knees once more. As my consciousness faded I heard the prick screaming into the air angrily.

“YOU’LL STAY SILENT FOR EONS, BUT YOU’LL SPEAK TO SEVER THE CONNECTION FOR SOME PATHETIC RACE OF SOON TO BE RESOUR— ” He cried in anger.

My mind blanked.

I woke up on the cold floor. For a hot second I had considered whether not I had drunk too much, if I had just vomited all over my toilet and was back in my apartment. Only for a moment though.

* Human (?) | Stage 0-2 | Average Potential | Severed Energy Origin

* Forced Circuit (Complete)

* Seared Pathways (Reinforced)

Still there, also not in my bathroom, too much colour. A few things changed. Y’know other than my now slightly more unstable mental state due to seeing what I probably shouldn't have seen. The thing that worried me was the (?) I doubt it, but I was still slightly worried I had metamorphosed into something weird, like an insect perhaps. But no, arms and legs still here, jawline still sharp.

Other than the stage increasing I had two new lines. Seared Pathways I assumed came from the searing pain of chugging down so much dopamine crystals. Severed Energy Origin? Honestly I couldn’t wrap my head around it. But if it's severed that means I won’t get sent back there right?

Right?

I slowly stood up and looked at the mirror. It was almost pitch black but I could see something wrong. Oh that's not normal. My eyes were ever so slightly glowing green. Just around the rims of my iris I could see light hints of glowing green. It looked… kinda hot not gonna lie. Very mysterious and edgy. I don’t know how I’ll explain it to others though…

I left the bathroom and went back into the living room.

“Jesus, you were in there for like 5 minutes!” Maia said after seeing me return.

5 minutes? I was for sure gone for like 30—yeah whatever, demon shit I guess.

I shrugged “You guys got any drinks? I’m feeling a little too sober right now.”

Liliana who was looking out at the red sky through a window swung her head at me. Her expression was of disbelief, and slight anger.

“You want to have a drink? In an apocalypse, you’re kidding me.” She stabbed at me.

Locking eyes with her she immediately scrunched her face as if she had seen something off. I let out a cheesy smile before speaking.

“I deadass, just went to hell and back, I think I could use a drink.”

Sitting down with a glass of iced vodka lemonade I relaxed into the soft fabric of the couch. The refreshing taste of the lemon helped calm the nerves. I looked over at Liliana who was staring at me. I jokingly turned my head like an embarrassed child.

“What's wrong with your eyes?” She asked, her tone soft. Oh man, how do I explain this.

“So basically, when I was fighting the demons, their souls dropped some really good dopamine inducing light that I may OR may have not induced into my body.” I said sipping on the vodka.

“You absorbed the souls of demons.” She said, her voice rising slightly.

I took another sip and looked at her.

“Can I plead the 5th here?” I said looking at Maia, who was similarly looking at me in disbelief.

“You’re fucking with us right?” Maia asked.

“Ha ha ha…?” I chuckled, which was the wrong response apparently as Liliana got up with a pillow in hand and began wailing down on me.

“YOU!” Smack! “ABSORBED!” Smack! “THE!” Smack! “SOULS!” Smack! “ OF DEMONS!” SMACK!

“Ay-ay-ay careful! The vodka! Think of the vodka!” I said curling into the fetal position to protect the drink.

The wailing was interrupted by a loud thud that came from the front door.

Thunk!

Liliana froze pillow midair. I looked over my shoulder towards the door sipping down the last of the vodka. I carefully placed it onto the table and got up. Liliana looked up at me then back at the door. I leaned in and whispered.

“See, this is why I’m here.”

“Shut up, you’re not smooth.” She quickly whispered back.

I gasped in mock pain as I moved towards the door. The door lacked any widows, I placed my ear onto the wood listening carefully. Nothing.

I looked back at the two in the living room and motioned for them to get low. I backed up from the door and took a deep breath. To be honest, I’m kinda itching to see what the difference 0-1 a stage makes. The now familiar sensation of my heart thumping energy throughout my body could be felt in full force. The distribution however, felt different. Before it was like I had rapid jolts of strength. But now it was a consistent stream of energy that seeped into every single fiber of muscle evenly.

I… might get addicted to this.

I reached for the door and swung it open. The cold air of the night rushed into me. Nothing. I stepped outside carefully checking the small entrance. All the car sirens had died out by now, replaced by the rustling of the leaves being pushed by the wind. The distant low rumblings of the demon downtown could still be felt. There wasn’t anything here I thought.

Hm? I immediately felt a chill go down my spine. I looked up.

Like some sort of fucking demonic monkey, a goblin was hanging onto the small wooden rafters. It was facing the ceiling but as if on queue it turned its head 180 degrees. Its grotesque face was covered in blood, barely visible on its jet black skin. Its green eyes met mine and it immediately snarled.

It let go of the rafters, seemingly wanting to land on the floor and then pounce at me. I however, wasn’t about to let this creepy little fucker do that. As it was mid-air about to land I sent a cross at its face. My fist made a whooshing sound through the air before making perfect contact into its face. I could feel the bones in its face crumble before it was quickly sent flying into the road.