We approached a large boulder on which a complex pattern of a ritual circle was drawn. Narskrudzhak used some clever spell, and a portal opened before us. Passing through it, we found ourselves literally in another world. The first thing I felt was the pressure of incredible suffering that permeated the space itself. Even without any extrasensory abilities, it was clear that this world was literally filled with pain.
Now we were in a cave. Moving forward, we entered a huge hall filled with golden light. This light could be considered beautiful, but it caused unbearable pain in the soul. I could only catch glimpses of this radiance. But ahead, I could see a whole circle of countless souls who were literally bathing in this light, experiencing indescribable torment. And I also felt that in this place, the most powerful flows of Bahion were indeed flowing, literally squeezed out of the souls. Now it was clear why this place was called Squeezer.
"Here!" - the demon proudly declared. - "Only the luckiest beings in the universe know about the existence of this place. But few have managed to come here not as victims, but as observers."
"And where does all this Bahion go?" - I asked, following the demon.
"Every last drop is claimed by Azathoth. There is an agreement that Bahion, obtained from pain, belongs to Azathoth. And Bahion obtained from faith goes to Yog-Sothoth. The entire universe is filled with pain, but the suffering experienced in life cannot be compared to what the soul experiences in Squeezer. Here, every drop of Bahion is squeezed out of it. Pain can be temporarily relieved by sacrificing one's memories. That's why, after going through the cycle of reincarnation, souls usually don't remember anything about their previous life."
“Is there any way to avoid ending up here?” - I grimly looked at the source of the golden light.
“No way!” - The demon proudly replied. – “Although the most fanatical followers of the Gods of the Light go to the realms of these gods after death, where they fervently worship Yog-Sothoth, giving him all their faith until the last drop. But after their ability to give Bahion through faith is exhausted, they still end up in Squeezer. Essentially, life is a rest, during which the soul recovers enough to go through another cycle of reincarnation.”
“And what is the meaning of all this?” - I frowned. The scene was just too bleak.
“The answer to that question is known only to Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth. It is they who receive all the Bahion produced by countless souls. However, there is another way to find out the answer to this question.”
“What is it?” - I asked, already sensing some kind of trap.
“Come. This is also part of my story.” - The demon turned into an inconspicuous corridor, and we walked in almost pitch darkness, winding through narrow passages. The golden light barely penetrated here, so my ability to think clearly returned. – “Once, a great sage beheld the Truth and captured it in the form of a painting, in which he encapsulated his understanding of the Laws of the Universe. Since you will become the Soul Devourer, you must at least once gaze upon this painting. However, most of those who have been honored with this privilege have gone mad. But there's nothing we can do about it, it's tradition.”
“Gone mad? But I'm already insane, how much further can I go?”
“That's what we'll find out. Look.”
We entered a large hall, and on the opposite wall was the painting, taking up the entire space. As soon as my gaze skimmed over it, a huge amount of information flowed into my mind. If I were an ordinary person, I wouldn't be able to digest such volumes and would definitely go insane. But I had Vritra's body, and a powerful quantum computer was 'stored' in my spatial pocket, capable of processing huge amounts of data. Even so, I had to immediately look away, staring at the floor, and only after a few seconds did I dare to glance at the painting again. And then look away. And then look at it again.
This work of an unknown master literally attracted the gaze because it promised to answer the most intimate questions about the meaning of life. And so, I gradually became more and more accustomed to viewing this painting and analyzing the information contained in it.
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In short, this painting depicted the entire universe. Yog-Sothoth creates new worlds, and Azathoth devours them. The entire universe revolved around the production of Bahion, which went to these two 'vampires'. But there was something else in this scene. Something hidden behind the bright wrapping of the universe. Some kind of secret.
"The Veil of the Secret" - I said, realizing that this was the name of the painting.
"You... you managed to understand what the main secret of the universe is?" - The demon gaped at me, not even daring to glance at the painting. - "And what is this secret?"
Hehe, it seems someone else here also wants to know the unknowable.
"The Veil of the Secret. Our entire world is the veil that hides the Secret. This painting does not provide an answer to the question of the meaning of life, the universe, and all that, but it shows that this answer is hidden from us by the universe itself" - I explained.
"I see... By the way, how do you feel?" - the demon asked, looking at me curiously.
"No more insane than usual" - I replied, dismissing his concern. - "Let's move on."
"Yes, yes, we need to keep going. The Veil of the Secret. That's it!" - the demon muttered to himself. We reached another portal under his mumbling, and as we passed through it, we found ourselves in another world. This time, the space around us was filled with hunger. Endless and unbearable hunger that made you dream of devouring everything that exists.
"This is the most sacred place in the entire universe" - Narzkruzhak shivered, trying not to look around. - "I've only been here five times in my entire life. And I must say, I've lived longer than the worlds created by Yog-Sothoth." - Wow! That's quite a long life. You wouldn't guess it by looking at him. - "Here, a soul can go through the ritual of transformation and become a Soul Devourer. After that, you gain the ability to consume souls. Currently, there are only three soul devourers in the entire universe, apart from Azathoth. You should be proud of the honor bestowed upon you."
Well, I'm already proud. It seems Azathoth has some plans for me. Otherwise, why such generosity? However, it is still unclear whether this transformation is a blessing or a curse.
“Stand in the center of this circle and prepare yourself. The transformation of the soul is quite a painful process" - the demon instructed. Who else but me would know that? I stepped forward and stood in the center of the stone platform, floating in the emptiness of this world. We were surrounded by infinite empty space, filled with shadows thirsting to devour everything and anything. A lovely place.
As soon as I took my place, the ritual circle beneath me activated, and I felt invisible chains constricting my soul, followed by something foreign penetrating my very essence. It was like a dark seed sprouting within my soul. Invisible roots pierced through me, causing unbearable pain. To alleviate this "transformation" in any way possible, I began to tap into my reserves of Bahion. This energy allowed me to instantly heal any damage and reduced the pain, giving me the ability to focus on controlling my transformation. The tentacles sprouting through my soul now spread evenly, forming a harmonious pattern.
It's hard to say how long this torment lasted, but eventually, it came to an end. I collapsed onto the ground, exhausted, trying to regain my composure. I could feel that I had changed. It wasn't just that I had gained new abilities. There was something else. Some changes that I couldn't quite comprehend.
"And now, the first feast" - the demon proclaimed solemnly. - "Follow me."
We left that strange dimension, passed through the realm of Squeezer, and entered a cave that would serve as a perfect illustration for the word 'Hell'. Fire surrounded us, with burning souls trapped within its flames. Narskrudzhak snapped his fingers, and two ancient-looking demons entered the room, leading a naked girl whose 'radiance' exuded sanctity and innocence.
"Here, devour her soul" - he proposed with a sinister gleam in his eyes.
Hardly had I even contemplated how one could devour a soul when a wild hunger gripped me. The structure that had sprouted in my consciousness unfurled and extended outward... tentacles that eagerly sought to embed themselves into the pliant flesh of the victim and drain her completely.
If I had possessed a human or even a demon body, I would have pounced on the 'meal' without hesitation. This hunger surpassed any sexual desire, and I already knew from experience how emotions could cloud the mind. However, since I inhabited Vritras' body, I was able to rationally assess the 'dish' presented to me. And honestly, I had no particular desire to feast on virgins. They were meant for other purposes.
Therefore, I shifted my gaze from the girl to one of the demons who had brought her. He paled and attempted to flee, but I was faster. My 'spiritual tentacles' reached out towards the demon's soul, latching onto it, tearing it apart, and began to consume it. This process mirrored exactly what my parasite demonstrates. With such a 'teacher,' I could concentrate on the process, already having a rough idea of what needed to be done.
Disgusting demonic energy oozed into my soul. I had no desire to consume it, so I immediately redirected all the 'excess' directly into the individual dimension of my parasite. It sniffed at the 'offering' and then devoured it with visible appetite.