For a very long time I could not understand what was happening to me. My eyes were closed all the time, but there was a feeling that I regularly woke up and fell asleep again, although I had no dreams. Finally something made me open my eyes. A very strange view opened up in front of me: the black coast of an endless dark ocean, the waves of which were pulling me towards themselves. It was a very scary feeling, it was very difficult for me to resist this force, but I managed, which is extremely surprising... The moon was shining in the sky covered with black clouds. Hmm, it's somehow strange, the clouds should have covered the moon, but why do I see it so clearly?

I had a strange feeling: it felt like I had lost weight, and somehow my soul felt lighter, or what? Suddenly I realized one important detail: I.wasn't.breathing. During all the time that I looked at all these views, I did not take a single breath. Having decided not to risk fate, I decided to strain my lungs on my own and took a deep breath, but I did not feel the incoming currents of the atmosphere; therefore, as I exhaled, a huge amount of either steam or smoke escaped from me. Usually it's common to see such a picture in winter, in terrible cold, but I didn't feel any temperatures at all... Too suspicious. I began to remember what actually happened to me the day before. So, I went to negotiations on my father's orders, signed a contract, was attacked by some guy in a military uniform and then... f*ck... he killed me.

- I just don't understand, this is my own delirium, a dream, maybe I'm in a coma?

- Unfortunately, my friend, this is not a dream or a coma...

I turned around to see something that was not so much audible as felt, something similar to speech. There was some tramp in rags standing there. He looks like a grandfather, 68 years old, gray hair, stooped, size of pen- STOP, this is not necessary. Out of the corner of my eye I looked behind him, there were a bunch of other people of different stripes, standing, sitting, lying on this coast.

-What do you mean, old man?

- Death, that's what I'm telling you about.

And yet yes, I am dead.

- How did you die, boy?

- I was killed...

- Damn, you were lucky, you died a quick death.

- And what happened to you?

- Hunger, illness and old age.

He really looked very flabby, with a slight yellowness in his skin, and his voice sometimes croaked.

- Did your family not try to help you at all? And why were you starving?

- Ha, I don't have a family. A car accident took my daughter and her husband from me, and my granddaughter, unable to bear such a loss, jumped off the bridge, idiot. After some time, I was kicked out of the house for non-payment of rent for the apartment. So I ended up on the street, where death overtook me 3 months later.

Not to say that I could have compassion for people, but this old man made me think better, is it true?

- Why were you killed, son?

- I wish I knew...

Yes, that guy shot me after I rushed into battle, but it's not entirely clear whether he needed me or someone else? In any case, there is no point in returning to this anymore.

- What's your name, grandfather ?

- Greg, and what about you ?

- Reigai.

- Quite a rare name, I'll try to remember it.

We waited for a very long time, I don't know exactly how long. My wristwatch was acting up. The second hand moved 10 times slower than normal. That is, purely mathematically, if we assume that in the place where we now have time, then while I live here, for example, 10 years, then in my "living" world only a year will pass? I didn't look at the time when I woke up, so I don't know how long I've been here.

In the distance I saw some strange silhouettes, it looked like boats with lanterns. They were swimming in our direction. 3 gondola type boats arrived. Behind each stood a dark figure, on which no light fell, as if from a nightmare, I involuntarily shuddered.

- Stand in front of us and line up!

- Excuse me, but where are you going to take us? - a woman shouted from the crowd.

- We are the guardians watching over the "empty shore" and transporting the souls of the dead from here to their destinations.

Black ferrymen, that's a good term.

A huge crowd of people lined up in front of Greg and me. And I was last in line, great... Greg was second to last and wanted to offer his place, but I refused. My pride did not allow me to take a place from an old man who went through hell in the real world, I will let him rest in peace first.

After another certain amount of time, it was Greg's turn. One of the ferrymen put his finger on his forehead and began talking, as if reading something.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

- Gregor Farnell, 69 years old. Died of syphilis while lying in an alley. Among the sins: numerous deceptions, a couple of petty thefts and pedophilia. Can be sent to Heaven after being devastated in Purgatory.

The last fact killed me (figuratively speaking). Pedophile? What the hell? He seems to be a normal person, but it turns out he's a rotten guy... Gregor was seated in the middle boat, after which they called me over.

- Reigai Yurei, 20 years old. Died in a shootout with a heavily armed fighter in a park. Among the sins: mass theft, lies and neglect of everyone around him, mass murder, violence against all ages and genders, absolute apathy towards the world around him, and the list goes on. Translated into categories, all 7 deadly sins were fulfilled: Anger, Envy, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Gluttony, Pride. There is only one outcome - Hell.

Wow, these words made Greg hide at the end of his gondola. Damn lover of showing his elephant to children. I have never stooped to such lows. Although the ferryman said "all ages," he did not specify that only from the age of 17, when children became too dangerous.

They put me on a boat that had been empty before. After 110 seconds local time, the boats set sail. The boat with Greg moved further and further away. I hope I never see him again.

***

We sailed for a long time, that's for sure. Although it is possible to determine the time using this watch, it is very dreary, so I try not to look at it again. After such thoughts, I raised my head and saw a terrifying, monstrous passage into somewhere. And this is where "Black" was taking me. (https://imgur.com/a/mDzSNKP)

On the other side, instead of that dark ocean, there was the usual wide river with blue water, but as soon as I got closer to it, it acquired a red, I would even say, bloody hue. The only scenery was crimson mountains, yellow skies, and many different passages and caves in those mountains. About 50 meters from the gondola, I noticed another boatman, who was in a wide boat with a canopy, and by the way, his appearance was already more understandable. White skeletal face, painted with various colors; dressed up for the carnival?

- Take your soul, Charon, for now he is your only concern. A sinner of all kinds.

- I understand, hey, you, change seats, don't detain the guard.

Charon? I heard this name from ancient Greek myths. A boatman transporting the souls of the departed to the underworld of Hades. But we're not supposed to be in Greece, are we?

I changed seats, the ferryman immediately swam away, and Charon took an oar and began rowing in a direction unknown to me.

- I'm asking a question!

- I don't allow it, shut up.

He is not going to obey. Although, why does he need it? He is the boss here, not me.

I'll ask anyway, maybe something will come of it?

- Is this true?

- What ?

- Is it true that you are Charon from the kingdom of Hades, or is this just a common name?

- My name is completely personal. I actually served with Hades, originally.

- Originally?

- Yes, my ruler died and his own dimension began to collapse, so I had to escape from there and become subordinate to the local ruler over the dead.

- What the hell are you talking about ? How could God die?

- It could very well. Then the "God Killer" appeared in our area and broke all the deities like matches. He even tried to kill me, but I faked my death by additionally sacrificing my mask.

What a story... Charon also experienced a very interesting event.

He also put his finger on my forehead, then immediately removed it.

- So your name is Vector...

- Reigai Yurei. I don't like being called by this nickname.

- Then I will call you that.

And he knows how to infuriate, I already like him.

- Yeah, by the way, do you even know what will happen to you?

- No, they decided not to enlighten me.

- As punishment for all your sins, you, or rather, your current soul, are going to be lowered into the crucible, where you will burn and suffer for eternity.

- Wait, I'm not happy with this arrangement. What kind of "crucible" is this?

- The Crucible of Souls is one of the local attractions. For the souls of the departed this is endless torment, and for demons it is a place of nourishment.

- And what is the essence of driving for demons? And why do they need recharge at all, they are immortal, aren't they?

- Almost. A demon can be killed by anyone except a person or his soul. However, after the "death" of the demon, a small clot of energy is formed, which is sent to the crucible and absorbs the energy from there, which it receives from the sinners who are burning in that inferno. Over time, this clot regains its former strength and the demon is resurrected at the site of its fall. Also, the demon can become a little stronger if he regularly visits this stove.

- I don't want to feed the demons, there's no way to avoid my punishment?

- ...

- ?

- There is one way out. In all the time that I have been floating along the dead rivers, you are the only one who dared to snap against me, usually everyone sits in fear waiting for their fate, I respect that... Yes, definitely, you can become IT.

- What is the way to get out? Who should I become?

- If you want to get out of hell, you need to become a devil.

- A devil?

- We will change the route.

Charon sharply turned the boat 140 degrees to the left and swam into some cave.

- In order to get out of hell and take revenge, which you clearly managed to desire after my words, you need to acquire the form of the devil.

- Why not just a demon?

- Demons are too weak for such purposes.

He was right about revenge; my eyes lit up with an unprecedented thirst for murder. If I manage to come back and kill that big guy it will be very sweet.

- In total there are 12 First Devils in hell and the 13th is our King. He is the only one who has the power to move between worlds. You will have to defeat them all. To become a devil you must drink the elixir, which is kept in a secret place that only I and the King know about.

- What if your King finds out that you helped me?

- He won't mind. He's just a battle maniac. The stronger the enemy, the better he is.

- I ended up in the wrong place...

- Agree. We have arrived.

We stepped off the boat onto a level stone path leading to a pedestal made of stone skulls, on which sat a half-filled decanter of yellow liquid.

- This is bad.

- What is wrong ?

- I visited this place 3 years ago, everything was fine, and now someone drank the elixir without my knowledge...

- And what does this mean?

- An uninvited devil has shown up.

- So what now?

- You have a new task: drink what's left of the elixir, get out of here and find this thief. bring me his blood. All, to the last drop. Don't worry, I won't hurt you with a reward. Well, do you agree?

- If you're not lying about the reward, fine, I agree, side quests are never superfluous.

- Wonderful. Just keep in mind that you won't get any more kind words from me, I've already allowed you too much.

- As you say, Lord Boatman.

- Don't you dare mock me, Vector.

Charon took the decanter off the pedestal and held it out to me.