————
This is the worst. All colors are gone and I lay in the dark, staring at a somewhat familiar ceiling, sprawled on a soft pile of the gray sand that found its way inside this broken tower through one of the small windows— trying to piece myself together after the violent trip back to hell.
-That was not the smartest thing to do, even if demons are technically immortal while up there.
Time didn't stop here while we were up in mortal realm; fighting undead and making enemies with powerful cambions... Which is likely an even more serious of an issue than our current predicament. If what identifying the 'crown' told me about the item ends up being what I think it is - then we just found ourselves a nasty can of worms.
I'm not willing to open it right now.
Yes... The dunes of this storm plagued desert didn't wait and the entrance is now buried under the sand. Since there is almost no mana in here, and I feel like shit, my sense is having trouble telling just how deep in shit exactly are we, but there is a lot. ―Not that I have enough juice left in me to move it out of the way in any case. Especially with the backlash I suffered from the way I've send us back here.
> Backlash: The violent nature of your banishment caused your spiritual form to take damage. All attributes temporarily reduced by 66%. Time remaining: 40days.
Well, at least now I can tell how much time has passed. I've been trying to piece this all together - and myself as well while at it, counting on Rose to slowly refill our mana pool with what little taint she can gather in here. These hungry sands is not helpful; It's been two days already... Sure didn't feel like it.
-Damn, getting weakened like this feels like crap. Not having any mana left is even worse.
I was kind of hoping that Circa would bring us back so we could recover in the mortal realm, where mana is plenty and the environment not so hostile. She should at least let me know how bad things are, not to mention they carried all of the loot. But there is nothing, not a peep; might be it's still to early and they are currently trying to reach someplace safe ―If they are still alive... No, don't think about it. The idiot will be fine, her Luck must be through the roof.
I have no delusion my suicide attack killed that cambion, but it should've at least bought the team some time with all the conjured ice blocking the exit after what I did. Maybe the creatures that woke up inside that cavern could've dealt with 'Kammi' - that is yet another issue; those were crazy strong compared to what we have dealt with inside the dungeon up until that point, truly a boss encounter and were those to fight us it would not have been pretty...
Yet I wouldn't count on that. Assassin-Mind Mage is likely a nasty combination, she surely has her set of tricks to escape from such danger and a very high level herself.
-Yes, this might be a problem.
I still have a lot to unpack regarding my own situation. —This whole summoning ritual truly is a marvel, I have no clue how it works. Whatever power is at play is beyond me even after all these years.
After my first summoning in that little village near the coast, I've already learned that running out of Life while in the mortal realm would send me back to hell and I was willing to take a gamble. Yet the circumstances were much different then ―This now was my first time going back in a 'violent' way, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
I take stock of my equipment, and everything is here with us; the cape and all my other items made it back. Pulling the dark dagger out from my belt with a shaking hand, I watch the jagged blade covered with tiny, intricate runes. Didn't have any use for it up there against the skeletons, but I'm glad that it wasn't lost since it is a very nice piece of enchanted steel.
I reach to touch where the cambion put her own, glass-like one, through my back but there's not even a scar left -all traces of foreign magic are also gone from my body.
―Back then, all those years ago, I was just sitting on a beach, staring out at the sea. Life was slowly escaping me as I watched the sunrise over the calm blue waters; not bound properly to the physical world after escaping the unfinished ritual, unable to understand what was happening.
Nothing I had there made the trip back with me. It wasn't much; a piece of cloth I stole from a drying line in one of the small villages I've came across to cover myself, and a walking stick picked up in the forest.
That must mean it's the magic of the ritual that enables you to bring your possessions to hell when returning ―somehow... Even when I 'died' two days ago inside the dungeon in a magic explosion, and my soul was taken back to hell, all my gear came with me.
Granted I've felt sick and broken, having to gather myself together - but we are recovering. I could feel its magic keeping me 'whole' through the journey across realms after blowing up all my mana.
...Something to explore in the future.
I bring out the status window.
> Warning: You suffer from Backlash.
>
> Name: Meow
>
> Race: Hellspawn** (5)
>
> Class: Red Rosen-Maiden Imp (3)
>
> ―
>
> Attributes: -66,6%
>
> Strength 17
>
> Resilience 25
>
> Magic 50
>
> Spirit 74
>
> Intellect 32
>
> Perception 20
>
> Agility 20
>
> ????
>
> ―
>
> Traits: +1
>
> ????:
>
> Humanoid (2): Mana Channels, Magic Affinity.
>
> Horns (5): Sense Mana II, Magi Focus, Amplify Magic.
>
> Wings (1): Mana Channels.
>
> Tail (2): Dexterity, Mana Burn.
>
> Digitigrade (1): Quick Feet.
>
> Rose Symbiote (3): Rip and Tear, Vampiric Embrace, Magic Affinity.
>
> Greed Core (2): Dark Ice, Ice Mastery.
>
> ―
>
> Skills: Hell Born, Identify, Mischief II, Imp Magic, Alchemy, Enchanting, Magic Pockets, Illusions, Elementalist III, Empower, Overcharge. +1
Compared to the past― however long it was, my recent growth is staggering.
The Overcharge Skill that I picked up while we rested with the others, after dealing with the undead at the second frozen, room won't be as useful in hell with the lack of ambient mana but it is still a good trump card to have.
> Overcharge: Instantly overload your magic with more mana. The effect scales with Spirit + Magic + Intellect.
>
> Stability of the magic suffers with the amount of excess mana used.
>
> The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Yes, it will be very useful when caught off guard and when there is no time to construct a proper spell effect. That I could also use the ambient power present in the crypts back when I made all the ice at the end, makes it a somewhat broken skill— if you are using it in a mana rich environment, that is.
My 12 remaining attribute points went to Spirit as it gave me the biggest immediate power boost back then. I expected to be able to level up at least once more while we were clearing the dungeon, get my Strength to 20 - but that didn't come to pass. Not only did Spirit boost the ice with the Core's ability it gave me more control over the ambient mana in the tomb, so it was the best Attribute to rise back then.
I suspect 'Kammi' might have grown impatient with us and cleared the path ahead, stopping me and our team from growing stronger from killing the undead. Not like that would have helped us much against what awaited at the end, Shrug.
"Do you think we can dig ourselves out Rose?" I ask aloud, but it's half to myself. "Do we even want to, in our current state?" That's a good question. This seems like a good safe place to meditate and gain our strength back.
But I would prefer we could hunt something, as being this empty feels wrong -there is only so little she can harvest from this dark sand. The desert is mostly an unknown though... I don't like how much risk there is in going out in my sorry state. This reminds me of the first years in hell, when I would hide in the cave I've found most the time and only come out when I had to.
I've gathered a lot of bad memories then, it was so much more dangerous around the wastelands.
Roots run deep through the sand now, searching for any source of power but I can tell she is distracted by the 'crown', so I put it away into the pocket space -It barely fits.
> Crown of Solic (4th Seal): This artifact allows the wearer access to the shadow realm. Greatly increases power of shadow magic and provides bonuses to Vitality, Spirit and Magic. It was altered to provide additional protective enchantments.
>
> You do not meet the requirements to use this item.
Yeah, to my magical perception it's pretty obvious that someone added some extra bits to an already powerful item. Those additions are strong, don't get me wrong, but are clearly in a different league. A simple silver circlet with a crystal gem up front was turned into a crown by a skillful artisan. The gem is dark gray but transparent. Feels a bit familiar, and I think I've seen something like it not long ago.
I've watched movies back in the before, and one in particular comes to mind when I see the '4th Seal' bit. Since a real Cambion was after it... I don't like it. Might be wrong as we are in hell right now, not sure that would be allowed.
Thing is, I don't know any shadow magic and feel like walking with this thing in the open view would get me killed. So I don't even entertain the idea of trying to wear it.
I find a more comfortable position while sprawled on my back. If my wings grow some more it might be a pain to lay like this, but at least I've developed mana channels in them. This not only increased my pool but also lets me control magic with additional limbs.
I will wait few more days for the team to summon me back, if they don't....
Closing my eyes I begin to meditate, feeling for the mana inside me. Slowly trickling in as Rose deals with the taint. Ever since I've invested a point to increase her magic affinity before heading out to explore the desert she got more efficient at it, a point well spent.
I drift out into deeper meditation while making sure my body heals properly. Waiting...
And remembering.
***
―My time ran out.
The last thing I saw in this new world while still 'alive' was worth it though. A beautiful sunrise over the deep blue sea, no clouds in the sky. I watched the stars retreat for the day before the true dawn.
Everything is clearer now...
Too bad I do not belong here - For me life is just a dream now.
Sitting in the sand on a wide, clean and empty beach gave me some measure of peace after the week of wandering around without aim. I'm wrapped in a white sheet I stole from the village I've found when following the road, and enjoying the slight breeze that carries tiny grains of sand.
I'm not proud of taking it, but feeling naked was just adding to my already turbulent mindset. Didn't need that on my plate at the time.
―Let it be my payment for saving the girl. I don't know if she was part of it, but that should have earned me at least this much. She ran there after seeing me, so it's likely.
There was an acute pain in my chest and the world faded to black. I died...
**
I opened my eyes in front of the giant black wall; exactly where I left few days ago. Back in hell...
Surprisingly it felt somewhat right, like this is where I belong now.
I didn't expect to end up in here after death -Was my life really that bad? I don't think so. Can I talk to the manager? I have questions...
I can't remember anything related to my name, to whom I was. But everything that I've learned is still there; some bad habits, sure, but to go to hell for it?
Oh, I'm naked again... *Sigh.
Taking a glance around the colorless world that looks as if god ran out of paint and finished drawing it with charcoal, I feel... Nothing. Black foreboding monument, and gray dust covered hills with big rocks sticking from the ground. ―I still can't see any gates leading to the other side but the demons are gone. Is there something more out there, behind the wall?
There is no one around. Neither the army that camped here, nor any creatures flying above the sharp jagged rim that is so far up and it seems to scrape at the heavens. Not even a trace remains after their passage so I'm not sure where they all went. Did they turn back?
-Would I have to climb it? Do I want to? Impossible. Those slopes seem rather smooth and grow very steep up there -Almost like an impossibly tall dam. Dark mist flowing over the edge.
Walking closer there is some strange quality to the stone, like it was actually painted black, a strange haze rises from it - It feels wrong, awful. And at the same time... I'm drawn to it. Putting my hand down to the odd surface I can feel something invading my body and immediately pull it back.
Looking up I can see that the place isn't as deserted as I though at first. There are those maggot-like creatures I've seen in the forest there. Not as many as under the nightmare trees, but you can see them through the slight 'fog' covering the wall, scrapping the black sheen off the dark rocks here and there.
Taking a closer look at the strange phenomena my fingers move back to touch it. It's revolting and disgusting yet my hand won't leave it now. Something makes my think I'm supposed to like it, having it flow into me is what's meant to be. How things work, like taking a breath even if the air is foul. And I take that breath...
Something inside of me stirs, wh— A sudden sound above makes me take a step back.
Up there, to the right; one of the black worms is falling down the side of the wall. It must have lost its grip and now uncontrollably tumbles to the bottom. When it reached the level ground it kept going; curled up, leaving a straight trail in the dust and stopping few dozen steps away, not moving it just lays there. I look at it considering my chances of crossing this myself, and can only shake my head.
I take a step back when it twitched and started suddenly growing. Expanding like a black balloon it then popped sending droplets of tar like substance over the light gray area where it landed. In its place―
I'm now moving away as there is a bizarre creature trying to stand up from the blackened ground while fumbling and releasing weak cries.
It is all sorts of wrong; from having too many limbs, currently all tangled up, to those three thin whip like 'tails' flailing in the air that are growing from its side. Roughly my size but appears like there is more of it. There are two vaguely human heads and I counted at least 5 arms. The creature's main body covered in black goop is just a shapeless fleshy mess. It wails in four distinct voices as another pair of mouths opens on the growths covering what should be its torso ―What in the... hell, is this?
> Hell Beast. (1)
I can't tell whether it's more disgusting or scary. It screams when one head turns my way -No, don't you..
This thing is surprisingly fast, I turn and try to run but stumbled on the uneven, dust covered ground —it reached me in seconds. Grappling me down while holding both my wrist, and its heads move closer making hellish noises that grate at my sanity. It has no eyes and only few teeth, but the tongues are long, wormy, and covered in this black tar... inching towards my face.
I can feel a chaotic rush of messed up emotions assaulting me from the creature, like hundred voices each wanting something different. I'm being overpowered, third hand reaches for―
No.
"Stay away!" I scream with everything I have, closing my eyes.
Something stirs inside me - I've felt it before. And an invisible force tears the thing away from me. Sends it flying dozen steps away. There it lands in a tangled mess after rolling few times, while I try not to gag from the disgusting feeling of its mind. It spins back up onto its many limbs and I feel too tired to move, just watching in horror. But the nightmare abomination runs away and starts scaling the wall instead.
Wha―
I get up on shaky legs and start making distance from the wall while keeping an eye on the -thing, As it runs up while howling.
Wh― What did I just... I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
Right, there is Magic in this world. I've used it before to- Kill a man. I'm not helpless, if I were to learn it this won't happen ever again. There is system to help me as well.
I'm still shaking.
I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down. After a while I can't see the thing anymore. The haze obscures it from view. ―Let's make some more distance and forget about climbing there.
I focus on my strange new sense but can't feel anything around me, the hell has no mana. The dust covered wasteland is empty. Yet I'm keeping an eye on the wall as I run along, giving it a wide breadth. Something still draws me there, what I've felt touching it was my magic stirring in my core.
-We are now in Hell, I better get used to madness. Stopping near a tall rock to get some cover I try to open my menu. Golden symbols start to appear in my vision.
Attributes, Traits and Skills. I've been looking at it while wandering the forest but my heart wasn't in it - way too many thoughts occupying it then. Funny that; it's one thing to read about those things and imagine yourself being transported to a new reality... Be careful what you wish for.
There's nothing to do with it, I'm still only level one and it won't even explain what each of the attribute does. But now in hell I can't allow myself to ignore it nor space out like that, or I might meet fate worse then death. Gulp.
I― I need to figure out what can be done, to make sure I'm not going to end up as some demons...
There's Identify and Hell Born skills. How do I ―It works.
> Hell Born: A set of skills inborn to all spawns of hell.
Not helpful!
...
I've been trying to force the system to give me some more information, about various elements for quite some time already. Sitting behind this rock, hidden from the wall but to no―
A bright flash of red light envelops me. ―What did I do?!
There is a magic circle under me. This is a summoning! I still remember it vividly when I jumped in a similar one hoping for freedom. What I got instead was a harsh reality of what being reborn a demon actually means.
I've just got back here, what-
**
Opening my eyes to the world full of color I see an old cramped room, full of all sort of strange―
An old woman.
"Well, well, well. Look who's finally here..."
――——