————
– I was worried for nothing.
The current situation isn't perfect but I guess it could have been worse. I've been sitting there under a tree, while hidden with a hastily crafted illusion for what felt like hours. Our descent down the Rim was messy and left a rather clear trail; so I just waited with trepidation watching the edge high above - expecting a horde of flowery abominations would come down the wall chasing after me any moment.
But strangely no pursuit ever came. Did they think me dead? Or didn't care enough for a single Imp?
The bigger worry is that I might be stuck in the wasteland, if the whole of the Rim wall was taken over by those— Nah, not likely. The thing is truly massive and stretches on forever around the entire area of the wasteland. At least I assume that is the case, not like I've ever explored the whole place.
-And what of the rest of the realm? Is this some kind of plant-zombie apocalypse scenario? I really, really hope that is not the case.
But honestly also can't really see that happening. There are a lot of powerful beings out there, that could easily do something about it and wipe out a threat like this -right? I can just leave it to the powerful in charge of the damn place to deal with.
What can a little Imp like me even do? I don't need this on my plate.
-Damn it all, I hate hell. Just went out to test myself, and maybe hunt something for the...
My gaze moved to the corpse laying beside me, eyes wide with a sudden realization as I watch the dark ooze leak from ripped vines that are covering the mangled body. The head is missing but it's hard to forget what was there not long ago.
This can't be related right? I mean my identify skill isn't perfect but it would've mentioned something. And besides this flower was red like blood. Mine is slowly turning black and was an off-white color of bleached bone at the beginning.
—It's also not taking over bodies to reanimate them into zombies. It just sucks up taint allowing me to enjoy unspoiled essence, and I would very much want to continue our relationship. The name is also different but that might not mean anything.
I examine the ex-succubi a bit closer. While there is a lot of taint flowing through the plant parts, the body itself seem to be rather clean -Hmm? There isn't much taint at all, and barely any essence is escaping now even after it was dead for some time; that it isn't slowly turning to salt is interesting. If it wasn't leaking all this miasma from the extra bits I could actually go for it as it is.
I mean if I wasn't also worried about absorbing something odd from the strange thing.
-I would need to compare the two to make sure... This is now a dilemma. Do I want to risk bringing this thing with me to the Hell Rose that I've been taking care of, or would that make everything I've got set up here go to hell even more the it already is?
If my pretty little plant is up to something, arriving with this one might trigger a response and give me a clue.
This could all just be one big nothing. Why would those be related at all in the first place? There are many different demonic flora variants out here, just because they are both rose-like doesn't have to mean anything. I feel much better already so let's start moving; the area is pretty deserted and I likely know the reason now, but there are still demons lurking around. Need to be careful.
After getting most its thorns broken of I lift the body over me shoulder and carry it down. On the way I spot its head caught in a crevice and decide to bring it as well, grabbing it by a horn. The hell-hound from earlier gets left behind, it's been some time already and I doubt much would be left by the time we are at rose's mountain if I were to overburden myself with more weight.
...
The way back through the wasteland takes much longer with my baggage, and I'm forced to hide in a fissure to wait out a small storm - but otherwise there were no surprises. No encounters either. This doesn't bode well for the future. I might be forced to relocate.
Opting out of bringing the unknown back to my place -in case It held some nasty surprise still in store. I head straight for the mountain at the border with the desert, where I will hopefully learn more. Rose was my only company out here in the wasteland and we had a pretty good deal going on. Only thing that didn't want a piece of me - or so I thought till now. There is some doubt now ―Welcome to hell I guess.
In here you either serve or end up dead. Don't like either option.
I've realized in the past that you can't trust others while living as a demon - I've learned my lessons. Just like my first trip to the Rim, this one almost ended with a disaster, and might lead to yet another betrayal.
Again my mind turns to unpleasant memories as I walk through a dust filled wasteland.
...
Another storm is coming.
***
I was standing on a tall hill staring at the radiance rising behind an almost white mountain, with hopeless tears running down my face. Watching the far side of the massive rock formation explode when a shock-wave reached it.
"We are doomed." Silent whimper came out of me as demons in the area were bursting into white flame. A whisper really, to no one in particular - but I was heard. And brought my sole public back to their senses.
I didn't pay attention when the big guy next to me started tracing complicated patters in the air. I barely registered the mystical patters being carved into reality with dark purple light.
—As my attention was drawn to a bright golden string of words forming before me.
> Warning: You were affected by the Holy Word.
>
> This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
>
> -You resist the effect.
What...
A translucent screen of darkness appeared before me. Shielding the top of the hill from the bright light spilling now into the valleys. I watched amazed as all around us the ground was stripped bare of everything. A wall of destruction pushing everything aside.
The spell cast by the barely conscious demon that fell from the sky just moments ago rang! like a gong when the pressure hit it like an angry god, and cracks appeared on the surface —But It held.
What was left after the light passed could only be described as wasteland... Trees were gone, the mountain before us broken, maybe half of it somehow still standing - It was the only one.
Giant boulders were rolling over flattened land, carried by their momentum. rocks and dust falling from the sky. Clouds ahead were blown away from the blast and I noticed something truly massive in the sky before it was obscured by dust that fell over our hill.
I just stood there blinking owlishly, my mind unable to keep up... And it wasn't given the time.
We weren't the only survivors. Soon a group of winged devils showed up and helped support the giant up to its feet - Its flaming scalp now barely a smolder. I examined him closer for the first time, as it talked with the new arrivals. A massive frame covered in dark armor, with a slash running through the chest piece. Still leaking burning blood from its many wounds. One of his bigger horns cut off in the middle.
Wings on the back more like a dragon's than a bat. The man lifted a sword laying nearby with his clawed hand, the blade bursting in flames -Then looked at me with burning eyes, gaze lingering for a moment.
"Take it." I was just staring back, still unable to process the situation. But those words, they weren't directed at me. Orders were followed and I was carried away.
Away from the broken mountain chain.
The unpleasant flight didn't last long, and I was dropped off with a column of marching demons. An army in retreat.
The one that flew me away clearly didn't enjoy her task, and was rather rough with me. Her terrifying visage of twisting horns and a maw of dagger like teeth scowling at me through our short journey, while the claws drew blood under a vice like grip. She left me with a group of tall goat-like demons and flew away after barking some orders. The demons resumed their march, now with one more survivor.
-How did they escaped the cataclysm, I can't begin to guess. But more smaller squads were joining us along the way through a dust covered, destroyed landscape. Strong winds carried sand that got everywhere and on everyone's nerves.
The goats kept a close eye on me and the few others, that I assumed were also captives. Pushing and prodding, demanding us to move faster. Some were bound, others like me allowed at least some freedom - but not less whip. After I witnessed a small devil-like demon get clubbed to death by one of them for seemingly no reason, I tried to stay out of their attention as much as possible and kept my pace. We were moving fast, but I finally had time to think. To look at myself and start asking questions.
Dust kept falling. And I really wanted to be somewhere else.
The golden letters of the 'message' and the implications, were on my mind whenever I didn't have to dodge a lashing. Soon, another shocking revelation almost cost me a hoofed kick from my captors.
-As I directed my attention inward with a question on my mind, words formed in my vision.
> Name: Meow
>
> Race: Hell Spawn** (1)
>
> Class: Red Imp. (1)
>
> ...
Well, fuck.
...
The forceful march stopped as we reached a giant black wall. There was a lot of shouting and confusion; those in charge of the army were now barking orders and the formation loosened somehow as many went over to the obstacle.
―I couldn't see any gates. How do they plan to pass through? In the sky some demons were already flying above - examining the giant formation that looked more natural than man-made, since I couldn't even start to imagine how something like this could have been constructed. On both sides it reached all the way to the horizon, and seemed to curve in on itself.
But after what happened earlier... I stated to consider it wasn't impossible.
Slopes were rather smooth and became almost vertical at the top. Ending in a jagged line, like fangs in a giant maw. I looked to the sky almost expecting to see the upper part reaching down from the sky, but could only see thick dust hanging in the air.
The goat wardens in charge of us weren't happy. ―Then I've felt something nearby. Calling out to me...
——
I shake off the dust and remnants of the old memory.
I've arrived at the lone mountain. Sand spilling over from the desert behind it and slowly filling the wasteland, carried by the wind. Place where I've arrived to hell.
"The moment of truth." Are you just an 'innocent' plant feeding on sins of men or are you something else? In one hand I'm dragging a bunch of dried up black vines, most thorns missing by now. In the other a handful of dirty brown petals.
On my way here I was delayed by yet another storm - stronger this time, forcing me to take shelter. While hiding in a shallow cave, the thing possessing the succubi started to deteriorate. The roots leaving the body and vines unwinding, falling off.
-I was forced to take in the essence that was fast escaping into the environment, since after it was free from the thorny grasp the corpse started to break as if it was dead for years. Thankfully it was already free of taint...
–Just as If I had fed it to my rose.
I'm now slowly moving this essence through my core. Assimilating the rich red haze.
That didn't make me very happy, and it should have - I guess that opens some possibilities for the future. Like the saying goes: 'When one door closes another opens.'
Making my way up to the small valley, I think about my first summons and then the betrayal that came after. "I really think too much about the past lately" And this still might be just a big misunderstanding. Just a similar species of a hell flower.
-Gone.
The rose isn't here. Only a small hole in the spot it used to occupy. -Did someone come here to steal it? Was the goat not alone and they really were after the plant, and then they've found it when I left? Carried it away to...
-I've been feeding this flower for years, curious what would happen when it blooms since the Identify can be so useless sometimes. It was near black already the last time I fed it.
Could it be, that what is currently happening at the Rim is actually its doing? They took the rose from here to where the Taint is plenty, and now we have a plant-zombie infestation too deal with?
I'm scanning the ground looking for any trails of what could have happened, but it's useless after such a strong storm.
So distracted was I with all the questions popping up in my head I forgot to account for yet another possibility. -Those creatures back there, they were invisible to my ability.
"Nyaa!"
―The impact came out of nowhere. Something landed on my back making me fall forward. Pain came right after as small sharp fangs began to pierce my skin, little blades drawing red lines across my limbs as thorn covered vines moved to constrict my movement. Making me bleed on salt filled sand.
"Shit!" -Worst case scenario... I'm now grappling with a damn tentacle monster.
I'm trying to cast magic that would freeze everything in my immediate vicinity -forcing it, cost be damned. But it isn't easy to cast in a situation like this, mana gets dispersed while right on the verge of unleashing the magic. I can feel with my horns' senses that the Taint filled thorns have an ability to shred through magic, destroying it's structure.
Sharp root pierced flesh, causing me to scream from pain and frustration - It's digging through my body! Since magic is not an option I go for the skill that helped me earlier against a similar foe. Empowered I manage to rip few of the vines that went for my neck. —I can feel something touch my mind. Whispers.
I struggle and twist on the ground unwilling to give up.
> Warning: Hell Rose attempts to Dominate you.
No.
I refuse!
I've been caring for this rose, my sole company out here in hell for years. Cultivating it, not just to have this flower absorb taint from my victims but also because life was fucking lonely here. An now it would stab me in the back? Fuck that! Now I'm fucking angry!
> -you resist the effect
Anger erupts from my core and I grab the whispering flower -that now digs into my shoulder. I'm ready to rip and tear it to pieces, a sad end to our partnership. Not what I wanted. I Hate it.
As red fills my vision a flash of gold makes its way to the forefront of my mind.
> Hell Spawn** reached level 5.
>
> Evolution possible.
>
> Available essence:
>
>
>
> \\\\
>
> Warning: Interference detected. Special evolution initiated.
My world was painted black.
―—―—―