Rai’s mind eased after the interdimensional phone call with his dad. The device, still holding a faint charge, felt like a comforting tether to his previous world. For a brief moment, the absurdity of his new reality seemed manageable. His father’s approval of his new workplace had somehow calmed his nerves, though the idea of being labeled as the “Dark Hero” still felt laughably over-the-top.

Before he could collect his thoughts, a gruff voice cut through the heavy silence of the obsidian chamber.

“Follow me, Hero.”

Rai turned his head toward the source of the command: a demon, slightly taller than the others, with a face sharp enough to cut through glass. Its glowing amber eyes flickered with curiosity as it waited for Rai’s response.

“Sure thing, buddy!” Rai muttered under his breath, getting up from his comfortable position while dusting himself off.

With a wave of the demon’s clawed hand, the air around them seemed to shiver, and the path ahead began to unfold. The walls of the cavernous chamber gave way to a long, dimly lit hallway, lined with torches and chandeliers. Each of their flames burned evilly; Blood Red, Midnight Blue, and Amethyst Purple, casting eerie shadows that twisted and shifted as they moved.

On this eerie journey, the boy had played with his phone a little more, attempting to connect with his girlfriend one more time.

“Come on, Laura”, he muttered, his thumb swiping across the screen in rapid succession.

The call rang through.

And rang.

And rang…

And…

“You’ve reached the voicemail associated with the num—”

Clank! Rai closed the phone, interrupting the annoying voice.

“She forgot to unplug her phone again, probably… Can’t blame her. I, myself, have been pulling all-nighter after all-nighter just to pass, let alone exceed!”

He placed his phone back in his pocket as he walked down the long red carpet, each step echoing through the vast hall. The luxurious cover stretched out beneath his feet, contrasting sharply with the cold, obsidian floor.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Demons lined the sides, their glowing eyes betraying curiosity and confusion. Rai’s casual demeanor, strange artifacts, and bizarre mannerisms clearly fascinated them. Some whispered among themselves in hushed tones, while others craned their necks to get a better look at the oddity they had summoned.

Raimõn’s attire did little to inspire confidence in his new colleagues. His dark t-shirt was wrinkled and clung awkwardly to his frame, evidence of battle preparations—against the arid of the summer rather than a Holy Hero. His denim leggings—slightly cropped above the ankles—spoke more of laziness than of heroism. It was a look that screamed, "I just rolled out of bed," and yet, somehow, it worked for him.

Despite his disheveled appearance, Rai’s natural beauty was undeniable. His ruby-red eyes, though framed by faint dark circles, radiated an otherworldly charm. The shadows under his eyes didn’t detract from his appearance; instead, they gave him an ethereal allure, as though exhaustion had become a badge of honor. His short, curly crimson hair was tousled in a way that seemed deliberate, though it was anything but. It was the kind of beauty that required no effort at all.

One demon, a stout figure with a ram’s horns, leaned closer, squinting at Rai’s face. “Is it normal for humans to look like this?” he whispered to a taller companion.

“I don’t know,” it replied, adjusting the shimmering cloak draped over his bony shoulders. “But he’s… unnerving nonetheless. Maybe it’s a hero thing?”

Another demon, a wiry creature with wings that twitched nervously, pointed at Rai’s pocket. “What… what was that object he spoke into? Some kind of talisman?”

Rai raised an eyebrow, catching the tail end of their conversation. “It’s my phone,” he said simply, pulling it out again and waving it for emphasis. The demons flinched as though he had brandished a weapon. “It’s not magic. Just… tech... electricity, circuits, kinda' stuff.”

Their blank stares made it clear they did, in fact, not know. Rai sighed and pocketed the phone once more. “Right. Figures.”

He had a lot of questions.

The demons, too, had a lot of questions—mostly about the whole Hero VS Hero situation. But for the moment, none of that mattered. What mattered now was the massive door before them, looming like a silent sentinel, its dark surface etched with strange, twisting patterns that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

There, the atmosphere grew thicker, almost suffocating. The air was hot and heavy, like it was charged with some invisible force. Rai squinted against the shifting shadows as the demon stopped in front of an ornate set of doors, black iron inlaid with twisted silver designs.

“We’ve arrived, Hero…” The demon’s voice hung in the air, a lingering whisper, as the massive doors creaked open.

Rai stared at the entrance, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. “Wow,” he murmured, shifting into a seriousness he hadn’t shown since… well, since before he even got into college.

“I guess we’re doing this,” he muttered under his breath, his nerves steeling beneath a twisted smile, his resolve hardening for what was to come.

image [https://i.imgur.com/Y24t2S6.jpeg]