Jun, Friday 14, 2007 - 1:00 PM

Paradox, Norika, and Eve found themselves in a remote town, far from Metro City. The town was barren, bearing the scars of past battles with its destroyed buildings and empty streets.

“So, this is where they were last spotted,” Eve said, surveying the devastation.

“Yes, whoever they are, they were last seen here. They are most likely still here,” Paradox replied, scanning the area.

“Then let's find them. I need a good fight,” Norika chimed in, her excitement barely contained. She had been itching for a battle throughout their journey, anticipating a formidable foe.

“You’ll get your fight, Nor. Just calm down. We have to find them first.” Paradox attempted to use their omnipotent senses to locate the enemy but to no avail.

“Did you find anything, brother?” Norika asked.

“No, nothing. The most annoying thing about my powers being weakened is that my omnipotent senses are also dulled,” Paradox admitted with a sigh.

“Well, that's the price you pay for acting without consulting others,” Eve remarked.

“Maybe so,” Paradox conceded.

Off to the side, flames began to spread from building to building, the source being none other than Norika.

“Are you sure you should be setting fire to the city?” Eve chided.

“What? It’s not like anyone is here. Besides, it’s already destroyed.” Norika released even more flames, turning the desolate town into an inferno.

Paradox and Eve sighed, knowing that nothing they said would deter Norika, who had only one thing on her mind: fighting.

In the distance, they noticed a man standing at an imposing 6'0". His muscular build, short messy dark hair, angular features, and piercing emerald eyes gave him an intimidating presence. Scars adorned his bare skin.

“Who is he?” Paradox wondered aloud.

“Who is who?” Norika and Eve asked in unison.

“That guy over there,” Paradox pointed toward the man, who seemed lost in his own world, muttering to himself.

“Maybe that’s the guy. Let’s get him,” Norika said, shooting a ball of fire at the man, only to be surprised when he easily dodged it. “He’s quick.”

“He’s definitely not an ordinary human. Let’s talk to him,” Paradox suggested.

Paradox approached the man. “Hey, who are you and why are you in this city?”

The man sized him up before finally speaking. “I am Ares. Ares Vulcan. I don’t remember how I got here.” Paradox sensed he wasn’t being entirely truthful.

“Ares, huh? You must be quite the fighter to dodge that fireball,” Paradox quipped.

“Well, I did train. I have to, for reasons.”

“What reasons?” Paradox probed.

“I do not wish to tell you.” Ares turned to walk away, only to stop when a sword was held to his throat.

“You will tell us, or I will spill your blood,” Norika threatened, her crimson eyes glaring.

“I would not do that if I were you. I just want to be left alone and not hurt anyone else.”

“What do you mean?” Norika pressed.

“That I cannot tell you. But please, trust me. It would be in your best interest to leave me alone.”

“And I’ll have to say no. We came here for a fight, and I don’t care who it is. I’ll get my fight.” Norika slit his throat, spilling his blood.

“I… told you… not to do that. What happens now… is your fault,” Ares gasped as his body fell limply to the ground.

Suddenly, two things happened simultaneously. Norika was launched into a fiery building by Eve, who was visibly upset, and Ares’s body began to change and morph.

When the transformation ended, a demonic presence emerged. Ares’s features distorted into a nightmarish visage. His skin turned ebony, his eyes glowed crimson, and sharp demonic horns sprouted from his head. His muscles swelled, increasing his mass several times. Standing at 8 feet tall, he wore black and red leather, emphasizing his sinister appearance.

“What did she just do?” Paradox sighed, annoyed at Norika’s actions.

“It seems she has released something powerful,” Eve observed.

“Wow, who is that guy?” Norika asked, rejoining them.

“It’s Ares, or someone else, and this is all your fault.”

“What? Mine? How is it my fault? The guy should have told me what I wanted,” she pouted.

“What are you mortals spouting about in front of your lord?” the being said in a commanding voice.

“Our lord?” all three said simultaneously.

“I have no lord nor do I bow to anyone,” Paradox and Norika declared, raising their heads defiantly.

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

“Then you will be slaughtered by my hands,” the being proclaimed, releasing multiple blasts of dark energy at them. They dodged, barely escaping harm.

Norika sprang at him, her hands ablaze, launching a punch at his face, only for it to be blocked with one finger.

“Is this the extent of your power? Quite pathetic,” he sneered, releasing a burst of power that sent her crashing beside Paradox and Eve.

“I could have told you that was a bad idea,” Paradox shook his head.

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Because you just took off without thinking, as usual.”

“Tch, I’ll get him next time.”

“I don’t know who this guy is, but I can’t read his mind. Somehow, he’s blocking me out,” Eve said, trying to penetrate the enemy’s thoughts.

“That’s surprising. If even you can’t breach his mind, he’s definitely not someone to take lightly.”

“Then we just go in and hit hard,” Norika suggested, ready for another frontal assault.

“No, we watch and learn about his powers first. I’ll see what I can get out of the Omni-Watch.”

Before Paradox could activate the Omni-Watch, the being appeared in front of him, punching him and sending him flying.

“H-how did he get here so fast?” Eve wondered, not sensing the enemy’s movement.

“You know, it’s not nice to hit someone when they’re talking,” Paradox said, walking back as if nothing had happened.

“And it is rude to ignore your lord and ruler.”

“You are no one’s lord,” Paradox snapped, sending the being flying with a snap of his fingers.

“W-what did you do?” the being responded in shock.

“Figure it out. I’m not telling,” Paradox said, snapping his fingers twice more, sending him flying even farther.

"Let's get ready. I doubt he's even using 5% of his power," Paradox said, his voice steady despite the looming threat.

"Of course not. What lord would go all out on their servants?" Norika responded, her tone laced with sarcasm. With a swift punch to the ground, she created a circle around them, releasing dark energy from it.

Eve quickly formed a barrier to protect them, but it wasn't strong enough. It shattered, leaving them vulnerable.

"Who are you?" Paradox demanded, eyes narrowing.

"I am Samael, Lord of the Underworld. I am the Demon Lord," he proclaimed with a sinister grin.

"Demon Lord," the three of them thought in unison, the gravity of their situation sinking in.

Just then, Paradox received a notification from Division Omega-7, revealing the location of their target. It was right in front of them.

"Well, it seems we've found the culprit for the mass destructions," Paradox stated, his scythe glinting ominously.

"Then let's take him down," Norika said, readying her sword.

Eve launched her rods at Samael. He dodged them with ease, but as they looped back, he was forced to jump into the air. Realizing she was controlling them with her mind, he rushed at her, only to be stopped by a scythe that lopped off his arm, followed by a powerful kick that sent him flying.

"Thank you, brother," Eve said gratefully.

"You're welcome. Just be careful, Eve, and watch his movements."

Paradox rushed towards Samael, who caught his balance as his arm regenerated. Paradox swung his scythe down, but it was stopped by a wave of darkness.

“Is that all? Here I thought you were stronger,” Paradox taunted, cutting through the dark wave with a powerful swing of his scythe. Thrusting it forward, he sent Samael flying once again.

"You insolent mortal! To think you would talk down to me that way. I will make sure you suffer before you die," Samael roared in anger.

"Aww, is someone angry? Why don't you come and show me what you can do and stop talking," Paradox taunted, throwing his scythe at him.

Samael tried to catch the scythe, but its weight forced him to the ground. Releasing his grip, he prepared to attack, only to be kicked in the chin, sent high into the air, and then kicked in the ribs and head, crashing to the ground and creating a crater.

Norika landed with a smirk. "Not so tough now, are you, big guy?" she boasted, but before Paradox could warn her, Samael's arm closed around her neck, crushing it.

Samael attempted a follow-up attack, but rods from Eve were about to lodge into his back, forcing him to jump back. Thinking he was safe, he landed only for rods to pierce his heart from the ground.

Norika's neck began to heal as she weakly spoke, "D-did we get him?" Her question was answered when a visibly angered Samael stood up.

"So, even having his heart destroyed won't kill him. Is he immortal, or can he just heal quickly? Either way, this fight is nowhere near over," Paradox noted grimly.

"Nowhere near over? What do you mean, brother? Why don't we just go all out? No one is left here, so we don't have to worry about innocent lives."

"Simple, that would make it boring. If we did go all out, he wouldn't stand a chance against all of us, especially you in your new form, Eve," Paradox replied. "But if you want to stop holding back, go ahead."

With that, Eve transformed into her "Ghost Form." Her skin became translucent and ghostly pale, revealing veins and organs beneath the surface. Her eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, and her hair floated around her head ethereally. Her clothes became diaphanous, almost spectral.

"I've been training a lot, and now I can transform at will and not just on the verge of death," she said, moving swiftly to appear in front of Samael. With her psychic gloves, she dealt a powerful blow to his chest, rupturing a few organs before spinning around and kicking him away.

Within seconds, Samael stood up, his injuries fully healed.

"He truly is dangerous. Good thing we're not around innocents; otherwise, they'd all be dead right now," Paradox observed.

"I can sense one of you has the flames of the underworld, and that must be the arrogant brat who attacked me first," Samael growled.

"Who?" Norika asked, only for Paradox and Eve to point toward her. Angered, she released the Second Rune of her sword, her flames turning blue as she charged at even faster speeds, attempting to lop his head off.

Samael grinned, waiting for the attack, then grabbed her arm, twisted it, broke it, and punched her in the stomach, making her gasp for air before throwing her to the side.

"How does the pain feel? Does it feel wonderful? Does it hurt? I relish in the pain of others, so show me the face you make," Samael taunted.

"He's pretty sick," Paradox and Eve thought to themselves.

To this, Samael was met with laughter, not of sadness but of delight. "Does it hurt? How does it feel? It feels wonderful. The feeling of blood running down your body, the feeling of your bones being crushed, the feeling of utter pain is wonderful," Norika said with a smile.

Ignoring the pain in her body, she charged back at Samael, thrusting her sword forward, which he caught in his hands. He was about to deliver another punch when she shifted her stance, spun mid-air, and coated her leg in fire, sending him flying. She then grabbed her sword again, backflipped, kicked him in the back, and crashed him to the ground before plunging her sword through his brain.

"What's going on? How did she get stronger?" Eve asked in shock.

"Stronger? No, she has always been this strong. She just holds back because of how strong she is. But if there is someone who can fight her as an equal or even hurt her, she changes and lets her wild side out, who doesn't hold back and embraces the pain," Paradox explained.

"Isn't that dangerous? That's not a good way to fight."

"Try telling that to her. I've tried, and it only ended with a sword through my head, so I don't anymore."

"Well, how will the fight go now? Who will win?"

"Norika is going to win. As long as she's in this state, it's near impossible for her to lose. Even I can barely survive against her using all of my power."

Just then, the city of flames changed, turning from red to bright blue from Norika's new flames as she continued to up the intensity of her heat.