Chapter 34: Devil Ignition

Lock

20 Years ago

“We told you we would not detain you for the act of killing Yami, Innocent civilians were not part of that deal,” stated the Atlus officer quietly but firmly. The officer was covered from head to toe. Lock assumed it was to keep himself anonymous as he was high-ranked within Atlus. He wore a long baggy robe with a cloak tied around his neck which came over his helmet. Both were generic and looked like commoner garbs, though it wouldn't surprise Lock if the officer still wore his Atlus uniform under his disguise. The higher-ranked soldiers usually were the most patriotic.

“Actually…” Started Lock before sipping water from his tankard. “She assaulted me…so it was actually self-defense,” he said between sips. The officer only shook his head slightly. His metal cap rattled a little bit.

“Will you keep your voice down?” ordered the officer quietly. “Any word that Atlus is collaborating with mercenaries for foreign affairs will be detrimental for both of us. Not just the empire. You will have a far bigger target on your head.” Lock only nodded.

“Now…am I getting my payment,” asked Lock, disregarding his order to stay quiet. The officer looked slightly his way as they both sat next to each other on separate bar stools. He cleared his throat. “The Relic?” He asked expectantly.

“Huh? Oh, that…yeah…I didn't get it,” Lock admitted nonchalantly,

“You did not bring the Relic?” asked the Atlus officer with confusion strewn across his face. However, Lock was unable to see the older man’s expression. The officer wore a metal cap that covered the top part of his face.

“He didn’t have anything on him except for some coin. He didn't have a Relic like mine, so I didn't know how to actually take it from him” replied Lock before taking a bite of his loaf of bread, tearing it off before chewing. The officer gave a deep sigh.

“I understand you are but a boy but need I remind you this is of the utmost importance,” he once again said quietly, Lock listened idly as he ate his food. “Atlus will receive backlash no doubt from covering up your overly forward and amateur approach on Yami, not to mention…”

“And need I remind you I am not an Atlus lapdog, I’m a hired knife,” He said turning abruptly towards him and cutting off the officer sternly. The officer did not react and kept a blank expression in his mouth. “If you want it so bad, then his body is lying in the dock still,” he said hollering the bartender for more food by raising his arm.

“It must be retrieved by you. I believe you have been educated as to why this is?” he asked rhetorically, alluding to Atlus’s wishes to remain uninvolved. Lock blew out threw his lips as he leaned back in his chair. He gave some space before replying to the officer.

“It’s a long walk back y'know…think I sprained my ankle in that fight,” he said in a mocking tone as if trying to make an excuse not to finish his task. The portly bartender approached with more food for Lock, namely more bread and a refill of onion soup.

“Are you going to be paying for this then?” the tall bartender asked through his thick facial hair, lowering his gaze down to Lock who was already tucking into the food. The officer quickly leaned over and placed a small bag of coins on the old stained counter. The coins inside jingled as they relaxed in the bag.

“I’m buying this round,” the officer said with a completely different mannerism. The bartender only grunted beneath his thick beard. Taking the coin and leaving the bar to count it. Lock’s face seemed to light up in a surprised manner having seen the officer pay for his food.

“Provided you are willing to do your task properly this time?” He warned turning to Lock and leaning in. Lock had no complaints henceforth. He drank the rest of his soup and took his bread to go, hopping off his stool and walking to the exit.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” he said with his back turned and a short wave. The officer watched him retreat from the corner of his eye. Doing his best to keep his cover under wrap as the quiet inn continued around him.

The evening sun shone warmly on Lock’s skin. A free meal may have been enough to persuade him but he still wasn’t thrilled about travelling back to the docks. Still, he took it as it was and enjoyed the stroll back as the orange sun bathed the land. Lock shielded his eyes with his hand as he walked on. He was about ten minutes out from the docks now.

“The officer told me they would close off the docks to the public until the relic had been secured.” Lock sighed to himself, “There better not be more Atlus lapdogs there. I’ve had my fill of them for one day.” He said in an exhausted manner. Lock only saw the bright, overwhelming sun through his fingers as he walked casually back through the valley. The roads were empty, save for wildlife and the occasional village. The main roads were kept free of mana pollution and thus there was no risk of surprise attacks on the road. Lock’s attention was brought fully out of his daydreamed state upon seeing a figure standing on the road. It was hard to make out for the bright sun and the distance. As Lock got closer, he realized the figure wasn’t moving. The person was just standing completely still. They lost or something? As Lock neared the figure, his heart skipped a beat. The figure’s features became more and more visible the closer he got. No! Lock dropped his hand and his face widened in surprise. Yami? Lock stopped in his path as the sleeveless man stood across from him. Yami stood motionless with his head lowered and his arms dangling. His body and clothes were covered in blood, but his wounds were completely gone. His face resembled the way it was before Lock had mangled it. Yami raised his head to meet Lock’s stunned expression. Yami’s eyes looked different. Physically they were the same, but they exuded the presence of a monster. A horror that shouldn’t be witnessed by someone.

“Took yer time getting back here,” Yami said with blood dripping from his chin. His once carefree demeanor had disappeared. It had been replaced with the face of someone else. Someone who could watch hundreds of children burn in front of him and not bat an eye.

“Your…alive?” Asked Lock, still confused as to what Yami had done to survive.

“That’s right, all because you failed tae take my head,” Yami said in a low, cold tone. Because I failed to take his head? That doesn't make any sense. His organs were completely destroyed. Lock’s thoughts were interrupted by Yami's voice.

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“I survived thanks tae Devil Ignition.” Yami stated as he chuckled to himself in a crazed way. “for so lang nue I had been trying tae figure oot what ma da had left me. That note about a hidden ability, a secret technique with the Devil Relic, Oh it bothered me to NO END!” Lock only half listened to what he was saying. Yami appeared to be getting more and more deranged to him as he furthered his speech. The crazed man’s posture became loose, his hand was raised to his face, and made all sorts of strained gestures. It looked as if the man had become possessed. “But that’s all behind me nue! It was on the brink of death when I put all ma focus intae channeling the Relic’s demonic energy, channeling the very core of the relic. And with that desperation, I was able tae figure it oot. With Devil Ignition, I can regenerate my body with demonic energy! Your attempt on ma life was WASTED!” Yami screamed as he laughed maniacally.

“Impossible,” Said Lock flatly. “Demonic energy only enhances the body. It dosent regenerat-”

“QUEIT!” Yelled Yami, interrupting Lock’s sentence. The muscles in Yami’s neck strained as he screamed. He quickly retreated into a small nervous laughter, almost as if he could tell he had gone too far. Lock only watched him with stern a look in his face. He’s unhinged at this point. He could make a move at any moment.

“Devil Ignition lets me transform intae a devil. It’s the raw form that a Relic is made off. Demonic energy cannae regenerate human flesh, but it can regenerate a devil's flesh. And by using this Relic's power, I can transform into a devil. Now, Devil Ignition is what will let me tear you apart!” Yami shouted with an evil grin on his face. His posture was hunched and maniacal, he resembled a completely different person.

“I’m going to be torn apart?” Lock asked rhetorically as he strode confidently to Yami. “I’ve killed you once, I can do it again. Demonic energy is limited. I’ll wear you down until you can’t repair yourself anymore.”

“Devil Ignition!” Yami yelled, his once poor posture had faded as he stood tall to yell the phrase. He held his fist to cover his face, then quickly thrust out his arm. His hand opened which was then followed by a burst of silver demonic energy. The wave flew through the blades of grass, pushing them down all around the two of them. Lock stopped in his path as the wave caused him to stagger. A black cloud emerged around Yami, starting at his feet and traveling to his head to envelope the blood-soaked man completely. The cloud was intersplied with silver specs throughout the raging black vortex. The spiral of cloud then quickly submerged to the ground, reversing its motion and revealing Yami once again. What stood before Lock was unrecognizable. The sleeveless man became quickly covered in complex silver armor, it was sleek and looked alien, yet it was still regal and had the presence of a knight. The helmet had spikes protruding from the helmet, almost as if to form a crown. Yami still held his tall posture with his hand spread out, now covered in an intricate gauntlet. Behind Yami floated four large translucent swords. They were arranged in a line and floated gently behind Yami in an arranged line. Lock stood back in a defensive stance and did his best to ignore the overwhelming presence of demonic energy exuding from Yami.

“Fancy trick, but you're still just as outmatched now,” Lock dashed quickly towards Yami’s right abdomen, entering into a blindspot and readying his fist to strike. Lock grunted with an evil grin on his face but before his fist could connect, Yami had already evaded. Before Lock could figure out how he evaded so quickly without being in a defensive stance, he spotted Yami’s figure further down the road.

Yami held his left, sleek armored hand out towards the muscular man and pointed his finger out. The line of swords behind Yami rearranged intelligently in front of him. All four of the blades came into unison to form the shape of a spearhead, meeting their points together like a cone. The blades then began to spin quickly like a screwdriver. With a flick of Yami’s finger, the amass of swords launched towards Lock at a blistering speed. It rivaled the velocity of a harpoon bolt. Lock had no time to dodge and instead crossed his arms, Imbuing them with demonic energy to enhance his defense. The four sword points crashed into him violently. Lock’s eyes widened and his teeth ground together by the force of the swords. The muscular man was sent back tens of meters. His body dragged across the ground quickly, bringing up soil and dust before his body came to a stop. Yami threw his hand back down to his side with a quick motion. Within seconds, The four swords then returned to their arranged position behind his back. In an instant, a ring of ten silver swords formed around Yami. The points of the swords aimed for the sky as they surrounded him and spun around the man at a blistering speed. Lock sat up and rubbed his head from the impact. He looked at his forearms to gauge the damage. They were bruised badly and bled slightly, but it wasn't fatal. Lock took a focused look toward his armored foe.

Good, no broken bones. So this form enhances all his attributes. He tripped me up there. He stopped the movement of his blades just as they came into contact with me. It acted more like a battering ram than a spear point. The amount of swords he’s willing to put out has increased. He seems to have two different types of swords. His regular ones which he looks to have little control over and more a disposable projectile. Then the four new ones. It was only for a brief moment, but I could sense far more demonic energy coursing through them. I don't think I can stop them with my relic. The amount of demonic energy in those new swords is too much for my relic to handle. I imagine their far more durable than his regular swords as well. He looks to have more control over them too. He was able to arrange them to form complex shapes. Lock sighed to himself as he rose to his feet This is bad…no…It’s fine. It’s the same as any other job. Lock’s sinister grin returned to his face. He dashed towards the mass of swords surrounding Yami tightly. The muscular man kept his pace and thrust out his hand, motioning his fingers which in tandem, stopped one of Yami’s circling blades with a green flash. The rest of the blades quickly crashed into the frozen one. They shattered against it in glistening silver sparks and leaving the armoured man wide open. Yami continued to stand unfazed, his expression unreadable with the helmet covering his face. Silver swords fazed by both sides of him one by one and flew out like arrows toward Lock. They flew out much faster and Yami no longer seemed to worry about his limit of how many he could summon. He only stood with a tall posture with his gauntlets to his side. Lock kept his sprint consistent and dashed across the pale grass, ducking and pivoting between the blades as they flew toward him. Something…feels off about this. Lock thought to himself as a blade flew past his head. Lock’s movements became so fast that he resembled a burst of wind. He dashed and circled the armored man to keep him guessing about his approach. This doesn't feel right. He thought keeping his maniacal smile on his face.

Yami was unfazed by his untamable speed and continued to stare out at the road like a mannequin. This power is nothing like how the Relic used tae be, Thought Yami as his blades floated behind his silver form. I feel, at peace. Even when he destroys my blades or gains a vantage…fear doesn't enter my body. The muscular man finally ended his swift movements. Lunging towards Yami with a lighting quick movement. If only I had found this power sooner…no…that doesn't matter. Yami calmly thought to himself. The blades behind his back quickly arranged into a net formation to block the incoming punch from Lock. They reacted faster than even the short-haired man. His eyes widened with surprise as his punch was repelled. The blades opened up like a door quickly and flung Lock back and into the air. The man was completely exposed and was unable to defend himself. Yami’s armored form turned slowly to face Lock with a pivot. His head raised to meet his eyes under his helmet and he began to extend his left arm, opening his gauntleted palm towards the reppled foe. The swords that were arranged as a shield for Yami quickly flew high to meet their target in the air. Surrounding him and hovering in his vicinity. Each one separated from their formation as they took their path towards him.

“You've taken one goal fae me, then given me another. So as you have taken a life from me, I shall take a life from you,” Upon those words, his gauntlet closed in a firm motion. Both Lock and the silver swords hung in the air for what felt like only a moment. Lock quickly fell to the ground a short distance. He stood back up slowly, his face had the solemn expression of a man who had accepted his fate. Yami returned his arm to his side. The armored form dissipated quickly in the same way it had once appeared. Revealing Yami once again, still covered in blood, though he was unharmed. His expression was neutral as he looked over the muscular man who stood a short distance away.

“Any last words?” asked Yami. Lock met his eye and gave a smug smirk while narrowing his eyes.

“Tell Morrison, thanks for everything,” almost as he finished his sentence, red lines began to form all across Lock’s flesh. They quickly grew in size until parts of his body began to separate. The top of his head slid off, his elbow fell off and before long, Lock was nothing more than a pile of fleshy chunks on the blood-stained grass. With a metal cylinder dropping from him and onto the soil lightly.