Mike stood in the middle of his old room, taking in the emptiness around him. The walls, once filled with posters and memories from his youth, were bare. The weights and punching bag that had seen him through countless rounds of practice as an amateur boxer were long gone. The space felt hollow, the echoes of his first life here distant, as if they belonged to someone else entirely.
Altheack stepped quietly into the room, her presence bringing a warmth that cut through the cold emptiness. She could sense the weight on Mike’s shoulders, the conflict in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” she asked gently, moving closer.
Mike let out a heavy sigh, turning to face her. “I don’t know if I deserve to have someone like you by my side, Altheack. After everything… all the terrible things I’ve done, all the people I’ve killed... Why did you forgive me and Sophia for what happened to your parents? For everything else? And why are you still here, loyal to me, in this new world? It’s been 25 years since I last saw you. Why would you love me now?”
Altheack looked at him with soft, understanding eyes. She reached out and took his hand, her touch steady and reassuring. “Mike, it wasn’t you who killed my mom—it was Gorlion. And my father… he was a dead man the moment the Templars took over his kingdom. I forgave you and Sophia a long time ago.”
She paused, her expression softening as she continued. “You never gave up on me, even when my own family did. You and Sophia, Valicar… you were always there, even when no one else was. I’ve forgiven you both because you were the ones who stood by me, who fought for me. Even as ‘The Beloved of the Sky,’ I was nothing without Valicar,” she added with a chuckle, the sound bittersweet.
She gently touched her eye, the one she had lost in that past life. It was whole now, but the memory of losing it was still vivid. “I love you because you are all I have and all I had. I was sent away to Helm Hold to hide my ‘bastard nature,’ being half-elf and half-human. It was a taboo, especially between two royal lines. My parents abandoned me, but Valicar—you and Sophia—never did. And now, even in a different world, you’ve found me again.”
Mike felt a surge of emotion as her words sank in. He leaned in and kissed her, a soft and lingering kiss that conveyed all the gratitude, love, and longing he felt for her. In that moment, the weight of the past seemed to lift, just a little, as they shared their bond.
But their moment was interrupted as Riko appeared in the doorway, her voice cutting through the quiet. “We need to get going, lovebirds. Time’s running out.”
Mike, Altheack, and Riko descended the stairs of the old apartment building, their footsteps echoing in the silent, abandoned halls. There was a tension in the air that none of them could shake, an unease that gnawed at the edges of their thoughts. As they reached the ground floor, the two cultists assigned to accompany them were already waiting by the door, their expressions tense.
The night outside was still and dark, the air heavy with the scent of decay and neglect. One of the cultists opened the door, stepping outside to scan the surroundings, while the other slid into the driver’s seat of the waiting car, the engine idling quietly. Just as Mike and the others were about to step outside, the beam of headlights cut through the darkness as a police cruiser pulled up, its lights off but its presence undeniable.
Mike’s heart sank, his instincts flaring with a sense of danger. “We’ve got company,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he watched two officers step out of the car.
The officers approached with an unsettling calmness, their faces expressionless. Something about them felt wrong—an eerie sense of malevolence lurking just beneath the surface.
“Evening,” one of the officers said, his voice smooth but carrying a dark undertone. “You folks know this is private property, right? What are you doing here?”
Mike tensed, his hand inching toward the handle of Blue Dusk. “We were just leaving,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. His eyes flicked to Altheack, who stepped forward, trying to keep the situation from escalating.
“We didn’t mean any harm,” Altheack said, her tone calm and diplomatic. “We were just checking on an old property, and now we’re on our way out.”
The officer’s eyes narrowed, suspicion lacing his words. “It’s the dead of night, and you expect us to believe that?”
Riko, sensing that things were about to go south, flashed her badge at the officers. “We’re on official business. There’s no need for this to get complicated.”
The officers glanced at the badge, but their expressions remained unchanged. The darkness behind their eyes seemed to deepen, and a slow, sinister smile spread across one of their faces. “Official business, huh? Doesn’t matter. You’re trespassing, and that’s enough for us to take you in.”
“You don’t seem to understand—” Riko began, but the officer cut her off sharply.
“Quit resisting!” he yelled, and before anyone could react, the officers drew their guns and fired. The night exploded with the sound of gunfire, and the two cultists didn’t even have time to scream before they were gunned down, their bodies crumpling to the ground.
Mike’s reflexes kicked in instantly. He summoned Blue Dusk, the purple flames igniting along the blade. As the bullets neared him and Altheack, they disintegrated into ash, the protective aura of the sword shielding them both.
Riko’s eyes widened with fury as she watched the cultists fall. “You bastards!” she snarled, her voice thick with rage as she chanted, "Kas yalraula." Drawing upon the souls of the fallen cultists, she unleashed a concussive blast that sent the officers staggering back—one to the ground, the other onto the hood of the patrol car.
“They’re under a demonic pact!” Riko spat, her voice filled with disgust.
The officers recovered quickly, their eyes now glowing with a sinister, dark light. Realizing that their guns were useless, they discarded them and raised their hands, dark energy swirling around them. They lashed out with bolts of shadow, the tendrils of darkness streaking toward the group.
Mike didn’t hesitate. He moved in close, his flaming sword cutting through the darkness like a hot knife through butter. “You had your chance,” he muttered coldly. With a powerful swing, he sliced one officer clean in half, the flames of Blue Dusk consuming the darkness within. The demon within let out a final, agonized shriek before the officer’s body collapsed into a charred husk.
He winced at the sight, the weight of another life lost to a demonic deal heavy on his conscience. “Poor bastard,” Mike muttered under his breath. “But you made your choice.”
The second officer launched another shadow bolt, but Altheack was ready. She focused on the cracks in the pavement, summoning the weeds that lay dormant beneath. The plants surged upward, wrapping around the officer’s limbs, holding him in place just long enough for Riko to act.
With a sharp gesture, Riko unleashed the soul of one of the fallen cultists, transforming it into a bolt of pure mana aimed directly at the demon’s core. The energy struck true, obliterating the dark force within the officer. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless as the demonic influence was purged.
The street fell silent once more, the night air heavy with the tension of the battle that had just ended. Mike, Altheack, and Riko exchanged glances, the reality of the situation sinking in.
“We’re running out of time,” Riko said, urgency threading her voice. She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. “We need an update on the situation. We can’t afford any more delays.”
As Riko coordinated with the cult, Mike’s phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting the moment. He pulled it out, surprised to see the name on the screen—his Mom. The cult had recently returned his phone to him, and seeing their number now brought a wave of emotion.
He hesitated, then answered the call. “Mom…”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Mike’s hand trembled slightly as he held the phone to his ear, bracing himself for what he knew would be an emotional conversation. His mother’s voice crackled through the line, frantic and heavy with fear.
“Mike? Mike, is that you?” Her voice was shaky, on the edge of hysteria. “Where have you been? We haven’t heard from you in days! We’ve been worried sick! The news… the news is saying there are attacks happening everywhere, and people are dying, and—” She broke off, her voice catching as if she was struggling to hold back tears.
“Mom, I’m okay,” Mike said, his voice low and calm, though inside, he felt a storm brewing. He glanced over at Riko, who had her phone pressed to her ear as well, her face pale, eyes wide with a growing sense of dread. The look on her face confirmed his worst fear—the second wave had begun.
“But Mike, the news—there’s so much chaos! They’re saying it’s not just here, it’s all over the world! Europe, Asia, even down south… people are panicking, they’re talking about demons, about people losing their minds. What’s going on? Where are you? Are you safe?”
“I’m safe, Mom. I promise,” Mike reassured her, though the weight of the situation made the words feel hollow. “I’m… I’m working on something important. Something that might help stop all of this. But I need you to trust me, okay? I need you to stay calm, stay safe, and know that I’m doing everything I can.”
“But why is this happening? Who’s doing this? Are you… are you involved in some way? I don’t understand, Mike. I’m scared for you, for all of us!”
Mike swallowed hard, his mind racing to find the right words. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he couldn’t tell her the full truth—not now, not when things were spiraling out of control. “Mom, it’s complicated. There are… things happening that I can’t explain right now. But I need you to know that I’m fighting to make things right. I need you to believe that.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Mike could hear his mother’s breath hitch, the sound of her holding back sobs. “I don’t want to lose you, Mike. Not again. Please, just… promise me you’ll come home. Promise me you’ll be safe.”
Mike closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her plea settle heavily on his shoulders. “I promise, Mom. I’ll do everything I can to come home. But if something happens… I want you to know that I’m grateful for everything you and Dad have done for me. This life… it’s been more than I could have ever asked for.”
“Mike, don’t talk like that!” she cried, her voice breaking. “You’re scaring me!”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I don’t mean to scare you,” Mike said softly, glancing at Riko again, who had finished her call and was now staring at him, her expression grim. “But I need you to understand that things might get worse before they get better. Just… stay strong, okay? For me.”
His mother’s voice was barely a whisper now, fragile and filled with fear. “I love you, Mike. Please, come back to us.”
“I love you too, Mom. Tell Dad I love him, and that I’m sorry for worrying you both. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”
There was a long pause, filled with unspoken words, before his mother finally said, “Be safe, Mike. Please… be safe.”
“I will,” Mike said, his voice steady, though his heart was heavy with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. He ended the call, letting the phone slip from his hand as he stared off into the distance, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him like a weight he could barely hold.
Before he could fully process the conversation, Riko stepped closer, her voice cutting through the fog of his thoughts. “Mike, it’s happening. The second wave… it’s worse than we thought. Get in the car—we have to hurry."
Without waiting for a response, she moved with urgency, sliding into the front seat. The stillness of the night was shattered as she unceremoniously shoved the lifeless body of the dead cultist aside, making room for Altheack and Mike, who quickly piled into the back seat.
The urgency in the air was palpable as Riko started the car, the engine roaring to life as they sped off into the night. The darkened streets blurred past, the headlights cutting through the gloom as they left the scene of chaos behind them.
As they drove, Mike leaned forward, his voice tense with worry. "Where are we headed? What’s the plan?"
Riko's hands gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles white. "There’s a safe house nearby. We’ll regroup there and figure out our next move. But Mike… it’s bad. The demons have learned from their mistakes. They’re not just attacking—they’re orchestrating chaos on a global scale."
Altheack, her voice tinged with fear and determination, asked, "What exactly are we dealing with?"
Riko didn’t take her eyes off the road as she continued. "They’ve started coup attempts in every major country. Civil wars are breaking out, and it’s all part of their plan. The worst part? An AI was just brought online to help fight the demons, but its creator—someone high up in the U.S. military—has been corrupted. There’s a battle happening right now at the research facility in France between loyal troops and those who’ve been turned by the demons."
Altheack’s face paled at the news. "This is worse than anything we’ve faced before. We need to find a way back to Caldera, but… we can’t just leave this world to burn."
Mike nodded, though his mind was spinning with the weight of what they were facing. "We’ll stop the AI first, but after that, we need to focus on getting back to Caldera."
Riko glanced at him in the rearview mirror, her expression grim. "There’s a way to do both. The research facility is in France. After we deal with the AI, there’s a place in northern Italy—Zaltheral’s old base. It’s been kept safe by the cult since Roman times. If there’s a way back to Caldera, we’ll find it there."
Mike exchanged a look with Altheack, both of them feeling the gravity of the situation. They knew the path ahead was treacherous, but they had no choice. They had to stop the AI and then find a way back home—no matter what it took.
As they raced through the chaotic streets, the city was a war zone. Flames engulfed buildings, and the sound of gunfire echoed in the night. Civilians and police alike fired at demonic beings that prowled through the chaos. Mike tightened his grip on Blue Dusk, his eyes scanning the destruction as they sped past. A group of demons tearing through a line of desperate defenders caught his attention.
"We have to help them!" Altheack shouted from the backseat, her voice filled with urgency. She leaned out of the window, chanting, "Ha Vuras!" Green energy surged from her hand, roots and vines erupting from the ground to ensnare a demon, holding it in place just long enough for her to chant again, "Jeures!" A burst of pure light blasted the creature, reducing it to ashes as they sped by.
Mike’s instincts screamed to stop, to leap from the car and fight, to save as many people as he could. But a darker, more familiar urge tugged at him—the part of him that reveled in the fight, that saw these people as nothing more than obstacles in his quest to be a hero. His jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the handle of his sword.
"Mike, focus!" Riko barked, her voice cutting through his internal conflict. "There are bigger things at stake. We can’t stop for everyone. If we don’t get to Europe, all of this will be for nothing."
Mike clenched his teeth, forcing himself to look away from the scenes of devastation. He raised Blue Dusk, and with a swift motion, sent a wave of purple flame through the open window, crashing into a group of demons just as they tore into another defender. The flames consumed the demons, their shrieks of pain lost in the roar of the engine as the car sped onward. The people they saved shouted in relief, but Mike barely registered it. His heart was torn, his modern self aching for those he couldn’t help, while his past self burned with impatience, eager to move on and face the greater challenge ahead.
As the car weaved through the burning streets, Mike fought an internal battle with each passing second. The urge to fight, to prove himself, clashed with the need to protect the innocent. Yet, time was slipping away, and he knew they couldn’t afford to stop. His grip on Blue Dusk tightened as he sent another blast of purple flames toward a cluster of demons, cutting them down as they sped past.
"We’re almost there!" Riko shouted over the roar of the engine as they broke free of the city limits and sped toward the outskirts. The flames and gunfire slowly faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet, eerie calm of the rural landscape. But the battle inside Mike raged on, his resolve hardening with each passing moment.
Finally, they reached a secluded building near a small airstrip. Riko parked the car and jumped out, quickly making her way to a nearby tarp-covered object. With a swift pull, she revealed an old, weathered plane hidden beneath.
Mike stared at the plane—it appeared to be a crop duster—skepticism clear in his voice. "How the hell is that supposed to get us to Europe?"
Riko shot him a serious look, her voice flat. "Magic. And a fuck ton of souls. Go grab the crystal out of the building."
"What crystal... oh, never mind," Mike muttered as he made his way to the building. He kicked open the door and grabbed what he recognized as soul crystals, storing the souls of the dead for power.
As he came out carrying a crate of them, he noticed Altheack standing by the edge of the airstrip, her eyes fixed on the distant glow of the burning city. There was a troubled look on her face, her expression haunted by the thought of the people they had left behind.
"We have to make it count," Altheack said softly, her voice tinged with guilt and sorrow.
Mike, sensing her distress, set down the crate and reached out to grab her hand, his grip strong yet gentle. "We will make it count," he promised, his voice steady and filled with determination. The act of comforting her brought a sense of calm to his own stormy thoughts, grounding him in the moment.
Riko’s voice cut through the air as she finished prepping the plane. "Time to go!"
With a resigned nod, Mike picked up the crate and followed Altheack onto the plane, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders. They knew what was at stake, and they were ready to face whatever came next.
As the plane's engines roared to life and they took off into the night, Altheack squeezed Mike’s hand, drawing comfort from his presence. "I just can’t stop thinking about all those people we couldn’t save," she murmured, the guilt still gnawing at her.
Mike looked at her, his heart heavy with the same burden. But this time, it was his turn to be the strong one. "We’ll save who we can," he said firmly. "And we’ll stop the ones responsible for this. Together."
Altheack nodded, her resolve hardening as she looked ahead into the darkness. The warmth of Mike’s hand in hers was a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this fight. And for the first time in a long while, that thought brought her a measure of peace.
The plane continued to climb, heading towards the unknown with a resolve that would carry them through the darkest of times.