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SOULBOUND
Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Later, in the dead of night, Rafa was plagued by a bone-chilling nightmare. He dreamt that the darkness swallowed him, rendering his eyes useless.

As he desperately reached out, questioning his very existence, the air turned icy, sending uncomfortable tingles across his skin. A deafening silence pierced his ears, leaving him disoriented and unsure of his surroundings.

Suddenly, a faint glimmer of light appeared in the distance, casting a subtle glow on the eerie scene. Shadows danced ominously along the floor, swirling through the thick clouds.

As the light grew brighter, a horrifying sight unfolded before Rafa's eyes. The clouds transformed into shades of purple and red, revealing twisted figures lurking within.

Countless demons emerged from the elongated shadows, scattered across a desolate landscape. The air grew heavy with an indescribable sense of despair and Rafa couldn't help but question his whereabouts.

Then in a chilling display, the demons turned their attention toward the intensifying light, their urgent frenzy driving them to charge toward the growing illumination. Some crawled on all fours, while others took to the skies with their bat-like wings, emitting blood-curdling shrieks that echoed through the twilight. They trampled over each other, crushing anything in their path.

As the demons converged on the light, a thunderous roar echoed through the realm. The clouds shook, and the flying demons plummeted to the ground in a chaotic spectacle, their movements abruptly halted. Rafa, overwhelmed by fear, found himself unable to stand, burdened by an invisible weight on his soul. Yet, the light endured, growing larger and more radiant than ever before.

Suddenly, a massive silhouette sank from above, landing next to the light. The impact dispersed the clouds in every direction, and as the figure stood tall, it unveiled itself as a towering demon with menacing horns and a devilish tail.

Rafa sensed the weight of its presence pressing upon him, as it flashed a sinister grin, its fiery red eyes gleaming with malevolence. With a voice that sent shivers down Rafa's spine, the demon uttered, "It's been far too long. I am Belial, the sovereign ruler... over you," he proclaimed to the demons, his wicked smile stretching as his tail lashed against the floor.

As the demons let out piercing cries, their efforts to rise from the ground proved futile. One demon, however, boldly rose, emitting a mighty roar, as it dared to challenge Belial.

Its formidable physique boasted a bull's head, a kangaroo body, and the powerful arms of a tiger.

Belial smirked, acknowledging the demon's prowess. "Impressive," he remarked, beckoning him closer with a curl of his finger, tempting him to vie for power.

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The demon then unleashed a fiery blast from its nostrils, causing its nose ring to glow intensely.

It leaped and accelerated with incredible speed, lunging at Belial, with tremendous agility.

But just as it was about to reach him, Belial quickly put his palm out to face the ground. And with a swift powerful motion, he lifted, summoning a demonic hand from the earth. Blood spewed in all directions as the hand mercilessly crushed and dragged the demon beneath the surface.

Belial swallowed and let out a satisfied burp, relishing in the taste. "Mmm..." he said, savoring the moment. "So delicious. I can see now," he continued. "That you were a formidable leader in your lifetime. It's such a shame you were never worshipped."

His smile turned into a menacing look as he asked, "Anyone else have something they would like to add?"

He was surrounded by the seemingly infinite horde of demons. A few more had risen, their numbers growing to tens and then rapidly swelling into the hundreds. But then in an instant they all dropped to their knees, their heads bowed in reverent submission before Belial.

A wicked grin spread across Belial's face, pleased by their unwavering devotion. "Excellent," he remarked.

He extended his hand and pulled down on the air with his fingertips as if manipulating the very fabric of space. Suddenly, the struggling demons that couldn't rise at all were crushed under an invisible weight, their bones gruesomely snapping.

Rafa was in a state of disbelief. If he hadn't managed to get up, would he have suffered the same fate? He pondered to himself.

His heart pounded in his chest as he again questioned the very nature of his surroundings. Was he truly standing in the depths of hell?

He dared not make a single movement, afraid that it would reveal his presence to Belial. Thankfully, Belial's attention was captivated by the radiant light which was suspended in the air like a portal to another dimension.

With curiosity burning in his eyes, Belial peered into the light and saw within it a laboratory. One where a scientist toiled away, seemingly performing intricate procedures on a patient.

"Okay, it's time to close you up now." Spoke the scientist as he loomed over the light from the other side.

Then in a swift and decisive move, Belial took the scientist by the throat, reaching in and pulling him through the portal. "You will do no such thing!" he demanded.

The scientist's eyes widened in terror as he found himself surrounded by the nightmarish landscape of what appeared to be hell, his panic escalating with every passing moment.

Just before succumbing to Belial's grip, he caught a glimpse of Rafa in the distance, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. With a forceful toss, Belial sent the scientist hurtling back through the portal, his mind reeling from the encounter.

Turning to face his fellow demons, a mischievous smile played upon Belial's lips as he addressed them, acknowledging their shared urgency to escape the vast, desolate void.

However, as he confidently stepped toward the portal, reaching out to touch it, a sudden force materialized, engulfing him in a surge of energy. A powerful zap then propelled him forcefully backward, staggering him in astonishment. "What sorcery is this?!" he exclaimed, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

As Belial's body crackled with burns, he regained his composure. "Why did that happen?" he questioned, his voice echoing into the air. "I had just reached inside moments ago."

The thought of someone casting a spell crossed his mind. "But who?!" he demanded, striding purposefully towards the portal.

Peering inside once more, he witnessed a man picking up the source of light and tossing it over his shoulder. Panic surged through Belial as the man burst through an exit and fled the laboratory.

Enraged, Belial let out a deafening roar that sent Rafa cowering in fear. Rafa stumbled backward, a cloud of dust swirling around him.

Belial swiftly turned his head towards Rafa, his eyes filled with fury.

In a state of sheer terror, Rafa desperately scrabbled backward, his heart pounding in his chest. "Oh no, c'mon Rafa! Snap out of it!" he pleaded with himself, his voice trembling.

As Belial pointed in his direction, commanding the other demons to attack, Rafa's every instinct screamed at him to flee. Frantically, he turned around, his fingers scratching and clawing at the ground, desperately trying to gain traction. But it was too late. A powerful grip seized his leg and yanked him forcefully.

His eyes squeezed shut, overwhelmed by a wave of dread. Then suddenly, he snapped awake in his bed, gasping for breath as his mother tugged at his leg, urging him to wake up.