“So Alix?” I ask, sitting across from him on the couch. “I had a thought, why haven't I heard anything about people being traumatized upon entering the afterlife?”

“Huh?” Alix sitting on the couch book in hand pauses for a moment before registering the question. “Oh, that's because spirits aren't allowed to keep their memory.”

“What, Why not?” I ask, getting frustrated. That's one of the main reasons the system was made. To preserve memories.

“What the public is told is that memories are part of the body, only your soul can enter the afterlife. But the real reason is that the Originals can bribe people with the promise of gaining some lost memories.”

“That's actually cruel.”

“Agreed, which is why I'm not going to lie about it.”

“I told you that you should lie about it anyways.” Emily adds placing her hands on her hips.

“It's cruel and frankly unforgivable,” Alix insists.

I began to nod and open my mouth to say something, but a sharp look from Emily makes me decide that I'm not helping.

“Traitor,” Alix murmurs at my sudden silence.

“My issue with you telling the truth about a massive secret is what if an Original hears about it. You know how they can be when it comes to keeping control over the population.” Emily scolds, tone making it clear there were to be no retorts.

Alix wasn't listening or didn't care when he spoke. “They also know that murdering everyone who talks back to them is going to sway everyone else against them. They have power, but not enough power to fight billions.”

Emily’s glare sharpens even more. Her eyes make it clear that she wishes intense pain upon her victim. “And I’ve told you, before. that people won't care. about us going missing.” she says, spitting the words out.

“It's not like we…” Alix’s retort is cut off by a large bang.

The large bang sounded like a bomb going off. Seconds later a shock wave follows, blasting out all the windows and shaking the ground like an earthquake. Outside a short distance away a large dust cloud floats up into the sky.

“What the fuck is that?” I shout.

“Come on, let's go find out.” Alix says, jumping off the couch, voice serious.

Arriving at the blast zone, the night sky was lit up by several burning buildings. There is a small crater in the middle of the road, a humanoid stands at the center. The humanoid appears to be made of charcoal. It has red glowing eyes and produces a raging fire from all over its body.

“A demon!” Alix shouts, summoning his massive sword.

“What's a demon?” I ask.

“Don't have much time to explain.” Emily says, making a fireball in one hand. “But, to keep it simple they show up randomly and try to destroy everything.”

“That doesn't sound good.” I state the obvious.

The demon isn't content on being left out of the conversation. He jumps, attempting to land on top of Alix who took up the front. Alix leaps back. The demon’s landing creates a shockwave of flame. Alix somehow cuts the wave of fire with his sword before charging in. The demon recovering from its earlier attack does not attempt to block. Alix’s sword strikes it before bouncing off.

“Bastards tough,” he scowls before backing off.

Alix backing off allows Emily to safely throw her fireball. Well, safely enough. The blast from Emily’s fireball throws chunks of asphalt and charred dirt on Alix's face. He looks back wearing a ‘really’ expression. It took a second for the dust to settle. In that second the demon threw a punch at Alix. Alix meets the punch with his sword. The powerful punch sends out another wave of fire. The wave of fire hits Emily and I, sending us both back a few feet. Standing up, I do a quick damage check. The fall didn't hurt but my entire right side was burnt, making it hard to see or move on that side of my body. My body quickly heals. I turn my attention to Emily who appears better off. She barely looks charred. Maybe she has some natural fire resistance or something?

“You alright?” Alix asks, shoving the demon’s fist away before backing up even more.

“Yup,” we both answer.

“Alright, this thing is strong,” Alix says.

The demon lets out a bellowing roar as its attack is fended off again. Summoning my katana, I can't help but think about how this is the final battle in an action movie or something.

“Max, how much spirit energy do you have?” Alix shouts, authority in his tone.

“About forty.” I reply, stopping beside him.

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“Not that much then.” Alix looks slightly down in thought, casually dodging the demon's fist. “We need a large attack to damage this thing. Max, you're on distraction, get its attention. Emily, launch attacks when it looks safe to.”

“What are you going to do?” I ask.

“Oh me, I'm going to deal the damage while it's busy.” he says, a smile growing on his face.

Maybe a bit of a battle enthusiast. It makes sense, a battle without the fear of pain, and an unlikely chance of death. I'm even starting to have fun. Shaking my head to clear the useless thoughts I run in. Immediately my face meets with a fist. Should have seen that coming. At least it didn't put much fire behind that one. I stood from where the punch, or more accurately from where I fell after I ran into its fist. I turn about ten spirit energy into the lightning element. The slight increase in movement speed, and reaction time allows me to dodge more easily.

The demon throws a punch. Darting to the side a wave of fire flies out from the fist in all directions. Fire flying at my face, I put up a shield made from the spirit energy in the air.

You have gained the skill Energy Shield

Create a stationery shield made out of spirit energy from the air

Nice, that should help. I wonder if it makes me use it faster. The demon punches don't stop for long. A second later another punch is being aimed at my face. This time, I decide to try out the Energy Shield. Placing the shield in front of the demon's fist. The shield takes the hit, resisting for a second before shattering. The punch losing a lot of momentum gives me enough time to dodge. I duck, a wave of concentrated flame flows above my head, appearing more like a large laser.

“Out of the way!” Alix shouts, from above me.

Alix now in the air is falling. His greatsword glowing a light blue, which I could only assume is filled with spirit energy. Registering his words, I jump back as far as I can. Less than a second later Alix’s sword is buried in the demon’s right forearm. The demon resists. Using its other arm to shove the sword back at Alix. Alix presses harder, the light blue glow of his sword turns dark blue. Alix pushes, shoving the sword deeper into the demon's arm. The demon, realizing it's being overpowered, steps to the side, allowing Alix to completely remove its lower arm. The demon steps back, letting out a feral growl. Now enraged the demon begins to move on Alix with renewed vigour. Alix steps aside as a large twisting fireball hits the demon directly. A massive explosion that dwarfs the demon's own entrance ensues. Emily who is standing at the back sits down exhausted.

“Did we do it?” I ask, hoping it was over.

Another angry roar thunders from the new crater. Guess not.

“Same strategy!” Alix commands.

Charging back in I have to refresh the lightning element that increases my speed. Only twenty spirit energy left. Much more of this and it's over. This is officially no longer fun. Stepping into the demon's range, the demon looks dishearteningly good. The arm is still gone but the explosion appears to have done little to no damage. Looking closer I can see a slight crack on its waist. The only proof that it had been hit by Emily at all.

Getting within reach of the demon, it attempts to grab me. Ducking under its arm I hit its waist with my sword. The sword bounces off as expected. The demon brings its fist down attempting to smash me. Jumping back, I watch again as Alix hammers the thing with his sword. This time however, the demon couldn't block. Alix’s sword meets the demon's back. The demon's tough body only allows the sword to barely break through the outer crust.

“There's a crack on its waist!” I shout, hoping it may be of use.

Alix looks up then down at the demon that was now standing up. Alix kicks the demon to the ground, dislodging his giant sword. Alix winds up to take another swing. Directing his attack at the slight crack in its waist. The demon flips onto its back and moves to put its arm up to block the impact. Shoving five more spirit energy into the lightning element, I dash back in. Putting my sword up, shoving all the lightning elements into my sword, I swing it down on the demon's arm. The hit, not enough to sever the arm, smacks it back to the ground. Alix swings down hitting the demon directly in its waist, right on top of the crack Emily created. The impact cut the demon in half.

“About time it's over.” I say sitting down.

“Agreed.” Alix says, shoving his sword into the air where it disappears.

I watch as the demon’s body disappears into a black fog.

“What is that?” I ask, gesturing to the black fog that is now growing.

“I don’t know. Whatever energy comes from demons. In a few minutes it should turn to spirit energy.” Alix answers, glancing at the fog.

“Oh and don't touch it.” Emily adds, sitting down next to Alix.

“Why not!” I ask, getting up to take a closer look.

“Because it will hurt.” Alix says.

“I thought spirits couldn't feel pain?” I dont have the heart to tell them I'm going to touch it anyways.

“That stuff is different. As far as I know that's the only thing that makes you feel pain.” Alix says, the look he gave me makes it clear that he suspects my intentions.

I quickly prove Alix correct, as I put my hand into the fog. Immediately my vision blurs. My brain fogs. I can't think. I can't feel anything but pain. Nothing exists in my mind, not even the idea of thought, people, language, nothing but pain.

Waking up, I'm laying on the ground, Alix and Emily sitting next to me.

“That was stupid.” Alix says.

“Agreed, and even after I warned you.” Emily adds.

“I had to feel it for myself.” I say, sitting up, “besides, you severely underestimated how much that would hurt.” I stand up, the black energy turning blue. “I wonder what that black smoke is.”

It's weird, the black fog looks the same as spirit energy. The only difference is color and density. The black fog looks more dense than when I punched Jack with my lightning fist. Maybe it's about power? That demon was a lot stronger than Jack.

My thoughts are confirmed as the black fog turns blue.

“Max, I say you get first pick at the energy.” Alix spoke, standing up alongside Emily.

“What do you mean?” I say, confused.

“What's there to be confused about?” he asks, also looking confused.

“What do you mean by first picks?”

“You get to take the spirit energy first.”

“Do I take up a little bit or a lot?”

“Take as much as you need. In this case there is a lot to go around.”

Reaching my hand out, I quickly reach my maximum amount of spirit energy.

Max

Level:

14

Spirit energy:

170/170

Class: Energy Manipulator

Skills: Rapid regeneration, Energy shield