"Speech"
'Thoughts'
["Speech Through Technology"]
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…
On the streets, people came and went within large crowds. One would assume that, given the pitch-black sky, it would be night. However, it was actually considered the afternoon if you asked anyone on the street.
The lampposts, tall lights, and other illuminating devices were numerous. Within the walls of the city and society, light was plentiful, leading most to forget the darkness around them.
It only took one look at the wilderness to see that outside of the city, outside of society, there was no light. An absolute void greeted anyone who strayed too far.
The end of light. The edge of truth and ideal. Once strayed into, one could only imagine what—no,how many,lay in wait.
These could be seen as dead zones.
Where the unknown hides in wait. Where the fear of the unknown isn't so much acknowledged, but rather an absolute.
You know not what hides in thatdark.
But it knows you.
It follows you.
It loves you.
For you will step into it. Time and time again, without fail. They even have favorites.
And exactly within an alley, another dead zone, does one hide.
It so happened this time that a young boy and his mother passed by. The boy bounced a basketball as he walked down the street with his mother.
As he threw the ball back onto the ground with the same speed, the same repetition. The ball suddenly shot to the right!
Directly into the alley.
The boy immediately stopped his movements. He tried to rationalize it. He had been bouncing the ball the same way since he left the house, right? So, how did it suddenly swerve right into that dark alley?
The boy checked, looking around at the adults and even his own mother, to see if she had seen what he had. No one seemed to be paying him any mind. No mind to the ball either.
His mother, still on the phone, was walking slowly. It wouldn't hurt to get the ball, right? After all, it was still within the light shadows of the alley.
It would be fine. His mother was walking slowly, and he calculated her steps to his sprint, which would allow him to reach without even being detected as missing. It was fine.
But as he walked towards the ball, it somehow rolled deeper into the alley faster. The boy, puzzled, slowed his walk to a crawl as if testing something.
The ball immediately followed suit, slowing its roll to a crawl.
"Pftt!" The boy, absolutely flabbergasted, began walking faster after noticing the bullshitery!
The ball followed suit and sped up its roll!
The boy immediately stopped.
The ball stopped.
The boy looked around suspiciously. Left, right, down, back, front, and finally up. Was God playing a prank on him? This was obvious proof that God existed, right?
The boy once again looked at the ball, mean-mugging the ball as if it were denying him his right as its owner.
It was decided, rather quickly, that it was time to go big or go home! The boy broke into a full-speed sprint. He was fully intending on getting this ball!
And the ball rolled. But, it appeared the ball's top speed, which was slower than before for some reason, was slower than the boy's full sprint.
The boy lowered himself and, with both hands, yoinked the ball off the ground!
Stopping his speed with a slide, the boy looked rather pleased with himself. The ball seemed to be guided by some stupid physics, so getting one over on whatever it was felt good.
That was until he felt something standing behind him. It was more so that he felt heavy breathing.
Closing his eyes while looking downward, the boy tried holding in his scream. It made him look like he was trying not to laugh.
Quickly trying to spin around, "Didd—?!" The boy didn't have a chance to finish his sentence as he was tackled into the unseen parts of the alley.
Somehow, this alleyway was larger than normal. A multi-convergence of pathways seemed to connect to its size.
However, there was another destination the creature had in mind. It had made a small territory and home out of these large dark-zone alleyways.
As soon as it got to its favored feeding spot, it stopped moving.
It sat up on its two legs. Its six arms now free to hold the boy, it began trying to start from the head.
The creature's chest was malformed. The ribs protruded outwards while the stomach sank inwards. Its skin was covered in small feeler-imitating flesh buds. The eyes were large white attachments made to its head, and the seemingly malnourished state it looked to be in did it no favors.
The hands wrapped around the boy's mouth, arms, and legs respectively as the creature began to open its mouth.
The mouth split open like a raccoon ripping open a trash bag. There weren't teeth, but rather many small spikes that dotted the insides. Drool leaked incessantly.
The moment the mouth opened wide enough to engulf the boy's head, it was time. This would be the first big meal it had had since—
"You gonna finish that?"
At the sound of the voice, the creature paused, quickly turning around.
Catching a glance at the thing in front of it—
White hair, incredibly icy blue eyes that seemed to stare through into the creature, and a red trench coat?!
A full-body shiver hit the creature immediately. This was… the monster in red!
The creature immediately threw the boy at the monster and ran for its life.
Catching the boy thrown at him, the so-called "monster in red" looked shocked.
He looked at the absolutely terrified creature made from nightmares made manifest, and sighed.
"Am I that terrible?" He mumbled to himself before putting the terrified boy down.
"Alright, kid. You've got your ball, your mom's that way, then take a right." Dante said, pointing to one of the alley exits.
Dante paused for a moment.
"Right, forgot you can't see."
He spun the boy onto his feet.
"Run straight that way."
Dante gave the boy a push forward, and the boy began running.
Now that the boy was gone! Dante disappeared immediately as if he never existed.
The creature, however, was still running away. The brightness levels were noticeably increasing as the creature got closer to an exit of the alley.
As it did so, steps could be heard. From the exit of the alley, walking without a care in the world was Dante?
He turned his head, facing the creature's direction. It immediately froze and looked behind it, already prepared to run in the opposite direction.
As soon as it set its sights on the other side of the alley, walking visibly to the side of the alley was Dante?!
No matter how many times the creature turned its head back and forth, from front to back, Dante was pacing around at the end of it.
Escape was impossible. This was known now. The final stand for the creature had begun, and a roar of absolute want for survival was about to tear through its throat.
But, right as it was about to, Dante appeared. Sword in hand, Dante swung it upward with all the forward momentum he had.
The creature went flying up into the air! Right as it did so, Dante jumped up beside it! The height he cleared was far greater than any human could.
Dante did a rapid number of forward thrusts, blood from the creature flowing through the air as his sword met flesh.
Stabbing through to the spine, while still mid-air, Dante spun rapidly at an angle. The creature's momentum sent it flying off the sword!
But, once again, before it hit the ground, Dante was already there with another launching attack!
Deterioration grinded against the ground, sparks not even flying as it cut through whatever amount of pavement it was put against.
With Dante's upward slash being unhindered, his sword struck true. The creature's body was sliced clean in two.
The upward slash was even enough to bring Dante's feet off the ground and into the air.
Both halves of the creature, sliced vertically, split, spraying blood across the alley. The creature finally lay dead.
Dante, lifting his head, was about to walk out of the alley.
"That was so cool!"
Until he heard a loud cheer coming from someone undeniably young.
Turning his head to look, Dante came face-to-face with the same child he had saved.
"You're like a superhero!" The boy was absolutely giddy. He completely ignored the blood that covered almost everything.
"A superhero?" Dante tasted the words on his lips. "Nah, I'm not—actually let's go with that."
Dante gave a small, almost-tired smile.
"But, what kind of hero are you?" As the boy spoke, he analyzed Dante's fit. "Your hair is white, you wear a lot of red. Hmmm."
Rather than letting him make up some goofy name, Dante decided he would beat him to the punch.
"You know about the Power Rangers, kid?"
The boy's eyes widened to their extreme.
"Oh, hell yeah!" The boy immediately shouted. "I knew you guys were real! But, what ranger are you? You didn't use any transformation."
Dante chuckled to himself as he watched the kid, whose eyes were sparkling, try to guess his ranger color.
"You've gotta be the Red Ranger!"
"Good guess!" Dante applauded. "But not quite!" Dante quickly, and in dramatic fashion, swiped the open part of his trench coat. Thus, he allowed it to flow through the wind, with an additional cool factor.
"Then which is it!?"
He couldn't leave the boy hanging now, could he?
Taking a slight pose, Dante gestured to himself. "I'm the White Ranger! And I've been fighting evil all day, so I didn't have the energy to transform."
The boy nodded along, but as he nodded, he slowed and finally stopped.
"Then why are you almost all red?" The boy's criticism was valid.
"You know a ranger can be two different colors, right?"
"Of course, I know that!"
The boy suddenly thought of something.
"All rangers say their color phrases, right? You know, the Red Ranger says 'red power!' And stuff. Say it!"
"Alright, I'll say it." Dante sighed at the enthusiasm. "White pow—uugghhh."
Realizing what he was actually about to say, Dante stopped himself. But, it appears the cheerful child didn't hear his stopping of himself.
"White power! White power!" The boy said cheerfully, unaware of what he may actually be saying.
Dante quickly put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't say that."
"Why not?" The boy didn't get it.
"Just don't."
Watching a child of presumably his same African-American origins say that wasn't something he could allow.
"Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, what's your name?" Masterfully switching the topic, Dante asked for the name of the dark-skinned child.
"My name's Arron."
"Alright then, Arron!" Dante spoke with some enthusiasm. "Your mother is extremely worried about you! She's now straight out of this alley and to the right. You should head out now."
Arron nodded, quickly darting forward with a smile on his face.
Right as he got to the edge of the alley, he suddenly paused.
"Oh, right!" He turned, only to see the alley clean and without anyone in it. "So cool."
"I'm definitely going to be a Power Ranger when I grow up. Mom isn't going to believe this!" Arron said as he ran out of the alley.
…
As I walked my way home, people on the street gave me looks. The most common look was either a double check or flat-out staring.
I paid it no mind. What was really on my mind was going home and getting some sleep. I had been killing eldritch creatures for three days straight.
The so-called "Black Orbs" were obtained by killing. But the amount dropped by eldritch creatures seemed based on their strength. That last one I killed dropped 50. That's it, just 50.
In total, I had 114,318 Black Orbs. I had put some into statistics to test it, but—actually, speaking of statistics.
▅▆▇█〘Statistics〙█▇▆▅
Minor Increase In Strength
[Cost]: 150 | [Total]: 2
Minor Increase In Speed
[Cost]: 150 | [Total]: 4
Minor Increase In Energy
[Cost]: 250 | [Total]: 5
Minor Increase In Resistances
[Cost]: 500 | [Total]: 3
Minor Increase In Regeneration
[Cost]: 750 | [Total]: 3
█ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁ ▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █
I had tried testing it out, sinking orbs into the so-called statistics. I never felt any stronger or faster. There's nothing I can do there for now, and I don't want to sink any more orbs into it.
However, there was a section I was interested in. The abilities section. I hadn't slept in three days, and because of that, I left the actual decision-making to a version of myself that was well rested. That's the main reason I decided to save up.
I did know of a build I wanted to go for, though.
▂▄▅▆▇█〘Abilities〙█▇▆▅▄▂
Eldritch Eye — (Obtained)
[Description]: Eldritch Eye is an ability that allows the user to see higher dimensions. Things that can't be seen with the naked eye can now be seen. Each Eldritch Eye you see may differ entirely. Be it because of species, birth, or ascension, the Eldritch Eye you possess differs. It is said that the original human holder of the eldritch eye wished to gaze upon Free Reign and was able to catch a glimpse of his form.]
↳ Upgrade 1: Illusion Breaker — (5,000)
[Description]: Illusions of lesser dimensions (First - Fifth) no longer fool you, and any eldritch creature hiding itself will be seen through. The freedom of sight; It goes unnoticed and unloved until it goes.]
4D Slip — (15,000)
[Description]: 4D-Slip is an ability that allows the user to seemingly teleport, disappearing in a fog of (red) black and reappearing close by. Although it is called "4D," the ability is not actually related to the fourth dimension. The ability makes all other abilities, aka "3D" abilities, look fake in comparison. However, that is only a glimpse into the truth of this ability.]
Dimensional Guard — (55,000)
[Description]: Temporarily become invulnerable and take a stance. If the enemy attacks within one second of taking this stance, the attack is automatically deflected, and they will be hit with vertigo that lasts until your next attack or until five seconds have passed after the counter has landed. If the attack has less energy than your maximum, absorb that energy and reflect it for double the damage. (Cooldown if missed: 10 seconds.)]
Roundabout — (30,000)
[Description]: Defy reality and allow all melee weapons thrown that rotate to hit an enemy and continue spinning into them for two seconds after being hit.]
Lesser Adaptation — (75,000)
[Description]: Release more of your concept into your body and increase your base conceptual abilities. Concepts are a powerful thing, and even at lesser levels, these concepts can destroy portions of reality if not careful.]
█ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▂ ▁ ▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █
The initial stages of my plan involved something, something, full-rush adaptation upgrades, acquiring 4D-Slip, and profiting.
I knew if I wanted to beat Vergil as quickly as possible, I would need to max my adaptation. Though I knew this, I wasn't stupid enough to waste resources while sleep-deprived.
Even if my body felt like it was working fine, and my mind felt stable, I knew 72 hours of borderline psychotic murderous activity wasn't good for the brain.
But, with that being said, today's amount of thinking was over. I had finally made it home.
Placing my right hand on the doorknob—wait.
Something wasn't right.
My eyes slowly closed until I was squinting. I could feel that something was off.
'Someone's in my house.' It was more of a fact than any statement. I knew for all intents and purposes, someone was currently in my home.
Opening the door, stepping inside my home, and closing it behind me, I was going to meet this invader head-on.
All I knew was that this wasn't Vergil. There was no fear, no hesitation, only cold, hard logic that led me to press forward. I was entirely confident of beating whatever was awaiting me.
Within the dining room sat a person. It was a woman.
I had been confused about who it was because of the smell radiating off her. It wasn't that she smelled bad, far from it. I could smell not only the perfume she wore, but also her scent from outside the house.
The only way I could relate this sense of smell to something was by thinking of a dog playing outside, coming back into the house, and "smelling like a dog."
Humans smelled like humans, dogs smelled like dogs, and she, she did not smell like a human.
The sound of me walking towards her caused her to turn, and I admit, I paused. She was beautiful.
No, it was more than beautiful. She was almost ethereal. The difference between her and an impossibly attractive woman was that she seemed to be naturally beyond a ten out of ten.
Long pitch-black hair that flowed freely, pure white skin without a single blemish, black eyes that seemed to swallow more light than they should, and an incredibly attractive figure that would leave men of all sizes satisfied with what was given.
Her outfit seemed to be a long, grey, practically body-hugging sweater. The back of it was nearly gone, revealing pale, supernaturally unblemished white skin. In combination with the turtleneck, a boob window that showed off the top of her breasts, and heels of matching color, I had to admit one thing.
If this were the dreaded "Miss Makima" that Original Dante had spoken of. Then, Original Dante had taste. I don't blame him.
"Are you going to sit down?" She asked. Her voice came out smooth and mature.
I nodded. Taking a seat across from hers, I decided I was going to play along for answers. If I didn't like the answers she gave, or if she wouldn't answer my questions, I would kill her.
"You're unusually quiet. Usually, whenever I come back, you'd welcome me in a heartbeat." She spoke in a teasing and solemn tone. "And what's with the outfit? The sword, and guns too? Props?"
"Something like that." I kept a blank expression, my tone absolutely still. I hadn't expected her, of all people, to show up, so I didn't bother hiding my weaponry.
Though, because of my lack of input, the conversation was thrown off. She gave me this indescribable look. To me, it looked exactly like a worried mother looking at her child.
"Well, are you hungry?—"
"You look dressed up—"
We both cut each other off. Two people not knowing when to speak in an unfamiliar conversation.
"Ah, yeah." She happily picked up my slack, a soft smile grazing her lips. "I wanted to look the best for today."
That caught my attention.
"Why? What's happening today?" And it caught my suspicion.
"That's a surprise!" She giggled, a large smile fully forming on her face.
"Tell me." My monotone way of speaking, contrasted with her cheerfulness, brought another bit of awkwardness to the conversation.
"…" She looked hesitant. "I said it was a surprise—"
"Tell me."
Both of us were dead silent. It was obvious that with me being on zero hours of sleep and not in the mood for games, I wasn't going to act like the Dante she knew.
"Alright, fine." She reluctantly relented, trying to keep the cheerful atmosphere alive. "Remember when you were little and wished for something big? Something you didn't think I'd be able to get—"
"I don't."
Her face changed from energetic to confused and then to concerned. The happiness from which she spoke drained slowly from her body language.
"But, you've been thinking about this since forever!—" I could hear the confusion, the disbelief, and the pain in her voice.
But still, I cut her off.
"I don't remember any of this." That was the truth.
But to her, it must've sounded like I stabbed her heart.
"I-wai-what?" The hurt she spoke with sounded genuine.
"Actually, who are you?" This time, I spoke with my will, undertones of aggression filling in. "And why are you dressed like that? What's the reason?"
She looked like she had hints of Asian in her, because of a slight bit of facial structure and her small lips. That might've been because I couldn't connect her to any of the supernatural races I've seen so far.
"Did you forget my name?" The genuine confusion and answer didn't help her sound less worried. "My name's N'eri, but you kept calling me N-ri because you said it was too hard to pronounce when you were little." As she explained, she had this weird half-happiness at remembering, and half-sadness at having to tell me, which caused her expression to twitch between the two emotions rapidly.
"I'm dressed like this because we were supposed to walk to the surprise I had planned." As she explained it, I kept my expression blank, staring directly into her eyes for the most awkward eye contact.
"I'm not going."
At my stern refusal, she looked shocked.
"I've prepared everything for this! Why don't you want to, at least, see what I have for you?!"
As she shouted in pain, clutching her chest with her hand, I began tuning her out. It wasn't for anything rude. It was because I wanted to see.
The description for the Eldritch Eye stated that it could see things no normal person could. At this moment, I was wondering if I could see through her into her true form.
I decided I would use it. I would only use it for a glimpse. It would be fast, unreactable.
I did it, my vision transforming for an instant.
N'eri's movements froze entirely, as if she had completely forgotten what she was going to say.
What replaced the human-looking woman was undoubtedly a woman, just not a human one.
She was taller, way taller. Maybe seven feet and seven inches tall. Eight eyes uniformly fit on her face, her arms transformed from two to four, and she seemed much more muscular.
The long, grey sweater seemed to stretch to fit her larger form.
After a long pause, she closed her mouth and sat in silence. Her movements were no longer erratic nor filled with emotion.
"When did you get your powers?" N'eri spoke calmly, as if none of what had previously happened had happened. Her voice was deeper, not masculine, but definitely belonging to a larger entity.
Her black hair, seemingly longer than before, cascaded down her back.
"A few days ago." I had no idea what she would do if I said months ago or yesterday. I had no way to gauge what answer she would like, so I spoke the truth.
"Oh." The way she said it sounded monotone.
"That's fine." N'eri looked down absent-mindedly for a few seconds before standing up. "Get up, we're going. Perhaps we can still make it."
"No."
N'eri paused mid-step. "What?"
"I said I wasn't going." It was as I stated previously. "I don't like surprises. Tell me where we're going."
It was reasonable. I have no idea what entity lay in wait for me over there. It was better to stay here and use the information that I have, before I decide to trust a stranger entity that not even Original Dante trusted.
N'eri, however, paused for a moment. She appeared to be studying me in some way. Each of her eight eyes centered on me.
"We don't have time for this. If I say we're going, then we're going." The second she finished speaking, she began reaching out for me.
"You're not going to like what happens when you do that."
My words caused her to pause once more. It was as if she were really considering my words and my emotions. In the end, she did end up attempting to grab me.
"Bad choice."
That was all I said as I dodged her grab, appeared beside her, and kicked her in the side. Her body flew through the house, and right as it was about to hit the wall, I expertly opened the front door and redirected her out of it with another kick.
Her body flew, hit the concrete of the sidewalk, and bounced multiple times before hitting the asphalt of the street. The second she righted herself, she instantly cut her momentum.
Her heels gone, she knelt on one knee, probably due to the disorientation from my kick.
I, however, calmly walked out of the doorway of my house, turned around, closed the front door, and decided to face her.
There was a bit of distance between us, maybe around 20 feet. I hadn't kicked hard as I didn't want her to crash through the house.
I took a few steps forward and paused. Something was wrong with my surroundings. Light caught in my vision in ways it never should. I turned my head around, re-angling constantly to try to find what it was.
Flashing in my super-focused vision were threads?
Looking around everywhere, I could see threads, like spider silk, everywhere. They wrapped around every building, filled the street, and overlapped everywhere, but they never stacked on each other or made themselves known.
It was as if they were expertly placed to cut off any escape I would've tried with the way they allowed only a foot around me to be untouched.
"So, you noticed." Her deep voice pierced the empty, quiet neighborhood. "I have no idea what's gotten into you, but you're coming with me whether you like it or not."
Now that I have a clearer picture, all of the threads seem to be originating from her position. Within the 3-5 seconds of leisure I took to close my door, I had been encircled by webbing.
It would've been game over for almost anyone besides me if this were done.
Too bad she was fighting me. I didn't care for "zone control" or "movement deniers." Looking in her direction, I walked forward.
Taking a few steps forward, I could feel threads push into my arms, my neck, my head, my chest, my legs, and my feet. Blood leaked out in thin lines all over my body, piercing my clothes.
I wanted this to be over with at this moment. I wanted to go to bed. I didn't even want to be "here."
So, as pain assaulted me, I kept trying on this path, taking step after step forward, watching as threads slowly pulled into me. However, I did wonder what would break first, the threads or my body? It didn't matter.
"What are you doing?!" She called out, panic written not only in her eyes, but all over her face. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
In my body, I could feel the threads become less taut. It was as if something that had been keeping them pulled apart had relented.
'Ahh, right. She did have to take me alive, didn't she?'
Ripping my hands free of the strands of silk, they immediately healed. I could feel my adaptation working its course as I grabbed the handle of deterioration.
Cutting all the threading around me, the ground practically caved in as I barreled towards N'eri's direction! Every piece of thread blocking me from her lost the entirety of their effectiveness the second she tried stopping me from harming myself!
I could see her eyes widening, and she even tried taking a step back on instinct, but I was already upon her.
With a single precise, hard swing of deterioration, her lower, left arm came off in a bloody spray of gore!
But that wasn't all! I planned to finish this before it began. She wasn't getting away! Angling my blade to pierce through her torso, all that was left was a single thrust.
"Nahragh!"
A singular name came out of her mouth as my sword was about to hit its mark.
I could see teeth materialize from the darkness, but I was too tunnel-visioned to stop now!
"AGHHHRGGHH!!" I tried to stop myself from screaming as a large bite was taken out of the entirety of my chest.
The large beast, a large, black wolf-like creature with six eyes, began shaking its head back and forth.
Even as I was being literally trashed about and ripped to shreds, I kept my eyes on her. She was trying to get away!
With my right hand holding deterioration, I placed my left hand on the beast's muzzle.
"Let. Me. Go." My voice came out differently. My body was already changing, growing, and adapting. Even the holes in my chest were healed, only awaiting the removal of the teeth stuck within.
My fingers became almost-claws as scales grew over the skin, and began replacing it.
At my order, the beast stopped. By stopped, I truly mean it had frozen. It was like a child playing with a gun, only to realize the power of what they currently hold.
The teeth within me slowly began being pushed out as the jaw of the large beast opened. When I was finally released, the beast, with its black fur, acted more like a dog rather than a monstrosity able to eat a small man whole.
It had its head close to the ground, directly on its paws, as its backside stuck slightly higher in the air.
Its six eyes were directly watching me as if it were truly sorry.
"Good girl."
With that, I turned to look at where the other eldritch creature had run off to.
The large wolf's head slowly slid off its neck. Its eyes were stuck in the same position, as if it had never died.
But, N'eri, she was getting away!
Wecouldn't allow that.
No, we can't!
'If she gets away, she'll come back someday! That can't happen! It'll happen all over again! I'll be forced to relive it all, the pain, the death, the hatred!'
I could feel the flesh on my back, bubbling and melting. The white skin melted into red flesh that bubbled into gas and flew through the air.
The scales on my hands deepened in their red color and grew in their intensity!
*CRRRE—ACKKK*
My bones creaked, broke, and rebuilt themselves under my skin. From my tailbone grew a heavy, crocodilian-like tail, all in red scales.
My face restructured, my teeth falling out and regrowing into all canines. My head bled as large backward-facing red horns grew from my head like a demented crown.
My body tried growing. Extra limbs, extra eyes, extra legs, more tissue, but I wouldn't allow it!
'Humanoid form!'
Humanoid form.
Humanoid form?
The flesh on my back had stopped bubbling after that. However, the damage seemed to be done. Large crooked and melted blood-flesh half-formed limbs and flesh stalactites littered my back like an art piece.
They, too, were soon covered in red scales wherever there was live flesh to cover. My feet were no longer human, looking more like the back legs of dragons told in legends. Even having my five toes translate to draconic, with one of my claws facing backwards.
'I CANNOT RETURN BACK TO IT, I'LL LOSE IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!'
*AHHHHHH—AAEEÆÆÆÆ*
A scream tore its way from my mouth, and it didn't sound entirely human. I could tell, it started human, and then—devolved?—evolved into something else.
Windows from homes all around shattered as I released my death-scream into the sky above me. The clouds in the sky parted and dispersed, leaving a large hole in the dark sky.
All I knew at this moment was that SHE wasn't getting away. I took a deep breath. Her perfume lingered in the air, and I could smell her. I knew exactly where she was going.
Running on all fours, I bolted down the street! Breathing in deeply, I stopped at a manhole cover, and I punched it.
The entire street caved in as I fell with it into the sewer. Still, I could smell her! So, I ran!
Left, right, right, straight, left, straight, left! Even with the stink of the area clouding my nose, the overpowering perfume allowed me to trace her path perfectly!
Suddenly, I stopped. The path ended. Well, it didn't end, moreso it went—
I began taking deep breaths toward the wall. I could smell her scent coming from within it. It must be a fake wall.
Without any doubt, I ran full speed into the wall.
*BANG*
The wall wasn't fake, but that didn't matter. She was directly ahead! I would get her! I will get her!She's mine!!
…
N'eri's arm let out the last small spurts of blood. Her spider physiology allowed her to constrict blood flow to that area.
Still, she walked silently, her lower-right hand covering the unsightly wound.
"Oh, Dante, what has happened to you?" She barely held the tears back as she asked the question to the open air.
The concrete of the tunnel she was in began turning black as she walked forward. This was an area she was immensely familiar with.
After all, she spent so much time away from Dante to prepare this.
At the end of the tunnel, now entirely black, opened into a massive underground space.
Painted on the walls were many sigils, ideas, concepts, and stars.
In the far back center of the room's floor were three large circles that intersected with each other. The outline of the circles was indented into the floor, and the indents were then colored white.
The entire room outside of the circles was painted black. Multiple lights were used to brighten the room. Lights hung from the ceiling, held by the walls, but most importantly, there were the candles beside a singular dragon statue against the back of the room.
Within the topmost circle was a long dragon head, almost like that of a snake. It stretched around within the circle, passing by many drawings.
The first drawing was that of a tree with bright, almost pure-looking, green leaves. The second was a drawing of a massive, unknown being in the center of the circle. It had many limbs, mouths, and an overall impossible shape.
The third drawing within the topmost circle was a concept that, when looked at from a certain angle, spelled "freedom."
Around those three were many words, incomprehensible phrases, and unknown ideas. The dragon's head rested close to the center drawing, its eyes green.
The bottom-right circle held a second dragon's head with crimson eyes. It, too, circled many drawings. The first drawing was that of a blonde woman, standing beside the trunk of the green-leaved tree.
The second drawing was that of a massive, unknown being in crimson. On the supposed head of the creature were black antler-like growths that spread out like tree branches. The background spreads out from it in bright crimson.
The third drawing was where most of the incomprehensible words were. Incomplete sentences, words that end before they can be fully spelled, and colors that seemingly turn white and then to nothing. When looked at from a certain angle, it spelled "the end."
The bottom left, and final circle, also had a dragon head within it. This dragon's head was a bright golden-yellow. Exactly like the other two heads, it circled many drawings.
The first drawing consisted of a three-headed dragon eating bright stars. The second drawing was a symbol made from the three dragon heads coiling together.
The last drawing had golden-yellow spreading out from it. It was made of more incomprehensible words, phrases, and ideas, but they seemed evenly spaced and colored.
There was no angle that would reveal anything of importance. All of the symbols and sigils were too evenly distributed, barely drawn to understand anything. However, within the center of all three intersecting circles was a large, white, almost-glowing gate.
N'eri took it all in once more.
"Lord Azaogdesz," The second she said the name, a feeling of being watched settled on her. "Please, give me strength."
After saying that, N'eri stepped into the center of the circle, in front of the dragon statue, and knelt.
She took a deep breath before starting.
"Bless me,"
"With a,"
Her heavy, soft voice came out more as singing or a lullaby rather than reciting text.
"Leaf off of the tree,"
"On it, I see,"
"The Freedom Reign."
The second she finished, blood began filling the indents within the three circles' outlines.
When the blood finished flowing, it changed colors. Green, crimson, and golden-yellow. All of the colors refused to mix, outlining each circle to which it belonged. The three dragons' eyes each began glowing their specific color.
The large dragon statue N'eri was currently kneeling before, had its eyes slowly fill with color. First it was green, then red, then golden-yellow. The golden-yellow fully took over, and that's when N'eri began.
"My lord, Azaogdesz," N'eri spoke faithfully and clearly. "For 18 years, I have raised your son, Dante, as an ordinary human. I have steered him clear of anything supernatural, made sure he didn't know he had powers, and allowed him to live a normal life—"
*BANG*
A large bang was heard, and the room shook. It took N'eri's attention for a moment before she realized why the large sound had happened, her eyes widening.
"However, after his 18th birthday—"
*BANG*
She quickly tried to finish her retelling.
"Your son, Dante, had somehow gotten his powers, and he is not within his right mind!"
*BANG—BANG—BANG*
Three large sounds rang out, all of which were getting closer and closer.
"I ask—!"
*BANG*
Dante's form shot into the room. Dust and debris lined the tunnel walls and clung to his form. The second he made eye contact with N'eri, he charged.
"Protect me, Lord Azaogdesz!" N'eri shouted in absolute horror.
Dante launched himself forward, both claws ready to shred and tear the prey in front of him.
But, right as he was about to do so, a barrier of darkness formed between him and N'eri. The barrier perfectly outlined the three intersecting circles drawn on the ground.
*AAAAEEÆÆÆÆ*
Dante roared against the barrier. Jumping onto its side, he threw punch after punch!
Each punch barely moved the barrier, filling Dante with frustration, and this frustration only made him punch harder! At each punch, blood was left on the barrier. At first, only specks, now flowing almost like a river.
N'eri watched it all, eyes wide like a man seeing the horrors of war. Especially the way Dante drooled and bled from the mouth, his elbow, and forearm constantly shot out of his skin at each punch, only to regrow.
The bones within his forearms stuck out and crumpled in improper directions. It was even worse, the way they slid back into place within his body before the next punch, the next instant, only to be broken again.
Turning back to the dragon statue, N'eri decided to continue.
"I have done as you asked. I ask for my loyalty to be rewarded. The reward you had offered me, I ask for it, and a way home." As N'eri spoke, the eyes of the dragon statue rapidly switched through green, crimson, and golden-yellow.
Returning to its golden-yellow color, a pitch-black darkness began slowly spreading itself along the floor.
Stepping into it, N'eri decided to give one last look at the child she raised.
And her eyes widened once more. It was a mistake.
Dante stood there, larger than he was before, with more scales covering his face. His face was more angular, and he was staring N'eri down with absolute wrath.
Gritting his sharp teeth, Dante placed both hands onto the barrier, tried digging in, and began trying to force it open!
His jaw clenched hard, his fingers dug into the barrier, his muscles bulged, and he bled.
It was a foolish endeavor. N'eri knew that much. This current barrier of Azaogdesz was made of Origin Darkness. It was the first darkness that followed the first light in the birth of existence.
Nothing would—
"CHH-RGHH-CCCHHRGHH!!" Dante could barely hold in his struggling vocal cries. His regrown fingers had successfully dug into the barrier and were now trying to pry open the gap!
N'eri could hear him. That meant Dante had actually successfully created a gap in the field!
As she sank slowly into the darkness, N'eri watched Dante spread open the gap of darkness that was trying to close itself. It was like watching a man fight a hydraulic press, and the man was winning.
As the gap got wider and wider, Dante began slipping his way in. N'eri was already neck deep into the darkness; if he didn't hurry, he wasn't going to get her.
Slipping his way into the impenetrable barrier, Dante held one hand forward and the other pulled back into a fist.
Immediately, Dante punched with everything he had.
*BANG*
…
FUCK!
"No!" I shouted, I couldn't help it!
I was right there, and I missed my chance!
The barrier disappeared before my eyes as I punched the floor over and over again.
Turning my head, I saw the green-eyed dragon statue. Walking up to the statue, I realized I had no words for any of what had transpired.
I punched the statue as hard as I could, shattering it into small pieces. I failed.
That loss, that taste of failure, made me feel sick.
I had nothing to do but return home. So, that's what I did. But, as I walked through the sewers, I realized the damage I had done was undone. That left me feeling even more annoyed.
Punching through the manhole cover, I crawled my way onto the street, ignoring the people who were staring at me because I sent a manhole cover into the stratosphere.
My adaptations had long since gone. The only thing left was this feeling of mental nausea of what I'd need to prepare for.
I was basically right in front of my house, albeit in the middle of the street, but that's fine. I'll still need to prepare for their eventual—
"Hey!" An upbeat, masculine voice called out to me. It felt familiar, incredibly so. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Forgoing my thoughts, I looked forward down the street, and my eyes widened.
No way.
"You can't be serious." My dumbfounded voice carried smoothly.
"I'm super serious!" I could hear and see the smile he said it with.
"That can't be you."
In front of me was none other than the one who started this.
"Original Dante?"