Silence.
I wasn't accustomed to the absence of noise.
Where I came from, the screams of tortured souls rang across the realm like a symphony. Living there for 300 years, I had almost gotten used to it—almost.
The feeling was strange—like falling infinitely, yet my body felt weightless.
My body no longer ached from the constant labor and injuries. My skin was ice. I could no longer feel the Chain of Eternity's pain or the inferno whip's sting.
Where was I?
He slowly pried his eyes open, only to be greeted by darkness.
The "young" demon was almost grateful for the short relief he was experiencing. This was probably part of one of their methods—making him feel at ease so he could lower his guard.
Too bad, B. You won't get the satisfaction. Not from me.
He stayed as he was, awaiting the familiar crack of the whip and the sting of the flames that accompanied it.
Nothing came.
Anytime now, B.
Still nothing.
A loud hum suddenly interrupted his string of thoughts.
The strange sound was offensive to his ears and briefly disoriented him. First, it was the uncomfortable silence. Now, it was this accursed sound.
After a few minutes, the sound finally stopped; his ears were relieved.
"Boss, the last subject is awake. May we proceed?"
That voice—this language—it can't be.
Subject?
And what did they mean by the 'last'?
Were there other demons in this facility?
"Initiate the first phase," a gruff voice replied.
Before he could comprehend the situation, his vision was flooded with blinding light.
A guttural growl escaped the demon's lips as the glare hit his face directly. The light maintained its assault for seconds that felt like years, until his eyes finally adjusted.
His surroundings were finally revealed.
The confused demon was confined in a strange, pod-like container. A mysterious gel coated the inside of the pod. The substance was neither corrosive nor did it limit his movement, but the sensation of being placed in it simulated floating.
He also felt slightly lightheaded and slow.
My strength... It wanes?
The face of a middle-aged human came into view, interrupting his thoughts.
"A lovely morning to you. The name's Pearce Easton…"
The demon slammed his head into the container, hoping to break the pod.
Surprisingly, it didn't budge.
This earned a chuckle from the human.
"A valiant effort. But it is futile; these pods were designed to hold the most powerful archdemons, principalities, and powers. Even greater demons would struggle to escape containment; you're out of your league. May I continue?" he asked, smirking.
"Your pride would be the death of you, puny human. It wouldn't be wise for you to antagonize me, much less a greater demon," the demon snarled.
The scientist laughed and shook his head.
"Puny human? It seems you're the one who underestimates me."
A flash of gold flickered across his blue eyes.
Of course.
No wonder he sounded so confident.
No regular mortal would be capable of designing a prison to trap a demon of my caliber.
This man was a Seraphite!
"Regardless of your abilities, you are still mortal. I will remind you of this when I drain the life from you."
The middle-aged man ignored him and began interacting with a strange device.
The demon produced a low growl, his vision gaining a scarlet tint. This only made the man chuckle even more.
"I think I was clear about you being out of your league. Your powers, both physical and mental, are all suppressed. My mind is free from your weak influence," he finished.
A wave of frustration washed over him.
The cocky human was right.
He couldn't draw out his abilities in this strange liquid.
It was one thing to be oppressed by other demons, but humans? Seraphites or not, he had to get out of here.
"Traz'gaxaun? My, that is quite the name. Who gave it to you?" Pearce questioned.
The captive demon narrowed his eyes at the scientist. Part of him tried to figure out how the Seraphite was so informed about demonic affairs while suppressing the urge to hit the pod again.
"Not much of a talker now, are you? Have you realized the nature of your situation?" Pearce asked, still clicking the strange interface.
Traz just stared blankly, racking his mind for a means of escape.
"The moment The Hand decided to start Project Armageddon, your fate was sealed."
The Hand? Project Armageddon?
Traz couldn't make sense of the human's words.
"Come on; don't act like you have no clue what I'm talking about. Who is the one chosen to destroy it all?" Pearce asked.
"The meaning behind your words eludes me," the demon replied.
Pearce dropped the tablet he was operating and slowly approached the pod.
"You see, our sponsor has the power to squash all of your demonic brethren. But a certain vision caught his interest: a demon capable of destroying everything would walk the earth. Absurd, right?" the scientist asked cheekily.
Traz shook his head.
"Once again, you underestimate the power of my kin—a mistake you wouldn't live to regret."
Pearce placed his hand on the pod, his gaze fixated on the demon.
"And who would possibly make me regret it? You?" He laughed. "That aside, our sponsors decided to thwart the plan from the shadows before it came to fruition. This would not only minimize casualties but further prove their superiority!"
He tapped a few buttons on his tablet.
The demon did a quick survey of his immediate environment. The space around him was filled with strange equipment, ranging from holographic interfaces to tablets and laboratory devices.
"How exactly does capturing random demons help your cause?" Traz inquired.
"From your portrayal of this vision, I can already conclude this facility lacks the means to contain such a demon."
"This facility is merely a test run for the main event. The purpose of this place is to gather as much information about this incoming calamity. That is where you come in!" Pearce said giddily.
He swiped upwards on his tablet, and a holographic projection appeared. The hologram displayed lots of information: the demon's name, creation period, and even his position in the hierarchy.
What sort of ability was this?
Was this really how advanced humans had become?
How did they even get their hands on such information?
As if reading his mind, the scientist said, "I admit some of this information was acquired through unorthodox means, but that is none of your concern—"
The sound of a sliding metal door opening interrupted his speech.
A young-looking woman with black hair, dressed in similar attire, stepped out from a corner.
"It's nice of you to join us finally, Elise. I was just getting acquainted with our subject," Pearce grinned.
This human must die.
Traz stared daggers at the middle-aged man.
"We have a strict deadline; let's save the pleasantries for later," Elise replied.
She approached the hologram, eyeing the display.
"There appears to be a problem; his powers are not in the database," she said.
For the first time, Traz saw the cocky smile on Pearce's face disappear.
"That can't be right. We have scryers working 24/7, constantly inputting information. Every demon that has made an appearance for the last 1000 years has had its abilities documented," Pearce said, frustration seeping into his voice.
It was the demon's turn to grin.
Traz understood why his abilities weren't recognized by the mortal instrument.
The man caught wind of his expression and angrily walked to the pod.
"What's so funny, Traz? Care to share?" he asked.
The demon let out a sinister laugh.
"Why should I? Why don't you ask your machines?" Traz smirked.
Pearce's blue eyes suddenly gained a gold tint.
"Careful now, demon scum. You're still at an obvious disadvantage," the man replied.
"Or what? You're going to kill me?" Traz asked, his grin still present.
Elise gently rested her hand on her furious companion's shoulder, offering a comforting gesture amidst the tension.
"You know better than to fall for a demon's bait, Pearce. There is a reason he resorts to this tactic; he knows he is done for," she said, taking the tablet from him. "For all we know, it could be a system malfunction. Besides, his abilities are of no use to us."
Meanwhile, the demon was now puzzled.
If they didn't want my abilities, of what use was I to them?
I don't even have the information they seek.
"Allow me to explain your situation, Traz'gaxaun. Connected to this pod are numerous pipes carrying Demonsbane. Basically, with a push of a button, I could flood your enclosure with enough demonsbane to kill you," Pearce said smugly.
"There is also a set of pipes carrying Hypnothite, the substance keeping you sedated. So I could grant you a slow, painful death or a quick, painless death," the scientist stated.
The demon chuckled, eyeing the device in the Seraphite's hand.
"Not much of a choice if you ask me," Traz chuckled.
Pearce nodded and clicked a couple of buttons. A burst of grey liquid filled Traz'gaxaun's chamber.
The demon let out a cry of pure agony as the demonsbane ate at his skin and depleted his ichor. He could feel his skin peeling off his bones at a terrifyingly slow pace. His insides were on fire.
All the while, Pearce regarded the howling figure with a visage of absolute gratification.
Elise snatched the tablet from Pearce and clicked a button, stopping the flow of the demonsbane.
"That's enough, Pearce," she asserted.
Traz lay in a pool of his blood, his wounds barely healing.
"All we ask is for you to tell us about this powerful demon. Help us help you," Elise stated.
The demon slowly rose to his feet in a coughing fit. Blood continued to leak from his lips as a grin slowly crept up his face.
"Even if I knew anything, I wouldn't tell. Seraphites always boast of being 'chosen' by God, but take a look at yourselves!" Traz spat.
"Your companion can barely contain his excitement from seeing me in agony! You resort to torture to carry out your 'heavenly' assignments! And I can only assume that you consorted with Hellbounds to acquire this amount of information about demons. Isn't that how you managed to break my Chain of Eternity?" he expressed.
Elise walked towards the pod and placed her hand on it.
"And why should we have compassion for a spawn of the devil? Do you know how many innocent people have lost their lives to your kind? You don't even deserve a quick death!" she declared.
The dark-haired woman took a deep breath and straightened her lab coat. "We have given you an opportunity; tell us what you know, and we will grant you the swift exit that you do NOT deserve," Elise said.
The demon cleared his throat, showing signs of wanting to speak clearly. Unfortunately, Traz'gaxaun's response was a bloody wad of spit.
"If you're gonna kill me, get on with it. I don't know what you're talking about. The only demons capable of pulling off an armageddonic event are the True Demons, and no one knows or dares monitor their activities," he finished.
"You do realize if you have no information, you have no use to us," Pearce stated.
What more do these bothersome humans want? I've told them all I know, Traz thought.
"Are you aware of the emergence of any new demons? At least in the last 1000 years?" Elise inquired.
Traz shrugged.
"I'm curious about the accuracy of your machines. If your so-called scryers and hellbounds are working this hard, how did you manage to pull out a 300-year-old demon?" he smirked.
Pearce attempted to click the tablet controlling the flow of demonsbane, but Elise gestured for him to stop.
"A demon's knowledge lies in his ranking and age, both of which I lack," Traz added.
Elise picked up the tablet and began clicking at high speed. "Since you're determined to stay uncooperative, I can't help but wonder what your kin might think about this," she said.
A holographic image appeared, showing three other demons experiencing his predicament.
These humans have grown bold. To think they would have the guts to accommodate three demons in one laboratory, Traz thought.
But what demons were they? He could make out some demonic characteristics, but the hologram obscured their facial composition.
"As you can see, we have some of your brethren imprisoned as well," Pearce remarked with a smile. "Phenex, Legion, and Astaroth."
Shock slowly masked his features. Astaroth? THE Astaroth? Impossible! Astaroth was a greater demon; this facility couldn't contain such a primal force of evil.
"All the demons here belong to the middle class, except for you, of course. You're just a lowly regular, not even respected by your kind. So we are presenting you with another deal: tell us what—"
Traz violently slammed his head into the pod multiple times until his blood began to trickle down the enclosure.
"Surely you must jest! No human is capable of defeating Astaroth, much less containing him! By no means is he in the middle class!" The enraged demon yelled.
His sudden outburst amused the scientists. "Screaming or hurting yourself wouldn't change the fact that we have Astaroth in containment. Now that you know—"
Traz was no longer listening. He was still very confused.
My senses may be dulled, but I trust my instincts; no Seraphite here is strong enough to trigger a strong sense of danger from me, let alone take on Astaroth. Unless...
A grin slowly crept up his face. Unless it were an instance of Astaroth! That bastard would do anything but fight at full power, so he separates himself into multiple instances and propagates them across Hell and even some parts of the Earth. These foolish humans have given me all I need to escape!
Pearce caught wind of his sudden change in mood and rapidly approached the pod. "What is it now? Have you finally lost what is left of your crumbling sanity?" he spat.
Still grinning, the injured demon replied: "If you truly captured Astaroth, then whatever this 'impending doom' is planning is already in motion. Astaroth's disappearance wouldn't go unnoticed; I might as well speak. You are already dead!"
Elise eyed the demon curiously. Unlike her colleague, she remained calm and calculating. Something is up; why is this demon suddenly cooperating? she thought.
For extra precautions, Elise ordered the agents on standby to closely observe the demons in containment, especially Astaroth.
"Your sudden cooperation is strange but well appreciated. Alright, what do you know?" Pearce asked, preparing to document everything on his computer.
Traz took a deep breath and exhaled. I do not borrow lies — I am their master. All he needed was a few minutes for his wounds to heal completely. Then he could execute his plan.
"You said you wanted to know the emergence of new demons. A few hundred years ago, there was a special emergence," Traz said, fiddling with his blood on the pod.
"Focus! We don't have time for this. The sooner we deliver your judgment, the better!" Elise remarked.
Putting his hands behind him, the demon continued: "Very well. This demon was meant to be a 4th-generation demon. It was expected to be either a regular or a unique one. It fell in the second category—"
Elise picked up the tablet angrily, her hand hovering over the special button. "Get to the point! What is so special about this demon?" she yelled.
Traz'gaxaun waved his hand dismissively. "You said you wanted information; I'm giving you all I have." Just a bit more time.
The plan was slowly coming into place. "Turns out the demon was unique, alright; it was so unique that it was born with the prowess of a Greater Demon. It even had a special ability to match!" Traz exclaimed.
Pearce typed down every detail with glee. "See, that wasn't that hard. What are its powers? What's its name?" he bombarded him with questions.
"You foolish humans! Do you think demonic affairs are similar to your puny human customs? Being born unique with such abilities and strength was like a slap on the face of your creators! It was subjected to torture and subjugated, so I could never see its abilities in action," he finished.
"So you don't know his abilities? That's unfortunate," the dark-haired woman replied, checking her colleague's notes.
Traz felt the final gash in his thigh slowly close. He had to suppress the urge to smile again to prevent triggering suspicion. At last, I am restored.
"Since the circumstances surrounding his subjugation were strange, I decided to speak to it directly. It wasn't difficult since we were of the same demonic class," Traz continued.
"This demon was continuously tortured and reminded of how worthless it was to its masters. Its very existence was an insult to the perfect creations that came before. The only way to stop this was to pledge to a true demon, which it refused. This was how I came to learn his name. The name of this demon is..."
Traz'gaxaun paused briefly as a sinister grin began to creep up his face.
Pearce slammed his hand on the table. "Well, come on! We don't have all day; what is his name?" he barked.
The demon's eyes suddenly began to emit a scarlet glow.
"ATTENTION: Subject's ichor is reaching dangerously high levels. Hypnothite solution is ineffective," the computer spoke in a monotonous tone.
"What the... HOW?" Elise exclaimed. A sickly dark aura began to surround the pod, slowly obscuring his figure from view.
"He is doing something; tell all agents to be alert and standby!" the dark-haired woman yelled, clicking the buttons that opened the floodgates. Demonsbane flowed into the pod like a tsunami, but the aura didn't disappear.
"You are too late. Dux inferorum, Princeps tenebrarum. Qui dominatur principatus et potestates!"
Traz finished the incantation successfully. Behind the pod, a pentagram drawn from his blood began to glow.
"How did you manage to draw out so much ichor? The solutions in these pods are enough to ensure your abilities remain dormant! What did you do!" Elise screamed, fear evident in her voice.
"I warned you that you would regret underestimating demons," Traz smirked.
In the distance, an explosion echoed, followed by screams and the sounds of ongoing combat. Elise clutched the tablet, her hands shaking from terror.
"A..Ag..Agents respond! What's your status?" she quivered.
"Madam Elise, the demons have breached containment! We are currently facing a horde of Legion demons, which seem to be controlled by Phenex! Out of the blue, Astaroth became erratic and caused an explosion that obliterated the pods. His current location is unk—Aargh!" The agent suddenly screamed as he was attacked and the connection died.
Elise frantically tapped her tablet, ordering the strongest agents to locate Astaroth and the rest to focus on killing Legion and Phenex. I knew this crafty son of a bitch planned something, but I thought we were prepared for it all! she cursed inwardly.
Just as she thought the situation couldn't get any worse, the familiar sound of glass shattering behind her filled the room.
Dread crawled up her skin as a sickly, demonic aura swept across the room, briefly paralyzing her.
"From the moment you broke my Chain of Eternity, your fates were sealed," Traz'gaxaun sneered, free from the pod.