"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?
I slowly pried my eyes open, only to be greeted by darkness.
For a moment, I was almost grateful for the brief relief. Whatever this was, it was probably another one of their methods—make me feel at ease so I would lower my guard.
Too bad, B. You won't get the satisfaction. Not from me.
I stayed still, 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 my thoughts.
The strange sound was offensive to my ears and briefly disoriented me. First, it was the uncomfortable silence. Now, it was this accursed sound.
After a few minutes, the sound finally stopped. My 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 I could comprehend the situation, my vision was flooded with blinding light.
A guttural growl escaped my lips as the glare struck my face. The light maintained its assault for seconds that felt like years, until my eyes finally adjusted.
My surroundings were finally revealed.
I was confined inside a strange, pod-like container. A mysterious gel coated the inside, neither corrosive nor restrictive, yet it made me feel as though I were floating.
I also felt slightly lightheaded and slow.
My strength... It wanes?
The face of a middle-aged human came into view, interrupting my thoughts.
"A lovely morning to you. The name's Pearce Easton..."
I slammed my 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. 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," I 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 me and began interacting with a strange device.
I produced a low growl, my 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 me.
The cocky human was right.
I couldn't draw out my abilities in this strange liquid.
It was one thing to be oppressed by other demons, but humans? Seraphites or not, I had to get out of here.
"Traz'gaxaun? My, that is quite the name. Who gave it to you?" Pearce questioned.
I narrowed my eyes at the scientist. Part of me tried to figure out how the Seraphite was so informed about demonic affairs while I suppressed 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.
I simply stared at him, racking my mind for a way out.
"The moment The Hand decided to start Project Armageddon, your fate was sealed."
The Hand? Project Armageddon?
I 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," I 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.
I shook my 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 fixed on me.
"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 minimize casualties and further prove their superiority!"
He tapped a few buttons on his tablet.
I quickly surveyed my immediate environment. The space around me was filled with strange equipment, ranging from holographic interfaces to tablets and laboratory devices.
"How exactly does capturing random demons help your cause?" I inquired.
"This facility is merely a test run for the main event. The purpose of this place is to gather as much information as possible about this incoming calamity. That is where you come in!" Pearce said giddily.
He swiped upward on his tablet, and a holographic projection appeared. The hologram displayed all sorts of information: my name, creation period, and even my 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 my 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.
I 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, I 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 my turn to grin.
I understood why the mortal instrument didn't recognize my abilities.
The man caught wind of my expression and angrily walked to the pod.
"What's so funny, Traz? Care to share?" he asked.
I let out a sinister laugh.
"Why should I? Why don't you ask your machines?" I 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?" I asked, my 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, I 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.
I chuckled, eyeing the device in the Seraphite's hand.
"Not much of a choice if you ask me."
Pearce nodded and clicked a couple of buttons.
A burst of grey liquid filled my chamber.
I let out a cry of pure agony as the Demonsbane ate at my skin and depleted my ichor. I could feel my skin peeling from my bones at a terrifyingly slow pace. My insides were on fire.
Yet beneath the pain, I felt something else—a faint stirring within my ichor.
All the while, Pearce regarded my 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.
I lay in a pool of my blood, my wounds barely healing.
"All we ask is for you to tell us about this powerful demon. Help us help you," Elise stated.
I slowly rose to my feet in a coughing fit. Blood continued to leak from my lips as a grin slowly crept across my face.
"Even if I knew anything, I wouldn't tell. Seraphites always boast of being 'chosen' by God, but take a look at yourselves!" I spat.
"Your companion can barely contain his excitement at 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?" I demanded.
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.
I cleared my throat, showing signs of wanting to speak clearly. Unfortunately, my 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 Armageddon event are the True Demons, and no one knows or dares monitor their activities," I 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, I thought.
"Are you aware of the emergence of any new demons? At least in the last 1000 years?" Elise inquired.
I 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?" I 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," I 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 my predicament.
These humans have grown bold. To think they would have the guts to accommodate three demons in one laboratory.
But what demons were they?
I could make out some demonic characteristics, but the hologram obscured their facial features.
"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 my 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—"
I violently slammed my head into the pod multiple times until 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!" I yelled.
My sudden outburst amused the scientists.
"Screaming or hurting yourself wouldn't change the fact that we have Astaroth in containment. Now that you know—"
I was no longer listening. I 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 my 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 my 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, I 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 me curiously. Unlike her colleague, she remained calm and calculating.
Something is up. Why is this demon suddenly cooperating? she thought.
As an extra precaution, 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.
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
I do not borrow lies—I am their master.
All I needed was a few minutes for my wounds to heal completely. Then I could execute my plan.
"You said you wanted to know about the emergence of new demons. A few hundred years ago, there was a special emergence," I said, idly smearing my blood across the pod.
"Focus! We don't have time for this. The sooner we deliver your judgment, the better!" Elise remarked.
Putting my hands behind me, I 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.
I waved my 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!" I exclaimed.
Pearce typed down every detail with glee.
"See, that wasn't that hard. What are its powers? What's its name?" he bombarded me 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 in the face of your creators! It was subjected to torture and subjugation, so I could never see its abilities in action," I finished.
"So you don't know his abilities? That's unfortunate," the dark-haired woman replied, checking her colleague's notes.
I felt the final gash in my thigh slowly close. I 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," I 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 to do. This was how I came to learn his name. The name of this demon is..."
I paused briefly as a sinister grin began to creep across my face.
Pearce slammed his hand on the table.
"Well, come on! We don't have all day. What is his name?" he barked.
My 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 my figure from view.
"He is doing something! Tell all agents to be alert and stand by!" 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!"
I finished the incantation successfully.
Behind the pod, a pentagram drawn from my 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.
"I warned you that you would regret underestimating demons," I 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," I sneered, free from the pod.