I woke up to a dulling pain all around my body. I open my eyes to look around where I am. Every part of my body ached like I had just been broken and put back together again.
I gathered myself together, deciding to explore this planet since it's basically the only thing I can do as of right now.
As I get up I feel as if I'm off balance. Like I had been put in a new form, a new body. I'm finally up on my two feet when I stumble a little bit.
"What the?" It felt like I was learning how to walk for the first time again. I put a foot down... or at least what I thought was supposed to be my foot.
Instead I had a claw instead of my regular foot. It had sharp red talons on the end of them that looked like they could rip someone to shreds.
I examined my body for the first time since I came here and damn do I look nice. My arms had the same black scaly look to them as my legs did. My hands had the same sharp nails my feet had and I could basically feel the power I could unleash with them.
My body itself had gone through a transformation as I was covered in scales with red light emanating from in-between some of them. I could see that I had large brown horns on both sides of my head that both spiraled upwards with my head turning from its normal shape to a somewhat bird like form. My back sported two pairs of wings with large hook shaped claws sprouting out at the joints of the wings.
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I didn't have any words to say at the moment. All I could think about was what I had become.
I lost my humanity and became something else, something better. The only reasonable thing I thought I had become was a demon.
Those who tormented the people who died in hell for all of eternity. The ones who served the greatest evil to ever exist, Satan.
Though, I couldn't complain about this new body. I had at least grown 20 cm taller than my previous height which was 187 cm.
To think I've already received something so nice when I've just come here. Maybe this will be better than I thought.
Well, now I can't really use my old name Micheal anymore. I'm something else, something better than the human I used to be.
I can think of some new names later but right now I have more important things to think about.
I looked around at my new environment seeing nothing memorable or noteworthy. I'll just walk in a random direction for some time before I get bored.
I look up at the world I thought I was going to. I'll just call it Earth for now, since trying to think of a new name for it seems tedious and unnecessary.
Just when will I be able to get there, I wonder what type of people are there, if they're still in the medieval ages, or if they have advanced to the modern era of the internet and AI.
"Hello?" I hear from behind me.
I whipped my body around in surprise. I didn't know what to expect so I put myself clumsily in what I thought was a boxers fighting stance. I wasn't even used to standing up yet and here I am trying to fight someone.
I look down to see who was calling me and I see, a midget? I couldn't tell how tall this person was due to the fact I had grown around 20 cm but they seemed to be about 120 cm.
They had a red robes that loomed over their whole body with only blackness where their face should be. Two glowing orbs replaced where eyes would've been. This creature looked like one of the Jawa from the Star Wars franchise.
I really hope I didn't get taken to Star Wars. I haven't read any of the comics or books and I've only watched up to episode 5 of the Star Wars movies. But I could only speculate as I've yet to come across anything else.
"Please don't hurt me! I mean no harm," the small guy curled into a ball trying to protect his face. Now I'm feeling bad for threatening such a harmless guy, even if I was the one who felt scared at first.
I cleared my throat causing him to look up, "Who are you?" I knelt down to the jawa's height and looked into his glowing orange eyes.
"Forgive me for not telling you beforehand," he said on the verge of crying. "My name is Zynch. And who may you be?"
I didn't expect to be put on the spot here so quickly after I woke up. I haven't even thought of new ideas for my name yet. I'm not the best at improv but I'll try my best.
"My name is... Thorn," I said. I hadn't taken notice before my voice also changed. It had turned more gravely and course which really didn't make me look any less intimidating.
"I must ask, will you hurt me?" Zynch said afraid for his life. I shook my head, "I have no intentions of hurting you. Please get up."
As he looked at me, I could basically see him growing curious as to who I really am. Though, I haven't exactly come up with a solid backstory to who I am so any further questions about my identity will have to wait.
He quickly got up from the floor, while looking at me.
"Could you help me Zynch?" I asked.
I could tell he was very confused. "With what?"
"Would you be so kind to tell me where I am? And the history of this place? I am from another planet... galaxies away from this one, I simply wish to understand where I am," I responded on the spot.
I knew I sounded very suspicious but I had to hope Zynch would be kind enough to play along.
"You don't know where you are?" he asked.
"No," I responded.
"I suppose I could answer your questions," he said while looking nervously at my claws.
"This is Ulmuna, our planet which has been ruined by our own politics and greed," he said with a bit of spite in his voice.
"We once were a powerful species on the brink of traveling to and between the stars. I'm sure we were only a few years away from space travel.
Yet, our own people couldn't see how we were killing ourselves from the inside out.
Corruption plagued our ranks as the powerful controlled cities for their own benefit, disposing of us peasants as nothing but trash. Civil wars broke out all around the planet, we fought with such a ferocity that could only be matched by the insane.
Though, it all ended in the total destruction of our people as we started turning our most powerful weapons against each other. The result was... utter annihilation. I wish not to talk about the atrocities we committed against each other.
All that remains is about 1000 of our race and the husks of our former cities."
Zynch held his head low as he recalled the downfall of his people. I felt pity for him, as one of the last surviving members of your race, the understanding of how your people died out while being able to do nothing could only be described as torture.
"Where are the rest of your people?" I asked.
"Spread far and thin. Some of us have tried forming communities, without the idea of social classes or wealth. Just gaining what you work for while being able to rely on others for support," he said, sighing after he finished.
He gestured for me to follow him and we started walking together.
"Are you taking me to one of these communities?" I asked.
My brain thought of new theories based on the information he had given me.
Becoming the ruler of a planet was on my bucket list since coming here but I would think they wouldn't take too fondly of me trying to take over them.
"Yes, I'm taking you to where I live. Our city has about 150 people and have settled in Cilnoth, which was one the biggest cities before the wars.
It used to be the trading hub of our planet. But now it is just a hopeless husk of its former self."
As we walked further and further, the terrain started to become more rugged, becoming full with craters and holes that seemed to stretch until the horizon.
"We're here," Zynch said as he suddenly stopped.
I almost bumped into him as I came to a halt. We were in front of the biggest crater I've seen so far. This one seemed big enough to fit a small city.
"This is Cilnoth, where dreams come to rest and survival is the only thing left on our minds."
Inside the crater lay the ruins of a metropolis. Elaborate roadways expanded from side to side of the crater with the crumbling forms of skyscrapers and residential buildings.
"We shall descend and you must meet the father. I am unsure of how he will react but I'm sure he will come to welcome you," Zynch states matter of factly.
"How will we get down?" I was curious about how they got in and out of the crater.
Maybe he'll whip out some fancy ability he has or some cool looking technology.
"There's an underground road system that connects the surface to the streets down there. Come," he said walking along the crater.
As we walked, I looked over at the ruins that lay in the city.
I could see some lights illuminating some of the ruins and streets.
That's where I'm guessing most of the people reside.
I could only imagine how many people would've lived here before the wars, more people like Zynch coming and going to work like any normal society would.
I sighed inwardly looking at the rough hand of cards I'd been given.
This planet was scarcely populated with the only people here being survivors of a societal collapse.
It also didn't seem like Zynch knew what I was either so there goes trying to figure out what I had transformed into.
Most likely, I wouldn't even be welcomed considering my intimidating appearance
The only positive thing to come out of this situation so far was turning into a badass demon but it wasn't that exciting 30 minutes later.
I could see remnants of a broken road start to appear along the crater's edge.
We arrived at the tunnels entrance after another few minutes of walking, it looked unstable as if it were to fall under any disturbance.
Both of us entered as we slowly descended down the tunnel in silence.
I barely fit as my horns would've scrapped across the roof of the tunnel if I stood up at my full height.
We exited out the other side and we were finally in the city.
"The outskirts of Cilnoth are not inhabited any more. Most of us are located in the center of the city as it still holds the most goods that are shared between us," Zynch informed me.
"Should I know anything before we meet anyone else?" I asked.
"Just mind your own business and stick with me. This is the first time I've seen anything like you and I'm willing to bet that it would be the same for everyone else," he answered looking back at me.
"Good to know."
As we walked further into the city, I could see how much bigger I was compared to the infrastructure.
Doors only reached up to my chest and I'm sure that'll be a pain in the future.
Continuing to walk, we started seeing more and more of the same Jawa like Zynch. Though there seemed to be variety in the type of robes they wore.
Some were dressed in orange, others white, and some blue.
The people who passed by nodded to Zynch as we walked past and towards where I assumed Zynch's father was.
Most of them quickly ran away in terror when they first saw me though. Well that's some first impression.
After walking down a few more blocks and making a few turns, we reached a somehow intact church that didn't bear the similarities of the ones back on Earth.
Firstly, it didn't bear the cross or any other religious symbol I had seen before which could be expected.
Secondly, it was mostly black with accents of gold and red that made it stand out.
Lastly, it had sigils and symbols ingraved on the sides of the building that felt weirdly, familiar.
"Wait here," Zynch told me.
"Alright." I just watched as Zynch walked up to the cathedral doors and knocked.
"Father, it is me Zynch." One of the doors opened to reveal another Jawa that was dressed in black robes.
His eyes widened at the sight of me behind Zynch and I could tell he wanted to close the door as soon as he saw me.
"Who is that, Zynch?" He asked still wide eyed while staring at me.
"His name is Thorn and he needs guidance like us. He is just as lost as we all are so I thought you would be the best person to help him," Zynch responded.
The Father lowered his head in thought as weighed his options.
"Please help him Father. You know what it feels to be lost during these harsh times," Zynch pleaded.
He looked between me and Zynch repeatedly.
"Come inside," he said with a sigh while opening the door.
I had to kneel in order to get through the door which was annoying.
Inside lay several rows of small seats and a black carpet that spread around the interior floor of the building.
Now that I was inside I couldn't push aside the feeling of familiarity.
It was weirdly comforting to be inside the church. It felt like I belonged here. Like I was meant to be here.
At the end of the church, there were but only one statue.
It had a red mass of tentacles for a head with 3 slit eyes that seemed to stare directly at me. It's body was vaguely humanoid, it's skin covered with mouths that seemed to want to eat at me. Narrow wings sprout out from its back exposing their full length. Oh God, it looked absolutely horrifying yet beautiful.
I couldn't stop staring at the statue, it was like I was mesmerized.
I started to feel my consciousness slip as I fell on the floor of the church.
I could see Zynch and the Father looming over me. They were both clearly panicking as they worried for my safety.
I can't catch a break from passing out.
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Honestly just wanted to get this out by tonight so I made this while being a little sleepy. Yeah, he's gonna be getting his shit together in the next chapter. I guess I'm really in love with ending chapters with him being knocked the fuck out. also this is my first fic so advice would be appreciated
[Word Count: 2522]