Chapter 3
The doll and the hero
Don't fight the chains, accept them
Those words spread throughout Kekkan's mind almost like a plague. Had it been my stupidity that dug me this deep down into the depths of hell?. Maybe if I had listened and accepted them I would have been fine. What if that's what this trial is all about pushing forward instead of fighting. As seen with me being told to keep going instead of fighting the doll. The Irish man told me to accept the chains. I see now this is all about accepting and persevering. Not only a trial of body but also a test of the mind.
But who was that guy, the heroic Irish man who saved me from certain death. The man who knew what to do to escape the chains punishment. And how did he know?
But kekkan didn't have time for pointless worrying and theories he had to proceed while learning from his mistakes. Maybe this way he could make it to the conclusion of this trial.
Ignoring the Irish man's voice was possibly the worst decision he could have made as he found himself laying beside branching paths of endless possibilities. Choosing the right path could be the difference between losing his head or breaking the loop.
He had read thousands of stories like these. It was always an escape from reality for him but despite that he was completely clueless. All of the branching paths looked almost identical, the only difference being the trajectory either being straight or taking a turn. He was fatigued of going down endless straight tunnels so he opted for the right option: the twisting tunnel.
The malevolence of his surroundings. Gave him the indication that it would be vicious, unpredictable and deprived. The crimson covered chains felt more sentient than ever. Every step he took he could practically feel them breathing down the back of his neck there was no doubt they were Vigorous.
I have to push forward no matter what.
Kekkan made his way through the spiraling hell. Occasionally a chain would rocket towards him but every time they made a howl. One of a beast so he knew whenever to weave out of the way.The further he got into the attacks became more frequent and so did the velocity of them. The path was just like before a continuous loop lasting almost an eternity. He had managed to shun the chains long enough before one broke the skin.
ARGHH
It penetrated his skin with such precision and pungency. Cutting deep to the bone of his forearm but he continued to drag his body forward even more. Every action causes it to burrow deeper, peeling off ounces of flesh. Then a bang echoed through the tunnel. This causes kekkan to cease his mobility. Before he could question what was going on another one pierced through down to the bone of his opposite arm. Then shortly following his right leg he could feel the vibration of the chain right on his bone. Then his other one was the same story.
Much to kekkans surprise the entire vicinity swivelled around him. He attempted to break free to keep up with its rotations but was brought to a halt by the chains. The whirling accelerated to an all time high. Kekkan kept pushing himself more to escape but as it continued his attempt was futile. When the ground got close to him he was held up he tried to disconnect but was only met with his face colliding with the ground. But even then it didn't give up. While his face was planted on the ground it only got faster the rough chains burning against his face. The friction dragging it was rough and full of misery.
It continued on and it began to turn from dragging to tearing. His skin began to shred and ruptured the layers of his skin. accelerating, pulling and hacking. It was the most harrowing thing a human could be put through. He swayed his feet around readjusting them striving to spring up his legs so that his face could be lifted and recovered.
But it was a failure.
He had withdrawn and held in the urge to scream but it came to a point where it was necessary.
Kekkan [ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]
The scream of torment rang through the place so thunderous that it replayed itself 3 times no more; it could be heard repeatedly echoing over 5 painful times. For a brief moment the chains loosen their grip with this.
Now is my chance
He liberates himself from the chains snatching one off at a time. First arms. Free then legs free.his wounds cry up blood they engrave themself in the floor leaving a permanent stain.
The rotating is still at breakneck speed he scampers forward determined to escape the anguish he finds himself in. He struggles to keep his balance as it twirls around. Having to take many leaps to avoid instant death. The chains may have taken a break and loosened but they were still pursuing him. Managing both the rotation and the threat of the chains was quite the task.
All was going well.
Until
Kekkan breezed past a moving chain as it lashed right around his ankle. He collapsed on the floor. He was in the same position as he was last time. But this time he could move his arms, one of his legs and face. He was feeling hopeful for a brief second before it was snuffed. The chain didn't seize him in place this time it hauled him back. Every rotation the chains bashed against his head his body was moving up and down. He felt like this was it. All his progress reset he wasn't going forward but being transported back the way he came.
All while drowning his own pity he heard what he had heard before his initial demise. It was that vile putrid laugh that triggered my insanity. The dolls laugh.
Kekkan
[ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH PLEASE NO NOT AGAIN]
Kekkan screamed at the top of his lungs. Blood overflowing down the front of his neck. The scream got the dolls attention he couldn't see her but he could hear her yelp. It echoed through the tunnel and it was quite clear. Fiercely looking for an escape, Kekkan raised his fist and continually rammed it into the chains. Pop that was a bone; the pain was secondary to what he would face if she caught up to him. And then snap crackle, kekkan bit his tongue careful not to scream and at long last he shattered the chain.
If the doll is here now what became of the hero who saved my life. Does that mean he is devoid of life? No, he was strong and gallant. He can't be gone. If he is then i have no savior, If the doll could have conquered someone like him then i have no chance.
Images soared through Kekkans head of the hero lying dormant.one of the scissors the doll wielded lodged between the center of his neck. Another beat to death with her bare hands. His face crushed beyond recognition. The very thought of it horrified kekkan. What could he do against that?
Or no appearances can be deceiving perchance that one he saw as a brave hero was nothing more than a weekling. Someone who on the surface was strong but deep down was pathetic and powerless. I'm nothing like him. I am strong, I am powerful. I can eradicate any force that opposes me. I am the ideal human, a perfect being. I have no flaws.
Kekkan grasps his fist.and begins approaching the position he heard that voice. Getting ever so close Boosted with murderous intent. His hatred for that thing ignited witth more radiance than a phoenix rising from a decaying carcass. Stomping every chain he went by. Whiffing the remaining spirit from them. Anything that came in his path was met with his unwavering malignity.
I don't need a weapon to rapture your skull and feed your remnant to the cravings of perdition.
The hysteria infected his mind like a curse. There was nothing in kekkans mind but being responsible for the demise of the doll. He stretched out his smile so closely each side met the very edge of his face. His eyes opened so expansively. He had lost his sanity.
He let out a laugh comparable to the horrific nature of the dolls.
Kekkan [BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]
The doll responded with her vile laugh.
The Doll [MUAHHAHAHAHA]
The tunnel never stopped spinning. Despite that, Kekkan galloped at the fastest speed imaginable. Intent on carrying out his mission.
Eventually he reached an opening in the tunnel. It led to a new open room. Much like the tunnel but vast and more expanded. There he stood before the one who he vowed to kill the doll.
Kekkan [You caused me so much agony. My skin was torn, ripped and penetrated. I felt it on my very bones. My face nearly became unrecognisable. I was praying to be granted the salvation to escape but then all I heard was your disgusting laugh. The likes of which make my ears explode. I realised then that the source of all my pain was you. So if i eliminated you from the picture maybe i could be saved. But this isn't just about saving myself, I'm fueled by my desire for vengeance. And hatred. To kill you where you stand]
The Doll [I di—---]
Kekkan [What]
Her voice was cut out every time she spoke. The words didnt reach me; they glitched and kekkan could only hear certain words.
Kekkan [Nothing to say after what you did huh]
The Doll [Nothing]
Kekkan [So be it I shall send you to your grave, you scum]
The doll [I did]
Her neck snapped in place till it resided on her shoulder. This time she spoke clearly.
The Doll [I did nothing I don't control this place]
Kekkan [Dont lie to me you caused me agony and you can't even own up to it. You laughed as I was being tortured, you took my life back up there. You followed me down here. Everything bad is connected to you. So you must be the one behind it all]
Kekkan wasted no time and dashed forward filled with rage.
Spreading out his fist he launched it into the doll's face. But this time it was different. She ducked to the side. Placing her hands on her face mocking kekkan. Kekkan is still fueled by his overwhelming bloodlust. Swung again she weaved again. He sent a series of flurries, none of them impacted her. Then she made her move. She then bounced in the air, bending her legs in a roundabout. Each movement split could be heard. She spun them around mid air and landed an impact kick that sent kekkan into the air, directly upwards.
Kekkan [Never leave yourself open]
The doll looked at Kekkan, perplexed. When she got close enough, Kekkan delivered a mighty blow impacting her gut. Her blood sprayed out like a volcano covering Kekkan's triumphant face. But that was not enough he then threw a forceful jab on the rear of her face's surface. This blow was so critical it sent her crumbling against the chain filled wall. Soaking into the chains . It then caused her to plunge down her neck cemented in the hook of a sentient chain. It held her up for kekkan to finish her off.
Her problem was letting her guard down after an attack; she stayed dormant for a moment before striking again. I noticed it the instant she came at me.
She dangled there hopelessly. There was no escape for her. Kekkan's smile increased in sheer malice.
Kekkan's torment from the chains flashed through his mind. The pain he could feel all at once was excruciating. Painful. Horrifying. Oh he dreaded it. Left with scars that could not be concealed. Remembering all this feeling all this the very one who caused all this was in front of him. He spoke intent on carrying out his mission.
Kekkan [5 seconds rip those chains and liberate them from your flesh. strike a wound so deep it will kill me. Oh? but i forgot you cant even BREATHE now can you. Just look at how worthless you have become]
Kekkan [Everything you have done to me with those chains they didn't just puncture my flesh but fractured my psyche. You deserve thousands of chains to rip you limb from limb. But I'll give you the next best thing]
Kekkan broke off a stray chain from the ground. And lifted it in the air.
Kekkan [Say hello to the fiery infernos of perdition. I heard they blaze hotter than a smoldering star]
He goes to strike the final blow but hesitates.
Why does something so vile look the most human in its final moments?
At that moment kekkan hears a patter on the floor. He turns around to notice the child. He had just entered the room.
The Child [Oh there you are kekky i thought you ran away]
Kekkan [Leave here now boy]
The Child [You can't do it kekkan Don't kill someone that's wrong]
Kekkan [The pain it caused me it has to be punished]
The Child [Look at what it did to you last time]
Kekkan [What]
The child then runs into the neverending maze.
Kekkan shoots around to finish the job but then the doll lifts its head up out of the chains and sends a kick directly into Kekkan's stomach. He gets launched onto the ground.
Only through death one will find resurrection. The doll feels like it's been reborn.
Kekkan grasps his shoulders and charges forward. Sending his fist in retaliation. The doll gains quick haste and jumps up out of the way of his swing. Kekkan attempts to find a way to punish this but the doll is too nimble. Once in the air she wastes no time and binds legs around kekkans collar. He scurries around in a panic trying to shudder the doll off him. The doll crunches its legs deeper around Kekkan's collar. Kekkan's face shifts purple. He cant manage to maintain his breath.
Kekkan begins thumping the doll in an attempt to free himself. It's still to no avail. The doll untightens its grasp for a brief moment.
Now is my chance
But kekkan was mistaken. The doll uses all its backbone to smash kekkans face with its foot. The collision sends the doll floating into the air. She then cracks and twists its neck back and chomps down on its nape. Digging in like it's feasting on a banquet it then pulls out a scissors. She flings it out of her mouth landing in the palm of her hand.
Kekkan expects the doll to plunge down and insert the scissors into him. But instead she pitches it right into his chest. For a moment nothing happens before it rotates and declines downwards into him creating a large stitch. Force then flings it back into her hand.
Creating stitches what is the plan here.
The doll then descends down holding the scissors high in the air. Ready to plunge it into him yet again. Just before she makes contact Kekkan shuffles away. The doll continued its relentless pursuit of kekkan slicing at him time and again. Kekkan began to notice a pattern.
She slices left then right and follows it up with a straight stab. If I can keep her swinging she can exhaust her out. Then I can plunge my fist through her gut. I have to forget humanity. I must forget that she may be a human and claim my vengeance. She deserves worse.
Kekkan endlessly dodged everything she had thrown at him until she changed it up. On the start of her next flurry she began with stabbing straight. However kekkans instinct picked this up as she swung. He shields himself by raising his hand to guard himself. It jabbed right in him. Just like the last time a stitch arose.
She retrieved her scissors as usual. And leaped in the air she twisted and cracked her legs around and landed a devastating kick to the side of Kekkan's face. This sent Kekkan landing on his back. The doll then plummeted down raising her scissors to strike. Kekkan folded out of the way of the impact then delivered an unsuspecting right hook to her jaw. Which sent her face first on the ground next to him.
Kekkan then observed that the chain he had used earlier had been left on the floor. While the doll made her recovery, Kekkan sprinted over and grabbed the chain. He clutched both sides with a cold grasp. The doll finally shot back to her feet but kekkan had the advantage this time. He swung the chain around in a circle and sent the end of it forward whacking the doll back to the floor. He didn't give her a chance to recover and slammed the next one downward slamming against her neck.
Kekkan [I'll give you the chance to gather yourself back up. It's useless anyways you already died the moment you stood in the same room as me].
The doll assembled itself back to her feet for a primetime asswhooping. Smack a chain got sent into the left side of her cheek. Whack the chain got sent to the right. Slam the left again. Smash the right. Over and over again he kept delivering his divine vengeance upon the doll. Striking a finishing blow, Kekkan recalls his chains and spins it around. He launches a straight chain shot at the doll.
The doll launches a counter attack by hopping on his chain of vengeance. The Doll sprints across the chain. Kekkan lifts his arm for defence. The doll then thrusts the scissors into Kekkan's arm. And slices downwards creating another stitch. The doll binds its legs around kekkans nape. He raises his chains to swing at her but she ducks under it by cracking her neck back. She dislocated her head and wrapped it around the front of Kekkan's face. He never realised she placed the scissors in her mouth and she slices a cut across Kekkan's eye. Elevating her body up she thrusts kekkan onto the very chain she had found herself in earlier.
Kekkan lets out a howl of pain.
No no please no the chains stuck on chain limbs rip tears no not again face lose skin torment. I cant. no not again i dont wanna do this again. Why are the chains moving again just like last time? IL FUCKING KILL HER I WILL just wait till i unbind myself Stupid doll.
Kekkan struggles and moves around looking for an escape. The doll rapidly speeds to his location. And suddenly poof.
Reality has cracked again.
The room they had just been in had vanished; he was twirling again in the very tunnel of his torment. Chained up yet again but this time the doll stood before him.
He had forgotten the fact he was in a rotary klin. Of course this one was otherworldly and didn't rely on realistic rules. When the place tilted chains dropped then these chains would be rotated at an exceptionally high speed creating heat that rivals an inferno. It will then move downwards which will lead to the burner which will turn you to ash and dispose of your newly created dust.
Kekkan was experiencing this first hand when the place rolled and tumbled. He got further down the doll stood there relentlessly mocking him and giggling. Held in the air by chains rotated around and around getting closer to certain death.
The chains began to heat up as they pressed against kekkans body. At first they just felt like a tiny little sting. The second turn was more like a rash than anything. The third burned but only like a sunburn. . Everything from the 4th was pure torment.
Every time the hot chain pushed against his flesh it burned hotter than an oven. Slowly his skin turned from pure to burnt. It melted off his flesh piece by piece; each round only a little came off but it left a permanent scar.
The doll should be burning too so why is it only me that's feeling this agh why is it aghghh immune.
Even Kekkan's thoughts were interrupted by the unforgettable pain he was suffering. Soon enough the heat would burn everything off him; it burnt like a supernova by this point. From every few seconds a scream of pain turned into one continuous one that knew no end.
The doll gave kekkan a devious smile before licking its lips
What is it doing? That thing.
Once it did this kekkan understood. All at once every one of Kekkan's stitches caused by the doll opened.
His screams of agony only grew louder and echoed longer.
Kekkan [Il kill you il kill you kill kill die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die]
He frantically looked for an escape as the blood from the stitches bled like a geyser. Overflowing mixing with the chains.
But there was hope the chains became looser every round. Maybe if he just wiggled a bit he could break off of course even if he did he would still burn but he would have a chance at ending it taking that bastard down.
When he reached the top on this turn he thrusted his entire body forward and then.
Snap
He landed on his knees lifting his palm from the ground and looking up at the doll. With a maleficent smile.
Kekkan [Your time is up]
Kekkan [You have 10 seconds to live]
For the first time in its life here the doll felt true terror. They were practically right next to the burner by this point the light at the end of the tunnel.
Kekkan then charged right into the doll, knocking her right to the ground, planting her face on the ground as they approached the burner. He forcefully pushed the edge of her face into the burner. This time Kekkan wasn't the one screaming.
Suddenly everything stopped and the lights went out. The heat stopped and the chains stopped moving. And from the fires a brave hero rose and landed behind kekkan. It was the Irish man from the previous layer who had not fallen in battle.
The Hero [Kekkan i will not allow you to kill that beast]
What I can't believe the incolence on this guy. In fact it's his fault for not finishing off the doll. Maybe I should burn them both in the depths.
The doll was already unable to fight but not quite dead. Kekkan rose and turned his head facing the man he once saw as a hero. Kekkan ran into him expecting a clash of the ages but instead.
The hero wrapped his arms around the kekkan comforting him. He held him so dearly and whispered into his ear.
The Hero [It's okay kekkan, I'm here your hero is here to save you. You don't have to suffer anymore]
He held him so deep that Kekkan felt safe and secure in his arms.
Why does this feel good why a man like me shouldn't feel this way i should be strong and capable i couldnt be defeated by hug this isnt perfect this isnt like me.
All of Kekkan's wounds had healed by now.
He held Kekkan close and tenderly spoke into his ear.
The Hero [You are strong kekkan]
I am strong yes thats right then why do i feel so
Kekkan overflowed with tears cradling up in his hero's arms. He couldn't contain the tears.
He planted his head into the hero's chest as the hero rubbed his head.
The Hero [Its okay kekkan im here to protect you to save you]
The hero then launched his sword in the doll skull which ended his life swiftly.
The hero [To kill him would awaken something buried too deep and I as your hero will shield you from that burden. I will shoulder it and carry it for you. Kekkan you are perfect the way you are]