A never-ending blackness, I felt myself float into a bottomless abyss. I turned and swirled but to no avail. I could only float helplessly into this infinite sea of darkness.
'Am I dead? I remember fighting that monster…lately, this is all I have been fighting isn't…'
A dim light began to shine far into this dark realm, then I felt my body pulled toward it.
At first, the pull was slow then it gradually increased in speed. Until I finally spawned into a room that was quite familiar.
'Wait a second I remember this place…this is the throne room of that self-proclaimed God of war…why did I forget about this…' I taught myself
And as if he could hear me think he answered.
"I do not claim to be a god of war…I AM THE GOD OF WAR ASHURA BE MY NAME, AND YOU ARE NOT TO DISRESPECT IT EVER AGAIN!!!" that voice was sordid and loud heard from everywhere but coming from no particular location.
And as if he was trying to impress me, he teleported in front of me. Tall and mighty, with an oppressive aura seeping from the pores of his skin, like the tides of death.
Looking down on me, he added this time calmly but not less threateningly.
"Who is he?"
I answered almost automatically.
"Who is who?"
Enraged and irritated, he shouted in my face.
"WHO IS THAT DAMNABLE CREATURE THAT HAS POSSESSED THIS BODY OF YOURS!!!?"
I answered unknowing of what was truly happening.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. This seems like a déjà vu don't you think?"
He then responded while all of his arms made a fist like a grip and relaxed them as if calming himself.
"You don't know anything, do you…let me tell you, boy. You have two entities residing within this body. I only awoke a few months ago, but something was sleeping in this body of yours for more than a decade. I was only able to see it once that fiend struck you and now it has taken control over your body…what is going on…"
I asked in fright and demand for immediate response.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that the contract was activated?"
The god of war questioningly spoke.
"Contract? Did you forge a contract with a demonic existence? YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT AN ASHURIAN HAS SIDED WITH DEMONIC BEINGS?!! I SHOULD END YOU RIGHT NOW AND SPARE OUR NAME THE HUMILIATION OF THIS DAY!!"
I answered hastily trying to explain the situation.
"That contract was forced upon me, and I have no power over it. It was made to increase my lifetime as I was supposed to be dead ten years ago. But what is this Ashurian you speak of?"
He howled at my question and spoke.
"You are the last of us. You are my only remaining descendant. You are a descendant of a god. But you don't act like it. Now that this demon has possessed your body, it will be almost impossible to release you from it. There is a way for you to regain control."
"Then what is it?" I said
"I will channel a fraction of my power to you. This should be enough to overload your body and make the demon lose control…by that time you should be able to seize control over your body…you will only have one chance."
I answered, full of hope.
"Seems simple enough what are we waiting for?"
He had a grim look on his face when he spoke then next few words.
"There is a catch, however, depending on the power needed to destabilise the demon's control, the link between us might weaken. And the weaker it gets, the greater the time I will not be able to assist you. We will be separated for a duration, and at this time you will be on your own. If you get corrupted again, you will forever lose that body and your soul will be destroyed."
"Ok that is great, and all…but tell me one last thing, why was I not able to remember you when I last met you…I seem fully aware of this place now but if I awoke will I forget again?"
He said in pride
"You were not ready to know who I am. And you still are not. But this time I need you to know who you are. From this moment onward you will not forget about this place nor what I have told you now close your eyes and prepare yourself because this is going to hurt."
***
I know that I was stubborn when I asked the personnel to not take me to the infirmary after losing against that Satori. but I never knew that I would regret it.
'What the hell is happening?' I taught myself while shocked by the events unfolding in front of my own eyes.
"WE NEED TO GO NOW YUNA-SAN IT IS NOT SAFE HERE!!" said Vessma-san frightened and almost panicking.
I answered, "We cannot leave Asura there alone he will die."
She said, trying to pull me by the arm.
"You are still drained from the earlier fight you can't do anything to him…and I am sure that the enforcers will be more than capable of stopping that demon so please let's leave.."
Right after she said that I felt a gust of wind, then black smoke rose from the stadium. The barrier was supposed to stop people from taking real damage, but that miasma seems to be able to negate it…it corrupts magic. This is the same thing that happened when I faced that metallic mage he rendered my attacks useless. If this continues, Asura will really die.
As I saw Asura making his way toward the possessed, I taught.
"What the hell is he doing he is charging head-on onto that monster he will die like this…"
Seeing him fight like that made me feel a bit of pride as he is now fighting for his life but not even looking frightened dodging attacks like if they were nothing and masterfully using that strange sword of his. I can almost feel jealous at his ability to fight through hardship at impossible odds. He truly is a remarkable person I wish I had half his courage. I would have been able to prove myself to those who have abandoned me.
Then out of nowhere, I saw Asura fall…how? He was dodging just fine how come he received damage? I saw nothing.
Vessma then cried out when she saw the tentacle made of smoke swirl and engulf Asura's body.
They began to drain it from life, but a moment after the smoke started to disappear.
Asura showed signs of life as he took a deep breath making all the smoke surrounding him disappear.
The possessed spoke
"WHO…ARE…YOU?"
Asura then spoke in a way that made me shiver and tremble from fear, foul and unwholesome the air turned. This was the same feeling I had that night. His voice confident, strong yet frightening. He said the next words
"My identity is of no use to you as you are breathing your last breath."
This was the same voice I heard that night. The sound of the one that killed my parents! This can't be!
Asura can't be the one that killed them! There has to be a mistake. But the sound of that creature further proved that my nightmare had yet to end.
The possessed talked back.
"You dare threaten… me, a greater demon. You must be wishing for death."
Then Asura spoke back as if annoyed.
"I do not wish to listen to your incoherent ramblings anymore…die"
Once he said that he raised his hand and made the same black tentacles that the possessed was controlling move to his will. They all charged at the formerly called satori and began to suck the life out of him. He shouted and screamed but to no avail as his life was being drained more and more. He then began to beg for his life asking for Asura to spare him but those plead only fell on deaf ears as an inhuman grin appeared on Asura's face almost ecstatic at the pain and pitifulness that the possessed is now showing.
Then out of nowhere, he stopped the possessed was now barely alive. Only skin remained on his bones as he looked up to the towering Asura he said one last thing.
"Please spare me, my lord…I am sorry to have overstepped my…"
Then his skull was crushed in as Asura stomped it with little to no effort.
Asura began to look all over his body then he took an interest to his wrists. He jerked both his arms and made two black circles appear. Those circles as if alive blossomed a tattoo all over his arms. Then he shook his arms to the side making black chains emerge from the middle of both his palms. Each string penetrated the chest of every enforcer that was still alive around the arena.
Those chains were ethereal as they did no physical damage, but once Asura pulled his arms, I was even able to see the very soul of those men. He gathered the energy from his victims and made it into a ball of blue light he then ate it.
"TO ALL AVAILABLE TEACHERS, STAFF AND ANY WHO HAS AT LEAST AN ELDER STATUS OR MAGUS HEAD TO THE ARENA. A DEVIL-LORD possessed ASURA I REPEAT WE HAVE A DEVIL-LORD ON THE LOOSE. TO ALL STUDENTS AND AUDIENCE GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!"
Said the lord of this region as he was shaken and fearful.
"THE DEVIL-LORD IS USING DEATH MAGIC, TAKE EXTREME CAUTION I HAVE NOW MADE THE ARENA INTO A TELEPORT BLOCKED AREA THE DEVIL MUST DIE HERE AND CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO ESCAPE. Kill Asura!"
'D-devil lord…Asura turned into a devil lord…h-how? Why? If a demonic existence contacted someone they get corrupted and become mindless killing machines…the only exception is the contractors…as they lose their body to the demon and make it fully manifest itself…was Asura a contractor all this time…he was manipulating us all this time. So he really was the devil that killed my parents!"
Wrath and indignation covered my vision, I could no longer think clearly or rationally as only one thought began to cross my mind. Revenge.
The devil-lord then took the sword and looked at it. He then said
"Old friend…it's been a long time since we have last met…how about another blood bath?"
Then the sword as if rejoicing shrieked and hissed it transformed into a scimitar with a dragon's face as hilt then the blade disappeared. A steel pole emerged from the bottom of the grip, and the dragon-shaped handguard upchucked a deep red jewel. Transforming into an unwholesome staff.
This is the same weapon of that wretched night… sob. There is no doubt them.
Hordes of teachers and members from different countries entered the arena in hopes of stopping the new-born threat.
Spells began to cast, and magic was being summoned, some types I have never seen before not only elemental magic even rare types of curses and hexes were being conjured. Mana began to gather in the arena as everyone was preparing to blast the devil into nothingness.
The devil then spoke.
"Oh young Asura I cannot thank you enough…you have awoken the eye and now it is mine to use HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH."
Everyone blasted the devil off with their magic at the same time.
Massive explosions and outburst echoed throughout the arena that I had to cover my face from the impending rise of dust.
"IT IS FUTILE!!!"
Said the unharmed devil as not a hair was damaged on his body.
He looked exactly like Asura, but his right eye shone bright red.
"WITH THIS EYE AND MY ABILITY NO MAGIC CAN DO ME HARM. NOW PERISH!!"
With those words, a black wave of death erupted from his body whenever it washed over someone their very soul would be pushed outside of their body, and they would flop helplessly to the ground.
Overpowered and distraught the remaining survivors banded together. Then the devil spoke once more.
"Feeble humans…where is your old might…you have accepted 'their' decree and became satisfied with living here in this damnable cage…WE DO NOT WISH TO BE ENTRAPPED HERE, WE DO NOT WISH TO REMAIN HERE, WE WILL BRING DOWN YOUR FRAIL AND UNWORTHY RACE AND CLAIM BACK OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE…what is this smell…One of the guardian descendants! Yes! My mission can finally be complete."
He looked at me when he said those words, me now who is feeling teardrops streaming down her cheeks. I felt betrayed that the same person that I began to care for, perhaps even liked was the reason for all of my sadness.
I prepared for the worst when he was walking toward me then he screamed in pain. Howled and screeched as he dropped to his knees.
"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE…DAMN YOU…I CANNOT GO NOW…NOT NOW…"
A moment later, he closed both his eyes then.
"Holy shit that was painful, Uhh why is everyone looking at me that way?"