Chapter 12: Demons and Madness II
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Limbo was worse than his limited mind had imagined. The air was thick and suffocating, as if every breath drained his life energy. Everything around him seemed like a nightmare come true. The terrain was an impossible landscape, composed of hills of twisted flesh that pulsed as if they had a life of their own. Gigantic towers rose in the distance, their shapes undulating as if they were liquid, folding and unfolding in the air. The sky was covered in black clouds, and the stars moved, forming arcane patterns that seemed to cast spells with each turn.
The madness of Limbo tried to infiltrate his mind, distorting his perception of reality, but Aleis held on to his control. Focusing on the force vectors surrounding him, he used his powers to keep himself anchored to what little mental stability remained in that place. Beside him, Susan Storm walked with her eyes fixed on the surroundings, her force field expanding like a protective bubble, keeping at bay the lesser creatures that lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Behind them, Reed Richards moved quickly, his gaze focused on the device he held, analyzing the energy fluctuations of Limbo. The device crackled and beeped irregularly, as if reality itself were trying to block his analysis.
"Limbo is distorting my readings," Reed growled, frantically adjusting the controls of the device. "But I keep detecting anomalous energy spikes up ahead. Madelyne is not far away."
The young man, focused on his objective, nodded. Although he did not need a device to know this, he could feel the disturbance in the vectors around him. Reality bent and warped as if under the influence of an invisible hand that molded it to its will. Madelyne Pryor, the Queen of Limbo, was nearby. And with her, the distortion of reality itself.
The wind of the demonic realm roared around him, bringing with it the whispers of unseen voices, which seemed to come from everywhere, trying to erode the sanity of anyone who listened to them for too long. But the former member of the X-men maintained his focus. He could not afford to give in to the influences of this place, nor allow terror to infiltrate his mind.
"My powers… feel different here," Aleis said, noticing the difficulty he had in controlling the vectors with precision. "This place distorts everything."
"It's Limbo," Reed replied. "Nothing here follows the rules we know. But if anyone can manipulate this chaos, it's you."
The ground beneath his feet suddenly shook. A rift opened in front of them, and as if it had been waiting for that moment, a swarm of demonic creatures emerged from the depths, their misshapen bodies covered in flames, their claws glowing with a lethal edge. The demons roared in unison, and in that moment, all of Limbo seemed to reverberate with their fury.
"Watch out!" Susan shouted, expanding her force field into a wider sphere to protect the group from the first attack.
The demons lashed out at the shield, clawing and striking with their claws and teeth. They were hideous creatures, with burnt skin and glowing eyes like embers, created and fueled by the dark power of Limbo. They were Madelyne's soldiers, sent directly by her to stop the intruders.
The albino did not wait for the creatures to break through the shield. He held out his hands, channeling the power he had over vectors through the suit and the Vector Neutralizer Reed had given him. The white stripes on his uniform glowed brightly, and the air around him filled with glowing lines that cut through space. He manipulated the vectors of the demonic attacks, deflecting the claws and projectiles launched at them, and sending them back towards the very creatures that had launched them.
"Aleis, more to the left!" Reed shouted, as he stretched his arm like a flexible rope, striking one of the demons that tried to flank them.
The young man turned quickly, his red eyes glowing with a fierce light as he used the vectors of the environment to push a group of demons towards a crack in the ground. The monsters howled as they fell into the abyss, but many more took their place, emerging from the shadows like an endless tide. Limbo had no end. It was a place where reality stretched and twisted, and the hellish creatures were as inexhaustible as the horrors of the mind.
Susan maintained the force field, but the albino felt his energy begin to falter. The power of Limbo was overwhelming, and the demons continued to attack without rest. Then, an icy laugh echoed throughout the landscape, as if the wind itself mocked them.
Madelyne Pryor appeared floating above a hill of twisted flesh, her silhouette illuminated by the red glow of the hellish sky. Her long red hair fluttered despite the stillness of the air, and her eyes glowed with a dark energy that was reflected throughout Limbo. The queen of that dimension looked in absolute control, smiling with a mix of mockery and malice.
"Welcome to my realm," Madelyne said, her voice resonating like a distorted echo that seemed to arise from every corner. "Do you really think you can stop me?"
The mutant stepped forward, feeling the pressure of the power emanating from her. The vectors around him were completely controlled by Madelyne. Not only did she have control of her own power, but she also manipulated the very fabric of Limbo. It was as if she were fused with that place on an astral level.
"We have come to stop you," Aleis said, with a firmness that hid her growing concern. I will not allow you to destroy the world.
Madelyne let out a mocking laugh.
"Stop me?" she repeated, her voice laced with contempt. "This world is already doomed! What I am doing is simply revealing the truth that has always been there. Madness, destruction, despair… that is what has always defined humanity. I am only helping them accept their fate."
With a simple gesture of her hand, the ground beneath their feet began to shake violently. Columns of demonic fire erupted from the ground, surrounding Aleis, Susan, and Reed. The demons that had previously attacked them retreated, forming a tight circle around them, ready to pounce upon them when the order was given.
Susan, with tremendous effort, expanded her force field to encompass the circle of fire, but Aleis could see the effort it cost her.
"Madelyne is playing with us," Reed said with a frown. She's gauging our strength before unleashing her full power.
Aleis knew it. They had to act now, before it was too late. She looked at Reed.
"Is there a way to disrupt her control of Limbo?" the young mutant asked, his mind already working on a plan.
Reed nodded, though his expression was grim.
"Her connection to Limbo is strong, but if you manage to focus enough energy into a single attack, you could temporarily destabilize her. You won't defeat her completely, but we could buy some time."
The X-gene bearer nodded. He knew it would be risky, but they had no other choice. He would have to focus all his power on the vectors, amplified by the suit and the Neutralizer, and launch it directly at Madelyne. If he failed, Limbo's energy could destroy him. But if it worked, they would have a chance.
"Do it," Susan said, her look determined. "We'll cover you."
Aleis closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She felt the distorted vectors of Limbo around her, mixed with her own energy. She channeled all of her power through the suit, letting the energy flow into her hands. The white stripes on her uniform began to glow with blinding intensity, as the energy built up.
"Now!" Aleis shouted, and released all of the energy in a massive explosion, directing it towards Madelyne Pryor.
The energy tore through the air, distorting space in its wake. Madelyne barely had time to react before the blast hit her. The explosion shook all of Limbo, disintegrating nearby demons and shaking the very structures of the place.
For an instant, everything was silent.
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