А? Where am I?
Darkness... Darkness engulfed me, making it hard to tell if I was dreaming, blind, or if my eyes were closed.
As if under the influence of sleep paralysis, I couldn't move. I could only look around, but to no avail. For the darkness completely surrounded me, but not my body.
The last thing I remember was Aki and I drinking and eating chicken. Shit... Poisoning? Or... Am I still in a dream, and everything that happened before... Pochita, Makima, Aki and Danji... Is it all an illusion? Or a fully realized dream?
Fuck.
The only thing that came to my mind was to swear. No, I didn't feel helpless or anything, but it still wasn't a good situation.
In Danji's memories, the guy often had a dream where there was a door of his old house. He never dared to open it because behind it lay his secret and the reason for his hellish life.
But didn't... Didn't I already realize that Danji killed his father? I'm supposed to be mentally stable for that.
Out loud I couldn't speak, I could feel my arms and legs, and all I could feel in front of me was darkness... The meanest part was that I could only hear my thoughts.
- Cha...in...sa...w....
А?
- Chain...saw...
Finally, some kind of voice entered my mind. It must have been some kind of telepathic communication, for my ears can't hear a damn thing.
The voice seemed to be coming closer to me. Each time I heard it, I began to hear it more clearly.
It was quiet and loud at the same time. It was like it was echoing everywhere in my mind. But... It wasn't frightening. It was as if I had heard that voice once before.
- A chainsaw.
And then... I could open my eyes, but it was no use. I could feel my body, but... The darkness still enveloped me.
Suddenly, I could see the silhouette of a person... No... It wasn't a person. It was something else, not someone.
The silhouette, which appeared to be a demon, was composed of several human bodies. Two of the bodies act as legs, the other four make up the torso, each with its own face:
The first head from above, located just below the neck, has no eyes and possesses an upright mouth;
The second head has open eyes and a sewn mouth;
The third lacks a nose, has an open mouth, and its eyes are sewn shut;
The fourth head, on the other hand, is devoid of eyes and has a grim expression. The head of the demon itself is akin to a pterodactyl with curved horns.
The arms of the first human body are stretched out to the sides, holding what resembles a cloak of darkness.
- What a freak...? - I said out loud in surprise. - What? I could finally speak?
Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe. The pressure from this monster is completely different from other demons and personalities I've seen.
In an attempt to resist the pressure, I decided to reach for his chest.
- I wouldn't advise you to turn into a demon*. - he warned me.
It wasn't a threat, but more of a casual warning. I don't know what he wanted from me, but I was safe until I made a mistake.
- Who are you? - I took my hand off the starter and crouched down right in front of him.
- Surprising. Not afraid of me? Or of the dark?
- I'm afraid to find out through what crevice you're talking to me. - I crossed my arms and exhaled. - I don't know, I'm devoid of fear.
- You or this guy? - He asked me.
I tensed, then frowned. Does he know that I...not me...and Danji...not Danji? Anyway, it looks like this demon knows something.
- Hm-hm-hm-hm. - He laughed and suddenly appeared behind me, but I didn't flinch.
Do I feel uncomfortable? Yes. But not because he might kill me, but because of the consequences.
- Looks like I was right to choose your soul. - circling around me, he said. - And the fact that you're not afraid of death is proof of your specialness.
Why is he talking in riddles? You think you're so smart?
- Oh, no. I don't speak in riddles, but the way I speak is.
He's--
- Yeah. I can hear your thoughts. - he answered the question before it was asked. - You were wondering how I speak the other day, weren't you? - I don't know how, but I felt him smile. - Darkness. There's darkness all around. And I am it. Ears, eyes, lips, feelings. I am everything.
He's speaking in riddles again, but I know roughly what he means.
"Can you hear my thoughts in the dark?"
- That's right. - nodded the pterodactyl. - And don't call me a pterodactyl. I'm the Demon of Darkness.
Huh... Well, why can't I live without adventure? It's not even day two, I guess.
- Are you trying to kill me? - I asked him, preparing for anything.
- Have you given up yet, Chainsaw Demon? Ready to die and give up your heart?
- Well, I can't beat you... now. I just realized today that I have a demon heart, a shitty body with a shitty past and an unenviable future. - I shrugged. - So, better than trying, I'm going to sleep the sleep of eternity. Almost half of the list of things a real Dangee would want to do is done anyway.
The Darkness Demon was still standing there, staring at me with all available eyes.
- Hmph. I didn't call you to my kingdom for this. - he held out his hand... one of his hands. - Your coming into our world, it was all my doing.
Looking at the Darkness Demon's pale hand, I sighed and accepted it, grasping it.
Standing up from my seat, I waited to see what he would say. Still, he can hear my thoughts and knows I need information.
Not just about the reason for the draft, but about me, about Pochita, and more.
- Of course I'll answer all your questions. - he chuckled. - You're a lost soul.
- I don't get it... Me or Danji?
- You. Lost souls are those who don't know themselves or who they were before they died. Usually, they become that way because of their complicated and difficult past.
So... My past life was hard too?
- Usually, people like your soul go to heaven pretty quickly. But not you, so I decided to pick you up and...
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... - I stopped him. - But I'm from the future... At least the advanced technology in my memories of the past explains that, and we didn't have demons... I think.
- Yeah. You're the one who likes to interrupt. - He shook his head. - That's your whole nature. Impatient and hot-tempered, I'd say.
- I apologize. - I scratched my head and apologized.
He's right, though. I'm interrupting him every time I ask a question.
- I know it's hard to believe, but nothing is impossible for me, the Demon of Darkness. In fact, I'm everywhere. Space, earth, universe... Where there is darkness, there I am. Even in an ordinary shadow, there's a piece of me, faint but still there.
The universe means I'm me.
- Yes. From another reality, an alternate universe, or more simply, another world. Whatever you want to call it. But know this, I was only able to bring you into our world because you were strong and you didn't want to die.
- Didn't want to die?
- That's right. You wandered all over the world, but you were spotted by me, which is surprising because we demons can't see people's souls.
Don't demons love souls, like in some stories and movies?
- Wrong. Even though there are an infinite number of worlds, it doesn't mean that every world has its own demons. Some hide in some and some manifest themselves, but one constant rule will remain. We cannot feed on the fear in all worlds, so we are bound to one world, and that is our world.
— Wow ... - I began to digest what he said, closing my eyes. - Tin of course, it's difficult ... huh ... - sighing, I looked at him again. - We've strayed from the subject.… It seems like it's too early for me to know about this. Just tell me why I'm here, why Danji's body, and what do you expect from me? - I decided to take the conversation more seriously.
- Mm-hmm-hmm. More and more you're getting my respect. - that pterodactyl nodded a couple times. - Stop calling me like that!
- Sorry. My thoughts.
- Anyway. I want a contract that's secure for both parties.
- A contract?
- Yes.
- I brought you to our world, not because I felt sorry for you, but for profit. I need your power.
- I realize you want to use me, but my power? I'm just a regular guy who's a half-demon chainsaw. I was originally supposed to be the man with the heart of a chainsaw. All I know about my power is that I can slice and dice and regenerate at breakneck speed.
- Silly boy. I not only transmigrated you into a human named Danji, but also into the body of the so-called Pochita you called yourself, who was the 'Hero of Hell', the Chainsaw Demon. You are a Demon with a human body.
- What? - I tilted my head questioningly. - So I'm a demon, but I'm not a demon? - I had too much information on my mind.
- If it's easier for you to understand, then yes. You have yet to become one.
- And why do you need me? What's in it for me? - I smirked, realizing it would only benefit me.
But I should have been wary. No offense, but it's hard to trust....
- Hm-hm-hm-hm. I take no offense, Danji. I just wish I had an equal ally. Loneliness in the form of a lifetime of the universe, got me thinking, find someone who can help me kill all the demons of the original.
- And why would you do that?
- They piss me off. Fear should only be a couple, not all. I am the fear of darkness, and there should be a couple of them.
- And you want me to interrupt them...?
- Exactly.
- I don't know what you want, but I'm weak. I can't defeat them, no matter how much Satan or God wishes it. - I waved my hand.
- Too bad... I thought you'd say yes.
- I didn't say no. - A smirk appeared on my face. - Didn't you hear my plan? - I raised an eyebrow.
- A thought and a plan are different things, Danji. But now that you've thought about it..." he grinned visibly. - I'll give you the power.
- Then we'll make an equal contract. You, the Dark Demon, give me the power to kill or subdue the primitives and help me learn all my demon powers, and I'll...
- And you, Danji. The new Chainsaw Demon, as well as the former "Hero of Hell", you will become my ally and assistant who will get a piece of my power. In return, I will not touch you or dare to interfere with your peaceful life even after the end of the world.
- Are you sure about the latter? What if I decide to kill you?
- Even demons can trust someone. And I can hear your thoughts loud and clear, which is why I decided to take that step, boy. - He held out his pale and cold hand to me.
- Very well, then. From this day forward, the alliance contract between the Demon of Darkness and the Demon of Chainsaw begins here and now. - I smirked and grasped his palm, shaking and confirming our contract.
From this day forward, many things will change, and hell will shake in front of us. An event I've named "The Darkness and the Chainsaw..."
The fun will begin very soon...
To be continued...
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