January 27, 2022
Words: Term
Entrapped inside the debris of fallen buildings, the hectic cries echoed throughout as my frail body shed enough blood to render my movements useless. Darkness overwhelmed my vision. It was suffocating. There were no gaps for air nor sunlight to enter inside. Darkness overwhelmed me as I struggled to catch my breath.
Magic was my savior and a thorn in my side. Manipulating the mana flow, a formation of glyphs formed two circles. Magic that soothed my wounds and magic that manifested oxygen. While treating myself, an incredible force sent vibrations through the ground. Pebbles from the debris above me fell, decreasing the integrity of the remnants of housing stacked on top of each other. So long as the vibrations occur, these rocks would eventually crush me to death.
The incredible force felt closer, another vibration which shook the rocks ever so slightly. The source of such force was the steps of the Ethereal Dragon that haunts the undead forest, plagued by the corruption of a powerful lich. My fellow comrades that accepted the quest to subjugate the creature died by the dragon's eerie power. I, who was naive enough to believe in my power, charged at the beast to avenge my brethren.
Here I am. Wounded in battle and trapped under debris.
The ground shook once again, this time It felt like it was beside me. Before the Ethereal Dragon had the chance to pass through the debris and swallow my soul, the integrity finally reached its limit. Everything crumbled.
My precious and loving family encouraged me to take the path of a legend; adventurer who traverses the world, protecting innocent lives and becoming their saving grace. Exploring uncharted continents, to unearth people who lack assistance and those who suffer from the clutches of the enemy. Such a naive mindset. The wings of the guardian angel I wish to become were clipped because of my feeble mind. Everything crumbled in every path I took.
As debris fell around me, I closed my eyes. I accepted my fate. However, the sound of the rampaging beast and the screams of terror echoed throughout my mind. A hole in my heart was not properly sealed.
I refuse to give up. Yet, my powerlessness weighed me down. I prayed to the gods. Nothing happened. I begged the gods to save the people. Nothing happened. I cursed the gods at the top of my lungs. Something happened. A miracle happened.
"Do you wish to become stronger?" an ominous voice whispered.
My jaws dropped as I darted around. The falling debris which fell towards my direction stuck into place, as If time was temporarily put into halt. I blinked my eyes a few times, doubtful of the scene before me. At first, I thought I was hallucinating, or I was under the influence of illusion magic. However, nothing changed when I quickly casted a cleansing spell. It was real.
"I want to save everyone! I want to become stronger!" I shouted, desperate to save the people outside.
Red mist manifested before me, which twisted to form the face of a demon. Long curled horns on each side, a pair of sharp canines, long dark hair fluttering in the air, and slit green eyes. It was a female demon head hovering before me.
"In that case, engage a contract with me!" the demon demanded. "I will grant you omnipotent power in exchange with your life."
"Life force or whatever, as long as I am able to save those people. Let us form this contract already!"
"Very well," the demon grinned. "Then I shall make you into my vessel."
Bright green light bounced throughout the room, blinding my vision. The red mist entered my mouth, suffocating me because of the abrupt movement of air. My once lifeless limbs regained strength. The piercing pain of the gaping wound on the side of my stomach disappeared. I felt my fatigue fading away. And my mana recovered in a blink of an eye. There was a significant change in my physique.
My blood was pumping in excitement. I was ready to test new found power. However, a white mist phased through the static debris. It was a beast. While time was stopped, the Ethereal Dragon was able to bend space and time.
And thus, the short-lived adventure between a naive warrior and a demon began.