[Before the Battle Began]
The warehouse vibrated with the clash of metal and the frustrated grunts of recruits. Swords clanged awkwardly against shields, boots scraped against the dusty floor, and a thick tension hung in the air, heavier than the weight of their weapons.
"CLANG! CLANG!" A recruit's sword bounced off his partner's shield with all the precision of a toddler throwing a tantrum.
I crossed my arms, leaning against a nearby pillar, and sighed. "If swinging wildly was a martial art, we'd have grandmasters here."
Beside me, Aria's lips were pressed into a thin line, her usual calm replaced by visible frustration. She turned to me, her voice sharp. "Eric, stop joking. They're not ready! None of them are! How can we face Diablomon with this?"
I waved a hand at a recruit who nearly took out his own foot. "You're not wrong, but I don't think Diablomon is ready for this... whatever this is."
Aria pinched the bridge of her nose. "Eric, please. This is serious. Diablomon isn't just some regular demon—he's a lord. A being of destruction, chaos, and malice!"
"Yeah, I get that." I straightened up and smirked. "But look at it this way: how's he gonna predict this level of incompetence? It's genius!"
"WHOOSH! CLANK!" One recruit's sword slipped from his hands, spinning mid-air and nearly decapitating another.
Aria glared at me. "You think this is funny?!"
"No, no!" I held up my hands defensively, grinning like a fool. "It's hilarious. But fine, I get it. Serious mode activated. They're doomed."
Her sharp glare softened into something more worried. "We don't have time to train them properly. Diablomon could attack at any moment, and these... these..." She gestured at the recruits, struggling for words. "These clowns are all we have."
I tilted my head, watching another recruit attempt a spin move and fall flat on his back. "Clowns, huh? That might be our edge. Ever seen a demon lord try to fight a circus? No? Exactly."
She stared at me, her lips twitching in an attempt to suppress a smile. "You're impossible."
"And you're stuck with me," I shot back with a wink.
Aria shook her head but couldn't hide her smirk. "What's the plan, oh wise one? Besides laughing until Diablomon dies of secondhand embarrassment?"
I tapped my temple, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "We weaponize chaos, Aria. Fear isn't just Diablomon's weapon—it's ours too. If we make him doubt himself, make him second-guess his every move, we'll have an opening. Besides..."
"BAM!" Another recruit tripped, sending a spear flying.
"...we've already mastered the art of unpredictable."
Her laugh broke through the tension, a rare sound in times like these. "This is why I keep you around, Eric. Not for your fighting skills—definitely not those—but for your ridiculous optimism."
"Hey, my fighting's not that bad!" I protested, flexing my fingers. "You've seen what I can do with Anium. When it comes to me and Diablomon, it's gonna be..." I clenched my fist dramatically. "...OVERDRIVE!"
Aria rolled her eyes but smiled. "Let's just hope your 'overdrive' doesn't stall when we need it."
That night, as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, her words lingered. Not ready. None of them are.
But was I ready?
The pendant around my neck pulsed faintly, a steady rhythm that matched my heartbeat. I clutched it, memories of that night flooding back—the night the forest changed me.
"WHOOSH!" The wind had roared, leaves dancing violently under the moonlight. Shadows crept closer, whispers of danger circling me like predators. I'd been lost, scared, and hopeless.
Then came the light.
A figure emerged, glowing like a beacon, their voice piercing the storm around me.
"Eric," it said, powerful yet calm. "Do you wish to survive, or do you wish to fight?"
I didn't hesitate. "I want to fight!"
"THRUM!" Energy surged through me, like lightning coursing through my veins. My body burned with strength I'd never known. That was the first time I felt the power of Anium—a force that wasn't of this world but had claimed me as its wielder.
Now, I stared at the ceiling, clutching the pendant. "This isn't who I was supposed to be," I whispered. "I'm no hero."
Sleep came reluctantly, and with it, the dreams.
I stood in the forest again, but this time it was calm. The wind was gentle, the shadows nowhere to be found.
"Eric..."
I turned at the voice, my heart pounding. There, bathed in moonlight, was a woman with silver hair, her eyes deep and knowing.
"Sarah?" I breathed.
She smiled, stepping closer, her movements graceful yet commanding. "Still doubting yourself, huh? Some things never change."
"Why are you here?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.
She chuckled softly. "Because you're lost, as usual. And because the forest chose you, idiot."
"Chose me for what?!" My voice rose in frustration. "I'm just a guy! A guy trying not to die!"
Her expression softened. "You're more than you think, Eric. You're the key to something greater. To me. To everyone. The forest saw your potential—your ability to wield Anium."
"But why me?" I demanded. "Why not someone stronger? Someone who knows what they're doing?"
She reached out, placing a hand on my chest. "Because strength isn't about muscles or skill. It's about heart. And believe it or not, you've got plenty of that, even if you hide it behind bad jokes."
Before I could respond, she pulled out a dagger, its blade glowing with runes.
"This," she said, handing it to me, "is your next step. It will cut through anything—even the chains of fear and doubt. Use it well."
I stared at the weapon, its power humming in my hands. "But what if I—"
"You won't fail," she interrupted, her voice firm. "You're not alone, Eric. I'm with you. Always."
Her figure began to fade, her voice echoing one last time. "Now go. Show Diablomon what it means to face the power of Anium."
I woke with a start, the dagger still in my hand. Its runes glowed faintly, whispering of the battle ahead.
[Day of the WAR]
The battlefield burned with chaos, the air thick with the scent of smoke and desperation. Shadows writhed and charged, their monstrous forms clawing toward us like a tide of doom. But I stood firm, dagger in hand, with Anium buzzing like lightning in my veins.
"Five million demons, huh?" I smirked, spinning my blade. "Guess it's my lucky day. More punching bags than I could've asked for."
Aria grabbed my arm, her voice trembling but determined. "Eric, focus! This isn't just a fight—it's survival!"
"Survival?" I chuckled, glancing at the overwhelming swarm. "Nah, Aria. Survival's boring. This is a show. And lucky for them, I'm the star."
Suddenly, the air grew heavier, darker. From the heart of the enemy lines, Diablomon's army approached like a living storm, with the ominous glow of the Dark Inferno looming behind them.
[ Dark Inferno is a demonic machine that generates energy for Diablomon's forces. It travels with their army, replenishing their strength over time. ]
Aria turned to me, panic flickering in her eyes. "Eric, something's wrong! That machine—it feels different!"
"Wrong?" I said, stepping forward. "Wrong's my middle name. Let's see what this toy can do."
Diablomon's form emerged from the smoke, massive and menacing, his glowing eyes like twin suns of destruction.
"I AM DIABLOMON," he thundered. "YOUR PATH ENDS HERE!"
"Ends here?" I raised my dagger, grinning like a maniac. "Buddy, my path doesn't end. It just takes detours—usually over corpses like yours."
[ SYSTEM ALERT: ENEMY THREAT LEVEL INCREASING ]
Diablomon raised a claw, and flames erupted around him, the inferno feeding into his monstrous form.
[ WARNING: DIABLOMON IS ABSORBING POWER FROM THE DARK INFERNO ]
My heart raced. I could feel the ground vibrating beneath me, the energy building within the machine. "Oh, great. He's juicing up. Guess we're dealing with Demon King 2.0!"
Sarah appeared at my side, her face pale but her voice steady. "Eric, that thing isn't just powering him up—it's feeding on destruction itself. If we don't stop it—"
"I know, I know," I interrupted, my smirk unwavering. "Boom goes the village, blah blah blah. Don't worry, Sarah. I've got a plan. Step one: survive. Step two: make him cry."
"Eric!" Aria shouted, pointing toward the machine. "We need to overload it—turn it against him!"
"Overload it?" I laughed, dodging a swipe from a shadow beast. "I like your style! Let's make it explode so hard, they'll hear it in the next dimension!"
Diablomon roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "INSOLENT MORTAL! YOU DARE DEFY ME?!"
I turned to face him, my grin widening. "Defy you? Pal, I'm not just defying you—I'm going to embarrass you." I raised my dagger, energy crackling around me. "Let's dance, flame-boy!"
[ ANIUM'S POWER SYNCHRONIZING WITH USER ]
As Diablomon lunged, I darted forward, my blade striking like lightning against his dark barrier. Sparks flew, and his laughter boomed.
"PATHETIC!" he mocked, his claws swiping toward me.
I backflipped away, landing with a flourish. "Pathetic? Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your ego? Don't worry—it's about to get a lot worse."
Aria shouted from behind me. "Eric! The machine!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it!" I yelled back, turning my attention to the glowing monstrosity. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pile of onions amidst the chaos, left behind by some fleeing villagers.
A crazy idea sparked in my head. I grabbed a handful of onions and held them high. "HEY, DIABLOMON!" I shouted. "You think you're hot stuff, huh? But have you ever faced... the wrath of the onion?!"
The battlefield froze. Even Diablomon tilted his monstrous head in confusion. "WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS?!"
"Confused?" I said, grinning like a lunatic. "Good. Confusion is the first step toward defeat! Prepare yourself for a flavor bomb like no other!"
Aria slapped her forehead. "Eric, what are you doing?!"
"Trust me!" I called back. "I'm about to spice things up!"
Diablomon growled, his flames intensifying. "YOUR GAMES WILL COST YOU YOUR LIFE!"
He charged, his massive form hurtling toward me like a meteor.
[ SYSTEM ALERT: COMBAT MODE ACTIVATED ]
[ TASK: SURVIVE AND DESTROY THE DARK INFERNO ]
I dodged at the last second, his claws slamming into the ground with a deafening crash. "Too slow!" I taunted, slashing at his side. My dagger sparked against his dark energy shield.
[ ANIUM POWER LEVELS RISING ]
Diablomon snarled, swinging again. "STAY STILL AND ACCEPT YOUR FATE!"
"Stay still?" I laughed, flipping over his attack. "Buddy, I'm like a caffeine overdose—I don't stop moving!"
Sarah's voice cut through the chaos. "Eric, focus! The Dark Inferno is the key!"
I nodded, my grin unwavering. "Right. Let's turn this ticking time bomb into a fireworks display!"
Racing toward the machine, I channeled Anium into my blade. Diablomon howled behind me, his power surging.
"NO! YOU WILL NOT DESTROY IT!"
I glanced over my shoulder, smirking. "Watch me."
[ SYSTEM ALERT: DARK INFERNO CORE BREACHED ]
Plunging my dagger into the core, I unleashed a burst of Anium. The machine sputtered and sparked, its energy spiraling out of control.
"BOOM!"
The explosion rocked the battlefield, engulfing Diablomon in a wave of golden light. As the dust settled, his massive form began to crumble, his eyes wide with shock.
"NO! THIS CANNOT BE!"
Diablomon's roar shattered the air like an earthquake. I stepped forward, dagger glowing with Anium's fiery power, my voice slicing through the chaos.
"Game over, Diablomon. You thought you could win? Guess what—you just rolled your last die!"
"ERIC, BEHIND YOU!"
Aria's scream cut through my focus like a knife. I spun, slashing a shadow beast's neck in one fluid motion. Its claws barely missed my face as its decapitated body crumbled into black mist.
Diablomon snarled, tendrils of shadow erupting from his form, striking like vipers.
[SYSTEM ALERT: DANGER IMMINENT – EVASIVE ACTION REQUIRED]
I rolled, narrowly avoiding a tendril that gouged a crater in the ground. "You're going to have to try harder than that!"
Charging forward, I drove my glowing dagger toward his chest. Diablomon caught the blade mid-thrust, his sneer dripping with malice.
"Pathetic," he growled. His strength sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.
Before I could react, he hurled me like a ragdoll. My body slammed into the ground, pain lancing through me as blood pooled beneath my torn armor.
[HEALTH CRITICAL: 25% REMAINING]
"Is that all you've got?" I spat, forcing myself to stand, every muscle screaming in defiance.
Diablomon roared, slamming the ground with both fists. A tidal wave of molten energy rushed toward me.
[SYSTEM ALERT: COMBAT MODE ACTIVE]
[WARNING: ALLIED FORCES – 60% LOST]
[TASK: DEFEND CRIMSON VILLAGE UNTIL REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE]
The system's updates felt like salt in an open wound. My grip tightened on the dagger. "We're losing ground!" I yelled into my comms. "Hold the line—Crimson Village won't fall!"
[SYSTEM ALERT: AMMUNITION SUPPLY AT 15%]
I cursed under my breath, cutting down wave after wave of shadow beasts. My blade was heavy, but my will was heavier. "Aria, get the survivors out of here!" I commanded, parrying a shadow claw.
"But Eric—"
"I SAID GO!"
Diablomon's laugh was a dark symphony of mockery. His voice slithered into my ears. "Weak, Eric. Your resistance is amusing… but pointless."
"Pointless? I'll show you pointless!" I lunged again, only to be met with a devastating blast of dark energy. It slammed into me, throwing me across the battlefield like a leaf in a storm.
My vision blurred as pain wracked my body.
[HEALTH CRITICAL: 15% REMAINING]
[SYSTEM ALERT: EMERGENCY POWER SURGE DETECTED]
"Is this… the end?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the roar of the battle.
[SYSTEM ALERT: ANIUM LEVELS SURGING – OVERLOAD IMMINENT]
A surge of golden energy exploded through my veins, burning away the weakness. I stood, trembling but unyielding. My dagger blazed with new life.
"You think you've won?" I growled, my voice low and menacing. "I'm not done yet, Diablomon. You took everything from me—now, I'll take YOU!"
[SYSTEM UPDATE: NEW COMBO ATTACK UNLOCKED]
I fused my dagger with my rifle, feeling the hum of raw power coursing through the weapon. "This one's for Crimson Village!"
The hybrid weapon fired, glowing dagger-bullets tearing through shadow beasts before striking Diablomon. His form dissipated into smoke, but his laughter lingered.
"Eric… I know you," his voice whispered in my mind, a snake coiling around my thoughts.
"You destroyed everything!" I roared. "I'll never join you!"
Slamming my fist into the ground, cracks splintered outward as my anger surged. "My village… my mother… gone because of YOU!"
Memories clawed at me.
[NOTE UNLOCKED: THE CRIMSON VILLAGE MASSACRE]
"THEY'VE ATTACKED!!" The capital's desperate message replayed in my mind. Diablomonic creatures tore through the city like a storm, leaving only death in their wake. The screams of the dying haunted me.
"She's gone," I whispered, my heart heavy. My mother's smile was the last thing I remembered before the chaos. My chest burned with pain and rage.
"No one…" I growled through gritted teeth, "must ever know."
"Sentiment blinds you," Diablomon sneered, his voice like oil in my ears. "Join me, Eric, and I'll free you from the chains of your past."
"Chains?!" My energy flared as I shouted. "The only chains here are the ones you'll be buried under!"
The earth trembled as I stood, golden light crackling around me.
Diablomon stepped forward, his form warping. "I am Dilah," he declared, his voice booming. "And you will bow to me, just as all before you have."
Shadows surged forward, suffocating. My screams echoed as their weight pressed against me. Then—
[SYSTEM ALERT: SHIELD OF LIGHT ACTIVATED]
A radiant burst erupted from my chest, a shield of golden energy shattering the darkness. I staggered back, staring in awe at the glowing barrier.
"What… is this?"
Diablomon hissed, recoiling. "Impossible! No one resists Shadow Ruthless!"
But I stood tall, gripping my weapon as the shield pulsed brighter. "You destroyed my home, my family, my life… but you'll NEVER destroy ME!"
Diablomon's snarl twisted his monstrous face further. "You'll regret defying me, mortal!"
BOOM!
The ground erupted as countless bombs ascended silently from the earth, their presence chillingly menacing. My eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell is this madness!?" My fists clenched, the surge of terror nearly paralyzing me.
Suddenly, the silence broke. Explosions ripped through the air, shockwaves shaking the world. The village crumbled in an instant, flames consuming everything. Screams of the innocent pierced through the cacophony of destruction.
"No… NO! Not my home!" I screamed, watching helplessly as the place I had visited in my childhood —the place where my mother had born—was reduced to ash. My heart pounded as despair clawed at me.
From within the wreckage, a sinister voice echoed like a dark hymn. "Do you understand the power now, Eric?" Dilah sneered, stepping out of the smoke, his eyes gleaming with twisted pride. "This… this is my masterpiece. Behold, the Nuclear Diablo Bombs!"
"You…" I growled, trembling with fury. "You're insane, Dilah! How can you be this twisted?!"
"HA!" He laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. "Naive as always, boy! These bombs don't just destroy. Oh no, they erase existence itself. Memories, history, even the soul—wiped clean. But the best part?" His grin widened, wicked and cruel. "Those who die in the blast? They're not gone. They become mine! In death, they will serve ME!"
His words hit me like a blade to the gut. My knees nearly buckled, but I gritted my teeth, rage igniting like wildfire in my chest. "You… you MONSTER! I'll make you pay for this!"
"Pay?" Dilah's mocking laugh thundered through the battlefield. "Eric, you're nothing but an insect. Squirm all you like—it only makes your end more entertaining!"
I ignored him, sprinting through the wreckage, the acrid smell of smoke filling my lungs. Flames and rubble blurred as I called out desperately, "Aria! Where are you?! Aria!"
The control room. She had to be there.
I reached the entrance only to stop dead in my tracks. The bombs had struck here too. The doorway was obliterated, debris piled high. "No…" I whispered, dread seeping into my veins. But I didn't stop. I clawed through the wreckage, bloodied and battered, hope slipping through my fingers like sand.
And then I saw her.
She was lying amidst the rubble, her body pale and broken, the glow of life dimming. Worse—stone crept up her limbs like a curse, turning her fragile frame into a monument of despair.
"Aria!" I collapsed beside her, panic and pain threatening to consume me. "No… no, this can't be happening! Stay with me!"
Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused but trying. "Eric…" she whispered, her voice fragile like glass. "I… I don't have much time."
"Don't say that!" I cried, clutching her hand as the stone crept higher. "You're not going anywhere, do you hear me?! I won't let this happen!"
Her lips trembled with a faint, bittersweet smile. "Listen… Sarah gave me a gift. If… if you hold onto a fragment of me… I can come back."
Her words were like shards of hope piercing my despair. "A fragment? What do you mean?!"
She winced as the stone reached her shoulders. "Take… this." She pressed something into my hand—a glowing fragment, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
Tears blurred my vision as I clutched it tightly. "I swear, Aria. I'll bring you back. No matter what it takes!"
Suddenly, a calm but commanding voice cut through the haze.
"Eric."
I turned, startled, as Sarah appeared before me. Her presence was like a lifeline in the storm of chaos. "This fight isn't over," she said softly, her eyes resolute. "But you… you're only at Level 10."
Her words hit like a hammer. "Level 10?" I repeated, disbelief laced with frustration. "How the hell am I supposed to fight him if I'm this weak?!"
Sarah placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression a mix of sorrow and determination. "The Diablo General… he's at Level 999. If you want to defeat him, you need to reach Level 1000."
"Level 1000?!" My voice cracked with equal parts anger and desperation. "How am I supposed to—"
She interrupted, handing me a shimmering device. "Take this system. It will guide you, help you grow stronger. But the road ahead will not be easy. You'll face pain, loss… and unimaginable trials."
I stared at the device in her hand, anger and resolve warring within me. My grip on Aria's fragment tightened. "I don't care what it takes," I growled. "I'll destroy every last one of them for what they've done!"
Sarah nodded, her form beginning to fade. "Then you must begin, Eric. Rise. Fight. And don't stop until the Diablo General is nothing but ash."
Before I could reply, she vanished, leaving me alone amidst the ruins of my home.
I looked down at the glowing fragment in my hand, its light flickering with faint warmth. My voice was low but resolute as I whispered, "I will bring you back, Aria. And I will make them pay… for everything."
The wind howled around me, carrying the stench of destruction. Flames crackled in the distance, but in my chest, a storm of vengeance burned brighter.