I could feel the heat radiating from the Flaming Sword as I gripped it tighter, channeling every ounce of energy into my movements. The echo of Uriel's voice, filled with rage and power, spurred me on. I darted through the hallways, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum, each beat urging me to keep going, to stay alive.
As I slid around a corner, I felt the rush of air as another fireball whizzed by, barely missing me. The explosion behind me rattled the walls, sending a shower of dust and debris into the air. I pressed on, my instincts screaming at me to survive. I glanced back just in time to see the shrapnel from the wall burst outward, a chaotic spray that would've torn through me if I hadn't moved.
"Come on, come on!" I muttered under my breath, willing my body to move faster. I tapped my bulletproof armor, activating my Stranger Abilities' full capabilities.
It shimmered under the fluorescent lights.
And then she appeared. A woman with dark skin, clad in tactical gear, emerged in a flurry of shimmering hearts. Her metallic skin glinted in the dim light, and for a moment, I thought she might be my saving grace. But before I could even process what was happening, Uriel struck like a bolt of lightning. In two swift moves, the woman was reduced to nothing more than a cloud of glittering particles. My heart sank, but I couldn't dwell on it; I needed to keep running.
Bulletproof Lassie had given me just enough time to escape the wrath of Uriel. I cursed under my breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. I didn't have time to mourn the fallen. I needed to find a way out—fast.
I made a split-second decision and veered left, pushing deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the facility. The Flaming Sword crackled with energy in my grip, a reminder of the power I held and the threat I faced. I could almost feel Uriel's presence chasing me, hot on my heels.
"Just a little longer!" I urged myself, sweat trickling down my forehead. I spotted another door at the end of the hall, a flickering light suggesting it led somewhere important. It had to be my way out.
With every ounce of speed I could muster, I sprinted toward it, my breath coming in ragged gasps. As I reached for the handle, the door swung open, revealing a large room filled with strange machines and monitors. The hum of machinery mixed with the frantic beeping of alarms.
I didn't hesitate. I dashed inside, slamming the door shut behind me and leaning against it, gasping for breath. My heart raced as I tried to assess my surroundings. Monitors flickered with static, casting eerie shadows across the walls, and I could see the faint outlines of what looked like containment chambers. My eyes darted around, searching for anything that might help me.
And then I saw it—a large console at the far end of the room, covered in buttons and screens. If I could figure out how to use it, I might be able to gather intel or even find a way to disable Uriel's power.
"Okay, think," I whispered to myself. I took a step toward the console when I heard a crash from behind me. Uriel had breached the door.
I spun around, gripping the Flaming Sword tightly as I prepared for the inevitable showdown. "You're not going to take me down that easily!" I shouted, trying to muster all the bravado I could.
The door splintered as Uriel's figure burst through, fire dancing around her like a halo of destruction. Her eyes locked onto me, filled with rage and determination.
"You think you can escape?" Uriel roared, her voice booming with fury, shaking the very walls of the control room. The air crackled with tension as she stepped forward, a malevolent force. "You have no idea what you're up against!"
Cryptids could talk? Well, at least Uriel could. Before I could fully process her words, she pounced on me, dragging her wings like some enchanted cloak of fire, swinging them with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react before a figure burst from the ceiling, and my heart soared with relief and disbelief.
"Screw-chan!" I yelled, as she and Knifey crashed onto the scene, bruised and battered but ready for more violence.
"Full-Body Spiral Kick!" Screw-chan shouted, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as she launched herself at Uriel. Her feet transformed into illusory drills, whirling with energy as she aimed for the angelic creature.
Screw-chan landed just behind Uriel, executing her move with a grace that was both painful and beautiful, pinning the angel to the ground. Uriel snarled in anger, struggling against the force of the drill-like legs pressing her down.
Knifey wasted no time. She lunged forward, her dagger aimed straight at Uriel's throat. But Uriel's neck twisted unnaturally, elongating in a way that defied physics. In a split second, her head turned around to face me, revealing four gleaming eyes glistening with malice, framed by a grin full of sharp teeth.
I took a step back, shock flooding through me. "What the hell?" I stammered, trying to comprehend the horror before me. Uriel was was a nightmare given form—a twisted mockery of grace.
"Did you really think you could defeat me?" she taunted, her voice a chilling mix of amusement and disdain. "You're just delaying the inevitable!"
Uriel's wing moved abnormally, slicing through the air with a speed I couldn't comprehend. In an instant, Knifey was bisected, her form split cleanly down the middle as if she were made of paper. It happened so fast that there was no time for her to react or for me to process what I had just witnessed. I didn't know my summons could bleed, but apparently they could, as blood and fragments of her organs sprayed out, painting the wall behind her in a gruesome pattern.
Shock paralyzed me as I watched the light fade from Knifey's eyes. What remained of her dissolved into motes of light and little hearts, scattering into the air like fragile remnants of what once was. I felt a deep sense of loss wash over me, mixing with the anger and fear boiling inside.
"Motherfucker!" I shouted, realizing the true terror a cryptid represented.
Before I could fully grasp the reality of the situation, Uriel's other wing slithered toward Screw-chan, the fiery feathers glowing ominously as they approached. "No!" I yelled, desperate to warn her.
Screw-chan, ever the fearless fighter, raised her arms in defense. "I got this!" she shouted, but the force of Uriel's wing was overwhelming. Instead of being bisected, she was flung away like a ragdoll, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud that resonated in my chest. I watched helplessly as she was embedded into the concrete, the impact knocking the breath out of her.
"Get up, Screw-chan!" I pleaded, my voice strained with urgency. "We need you!"
But she lay there, dazed and barely moving, her body limp. Anger flared within me, mixing with a desperate need for revenge. Uriel was toying with us, treating our lives like a game. It was like DPO all over again. I couldn't let this continue. I had to fight back.
"Ka ka ka ka~!" the Cryptid laughed.
I poured more of my strange power into the sword, focusing everything I had left, but nothing happened. Frustration gnawed at me; I could feel Uriel's mocking laughter echoing in my ears, the sound infuriatingly confident. Just as I began to doubt myself, the sword spoke, its voice echoing in my mind with a deep, resonant tone.
"Stop pouring your aether into me," it said. "Instead, pour into me your soul and allow me to inhabit your vessel."
What? How was I supposed to do that? The thought sent chills down my spine, but the urgency of the moment left little room for hesitation. I felt desperate, cornered by this powerful cryptid. The Flaming Sword gave me a series of instructions, and as I pieced them together, a grin spread across my face.
Maybe this was the breakthrough I needed.
"Alright, Uriel!" I shouted, raising the sword dramatically overhead. "I'm getting tired of all this yapping and shouting, so I'm finally taking the fight to you!"
With that declaration, I focused on the sword, closing my eyes and imagining my soul connecting with its essence. It felt surreal, almost as if I were merging with the weapon, and yet it made sense. I wasn't just wielding it; I was becoming one with it.
I could feel a warm light enveloping me, wrapping around my body like a comforting blanket. It coursed through me, amplifying my strength and resolve. I held on tightly, pouring everything I had—my hopes, my fears, my very essence—into the blade.
"Do it!" the sword urged, its voice now clearer, almost euphoric. "Let go of your doubts and embrace the power within!"
As I surrendered to the connection, an overwhelming surge of energy surged through me. My mind raced with memories and emotions—moments of pain, joy, anger, and sorrow—each one fueling the bond between us. I felt my own spirit intertwining with the sword's mystical energy, transforming into something more potent, more fearsome.
Suddenly, an out-of-body experience overcame me. I saw myself standing there, eyes burning red as flames enveloped my body.
What the hell was happening?
My body glowed in orange flames as long blonde hair cascaded down my shoulders like a golden fountain, and my suit stretched to accommodate a bountiful chest that popped up like it belonged to some divine warrior maiden. An honest-to-god transformation sequence played right before my eyes, like I had become a character in some magical girl anime.
Motherfucker!
The Flaming Sword occupied my body!
"I am the flame of death, the unsurpassed glory, and the only Michael—" she declared, her tone a perfect blend of authority and pride. "Bow before my might~!"
Holy mother— weren't you supposed to be a guy to show masculine force or something especially in a fight!?
I watched, astonished, as she swung her hand, and a blazing sword materialized in her grip—much grander and more magnificent than the one I had held just moments before. The blade radiated with an intensity that made my heart race.
It was a true embodiment of divine wrath and power.
The transformation solidified, and the blonde stood where I once had been, her posture exuding confidence and lethal grace. Her proportions were deadly yet lovely. It was a striking vision of both beauty and danger.
"You," Michael said, glancing over her shoulder at my soul-self, "are merely a vessel. You've summoned me to fulfill a destiny beyond your comprehension. Together, we shall reclaim our glory and vanquish the darkness that dares to challenge us!"
Immediately, I didn't like this new girl's attitude.
I could only watch in awe, grappling with the loss of my own autonomy. There was a part of me that screamed in protest, but the overwhelming might of this fiery incarnation drowned out my doubts. I was still connected to her, still a part of this new form. I could feel my thoughts blending with hers, a melding of wills that made the boundaries of my identity blur.
"Michael," I whispered, the name tasting strange on my lips, "what are you planning to do?"
Her lips curled into a smirk, an expression that held both mischief and resolve. "I will show Uriel what true power looks like. No more playing with my prey. This time, I will scorch the darkness and purge it from existence!" With a sweeping motion of her sword, she sent a wave of flames across the room, illuminating every corner and igniting the very air with a fierce heat.
I could feel the room responding to her power, the machines vibrating with energy, the alarms wailing like frightened children. Michael's flames danced in the shadows, consuming everything in their path. I couldn't help but feel exhilarated, as if this was the moment I had been waiting for, the culmination of every struggle and hardship I had faced.
Just then, Uriel—the original, malevolent one—broke through the doorway, her fierce eyes locking onto us. "What trickery is this?" she roared, fury spilling from her lips like venom. "You think you can challenge me? I will not be defeated by a mere shadow!"
"Shadow?" Michael laughed, her voice a melody of confidence and chaos. "I am no mere shadow. I am the embodiment of your worst nightmares, the flame that will consume you!"
Flames of swirling blue and orange spread around Michael as her blue-grey eyes burned more furiously with power. "It would have been perfect if I had my wings and halo right now." She lamented how she couldn't summon either her wings or her halo, but it was fine; the energy coursing through her was enough.
In the next instant, she disappeared.
I blinked, and Uriel's head rolled from her shoulders, a surreal sight that sent shockwaves through my mind. Blood sprayed like a grotesque fountain, painting the walls with crimson as Uriel's body collapsed to the ground. The moment stretched out, surreal and almost dreamlike, as I tried to comprehend what I had just witnessed.
"Holy—" I gasped, my heart racing in a awe and horror.
Michael materialized again, standing tall with the magnificent sword gleaming in her hand, its flames flickering playfully around her. "This is the power you summoned!" she declared, her voice echoing with an unsettling confidence. "And now, let us put an end to this farce!"
Before I could process the transformation, Uriel's body began to twitch and convulse. The leftover head had her eyes wide and filled with rage. "You think this is over?" she snarled. Her voice was distorted and hollow. "The timeline have been shattered time and time again… The End is near, do you hear me? Resistance is… futile!"
With a surge of energy, Uriel rose again, her headless body moving with an unnatural speed. Flames flickered along her neck, coiling around her like snakes, and in moments, her head reformed, her eyes burning with a fury that ignited the air. "I will make you pay for your transgressions!" she roared, her voice a chilling mix of pain and vengeance.
Michael laughed, a sound filled with dark delight. "You think that little trick can stop me?" She took a step forward, flames swirling around her in a chaotic dance. "Let's see how you fare against my glory!"
Uriel unleashed a wave of fire, the heat intense and overwhelming, but Michael countered with a sweeping arc of flames from her sword, creating a barrier that swallowed Uriel's attack. The clash sent shockwaves through the air, the force pushing Michael back against the control panel.
With a fierce determination, Michael launched herself at Uriel, flames erupting around her like a wild storm. "Prepare to be extinguished!" she shouted, her voice a melody of fury and resolve.
The two collided in a blaze of fire and disintegration. Uriel's wings flared wide, their fiery edges slicing through the air as she retaliated with ferocious blows. But Michael danced around her, a whirlwind of flames and power, striking with precision and force.
Suddenly, Uriel let out a bone-chilling scream, her fiery wings flickering as Michael's sword plunged into her side, the flames consuming her from within.
"You cannot extinguish what you do not understand!" Uriel gasped, her voice filled with defiance and desperation. However, it was noticeable how small her voice had become. "I will not be killed—"
"Watch me!" Michael interrupted and her tone was triumphant. She twisted the sword, and a surge of energy erupted from the blade, engulfing Uriel in an explosion of flames that sent shockwaves through the facility.
I covered my eyes against the brightness, feeling the heat wash over me. When I opened them, I found the room filled with swirling embers and smoke. Uriel's form disintegrated, her screams echoing into nothingness, leaving behind only ashes that danced in the air like lost whispers.
However, Michael wasn't finished. With a determined stride, she walked over to where Screw-chan lay, her charge almost depleted, her body embedded in the wall like a tragic piece of art. I could see the flicker of energy waning around her, the vibrant essence that had once pulsed with life now dulling to a mere shimmer.
"Hold on," Michael said, kneeling beside her. I felt an instinctual urge to rush to her side, but I couldn't move; I was entranced by the sight unfolding before me. Michael's blue-grey eyes flickered with intensity as she placed a hand over Screw-chan's heart, the flames around her glowing with a fierce light.
Using my power, she began to imbue her own charge into Screw-chan. I could see the energy flowing from Michael's fingertips. It was a radiant stream of orange and blue light that danced between them. It was mesmerizing, a visual symphony of power and hope.
"This is another way to use your power," Michael began, her voice steady and filled with wisdom. "Do not mindlessly imbue your aether. Instead, suffuse it with the idea of what you wish to create. This particular trick I'm showing you will only work on those with artificial souls."
I listened closely, captivated by her words. "If you do this enough, perhaps you can turn something mundane into something truly special," she continued, her gaze unwavering. "However, be reminded that there is a danger in the Stranger things. You must be cautious and aware of what you're doing."
As Michael spoke, I could see the energy from her charge begin to fade. The vibrant flames flickered, shifting from a brilliant blaze to a soft glow, and I felt a pang of concern. "Michael, you're losing your power!" I exclaimed, feeling troubled.
"Don't worry," she replied, her tone calm and reassuring. "This is necessary. Screw-chan needs this energy more than I do right now." Her focus remained unwavering as the last remnants of her charge flowed into Screw-chan, saturating her being with newfound vitality.
Screw-chan's body began to shimmer with the infusion of power, her wounds slowly knitting together as the vibrant energy filled her. I watched in awe as the essence of Michael mingled with Screw-chan's artificial soul, a beautiful amalgamation of fire and light. It was like witnessing a phoenix rise from the ashes. It was a dazzling display of transformation and rebirth.
As the last of Michael's charge disappeared, I felt a sense of loss wash over me.
Michael's flame dimmed slightly.
And then I returned to my body.