They both moved forward, adrenaline coursing through their veins. Ellie moved with an agility and confidence that concealed her true power. Kayl followed her, aware that there was much more to her than she showed. The seemingly innocent girl he had known was giving way to a determined girl ready to face any threat.
When they reached the place where the screams were coming from, the scene that unfolded before them made Kayl's heart stop. Isaac, Ellie's brother, was trapped by a terrifying, enormous creature. It had a humanoid shape, but with long fingers and multiple legs. Its body was grotesque, its face horrendous, with white eyes from which blood poured. It had no nose, and its face had four mouths that seemed sewn together. It also emitted a certain stench of decay. Kayl noticed that the demon had four horns on its head, while it laughed loudly, enjoying Isaac's struggle to free himself.
"Today, I'll have an exquisite dinner. I can feel your strong energy; you're not entirely demon, so I can eat you," the creature said in a deep, sinister voice.
"Ellie! Kayl!" Isaac shouted, his voice faltering with effort. "You can't stay here! It's too dangerous!"
But Ellie was already moving. Without losing a second, she charged into battle, her laughter echoing with a mix of madness and defiance.
"A brat like you could fight someone like me? Look at you… How could a simple dwarf do me any harm?" the demon said in a mocking tone. "I'm going to eat you all, and then I can possess any deity I find."
"Do you think you can intimidate us?" Ellie shouted, her energy vibrating in the air as she conjured a spell. Colors began swirling around her, creating a dazzling aura that challenged the darkness.
Kayl felt his own energy starting to awaken. He couldn't fall behind. He closed his eyes, remembering the visions of his past life, the abilities he had forgotten, and the power that lay dormant inside him. The cat that had been following him, his spiritual animal, positioned itself at his side, its eyes glowing with ancient wisdom.
Ignoring Kayl and Ellie, the demon opened one of its mouths, ready to try and devour Isaac.
"Kayl, help me!" Isaac cried desperately as the demon lifted him off the ground with relentless force.
"I'm coming!" Kayl replied, trying to channel his energy. But he could barely concentrate as the demon's threat loomed around them. The pressure was overwhelming.
Ellie conjured more magic, but the demon seemed to resist her efforts. The shadow of the creature loomed over them, its mocking laughter filling the air.
"There's no way you can save him," the demon taunted. "You're all so weak against me."
Just when despair began to settle in Kayl's heart and the shadow of surrender loomed over them, an imposing presence descended from the sky. A figure wrapped in intense light appeared, and the air electrified with its arrival.
"I was just looking for you," said the God of Life and Death, his voice resonating with authority. His eyes, shining like stars, focused on the demon. "How dare you escape from me?"
The God of Life and Death was an imposing man, radiating power. His long hair, an intense red, cascaded like a waterfall of fire. His bright red eyes shone with such intensity that they could be seen from afar.
The creature, now visibly nervous, retreated before the god's presence. Ellie, Kayl, and Isaac were left stunned, feeling the power emanating from the deity.
"Oh no! I'd rather be devoured by this horrible demon than stay with this guy," Isaac yelled, which Kayl couldn't understand. He was supposed to be helping them—why would Isaac say that?
"This is not your territory," the god continued, extending his hand. The energy around him began to envelop the demon, overpowering it with almost palpable force. "You'll return to where you belong, filthy and repulsive creature."
The demon, now visibly weakened, dropped Isaac, who fell to the ground with a dull thud. Ellie ran to her brother, while Kayl watched the scene, feeling the spark of power within him ignite once again.
"Who are you?" Kayl asked, curiosity and fear mixing in his voice.
"I am the one who controls the cycle of life and death," the god replied, with a deep, penetrating gaze. "You little brats have stirred up the spiritual world again. And you, Kayl," he said, pointing at him, "how is it that you haven't awakened your powers yet? You're so slow."
Kayl's expression at that moment was indescribable. "How does he expect me to awaken my powers already, when I've only just learned about all of this?" Kayl thought, watching every movement of the god.
With a final gesture, the god trapped the demon in a sphere of light, crushing its resistance. With a desperate scream, the creature was absorbed by the light and disappeared, leaving only an echo in the darkness.
Kayl, still in shock, looked at Ellie and Isaac. Ellie smiled at him with pride, but her gaze quickly turned sarcastic when she saw the god.
"Well, looks like you showed up just in time," Ellie said, crossing her arms. "Don't you have a home to go back to? Just leave."
The god looked at her, surprised by her challenging tone.
"And you? Don't forget you're nothing but a brat thief. You don't need to play the hero," he responded, his voice full of disdain.
"And you're an irresponsible one who lets his demon minions escape, so don't tell me what I can or can't do. You're not even my father," Ellie retorted, fire in her eyes.
Kayl watched the tension between them, feeling the electricity in the air. The dynamic was intense, and despite the gravity of the situation, there was a strange energy between them.
"Guys!" Isaac intervened, trying to calm things down. "Maybe we should focus on getting out of here instead of arguing."
Ellie smiled with a mix of defiance and complicity.
"This is much more fun," she said, winking at the god. "Besides, someone has to remind you that you can't control everything your way."
The god sighed, visibly frustrated, but couldn't help but smile slightly at Ellie's audacity.
"Be careful what you wish for, brat," he said, his tone a mix of serious and playful. "Maybe one day you'll regret challenging me."
"Maybe in a few centuries, but today is not that day," Ellie replied, her defiant gaze never leaving her face.
"Enough with the fighting!" the cat said, its voice clear and firm, resonating in the space. The surprise was immediate; Ellie, Kayl, Isaac, and even the god stood speechless, staring at it in disbelief.
"What…?" Kayl stammered foolishly, his mind spinning. How was it possible that his spiritual animal was speaking? This had never happened before. Spiritual animals were known for their wisdom, but not for their ability to communicate verbally.
Ellie furrowed her brow, clearly confused. "No… that can't be… No spiritual animal can speak. What are you, cat?" Her tone shifted between disbelief and curiosity.
The cat, unfazed by their astonished looks, stood up and stretched its body with an air of authority. "I'm more than just a cat, kids. I'm the link between the spiritual world and the human world, and I'm here to help Kayl as his spiritual guide." Again, they were all left speechless. Had the cat just stood up like a person?
"It's beautiful," Ellie said, her eyes full of tenderness and amazement. "I want it!"
"Kayl, I'll trade you for mine, please," the girl said as she hugged the cat as though it were a plush toy.
The god of life and death turned to the cat, his bright eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and curiosity. "This is unusual, even for me. How is it that you can talk?"
"Help me! It's too much affection for a cat!" the cat, Felix, pleaded as Ellie kept hugging it.
Isaac, still stunned, finally found his voice. "This is crazy… a talking cat… what else could happen today?"
Ellie, still trying to process what had just happened, smiled intriguingly. "This definitely makes things more interesting. Maybe we should listen to what it has to say."
Kayl, feeling a little more confident, nodded. "Yes, I want to know more about my powers. How can I awaken what's inside me?"
The cat sat down, a wise expression on its face. "For you to claim your true potential, you first need to accept who you are and the mistakes of your past. It's a journey that requires courage, but I'm here to guide you every step of the way."
"Now, give me food, because besides being a spiritual animal, I'm still a hungry cat!" the cat told Kayl.
"Brat, you need to return to the spirit world. You're only putting humans in danger here; the demons are looking for you," the god interrupted, his gaze shifting to the twins. "You two, your father warned that if you don't return right now, you'll be locked up for life. Let's go!"
"But I can't leave, what will my mom think?" Kayl said thoughtfully.
—I've already taken care of that —replied a voice very familiar to the twins—. Your mother will go on vacation with your siblings; I told her you could stay with me so you wouldn't miss school —Kayl turned to
—Dad? What are you doing here? —Isaac asked with a trembling voice.
—Who do you think was the teacher who helped you get in? Disobedient children —the father grumbled—. Kayl, I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Lucio Morey. As you can see, I'm the father of these brats who drive me crazy.
—It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.