Elias was absolutely correct in his previous assessment. This did, in fact, suck a lot of ass. He could handle pain, and even though he got through the worst of it every day, the fact that it would happen again, and again, was not a comforting thought.
It started off fairly tame. Cuts, knicks, and other small wounds were always the starting point. It would usually move on to ripping out all of his nails on his fingers and toes, as well as cutting out his tougue.
No, what truly sucked balls was when the demon began removing appendages. His fingers got cut off one by one, followed by his toes. This usually led up to his whole hands and feet being cut and then painfully ripped off. However, Elias never made his discomfort known outside of the occasional grimace. Pain was, after all, just another bodily feeling that he could push to the back of his mind.
The most painful part of the whole process, however, was the black and red energy being forced into his body. While Elias had no comparison to make given the level of pain he was currently feeling, he could only liken it to having magma injected directly into his blood stream.
The energy did have its advantages though. He could feel the energy being circulated into his body, and it was almost like veins were created to house this energy, much like the ones that carried his blood throughout his body. He could feel the energy going to work on his wounds almost immediately after gaining them. It closed the cuts and scrapes, and over time, it even regrew his lost appendages.
Granted, once that jerkoff torturer came back, it worked as a double edged sword, and they took pleasure in that fact. The asshole could go to work mutilating him again and again, only for his body to heal itself soon after. Still, the longer he spent in this odd room, the more energy was pumped into his body, and his newfound self-healing took less and less time.
At the end of every session with the demon Elias dubbed, "Barney," the demon would always ask him the same thing.
"Do you submit?"
Of course, Elias did not. His tongue had usually long since regrown at that point, and he would often make jabs at the demon for various things. Usually it was him making fun of the demon's purple color, and other times it was remarks about sexual acts with Barney's mother. That usually caused him even more pain, but it was worth it in his eyes.
After one session, the demon asked the same question, only to then sigh at Elias's normal response.
"All of this could all be over if you just submit. I've never dealt with someone this stubborn. You've lasted quite a while. The longest anyone had ever lasted before you was a little over 1,000 years. You're pushing on 20,000, and you're still just as stubborn as ever. When you were at death's door, and your soul was ripe for the taking, he seen how unyielding it was, and he jumped at the chance to have you for himself. He takes great pleasure in breaking the truly tenaciou." Barney said, and that took Elias by surprise.
He had been stuck in this shithole for that long? How the hell had that happened? Sure, he had lost count of the days, as they blended together at this point, but 20,000 years? It made some sense, as he had absorbed so much energy at this point that even his severed limbs were regrowing almost instantly. The demonic energy just kept pouring into him, and despite the pain, he kept persevering. He thought him and Barney were becoming great pals at this point. Still, Elias's answer was, and would always be, the exact same.
"You might as well just kill me or release me. I bow to no one. I serve no one. So fuck off. You won't break me, and neither will your master." Elias said, staring Barney in the eyes.
Barney grimaced, and then sighed.
"I knew you'd say that. My Lord has been eagerly awaiting you to join his ranks. He has admired your tenacity thus far, but now he grows agitated. Annoyed. You don't want that." Barney said, and Elias just chuckled.
"And I don't wanna be stuck in here anymore, but I guess we don't always get what we want, do we?" Elias asked with a raised brow.
Barney muttered something about Elias's stubbornness before taking his leave once again. Elias was truly sick and tired of being in here. After so long, it was honestly just really goddamn boring, and Barney was not the best company that one could ask for.
He had plenty of time to think, and usually, his thoughts always went back to his sister. She still needed him. The fact that he was stuck here while that goddamn asshole most likely used and abused her made his blood boil.
Just then, another tear in reality opened up, and a new demon entered the room. The man was at least 8 feet tall with an air of superiority about him. His horns were much longer than the others, and they curled in on themselves, and the red aura that surrounded him gave off a feeling of power like he had never felt before.
This was a very recent development, being able to gauge another's power, and he knew it was due to the constant stream of demonic energy being pumped into him. He wondered if it would work the same on the powered people back on Earth, provided he is ever able to return.
"Moraxus, I assume?" Elias asked, and he was certain that it was. This demon was simply felt too strong for it to be anyone else.
"Elias Mason. Yes, I am Lord Moraxus. I've been very eager to have you as part of my army, although your stubborn refusal has peaked my interest enough for me to come and see you, personally. I'm quite impressed. All of the pain, all of the demonic energy coursing through your body, yet you still resist. It is truly facisinating." Moraxus said.
Elias got the sneaking suspicion that some kind of monolog was imminent, or at least something along those lines. Moraxus definitely didn't disappoint, although it did also bring with it a host of information.
"Do you know why I turn your kind into my demonic soldiers?" Moraxus asked.
"Because you're an asshole?" Elias retorted, which caused Moraxus to break out into a loud and boisterous laugh.
"I do admire your personality. Truly, it will be a shame to see some of it go." Moraxus said, wiping away the red tears at the corners of his eyes.
"That's disturbing." Elias muttered.
"Apt description though. I am, a demon, afterall. It's in my nature. The way... God made us." Moraxus said, his lip twisting with disgust, before he continued.
"I know what Narazool told you, and while it is true in a way, it is also not."
"Who?" Elias asked, then he added, "Wait... Barney? The purple guy?"
Moraxus actually looked confused, but he soon continued regardless
"Yes, I'm sure you are both well acquainted. Anyways, I'm know he told you about demons, and demonkin as a whole, but without knowing the full story, his information is incomplete. Only the demon lords, and of course, King Lucifer know the truth. You see, the children of demons are in fact true demons, but they are severely limited in what they can do."
Elias was really wishing he had a soda or some popcorn. He knew all of this was worth listening to, because it was useful information. This jerkoff had already assumed Elias's fate, and it seemed that he had no qualms about spilling the beans about important events to what he considered was a dead man. Typical evil asshole behavior. These types truly love the sound of their own voice.
"Long ago, when Lucifer was cast from heaven, for daring to question the all mighty, a new being was created as Lucifer was stripped of his angelic properties. His lover, Lillith, was cast down with him, for standing with her lover. When angels mate, they create more angels. But when these two fallen angels mated, stripped of their angelic status, they created a whole new race of beings. Demons."
So far, Elias was actually intrigued. This was already more information that he could find in the bible. Although, just like the bible, what Moraxus was telling him could ultimately turn out to just be untrue. Elias felt like it was true though, if for no other reason than, why would he lie about this? Especially to someone who he thought was not going to exist as he currently was. No harm done in the demon's eyes.
"The creator foreseen this event, and he modified their genetic make up, which would be passed down through all of their kind. A demon's power has a wall that cannot be breached. Once they reach a certain level of power, their bodies stop reinforcing itself through ambient energy consumption so they do not gain more power than their are allowed. Lucifer and Lillith are the only ones who retain their original strength, but no angel can stand up to God."
"Where the hell was this guy when I was bored out of my mind?" Elias wondered, as he was truly captivated by the story.
"There was one thing the creator did not account for, however. Demonic energy exists in the plane of existence that Lucifer and Lillith created together, the place you know as hell. And no, your books are incorrect about its use, at least in most ways. God does not send us the souls of the damned, but rather, he just does not bother with those who have committed great sin. Anyone could really take them, and many have. Beings from other worlds, other dimensions, and such, usually take souls for various reasons. Creating servants, powering magic items, even something simple like lighting, a soul has many uses."
"So, with evil people, it's like a soul bargin bin or something... guess it makes sense." Elias mused.
"The true breakthrough came when we found out that we could actually bring a person here who was on the brink of death, using their soul as an anchor for the body. We knew the effects of demonic energy on a non demon could be harmful, but we had no idea that continued exposure could turn one into a demon themselves. I was that human. However, Earth has long since been polluted by demonic energy from below, and heavenly energy from above, which created the neutral energy that gives you humans your powers. Since there are traces of both, demonic energy cannot effect those possessing the neutral form of energy, as traces of heaven are inside them." Moraxus said, and now Elias was sure he understood the full picture, but still...
"Why tell me any of this?" Elias asked, and the demon grinned, and it was goddamned ugly.
"Well, I did say you wouldn't exist as you were. I don't remember my time as a human, but some of me still exists inside. The same will be true for you, because you see, you have absorbed so much energy at this point that you will assuredly evolve just like I did. Just like my other brothers and sisters. You may still become just a soldier, but those who persisted for so long, like myself, are destined to become demon lords. Hell, you have my record beat 10 times over. I was told that I too was stubborn, but I too gave in all the same. It's wonderful." Moraxus said, a cruel look in his eyes.
"I won't become like you. I won't lose myself, and I'll never listen to any of you assholes." Elias retorted.
"Sure you won't. It would appear that the torture, as fun as it is for us, hasn't been enough. But it makes you better, stronger. I didn't even tell you about the best part."
"Christ, more? You're just an exposition dump, aren't you?" Elias asked, although he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious.
Moraxus laughed again, then he continued.
"You see, you humans are something different. Unlike us demons, the amount of energy you can absorb is not limited. You just lack the bodies to store and enhance yourselves with it. However, you can become much stronger than a natural born demon because of this. Yes, your power cannot grow any further once you become one, but it can far surpass the normal limits that the creator has placed on our kind. I can tell you are going to be a strong one. Perhaps even stronger than myself. You have been in here for more than enough time."
That was interesting to hear. If Elias had lasted far longer than anyone else, then surely he would far surpass this asshole, right? Perhaps the demon's ego refused to admit that? Elias was about to say something about that, but then Moraxus said something that changed everything.
"Perhaps you need more encouragement. I have seen inside of your mind while you're been in here. I have seen your life, and what is important to you. Tell me, Elias, how much do you love your sister?"
Elias was at first confused and taken aback by the question, but that was soon replaced by red hot fury.
"Don't you fucking dare!" Elias said, showing more emotion than he had ever shown here.
"I see. That's an awful lot. You know, I do have enough power to travel to the surface. I could go and get her. She's quite pretty. She would make an awfully good pleasure slave. And every time she cries for help, or begs me to stop, I'll remind her time and time again that it is all your fault. You valued your selfish pride more than your own sister." Moraxus said, grinning wickedly.
Elias had been mad before. He had gotten quite angry a number of times, but everything he had faced so far paled in comparison to the anger he felt currently. The phrase, "seeing red," turned out to be very accurate, as that's all he saw, but in the center of his vision was the impotence of his rage.
"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Elias shouted, black and red energy being drawn into his body at a staggering rate.
"No, no you won't. You rage means nothing to me. You-" Moraxus said in a mocking tone, but he stopped when he saw Elias's hand twitch.
He was bound to a demon steel table, and so far, the only one who could manage to break free were the progenitors themselves. Moraxus didn't believe that this human could break free, but it still gave him pause. To even move was an accomplishment all its own.
*SNAP*
Elias tore his left arm free, and for the first time, Moraxus actually showed concern on his face.
"No, not possible."
Quickly, Moraxus used the rift exit to leave the pocket space, and when he did, he was met with the fearful faces of the Narazool, as well as his scientists that watched after those being converted.
"My Lord! Something is wrong. What happened in there?" Narazool asked.
Moraxus tried to form a response, but the shift in the demonic energy around him made him wheel around, and what he saw, actually made him fearful.
Everywhere he looked, every rift that led to the time distorted pocket dimensions had their energy being forcefully sucked out of them, and being greedily sucked into the one that contained Elias. The realm began to shake and now Moraxus panicked.
"DESTROY THE RIFT!" Moraxus yelled, and his scientists jumped into motion.
However, as one got close he suddenly began to shrink. The demon screamed as his energy was sucked out of him and into the rift, leaving only a husk behind.
"What the..." Moraxus muttered, before the rift exploded.
Debris was sent in all directions. The other rifts shuttered before winking out of existence, and the denizens of each rift fell out. All of them were nothing but drained husks. Thousands of future demon soldiers, drained dry and dead, just like that. And as the dust settled around the one where they held Elias, a spike of fear went through Moraxus as a pair of glowing red eyes broke through the haze of the explosion, and just from that look alone, he knew he was going to die.