Jinx, I said I choose you! Where are you?

In the molten heart of Hell, the air crackled with tension, mirroring the fiery landscape that surrounded us. I stood among jagged obsidian rocks, my hair brushing against my forehead, sweat mixing with the dust of this cursed realm. Dehya, was just ahead, preparing to face her opponent.

For a week now, we had established a brutal yet constructive routine: two members of our party would observe as one took on two beasts twice each day. Viscoffs team was doing the same. A simple exercise designed to sharpen our skills in this unforgiving environment. The flat lands of Hell held dangers of their own, but today it was Dehya's turn to step into the fire.

"Stay sharp!" I called, gripping Blue katana, sharp energy buzzing just beneath the surface.

Across from her, the demon beast loomed, an abomination that merged ostrich and a cheetah, its mouth filled Jagged razor sharp teeth. It thrashed its head back and forth, its gaze fixed on Dehya. Dehya was standing there stoic, I felt her determination ripple through the air.

The moment the beast charged forward, I tightened my grip on The handle. "Let's see what you've got, Dehya!"

Her response was almost instantaneous. Roots and vines sprang forth from the ground, coiling toward the creature like a sentient entity, slithering and grasping. The green strands intertwined with her fingers, wrapping around her arms, amplifying her strength as she fought.

Suddenly, I noticed something peculiar again. A purple aura dancing around her form, almost as if seeking a connection, a complementary emerald green glow began to swirl around her too. It was as if two energies—the instinctive powers of nature and Something else—were resonating with each other.

"Dehya!" I shouted, trying to capture her attention through the chaos. "Focus on it! Draw it in!"

She glanced back for a moment, disbelief casting a shadow across her vibrant purple eyes. "I feel it, Zain, but I can't… It's like they want to merge, but something is holding them back."

June, our formidable mage, stood beside me, her brows knitted in concentration. "Look for the force between the too, that has to be the answer ."

"That's possible." I scratched my head. "But it feels like it's a deeper connection she needs to forge."

Dehya lunged forward, her vines lunging at the beast, but it evaded her grasp with the nimble swiftness of a fox. A blow to the vines sent her sprawling back, the creature screeching with triumph. That unbridled ferocity suddenly ignited something inside her—a driving force propelled by the auras coursing around her.

As she stood, brushing dust off her arms, those glowing colors intensified, wrapping around her like intimate whispers beckoning her forward. I could sense the power building within her frame, a wellspring that waited at the edge of awakening.

"Strike, Dehya! It's coming right for you!"

She responded, her determination evident. The strands of nature surrounded her feet as she charged, unleashing a kick that struck the beast squarely in the chest. The creature reeled but immediately retaliated, snapping forward.

Suddenly, as Dehya twisted to dodge, both auras converged, merging in a shocking burst of color—green and purple clashing together in a whirlwind of energy. I gasped, feeling the power radiate outward like the shockwave of a great quake.

"Zain, look!" June shouted as she pointed, her voice ardent with excitement. "She—she's channeling it!"

With one last might, Dehya thrust her hands forward. The merged auras exploded outward, ensnaring the demon ostrich-beast and rooting it to the very ground. The creature screeched in fury and pain, but the hold was too strong.

I cheered, the tight coils of worry loosening in my chest, as she delivered a final blow, the roots bursting forth in an explosion of energy, sending the beast crashing to the ground, lifeless.

Dehya gasped, looking down at her hands wide-eyed, as the auras faded gently into her, as if claiming her now complete dominion over the newfound strength. The connection she'd yearned for was not only achieved, but fortified.

"There you have it!" I smiled, raising my fist in triumph. "You did it!"

"Zain, but I Don't—" she stammered, she started wobbling , "feel right."

——

In the depths of a mountain range in Hell, the air shimmered with a malevolence, contrasting violently with the fierce determination of Viscoff, Gimola, Gimli, and Ben, as they prepared to face another cursed creature. The jagged peaks of obsidian surrounded them, while rivers of molten lava sent waves of heat that rippled through the atmosphere. A blackened sky stretched endlessly above, its oppressive weight bearing down on them like a thick shroud.

Ben, stationed at the edge of their formation, felt every ounce of tension as the snake demon slithered into view. Its eyes glowed with an ominous light, challenging their courage. The demon hissed, a guttural sound that rumbled beneath their feet, making the ground quiver as if the very realm of Hell itself was mocking them.

The dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes locked onto their target. A flicker of understanding passed between them; they had trained hard for moments like this. In a sudden explosion of movement, they dove forward in perfect synchronicity, their hearts beating as one.

Viscoff, watching them, couldn't suppress a grin. "show this snake the strength of the dwarven spirit!" he boomed, raising his colossal axe high into the air.

Hurdling past the creature, the twins began to weave around it, calling forth the very metals entwined in the cursed ground. Shadows of ancient forges echoing in their minds, they could feel the power beginning to manifest. With each movement, the air around them crackled and flickered like the flames of a forge, and soon their forms began to change.

"Time to dawn the essence of the dwarves!" Gimola shouted, a wild glint in her eye, as an incandescent aura enveloped them. The serpentine demon, sensing its imminent doom, recoiled, but it was too late.

Golden threads of energy coiled around the twins, fusing with their bodies like molten steel. They transformed, their frames enveloped in intricate suits of black and white obsidian, glinting like ancient armor forged by the gods themselves. They wore full-faced helmets that shimmered like glass, enhancing their focus and making them impervious to fear.

Viscoff's eyes widened. "Look at this! They're like walking blacksmiths!"

"About time!" Gimli shouted, his voice resonating from beneath the metal helm. His twin nodded confidently, their figures seemingly dancing amidst the flickering shadows of Hell. They darted around the demon, their newfound speed doubling their ferocity.

"Hey, bird man," Viscoff quipped, glancing over at Ben, who deftly notched an arrow in his red phoenix bow, "those pups went and got stronger on us."

Ben chuckled, his focus unwavering even amidst the chaos. "They sure have. I feel like a proud dad. You've been one hell of a mom, Viscoff." The camaraderie between them sparked a moment of levity as they tightened their grip on their weapons.

Then, a thunderous thud reverberated through the air, vibrating through the ground as the demon collapsed under their onslaught. The twins emerged triumphantly, standing upon its vanquished form, the obsidian armor gleaming in victory. They looked at each other in awe, energy dancing in the air around them.

"We did it!" Gimola cheered, her voice echoing through their hellish surroundings. The exo suits began to fragment, breaking apart almost like shards of light separating from their solid forms.

"Sister! It's as if the forging god has bestowed his powers upon us," Gimli marveled, eyes wide with excitement.

Viscoff clapped them on the back, the laugh booming from his chest. "See? You just needed to endure my horrid cooking to earn that power. I'll start making the food even shittier; who knows what else you might unlock?" Their laughter echoed against the obsidian walls, a brief respite from the Shadow of Hell that pressed upon them.

As their joy cascaded around them, an unsettling energy soon swept over them, tingling in the very air. Orion, perched atop Viscoff's broad shoulder, flicked his ears, his golden eyes narrowing in concentration, sensing the ancient resonance that harmonized with his spirit.

The humor dissipated as they exchanged glances, each feeling a growing disquiet deep in their chests.

"Something's wrong," Ben said, letting down the bow slightly, his brows furrowing.

Orion nodded, jumping down with an air of urgency. "We need to head that way. We've faced demons before, but this feels different. It's somehow familiar."

——

Today was different. Today, it felt like the very fabric of existence pulsed with a sinister energy.

I had always found strength in Dehya's presence—the elf with an ageless beauty that outshone even the most radiant stars. It was her tranquil essence that granted me focus. But as I glanced at her now, an unsettling sense of dread took hold of my heart. She stood there, her usual radiant purple eyes clouded with an unfathomable darkness, they were losing their color. The moment she let out her eerie laughter, echoing against the desolate landscape, chills ran down my spine.

"Zain…" She flung her head back abruptly, arching her body as violet energy surged through her veins like a wildfire.

"Dehya!" I shouted, rushing towards her, but I froze in place when her eyes turned black, swallowing all the light they once held. "Are you okay?"

But there was no response—only laughter that slithered deep into my bones. My heart raced as she shot forward, gathering speed like a rogue storm, her movements precise and lethal. I barely dodged her first strike. "Dehya, stop! You need to fight this!" I begged, my voice strained with desperation.

But she was beyond my reach, consumed by whatever malevolent force controlled her. Twisting and weaving in and out of her attacks, I attempted to grasp her essence, to pull her back from the edge. Suddenly, she ensnared her foot in a mass of pitch-black roots and kicked June fiercely, sending her spiraling backwards into the stony ground.

"June!" I called out, but my focus shattered when Dehya's now monstrous form loomed before me again.

"Zain! Please help," I heard her real voice for just a fleeting moment, slicing through the madness. But before she could complete her plea, the maniacal laughter struck again, drowning her out.

Then, with heart-stopping precision, she charged, a jagged root extending from her hand aimed straight for my heart. In that moment, time slowed. I reached out instinctively and caught her wrist before the sharp tip could pierce my skin.

"Please Dehya, come back to me!" I cried, watching a single tear roll down the left side of her face—a heartbreakingly human gesture amidst the chaos. "This isn't you! You need to take control!"

Her head shook violently, and she propelled me away with an unexpected kick. Pain shattered through me as I hit the ground hard, the air knocked from my lungs. A dizzying whirl of colors danced in my vision. Just as I struggled to regain my footing, a radiant light cut through the darkness above.

With golden wings unfurling like a divine promise, June soared into the sky, hands clasped in a prayer position. "Hold on, Zain!" she shouted as she conjured a golden orb, shimmering with concentrated light.

The moment the orb connected with Dehya's back, I watched in horror as she screamed—an otherworldly sound, so deep and chilling it clashed against our souls.

"Ha ha ha ha! This is my true form. The power!" her voice boomed, both hers and something darker intertwined.

In a moment of clarity, Dehya spat contempt, revealing the malevolence that had consumed her. "I will kill you all, one by one, until I sever the connection! Only then will I submit fully to the power!"

Just then, the heavy footsteps of our friends echoed through the obsidian landscape as Viscoff, towering and formidable in Viking armor, Ben with his red phoenix bow, and the dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, rushed to our side. Orion, my spirit cat, darted between them, transformed into my golden earring. The look in their eyes mirrored my own: disbelief and shock at the scene that unfolded before us.

"Zain! What happened?!" Viscoff boomed.

"She's not herself! Something is controlling her!" I gasped, desperate. The root still clinging to Dehya pulsed angrily, a twisting network of darkness around her as laughter reverberated through the air like distant thunder.

"How can we help? Do we need to fight?" Ben declared, knocking an arrow against his bowstring.

"No!" I interjected, urgency spilling out of me. "We need to bring her back, the more pain she feels the crazier she gets. We need to find a way without attacking her!"

"Your words may not reach her," Gimola warned, concern shadowing her brow. "It seems as if the demon blood has awoken inside her, we must–"

"—we will not lose her!" I interrupted, my voice rising. "We'll find a way to revive Dehya. Or at the very least, bind the darkness within her until we can figure out how to free her completely."

As I stepped forward, heart racing, I held my blue katana tightly in one hand and the dragon sword in the other. "Dehya," I called, steadying my breath. "You've faced darkness before. Fight this!"

For a fleeting moment, I saw the flicker of recognition in her eyes, glimmering like embers amidst the shadows encasing her spirit.

Maybe, just maybe, there stood a chance.

——

The air was thick with the scent of evil, and the skies above us churned like a black ocean brewing a storm. Rivers of lava snaked through the obsidian landscape, casting an eerie orange glow that played tricks with the shadows. My heart raced in my chest as I faced the turmoil within Dehya.

Her purple hair hung wild about her face, and her once radiant eyes were now pitch black, filled with darkness that was not her own. The demon blood that coursed through her veins twisted her very being into something unrecognizable, and as I stared into the abyss of those eyes, I feared I might never see my Dehya again.

"Watch out!" Ben shouted, narrowly dodging one of Dehya's vine whips as it struck the ground with lethal precision. The momentary shockwave sent volcanic ash swirling through the air, mixing with the heat of the inferno surrounding us.

"Stay close, everyone!" I ordered, gripping my blue katana tightly in one hand while the dragon sword hung at my side, the steel glinting in the flickering light. Orion, darted from my shoulder, settling a safe distance away, his gold and black fur a stark contrast to the shadows encroaching around us.

This wasn't the Dehya we knew. With each strike, I felt a deeper pang in my heart. It was as if with every swing of her wand, every root that lashed out, a piece of her was lost to the darkness. We had to bring her back.

"Dehya!" I called, my voice rising above the chaos. "Remember the time we sat under the moonlight, talking about the stars? You told me how it reminded you of fireflies dancing in the distance."

She hesitated, just for a brief moment, and like a crack in glass, I caught a flicker of recognition in her eyes.

"Zain!" she cried, her voice fluctuating between tones, like a ghost caught between worlds. The raw pain lacing her words made my heart scream in agony.

"We're all here for you!" June joined in, her voice soothing as she conjured protective barriers against Dehya's uncontrolled magical flares, "Fight back, Dehya! You've faced so much already. Don't let it take you!"

With every call, every cherished memory we evoked, cracks began to show in the dark veneer imprisoning her mind. But just as the glimmers of hope sparked, they flickered away, snuffed out by the demon blood residing within her.

Dehya charged at me, a rictus of rage twisting her features into something monstrous. I steeled myself and caught her arms, pressing them to her sides, holding her against me.

"Dehya!" I pleaded, my voice cracking with urgency. "I love you. I need you back. I don't want to continue without you." I leaned in, kissing her deeply in a desperate attempt to break the hold of darkness over her.

But what was once a spark of connection turned to chaos. She kicked away from me, collapsing to her knees, her hands grasping her hair as she screamed, a sound that echoed through this hellscape and chilled me to the bone.

"I'm sorry, Zain! I'm sorry! I love—" The tremor in her voice subsided, swallowed by a darkness. "You are a fool! Do you really think I'd love a weak human such as yourself?" It was now the dark, deep voice again, and this enraged me. Her body twisted furiously as if the struggle within her was unbearable.

Viscoff, ever stalwart, swung his heavy axe, aiming for one of the shadowy tendrils snaking toward us, his armor catching the infernal rays like a beacon of defiance. Gimola and Gimli worked in tandem with their blades, each strike precise and calculated, diverting the creeping shadows attempting to overwhelm us.

"I won't let you take her!" I shouted, my heart pounding. With a surge of determination, I charged toward Dehya, who writhed like a tempest in the binding coils of malevolence. But before I could reach her, the ground erupted in darkness as a figure rose from the abyss.

Clad in a sinister red cloak, the demon towered over us, boasting three faces: a twisted visage in the center flanked by a ominous goat and a wicked bull faced. Its eyes glinted with wicked amusement, and it held a black staff capped with a glowing red orb. "You are coming with me, girl," it purred, each word a caress, sickeningly seductive.

I could feel my soul ignite with anger as I sprinted toward the demon, but as I lifted my blue katana to strike, the staff pulsed with light. In an impossibly swift motion, Dehya and the demon vanished, swallowed by shadows that shed no light.

"Dehya!" I screamed, collapsing to my knees as despair washed over me. The others fell silent, the air thick with our shared loss.

Orion leapt atop my shoulder, nuzzling against my ear, but I could hardly feel him there. "We can still bring her back," he murmured, his voice steady. "We can find a way; I know we can."

I nodded, though an ache boiled within me. I'd fight not just for Dehya, but for the essence of who she was. No matter how deep the shadows danced, I would delve into the depths of hell itself to reclaim her light.

"We won't stop," I vowed, my mind whirling with plans and strategies.

And as I stood, casting my gaze to the molten rivers and towering peaks of obsidian, I resolved to sharpen my weapons, my resolve, and our memories. Dehya was out there. Today, I wasn't just a man. I was a warrior, and I would bring her back. No demon would stand in my way.