The Demon Seed (3)
The door creaked open slowly, the sound echoing ominously through the chamber.
I stepped inside cautiously, the faint red glow of the runes on the walls casting eerie shadows across the room. The air was suffocating, thick with demonic energy that clung to my skin and made my breathing feel heavy and labored.
The chamber was massive, its walls lined with grotesque carvings depicting demons and twisted figures. At its center was a black orb—the Demon Seed. It floated in the air, pulsing with a sinister light that seemed to grow stronger with each beat of my heart.
I had barely taken a step when the shadows shifted.
Before I could react, four figures lunged at me from the darkness.
---
The first blow came from the side, a clawed hand raking across my ribs. Pain shot through my body as blood splattered onto the stone floor. I stumbled, but another figure was already there, driving its fist into my stomach with bone-crushing force.
I gasped, the air knocked out of me, but they didn't let up.
A heavy kick struck the back of my knee, sending me crashing to the ground. I tried to crawl away, but one of them grabbed my arm and twisted.
I screamed as the bone snapped, the sound echoing through the chamber.
Another creature loomed over me, its glowing red eyes filled with malice. Its claws came down in a blur, slashing across my chest and tearing through flesh. Blood pooled beneath me, and I could feel the warmth draining from my body.
They didn't stop.
One of them grabbed my head and slammed it against the ground, my vision exploding into white-hot pain. I felt teeth crack and blood flood my mouth.
When they finally stopped, I was left broken and barely conscious, lying in a pool of my own blood.
---
They grabbed me by my remaining arm, dragging my shattered body across the chamber floor. I was too weak to resist, my mind clouded with agony as I left a trail of red behind me.
Eventually, they dropped me in front of him.
Professor Doyle.
He stood tall, his gaunt frame silhouetted by the pulsating red light of the runes. His sunken eyes gleamed with madness, and his thin lips twisted into a mocking smile as he looked down at me.
"Well, well," he drawled, crouching to meet my gaze. "Julius Vaelorian. I'll admit, I'm impressed you made it this far."
I tried to speak, but only a wet gurgle escaped my throat.
Doyle chuckled, grabbing my broken arm and twisting it slightly, sending fresh waves of pain coursing through me. "Did you really think a nobody like you could stop me? Someone as insignificant as you?"
He let go, standing and pacing slowly around the room.
"Do you know why I'm doing this?" he asked, his voice echoing off the walls. "Why I've gone to such lengths?"
I didn't answer.
"It's because of them," he snarled, his voice suddenly filled with venom. "The church. Those self-righteous hypocrites who claim to protect this world while hoarding its power. They keep us chained, holding humanity back from its true potential. But I…"
He turned back to me, his smile returning. "I will break those chains. The Demon Seed is the key to a new world—one where humanity no longer cowers beneath the gods or the church."
His voice rose as he gestured to the pulsing orb at the center of the room.
"With this, I will ascend. I will become a demon. A god!"
---
Before Doyle could say more, the door to the chamber burst open with a deafening crash.
Alex was the first to charge in, his longsword gleaming as he slashed through one of the demonic humans. Sophia followed close behind, her light magic radiating around her like a golden shield. Arthur was next, his massive sword cutting through the air as he joined the fight. The rest of the main cast flooded in after them, each one ready for battle.
Doyle's calm demeanor cracked, his face twisting into a snarl.
"Pests," he spat.
He raised a hand, and the remaining demonic humans surged forward to meet the intruders.
---
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Alex moved like a whirlwind, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision as he fought two of the creatures at once. Sophia's light magic was a dazzling display of speed and power, her blasts striking true and keeping one of the monsters at bay. Arthur's brute strength was on full display, his heavy strikes sending shockwaves through the air as he traded blows with another.
But the demonic humans were relentless.
One of them lunged at Sophia, grabbing her arm with its clawed hand and digging into her flesh. She cried out, her magic faltering for a moment. Alex intervened quickly, severing the creature's arm with a clean swing, but the distraction left him open to a strike from another.
Even with their combined efforts, it was clear the main cast was struggling.
---
Doyle, meanwhile, had turned his attention to the Demon Seed.
The black orb floated higher, its glow intensifying as he began to chant in a guttural, ancient language. The runes on the walls pulsed in response, filling the room with an ominous hum.
A manic laugh escaped Doyle's throat as the Demon Seed began to respond, its energy swirling around him.
"Yes!" he cried, his voice echoing with triumph. "It's mine! With this power, I will—"
A sharp crack rang out, and the Demon Seed was suddenly knocked from his hand.
Doyle's laughter turned to rage as he turned to see the source of the attack.
Chiyo stood at the edge of the chamber, her crimson eyes glowing as she lowered the dark-colored bow of energy she had conjured.
"You," Doyle snarled.
Chiyo didn't answer. Instead, she leapt into the fray, heading straight for the Demon Seed. Doyle intercepted her, the two clashing in a flurry of magic and movement.
---
While they fought, my eyes focused on the Demon Seed.
It had fallen to the ground, its pulsing energy dimming slightly as it lay forgotten in the chaos.
Summoning every ounce of willpower I had left, I began to crawl.
Each movement sent fresh waves of agony through my broken body, but I didn't stop. My vision blurred, my breath came in ragged gasps, and blood trailed behind me.
Finally, my fingers closed around the Demon Seed.
As soon as I touched it, a surge of energy exploded through me. My body convulsed violently, pain and heat searing every nerve.
My vision went dark, and the last thing I heard before losing consciousness was my own scream.