The Baptism 2
Slazar stood stunned, staring at the fleshy, pulsing sword in his hand.
It wasn't just a weapon... it was an extension of his body.
The eyes covering the blade stared at him.
The tiny mouths laughed... screamed... as if they knew him. As if they were part of him.
His twisted mirror his dark counterpart laughed and said:
"Don't be afraid… they're encouraging you. Urging you to kill me. You're doing well, but..."
He stepped closer, each footstep echoing with a wet squelch across the altar.
"...it's time to begin using the Commandments. Try the Butcher's Commandment. It's simple."
He raised a finger toward Slazar, his voice dropping to a whisper:
"Just picture the skull that once appeared on your hand... and the power will activate. The gate inside you will open."
Slazar closed his eyes, searching his memory... the skull beating like a dead heart flashed into his mind.
And then...
He felt black fire devouring his hand.
He gasped and opened his eyes.
There it was the skull sigil, etched into his left hand, pulsing with an unholy rhythm.
And suddenly...
He felt something strange.
His awareness expanded. His body became lighter. His soul split… and transformed.
He no longer felt human. He had become something else… something born to kill.
Before he could even process the change, the man attacked with inhuman speed.
But this time… Slazar blocked the strike with his sword.
Their blades clashed, and screams exploded from the mouths lining both weapons.
Screams that sounded like a thousand souls being slaughtered at once.
The altar trembled.
The man struck a punch toward Slazar's face but Slazar faded like smoke, reappearing behind him with unnatural grace.
He countered with a brutal punch to the jaw using his left hand, then followed with a slash—quick as hellfire lightning.
The man recoiled, then
Vanished.
He reappeared behind Slazar in a flash.
A red aura formed around him, twisting into screaming mouths that opened wide
The Soul Howl Strike.
Slazar couldn't dodge.
He couldn't even breathe.
The blast shook the altar, tearing through the fleshy walls.
The air burned.
Time itself froze.
The man laughed:
"Oops. Maybe I overdid it a little..."
But then he heard it.
Breathing.
He turned.
Slazar was still standing.
Bleeding, yes… but standing.
A gaping wound in his chest, but his eyes… blazing.
The man cackled:
"You're alive... Amazing! Truly, you're worthy of this."
Before he could continue, Slazar began to hear a voice whispering inside him dripping with bloodlust:
"Slaughter everything..."
"Slaughter everything..."
The sword in his hand screamed.
Its mouths howled madly, demanding blood.
The doppelgänger leapt into the air, blade raised high, ready to end it.
But…
Slazar's veins turned crimson.
All the eyes on his sword flew open.
That same red, pure, infernal energy burst out
The true essence of the Butcher's Commandment.
Gripping the sword with both hands…
He roared:
"I'll butcher you here!"
The swords collided, and from that impact came a sound like a thousand tortured souls
screaming in unison.
The entire altar shook.
The fleshy walls cracked.
Black blood oozed from the seams.
Slazar nearly lost consciousness from the force of the clash… but he didn't fall.
Before he could collapse, the mirror-man caught him.
His own sword was shattered.
Slazar's blade had pierced straight through his chest.
And yet, he showed no pain only a smile.
He looked toward the shadows and said:
"I think he's ready… partner."
A figure emerged behind him, voice cold as a blade:
"You've caused a spiritual imbalance in the altar… were you truly this reckless?"
The mirror-man chuckled, wiping blood from his lips:
"Maybe… but I had to test him."
Silence fell.
And behind them, the eyes of the altar began to open…
One by one…
And Hell… had yet to begin.