Ancient Evil

After turning the beast began to rise out of the water. Towering into the sky like a missile soaring off its launch pad.

Shards of luminescent glass climbed with the beast.

Creating a shower of light falling from the heavens. A truly beautiful display to contrast the absolute terror which it represented.

With the fall of the lights came a destructive wave, several times taller than me.

Completing the arc of its ascent, the ancient horror towered over the wave.

Rearing it's horrid face as the serpentine eyes of the beast focused on me.

The face of the beast began to twist into a sinister smile, watching from above as the wave crashed towards me.

My mind began racing with thoughts of death. After all the big talk of how no trial would be to much.

I now stood face to face with an impossible task. No amount of will or strength was enough to hold back the cold reaping hand that pressed to my neck.

Fear began creeping it's way through my body, holding me in a grasp so tight that even my bones felt they were shaking.

Finally at the end of it all, the last strand of my sanity burned away. Leaving a broken shell of intense rage and hatred against this cruel and unforgiving reality.

"Screw all of this, bring me the worst you've got!" The weight of my entire being went into the outburst. Fear took way for anger as I locked eyes with the heinous beast.

Fearlessly staring it down with deep flames of hatred behind my eyes. The twisted smile of the beast widened as it stared back at the insect sized pest.

The wave approached fast, yet the world seemed to go silent as I refused to break the gaze I cast towards its face.

Moments before the wave threatened to flush me away, a tendril rose from under the water. Lifting the glass beneath my feet into the air.

It held me above the wave, serving as a temporary savior for what seemed to be a much more gruesome end.

Shaken by the unexpected turn of events, I regained my balance and looked beneath my feet at the tendril.

Suddenly a voice boomed inside my head. Rattling my brain with its powerful tone.

"How amusing."

My eyes darted back to the face of the beast. Taking more notice of its features as I attempt to understand what's happening.

It's large serpentine eyes were completely round, like it's eye lids had been completely removed. The beast has no discernable nose and sitting behind the wide evil smile was gigantic razor sharp teeth.

"Such a brilliant flame of hatred for such a tiny vessel." The voice boomed once again

With rage still burning bright enough to keep back the icy hold of fear. I replied to the beast that was holding me.

"What are you and what do you want with me?"

The beast twisted it's head slightly, as if pondering how to respond to the hateful pest in its grasp.

'I am Verotide, lord of the void. You ask what I want with you. Yet you are the pest who has trampled into my domain and greeted me with a burning vendetta. You're here seeking power, are you not?'

The question confused Callum. 'Did the trial of the serum have a conscience of its own? Did everyone who underwent the trial come to this same place?

Puzzled and curious Callum responded "How do you know the reason I'm here?"

Verotide roared into laughter.

'The void is present everywhere, including in your world. Everywhere the void exists, I exist.'

"Wait, is this not the umbral realm?"

Verotide's smile faded.

'The umbral realm is the realm of the gods. Any being that does not abide to their rules is marked as a heretic. Then sentenced to death. However even their power was not enough to kill me. So instead they cast me out of the umbral realm, using an ancient sealing spell to trap me here in this null world.'

"What do you mean, the realm of the gods?" Questions kept forming in Callum's mind. With each new revelation handed to him by Verotide. More questions arose.

'The creators of realms, beings with the power to construct living beings. Once created they toy with the lives of their constructs. Waging bets on who's creations are the strongest before sending them to kill one another as a pleasure game. Just as what's been happening in your realm, this very minute.'

The words booming into the mind of Callum acted as fuel. Further stoking the burning inferno of his rage.

Noticing the anger burning at his seems, the sinister smile reappeared on Verotide's demonic face.

'How would you like to make a deal with me, young creation of Gaius.'

More questions popped into Callums mind. How could the gods play such a twisted and cruel game? How many times has such atrocities taken place? What does he mean by the term creation of Gaius?

However Callums mind was blinded by rage. Instead of pondering more questions. He asked the first one that came to mind.

"Will this deal give me the power to kill the gods?"

Verotide boomed with laughter.

'Such spite and hate, truly magnificent. Killing a god may be an impossible feat for one such as you. However this will give you the ability to defy them.'

"Simply defying them isn't enough for me."

'Thats where my end of the deal comes in' Verotide lifted Callum higher. Bringing him close to his face.

'You will use the power I grant you to free me of this wretched place. Along with the others of similar rank as me. The 7 beasts known as the omens of calamity.'

Callum looked down, a grim determination brewed in his heart. "What will you do when I release you?"

Verotide's eyes lit into a maddened glint. Hatred so intense that it lit the air with an atmosphere of nearly palpable bloodlust.

'I will exact revenge on those accursed gods. Bringing about the destruction of them and every single one of their creations. Now how strong is your spite young one. Will you allow yourself to remain a pawn in the entertainment of the gods. Or will you unleash the 7 omens and bring about the absolute destruction of everything.'

The choice weighed on Callum. If he chose to disagree and decline the offer. Then all that awaited him was a sudden and gruesome death at the hand of the ancient evil in front of him.

His only other option, to accept the deal and become the harbinger of total death for all living beings of both realms.

His eyes narrowed, his mind cleared. Callum met the gaze of evil and smiled.

"Let's bring about the fall of the gods."

Verotide roared into a maniacal laugh.

'Very well young one. I will grant you the abilities of the void and all it's knowledge. Just know that shall you decide to go back on the deal we made. I will use the void to consume you.'

Callum smiled, his sanity giving way to his hatred for the ones that sentenced his world to death for their own sick entertainment.

"I have no intention of going back on my word."

'Very good, then it is set. You will now awaken.'

With a sudden jolt back to life, Callum found himself sitting in the metal chair. His arms and legs restricted of their movement as his eyes adjusted to the light of the room.

The voice on the intercom chimed through.

"Congratulations on the completion of your trial. We hope to see bright things in your future, gate keeper."