Prologue
At one point in my life, I wished for the destruction of the world. If that should ever happen it'd be a good way for humanity to start over again. Who would've thought it'd actually happen? Well differently from how I imagined it to be.
If I told you that Gods, Demons, Angels, and monsters exist would you believe me?
"Hey Guza are you done with your monologue over there?"
Turning around I see Vincent calling out to me. Behind him lie the remains of a fallen city that tried to hold its own against beings we never would've actually believed existed.
I approached Vincent who gave a knuckle tap to my right shoulder. A strong gust of wind blew dust clouds all around followed by the sound of sandals scraping against dirt.
"Took you long enough." I said coughing from the now fading dust.
"Ethan how did recon over the city go? Did you find the cathedral?" Vincent asked holding down his fedora so it wouldn't blow away.
"The city itself appears empty, but oddly enough so did the area surrounding the cathedral. According to Fujin, he can sense our target inside."
"Sounds like he's just inviting us in." I said with a grin pounding my clawed gauntlets together by the knuckles.
"Easy there Guza, we still can't just charge in there without a plan." Vincent scolded.
"Listen to him all ready to fight." Echoed a hallowed voice.
Behind Vincent an armored hand ruptured out of thin air followed by a second armored hand. The hands teared the space open revealing a dark portal where a horned helmet made its way through followed by the rest of it's armored body.
"Hey come on Asmodeus I'm just as ready to fight as these two!" I complained, gritting my teeth in frustration.
"Now now you two, bickering won't get us anywhere." Vincent explained trying to calm me down.
"He only just made his contract with Phenex yesterday. Guza hasn't once been able to tap into Phenex's powers since then." Asmodeus replied.
Moving from teeth grinding to lip biting I cursed at Asmodeus's words. But it was all true, Phenex hasn't spoken to me once since the contract. I wonder if it's because he still hasn't accepted me yet?
"Whatever the case, Guza was chosen to accompany us so he's fighting with or without Phenex's help." Ethan reminded us.
With that settled and done, we decided it was time to accept our target's invitation and head towards the cathedral.
The desolated city was a sight to behold. It was impossible to turn a corner or walk the streets without seeing the wreckage of a losing battle. Corpses both human and demon lined our paths. It was strange, it's been a couple of years since this city became like this, why do some of these blood stains still look fresh?
"Ethan I thought you said this city was empty?" I asked looking at the splattered marks of red.
Feeling like I just jinxed us by asking, the ground began to shake. You could see the tiny rubble scurrying around like ants. I looked at Ethan with his hand on the handle of his short sword strapped horizontally behind his back. Vincent on the other hand was already making his way towards a destroyed car. I signaled Ethan that we should follow and just analyze the current situation.
The rumbling intensifies and the sound of heavy crushing footsteps treaded into hearing range only to come to a sudden halt.
"You don't think it senses us do you?" Vincent asked, his eyes racing all over the place looking for any sign of movement.
We kept watch readying ourselves for whatever gets thrown at us.
"Hey guys what's that?" I asked pointing at something moving.
"Is it getting bigger?" Vincent replied.
The object of our focus seemed to grow in size in just a few seconds.
"Brace yourselves!" Ethan ordered as he ducked back behind the broken car we used as cover.
Vincent and I followed his Ethan's lead and ducked. As a couple more seconds pass something comes crashing next to us. It was a broken down SUV that was bent almost into a complete V-shape standing on its right side.
In sync we all peered through the windowless car we used for safety. The rumbling earth returned for another wave. This time it was accompanied by a surging roar.
From the direction of the thrown vehicle was a bulky black figure. My legs felt like they were being tightly squeezed by electricity as the figure grew in size.
"What is that monster?" Vincent asked. You could hear the shakiness in his voice.
The giant bulking monster we saw before us was bipedal. It's limbs were as thick as a military hummer and the rest of the body reflects the support of such huge arms and legs. The creature lurched forward flaunting it's curved horns protruding the sides of it's head. It had four black beady eyes on each side of it's face.
"Ariza, any idea on what that thing might be?" Vincent whispered.
Ariza was the name Vincent addressed Asmodeus by. I'm not sure how it started or why he called that demon by that name, but one thing boggles my mind, Ariza sounds like a girl's name.
Speaking of Asmodeus, the armored demon's head popped out of thin air behind us.
"That is just one of the lower leveled demons. Well to other demons like me I suppose. Normal humans would probably make easy prey. Like that kid in it's hand there."
Asmodeus sure knew how to point out the minor details. There really was a kid locked in the monster's grip.
"We're rescuing that kid." I said sternly as I stood up.
"You don't even know if he's still alive!" Vincent panicked trying to hold me down with both his hands.
"I say let the kid go. If he wants to die for someone else who might be dead, then let him." Asmodeus laughed.
"Ariza!" Vincent scolded.
Asmodeus shrugged and gave a deep sigh.
"That thing isn't too bright, all you need to do is distract it and cut off the arm holding the kid. After that you guys can finish it off."
I asked myself if it was really that easy for a monster such as that one.
"Alright let's do it then. Since there's no name for that thing I'll give it one. Ethan make sure to record this name down." I said looking at Ethan who nodded in reply.
"We'll call it a Hulk demon!"
"You're serious?" Vincent said with disagreement.
"He's serious Vincent." Laughed Asmodeus.
I looked at Vincent and asked, "So you got a plan for us tactician?"
"Tactician? I'd rather be called shot caller." Vincent grinned.
"Alright, here's how it goes."
According to the plan we were each given a role. Ethan was to distract the Hulk demon while finding a way to cut off it's arm. My role was to wait for it's arm to fall so I could rush in and save the kid. Vincent and Asmodeus will be acting as both support and an emergency back up plan in case something goes wrong.
With everyone in agreement with the plan Ethan bolted off holding his short sword back hand style.
"Fujin into the sword!" Ethan commanded as a green glowing ball of energy appeared in his free hand.
Grabbing the green ball he pushed it into the base of his blade. He then slid his index finger and middle finger towards the point of the blade which coated the metal in the same glowing green light.
"Dammit I forgot how fast he was!"
Struggling to catch up to Ethan's pace, I followed behind him to the best of my physical ability ready to do accomplish the task I was given. If only I could access Phenex's powers, then maybe I could've been the one to fight that Hulk demon.
"Guza get ready now!" Ethan yelled.
Jumping into the air Ethan rotated his body to increase his momentum. His rotation steadily increased in speed.
"RAGING TORNADO!" Ethan called out the name of his technique.
Descending at an incredible rate, the Hulk demon didn't see it coming. Just like that, the demon's arm holding the kid was sliced off cleanly. It wasn't until after the fell that the demon realized what was going on.
As it's black fluid spurted out it's wound, the Hulk demon let out a thunderous roar. I took this chance to race to the severed arm.
Luckily for me the grip was loosened so I freed the kid with ease. Mustering the strength I had, I carried the kid in my arms and sprinted back towards Vincent.
Ethan stood in front of the Hulk demon so as to grab it's attention. Or so I was thinking.
"GUZA!"
Reacting to Ethan's shout I glanced over my shoulder. The Hulk demon bypassed Ethan and was charging straight for me. Could it be after the kid?
I didn't have much time to think. I was approaching Vincent and the next thing I knew I tossed the kid towards his direction.
"Guza you bastard!" Vincent cursed attempting to catch the kid.
"I got it!" Asmodeus called out, catching the kid.
The Hulk demon did indeed switch targets. Pounding it's fist downwards shattering the ground beneath it, it violently ran towards Asmodeus.
"Low level scum, know your place!" Asmodeus raised an arm facing an open palm towards the demon.
Charging shoulder first the towering demon seemed confident enough to take down the smaller Asmodeus holding it's prey. As soon as it got within a few feet of it's target of assault the Hulk demon took a black wave of energy head on.
The demon was charred in place. After twitching a bit, the Hulk demon fell to it's knees and then flat on the ground.
"That turned out a lot better than expected didn't it guys?" I joked.
I walked back towards the Hulk demon's corpse and kicked it a few times before resting my foot on it's charred head.
"Damn demon." I grunted. Taking out my frustration of not being able to fight on the smoking corpse.
I removed my foot and made my way towards Vincent, Asmodeus hovering a bit ahead carrying the child.
I didn't notice it right away, but Vincent's facial expression turned pale white.
"GUZA!" Both Ethan and Vincent screamed.
Suddenly my world turned upside down, in the literal sense. Struggling to make everything right side up my world shifted again. This time however it consisted of just me and the Hulk demon's darkened face.
As it let out another roar, my captor slammed me into the ground. The feeling of bones breaking covered the insides of my torso and my legs. Blood forced its way up my throat towards the outside. Before I could recover the demon's onslaught continues. With it's only hand, it's strikes rained down on me like a hammer on a nail. With one final strike, a giant crater appeared beneath my body.
My vision blurred with the color red, all I could make out before me was my damage dealer. I could vaguely make out Ethan attacking the demon trying to get it away from me.
Is this is? Am I finally going to die? I bet I'm flatter than a pancake now huh?
"The requirements have been met." Said a familiar voice.
Whose voice was it? It feels warm, almost hot, it seems so familiar.
"Death is but another form of rebirth, it brings about change. By my power and our contract rise from the ashes of your former self, embrace my flames, and call out my name!"
Crimson flames wrapped around my body and then it came to me.
His name, it was his name that came to me.
"PHENEX!"
I could feel the fire consume my body. Igniting my skin and melting my bones all in an instant. Then my vision returned to me. There were no more blurs of red, and before I knew it I was already standing on my own two legs.
Scoping out my surroundings I find Ethan, and Vincent just staring at me from a distance. It looked to me like they just saw the ghost of a dead best friend. How exactly did I make it out alive of that anyways?
"That was my doing." Said the same familiar voice from earlier when I had my eyes closed.
"Phenex, you saved me?" I questioned.
"More or less, but if you want to be more specific our contract has finally begun to start."
"This is your flame, it actually feels kind of nice."
"You'll get more and more used to it. For now I think there's something else that needs your attention."
Phenex sounded a lot more calm and serene than I imagined. But enough of that, I want to try out my new powers pronto.
"HEY UGLY!" I called out to the Hulk Demon who actually replied to my taunt with a roar.
"You like making pancakes out of me huh? Prepare yourself cause I'm about to give you a serving of poundcake!" I snickered.
"You're lucky China hasn't picked up on you yet!" Vincent shouted.
I thought it was a good pun, at least it sounded a lot better in my head. But all jokes aside, I pounded my damaged gauntlets together and with a spark my gauntlets ignited with the crimson flames.
"That is so cool, I'll call this skill Ignition!" Smiling with glee I ran towards the Hulk demon.
Ethan gave me a quick grin and put away his sword. Passing by him, he gave me a thumbs up and proceeded to meet up with Vincent and the other two.
Approaching the demon from below I recalled a move from one of the fighting games I used to play. Flexing my right arm and bringing facing my elbow perpendicular to my back. I bent my knees a little and charged the flames into my gauntlet. The fire was sucked into my backhand and a crimson light engulfed my entire fist.
"BURNING UP!" I called out jumping into the air.
My original intention was to hit the demon square in the jaw, but as I couldn't reach it I settled for it's chest instead. As my hit connected you could see the charred skin of the monster create ripples from where my hit landed. The crimson light from before bursted into flames consuming the demon.
I landed back down on my feet and turned away from the burning creature. A few strands of my hair fell in front of my face. Was this my hair? Black was my natural hair color, but from what I could make out my hair color was now crimson red the same color as Phenex's flames.
"I hope you guys like your food extra well done." I punned, using my hands to comb my hair towards the back of my head.
"Ok that one wasn't even China worthy." Vincent retorted.
"Come on, wasn't that even close to good?"
I laughed at my own reply, but the important thing is I can finally use Phenex's pow-
My vision started to blur again, and my body felt pretty weak. Maybe I overdid it? Everything went black as I soon toppled over.
"Who would've thought you'd use up all that power right off the bat."
"Phenex is that you?"
My surroundings were pitch black, at least for a moment. Two flames erected before me, and between them a brown wooden door.
"Phenex are you in there?"
By sheer reflex I reached for the door and turned the knob. A blaze of flame came roaring out the door, it's sheer force sending me on my back.
"Hey Phenex what the hell?"
"You can't get through yet it seems. In any case, next time don't use up all the energy at once."
I'll take that as a scolding, but I guess I can fit the pieces together. I did kind of just went all out, which led to me passing out which would explain this place. I wonder if this is inside my own mind? Maybe inside of Phenex's? I feel like one of those protagonists from one of my Anime.
"I'll walk through that door one day Phenex!" I said raising a closed fist to my chest.
"I'll be waiting." Voiced a reply.
"Hey get up already!" Demanded a voice.
"I'm waiting for my alarm, quit it." I said swatting away at air.
"WAKE UP!" Yelled a different voice.
Immediately getting up I hit my head against something hard. After rubbing my head I gaze at the horned helmet staring back at me. It's eye holes were pitch black. The more I stared the more infatuated and curious I become.
"Woah there, stare too much and you'll be on a pleasurable trip to the land of the dead." Joked Asmodeus who covered up my whole face with an armored claw.
"Wait why would it be pleasurable?" I questioned.
"Do some research kid, then you'll understand." Asmodeus let go of my face.
Taking a look around, Ethan was sitting on top of a broken sedan. Asmodeus and Vincent were talking amongst themselves quite a bit away from me, and the kid we saved was on his knees staring at me.
"OH MY GOD! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Screaming the relief at the top of my lungs I hugged the little girl.
"Little girl I'm so glad you were actually still alive."
"Thanks mister, but I'm a boy..."
"But you're face is too cute! Plus your hair is long."
The boy looked at me, depression filling his eyes.
"Everybody else said the same thing mister. Well except the armored guy, he realized right away."
After a short lived laugh we all decided to talk a little bit ourselves. The true purpose being any information we can gather from the little kid.
According to the boy, he is actually from a nomadic group of people who banned together after the world changed. The nomads found him about a year ago and took him into the group. His parents died just a bit before he was found. Apparently his father tried to kill him off and his mother died trying to protect him and because of it, discarded the name given to him by his father.
"Let's give him a new name guys!" Was what I suggested but the others gave me cold stares.
The looks they gave me suggested that I can't choose the name and to let him continue his story.
The nomad group he was apart of was attacked by the demon that captured him earlier. He fainted in the creature's hand after witnessing the brutal deaths of the wandering group members.
"You poor thing!" I wailed hugging the little boy again.
"Mister stop it! It's embarrassing..." The boy murmured trying to break free.
"In any case, you're sticking with us for now. We're actually on a dangerous mission-" Vincent said casually before he was interrupted.
"Roger!" Said the little boy with excitement.
"You might die you know?" Ethan said with hesitation.
"It's better than being alone!" Cried out the boy.
"Alright, but first things first, let's give him a new name!" I said with delight.
"It's alright mister I already thought of a name for myself. I came up with it to honor the group of people who took me in. The group called themselves the Toyotomi group, after one of the most honorable warriors of Japan. From now on you can all call me Hideyoshi!"
Vincent, Ethan, and I looked at each other and bursted out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Asked Hideyoshi who was beginning to pout.
"It's nothing, Hideyoshi welcome aboard!" I said with a smile.
The Cathedral, here is where our target lies. An eerie grey structure that used to house believers of God, now home to a demon. The demon calls itself Chronos, the thing is, just as his name states he can control time.
We walked up the short flight of stairs approaching the large wooden doors. I turned to Hideyoshi knelt down to his height.
"Hideyoshi, stay near us as much as possible. If we tell you to hide and run for cover you do so. Alright?"
Hideyoshi nodded. I took off my gauntlets and handed them over to Hideyoshi.
"These might be too big for you but if you keep them close they should be able to ward off any smaller demons that may be lying in wait."
"What are you going to fight with?" Ethan asked.
Taking a look around I found nothing I could use and gave him a quick shrug.
"There's something I want to try out so I'll be fine." Reassuring everyone else, especially Hideyoshi especially, I pounded my fists together. That actually hurt a lot more than I thought.
You can see rows of wooden benches lined up nearly across the entire hall. The stained glass windows began to lose their shine as the sun began to set. Blue flames lit themselves upon torches that were embedded into pillars around the hall. There at the end of the Cathedral an altar, and sitting on that altar a robed figure.
"I'm glad to see you accepted my invitation mortals."
The robed figure jumped off the altar and made its way towards us removing his hood.
What was revealed to us was something not as menacing as we were expecting. The face was definitely human, that of a man in his late twenties. The only odd thing about him were the pointy ears. A beard connecting his side burns was present but it was kept neatly trimmed.
"Are you Chronos?" Asked Ethan readying his sword hand for drawing.
"That I am, if you need further proof-" As our target's sentence was about to finish his face turned into that of an old man, and then again into a young boy with his body shrinking down to fit the size.
"Since time is on my side, I'll have you deal with my minions first." With a snap of his fingers Chronos returned to the form we first met him in and puffs of smoke appeared all around the Cathedral.
From the smoke jumped around small nasty little critters. The majority of them looked like gremlins while others looked like murderous clown puppets. You know those clown ones remind me of the demons you find in that game with the white haired guy in the red coat.
The three of us bunched up into a triangle formation leaving Hideyoshi in the center to be protected.
"Hideyoshi, make sure you can see our backs all the time. To make sure you stay alert, let us know if one of these demons get into our formation. Can you do that for us?" I asked Hideyoshi. Squeezing the gauntlets I had him hold he slowly nodded.
Vincent moved towards the center with Hideyoshi as Asmodeus appeared out of his gate thing.
"Vincent are you going to watch the kid and issue tactics?" Ethan asked.
"You don't even need to ask." Vincent replied pushing up his glasses with his index and middle fingers.
Chronos's minions launched their assault. Ethan had Fujin possess his blade again. He did something rather cool this time around. Two gremlins and a puppet clown jumped towards him in two different directions, from his side and front.
"Howling Winds!" Ethan called out as he swung his sword downwards in front of him.
The green light that covered his blade split into three lines of light that that split off in the directions of the incoming enemies. They surged through the ground looking for their targets like sharks in the water. Once each light was below their target, they shot upwards cutting the demons in two.
"That was sweet, now what can I do without a weapon?" I whispered under my breath as I watched Vincent command Asmodeus on pinpointing targets.
That's when an idea popped into my head. Sticking my hand out and facing it at a puppet clown. I remembered my Ignition and Burning Up skills, how I charged the energy before releasing it. So using that same method I directed my now open palm towards the enemy.
The energy around my hand was burning I tried focusing on a way to gather all that energy without a medium like my gauntlets. It was a bit harder than last time since I took Phenex's words of using too much power to heart.
"Aim and Fire!" I called out.
Releasing the energy all at once but it didn't go flying flying forward like I wanted. Instead it just dissipated into the air. What did I do wrong?
That same clown puppet noticed me and leapt towards me. Bracing myself I crossed my arms in front of me. That was my mistake, it dashed right past me and arrowed in on Hideyoshi.
"Crap I don't know if those gauntlets ward off those kind. HIDEYOSHI LOOK OUT!" I yelled out turning around trying to reach for the demon.
"Come on reach!" Ordering my own arms to do the impossible.
I could see Hideyoshi trying to hide behind my gauntlets. Just then he started to emit an aura of white light. The Puppet Clown stopped in its tracks. It's sudden halt showed the fear it had for Hideyoshi.
"YOU'RE DEAD!" Unknowingly how it happened, a blazing claw no bigger than myself grabbed the demon frozen in fear and grasped it tightly. It kept squeezing until it incinerated the demon into ashes.
The glowing white aura caught my attention more than the fading blazing claw. It was strange, I've never felt or seen anything like it before. I reached for Hideyoshi trying to calm him down a bit.
"You ok?" Hideyoshi gave me a slow nod noticing the white aura around him. His guess was as good as ours.
"It looks like the demons won't come near you as long as that aura is around you. You probably don't know how or why you have this power but it looks like your subconscious is activating it for you." Trying to give a simple explanation to him, he seemed more confused than ever.
"Haha in any case as long as you're glowing like that you should be fine. Watch our backs ok?" Giving a thumbs up and a smile, Hideyoshi gives a reassuring nod.
"Your control over your powers are horrible." Said Ethan after dispatching a couple more demons.
"Earlier was just a fluke, even then he used up so much power he passed out." Came a remark from Asmodeus.
"Shut it!" Snapping back at them I thought hard about what to do next.
Earlier I was trying to reach for the demon going after Hideyoshi. I wonder-
"As my contractor, you are rather amusing." Rung a familliar voice in my head.
"Phenex? Why don't you help me out a bit huh?" I replied to him.
"Very well but just a hint. As a demon I am quite the poet, I am also quite fond of the different sciences. One needs to have a flexible and creative mind to understand these things. I also used to look up to a conjuror back in my days."
For a hint that was rather long. But the only words that stuck to me where creative, flexible, and conjuror. I had a rough idea but the only way to find out is to test it out.
I began thinking about the claw from earlier, because I wanted to reach for the puppet clown the energy manifested itself as a giant claw that could reach it and grasp it. Thinking hard on it, the claw appeared again, engulfing my hand this time.
Folding and wriggling my fingers the claw followed the motions precisely.
"Now this is cool!"
Chronos's minions were nearly decimated. He himself however just stood there watching the whole thing. Letting his pawns do the work, a typical strategy to wear out the enemy. But these minions seemed pretty lack luster.
"You did well to defeat my legions of demons. But I hope you're prepared for the next wave." Chronos snapped his fingers which was followed by the sound of a ticking clock.
"Everyone be careful!" Yelled Vincent.
All the desecrated bodies of the demons we slay had tiny miniature clocks appear over them. Those very clocks began spinning backwards and with each full rotation the demons began to look more like they were before they attacked.
"This doesn't look too good." Ethan pointed out.
"Round 2 starts now humans!" Chronos bellowed as the resurrected demons once again came charging at us.
Once again the demons were defeated. Was it just me or did that feel a lot quicker this time around?
"Commendable but I think you guys missed a few!" Chronos began laughing maniacally as he snapped his fingers again.
"Guys this isn't good, I'm already starting to feel tired." I was breathing hard. Probably because I still haven't gotten used to using Phenex's powers.
"Here we go again!" Ethan called out as we fend off the the demons a third time.
This really isn't good, if he does this again we might really be screwed. I had that feeling again though, maybe I should let the others know this time.
"Hey guys, as tiring as it may be, have you guys noticed it got a little bit faster to plow through these demons?" Expressing my thoughts, I look at both Ethan and Vincent waiting for a reply.
Vincent seemed to be looking around, he seemed to be onto something. Once again the resounding sound of snapping fingers was heard. I could tell that Vincent was focusing on something but couldn't tell what it was.
"Ethan, Guza, bear with me on this but I think I may have figured it out." Vincent whispered.
"What is it? Spill it!" Panicked I tried to move his words along.
"All the demons that he resurrected were all demons who were only injured."
"Well yeah obviously!" I snapped back.
"Quiet! Let me finish Guza! The demons who haven't been resurrected were all completely destroyed. Either by Phenex's flames or Ariza's dark energy."
"So?"
"It means during this next wave we have to completely annihilate their bodies to stop them from being reborn."
If he's right, then that would explain why the fights felt shorter after each wave.
"Problem is though guys, destroying them would use up most of our powers. We won't have the strength to fight Chronos afterwards."
Vincent was right, the best thing to do would probably be-
"I think one of us should use up our energy to wipe out those demons. The other two will be the ones to fight Chronos." Vincent suggested.
"My thoughts exactly. That way, we could also let that person recuperate and observe any attack patterns." Replied Ethan.
These two, I swear, there really are times where we actually can think alike.
"I'll do it, I'll incinerate these bastards." Still breathing a bit hard I took one deep breath letting it out slowly.
"We'll leave it to you then." Said Vincent.
The next wave of demons were almost ready.
"Guys, grab Hideyoshi and get behind me. This ones going to be a blast." Joking a little to calm myself.
"We'll give you that one." Laughed Ethan.
Picture it, I told myself. I had to think of a move that can defeat the rest of this respawn precisely and efficiently. The demons started approaching, their growls and pace steadily growing louder. Then it hit me.
Spreading my arms out wide focusing as hard as I could to materialize the blazing claw. This time two appeared floating in midair.
"Bigger, I need it to get bigger!" Trying to convert the energy into a shape without a medium was a lot harder than I thought but it was about successful as the claws grew bigger.
"Just a bit more!" Putting more energy into it, the claws grew about half the size of the cathedral walls.
"Succumb to Phenex's flames! DEATH FIRE'S GRASP!"
Putting the size of the blazing claws to work, I made sure to grab all the little minions I could bringing them together. Grasping my two hands together, the blazing claws did the same burning all the demons within them.
After a few seconds of holding them together, I released the power and dropped to my hands and knees gasping for air.
"Alright guys I think that's all I can do for now." Slowly rearranging my position to where I'm sitting on my butt.
"Hideyoshi, stay with Guza. Vincent and I will handle the rest." Ethan directed. Hideyoshi followed immediately. Oddly enough, with Hideyoshi next to me I feel like my energy is coming back to me real slowly but faster than without him here.
Ethan quickly rushed towards Chronos who had his scythe out and ready. It looks like destroying those little demons completely was the right choice.
"Contractor, that boy, I don't know how to put it but he has a strange power." Phenex whispered in my mind.
"Ariza back up Ethan!" Yelled Vincent in the background.
"What do you mean by strange?" Replying to Phenex while watching the white aura flow out of Hideyoshi.
"It feels similar to the powers angels use, but at the same time it feels demonic."
"Like a half and half kind of thing?"
"Close, not halved individually, more like thoroughly mixed."
Thoroughly mixed? Just what is Hideyoshi then? I've heard of half breeds but Hideyoshi doesn't have any physical signs of being part demon, monster, or whatever.
"AGH!" Cried out Ethan.
My attention quickly returned to the battle with Chronos. Ethan had his back up against the altar trying to use it as a support to get back to his feet. Asmodeus fired a couple of her energy blasts at an approaching Chronos. He dodges all of them with ease, almost way too easily.
"Ariza, he's predicting your movements! No even more so, he's probably using his powers to speed up his body's own time!" Vincent exclaimed.
"You humans are a lot more entertaining than I thought. A lot smarter than what I had credited you for. Sadly, besides myself these powers of mine only work under certain conditions. I'm not nice enough to disclose it to you so think fast humans." Chronos explained all the while disappearing from everyone's sight.
The feeling of cold steel lined up against my neck. Before I realized it, Chronos's scythe had it's sharp edge teasing my skin. Looking down at the blade, I could see my own fearful expression.
"Hey... hey guys... my hair really is red..." Using my hair color as a distraction, oh man I must really be losing it.
"That thing you did, was quite amusing. Destroying all of my little minions so easily. But now what? You can barely move now." Chronos whispered into my ear.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Yelled Vincent.
"CHRONOS!" Yelled Ethan.
"You have no right to order-" Chronos stopped mid sentence.
"This girl, what is that power flowing from her?" Chronos asked using his free hand to reach for Hideyoshi.
"For the last time..." Murmured Hideyoshi.
"Hideyoshi.. run..." I said under my breath.
"I AM A BOY!" Hideyoshi screamed out.
The encasing aura around him shone bright. Enough so that it blinded Chronos. The light gave me a warm reassuring feeling. I grabbed the scythe with my bare hands, tightly holding, not giving a second thought to any of the pain.
"HIDEYOSHI RUN!" Yelling at the top of my lungs trying to wrestle the scythe away from Chronos.
"Damn human!" Chronos roared back desperately holding onto his scythe.
I watched as Hideyoshi ran towards Vincent and Ethan stopping halfway to look back.
"I'll be ok, don't worry about me." Mouthing my words, I just couldn't find the strength to voice them out. My grip is about to loosen, damn it... just when things started to liven up in this world.
My hands let go of the curved blade as I stumbled back onto the floor.
"You don't even deserve a decapitation! The conditions are met, now I'll have your death feel excruciatingly slow." Chronos raised his scythe.
"Sorry Phenex, I guess I won't be walking through that door anytime soon." Speaking in my head again. I hope he heard it.
The next thing I felt was a small sharp point, steadily growing in size making it's way into my chest.
Finally the pain ended, really though, it felt like an eternity before it stopped. Taking a look at my surroundings I found a door lit up by crimson flames.
"This place again?" Walking closer to the door I placed my hand on the knob turning it all the way.
"Phenex I'm coming in, don't blast me away this time." I opened the door.
A sudden combustion of flame bursted out of the door again. This time I braced myself for the impact.
Nothing. No blowing backwards, and weird enough no heat. Still bracing myself for any other sudden outbursts of flame I make my way deeper into what lies beyond the door.
"Welcome my contractor." That was Phenex's voice.
The room itself caught my attention first. It was completely filled with books, like a miniature library. There was a small creaking noise followed by the clamor of books.
"Some help please contractor!"
Following the sound of his voice, I was led to a tipped over shelf with its fallen books in a pile.
"Please don't tell me you're trapped under all those books." I pleaded.
"What if I am?" Replied Phenex in an abrupt tone.
"Alright, alright. Hold on just a bit."
One by one I cleared out the books piling them on their flat surfaces making sure they were closed. Reaching the point where I could stand the shelf again, I was able to increase my pace.
"Phenex I'm almost done. Rest assured you'll be out-" before I could finish my chin suffered an uppercut.
Grabbing the fist that nearly made me KO I pulled on it very hard.
"PHENEX!" Annoyed, I pulled the arm out.
A slim figure emerged from the books. It was a woman with long crimson hair. Only her top half free from the books, I could see she wore some kind black of spaghetti strap or tank top.
"You're a woman!" Shouting my surprise.
"Yeah pretty much." Replied Phenex with a smile on her face.
"Phenex I-"
"Hold on, don't say anything. My life is about to burn out."
"What do you mean? What's going on?"
"My power right now is about to run out. Honestly, you need to learn how to control your energy."
Not knowing how to reply, I looked away and let her keep talking.
"Listen real closely, you'll notice it after I'm gone but you have died in the real world."
Well I can't argue with that, The last thing I remember was getting impaled by that scythe.
"As part of our contract your body is safe. But that's not all."
"Is it bad?"
"No, it's just you'll be stuck in this room for awhile until you regain consciousness."
"Any idea how long that'll take?"
"I can't say for sure, but in the mean time read the books here and learn how to control my powers."
"Does you disappearing mean our contract is over?"
Phenex gave a hearty laugh.
"No contractor, I'll be back soon." Just like that Phenex whittled away into cinders.
Patting myself down removing what I thought I had was dust, I decided to give myself a tour of the place.
"I wonder if this place has a room I can practice energy manipulation with?"
"If it's easier, you can call it magic you know?"
A kid? Turning around I couldn't help but grin.
"That's a lot sooner than soon."