Chapter 20: Trust yourself
The morning came with little issue, though as per usual, hell wouldn't even feel the shining of the sun, instead being graced with the reddish tint of light from the sky that seemingly came from nowhere. A calmness, at first nowhere in sight, was finally present at the happy hotel, one that everyone basked in with little hesitation. After the events of the night before, a little reassurance was just what they needed; reassurance that everything would be okay. As the early morning crept up to the people of hell, Charlie was doing her usual routine of waking everyone to take on the day. Dressed in her usual pink and black suit, her footsteps filled the silent halls, as she opened each and every door to give everyone their wake-up calls. She was so ecstatic. After so long of just having the same people in her hotel, she finally had a new group of guests in her establishment. Of course, she did wish it was because of better circumstances, but nonetheless, she was definitely gleeful about it. She couldn't help but smile, as she stepped towards Loona's room, ready to help her wake up.
With a knock on the door, she slowly reached for the doorknob and gently opened the door, "Rise and shine Loona. Blitzo asked me to make sure that everyone was up and ready for-"
She stopped, noticing that she wasn't even in her bed. In fact, the room didn't even look lived in. The bed was still made and everything. It was a strange occurrence to her, one that was very worrying. What if she left the hotel after what happened last night?! If that was the case, she would be in mortal danger, what with her and the others being hunted down! She quickly closed the door and sped down the hall. She had to tell Zack; if anyone could find a missing person, the young investigator could! She screeched to a halt in front of the door to his new room and quickly opened it, a slight pant to her voice.
"Z-Zack, we have trouble! Loona is-" she stopped, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The room was a mess, a complete mess! Clothes were scattered about, claw marks were all over the walls, and bedsheets littering the ground. That, however, wasn't what shocked her. With her hands covering her mouth to keep her silenced, she backed up slowly, her heart rate quickening and her pale cheeks glowing a deep pink.
"O-Oooh, gosh."
Out of nowhere, Stolas came close behind her, a look of confusion on his face, "What's wrong, Ms. Charlie? Is something the mat-" Within seconds, he saw what was so shocking. His eyes widened, but his beak grew a small smile, "Oh my, hoo hoo, what do we have here?"
They only stared at the sight before them, that being the bed. In it, not only was Zack, but Loona as well, both of them embracing each other. Her head was laying against his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist, whilst Zack's hands rested on her back. That, however, wasn't the shocking part. What was shocking, was the fact that they were both completely naked, a blanket being the only thing covering their shame. Their soft snores filled the room; it seemed as if they weren't awoken. They both let out a sigh of relief, before exchanging a smile.
"That at least answers my question. Don't they look so cute?" Charlie whispered, as they continued to watch the adorable scene.
Stolas nodded, "Of course. I was wondering when this would happen. However, I didn't think they'd be, um, this rough with each other."
They both nodded, noticing the many scratches on Zack's person, a gift from the hellhound.
"Hey, what's everyone doing here? Ain't this Zack's new room?" Angel Dust asked, as he stepped towards the pair. His eyes glanced into the room, his lips soon curling into a snarky smirk, "Fuck yeah, Vaggie owes me 10 bucks."
"10 bucks for what?"
The three jolted in their place, their heads whipping to the owner of that voice. It, of course, had to Blitzo himself.
"O-Oh, Blitzy! It's nice to see you this morning. We were merely just talking about-"
"The fact that I won 10 bucks because Zack and Loona finally fucked." Angel dust interrupted. Blitzo merely stared, while Stolas and Charlie face-palmed. The imp quickly peeked into the room, his eyes widened and his hand gripping at the doorframe. The very sight made him feel all sorts of things; things that any father would have when it came to this. However, he still at least felt happy for the two, seeing them both so happy and calm. A mere showing of how love goes beyond most things. He slowly closed the door and sighed softly, before looking towards the three onlookers.
"Alright you three, get movin'. Nothing to see here, let's let 'em sleep for a bit."
Out of nowhere, an outburst sounding like Vaggie's voice rang from down the hall, "WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO THE BATHROOM?!"
--
As the door silently closed, Zack and Loona's eyes opened. They both grinned and began to laugh, their holds on each other tightening more.
"Hehehe, now that was funny! Did Angel and Vaggie really bet on us fucking?! That's hilarious!" Loona bellowed in between laughs. Zack chuckled along with her, a slight blush to his cheeks.
"Yeah, and then when Blitzo came in outta nowhere and such! I thought he was gonna go ballistic!"
As the two slowly reeled back from their laughter, they would find themselves staring eye to eye with each other. It made them so amazing and relaxing having each other so close. Not only that, but the sex was really good. Talk about a rough first night.
Zack, remembering their night of passion, smiled flusteredly, "U-Um, so, does this make us a...um... Ya know, a thing?"
Loona nodded her head, before gently pecking his lips and pinning his wrists above his head. His eyes widened and his heartbeat quickened, her muzzle slowly growing a menacing, hungry smirk.
"Zack, I wouldn't have said what I did if that wasn't the case~ Besides, I've always wanted someone to dominate~" she slowly flicked her tongue against his ear, whispering into it, "But actions speak louder than words, right~? Let me show you~"
--
After the long, rough, and admittedly sexy activity that the two had partaken in, Zack finally found himself in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the inhabitants of the hotel. His face was a deep red and his back and chest had fresh scratches and cuts. It was as if he had a soft glow around his person; a little thing that most call the after-sex glow. It was easily apparent to everyone, especially when they all saw Zack's goofy smile and his blushing face. As he fixed up his 30th pancake and placed it on one of the filled plates, Octavia stepped towards him, a bit confused and worried.
"H-Hey, Big Bro? You okay? You don't seem like you're in your right mind."
"I'm not in anyone!" Zack exclaimed, as he tensed up slightly. The owl girl merely blinked, her hands pressed against each other and held up to her lips.
She inhaled deeply, before answering, "What now?"
Zack quickly composed himself, as he pulled out the multiple pans of bacon put of the oven. He placed them on the stove and divvied them out to each plate.
"Ahem, y-yeah, I'm fine, Sis. Just in my head is all. You don't have to worry about me, hehe."
She, along with everyone else, all stared in confusion, as he went back to fixing everyone's breakfast. Alastor, who was watching from his chair, merely took a sip of his tea.
"Seems to me like he has someone on his mind. Perhaps it's the hellhound, hm?" He said, making Zack tense. He chuckled awkwardly, his forehead growing a slight sheen of sweat.
"Th-Thats, not exactly it. I mean, yeah, kinda, but um, well... You see it's-"
"Hey, morning fuckers."
As if like clockwork, the resident hellhound had found her way out into the kitchen, a soft yawn leaking from her lips. She was dressed in what could only be Zack's boxers and a tight t-shirt, one that easily exposed her naval. As everyone expressed their greetings, the investigator merely blushed and waved at her. Loona smirked. The mere sight of her was enough to make his legs jelly, especially after what had been done to him this morning. With a sway of her hips, she walked towards the flustered male, her tongue slowly licking her lips.
"Hey there~ Got some breakfast for me~?" She asked, her voice dripping with sensuality. With so many people here, a little bit of teasing was just what she wanted. To see her human squirm slightly. He cleared his throat and nodded his head, as he handed her a filled plate.
"Y-Yeah, I do. It's uh, eggs, toast, pancakes, and bacon. Thought I'd make a large one, today?"
"That so~? Hmmm, mind if I make a request for something~?"
She held the plate and slowly placed a finger under his chin, pushing her head up to stare into his eyes. He gulped nervously, a nervous smile on his face, "G-Guh, um, sure. What're you hungry for?"
She licked her lips, growling deeply and hungrily at him. Her finger slowly dragged down to his torso.
"One. Big. Meaty. Sausage~" she whispered, making sure to linger on each and every word. Zack's face grew warm and his heart swooned, as he quickly looked away in embarrassment.
"L-Loona, come on, not in front of e-everyone..."
"Aw, pity~ Maybe next time then, hm~?"
She snickered, as she walked past him, but not before giving his rump a playful slap, pulling a soft help from him. He smiled awkwardly, letting out a stupid-sounding smile.
"Ooooooh!"
His eyes widened, as he looked towards the onlookers, all of them having a smug look. Zack's face grew a deep red. This was her plan all along! She teased him in front of everyone, just so he could be embarrassed! Clever girl.
Zack closed his eyes tightly, as he screamed out at them, "H-Hey, don't watch, that's rude!"
"Oh come on, kid! We're just proud that you lost your virginity to the hellhound. Nothing wrong with that." Husker teased, bringing a bottle to his lips.
"What was sex with her like, Zack? Were you the dom or was she?" Millie asked.
"Was it super passionate and romantic?" Charlie interjected.
"Is that why you have those fresh claw marks on you?" Vaggie questioned.
"How long did you last?" Niffty wondered.
"How big is ya dick?" Angel Dust grilled.
"Did you use a condom?" Blitzo interrogated.
As he listened to everyone's constant and non-stop questioning, Zack's left eyebrow began to twitch, as he kept his eyes closed, too embarrassed to look at anyone. With red cheeks and a flustered growl, he huffed and clasped his hands together.
"All I.M.P. employees! Meeting, now!!"
--
After a few more jokes, heckling, and more, the I.M.P. had found themselves out on the front stoop of the hotel, all dressed and fed to take on the day. Even though things were calm for the most part, they were still in danger, and it wasn't going to end without some hard work.
"Alright, let's address the elephant in the room," Zack slipped into his coat and pulled out a phew pages of printer paper, all of them holding a large amount of information, "This Kokichi Nagasaki guy; I did some research on him during those four days I was out of it, and I found some interesting info."
Blitzo, with a raised eyebrow, interjected, "Wait, so you were actually doing some legwork? That's kinda hard to believe with how out of it you were."
Zack shrugged, as he continued to read, "Kokichi Nagasaki, age 36, male. Back in Japan in the Tokyo area, he was known for being the leader of the Tsumugi Family. They apparently were a very prominent group that obtained money through multiple underhanded ways. Extortion, blackmail, murder, theft, it was all easy game for him and his gang. However, something terrible happened to his gang."
"What happened to them?" Millie asked, her excitement showing through just the look in her eyes.
"Well, not much information is recorded, but a few years ago, the entire Tsumugi family was murdered. They were all torn apart, literally. He, however, was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he just disappeared out of thin air," he looked up from his notes, glancing over at Stolas, "Any idea on how that could've happened?"
Stolas sat in silence, as he tapped his knee in thought, "Hm... Perhaps there's one thing... And it may also explain the reason why those other people were found dead."
That instantly got his attention. Two clues at once was a rare feat at times.
"Well, don't leave me hanging. What do you think?"
"Well, if he has the same power ad you, then that means that he has to have demon blood within him. Taking that into consideration, this Kokichi individual may be someone who has absorb the demon essence within them." He looked up from the ground, a serious look in his eyes, "When a human is in the process of battling the demon essence within, their bodies go into a complete frenzy. Think of it as a possession. They lose their ability to control their bodies and lash out at everything. More times than not, it leads to a few injuries, if not deaths."
Zack, along with the others, swallowed hard. If that was the case, then Zack would have to do whatever he could to keep himself from doing anything stupid whilst he dealt with his little problem. Taking a deep breath, he began to write a note of that on the pages he held.
"Alright, but how does that explain how he got into hell? I mean, he's basically human, so why would he be here, and how?"
Stolas closed his eyes, huffing softly, "It's another one of the downsides of taking part of the Blood Ritual. If you're someone who has the ability and power to absorb the demon essence...you will be pulled into the world of hell, regardless if you're alive or not."
Zack silently nodded his head. It did make sense from what he was saying. However, there was one thing he needed to figure out. What about the man who was tortured? Was there a reason? After all, why kill someone like that if there wasn't a liable reason? Could it have been just for kicks? Or maybe because he was a traitor. That's when he remembered; the USB dongle! There had to have been something on there, but he still couldn't figure out the password... Unless...
He snapped his fingers and stood to his feet, a smirk on his face, "Guys, we gotta get to Loona's place! That USB stick should give us all the information we need, and I think I just figured out the password!"
The demons all stared in awe. They must have completely forgotten about that, what with all that had happened before.
"Do you actually think that could be of any assistance?" Octavia asked, her eyes wide with intrigue. He nodded, as he stood to his feet and stepped down the stoop.
"Yup! I've got to get that dongle, before Kokichi's cronies burst through that door," he pointed to Moxxie, a smirk on his face, "Mox, you're with me! The rest of you stay here and see if you can find any more information on the Tsumugi family. Stolas, you, along with Alastor, need to get everything prepared for when I get back."
As he and Moxxie went to leave, Stolas stood to his feet, "Prepared for what?"
"For when I beat the shit out of the fucker who's in my head."
--
After obtaining a few disguises for the two, courtesy of Husker and Angel Dust, Zack and Moxxie were finally on the train to Imp City, in order to obtain the quest item that they needed. Decked out in a pair of sunglasses, a trenchcoat, and a pair of black slacks, Zack sat next to Moxxie, who was wearing a grey hoodie and a pair of grey sweatpants. Luckily, the train didn't take long to start on its journey to its destination, something they were both thankful for.
"Glad we made it at a good time. I'm fairly certain that there aren't any cameras on the train, so I'd say we should be okay to relax." Zack said, as he removed his sunglass and slipped them into his coats. Moxxie nodded, as he slipped off his hood.
"That's good. The whole crap about dealing with those stupid cameras always makes me feel nervous."
Zack scoffed, "Nervous is an understatement. It won't be long till we nail this guy's ass though. We're close, I can feel it."
"I wouldn't say that near Blitzo. He'd make that into a sexual joke." Moxxie warned jokingly, his face holding an awkward smile. Zack couldn't help but laugh at his joke, even though it was technically true. That, however, did bring a question to mind, something he had been wondering about.
"Hey, I've got a question. You seem to take a lot of shit from Blitzo. Doesn't that bother you at all?"
Moxxie shrug, a soft sigh escaping his lips, "Sometimes...but it's not all bad, thanks to Millie. She's usually the one who calms me down and such. Honestly, I owe a lot to her."
"You really love her, don't you?" Zack said, a soft smile on his face. Moxxie smiled back, his tail swaying from the thought of her beloved.
"Of course I do! I wouldn't have married her if I didn't. I don't think I'd ever be happy without her. So beautiful, so amazing, so sexy when she wants to be. She's the perfect package."
Zack couldn't help but feel happy along with him. The way he talked highly of made his happiness contagious. Not only that, but he also had a very similar type of love. This one, however, was with a certain hellhound. He then tapped his chin, asking another question.
"Hey, be honest with me, she pegs you, right?"
Moxxie almost fell out of his seat, as he whipped his head back to look at him, his face a deep red, "No! Um...Well... maybe once."
"Hehe, called it." Zack said, nodded his head with a smug look on his face. He figured as much, judging from the two's dynamic. However, that made him wonder if Loona was also into that. It brought a deep blush to his face. If she was, he'd be in for a wild ride.
--
As soon as the train had made it to its destination, the two quickly made their way to Loona's house, keeping themselves discreet and unnoticeable. Imp City was still its normal self, as if nothing was wrong. If only they knew about what was built down below the ground. Within a few minutes, they made their way to Loona's apartment and headed up the stairs. The state of the door was a direct representation of what had went down here.
"Looks like they were here at some point. I just hope they weren't able to find it." Zack mumbled, as the two stepped over the broken door. The inside was just as bad as the door. The couch was turned over, a whole bunch of plates and glasses were shattered and littering the ground, and the tv was pushed off the entertainment system. Moxxie grimaced at the sight.
"Oh crumbs... And I thought she was unclean before. This is just awful."
With a shrug, Zack stepped over the trash and towards the couch. With a knife clutched in his hand, he pushed it into the bottom of it and tore off the material. To his luck, it was still there, sewed tightly to the material of the underside of the couch.
"Got it. Looks like they weren't as smart as they thought." clutching the USB stick in his hand, he stood to his feet, grinning happily, "Now then, last but not least, let's look around the place. Maybe we could find some clues that they left behind."
With a confident nod, Moxxie quickly got to work and started to search the small kitchen. Zack, noticing an open door stepped towards it, his hands slipping into his pockets. As he stepped into the room, his eyes began to locate and observe everything into it. There was a small queen-sized bed, a dresser, closet, full-sized mirror, and a small trash bin. It must have been Loona's room. He felt off looking into her most private of places that she could have, but it was for the investigation, after all. It seemed to have also been turned over, but not too much. He looked towards the closet, a small bag poking out of it. With a raised eyebrow, he walked towards it and picked it up quizzically. It looked to be a blood transfusion blood pack, and it looked to be opened and reclosed at one point. His eyes softened, as he slowly understood what this was. It was the tool she used to save him from death.
"That must be why she said not to enter her room..." he mumbled silently, his eyes catching the glimpse of a few used bandages, most likely used to stop the bleeding in her arm and his side. Zack touched his healed bullet wound, the very thing that he took for his newly acquired lover. It brought a melancholic smile to his face, but merely to hide his anxiety of what was to come. If he was going to take out this demon essence within him, he'd be putting the others in danger, if what Stolas said was true. Not only that, but he still didn't know what would happen to him and his mind if he did absorb the demon's essence. What if he lost his mind? What if someone got hurt? What if he wasn't himself anymore? It only made Zack more worried, bringing back memories from his past. He worried if he would be the reason why his new family would die, leaving him alone again. He'd kill himself before he'd feel that for a second time.
"You alright?"
Zack jumped slightly in surprise, before looking towards the door, spotting Moxxie, "O-Oh, Mox, hey. Um, yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."
"Is about the demon in your head?" he asked, as he walked closer to him. Zack, choosing to be truthful, nodded his head.
"...I'm just worried that I may hurt you guys... Like, what's gonna happen if I do win and absorb the demon? Will I be the same, or will I go murderous? It's just a worry I have, that's all."
Silently, Moxxie placed his hand on Zack's shoulder, a smile on his face. It was strange, but Zack almost grateful to him. He was being as kind and as helpful as possible, even though he's usually the butt of the joke a lot of the time. He was almost the straight man in the group, but not as annoying or unwanted. He was important, more than anyone knew.
"Zack, we trust that you'll make a good decision, even when things go bad, but it won't matter if you don't trust yourself. In a way, you're someone who really brings back my original way of thinking," he smiled, as he grinned chuckled softly, "Being selective on who we should kill. After all, you're not someone who deserves something like that to happen. Though if I'm being honest, I'm kinda glad it did. We wouldn't have had met otherwise."
Zack smiled at him, his heart swelling with pride and gratitude. He felt so close to his co-workers, his family, that it made him feel more and more at ease. However, it did make him think. He didn't want to reject his humanity, nor did he want to die to the dick that was trying to take over his body. Maybe there was another way, one that wouldn't hurt him or anybody else. With a nod of his head, he grew a determined smile. If he couldn't absorb it, nor submit to it, then there was only one thing to do. He had to completely destroy it.
--
"Are you sure this will hold?" Zack asked, as he fidgetted on the bed under him, his body completely wrapped by chains, ropes, and even a few extension cords. Alastor grinned, his hand patting the top of Zack's head.
"Of course it will, and don't worry! If anything seems to be going astray, I'll merely weigh you down with my powers. You have nothing to fear, my fine factful fellow!" he assured, as he stepped back, letting Stolas step to Zack's bedside.
"All you have to do is close your eyes and visualize the demon within you. As soon as you do, your self-conscious will be locked within your mind. Remember, you have to defeat this demon within you. If not, your soul will be consumed, and you will cease to exist."
Zack nodded his head, his face holding a look of determination and courage, "I know. Don't worry, I know what to do."
Stolas smiled at him, before Loona walked into the room behind him. With a worried smile, she gently placed her hand on his cheek, caressing it. She felt such concern for the young male. With him doing this, there was a chance that he would either die or have his mind and heart rewritten. She didn't want a different Zack, nor did she want him to die. She was happy with her investigator, and she'd be damned if she lost him. Zack nodded at her in assurance, as he leaned his head against her soft hand.
"Wish me luck Loona. I'll be back, the same as always."
She nodded her head, before gently pecking his lips, "I know you will. Just, make sure you come back alive, alright? I don't wanna be fucking so dumbass, pussy demon."
He chuckled softly, as she stepped back, giving him some space. With a deep, shaky breath, he closed his eyes and did his best to relax, his mind visualizing the creature within his body. It was quiet around the room, as everyone watched him attentively. Within seconds, Zack's body began to glow a dark red. It was now only a matter of time, and whether or not Zack was going to survive this. Of course, everyone was hoping he would.
--
Zack's eyes fluttered open, his sight graced with the view of the pitch-black, fog-filled area he'd grown accustomed to. He huffed, as he looked around for his target, his hands slipped into his pocket.
"So here we are again. With any luck, this will be the last time," with an inhale, he bellowed out loudly, "Hello?! M, asshole! You gonna come out?! If you're jerking it, nows the time to put it away!"
"It would seem you've returned again."
Zack glared, as he turned to look behind him. There he was, sitting on the ground, his back turned to him.
"Of course I have. Ain't I supposed to kick your ass and absorb your essence, lest you take over my body?"
Silence filled the room, as the hooded man stood to his feet. The air around them only grew tenser and tenser. Zack knew him saying that was just challenging the strange creature, but maybe that was what he wanted.
"I see. So you mean to stop me, is that it? I guess I should have figured that you would figure it all out, especially with how intelligent you are. However, it won't save you."
He slowly pulled the hood off of his head, his body turning to face the investigator. Imagine his surprise and confusion, when he was graced with the sight of not an evil-looking, demonic creature, but the face of Loona! The only difference was her eyes. They were pitch-black, with a blood red pupil in the center of them. Zack gasped, his body on complete guard. To say he was awestruck wouldn't even scratch the surface.
"Well, that's your face, huh? I should be surprised, but it kinda makes sense, what with Loona's blood being the one that's in me."
M silently smirked, as he pulled off his cloak off of his person, exposing his undeveloped body. His chest was open, exposing the slowly growing organs within them, and his furred body had multiple holes in his legs and arms, exposing bits of his bones and muscle. It was as if he was slowly growing his body from the inside out.
"Hmhmhm, you know, a few more days, and I believe I would have been able to completely take over you with little effort, but you just had to listen to those friends of yours. You had to grow a fuckin' spine and become more confident in your own choices. Honestly, it makes me so goddamn pissed. You chose to listen to the very same people who tried to kill you, falling for their bullshit," he chuckled lowly, his face twisting to an angry snarly, "And here you are, challenging me to a fight, all for them. Don't you see how stupid that is?"
Zack merely stared, as he raised an eyebrow. He could feel the stupidity in his words. If he was actually someone who could understand demons, maybe he would be seeing otherwise, but that was just it. He was a demon himself, and most demons only saw others as enemies. Not many had friends or family, and M was a prime example of that.
"If me fighting for my family is something that only a fool will do, then I'll be the biggest fool in hell. Not just for my friends, but just to spite you as well."
"Hehe, so you wanna be like that, huh? I'm. so. FLATTERED!" M screamed, his face turning more demonic, his mouth opening wide to the point of his muscle ripping and tearing apart. His smile grew menacing and his presence became heavy, forcing Zack to brace himself from the wind-like force he felt, "You think you're so damn cool, but it's all bullshit!! Get real, you little shit! Your 'family' is so fuckin' stupid, thinking that you can do anything! Can't you see they're using you!? There's no one you can turn to in hell, not even in the living world! Especially for a dick like you!! Your own father betrayed your trust, you were left alone for years, treated like shit for years, and now here you are, risking your life for the one who fucked your life over! You are nothing! Your life means nothing! Let me use your body, bring you to the fucking top of the game! It's the only way you'll-"
Zack groaned loudly, his face holding an annoyed and unamused look, "Yaaawwwwwnnnn! Stop monologuing! This isn't some Kingdom Hearts boss battle, as cool as that would be. Just get it through your thick skull," kicking off the ground, Zack suddenly launched himself towards the Loona lookalike, his fist slamming against its temple and launching him forward, "I'm not gonna abandon any of them! So shut the fuck up and get ready to die!"
--
"Damn it, keep him steady!!" Blitzo shouted, as he did his best to keep Zack held down. The moment that he made the first punch, the human investigator instantly began to spaz out, his eyes turning an obsidian black. He was almost like a feral creature, snarling and drooling all over the place, as he strained his bounds harshly. Alastor, who was doing his best to keep him still with his telekinesis, was even having a hard time as well.
"Nngh, this is rather intriguing! Who knew that he could be this much of a problem?!"
The ropes slowly began to sever and tear, as the two did everything they could to keep him still and calm. Of course, nothing worked. He was way too far gone, too deep in the battle that his mind was in a complete frenzy. The only thing they could do was hope that he would go back to normal soon.
--
"Who knew this would be this much of a problem?!" Zack mentally shouted, as he dodged and blocked the M's attacks as best as he could. His blows felt as if a grenade was going off at point-blank range, sending waves upon waves off throbbing pain throughout his arms and hands. It was definitely a sure testament to how different the two were, but that couldn't stop him. He had to keep fighting, no matter what pain he was feeling. With heavy force and quick speed, M swung his clawed fist towards Zack, but with quick thinking and reflexes, he dodge rolled towards his right, before giving M a quick sweep to his legs, forcing him to the ground. Taking this opportunity, he leaped on top of him and swung at his face rapidly. Blood splattered on to the ground, a combination of M's from his face, but Zack's as well, from the cuts he received from slamming his knuckles against his jaw and temple. Over and over again, the sounds echoed throughout the barren battle ground, before suddenly he stopped.
"What the hell..."
M's body was slowly beginning to morph and change, his skin bubbling like a pot of water over a stove. A hellish laugh echoed throughout the battlefield, sending shivers down Zack's spine. He quickly jumped off of the downed demon's person and readied himself for what was to come, though he knew it wouldn't be anything good.
"So, you're actually not kidding around, are you? Well, then how's about I show you what I can really do?" M growled out, his body turning a deep black. He slowly rose off of the ground and into the air, as a dark black mist circled around his person. With a smirk, the ebony mist cocooned around him, leaving Zack in a state of shock and confusion.
"Well...that doesn't look too good..." he mumbled, his eyes locking on to the abnormal organism before him. That's when, suddenly, the dark black orb began to crack and shatter, as if it were an egg being broken out of. The investigator quickly backed up, his eyes widening with intrigue and a slight hint of anxiety. Whatever this was, it was big. Within a matter of seconds, the top of the black orb shattered into pieces, exposing the creature before him. It was a large, pitch black snake, it's eyes a dark crimson. It hissed out loudly and bit into the left side of the cocoon, tearing off another piece. It continued over and over and over, shattering it like a bird trying to tear open it's eggshell prison, before finally, it completely shattered. Bits and pieces of the ebony colored shell scattered across the ground, as Zack stared at his opponent. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Before him, was an enormous demon dog, it's tail being the ebony snake. On it's back we're a pair of giant, blood-red wings, it's fur a mixture of white, grey, and black.
Zack's body froze in place, as he stared up at the monstrous demon before him, it's voice bellowing throughout the misty battleground, "Allow me to formally introduce myself!! I am Marchosias!! This body, your soul, is mine!!"
Flames spewed and spilled from demon, now known as Marchosias, as he spoke out with a higher-than-thou tone. Zack merely stood with determination and courage. If he was showing his true form, then that meant it was definitely afraid. After all, why go this far if you are so strong that you can take any old human down? If anything, this was just a sign that he was on the final phase of this boss battle.
"No, you've just been renting out this body, pal, and as it stands, you've been a shit tenant! It's about time you get fuckin' evicted!"
With a mighty roar, Marchosias raised it's paw into the air, ready to slam it harshly down against Zack's body. Luckily, with quick movements and reflexes, he jumped out of the way of the strike, rolling to his feet. Just by looking at him, he knew that fighting him head-on would be a death sentence; he'd have to fight on the run. He began to quickly sprint around the large creature, his eyes quickly scanning his target.
"Pretty big guy, I'd say. Better not get hit head on. If I keep moving, I should be able to find an opening, but how do I fight him without a weapon?!"
Just as he was mentally thinking to himself, he could feel the sensation of a growing heat at his back. Without even turning to look back, he quickly dodge rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a gigantic orb of fire. It crashed to the ground, leaving crackling flames on the ground, leaving Zack speechless.
"Well damn, okay then!" Zack shouted, as he sprung backwards off the ground, avoiding another attack from the demon's snake tail. This wasn't going to be the only attack it would partake in. With every step backwards Zack took, the snake would lash out at him to sink it's deadly fangs into him. With how things were going, he wouldn't be able to dodge much longer. He needed some way to defend himself; going about it with only his bare hands wouldn't get him nowhere fast. He just needed anything, something that he could use to bite him back! Hold on, bite him back? Zack's eyes widened, his mind instantly gaining a lightbulb moment. If it worked, then he would solve his weapon problem, though it would sting quite a bit.
"Okay, this should work. I mean, if it did for ol' Potter, than it will for me too!"
As the black snack opened it's giant jaws and lunged towards him, Zack held his ground and took half a step backwards, just enough for it's upped jaw to graze him. With an outstretched arm, he slammed it up into the serpent's mouth, his other arm holding it's mouth open, while his right foot stepped on it's lower jaw. He winced and gritted his teeth. He could feel the sharp and deadly fangs of the demon snake pierce and tear into his flesh, but this was just what he needed. His plan was taken into full effect! With a loud growl, he pulled his arm back as far as he could. The sound of tearing flesh and gums filled his ears, as he felt the fangs come loose with each pull he made. Within seconds, one of the fangs were yanked out entirely; just what he needed. Using his left hand, he reached forward and grabbed the dislodged fang. It was the perfect size, as if it were a short sword, and thin enough to have the same weight of a dagger.
"Perfect, this should deal with you!"
Without a moment of hesitation, Zack slammed the fang into the serpent's upper mouth, the tip of it piercing and exiting out of it's head. Blood sprayed about, coating the investigator and the monster in its own fluids. With a loud hiss and cry, it feel to the ground, completely limp and void of any life. Zack smirked, as he pulled the other fang out with ease and removed it from his arm. A slight injury, but nothing too serious. He looked towards Marchosias, who was reeling back in pain. It seemed like it did some damage to him as well. Zack wiped the serpent's blood off of his cheek, as he held his weapons in his hands. Now that he had evened the playing field, things wouldn't be too difficult. From here, it was all a matter of who made the final strike.
--
Back at the hotel, things were getting worse than ever before. The multitude of chains, ropes, and cords had all been completely obliterated, the only thing keeping the bloodthirsty investigator down being Alastor and his telekinesis. He, however, wouldn't last much longer. Not only that, but he even needed the I.M.P. employees to help hold him down. It was hectic, disorderly!
"Damn it, how long is he gonna take?!" Octavia shouted, as she kept a tight hold on Zack's left leg. Stolas, who was keeping a hold of his left arm, answered her.
"If he's this far gone into a frenzy, it means he's close to the end! We just have to hold on a little bit longer!"
Blitzo growled, as he kept Zack's left arm down to the bed, "I.M.P., keep him down! We're making sure Zack's coming back to all of us, got it?!"
Moxxie and Millie, who was gripping Zacks right leg, nodded their heads and exclaimed, "Yes sir!"
Loona was doing her best as well, her hands pressing against his shoulders to keep his back down to against the bed. Her face held a look worry and anxiety. She could only watch at the sight before her; at the man who she cared for most in pure pain and agony. She bit her lip, doing her best to keep herself as calm as possible. She had to believe in him, just like he believed in her.
"Come on Zack. You can do this."
--
Zack panted heavily, as he picked himself off of the ground. His body was battered and bleeding, but his courage and determination was unwavering. Marchosias, however, was also struggling to stand. Though he was larger, he was much slower, allowing for Zack to get some good counter attacks in. His wings were completely severed and laying on the ground, a courtesy of the fangs and Zack's immense strength. With a smirk, Zack brushed the blood off of his right cheek, as he held his only fang tightly in his hand. This was it; the final round! It was time to see who was really the strongest!
"Let's go, Marchosi-ass! Let's end this!"
"You will regret interfering with me! I am the true self of your power! You will see just how useless you really are!!"
With one final lunge forward, he began to sprint towards the battered creature. Marchosias, taking this opportunity, charged towards him as well, his footsteps shaking the very ground they stepped on. Closer and closer, the two got, ready to throw out their final blow. Suddenly, the demon dog's mouth glowed a deep red, until a large ball of flam and ember shot from out of his maw. It was a hotter than anything Zack had felt before, but to him, it wouldn't be a problem. Clutching the makeshift short sword in his hand, he kicked off the ground and with all of his might, brought his weapon down on to the orb of ember. In a shocking turn of events, it split into two with little effort, however, Zack had got himself into a tricky spot. With him in this position, it'd take too long for him to get his footing and continue his pursuit of the enormous demon. Marchosias only saw this as a sign of sheer victory.
"Not bad, human, but it's still only spelled your demise! Enjoy your final moments while I-"
Zack growled in annoyance, as he released his weapon and flicked upwards, catching it in his mouth. Before he could hit the ground, he caught himself on his hands and sprung himself upwards, narrowly dodging the dog's jaws. Now it was him who was caught in a trap.
"What the hell did I tell you about monologuing!? Just shut the fuck up already!"
Before Marchosias could recompose himself, Zack gripped the fang tightly, with a quick spin to build momentum, he launched the fang into the demon's eye. It pierced him with a bullseye shot, causing blood to spray from it's damaged eyeball. It screamed out in sheer agony, but that wouldn't be the end of it. Using what little momentum he had left, Zack flipped within the air, before delivering a harsh and bone crushing axe-kick to his head. He slammed down to the ground, the ground trembling from the impact. Zack landed on the creatures snout, an angry and almost demonic glare in his eyes.
"Let me show you just how strong I really am!"
With gritted teeth and a demonic gleam in his eyes, he reeled his fist back and slammed it against the demon's forehead. He could feel the cracking in his skull, but he didn't stop there. He pulled back his other hand for another power attack, slamming it against the same spot. Again and again, he threw his fists into Marchosias's forehead, the feeling of his already crushed skull turning into nothing but a mush. He wouldn't stop though, not until he was dead, eviscerated even. His hands soon began to pierce it's head and enter his crushed skull, blood spraying everywhere and covering every inch of his body. That's when he felt it. The brain matter within the massacred demon squished, tore, and crushed from his blows, a clear sign of its defeat. Zack panted heavily, as he pulled his blood soaked hands from out of skull of his foe, as he stepped off of it's carcass.
"I think this is where I'm supposed to say, Fatality." He mumbled, as he wiped the blood from his face as best as he could, taking the time to catch his breath. It was insane, almost unreal to him. He had actually won. He beat whatever was inside of him, but it also raised some questions. What made him choose the name Marchosias? Was that his real name from the beginning, or perhaps a name he came up with. Zack shrugged; it was a useless question to think about, in the end. He was dead now, and that's all that mattered. Now all that was left was to find whatever the demon essence was.
"Okay, what now? Do I just sit here?"
As if like clockwork, the carcass of his foe soon started to turn to a glowing dust, before it began to collide into a small object. Zack's eyes widened, as he watched the particles compact into a small, shimmering orb with a strange tail on the top of it. At first glance, it looked like an upsidedown ghost. It slowly floated to him, to which Zack instinctively held his hand up for it to land on it.
"This has to be it. The demon essence."
He stared at it for what seemed to be hours. This was the moment he had to make a decision. Would he consume it? If he did, what would happen? He knew he'd gain more power, but would it be worth putting his friends in danger for? He quickly shook his head. There was no point in even contemplating it. Thanks to Moxxie, he felt more courageous than ever before. It was time for him to finally put his money where his mouth was.
"As much as I'd love to have a snack right now, I don't think it's worth hurting my friends over. Plus, I've been able to survive with the power I have now, thanks to them. I don't need power, when I've got them," he slowly wrapped his fingers around glowing orb, his fingers digging into it, "So long, demon essence. It was fun."
With a final squeeze, his fingers pushed into the glass-like orb, shattering it to pieces in his grasp. He could feel the pieces turn to dust in his palm, but that wouldn't be all it would do. Without any warning, the shards in his closed fist began to glow a harsh, blinding light, catching him off guard. He merely stared, as he closed his eyes. Whatever was going to happen, he would embrace it with open arms. After all, this was his decision, and he was going to take responsibility for it.
--
Zack's eyes quickly shot open, as he gasped out for air. He could feel his arms, legs, and upper body were being held and weighted down harshly, which instantly put him into a state of shock.
"Wait, hold on, Alastor! Cut the teleka-whatever shit!"
Zack instantly started to calm down, his ears catching the sound of Blitzo's voice. A bit of the weight on his body dispersed, allowing him to sit up on the bed he was first on. With his right hand, he rubbed his face, hoping that would help his eyes adjust to the light around him.
His ears would soon be graced by Loona's voice, "Zack, are you okay? Are you still you?"
His eyes began to lose their blurriness, allowing him to see the room he was in. It surprised him that he saw the many bounds on the floor, in pieces mind you, but it was soon washed over with a calm thankfulness, as he soon started to see his friends gathered around him, each holding ba worried look on their faces.
With he deep breath and a smile, he answered, "I'd say I am. Never felt better, to be honest."
They all smiled, before Blitzo wrapped him and the rest of his employees in a tight hug. This time, however, everyone would join in on it, holding on to their investigator. Zack huffed softly in relief, as he held them all as close as possible, before feeling the added embraces of Octavia and Stolas. Seemed to be that he was right where he wanted to be. He won, all thanks to them.
--
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Moxxie asked, as he helped the fire in the fireplace burn hotter and heavier. Zack nodded, as he stepped closer to it, his hand gently patting Moxxie's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Right now, this is to make sure nothing like this happens again."
With the Blood Ritual book in hand, he stared at the cover intensely. This was the cause of so many people's pain, deaths, and suffering. As it stood, there was no good reason to keep it, nor let it fall into the wrong hands. This was the only way that he could protect not only his family, but everyone else in hell and in the living world.
"So long book. You helped me a bunch, but you're too dangerous to keep around."
And with that, he tossed it into the flames, watching as the hot embers tore and burned the book at a slow, but constant pace. As he watched, he couldn't help but find it funny. A book that had so much potential and so much power in it just had to be used for the wrong reasons. It was as if no matter what reason a person could use it for, it would always have some sort of down-side. Whether it be for them, or their families and friends, it would always tear something apart in it's wake. This time, however, it wouldn't take any victims, not a one. He was lucky and grateful for that, but right now, there was still one more person the book had messed with; Kokichi Nagasaki. Zack slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the USB stick. This would answer their questions, he could feel it. Then, he could end all of this. The endgame was drawing closer, and there was no way he was gonna lose.
To Be Continued...