Chapter 15: Pray for "IDOLA" the Distorted
"The door is already open. We opened it. This may be the beginning of the end of the universe. We have to do something… We must do it. We must defeat it now! Defeat it before that dark 'thing' revives with the perfect body."
Rico stood within what seemed to be a control room of some sort deep within the heart of the spaceship. Before her stood an open door, an ancient and large teleporter beyond it, rings of red light showing that it was activated.
"Come to me… I want… to evolve…"
The dark voice echoed in her mind sinisterly, a voice filled with longing and endless hunger. She knew it was the voice of Dark Falz. It waited for her, Danielle trapped in the demon's grasp.
"Come… join with me… give your body to me… you are mine…"
Rico had the Red Saber in hand, determination in her red eyes as she stepped into the red light of the teleporter. She was immediately transporter into a small cave that opened up into a large, peaceful-looking meadow. Rico squinted her eyes as they tried to adjust to the sudden brightness after being used to the dark corridors of the spaceship. Blue skies were above, clouds drifting lazily across the sky while the sun shined brightly on the grassy field. There were a few small stone monuments about two inches high with strange text engraved on them a bit to her left, Rico approaching those first. There were a total of six, three on each side of a small dirt rut. Examining the text, she realized the writing was considerably different from that she had seen on the monuments throughout the ship. Rico raised her gaze to the object that dominated the area, a large stone monument atop a platform with a waist-high pedestal directly in front of the monument.
Rico ascended the few steps up the platform, examining the monument more closely. The symbols were mostly eroded and unreadable, but a few of the engravings seemed to depict some strange type of monster. The ancient stone was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Here… this is where it resides.
She slowly raised her hand to touch the monument, its surface cold despite the sun that was shining directly down on it. It was odd that it felt so cold, and yet it also felt like something else… Like it was alive.
Rico, help me!!!
Rico was taken aback, stumbling back a step from the monument. A ripple ran out across the grass, the livid green blades turning brittle and brown, leaving a circular plain of dead grass surrounded by a pit of endless darkness. The skies above were black as pitch, no stars or moon in the sky. Beyond the circular pit stretched vast, dead plains littered with the ruins of Pioneer 1 mecha.
She stood there on that dead plain, eyes flickering about. "Falz! Show yourself!"
"Foolish… you think you can do… what the ancients failed to…? A mere mortal… cannot kill me…"
"We'll see about that! Even you aren't immortal!" she shouted back, determination filling her.
"You know nothing… of the matters of the eternal universe… The source of my power… is beyond mortal comprehension… You can try to kill me… but the darkness will be reborn endlessly."
Something began to crawl out of the abyss, that rippling flesh instantly familiar to Rico as she took a step back. It was the same demon from before, but its body had deteriorated even further. It had no body behind its midsection, just the trailing bone of its spine covered in that sickening, rotting black and purple flesh. Most of the flesh of its stomach was gone, revealing its monstrous rib cage. It lacked any internal organs, and Rico could see through the ribs at a strange humanoid shape. Pulling itself forward on its two claws, Rico felt her stomach squirm as she realized that it was a human. It was Danielle.
Rico brandished the Red Saber as Dark Falz drew closer. Its movements were still a bit slow, but the rate of decay of its body had also decreased. It slowly raised one of its claws to the sky, curling it into a fist before slamming it down at Rico. She managed to swiftly jump out of the way of the blow while striking out at the wrist. Purple blood oozed from the wound, but it quickly backhanded Rico away. She rolled along the ground, managing to not lose her weapon as she got to one knee. Already the demon was crawling towards her, its jaws open in a drooling snarl.
It's no longer falling apart, so its skin is tougher… It's using Danielle to keep its body stabilized. If I could just free her…
She rose all the way to her feet, diving forward before the incoming fist managed to hit her. Falz turned its head towards her, opening its mouth to send fleshy tendrils shooting at Rico. In one swift move she sidestepped, bringing the weapon around, its blade slicing neatly through the tendrils. While it was retracting the tendrils into its mouth, Rico rushed forward to get under its torso, swinging the Red Saber upwards to strike the ribcage, bone melting beneath the Photon blade. Falz's roar of pain rose into the air as it grabbed Rico, flinging her at the ground. Pain burst through her body as she slammed hard into the ground, the air rushing from her lungs. Squinting, she rolled to her feet despite the pain just in time to avoid being struck by more of the fleshy tendrils from its mouth.
She sprinted forward, dodging multiple strikes as she tried to close in on it once more. As it attempted to grab her, she slid under its fist and brought the Red Saber up at its ribs. She cut through one of them, managing to get a better view of the trapped Danielle. She was sunk partially into the flesh, parts of her own skin black and mutated, as if Falz's flesh was trying to consume her. She hung there with arms stretched out on either side, her head hanging down with her eyes closed.
Rico felt anger rise up inside of her now as she rose to her feet and dodged Falz's grasping hand. Taking out her Red Sword for more damage, she rushed back under its body and struck with strength that was fueled by anger. One slash cleaved through the remaining ribs on the right side, Falz's roar making her wince. She tightened her grip, letting out a cry of her own before bringing the Red Sword around in a second strike to rip through the last of the ribs.
Dark Falz continued to roar in agony, clutching at its chest as it stumbled sideways, losing its balance and crashing to the ground. Rico just stood there and watched it as it growled softly, limbs twitching before finally falling still. She frowned, cautiously approaching while checking to make sure the thing was dead. Once she was satisfied that it wasn't moving at all, she rushed forward to check on her young friend, swapping the heavy blade for the lighter Red Daggers.
"Danielle, can you hear me?" she questioned as she placed two of her fingers against the side of Danielle's neck. There was a pulse, but it was weak and erratic. She had no other choice but to cut Danielle free, which would be risky seeing as how her body was buried in Dark Falz's flesh. Gripping the daggers tight, she carefully went to work, trying not to injure her friend in the process. She had been working for about a minute when she heard a loud cracking noise that made her stop and look over her shoulder. Dark Falz's arms were moving once more, growing longer and more muscular. Adrenaline shot through her as she looked forward to hurry and finish cutting Danielle free, only to be face to face with her. Danielle's eyes were crimson, her teeth bared in a devilish grin. She was pulled away from the body now, connected by dark tendrils that entered into her body and wrapped around parts of it.
Oh my… What did it do to her!?
The demon pushed itself up even as Rico backed away quickly, the dark flesh at its waist rippling and spreading to form squat, reverse-jointed legs. The muscles flexed in them as it roared, the very ground shaking beneath its feet.
Rico stumbled as the ground shook, the colossal beast now turning its head towards her even as two crimson eyes formed, fire burning within them as it moved its head in synchronization with Danielle's. It charged forward on all fours, claws gouging up the stone as it swiped at her with newly acquired speed. Quickly changing to her Red Saber for more power while diving out of the way of the strike, Rico landed in a crouch and brought the blade up and around to slash at the wrist, her eyes widening as the gash that was formed healed instantly. Falz swung at her again, its fist brushing against Rico's side as she tried to dodge. Grunting in pain, she struggled to think of a plan to defeat the dark god.
If I get her free, Falz won't have a host. But how do I get in close enough to swipe at those tendrils?
Dark Falz was growling, down on all fours once more as it prepared to pounce like a wolf. Rico was about to try and attack its legs when she felt something snatch at her legs and grab on to them with an iron grip. She glanced down, seeing human-like shapes rising from the ground as if the stone was nothing more than water. She struggled to pull her legs free, but more of the shapes rose up to grab her wrists, allowing Rico to get a better glimpse at their faces. They were people she knew, her fellow hunters who had fought to defend the people of Pioneer 1 but were taken in that explosion in the blink of an eye.
Sick to her stomach, she looked up at Dark Falz as it walked towards her on two legs, mimicking the motions of its captured host. It towered over her, crouching somewhat so that Danielle's possessed body in its chest was face-to-face once more with Rico.
"Foolish… I will devour you… make you a part of me… and then I will free my eternal master…"
Rico glared back defiantly at the evil god, still struggling. In those sunken and suffering eyes of her friends she had seen a desire to be free from their pain, their agony. They wanted death. "No, you're wrong. I may be a fool, but I won't lose to you!"
"We shall see about that, mortal…"
Danielle let out an inhuman hiss and opened her mouth, the demon repeating the action. As rancid breath washed over her, Rico tightened her grip on the Red Saber, a plan forming in her mind. She knew that her next action would determine if she slew the demon or if she was consumed by it. It was lowering its head, the jaws surrounding her before beginning to close, the light growing dimmer and dimmer. As soon as the slick hands released her, she thrust the Red Saber up into the roof of its mouth, the tip tearing into its skull. The roar of pain it released deafened her before Falz flung her out of its mouth. She rolled somewhat, managing to keep her grip on her weapon as she looked up. The demon was clutching its skull with its claws, falling to its knees as Danielle's body slumped forward.
Now!
Strength rushing through her, Rico charged forward and swung up at the tendrils, purple blood splashing her as they were severed in one strike. Danielle, now freed, feel to the ground as Falz's roars rose to a feverish pitch. Rico dropped to her knees beside Danielle, seeing the exposed tendrils that remained in her body withering before withdrawing into the teen. Her skin was pale and her breathing shallow as Rico took her friend up in her arms, looking at Falz. Its dark flesh was melting away, the demon trying to reach out its claw for them. With one final roar it froze in place, the flesh melting away and revealing its massive skeleton fixed in its death pose.
Rico let out a breath of relief, looking down at Danielle now as the teen began to stir. The visible veins in her arms were now black in color, her eyes bloodshot. Rico smiled gently at her and held her close now, feeling just how cold the teen's body was. "I'm here, Danielle. You're safe."
Her eyes now open all the way, it was obvious just how much of a daze Danielle was in. Where the tendrils had pierced her flesh were sickening wounds that seemed to move of their own accord, as if they were alive and trying to consume her. Slowly becoming more aware of her surroundings, Danielle began to blink slowly. "R-Rico…?"
She smiled even more, unable to hold back the tears that came to her eyes. "Yeah, it's me. It's finally over." Holding her even closer, relief began to flood through Rico. She had done it. She had defeated Dark Falz and released Danielle from its grasp.
"Hahaha… You really think… you have won? Ignorant… mortals!"
Rico's head snapped up as she felt Danielle's body tensing. That voice came from all around them, its source unidentifiable even though she knew without a doubt it was Dark Falz. But where was it? Frowning, she rose to her feet and helped Danielle to stand, a cold dead wind brushing by them. "You just don't know when to stay dead!"
That evil laughter sounded again, Rico scowling as she tried to find its source. She held Danielle close with her left hand, her right holding up the Red Saber in front of her.
"I thought to take the one who carried my blood, but she will instead become my blade… Already she changes, evolving… You though… Your body is perfect for my needs… a strong female, capable of bringing new life to the world… you shall bring new life to me!!"
Rico tensed up, preparing to fight as she heard its shout, before a powerful force slammed into her. She was thrown backwards, losing her hold on Danielle. The force lifted her several feet into the air, Rico letting out a cry as she struggling against its unyielding grip. Danielle shouted her name as the force wrenched the Red Saber out of her hand and shot it down at the teen. She jumped back with a yelp, the tip embedding itself deeply into the ground.
"Yes… so full of life… so vibrant… suffer… for eternity…"
Rico felt the sting of tears in her eyes now, knowing what was to come. She had failed to defeat the monster, instead falling prey to it. She looked down at Danielle, sorrow wrenching at her heart while the tears slowly ran down her face. "I'm sorry," she managed to say, her sorrow reflected through her eyes. "I'm proud of you, Danielle… I really am."
"Rico!!"
She felt that hungry entity wrap around her, an evil cold piercing straight into her body. "I was too uncertain to admit it, but… you've been like a daughter to me. I love you, Danielle."
"No!" Danielle shouted, going to take a step forward while Rico closed her eyes.
Father, forgive me.
The force made its move, plunging itself eagerly into her body. A piercing chill tore through her body before her soul and mind were ripped from her body and Dark Falz took control.