My Calling: Night Warriors
Author: Cornell Valentine Gainsborough
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
MAKAI! Seperates Paragraphs
Chapter 2: Intervention
Nelius found himself on the outskirts of what appeared to be a town.
'Doesn't look like the main structure's too different from back home.' Walking through the streets, he took notice of the demonic inhabitants making their rounds. 'They're certainly a hell of a lot different than everyone I've seen. Still, that Aensland woman, what is she after?'
A collection of shimmering blue orbs sat together on a stand, their appearance mirroring that of liquified crystal. To those who'd never seen them before, they looked more akin to crystal balls or stationary globes of water. Intrigued by these items, Nelius couldn't help but take a look at them.
"What are these things?" He felt as though he could pick one up and stare into it...
"Hey!" A sharp voice brought Nelius out of his trance.
"Ah! Wh, what the..." The sound of hearty laughing reached his ears. "Huh?" He looked up to stare into the face of an elder demon.
"Never seen a soul before?" The demon just grinned. "Careful, they'll draw ya in if you're not careful."
"These things--" He pointed down at the spheres, "--are souls?" Again, more laughter.
"What, never seen a soul before? Where you from, anyway?"
"Long story short, I'm from out of this realm." What he failed to notice was the look on the demon's face.
"Hehe, come into the back. I might have something that'll sate your curiousity." Disappearing into the back of the stand, Nelius considered his offer for a moment before entering himself.
Entering inside of the stand, the first thing he noticed was that the inside looked a hell of a lot bigger than the outside would appear to hold. The second thing he took note of was the rows upon rows of bright souls along the sides of the room. Hell, if you'd made the insides of the stand any bigger, one would call it a soul emporium.
"You'll not be interested in those common ones, my friend." Looking toward the back of the room, Nelius saw the demon waving him over. "Back here." He cautiously followed the elder to the back. "I've seen a lot of demons and beasts come and go, but never one like you." Opening one final door, He allowed Nelius to walk in first.
"Whew... that's some strength." He could already feel the pulsation of energy as soon as the door closed.
"These souls are those of strong, powerful demons, but not all of them end up in Makai."
"This is different than what I've heard about sould back home." Noting the look of curiousity on the soul seller's face, he continued, not knowing of a certain someone who was listening in. "Back in my home dimension, most souls are usually confined into an item, which then molds itself according to the person's soul, and helps shape its fighting characteristics. But, for the souls of those who've committed pretty atrocious crimes, their fate is to become Prinnies."
"Prinnies?"
"Demonic penguins who work under extremely hard labor to make up for what they've done in their past lives. From what I've seen of them, they're basically punching bags to the rest of the demons I've met, though I have heard of one nasty soul that became even more powerful as a Prinny than what he was in life, though his name was lost to history."
"Absolutely amazing." The resounding voice of a female echoed throughout the room. A familiar character dropped down. "Things between this and your world aren't as different." She stepped into the open light geven off by the souls.
"Mistress Aensland!" The demon dropped to his knees, a sign of respect.
"You are an interesting one." Morrigan gave a smile that flared Nelius' nerves. "Yet, at the same time, you appear as though you've a lot to learn."
"What's it to you, then?" He still couldn't bring himself to trust her, not yet.
"I happen to know someone who may interest you in the finer aspects of battle."
"Hold it, how'd you--"
"Call it an instinct." Casually, she held up one of her fingers, and one of the souls floated over, balancing itself on her fingertip. Taking a closer look at it, her face changed from a look of bemusement to one of surprise. "So, she passed on after all."
"Hm?"
"Achieving her long sought-after dream, but passing on before getting a chance to see how he'd lived, and here they are, finally reunited."
'Something doesn't feel right.' A sudden snap on his wrist drew his attention. The limiter band, that helped to control the power flows that he inherited from his father's four best friends, had broken apart, and the four gems that represented Agni, Rudra, Setsuka, and Nevan, plus a stark grey one floated up, then began circling around the soul on Morrigan's finger, almost as if they were communicating. "OK, this is getting strange. Hell, this stuff I'd expect out of a Devil May Cry manga instead.' Suddenly, the soul, followed by all five gems, flew at Nelius, shoving themselves down his throat. He coughed for about two seconds, before taking a ragged breath. "That was different."
MAKAI!
"She still refuses to accept her fate."
A pair of bloodred eyes watched a crystal ball as it depicted Morrigan's interactions with Nelius. Outside, the sounds of fighting could be heard.
"That outside demon doesn't belong in Makai, fouling up my rightful realm with his presence. Once these annoyances are out of my way, he will be dealt with."
"Lord Demitri!" A soulless human servant approached, bowing to the Romanian Vampire before extracting two sheets of paper. "The information you requested." Taking the papers, Demitri began looking them over, a cruel grin spreading over his mouth.
'So, that is what he's capable of. This may change my plans a bit, but in the end, I still win. Time to strike.'
MAKAI!
"Hm, who'd've thought.." Morrigan still had her bemused expression on her face.
"Ugh, what the hell?" Nelius was still trying to regain his composure.
"It appears that soul was the halfling succubus I told you about earlier."
"Still doesn't explain why she flew down my throat. I thought succubi were supposed to absorb the souls of others, not the other way around." A crash outside, followed by the sound of several demons screaming caught the attention of both Morrigan and Nelius, and they headed outside to check up on what the commotion was about.
Floating in the air, cape fluttering about wildly...
"Demitri Maximoff." Morrigan noted. From Nelius' confused expression, she continued. "He fought against my father a century ago and was banished to the human world."
"My business is not with you, Aensland." He scowled, turning his attention to Nelius. "You, on the other hand..." He slowly lowered to the ground, their eyes never leaving each other.
Nelius could already feel Demitri's killing intent being projected toward himself.
'Shit, this guy's pretty strong. Best not to underestimate him.'
"So, you're the one who crossed over. You shouldn't have come to this world." Demitri's eyes narrowed into a glare.
"Like I had any say in that matter. Besides, I rarely give a crap about where other people tell me I should or shouldn't be."
"Those who've defied me have died. Only two have ever matched me in combat, but that will soon change."
"At least we agree on one thing." Nelius could already feel his wings extracting themselves from his back. "Better make some room on that list for a third."
The two charged toward one another.
MAKAI!
Next chapter will depict the battle between Demitri and Nelius.
Until next chapter,
Cornell Valentine Gainsborough