Ch. 9 Possession

{Zachary's Point of View}

All of us ran through the secret hallway, reaching what appeared to be a large sacrificial room. Blood was everywhere, covering parts of the wall, floor and even the ceiling. In the middle of the room was a large glowing pentagram. A single ax was laid in it, as if trying to tempt us to pick it up. The entire weapon itself was black with a green edge. The second I saw it, I knew something was wrong with it and tried to warn Skiel.

I said, "I don't think this is a good idea man. Maybe we should just leave."

Skiel glared at me, "And waste all of our friend's lives! No way, I'm not letting them die in vain!"

Skiel sudden burst of anger shocked me, "But Skiel, what if it's a trap! I don't want all of us to die!"

My little brother poked his head, "Yeah, if we die no one will remember us. We need to live for them right?"

Skiel turned away, "Tsk, I'm not afraid of some glowing drawing and ax. I use an ax! I'm going to pick that weapon up!"

Kathy and the others got in his way, "There's no way we're letting you go through with this."

Skiel was surprised, "Kathy... Max... Fredrick... You three too?"

Max pulled out his shield and spear, "We need to leave Skiel, please. I don't want to die."

Skiel had his ax drawn, "Then you all can leave, I'll stay behind to find all the treasure."

Fredrick said, "We're not leaving one of our friends to die."

Skiel walked past them, laughing, "Oh, and you weren't willing to do that earlier?"

Max countered, "We were overwhelmed by the enemy, we couldn't do anything."

Skiel shook his head, "No... all of you are cowards... and cowards can't survive this game. Only the strong can survive this game!"

I screamed, "Don't do it!"

Skiel grabbed the ax, immediately letting out a blood curling scream. A black haze erupted from the weapon, encasing our friend it. We watched in horror as the haze seemed to be absorbed by Skiel's body. Weird red tattoos began to appear all over his body as his screams grew louder. The screams began to change into fits of coughing as he began to spit large amounts of blood. This went on for what seemed like an eternity until it, thankfully, stopped. Skiel collapsed onto the ground in front of him, the haze gone and his blood soaked into his weapon. All of us stared at him in shock, wondering if he was dead or not but his hp was full. Then, I saw a finger twitch as he began to laugh. The laughing grew louder as Skiel stood up, holding the ax in his right hand. He turned to us, his eyes are much more demonic than they were before. His canine teeth are longer and sharper, hanging out from his lip.

Skiel's voice was notably deeper, "So, your friend just wasn't strong enough to beat me on his own."

All of us flinched, "Who... are you?"

He grinned, running a finger along his weapon's edge, "Me? I'm Matskitana(Mah-tsk-anna), the demon ax."

I needed to know, "What... exactly are you and what did you do to our friend?"

Skiel smirked, "I'm the demon that dwells within this ax. As for your friend, he was foolish to grab me. When he did, we had to battle within his very soul. He ended up losing, so I took control of his body."

I gasped, "Can... can we get our friend back?"

Skiel looked at us, then, slowly, he raised a hand to his forehead, laughing lowly before bursting into full laughter, "You could! If it wasn't for one thing." he hung his head, the grin stretching across his face, "He gave himself up to his own desires. Once he did that, his fate was sealed before we even fought."

Kathy gasped, "There's... no way to save him?"

I shook my head, "There has to be a way!"

Skiel smiled at me, "There is one, defeat me."

Skiel slashed his ax horizontally, sending a blade of energy. All of us dodged it, taking out our weapons. Max was targeted first, Skiel raised his ax, a twisted happy look plastered on his demonic face. With one swing, Max's shield was cut in half, destroying it.

Max jumped back, "He destroyed my shield!"

Skiel grabbed his face quickly, "Don't waste your time speaking about nothing. Die little human."

I quickly ran in and blocked his ax, "You're not killing our friends!"

Skiel leaned closer, grinning, "I have no friends."

I surprised him by kicking his stomach, "Get back!"

Skiel didn't flinch, instead he kicked me into Max. I sat up just in time to see Fredrick's surprise jump attack was blocked by Skiel. Skiel licked his lips as a blade of energy cut through Fredrick, killing him instantly.

I screamed, "Fredrick!"

Max got up, "Quick, I need a new shield!"

My little brother popped out with one, "Here, use this!"

Max took it, "Thanks!"

While Max was in his menu, Kathy and I held Skiel back. Skiel was absolutely insane, his body twisting in the air inhumanely as we fought. Skiel knocked Kathy off her guard and I was too slow to help her, however, Max wasn't. He appeared in front of her, holding his new shield to block his attack.

Skiel smirked, "Begone, Destructive Slice."

A wave of energy sliced through Max's shield and cut his upper body off. Max's lower body fell back as his upper body landed a few feet from it. Kathy was too shock to do anything as Skiel walked over to him.

Max stared at Skiel, crying, eyes full of fear, "Don't!"

Skiel smiled, "See ya."

With a quick slice, he murdered Max, making him shatter as well. Kathy and I were the only one left to fight him. I looked at Kathy to see her visibly shaking in fear.

She whispered, "Impossible..."

I bit my lip, readying my sword and shield, "What should we do?"

I then heard footsteps and looked to see Kathy running away. While I was looking at her, a wave of destructive force flew over my head and sliced her head off. The rest of her body kept running until it fell forward onto the ground. Her head rolled to reveal her shocked tearful expression before shattering.

I was in so much shock, I couldn't move until I heard Skiel's laughter, "So, that's it huh?"

I turned to see Skiel leaning with his ax, "Huh?"

Skiel smiled, "You're the only one left."

I bit my lip, "Tsk."

My little brother asked, "Are we going to die now brother?"

I shook my head, "We're not dying today!"

My little brother hugged my neck, "I'm sorry I wasn't useful brother. If we die, I want you to know I'm sorry for being a burden."

I screamed, crying a bit, "You were never a burden you idiot!"

Skiel snickered, "Oh?"

I looked behind me to see Skiel holding my brother, "No... don't do it."

Skiel leaned forward with one hand at his ear, "Whaat? I can't hear you."

I yelled, "Don't kill him you bastard!"

I took a step forward only to pause as Skiel threw my brother up into the air, "Brother! Help me!"

Skiel readied himself, "Too late!"

I watched my brother fall, tears flowing as he mouthed, "I don't want to die."

Just as Skiel swung his ax and split my brother in half. I stared in shock as my brother split in two. His shocked expression burned a hole through my soul until he shattered.

I teared up, "No... no..! No! Nooooo!"

Skiel merely grinned at me, "Stop your crying, you still have to deal with my now."

I stood up, "You... you bastard."

A voice sounded, "Ability activated, sacrifice. All little brother exp, loot, hp, and benefits have now been given to big brother."

I felt a huge surge of energy as my lvl suddenly shot all the way up to level 43. My health suddenly increased from 5,250 to 16,750. My regen also increased from 200 a second, to 700 per second. I readied myself for battle but found myself surprised yet again.

Skiel smiled, "I think you're ready."

I flinched, "Ready for what?"

Without answering my question, Skiel slit his own throat and tossed his ax to me. In my surprise, I caught the ax as Skiel died from the suicidal throat slit. Then, everything went black.

I woke up in my bed, sitting up with a jolt and looking around, "Where... is this... my room..?"

I heard my brother's voice and quickly got out of my bed. I ran into the next room and found myself looking at my brother and friends. All of them were eating happily as we lived in the human world.

My brother greeted me, "Hi big brother!"

I hugged my brother tightly, "Oh thank god! It was just a dream!"

My brother smiled, "What do you mean?"

I pulled back, laughing with tears, "I dreamt that you all died!"

Skiel laughed, "We are dead."

I flinched "what?"

Kathy smiled brightly, "We all died because of your foolish decision to save your friends."

I shook my head, "No... I chose to stick with my friends to the end."

Richard laughed, "So you chose to die with your friends? Does that make you happy?"

I yelled, "Of course I am! I'd rather die with my friends than die alone!"

Skiel grinned, "Liar."

I flinched, "What?"

Kathy hung her head, grinning, "I can see the truth, you wanted to run the moment Skiel was possessed."

I shook my head, "You're wrong!"

My little brother had the same grin, "Are we? But brother... you didn't even try to lift a finger to save me."

I looked at him in horror, "I..."

Skiel laughed, "You were scared. You've always been a coward Zachary, always. Is that why you always hid behind us? Is that why you never trained on your own?"

I yelled out angrily, "I'm not a coward! You're... you're all messing with me right! You can't all be dead!"

Max laughed, "We are dead."

I grabbed Max's shirt, shaking him, "Cut the crap!"

As I shook him, he suddenly slumped as I realized he was dead. The bottom half of his body and arms were gone. I quickly jumped back in fear, some of his blood was on me. I looked around in fear, seeing everyone's dead bodies from when they died.

I curled into a ball, crying, "No more... please... no more."

All their bodies began to turn into a black haze and went into Skiel's body. I looked to see possessed Skiel stand up and grin at me.

I got mad, "Stop... stop using my friend's body you demon!"

I ran over and punched Skiel across his face. The demon smirked, turning into his turn form. It wasn't even a he, she looked like she was only 13 years old standing at 4 foot 5. Her crimson eyes were just like Possessed Skiel. Her hair extended past her waist with a bright pink color. She is caucasian white with a young body, so A cup breasts. Her body sported a very thin and slim form with her skin glistening in any light.

She smiled at me, a bit of blood dripping from her lip, "Well, aren't you mean."

I stepped back, "Who are you?"

She smirked, that same smirk I hate, "I'm Matskitana, the demon inside the cursed moonlight ax."

I glared at her, gripping her throat to choke her, "You murdered my friends!"

She gently laughed, "Yes, I did."

I squeezed, "I'll kill you!"

She laughed at that, "You can try but you can't kill a demon. I'm already dead."

I stopped squeezing, "You... Grrahhhh!"

I punched her as hard as I could, "I'll make you pay!"

She laughed as I beat her, "Go on! I love this sort of thing! Hit me harder!"

I flinched, backing away, "You psychopath..."

She got up, laughing, "I think I picked right... Come give me your blood human. I want to become your demon."

I blinked in surprise, "My demon?"

She grinned evilly, "You heard me. I will give you power. My power. Don't you want to escape this game?"

I narrowed my eyes, "You want my blood?"

She never stopped smirking, "Of course. I need your blood to give you power."

I shook my head, "I don't want your power!"

The black haze appeared and pierced my chest as she said, "It is no longer your choice Zach."

I gasped, choking blood from the black stabbing my chest, "Ugh... you..."

She giggled, "Be happy, you're the first human to get a cursed demon weapon."

-October 3rd, 2041-

I woke up in my new inn room on floor 31. My head was killing me as I tried to shake of my nightmare about how I got my cursed ax. I never used it, instead, I'm used as a shield to protect others from boss attacks. It's all I could allow myself to do after losing all my friends and brother.

Matskitana appeared as an illusion on my bed, "When will you use me."

I turned away from her, "Never. I'd sooner die."

She leaned to my ear, "You'll use me one day, just you wait."

I got up swinging my arm, "Just leave me alone you damn monster!"

I panted, looking at my bed to see it empty. She was gone for now and that allowed me to get ready for today's raid. Since floor 26, there's been two floor bosses and it's only getting worse. New creatures are beginning to appear throughout the new floors. The cursed weapons, Ultra Beasts, and Legendaries. Most of the top players don't have cursed weapons, but they are still stronger than most. I don't know what to do honestly. Even if I somehow survive this game, how will I live knowing I lost my friends and brother because I was weak?

Matskitana whispered, "You always will have me to talk to."

I shook my head, "I will never speak to you. Once this game is beat, you'll be nothing but a memory."

She gently laughed, "Oh really? You need to use my power Zach."

I punched the way, "Damn it, I don't need your power!"

She appeared in front of me, smiling, "Yes you do, I can teach you everything you need to know about cursed weapons."

I gave her a searching look, "You can?"

She grinned, revealing a sharp tooth, "Interested?"

I looked away, "No. I'm not interested, you're a monster."

Matskitana laid her head on my upper stomach, "Don't be so mad, I can help you."

I took a step back, "I don't need a demon's help."

She grinned, "You will one day Zach. I spared you, I chose you. You better be grateful."

As she disappeared, I gave a distasteful snort, "Spared me? You murdered everything I cared about."

She giggled, "Now I'm the only one you can care about."

I closed my eyes, "Stop talking to me Matskitana."

Matskitana snickered, "As you wish master."

I shook my head, leaving my inn room to meet with the members of my new guild. I didn't join them yet, I just said I'd accompany them into battle as a mercenary. Floor 32's first floor boss has been found and we're going in first. I knew I was probably going to die but... that didn't matter to me.

I was greeted by their leader Jay, "Welcome to the group bro."

I shrugged, "Whatever."

Another guy, named Anthony, Added in, "Please don't be mad at us, we're paying you."

I frowned, "I'm not mad at you guys. I just had a bad morning."

The third guy, Derek, said, "Did you dream of Jay's future child or something?"

Jay flared up, "My child will not suck!"

Derek smirked, "I highly doubt that Jay."

Jay growled in frustration, "Stop being an asshole!"

I decided to cut in, "When will we get going?"

Anthony started pushing them, "Right now actually."

The four of us left the inn to teleported to floor 32. Much to my surprise, floor 32 is actually really nice. It's already famous for having the nicest lakes and homes to own. These houses and land can be bought but they're extremely expensive. I think one is about 1.5 billion gold but it's permanently yours. You can ever customize the land however you want. In my lifetime of this game, I've only made about 1.7 million gold. I'll never be able to afford it. Late game players will definitely buy them one day. The walk to the cave was pretty dull until I asked them a question.

I asked, "Have you guys known any top players."

I noticed they all flinched and Jay answered me, "We knew Rui. He was our best friend."

I raised a brow, "Rui?"

Anthony clarified it for me, "He was a player known as Murloc_Rampage. For manyweeks he was one of the top 100 players."

I stopped walking, "He saved my life once."

Derek looked back at me, "That sounds like Rui. Deep down, he's a really good guy."

I ran to catch up, "Where is he?"

Jay frowned, "Dead..."

If my hair could bristle, it would right there, "Dead? How?"

Anthony shrugged, "We don't know. One day we woke up and deceased was next to his name."

I looked down, 'One of the top players just died like that? Can we even beat this game?'

{Third Person Point of View }

-Floor 25-

Silvia stood in front of her village's glyph, wondering what to do. She hasn't been able to figure anything out about her beloved Rui. She's searched every floor she could for a month, and found nothing.

She sighed sadly, "Oh Rui... where are you?"

Then a man she never wanted to meet appeared behind her, the head programmer himself, "Hello Silvia."

Silvia flinched, unable to turn towards him out of sheer disbelief, "M-master?"

He walked past her, touching the glyph, "My my, I've made some incredible things in this world, haven't I?"

Silvia looked down, "Of course sir."

He glanced at her with one eye, "So, how have you been enjoying the human world?"

Silvia flinched, "It's been... okay."

He grinned at her, "What about your beloved?"

Silvia looked aside, "I... well... I know he's alive."

Takata Haruchi never stopped grinning, "Silvia, I'm surprised at you, even with that evil personality I gave you, you still have a heart."

Silvia's eyes widened, "But... I... well... you see..."

Takata turned to her, "I need you to stay evil, but you had to just threaten your nonexistence like that."

Silvia shivered, "W-wait! I am still evil, let me prove it! I'll go kill Rui right now! Better yet, I'll kill his friends first!"

Takata grabbed Silvia by her throat, "I'm sorry, I can't hear you right now."

Silvia gripped his wrists, choking, "No... please don't kill me."

Takata laughed, "I'm sorry Silvia, but it's time I changed you into a real demon. Bye bye."

Silvia began to turn into a black mist, "Nooooo!"

Takata chuckled, "What an idiot, if she hadn't changed, she'd be a wonderful pawn. Now then, let's see how Dark is doing."

Takata disappears from the area without a trace.

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