"Never in all my life would've I've imagined seeing something like this lying underneath the country." Zato said to himself as Eddie nodded in agreement.
What the two humans were seeing right now, thanks to an array of burning torches resting on the sides, was best described as a complex labyrinth composed of cobblestone bridges that connected to various small buildings of gothic style constructed out of aged stone.
Some of the old bridges were steep as they either went up or down, leading to a building that was elevated or lowered that further added to the complex nature of the labyrinth.
"You have every right to be surprised, Zato." Aiden agreed to the natural reaction the blindfolded man expressed. "I have been to so many of these areas that were constructed in places nobody could see... or at times reach."
Zato's surprise extended, though it wasn't directly correlated to the bizarre sight he and his company have stumbled into.
"You have seen areas more shocking than this?" He asked, emphasizing his curiosity by gesturing his hand to the gothic labyrinth.
Aiden answered the man's curiosity with a head nod. "It is quite hard for me to fully react to our current situation when I have already far more impressive... and horrifying sights than this."
Uncomfortable silence followed before Zato killed it with a brief throat hum. "It must've been quite harrowing for you to witness them, correct?"
Another head nod came from the young man. The silent respond told far more than his words ever could.
"Let's just get this over with. We can talk more about my life later."
Zato nodded. It would be best to if he stopped prying into the life his young ally lived through.
The two black cladded humans leaped down to a bridge that was underneath the stone ledge they stood on.
Years of culminated dust flew around their landing spot, becoming visible for a moment before disappearing into the dark atmosphere.
The only sources of complete life were now at the heart of a labyrinth, fabricated by the malicious minds of the Underworld.
While Aiden walked alongside Zato, he let a portion of his consciousness travel to Sparda's amulet. All so he could express his displeasure. ("I knew today was going to be a long day, but where I am standing on is truly insufferable.")
Eva, being the angel he knew damn well he didn't deserve but needed, cheered him on. ("I know that feeling, but try to not let it control you. You have shown us various times how you have endured the most inconvenient of trails.")
A light sigh was released. ("I am aware of that... but you have to remember that I am still a young man, Eva. It is natural for me to wish that the world would take it easy on me.")
("We all can't have what we want, Aiden.") The ancient demon firmly reminded to his foster son. ("You know how important it is for anyone to understand that at times, work is required to earn what we desire. Wishing to receive success early on will only postpone our achievements.")
Despite Aiden's current state of displeasure, his lips unconsciously curved up to the demon's words.
("Which god gave you the right to be this wise?") He rhetorically asked.
A light laugh was the natural response of the ancient demon. ("As if any God would want to grant me anything.")
A giggle of agreement came from the ancient demon's wife. ("Can't fault you for believing that.")
While Aiden was invested to the telepathic conversation of his foster parents, the shadow of his ally kept peeking it's unnerving pair of eyes out from his master's shoulder. The eyes pointed directly at the amulet that slightly dangled from the neck of the young man.
The aesthetic appeal of the jewelry was not the main reason for Eddie's peeking session, even though that reason alone was understandable, but due to an entirely different reason that Eddie couldn't properly identify.
That was not good for Zato's part.
The keen senses and paranoid mind of the former assassin had been working at full mast since their first meeting at Undine Park, his gut constantly getting stung by a very strong feeling that the amulet was not a mere piece of jewelry. That it was possibly hiding something underneath a vast pool of darkness that could unleash a powerful force to the outside world...
His worried pondering would get interrupted by a recognizable symphony of deafening roars that boomed throughout the gothic labyrinth.
The pair of humans knew what was coming, and they were ready to end it.
Just as they had done before.
[Mötley Crüe-Knock 'Em Dead Kid]
Pools of dark red liquid grew on the stone of the labyrinth, tall shapes of the Cainas and Riots seemingly protruding and forming from the supernatural liquid.
"It would be best if you go without me."
"Are you sure that's best plan for this very moment?" Aiden asked. He was not on board with the command of leaving one behind to complete the mission, no matter how helpful it may actually be.
("It would be best if you complied, Aiden. Postponing your movement and combat prowess will give our enemies an advantage.") Sparda hit Aiden with a logical counter. He was far too familiar with the young man's desire to eliminate all demons that dared step foot on human soil, and he wasn't going to shy away from utilizing that desire to help his successor get the strength and drive he needed.
Aiden instantly processed the logic, letting out a grunt of both agreement and frustration, and headed straight into the horde of reptilian and skeletal monstrosities.
He withdrew his black katana in a single, instantaneous slice that separated the upper halves of four demons. The weapons of the Cainas and Riot's receiving the same fate as that of their owners.
The young hunter utilized the movement of his swinging arm to bring it up to a leaping Riot; the high motion of the blade bisected the monster in two vertical halves.
Demonic blood splashed onto the lean frame of the young human as he dashed at another enemy through the separation of the Riot's body. His raised sword was brought down, easily bisecting the foul creature.
In the background of the frontal massacre, Zato punched the entirety of his left hand below the center of a Riot that was larger than the rest.
It wasn't a surprise that the large demon survived though would suffer the effects of a critical blow. But in that moment, the blindfolded man commanded his shadow creature to infiltrate the inside of the demon.
The scaled flesh of the demonic monstrosity instantly began bulging and forming unnatural bumps throughout it's torso. The roars and howls of pure agony were the only reactions the demon could perform out of it's will as the invasive attack of Eddie was ripping it from the inside out.
The demons that surrounded the blindfolded human halted their blood thirsty intentions, doing nothing but witnessing a mortal torturing one of their kind with very little effort. It was a sight that none of them have ever seen, and it was one that they hoped would have never happened.
One last sound of agony boomed throughout the dark area, piercing the enhanced hearing of everyone who was present.
The large Riot exploded into pieces of demonic flesh, painting the stone and the surrounding demons in a shade of dark red.
Though the spilled blood did not stain the dark clothes of the one responsible for the mess. Not a single drop landed on the black fabric.
"If any of you are willing to fight, I'll give you this one and only warning: the results will be..." He waved a hand to the remains of demonic flesh that were scattered around him. "Actually, I don't have to continue since you all have seen what I am referring to." He finished as he sent the enemy a smirk that unnerved their sadistic cores.
...
Metal slicing through flesh and tissue that caused the howls of demise filled the emptiness of a dome shaped room.
The orange light of the torches illuminated the flickering silhouettes of the young devil hunter fighting against another horde of demons.
Aiden evaded their attacks, countering with a lightning fast slice to their jugular area that ended their worthless lives.
And thanks to Aiden's less than average stature combined with his inhuman reflexes and agility, he earned another victory over the forces of Hell in just a few short moments.
He took a breath after he ended his massacre, taking a look at the mess he has caused.
The room was peppered with the blood and bisected body parts of the monstrosities. Puddles of dark red liquid were quick to melt away the remains, leaving only the puddles of blood to be the only indicators of a massacre.
It was a sight that was way past familiar for Aiden.
"Another day, another routine done." He muttered to himself as he flicked off the blood that was on the black blade of his sword, sliding it inside it's equally dark scabbard.
He turned to face the tall pair of doors that led to whatever it led.
("It doesn't take a genius to guess that something bigger and badder is waiting for us on the other side.") Eva said, prompting her to earn a head nod from Aiden.
("That much is true. And it would be best if we don't let it wait.")
He pressed on and pushed open the doors with a small bit of struggle, causing a less than pleasant creak to enter his ears.
The other side Eva was worried about was a cellar, which was as gloomy as the labyrinth he had to navigate across, that had rows of doors on the right and left side. Dim was about as bright this place could get since some of the torches that hung right next to the ceiling were snuffed from their ability to give away light.
But the main eye catcher was the pillar of marble resting on the end of the room. It's main surface covered by a black lined pentagram that had the middle section filled by a moving pool of black smoke that was more darker than the midnight sky.
Curious, Aiden walked over to get a closer look at the smokey essence.
He hovered his fingers across the black surface. The smoke reacted to the close proximity of the limb by stretching out a thick strand that made contact with the skin of the young human.
Seeing that the smoke wasn't harming him, Aiden pressed his luck and placed the flat surface of his hand to the middle of the pentagram.
The result was instantaneous: his entire body froze and his lifeless eyes rose to meet the heavens above. Multiple images ran across his eyes, each of them showing a triangle that rested atop of a small and short pillar of stone.
His consciousness came back as quickly as it left.
("Aiden! Are you alright, sweetie!?") The very concerned voice of Eva greeted him.
"Y-Yeah. Just lost my control for a moment."
Once his energy came back, he straightened back his body.
("Sparda, did you see anything that happened to me?")
("I did. And I know very well what you have to do next.")
A sigh left Aiden's mouth. ("It involves the doors that are here.") He answered as a matter of fact way rather than one of questioning.
("That is correct. And be ready, each of those doors lead to a different challenge that will, no doubt, be difficult to overcome.")
The young devil hunter gyrated his neck from side to side, relaxing his muscles to prepare for the incoming trails.
("Couldn't ask for anything more.") He sarcastically declared as he went into the room that was closest to him.