Speak

"Expected…but not unwelcome." My superior says, learning of our adversary already being there.

"Krauss…intervened…" I utter as I'm on my knees, having rarely needed to talk before, as normally I use telepathy.

"Damn Indebtor. Still can't believe they affiliate with him."

"They…have…him…we…have…others…"

"Yes…we do. Also, I'm tired of this talking impediment. Here's your speech therapy." He says as he spontaneously holds out his hand to me, causing every fiber in my being to go off in anticipation.

From the absolute depths of my being, from the very foundation of what I am, comes something new that builds atop everything, fortifying it.

I feel myself being emboldened, I'm becoming…stronger…

My face underneath my mask begins to burn, and my body starts to glow black and white with our presence as it stings.

I grunt in slight agony, as this process is known to be suffering to a degree.

When the power, light, and suffering comes to a climax at its brightest, the exterior light and sound vanishes, leaving only everything within my form.

I open my eyes underneath my mask, noticing that there's suddenly light coming from it and my body now.

"Welcome…Evolved one…" My superior commands me as I rise from my rebirth…

I look at my hands and form, similar as they were before…but…mightier

"What is your name now…Evolved one…?" He asks me eerily.

What…would my name be now…?

Only thing that comes to mind is my move I pulled against Kai…wait…

It tracks…finds…no…

Seeks…

I stare at my superior with the singular eye in my mask as it glows brighter and stronger than it ever has before…ready for a new phase and war in this existence.

Before I can answer, he dismisses me.

"You may tell it to me later. For now, go follow up with the Ul's. I believe they've already made their way to a place of great interest back there. Potentially even gotten a contact there as well…"

I bow to him as I leave to rendezvous with some of our most powerful associates.

As I do, I can only think about the prospects of the future…especially against Kai.

Now armed with my new name.

SEEKER

Zill

"Jack! Cameron! Come forward!" I announce to the class.

Kai is currently training me to teach everyone here right now…apparently there might be something sometime soon he's going to have to go do so I'll need to be here to substitute.

Frankly, I've never felt this kind of pressure…

We've gotten to sparring, standard training has been going on for the past couple days, consisting of just teaching them how to throw punches, kicks, dodges, and other miscellaneous methods of combat.

I sometimes show up early so he can help me sharpen my skills even further, and it definitely paid off.

But I still can't help but wonder, the combination of both Damian's comments about him being different, Kayla's further observations on him, as well as my own…

The way he fights clearly demonstrates him being a seasoned warrior, somebody who's at least had years of experience doing so.

As if that wasn't obvious enough, the fact that there were rumors about the behavior change in the Fish of Peace, what with them looking at him when they don't even acknowledge anything.

One day…I can't help but feel like he'll tell us what's really going on…

Well…until that day comes, we train.

The prime example of that two of our own are now going to test their metal against each other.

"Kind of weird, huh? Us dueling?" Jack sheepishly asks our counselor, holding his hand on his head.

"Yeah, but it's a friendly bout." She replies kindly.

"If anything, it'll help you with your confidence." Jack encourages her. "As you did with mine."

"Yeah…thank you for that. Right! Let's do this!" She replies, the uplifting words helping her as she grips her hands.

"Don't worry, I won't hit you too hard." He quips.

"Oh, I can dish out some…" She replies, hyping up.

Far as I've heard, she defeated Hell Sprites, and I'm pretty sure that's something that's helped her as well.

Sometimes in life, you really do just need a win despite all your losses.

"Combatants! Ready?" I announce, the two of them nod as Cameron takes a kickboxing position while Jack takes a stance that would allow for charging. "BEGIN!"

It starts off slow with the two of them not taking their eyes off one another, a good first sign of training retention.

Eventually, Cameron surprisingly and bravely manages to shuffle closer towards Jack, who still seems somewhat hesitant to strike at the one who helped him through his anxieties.

She goes for a quick jab at him, he sidesteps and dodges the follow up. He counters with a left and right hook, both of which she ducks under systematically. Seemingly taking a page out of other forms of evident training she's taken, she does a cartwheel towards him to confuse him slightly and follows with an elegant leg sweep. He falls over but rolls away to regain distance and kicks himself back up. They courteously smile at each other before Jack charges at her. He goes for a drop kick at her, but she slides under it. He lands on his hands as if he were doing a push up, using such to get back on his feet. She charges at him this time and front kicks towards him but he takes a page out of my book and grabs her leg, judo throwing her over him. Cameron also seems to have learned from Kai as well, using the momentum to throw her legs out in front of her to stop herself. He roundhouse kicks at her but counters with her own, cancelling it out as she follows up with her own front kick, pushing him away.

They reengage each other again, eventually ending up in a grapple of sorts.

"Conquered your fear, huh?" Jack asks, smiling.

"Sure feels like it!" She grins, filled with adrenaline.

And that…is evident.

Seemingly putting all their strength into one final push, they both cancel each other out by forcing each other away an equal distance from one another.

It seems they're evenly matched.

"Cease match!" I call out, they both concede and take relaxed positions as they bow respectfully to each other as well as me and Kai. "Well executed!"

"Thank you." The two of them say.

"Excelsior. All of you." Kai compliments us.

"Thank you, sir." We say to him, learning to respect authority.

"Everyone take a ten-minute break!" Kai tells the rest of us as they all go to rest and respite.

"Hey dude, wanted to ask, what exactly did you say you were going to be doing?" I lean over to Kai.

"Simon hasn't been talking, so we're going to bring him to the splinter at the forcefield and see what exactly he knows about it. Afterwards, Damian's caretakers are going to be bringing him back to Hell to face prosecution for going rogue." Kai says as the red jackal comes up to us.

"Also, given that Kai was attacked by imps from another jurisdiction of Hell…" He says, looking to and from me and our teacher.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Something's up down there…and we need someone to go check it out. The teachers here can't afford to leave…and the only one as of right now who can go is…" Damian says, gesturing to Kai.

"Damian said he'll speak to his father about sending me there. I'll investigate what's going on." He says.

"To HELL?!" I exclaim. "But dude! How are you going to survive that? You don't even know what's down there, much less in an area hardly any of us have been to!"

"I've got a pretty good idea already considering I defeated denizens from there. Besides…" He says as he looks at Damian and then back to me as he flicks his left arm upwards, and then downwards.

During so, a miniature series of sparks comes from his elbow, and swinging outwards comes a heavy looking red axe seemingly locked and loaded into a mechanical joint attached to that of his own, the handle of the weapon flies into his hand.

Based on the red color, I'd have to assume this is a trophy he took from the 'denizens' on the other side…he must've crafted this from that.

Clever…

"I've been through worse, in worse places than that."

He really is built differently if he's not afraid of going to Hell of all places…

Kai, later, at the edge of the forcefield

"So this is what allowed you to get in here, huh, Simon?" Fabian asks.

"Yes…my old colleague…" The vampire begrudgingly confirms.

After we wrapped up class, the teachers at the lounge all assembled at the front of the school. We bound Simon and took him here to see how he got through.

Worst case scenario we'd have to use the shotgun collar I built for him. If he moves too far away from us or if he tries anything…

He's getting a head-full of silver.

"For the record, this was already here when Venganza and I first got here. We just used that opportunity." He comments.

"How'd you do it?" Zechariah asks.

"We just stepped close to it and we, so to say, 'beamed' through it. Sucks us closer and we appeared on the other side." He says.

"Ah'll see about that…" Carrie says, moving closer to it.

"Wait, why're you going, Carrie?" Fabian asks.

"Since whah are ya so concerned about meh, Fab?" She quips at him.

"I mean, why volunteer for something like this? You don't know what it might do to you." He advises.

"Ahm the only one of us here who's Hellborn. 'Case anythang goes wrong, ah won't exactly die." She says.

"Oh…okay…" He says, understanding the reasoning.

"We'll be able to track you through your communicator." I say, holding up that of my own. "Give us a call if you make it."

"Aighty." She says.

As the Hell-born lady edges closer to the radiant crack in the invisible forcefield, she brandishes her lasso in case there's anything on the other side.

When she gets within a few feet of it…

VREEE-WHOOOSH!

In a flash, the area is without Carrie, much to the teacher's dismay.

I preeminently activate my communicator and dial it to Carrie's frequency.

"Carrie? You there?" I ask.

Albeit with some static…

"Holy sweet motha of monkey's mahlk it worked! Ah'm on the other side!" She exclaims.

"Alright, now see if you can get back." I say.

"Copy that bud!" She calls.

In no time at all…

VREEE-WHOOOSH!

The ghoul lady is instantly back, feeling herself up considering she was likely dematerialized twice in a few moments.

"Aighty! So…that werks!" She smiles with her toothy grin.

"So now the question lies as to how exactly this would be fixed." I say, holding my hand to my chin.

"I believe I have some contacts that can assist. We'll take it from here." Zechariah says.

"You sure?" I ask, looking to him.

"Yes. For now, you must go to Damian, he will assist you in your next objective." He says.

The teachers all bow to me.

"Thank you for everything you've done for us." He says.

"Thank you." The others say.

"I would do it all again if I could." I say.

"We know you would." Zech says. The, as I start to surmise, light-Nigerian accented one rises his head (not Transatlantic). "Go, there are others who need you now."

"Alright." I say, I take the reins that Simon is bound by. "Remember what happens if you try, punk."

"I ain't goin' nowhere…" He glares at me as I load him up into the carriage pulled by my bike. I secure him with various straps to inhibit his movement, just in case.

After revving up my bike, I take our prisoner to our local antichrist.

Given that the distance between the city and the edge of the field is not insanely massive, and also that my bike is exceedingly fast, it hardly takes any time for us to return to the front of the Academy, where I instructed Damian to wait.

"Guessing some grey lady sent you and Venganza to kill me and Zill?" I take a page out of a policeman's book and call Simon's bluff on his original orders.

"How'd you-!?" He exclaims.

"You just confirmed that to me. Appreciate your cooperation." I quip as he grumbles in anger.

So that's confirmed…

Kaycee was the one who sent him and Venganza.

I figure that being allowed in here to feast was the payment, and she provided the method.

As we arrive, I happen to notice Damian is being chaperoned by a tall and fit woman alongside a small blue critter similar in nature and form to Damian.

I pull up to the 3, and disengage the safety straps on Simon, hoisting him out and walking him over to them.

"Oh my-Damian! You were right!" The small blue one says. "You guys really do have a vampire here!"

"I thought you were messing with us!" The woman exclaims, not believing what she's seeing.

"I wasn't. This vampire, Simon, and another attacked the school and Kai here managed to capture him." Damian says, gesturing to us respectively.

"Pleasure to meet you." I bow my head to them.

"Tentadora." She returns the bow.

"Major Styx." The blue one also gestures.

"You are aware that this place, especially to your kind, is not hunting grounds…aren't you…?" The pink woman glares at Simon.

"Really thought that'd stop us from trying?" Simon returns the glare.

"No. But an example will be made to the others…and you're the first candidate." The blue one ominously stares at him, wiping the smirk off Simon's face.

"Thank you for bringing him to justice." Tendadora says as she and Styx bow to me in gratitude. "We will take great lengths to track down his associate. What was her name?"

"Venganza, and you're welcome." I say to them.

"Damian has already filled us in as to what must be done. There's a way you can be sent to the other side of Hell, but we'll need some time to get that situated." The woman says as she hands me a map with a location marked. "Be at this spot in 3 hours. Damian and his parents will meet you there."

I look closer at the map, remembering what I also read from other maps detailing the geography of this place.

"This is in the Districts." I comment.

"Yes, and?" She asks.

"What's wrong with them right now?" I ask.

"Civilians aren't allowed there because it's…volatile…so to say. We can use that alongside that grimoire you found to be able to send you to the other side." She explains.

"Copy that." I say as I hand the reins of Simon over to the proper authorities. "I'll use this time to situate my own things here."

"Over and out." She quips as she winks at me while I smile and roll my eyes at the little jab.

1 hour later

"And so, my students, as you know I have been training Zill more in my ways to help teach you in my absence. That will apply immediately as I will be going to investigate the other side of Hell." I announce to Fight Club.

Amongst some murmuring, it's all mostly concern about the place I'm going.

"Something is obviously going on there as I was jumped by some of their residents. Based on the information I'd gotten, I'd have to assume there's a coup or a bigger plot going on down there that may require my aid. The breach in the forcefield is already being worked on and Zill is now ready to take my place for the time being as your instructor. The threat known as Simon has been handed over to the proper authorities and I will be making my departure tonight. I wanted to thank every single one of you for taking time out of your day to be my students and learn the art of war." I say as I bow to them. "For now, it has been a privilege."

They all return the bow in courteousness and gratitude for me teaching them.

It hasn't been extensive as it could've been, but it's been…fulfilling, as it is.

At least it was exceedingly productive.

Zill, Kayla, and Jack come up to me, followed by the sheepish Mackenzie, little to both of the formers' knowledge.

"Hey Kai, wanted to say thank you for everything." Kayla extends her gratitude to me.

"You've been more than just the man; you've been the boss." Zill says, giving me a fist bump.

"Despite what's been going on, it's been better with you around. Gonna miss you, dude." Jack says.

"I'll miss you guys too. If I do have the opportunity, I will return, but I can't make promises I can't keep." I tell them.

"Understood." The 3 say.

"Keep up your guys' training…and keep shining brighter than…an eternal eclipse." I say, improvising that line as they laugh.

When the 3 go off to hang out with Vanexa and Spam, Mackenzie makes herself known.

"Oh! Mackenzie, right?" I ask.

"W-wanted to also say thank you for helping me back at the talent show…" She whispers.

"The judge was acting like a discount Simon Cowell; you needed at least the chance." I assure her.

"Yes…but I've been doing better in school, I've been feeling better overall, and I've even been able to make more friends. Ever since you stuck up for me, I just…it's been good. And I just wanted to thank you for it." She looks at me.

"Glad you were able to, kid." I say, giving her a fist bump.

"G-goodbye for now…" She says.

"See ya, kiddo." I wink at her as she goes to join her fellow students.

When class is properly dismissed, Cameron, who is still wearing her weighted equipment as per her training, makes her way over to me after conversing with some of her animal classmates.

She looks at me dead in the eye.

"Kai…" She says to me. "In case things go wrong down there…"

"It won't, Cameron. I promise." I assure her.

"I know, but…you said a while ago that I needed to confront what was the root of my fear…and for the most part, these past couple victories and overall growth in my life has helped me cope with it. But I feel as if I can truly tell you what…happened…" She says.

"Come with me." I say as I lead her out of the class. "Leave your bracers here."

Despite some confusion, she does as I request, and I decide for us to go to a familiar place with relative privacy…to the top of the school.

The sun has for the most part set, and the Fish of Peace have returned.

We sit down with our legs dangling through the railing and observe the elegant entities.

"Do…you remember I said I used to go camping until my mom died?" She asks me as she looks at me.

"Yes." I say.

"Well…(sigh)…we were in the wilderness…in an area that not many people really knew about. We chose it because we wanted relative privacy. She taught me how to pitch a tent, start a fire, everything like that. I cherished every moment of it every time we went. But…I don't know why…we heard growling from outside the tent. We stayed in there as we knew there was something out there…but…next thing we knew we say some claws cut through the fabric…and…a foaming snout of a wolf came through…it…viciously grabbed mom…and dragged her out…it…dug its teeth into her neck…went to her body…and tore out her…everything…I couldn't even do anything but watch as it just…violated her like that…"

I dare not interrupt her as the tears begin to well up in her eyes.

"(Sniff) I had to remain silent the entire time because she hid me under my sleeping bag, and…I had to stay there because I knew the wolf might still be there. I quietly cried myself to sleep…and when I woke up the next morning…she was…everywhere. I managed to call my father…and when he came with a rescue team…they spent a whole hour picking up her pieces and trying to get them back from buzzards who were gorging on it. From that day forward, whenever I looked at an animal that wasn't a human…I either freeze up…or freak out…as you know…"

"Cameron…" I say, truly shocked at the disturbing nature of the origin of her fear.

"I took therapy to help with it…but the nightmares never ended…until…you showed up. You were willing to go out of your way to help me…and protect me when I always felt helpless. Eventually, you showed me, out of all people, how to protect myself. Mom would've wanted this for me…and she would've given you the biggest hug I've ever seen for it. Moreover, you helped me to be able to fight my fears…even let me get a victory or two in my life for once…and gave me the means to do so. It's a debt that I don't think I'll ever be able to repay…" She confesses, the waterworks flowing from her eyes. "Because of you…I felt that fear for the very…last…time."

Jack was right.

She's done it.

She's conquered her fear…

Her Zoophobia…is truly no more.

I celebrate by reaching out to her and embracing her in the same hug we had when we first came here.

Her tears drip down on me, and she squeezes me as I return it.

My first friend here…and I saved her from her plight.

Things like this…it's my transcendent purpose in life.

"Thank you…" She whispers.

I only respond by patting her on the back, congratulating her for what she's been able to do now with my help.

We release from one another as she wipes her eyes, sniffling again.

"I…only wanted to say that to you before you left." She admits.

"Well, it's a good sendoff gift." I quip, she giggles.

"I'm…glad I could give it to you." She laughs.

"So, brave one. What'll you do now?" I ask.

She thinks for a moment, and looks down at the teachers arriving back at the school, specifically Fabian…

"I think…I'll have tea with a Frenchman." She says, smiling and referencing that nickname I gave him. "Might as well celebrate my ordinary life, huh?"

"Heh, thought you preferred coffee." I quip and chuckle.

"Thought I'd try something new." She grins.

"Well, don't keep the Fox waiting." I pat her on the back again. "Oh, one more thing."

"Yeah?"

I reach behind me and pull out a couple of things I made for her.

"What's that?" She asks.

They have the appearance of the bracers she was wearing, but are black, grey, and with silver traces all throughout.

The engraving on them is an Angelfish.

"Put 'em on." I say.

She takes the bracers from my hands, and slips them on, now giving her the appearance of an elite SWAT officer when they accompany her suit.

"Comfy." She chuckles.

"There are switches on the side of your index fingers. Press 'em." I request.

She does so.

WHA-SHINK!

In less than a second, the bracers extend and unfold into miniature bladed shields, capable of both offense and defense.

The unfolded version of the engraving now shows a Swordfish on one, and a Whaleshark on the other.

"Whoa…!" She exclaims, swinging them around as she practices punching and blocking with them.

"You provide a sendoff gift, I provide one to you. Only seems fitting." I smile at her. "Send Fabian my regards, will you? And tell him I apologize for the way I acted towards him."

"I will. Thank you again, Kai." She smiles even bigger as she retracts the shields back into the bracers.

"My unending pleasure, Cameron." I say as I return the look.

We share one more hug as she soon reluctantly departs, seeing me for the last time at least for a bit.

She keeps smiling at me even as she goes down the stairs, leaving me with the Fish of Peace up here.

I glance towards the golden entities as they look at me the same way they did before when I first came here.

They close their eyes, smile and nod at me.

I give a bow towards them in respect.

They know…but still admire what a guy like me has done.

1 and a half hours later

"My hardened heart is frozen, weathered one too many winters…

I no more smell the roses, I woke to watch them wither…

I'm afflicted with a wicked disease, which I wish to one day be rid of…

This thing's got me stricken to my knees with the questions never thought bigger…

Once taken, you're shaken, no kidding, no way unless hell is coming with me…

Is the magic real? This a package deal? Never mind, I'm your slave but I will fight you till I'm free…"

I'm currently sharpening my newly acquired loaded axe and my spear blade with a whetstone, making sure that whatever potential conflict I go into I'll be ready.

As I do…I finally manage to compose the last little bit of a song I've been working on for a while now.

Given what's happened in my life…it's taken on a new meaning…

I'd…rather not think about it at the moment.

I've already checked up on my ammo, amenities, and necessities, I should be good for a long while if I need it.

I'll be bringing my bike if I can, as I might need it as well.

In addition, I finally managed to do a little touchup on it I've been wanting to do for a while,

Plus, I showed up early to do all of this, better safe than sorry.

I'm in a shady area, as if the darkness in this urban area wasn't evident enough.

Damian and whoever he's bringing should be here soon.

Suddenly, as I think about that, I hear the earth splintering open, revealing a blood red glow underneath it as it pulsates with a certain someone's presence.

He's here.

From the depths of the recently opened trenches steps out Damian…as well as…

His parents.

They all step out of the cracks in the earth as they approach me.

"Kai." He greets me.

"Damian."

"These are my parents. My father, Lucifer, and my mother, Narissa." The red jackal gestures to the tall demonic goat being and jackal in front of me.

"Figured." I say bluntly as I turn to them. "Greetings."

"So…you're the one who saved my son…from that anomalous one?"

"Yes. He wouldn't have survived the encounter." I say, ignoring his surround sound voice.

"Thank you. We are in your debt." Narissa bows her head.

"Welcome." I return the gesture respectfully.

"And you, a human, singlehandedly defeated rogue vampires?"

"Correct."

"And you didn't think I'd already figure out you're different?"

"Hey, your son made that observation first." I put my hands up, not even trying to deny it.

He looks at his son, who only shrugs his shoulders as if it were the easiest thing he ever did, pointing out my abilities.

"Who…WHAT…even are you…?"

"I'll announce that once I know for a fact that these realms can truly be trusted. You saw what the creature that attacked Damian can do. He still can't use his powers, but I can only help with that once I know for a fact that even the underworld of this place can even remotely be trustworthy. Damian may be an exception but he's not the status quo. I can't afford to have Hell being unleashed again with deadly secrets when it's already figuratively started to make its way here." I explain, he sighs.

"Fine. My son said you needed to go my counterpart's jurisdiction. We can use the House of Goetia's grimoire to send you, as a living individual, there. I still don't know why Lord Stolas could've lost something like this…"

"Let me deal with that. I'll return it to him once I get the chance. But the very fact that there could be a potential power seizing down there needs investigation. I've also for the most part armed, equipped, and trained people here. There could be more potential down there, but there's more threats to come. I know that for a fact." I say.

"Then enough talk, let's just do this."

He instructs me to go over to an empty field to the right, and I bring myself and my bike over there.

"One sec, just for portability's sake." I say, Damian shrugs at his parents as they tilt their heads in confusion.

I step onto my bike, getting myself comfortable and pressing a button I installed on the handle.

What happens next, even stuns the lord of this world's Hell endlessly.

The entire vehicle seems to split up into visible segments, and they shift smoothly and systematically away and around each other, and eventually they lock onto me and my armor.

When all is said and done, the end result is effectively a powered exoskeleton suit surrounding my limbs.

I feel around one of my many mechanical masterpieces as it whirs slightly with my motion, loving how it moves even smoother than Jif peanut butter.

"DUDE!" I hear Damian shout out in shock. "WHAT THE-WHY IN HELL DIDN'T YOU USE THAT TO SAVE ME?!"

"Because I hadn't finished it at the time…?" I say, having thought it was obvious.

Suddenly he starts to pout and grumble.

"You always get the cool stuff." He mutters.

I roll my eyes slightly at the kid's complaints and walk over to him, talking out a polymer case I had hidden in a compartment in my bike/suit.

"Huh? What's this?" He asks.

"Open it." I say as he puts it on the ground, clicking it open and seeing what's inside.

He gasps slightly at it, reaching his hands in and pulling out something I crafted for him.

He stands up, wielding deadly hook swords, or Shuang Gou if you're like that.

"Deadly little devil requires deadly weapons, huh?" I quip.

"Oh…HO-HO-HO!" He squeals, swinging them around elegantly and wildly at the same time, pulling deadly acrobatics as he does. "THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT!"

He even goes so far as to hook the swords together and swing them as if they were a singular weapon, already seeming to get the hang of them.

"Bro, these are so cool! Thanks!" He smiles at me as he holds them in an X pose.

"Bit of a sendoff gift, so to say." I return the grin.

"Already making me miss you man…" He says.

"This the same Damian Beelzly that I met when I came here?" I quip again.

"No. New me." He shakes his head. "I…you changed me…because of you…I'm making more of an effort to be better."

"Good man, Dame." I smile.

"Even better, King Kai." He smiles back again, I roll my eyes at the nickname Carrie coined for me. She likely told him about it.

"Sir, as much as I appreciate my son socializing, we must hurry this up. Hell never rests and we must get back to ruling it.

"Okay, let's do this." I say, using my mechanically aided limbs to walk back over to the designated area.

"Damian, open the book to chapter 66 and memorize the spell. He's taking the book with him so you'll need to remember it." Narissa orders her son.

"Alright, Mom." He says, opening the piece of literature and flipping through the pages, eventually landing on the correct portal spell.

He walks over to the area where I am.

"This spell is specific to you because not only are you living…but…" He starts.

"But what?" I ask.

"If…you really are as foreign as we sense you to be…and considering the fact that you're alive…this will have to be special for you as it must compensate for your apparent nature." He explains as he gives me the grimoire.

"Do what you must." I say.

"Okay…" He replies.

He soon gets to work using his swords to draw a giant rune in the gravel below us, of which starts to look like the combination of a pentagram, a Jewish Star, a Christian Cross, and an upside down cross all at once.

But eventually what even catches my eye is the fact that among all of it, he draws…well…an eye

I…just got a serious sense of déjà vu…

"This…should be correct." Damian says.

"Do we chant for this one?" Narissa asks.

"No. Kai, I don't know how to say this…but…will yourself to go to the sin of pride circle! That's where not only the House of Goetia will be, but father's counterpart will be there too!" Damian commands.

"Important contacts will include the Lucifer of that realm. His full name will be Lucifer Morningstar. If you can't find him somehow, attempt to make contact with his wife Lilith, or even his daughter, Charlie Morningstar. We don't know where you'll end up, but wherever it is, try asking anybody who doesn't try to kill you on sight."

"Copy." I say.

"If things go wrong, simply will yourself to come back to the surface. This spell acts as a two-way key." Narissa informs me.

"Thanks for letting me know."

"Finally, you'll need to subtly return that grimoire to Lord Stolas. Similar to Lucifer, if you can't find him, look for his wife Stella or his daughter Octavia. Beware of Overlords. They're exceptionally powerful demons of that world. If anyone has problems with you trying to meet with the Goetias or the Morningstars, show them this rune and tell them the First sent you. The Lucifer over there is known as the Second, he'll know for sure once you call him that."

"Roger." I say as he tosses me a badge of sorts, showing an uppercase 'L' spelled with goat horns. I put it in my pocket. "The First? That's not your name, is it?"

"It's how I'm distinguished from my counterpart."

"Ah." I say.

"Hey, Kai!" Damian says.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Good luck!" He gives me a thumbs up.

"Thanks." I say.

I look at the amalgamation of both sides of the religious spectrum, both good and evil.

I focus all my attention on where I have a principle idea of going…soon starting to feel a bit of a gravitational disruption around me with the gravel being displaced.

AAAAWWWWHHHH!

Suddenly, in a similar manner as before, the ground near instantly shatters in the area of the rune, leaving a yellow, red, and orange violent vortex with white soul-like creatures swirling around it surround the small platform of land around me that soon also disintegrates as well, leaving me floating above the portal.

I feel another surge of power coming from the dead center of the light, figuring that my time in the overworld is running short.

I look at Damian and his parents, who give me a sendoff nod of approval.

"Hey, Damian!" I call out.

"What is it?" He asks.

"You know, you never defeated me, but I guess you finally got that chance to send me to Hell, huh?!" I smile, referencing the first and only time we ever dueled and what he claimed he'd do if he won.

He just stares at me, deadpanned as he laughs with tears threatening to go down, especially after what's happened.

"Yeah…I guess I did…" He says, content. "See you, man. Thank you for everything!"

"Anytime, kiddo. You too." I reply as Damian and his family wave to me.

I return it as I press my fingers to my helmet activation button.

WHEE-WA-CLANG!

The armor locks over my head as my form seems to become electrified, and the last thing I see through my visor is the little jackal and his family as I'm shot down as a bolt of lightning through the white center of the portal. The world un-caves in as the gravel goes back to where it was, the rune gone as I zoom…

Out of the Safe Haven…and into the unknown...

As it happens...I can't help but think to myself...

'Cameron Walden...I'm so damn proud of you...'

Chapter End