The elevator suddenly stopped, Isaac stepping out. He could see the vault that Regina had come to claim, looking more like an old bank vault than anything else. Kiara's disabled collar was still in his hands, the explosives, while no longer hooked to an initiator, still had the potential of being an effective weapon. Regina was nowhere in sight, not having made her way to the vault as of yet.
"That vault contains one of the most powerful beings on Mobius, and the Iron Queen wants to release him?" Isaac thought aloud.
"Well, not exactly him, as much as his own knowledge for her own use. Of course, after being killed by Regina herself, he will most likely kill her the first moment he gets." The Demon analyzed.
Isaac approached the door, his ear against the thick, steel door. He couldn't hear anything behind it. Isaac knocked his hand against it, hearing a slight echo. Suddenly, two knocks returned, alerting Isaac that the vault was indeed occupied!
"Is it Dr. Finitevus that occupies this vault?" Isaac asked through the door. After a few moments of silence, someone answered.
"Strange. You are not the Iron Queen. And I doubt you are here to release me." A voice responded.
"My name is Isaac Abaddon. I'm here to stop Regina Ferrum from capturing more people for her dirty work." Isaac said, leaving out the part of preventing Finitevus' release.
"Let her open the door. I wish to pay her back for killing my physical body!" He responded, vengeful.
"But if you kill her, you lose the only person that could release you from this cursed world." Isaac returned, wishing to resolve this matter without bloodshed.
"Doesn't matter if she could or not, I don't have a body anymore. Of course… you seem like a good fit." Finitevus responded. Suddenly, the demon took over, angered by such a suggestion.
"I dare you to try it! Come and find out why they call me 'Abaddon'!" The Demon raved, Finitevus beginning to chuckle.
"Such a fire within! If only your power matched your spirit. But beggars can't be choosers. Once Regina makes the mistake of opening this door, I'll kill her, momentarily take over her husk, and then transfer myself to you. After all, in the real world, you're just lying unconcious in a tank of water." Finitevus revealed.
After saying this, a slow, condescending clap began to echo throughout the chamber, Isaac looking behind his shoulder and seeing Regina, who was actually in-person in the simulated world.
"That was always your biggest flaw, Dr. Finitevus. You could never keep things to yourself. But Isaac, it seems you exceeded my expectations. Never have someone actually survived an encounter with the ones that died while in my simulation." Regina announced, Isaac's blood beginning to boil.
"You ruthless witch! They were innocent people! People who wanted nothing with your 'next chapter' fairytale! But even in death, they have defied you. They knew, that by releasing Dr. Finitevus, you would endanger all of Mobius." Isaac revealed. Ferrum frowned at this, not taking a liking to being told off by a Mobian.
"You act as if you're in control. Well, I have some bad news for you. Right now, you're swimming around in a tank of water, hooked up to life support. Everything you've been doing: all the running and fighting, all you've been doing in reality was stirring up the water in your tank. Now, I'm taking what is rightfully mine, and you cannot stop me in here! In here… I am God!" Regina proclaimed. Isaac smirked, feeling a new fire building in his soul.
"If that is the case… then I must be the Devil!" Isaac exclaimed, a vortex of fire erupting from under his feet and beginning to shroud him! Regina's eyes widened in terror, realizing that Isaac wasn't inhibited by a collar anymore! Isaac closed his eyes, feeling the sulfur of Hellfire fill his lungs. Suddenly, they shot open, Isaac finding himself surrounded by water, which was beginning to boil. Isaac sent his already-hooved foot through the wall of the tank, shattering it and sending himself out of the glass tank.
Isaac balanced himself on his feet, clutching at a stinging sensation in the back of his head. With hesitation, Isaac pulled out a long needle, which was connected electronically to a machine next to the tank of water he had been occupying.
"The Iron Queen… I sense her body, but not her soul. She released Finitevus!" The Demon informed Isaac. Suddenly, a large bolt of lightning struck Isaac from the right, sending him into spasms! Regina Ferrum was standing before him, concentrating electricity with her staff!
"This Overlander's body may be weak compared to my own, but even her powers with magitek rival my own." She said, revealing Finitevus had taken control of Regina's body! Isaac picked himself up from the ground, despite the constant flow of electricity coursing throughout his body! Isaac began walking towards Finitevus, the lightning not doing much in keeping him away!
"Hey! St-stay back!" Finitevus exclaimed, showing signs of fear. Isaac was nearing him, powering through the constant blast of lightning. In a quick display of power, Isaac launched himself towards the possessed Iron Queen, a swift punch launching the staff away from Finitevus.
"It's time we do things my way." The Demon said, Isaac knowing this was the only way Finitevus could be stopped. I clawed hand grabbed Finitevus by the throat, lifting him off of the ground! His legs thrashing couldn't free himself from Isaac's grip as Isaac concentrated his powers!
"You don't kill! I know you don't!" Finitevus exclaimed.
"Yes… but you will be wishing we did." Isaac returned. Isaac's mouth opened, revealing a large, gaping maw of sharp, rowed teeth! The Iron Queen's mouth suddenly drew open, a thin, wisp-like trail exiting from her mouth and into Isaac's!
"NO! NO! NNNNOOOOOOOO!" Finitevus shouted as his soul was separated from Regina's body, the Demon inside of Isaac consuming it! A few moments of silence occurred before Isaac let go of the Iron Queen, her body hitting the floor hard. A quick flash of knowledge surged through Isaac's brain, gaining all the knowledge that Finitevus was hoarding inside of his mind.
"We must release the others. If they're still connected to the machine, they'll need to be released manually." The Demon said.
30 Minutes Later:
Isaac was still in his Demonic form, King, Jack, and Kiara released from their tanks. They were sitting on the floor, slowly drinking from water bottles and eating energy bars Isaac found in a nearby kitchen.
"That form of yours… pretty fucking creepy." King said, stretching out his legs.
"I'm more disturbed by the fact that he ate Finitevus' soul!" Jack exclaimed.
"Well, not exactly. That would be the same as saying I am wearing my own skin. I have 'consumed' his soul, but it is not gone. Think of it as 'being in storage'." Isaac explained.
"So… how long until you release him?" Kiara asked.
"I don't know. Hopefully, I'll be able to release him to where his soul belongs, but until then, I'll be holding onto it." Isaac answered.
"I'll tell you where it belongs. In fucking Hell!" King commented. Isaac shook his head at this.
"It's not my place to judge the souls of the dead. Hopefully, I'll be able to release him for his own judgement." Isaac responded.
"G.U.N. will be here soon, anyway. They'll take control of the facility, and we'll all get to go home soon." Kiara explained.
"It's strange, though. I don't remember being captured by the Iron Queen. Neither do I know how long we were trapped in the machine she had created." Isaac said.
"Probably a few days, at most. Perception of time can be distorted when everything is linked with the mind. She would've wanted to use the least amount of time to get what she wanted." Kiara explained.
"You know, Isaac's right. How the hell don't we remember being captured?" Jack asked.
"What was the last thing you guys remember?" Kiara asked.
"I was mixing drinks for a bachelor party." Jack answered.
"I was working in my boss' garage, fixing some guy's transmission." King answered.
"I only remember going to sleep." Isaac answered.
"Being rendered unconcious usually doesn't allow the brain to remember the last few minutes before being rendered unconscious. Anything could've happened." Kiara explained.
They continued to talk for the next hour, keeping themselves busy while waiting for G.U.N. reinforcements. Isaac stayed in his Demonic form, enjoying his fully recovered state, something he couldn't do for months! Suddenly, the sound of controlled explosions could be heard, the door of the facility being breached by G.U.N.!
"Well, that's our cue to get out of here. I'll go out there and let them know we're safe. Stay here." Kiara said, getting up and walking towards the sound of the breach. The others stayed where they were, waiting for their time to release themselves from the nightmare. Soon, a squad of agents entered the room, a few of them recognizing Isaac in his Demonic form.
"Your Highness, he's in here! He's safe, along with the others." The Squad Leader said, his voice aimed for outside of the door. But instead of King Nigel or Queen Alicia or even Princess Sally entering through the doorway, it was a Mobian squirrel, wearing royal attire with ornate gold pieces and red jewels. It did not take long for Isaac to recognize him from a recent Acorn family portrait as Prince Elias, Sally's older brother! Isaac approached the prince, bowing before him, causing Elias to flinch at Isaac's appearance.
"It is an honor to finally meet you, Prince Elias." Isaac said, still bowed before him.
"Are… are you Isaac? The one my sister has married?" Elias asked, not sure if this was the one Sally had told him about.
"Isaac Abaddon, at your service." Isaac said, reassuring him of his identity. Prince Elias tugged at his collar, finding himself in an uncomfortable predicament.
"Appears love is blind if you pardon the expression. I never thought my sister would marry someone so…" He went to say, before hesitating to finish the sentence.
"Imposing?" Isaac questioned.
"Sure, let's go with that." Elias said, not wanting to make Isaac an enemy from a crude comment. Fire soon shrouded Isaac, himself reverting to his normal form, which had relieved Prince Elias to a considerable degree.
"Of course, looks can be truly deceiving." Isaac commented. Elias nodded, now seeing Isaac's true form.
"Didn't take you for a sorcerer. Quite an interesting ability." Elias said. Isaac shook his head at this misguided observation.
"Try 'Nephilim'. Son of the demon, Azazel, and the angel, Gloria." Isaac said, an attempt to be specific on his origins. Prince Elias actually chuckled at this, not genuinely believing that Isaac was the offspring of an angel and a demon. If anything at all, he assumed Isaac was speaking titles, instead of heritage.
"Well, whatever your story, it's truly an honor. Thank you for protecting my sister while my mother and I were away on important matters! But I had to take a detour to the Feral Forest to see my family before proceeding back to the Kingdom of Acorn. Now, if there is nothing else keeping you here, we need to get back to the Kingdom. Right now, the garrison has been scrambling around, trying to figure out how their security's been breached by Regina Ferrum." Elias explained.
Isaac nodded, wishing to return to a sense of normality after traipsing around a dead city for God-knows-how-long.