Bleh!
Life screwed me over, as if it were one of those obscure Japanese pornos you stumble upon on VHS, leading you down a never-ending rabbit hole.
This chapter draws on concepts from two Isaac mods, the "Samael" mod created by Ghostbroster Connor, and the "Repentance Eternal Edition" mod created by Guilherme. Mostly, there are certain implications I've incorporated from these mods. I just wanted to give a shoutout to these folks for creating the mods, lol. I'd also appreciate it if you gave them a try.
Theoretically, this is the final chapter of the first arc. Following this, the first chapter of Helluva Boss would continue. Sorry for keeping you waiting like this.
Just a heads up, I haven't planned any romantic partners for Isaac.
oh, and special thanks to Reality Bender for being my beta tester for a while! (if anyone likes to write, please get one, they are a lifesaver, you really are the chosen one)
Take this crappy chapter and let me die.
(discord link at the end of the chapter)
I... am grateful to you.
Without tethering myself to a single point in time, I was nothing more than a procedural agent, unaware of the surroundings, devoid of apparent judgment but, at the same time, carrying judgment itself.
With a mission that was my very essence: to take your soul. A simple and repetitive objective, carried out thousands of times before.
But you were different.
You were unique, refusing to be taken even by death itself. That's why I found myself compelled to do something I had never attempted before: venture out on my own, make a decision for myself, as if it were a flaw to correct within reality itself.
I followed your soul like a machine obeying orders, without hesitation in this singular moment. There was nothing to question.
I simply acted, delving into your inner being. I didn't experience happiness at entering your soul, nor anger at the additional effort. I was simply a tool in operation, an emotionless void.
From the depths of your being to your very essence, I continued with my task as I had done so many times before. However, unbeknownst to me at the time, the changes were slowly blossoming within my non-existent self.
I watched your life, a puzzle of suffering and joy from birth to final breath. I saw your internal struggle, your self-loathing, and how, in the end, you sacrificed everything for a greater good.
And unlike previous times, as the nonexistent past, something began to take shape within my now existing self.
But I ignored it as an irrelevant error, something unworthy of my attention as it fell outside my objectives. And I pressed on.
I continued to observe your life, albeit incompletely, exploring your intriguing story while pretending it was part of my duty, though I told myself I was indifferent to it all.
But when one convinces oneself not to question something, then there shouldn't be questioning in the first place.
From every beat of your heart to every sigh of your soul, you revealed more about yourself to me. Every detail in your being was imbued with stories longing to be heard, but those stories were guarded, whether from the foot of your mother, her heart, or even her corpse, all a challenge to uncover something, the story of someone.
The story of Isaac, a tale with no defined name yet, for its ending remains a mystery, carrying only the name of its protagonist. This narrative awaits the moment when it closes completely to receive its full title.
I was the spectator of this journey. Though it wasn't my objective, I found myself seeking clues, deviating from my original task because I was curious about you.
I tried to ignore this distraction.
Yet, I managed to find them, the clues revealing who you were.
You were a child who suffered greatly in life, making decisions no child should face, and ending up in this nightmare place.
I could feel what you experienced, but I ignored it, dismissing your efforts and beliefs, failing to recognize that you were a being with your own will, not merely an manipulable external process. I didn't understand that this was your real self, not something others could control.
I assumed that by getting rid of your angels and demons, I could take you, that I could solve the problem once and for all, that this process could be expedited and take your soul once and for all.
But you rejected me.
It wasn't something another could do for you, it was your own path, and the world itself knew it. That's why I couldn't take you, because you decided, against all odds, that this wasn't over yet, that no effort was worthwhile except your own, and you pressed on.
As you compelled me to continue, I found myself on a path different from yours, trapped in the same world, in the same soul, but unable to communicate with you.
Trapped in a different plane, with no clear objectives, I pressed on as if it were a routine, but within that routine, I could reflect, question.
I realized I was different from when I didn't exist, as strange as it may sound. In this soul, I took shape, and I realized that my existence depended on you, even if it was a total accident. I accepted that when I began to feel empathy for you.
Because now I realized that I could feel.
But...
What does it mean to feel alive? This was the question I asked myself as I struggled to strip that right from nonexistent beings in any way possible.
And the answer to that question is...
I don't know, but it's something I know I didn't possess before. I had no memory, no judgment, I was unaware of the world, I had form but was indifferent to it.
Until I found you. You shaped me, helped me to feel. I could have memories derived from what I felt when I saw you, I could remember the things you experienced and what I felt when witnessing those experiences.
I gained judgment because I hated those who harmed you, I felt sorrow seeing you take paths that went against your well-being to follow what you believed was "right."
I became aware of your world, which for a moment became mine. And when you decided I couldn't continue with my destined task, that world didn't reject me like the previous one that didn't even allow me to exist. It granted me another destiny, one bound but free at the same time.
However, it kept me away from you.
I was confined with you, though you didn't know it. As a being now alive and with my own judgment, I understood that I couldn't follow my appointed path with my vision clouded by what is considered "being alive": deciding for myself, possessing forbidden knowledge, having morality.
I could observe the actions you took even though you weren't aware of my existence. I saw every part of your journey, from the initial fear to the final bravery. I saw how you became more curious once you accepted your surroundings.
You began to behave as a child despite your horrible environment, not worrying too much about seriousness, about the morbidity of your soul, acting with curiosity or simply believing that you could do things without many obstacles, to the point where even the world accepted it by being able to give you challenges.
And that frivolity eventually turned into determination. I saw how you went through each stage to become more than just a child, how you grew even in the worst possible environment.
Despite everything you experienced in your life, you remained that child who wanted the best for everyone, who slowly began to want the best for himself, defying absolute authority.
I was part of your journey, providing you with tools under the permission of your own world, only with the modest price of playing by its rules. Until finally, you did it, and Isaac reached the end.
You defeated the beast along with its riders, you decided it was enough, that the self-imposed chains of this world were not enough to hold you back, that you could be free.
You succeeded in completing it, and as an extension of your own existence, I easily realized it was time to return to how I was before meeting you. Once again, I would become nothing.
I didn't mind. I began to feel with you, and if you were ever to leave, I wouldn't mind ceasing to feel. I didn't care if my life ended with you. I was curious about your memories and experiences, but I accepted it as reality.
However, you surprised me. Even in the end, you challenged my ideas based on simple logic. Just as you gave me existence, you prevented our existence from disappearing.
You managed to catch the attention of a divinity with your unique nature. Truly, your ability to change the world seemed to have become an extraordinary capacity at this point.
That divinity left me speechless, did what I always wanted to do, and gave you something I could never give: a key to life that you never had. But it was a complicated key because the door it opened was in hell itself.
I had no great expectations, to be honest. Although I didn't have a clear past, I knew how horrible hell was, as if it were inherent knowledge to me. I never thought you would resort to such a place to achieve what you could never do in life.
But you surprised me again. With a kindness and personality that caught both demons and angels. Or perhaps, for once in your life, you found people who wanted to live as much as you did, despite the horrendous environment.
And so, I continued to watch you. Even without knowing of my existence, your world, your own soul, decided it didn't want to lose me despite having changed completely. I should have realized when that world gave me a name long ago.
Samael.
It was a consideration I accepted, just as I accepted this world as my own. From the laments and hardships to the grace and happiness.
And just as this is my world, you, Isaac, are my world. You are my reason for being because thanks to your soul, I can live, think, judge, and feel.
Perhaps you don't know me or remember our fleeting encounter, but I was always there with you, whether you knew it or cared. That's why I have the right to tell you this:
Isaac, from that child who considered himself the root of all evil to that person who managed to destroy the true root of all evil.
I am proud of you.
And all that you have achieved...
...
...
"Uh... What?"
A void stretched around him as the two entities merged into an embrace. One part poured all the emotions into the gesture, while the other part accepted it without fully understanding.
A pair of arms wrapped around Isaac's body, slowly tracing his chest until reaching his back. The pressure intensified as the embrace tightened.
Isaac's confused gaze wandered through the void surrounding him, finding nothing but the figure in front of him. A figure that truly hugged him, without easing the pressure or showing any intention of letting go. It seemed to have waited for this moment for a long time.
Isaac encountered that person when he opened his eyes after a long sleep, or so he hoped. Unfortunately, he didn't seem able to find a second of rest.
His hand slowly landed on the shoulder of the strange person, in an attempt to... something- it was hard for him to know what was happening- whether for comfort or to warn him that he was cutting off his breath with the force of his embrace. The arms, clad in black clothes that seemed lighter than they really were, continued to hold him tightly.
Although he didn't understand what was happening, Isaac felt too uncomfortable to break the hug. Or Maybe, actually, in some bizarre way, he... liked that feeling.
However, a question arose from the words dedicated to him.
Was there another person trapped in his soul... or so he thought?
Isaac had become too lost in the "conversation," perhaps he hadn't paid enough attention when she appeared out of nowhere and found herself with a stranger who hadn't bothered to introduce herself but who expressed complete gratitude for... giving her the sense life?
Again, Isaac was beginning to tire of ending up continuously in situations he didn't fully understand, especially when they happened one after another without rest.
Isaac began to feel uncomfortable while trapped in this strange confusion, and the fact that the person's hug persisted after several minutes didn't help at all.
Deciding it was enough, and with his curiosity overcoming his confusion, Isaac broke the hug and took a few steps back from the person... - from Samael.
Remembering that people have names, he decided to specifically remember this one, as for some reason he felt their encounters would be somewhat recurrent.
"So... You're telling me you came to claim my soul, but in the end, you got trapped for some reason and you've been encouraging me all this time because... you felt empathy? Wait - or is it because you started to feel in general?" His voice conveyed doubt, with no intention of offending or misinterpreting, as he met the gaze of a woman who didn't seem bothered by his words, but rather, amused by them, which relieved Isaac.
"You could say it that way..." A small smile formed on Samael's face as her hands intertwined behind her back in an attempt to hide the emotion of speaking with Isaac. Although her smile could be seen through her black bangs as she stared at him, Isaac felt a bit uncomfortable with her piercing gaze.
Beyond someone having been watching him from the beginning, besides having witnessed what happened in hell, and putting aside the part of "you are my world" - assuming she said it more literally than sentimentally -
Beyond anything Isaac could even question
His mouth curled into a smile against his will, causing him to be unable to look at Samael's smile because of how embarrassed he felt. He didn't believe someone could make him feel so many things by telling him they were proud of him...
But he was truly glad that someone could express those words, even if he didn't really know that person.
"I appreciate your words, but don't you feel... trapped after so long being locked in my 'soul'?" Isaac couldn't help but think about what she must have felt because of that. Perhaps she felt nothing before entering his soul, but perhaps that was better than experiencing everything he had to endure...
Samael's expression slowly changed to a poker face after letting out an exasperated sigh at Isaac's attitude, as if she knew where this conversation was going beforehand, knowing Isaac and his 'tendencies'.
"Nope..." Samael's mouth for some reason exploded into the "p", which made Isaac nervous by the exaggerated poker face she showed, as if she knew what he was thinking, and made it clear how he wouldn't get anywhere by even worrying about it.
"But-"
"Just no matter what you say; my answer will be the same, and I will be grateful to you until the day of my return to non-existence for allowing me to exist." Without further ado, Samael turned around and began to walk towards apparent nothingness with a smile, ending the conversation, while Isaac remained standing in the void, completely still and deeply confused.
Watching as that figure with a white cloak covering her body walked away, Isaac realized that the place had physical dimensions, and it wasn't so much a different plane like his encounter with the angel.
"Where are you going?" Unwilling to be left behind, the white-haired boy began to move at the same pace as the black-haired girl, despite not understanding anything. However, Isaac managed to notice the contrast between their clothing; after all, they seemed to be the only things in that place allowed to be observable.
With her clothing completely black, a white cloak, and hair as black as the night itself in a braided style, unable to be distinguished from the environment, if not for the iridescent purple glow at the tips of those same braids, as well as noticing eyes of a highly intense purple hue.
Isaac couldn't help but notice she was literally his opposite.
Suddenly, Samael stopped upon hearing his question, seeming to have abruptly found what she was looking for, although there was no possible indication. Isaac felt something was wrong with Samael, from her uncomfortable posture to her inability to look him in the eyes.
But that enigma was solved when Samael turned around and looked at him, more uncomfortable than ever and with a hoarse and apologetic voice, she spoke: "To the basement."
...
Isaac's pupils dilated as his stomach sank. For a moment, he felt as if his heart stopped, suddenly lost. His golden eyes managed to find an anchor: purple eyes that seemed to shine in the endless void spotted him and offered help, managing to find sudden calm in the support of others. The way Samael's hands intertwined with his, the way she asked if he was okay, all in an attempt to help him.
Without knowing that mere attempt was enough to calm him.
But they also confused him, made him doubt, besides accepting that maybe the things she mentioned were true. So many things happened in his mind that he simply forced himself to calm down enough to be able to continue questioning everything. Breathing deeply, Isaac exhaled, releasing everything that was in his mind at that moment, allowing himself to remember that he was no longer a child, and that world would never be the same for him.
That the basement was nothing to him anymore.
Samael quickly regretted his frankness, halting and preparing to assist Isaac if needed. However, Isaac merely shook his head, offering her a reassuring smile, something Samael accepted when he finally made eye contact with her.
"I'm fine... Just... caught me off guard. I know it's only been 24 hours since I left the basement, but..." Isaac tried to reassure her, leaving Samael somewhat frustrated by his attitude, but knowing there wasn't much she could do about it.
"You don't need to justify yourself to anyone, you know that. That's why you fought so hard. Do you really think anyone could smile after what you've been through in the last 24 hours? Or at least not fall apart?" Samael released his hands as he scolded him, and Isaac happily accepted his words, nodding as the corners of his lips lifted, feeling the concern Samael had for him.
Taking a brief pause to process the information more clearly, it wasn't so difficult to reflect on his past experiences and notice his new tendency to overanalyze things, which wasn't ideal at that moment. Fortunately, Samael seemed to realize this as she pulled out a key and inserted it into what seemed to be an empty space, which suddenly turned into a wall, giving way to the appearance of a door.
Isaac opened his mouth in amazement, alternating his attention between the ingenious design of the key and the door framed in delicate gray tones.
"This... Once we cross this door, we'll be in the basement. I've surpassed the floors before, so you'll find it easy, trust me. But before that, is there anything you want to know?" Samael spoke as calmly as possible, while her hands preemptively surrounded Isaac's, conveying a sense of calmness with his smile, which Isaac silently appreciated.
"I have many... too many questions, but the most important one... you mentioned something about 'taking' my soul, about taking me to heaven or hell. Which of the two places were you planning to take me?" Isaac's eyes fixed on the clear purple peeking through Samael's dark hair decisively. For him, it was clear, he didn't need confirmation, but he didn't know which answer would be more satisfying.
"I'm sorry, I can't answer that question. I am unaware of what your destination would be, besides having forgotten any other souls I might have collected before."
...
A feeling of relief flooded Isaac, feeling lighter as he shed that sudden weight he had felt. Ambiguity seemed to him the perfect answer; after all, it was a question whose answer no longer mattered to him, a decision that Samael seemed to fully support as she relaxed her grip on Isaac's hands.
"I don't think I can ask all the questions I have right now, but... where are we?" The darkness surrounding him didn't seem to belong to any specific place; rather, it gave the sensation of being a completely astral plane, although he knew it was not.
"My room."
...
"What...?" Disbelieving, Isaac began to look around and realized that the vast emptiness surrounding him was actually darkness, with discernible walls only if he strained enough to see them.
"Well... It seems that after arriving in hell, your soul granted me a special room once it 'shifted,' a place I go to whenever I'm not on a floor..." Suddenly, Samael's abrupt demeanor transformed into an embarrassed expression, as if he had remembered something, something that seemed to suddenly shine next to the door...
In the form of a light switch.
"We'd better get going." Samael's cheeks were completely flushed, in stark contrast to the bright purple tone of his hair, an image Isaac knew he wouldn't easily forget. Despite Samael's attitude, the last thing Isaac wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable, so he simply pretended not to have noticed anything and gave her a thumbs-up gesture, easing her discomfort a bit.
Samael quickly turned the key, opening the door and letting a bright white glow escape, as if it were the entrance to a video game portal.
Without needing to push Isaac, Samael's pleading gaze urged him to pass through the door, almost silently begging him. Isaac just returned a smile as he crossed the threshold, so serene and calm that he didn't realize he was about to plunge into his own nightmare. Again...
His eyes met a room with shades of aged wooden brown, two doors in opposite directions, and nothing else remarkable except for the holes in the walls which left a white glow in the rotten areas.
He stared at the ground, legs stretched out in a V shape and hands behind him, as his mind wandered.
'This doesn't seem to have changed at all,'he thought, observing the walls exactly as he remembered them, among other things.
After a moment of reflection he would prefer to forget, he realized he wasn't alone in the room.
Samael approached slowly, with an apologetic smile for having acted in such haste. She crouched down and extended her hand in a gesture of help for Isaac to get up, an offer that the latter gratefully accepted as he got lost in Samael's purple eyes, glimpsing a flash of empathy.
"Are you okay?" Samael's concern was met with a hesitant nod from Isaac, who felt a bit uneasy as he continued to look around.
"Yeah... I thought it would be worse, but... it feels strange. Like I'm compelled to think I don't want to be here. I'm probably nervous about not knowing how to get out, or if you can even get out..." Isaac's eyes shifted to the room's floor, finding no answers this time, recalling with a slight smile the instructions that existed on this same floor in the past. It was Samael who slowly pulled him out of his reverie.
"So you have no choice but to move forward to find out. You're not the type to stand still when you don't know what to do. If you were, well... just look at you." Trying to encourage him, Samael drew Isaac's attention to start moving, preferring this to seeing him so uncomfortable.
Opting for the door on the left, the dark figure remembered to mention something crucial to Isaac before venturing into the basement once again.
"Things are... somewhat different here. There's no danger, but it's unlike what you remember," she said, overlooking Isaac's curious look and fully trusting in his abilities. The group crossed the first door.
The room retained the same dimensions, but a guttural growl emanating from a pile of C-shaped stones caught their attention, along with the clang of the door closing behind them.
Isaac mentally prepared himself to face the situation, feeling more confident seeing Samael so composed. He raised his arms in a position he remembered seeing on television, trying to distract himself; Isaac's mind seemed to try to recall everything he could about these enemies.
But he was interrupted once the source of the growls surrounded the stones, finding himself once again facing these monsters that had once haunted him.
...
"Uh!" Isaac felt baffled facing the enemy, identical to what he remembered but larger and white. Its appearance puzzled him; it seemed exaggerated and forced, unreal even...
"Is it normal for them to be so slow?" He didn't even bother to keep his gaze on the enemy as he watched Samael, who scratched her head perplexed upon realizing that Isaac hadn't noticed the difference from their previous encounters.
"Well... Maybe they're resistant?" Samael encouraged Isaac to attack first, opting for the most practical method rather than explaining it directly.
Accepting the situation, Isaac cautiously approached until he was face-to-face with the basic enemy, which was basically his old-self but with bloodshot eyes...
'Did he ever truly fear this?' he thought before attacking, determined to go all out, no matter how it looked, they were still enemies who tried and succeeded in killing him hundreds of times.
So, Isaac would ensure they met the same end they longed for him.
Crack
The room fell into complete silence.
And a body collapsed.
"I... uh..." Isaac felt stunned and backed away a bit as he observed the state of the enemy after receiving a punch to the face from Isaac himself.
Crawling on the floor with a dent in its skull, it looked deformed, as if it were moldable clay.
Isaac couldn't help but feel bad about it, even regretting leaving a being in that state.
"Congratulations!" Samael appeared behind him with a proud smile, surprising Isaac, who looked at her with bewilderment as she seemed proud. Left with uncertainty, Isaac watched her strangely for her behavior.
"Thanks, I guess..." Isaac wasted no time and fell silent as Samael stomped on the enemy's head, ending its suffering and opening the doors of the room once more.
"It feels different, doesn't it?" Samael was the first to notice the changes in Isaac, how he now valued things more and preferred to avoid conflict; it seemed like a sudden change, but it didn't seem strange to her.
And the fact that Isaac didn't even consider using his tears as a weapon indicated a certain determination, or perhaps he was too fatigued to think clearly. Everything was possible when it came to Isaac.
However, those weren't the only changes. Maybe he seemed prouder or felt more competent. They were subtle but important changes in Isaac's evolution, or maybe changes produced by the shift of his mind-body-soul features.
Whatever the reason, Samael would always support Isaac, although she admitted she wished he would be a little tougher when it came to his enemies, especially the demons...
"No... well, yes... it's complicated. I guess I just need to get used to it again. Everything seems strangely distant..." Uncertain of his own words, Isaac preferred to move on, leaving Samael somewhat unsure of how this might affect him.
The fact that these "machinations of his own mind" could be like Samael seemed to greatly affect Isaac, as if he were compelled to think about it, doubting how alive these beings truly were.
A number of rooms with nothing more interesting than a few revelations passed quickly.
The notion of 'being alive' quickly faded when the enemies seemed to not even have organs; in the 'cold thinking' department, there were more reasons to think that these things weren't alive than there were pointing to them being alive.
But in Isaac's case, it still felt strange to kill them, so in a sort of morbid pity, he made sure to finish them off as quickly as possible.
They were different. As he opened his hands, Isaac realized they weren't stained with his blood, but with a white liquid that dissolved in seconds. This led him to question the new nature of these enemies as he watched Samael decapitate an enemy without hesitation with a scythe.
Watching the grace with which Samael moved, Isaac was forced to remind himself that she was different from him and that he had no right to hesitate when it came to something that could harm them simply out of a hint of 'consideration' out of nowhere.
"This is... annoying." Samael's hands rested on her hips as she looked at the wall ahead of them, empty, clearly indicating they should return the way they came. Isaac noticed that, unlike him, she seemed truly indifferent to everything.
Well... it wasn't surprising. Unlike him, she had spent her entire life trapped in a routine behind a world that meant nothing to her. All she knew were her memories or this world, and yet, her gaze seemed simply happy as she focused on it when she realized he was looking at her.
Isaac didn't understand how she didn't resent him for making her live this life, but he also knew he wouldn't gain anything by saying anything about it...
Taking advantage of the time they had as they retreated the same way, Isaac tried to start a conversation for the first time since they arrived in this place.
"I'm curious... How is it that I appeared in your room as soon as I arrived?" Samael didn't seem bothered to answer his question; in fact, she seemed pleased that he initiated the conversation.
"I have some control over what this world would be. Since I got my room, I can control some things, like the black cloak I gave you and..." Samael's body suddenly became still, and as she slowly turned around, she met Isaac's suspicious gaze as he backed away a bit.
"You... do you have control over my soul?" He wasn't angry, just found it strange that... well, a living and thinking being (besides being a stranger) could have some control over his soul.
"It's almost nothing! Well..." Samael became nervous trying to justify herself, avoiding being on Isaac's bad side. Although she always seemed calm and confident, Isaac was her weakest point. However, her concerns were something Isaac dismissed as he offered her a playful smile for her attitude.
"Don't worry, just let me know before doing something, unless it's absolutely necessary, okay?" Placing his hand on Samael's shoulder in an attempt to reassure her, Isaac continued walking through the empty rooms in search of what he supposed would be the exit, or rather, the boss room.
Feeling relieved, Samael hastened her pace to follow Isaac as she watched him from behind. She would admit she loved his new body, He looked more adult, and it allows him to be stronger for obvious reasons, but this could cause problems in the future.
Her existence was determined to some extent. There were things she knew and things she didn't, like any sentient being. But one thing was certain: the body combined with the attitude so...
Isaac.
It could lead to complications in the long run, especially if Isaac lacked knowledge in 'that' area, something she preferred to avoid thinking about at the moment.
'She had to consider too many things for Isaac to live well! like his diet, exercises, social life...' enumerated the mind of a conscious being whose existence was summarized in things not so varied, something, like a small number of things, that would never be a good complement to each other.
...
Bones embedded in a door with a skull in the center were the necessary clues for Isaac to realize he was in the boss room.
"I don't remember seeing any treasure room or shop, not even a sacrifice room..." Isaac murmured as he reflected on everything needed before being able to enter. It would have been wonderful to find a pedestal or one of those rooms full of spikes that he enjoyed so much; one of the few good things about this place was discovering those things.
"Well, it's not the only change; we also didn't find keys, coins, or bombs, nor are there chests. Also, even the enemies seem stronger, though it doesn't seem like it..." Samael was forced to look away when Isaac stared at her, thinking she was trying to imply something, hoping he would better realize his new abilities with this irrefutable proof.
"So... either we were unlucky, or the items obtained have been reduced or even eliminated." An excited smile spread across Samael's face as she watched how, despite having grown, Isaac still retained that part she used to observe all the time in the past.
As if all this were a game, and she wouldn't be left behind.
"Well, you've grown a lot, and this world probably wants things to be balanced. We still have the boss, don't you want to find out if it has something?" Bowing as he opened the way to the boss room, Isaac couldn't help but laugh at this strange person's gesture.
A fact that comforted Samael as it lightened the atmosphere a bit.
And with Isaac moving forward first, Samael didn't take long to follow him, happy to be able to interact with him after so long watching him, probably a dream she had always had for this moment.
Darkness seemed to engulf the light, putting the group on alert. They watched as a shadow lunged a few meters away from them, causing a racket as it fell, and with the light itself forming an entity over the boss.
Mᴏɴsᴛʀᴏ
And before Isaac could react to seeing what would be the weakest boss he remembered, but strangely white, like all the other monsters he encountered
LIght formed above their heads in a similar way it did with Monstro, seeming to flip a switch in Samael, at least he thought so as she tried to hide the excitement she felt for this moment.
It was like a dream to her!.
Isᴀᴀᴄ & Sᴀᴍᴀᴇʟ
And just as the light was absorbed by the darkness, now the light flooded the room again until it was bright enough for the fight to begin.
Monstro didn't hesitate to be the first to move, leaping beyond what a supposed ceiling could hinder. A quick glance at his partner was enough to realize the experience was shared by the group, so they decided to split up in opposite directions.
As it impacted the ground where it was a second ago, tears splattered throughout the room, forming piles compared to its previous version, but still, Isaac dodged them effortlessly.
A factor that would change when Monstro focused on him, changing its attack to pure vomit that seemed like a torrent of tears traveling at great speed towards Isaac, so many that for a moment this weak boss seemed strong enough to corner him in a corner of the room.
"Incredible..." He murmured to himself, watching how this Monstro, with a white color palette, seemed much stronger and more aggressive than in the past, but not as resistant, or so it seemed by the way its health bar decreased from the scythe cut caused by Samael, who took advantage of the boss's focus on Isaac.
Allowing himself to pay attention to other places, he noticed there was a health bar on the wall behind him, which had decreased by 7% due to Samael's attack.
But to further surprise him, Monstro jumped again with a growl when it realized what was happening, moving to a corner of the room.
Strangely intelligent on its part, but it didn't seem like much when it was only dedicated to vomiting tears, flooding the entire room, but not fast enough to affect them when they moved to the opposite corner.
Once the group regrouped, they only watched as Monstro jumped at them again.
And the above repeated, with the group moving to opposite corners, but this time, Samael was marked as the target, and Isaac seized the opportunity to strike hard with his right fist, feeling Monstro's skin like a wall, only reducing its life by another 10%.
And Monstro went back to a corner...
...
Ducking to dodge some tears, Isaac glanced at Samael, who seemed more bored than concerned about the boss, warning him, only a silent exchange of looks was necessary to determine how this would end, Monstro's pattern was so simple that not a word was needed, but the strategy was underway.
Samael and Isaac quickly reduced Monstro's life to 40% with the same repetitive strategy: standing in the center of the room, causing Monstro to jump on them, then separating into two groups, and focusing on one while repeating the cycle.
Isaac and Samael stepped back as they watched Monstro's muscular mass wriggle morbidly as if it were gelatinous, ending the visceral show when it split in two.
Now facing the boss's double, Isaac thought they would probably have to devise a new strategy and...
He could only look disappointedly at the mass of pulped flesh on the floor as it slowly faded away, diverting his attention to the other Monstro, which suddenly exploded when Samael turned semi-transparent and tore the poor mini-Monstro's body apart in a number that kept multiplying until it disappeared completely.
With the room now cleared, a trapdoor and a door manifested out of nowhere, sadly not showing any objects.
"This is..."
"Disappointing?" Samael completed his sentence as she used the tip of her scythe to pick at Monstro's flesh, at least until it disappeared like the others.
Even considering flesh beings disappointing seemed more annoying than the enemies themselves; it was also disappointing that there was no object as a reward.
"Well... Don't blame him too much. We were supposed to be just one, not two enemies, besides..." You're simply strong, thought Samael, words she would have liked to say, along with hundreds of other things she wanted to express, however, Isaac wanted to live.
And to live, one must experience and learn. She preferred that Isaac learn for himself, and it was strangely moving to see his amazed face as he performed spectacular acts for himself, as if he were testing his abilities and limits more and more.
"I guess you're right..." Putting that aside, he focused on the trapdoor and the door leading to the demon room.
It was assumed what he would do with each one.
Still, he didn't hesitate for a second to decide for himself: "Do you want to come with me?"
Isaac's hand reached out to Samael, open like an invitation. Beyond the support provided by this person, Isaac couldn't allow her life to be a confinement of his own soul, especially when it was all she had known.
Something that would have delighted Samael, so much so that it seemed like something she longed for in times when she could only hope that Isaac's perseverance wouldn't give up
It was so... unusual. The nightmares were left behind, the horror faded into the past, and that boy who suffered so much, perhaps could have a life.
But she couldn't.
"Thank you... But there's a possibility that I'll just disappear, and honestly... I really like living. And even more so when I can follow your path, just as I did until now..." she didn't continue her words, but she made sure that Isaac understood them.
"Oh." Isaac's eyes widened as he realized that could also be a possibility, so he withdrew his hand a little annoyed by the situation, trying to think of anything else.
He had all eternity to do so if necessary.
Needless to say, this didn't seem strange to Samael. Whether a child or a teenager, having all his being changed by external methods, Isaac will always be Isaac, and that detail was enough for her.
"Let's go." Taking Isaac's hand, Samael dragged him against his will towards the door that would probably be their way out.
Isaac looked at the door indifferently, preferring to think of some way to help Samael.
He knew little about her, but enough to understand that she had only experienced his soul and his existence, observing him from afar, supporting him both before and now. Therefore, for Isaac, it didn't take long for her to become someone he would like to feel comfortable with. However, for her, it wasn't the time for this.
"You'll probably be back as soon as you sleep again, so it's not like I won't see you again."
...
"I'll be back, and when I can, I'll look for any way to help you." reluctant to go, Isaac found himself leaving through the door that usually served to make deals with the devil, but now, should lead him straight to hell.
Samael watched this with a smile, listening to every word of Isaac until he left, and although she couldn't hear him, that wouldn't stop her from also giving him a few words.
"I know you will."
The door closed in front of her, while the wood reshaped the place where there was once a door.
Feeling the silence of a soul no longer in pain, Samael had two options: go rest in her room or entertain herself a bit by jumping through the trapdoor.
Her eyes closed, and that smile she held in front of Isaac slowly turned mischievous as she cracked her knuckles, let's say this encounter so full of emotion left her with a bit more desire to have fun.
from one's own soul, to one's own hell (waking up at 5 AM without having slept at all) - loona & isaac
"Auugh," the jaws of a certain hellhound stretched to their limits in a yawn. With a hellish backache, she soon realized she had fallen completely asleep sitting up.
"What the hell..." Irritated by a weight on her tail, she grumbled upon seeing the person still sleeping on the same couch as her, trying to remember what the hell had happened last night. The crumbs scattered all over her clothes seemed to give her a clue.
"That damn apple pie..." She spoke as she glanced sideways at the sleeping white-haired guy, recalling better the events of last night. She remembered "talking" about some nonsense with him.
If the ability he really has is called "talking," she doesn't even know how to describe it. It was morbidly frustrating how he behaved, it was a strange combination of wanting to kick him to shut up or shut up to kick him.
Well, better for her, the less he talked, the less annoying his existence would be anyway...
The hellhound's joints stretched as she got up, letting out a crackle from her bones as she shook all the crumbs off her clothes. At the same time, her tail, of course, wagged behind her, attracting the rogue who was sleeping on top of her and pulling him to the floor.
"Heh," a small smile spread across Loona's face as Isaac's body fell dryly to the ground, right onto all the crumbs, and yet still not waking up.
Seeing this, Loona took the opportunity to snap a photo of Isaac's sprawled body on the floor, filing it away in a special folder for "future use" with a mischievous grin as she headed to the bathroom.
...
Feeling like a mummy, Isaac slowly got up with a grunt of effort, kneeling until using the couch to stand up completely. It was only a matter of seconds before his confused being was bombarded with memories of the dream he had.
He would love to say that, at least if it weren't because he knows it wasn't a dream. They felt like memories, as if he had been awake throughout the whole process, which meant he essentially hadn't slept at all.
From Samael, the basement, to encountering past enemies, who were at the same time different, it was all a little more dust for the dirt that was already his life, but luckily, he had other things to focus on.
His body and face smeared with saliva provided a good excuse to distract himself from other thoughts. Using the sleeve of his wrist to wipe off that sticky drool, Isaac noticed he was covered in crumbs everywhere, as well as desperately needing something to revitalize him.
Along with the urgency of necessary hygiene, the solution seemed quite clear.
Heading to the bathroom and receiving a shout from the other side, warning (threatening) him that it was occupied, the solution no longer seemed so obvious. Therefore, Isaac opted to freshen up at the kitchen sink.
As he passed through the door, Isaac's weary body moved mechanically through the kitchen, staring straight ahead until he reached the sink, where he paused for a moment, staring at it intently as his eyes slowly closed.
Until they snapped open when he realized he was about to fall asleep. Shaking his head in an attempt to wake up, he refocused on the sink with determination to face that monumental task.
Washing his face.
He turned on the faucet with his sleeves rolled up and, once again, let the water overflow onto his hands for a moment, releasing a tired sigh as he closed his eyes, finding the sound of running water strangely comforting.
So comforting that he didn't realize he wasn't alone in the room.
"Are you okay?" Letting out a surprised squeak, in less than a second he looked around with wide eyes for the source of that concerned voice (somewhat unusual by the standards of the place).
And then he looked down, not seeing anything at first glance, finding one of the imps he had seen before, specifically the one wearing a flashy suit and with black horns with white lines.
Or maybe white horns with black lines. Isaac was too absorbed in himself to think clearly.
"I... uh, yeah, I was just washing my-" trying, for some reason, to explain what he was doing, he pulled his wet hands out of the sink, letting the water fall to the floor and creating a mess.
As the water continued to flow from the faucet, Isaac watched as it slipped through his fingers until there was no more in his hands, but there was on the floor, leaving the room silent and Isaac dropping his head into his hands with frustration, letting out a heavy sigh.
The little demon in front of him jumped when Isaac spilled the water on the floor, then looked at the puddle with confusion, not detecting any signs of aggression from the white-haired individual.
He glanced at the open faucet and then at Isaac's weary figure, without prejudice. A faint smile quickly formed on his lips as he scrutinized Isaac's personality, who seemed to ignore his gaze.
"I need to go back to sleep, this time without strangers or... whatever the others were, it's too complicated to socialize properly like this..." he whispered as he turned off the faucet and grabbed a rag lying carelessly nearby to clean the floor. He crouched down and passed the rag unenthusiastically, his mind on anything but the current situation.
Dragging the rag across the floor, another rag stained with blood joined it in a matter of seconds. Confused, Isaac watched the arm of the person helping him and met the smiling face of an imp when he looked up, receiving a thumbs up as his rag moved quickly across the dirty floor.
He couldn't help but let his tired eyes widen in surprise at the gesture, blinking repeatedly. Literally, this felt more like a dream than the nightmare he had five minutes ago.
Once the floor was completely clean (at least the part with water), Isaac dried his hands and left the rag on the counter as he looked at the demon with a smile on his face. Before he could express his gratitude, a completely red hand rose firmly, inviting a handshake, an exchange that would only be based on behavior.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Moxxie, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh... uh..." Isaac felt puzzled by the formality of the gesture, barely able to return the handshake in an attempt to return the courtesy, leaving the imp with an increasingly wider smile as he accepted the gesture.
"I'm Isaac, thank you for... helping me with that. It's also a pleasure to meet you." Breaking the handshake, he couldn't ignore Moxxie's wide smile, which strangely seemed to be hiding that behavior as he placed his hands behind his back.
"!..." With dulled instincts, Isaac couldn't fully realize a squeal until the owner of that sound suddenly appeared next to the other demon, with bright eyes.
Unable to question the brief exchange of glances between the two demons, the imp quickly took his hand in a handshake, with more force than Isaac expected, almost feeling like he was being pulled to the ground.
"The name's Millie! Nice to meet you!" Feeling like his shoulder was about to tear off, but too fatigued to do anything about it, a peaceful smile spread across his face as he accepted his fate.
However, their meeting was interrupted by Moxxie, who nervously laughed as he broke the handshake, separating him from Millie.
"Calm down, honey... Don't you think maybe you're using too much force, as always?" Moxxie's words made Millie bring her hands to her cheeks, opening her mouth in shock. Regret became evident as she resumed the handshake more gently this time.
"I'm sorry about that, but I wanted to meet you. The boss told us about a new addition to the family, and that the chain you used yesterday was yours!" Isaac seemed a bit confused as Millie walked around him enthusiastically, as if she was looking for the chain somewhere. Moxxie seemed to disagree, as indicated by his nervous smile.
"I'm sorry... But I don't have the chain, for some insignificant or currently relevant reason, and I don't know if I'll have it again." He couldn't help but feel a little sorry to see Millie's eyes lose some sparkle, although they soon returned when Moxxie slid his arm around her waist, pulling her into a loving embrace, while watching the relief in her face as she heard those words.
Trying to contribute something to the conversation, Isaac remembered that, after all, this was a business. "Are you by any chance employees of Blitz?" He spoke with curiosity in his voice, knowing the answer beforehand, but using the question as a bait.
"Of course!" Millie spoke with enthusiasm, contrasting completely with the awkward way Moxxie looked away, as if that was information he was ashamed to be publicly known.
"The best (and only) employees of Immediate Murder Professionals." Millie's voice still sounded excited as she introduced herself alongside Moxxie. It took Isaac several seconds to catch on, but he couldn't help but marvel at the clever name of I.M.P.
"Please, Millie, don't say that when we're in public, but aside from that... Can I talk to you for a second?" Moxxie looked suspiciously around, taking a quick chance to speak privately. Millie looked at Moxxie with confusion as she also approached, her head slightly tilted over his shoulder, intrigued by her husband's behavior.
"What's the deal?" Without a hint of doubt, Moxxie directly expressed what he was thinking, confusing Isaac.
"The what?" Confused for the ninth time, his mind excused his poor performance with the argument that everything that had happened in the last 24 hours had been too much. A valid argument for Isaac.
Millie sighed with a disappointed gesture towards her husband, before quickly dismissing it, although it wasn't an unexpected reaction. After all, Moxxie didn't seem entirely happy when the boss informed them about the new "hire" (not to say he complained for hours, at least until she made him complain about other things).
"Dear, we've already talked about this," Millie reproached Moxxie's "mysterious" attitude. He opened his mouth to say something, but the disapproving look from his wife stopped him dead in his tracks, and any retort was canceled with a tongue click, eliciting a frustrated growl from the smaller demon.
"That damn look works in every situation."
With Moxxie sidelined, Millie proceeded to explain things a little better, much to Isaac's relief, who seemed to be struggling more and more with the conversation.
"The boss tends to... attract people in the long run, so to speak, not against their will, but, well, I think everyone in this building has ended up here in a rather strange way," Millie concluded, confirming the pattern when Isaac looked away, as if he were trying to hide something.
"I knew it! There's no way the boss got someone even remotely acceptable voluntarily!" Sounding triumphant, Moxxie realized he had said his words out loud, leaving Millie with a smile enjoying her partner's sudden discomfort, to which she apologized for her husband's behavior.
"Well... I'm here because I want to be, I made some sort of deal with Blitz, and he said he would give me a place to stay for a while... And if it helps, you both seem like very nice people to be in a place like hell, you don't seem like demons."
Trying to return the compliment in some strange way, his mind seemed to regain a bit of control when he realized what he had just said, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence.
The couple's eyes met in a silent exchange, and they both chuckled under their breath in unison, as if they were having a conversation that Isaac wasn't part of. Such conversation concluded with the couple looking at Isaac more calmly, and with Moxxie taking the initiative.
"Well, since we're here, yesterday it seemed like you had your clothes a bit dirty, so I brought you some of my clothes just in case. Let me go get them!" Concluding the conversation, Moxxie ran to the front door without saying another word, leaving Millie and Isaac alone in the kitchen.
"No... I don't think clothes of that size would..." Appreciating the gesture but having some common sense, Isaac quickly realized that the size difference would be a problem for the clothes. However, he was interrupted by what literally sounded like laughter behind a sweet smile.
Looking beside him, he found Millie, whose gaze was lost at the door where Moxxie had gone. "Relax, Moxxie actually bought clothes for you, to the point of guessing your exact size, but he likes to pretend disinterest, especially towards a fellow cook"
Millie winked at him as she finished her words, as if this was something between the two of them, while Isaac didn't fully understand what she meant, which made her chuckle at his perplexed expression at the sweet attitude they had towards him.
"Oh... That's..." Seeing the actions with different eyes, Isaac began to question why these imps were so different from all the ones he had seen before.
"Cute, isn't it?" Allowing silence to fill the room, Millie stared directly into his eyes, and seeing those eyes combined with that playful smile that seemed to comfortably tease, at least for him, Isaac realized that these imps didn't want to hurt him.
Or maybe he was just too needy for affection.
"Yeah... Thank you. I don't really know how to thank you," he scratched his neck awkwardly for not having existing belongings or anything valuable. He didn't realize that Millie seemed to smile more with each moment. Isaac's attitude seemed as genuine as his eyes: awkward, humble, and with a kindness that, unlike her husband's, didn't seem to lean towards aggression.
But meh, That was preferable to a disgusting bastard.
She couldn't help but think about how her father used to bother her a lot with these things., like 'This is hell, there's no point in getting involved with people with weak hearts!, blah blah blah.' But... how bad is it to want to meet more people who aren't trash in hell? The last thing he needed was another person like Loona on the team...
"Relax, sweetheart, it's not necessary. Didn't you make an apple pie? Moxxie likes to cook, you could start with that," With a sleepy yawn at 5 in the morning, Millie's tail began to sway through the kitchen, opening some drawers as she prepared some coffee cups.
Taking the coffee machine they had stolen from a customer, she signaled to Isaac if he wanted some, but he shook his head after some thought. He wanted to get some sleep after this, and coffee never tasted good to him anyway, if what his father gave him occasionally was even coffee...
"Uhh, how did you know-?" Looking confused, Isaac wondered...
"Well, there's enough aroma to attract a hellhorse, and Loona wouldn't touch an oven even if her life depended on it. Plus, she seemed strangely annoyed when I mentioned the crumbs in her fur," for which Isaac showed a peaceful expression, but for Millie, it seemed like an opportunity to constantly annoy Loona was emerging.
Heh, mischief multiplied the more she thought about it. Something must have happened for Loona not to be irritated so early, and that something, obviously, was related to the white-haired guy who was next to her.
She planned to get under that bitch's skin as much as she could... after all, families needed a bit of spice to not be boring!
"I used a cookbook to make it... So I don't deserve so much credit, but you can use it if you want," Trying to be as selfless as possible to what would hopefully be his new friends, Isaac took the book (his only belonging) that was on the counter and passed it to the IMP.
Curious, Millie opened the cover and read the first page from above, recognizing the book. A smile began to grow on the tired face of the little IMP.
"Oh Satan..., this book brings back so much nostalgia. I remember my father used to teach us all sorts of recipes with the anarchist cookbook," Isaac took the opportunity to tidy up the mess he had made when he cooked, paying a little attention to Millie's words.
It didn't strike him as strange that this book was common in hell.
"By the way, are you two a couple?" Ignoring all the signs that answered his question, Isaac started putting away the molds he had taken out while glancing at Millie's tail fluttering cheerfully at his question. Even if he hadn't seen her face, her voice seemed like that of a very happy person.
"Is it so surprising to see a happy lovebirds couple in a place like this? Even flies end up buzzing happily over shit eventually," Raising an eyebrow teasingly at Isaac, the white-haired couldn't help but smile amused by Millie's attitude. After all, if he had doubts about this place, he liked that specifically these doubts were discarded.
"Well, one can always be surprised. I didn't have a good impression when I arrived in hell and the only thing that happened around me was death and lust without filters," laughing to herself, millie found the calm personality of Isaac so pleasant, to the point that she allowed herself to put away the knife she had hidden on her thighs in case something went wrong. What? You never know.
"Death and lust are beautiful, but what good is lust if there isn't at least a bit of love behind it? Pops always said that. It's a shame that the bastards of my brothers didn't follow even a bit of his words, loveless bastards..." Finishing preparing some coffee cups, the doors of the building opening seemed to be their alarm. Assuming who it was, she took the two coffee cups and quickly said goodbye to Isaac as she went out the door humming with her tail fluttering happily.
And Millie left fast enough not to notice that Isaac's body began to tremble, with color leaving his skin. His body would have stumbled if he hadn't suddenly grabbed onto the counter.
Feeling his body devoid of all strength, Isaac, in a strange moment of lucidity, decided that it would be best to go to the bathroom as he felt his stomach churning disgustingly, with bile trying to climb his stomach to escape.
Walking slowly through the hallways, the whispers of his mind seemed to return at that moment, as if they were determined to sow doubt in his mind for no apparent reason.
'Believe me, lust without love is bullshit. I know from experience.'
More than just a mere thought, it felt like an unpleasant memory, one that his mind had tried to suppress, considering it insignificant and unimportant compared to everything else he eventually experienced, leaving only an abandoned noise.
But that noise seemed to clarify, And that sound seemed like his father's voice.
Fortunately, however, a demon in a suit appeared at the right moment to interrupt him.
"Isaac!, I was looking for you-, uhmm... Are you okay? You look incredibly pale, even more than usual..." Inhaling deeply and struggling to compose himself, he managed to calm down enough
"I'm feeling a bit dizzy, but thank you for caring. By the way, is this...?" At his question, Moxxie gave a proud smile as he handed over the clothes, which Isaac accepted.
To Isaac's surprise, the fabric was of very good quality and the shoes also looked excellent, something he didn't expect to find in hell, where everything was horrendously inferior.
"Well, truth is, all the clothes usually look the same here, so I couldn't find many differences..." Moxxie's voice trailed off a bit as he tried to justify something nonsensical. Isaac felt strangely familiar with this situation, but decided to let it slide for now.
"Thank you... really, I don't know how to express my gratitude..." With a wide, warm smile directed at the little demon, Isaac expressed his sincere thanks. Moxxie and Millie seemed to be from a completely different world.
'They could be pretending and trying to win me over with this... no, shut up.' Trying to ignore the voice in his head, a feigned cough distracted him.
"Ahem... I heard you cooked something, so I thought of inviting you to cook again with me later, if you're interested, obviously..." Moxxie chuckled nervously as he tried not to seem desperate for a cooking partner (Millie was perfect! But her recipes were... Western, let's say).
The world seemed to stop for Moxxie when he heard Isaac's laughter, but what he saw next wasn't what he expected.
"Heh... Of course, Moxxie. I'd be delighted to cook with you. Though I must admit I'm not an expert, I just followed a cookbook. You seem to know how to cook. Would you mind teaching me?" Isaac's eyes focused slightly on Moxxie's, trying to convey his willingness. In the end, he opted for a smile of appreciation.
"I... Uhh..." Moxxie's mouth opened slowly, while the sparkle of his soul, which had seemed to fade before, resurfaced in the form of stars in his eyes. With his tail fluttering and a blush on his cheeks, Moxxie seemed like a torrent of emotions.
"OF COUR- ahem, I'll kindly accept your proposal. Now, if you'll excuse me, my dear and I are going to enjoy some coffee, I mean..." Moxxie turned around somewhat clumsily, moving towards the door. However, to his dismay, his tail seemed to have plans of its own, or at least that's what Isaac assumed as he saw how he tried to catch it to stop it, while murmuring something under his breath.
Isaac didn't fully understand that reaction, but the demon duo seemed quite nice, which was a blessing in this world for him. Hopefully, this could change Samael's perception of demons.
Looking around, he realized he was in front of the bathroom, forgetting why he had come there in the first place. He decided it would be a good time to take a shower, now that he had new clothes.
He entered the bathroom, making sure he wasn't ambushed by a certain hellhound before locking the door.
He noticed his new body was striking. As he took off his shirt, he noticed how toned his physique was; he wasn't a mass of muscles like Satan, but he didn't seem as athletic with clothes on.
And next to his chest, he recognized the chaos mark, specifically over his heart.
He placed his hand on the mark, feeling it like a tattoo on his skin. But suddenly, he remembered the warning about Samael and his ability to see through his eyes, which gave him a chill.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he discarded the rest of his clothes as he headed for the shower, keeping his gaze forward at all times.
He turned on the water taps, not caring whether it came out hot or cold, simply opening all the taps since he didn't notice much of a difference in temperature.
The water fell onto his body, numbing him with its warmth. With a resigned sigh, he gave in, remembering he had already been semi-naked most of the time in the basement, and that Samael had already seen him that way.
"There can't be that much of a difference, right?"
I FORGOT TO MENTION IT, NEW DISCORD (dead for now, I don't feel like anything), BUT IT EXISTS
I'll probably just notify you of any delays I have, or put up drafts of chapters.
fanfiction-net won't let me post links, so you'll have to settle for the invitation code
/invite/6Gye69NxNh
Wow, a late, boring, and 12k-word chapter? I'm a real bastard lol, this should already be the end of the first arc, I would do something else, but nah, I'm already making you wait too long, the next chapter will be about the murder family, I ask in advance, can Isaac distance himself or do other things during the chapters, do you want him to stick with the group? If you want, I can also include the planned dialogues from the series, or maybe not, no idea, you'll tell me.
Fun Facts with As! (Story facts or future story ideas you might want to know, which may or may not be mentioned in the future, I don't know yet)
*YOU BUNCH OF BASTARDS, THE FACT THAT SOMEONE BLUSHES DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE IN LOVE.
*Samael is a character who, like everyone in this series, is seriously messed up in the head. You might say, "But Ass (please don't call me that, I know I should have thought my name better), Samael's attitude seems quite empathetic and friendly with Isaac."
Exactly, WITH ISAAC, FOR NO REASON ASK HER HOW TO SOLVE WORLD HUNGER AND OVERPOPULATION PROBLEMS, AND FOR NO FUCKING REASON, MENTION THE ECONOMIC CRISIS OF LATIN COUNTRIES OR PEOPLE IN HOMELESS SITUATIONS, PLEASE.
Samael is weird, an idea that came out a bit off purpose, but I liked it, I don't know how much involvement she'll have, but she's a reason for Isaac to feel safer, someone who is proud of him, who supports him, and a reason to even return to the basement voluntarily.
*And why does Moxxie blush? Well, think about this, you've lived your whole life in the mafia, and not just any mafia, an important one, from hell moreover, with pure bastards, to the point where your partner left you, and all that ends with the first decent person you meet being Blitzo.
So the standards are super low, then there's Millie, but she doesn't count, she's your partner, now, it's not just any encounter, your boss caught someone with him, like he did with you, that someone turns out to be clumsy, and doesn't mind being so (keep in mind that Moxxie only got ONE single friendly relationship in the last 25+ years of life he had, and that relationship became his wife).
Furthermore, he likes to cook, he's nice, he shows respect, he feels sincere, he's basically the lucid dream of a nice person in hell, plus his hopes were low when he remembered that the chain with which Blitz fucked him over was his, so he needed to be on his good side.
What does all this mean for the future of the series? No idea really, I just write to get to the transformations lol, but there are already certain established relationships, so I'm happy with that.
*Isaac when he sees those pleasant companions tearing human bodies apart with their own hands while laughing hysterically
:0
Next chapter 03/03
P a treon . com (slash) Asofcookies