Mat was in a dark black space, a void of pure emptiness. He looked out to the horizon as he felt nothing. Alone. Gone from existence as if he was lifeless and empty, gone as if he couldn't feel. He tried to run forward, but nothing. He tried flying forward with his wings, and felt he was not off the ground. He tried swinging his arms sporadically trying to feel something, to feel the air, to feel anything. But he felt nothing. He tried speaking but felt his voice wasn't able to come out. When suddenly he heard a deep and terrible thundering voice with a slight trickister like attitude as it spoke. "𝕊𝕠𝕠𝕠, 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥? 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕒 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪. 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟'𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣? 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒 𝕘𝕠𝕕𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕣!!" the voice started to laugh demonically, making the void that he was in shake. Red lightning appear around the dragon as it encircled him. Mat was shaking with fright as he saw the lightning around him. The voice once again spoke as Mat somehow felt a strange shadowy like hand engulf his surroundings, "𝔻𝕠𝕖𝕤𝕟'𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕪𝕒 𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕥! 𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖. 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕕𝕠.. 𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞!" Fingers started to appear out of the ground from the shadow as it was about to engulf Mat. "𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕀 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕥, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕖𝕩𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖... 𝕀𝕊 𝕄𝕀ℕ𝔼!" As the fingers closed in on Mat, all he saw was darkness engulfing him completely. As his voice finally broke through the silence. His eyes started to open up as he was breaking out in a cold sweat with heavy breathing. He scanned the room that he was in as it was Lily's room. Posters of Verosika Mayday were hanging on her walls along with Fizzarolli.

He looked down to his side as he saw Lily was sitting by his side in a small chair as she appeared to be sleeping right now next to him. Sound asleep, she made noises of heavy sighs. He looked to his mistress with an odd concern. "What the.. How did I?.." Mat said as he reached to the right of his head as he winced heavily in pain. "Ow... My head.." Mat said. Suddenly the door opened as it was Alistair was walking through the door, his teal eyes became a glow as he looked at Mat with joy. "Mat! You're alright!" the Goetia said as he ran right towards the dragon, hugging him with great joy as he started to cry with a falsetto tone. He was confused by the Goetia's actions as he winced more in pain from the joyous hug. "Gyaah! Al, careful I'm still sore man!" Mat screamed in pain. Alistair backed off slowly as sat on the ground looking at the ash-white dragon. Mat continued to rub the right side of his head in pain. "Fuck my head.. How long was I out?.." "Mat.. You were out for three weeks," Alistair told Mat. His eyes widen immediately as he heard the news, he grasped his head in shock. "Wait.. Three weeks? How?! How was I out for that long?" "I think you over exhausted yourself with the Reliquary Mat.. Tell me do you remember what happened?" Alistair asked as he looked at the dragon. He shook his head multiple times as he took a huge breathe, "The last thing I remember.. We were out on the road trying to get away from Vinea's men.. What name do we even have for them anyways?" "Let's call them Goons, continue Mat," the Goetia told him. Mat leaned forward as he gripped his knees in shame. "Then.. Out of no where, there was this giant hellhound who was mutated somehow actually ripped my leg off.. After that, I blacked out," he told his avian friend. Alistair held his head within his bottom hands as he was tapping his skull with his top hand. As he moved up, Mat looked concern as he saw the Goetia look to him with a shameful sorrow. "Well.. Karl is dead and.. You were the one who caused it." As the Goetia told the dragon this he backed away till he hit the back board of Lily's bed. Lily slowly woke up from the shock as she said, "Mat! You're up!" "I... I killed Karl?" Mat said with a disbelief in his voice. Alistair looked at him with a sorrowful stare. "We checked the body.. Not only did you back-handed him hard, but you cut his head apart with the claws.." Alistair said as he slowly got up.

Mat was holding himself hard as he was shaking slightly, "I.. I killed before but never one of us.. I killed angels, hellhounds and the fucking HappyBoy asshole.. But... We was one of us.." Lily looked to her pet as she reached her arm out towards him as he was frozen from anxiety. "Baby, it's ok.. I got you.. Let me in please.." Lily asked her pet as she started to climb aboard the bed and hugged him instantly. The dragon was frozen still as she started to caress her pet softly. As he felt mistress' hand on his head, he slowly came out of his trance as he began to nuzzle his head against her hand as she shushed him softly. "If it wasn't for the exhaustion you experience as well as Lily calling for you.. I think we would have lost you to your Risen form," Alistair said. Mat was confused as he looked to the Goetia as he asked, "Risen form?" "It is a state when you have truly accepted yourself as who you are, or have overcome your greatest trial.. But what happened to you, that wasn't a Risen state.." He walked to the window as he looked out to the city and watched the ongoings of the Hellish life. Imps making deals in the alley ways while others were walking about in peace. He took a heavy sigh as he kept staring at through the window. "Mat.. I know that you have.. Enjoyed the power of the Reliquary but I think for everyone's sake-" "That I give it up.. Don't worry.. I will," Mat said. Surprising the succu-imp as she looked to him with a sharp disbelief including Alistair as the avian demon turned his head towards him. "Mat are you serious? Over Karl's death, this causes you to give up the Reliquary?" Lily asked him as he looked downward at the bed frame.

Moving across the bed he became weak as he tried getting on the floor as he almost fell making Lily and Alistair jump for him. "MAT! You've been comatose for three weeks.. Just please take it easy.." Lily cried to him as she tried grabbing his arm. Mat was confused as he looked to his mistress, "Lily.. Why are you-" "I.. I.. I wouldn't recommend going out there right now. Thaddy hasn't.. Been himself for the last three weeks," Lily told Mat. The dragon was confused as he looked to Lily as he asked, "What do you mean?" Lily and Alistair looked at each other with fear in their eyes. Alistair turned his focus to Mat as he said, "Thaddy.. Kinda blames you for Karl's death. He's been taking it out on Franky. Since he's the closest thing he's got for a punching bag. Literally." "Yeah, he even tied him up and gagged him to make sure that he doesn't speak at all. He's really pissed," Lily said as she pulled out her phone from her breasts as she showed a picture of Thaddy punching Franky right in his lower regions. The shark's eyes had bulged out of his sockets from the violent punch that Thaddy gave him. Mat looked upon the violent scene as he saw the spiked punching gloves that Thaddy was wearing. "Jesus.. I haven't seen him this mad since Karl lost half of his horde.. Again.." Mat said with a heavy sigh. "Kinda felt like we went through all of that shit for nothing.." Lily said as she put up her phone. Mat looked to the door as he immediately breathed as he asked out loud. "Please tell me that Kasey is-" "Kasey is alright, but he's been quiet ever since.. He's been locked up in his room, I check on him every day but he hasn't opened himself up for the others. Only send letters for the others," Alistair said as he looked downwards while clutching his arms. The dragon made a heavy sigh of relief, "Then I need to talk to him.. I gotta.. I gotta at least apologize to him." Alistair looked to Lily as he asked her, "Lily.. I need you to leave and check on Kasey for me please.." She nodded as she reluctantly started to walk out the door, instantly hugging her pet as she said, "I'm just glad that you're ok baby.." Mat felt the warm embrace as he slowly hugged her back as both of their tails wrapped around each other. Alistair felt his heart becoming warmer as he starred at the loving duo. But he shook his head slightly as he walked over to Lily and Mat as he patted their backs softly. "Lily.. I hate to interrupt.. But.." Alistair said softly as Lily moved away slightly.

As she started to walk out the door, Alistair grabbed the door knob and slightly closed the door. He took a heavy sigh as he said, "Well.. I'm glad that you are being very cooperative about giving up the Reliquary, compare to previously." "Well.. Your clone did suggest that I give it up after we escape from the Goons.. And.." Mat slowly became silently as he stared at the ground. Alistair looked to Mat as he pondered what made the dragon quiet. "Is something wrong Mat?" "Can... Can I ask you about something.. About the Reliquary?" Alistair's focus instantly changed as he snapped his fingers and watched as illusioned hands appeared and closed the curtains. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, focusing on the white dragon. "What did you see Mat?" The dragon sat next to the avian demon as he kept his focus on the floor while he squirmed with his hands. "I.. I had a dream.. That I was in a dark void and I couldn't feel anything. I couldn't do anything. I tried flying, I tried running. And nothing," Mat said as he clutched his hands together. Alistair watched and listened with an open heart as he heard Mat's dream. "When suddenly.. Shuten's red lightning appeared around me.. And a giant shadowy hand showed up from the ground as it.. It was about to drag me under with it. But before it did, I heard a strange voice out of nowhere as it said.. It'll find its way back through me or anyone else.. Not to mention it called me it's current host. How many hosts did this thing had before me?"

Alistair looked forward as he slowly turned his head towards his draconic friend. "I think it is best to forget about the Reliquary Mat.." Mat looked in somewhat disbelief as he turned his head to the Goetia. As he was about to open his mouth he suddenly closed it as he heard Alistair finish his thought, "It is a clear danger for everyone, including you.. And as for your question, you aren't the first to wear the Reliquary, but you are the first to become a Hell Riser. The Reliquary was scientifically changed as of recently." The Goetia stood up slowly as he dusted himself off as well as his tail. As he started to walk to the door, he dug in his coat pocket as he held a small brown box with a demonic skull on it. Mat caught it's sight as he watched as the demon bird placed the box on Lily's dresser. The dragon was confused as he watched Alistair walk to the door with poise. "Though.. I know that in your heart that you feel like you can do more than you possibly can. So I will give you a choice," Alistair said. Mat's eyes stared at the box as he looked back to the Goetia. "The minute you leave this room you will either leave with the Reliquary or not. If you choose to leave it here, I'll gladly stop by the room later and take the Reliquary back and hopefully... Find a matching host or a place to hide it away." Alistair said. Mat started to walk towards the dresser as he looked to the demonic box as he asked out loud, "And.. If I choose to take the Reliquary?" Alistair grew a heavy sigh as he looked directly at the dragon as he opened the box.

As he did, the Reliquary glowed a heavy crimson tone as it shined in the box. Mat starred upon it as he felt weary and scared, yet slightly intrigued by the powers that the demonic item possessed. Alistair looked to the Reliquary with a tired manner as the told his friend, "Then I won't stop you. It will be yours for good. You'll have exactly what you need to protect Lily, your family, everything you care about. There will be consequences that come your way, much like Karl's death on your hands." Mat kept starring at the Reliquary as he took a small step closer to the item. The Goetia opened the door and as he was about to walk out, he looked to the dragon and said, "You know.. I designed the Riser to give others a chance to become something unique. Something far than their current self. To Rise above their sins and redeem themselves. Hence the name 'Riser'. But never had I taken much thought into what it means to be a Riser truly, until now." Mat turned to him as he listened to the Goetia. "We all have our own paths to travel, our own destinies to face. So when the time comes and you must face it. Will you Rise to the opportunity and face it head on and become something better? Do you have the strength to keep on Rising to even further heights than you ever dared dreamed?" The Goetia asked as he looked back to the dragon. Mat continued to look at the Reliquary with awe and fear.

Alistair then reminded the white-ash dragon of his current dilemma as he said, "But I want you to ask yourself this... Is this power truly worth it? Is there another way to protect the ones you love? How much are you willing to give up for this dark power?.. The choice is yours Mat.." The Goetia started to leave the room as he closed the door. Mat watched the door shut and looked back to the demonic item in the box. As he walked closer, he felt his fear taking over as he kept starring at the Reliquary. Voices went through his head as he heard the words of his mistress going through him, how much she hated him using the Reliquary. How she constantly worry about his wellbeing every time he becomes the Hell Riser. He looked at the item as it continued to hum viciously. The eyes hummed evilly as Mat pulled his hand away from the item as he felt a heavy fear surging through him. He shook his head as he steeled himself as he reached his hand forward towards the Reliquary, he then asked himself, "Is this worth it?.."