Zero could very well make it home, but when, that was entirely up to him. If he could navigate through all of Death’s Circles, he would be permitted to leave. Luckily for him, he had made it through the first eight. It had taken him thirty years, each Circle a relentless battle between Zero and a High Elder Demon. Every time he was slain, he had to start anew, back at the First Circle, facing the same Demons repeatedly. But today was different. Today, he stood on the Ninth Floor, having sealed Virgil’s children.
Assuming the exit lay before him, he pushed it open, only to find himself teleported yet again, to another floor.
The Demons Zero faced were formidable adversaries, and truth be told, he had never experienced such exhilaration as he had in the last thirty years in Volja Vatre. It filled him with immense joy, but also despair. He questioned his identity amidst the thrill of battle and victory. As he pondered his wife, Maeve, he couldn't shake the realization that he felt happier in this moment of endless combat than any other moment of his life.
Why did the thrill of battle and victory seem to fulfill him more than his love for Maeve? What was this feeling? He struggled to comprehend it, his mind twisting and turning in confusion. Anxiety consumed him, causing his bones to shake as if bitten by frost. Unable to endure it any longer, he called out, not even bothering to survey the room.
"FIGHT ME BITCH!"
When Zero uttered those words, the torches that lined the large oval room illuminated themselves, blue flames flickering and casting an eerie light on the gray walls that seemingly stretched upward forever. Rows of stone statues lined the outwalls, standing on pedestals, some wielding weapons while others stood empty-handed. As the torches ignited, the statues came into view, alternating between knights and priests, eight on each side of the room, leading up to a throne at the far end.
The blue flames then highlighted an 'X' on the wall.
"Floor Ten, alright then," Zero muttered to himself, surveying the dull and barren surroundings. The ground resembled the walls, composed of large chunks of gray stone. Aside from the torches, statues, throne, and whoever occupied it, the room was empty.
"I said…FIGHT ME, BITCH!" Zero's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Bitch?" His own voice echoed back. "You’re calling me a bitch?" The figure on the throne stood, shrouded in shadow. "If I’m a bitch…" With a teleportation, they reappeared behind Zero. "What does that make you?" They lunged forward, emerging from the shadowy silhouette. Zero teleported away, appearing behind them, but the figure mirrored his actions. It became a flurry of teleports, each appearing behind the other until they both landed a few meters apart, facing each other.
It was then that Zero's heart sank as he gazed across the gap and saw himself.
"Great." He muttered, deflated and defeated.
"Aww, why the long face? You've been having so much fun, haven't you?" The clone taunted.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Zero thought bitterly. "Maeve was right...I am annoying."
Zero could very well make it home, but when, that was entirely up to him. If he could navigate through all of Death’s Circles, he would be permitted to leave. Luckily for him, he had made it through the first eight. It had taken him thirty years, each Circle a relentless battle between Zero and a High Elder Demon. Every time he was slain, he had to start anew, back at the First Circle, facing the same Demons repeatedly. But today was different. Today, he stood on the Ninth Floor, having sealed Virgil’s children.
Assuming the exit lay before him, he pushed it open, only to find himself teleported yet again, to another floor.
The Demons Zero faced were formidable adversaries, and truth be told, he had never experienced such exhilaration as he had in the last thirty years in Volja Vatre. It filled him with immense joy, but also despair. He questioned his identity amidst the thrill of battle and victory. As he pondered his wife, Maeve, he couldn't shake the realization that he felt happier in this moment of endless combat than any other moment of his life.
Why did the thrill of battle and victory seem to fulfill him more than his love for Maeve? What was this feeling? He struggled to comprehend it, his mind twisting and turning in confusion. Anxiety consumed him, causing his bones to shake as if bitten by frost. Unable to endure it any longer, he called out, not even bothering to survey the room.
"FIGHT ME BITCH!"
When Zero uttered those words, the torches that lined the large oval room illuminated themselves, blue flames flickering and casting an eerie light on the gray walls that seemingly stretched upward forever. Rows of stone statues lined the outwalls, standing on pedestals, some wielding weapons while others stood empty-handed. As the torches ignited, the statues came into view, alternating between knights and priests, eight on each side of the room, leading up to a throne at the far end.
The blue flames then highlighted an 'X' on the wall.
"Floor Ten, alright then," Zero muttered to himself, surveying the dull and barren surroundings. The ground resembled the walls, composed of large chunks of gray stone. Aside from the torches, statues, throne, and whoever occupied it, the room was empty.
"I said…FIGHT ME, BITCH!" Zero's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Bitch?" His own voice echoed back. "You’re calling me a bitch?" The figure on the throne stood, shrouded in shadow. "If I’m a bitch…" With a teleportation, they reappeared behind Zero. "What does that make you?" They lunged forward, emerging from the shadowy silhouette. Zero teleported away, appearing behind them, but the figure mirrored his actions. It became a flurry of teleports, each appearing behind the other until they both landed a few meters apart, facing each other.
It was then that Zero's heart sank as he gazed across the gap and saw himself.
"Great." He muttered, deflated and defeated.
"Aww, why the long face? You've been having so much fun, haven't you?" The clone taunted.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Zero thought bitterly. "Maeve was right...I am annoying."
