I couldn't give a damn about the injuries that adorned my body, the crimson blood staining my cheek, or the deep scratches etched onto my arms. My wrecked house and demolished furniture meant nothing to me, and the chilling laughter echoing in my mind, so eerily familiar, seemed insignificant. It belonged to that girl who materialized in my bathroom this morning. But in this very moment, all that mattered was the surge of power coursing through my veins, rendering the pain obsolete and making me feel invincible.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMoxpOCzys
"I can feel it..." I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the crackling flames that surrounded us.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF8jVjJ2K1
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRLXvp7k03
I snapped out of my trance and locked eyes with the demon before me.
The demon let out a maniacal laugh. "The power of a demon."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxSyQrpCvQ
With both hands clenched, I moved forward, steadily closing the gap between us. The demon's sadistic smile fueled my determination. I glanced over at my mother, who looked at me with fear, and as our eyes met, I made a silent promise to myself: I wasn't going to lose here.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKYAYCDXNx
"Let's finish it," I declared, never taking my eyes off the bastard who had threatened my family.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtawU00OKA
The demon, however, had other ideas. "Why rush? Why not let us fight like the monsters we are?" he yelled with excitement as he charged forward, raising his left arm to attack.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjhFqj7HWL
"Come and savor this moment!"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJOrRlSDWn
The demon's movements were lightning-fast, the sheer force of his rush destroying the floor and sending anything not secured to the ground flying. To the average observer, he would be nothing but a blur, but I could see him clearly.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNSCirGdER
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewh2RU28Br
As the monstrous entity charged toward me, I spread my feet and drew back my fist, every muscle in my body brimming with power.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKQMHiEgVC
"Go..."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sUkBgletG
"To...
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTSgHxTjHU
"Hell!!!"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3i1vOPuo4
I launched my fist like a rocket toward the demon's face, and to my surprise, my attack connected with his right cheek. The sensation of yielding flesh and cracking bone surged through my arm, and a resounding BANG echoed through the house.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoaUwxI48k
The demon was propelled with great force through the walls of my house and found himself sprawled outside.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITCZcnrbAX
"Did I really do that?" I questioned myself, staring at my own hands as if they weren't my own. The devastation caused by a single punch served as a stark reminder that I was in an entirely different world now.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VRwc2jsJ0
Quickly, I turned my attention to my mother, who was still bound and seated on the floor.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6u1e8zc93
Without wasting a moment, I rushed over to her, ready to free her from her restraints.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvwv2U6s9Z
"Mom, don't worry, I'll get you out of here!" I reassured her as I focused on releasing her.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6if1Hufwd
It didn't take long to free my mother, and as soon as I did, I led her to a corner of the room. I couldn't ignore the intense fear in her eyes. Thankfully, my sister wasn't here. Handling one person's fearful gaze was challenging, but dealing with two was beyond my capabilities.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHitYjLKyP
With my mother now safe, I turned my attention back to the demon standing outside my house. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the demon I had struck with all my might didn't seem to be significantly injured. That infuriatingly smug grin still adorned his face.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5wFC0yg44
"Damn it!" I yelled, frustrated by my own weakness.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYcml1gsv9
My anger surged through me as I stared at the son of a bitch standing at a distance.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpijT10U2L5
"Yes, that's the way..."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEtEpdOB1t
The demon's excitement was evident in his voice as he approached me. The darkness shrouding his form grew even darker and colder.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UYLaaA2Ir
"Come on, boy, keep making this fight more and more exciting!"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZZzwgHBby
Captivated by his own exuberance, the demon's eyes began to turn as black as ink, and my heart sank, realizing the battle was far from over.
"Come and show me your power!"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHGWfliCn0
Blow after blow was exchanged between the demon and me, and as time passed, I started to get used to the pain. I couldn't help but think I had a chance of winning this fight. After all, the demon was missing an arm, so victory should be within reach, right?
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP2PDxBI8x
The relentless battle had left my house in shambles, putting my tied-up mother in constant danger. Every time our fists clashed, small shockwaves emanated, causing further destruction to our surroundings. Soon, the house I had lived in for years was unrecognizable.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha5sI6rnE1
The demon and I clashed multiple times, and we found ourselves locked in a fierce showdown.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlSMuh3g8t
As I stared at the demon before me, one word filled my thoughts: "Monster."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWONX3WUjY1
The demon's black, cold eyes widened upon hearing my declaration, and he grinned with a sense of pity.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA67gjgGuRw
"Oh, please. We are both monsters here."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3rR4SMDIh
Hearing the demon's words, I couldn't find the words to argue. I could argue that I was human to this inhuman thing, but our surroundings would say otherwise. The fight we were embroiled in wasn't something a human could accomplish. The vicious darkness enveloping me felt diabolical, and nothing about me at the moment seemed human at all.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPqbN6syaF
"Shut up!" I yelled with a sense of defeat.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUtiT7vd9R
"Such trivial matters should mean nothing to beings like us. Worry not about your humanity; worry more about this fight," the demon spoke nefariously, his pitch-black eyes fixated on me with exhilaration.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j2NBkdHRB
Then, I felt it: the atmosphere turned ice-cold, and it felt as if something heavy pressed down on my body, making movement increasingly difficult.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhfQe0SWsk
As I struggled with this oppressive sensation, a sharp pain radiated from my chest. I looked down to see three swords impaled in my body.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tjOr17Utm
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" I screamed in agony, panic overtaking me as I witnessed sharp blades pierce my chest and blood flow from the wounds. However, in the blink of an eye, the swords, the pain, and the blood vanished as if they were nothing but illusions.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP1diF8WiR
I touched my chest, startled. "W-What was that?" My voice trembled with hysteria.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ8splqios
Breathing hard, I looked over at my mother who lay unconscious on the floor. Whatever had affected me had also taken a toll on her. She looked so pale that it was almost as if she was on the brink of death. Tears streamed down my face as the terror of my mother's impending demise gripped my mind.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j5UNe4ZPp
"It matters not where you go, it matters not who you meet; every human shares one all-consuming fear... The fear of death," the demon with a demented smile stepped forward.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3CIqudukF
"Can't you feel it?" the demon asked with exuberance.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlVU32WM1B
"My will, my desire to kill you?"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKTHalMGWI
I could hear the frenzied yearning in the demon's voice, a desire strong enough to fill me with doubt. The wounds I had inflicted on this monster had disappeared. I hated to admit it, but victory seemed far out of reach.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4m0aXn5p0
The demon, without making a sound or saying another word, vanished from my sight.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5rxrZKcpf
I panicked, trying to track the monster's movements, but something had changed.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx2jhoLg4L
"Where are you looking?"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9ykOkmg8X
Hearing a chilling voice from behind, I swiftly turned around.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1azkA7SlRe
"What!?"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyRHVKlugy
Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was pummeled with punches more times than I could count. I flew through the room with the force of a bullet, crashing into the living room wall, completely destroying it.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUkzvQ8GzS
"Did you think that I had used my full power?" The demon explained with smug glee.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFFBrNmUxW
Blood dropped from my forehead and mouth, my vision became blurry, and my body ached with unbearable pain. The power I had experienced was gone, and once again, I found myself knocking on death's door. I glanced at my mom, still unconscious, and wondered if I was going to fail her, the woman who had raised me.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9hviWaRCo
The demon stood over me victoriously. "Once I eat your soul, my power will rise to new heights."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUu4WuolV7
My rage exploded as I looked at the monster who would take my life.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfEXDJUmVI
"You should thank me... I will be sparing you a lot of pain, a lot of suffering by killing you here," the demon explained, bending down on one knee.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCmW7iXyTO
"The life of a pillar is nothing but hell."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0hzqtpRPa
The demon reached toward me with a hand covered in darkness and my own blood, seemingly savoring his victory. I closed my eyes and waited for the end.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4rrUL2zeK
"Stop!"
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMkMSsEBjr
I, having heard that commanding voice, opened my eyes to see the monster who was still kneeling in front of me, no longer paying me any attention. I would've been insulted, but in the end, I understood. Because I, for one, recognized the voice that wielded a tone of unshakable fury and confidence. Slowly turning my head, as my vision rested upon her, I couldn't help but shed a tear.
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTn1OTCrbN
"Madelyn..."
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIWzbcJw1a
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosyeWeiW6F
***
264Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjN5jpK4hq
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns 15.158.61.43da2
