My body was propelled through the strange substance, which felt almost like a pool of thick mucus. It wasn't long before I realized I was no longer moving forward but was instead plummeting downward, as if the portal had abruptly changed its orientation and spat me out into a free fall. The surroundings were faintly illuminated with a reddish hue.
I fell for what felt like hours, though time seemed distorted in this place—it could have been mere seconds or an eternity. No air rushed into my lungs, yet somehow, it didn't matter; breathing seemed unnecessary here. The viscous material slithered past my eyes but never touched them, as if it was repelled or perhaps avoided them out of some unseen instinct.
Ahead, I noticed the substance growing thinner and more translucent. With each passing moment, it became less like a suffocating liquid and more like a dense mist. Finally, I slipped free from its grasp, emerging into an endless black void. Below me, a crimson-colored floor stretched out infinitely, and I found myself descending toward it with no control over my speed or direction.
As I descended, the crimson floor below drew nearer with each passing moment, the distance between us shrinking alarmingly fast. I could feel the acceleration intensify, the pull of gravity—or whatever force governed this realm—growing stronger.
Closer and closer I fell, the surface below becoming more defined. What first appeared as a simple plane of red now revealed intricate patterns—swirling designs and symbols that seemed to move and shift like living organisms. The floor pulsated with a faint glow. Time itself seemed to stretch and distort; seconds felt like minutes as the ground raced up to meet me. Or perhaps I was so high up it was an illusion.
Panic surged through my veins. Instinctively, I braced myself for the inevitable impact, muscles tensing, eyes squeezing shut. The thought flashed through my mind that this could be the end—that after everything, I would meet my demise splattered upon this enigmatic surface.
And then... contact.
But instead of the bone-crushing collision I anticipated, I felt a gentle resistance, like sinking into a pool of thick, warm gel. The impact was softened, almost cushioned, defying every expectation. I opened my eyes in surprise, realizing I was lying prone on the strange floor. The texture beneath my fingers was smooth yet firm.
Cautiously, I pushed myself up to a sitting position, my mind racing to make sense of what had just occurred. There was no pain, no jarring shock—nothing to indicate I had just plummeted from an unimaginable height. I patted myself down, hands roaming over arms, torso, legs. Not a scratch. My clothes were unruffled, my body unscathed. What the fuck?
Glancing around, it took me a moment to orient myself, but gradually recognition dawned upon me. Though I had never physically been here before, the surroundings were hauntingly familiar. An endless expanse stretched out in all directions, with clouds of pure black. Beneath my feet lay a vast floor the color of deep, congealed blood, emitting a faint glow that pulsed like a dying heartbeat.
This was the place from my dreams—or perhaps, more accurately, my visions. Those fleeting glimpses weren't mere figments of my imagination; they were windows into this very realm. I understood now that I had been seeing through Belzarok’s perspective during those moments, experiencing fragments of his reality. And now, I stood within that very domain, fully aware that somewhere in this abyss, he lurked—waiting, watching.
As if on cue, bells began to ring incessantly in the distance. Faint but horrifying. Chills coursed down my spine as I strained to locate the source, my eyes darting across the shadowed landscape for any sign of movement.
"Belzarok," I called out, my voice slicing through the silence and fracturing into countless echoes that reverberated around me. "Show yourself," I commanded, attempting to mask the tremor in my tone.
With no response forthcoming, I continued to follow the ringing. Each step I took imprinted a solitary footprint into the blood-colored ground beneath me. The surface yielded slightly.
The bells grew progressively louder, their clangor intensifying with every stride. The sound was no longer just an auditory sensation; it vibrated through my very core, and soon a structure began to materialize—a large house that seemed to phase into existence, its edges wavering like a mirage.
Standing before the dwelling was a woman, her figure stooped and enveloped in tattered garments. She clutched a small brass bell, which she struck methodically with a tarnished piece of metal. Her movements were mechanical, trapped in an endless loop of ringing. Her eyes were sunken, void of light, framed by strands of gray hair that clung limply to her gaunt face. It was as if she existed outside of time, a specter bound to a singular, eternal task.
"Do you see her too?" a guttural voice rumbled from the shadows, jolting me from my observations. The sound was deep and resonant, reverberating through the emptiness. My heart lurched as something massive slithered just beyond the periphery of my vision—a colossal form that defied comprehension.
Swallowing hard, I steadied myself and crouched slightly, gaze fixed on the shifting darkness as I tried to track the creature's movements. "Come out from the shadows," I demanded.
Dismissively, the voice disregarded my command. "I miss my mother," it intoned with a melancholic voice. "The humans murdered her, along with the rest of my family, Alaric." The enormous entity halted and began to emerge into the dim light.
At first glance, it resembled a giant serpent, its sinuous body covered in iridescent scales that shimmered with various hues. Each scale reflected a different color—emerald greens, deep blues, fiery reds—like that of a church window. As it slithered closer, a grotesque transformation commenced. The serpentine form started to contort and contract, accompanied by the sickening sound of flesh reshaping. Wet, sloshing noises filled the air as the creature diminished in size.
Before me now stood a man—or rather, the semblance of one. His skin was almost entirely stripped away, revealing raw muscle tissue and protruding bones. Tendons stretched taut beneath exposed flesh, and his face was a macabre visage of sinew and bone. Yet, despite his gruesome appearance, he moved with a disconcerting ease.
"So, you see... humanity does not deserve to be saved," he declared bitterly.
"Belzarok?" I whispered, instinctively stepping backward. My mind raced to reconcile the horrifying figure before me with the entity I had sought. Fear tightened its grip on me, but I forced myself to hold his gaze.
"You're disgusted by my form, but alas... this realm will do that to your body over centuries," he remarked, a wry smile twisting what remained of his lips, “You won’t kill me.”
"Says who?" I retorted.
Belzarok's face remained a constant tableau of sorrow. Though his voice carried nuances of emotion, his expression refused to change. "You possess extraordinary power," he murmured, almost wistfully. "Like all Masavorans. Mankind does not deserve to walk the same planet we do. Don't you see?"
He began to stride closer, so I held my ground. The space between us diminished as his intense gaze held mine. "Hold up your hand," he urged softly, "and just imagine it..."
Hesitation gripped me, but a curious pull compelled me to comply. Slowly, I raised my hand, holding it out in front of my chest. "Imagine... what?" I whispered.
My question was answered almost instantly. A delicate flicker of flame materialized above my fingertips, hovering and dancing in the still air. At first, the sudden appearance startled me, and I felt a sharp intake of breath. But then, an unexpected sensation washed over me—the flame emitted a gentle warmth, not the searing heat I anticipated.
"Holy shit," I breathed, eyes wide with awe.
"See? Do you see now?" Belzarok's voice carried an almost childlike glee, his eyes alight with a dangerous excitement. "Now, imagine it hotter, bigger..." He urged me on. Though he stood merely a foot away, his presence seemed to blur, fading into the periphery as my entire focus converged on the flame flickering above my palm.
Almost instantaneously, the tiny ember began to expand, swelling with a fierce intensity. It grew and grew, feeding off an unseen energy, until it transformed into a blazing sphere resembling a miniature sun. The ball of fire burned with a magnificent array of colors—not just the expected oranges and reds, but vibrant yellows and even hints of blue at its core. The luminosity was breathtaking, casting a radiant glow that illuminated the shadowed expanse around us. Our bleak surroundings, once cloaked in perpetual darkness, now danced with light and shadow in a way this realm had likely never witnessed.
"I can show you how to harness it... how to fully utilize your—" Belzarok's words were abruptly cut short as I made my move. Summoning every ounce of willpower, I flung my arms forward, releasing the fiery orb with vigor. The ball of fire hurtled toward him, the heat distorting the very air between us.
The impact was immediate and devastating. The blazing sphere collided with Belzarok, engulfing him in an eruption of flames. The sheer force sent him hurtling backward, his form reduced to a silhouette within the inferno. He was propelled several meters away, crashing into the ground with a series of heavy thuds. His body tumbled and rolled before finally skidding to a halt, smoke rising from his scorched figure.
As the flames subsided, I could see the extent of the damage. His once formidable presence was now marred by blackened flesh and exposed muscle. Yet, despite the grievous wounds, he began to move. A guttural sound—a growl and a pained gasp—escaped his lips.
"Insolent boy!" he screamed, his voice echoing. Rage scattered on his grotesque visage as he struggled to his feet. The remnants of fire flickered out around him, leaving only the acrid smell of burnt flesh lingering in the air.
"You could have had everything!" Belzarok spat. Each word dripped with bitterness and disbelief.
"Everything... in what? Skarseld?" I shot back, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. I extended my hand once more, feeling the now-familiar warmth as another ball of fire swirled into existence. He let out a low, menacing growl as I continued, "I would be trapped in your body while you wreak havoc upon the world above. I can't—no, I won't—allow that to happen." I swallowed hard, the fire briefly burning softer, “I’m not a good person... not a brave person... but I’m not a monster.”
Belzarok's nose twitched subtly, a minuscule movement that was soon mirrored in his eyes. Those eyes—voids of darkness—narrowed with a sinister intent. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, his figure began to rise off the ground. He ascended lightly, as if the very air welcomed his defiance of gravity. An aura materialized around him—a glowing shroud that crackled with electricity. This wasn't ordinary lightning; it was black tinged with deep purples, pulsating grossly as it wrapped around his form.
"You'll die with the rest of them," he seethed.
Without warning, he thrust his hands forward, and the dark electric energy surged toward me like a predatory beast unleashed from its cage. The ground beneath me trembled as the bolt tore through the space between us.
Instinct took over. I flung my hands upward, summoning a towering wall of fire that roared to life before me. The flames leaped high, their heat intense, casting a fierce glow that momentarily bathed the bleak surroundings in light. The wall stood as a barrier between me and the impending assault, its flames twisting and turning as if alive.
But the lightning was relentless. It collided with my fiery shield, and for a moment, the two forces clashed in a dazzling display of light and shadow. Sparks flew, and the air crackled with raw energy. Then, with an unstoppable force, the electricity pierced through the wall of fire, shattering it into embers that scattered like fallen stars.
The bolt struck me squarely in the chest. An indescribable pain exploded within me—unlike anything I had ever experienced. My body seized, muscles locking into place as if I had been frozen in mid-scream.
A sensation far worse than fire burned through my veins—an icy hot current that turned every nerve into a conduit for pain. I thought I’d die in that instant, that this would be the moment Belzarok ended me, but somewhere, deep within, I found the strength to reach for the flame again. It sputtered weakly in my chest, but it was there—waiting.
I could see the tips of my fingers blackening, charred by the intense energy that had assaulted me. Gritting my teeth, I focused every ounce of willpower into conjuring another flame.
A slender stream of fire ignited from my fingertips, growing into a fierce, writhing serpent of flames. It spiraled forward, cutting through the realm’s air. The fiery torrent met the advancing dark lightning head-on. The two opposing energies collided, resulting in a burst of light that illuminated the darkness around us. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and the ground beneath me quaked.
Soon, my body could endure no more, fatigue creeping into every muscle. All the fiber of my being begged me to cease, to pull back from this relentless struggle. My resistance faltered, and finally, I relinquished my hold. Belzarok's energy surged toward me, colliding with a force that sent a shockwave of scorching pain through my entire body. It was as if I had been struck by a bolt of pure heat, searing every nerve. The impact hurled me backward, and I crashed onto the unforgiving ground. Gasping for breath, I muttered a curse under my breath, the words barely escaping my lips as I fought the urge to vomit.
Belzarok descended gracefully, landing with a predatory ease as he deeply bent his knees to absorb the impact. His movements were almost effortless, betraying no sign of exertion. "You're a weak, arrogant child who thought too highly of himself," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. He drew his arms back, the very air crackling with latent power, yet he appeared unruffled—as if our battle had cost him nothing. Stepping forward, he pressed his foot onto my neck, the weight constricting my breath. "You'll die the way you lived," he growled. "Pitifully."
As he lifted his foot to deliver a final, crushing blow, I seized the fleeting opportunity. Summoning what little strength remained, I rolled to the side. But he was swift; he halted my escape by stomping onto my stomach, driving the air from my lungs and sending a fresh wave of agony coursing through me. Standing over me, Belzarok extended his hand, dark energy swirling around his fingers—preparing to end this struggle once and for all.
My hand scrambled toward the rune etched on my arm, fingers trembling as I sought its familiar grooves. Just as the crackling electricity of his attack surged toward me, I pressed firmly on the symbol. A searing jolt of pain tore through me, and I couldn't suppress the agonized scream that erupted from deep within. But in that instant, a sword materialized in my right hand, its blade icy to the touch—as if the passage between realms had imbued it with an impossible chill.
Without hesitation, I thrust the sword upward, plunging it into Belzarok's abdomen. The Masavoran halted abruptly, his assault ceasing as a look of shock flickered across his face. His eyes drifted downward, fixating on the blade now embedded within him. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as he registered the unexpected turn of events.
Belzarok staggered backward, each stead unsteady. "You little shit..." he hissed through gritted teeth. I noticed a rapid pulsing coursing through his body, as if his very form was destabilizing. Recognizing the rare opening his surprise had granted me, I summoned another searing ball of flame into existence. With swift motion, I hurled it toward his legs.
The fiery projectile struck his lower limbs with unerring accuracy, erupting upon contact. The intense heat caused him to cry out as he lost his balance. Belzarok toppled forward, his form crashing toward the ground. As he fell, the handle of the sword—still embedded in his abdomen—struck the hard surface beneath us. The impact drove the blade deeper, forcing it entirely through his body until the tip emerged from his back.
For a moment, he lay there motionless, completely and utterly silent. My breaths came in shallow gasps. Was it truly over? Doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. Summoning what courage, I could, I began to creep forward, each step cautious. The ground beneath me felt unstable.
Reaching his side, I hesitated before slowly crouching down. My hand trembled as I extended it, and with a gentle push, I rolled his body onto its back. His eyes snapped open—wide and filled with a burning fury. Before I could react, his hand shot up and clamped around my neck with terrifying strength. A shocked gasp escaped my lips as he yanked me downward, his grip tightening like a vise. He shook me violently as if trying to break my body.
Struggling against his hold, I managed to place both of my hands over his mouth and lower face. I could feel the raw power building inside me, a searing heat that began to radiate from my palms. Closing my eyes, I focused every ounce of remaining energy into this final act. Suddenly, an intense burst of flame erupted between us.
A deafening explosion followed. Belzarok's head shattered under the force, fragments of bone and flesh propelled outward gruesomely. Warm blood splattered across my face and clothes, the metallic scent overwhelming my senses. Time seemed to slow as I was thrown backward by the blast, landing harshly on the ground
I lay there for a moment, dazed and gasping for air. The metallic taste of blood had begun to fill my lungs, causing me to cough violently. Each ragged breath was a struggle, but the immediate danger seemed to have passed. Was it over? Was it finally fucking over? The being who had haunted my existence, who threatened to return and annihilate an entire race, was he actually gone?
Surprisingly, the emotions I expected—regret, dread, perhaps even emptiness—did not well up within me. Instead, an overwhelming sense of relief, like a heavy burden lifting from my shoulders. The oppressive realm that held me captive faded into the background; in that singular moment, nothing else mattered.
But, true to the relentless nature of my life, even this brief respite was short-lived. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a shimmering light—a pure, radiant blue—that began to emanate from Belzarok’s disgraced corpse. The intensity of the glow forced me to shield my eyes with a trembling hand. The light didn't remain static; it moved with a serpentine grace, slithering through the air as if it possessed a consciousness of its own. It weaved and swirled in a beautiful dance.
As I watched, eyes now used to it, the luminescent entity halted directly above me. For a few fleeting moments, it hung there, pulsing. Then, without warning, it plunged downward, piercing into my stomach like a spike.
“Agh—FUCK!” I screamed; the sound ripped from my throat as an excruciating pain tore through me. It felt as though an unseen hand had thrust deep inside me, grasping and twisting my very organs. The agony was indescribable, an all-consuming fire that burned from the inside out. For what felt like an eternity—though it could have been mere minutes—the searing energy continued to flood into me.
Just when I thought I could endure no more, the light finally subsided, dissipating into nothingness.
Then, I blacked out.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
