Devil's Rise

I had tamed the monster within the cavern with my prowess. Weapons weren't the only tools of this devil. My charm and wit were my most powerful weapon when dealing with women.

"I was told by a prophet, whoever could handle my appetite would be the one I should follow for life. So you are my master from now on. Take good care of me," said Ayla.

"How long have you been here?" I said.

"Centuries? Millenniums? I lost count. This place has been my home for as long as I can remember. You probably didn't realize I transported you to the depths of the cavern during your 'dive'. You only investigated my area. None of the other monsters in this cavern dare come close to where I live," said Ayla as she rubbed me like I was some kind of treasure.

"What's your realm?" I said.

"I believe you devils would call me a Count, though I can not use my power as a Count in this form. If I am to travel with you, the highest battle power I will ever be able to display is that of a Viscount. They exterminate monster hybrids in the surface world. You will keep me safe though, right master?" said Ayla as she hugged me.

"As long as you are mine, no one would ever harm you," I said, kissing my new scorpion mate.

I spent the better part of three years getting to know Ayla within the cavern. Time seemed to flow differently as I interacted with her. All my worries and fears had disappeared as she drew me into her spell. Every time I thought of leaving or why I came here in the first place, I would quickly forget about that and go back to enjoying her company.

She was truly a fearsome opponent. I had unknowingly become her prisoner and could do nothing to stop her. She had mesmerized me, treating me as her newly won treasure. Slowly, but surely my devilry improved with each dance I performed with her. It was as if the heavens wanted me to escape.

A core part of the Grand Supreme Electromagnetic Dao was freedom and the Dao would not let me stay chained, even against my will. Lightning would flow through me every time we made love, increasing my realm. Eventually, I broke through to high-Baron, shattering her spell with my new found will power.

"So what is the treasure those pirates so desperately sought, risking life and limb over?" I said one day after regaining clarity.

"So you finally can resist me Soulless, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing for you, my love," said Ayla as she caressed me.

"I had hoped you would never break my spell, I wanted to enjoy every moment I could with you. As a guardian, I can not lie to you though. This cavern has an entry token into the Labyrinth," said Ayla.

"The Labyrinth?"

"Yes, 'The' Labyrinth, the realm of monsters," said Ayla as she looked over me with concern.

An entry token into The Labyrinth was something I had to get my hands on! It was a true treasure, more valuable than even my Codex. Those that entered and survived the trials of the Labyrinth were legends within the Xertzul Abyss. Labyrinth entrants had founded many Empires. The rewards for participating in a Labyrinth opening were just that profound.

No one had ever gotten the core inheritance of the relic site. But many had gotten inheritances that could make them shake up the Xertzul Abyss. I would pit my life against whatever lay within this cavern for that opportunity. It was a straightforward decision.

"My love, I must have that token," I said, looking at Ayla with conviction.

"Greed is not befitting of you Soulless," said Ayla.

"Even the tokens to enter the Labyrinth have elaborate trials in store, are you sure you want to enter this trial, my love?"

"Yes, there's no choice. I must have that token if it costs me my life I still must pursue it. This is an opportunity I could never give up," I said.

"I knew that would be your choice. That's why I kept you here under my spell so you would forget your worries. Our peaceful life could not last forever though," said Ayla with great care.

She then lead me to a place I had never been to before. It was a gold-laden hallway with marble floors and many intricate paintings depicted on the wall.

"If you walk down this hallway, you will find what you seek. I do not know what lies down there, I am forbidden to head into the hallway as the first guardian. No one's ever made it back after walking down that hall. Please come back to me, my love."

I kissed Ayla one last time before heading down the ancient gold-laden hallway. Time had no meaning as I walked down the hall. It seemed endless. I experienced many emotions as I started my walk.

At the start, they were just nagging thoughts that distracted me.

'I should turn back'

'I'll never make it down the hall'

'This thing goes on forever, how could I survive?'

'Why work so hard for a token, why not go back and enjoy Ayla's embrace?'

I fought back against these distracting thoughts; they weren't mine. They couldn't be, I had chosen this path and must stick through it until the end. This was a genuine test of willpower.

I knew if I gave in to any of those distracting thoughts these very walls would crush me. My only choice was to continue, one step at a time, and walk through this one-way hall. Food, water, shelter, eventually none of that no longer had any meaning.

I was hungry, thirsty, and wanted to enjoy the pleasures of life. If I turned back, I could return to my pleasurable life with Ayla.

'Why did I choose to walk down such a dangerous hallway?'

'Wasn't living life with a beauty enough for me?'

No, I must continue, I can not look back or even think of heading back. Over the weeks, my body grew gaunt as I continued to walk and persevere. Slowly I continued as my walking became more difficult.

My steps were no longer crisp, exhaustion had crept up on me. I stumbled my way forward regardless of the consequences. That was my only option. Any other thoughts were meaningless. Never turning back and never surrendering, that was my only way forward.

I continued walking as the years flew by in an instant. My hair grew grey, and my back hunched over. I fashioned Judgment into a cane to prop myself up as I suffered from the ravages of time. Every step became painful as I continued my journey.

'Forward, forward. I've made it this far, I can't stop now.'

Eventually, as the years flew by, I forgot why I even began walking in the first place. All that I knew was I had to continue walking forward. There was something ahead I needed. Something that would make my journey all worth it in the end. What it was I could not remember. But I had to have it.

I continued my walk for millenniums. Never stopping, never giving up.

"Rest my child, you've walked far enough." I heard a voice say one day.

"No I must walk, there's something I need," I said, ignoring the voice and continuing to struggle forward as my body would barely move. Eventually, I could no longer walk forward, my legs gave out. Time had ravaged them, so I crawled. For years I crawled, pushing myself forward.

When I could no longer crawl my way forward I clawed, I grasped and pulled my body forward one inch at a time.

'Forward, forward. I must never stop, I need to reach the end.'

I clawed myself forward to my last breath. Never giving in to the distracting thoughts, the voices, the emotions, or anything that would hold me back from my goal.

I can survive this, I know I can. I'm still clawing myself forward. That counts for something, right? Right. So now what? I can't move, I'm too tired, too old, too exhausted, too weak.

How long have I been here? How much longer will this take? There must be something I can do, right? There must be a way I can reach the end and live, I just need to find it. Think, think. There must be a way.

Exhausted, I'm absolutely exhausted. Perhaps I should lay down, it'll be easier. Yes, this is more comfortable, yet I still feel exhausted. No, I cannot give in, I cannot die just yet. I will make it there soon. I'm sure of it. I just need to keep my eyes open and claw a bit further.

I don't think I'm going to make it. No, I can't go any further. It all ends here, this is where I die. That's okay, I don't have the strength to fight anymore. I'll just wait then, wait for my last breath.

I can't feel anything, anything at all. Everything is numb, but it's oddly comfortable. I can't move any part of my body either, but at least theirs no more pain. This must be the end?