(“Greetings hero, our mistress sends her regards”) the voice stated as the rift rippled, a figure materialized through it. Male with snow white skin, long black hair and pitch black eyes the being stepped towards Kyle, he wore long black jeans and a white sleeveless open jacket.

Black tattoos covered his body as a black violent aura erupted from where he stood, he stared down at where Kyle stared back up from. The being looked human but the two long black horns that grew straight up from his forehead told Kyle what it really was.

“I am Lucifer, the first Devil king. It is a pleasure to meet the young dark hero, unfortunately we are short on time.” Lucifer glanced at the other adventurers as they began to approach cautiously, “Your allies seem feisty, must I bloody my hands already?” he smiled coldly.

(“How…are you here…”) Kyle thought as he turned to glance at the others, half the melee fighters were circling around with Sly and Nakano to surround the rift.

Lucifer opened his arms wide “You insulted our mistress, it’s only natural we retaliate” he smirked as he lowered his right hand over Kyle’s vision “She decided that our plan was…slow, I’m here to make everything quicken. Goodbye, dark hero”. Lucifer grabbed hold of Kyle as the rift behind him changed from black to white, he threw him back into the rift.

Kyle felt his body return as he touched the rift, he gave one last glance at his friends and allies as the white devoured him.

Lucifer laughed “The hero has fallen, what shall the rest of you fools do? Will you kneel? Or will you cower in fear?” he asked while continuing to laugh.

Birse glared at Lucifer with wide eyes as he grinded his teeth, he glanced at the others around him before speaking with mana infused in his voice “Low ranks stand back, you’ll only get in our way” his body burst into shadows and dissipated.

Lucifer grinned as Birse and Sly appeared by him, Birse bursting in with an inferno of shadows per arm and Sly dashing in surrounded by a fiery violet aura while holding two daggers in a backhanded grip.

Birse raised both arms back while opening his claw like gauntlets to grab hold of Lucifer, Sly switched a dagger into his mouth before pulling out a third as the blades gleamed a bright purple.

Lucifer snorted. Faster than either of them he grabbed Birse by one arm then stepped back, he pulled Birse in throwing him into Sly and sending them both toppling away. Lucifer then sidestepped as three fireballs flew by, Death began casting more as he punched and kicked each sending one his way.

Lucifer evaded two more fire balls before disappearing, he reappeared behind Death and grabbed him by the head. Death tried to elbow Lucifer but was too slow, he was thrown up into the air. Lucifer appeared above him in a kicking motion, he kicked Death sending him flying towards Skill who was taking aim making them both crash back into a tree as blood and splinters burst out onto the ground.

“Weak, sloppy, shall I continue?” He chuckled while glancing back, shadows burst out towards him as Birse appeared out of them with his fist ascending at Lucifer. He grabbed the fist without turning around “Slow” he mocked.

“Go to hell” Birse stated before twisting mid-air and kicking back at Lucifer’s waist.

“Been there” Lucifer pulled Birse over his shoulder and threw him downwards before the kick landed, he then evaded backwards as three aura clad daggers flew by. He glanced down as Kurt leaped up with Sly taking out another pair of daggers, Sly threw dagger after dagger before his direwolf stopped ascending.

Sly kicked off Kurt and leaped up towards Lucifer, spinning as he flew up with arms wide behind him as his violet aura frenzied around him “Aurei Surge” he chanted and suddenly disappeared.

Lucifer continued to grin as he turned to meet Sly’s blades, his horns clashing with the two daggers as he raised his left arm to grab an arrow and his right to slap away a fire ball. He flipped forwards and came back around kicking Sly in the head and down to the ground, blood splattered as Sly’s body remained motionless on the ground.

Death fell to his knees “Fuck out of mana…”, he clenched his fists as he glared up at Lucifer.

Birse groaned in pain as he stood up, he swayed back and forth before standing still “So…anybody got any bright ideas?” he glanced at Skill who ran out of arrows, Death breathing heavily on his knees and Seren concentrating on healing the motionless Sly.

Inside the white rift

Kyle opened his eyes (“Where…”) he looked around to see he was in his room laying on his bed, he stood up and off the bed (“My room?...How…”) he took a step and the scene changed.

His expression changed from confusion to shock as he found himself tied up in a dimly lit room, his mouth was gagged so he couldn’t speak, his hands and legs tied up to a wooden chair. (“This is…”) he watched as his body moved, he wasn’t in control.

He slammed his back into the chair and fell back onto the ground breaking the chair’s back, shuffling with his tongue and mouth he spat out the cloth that gagged him and looked around (“No...Not this…”). He saw some shattered glass on the ground nearby, the scene changed again.

He now stood untied with his back to the wall right by the doorway into the room, his hands bleeding from the two sharp long pieces of glass his fists clenched onto. He looked down at his hands, the body of a child no older than seven.

He hears someone walking towards the door and glances back up, the door slowly creaked open and the scene changed.

Kyle stood in the middle of another room, his hands, face and clothes splattered with blood as two adult corpses lay on the ground above a pool of their own blood. (“My kidnapping…why…why am I remembering this…”) the scene changed again.

Kyle was at his elementary school, wearing his grey and white uniform as he walked around the second floor corridor heading towards his classroom. (“This…why…”) He felt his mouth curve into a grimace as students stepped out of his way, their expression full of fear. Teachers glanced at him in disgust or pity as they walked by. He grinded his teeth and broke into a run, the scene changed.

Kyle was in the courtyard of his high school, he sat on a bench alone as he stared out at his classmates playing football. This was his first day of school here and he was already alienating himself from the rest. “Hey, is it alright with you if I sit here?” a boy in his class had walked up to him, he beamed a friendly smile as he asked the question.

“Sure..” Kyle responded (“My memories…”) he had no control over his body, as if reliving these memories. “I’m Jason” the boy sat by him, forwarding his hand. Kyle glanced up at Jason, he wore a red beanie and had light green eyes. Kyle didn’t shake his hand “Kyle…” he whispered before turning back to stare at the others playing. Jason chuckled “Not the talkative type huh?” the scene changed.

Kyle stood inside a hospital room, he kneeled down by the bed Jason lay in. Pale white skin, empty eyes and still he smiled. Jason coughed as he looked at Kyle “Five years and you still can’t start a conversation” he tried to chuckle but ended up coughing some more. (“No more…”) the scene changed again.

Kyle sat on the same bench in his high school’s court yard, this was the day after Jason’s funeral (“Why am I reliving this!?”). Two students passed by as Kyle stared off, they didn’t notice him as many often did.

“You heard about that kid from 2B?” one of them started.

“Yeah stuck up bastard, so what if his family was well off. Didn’t do him much good” the other chuckled as he spoke.

“Yeah he’s feet deep under now, guy always pissed me off” his friend continued.

“Hah! So much for all the shit he spoke. Can’t do any of that if you’re d-” the second student was cut off as Kyle’s fist collided with his face.

The scene changed and Kyle found himself standing above the same two students, beaten bloody and bruised they stared up at him in fear. Teachers ran over to stop him before he jumped back down to continue, they pulled him back as they tried to help up the other two who squirmed away from even them.

Kyle glanced down at his hands, bloody and bruised. The scene changed yet again. He opened his eyes to find himself sitting in his living room, his parents sat by him on the sofa as on the opposite sofa a middle aged woman with long brown hair and green eyes and a girl his age with similar features sat facing him.

“So you’ll take him in Nina?!” His mother asked with a delighted tone.

The woman named Nina responded “Of course Amy! Home schooling is better than the trash they still teach in high school today anyway!” she clapped her hands together “I home schooling my daughter anyway, what’s another?” she chuckled.

Kyle’s father forwarded his hand “Thank you as always Nina, Little Alison take care of him for us”.

Nina shook his hand “Any day Mike, you hear that Alison?” Nina glanced down at her daughter.

Alison beamed a smile at her mother “Okay ma!” she glanced down at Kyle and smiled.

---

Outside Kyle’s mind

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Author: I usually listen to music while writing certain scenes, I had stopped sharing said music a while ago but I cannot help myself anymore D:!

So I’m doing it again :D : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l75JJle5G5I

---

Kyle floated in the endless white void, an empty space of white where only two beings lay. One of them Kyle, unconscious and oblivious to the one by his side.

“Master…” Lilior wept as she sneaked into his mind, she watched him as he relived his past. Each one he tried to supress but suddenly he completely let go, he stopped trying to supress the memory and began to drown in it. She watched as the memory transpired.

Kyle lay on the sofa reading from a window that lay open in front of him, his eyes speeding through it as he wore a smile. This was his eighteenth birthday, he didn’t expect anything, he didn’t want anything than the usual day.

“Come on lazy bum, you aren’t laying there all day today!” Alison walked into the living room wearing her usual bright smile, she raised her hand “You like this band right?” she asked with two dark grey tickets between her fingers.

Kyle bookmarked the page he was just on and closed the window “Concert tickets? Ali you know I…don’t like crowds…” he sat up.

Kyle’s mother walked into the room from the kitchen next door “Oh come now, you never want anything for your birthday! It will be fun Kyle! You’ll get to see the band you love so much play right in front of you!” she exclaimed before poking his frown.

“I don’t know…” he glanced away, his eyes tracing the path to his room as his thoughts drifted to the video games he was currently active on.

“Oh come on Ki! Just once!” Alison put her hands together and faked begging.

He glanced at her before quickly glancing away “Fine…just this once…” the scene faded as Alison jumped up with joy.

Lilior began to drift out of the memory (“Concentrate!”) she told herself, (“How do I get him out…”) she was keeping him from fully drowning in the curse that currently possessed his mind.

Kyle and Alison were walking out of a gigantic light grey building, blue glass doors lay open as a large crowd left the building. Kyle glanced around impatiently but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face, in truth he was glowing on the inside.

The crowd quickly lessoned as many disappeared into small tube like rooms, teleporters as how Kyle’s memories described them. Kyle and Alison were the last to head towards them, Kyle had wanted to purchase some merchandise at the last minute.

“Haha! I told you it would be great!” Alison exclaimed as she shook his shoulder, she had gone all out with her clothing in this memory.

Kyle shyly glanced away “Yeah…it was…” he clenched the bag of merchandise as he smiled “The crowd was horrible though…”.

Alison giggled “You should go out more, you get used to crowds so don’t worry about it too much” she glanced at him off and on. Suddenly her eyes widened and she stopped walking, fear filling her expression.

“What is it?” Kyle asked as he glanced back also stopping.

A group of five young men approached them as they got close to the teleporter, with the crowd cleared the street was empty except for them.

The one at the lead spoke up “You ditch me for this sad shit? Seriously Alison?” annoyance plastered on his face, his eye lids dry and weary.

Alison stepped closer to Kyle “It’s none of your business who my friends are Ken” she squeezed Kyle’s arm as she glanced around the group.

Ken’s eyes widened in rage “You fucking slut” he quickly closed the couple steps between them and grabbed her by the arm, his companions ran around and grabbed onto Kyle.

“What are you!” Kyle tried to struggle but all four of them held him in place, they grinned in amusement as he did.

Alison screamed as Ken grabbed her by both arms and held her close “Let me go! Ken you won’t get away with this!” she struggled to get out of his grip.

Ken grinded his teeth “Oh don’t worry bitch, I know who to pay and who to talk to. I warned you, you’re mine and nobody else’s!” he raised his voice as he tightened his grip.

“Hey bastard let her go! Y-You’re hurting her!” Kyle shouted as he tried to get out of their hold, they pushed him down to the ground.

Ken glared at him “Trying to play the hero? Teach this shit who he’s messing with” he smirked.

“Wha-” the scene faded as the four began beating on Kyle as he lay on the ground.

Lilior snapped herself out of her daze and focused to watch the rest (“These memories…”).

The memory faded back in as Kyle stepped through the doorway into his home, he held onto the door as he looked in.

His parents stood by the staircase as Alison’s mother sat on the sofa, her head between her arms.

Kyle stared at the scene as he tried to form words “Alison?” he managed her name.

His parents jumped at his voice and rushed over to him, his mother cried as she held him and his father stared down at him enraged at his injuries “Who?” he asked venomously.

Kyle ignored his question and asked a second time “Where…is Alison?” he continued to stare at her mother, she trembled as she held herself.

Kyle’s mother held him close as she covered her mouth, she whispered “A-Alison…didn’t come back last…night…Kyle…her bod-”

Lilior was suddenly shook out of the memory as she fluttered away from Kyle, flinching at his reaction.

His eyes went wide as an inhuman scream left his throat, his hands trembled as they formed fists and his cheeks gleamed as tears streaked down “You…” pure hatred emanated from his voice as he spoke “You fucker…Get out…GET OUT OF MY HEAD!”.

Lilior rushed over to his face “Master! Calm down! Calm down! You can’t beat it like this! Stop!” she cried out while pulling his cheek.

Kyle glanced at her, his eyes trembling with hatred “Wha..” seeing Lilior confused him further as he continued to stare at her. He grit his teeth and held back his anger “Lilior you’re..”.

She nodded “I’m here master, I’ve always been here…by your side” she smiled as a couple tears streaked down her face.

Kyle closed his eyes momentarily and began taking slow breaths “Lilior…what is this place?” he suddenly asked calmly.

Lilior was momentarily taken aback by his quick change but recovered to answer “The Devil that appeared in front of you…this is a realm under his domain, a reality he controls…the curses here…they are made for torture…torment…” she explained slowly.

Kyle’s arms trembled as he held down his searing anger “So that…black scar…when it turned white it took me here? My own personal hell..” he grimaced. “How do I get out?” he began glancing around at the endless void of white surrounding him.

Lilior shook her head “There is only two ways I know of…magic to travel between the veils of reality or…the owner of the realm to let you out…” she held onto herself as she lowered her head.

Kyle gently raised her head up with his index finger on her chin “How does travel between these veils work?” he moved his hand to let her rest on it.

Lilior sat down as she stared up at him “The veils are invisible, untouchable unless wielding really thick mana or are somehow damaged…The Devil’s miasmic mana was thick enough to penetrate them…master I’m sorry but…we can-” she was cut off.

Kyle smirked “So that’s how it is…I need compressed magic to touch the veils right?” he looked down at his free hand.

Lilior nodded “Yes master” she stared at him curiously.

Kyle glanced at her “What is your definition of aura?” he asked as his nails turned into claws.

“Aura is mana processed through emotions, master you can’t possibly…” her stare turned into worry as she realised what he was thinking of “You can lose control master! It will eat you from the inside! Giving form to your anger is not good!”.

Kyle shook his head as he lowered his hand, Lilior fluttered in place as he turned to give her his back. He clenched his fists as his other hand gained claws “Then let it” slime began oozing out of his arms, not the blue slime he used before, this slime…was crimson red.

Lilior watched in amazement as the slime formed a larger set of claws “Master is that…”

Kyle began to chant “Defiled beast lying dormant within me, corrupted demon I devoured, slaughtered of the holy, I will not ask you to lend me your power…Your power is mine now, so just fucking give it up” the slime claws grew larger “Demonic Ooze” he ended his chant as the slime suddenly crystalized.

“Lilior, how is it that I see you?” he glanced back at her, his expression weary and sad.

She felt her heart skip a beat at his question “There is no ambient mana here…nothing to counter act my or yours…Master…you cannot save me…it is too late for me!” more tears began to form “I’m…already forgetting…”

Kyle’s crystalized claws suddenly clenched into fists as his expression changed to rage “Don’t give me that shit” he turned away from her “Don’t give up just yet, I’m your master, I’m the one responsible for you.”

She hugged herself “But…only a deity can bring me back-”

“If that’s what it takes then I will become a damned God!” his voice was harsh, his usual sarcastic personality gone “Lilior”

Lilior stared at his back, tears streaming down her face.

“Wait for me, I’ll bring you back” Taking a deep breath Kyle closed his eyes “Until then, keep on watching my back” his left fist surged forward as he focused his beast’s aura around it along with surge solely on it. He hit empty space as he moved forward a couple steps, “Cold hatred I held onto for so long, bloody vengeance I long for…”a blue aura had covered his whole body as the temperature dropped.

He opened his eyes wide as he suddenly entered a frenzy. Punch after punch he moved further and further, sweat began to cover his body as he continued his flurry. Suddenly the aura around him moved and began forming around his fists, the aura began to take form as the red crystal reflected a darker red light.

Lilior fluttered behind him, her ethereal form shimmering with power as she also felt his rising use of mana.

Kyle began chanting mana infused words between punches “I cast it all away, fill the emptiness! Burn it all away with anger! Rage!” the blue aura’s form steadied as two ethereal gauntlets formed around his arms, it’s colour changing to crimson “Monster within me of the forgotten race, let go! Core Overload!” the crystallized slime cracked as it expanded several times and darkened in colour.

Suddenly cracks began forming all over his body, his skin cracking as if stone taking too much pressure. Blood leaked out of the cracks as skin tissue crumbled then flew off into the white void, “Master stop!” Lilior exclaimed as she felt the curses within the white void effect Kyle again.

“It’s okay, Lilior. I need to see it ,I need to practice what I preach.” He grinded his teeth as the memories of his past filled his mind, he had purposely reached out to the curse. “Lucifer…he wanted to torture me with my past! I won’t lay down and let the bastard have his way, I will wear my scars. I can only die or get stronger.”

Lilior’s heart ached from their connection, she felt his pain as if it were her own. “Kyllix…” then she felt it engulf her, the pure and restless anger. As if a beast of primal times was unchained.

“This searing anger and cold sharp hatred…I’m done keeping it in check. They say gods exist, deities of pure power that watch over us…that just watch…do nothing at all…” Kyle’s punches slowed down “I won’t abide by the rules they set, I don’t care if I’m too weak. I’ll find a way, nothing will stand in my path again” he prepared his right arm as the aura around it entered a frenzy, lashing out at every angle “I’m not losing again, I’m done losing” he opened his eyes wide as his right arm surged forward.

IL’E, Forest between Frosthold and Helix

Lucifer laughed coldly as he watched the adventurers glare at him “I’ll take a guess and say you are no match for me” he smirked “I’m afraid our little game ends here, my legion is restless for bloodshed today”. He backed up to the rift and raised his left arm “We have been waiting for decades, you can’t imagine how bored we’ve been inside those cursed walls” suddenly a sphere of red formed around him before several blasts of magic collided with it.

The resulting explosions sent several adventurers back to holding onto something, as the multi-coloured smoke cleared out a cold laughter chilled their bones.

“Mage guild masters! Welcome to the party!” Lucifer cried out as he continued to laugh “I don’t expect you to come out from hiding?” the smoke cleared out completely as he sent a gust of power out. He glanced around as several adventurers froze up through his gaze “I guess not, although it is indeed too late”, he turned with his left arm still raised and glanced into the white rift.

Raising his right arm towards the rift it’s colour began changing back to black “Come my minions, corrupt this land and colour it red” he grimaced as cracks formed on the rift, a large patch of white expanded pushing away the forming black “Already broken?” his eyes widened as another barrage of magic hit his barrier.

Lucifer cleared the smoke again, his barrier remained untouched but his expression switched from amusement to astonishment as the cracks spread throughout the rift. “That was quick, was he so mentally frail?” he laughed maniacally as the cracks suddenly burst sending shards of gleaming white out towards him. Lucifer’s smile widened as a crimson red crystal claw clad in a raging black aura emerged from the rift, it grabbed onto his face making his smile falter.

“Sup bitch” Kyle stated as he pulled himself out while pulling Lucifer closer, his eyes glaring hatred at the Devil King as he stared back in shock.

“You haven’t broken?” Lucifer whispered as he glanced at where he was headed, the rift turned completely black as Kyle completely emerged from it.

“Fuck off” Kyle used surge to throw Lucifer into the rift, he crashed into the barrier around them and slid down to the ground as it disappeared.

Lucifer half entered the rift as he held onto the edges with his hands, his head re-emerged plastered with a grin “Not so f-” he was cut off as another barrage of magic blasted out from the forest and at the unprotected rift.

Kyle momentarily closed his eyes awaiting death, he felt nothing and re-opened them to find himself surrounded by a green barrier of mana. “Wha…” he looked up to see the blurry figure of an old man wearing a long green robe glancing back at him, he began drifting off as the adrenaline faded.

“Well done young one” the man stated before Kyle lost consciousness “Rest now”.