Chapter 5

While Loki spoke with the others regarding the battle plans, it was clear to Henry that they’d done this a lot. This group of members were definitely not newbies. There was no way in hell any of them had just joined a week ago when the game released. From what he was able to gleam, only the stronger members took part in the dimension shifts whenever a tiered Demon approached. The other members, according to Loki, would be above ground, blending in with the crowds of regular players, taking part in the ‘battle’ against the Tiered Demon.

Based on what Henry was able to glean, these larger rifts created an opportunity to attack the tiered demon on two fronts. The first was what the individuals blending in with the players would do. Their D.E.D.s would match frequencies with the incoming Tiered Demon, and through the app on their phone, the exorcists would actually take part in the battle. The skills and commands they ‘input’ in the game, would be carried out by their D.E.D., attacking the incoming mass of atoms and data that was trying to make its way through the rift into their world.

In that sense, they were still playing the game. Exorcists above ground would be indistinguishable from those who were just normal people, as everyone was executing their commands and fighting this tiered demon. The only difference was if an exorcist’s D.E.D. was destroyed during a Tiered Demon attack…it was actually destroyed. Their very real, based on the Grim and the Evil Eye Henry had seen, D.E.D.s would be gone forever. Which meant they were more than just digital pets to those exorcists.

Meanwhile, while those efforts were being taken mostly to weaken and slow the advance of the Tiered Demon through the rift, the masked exorcists would be executing a dimension shift to attack the Tiered Demon in the rift between worlds. By utilizing the massive resonating fork, they were able to create vibrations within their plane of existence that would create a bridge of sorts to the transfer point between the dimension these demons were coming from and the human one. Within that that transfer point they would fight the Tiered Demon in the ‘flesh’ so to say. They weren’t commanding their D.E.D. from the app there. Instead, they were controlling them in person, very similar to what Henry had seen in various cartoons growing up.

Henry learned the reason for why the stronger exorcists were the only ones able to do the dimensional shift portion of the battle, just before the tuning fork began to vibrate more vigorously, causing the very air around him to hum with energy. While in the rift exorcists were vulnerable. Not only could their D.E.D. be killed, but they could as well. Furthermore, it was possible for the Tiered Demon to have smaller D.E.D. with them, either under their command, or just opportunistic D.E.D. who’d utilized the portal the Tiered Demon made.

Humans who resonated strongly with the frequencies of the other world were prime targets for malicious D.E.D. who obeyed the Tiered Demons. A dead Exorcist meant their D.E.D. linked to them would fall as well. Meaning an exorcist had to be able to protect themselves while fighting the Tiered Demon, lest they lose their life, and the Tiered Demon escape.

In that sense, Henry realized just how sentient these creatures were. Obviously, the Evil Eye following him around could speak telepathically to him. But he had been uncertain how intelligent it was. Was it just basic comprehension, or something more? Apparently, it was something more. Especially if they could plot, plan, and scheme like humans. In the end, the D.E.D. had the intelligence to act and plan in their best interests, which of course made them more dangerous and interesting at the same time.

“Remember to stick by me.” Loke said quietly to Henry as the vibrations in the area amplified even more. A strange portal like rift appeared between the forks and the masked exorcists began moving across the bridge of the expanse to the portal. One by one they stepped through and disappeared.

Henry had asked about staying behind, but Loki’s response had been quick. With the exorcists in the rift fighting the Tiered Demon, Henry would be even more vulnerable if he stayed behind. And because he still had no idea what all was going on, especially with regards to his ‘connection’ with the Evil Eye, and how to utilize his D.E.D, there was no chance Loki was leaving him alone. At the very least, Henry found a strange solace in the fact the creepily masked individual actually was looking out for him.

“Got it.” Henry replied. He took a deep breath and the two of them walked through the shimmering portal. He could feel the vibrations, the energy, around him charge as the silk like material of his clothing began to tremor. The clothing warmed for a moment, to slightly unpleasant levels, as a ringing accompanied by a pressure changing pop erupted in his ears. Then, everything shifted, and suddenly he wasn’t in some strange underground room anymore. Instead, they were in a vast expanse that seemed to flow and crackle with blue and green hued energies. All around, for as far as he could see, was nothingness and eerie glowing.

No. That wasn’t true. There were the exorcists, their dark clothing shifting colors slightly, helping them blend in with their surroundings. And then of course, how could he have missed it, there was what he could only assume was the Tiered Demon. According to Loki, it was Tier 1 Demon. Meaning it was the weakest of the Tiered Demons. If this thing was the weakest though, Henry had no want to see what the stronger ones were like.

Roughly a football field away a form, nearly ten foot in height, stood menacingly. It had short, stocky back feet, a massive arching back, and powerful forearms that it bore some of its weight down upon. The closest parallel body-wise Henry had for it was perhaps a gorilla three or four times its normal size. However, instead of fur it was covered in scales, and its head was that of a lizard with a strange, glowing yellow liquid dripping in from its mouth. The creature looked directly towards them, and Henry felt a wave of fear rush over him. This thing was nightmare fuel.

“That is a Larpen.” Loki said calmly in his distorted voice. “A Tier 1 Demon. They’ve got a tough hide and are physically extremely strong. That glowing liquid,” Loki pointed a gloved hand towards the obvious substance. “Will eat through your flesh in seconds. Larpen can spit it about 50 feet and will inject it with every bite. Which means even a single wound from them can be fatal.”

The fact something like this existed. The fact any of this was happening. It was all already crazy. But now freaking Komodo-Gorilla over there had the ability to shoot flesh dissolving acid his way? Henry was not liking this one bit.

“Notice the glow behind the larpen.” Loki’s statement pulled Henry from his fear gazing at the massive form, to the space just behind it. Similar to the rift they’d walked through, a massive distortion fluctuated behind the larpen. More interesting though, it seemed as if a ghostly, wisp like portion of the larpen was constantly flowing into that.

“The larpen is sending small portions of itself through the rift in order to try and establish a full connection to Earth. In doing so, it has to choose how much of its form and power is here, and how much of its power it can afford to send through the rift. Our exorcists back on Earth, fighting against it with their D.E.D., will slow its transference but they can’t actually halt it. Only we can do that by destroying its main body.”

As Loki continued his Grim appeared from his shadow once more. For the most part, the doglike D.E.D. seemed to remain hidden. As Henry looked around, he saw the D.E.D. of the other masked members beginning to make their appearances as well. The members had spread out, and a collection of D.E.D. were amassing on the field.

“Be aware,” Loki continued, “the closer we get to defeating the larpen, the stronger and more desperate it will become. Until we’ve destroyed it, stay on edge.” Loki then looked towards the Evil Eye that floated besides Henry. “Utilize you wind shield to keep him safe.”

The Evil Eye nodded, a strange sight to behold, and then glowed faintly. Wind engulfed Henry, creating a barrier between him and everything around him.

“Stay back, stay alert, and watch what your future holds.” Loki said calmly. A moment later his Grim let out a long howl, and on its signal the battle began.