“This is as far as I go.” Abyzou’s giant body stops just shy of the edge of a vast, seemingly bottomless ravine. “The other side of this ravine is Baal’s domain. When taking a throne within The Nether, you’re bound to it in more than just name. Once taken, you can’t leave your domain or denounce the throne without say of the Overlord. It becomes a piece of you. The only way out of that duty is death.”

My eyes search the horizon intently. “I’m guessing it’s not as easy as ordering you to cross, is it?”

Her laugh echoes in my head, “No, of course not. You may be the original ruler, and The Nether recognizes that. But Baal’s the current recognized Overlord, since his is the hand to deliver the killing blow on your past self. In this place, you keep what you kill. Even you aren’t safe from that. Like the law of gravity, it’s an inescapable truth of this world.”

She lowers the back of her hand to the ground, like an elevator. “Don’t worry though, I’ve brought you to the back door.” Her other hand points to a cliff face on the other side of the ravine. Someone had a full palace carved into the side of an obsidian mountain. Elaborate and elegant by demonic standards. The dim glow radiating through open areas and distant moving shadows cast an eerie aura about the place. “To cross the ravine, you need only open a path. Hold your hand out toward the crevice and think to yourself you wish to cross.” Whether I’m beside myself with the idea of being the absolute ruler, or simply being comfortable with Abyzou, I’m not sure. At her insistence and without reservation, my hand moves over the darkness of the deep. The words just float through my mind of their own volition. “Let me pass.”

Human and demon skulls alike of all shapes and sizes come hurling into the sky from the pit. Black smoke trailing them fills the air as they buzz around like large, dark, bees building a bridge before me. Abyzou brings her giant head close to me. “I have a gift for you and a word of warning. You may be the true ruler of this world reincarnated, but you’re not powerful enough to take on Baal. Don’t cross him. He likes games. Don’t play them. Make him play your game instead and when the time comes, we will take your throne back.” Her hand moves beside me and purple dust like energy swirls, creating a small tornado between her hand and the ground. Flames explode in the shape of a long sword as the dust rushes into it. A molten blade molds and hardens into a chilling weapon.

A large demon skull sits as the centerpiece of the sword. The blade erupts from its head, slick black as obsidian. Horns curl toward the tip of the blade on either side and an ivory grip juts out its mouth. At the bottom of the hilt sits a screaming demon skull as a pommel. Red jewels embellish the eye sockets, casting a faint but eerie blood red glow. A true masterpiece of craftsmanship. The sword follows her movement and hovers before me as she speaks. “This is the prized weapon, Demon’s Bane. It’s the insignia of the reigning ruler of Gyote and was thought lost upon Elgaer’s death. As many lost things do, it found its way into the the dark abyss of Ignol. That blade is greatly feared, for it has the power to extract, trap, and manipulate the consciousness or soul of another with only a scratch.”

The air around the sword lightly thrums and reverberates power. Getting louder as I reach out. The moment my hand grips the sword, dark energies swarm the blade. It pulses, once, twice, three times, then dissipates. Taking the reverberating thrum with it. Curiosity overtakes me as I look back to Abyzou. “What was that?”

“It acknowledges you as its wielder. The blade’s not sentient, per-se. But the power within recognizes power and judges ones worthiness. You can wield it if you wish, or bring it as an offering to Baal. The choice is yours. Before you go, to sheath the sword simply put it on your back or side as if you’re wearing its scabbard. It will do the rest.”

My head tilts forward slightly. “Thank you. Not only for the gift, but your undying loyalty. I couldn’t have made it this far without you. One day, I’ll be back to return the favor.”

She regards me with a nod, and we go our separate ways.

The bridge made of skulls is unusually steady as I cross, as if it were just ground beneath my feet. As I cross, the thought plants itself firmly to come back and visit Abyzou. Flying across this ravine probably wouldn’t have worked it’s so vast. The demon form burns too much energy, so it can’t be held indefinitely yet. The moment I step off the bridge the skulls break apart. In a familiar swarm of buzzing, they zip into the sky, then diving into the darkness again. A good stone’s throw from this side of the ravine sits a large palace carved into the side of a cliff. As I get close, voices filter down from the giant opening above. Like a window without glass. Seeing no other avenue in, I quickly shift to demon form and leap to the ledge. Immediately changing back to human form and hiding in the shadows once inside.

As I take in my surroundings, a familiar face catches my eye. Gluttony. Accompanied by who I can only guess is Baal, feasting on a human. One other human stands behind them both. Before I can glean any further information, Baal finishes his meal. “Hmm. It seems unexpected visitors are everywhere today, and this one is most interesting.” Two large demon guards materialize in front of him and the room stills in anticipation.

Hovering in the shadows, I move closer. “I assume you’re Baʿal Zebub, Gluttony I know, but who is the human and why are they here?”

He motions the guards to relax and looks to the human. “Have people just forgotten about manners these days?” His gaze move back to my section of the shadows and motions me forward. “It’s impolite to barge into someones home and start demanding questions. At least show and introduce yourself.” Recalling Aby’s words, I sheath the sword on my back.

It feels attached to my body, but there’s a hand’s space between it and my back. An odd phenomenon that I quickly note as interesting before walking into the light unarmed with hands visible. Before I can make a sound, Gluttony’s surprise gives me away. “Damien! How the hell are you here? Why the hell are you here?”

Instinctively, my left hand wanders into the pocket with the shard of Envy. “Ah, you know. Traveling, seeing the world. Absorbing mischievous and troublesome demons. The usual.”

Baal looks to Gluttony, then back to me. “I take it you’re the host that housed the sins?”

I nod. “That’s correct. Though you’ve known me before. When I was Kaiser Erebus. Reincarnation is a fickle and wild thing. The scars of that fateful battle and betrayal still haunt me like it was yesterday. But don’t worry, I’m not here for the throne or petty revenge.”

Through stoic eyes he studies me for a moment. Picking apart the words as if they’re foreign to him.

He purses his black, half decayed lips. “That would explain the primal energies I sense in you. The work of those damned witches, I presume? Why are you here if not for revenge?”

I point to Gluttony. “Him. Thanks to your conspiring, the spell merged us all. The sins are a part of me now. I’m here to collect, then I’ll be on my way.”

He squints an eye. “Mmm. I’d like to hand him over but you see, I made him. He’s a son to me, I can’t just give him up because you’re tied to each other now. That wouldn’t be very fatherly of me now would it?”

“I thought you might say that. How about a trade?” The thought that he likes theatrics subtly crosses my mind. Instead of reaching for it, I put out my hand to summon the sword. The familiar purple dust swirls as it takes form and I give it a few careful swings. “I’m sure this is a treasure worthy enough for you?”

His eyes glaze over for a second in recognition. “Oh, now that is a blast from the past. A true relic, as beautiful as the day they crafted it. May I?” He reaches toward me with caution.

For a moment paranoia fills me with dread. The feeling that I shouldn’t trust him hits hard. The knowledge that I have no choice, even harder. With great reluctance, I pass him the blade.

He studies it with a critical eye, as if admiring a beautiful painting. “She is a beauty, is she not?” A puff of air escapes him. “Even so, she doesn’t respond to my call. Which tells me all I need to know, Damien.”

The speed at which he lunges toward me doesn’t even register. For an instant my brain can’t keep up. I glance down to see the sword, buried guard deep into my chest. The red eyes of the pommel glow brighter as they pull thin red smoke from my body into them. I grow cold and weak, so much I fall on my back. Glimpsing his throwing stance as I fall. The words of Baal ring in my ears as I star at the stone ceiling from the floor.

“Since she chose you, now your soul can always be with her.”