Broken(DC)

The scorching sun began to irritate my eyes. Squinting, I raised my hand to shield myself from the blinding light. My entire body felt drained, as if I had been hit by a freight truck. I couldn't even remember how I had fallen asleep. A strange dream lingered in my mind: I was in hell, surrounded by a horde of monsters tearing into me. It felt like yet another bizarre drug had taken hold of me.

When I opened my eyes, the sky was glowing red, replaced by a swirling crimson mist instead of clouds.

I jolted upright, sitting on the ground. Surveying my surroundings, I saw piles of corpses scattered around me. Many of them were torn apart, blood soaking into the earth. I glanced down at my hands and noticed something bizarre: they were different. My nails had turned into claws, and my skin had grown coarse and rough. Touching my face, it felt entirely unfamiliar. Crawling on all fours, I peered into a pool of blood, where I managed to catch a glimpse of my reflection.

The image staring back at me was barely human. My hair was almost entirely gone, my teeth had sharpened into fangs, and my eyes had taken on vertical slits like a predator's.

What was happening to me? The last thing I remembered was being torn apart and somehow managing to kill all those creatures. But in doing so, I had become something else. The air here no longer felt heavy; it felt... familiar. The ground no longer pricked at my skin, and the sun no longer burned. I was adapting. I was becoming more like the demons.

I couldn't stay here. I needed to find a way out, no matter the cost. In fairy tales, demons were said to have the power to enter Earth and make contracts with humans. If the mindless creatures I had encountered weren't capable of this, then there must be more powerful demons ones who could understand human language. If I could find one and force them to send me back, I might have a chance. But such a demon would undoubtedly be incredibly strong.

Which meant I needed to be stronger.

Despite my monstrous changes, I felt a power coursing through me unlike anything I had ever known. I realized that I would have to sacrifice my humanity for the strength necessary to survive and dominate in this hellish place. Only by fighting and winning could I amass the power needed to make even demons obey.

With that realization, I formed a plan to return home. Gradually, I began hunting and killing demons, transforming myself from prey into predator. I trained relentlessly, honing my body using anything I could scavenge. This world was filled with strange, otherworldly objects. Occasionally, I came across weapons from different eras, as if they had been plucked out of time. Some disintegrated into dust at my touch, but others proved useful. I pieced together an arsenal that kept me alive, though the issue of food remained.

Eventually, I crossed a line I never thought I would. I began consuming my kills. It changed me irreversibly, but my body, to my surprise, adapted with remarkable resilience. I developed an immunity to whatever toxins or curses might have been in their flesh. Eating demons became no different than eating beef. Over time, my form solidified into something between a human and a demon.

Battle after battle, I grew stronger. My skin became impervious, resistant even to the sharpest claws. My physical strength reached incredible levels I could tear apart rocks with my bare hands and lift massive weights with ease. But I wasn't the only one seeking power.

I started mapping the terrain, searching for signs of demon strongholds. They had to be out there, unmistakable in this chaotic world. My persistence paid off when I stumbled upon a massive palace that stood out starkly from the desolate landscape. Guarding its entrance were towering demons whose sheer presence exuded raw power.

If demons of such strength were merely the guards, the master of the palace had to be unimaginably powerful.

I didn't charge in immediately. Instead, I retreated, marking the location on my mental map. I needed more time, more preparation. Since then, days and nights had blurred together. Time here moved differently than on Earth, stretching endlessly. I stopped counting, focusing solely on survival and the path ahead.

My journey wasn't over. It had only just begun.

My main problem wasn't the monsters around me it was the beast within. It often whispered in my ear, urging me to keep eating, to keep hunting. It was insatiable, driven by a boundless hunger for slaughter. Sometimes, it took control of my body entirely, and I found myself locked in a battle within the deepest recesses of my mind.

When the beast surfaced, it fought better than I ever could. It was stronger, more relentless, and utterly merciless. I couldn't understand why this transformation was happening to me.

When I managed to sleep, my dreams were far from peaceful. I would see my family living happy lives without me, as if I had been forgotten entirely. No one seemed to care or even try to find me. I remembered the moment I was thrown into this hell, abandoned to rot. These memories ignited a fire of rage within me, and each time I woke, it felt less like myself opening my eyes and more like something else.

I feared I was losing my sanity. The voice in my head became a constant companion, drawing out the darkness inside me. Each day, the struggle to resist it grew harder. I was simply exhausted tired of everything.

I couldn't take it any longer. It was time to launch the assault.

I began meticulous preparations, gathering every piece of weaponry I could find. I settled on stilettos that seemed medieval in origin, engraved with a blacksmith's mark I didn't recognize. Armor was unnecessary my skin had grown tougher than steel. I also carried a sword forged from some strange metal, sharp enough to slice through ordinary steel effortlessly. Lastly, I collected mysterious red crystals I had found embedded in the bodies of particularly powerful demons. I knew little about them, but their raw energy and explosive potential might tip the scales in the coming battle.

The castle was not far now. From a distance, I could already see its formidable guards massive demons, four meters tall, with bodies rippling with muscle. Their scaly skin glinted in the eerie red haze, making them look like living fortresses.

The castle itself, though battered by time, was an imposing sight. A towering spire rose above the structure, stretching about ten meters into the blood-red sky. Its windows were adorned with grotesque stained glass, depicting the tortured faces of humans in agony.

The path leading to the castle was lined with statues of demons, carved in horrifying detail. Their forms were frozen in poses of power and malice, as if to remind anyone approaching of their inevitable doom.

I tightened my grip on my weapons and clenched my teeth. The time for preparation was over. It was time to act.

[image]

As I approached the castle, the towering giants had already spotted me. They stood still for a moment, sniffing the air as if studying my scent. One of them let out a guttural roar and charged toward me, its massive strides shaking the ground.

My casual pace quickly shifted to a sprint as I pushed myself to the limit. Their immense physical strength was obvious, but their size made them sluggish.

When only a few meters remained between us, the giant swung both of its massive arms downward. I veered to the right just in time, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow. The ground trembled under its force, sending chunks of earth flying in all directions. Seizing the moment, I jumped, propelling myself off its leg and climbing onto its back.

The second giant was already closing in. It swung at me with terrifying force, but at the last moment, I leaped over its arm. The strike landed squarely on the first giant, sending it crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. I landed on the second giant's shoulder, quickly drawing my sword.

I drove the blade into the creature's head and began climbing upward, ignoring its agonized howls as it thrashed in an attempt to shake me off. Its wild movements only caused more damage to itself, as I continuously struck deeper into its skull. With a final, decisive thrust, I drove the sword through its eye. The beast let out a bone-rattling scream before collapsing lifeless to the ground.

A cloud of dust erupted from its fallen body, shrouding everything in a thick haze. When the dust finally settled, I stood victorious on its back, my sword still drawn.

The first giant, seeing its comrade defeated, let out a furious roar and charged. It unleashed a flurry of strikes, each blow threatening to crush me. I moved in a deadly rhythm, dodging and weaving through the rain of attacks. The air hummed with the force of its missed strikes.

Frustration built in the creature as it failed to land a hit. With a guttural growl, its maw began to glow, and a torrent of fire erupted from its jaws. I hesitated for just a fraction of a second before the flames engulfed me.

The giant kept spewing fire, roaring in triumph as if confident it had incinerated me. But fire had long ceased to be a threat to me. This world had tempered my body to withstand its heat. When the flames finally subsided, the giant snarled in satisfaction, unaware that I was still alive.

As the last wisps of smoke cleared, I sprang from the haze, sword aimed directly at its forehead. The blade pierced its skull with a sickening crunch, and I drove it downward with immense force, cleaving its head in two. Its blood rained down on me, a grim announcement of my victory.

No one stood in my way now. The path ahead was littered only with weak creatures that fell easily before me. Finally, I reached the castle's massive doors. Even with my strength, they resisted my efforts, groaning under the strain as I forced them open just enough to slip inside.

The grand throne room was starkly different from the desolate exterior world. It was pristine, meticulously clean, with a crimson carpet leading to an imposing throne. Sitting upon it was a demon unlike any I had ever seen.

Enormous bone-like wings jutted from his back, their sharp edges gleaming menacingly. His head was crowned with twisting horns, and his eyes burned with an otherworldly light. From his mouth, which resembled twin serrated jaws, flickered small bursts of flame. His entire body was encased in what looked like living armor, jagged spikes protruding as if his very form were a weapon.

The demon watched me intently, a curious smile playing across his face as if amused by my arrival. His gaze pierced through me, and the weight of his presence was suffocating.

This was the one I had been preparing for. The one who could send me back or destroy me entirely.

[image]

"Well, well, I wondered who was making all that noise. Thought my brothers had come to visit. But who are you? You resemble us, yet you are not one of us," the demon asked, his voice low and menacing.

"I've come here for you to send me back to Earth," I rasped. My voice sounded foreign to me; it had been so long since I'd spoken.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter thundered through the hall. "You dare come to me and demand something?" He rose to his feet, clenching his massive fist in anger.

"Or you'll die," I retorted, my voice steady despite the tension.

"Ha! You truly don't understand," he sneered. "This is my realm. I cannot die here. But you? You are not so fortunate." He extended a hand, palm open as if inviting a challenge.

"What do you want in return?" I asked. He might be right killing him could be impossible. I needed to understand his terms.

"Now we're talking." His tone shifted, and he eased back onto his throne. "I'll forgive your insolence, but only this once," he said, his gaze sharp and calculating. "But I see nothing you can offer me."

"You're right," I replied cautiously. "Maybe I have nothing now, but I might later." I couldn't offer anything upfront; I needed him to set the price.

"Later?" He chuckled darkly. "Don't make me laugh, mortal."

"There must be something you want from Earth. I can retrieve it for you," I offered, my mind racing for an angle. All I needed was to escape this realm.

"Earth, the mortal plane," he mused. "They have nothing I desire... aside from their pitiful souls. Everything else worth having is too well-guarded."

"I have strength," I countered. "I can acquire what you need."

"Hmm," he paused, considering my words. "Very well. But we shall seal this with a blood pact." A parchment materialized in his hand, dark and foreboding. "Tell me your name."

"No," I said firmly. "I won't be the first to do so." I didn't know much about demons, but I understood enough to know they could twist even the smallest detail to their advantage.

"You're clever," he admitted, his grin widening. "My name is Hellborn, Lord of Flames. And yours, mortal?"

"Brian Forman," I replied.

As the parchment settled in my hands, letters began to etch themselves across its surface. My name and his Hellborn appeared at the top. Below them, the terms of the contract materialized, clear yet ominous, with two spaces for signatures left at the bottom.

Hellborn slashed his palm with his claws, and dark, steaming blood dripped onto the parchment. Using his blood as ink, he signed his name with deliberate strokes.

"Before we sign," he said suddenly, his glowing eyes narrowing, "are you a demon or a human?"

"Human," I replied, though my voice faltered. My hands were hardly human anymore, their monstrous appearance betraying the truth. The last time I saw my reflection, I barely recognized what stared back at me.

"Interesting." Hellborn tilted his head, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You could stay here. Serve me. Together, we could rise to the pinnacle of Hell itself." His voice dripped with temptation.

"I'll pass," I replied curtly, refusing to entertain his offer.

"As you wish," he said, his tone sharpening. "Now all that remains is your signature." He extended the parchment to me.

As the parchment neared, an overwhelming sense of danger surged through me. I dismissed it as nothing more than the aura of the demon before me. But the moment I grasped the parchment, the feeling intensified, screaming at me to stop.

My movements grew heavy as I raised my hand, slashing my palm open. Instead of letting the blood drip onto the parchment, I dipped a finger into the crimson pool and paused. My hand froze inches from the surface, my instincts howling that this was a mistake.

"Go on, sign it," Hellborn urged, his voice now oddly gentle. "The sooner you do, the sooner you'll return to your family."

That was the final warning bell. I never mentioned having a family. My gaze snapped to him, then back to the parchment. The contract wasn't what it seemed.

"Sign it!" Hellborn bellowed, stomping the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath us. Flames spewed from his maw as his frustration boiled over.

"No," I said, my voice firm as I tore the contract in half. The letters began to twist and blur, reshaping themselves into something darker. Realization hit me like a hammer I had nearly signed my soul away to serve him for eternity.

With a snarl, I ripped the parchment to shreds.

"You'll pay for this!" Hellborn roared, his massive wings unfurling. Flames erupted from his mouth, consuming the room in a fiery inferno. Shards of the crumbling structure rained down, the ground shaking beneath us.

His flames surged toward me, and though I had long adapted to ordinary fire, this was different. My instincts screamed as I dodged, moving before my mind had fully processed the danger. Column by column, my cover was obliterated by the relentless barrage of Hellborn's flames.

Drawing the daggers from my back, I waited for the last column to shatter. Then, instead of running for the next, I dashed into the open, catching him off guard.

His head turned sharply, seeking me, exposing his blind spot. I seized the moment, hurling my daggers.

The first dagger struck true, embedding itself in his mouth and snapping his jaws shut. The second found its mark in his eye, eliciting a deafening howl of pain. The third missed its target as he shielded himself with an armored hand.

I had no more weapons.

Blinded by rage and agony, Hellborn ripped a massive stone from the crumbling ruins and hurled it at me with inhuman speed. I couldn't evade in time. The impact sent me flying into a wall, pain exploding through my body as I hit the ground.

"You'll die slowly," he growled, his voice a low rumble as he stalked toward me. "I'll tear the flesh from your bones and force-feed it to you piece by piece."

I didn't answer him. I needed to focus on the fight. His aura spread around me, a suffocating pressure that made it hard to breathe. He was far more powerful than the ones outside.

His speed suddenly increased, almost as if he had teleported. Only my heightened instincts saved me, allowing me to dodge at the last moment. Every strike he made was so fast it tore through the air, creating a deafening roar. I had no time to counterattack. I needed to move even faster I had to surpass my limits.

My heart began pounding wildly, pumping blood through my body at its peak. My vision, which couldn't previously track his movements, began to adjust. I could see every motion with startling clarity. My feet seemed to fly, and I glided through the air, my speed increasing with each step.

With my sword in hand, I started slashing at his legs, striking in rapid succession at different spots. Every time he tried to turn toward me, I was already behind him or at his side. Once again, I entered the deadly dance where the stakes were nothing less than his life or mine.

Pulling out the explosive crystals, I embedded them into his knee joints. With a hard punch, I activated them, their glow intensifying as they charged. At full speed, I retreated as the explosion tore through the space behind me. The blast shook the ground, and the demon crashed to the floor with a thunderous roar.

I surged toward his head, aiming to deliver the final blow. But then, that feeling of danger flared violently. He lifted his head, his bloodthirsty grin unmistakable despite lacking a mouth I could see it in his eyes.

Before I could react, his massive hand seized my body.

"Got you now," he snarled, and with ferocious strength, tore me in two.

Lying on the ground, I could see my legs far away from me. The wounds I had inflicted on him burned with fire, sealing instantly and vanishing as if they had never been.

Now he stood before me, unharmed and ready to deliver the final strike.