Chapter
1 – Living at the End of the World
‘Benedetto, are you still hanging
in there?’
Hold on, Tunc. I’m in the middle of
something.
‘What could be more important than talking
to your old pal? We barely talk in-between challenges.’
Donna is trying to tame some kind
of wingless dragon. We’re just getting done a job concerning this thing. She found
some kind of golden axe that seems to have some control of the creature’s mind.
We’ve fought through a legion of beasts and their tamers. The main tamer lost
control of this dragon and was eaten alive. Now Donna is trying to control the
beast with me laying injured on the ground.
“Donna, you’re not going to be able
to control it! Just cut its head off while you have it entranced!”
“If I can control you, I can
control this dragon!”
She doesn’t control me. I make my
own decisions. Humanity is still alive because of the decision I’ve made.
‘You’re right there, but she
controls you in bed so…’
Okay, you don’t need to go there.
‘I have to mention it. She does
temper you and remind you that you would be nothing without her and your
friends and allies.’
That’s true. I don’t believe it. It
looks like she has to it under control. She climbs on it and rides the dragon
around the broken tower.
“Wooo!” she says as she goes around,
“I told you I could do it!”
“Yeah, that’s great for you. Now
let’s get back to base, I need to rest for a bit after being hit by your new
pet.”
“Oh, of course!” Donna slaps the
dragon, “Bad dragon!”
Donna has to pick me up from the
floor since I got seriously hurt. We’re now heading back to base. I say base and
not home because all our homes have been destroyed. When the demons attacked,
they tore apart all the land across all three cultures. Everything but the
churches were destroyed, but even some of those were destroyed assumingly
because they had unfaithful people in them. People have chosen to either rest
in churches or rest in camps since the damage done to the cities, homes, and
marketplaces are unrepairable.
Whenever we tried to fix anything,
the demons would attack and tear down what we’ve done. Despite the safety the
churches provide from the demons, certain people are said to have burned to
death with unquenchable flames once they entered it. I’ve seen the charred
remains of people, so it’s true. It is said that the people who died this way
were sinners and tried to abuse God’s mercy. I guess it’s too late for those
who turned their back on Him for most of their lives.
There are a number of the faithful
who have turned their back on God after having everything they had taken away
from them. Some have allied with the demons and damned themselves to Hell for
temporary power and worldly pleasures. The rest of us have formed a united
society around the capital of the Fedele, La Santa Verde. Things have been
holding together, but I don’t know how long we can hold out especially with
dwindling food and supplies. Most of the places we mined and farmed are now inhospitable
and poisonous to be in so we can’t make many new weapons, armor, or make much
food. Water is another problem since a lot of the streams have turned into rivers
of blood. I honestly don’t know how to solve all these problems right now. They
keep going around in my head with different solutions to them. I guess I’ll
just have to take them out one at a time.
What’s my challenge this time, Tunc?
‘Oh, this is more than just another
challenge. This is the last challenge. You need to survive for a certain limit
of time that I don’t know of. Nature is taking over humanity, and God wants to see
who will fall to their weaken nature and who will submit to Him for help. After
that, Hell will be our main target.’
As if I wasn’t fighting against it
for my entire life.
‘You’ll have to face Hell and its
forces with the power of God. Assuming you don’t commit any sins n the near
future, you should be able to fight without any trouble.’
I’ll try my best.
What the heck? More wingless
dragons?
“Watch out!” I say as I take out my
swords imbued with divine power.
“Come on, boy! Let’s see what you
can do!”
Donna commands her dragon to fight
the other ones while holding up her golden axe. The dragon does as she commands
and tears through its kin. A few other dragons with riders come from behind us
and chase us.
“It looks like we lost the main one,
but at least we found our target,” one of the riders say.
Donna and I fight off our attackers
on the side as our new pet blows through everything in front of us. These must
be the people who allied themselves with Hell. Most normal dragons are dead by
now or under the control of Hell’s minions. It’s a good thing my blades can
slice through demons, Hellspawn, and sin-filled humans. Once we get to a clearing,
we find ourselves surrounded by wingless dragons and Hellspawn. I throw up a
bomb that lights up the sky and makes a noise.
“Yes, draw your friends towards us
so we can slaughter them,” one of the riders with a dragon with the most armor
says.
“You’re going to get more than you expect.”
Fire rains down from the sky around
us to take out the surrounding enemy before people teleporting in to fight. A healer
comes teleports out and heals me, which brings me up to full strength just in
time for demon reinforcements to come in. Their large number of forces surround
us, and I’m back in the same situation except I’ve put more people at risk. There’s
only one thing left I can do. I take off my bandages to reveal God’s shining
name from both of my arms. I lose my strength, but at least all of the demons
dissipate. The healer again heals me as the casters start to make portals back
to base.
“They’re really starting to step up
their traps,” Donna says.
“I don’t blame them. The end is on
their heels and we have a decent number of the faithful still with us fighting
against them.”
The portals are suddenly cut off, which
leaves only a few soldiers and Donna with me. Another wave of demons and sin-filled
humans approaching in the distance. After putting down a portal, the mages need
to rest. They’re trying to conjure at least one while the rest of my forces try
to form a defensive line. Donna throws me to the remaining healer.
“What are you doing, Donna?”
“We might not make it. I’m making
sure you survive even if I die.”
“Stop talking nonsense. You know I
can go back in time.”
“But will you? You haven’t yet despite
all the times you could.”
“Donna!”
“I love you.”
“Dang it. Heal me faster!”
“Yes, sir!”
While the healer heals me, I try to
search my pockets for another signaling bomb. Unfortunately, I don’t have one.
The demon army is almost upon us and I barely have enough strength to stand. If
I use the name of God on my shoulder’s again, I may just die. A singular portal
opens suddenly opens behind us with Lilia and some reinforcements. While they
join the defensive line, a barrage of fire and ice rains upon the demon army
while almost hitting us. My forces then defend me as Lilia and a couple other
soldiers take me away from the battle as the rest of my forces cover our
retreat.
“Wait!”
Before I know it, I’m back at base.
Healers surround me and try to calm me as I try to get up.
“Keep that portal open!”
The portal stays open for a few
minutes before shutting. A number of troops manage to get out, but Donna and a
few others didn’t come through.
“Open that portal again! You can’t
leave them there!”
Lilia puts her hands on my
shoulders and says, “We can’t. Our mages are all worn out. Stop trying to get
up and relax. We can’t do anything for them right now.”
“But-”
“I’m sure Donna can take care of
herself so don’t worry about her.”
Tunc, can you find out anything?
‘I can’t even if I can. My
knowledge and vision of the world are blurred. God wants you to do this
completely blind. Do you remember what I said? This is a test of faith for
everyone.’
I’m going to have to head out as
soon as I can walk. It’s too dangerous to be outside of a church’s perimeter. My
Sparrows carry me to a bed in the church then heal me as Lilia sits by my side.
Bonito comes over to where I am and
says, “I told you that wingless dragon was bait. No one just throws one of their
strongest beasts out there for no reason. Did you even destroy that thing?”
“Donna has control of it with a
golden axe of some kind.”
“She does? It might actually be a
good thing that she isn’t here. I’m afraid of what she might do with that thing
under her control.”
“Don’t joke about my wife like
that. I need to get out there as soon as I can.”
“You need to rest for now. Until
then, I’ll try to get the mages to recover their energy as well so we can go
after her and the other Sparrows. Okay?”
“Fine. I can barely move as it is.”
“Good.”
Bonito walks away while Lilia and the
healers stay with me. My strength is recovering, but I feel sleepy.
‘Uh, Benedetto? We may have a
problem!’
It can wait for now. I’m too sleepy
to move. Huh? This is a weird dream space to be in. It’s a castle that
overlooks the world.
“And it’s a world you can have.”
“What? Who are you?”
“I’m just you.”
“I don’t believe that. Your orange
and yellow eyes give you away, demon.”
“If I’m a demon and you, what does
that say about you?”
“Don’t play games with me. Leave my
mind! The Lord rebukes you!”
“The Lord wants me to be here.”
“Tch. Then I guess I have to endure
your company for the time being.”
“I assure you that it will be a fun
time. Let me tell you that you may not be able to handle it.”
“I can and I will.”
“Let’s see how your confidence
lasts this.”
‘Benedetto! Wake up!’
“Wake up, Benedetto!” Lilia says as
she shakes me awake.
We’re in the ruins of the church as
a battle is going on outside.
“The demons are here?” I ask aloud.
Since when do they attack churches
like this one, especially La Santa Verde?
“It’s a surprise for me too. I have
to get you out of here.”
“What about everyone else?”
“They’re holding their own for your
sake. I’ll help you walk to a horse.”
I lean on Lilia as everyone in the
church fights against the demons and sin-filled humans. Things blow up around
me, spells are tossed around, and arrows whiz past my face. Hulking demons, countless Hellspawn, along with flying and wingless dragons. destroy the most beautiful
church in the world as they fight against its faithful, and I can’t help the people
I’m sworn to protect in any way. Lilia gets me on one of the fastest horses we
have and slaps it.
“Stay safe! I’ll be right behind
you!” Lilia says as she goes to fight.
“Lilia!” I say as a ball of fire almost
hits me.
The horse is now going faster
because of how scared it is. I have my swords. I can go back and fight now that
I have something to move me.
‘Don’t Benedetto! You’re still too
injured to properly fight. Besides, you’ve got company!’
Several Hellspawn chase me. I fight
them while on my horse and manage to kill most of them. Some of them get a
couple slashes in, but I won’t let my body stop me from being the hero I’m
supposed to be!
‘Look! There are carts of people escaping
La Santa Verde with escorts. You don’t have to worry about them.’
But what about those who don’t make
it?
‘I’m sure they’ll fight to the end
and give their lives for God and each other. You’ve taught well them through your
example.’
I hope I did. I’ve got to help them
as soon as I can. I have to help Donna…
‘Benedetto! Don’t fall asleep!’
I’m back at the castle that
overlooks the world with the demon that looks like me.
“So, we meet again.”
“You! Are you Luciferum? The devil
himself?”
“Maybe I am.”
“I don’t fear you, devil!”
I try punching the devil, but my
fists go through the fallen angel.
“Our main battle is going to be like
this rather than using physical weapons.”
“You’ll lose for sure then. I won’t
be broken by your tricks.”
“We’ll see about that. You wanted
to be with your wife, correct? I’ve done you a favor by directing your horse to
her location. You’ll see her soon, but you may not like what you find.”
I wake up next to my horse, which has
died for some mysterious reason.
‘I was trying to warn you, but I
guess I wasn’t allowed to. I can’t help you with your mental battle against
Luciferum. I’m sorry.’
Don’t worry about it. All I need is
God’s help after all and I have that.
Presently, I’m back in the area
that I left Donna in. There are only a couple bodies of my Sparrows, so the
rest and Donna might still be alive! Rest in Heaven, dedicated soldiers. Fly
into the arms of God. After saying a prayer for my soldiers, I pick myself up
and follow the trail of destruction and battle.
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