I sat up, banging my head into the iron bars of a dangling cage. It rattled violently as my head spun from the impact, creating a huge disturbance among my fellow captured demons.

  Are you fucking kidding me? What are the odds this shit happens again?!

  [Pretty high when you’re a dumbass.]

  Oh fuck off.

  But I wasn’t the same Demon that had been captured by Luminarch. I activated my skill, nails sharpening into claws, and sliced the bars to shreds. The metal screeched, then gave way, creating an opening just large enough for me to crawl out of.

  But my cage shifted, tossing me forward. I promptly fell from the sky, landing with a sickening thud and a cloud of dust.

  Deafening roars assaulted my ears, a crowd of rabid demons screaming all around me. I was suddenly in the middle of a massive pit, about half a football field in size, although circular. Endless rows of seats extended in every direction, demons packed together like sardines. Four massive iron gates surrounded the pit in each cardinal direction, but they led into complete darkness, and I could not make out whatever horrors were on the other side.

  “Well, well, well, it seems a new competitor has decided he is tired of waiting!” A booming voice roared. I spotted the announcer, a demon situated on some balcony above me, somehow projecting his voice even though he had no microphone or sound system.

  [Why would they have microphones?] Joshua asked.

  I don’t know how technologically advanced demons are!

  “Let’s give our new guest a warm welcome!” The demonic announcer called, and one of the four massive gates around me began to open up, revealing a pack of gnarled creatures.

  Behind the group was another creature, distinctly different from the Hell Hounds. Another panel appeared, informing me that it was a Werehound, and it definitely looked the part. It stood on its hind legs, a mane of black fur surrounding its neck. The rest of the creature was red, with two sharp ears sticking out from its head. Huge claws were attached to its hands, poised menacingly as it stared at me with bloodthirsty eyes.

  This is great, they stick me in a coliseum and give me free Exp!

  [You’re so weird.]

  The Hell Hounds struck first, followed closely by their leader. One leapt, but I moved out of the way with ease. Without even looking, I stabbed a claw into the head of a second Hound, killing it instantly. The other Hounds recoiled, confused at the sudden death of their ally, but I gave them no chance to recover.

  [Summon Greater Fire Spirit]

  A large wisp of fire appeared before me, roughly the same height as Cedric, and I mentally commanded it to attack. A stream of crimson flames rushed from the spirit, burning two more Hounds. Despite being creatures of fire themselves, it seemed that any innate resistances they had were not sufficient to deal with the Greater Fire Spirit.

  I changed focus, now eyeing the hulking Werehound charging at me, running on all fours. He jumped, and I copied the movement, meeting the beast in the air. His clawed hand stretched out, and I didn’t bother to block the attack as he dug deep into my shoulder. I landed my own hit, slashing the beast in the side. We both landed, backs turned, but I wasted no time wincing at the pain, instead activating my new skill.

  [Blood Chain]

  I whirled around, a pure red chain of blood sprouting from my palm, digging deep into the bleeding wound on the Werehound's side. The creature yelped in surprise as I yanked on the chain violently. It felt as simple as pulling back on a yo-yo, and the creature flew towards me, a mass of red fur and sharp fangs. I swiped with my arm as it passed by.

  Its head rolled to the floor, blood leaking in an uncontrolled stream. The Werehound crumpled, dematerializing into a few red orbs. The chain dematerialized into thin air as my fire spirit made quick work of the rest of the hounds. The crowd of demons around me roared in delight, captivated by my fight.

  [Exp +75]

  [Gold +50]

  [Werehound Claw +1]

  [Rare drop: Werehound Plate Armour]

  Some armour for Fang, not bad.

  I ignored the drops, knowing that I would have plenty of time to check the details when I got back to Mount Boom. The announcer began to speak, announcing my victory.

  “What a marvelous show! Since when have any of you seen a mere Greater Demon fighting like this?!” The demon shouted, “Now, let’s see how much more our young competitor can handle!” The crowd surged with excitement as two more menacing iron gates flung open around me.

  Lesser and Greater demons alike streamed forward, pushed by a few larger, armed demons behind them. Some attempted to fight back, but were subsequently beaten into submission. I watched one demon claw at a guard, desperately trying to avoid his fate, but he was made an example, a meaty fist knocking his head straight off.

  I won’t be able to escape by fighting those guys.

  At the second gate, only a single demon stepped through. He seemed confident, not even bothering to protest his entrance into the pit. The demon was tall, maybe a few inches shorter than the imposing Primordial, Luminarch. He was clad in a jet black cloak, a hood obscuring his face. I could only barely spot a pair of mischievous silver eyes boring down on me. His horns were small, two tiny black protrusions set closer to his forehead than my own, which only barely lifted his darkened hood from his head of long black hair. His smooth, fabric outfit followed a similar color palette, with only a silver crescent moon on his chest breaking apart the monotony of darkness.

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  What’s up with this guy? Emo or something?

  But that's when I noticed something.

  The same guards who were forcing the demons from the first gate into the pit, the imposing demons whom I felt that I would not be able to defeat…

  They were stacked together in a horrifying mass of flesh and blood.

  [That guy is dangerous.] Joshua said, and I mentally agreed.

  How are we gonna get out of this…?

  [How much time is left on Abyssal Rift?]

  I checked the skill, noting that only fifteen minutes remained of its three-day cooldown. I must’ve spent a few hours in the cage after Velestra, the demoness, had knocked me out with her skill. I relayed the information to Joshua, who stayed silent.

  “Attack you insolent wretches!” The announcer shouted, spurring the horde of lower-tier demons into action. I really didn’t feel like fighting them, and it seemed they didn’t either. They only half-heartedly charged at me, likely because of my Command Greater Demon skill.

  “Look, I want to get out of here just as much as you guys do!” I shouted. The horde stopped all at once, staring at me in confusion. “How about you?” I started, addressing the imposing demon in black, “You seem strong, why don’t we just bust out of here?”

  “Why would I do that?” The demon mused, “I have no other reason to be here than for my own entertainment.”

  What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

  I ignored the lone demon, instead trying to convince the horde, and they seemed to buy it, walking towards me as I spoke. “If we work together, we can get out of here!”

  “And do what?” A demon asked.

  “Yeah, where would we go? They’ll just capture us again,” A second demon added, gesturing back towards the gate and the imposing guards still standing there.

  “The Mortal Realm,” I answered. The demon in black guffawed, laughing as if I were the next coming of Kevin Hart.

  “Who do you think you are? Everyone knows the only way back to the Mortal Realm is with the Umbral Gate.”

  “And what if I told you that it wasn’t?” I challenged, looking the demon in the eye.

  “Then I’d tell you to keep dreaming.” The demon said casually.

  “Hurry up and fight already!” The announcer screeched, and the crowd around us booed their disappointment.

  [Let me at 'em!] Joshua yelled, bloodlust tinging his words.

  The demon in black suddenly disappeared. I blinked twice, wondering if I had missed something. Then, a chilling whisper caused me to shiver in fear.

  “Please, little demon, entertain me.”

  I whirled around, trying to spot the voice, but he was gone, this time reappearing behind the horde of demons.

  [Shadow Corruption]

  The demons convulsed, as if they were being shocked in an electric chair. Some fell to the ground, completely lifeless, while others seemed to grow larger, tendrils of darkness creeping up their body. Those who survived the skill began to transform, their eyes becoming a deep black. Sharp spikes jutted from their arms and backs as they screamed in pain.

  What kind of fucked up skill is this?

  Then, all at once, the horde began to charge at me.

  [Let me out, you idiot! We’re both going to die!] Joshua roared, frustrated.

  [Parasitic Manifestation]

  [Willing Host]

  The parasite appeared, glowing with the red aura from my buffing skill. He activated his copy of Greater Fire Spirit, a slightly dimmed version flying alongside mine. Then, he charged forward, claws at the ready. He cut into a Greater Demon, sprouting blood from its chest, then immediately summoned a blood chain, propelling himself forward and wrapping two other demons together. My fire spirit struck, igniting the three demons with one attack.

  “A little help, dumbass?!” Joshua yelled, breaking me from my trance.

  I ran forward, and despite not being as naturally skilled as the parasite, I was many times stronger and faster than the copy. I dashed from demon to demon, cutting at their throats and splattering blood all over the arena floor. I reached a larger demon, stabbing my claws into his chest, but he barely reacted, slamming into me with the back of his hand.

  I flew through the air, skidding to a stop a few feet away. The demon, seemingly undisturbed by the gaping wound in his torso, leapt towards me with renewed fury.

  Do they not feel pain?

  [Blood Chain]

  The bloodstained chain leapt from my hand, stabbing into the large demon's wound. He continued to charge at me, although substantially slower than before. I yanked, but the larger demon shifted his gravity and was strong enough to hold his ground. I ended up pulling myself through the air instead. My body flew, soaring above the demon. I coiled the chain around his neck, severing his head after a slight struggle.

  “Hey! Are you trying to tell me something with this reward, you bastard!?” I accused the parasite.

  “I don’t choose the rewards!” He yelled back, “But if I could, I would’ve given you that any—”

  His words suddenly cut off, and I saw him being hoisted upwards, held by the neck by the intimidating demon in black.

  “What are you, exactly?” The demon asked, tilting his head as if discovering a new species.

  “I’ll… Kill… You….” Joshua gasped, his words fragmented from the demon's grip. I ran forward, trying to reach the parasite, but several demons suddenly appeared in front of me, impaling me with their large, blackened spikes.

  Joshua flailed his arms, but was unable to land a blow. Eventually, he gave up, bringing his hands to his neck, trying to pry at the impossibly powerful grip.

  “A Unique skill, perhaps? Although I’ve never seen something quite like this…” The demon speculated, pondering as if on a casual stroll through the park. “You’ve piqued my interest, little demon.” He stared at me, and suddenly the entire world came to a halt.

  [Time Stop]

  The roars of the crowd were silenced, like someone had covered my ears with the strongest noise-cancelling headphones in the world. No one moved, including the demon who still had a spike jutting out from my chest. I removed myself with a wet squish, feeling at the wound, red blood slowly pouring out. The demons whom I had hit no longer bled, however, and I could see splatters of blood hanging in the air, as if held by a string.

  “What did you do?” I asked, staring around me at the eerily still environment.

  “Oh, a simple spell, nothing fancy.” The demon said casually, still holding Joshua, who kicked and screamed angrily as the demon walked over to me. “I am Lunarius, the Primordial Black, although I was just recently reborn, so pardon me for my… diminished stature.”

  Another one? They can’t be this common, can they?

  “What do you want?” I questioned cautiously, raising my arms. I had a feeling, however, that I was sorely equipped to handle this demon.

  “Oh, no need for that, little demon. I won’t hurt you.” his eyes glimmered with intensity, staring straight through to my soul. I felt my body go numb, darkness encapsulating my vision as the shadow of his skill enveloped me.