Fire and Light

After the darkness consumed me and death had claimed my body, I began to see a blinding light that radiated from everywhere. It grew brighter and brighter until I found myself in the brightest room I have ever been in. There was a man dressed in all white who sat at a desk that shined like the sun as he read from a book. It took a moment before I realized that the book was about my life, every detail no matter how small or minute it may have been. It was all there, even some details that I didn't know. After he finished I requested to be sent back. The man refused, he said that I was now meant to be a General of God's Army. I thought at first he was joking, though quickly realized how serious he was. I explained my situation and my untimely death. He said simply, "I know all of this." as he waved the book in front of me. I then started to run back to try and reach my body, though nothing ever happened. I ran and ran but after hours of running, I finally stopped and looked around to see that I hadn't moved from the spot where I stood in front of the man with the book. He then looked at me and said, "I almost didn't think you would ever stop." and he laughed. I looked at him asking if he was just going to let me run like that and look like an idiot. He said, "Of course, I sit here all day every day doing the same thing. I need some way to amuse myself." With that, I launched myself at him, as I flew through the air it was as if time itself had come to a screeching halt. The image of the man began to twist into flames raging amiss in the darkest area I have ever seen. I could feel the flames raging like the greatest battle I have ever been in. I fell through the man with the book as the image vaporized and flew off like a plume of smoke. I found myself diving into the darkness surrounded by flames that burned so hot I thought that I would burst into flames. Though I never did, it didn't feel any better. After what felt like an eternity I began to get used to the flames and even welcomed them. I finally was able to wander amongst the flames and find my way out. I wondered for only a few minutes before a large beast flew down landing in the flames roaring at me. I almost laughed asking, "who are you ugly?" The beast roared again and announced, "I am Asmodeus the great Demon of judgment you worm." I backed slightly as I prepared for a battle. Asmodeus began to charge toward me creating swords of the flames that raged between us. I ran forward dropping down to slide beneath him and come back up behind him wrapping my arms around his massive wings. Asmodeus wildly swung the flaming swords behind him. I held tight to his wings and pulled right as the swords were about to converge on me. the flaming blades sliced through the wings and cauterized the nubs that lay in their place. Asmodeus let out a blood-curdling screech of pain as his wings and I fell from his back. I landed and sprint towards his right hand flipping over his arm wrenching one of the swords away from him. After I landed the blade faded away from existence. As I stared in astonishment at my now empty hands Asmodeus laughed saying in a guttural voice, "You may have taken my wings but you can't take my weapons. Every Demon earns their power by defeating other demons and absorbing their abilities. I too was ignorant before defeating others." I said, "and you have the power to turn the flames of hell into swords." Asmodeus replied, "I have the power to summon the flames of hell in any shape I so choose. Swords just seemed appropriate for dealing with one who deems himself the greatest warrior in all existence. Especially seeing as you died in battle." I smiled knowing that he didn't know the whole story. I knew what I had to do but I didn't know how to accomplish that task just yet. I charged at Asmodeus as different weapons of all different shapes and sizes appeared and disappeared as they became useless in the battle. After a while, Asmodeus summoned a blazing whip that he swung with great precision. The whip flew through the air until it suddenly stopped. Asmodeus stared in amazement at my hand that now held the other end of his whip. I dove under his arm wrapping the whip under his arm, around his neck, and under his other arm, grabbing both ends of the whip over his shoulders and pulled as hard as I possibly could. Asmodeus fought as hard as he could though it only tightened the whip around his neck. He was in a panic, no mortal had ever gained the upper hand against him let alone put him in danger of actually dying. He tried to make the whip vanish but it only flicked for a moment before blazing energy left Asmodeus and flew into me. After a short time, Asmodeus fell to the ground as his body began to burn in the flames. I quickly summoned a sword skinning the Demon and tanned his hide using the flames. After the Demon hide had firmed into leather it no longer burned when submerged in the flames. I made a suit of Demon leather and wore it as a trophy. It protected me from the flames and seemed to give me a newfound vitality.