21 A Fight To My Death With Friends... 'HIM' ......

As Aurona and Samuel closed in, my instincts kicked in, causing my wings to launch me into the air, barely missing Samuel's claws and Aurona's talons.

They didn't slow down either, launching into the air after me at light speed.

They would slash and claw at me, using their tails, claws, sharp nails, and fists to throw whatever they could at me.

I fought back and was able to deflect most of the blows.

But then...

Aurona's palm hit my chest with a force that blasted me to the ground and knocked the wind out of me when my back slammed into the dirt.

When my back bounced off the dirt from the force, Samuel slammed his fist into my gut with black energy reinforcing it.

...

I couldn't move after that; my body was in too much pain...and...

**What is this weird feeling?** I asked myself in my head.

Aurona and Samuel were standing a distance away from me, whispering.

"I told you he wouldn't be able to handle that, Aurona! He just got here, and the first thing you wanted to do was use magic on him!!" Samuel hissed at Aurona in a hushed tone.

"I know, I know," Aurona hissed back. "But it's for his good. He needs to realize his strengths and power right away, just like we need to know."

**My body hurts...but...** I thought in my mind.

"Are you serious?! He could die, moron!"

**...it's like my body's hot...and...**

"Don't call me a moron, Sam-" Aurona started to growl back but stopped when she looked in my direction. "Darien?"

They looked at me and gasped.

My body was lifted from the ground and floated in the air. Energy started to swirl around my body until large wisps formed of ethereal colors, and sparks of electricity would jolt off my skin. The strange power started to thicken and pull itself slowly together; then, it consumed my body like a clouded ball, slowly.

Samuel started to rush towards me, but Aurona grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Don't go near him," She said in a deadly serious tone. "Or you'll die."

"What? What's wrong with him? What's going on, Aurona?" Samuel asked, worried.

Aurona was quiet as she continued to watch the energy close around me.

"He's evolving...I didn't think your creatures in the Living Realm did...fuck...to think that it's possible...I-" Aurona stuttered.

"Evolve?" Samuel asked in confusion and worry.

Aurona nodded coldly.

"My kind evolve when they are either too powerful, too knowledgeable, on the edge of death...or..."

"Or what? SPIT IT OUT, AURONA!!!!!" Samuel yells while he starts shaking her shoulders.

"...or when other spiritual beings are blessing them..." Aurona mutters softly.

Samuel froze and then shot his head in my direction in pure fear.

**They look so...scared.** I thought as my eyes slowly closed, and the cloud shut around me. **I wonder why they're so frightened. Fuck, my body is...so hot and heavy...I-** I thought before I slipped into a sort of sleep and the cloud shut itself around me.

__________

I was walking in darkness; my feet were bare and in an inch of water. I couldn't hear a sound other than the splatter of my footsteps in the cold, shallow water.

**Where am I?** I ask in my mind.

I continue to walk forward, not knowing where I'm going, but it's almost like my body knows where it wants to walk.

Soon my feet stop, and I stand in the darkness.

...

**It's eerie here and way too quiet.** I thought.

"You have arrived at last." A horrific voice says, echoing around me.

I jump and spin around, trying to find the voice's owner.

But no luck; I was still surrounded by darkness, alone.

"Who's there?" I ask.

...

I balled my hands into fists and closed my eyes to calm down.

**Is it trying to scare me? No, whatever this thing is is trying to test me; little does it know I'm starting to get fucking pissed!!** I thought with a growl.

I open my eyes slowly and take a deep breath.

"I don't know where I am or who you are, but you better show yourself," I say sternly.

Nothing moved, appeared, or made a sound.

My balled-up fists tightened, and my tail started to thrash in frustration.

"I said, show yourself," I repeated.

...

I growled in anger and kicked the water at my feet before yelling at the top of my lungs.

"OK, NOW I'M PISSED!!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT RIGHT NOW SO I CAN BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU, BALDY!!! I KNOW YOU'RE A DUDE, SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT KICKING THE SHIT OUT OF A CHICK! GET! THE! FUCK! OUT! HERE! RIGHT! NOW YOU FUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I was livid, but as I continued to yell and thrash, stomping and kicking the water at my feet like a toddler, I didn't hear the slow splashing of mighty giant footsteps behind me.

Once the footsteps stopped, I froze but didn't turn to look at whoever it was.

I couldn't because whoever was standing behind me was not only enormous...but had the feeling of death oozing off of them moving in my direction.

"I'm sorry," The voice says while putting a finger(?) on my shoulder. "Who are you calling 'baldy?' Because I can assure you I am NOT bald, and the last person who said that I made rip their organs out of their body through every layer of their flesh with the snap of my fingers."

I stayed silent.

Why wouldn't I?! I could 'feel' how valid his words were.

The voice seems to notice my state and sighs in approval.

"So you are Darien of Withergate? The one Aurona Viora had chosen not only to bless but to bind her soul with for the rest of her existence. Interesting. Very interesting." The voice says in a pleased but chillingly creepy tone.

I shudder in fear and terror but stay silent.

The voice takes its 'finger' off my shoulder, and I hear soft splashing behind me, telling me the being that is the owner of that voice is walking away from me.

**Do I dare look? SHOULD I look? CAN I LOOK?!?!** I ask myself in my head.

"Darien of Withergate," the being says in a tone as if they were sitting down from a high position to a low one. "Does your family not have a surname? Also, turn around and look at me when I am talking to you. I don't like when I'm not looked at when speaking to someone. That is...If you think you can handle it~." The being snickers.

I am trembling, but I do as it asks and turn to face it slowly. I'm staring at the water when I encounter it, but when I finally get enough guts to meet my fear and the death flags flagging going off in my brain, I raise my head and eyes to look at the being.

When I did, I felt like I had died right then and there. I knew what being I was looking at; this being was in every world and every culture and religion.

This being was the most powerful, terrifying, and deadliest creature ever was and ever will be.

I was looking at Death himself.