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Rebellion

After their rest, they continued their journey towards the next destination as indicated in the journal. It wasn't hard to find the name of the villages or towns of interest in the journal, as Asdal had a tendency to talk about his destinations several times in his journal entries. The ash hounds they met also helped them with the names mentioned in the journal.

However, as they continued their search, it became more and more apparent that the names of the villages and towns in the journal were once the names of districts from the Ashen Kingdom. The ash hounds simply adopted them for their own uses.

Traveling in the Ashen Lands was dangerous due to the constant attacks by the followers of Barbatos, which had slowed down in frequency ever since the slaughter the group did many times before. Zardes felt bad about leaving decomposing bodies for the ash hounds to clean, so every time they could, they would burn the bodies, cremating them and turning them to ash. Belial's hellfire could turn a body into ashes quickly, making their cleaning job easier. It could be because of this decision that the followers of Barbatos started to become reluctant to risk their lives fighting against seven travelers searching for a truth.

Zardes's remarks still stood. It all started due to an archaeological dig that interested them. They wanted to research the Ashen Lands, but their interest in the Infernal Texts happened to have more ramifications than they had ever think of. Zardes wondered if they simply shrug off the Texts and focus on the ash hounds. Would there be no bloodshed? No, that's wistful thinking. There would always be bloodshed, and Barbatos would always have a plan. It's just the surface hellhounds would not be directly involved. They would be oblivious of everything.

Things could have been different. Belial would still be in Drundas's dungeon, Ammon would still be in hiding somewhere in Ternor, and both Gehen and Damos might stay in the small hellhound village, but they would have a hard time dealing with their enemies. Itresil, Malkar, and Zardes would just go on with their surface lives without ever knowing about these unique Underworlders and their lives before meeting with them.

It would always be a sad time when they would go their separate ways. Zardes knew that it was inevitable, but an adventure must end. They would each continue their own lives. However, if there was a chance that they would be reunited, Zardes would take it. It may not be the same, but it would always be a meeting to behold.

As Zardes thought about lives after the adventure was over, they soon reached a town. Like most of the other towns they visited, this town was not what one would expect a 'town'. There was a reason why there was no 'city' in the Ashen Lands. It was simply because a big settlement of ash hounds had not existed yet.

The town itself was littered with more permanent buildings with different services offered, including an inn. However, the town's landmarks were the ones that interested the group, and also the ones that indicated that they were on the right track.

Belial could not help them identify the ruins, but they were convinced that the ruins were one of many left standing after the Ashen Kingdom became ashes. That part about the Kingdom turning to ashes was not yet answered, although their standing theory was that an uncontrollable hellfire caused the kingdom to be mostly damaged. Belial had shown that a hellfire could burn anything to ashes, so buildings, hounds, and demons caught in it would turn to ashes as they burned in hellfire. The thought of it made Zardes shudder. It disturbed him even more when he realized that the damned souls in the hell circles were practically immortal, unable to die even if they wanted to.

Belial tried to read the inscriptions on the standing obelisks. However, the moment he took a glance at it, he shook his head.

"What the hell is this?" he said.

"You can't read them?"

"They look like random scribbles to me," said Belial. "This is not an Infernal language."

"Maybe it's ancient Hordo or the ash hound's language?" said Malkar. He quickly turned to Gehen. "(Do you know what it says)?" he asked.

Gehen replied with written Hordo on a notepad. It said, "(No, I don't)."

"(Is it an ash hound language, then?)"

"(I know what you're thinking, Malkar)," he signed. "(However, whatever knowledge of another language other than Hordo was lost a long time ago when the Kingdom was gone)."

"(I guess we'll find a way to translate them later. We'll get the journal first)."

As they went to the town's library, Ammon was still looking at the writings on the standing obelisk. He looked at it intently, seemingly reading it, but the more he looked at it, the more confused he was. He was sure he had seen the symbols somewhere. He also felt that he could read them, yet for some reason, he could not. He did not understand what they were. The strange feeling lingered for a while before he shrugged and started walking towards the library.

The town's library was like the library in the Ashen Sorcerer's village: small and functional. It did not boast a great book collection and all the books in the library were written in Hordo. Malkar, however, walked to the librarian and asked about some peculiar books that needed the ashes in Ashen Lands to cool down, in which he quickly knew what they were.

"(Oh, I know what you mean)," said the librarian. "(However, they're not here)."

"(Not here?)"

"(It is inside the ruins out there. However, we can't get in. Our resident Sorcerer determined that some sort of magic was blocking the entrance)."

"(Then how are you certain that the Texts were inside the ruins?)"

"(You can see them from the outside. Anyway, may I ask why you need those books)."

"(It's for research)."

"(Research, huh?)."

Meanwhile, outside, where Itresil was waiting, she noticed Ammon who lagged behind. He did not seem to hurry and join the others, but deep in thought. He was walking slowly and casually. He did not blend in well given that he was a bat despite of having ashen grey color like the Ash hounds.

"(Are you alright, Ammon)?" asked Itresil, which apparently snapped Ammon out of his thinking.

"(Oh! Uh, yeah, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about those symbols in the ruins)," he said.

"(Anything of interest)?"

"(I don't know. I seemed to recognize them, but I can't understand anything they said. I know I've seen the symbols somewhere. Do you know anything about them? Maybe it's from your Circle)."

"(If I knew about it, I'd tell them directly. No, little one. Those are not from my Circle. However, your knowledge of the symbols is vital to their research. I think you should tell them when you get inside)."

Just as Ammon wanted to get inside, the group came out. He wanted to tell them about the relevance of the symbols to him when he heard a whisper. He knew that the whisper could not be heard in the middle of a bustling street unless the whisperer was beside him. He could not feel any presence, but he could hear the whisper clearly as the sounds around him became muted. What it said, however, was rather cryptic.

"(In the center of the hellish realm, where the city of Dis stood as the reminder of the sinner's fate, a dark lord will rise and rule over the fallen angels and demons who made the city their home. Such is the start of his greatness's plan, and from Dis, the world beyond Limbo's gate will fall, and the battle will begin)."

The whispers repeated after that, causing Ammon to call out.

"(What the hell was that?)" said Ammon. "(Hey!)"

"(Ammon)?"

Belial's voice dissipated the whispers, and he was seemingly returned from the conversation.

"(Who are you talking to?)"

"(I...I don't know. He speaks about the city of Dis or something like that, but it doesn't make sense to me)."

"(Dis?)" Belial suddenly turned serious. "(How the hell do you know that name?)"

"(He told me about it)."

"(Ammon, you need to repeat what you heard)," said Zardes. "(Please, this is important. Was it a warning or a clue?)"

"(Or a trap)," said Belial empathetically.

Ammon then repeated the phrase as he heard it.

"(What's the city of Dis, Belial)?" asked Ammon after finishing what he said.

"(It's the city of the damned)," said Belial. "(Well, more like an overrated torture chamber, if you ask me. There is no law in the city, but the demons have complete control over the damned and will do whatever they want towards them. It encompasses Circle Three through Five. After that, there will be a giant drop to the Sixth Circle, then the Seventh. There is no entrance to the sealed Eighth to Tenth Circle except when the Forever Damned plotted their escape years ago. I was aware of that incident)."

"(So, basically, ruling over Dis...)."

"(Means ruling over most of hell. Barbatos was trying to expand. I know it's rather impossible to do this without causing an all-out war between his faction and the other Circles, so...so, he made the Ashen Kingdom)."

"(For what?)" asked Damos.

"(To establish a base when his plan succeeded. It clearly did not, but he had a contingency plan: Ammon. As a Vessel, Ammon will be used to summon him up here)."

"(Also, there's another thing. I happen to recognize the symbol, but I can't make sense of them)," said Ammon.

This seemed to surprise the rest of them (except Itresil, who Ammon told before).

"(You...know the symbols?)"

"(I can't read them, but I know I've seen them somewhere. It's not in the Temple, and I clearly did not travel this deep into the Ashen Lands before)."

"(Do you remember anything?)" asked Malkar. "(Anything at all?)"

Ammon contemplated and thought hard of the facts of his life, but every time he tried to think, he could not think of anything. He just shook his head and said, "(Sorry)."

"(It may be a subconscious knowledge)," said Zardes. "(I read about this in Qeveriyt. It is said that due to a trauma, a person will try and suppress traumatic memories to prevent shock. Maybe somewhere in your life, a traumatic event happened, and your mind subconsciously chose to lock it deep within your mind. Also, in that event, those symbols could've meant something)."

"(Traumatic? You mean, like when I thought I killed Seja before, and when I tried to defend myself and accidentally kill a hellhound?)"

"(They are traumatic, and there may be more in your past. The details of the events will be hard to recollect due to this)."

"(So, what am I supposed to do?)"

"(People up on the surface uses hypnotherapy. I think they hypnotized you and talked to you while you sleep. I don't know how it works)."

"(And I bet no one in this group knew how to hypnotize others)," said Malkar with a sigh. "(I know it's an important piece of information but we have no means to get it)."

"(Gehen said he knew how)."

Everyone turned to Gehen and Damos.

"(Gehen? What do you propose?)"

He then made signs while Damos translate.

"(The Ashen Sorcerers could control ashes the way they want, and one of those techniques involved illusions. I knew this from my youth, when an old Ashen Sorcerer showed me mesmerizing visions made out of monochromatic ashes. I did not think of it as relevant unless you want to impress someone at parties, but we need to put a great emphasis on mesmerizing visions. We can use ashes to produce what you say...)."

Gehen looked at Damos and made signs asking about a word, Damos then said, "(Hypnosis. He's referring to hypnosis)."

Gehen then nodded.

"(So, you can use your control on ashes to hypnotize someone)!"

"(However, I cannot do that)," signed Gehen. "(Apparently, despite of its use as entertainment, it needs a rather delicate control of ashes. Even if I know how to use a teleport magic, tricking the senses requires an entirely different school of knowledge)."

"(So, that means we are still not going anywhere)," said Malkar.

"(Not really. Unless we find a hypnotist in this town, our only chance is to meet with the Ashen Sorcerer who lives in this town)," signed Gehen.

"(If we know where he lives)," said Belial. "(So, what do you think we should do, then? We can't all just go to his home, knock on his door, and expect him to talk with all of us crowding his front door, right?)"

"(I know it's risky, but I think we should split up)," said Zardes. "(I will accompany Ammon with Gehen and Damos. Belial, Itresil, and Malkar will stay in and around the ruins and find whatever you can in here. Everyone got it)."

Everyone in the group nodded.

"(Alright. We'll be back soon)."

Belial, Malkar, and Itresil saw as the rest of the group walked back into the library to ask where the ash hound lived. As they walked into the library, Malkar turned towards the ruins and said, "I think it's time we get to work ourselves."

"Do you think Ammon's not being influenced?" said Belial.

"Influenced? By whom?"

"By Barbatos. I know deceit and manipulation is more Asmodel's style, but that doesn't mean others can't use it. To be honest with you, I've suspected that our enemies changed their strategy after they know they cannot defeat us by sacrificing everyone."

"I've also suspected as much. But what's Ammon got to do with this?" "Even after everything he had told us, even after his genuine attempt to reject himself, he is still a Barbatos's Vessel. He may have denied Barbatos as his creator, but the fact he exists make that denial useless. Ammon may not know it, but...."

"Stop, Belial. Yes, Ammon is vulnerable, but that doesn't mean you have to resort in killing him."

"No. Not yet. I don't want to resort to that, but I don't want us all to pay when he loses and turn on us. If Ammon is lost to the enemies, then all our efforts to find a way to stop Barbatos is going to be pointless. He's our only key to prevent his summoning."

"Belial, Ammon loves you," said Malkar. "He has a hard time confessing it to you, but he loves you. He was devastated when he knew that he was made from the template of your brother who happened to be your enemy. He tried to convince himself and all of us that he's not going to betray us and cause the surface world to fall into Barbatos's clutch. You can't just decide whether his life is worth saving or not!"

"I know that, Malkar. I know he's in love with me, even if I'm not sure what it means. But...if it's the only way..."

"No, you won't do it," said Malkar stern. "We will not go to that route. In fact, even if you kill him, it won't stop Barbatos. Ammon is not the only Vessel out there. The one I really fear is that he's the only Vessel left not under his clutches. We have not met the other Fuzandres that look like him. Not at all."

"Or he's the only one."

"No, he told us that he was raised alongside other vampire bat Fuzandres as Ashen Priests. I know his mentor might be lying about the others traveling on their own. It may be that when he turned Seja into a vampire and ran away thinking he broke the Temple's rules...he was actually spared from that fate."

"I...did not think of it that way. So, basically, his mentor was working with Barbatos all the time and tried to ensnare Ammon?"

"He was working with Barbatos, but I think something happened along the way to make him change his ways," said Malkar.

"How about Azazel, then? What if my decision to make him a temporary leader to the army was the wrong decision?"

"No, I don't think your 'friend' has anything to do with Barbatos's plan. I think his appearance there was a coincidence and was used as a distraction of sorts to the assassin sent to kill Lehrn, for talking too much. And about Azazel, you know he's trustworthy enough from the fights you two had for years, right? I mean, some respect and friendship can happen from fights. Even love."

"Even so...."

"Just let me do the thinking and we'll be just fine. Creating wild theories will get us nowhere."

Malkar simply walked into the ruins as Belial looked at the hellhound rather dumbfounded. Itresil tried to hold back her chuckle, but it was clear that the demon dragon was laughing.

"He really knows how to make things more interesting," said Itresil. "Malkar can act like he's the know-it-all, especially if he's talking to someone as straightforward as you, prince Belial."

"And if I was still back at Drundas when I first met him, I'd just burn him into dust if it wasn't for the suit," said Belial with a sigh. "But, I won't do that. He's far too important to die out of being annoying."

"And I think you've stayed a little too long to start thinking about other emotions," said Itresil.

"What does it feel like, anyway, to discard your demonic life and let age take you?"

"You'll know soon enough."

"I think I'll pass. My realm will crumble under incompetent demons."

"Don't you think it's time for a change? Maybe a vote? Make the succession more democratic? I mean, the Third Circle already did that for the demons, excluding the damned, of course. I think your Circle might benefit from that."

"I don't think you understand how we do our things, Itresil," said Belial. "You don't get the throne unless you dethrone the previous one with a fight. That's what Azazel's been trying to do for years, and what I did to the previous ruler and the ruler before him."

"I guess it's rather pointless to ask you to change, then," said Itresil with a sigh. "What did you do to the previous prince, then?"

"He can do whatever he wants, including taking back the throne. Still, his time was up, so he's rather content to stay in his place."

"Glad you know that some things cannot change. You don't want your native Circle to crumble if the Fifth Circle suddenly votes to take over, right? Barbatos did it because he wanted to win, but if everyone suddenly wants to do it, I think things won't be good for the balance. Yes, we do need that to prevent a chaotic rule. It is easy for us to conquer, but will it be easy for us keep it from falling into anarchy?"

"Guess you have the right idea, after all, even though your decision is why demons like me chose to abandon our duties. It can get quite boring down there, you know."

"Well, you don't have any demons trying to take your throne."

They both smiled towards each other as they waited for Malkar to return. The hellhound did not pay attention to their conversation as he had more things to do.

As Malkar walked into the ruins, he noticed that it was not based on any classical architecture he knew on the surface. The pillars were angled with no smooth edges, only sharp ones that could hurt if it wasn't worn out. It also had a weird color that was predominantly black and red, like a demon's fur or maybe some hellhounds. It clearly stood out compared to the ashen grey surroundings. Malkar was surprised that years of erosion did not make the color dull. Or maybe it was actually colored like that in nature? His team would have a field work analyzing the ruins if they were hellhounds. He might need to ask another team to work on these. Still, he did not want to put them in danger, so he needed to do it himself while still among strong fighters.

As he tried to walk into the entrance by the ruins of the building, he felt a force repelling him. The force made the entrance felt like it had a very transparent window that did not reflect any lights. However, this one was not a window, but a barrier.

From what Malkar knew about barriers, they were usually generated by a rune imbued by magic. Their persistence and longevity came from how many magic stored inside the rune. Even better, a barrier had low upkeep, meaning that it only used a small amount of mana to maintain. If the barrier was still up after years of neglect, then he just needed to find the rune.

The only problem was if the rune itself was behind the barrier. There was no other way to know unless Malkar consulted the journal. Asdal would not just leave his journals behind a barrier without knowing a way to retrieve it. Or...was it his intention? That would not add up with the other journals, which were easy to reach? Or was it just a twisted way to keep his journals out of reach so that the full knowledge of whatever inside would never be known?

As Malkar started to think more and more about it, he started to link it with Asmodel. The prince of wickedness had not shown his presence for a while. Also, the books found in the Ashen Sorcerers' village was protected with Asmodel's magic. What was he trying to do? Were they doing things for his biddings?

Was their pursuit on how to stop Barbatos...instead helped Asmodel?

***

As Malkar contemplated on the facts, the other half of the group reached the Sorcerer's house. It was situated near the edge of town. Unlike the other houses in the town, this house was a lone house that did not connect with the others and seemed to be made out of a different material. However, what made it stood out from the other houses was the uneasy aura that surrounded it. It felt like the aura tried to keep them out by projecting a strong evil aura that played on them.

This was not surprising, however. They were warned by the librarian when they asked for the direction to the house of the town's sorcerer.

"(If you really want to meet with our sorcerer, be careful, though. He only helps if the situation only requires his presence. Other than that, he's a recluse in his house. It's just...his house has a rather creepy presence around it. It felt almost wrong to get there. As you get closer, you start to become sick. You have an urge to throw up, and you can't even think straight as you're wracked with this feeling of something's going to eat you. It's like you're a prey to the house)."

That was what exactly they were feeling as they walked closer and closer to the house. It was as if a dangerous monster from deep within hell would snatch them and put them into some agonizing pain, unbearable even to hardened warriors like them. Damos was the first who started to feel the effects of the dread, as he stopped while the others continued on.

"(Damos, it's alright)," said Zardes while fighting the feeling of fear. "(W-we need to keep going)."

"(I-I can't. My legs can't move)," said Damos, his eyes full of terror. "(It's weird. I...can't seem to see anything, but I know. I know)."

"(Try to ignore it. The Sorcerer must've used some kind of spell)."

"(But can't you see? If you continue, you'll die! I can't let you die! Please stop!)"

That's when Gehen got the idea. The feeling of dread and fear of a dangerous monster was the product of a kind of magic. If the Sorcerer was an Ashen Sorcerer like him, then he just needed to dispel the magic.

Concentrating on his own magic, he let the ashes in his pouch to follow his will. He closed his eyes, keeping himself calm and not influenced by the feeling of dread around him. There was no monster, and he could keep himself strong.

He opened his blue eyes as that feeling of dread dissipated. He could see that it was a completely normal looking house. There was no monster, and the scenery did not have anything weird in the slightest. He sighed.

Gehen then turned towards his friends and did what he did to himself. They then snapped out of whatever ailments they were in and looked around in confusion. They then saw Gehen, who smiled as he felt proud for his ingenious idea.

"(T-thanks)," said Zardes. He then noticed Gehen smiling and let out a little grunt as he made a sign.

"(He said, you're welcome)," said Damos.

Gehen then continued, leading the way in case anything nasty was around. The others followed behind him to the house, which looked normal without the illusion.

As they knocked the front door, it opened by itself, but then the tip of a blade was right in front of Gehen's eyes. He then slowly back up as the blade was kept close to his eyes. As the blade moved out of the house, so was the wielder.

The wielder was an ash hound, but judging from his appearance, he was at least two decades older than Gehen. Like the other ash hounds in the area, he was wearing a minimal clothing that consisted of an ornate loincloth wrapped around his waist and some other accessories. One of his ears was partially cut and was shorter than the other ear.

"(Not one step into my home)," said the ash hound. "(Not until I can determine your trustworthiness)."

Gehen wanted to explain, but he could not do anything but shook his head.

"(Say something. I know you're an Ashen Sorcerer, but you can't even trust your own kind nowadays. Come on)."

Gehen, being a mute, quickly tried to explain using sign languages, but the ash hound looked at it and said, "(Don't try anything funny)."

"(Stop it)," said Zardes as he walked beside the ash hound. "(Can't you see? He's mute)."

The ash hound looked at Gehen, who nodded. The ash hound then sighed and lowered his sword. "(Sorry, kid. You can't be too careful)."

"(Is it too early to lower your defenses, old hound)?" asked Zardes.

"(If you're an enemy, you'll try to attack me instead of talking to me. My enemies are that crazed)."

"(Yeah. I can see that)."

"(Also, I know you're not one of them. If you are, you'll have a black collar around your neck. That way I know you've lost your free will, and thus your action's not your own. Unless they've made something else, of course)."

The ash hound turned to his home. "(Come in. I know you have questions)."

The group was still reluctant, but Gehen made a silent gesture that Zardes understood as 'if he does anything suspicious, I'll kill him'. Zardes knew Gehen could sense danger as good as him, so he tried to trust his friend.

The interior of the small house was sparse at best, with a minimal furniture. The ash hound seemed to sleep on the floor covered with fur from an Underworld animal native around the town. Zardes had seen a couple of them. They looked like sheep.

After he closed his doors, he pointed his sword towards Gehen and said, "(I don't trust any Ashen Sorcerer, mute one. I can't trust them even more when they lost their voice. They are good secret keepers, as they cannot speak of it)."

Gehen looked at the older ash hound and made signs, in which Damos interpreted it as, "(Then trust my friends)."

"(Trust your friends, eh?)" The ash hounds looked at the rest of the group before he noticed the lone bat in the group. He then sighed and said, "(I guess I'll trust you...for now. What do you want?)"

"(Do you know any hypnosis spell, Sorcerer)" asked Ammon. "(I...seemed to have a repressed memory that prevented me to read something. I know it won't be important in the end, but it keeps bugging me)."

"(And you go to my home, risk your sanity, and got my sword on your head simply because you thought I can help you? Is it because of me as an Ashen Sorcerer)?"

"(Can you do it or not?)"

"(I can help you find whatever you try to find in your head, demon bat, but are you sure it won't hurt you later? There is a reason you tried to forget about it, you know. I can't help you if it causes you to relive your painful past)."

Ammon looked at the others, now feeling unsure after he heard about it. What if the memory he was trying to find was in fact far more traumatic than that time when he thought he killed Seja while in fact, he turned her into a vampire by accident? For him, that accident was traumatic, as he had broken the most important rule of the Temple of the Ashes: no killing. Yes, he knew that his mentor was not actually an ash priest, but the 'no killing' rule, regardless of religion, still mattered (unless if said religion was a demonic one).

Still, he needed to know, or else he would not be satisfied. He knew what those symbols were, and he wanted to remember what they meant. The only way to do that was to see his own self and remember.

After contemplation, Ammon gulped and said, "(I'm ready)."

"(I admire your courage, young bat)." The ash hound then took a bowl of ashes and put it in front of him. "(I think you've made up your mind, so let's begin. It may not be perfect, but I know what I'm doing)."

"(Have you ever hypnotized someone before, old hound?)" asked Damos.

"(I was trained to do so by my mentor, you see)."

"(Don't try anything stupid)," signed Gehen.

"(I am not going to do this if I can't trust you to a degree. Now, demon bat, look into the bowl of ashes. Stare at it."

Ammon did so. The ashes started to swirl, and before long, Ammon could see colors dancing on his eyes. It was so surreal. He had never seen ashes so colorful like that. It felt like he was falling into it. In his eyes, the swirling, colorful, and hypnotic ashes started to engulf his field of vision, and then he found himself inside a vortex of swirling colors.

"(Relax)," said a voice that seemed everywhere. "(Take a rest. Sleep...)."

Ammon's eyes felt heavy. Maybe he was tired. He wanted to go to sleep. Yes. Sleep. It was what he wanted. Sleep.

As Ammon started to close his eyes, the others helped him as he slumped onto the comfy floor. He slept soundly and somehow...peacefully. Zardes had never seen him so peaceful before. It was as if he forgot what he was doing.

"(Now, you can talk to him)," said the ash hound. "(Everything you say will be suggestions that he will answer)."

"(Alright)."

Zardes then took a seat beside Ammon and said, "(Ammon, tell me about the symbols)."

"(What...symbols?)" replied Ammon deliriously. This surprised Zardes.

"(Whoa...he responds)."

"(No time to be surprised, Zardes)," said Damos. "(Be more specific)."

Zardes nodded and said, "(Ammon, do you remember the symbols on the ruins? Have you ever seen them before? Remember your past, Ammon. Anything you can find."

"(I...have never seen those symbols before)," said Ammon.

"(Ammon, we need your help. You said you've seen them, but you don't understand what they mean. You need to look deeper. Find something)."

Ammon mumbled incoherent words that Zardes thought he was getting somewhere. Then, after a while of delirious talk, Ammon said, "(I was...)."

"(Yes?)"

"(I was...still a child. I can see my home, the Temple, and the other demon bats. I played with them. Then...then I saw one of them show us something. Something...in the scroll)."

"(What's in the scroll, Ammon)?"

"(The symbols. It was there. I can see them clearly)."

"(Do you know what they mean)?"

"(The...young bat told me about it. He...he...)."

"(Ammon?)"

Ammon did not speak, but then something was wrong. At first only Zardes noticed it, but Ammon suddenly let out a dark aura that was strong like a demon prince. The hellhound knew that this was just like Belial, but it was a different feeling. He knew that like Belial, it was danger.

He quickly drew his knife and said, "(Get out of Ammon's head now)."

Ammon replied with something that was not Hordo or Common, but something demonic. Even the ash hound Sorcerer realized what it was and became scared.

"(Oh, shit!)" he exclaimed. "(Wake him up! Wake him up, now!)"

Zardes did so. He slapped Ammon so hard across his face that his furless skin had a mark on it. It still did not wake Ammon up. The aura of blackness started to engulf Ammon. Still, Zardes was much faster, and he sat over Ammon and slapped his face many times, ordering him to wake up.

Just as he contemplated resorting to actually hurting Ammon, the aura quickly dissipated and Ammon's completely black eyes opened in shock. He was breathing hard, apparently woken up by a nightmare. He then saw Zardes on top of him and said, "(What are you doing?)"

Zardes, relieved that Ammon was alright, quickly hugged the demon bat. "(I thought we lost you)," he said.

"(I don't remember anything beyond that swirling color)," said Ammon. "(What happened?)"

"(You...almost lost yourself)," said the ash hound. "(I should've known. I should've known, and I simply did it. What an idiot)."

"(What's wrong?)"

"(Your demon bat friend here is a Barbatos's Vessel, right? I thought hypnotizing him is harmless but blanking his mind for him to journey in it makes him vulnerable. Ammon, right? If your hellhound friend here did not wake you up, you'll be possessed by Barbatos)."

"(What?)" said Ammon surprised. "(You mean, he'll take over my body?)"

"(No. You'll lose control of your body and you'll go to wherever your dark lord demands you too. He has the means to take control of your body as easily as giving your free will)."

"(How the hell do you know all this?)" said Damos.

"(Because you're not the only Vessel I've ever known, young Ammon)," said the ash hound. There was a sad expression across his face. "(I lost a friend to this...and worse, he almost betrayed me to them. That is the reason of the spell out there)."

"(But you did not hypnotize him, right? You don't even know what will happen to me when you did. What actually happened?)"

The ash hound hesitated to answer, apparently unable to say anything to Ammon regarding the demon bat he personally knew. Still, he knew he needed to say it, so he did. And what he said surprised the group.

"(Because he had fallen into despair...and committed suicide)."

"(Suicide? He killed himself? And because he killed himself he was...)?"

"(It's such a harsh fate, young Ammon)." He started to cry. "(To think that even in death...you can't escape your fate. He thought that being alive made him susceptible, but either way, it's the same thing. Dead or alive, you are still a Vessel, and true to your name, death only makes your body vacant for use)."

"(And having my mind blanked is the same with dying, anyway)," said Ammon. "(He clearly had thought of everything)."

As if confirming the truth, the same voice that whispered into Ammon started whispering again. This time, it was not any cryptic message, but more a taunt.

"(You are never free, Vessel)," said the voice. "(Your life's purpose is to serve Barbatos, and it shall be your truth)."

Seeing Ammon stunned in place was enough for Zardes to understand him. Basically, his whole life was nothing more than being used as a container. That fact alone was enough to make someone lost all will to continue, knowing that in the end, their lives worth nothing.

But Zardes refused to believe that. Ammon, and possibly the ash hound's friend, were unique individuals that experienced their lives to the fullest. To simply denounce that experience was disrespectful. Ammon was alive. He could think and reason. He was an intelligent being. It was never his fate to simply be a vessel.

Zardes knew he needed to say something inspiring to Ammon to raise his spirit, but Ammon, instead of being stunned or depressed like he did before, was instead angry. Even if his eyes were expressionless black (that was rather creepy), his snarl clearly expressed his feelings.

"(I had enough of you reminding me of my fucking life, Barbatos)," said Ammon. "(You don't know anything about me. Nothing! This life is mine, and whatever ending it has is on me. You are nothing but a meddler, dark prince. If you think my life is nothing more than to be your vessel, you're wrong. How about if I propose something else, huh? How about if I challenge you? I may be a fake, but there is nothing to say that a fake can't surpass the real deal. Like Azazel challenging Belial, I will take your throne, so sit tight and wait for me to kick your ass)."

That little speech borne out of anger was rousing and very optimistic. Ammon had clearly changed, and Zardes silently smiled, as did the others. He finally had enough, and it was time for him to rebel against his master.

Still, even if he had the heart to do it and the determination to fight, he soon realized something after he had calmed down. He looked at Zardes and said, "(So, uh...do you have a plan?)"

This made Zardes sighed and shook his head. "(Ammon, I appreciate you turning into a tough guy with determination, but think before you say something, will you?)"

"(Yeah, that came out rather instantaneously, isn't it?)"

"(You've got no plan, and we are not closer to our truth)," signed Gehen. "(But having a goal is enough for you to look forward and think of something along the way)."

"(And I guess I put a big target on our back, huh? I mean, a bigger, more visible target)."

"(Nothing we can't deal with, friend)," said Damos with a wink.

As Ammon rubbed his head with his wing-arm, the old ash hound chuckled to himself as he saw the demon bat. It clearly reminded him on his friend in the early days of their friendship, long before things turned sour between them.

He really wanted to see them succeed. Unlike him, Ammon had friends to rely upon, each know what they are doing to support each other. The bond would always be there. So, knowing that Ammon's challenge would be their hardest task yet, he approached Gehen and said, "(If you really want young Ammon to succeed, I think it's time for you to find your true potential, Ashen Sorcerer. You are young and untrained, but I can sense a potential. I can teach you things that you might find useful)."

Gehen looked at Damos, who silently nodded, before Gehen nodded himself. Now that Ammon had found his purpose, it was time for Gehen to find his own. He had been running with the others, knowing that the cultists wanted him, too. He would no longer run. He would fight. Yes, he had fought in the journey, but it was for his defense. Now, he fought for a friend, and this time, it was not about himself.

"(If you wish, you can stay in my home for a while. As long as the fear-inducing ashes were out there, you don't need to...)."

Just then, there was a knock on the door, startling everyone. They quickly made a defensive stance in case it was an ambush. Then, Belial's voice came from behind the door.

"(Hey, can you open the door?)" said Belial. "(You really need to take responsibility giving us the fright. Are the others in there?)"

"Yeah, we are inside, Belial," said Zardes.

"Good, because your friend here has had it. I guess he saw something in the illusion that cracks him."

"Friend? Malkar?! How about...."

"Itresil's fine. She's out of the boundary field."

"(Ash hound...)."

"(Call me Alhen)."

"(Alhen...what if someone bear it to the end? What will happen?)"

"(Well, I made the boundary field intensify as it gets closer to my home, so...whatever you see out there becomes more and more terrifying until it's...)."

"(Then you take responsibility. Also, Belial...he's clearly far too simple to even perceive danger)."

"(May I ask who your friend is?)"

"(He's Belial, prince of violence. I think he saw fear as a challenge and...I think he is the only demon who can ever get through by sheer force)."

Alhen became silent for a moment before he said, "(I think we need a better boundary field)."

"(Preferably something strong enough against an Infernal)," said Zardes, smiling. "(Also, Alhen...thank you)."

"(No)," said Alhen, shaking his head. "(Thank you. You've given me hope)."

Ammon looked at the two and was glad. If they could inspire hope just by fighting back, what wonders would they do as they go forward?

However, while the demon bat's determination was strong, and he seemed to know the consequences, he did not see to know the full picture. As he chose to challenge the prince of darkness, the prince of darkness would not just sit tight and let one of his Vessels rebel against him.

Somewhere in the Ashen Lands, the prince of darkness heard one of his Vessel's declaration of war. Instead of being angry or annoyed, he was simply amused.

"Well, well," said Barbatos. "A challenge. This is going to be interesting."