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The Chained Beast

What they found inside was a featureless room except for a lone figure in the middle of the room. The figure was somehow encased in the same black substance that caught Belial. However, this one was more form-fitting, showing what the substance had caught.

No one could mistake the trapped figure. Its caprine appearance was a clear indication that it was an Infernal. Looking at it made Zardes uncomfortable. The Infernal looked like he was asleep, but the discomfort came from the fact that the form-fitting substance made it as if the Infernal was denied the air to breathe. It felt so claustrophobic.

The room itself had no other furniture except a single table, which seemed to emanate something rather dark, like black magic. Zardes and Ammon started to feel that something was not right, though Belial did not seem to think about it.

Ammon, who looked at the trapped figure, said, "(Is he dead?)"

"(Looks like it)," said Zardes. "(Even demons can hold their breaths that long)."

"(Not necessarily. That table emanates a dark magic that seemed to sustain whoever is within. He does not need to breathe, eat, or even move. He's hibernating)."

"(He is Asdal, then?)" said Ammon.

"(Not until we get him out of that suit)," said Zardes. "(I think what trapped him is similar to the slave suit. We just need to find a remote to turn it off)."

"(No, it won't work. Remember, he disappeared hundreds of years ago. There's no remote or that kind of thing back then, only levers and purely mechanical stuffs)," said Belial.

"(And let's be sure that Asdal's not hiding any more traps)," said Ammon, looking around. "(This room gives me the creeps)."

While everyone was looking around, Zardes moved towards Belial and said, "(So, Asdal's not one of the damned. That make things easier)."

"(He still has to answer to me)," said Belial. "(He abandoned his post to travel. I need to know why)."

"(Maybe he's bored with the violence and eternal torture down there)."

"(Could be. Infernals are not supposed to feel anything about the tortured souls but given that I've been out of my realm for too long, I think I understand why Infernals like Asdal decided that the Fifth Circle held nothing fun. I do wonder. Infernals will eventually age and die when they are away from the Circle for too long. Is it really worth it? Their souls will still return, and they'd fight their way back into their old position. Not that it was something hard for them, however)."

They searched the circular room but found nothing unusual until they reached the table. There was an inscription written on the table. It was rather faint and did not seem to be written in any known language. Belial, however, identified it as a rather obscure Infernal scripture that was required for demon summoners to call upon high-ranking demons. However, this one was written

"(For whoever who cares, or maybe a fellow Infernal)," said Belial while reading the inscription. "(If you wish to free me, remember that the Prince of Violence is not eternal, and by time, things will change, and a worthy successor will be chosen. That is, however, not something you'd know if you're not his successor)."

"(You mean, the way to free him is to find your worthy successor?)" said Ammon. "(Maybe try calling Azazel?)"

"(Oh, fuck you)," said Belial with a growl.

"(What did I say?)" said Ammon, surprised.

"(Given how this son of a bitch's sealed while I'm still reigning, this note is mostly a joke, and a trap. You don't _choose_your successor. You need to fight and win. So, the answer to this is my name, as I choose myself as a successor unless someone defeats me)."

"(That's the lamest piece of riddle I've heard my entire life)," said Zardes.

"(But an effective one if you don't know how Infernals work. Now, we may need to find my sigil)."

Belial inspected the table, and quickly find what he needed: a pressure plate. However, before Belial could push it, Zardes walked to him and stopped the Infernal.

"(Stop. What if those inscriptions are actually leading you into a trap?)" said Zardes. "(It's too easy)."

"(Yeah, and you always say that we are simple-minded murder machine, so don't expect anything complicated. Anyway, if it happens to be a trap, at least I am the only one getting trapped)."

"(He's right, Zardes)," said Ammon. "(We are being led here by the Texts that only Fifth Circle demons not affiliated with Barbatos can follow. I know it's Asmodel's doing, but at least we are not being trapped by Barbatos)."

"(That's what worries me. Asmodel is your enemy, Belial. This whole setup can also be a trap intended for you, and Asdal sprung it)."

"(Well, we can't be sure until we spring it, right? Here we go!)"

Zardes knew that there was a chance that Asmodel would not think this far ahead unless he had precognitive abilities no one knew about. Either way, Belial was playing a mighty gamble, and he somehow succeeded.

The pressure plate Belial pushed sunk into the table, releasing a strong aura of demonic energy out from the table. However, instead of doing what they thought it would do, it instead did the opposite.

The room then glowed purple, and the trio realized what the darkness concealed: a circle on the floor. Belial quickly realized what the circle was but was unable to say anything before he was incapacitated by it. He felt great pain he compared to a long brawl between Infernal that went awry, except the pain was not the one incapacitating him. He was unable to move as his body felt heavy, and before long, he was on his knees.

"(Shit)," he said, struggling. "(I fucked up)."

"(I told you it's too easy, even for Infernals)," said Zardes. He then moved his body, expecting them to be held back, though it did not. "(And I guess it only affects Infernals)."

"(Then stop looking and free me!)"

Ammon was the first to look around, trying to find a way to free Belial. He was also the first to notice that the black substance that trapped the Infernal figure in the middle of the room started to wiggle and struggle in its tight bonds, trying to escape. While Ammon admitted that this was very sexy and he enjoyed the show, he tried to keep focus. He eventually found another pressure plate hidden among the walls and push it.

An unexpected effect happened to the figure in the middle of the room as he started to struggle even more while letting out a muffled yelp of pain. Ammon said, "(Sorry)" softly and tried finding another. He stepped on one, and all of the sudden, the figure started to moan.

"(Stop torturing the fucker!)," exclaimed Belial, who noticed what happened. "(This is not the time and place to be indulging in your desire!)"

"(I can't find the right button! Everything I press seems to put him in some sort of torment!)" said Ammon, without realizing that he was staring at the trapped Infernal in the middle of the room.

Zardes knew that Ammon was not concentrating, and there was a chance that the demon bat would try and find all the buttons that could cause the hellhound to become uncomfortable enough for him to be distracted, too. So, he turned to Belial and said, "(What's the circle for, Belial)?"

"(It's a binding circle, strong enough to trap a Prince)," answered Belial.

"(Then if the circle's broken, can you be freed?)"

"(Yes, but it won't be easy!)"

"(Not with my knife, it isn't)."

Zardes knew the right way to break a circle was not to cut the chunks of the rock, but he could not erase the spell as it was engraved into the floor, so his only way to break it was to break the floor with his enhanced knife.

As Zardes slashed and bounced off the floor, he managed to get the knife sharp enough for it to cut through the stone. He continued on, fearing that his knife would not last when the stone did not even cut like butter after so many slashes, that he finally removed a chunk of the stone and cut the binding circle, freeing Belial.

"(Thanks!)"

Belial looked towards the trapped Infernal and saw him continued to be tormented by a now distracted Ammon. The Infernal shook the demon bat out of his fantasy. Ammon looked at Belial's serious face and gulped, realizing that he messed up.

"(Oh, fuck, I...)."

"(Shut it, Ammon. Good thing you don't push anything that will kill him)," said Belial. "(Now, let me do my work and stop enjoying is misery)."

Ammon looked away silently, embarrassed, while Belial checked the pressure plates. He realized that he pushed the wrong sigil. It may looked like his symbol, but there was a subtle difference that could not be found in first sight. He also realized that he did not even see a needle on the pressure plate and for some reason had not pricked his finger on it.

"This seal needs my blood," he said, silently. So, he pricked his finger on the surprisingly sharp needle, letting his black blood coat the sigil. It worked, for the black substance released the trapped Infernal rather unceremoniously. He took a deep breath, returning air into his lungs. He looked around, checked himself, the cocoon, then said, "Damn...never should've trust her."

"By 'her', you mean a kinky succubus?" said Belial crossing his arms. "I already got my share of it, so I know what it feels like."

"She took advantage of my secret desires and...hey, I know that voice."

The Infernal turned around and saw Belial, crossing his arms and looked at the naked Infernal with sharp eyes, causing the Infernal to reel back and said, "B-B-Belial?"

"It's prince Belial to you, Asdal," said Belial. "Do you know how much of a pain to find you?"

"Please, wait! I can explain!"

"Explain everything after we are out of this place."

As Asdal nodded weakly and stood up, he turned and saw Ammon, who looked away, embarrassed. Asdal looked at the bat and said, "A free Vessel. I never thought there are those still free from Barbatos's clutches."

"And we intend to keep him that way," said Zardes.

"Then we still have a chance to fight back. Also...hellhound...."

"It's Zardes."

"Zardes...do me a favor and don't tell anyone about this, alright? It's...not something I want people to know. The thing is..."

"You're fine in my book. People have their fetishes, after all."

"Thanks. I guess."

"Also, he doesn't speak Common, so talk to him with Hordo."

"Yeah...wait, you're a hellhound speaking surface world language? How is that even possible? Last I heard, you still talk Hordo."

"Uh...maybe we need to sit down for a bit. I'll explain everything to you."

They walked out of the ruins and sat down outside the ruins, trying their best to keep secret about what happened in there. While Zardes explained Asdal about his disappearance, Belial and Ammon stood aside and talked privately.

"(I...I'm sorry about that slip-up)," said Ammon, embarrassed. "(I never thought...)."

"(I don't want to sound harsh, Ammon, but you clearly got overwhelmed by your weaknesses. Your enemies will not be as lenient)."

"(I know...)."

"(But still, at least you're honest about it, unlike someone I know. You're the first Fifth Circle demon other than an Infernal I truly trust...well, not a full demon, but that's what make you trustworthy)."

"(What makes you think I'm not under Barbatos's spell, then?)"

"(Let's see. You're rebellious attitude? Getting angry over the fact that you're nothing but a vessel? Bravely confessing your love to me?)"

Ammon blushed when Belial said the last statement and looked away.

"(Well, admitting that you're gay is bravery, especially since you're not a true demon. If you're a true demon, you'd not confess, because you don't even know what a true romantic feeling is. I understand that part a little. Maybe because I've been around you for so long)."

"(I guess so. But, then...it all comes to you, Belial. Like I said...I don't really care if you are not into me. I just...wanna know what you think)."

"(Me? Well, I wanted to say that I don't care, but this time...I do care. Ammon, let's try this, alright? We're both still new about this, so...let's try together)."

Ammon did not reply and simply smiled. He knew Belial would understand, as the goat demon slowly, but rather awkwardly, tried to let out a genuine smile not influenced by anything other than to reply.

As Belial and Ammon went on to chat, Zardes had finished explaining everything to Asdal. The Infernal was dumbfounded and in disbelief, and looked at Belial, back to Zardes, then to the landscape beyond him.

"I...I don't believe it," said Asdal. "I have been trapped for hundreds of years? Are you telling me that I...?"

"We still have time," said Zardes. "We still don't know what Barbatos is planning right now, but now that we know you hold the knowledge of his plan, we might have a chance to save the Outer Rings."

"I...don't know what he's planning now. That plan was hundreds of years ago. Now that the kingdom's ash, he won't have any living souls to power himself to take a vessel as his own. We can still use him as a leverage."

"Him? You mean Ammon?"

"Yes. He's our only chance to fight him. I found out that the living souls are necessary to prevent his essence to destroy the Vessel he will possess. Without it, he won't be able to find a body, and can never invade this land."

"Then let's hope he does not have anything up his sleeves, or we're screwed, and you're practically useless. Do you know how much trouble we got into trying to find your journals to try and prevent a second major invasion?"

"I know," said Asdal, looking guilty. "I'm sorry."

"Also, I've never seen an Infernal with that kind of emotional range. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. From the way I look at it, I think Belial's also changing. I fear he has been on the surface for a little bit too long."

"He's only with us for around a month or so."

"A month is enough for a demon to start develop emotions other than their nature," said Asdal with a sigh. "It happened to me a long time ago. I wonder whether it's for the best or not. I still feel like this is a punishment for running away from my own nature."

"You're not running from it. You're changing it," said Zardes. "That's what we hellhounds believe. If it wasn't for the love of Ifrit and Lilac, none of this would've happened."

"Ifrit and Lilac?"

"A story for another time. Come on, let's go back to the others."

Asdal gave him a smile, a sincere one coming from a caprine face, before he stood up from the rock he had been sitting on. He then looked down and, realizing he was naked, said, "Say, do any of you have anything I can wear?"

"I can buy you some clothes if you want."

"Thanks."

And so, they walked out of the ruins, knowing that they were one step away from saving the realms.