Chapter Text
[The Last Demon]
Blood, just, blood... Pooling, we've... Lost too much of it. ███████ Slowly lifting his torso, ███████ glanced around, blinking to clear the fog out of his view, light flickering through a cracked visor. His vision barely registering colors and shapes past the warm liquid dripping down his forehead.
Hurry, Just... Just a little more, I have to hurry— Fuck—
It didn't take long for him to feel like lighting struck right through his veins. Everything HURT like hell. Did I get tossed around... By █████████ ... Or what?
The ground wobbled, an old radio tower like this wasn't going to last at this rate. It used to be the heart of everything in their city... And here it is now, barely standing. It's Iron and steel once weathered through any weather now rust, crumble, and crack even, distant explosions echoed beyond the glass of the news broadcasting room. He could feel the weight of the building beginning to slant... Or was it his own body falling instead? Refusing to give himself another second to think he bit his chapped lips down and hobbled forward, it didn't matter how much his body ached, how much it screamed to stop. He needed to do whatever it takes to reach that fucking broadcasting table.
His feet almost slipped across the wet concrete, blood didn't make the struggle any easier, his body leaned—No, crashed straight into a broken up part of the tower kept him from collapsing, every waking moment's starting to feel like his body's trudging through a slow burning lava. My, My horn... Did it chip off? He hissed, an uncomfortable sting struck through the side of his head. No, it's okay, the player—
The vhs player— Is it still fine? Second pocket, check... I'm almost there... Gods couldn't they have made this easier...?
Fingers digged into the cold powdered debris scattered about, flesh scarred and red from the rough surface, his strength continues to wain, Half, Just half way left. Taking the deepest inhale he could muster, he threw himself to the next piece of... Whatever wall or ceiling this was, there's several more around him and he wasn't going to figure out what each of them were anytime soon.
Another deep breath, then he launched himself again, he could feel his body beginning to snap.
Then another, his legs have been failing since he made it here... He's starting to miss having a working pair of them, How did █████ manage missing one...? A single stream of blood dripped down from his nose.
A step left, I'm right there. ███████ could taste a bit of iron in his mouth, pulling out the vhs player out. His hand trembled, placing the old device onto the table ███████ winced, it felt cold. Please work, anyone, anything— Just one chance to make things right again. Please... Even if the Gods can't hear us anymore, even if everythings burning worse than the inpherno's flames, even if I won't be there to see it happen, I— I want to... I want to see everyone again, my friends... The cafe... The phights... The flipside shows...
Explosions continued to ring outside of the building, ground still shaking even now, it hasn't stopped, not even once. His eyes continue to blur out, slowly losing what little focus he has left in them.
I... I wish... Things could've been better, His finger pressed the tape player. I still had so much... Left I wanted to do, with everyone. He turned his head to the windows, a number of them already shattered to dust.
The sky's never managed to clear out.
█████ said the sun could come back any day, said we had to all keep going. That... There's still some hope.
...
I'll keep believing in it, █████, we'll all see tomorrow again, I promise.
The tape began to play.
[Tape]
Audio's a bit broken, "Hello? Oh! Guys! I got it working!" A bit of Shuffling, a different voice spoke. "You did?! Let me see it!" Sounds of commotion, a few people came through the small player's speakers... 5 in total. "Woah wait! One at a time, can't have it break again, this is our last tape— The rest got jammed already..."
Another voice spoke, kinder but not soft with their tone. "███████'s right you know we can't mess this one up, we still have to bring that to the Flipside Radio Tower..."
"Alright, who goes first then?!" One other voice boomed through the small speakers, anyone listening could've sworn their ears might have popped off from it. "Oh. Uh. Sorry, I mean who goes first..." They repeated with a lower volume.
"At least a large meathead like you is starting to learn to have a bit of conscience, let's do this instead— We each say what we want to most, then let the next one follow through, anyone in disagreement?" Harsh but not rough, the voice hides care behind their words... "Seems no one's raising any concerns, I'll take that as a unanimous answer, ███████ you're the one who got the device working."
"I suggest that you're the one who starts." There was a moment of surprise from the other.
"██████ are you sure? Maybe the others have more important stuff to say than I do."
"Perhaps, but, we wouldn't be able to even record anything or try out yours and █████'s idea, if this thing wasn't working in the first place." They said with clear conviction in their voice. "I believe you're best fit to start our messages."
...
"Better than arguing who goes first, okay... I don't know where to start, but... Crossroads had been my home for a long while now, with the way that things have been its impossible to live anywhere else— The SFOTHs have been nowhere and we're all left here with nothing else left.
"Blackrock got overrun by their own robot army, combusting themselves in the middle of a war they caused... All because of ████████ fucking everything up." You could imagine the voice's owner lightly gripping the vhs player. "Playground's nothing but dust and color now, it was the first one to go... Lost Temple didn't live either, a civil war between the demon civilians against The Church of the True Eye and that doesn't even cover Thieve's Den collapsing through molted crust."
"I can still remember the pain behind █████████'s voice when their old home turned into burning ash that day... If there's some way to turn things back to what they were, to just make everything better again—"
"I wouldn't mind giving my life to find it."
"Hey now you wouldn't go dying before us right bud? You're sounding like it's over over!" There's a hint of panic behind their voice, although its much more relaxed than the other voices.
"...Then again, we are at the end of Inpherno as we know it now... This is truly our last chance to fix everything." A return of that harsh voice. "I'm not sure how a simple recording could really make things better, but if it means we don't sit around doing nothing as everything around us rots... I'd rather hold onto that... Hope you both spoke of."
"What about you ██████? What do you wish for?"
"Hmm... Difficult to say, but if I could, I would like to return to making machinery and creations again. I haven't had a chance like this in a long time, who would have known an apocalypse would be the very thing that gives me that opportunity again."
"Never thought a doctor would be passionate about that, just believed being an unlicensed cult member was your passion—" One could hear an 'Ow!' from this voice.
Presumably they had been hit by the said 'Doctor'. "Hey I was right..."
"Hmph, regardless if you're still well enough to be loud mouthed then, at least speak your mind about it. Lest demon got your tongue ██████████?" There's definitely a couple of tsks that followed after.
"Come on now, don't be like that Doc... Well if you guys really wanna know, besides having my leg back... I wanna go back to chilling with everyone in █████'s Cafe again... Kinda missed that, it's been so long now, even longer since we... Last saw them."
"Might be nice to grab a bite from there before we raid the Flipside Tower."
"I think it'd be nice to try and make something there again... Without burning the kitchen of course." They gave a bit of a small laugh.
"█████'s greed aside—" That earned a 'Hey!' from them. "Do you have anything you want to wish for? Maybe some hope?" The voice shifted the vhs recorder a little after asking.
"Well... If we could find everyone again one day, you know ██████, ████, my ███████... I really want to find a shore, maybe a cliffside? Anywhere with a good view really..." They hummed a little. "I want to see the sunrise with all of you."
"I want to watch it past those ever clouded skies above us, just... Something small, yeah?"
"That's really what a pipsqueak like you want? You could be dreaming big! It's the end of the world and you could ask for everything! Like it'd matter after all this."
"A little surprising isn't it? I would try to dream bigger, but... My heart tells me that what I want the most, we haven't seen the sun out in years." A solemn feeling washed over their voice. "So, I thought, even if it seems impossible now, it's something we could still be able to make happen... Its a small maybe, but we all start somewhere, you know?"
"I want to hope for something we can really make into reality, and I believe, it's seeing the light we all miss return to our skies."
"Huh... Yo that's deep..."
"I think, we can make it happen, █████... That day, it'll come true for sure."
"Don't go bringing his own hopes up that much, even I don't want to see this guy crying again for the hundredth time." The loud voice gave out a huff. "But, I can see where he's coming from... I still want to find my Momma, even if everything's pointing to her being gone, I want to find her."
"I just want to go home and see her again... I miss Momma."
"We'll find her, █████████, I would say not to lose hope... But its... You we're talking about here."
"...What's that supposed to imply?"
A whistle. "Nothing, nothing." There's a few snickers at the side, which caused the louder voice to growl in anger quite a bit. "Woah, there, we really mean nothing, honest."
"You better... What about him? That helmet guy? Anything he wants to say?"
"██████████? I believe he should be preparing our route for tomorrow, plenty of broken buildings and unusable roads surround the Radio Tower, he's better at mapping the remnants of the city than we ever would." They made their way to the demon they were talking about, snapping their fingers to grab their attention. "Mercenary, you haven't spoken in some time, focused too much on the map?"
"Ah, pardon, have you all gotten that recorder working yet? This would be the only expedition we'll be able to make for... The rest of our current lifetimes, our supplies are far too low to make it past a week."
"In other words... A dead end."
"Unfortunately, yes... I didn't wish to break this news, but it has to be said, there is no coming back from this once we've committed to it."
...
"Then, no other choice to it, let's make everything worth it, yeah? One last encore to end this shitshow, what do you guys think?"
"I wouldn't word it any other way!"
"I'll prepare the last of my crystals, the building may crumble at any moment... So time will be against us once we make it there." Sounds of a suitcase clacking open followed. "Are you two truly certain this plan will work? If not the Gods, who else would even listen to any of us?"
"We can only hope its neither an Evil being or the True Eye's so called true god, anyone that could help us... That's really all we can wish for."
"Just some chance, really."
"Why ask Doc? Getting cold feet?" There's a backpack being zipped up in the background. "Not like you to start worrying 'bout a crazy enough plan you know?"
"Cold feet? Hardly, simply wondering if... We really do still have a chance to make things right."
A large hammer banged the ground, causing the surrounding voices to quiet down. "Does that even matter right now?! I say, let's try our luck regardless!! Better than fucking rotting into nothing in this damn hole."
"You've heard him, nothing else to doubt now but our own selves ██████... I've finished the route, if you're all ready we can make the trip before tomorrow comes."
They sighed, closing their suitcase. "Right, then let's get to it."
"... Well, you've all heard it, we're still holding on even after... Everything, this might not do anything in the end, but at the very least I know we all fought till our last." They gave a slow sigh. "Whoever you are, wherever this ends up, just know, we did what we could."
"Even if we fall now, I think none of us would regret any of it." With that, the audio ends with a click.
[The Unknown]
In a far, distant garden, one in front of a special Theater of sorts, there sits 3 figures all having a bit of tea together. They watch a few of their kin play by the flowers. "So, what do you think? I think the tape they made is pretty interesting, I think it wouldn't hurt to give them a chance."
The being takes a sip of tea... A mountain of teabags piled up beside their cup and mini plate.
"..." They flick an undeniable side eye their way. "Ahem, perhaps, but if we interfere things could go awry for a smaller world such as this."
"What's that stare for..." They squint, raising an eyebrow at them. "Well, I think it should be fine, I've seen other beings mess with this kind of world before... Their own timeline kind of thing, shouldn't be too bad if we take a hand in."
They cleared their throat. "Regardless, if we do wish to interfere, there must be a limitation. Costs exist for a reason [ ]." Tapping their cup with a hum. the 3rd being chuckled at the two's exchange, finding it rather heart warming. "Now, [ ] why not hear him out? I don't think it'll cause any harm."
"What if... I say I have an idea? I got [ ] and Miss [ ] to agree to it."
"Oh? What would— ...No."
"I didn't even say it yet!!"
"I foresaw what you have planned, I will not agree to it."
"Not even if I say ██████ will wear an adorable matching costume with you?"
"..."
"Eyyyy?" They pulled out a rather... Silly costume. "Eyyyyyy? What do you think now? The offer's right here, we don't even need to use our real names yet."
"......."
"I think its a rather cute idea, oh! What if we have the others join in as well? I'm certain they will have plenty of fun with it."
"..........Fine." They flick their hair. "But I get to pick of our outfits of the same theme, you do not get the freedom to choose, anything you decide on will be horrible no matter the result."
"Aw but! My little costumes would look perfect!"
"Everyone but you and your wife would disagree." They clicked their tongue, said wife was simply smiling warmly at the two, drinking a bit of tea after.
They huffed. "Alright... Well then, let's pick a few unfortunate souls to help them out then?"
"There should be... Ah! Found them, lets ready them for the 'Isekai' then, best we reset the world as well... [ ] Let's get to work buddy!"
They sighed... Still, they agreed, they can already feel in coming regret for even accepting this idea.
[The "Unfortunate" Soul]
Somewhere near a cliffside, a group of friends had taken to the thought of cliff climbing for a bit of fun, at the moment, they're hit with a bit of a problem.
Stretching his arms for a moment, tossing his equipment to the side, ████ takes in a deep breath, with sweat dripping down his forehead and chalk powder remants still cover a part of his palms and fingers, he definitely needs a breather from that work out. "Guys! Is ██████ still stuck there?? He's been hanging on the side for a while now."
"Kind of? I'm trying to pull up his rope, but it got caught around some rocks, he's gonna take longer."
The car they've driven over for their trip had the end of the rope attached to one of it's tires, they had been trying to get the last of their friends back up for the past couple of hours... There hasn't been any luck. "Well shit, there's a storm coming, that's an accident waiting to happen— There's no fucking way in hell I'm gonna stay long enough here till one of us croaks, how far is he?" He grabbed the rest of his climbing equipment again.
"About... Half way? Just help him get the damn rope unstuck and we'll do the rest, the wind's starting to pick up." He notes, feeling the breeze blowing stronger by the minute.
A honk from the car caught him out of his daze. "Oy! Stop daydreaming and get to helping, maybe we can readjust the rope to see if we got better luck getting him out that way?" He stepped out of the car, walking over to where the rest are. "Why'd we even think today was like the best day for rock climbing...?"
"We didn't see the weather report, alright? We only heard about from the locals earlier..."
"Still stupid we still went through with it." would be the friend from the car.
"But you were so in the plan as well, I mean it sounds cool doesn't it? Like rock climbing right as a storm's right about to hit." Once he's gotten all his tools ready, taking his old rope ████ gets straight to work making his way down.
Friend 2 looked on with worry. "I have a bad feeling." Only to get playfully punched on the shoulder. "What the hell??"
Friend 3, the one who drove the car earlier shakes his head. "Dude, the people in movies and those like, fantasy stories all say that and something bad always actually happen somehow. Its like some kind of fucking curse, don't say that."
"Don't tell me you believe in that sort of shit..." He raised his brow, to which the other replied with— "I don't wanna be there to see if it's actually real, let's be honest here."
"...You make a point."
"...They're suspiciously taking way longer than I thought they would, they didn't get both stuck did they?" The two friends slowly looked at each other, feeling the slow sinking realization of horror.
"I think you fucking jinxed them."
"...Ohhhh shit."
In a panic they both checked the cliff side, and sure enough both men were struggling to climb up— ████'s rope slipped, the two were using friend 4's rope together to get back to the top.
"Dude! I told you not to fucking say ominous shit!!" He panicked, rushing to the car's trunk, trying to find spare rope.
"Well I didn't know it'd turn out like this! Why didn't you help double check if the all the ropes were tied to the car right??" Making his way to the car, he hopped right into the driver's seat, honking to let the others know he'll be moving the damn thing. "Get your ass out of the bunker, I'm gonna drag them up! It's still attached to the tire, we can get them out!"
"Right— Get to it, I'll watch the rope! I can't find the damn spare anyways." Making his way back to the Edge of the cliff, he called out to the other two. "████! ██████! You two alright, what the hell happened??"
Friend 1, looked worse for wear. "Rope slipped dumbass! I didn't double check, could use some help right about now!!"
Friend 4 could only watch in exhausted horror at everyone screaming at each other. "...You really screwed yourself over from earlier." He gave ████ a stare of sorts, this whole thing's really hindsight they never really thought would actually happen to any of them.
"I know, I know, I'll check next time we just... Gotta get you back up alright? A 700ft drop isn't something either of us is gonna survive... Chew me out after we make it."
"Don't make it sound like you're gonna be the one to die here, holy shit dude."
"Woops, habit." He would shrug, but with all limbs holding onto dear life to keep himself from falling, there isn't really much he could do. "They're pulling the rope, we're just about near the top, reach out I'll follow after—" A random ass bird smacked straight into his face.
"... ████!!! SHIT!!!"
"I told ███████ not to say ominous shit!!" He tried rushing in to save ████, missing him with just a hair's length. "DAMN BIRD!"
"NO!!"
████ had long shut his eyes when that feathered fiend crashed straight into his face of all places, it felt like fate mocked him for a moment... Or maybe it was his used up fortune all catching up to him, he wouldn't know, not like he'd ever find out after this.
He's falling, he know he is, he's bracing for the impact he believed he'd get— But, it never seem to reach him.
Opening an eye, both then widened in pure horror at the sight around him, a vast empty void dotted with distant stars.
If he didn't believe he was dead yet, this definitely tells him he's made it to some random messed up afterlife by now. "Huh, I thought limbo would've looked different, not expecting... Just emptiness here."
"Oh? Then what did you expect limbo to look like?"
"...WHAT THE FUCK— Where— No, why is there a disembodied voice here?? Are you like the god of death or some shit!?"
"Nah, that's one of my co-workers, not me, anyways—" The strange voice seem to be shifting through papers. "Checking your records, you weren't supposed to die at least... It wasn't you the fates planned initially, one of your friends with you was supposed to have their candle snuffed out today. However, it was you who had been chosen instead."
"Your friend had been spared by his fate, all thanks to you, even if you haven't intended to take his place. Quite unlucky to be you Colm, my condolences for your predicament."
Colm barely registered the words the voice had said. "What? Wait, who are you— You know me?"
"Call me... [OREO], that should be a perfect enough name to use." They sound very proud of it, Colm on the other hand felt like he'd been hit by a thousand bricks. Even blinking a couple times, questioning if he heard that correctly.
"...Oreo? Like the fucking cookie pack snack...?? Those Oreos???"
"Yes, [OREO], it's a perfect name for a mortal to refer to me by! I once disliked this nickname, but I've come to embrace it for the hell of it overtime... It has it's charm you see?" One could imagine a figure puffing their chest and putting their hands on their waist with pride.
"I'm in fucking corporate hell aren't I?" He clasped his hands together. "I'd ask to die but I'm already dead, this fate worse than plunging down—"
"Hey now, that's rude... I can't exactly reveal my true name or anything similar to mortals regardless, we just have to make due with it." They sound as if they're shaking their head at that, passing over the folder and papers to... Somewhere else, tapping a wooden object onto a surface of sorts in a blink of an eye they brought a tea cup with some oreos over to Colm. "Now have a drink, I have a few questions for you, you see... We have a bit of a problem we will be needing your soul for, but of course, since it's your soul we can't exactly do anything with you unless you give us consent."
Another blink, though this time out of curiosity, Wouldn't this be like... Offering their own kind...? Whatever... "You weird voices need consent? Aren't you all powerful or something?" Taking an oreo cookie, he munches on it, surprised it tastes like home-made cookies grandmothers would make.
"We are, but we have class which means needing permissions, making proper fair deals and the sort. Usually we would deal with such things with our own representatives and kins— But this is... A rather special case."
His brow raised. "What do you mean by... A special case?"
"Hmm, well, we can't interfere this time around. If we do, this 'case' itself would've been shattered across the cosmos by now, its not a place that can handle our powers."
That almost made him spit out his tea, "It would've been shattered by now!?" Colm clearly needed some kind of double take hearing that.
"Of course, with how delicate some worlds are, one breath from us could end it by accident." They tapped their fingers against an invisible surface, its... Similar to a kind of office table? Colm wouldn't really be able to tell since he can't see it.
"...Holy shit." He just couldn't really believe it, before he could be stuck in place from shock he shook his head. "Pause— Hold on, what does that have to do with needing my soul and permission? What are you planning to do to me?" Colm's brows wrinkle at the thought, sure they're higher beings, but this is still his own life they're thinking of messing with.
"Of course, the plan is simple, we can't bring you back to your own world— Dead Mortals cannot return to their previously dead bodies without repercussions." They sent over a familiar screen anyone who have played a games online would recognize. "Instead, we'll offer to reincarnate you this world, you'll aid it on our behalf— We'll do whatever we are allowed in order to ease your arrival, in exchange you will lose whatever you have of equal weight."
"You have more freedom than the rest, the little ██████ and the two ████s have taken a liking to you, still I would not recommend taking things much more powerful than you can handle."
"Remember, we will take whatever you have of equal value to your requests."
"Huh— So like a free boon— Is that the fucking roblox catalogue?" And he didn't think it'd get even more crazy. "Wait, shit I'm getting distracted."
"What is it you even need me to do in that world? Like I'm not some kind of hero or anything, I'm literally just a guy who died."
"And..." He points to the catalogue. "Why the fuck is this here?"
"Not plenty, your presence alone can already impact it plenty enough, truthfully its more than enough, you breathing within that world could essentially change everything about it and you wouldn't realize until it's right in front of you."
"So all we really ask you, is to live your life as is, in fact— Request us what kind of life you wish to achieve and we'll accomodate instead."
"And that— Yes— Would you like to take a guess as to what world you'll be sent to?"
Colm's expression shifted from confusion, then to contemplation, before finally washing it all down with a feeling of realization. "Don't tell me it's some kind of roblox world—"
"That's precisely it, I'm sure you'd know a place called the Inpherno, not f but ph."
"...Inpherno? Is that, wait— Phighting!? I played that game! I'm like a skate and coil main. Never scrimmed, but I sure as hell played it enough to reach the hundreds..." Hearing it now, he feels a bit embarrassed sinking his free time into what's effectively still an unfinished roblox game.
"I'm impressed, most mortals who get sent to that world by happen stance have little to zero experience of the game."
"There's others? Before that— Why Phighting? Or well, the Inpherno rather?" A hand swiped through the shop, noticing a number of tabs closed from access.
"A certain group of souls there called for aid, for now their world will be brought back to a time before its end, and it will be up to you to be that aid in changing their outcome— As much as this world is similar to the Inpherno you know, I believe there should be plenty of changes you'll discover that would make it a new experience you have to tackle blindly."
"And, we've picked your gear already can't have you owning anything overpowered or familiar, the only thing you need now is to pick up a few more objects from the shop, think of it as extra tools you own."
"You can't grab more usuable gears, one is enough."
Huh, even UGC items are limited to simple accessories and clothes, no horns, tails... Its really just normal objects and outfits. "So... How much can I really pick? And will I uh... Remember my whole past life thing as a human when I get sent there?" He continues browsing, picking up a few things... Like a cloak, a sling bag, etc.
"...About that, you wont remember this exchange nor any detail of your past life as a precaution. But you may keep a few memories, such as your survival capabilities and knowledge about the Inpherno from your world, as for blessings, we'll handle what we give you."
"...What? Why? Why won't I be able to remember anything?"
I won't remember anything more than the basics, and that game?
"As we said, a precaution, plenty of people can't focus in the present or even live properly as how they wish to after reincarnation as when they still remember regrets they still had, it becomes a gateway to insanity for any normal living being." The voice sounded as if it came from personal experience. "I don't wish to see you end up with that same insanity, death is supposed to be kind, forgetting who you were is a necessity to become the reborn you."
"It may sound heartless, but believe me when I say that it's for the best."
... Colm had long paused his hand from moving, he hadn't noticed it but he had started taking deep slow breaths, he could feel moments when his body trembled. "I... Would I still even be the same after that? You're... You're literally telling me that everything— My name, my home, my family, my friends— Even my own memories will all vanish!"
"I— That's no different from completely erasing who I was, what do you mean its for the best?! That— I— Its messed up—"
"It has to be done, a crueler choice would be letting you keep those memories, I do not make such choices without understanding the impact it could have on you."
"And being reduced to fucking nothing is better!? How is that any crueler!??" His hands balled into fists.
There was a feeling they had watching the sight before them. "...You wouldn't understand it now, maybe never, but it truly is for the best you let those memories go." They said firmly, Colm could hear them turning heel and walking far from where he was.
"Hey!! Come back— You fucking—"
"I'll give you some space, we have all day, when you've properly made your choice, we'll close the deal— Or send you someplace else."
Like that... Colm was left alone.
"You can't just— leave! Hey!...Ugh! Fine! Whatever, I'll float here all alone or something! I don't need to hear your bullshit anyways!!"
"..." He continues to float in the empty space. "..... Is there no one else here?"
No response.
Colm curled up a little, a vein attempt to comfort himself... Choosing to close his eyes.
From dying to arguing with some kind of otherwordly god cause I'm getting memory wiped— What in the hell have I gotten myself into...?
It felt like an eternity passed, really though, even a minute could feel like that when you're left alone in a void of utter silence. A few voices begin speaking around him, surrounding him infact.
"He really made gramps sad didn't he?" It smells... Peachy. "Can't blame him, even I got freaked out about forgetting."
"Forgetting is the equivalent of our death... Its like telling him that he has to truly 'die' before he lives his new life, it's not easy for anyone to hear..." It smells like Coconuts...?
Huh, grilled pork? "He won't change even if he forget, it's just a matter of understanding himself as best he can."
When the hell did strawberries and the smell of sourpatches come into the picture? "He wouldn't know that brother... Mortals have a different view of death and what happens to them you know..."
Raising his head a little, he's greeted with the sight of... A bunch of different flavored Oreo Minis.
"...What in the."
"Oh! He's awake!" The strawberry oreo spun around with joy, checking on him. "How are you feeling? I hope that fall and what Pita said didn't hurt you too much..."
"Are you okay?" The coconut smelling oreo leaned over to see if anything is wrong.
"Hey now don't just ask him questions like that he doesn't even know who we are yet, before anything else— You can call us uh... Well the [Oreo Council], and no you aren't dreaming, if you're wondering, you didn't even take a nap long enough to dream." The peachy smelling Oreo spoke.
"Im [Peach Peeps], she's [ChocoBerry], coconut one is [Jelly Coconut], one at rhe back is [Sour Patch] and the sparkling yellow Oreo is... Uh... [Pork?]."
"I think."
"...You aren't even sure?" Colm imagines [Peach Peeps] shrugging to his question. "Are you like, Oreo's co-workers...?"
"Nope, but we are similar beings, those four are his kids— Adopted, and I'm his co-worker's kid, we were watching when both of you were talking earlier, didn't end pretty from the looks of it."
"Are you all going to convince me that it's needed too?"
"It isn't pretty, but even if you forget, you wouldn't lose yourself, I'm sure of it." The bubbly and gentle voiced [ChocoBerry] Oreo tried what she could to soothe his worries, her words alone already felt like comfort. "Everyone goes through it at least once, forgetting themselves once they've passed... If everyone could remember who they were before now, I think every world out there would be sadder."
"Why is that?"
"Memories are a heavy thing to carry, it's what makes who you are now, but it can also act like a chain that keeps you from continuing forward." It was [Jelly Coconut] speaking this time.
[Pork?] chimed in. "And if you can't handle that weight, eventually that same weight would crush you."
"...I'd rather feel that weight than let myself forget any bit of my own self."
"Would you really pick that?" [Peach Peeps] Tilted his head? Body? Just imagine an oreo tilting. "Are you really willing to let the agonising moments of missing your family who you never shared goodbyes with constrain you? Of reminiscing memories with friends that end with your untimely death? I know living all happily isn't realistic, but be reasonable here."
"You're going to be sent into a new world with no one else you're close with, you're alone and with nothing but those gifts and gears given to you to boot."
"Do you really need the weight of those memories in a situation like that?"
"I— At least I can find comfort in them!"
"Comfort can easily become a solemn reminder of what you can't ever have again, you can't go back to your old life, your old home anymore Colm." His voice pained. "At least— Give yourself a better chance to keep standing, but at the start? Grow first, then talk about carrying weight."
"You may not feel it now, but death hurts. Without a strong enough light to keep yourself from sinking, eventually that feeling will consume you."
Colm quietly stared at the Oreo, [Peach Peeps] was direct with him unlike [ChocoBerry], but he knows the cookie being meant well... Truthfully he would've felt more deeply if... It weren't for the fact that he's talking to other wordly fucking Oreo Cookies with weird ass flavors.
He... Kinda has a point.
"I can't believe I'm both being pepped talk and brought a reality check by Oreos."
"You mean really good looking and amazing oreos." The [Pork?] one piped in, if he had a humanoid form, maybe he could see the cookie flipping his hair at that... All the oreos around him slowly rotated, staring at the sparkly yellow [Pork?] Oreo. "What? Something I said?"
"Brother..."
"[Pork?]..."
The [Sourpatch] Oreo sighed.
"...Nevermind him, listen, you've got the chance of a new life, don't let something like this bog you down. Chin up alright? You can make new memories, new friends, and a new hope for yourself— Its a bit of a bitter sense of copium, but hey, better than letting yourself down all the time."
"I feel like you guys are used to hearing people having existencial crisises with how you're talking..."
"Oh, we are, its really normal, besides its still too early for you to get character development and all this deep personality lore thing— Were literally still at the start and the audience is gonna think we're speedrunning this Sh—Shell."
Audience...? Shell?
"..."
"[Peach Peeps] have an anti-swear curse built into him."
"...Whatever, just know that you ain't losing everything alright?" The [Pork?] Oreo chuckled, nodding. "What he means is that, it isn't over-over when you lose that part of you, a strong will wouldn't vanish from a lack of memories, it'd grow even more from the newer ones it gains."
"We're cheering you on, that's what we're saying."
...Slowly standing up, the human dusts himself off, clearing his throat. "Alright I won't change anything from moping about... Uh being isekaid? Will I really won't remember anything?"
"You'll remember things like 'Inpherno is a world in a game called Phighting', along with things like knowledge and a bit of access from the current year's internet— But access will be limited until you're ready, clearly, you'll lose your mind trying to grip the fact that you're in a game world once you awaken." [Jelly Coconut] answered.
"Ah. Great."
"Existencial Crisis, its a classic. Hey ain't that bad, you've got worse to worry about, that world you're getting sent to is already a mess in itself." [Peach Peeps] Added.
"...Can I get a refund on the world?"
"No, it is what it is, that's the place that requested for help." [Sourpatch] spoke this time.
"Fuck."
"Language!" He could already imagine [Chocoberry] frowning at his words.
"Sorry... Well, I guess, I'll just have to see it when I get there," He rubs the back of his neck. "Do we uh... Have to get Oreo or—?"
"No need, I've been here the entire time! Feeling better? Or do you still need time to process everything you're thinking of right now? Hmm?"
He clutched his chest, whipping his head around to see a MASSIVE Oreo towering over all of them. "WHAT THE FUCK—" Colm has just about enough with the weirdness, from asking to be called [OREO] to the mini Oreos and now... A giant talking Oreo??
"This... I should really stop questioning at this point, I think I've lost more braincells here than anywhere else."
"Apologies, run along now mini oreos, [ ]'s looking for all of you, she's made snacks." Just like that all the mini oreos scuttle away to get some munchies, oreos can eat...? Do they have mouths? "I've been here since a long while ago, I hope I didn't scare you out of your mind."
"I almost thought I'd die a second time from that, is that even possible when I'm still dead?"
"Its best you don't even try to attempt it, wnow shall we get back to business here? You still have the choice to turn back, remain a passed soul or will you take the opportunity to live on as another being?" [OREO] tapped a wooden staff on an invisible ground, they opened up a large gateway to the side, Inpherno could be seen right through it, just barely out of reach.
Glancing at the gateway, pursing his lips at the thought, Colm raised his head, facing the Giant Being. "I'll do it, and not because you're all making me do it, I want to see this world for my own eyes."
"Sure I might still get into crazy kinds of trouble, and I'm probably making the worst decision of my life now— But maybe, just maybe this time I won't die doing one of my stupid choices." Turning to the gateway, the human begins trudging to the new world. "...Will I also forget even you guys after I make it through?"
"You will, until we are called by the world again, you won't be seeing us for a long time. However, we will be right with you, watching your story unfold, you may not perceive us— But we are there."
"As... Compensation, you have a blessing courtesy of the [Oreo Council], everything you picked through the shop will arrive shortly after you enter and your gear..." A sparkling object from the stars slowly hovered to [OREO], before the Giant cookie sent the light over to Colm.
"Its called Caltrops, how you define that Gear of yours will be up to you, for that be the identity you'll become once you pass through that passage."
The glowing silver colored and star-like shaped spike floated above his palms, before making its way into his chest. "I'm never gonna get used to how dreamy and weird this whole thing feels like... But uh, see you guys again someday? Whenver that would be."
"There will be a surprise waiting for you, I hope you have fun learning of it."
"Huh what surprise—" The gateway brightened, almost as if it's activating. Wind if it even existed in this space, started getting vaccuumed into the damn thing. "Wait!! What surprise!?— Are you fucking kidding m—"
Try as he might, but a human isn't strong enough to push against the pull of a... Magical passage.
In a blink he's brought through the gate.
The [OREO] then turns to YOU the reader, "I'm sorry if the preparations of our little protagonist took a good while, but we wished to ready everything he and this world needs before we bring you to the story he'll make." They chuckled.
"And a hell of a tale it'll be, literally." The being coughed a bit. "Now go, follow him, it's now up to him to make his own path forward."
"You'll be seeing us much later, goodbye now! I hope there's still tea left."
[Caltrops]
From above Inpherno, several thundering clouds gathered, the sky darkened and with a single strike of light—Lighting caused the largest power outage known to all demon kind. In the midst of the horrible weather, a single figure fell from those same clouds, lighting and body crashing down at the same time.
Now tumbling down through the drenched bramble scattered about, stone and boulders covering a mountain side. Far from the borders of Blackrock but not close enough to be inside of Playground...
The demon finds himself landing right in the very remains where places of Playground had been raised by Windforce.
His body felt groggy, heavy— Obviously beaten to a pulp from how he landed... Who knew someone could spawm through lightning?
Taking in a deep breath, he started hackling out coughs, head ringing with a deep migraine. Barely conscious, the demon tried to bring himself up, only for his arms to fail him. He ended up face planting against the dirt... Turning his body to the side, Caltrops still felt exhaustion slogging his movements. He doesn't even know what the hell even happened, all the demon knew is that... Everything HURT so damn bad.
Especially his headache, it's still ringing, holding the sides of his head, he curls up— Hissing from the stings. ... The pain hasn't settled down at all, he doesn't know how long he's been curled up. It still hurt too much to even try getting up again.
Peering an eye open, he noticed a blurry figure making their way to him, another demon from what it looks like. Caltrops doesn't understand why he knew what they were from a glance, a feeling in him simply did... Though a problem now stands, if this demon wants him gone— He's a free kill.
There's nothing he can do, Oh gods. Gods? Who would be the Gods here? How'd he knew them...?
Too many thoughts to think of, too much pain to sift through them properly. The other demon loomed above him, getting a better look through the darkness, Caltrops could make out two different colored horns... Lighting like glowing colors around the demon's arms and... A bright orange... Top?
He felt like he's seen that image from somewhere.
Before he could think anymore, the demon picked him up, much to his confusion— Wrapping a cloak around him like he's a sack of junk they're hobbling to somewhere, before rushing to who gods knows where.
What the fuck...? Who...? Did I get kidnapped...? Right when I just... Woke up...????
He found himself utterly confused, bamboozled even.
...
You know what? Fuck this, I'm going back to sleep. It didn't take long for the demon to knock himself back to rest. Whatever the fuck just happened, he isn't going to think about it anymore.
He'll deal with it when he feels better, for now... Caltrops rest.