Chapter 1
Select your challenger
There are many forces in the universe. Good and bad, strong and weak, simple and complex. One does not exist without the other, no matter how hard you try. If you do try to create a force with no opposite then, one way or another, the opposite with create itself. If that doesn’t work, then one from somewhere else will come to balance it.
When this happens, many consequences will appear for those that disobeyed the unbreakable rules. Any that stands by will witness its power in either horror or awe but all shall, no matter what, will feel the aftermath of such an event.
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It was the beginning of half term and Charles and Harry were home alone. This wasn’t uncommon as their mum worked night shifts and they didn’t have a dad. Harry was on his PS4 while Charles was on his tablet.
Charles was seventeen and was the older brother. He was the smartest, strongest and most behaved brother out of the two. He had a more bulky build as he had the weight but wasn’t fat so to say. Despite being the better brother, he was an introvert and usually kept to himself so if there was praise for him, he wouldn’t be there to hear it.
Harry on the other hand was nearly the complete opposite. He was two years younger. He was more streetwise, faster and rarely behaved. He was skinny due to his ADHD and high metabolism, had glasses and had an inhaler for his asma. This didn’t stop him from being the extrovert of the two and never shutting up. Even when playing his PS4, he’d usually be online talking with his friends.
Technically, they were half-brother, different dad’s, but they lived with each other and shared a room for so long, they counted themselves as actual brothers. Despite this, they still argued about everything.These two were like chalk and cheese. The two rarely agreed with anything. But when they did, nothing would stop them. That’s if they cooperated long enough.
Like normal, they had split themselves to opposite sides of the house. Charles was downstairs in the front room while Harry was upstairs in their bedroom. This was so they wouldn’t have to be with each other to cause an argument.
Charles was stretched out on the sofa with his tablet in hand. While he was watching YouTube, he could hear Harry upstairs shouting down the mic to his friends. Even with earphones, he could still hear him. He waited for the video to load.
It started to play but it then stopped and showed some simple text.
I’ve chosen you.
Charles thought it was weird before suddenly blacking out.
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Charles
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“Owwww…” Charles said as he rubbed his head. He had no idea what happened. One minute he’s sitting at home peacefully, next he’s in...in...where was he?
“Ah. You have awoken. ” said some voice behind him.
Charles turned around to see an old man, probably in his 60s or something, in white robes and sandals. Around him was a slight glow that he would have missed in the pure white background if it had not blinded him.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I forget mortals are blinded by my form. Let me change quickly. ‘’ said the old man. A second later, the light dimmed and Charles could see. He opened his eyes to see the man now wearing normal clothes. Getting a better look, he was wearing a simple white shirt with some loose fitting jeans. The man had white hair, a walking stick that looked like it had been pulled straight from the tree and a badge on his shirt.
“Who the fuck are you? " Charles said, now looking at the man as he also looked around the stark white void.
“I’m God. The ruler of man and the…” the man said before getting cut off.
“I’m sorry, but stop. One, I’m an atheist and don’t believe in that bullshit. Two, if you are God, then what do you want? And three, how do I get home? " He said bluntly. He would normally be quiet and just walk away from problems but when stuck in a void, it’s very hard to tell which way to walk.
“I assure you, I am real. To answer you other questions, it shall take some explaining. " said ‘God’.
“If you were real, then why has the ‘all loving God’ create such horrible things like parasites, disease and predators? " Charles responded.
“I did not make them myself. I created this world then let it play out. I created a region, the garden of Eden, for humanity. But they betrayed me, so I banished them to the already created real world. I am sorry for the horrors of the world but they are living this too and therefore have my love as well. " he said.
“Fine, just...just get on with it. " Charles said as there really wasn’t a way to argue that. He also didn’t want to because he could start an argument that lasts for an hour or two and he couldn’t be bothered.
“You see, like every force, there is an equal and opposite. For every…” God trailed off before being cut off like before.
“...for every matter, an antimatter, yes, I know this. I chose physics in college. " Charles said.
“Yes,well…as I was saying, this rule goes to everything, even me. The Devil, the evil to my good, has been trying to overrule me ever since being sent down from the heavens. With so little people believing in us in these modern times, he has got despite and has looked to your kinds own ideas to help him. ’' he said. Charles was standing there intently although he didn’t show it.
“He has looked at you science and fiction for answers for the last few decades. I fear he has found the solution. He plans to use the limitless energy of hell and the underworld to break time and space, to travel to new universe’s and use them to overthrow me. I have chosen you to be my warrior and fend off his attempts. ‘’ he finished.
“So, basically, Satan or whatever he’s called, is using hell power to break into others and corrupt them? That sounds very familiar. " Charles said.
“Not exactly. You see, He and I cannot leave this realm. We are bound to its walls and cannot get through. But you can. Your body’s are all that keep you in this realm. I plan on sending chosen ones through the barrier and into others to protect them and spread our words of all things holy. " God said.
Charles ran this through his head.
“So you want me, a college student, to go and fight against others sent by the devil to spread your word around? You trust a 17 year old to save the world’s you can’t even go to? Did you really think this through? ‘’ Charles questioned as the absurdity of it hit.
God looked saddened but still dead serious.
“Yes, I did think this through. I know the craziness of this but I have my reasons. I need you now as I have sensed his domain grow restless and his actions more frequent. He is preparing to start his plan and I have no way to stop it myself. " he said, somewhat desperate now.
“Well, even if I said yes, I have no idea with what or how I’m going to fight. I might not even survive the world I’m sent to. For all I know, the first world I reach could be a lava world or something. " He said.
“I had already thought of this. I shall grant you angel powers and a weapon that suits your soul and mind. But, as I do this, your body will break down to incorporate this and you will drift to the closest realm. As for the survivability of the world you’ll go to, it should share basic features like breathable air, food and water. " said God.
Charles looked at God with suspicion.
“So you’re just going to give me these powers and the next thing I know, I’ll be in a different realm? Do I get a choice? " He said questionably.
“Unfortunately not…” God said.
As he said that, he raised his hand and pointed his palm at Charles. Before he could react, a blinding light made the world go dark as he once again fell unconscious.
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Harry
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“Hey! Wake up! You can’t sleep Infront of me now can you! ‘’ shouted a figure above him. The last thing he remembered was his game freezing with ‘i’ve chosen you’ on the screen.
“Uhh…” Harry got up and looked around. From what he could see, he was on a very comfortable three seater sofa. A sofa that was floating over a lake of red hot molten rock with an inferno roaring on its surface. But even with his glasses, he couldn’t see the moving corpses and souls trapped on its surface.
“Well, finally. Your awake my boy. I was wondering if I had made the field air tight or if you had died from those lovely toxic fumes. They are deadly this time of eternity. " said the man. Harry looked him over. He was a man in his 40’s wearing a suit and tie. He also had horns, a tail and skin of pure red. He looked the same height as Harry without the horns.
“Hi, I’m Lucifer Devil Satan, but you can just call me Lucifer. So, I take it that you would like to know why your here. " said the man.
"Uhh, yeah. I’d also like to know where I am first and who the fuck are you? " Harry said, finally shaking the unconsciousness off.
“Right, okay. Well, your in hell, the place of unending torture and the place of evil souls. I’m the lord of hell itself, the Devil. But just call me Lucifer. " said Lucifer.
Harry looked around again and had to agree that this looked like hell and that the man did look like the Devil.
“And why am I here? " He said.
“You’re here to help me. " he stated.
“Help you? Why would I help you? " Harry asked.
Lucifer laughed. “Because it’s either you help me or you can join the...hold on... “. He pulled a clipboard from behind the chair and flipped through the pages. “...You can join the mute room of eternal boredom. Trust me, it’s worse than it sounds. " he said.
Harry looked at Lucifer with suspicion, who looked back with a smug grin.
“So, what do you want from me? " Harry said. He may as well listen to him because he had very little option.
“Finally, to the point. I need you to spread some chaos and dismay for me. You see, God and those goody two shoes have tried to get rid of me for centuries. They are always judging humans like you. At least I don’t judge, I hate you all evenly. " Lucifer said as he looked at Harry.
Lucifer then continued. “But I also don’t mind what you humans have done. The best apocalypse I could imagine was one of fire but a nuclear winter is even more insane than me. And with your kinds knowledge, I can spread my influence forever. But that’s where I need you. I can't go but I can send you. I will give you powers and you give me ruins, seem fair? “.
Looking at him, Harry asked “What sort of powers? “.
“Demon powers. Basic corruption, hell fire, shadow work, wings, that sort of stuff. I have also made you some weapons but you’ll see them when you get there. ”.
Harry said “Sure, when do I go? " Before even thinking of the ramifications.
Lucifer laughed. “No worries, no demands, just to the point. Ha, I like you kid. Too bad I have to send you away otherwise you would have become a perfect demon. " He said.
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Harry was engulfed in flames. They didn’t hurt but that didn’t matter as he fell unconscious.