The air began to hum and vibrate, rippling as if reality itself were a pond disturbed by a stone. A deafening hum shuddered through the chamber, rattling Theon's teeth as the chamber buckled like thin ice underfoot. The ground trembled, the walls pulsed, and before him, the very fabric of existence split apart with a sound like a thousand shattering mirrors. A jagged wound tore through the air, bleeding dark light, its edges writhing with unseen horrors. Theon's breath seized in his throat—this was no mere rift.
From the fracture, it stepped through.
Theon could not raise his head to see the demon's visage; the sheer pressure emanating from the entity pressed him into the ground, crushing his resolve and strength. It wasn't just the weight—it was the force of something ancient, primordial, that seemed to sap the very will from his bones. The demon's presence was overwhelming, a suffocating force that drained the air from Theon's lungs. He had been too naive. He wasn't ready for this.
Then it spoke.
"Who dares wake me from my slumber and summon me to this... puny plane?" the demon's voice boomed, each word distorting reality around him. The walls of the chamber seemed to bend inward, warping under the sheer power of his voice. "What insignificant being believes they have the right to summon the great—"
And then, silence.
A terrible, suffocating silence.
Theon dared not move. Dared not breathe.
Then—
Abruptly the silence shattered. A peal of laughter, deep and resonant, echoed through the chamber, the oppressive aura lifting with an audible snap. The demon, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye, grinned. "Ah, I've always wanted to try that one."
Theon finally looked up, his breath returning to him in ragged gasps. The demon was tall and imposing, with dark, crimson skin that seemed to shift and shimmer like molten lava. His eyes glowed a deep, unsettling yellow, and sharp, onyx horns curled from his forehead. His wings, vast and leathery, were tucked behind him, and he wore an expression that was both mischievous and terrifying.
The exact image of a stereotypical demon.
"Hey there." the demon said, peering down at Theon with a playful glint in his eyes. "You're the one who summoned me, right?"
Theon's mind raced, struggling to piece together a response. But the demon continued, unbothered. "This place looks oddly familiar." he mused, glancing around. His gaze flickered—just for an instant—to the [Ouroboros Ring] coiled around Theon's finger —a flash of knowing amusement and recognition that Theon didn't notice.
"Ah yes," the demon continued, his grin widening, "Last time I was pulled here... roughly two millennia ago, I think? So, I sent the summoner a... little gift. Honestly, I'm surprised there's anything humane left on this rock after that."
"So." the demon leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper, "why have you summoned me? Doesn't seem like you've got any damsels to rescue or kingdoms to topple. So why exactly am I here?"
Then for the first time, the demon's gaze sharpened, truly seeing Theon. It was a piercing look that seemed to burrow into his soul, dissecting him, before settling on his missing arm. "Oof, that doesn't look good now, does it?" He snapped his fingers again, and Theon's body was suddenly enveloped in a surge of energy.
Before Theon could react, a surge of energy enveloped him. He watched as flesh began to sprout from the stump of his arm, regenerating in a grotesque, almost violent display. Bone, muscle, and sinew twisted and knitted together, flesh bubbling as it formed. The process was excruciating and mesmerizing, and Theon could only grit his teeth against the pain.
The demon chuckled softly, watching with mild amusement. "That took more power than I expected. Still, minuscule in the grand scheme of things. But you... you're quite special, aren't you? I never thought I'd find someone like you in such a... low-quality world."
Theon, still reeling from the regeneration, tried to regain his composure. He needed to take control of this situation, but every time he tried to speak, the demon's sheer presence suffocated his words before they could form.
"You know what?" The demon tilted his head, his tone shifting, "You have my attention. Let me see what's going on here."
A wave of energy rippled outward from the demon, washing over the room and Theon. It was invasive, probing. Theon felt as if every thought, every memory, was being laid bare, exposed to the demon's gaze. His very soul felt as though it had been cracked open and examined, piece by piece.
The demon nodded thoughtfully, amusement replaced by intrigue. "Now you've really piqued my interest."
"Alright." the demon said, his voice taking on a mock businesslike tone, "Let's cut to the chase. I'll make you a deal. I'll leave a wisp of my consciousness within you—think of it as a guide. Whenever you're in trouble or need information, I'll be there. And because that's not quite enough, I'll give you a boon—one thing you desire from me. Anything. How does that sound?"
Theon tried to speak, but his attempts were overpowered by the demon's forceful personality. He felt like a leaf caught in a storm, helplessly buffeted by the demon's whims.
"Of course, it's not a free gift. There's always a price." The demon's grin widened. "Though I haven't decided the price just yet."
"But wait, there's more!" The demon leaned in, tapping his chin with mock consideration. "I'll even throw in a technique—a special one I've been working on. And I need a guinea p- I mean and it would fit you perfectly."
"Both that random lightning Lu technique and the [Momentus Flow Art] that you stumbled upon? Conceptually, on the verge of genius to the point where I wonder if this planet is somehow special. It managed to luck out on both you and the people who made those techniques. But their execution is beyond horrible. You might as well be crippling yourself if you try to use those techniques."
"Behold!" his voice boomed, a theatrical flourish accompanying the sudden appearance of a torn journal above his outstretched hand. It pulsed with a malevolent energy, drawing in the very light from the room, casting them into an abrupt, unnatural twilight. "The technique I have dubbed the [Chaos Asura Purification Mantra]."