2025-02-06 18:53:26
KaizaAlex and Helena are confronted by an unthinkably ancient horror beyond their control. As the Nexus shakes and the creature readies to strike, will they survive what is coming? The battle is far from over.
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Bargain Infernal Episode 149: Shards of Destiny Part XX
Darkness fell in the blink of an eye. One moment, the creature loomed over them their wings unfurled like blackened sails on a storm-tossed sea and the next, a blinding light flared, consuming everything in its path. Alex's heart stopped as the world around him fractured, a violent rift of light and shadow colliding with reality itself.For what seemed like an eternity, something was stuck in a painful moment. There was no sound, no movement only the heavy pressure of an unseen force urging down on them. Alex's vision began to blur; his breath caught in his chest. In a daze, his hand stretched out before him to stabilize himself against the cold, cracked earth, and it wasn't enough. Air seemed to have been stolen from his lungs.Alex: (croaked, strain) "Helena…?"His voice was almost inaudible, drowned out by the deafening silence that surrounded them. But there was no answer. The light had swallowed everything, every trace of the world they had known. Alex's mind was racing, panic su
Bargain Infernal Episode 150: Shards of Destiny Part XXI
The ground beneath Alex's feet cracked open like fragile glass, and for a moment, he felt weightless, suspended in the churning void of the Nexus. The forsaken creature's laughter, twisted and dark, echoed in the emptiness around him. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the horror he had unwittingly unleashed. As if reality itself was collapsing in on itself, Alex's instincts screamed at him to move, to run, but his body was frozen in place. The air around him grew thick with an oppressive pressure, a force that seemed to bend time itself. He could hear the hum of something ancient and powerful—an energy that had been dormant for eons slowly awakening.Alex: (gritting his teeth, desperate) "What have I done?"The forsaken creature before him stepped closer, its presence overwhelming. It was no longer a mere shadow but something far more terrifying. The very atmosphere seemed to distort around it, the darkness in its eyes consuming everything in its path. The creat
Bargain Infernal Episode 151: Shards of Destiny—Part XXII
The world was crumbling in on Alex Mercer; the Nexus itself was shattering under the weight of forces far older and darker than anything he had ever faced. Before him, a towering figure stood the Harbinger the burning eyes of twin suns scorching in its face, its presence overpowering. With every step it took, the ground shuddered and rippled, transmitting shockwaves throughout the fabric of reality.The whispers that had been tormenting him grew louder, more frantic, as if they were warning him of the inevitable. The air crackled with raw, unbridled energy. The Nexus, the very source of this power, seemed to be breaking apart at the seams. And at the center of it all stood Alex, caught between his destiny and the terrifying unknown.Alex: (breathing heavily, voice laced with desperation) "I. I don't understand. What is this thing? What is the Harbinger?"The forsaken creature the one that had brought Alex to this hellish place turned its gaze upon him, a cruel smile twisting its featu
Bargain Infernal Episode 152: Shards of Destiny Part XXIV
The very air crackled with power as the figure emerged from the rift, the light surrounding it so intense that Alex's eyes stung from the sheer brilliance. The Nexus, a place already brimming with impossibly ancient energies, felt as though it was being torn asunder by the arrival of this unknown being. With every step it took, the ground trembled, reality itself quivering in its wake.The Harbinger, once so towering and mighty, faltered. It was a creature of darkness, a force that had commanded the very essence of this place but now, it recoiled in the presence of the figure. Its glowing eyes flickered with a mix of fear and fury. Whatever was coming, it was beyond even the Harbinger’s comprehension.Harbinger: (low, snarling, desperate) "No. This can't be! You shouldn't be here!The figure said nothing as it stepped all the way into the rift's light, and for the first time, Alex saw it clearly. Its form was otherworldly, regal, and ethereal. Its eyes gleamed with a light that seemed
Bargain Infernal Episode 153: Shards of Destiny Part XXV
The air around them rippled like a storm, crackling with unnatural energy. The rift that had split the sky was now yawning wide, its edges glowing with a sickly green light that seemed to distort everything it touched. Shadows within shifted and churned, dark figures writhing like serpents waiting to strike. Alex's heart pounded in his chest; his body was tight, screaming for him to do something. But he couldn't. He could only stand there, frozen and helpless, as the rift grew even more, releasing an element far too vast for him to comprehend.The figure the one who had spoken with the voice of thunder, the being who had effortlessly crushed the Harbinger now turned its gaze back to Alex. There was no warmth in those eyes. Only a calm, almost tragic understanding. It was as though it had seen all of this before and knew exactly what was coming.Figure: (calm, yet burdened) "The time has come. The final trial. And you, Alex Mercer, must choose."Alex's chest tightened, his mind racing
Bargain Infernal Episode 154: Shards of Destiny Part XXVI
Rift begins to throb inside it with a heartbeat-like at this point. The source the shadow beast already looms, getting closer with every ticking second. Alex stood on the edge. His breathing became shallow and erratic; every fiber in his body screamed for him to fight, to flee. He made the choice long before. He had stepped into the abyss, and there is no way out now.As the ground beneath him shook, Alex's hand shook as well. He could feel the coldness of the rift pulling at his very essence, like a thousand hands trying to drag him into the depths. The figure, standing motionless beside him, seemed to know what was coming and yet, there was nothing it could do to stop it.Figure: (low, soft) “This is the final moment. You’ve come this far, Alex Mercer, but now. The true test begins.”The words of the figure were bitter truth, and Alex felt them in his bones. The choice before him was not one of strength or skill but of something much deeper. This was not a battle of fists or fire. T
Bargain Infernal Episode 155: Fragments of Fate—Part XXVII
Alex's body fell down the abyss, a swing of shadows and burning heat that felt like everything had torn it in two. The chasm roared like a storm, for it tightened its tendrils around him, pulling him deeper. His mind screamed for freedom, for an escape from this torture, but his limbs seemed heavy, as if the air itself was pressing him down. It felt like everything the whole drama of life and struggle had ended for a moment.His senses are overwhelmed by this endless void; his vision was blurred by flashing lights and darkness. He can no longer feel which way was up or down, and the oppressive weight of the rift threatens to drown him in its presence. But in the darkness, something whispered. A faint voice, familiar yet distant, called to him.Voice: (soft, ethereal) "Alex.The voice pierced through the noise, faint but clear. It was like a lifeline in a sea of madness, a thread pulling him from the depths of the rift. He reached out, instinctively, grasping for anything that might pu
Bargain Infernal Episode 156: Shards of Destiny Part XXVIII
The battlefield before Alex was unlike any he had ever faced. Creatures from the rift monstrous, twisted abominations swarmed toward him. Their eyes glowed bright with malice. They moved in such horror as could only be described as a grotesque harmony, a mindless tide of destruction. Yet, through their savage howls, Alex felt something else a force tugging at him, drawing upon his very soul.But they were more than just brute beasts. The rift had begotten them and, like its parent, fueled them with a darkness that corrupted everything around it. Alex sensed this connection to them, almost a kinship. It's like the dark is calling for him, like he should simply surrender and stop fighting, as if he needs to let himself in to his own power within him. Alex was not quite ready for it. Not now.Alex: (gnashing his teeth, his voice steady) "I'm not like them. I will never become one of them.His voice was strong, but the words felt fragile against the sheer weight of the rift's pull. He cou
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Episode 200: The Day of Redemption
The earth had been rent asunder. The heavens had cracked open. But now, in the aftermath of the battle, there was a stillness. A calm that seemed almost unnatural, as though the world itself had been holding its breath, waiting for this moment.Helena stood alone at the edge of the ruins, her hand pressed to the cool stone of what had once been a great wall, now reduced to rubble. Her fingers traced the cracks, as if seeking some sign that the world she once knew was still there, beneath the destruction. She closed her eyes, taking a slow, deep breath, and the weight of everything they had lost pressed down on her chest.She thought of the faces they had seen fall, the countless souls who had given their lives to this war. Friends. Strangers. Heroes. She thought of the world that had been swallowed by darkness, of the innocence that had been torn away. The battle had taken everything. And yet…A whisper of wind brushed her cheek, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she s
Episode 199: Final Descent
The fight had been on for hours, but Alex and Helena were not done. They were drained of their last drops of energy; every punch was a swat of finishing blows. The sky above was split apart by the crash of calamity, the earth below their feet cracked and blood-soaked, the battleground. They were a relentless force of abyssal creatures, clawing their way up from the very depths of hell itself. And above them, the dark creature they had been battling the twisted, monstrous being of molten rock and shadow—did not back down.Alex's eyes were wild with fury, his entire being charged with the hellfire he had summoned. Every breath burned like the underworld's flames. His body had become a vessel of destruction, and he was fighting this battle for what seemed like a lifetime. It was not just the creature in front of him but the darkness within himself, the abyssal power that threatened to consume him with every passing moment.Helena fought at his side, her blade slicing through dark creatur
Episode 198: The Horizon
The light had changed the battle scene, returning what was lost. The earth cracks had closed, and the lifeless land was now dotted with the first green shoots. Yet with all this peace, Alex couldn't shake the unease growing in his chest. The light was pure, potent, and alive, and it had pushed the void back. However, with its presence came something darker, something ancient, which had awakened from its slumber. The battle was far from over.As the warmth of the sphere ebbed away, the air shifted around them. The air, once still and inert, had become dense and heavy; it seemed almost as though it were waiting to break into the daylight, out of the shadows. There was a humming, pulsating vibration through the ground that lay in the pit of Alex's stomach. Like a heartbeat almost, but life's not this: that was deeper, much, much older.Alex: (on point, grave) "It's coming now."Helena: (eyes scanning the horizon) “What is it? The darkness… It’s not gone, is it?”Alex: (tightening his gri
Episode 197: The Spark of Hope
The light ahead flickered like a dying ember, casting a pale glow over the shattered landscape. It was faint, but there was a small, stubborn defiance against the darkness that had nearly consumed the world. Alex and Helena moved toward it, their footsteps echoing in the hollow silence left behind by the chaos.The air was still, heavy with the remnants of the abyss. Each breath felt weighted, as though even the atmosphere had been scarred by what had passed. The ground beneath them was cracked and barren, but there was something about the way the light shone through the haze that made Alex believe just for a moment that there was still something worth saving.Helena: (quietly, observing) "It feels like, like everything is waiting. Like the world is holding its breath."Alex: (gravelly, focused) "It’s not over yet. Not by a long shot."They pressed on, the journey heavy with the weight of the battle they had just fought. The path was uncertain, littered with debris, but Alex’s eyes we
Episode 196: Aftermath
The explosion had stopped. The sound was deafeningly silent. Helena's ground crumbled as the remnants of the abyss dissipated, but it wasn't a relief. There was no victory. Just emptiness that engulfed her.Helena: (whispering frantically) "Alex. Alex, where are you?"She scanned the devastation around her, her heart pounding in her chest. The rift was gone, its tendrils retracting into the ground like the remnants of some nightmarish creature. The air was still thick with the lingering residue of darkness, and yet, there was no sign of Alex.The sky above them, once twisted with shadow, was now eerily calm, the storm having passed. But this calm felt wrong like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something more.Helena: (shaking, speaking to herself) "He has to be here. He can’t be. gone."She ran through the rubble, calling out his name, but only the wind answered. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her blade, the weight of the weapon a hollow comfort in her grasp. She
Episode 195: The Final Hour
The air stank of smoke and rot, heavy with an acrid flavor. What used to be a city lay strewn before Alex and Helena as if it were a graveyard: buildings shattered, broken, rising like tombstones in the deserted land, all skeletal and speaking of the desperate fight they went through. Now, the world felt colder—as if the air had been hollowed out.Helena: (soft, grim) "How much longer can this go on, Alex?"Alex: (determined) "As long as it takes. The abyss isn’t done with us yet. And we won’t stop until it is."They had just finished dealing with the last of the creature's tendrils. The rift had closed, but there was no peace. The storm had calmed, but the tension was palpable, as if the calm before the storm held something far worse yet to come. It was clear now: the abyss had a plan. It wasn’t merely an enemy to be defeated. It was a force, a presence, an ancient evil that had only begun to reveal its true form.Helena: (with a sigh) "This place. It's like nothing is real anymore.
Episode 194: Descent Into Madness
The world had become a battleground. The city lay in ruins behind them, a monument to the chaos that had overtaken their lives. Alex and Helena, standing amidst the devastation, could feel the weight of what they had just accomplished. The creature, an embodiment of the abyss, was gone, but its shadow still lingered in the air. The ground was cracked, the sky darkened, and the very fabric of reality seemed to pulse in unnatural rhythms.Helena: (low, somber) "What are we even fighting for now? This place. It's a graveyard."Alex: (gritting his teeth) "We're fighting for the world that's left. We don't stop until it's all gone, until it's finished."Alex's voice was heavy with the weight of their struggle, hours of fighting, endless battles, and the constant, gnawing pressure of the abyss clawing at his mind. They had come so far, yet there was still so much to do. The world, what was left of it, was a fractured reflection of its former self. And Alex knew that, deep down, the abyss wa
Episode 193: The Reaper’s Reckoning
The remnants of the city loomed behind them, twisted steel and concrete jutting out of the ground like skeletal remains. The air still smelled of charred flesh, burnt remnants of a world that had nearly been consumed. Alex and Helena stood in the shadow of the destruction, their faces grim as they stared into the horizon, where the first signs of the coming storm appeared dark clouds swirling ominously in the distance.Alex: (gritting his teeth) “I thought we had more time. I thought we could end this.”Helena: (softly) “We can still try. But whatever we’re facing, it’s not just demons or the abyss anymore. We’re up against something older, something more dangerous than we can even comprehend.”The ground beneath them trembled ever so slightly, sending a shiver down Alex’s spine. He could feel it the pull of the abyss, as if it had sensed their uncertainty. The darkness was alive. It responded to their fears, feeding on it, growing stronger.Alex glanced at Helena, her sword still gri
Episode 192: The Storm of Violence
The air was heavy with the acrid scent of burnt flesh and smoke, and hellfire still hung faintly in the air. Alex and Helena stood together amidst the ruins of what had once been a city. The battle was over, but its aftermath clung to every corner: destruction, chaos, and the silence that follows the storm of violence.Their breaths were heavy, the adrenaline of the fight still coursing through their veins. Helena wiped the blood from her face, her sword still in hand, its edge now darkened with the stain of the battle. Alex could feel the weight of the abyssal energy within him, like a constant hum in the back of his mind, a reminder that the war was far from over.He looked over at Helena. Her eyes, which had been bright with determination, were dulled now with fatigue. She was standing yet still fighting, but Alex could see the cost of the fight, endless as it was. To both of them.Alex: (softly) "We did it… but it's not over, is it?"Helena: (shaking her head) "No. It's only just
