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Bargain Infernal Episode 34: Fragile
Mara's heart pounded in her chest as the light flickered and waned around her. She felt the pull of the Abyss at the edge of her consciousness, the heavy weight of darkness pressing on her, threatening to swallow her whole. But she couldn't stop. Not when Alex was out there, not when he needed her.Her hands shook as she reached out, her fingers brushing against the fading tether of their bond. It was still there, faint but undeniable a fragile thread of warmth connecting them across the chasm of the Abyss. But it was weakening, slipping away with each passing second, like water running through her fingers."Mara," a voice whispered in her mind, faint and barely audible. It was Alex's voice.Her breath hitched in her throat, and she clenched her fists, drawing in a shaky breath. “I’m not giving up on you,” she whispered fiercely to herself. “I won’t lose you.”The words had barely left her lips when the ground beneath her began to shake. The sanctuary she stood within—and where she ha
Bargain Infernal Episode 35: Hell Fire
The fall seemed to stretch on forever, the darkness engulfing Alex whole as he tumbled through the Abyss. His body was weightless, the air thick with a suffocating force that made every breath a fight. It was as if the very void was alive, pressing against him, trying to crush him under its relentless grip.But amidst the chaos, there was one thing that remained constant: the light. Mara's light.He could feel her, dimly, like a pulse in his chest. The warmth was a lifeline to keep him from getting swallowed up by the darkness. She reached out to him. She was near. He felt it, even as the Abyss pulled at them to rip them apart."Mara…" he whispered his voice barely audible over the deafening silence.He stretched out, his hands shaking as he tried to reach for the connection between them, but the Abyss was relentless. It pulled him deeper into its depths, unseen forces tugging at his very soul, threatening to break the fragile thread that still linked him to her.Just when Alex though
Bargain Infernal Episode 36: The Edge of Fate
The ground shook beneath Alex's feet as he ran towards Mara, his heart pounding in his chest. The light surrounding her was blinding, a beacon in the darkness, but it felt like it was slipping further away with every step. The creatures of the Abyss had been vanquished, but the battle was far from over.The fear was so much mixed with determination in Mara's voice that echoed in his mind. "Alex! Hurry!" The urgency in her tone was enough to fuel his every movement, even as the world around them seemed to unravel.The sky above them tore apart, revealing a tear of swirling black clouds. It was as if reality itself was being ripped apart. From the jagged edge of the tear, a dark energy poured forth, suffocating the air and distorting the space around them. The light from Mara seemed to flicker, growing weaker as if it was fighting to hold against the rising tide of the Abyss."Mara!" Alex's voice cracked in desperation as he pushed through the chaos. His legs burned from exhaustion, but
Bargain Infernal Episode 37: The Final Trial
The world around Alex rippled and buckled, making reality warp to fit its needs. The last remnants of the dark power of the Warden lingered in the air, a heavy, almost oppressive weight that seemed to breathe in with Alex's every inhale. Each breath he made was like gulping poison into his lungs; the shadows clamped down, squeezing him alive under their pressure. His heart thudded in his chest from raw, unrelenting fear, not from a physical exhaustion."Mara?" he called, a hoarse, raw effort. He hunted through the dimness with bleary eyes until all he made out was Warden poised, cold amusement spreading wide in its visage."You arrive too late for Alex Mercer's Mara, either," said the Warden with a deep, rumbling voice. It sounded as guttural to him, gruff with indifference. "And she's doomed to never leave here behind."No!" Alex yelled, his eyes blazing with fury. You can't decide her fate! You don't get to take her away from me.The Warden's laughter vibrated in the hollow of sound
Bargain Infernal Episode 38: The Portal
The stillness shattered the moment Alex heard Mara’s voice. Her soft plea pierced through the chaos, cutting deeper than any of the Warden's claws ever could. He froze, his heart pounding as he scanned the endless darkness for her.“Mara!” Alex shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. “Where are you? I’m coming!”But before he could take another step, the Warden's mocking laughter echoed around him. The monstrous figure stood tall, its glowing eyes narrowing in amusement. "Ah, such sweet devotion," it sneered. "She calls for you, but does she truly want to be saved? Perhaps the darkness has already claimed her."Alex gritted his teeth, his grip on the hellfire sword tightening. "You don't know her. You don't know us."The Warden’s smile widened, its shadowy form shifting, tendrils of darkness wrapping around it like armor. “Perhaps not,” it replied coldly, “but it doesn’t matter. You’re too late.”With a swipe of its claw, the Warden summoned a portal that crackled with sinister
Bargain Infernal Episode 39: Fractured Vows
The golden light of dawn cascaded over the trees, casting the clearing in a soft glow. Alex lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Mara knelt beside him, her hands gripping his, her tears streaking the dirt on her face.You're not doing this again," she whispered firmly, her voice shaking with barely contained fear. "Throwing yourself into battle like you're indestructible. You're going to get yourself killed."Alex turned his head to meet her eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the pain wracking his body. "I'll take a thousand risks if it means keeping you safe.Mara's furrowed brow was now matched by the flow of her tears. "And what if you don't make it next time? What am I supposed to do then, Alex?"She didn't let him answer as the ground shuddered slightly and drew their attention. The air became unnaturally still, as if the world itself held its breath."They're not done," Alex muttered, pushing himself upright despite Mara's protests.
Bargain Infernal Episode 40: Shadows of Betrayal
The flickering campfire cast a long, wide shadow across the forest clearing as Alex leaned against a tree, eyes scanning the horizon. He'd been through a battle with the Devourer and was battered, but his determination was unbroken. Mara sat beside him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder, a soothing anchor against the chaos of his thoughts."Do you think we'll ever have a moment to breathe?" Mara asked softly, her voice laced with exhaustion.Alex sighed, wrapping an arm around her. "I don't know. But as long as you're safe, I'll keep fighting."Mara tilted her head to look at him, her gaze steady. "You can't keep carrying this burden alone, Alex. I'm with you always."Before Alex could get a word out, Kael's voice punched through the silence. "As moving as this moment is, I think you two should rest while you can." He stepped forward, his coat swaying subtly with his gait. "The next assault won't be waiting for you to heal."Alex frowned, his tiredness immediately being set asi
Bargain Infernal Episode 41: Moment of Peace
Dawn broke, and for a moment, there was peace. Alex knew that would not last. The Circle's envoy, Seraphina, had retreated, but her warning clung to him like a curse. He gazed into the dying embers of their campfire, his hand closing over the hilt of his hellfire blade. Mara sat beside him, her head on his shoulder, though she had not slept either.“You should rest,” Alex said softly, his voice hoarse.Mara shook her head. “I can’t. Not when we’re constantly looking over our shoulders.”Her words weighed heavily on Alex. He felt the crushing responsibility of protecting her, knowing that every step forward was another step closer to danger.Kael stepped out of the darkness, unreadable as always. "We can't remain here. The Circle doesn't take much time to rally, and Seraphina is definitely not a woman to let a blow to her pride go unreciprocated."Alex scowled at him. "As if I forgot.Kael raised an eyebrow, but instead of retorting, he nodded towards Mara. "She's the reason you're sti
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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
