Ryuji was trapped, his body wrapped in a sticky, disgusting liquid. Unable to move, wrapped in a solid, red wrapping like a cocoon, while his mind still dealt with the images of all those that he loved or cared for dying, suffering or leaving him...
He saw Alicia killed by her people because she 'sinned', and then her mother cried, holding her burnt corpse, screaming the reality before she burned the entire forest to ashes.
Ryuji included.
The thick jelly that surrounded him stopped his movements—like egg yolk. It restricted his fists that hammered the cocoon walls.
In his right hand, the black dagger with the white lines was glowing, but it did not pierce the wall. He could not even use it.
"Ryuji~ it's time to wake up."
He heard a voice calling him. A nostalgic voice that he hadn't heard for over two years.
"My lovely boy, haven't you grown well~ Fufu, it was hard, right? You were lonely without me, I'm sorry... but I cannot be with you anymore, and you should let me go. You can't rely on me anymore."
"M...Mother..."
He cried as his voice trembled, and he felt the pain in his heart. The one thing he held onto, connecting him to the other world, was his mother... without her presence, his demonic blood would easily overtake his human side.
"Yes, it's me... or is it? Fufu, maybe this is your own mind tricking you. Or Serena really did record my last thoughts before I passed, allowing us a brief conversation."
"You... don't talk nonsense! Why did you leave me?"
"My lovely boy, why do you think?"
"It's because of me. You and Dad split apart because I was born strange!" In this strange cocoon, the sound insulated, Ryuji felt he could open up his heart, the image of his mother who floated in the milky jelly, her looks and actions identical to his memory. "You should've left me behind, then you could've been happy... living a normal life. Even if it's just you and dad, mom..."
"Silly boy, you know that's not true, right? You know that your father loved you more than he ever did me, the fact he stopped killing was because of what you said to him back then... Did you forget?"
"No, I... it's not true! If I don't exist, you wouldn't need to sacrifice yourself!"
"Sacrifice?" His mother giggled, floating around him. "You foolish little boy, do you think me or your father thought of you as a sacrifice even once? The moment you appeared, your first cry, first step, first words... and even your first time fighting with the martial art that I created!"
"Mother... I..."
"Silly boy, look at you, you're not a little boy anymore... and yet you're still being silly. My precious boy, you're such a beautiful and strong man now, and yet you're still so stupid. How many women now look to you for the way to move forward? You even made that hard headed little brat Alan regain the light he lost because of meeting us.
Thank you, it feels like all you are doing it fixing the sins your father and I committed... I only wanted you to see the world mother loved, and was born in... To think you would get swept up in all this heartache and pain... So I'll give you everything, I told Serena to keep the last of my power, memories and even my weapon... will you accept it for me, Ryuji?"
"Mother..."
"Fufu, I know you will, I know you're a kind and caring boy, even if you were a little naughty and lewd like your dad. You will not abandon those who care for you. That's why I want to say, I am so proud of you, and I love you, my son."
"You're speaking as if you're going away..."
"Mmm~ I am, sorry Ryuji but Serena gave me a choice... when I am reborn I won't remember anything, this won't be like a magical novel like you enjoyed, I won't return and even if we were to meet again, I wouldn't be your mother anymore and will NEVER remember, Serena will destroy and wipe my soul clean."
[Forgive me... this is all their souls could manage.... they are gone...]
Ryuji's mother's image faded, leaving him alone in the cocoon. "Mother... dad..."
He couldn't do anything but cry. Cry until he could no longer cry.
The tears no longer formed from water but blood.... as if he was draining his body of all his human blood, Ryuji cried in the darkness, his heart liberated, yet tormented.
His hatred towards his father melted, realising his foolish ideas were one-sided if he asked.
He should ask, communicate and learn more... he learned this lesson and wanted to ask more questions.... to Alan, Liana, Alicia, Anne, and Yumiko... Erika... so many people he wanted to know more, learn more and understand them more.
However, there was one thing, one person... that he wanted to know more than any other.
Himself.
It sounded like the world was being destroyed while the distant bells of the destroyed keep began to ring as if celebrating something heavenly.
The entire city heard the bells, and each of the churches rang the bells, calling the non-existent people to pray... while the skeletons seemed to be affected, as they all began to kneel, placing their weapons on the ground... before a brilliant light shone down upon them... and they all began to vanish into the light.
It was a scene that would be called holy by most people, a sign of the Gods appearing, yet in this dark, unwanted dungeon, there was nothing but a solemn silence and the sound of something tearing apart, a mix of bones cracking and flesh ripping.
Ryuji felt a strange sensation as if someone began tearing his body apart, ripped to pieces. A terrible pain, an unbearable agony that was so unbearable he could not even scream or cry, not even moan or struggle...
Then peace...
He felt as if he was falling asleep, his thoughts slowing and his breathing calming down. Ryuji felt a warm embrace as the pain vanished. His entire body felt warm, almost like a pair of hands carried him.
[Awaken, my dear Apostle of darkness.]
[The True king of all demons.]
[Ruler of blood, battle and debauchery]
[Son of my fallen friends]
"Awaken Ryuji Vincenzo."
"Awaken, and fulfill the dream your mother wished for you."
"Awaken and take the mantle of your father, my stupid disciple."
"Awaken, the one that I have chosen to lead the path of demons and my name!"
The light faded as, once again, the figure of Serena stood in the centre of the dungeon, holding a long white staff that shone with a beautiful aura.
Her red eyes watched as the cocoon cracked, a pair of arms punching out of the shell, tearing it apart. Serena smiled, her eyes glowing as she watched the cocoon shatter, and a naked figure stood before her.
"I have awakened, Serena."