Hell Contractor: Rise of the Last God

Unholy Rites.

When Ayanda was trapped by the fog, he felt a strong daemonic vitality restricting him immensely, and now he was in a strange underground well, surrounded by neon fireflies that can glow in any shade of color they like. The neon fireflies appeared to use color as a language, and weren't even disturbed by Ayanda suddenly appearing in their underground grotto, but it was more about curiosity, where the neon fireflies would even swarm around Ayanda to use their lights to create a holographic projection like display, with his brown skin and mini dreads being reflected to him in the swarm. Ayanda tried to use his God Blood Lightning Sacred Art to scan the ceiling to find a way through, but he couldn't see anything.

"Woah." Ayanda could only be taken aback by the overall surroundings he was in. It was like a fairy tale, he was walking through a magical underwater kingdom which was only filled with trillions of these neon fireflies. Ayanda keeps on walking through until he stumbles onto a mural, made out of stone but has been slightly worn down by the surrounding water. The fireflies seem to have a boundary they adhere to surrounding the mural, so once Ayanda gets past them, he's shocked by his complete view of the mural.

It's a statue of the chameleon from the hieroglyphics, but now it's in the palm of a beautiful woman with curly hair. The mural seems very abnormal to Ayanda as it doesn't seem to fit in with the previous images he's seen of the chameleon, so now he was trying to understand whether the statue is real or not. As he was thinking about his situation and where he is, Ayanda summoned Levy out so he can take a look around. 

As soon as Levy came out, the statue of the woman started to glow and emit a blinding light, with the chameleon figure suddenly turning into a dark, shadow like vapor, then moving over to Levy to be absorbed by him. Levy felt a strange sensation enter into his body, a divine vitality that began to accelerate the evolutionary process in his genes. This mysterious vapor also added the spiritual vitality remnants from the statue, then strangely, the neon fireflies suddenly swarmed in to be sucked in by Levy. The neon fireflies actually captured the long history of the temple, from the time it was created, and they carried along with them vital mythical energy, as they had all evolved to that level as a species. Now they were fusing with Levy who was undergoing extraordinary changes, ones that even he wouldn't anticipate.

"Argh!!!" Levy roared as his cells were bursting with unlimited power for the first time in eons, and now he can feel that he can truly reach the heights he wants ruled upon. As he continues to absorb the energy, he attempts to promote his Taboo Slayer Divine Art, but he can feel something amiss with the control he has over the Soul Scape, thus limiting his ability to tap into the sacred art cultivation base of Taboo Slayer Divine Art. "Why can't I get through now?" Levy groaned in frustration of how he can't use this energy, but only feel it leaking into the Soul Scape freely.

Within the Soul Scape, Ayanda is in a lush garden, as if it's the most ideal version of a paradise island. In the middle of the island, is a vibrant willow, which is larger than the Eiffel Tower. Next to this willow, there's a huge lake, which has a mixture of violet hues, and in the middle is a small temple in the middle with a slim bridge connecting to it. Ayanda has been drawn in somehow and he can traverse the great distance instantly to reach the outside of the temple after seeing the entire garden. Ayanda is unsure if he should enter or not, so instead he waits for a response.

"You're not coming in?" a calm voice asks from inside the temple.

"You invited me. It would be rude to simply enter." Ayanda answered.

"But you're here anyways." the voice said.

"It wasn't on purpose." Ayanda shrugged.

"Yes. I noticed. I'm the one who used to stay here, so I keep an eye on things." the voice remarked nonchalantly.

"You stayed here? Where are you now?" Ayanda asked puzzled.

The voice was silent for a moment, then said, "Somewhere far from here. We'll probably never meet, so it's best if I leave this place to you and your Leviathan to watch over."

Ayanda was shocked, "You know what Levy is?" he asked the voice.

"Ha ha ha! Levy, I'm sure he loves that! When you sensed me earlier, I never thought you'd make it down here. Now I guess it's fine." the voice said while laughing, "I don't have much time, but just know that this temple will become a part of your Soul Scape. It's something that can help you store vast amounts of vitalities, but sadly it's been unused for far too long, so most of its capabilities are restricted until your Soul Scape can mature along with constantly maintaining it. For now, you can definitely store more than even mythical level vitality for any of the sacred arts you've cultivated." the voice spoke.

As it finished speaking, the island and the garden began to disperse into neon fireflies that cleared out, and then the lake merged with Ayanda's Soul Scape, giving it a new environment. Originally it was devoid of anything, but now with the lake, it's become a picturesque night scene, with a full moon and the temple now slightly larger but more modern, with a circular mosque dome on top, but there were still signs of rust and decay on certain sections.

Levy witnessed the change, noticing the temple first.

"Why would you put this old temple here?" Levy asked with disdain.

"Don't worry, this is what we've been looking for. Now I can  collect as much vitality as we need, and store it here." Ayanda was ecstatic. He had found the way he to solve the issue of maintaining the different vitalities he'd have to build in his body. 

With control over the temple, he looked over it on the inside, and noticed that there were similar hieroglyphics as the cavern walls he saw before, but now it seemed to show Ayanda a strange sequential code, with some sections looking like an equation. Most of the text confused Ayanda, so he ignored it so he can focus on completing the last step, with a vast amount of energy swirling around the Soul Scape, ready to be converted, then stored in the temple to begin the restoration of the temple's original power. As Ayanda filled the temple, Levy was grumbling and decided to help Ayanda spread the vitality around his sacred art cultivation bases that were absorbing the vitalities. 

Ayanda figured that the best way out for him was to use his God Blood Lightning Sacred Art, so he focused on having it already circulating, then when he uses his vision to scan above him for a way out, he could now see everything happening clearly, especially Nez punching Bright, then sending her flying. Ayanda's blood suddenly burns with fury, driving his circulation of the vitalities to speed up with mind-blowing pace, which even startles Levy. Ayanda circulates his God Blood Lighting Sacred Art to a mythical level, then layers Taboo Slayer Divine Art.

"Levy! Push Taboo Slayer Divine Art to the limit!" Ayanda shouted to Levy telepathically, with thick bolts of dark red lightning crackling out of his body like streams of fireworks. He takes off and rockets into the thick layer of earth separating them with his God Blood Lightning Sacred Art releasing torrents of lightning all over Ayanda's body like an electrifying layer of armor that disintegrates anything in its way. Ayanda tunnels through the earth in less than a second, and then bursts out of the ground with the lightning wrapped around his body beginning to form an ethereal blaze of fire wrapping itself around Ayanda's body. Ayanda quickly launches a barrage of punches and kicks using the martial art skills from God Blood Lightning Sacred Art.

"God Fire!" Sango was astonished and bewildered. This was the God Fire passive technique that only forms once the God Blood Lightning Sacred Art has it's cultivation base complete. Right now, Ayanda is the first human to be able to use God Fire, and his blood is the fuel to this incredible skill. Unlike most spiritual sacred arts, God Blood Lightning Sacred Art relies on a God harnessing it's own God Blood to bring out the ethereal flames, which are a spiritual embodiment, not a physical manifestation. Spiritual sacred arts don't have attacking attributes, but Sango's God Blood Lightning Sacred Art goes against the known conventions due to the circumstances in which he developed his sacred art.

Nez was alarmed by the sudden arrival of Ayanda, mainly due to how he had trapped him beneath the earth below. He thought he was sending him into a grave, since the depth he diverted the fog to was far below from where he was fighting with Bright. Nez was about to block Ayanda's strikes until he felt his body being controlled by the woman inside his Soul Scape.

"You'll die if you let those flames touch you." she was wary of Ayanda's new power. From the moment the God Fire formed, she felt that the sacred art he's using is higher than Bright's, and now Nez was in no condition to have to take on Ayanda. She has to get him to escape before he exhausts himself, but to her surprise, Nez was able to regain control and lunge towards Ayanda.

"Die!" Nez shouted, not willing to surrender to Ayanda, using his hatred for how far he's being pushed now to drive him.

Ayanda's first strikes missed, so instead of trying the same move again, he suddenly made his tusk knife appear in his hand, focusing his spiritual vitality to project his next move. Sango was observing Ayanda's use of God Blood Lightning Sacred Art, and found it unbelievable.

"What is he doing with his God Fire?" Sango was worried about Ayanda's recklessness. Right now, Ayanda was only able to reach this level thanks to Taboo Slayer Divine Art, so he may be depleting his spiritual vitality at a rapid rate, and now he's concentrating it all into the tusk in his hand.

Before Nez or the mysterious woman inside him can react, Ayanda releases a beam in the shape of the tusk, and it's filled with the powerful God Fire flames which have been boosted by Levy. Nez thinks he can dodge it, but he quickly feels a cold sweat from his body, then shivers in fear.

"Fear?! I'm a Daemon Lord and I felt fear from a worm!" the woman in Nez's Soul Scape also instinctively felt a chill, which meant that the person Nez was facing could no longer be some student she cares little about. She has to be on her guard, in order to protect Nez from this threatening individual. Nez was already being defensive, but to her surprise, Ayanda hadn't attacked, what the both felt was just his intent.

Even though Ayanda's strike hadn't been unleashed his strike, just his intent was enough for Nez to dodge instinctively, and in that moment, Ayanda revealed his real attack. He released the beam like he intended, but there was a another beam that was moving in parallel, so it seemed like there were two, but in actuality, there was only one true beam. The initial beam moved so fast that the afterimage was the only beam Nez could dodge, but got hit with the full force of the beam, tearing apart his black armor, as well as stabbing the mysterious woman in his Soul Scape. She cried in pain, not understanding how such a skill could come into existence, since she was always protected by the contract she has with Nez, but it seems that Ayanda can pierce through her protection.

"Argh!" the mysterious woman cries out in agony. In her desperation, she forces Nez to summon his Zombie Lich Wyvern to protect him. Sadly, Nez's companion beast can barely withstand a single strike from Ayanda, who ruthlessly stabs his Zombie Lich Wyvern in its neck, causing it's head to explode.

In the next second, Ayanda is about to finish off Nez with his tusk knife, but it gets caught by two fingers of a soft, gentle looking baby cherub angel. Once the tuck knife was held by it, Ayanda felt himself stuck mid-air somehow, not being able to finish off Nez, but also unable to move as well.

"To kill a fellow student, isn't that quite cruel considering your friend is still alive?" a woman's voice resounds in the cavern, then a dark skinned, stoic looking scholar appears magically through a door in thin air. As she walks out, numerous baby cherubs leave her body in order to carry Bright out of the rubble, as well as protect Nez now.

"He's the reason why she's hurt." Ayanda coldly responded.

"But she lives. And if you kill him, you'll be punished worse than he would be. Do you want to male your friend feel worse." the woman emotionlessly gestured to Bright who was still conscious, but in considerable pain. Nez had already passed out, but the Daemon Lord in his Soul Scape was only willing to listen, fearful of the mysterious woman who just saved Nez.

"I'm willing to face those consequences." Ayanda spoke with a resolute tone. He wasn't going to let Nez get away with what he's done to Bright. He was about to forcefully break out from his hold, but then the woman released him.

"Fine then. Do what you wish. Just remember that I'll be the witness." the woman spoke firmly.

"And who are you?" Ayanda was now wary of this mysterious woman. She appeared out of nowhere, and now she's able to toy with his life like this.

"I'm the 17th principal of Dark Dragon Academy, St. Valentine." she spoke calmly, but with authority and strength. St. Valentine was a true mythical level human, but her sacred art cultivation is a heavenly sacred art, and her heavenly vitality allows her to have multiple heavenly companion beasts. Besides being the principal of Dark Dragon Academy, her role is mainly as a supervisor who oversees the other teachers and tutors work. St. Valentine deals with mainly maintaining the order within her academy, nothing curriculum based, except for deciding the exam format.

"The principal!" Ayanda was shocked and instantly was on a higher guard than before. Not many people have seen the principal, all the students know is that to be principal of an academy in The Dragon Province, means you have been acknowledged by the Phoenix Sect, and have proved to be peerless in terms of battle strength. A principal in The Dragon Province has the power to take on the state, but has been given the freedom of autonomy in terms of pursuing more strength. Principals have access to as much resources that The Dragon Province can provide, based on if they can guarantee the growth of the next generation in the different academies that are running.

"I've been away from the campus grounds, I had left someone in charge while I'm away" St. Valentine said calmly.

"You're away?" Ayanda was confused by her words now.

"Technically, yes. I can't go in any further, it's classified. For now, I'm going to take that student back to the campus and place him under watch under the Palace Guards. Once I return, I'll interrogate him thoroughly." St. Valentine spoke firmly, pointing her finger towards Nez who get's surrounded by some sleepy looking cherubs who keep him unconscious. Bright is being healed by another set of cherubs, and she soon is able to get up, but needs more treatment. St. Valentine takes Nez through the door with her, and Ayanda along with Bright, follow her through and they really have teleported to the campus now. 

Ayanda and Bright follow St. Valentine down a short , dull looking corridor, then enter a cathedral, with stain glass art of St. Valentine on every single piece. The hall is like a place of worship for St. Valentine, with every artwork showing her to be a deity. Ayanda is amazed by the overall structure, and soon he senses that this cathedral is similar to Professor Nhlanhla's library, but for some reason, St. Valentine's space didn't feel out of place, her cathedral had a aura of purity.

St. Valentine takes Nez, then makes the cherubs place his body onto a platform made of silver, and instantly Nez's body gets wrapped by the silver as it turns into a liquid, then keeps him restrained.

"I'll keep an eye on him. Something about his power seems strange." St. Valentine said, then turned to Bright, "Your highness, please. You need to get the rest of your internal wounds healed. My powers are limited for now, so I would say I could only heal 60% of your injuries." she told Bright candidly.

"Thank you. I'll go with Ayanda now." Bright replied.

"You go first. I need to speak with him for a moment." St. Valentine eyed Ayanda to stay where he was.

Ayanda nodded to Bright, so Bright left first, leaving him alone with St. Valentine. The cathedral doors bang shut, and Ayanda can sense the space around them being isolated.

"Not many student's can take on somebody who's on the verge of being demonized. Are you really the same Ayanda who's been enrolled in my academy?" St. Valentine suddenly let out a blood thirsty aura, which became suffocating to Ayanda. He suddenly felt powerless, then felt Levy driving Taboo Slayer Divine Art to help Ayanda force himself to move, which completely shocks St. Valentine. Ayanda quickly retreats far away towards the exit.

"You can even move in my cathedral. This is truly unheard of, but maybe understandable since I'm not truly present." St. Valentine's eye's began to glow as she stares at Ayanda in order to infiltrate his mind and access his memories, but she's blocked by some force that prevents her aura from affecting Ayanda. "Who is this child!" she thought fearfully, as her Celestial Curtain Sacred Art gives her heavenly vitality which should be superior to Ayanda's mortal vitality, but she's unable to break through his Taboo Slayer Divine Art.

"Principal, please wait!" Ayanda hand his hands up as he already could tell that he can't use the exit, but has to convince St. Valentine that he's a student of Dark Dragon Academy. He decided to run a crazy gambit and risk exposing his daemonic sacred art.

"I'm a student here at Dark Dragon Academy, and if you don't believe me you can ask Professor Nhlanhla to verify." Ayanda pleaded.

"Why should he be able to verify anything?" St. Valentine asked.

"Because he oversaw my final exam registration test, and he also gave me this." Ayanda said, and slowly pulled out the daemonic text. 

St. Valentine took one look at it and sighed, "I can't believe that lunatic gave a student Moh- I really can't believe he would even do this." she gave Ayanda a pitiful look, "There's only two possibilities for you; demonization, or death."