If you want to read up to 20!! chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer
Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz
Enjoy!
If we reach TOP 3 double release. Maybe triple if the corn gets some popcorn.
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[David Lance POV]
The moment I took Death's hand, the world around me changed, and in the blink of an eye, I was in a completely different place.
It looked like a library, but it was empty and void of any color. The only light came from the bright full moon that shone through the windows of the place, a moon that appeared to be so close that I felt I could touch it if I extended my hand.
"What is this place?" I asked, awestruck by the beauty of it.
"This is the place between existence, a limbo of sorts," Death replied calmly. "It's also a place where you can find answers to any question you have, no matter how trivial or dangerous those questions might be."
I took a step forward, my eyes scanning the area. "Excuse my ignorance, but the room is empty. So, how does this work?"
"It's simple," Death replied as she walked past me, taking a seat in a chair that conveniently appeared behind her. "You just need to think of what you want to know, and the answer will appear before you. Careful though, the moment you ask the in-between a question, the knowledge will come to you instantly. What I'm trying to say is, too much knowledge and your soul could simply self-destruct."
I see, like a Supernatural Google.
Ok then, I will ask only what I need to avoid destroying my soul and abusing Death's trust. Now, I had to be careful of how I worded my question. The last thing I wanted was to remember every waking moment of my life, from the moment I came to be to now.
"I wish to know what I have lost recently," I asked, phrasing it as best I could. And in an instant, just as Death had advertised, a massive wave of information hit me like a ton of bricks.
I remembered my powers.
My fears.
My pain.
My happiness.
My battle with Trigon in the mindscape.
The hundreds of thousands of times I had faced him so far, in the loop he had forced my mind into.
And how he had escaped the prison I had first made for him.
And as I came to understand this, as I came to understand what I had lost, I remembered my anger, my wrath, the ever-consuming feeling of hatred that I had welcomed into my heart when Superman had taken Dinah from me.
Not my Dinah. But it hurt all the same.
"That's a lot of pain for a soul so young," Death said, her voice laced with sorrow.
I turned to look at her, my hands trembling as I struggled to form a reply using sign language. After a few moments of shock processing it all, I remembered I had no need to use my hands, for as I was now, my powers weren't active.
"Thanks for your help, Death," I said, my voice trembling between sorrow and unwavering anger. "I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," Death replied, her voice soft and gentle. "I know when a soul is suffering, they rarely listen to advice, but... if you truly want to thank me, don't let your anger consume you."
"He killed her," I replied, the words coming out as a snarl.
"I know," Death replied with a soft nod. "But if you let your anger control you, then you're no better than him at the end of the day, are you?"
I wanted to retort, to say something that would shut her up, but I couldn't find the words. She was right, and as much as I hated to admit it. "I don't care if I'm better than him. I just want him dead."
"You seem to be misunderstanding me," Death replied, her tone soft as her eyes turned serious. "I'm not telling you that you shouldn't kill him; that's your call. What I'm telling you is that you shouldn't do it while you let your wrath control you."
I frowned, processing her words.
"There's a fine line between justice and revenge, and more than not, that line blurs," Death replied as she looked at the moon outside through one of the windows. "You know the saying that says revenge is a dish best served cold?"
I nodded, not sure when she was going. Well, I had an idea, but with her, who knew where things were going?
"Well, that saying was born from a passage of wisdom of old times, at least by human standards, and it goes like this. Between revenge and justice, I chose justice, for, in justice, I can temper my soul and serve the cold touch of judgment upon those who deserve it," Death continued, a faint smile on her face.
In other words, calmness before fury.
"I know that," I replied.
"Do you really?" Death asked, raising an eyebrow. "What would your loved ones say of your recent actions, and I don't talk about your desire to kill Superman. No, I mean everything else. Would they understand?"
I...
Of course, they would!
...
Would they?
"I... don't know," I finally replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you want to know the real difference between justice and revenge?" Death asked, her voice gentle.
I nodded after a moment.
"Well, as I said, there's a thin line between the two. However, there's one notable enough difference, those who follow the path of revenge usually abandon everything they used to stand for," Death replied, her eyes turning sad as she gazed at me. "They become monsters in the pursuit of destroying the one who wronged them, and in turn, they end up hurting everyone else around them. Ironically enough, the Superman you hate is the best example of this."
I stayed silent, not knowing how to reply to that.
"You have a difficult road ahead of you," Death continued after a moment, standing up from her chair. "But I have faith that you'll make the right choice. Or, at the very least, a choice you won't come to regret."
"So now what?" I asked her.
"Now, you should go back to teach Trigon a thing or thing," Death replied, moving towards the door. "Oh, and one more thing."
"What?" I asked.
"You should probably have some of Raven's favorite snacks with you from now on, just in case," Death said with a smirk as she opened the door. Once the door was opened, a bright light consumed everything around me.
If you want to read up to 20!! chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer
Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz
Enjoy!
If we reach TOP 3 double release. Maybe triple if the corn gets some popcorn.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[David Lance POV]
After Death opened the door, light engulfed me, and in a blink of an eye, I found myself back in the forest. Watching the very same scene, I had seen before encountering her.
In front of me, I saw the old me, fighting one of Trigon's demons, or sons, barely keeping with them. It was only a matter of time before Raven appeared to the rescue.
I smiled fondly at the memory.
I can't help but wonder if things would've been the same had Raven been by my side when I gave myself to my sorrow and hatred.
I doubt it.
My Rae would've found a way to stop that from happening.
I miss her.
I miss my home.
I miss not being alone.
Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. Right now, it was not the time to lament; I had a demon to subdue, and reminiscing about what I had lost would not help me with that. Time to beat Trigon once and for all.
Taking another deep breath, I was about to take a step forward when I felt something tugging softly at my pants. I turned to see what it was and saw a small black cat with green eyes looking up at me.
"Mrrrow?"
A cat?
It somehow reminds me of Death. I don't know why, but I can't shake the feeling this cat is related to her in some way.
As I pondered about that thought, the cat proceeded to start rubbing its head against my leg, purring contently.
I couldn't help but smile as I reached down and started petting it. "Well, hello there, little one. What are you doing out here all alone? Did Death send you?"
The cat just meowed in response as it continued to enjoy the attention. I smiled at this, picking the strange cat up. "I see, so you're here to guide me, are you? Well then, let's get going. We have a demon to take care of."
The cat meowed in response as it settled down in my arms.
What a strange thing, a cat inside my head. A spirit animal, perhaps? I guess whatever the case, I was grateful for the company. It felt good not to be alone in this dark place, it felt good not having to face Trigon alone.
"There you are!" The unmistakable voice of Trigon boomed throughout the forest, causing the trees to shake. "I have no idea how you managed to escape me or how you managed to shroud your presence for so long, but it is over."
In a burst of flames, Trigon appeared before me, his red eyes glaring daggers.
"Aren't you bored of this?" I asked as I continued to pet the cat in my arms without a care in the world. "I mean, I honestly don't understand your fixation with me. By this point, I would reckon I'm not worth the trouble."
Trigon just chuckled darkly in response. "Tired of this? Why would I ever be tired of this? Your suffering, your hate, your resistance to the inevitable, it's all beyond delectable to me."
I guess that's about what you can expect from someone like Trigon.
"Well, unlike you, I am tired of this game, so this ends now. See, I even got a new ally," I replied, holding up my feline friend for him to see.
Trigon laughed at me, mocking my reply before his eyes widened in surprise. "How? How is that possible?"
So, I guess I was right. The cat is special and not another figment of my imagination.
At this, my feline friend proceeded to start hissing and growling at Trigon with all of his tiny might, baring out its ferocious fangs.
Trigon took a step back and then another, keeping his eyes glued to the cat. "Mors signum. Ex nihilo nihil fit. Veni, vidi, vici."
I knew that language.
It was Latin.
Trigon was speaking in Latin as he slowly retreated, and not only that, he seemed in some way to be scared of my feline friend, who, on the other hand, was not all afraid of Trigon. In fact, it seemed ready to lunge at the demon at any given moment.
"It's time to leave me alone, Trigon," I replied, feeling a sudden surge of confidence. "Lest you want to face kitty over here"
Trigon just glared at me in rage, looking between the cat and me before turning tail and disappearing into a puff of smoke. Almost immediately after, I felt a massive weight leave my shoulders as the presence Trigon represented in my mind left, and the darkness of the nightmare started to dissipate.
I smiled, petting my feline friend one last time before setting him down. "I think we make a pretty good team, don't you?"
The cat just meowed in response as it rubbed its head against my leg, purring contently.
"Will you remain in my head?" I asked the little cat as I scratched his chin. "I honestly wouldn't mind having you around."
The cat just meowed in response as it continued to purr contently, which I took as an affirmative answer to my question.
I smiled, feeling the warm embrace of relief spread through my chest. "Thank you, Death… for everything."
With that said, the world around me started to dissipate as I slowly started to wake up from the dream. It was time to face reality, to face my wrath, my sorrow, and more, this time without Trigon's interference.
This time, I would move forward without him whispering in my ear.
I was ready.
At least I felt ready.
I didn't know for sure. But at the end of the day, what did it matter?
I had much to accomplish. And I would see it all through.
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