Demonic Hollow: A Mask of Courage - Season One: War

Episode Seven - Reject

Ryu's body spasms, his breathing unsteady and broken. He looks up at The Golden Angel for a few seconds, and then back at the ground. He was defeated. He would either be killed, or captured...or both. He didn't know what to do. Luther is dead, his clan, his new home...it was at risk, but there was nothing he could do.

"I would love to have you be a part of the angels. Your potential, that...mysterious power," the angel says, kneeling before him. Ryu remained silent, thinking deeply. The angel grins, "listen kid. There are more angels out there even stronger than I am. You can be a part of us, our people...we can convert demons into angels. What do you say...?"

Ryu looks up at the angel one more time, opening his mouth to speak, the rest of his energy reserves dissipate, and his limbs go limp as he collapses to the ground, unconscious. From afar, the leader demons observe the confrontation.

"All according to plan," one of the demons say, taking a step back, leaving the area, the rest follow. Several demons manage to escape the carnage, carrying the injured demons to safety. It was an unsuccessful mission, at least...that's what they thought.

The Golden Angel makes his blade dissipate, brushing himself off, reverting to his normal state. He sighs, picking Ryu up, heaving him over his shoulder, leaving the base. An unknown amount of time passes, Ryu awakens, bonded in a jail cell. He slowly looks around and stands, his suit and gear were taken from him.

He looks outside his cell, it was a blank, cold hallway, leading to a door at the end of it. His cell was the only one there. He sat back down, sighing. What was he supposed to do? He was bounded, his suit was taken from him, and his sword and gear too. He had no choice but to wait.

It seemed like hours before any other beings arrived. It was an angel soldier, there to escort Ryu. "Let's go demon, you have a calling," he says sternly, opening his cell. Ryu timidly exits his cell, unsure what he can do. This angel didn't seem very strong, but he couldn't be sure. "We've wasted a lot of our time on you, I am so confused as to why you are so special," the angel says spitefully.

They enter a small room with a wooden desk and two chairs. It looked very much like an interrogation room. The angel forces him to sit, and he leaves the room. At any second, Ryu could leave...but he felt obligated to stay.

An angel eventually arrives, she was a calm presence, and...very familiar. It was the angel that Ryu spared long ago. Ryu did not recognize this angel, but she recognized him. She owed him her life, and she couldn't move past it.

"Ryu...the strongest demon, you saved my life when we believed we were enemies. I made sure to let The Golden Angel to spare your life as well, and it seems to me he did, but..." she trails off.

She shakes her head, "anyway. They wanted me to talk to you. They know that you spared me, and that means you have heart. I'm gonna be honest, I don't agree with the war anymore, I'm against it. So much senseless bloodshed, and for what?"

Ryu listens intently. "Our overlords, Satan and God, you know, they have always been against each other, and we are just pawns in their game," she goes on, laying down a briefcase, sliding it over to Ryu, opening it before him. "Now, I'm supposed to give you this...it's a serum. It's a mixture of Angel and Demon blood, it's used to turn angels into demons, and vice versa," she explains.

Ryu's eyes widen as he looks at the syringe, which was full of a mysterious blue liquid. "They want you to join our cause, but I have a feeling you're not gonna agree with it all too much," she chuckles. Ryu smiles slightly, he felt comfortable.

"So, I'll leave it up to you. Take the serum and join us...or I can break you out and get you back to your people," she says. Ryu looks at her for a while, and then asks; "what is your name?"