Last Son: Book One

Chapter 2 Azazel's Village of Secrets

Samael woke up on the main floor, surprised to find that there was no darkness or swine-like creatures. As he noticed the cracked open door, he couldn't help but wonder what was happening to him. "What the hell... is going on with me?" Samael muttered, feeling a headache coming on. He grabbed his gear and stood in front of the door, contemplating whether he should leave or stay to unravel the mystery behind the code 666. Curiosity got the better of him as Samael noticed something unusual about the door. Fresh blood markings adorned it, and the number six seemed to be significant. With cautious steps, he entered the next room, which was dark and cold, and heard screams of terror echoing through the air. Stepping outside the doorway, Samael found himself in the east-side village, only to discover that it had vanished. Confused and concerned about the missing villagers, he walked further into the village and stumbled upon a resting ground. Setting up a small campfire, Samael sat on a boulder and reached for Tom Prince's diary from his bag. The night was cold and quiet, with only the crackling of the fire breaking the silence. As he read from the diary, he noticed a missing page, which frustrated him as it held the key to his father and Tom Prince's connection. The diary hinted at an evil presence that had plagued their town, and Samael and his rabbi had taken it upon themselves to fight against it. Determined to find answers, he put out the fire and prepared himself for any danger. The sound of snarling creatures unnerved Samael, causing him to grab his sword and remain vigilant. However, the creatures did not attack him, leaving him perplexed. With cautious steps, he moved forward, following the tracks left by the wolves that had crossed his path. In a scene of blood and mystery, he discovered a set of prints made by an unusual creature. Intrigued, Samael decided to follow its tracks, prepared for any perilous moments that might arise. The tracks led him to an ancient-looking area with new buildings, leaving Samael puzzled about his location. He entered one of the buildings, searching for clues, and stumbled upon files related to Tom Prince. The literature spoke of a new community called Father Azazel Promise Land, created with offerings from God and the efforts of Tom Prince and his rabbi. Samael couldn't help but mock the idea, realizing the irony of the situation. Continuing his exploration, Samael reached the second floor, where he encountered a locked door. He decided to try the third floor, but the power outage left him in darkness. Finding a lantern, he used it to navigate his way, even though the situation seemed bleak. As he ventured further, he heard unusual sounds and prepared himself for a battle, dropping the lantern and unsheathing his sword. Reaching an open area, Samael encountered swine-like creatures that surrounded him. With skill and determination, he fought them off, their stench and the sight of blood reminding him of the danger he faced. As he defeated them, he noticed a larger creature that he had been tracking. Laughing triumphantly, he dispatched it as well, realizing it was the creature he had been searching for. Moving on to the fourth floor, Samael found nothing of significance. He continued his search on the sixth floor, where he discovered a key. Wondering what it unlocked, he followed a blood trail that led him to a door with a chilling message written in fresh blood: "Keep Out." Trying the key, he realized it didn't fit, and in frustration, he struck the door with his sword, breaking it open. Inside the room, he found another file and key, initially dismissing the key as useless. However, to his surprise, the key transformed, shining brightly and indicating its newfound importance. Samael decided to hold onto it and made his way out of the room, determined to leave the promised land behind. As he made his way back to the stairway, Samael noticed the key shining in his pocket. Curiosity piqued, he retrieved it and discovered that it had transformed into a key and compass hybrid. Confused by its purpose, he followed its guidance, only to be led to a dead end. Frustrated, he believed the key was broken, but to his astonishment, the wall before him glowed with white light, revealing a double door shape. With his sword at the ready, Samael unlocked the doorway and stepped through the secret passage, never taking his eyes off the key in his hand. Samael stood at the closed doorway on the first level, contemplating whether he should hold onto the key he possessed. The sign above him indicated that there were twelve levels in total. Knowing that each level would bring more stairs and more monsters, Samael couldn't help but wish for a break from the constant battles. Undeterred, Samael ascended to the second level, which proved to be relatively manageable in terms of the creatures he encountered. He swiftly dispatched them and discovered a common chest. Hoping to find valuable items inside, Samael eagerly opened it, only to be disappointed by the junk it contained. Without dwelling on it, he moved on to the next level. Level three presented Samael with a greater number of creatures, but he dispatched them effortlessly, barely breaking a sweat. Advancing to the fourth level, he found a peaceful yet foul-smelling environment. Seeking rest, he settled in a dark corner, his lantern providing minimal light. It was during this time that he took out a file he had found on the sixth floor, which held valuable information about a secret doorway built by him and his rabbi. The file mentioned a key that only shone for the chosen ones, leading them to a sanctuary on the twelfth level. However, it also stated that the mystic power inside the sanctuary could not be obtained by anyone. As Samael fell asleep, he found himself dreaming of the twelfth level and the bluish orb held by a statue. Curiosity filled his mind as he wondered what would happen if he were to touch the orb. Awakening from his dream, he noticed that an hour had passed. Putting away the file, he proceeded to the next level, still pondering its meaning. Upon reading another sign out loud, Samael learned that the fifth level and beyond harbored even more dangerous monsters. Undeterred, he ascended to the fifth level and was met with a chilling sight—rotting human bones scattered around and dark, rough-skinned creatures with glowing purple eyes. These creatures wielded shields in their skeletal hands and steel blades in the other. Samael was taken aback by the sight of these dead skeletons rising, but he steeled himself and engaged in battle. Though sustaining minor injuries, he managed to clear the area and moved on to the next level. The sixth level presented an even greater challenge. Samael taunted the creatures, displaying his confidence and determination. With his unusual long steel sword, he fought wave after wave of foes, his determination unwavering. However, the creatures grew stronger, inflicting more damage with each encounter. Exhausted and injured, Samael refused to admit defeat. He fought valiantly, his body covered in sweat and blood, until he triumphed over the last of them. But to his dismay, another wave of creatures emerged. Samael couldn't fathom why they kept coming. Just as he was beginning to lose hope, a voice from above shouted a warning. Looking up, he saw a man who offered guidance and assistance. The man wielded a superior weapon, a handheld gauntlet gun capable of clearing the path ahead. With the man's help, Samael made his escape to the seventh level. Samael's voice echoed through the dark corridors, "Hey, where are you? Hello?" His calls were met with silence until a voice broke through, "Shhh. Fool, you're going to get us killed with all that hollering." Startled, Samael turned to see a man standing there. "Who are you?" Samael asked. The man glanced back, urgency in his eyes. "No time to explain," he replied. Samael smirked, his distrust evident. "Then how can I trust you?" The man let out a low chuckle. "Is that even a real question, or are you just plain stupid?" Samael pressed on, "Are you the one leaving those bloody messages?" The man's serious stare locked onto Samael's eyes. "Hell no! I've been following the person responsible for them." Samael grinned, relieved. "Good, lead the way." The two joined forces, battling the creatures on the seventh level effortlessly. Samael was impressed. "Not bad," he commented. The man smiled, warning, "Don't forget, more will be coming." Samael proposed a plan, "You can distract them while I scout." But before he could finish, the man interrupted, "Like hell I am!" Samael persisted, "Look, you kill and I scout. Do you have a problem with that?" Frustrated, the man fired his gauntlet at the creatures in anger. Samael stumbled upon a chest guarded by an advanced dead skeleton, wearing a bronze crown with a blood-red orb held within it. Samael couldn't contain his excitement, "Oh, I'm going to have fun with you!" The bronze-crowned skeleton warned, "We are legions. If I die, more will come." Samael chuckled, "You're already dead... bones!" With his sword raised, Samael charged at the skeleton, their clash resulting in injuries for Samael. Gravely wounded, Samael taunted the skeleton, "Tough son of a gun, aren't you?" Despite his pain, Samael mustered the strength to break the skeleton's armor and engage in a fierce duel. With each blow, the skeleton's eye socket glowed with fiery orange-red flames. Determined, Samael declared, "I will turn you into a pile of bones again!" With a swift strike, Samael defeated the bronze-crowned skeleton, freeing the blood orb from its grip. As Samael approached the chest, a rare one that required a specific item to open, he realized he didn't possess it. Disappointed, he regrouped with his partner, who was still firing away. "Did you find anything?" the man asked. Samael said to the man: "Nah!." His partner shot him a dirty look and replied, "You tell me. You ran off and didn't find anything?! What kind of nonsense are you pulling?!" Ignoring his partner's anger, they continued their journey, stopping momentarily. The man's serious expression demanded answers from Samael, "Tell me what's up with your no thank you attitude?! I demand answers from someone I just saved from the sixth level." Samael's aggression flared as he replied, "I didn't ask for your help." The man managed to stay composed, "You were on the ground like a little weakling!" Samael's grin widened, "I didn't need your help." The man's anger subsided, and he asked, "So, seriously, what did you find?" Samael teased, "Okay! Let's get to the twelfth level, then I'll tell you." Agreeing, the two advanced to the eighth level, facing stronger creatures. Amidst the battle, they stumbled upon a chest with a note. As Samael reached for it, his partner snatched it away and read aloud, "If you are reading this, you're still alive, but I'll give you a warning...what lies ahead are dangerous monsters." The man laughed, crumpled the note, and mocked, "If you are reading this... you're still alive." Samael joined in the laughter, realizing the note's absurdity. They continued to the ninth level, encountering a new creature with three red eyes. Samael's partner claimed it as his target, but Samael challenged him, "Not if my blade beats you to it first!" The battle was fierce, with both of them sustaining injuries. Samael's partner exclaimed, "Now that's how you kill a three-eyed mutt!" Fuelled by his partner's words, Samael confronted him, "I killed that mutt, and you know it! It was me who saved your butt this time. That mutt could've ripped your throat out." The man smirked and confidently declared, "I shot the darn mutt right in the heart!" Samael, gripping the creature's head, retorted, "Well, I cut off this darn mutt's head!" The man chuckled dismissively, saying, "Whatever!" As they reached the tenth level, a foul smell pervaded the air, and the damp ground made their search challenging. Samael asked, "Have you found anything?" The man replied nonchalantly, "Nah, what about you?" Samael nodded and they continued their search, but unfortunately, they found nothing. Undeterred, they pressed forward and reached the eleventh level. Samael turned to the man and asked, "Are you ready?" The man flashed a confident smile and replied, "Is that even a real question, or are you just plain stupid?" Together, they battled the creatures on the eleventh level, clearing the path to confront a deadly creature ahead. However, they encountered more creatures along the way, making the battle much more challenging and intense. Fortunately, the key that Samael carried in his pocket emitted a faint light, empowering their party. The man's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "You brought the key!?" Samael responded, "I thought the key would be useful." The man grinned and explained, "The key is our way out!" Samael questioned, "Then why are you still here?" While still focused on fighting the creatures, the man revealed, "That key you have, anyone who uses it enters the doorway like me. But after the doorway closes, the key holder loses possession of the key. Wait! How come you still hold the key?" Samael was puzzled by the question, wishing he had the answers but still searching for them himself. He replied, "I don't know!" Samael and his partner continued their arduous journey, battling their way towards the three-headed creature guarding the entrance beyond the door. The man said to Samael: "Hey, are you ready for this?" Samael smirked and said; "Is that even a real question or are you just plain stupid." The man laughed and said; "Hey! Don't be stealing my lines." They engaged in combat with the creature, enduring its powerful attacks. "Hey...I don't like this ugly mutt!." Samael struck from behind, and the creature retaliated by whipping him with its long tail. Samael declared, "Yeah, I don't like this bastard either!" Together, they relentlessly attacked the creature, breaking through its first armor. The battle intensified as they fought against the creature's second armor, but their determination remained unwavering. Observing the creature's increasing resilience, the man warned, "The creature's skin is getting tough! It'll be hard for your sword to pierce through. Catching my drift?" Samael acknowledged his partner's observation and switched roles, becoming the decoy while his partner prepared his gauntlet gun. With a confident grin, the man aimed at the creature and declared, "Alright, you ugly son of a gun! Time to evaporate you for good!" The creature was struck by a powerful blast from the gauntlet gun. Samael nodded approvingly and remarked, "Good for you... want a cookie?" Finally, they entered the doorway, discovering a couple of chests, including one rare chest that could only be opened with the key item. Samael inquired, "Hey... what kind of key shape is this?" He pulled the item out of his pocket, revealing the distinctive keyhole. Samael stared in awe at the mysterious object before him. The man by his side explained, "That, my friend, is a crisma shape." Curious, Samael asked, "What exactly is a crisma shape?" The man replied, "It is a holy oil used for certain ceremonies, and this particular crisma is only used by a holy priest." Samael couldn't help but laugh, questioning what could possibly be inside the chest. The man glanced at the key in his hand and responded, "I'm not sure, but we're about to find out." With anticipation, he inserted the charisma key into the chest's keyhole and opened it. "What in the world?! Holy oil... it's of no use to me since I am not a priest. How about you?" Samael, with a hint of sadness in his eyes, replied, "I am the son of a high priest." The man was amazed by Samael's revelation and asked for his name. Samael hesitated for a moment before answering, "I am Samael, the son of High Priest Azazel." The man approached Samael and said, "Young man, this item will become useful to you." Samael pushed his hand away, declaring, "I don't want any part of this priesthood!" The man chuckled, then turned to his partner and said, "Regardless of whether you become a priest or not, possessing an item like this is your fate, and it will help you grow." Samael pondered the man's words and asked, "Grow into what?" The man looked at Samael and replied, "Only you can determine that, son. But you can use the holy oil to anoint yourself before entering any battle." Samael reluctantly took the item from his partner's hand and noticed another chest in the room. He mentioned it to the man, saying that it required a special key like the one they had. The man nodded and said, "We'll come back for it after we clear the twelfth level." Samael nodded in agreement but expressed concern about the keyhole not being crisma-shaped. The man chuckled and reassured him, "Don't worry, I have keys of different shapes." Together, they moved on to the dangerous twelfth level of the secret passage, where deadly creatures lurked. "Be careful, young man. These creatures are more lethal up here," warned the man. Samael tightened his grip on his sword, focused on his surroundings, and confidently declared, "We can face any creatures that emerge from the darkness." As they ventured further, they encountered the first wave of heavily armored creatures. Although exhausted from the previous battle, they fought valiantly. Samael exclaimed, "These creatures won't stop coming, and we can't catch our breath!" Determined, he added, "We can't give up!" The man looked at Samael and suggested, "Young man, use your holy oil." Samael grabbed the holy oil, contemplating its use. He decided to pour half of it onto his partner, who protested, "What are you doing?!" Ignoring his partner's confusion, Samael continued to pour the holy oil, murmuring to himself. Finally, he said, "There... You're blessed!" The man wiped his face and retorted, "Like hell I am!" Samael urged his partner, "So, are you going to light them up or just stand there?" The man raised his gauntlet gun, smiled at Samael, and declared, "I'm going to raise hell on these ugly mutts!" His gauntlet gun transformed into a holy weapon, shooting holy ammunition that broke through the creatures' heavily armored gear. Samael's sword, now empowered, dealt critical damage by piercing the creatures' skin. "Hey, Sammy! These creatures don't stand a chance!" exclaimed the man. The battle continued, with the two of them working together to clear the path. Though they succeeded, more challenges awaited them. Samael sighed in relief, "About time! I thought we were going to become chew toys for these creatures." His partner responded, "Hey, I won't be talking! These creatures up here love chewing on some white bones." Samael grinned and replied, "You just proved my point. We're nothing but lunch meat up here." The two characters continued their search in the area, with Samael's partner finding more ammunition for his gauntlet gun and Samael stumbling upon another rare chest with a crisma keyhole shape. Samael exclaimed, "Hey! Another crisma shape." The man answered back, "Well, you're in luck, I have another charisma key." He laughed and added, "Yeah... but it's probably just another holy oil." Samael's partner handed the crisma key to him and suggested, "Or it can be something that your father left for you." Samael inserted the crisma key into the keyhole and opened the chest. To his surprise, he discovered a crisma amulet. He chuckled and questioned, "A crisma amulet?" His partner explained, "Yeah...that crisma amulet is one of a kind. It's called a light barrier." Samael was intrigued and asked, "A light barrier? And there are more of these charisma amulets?" His partner nodded and replied with a serious tone, "Yeah, but the amulets are scattered in this broken world." Samael said to the man: "How many amulets!?" astonished by the revelation of the great number of crisma amulets scattered in the world. "Millions...millions of these crisma amulets." Samael put the amulet he found inside his pocket when his partner questioned, "You're not going to wear the amulet?" Samael confidently responded, "No need." He walked away, followed by his partner, and they both entered a doorway that led to the Azazel test lab. Curious about their surroundings, Samael remarked, "What is this place?" His partner chuckled and said, "A lab... it looks like a nesting place." Samael instructed his partner, "Look for files and documents. Anything in the name of Tom Prince." His partner recognized the name and added, "Hey! I heard of that name before. Isn't he the guy who chained up people?" Samael had a flashback of the church and wondered, "Why would Father lock up these people and what did they do to suffer such punishment?" Before he could finish his thought, his partner interrupted, "Hey! Isn't he the man..." Samael cut him off and confirmed, "Yeah...he's the guy." His partner found some information on one of the desks and informed Samael, "I have found some info on our man Tom Prince." Samael walked over, grabbed the file, and began reading. The file contained shocking details about Tom Prince's experiments. It read, "I am Tom Prince, I stand here with my faithful servants, and we stand before the Most High. We are ordered by the Most High to leave the living for the great punishment and bring the dead to the high priest's promised land testing lab. The lifeless beings are placed inside these pods, wearing oxygen ventilators. Their brains are cut out of their craniums, and their hearts are removed from their chests. The purpose of this experiment is to bring the dead back to life without their brains and heart. The test subjects are successful so far, but they remain unconscious, and hopefully, soon they will be awakened from their coma." Samael was appalled by the cruel and inhumane experiments described in the file. He looked at one of the pods with sadness and whispered, "I guess my father..." His partner expressed his anger, "What kind of sick people do this?!" Samael wiped away his tears and said determinedly, "Let's get outta here." They both walked out of the testing lab and found themselves on a long steel bridge, surrounded by darkness and complete silence. Samael's partner asked concernedly, "Hey...Sammy. Are you okay?" Samael looked down, contemplating what he had witnessed and what might lie ahead beyond the doors. "Why would my father kill innocent people? Why would he bring the dead back to life? What is the purpose of his work, and why is it so important to him?" pondered Samael. His partner repeated the question and added, "Hey Sammy! You hear that?" Samael asked, "Hear what?" His partner chuckled and replied, "I don't hear a darn thing. Hahaha!" Suddenly, the long steel bridge started shaking violently, and sections of it began to collapse. "Run, Sammy!" his partner shouted. The two started running, narrowly escaping as the bridge collapsed behind them. As they ran, one-eyed drones emerged from the darkness below and scanned the environment. Samael's partner looked around in astonishment and asked, "What the holy hell! Are those things?" Samael still catching his breath, commented, "It looked like some sort of AI system." The Man holding onto Samael, he grumbled, "Are you telling me we've got some sick bastard watching us?" Samael brushed off the man's comment about a sick person watching them and they both entered a large sanctuary. Samael was struck by the familiarity of the place, reminiscent of the sanctuary in his hometown. As they explored, Samael picked up a Bible but didn't have time to read it. Suddenly, the sanctuary started to transform before their eyes. Walls shifted, pews went underground, and a larger altar emerged, with a statue holding a bluish orb. Curious about the orb, Samael asked his companion what it was. The man explained that it was an Azureus orb, which symbolized riding with the sky and granting powers from above. Samael then showed his partner a blood orb he had, but the man quickly dismissed it as a sanguis orb, associated with darkness and evil. Realizing the potential of the Azureus orb, Samael decided to take it. However, as he removed the orb, a flying serpent emerged from the darkness below. The serpent had the head of a goat, horns, gold piercings, and six eyes. Despite their best efforts, Samael and his partner were unable to defeat the serpent, who used its wings of rays to blind them. In a selfless act, Samael's partner urged him to escape while he held off the serpent. Samael hesitated, but his partner insisted, pushing him towards the exit. Unfortunately, the door was blocked by a red barrier, trapping them inside. As the serpent approached, Samael's partner managed to reach him and pushed him off the edge, sacrificing himself. As Samael fell into the darkness, he heard his partner's final words, "Ride with the sky!" Determined to survive, Samael remembered the phrase and pulled out the Azureus orb. The orb emitted a brilliant light, but its true power and the meaning of "ride with the sky" remained unknown to him. As he continued to fall, Samael pondered whether he should leave and search for the meaning of the code 666. He drifted in and out of dreams, hearing cryptic messages about his destiny and the twelfth level. Finally, he woke up, still falling, and held onto the Azureus orb, ready to embrace whatever power it held. The phrase "ride with the sky" echoed in his mind, urging him to discover its true significance.