EGO

STONE

If someone would have told me I had to fight eighteen men at once, I would have laughed in their face. I didn't have time to prepare before they were coming at me from every direction.

For a while, I was able to dodge their attacks and get some good hits in. I knocked out a couple of them but they learned attacking me at once was a smarter plan.

My face, body and hands hurt from giving and receiving blows. I wanted to keep fighting but being tremendously outnumbered, made my confidence grow weaker.

"Grab him!"

I was tackled by three of them and held in place, while they took turns breaking my ribs and jaw. My mind soon gave up and my body followed.

No one really cares about me so why should I even keep fighting?

"I think he's had enough."

I was completely slumped..my body felt heavy. They let me go and I dropped to the hard ground, watching a pool of blood spill around my head where I lay. Everything hurts...my parents' faces popped in my mind...now my heart was hurting. Whatever powers I had were obsolete and I knew the Demon King had something to do with it.

Wetness covered my face, I could smell my own blood. I received a few more kicks to my legs and back but it didn't hurt as much.

Is this what dying feels like?

My left eye's vision was gone...swollen shut. I could see them with my other eye move away from me as they stared at the damage they've done. I began coughing up blood, the new pain shook my body.

"And he's supposed to be the chosen one?"

"What a fucking joke."

I heard some of them talking, the voices all began to sound alike. Then their laughter filled my ears, they were celebrating...waiting for me to die.

It's not over...

I heard Ollie but didn't respond...I was too mentally exhausted. If this was my fate I was ready to accept it.

This isn't over..

A burning in my gut began to rise...it was nauseating and suffocating. Coughs and gasps for air ravaged my body while my brothers continued to ignore me.

Something is happening to me.

I decided not to fight it. Letting go felt more peaceful and less painful....so I did, allowing whatever brewing inside of me to take over.

***

Devin could feel the burn ignite deep in his belly, but he was too weak to move. It flowed up his chest, causing him to curl and turn over. Soon his movements caught his brother's attention.

They began to stand around him, watching for any changes in his condition.

"AAAAHHHH!!"

Yells from Devin's mouth echoed in the stone dwelling. Pain was sketched all over his bloody face. He heaved over gagging, which began to freak out his brothers.

"What the hell is going on with him?"

"Just fucking die already..."

With those words, burning liquid vomited from Devin's mouth. It splashed onto Merlon's shoes, burning right through them.

"What the fuck?!" He shouted, kicking the shoes off.

"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"

The ground shook from Devin's yell...then he collapsed. There was nothing but silence around them.

"Is he dead?"

"You go and check."

They all looked at each other...none moving an inch.

"Such pussies...I will check."

Ericson slowly walked towards Devin as their father, the Demon King, sat in silence.

Once he reached down to check his brother's pulse...he was instantly turned into ash.

Everyone stood back in shock as they watched Devin's clothes burn off his body and black wings grow out his back. He stood up, taking a deep breath...his body nor face had the blood or wounds from his attack. He was completely healed as his eyes were black as an abyss and a smile formed on his face.

"It finally happened..." The Demon King spoke.

One by one the brother's were slowly burned into ash with one look from Devin. Red light pulsated around his body...and a proud smile formed on the King's face.

"I've waited thousands of years for this moment. I didn't think it would ever come."

He stood up and walked towards Devin. He had a look of peace.

"You now know your true purpose..."

He bowed in front of Devin.

"I am ready...."

As Devin touched his father's head, what was left of the Demon King's power shot through Devin's body like an electric shock. Once completed the Demon King was turned into stone as the ashes of his eighteen sons whisked around him.

The ground next to Devin's feet cracked open. A black staff rose out with the Deru stone glowing at the top. He grabbed the staff and felt a rush of energy move down his spine.

A portal opened and Devin walked through, feeling completely satisfied.