Exodus Files: Gates of Hell.

Chapter 18: Dimensia.

The familiar pitch black room greeted Niv, the silence sinks into his soul like a dagger pressing against his temples. The scenario quickly irritates him that he starts yelling "OW COME ON! NOT THIS AGAIN" and as a response, the clown snapped his finger, the darkness was replaced by a bright, solemn view. The two were standing in a courtyard of an abandoned castle. The structure showed signs of abandonment, moss and vines covered the gray fortress "So, how do you like it my friend?" the clown asked the Oni, which was replied by a grunt "What the heck? did we teleported or something?" Niv asked while touching the ground, checking if its real "Yes, yes, I teleported us and yes that soil is real." the demonic clown said while tapping his cane to the ground. 

"Darn it, you should've brought me to this place before when we first met. Not in that black space." Niv complains, scratching his scalp as he surveyed the place. It took Niv a good five minutes before he looked at the clown "Anyway, what's this all about this time?" The Oni's tone was cold, showing that he is still not comfortable talking to the unknown being. "Well, Mu let you guys borrow the Chancel. All white and solemn, pft. 'Our' world is better, pitch black. But hey, there's more, we can go where ever we want...like for example, this old castle: the home of Czar Anastas XI before the kingdom's fall two hundred years ago." The clown explains, walking towards the broken statue of the fallen king. the Hallowsoul touched the statue as if he is trying to reconnect to a lost memory. The clown looked at Niv and giggled "I'll train you here." 

Niv started to burst into laughter, he almost cried while grabbing his stomach, the whole idea was too absurd to him. The clown was not pleased, he hits Niv with his cane and yelled "I am the Hallowsoul. EVEN YOU, THE ONI, CANNOT MATCH MY POWERS." 

The Pinkdevil was aggravated by the Hallowsoul's actions and started to punch his adversary. The Hallowsoul deflected all the attacks using only his cane and countered Niv by sending an uppercut straight to the Oni's chin. Niv flew a couple of feet away, rolling a couple of times before hitting a pillar. The Oni spits blood and wipes his mouth "Not bad." but even before he can add anything, his eyes widens as a huge rock fist approaches him. "Taste my WRATH!" Hallowsoul cried. 

Zai opens her eyes. Everything is still fuzzy and her head is still aching, although still cloudy, she immediately recalls the events that occurred a couple of hours ago. Sora and Zai were approaching where they will rendezvous Pordoj to begin their plan, but as soon as the pair sets foot in their meeting place, they were quickly surrounded by the merger foot soldiers, falling to a trap. She immediately searched for Sora. The Tenshi is lying on her side on cold cement. The whole prison cell was covered with darkness, only illuminated by the moonlight passing through a small window. Zai was able to spot her friend a couple of feet away from her, kneeling on the ground while both hands were chained, weakened and dazed.

"Hey, Sora, wake up...Hey..." Zai tries to yell but her body is too weak, only able to whisper with a squeaking voice. "It's useless, my dear..." Laraffa said while grabbing the Tenshi's face, appearing totally out of nowhere. "You and your friend here cannot...and will never escape my Lord's fortress. Now, with the three of you here, we can now open the gates of Netherplains and unleash havoc on Earth!" Laraffa then cracked a maniacal laugh before leaving the room. Zai then said to herself "That traitor." As the gates close, a pair of red eyes started to glow from the corner. It was Pordoj. He immediately unchains the girls while whispering "I'm sorry, this is the only way that we can enter the fortress without building up any suspicion." Zai then punches Pordoj in the face " You could have at least explained to us earlier."