COD: The First One's Story

Chapter 23: The Sinners Faked Redemption

15 Lambda Realm (Shadows of Evil)

The Lambda Realm contained what used to be Morg City, but now it was infested with zombies and Apothicons. Jessica, Jack, Floyd, and Nero were cursed. They survived the event because they now had the power to change into monstrous Beasts. They were now corrupted by the Apothicons.

Shadows of Evil Cipher 3

Maxis

The formless one will be their downfall.

Shadowman Quote 1

Shadow

You bear the mark. You are cursed. You must place your hand upon the Stone.

Shadowman Quote 2

Shadow

The Keepers are here. They have begun their dark work. They are coming. They have already corrupted this world with their twisted malfeasance. You are chosen. You are marked. You are cursed!

Shadowman Quote 3

Shadow

Only by invoking the Beast, can you find the items you need. You must explore the unexplored. Your world, as it was, is still here, shifted slightly, wrenched from its rightful place. Many of the souls who inhabited it have succumbed to the darkness. They are echoes of themselves, trapped in a fractured shadow of reality. We must hurry! The Keepers seek to hasten the collapse of the dimensions.

Shadowman Quote 4

Shadow

You have blood on your hands. It cannot be cleansed. Your sins have allowed others to tear their way into your world. Only another sacrifice will save their appetite.

The four of them, the Cursed, were contacted by the Ancient Evil, now known as the Shadowman. He lied to them, telling them that if they followed his directions, they could be redeemed and returned to their reality. He told them that the Keepers were responsible for their situation, and they believed him. They survived against the zombies in the Battle of Shadows of Evil, heeding the Shadowman's strange instructions. In addition to zombies, they also had to fight against Apothicons, such as Parasites, Insanity Elementals, and Margwas. Each of the Cursed had the ability to occasionally turn into Beasts for short periods of time. Using the Beast, they broke the magic seal on the crate that contained the Summoning Key.

Shadowman Quote 5

Shadow

In your mortal hands, you now hold the Summoning Key! The Summoning Key is the most powerful artifact in this or any other dimension. You cannot imagine its power. Guard it with your life!

Certain items from the pasts of the Cursed were magically sealed by the Keepers in other crates. Using the Beast, they electrocuted a voltmeter that activated a crane, causing it to drop the crate containing the Lawyer's Pen. Keepers tried to stop them as they took the Lawyer's Pen to Nero's apartment, where a ritual altar had been set up.

Shadowman Quote 6

Shadow

Here we go! The ritual has begun!

The Cursed placed the Lawyer's Pen and Summoning Key on the altar, beginning the ritual. The Summoning Key activated, using the Lawyer's Pen to wrench Nero's Lawyer from the Kappa Realm into the Lambda Realm. Keepers attacked the Cursed as the Summoning Key shredded Nero's Lawyer and absorbed his soul, leaving behind a Gateworm.

Shadowman Quote 7

Shadow

The worm must be taken to the sacred place. Only then will you have the means to repel the unearthly horde. Four must be collected. Only then can we prevent the destruction of your world.