What happens when a college dropout accidentally opens up the portal to HELL in his soup? Shenanigans of course! Now, James must team up with a flamboyant scarecrow, a jaded witch, an overzealous knight, and a virgin succubus to lock away what he's...
The air was harsh in Luna's lungs as she sprinted her way back to the center of Carnival City. The victors of the recent skirmishes must have gathered back to where the fighting had started. Hopefully, Luna would still have the same number of allies on her side. Luna caught the sight of two plated warriors splayed out on the ground. It was Aspen and Lumina. The Pumpkin Knight's head was nothing more than a pile of mush, and Aspen was sprawled out on his back, blood pooled around him. Luna bent down and checked for a pulse. Nothing but the slightest sliver of embers were wrapping themselves around his body. Whatever the reasoning, she had no time to stay and find out.
After a few more twists and turns, she found Crowsblood, Elyse, and Justice. Instead of fighting, they were looking off in the distance. "Where's James?" Luna said as she took a spot next to Elyse. The moaning of metal answered that question. Luna followed their gaze, and not too far away, The Ball Drop was tipping over for its infamous plunge. In one of the carts sat the familiar shape of a not-so-loveable idiot. Her eyes followed the length of the track, and she made a startling discovery. The tracks were cut abruptly, a victim to negligence, and ended in an upward ramp. "James is fucked."
"Yep." Elyse nodded.
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Closing his eyes did little to ease the panic flourishing inside James. There was a moment of silence as the carts tipped over. Tom stopped shooting, peering over the ledge. If watermelons could sweat and shit themselves at the same time, that's what he'd be doing. James's head jerked back as the coaster made the horribly anticipated drop. His stomach flew up into his chest. James fought back the urge to vomit all over himself, but the rapid descent was too much. Chunks of green and yellow blasted all over himself and possibly the watermelon man. The roaring of metal on metal was replaced by the whistling of air. James was brave enough to open one eye, but only a squint. There were no longer tracks underneath. He was sailing through the air in what he decided to be the most unsafe rollercoaster of all time.
James tried to make peace with whatever gods that would listen, but he only managed to curse in "Japanese" in his head. The whistling of air was replaced by a howl followed by something that sounded like Godzilla tearing down Tokyo. He was rocked and tossed as a horrendous amount of pain shot through his entire body. Was he falling or still in the cart? James kept his eyes tightly shut so he couldn't tell.
James felt himself disconnect from the cart, and he crashed and rolled hard. When it felt like he came to a complete stop, James opened his eyes. He saw three familiar faces peering down at him. But the red glow around his body was the most startling thing.
"James," Elyse said, "it's about fucking time you got your aura working!"
"I told you fuckers!" James spouted.
That's a helluva aura to survive that, Elyse thought.
Luna yanked him from the floor, and James patted the accumulated dust from his clothing. James witnessed the utter destruction the derailed coaster had caused. Debris everywhere, buildings toppled over, most with newly formed entrances and exits. A strange new confidence bristled within James. Maybe he could be useful if he kept his aura under control. But he didn't let himself bask in his own glory (that would happen later), for Justice was ready to strike. James drew his sword, and Justice hesitated as his gaze fell onto the midworld boy. There was a sudden moment of clarity. The suffering souls that make up Justice's entire being were guiding him now.
