Read Anomaly :: A Demon and a Wanderer

The floor sizzled and crackled with each step Izuki took. Sweat streamed down his face to his neck, then to his chin, evaporating before it even touched the floor. His skin was peeling, Revealing the flesh and nerves underneath. Izuki turned to look behind him. Drue followed him silently. He looked around to admire the landscape. It was a bit of a lost cause. The dead trees which he was sure weren't even wood and the magma-ridden ground made it look like a tapestry of veins. But it looked aesthetically pleasing in a heavy metal sense.

He should be coming up to that castle.

'What the... Hell?' thought Izuki. "I've barely progressed from where I am," he said.

Then Izuki realized something, he'd just talked.

Drue remained silent throughout this ordeal.
"This mortal is adapting too fast. What kind of monster have you created this time Draco?" thought Drue.

In the nearby distance, Izuki spotted different beasts of varying shapes and sizes arranging themselves in an array of splendor. For a place named hell, it was beautiful in an ugly way.

"I guess even demons have standards..." said Izuki between breaths.

"We should be coming upon a settlement very soon." Said Drue as he gestured towards the slight silhouette of a town forming in the distance.

'There are towns in a place like this? I guess that makes sense because some demons have lived here all their lives huh?' Izuki pondered.

"By the way mortal, why have you come here to Gehenna?" asked Drue, curious as to why anyone who has ever enjoyed the privilege of living would ever opt to come here.

"I didn't come here. I was dumped here... and my name isn't mortal. It's Izuki. Kikuhara Izuki." replied Izuki trudging along slowly as he spoke.

"I see... Well, then Izuki I hope we can get along just fine. Y'know, as long as we have to..." said Drue.

'Red flag... I won't pry any further though... ' thought Izuki.

A few hours after walking Izuki and Drue arrived at the gate. Drue was still in awe of how quickly Izuki was adapting. It seems like his body had already adapted to Gehenna's ecosystem. That alone made him one of the strongest creatures to walk the earth. To adapt to such a harsh environment so quickly. Draco was right, whatever doesn't kill him only makes him stronger. The question being, what was his limit?

As they approached the city entrance they were stopped by two creatures. If he had to say Izuki would describe their appearance as resembling gargoyles.

"State your business." said one of the gargoyles.

"Uh- we mean no harm-" Izuki started when Drue simply walked in front of him and said "We are but a simple Demon and a wanderer looking for a settlement to inhabit. Surely you won't turn us down."

"Tch... Drue." said one of the gargoyles.

"Hello gentlemen" replied Drue.

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