Read The Infernal Scribe :: Aberrant

Chapter Two

"Aberrant"

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I gazed out at the hellish landscape. Far in the distance, I could see the Inferno looming over this world, keeping it perpetually lit with its endless flames.

I thought about what Elara had told me—that all souls were destined for peace and tranquility.

So that was a lie... Just look at this place. It's clearly Hell.

While I internally panicked at the thought of spending eternity here, I noticed a blue-ish light being cast from behind me. I turned and discovered a screen hovering above my head.

<Home>

Name: Dante

Demonic Trait: [N/A]

Aether Points: 10/100

Current Stage: Circle Zero—Barren Fields

Main Quest

Current Objectives

Inventory

I read over the text several times, thoroughly confused by its contents.

It looks just like that RPG I played when I was a kid. But why am I seeing it here?

The entries seemed mostly straightforward, except for the empty "Trait" slot and the "Aether Points". I tapped the "Current Objectives" option and a new screen appeared.

- Adopt a Demonic Trait [ 0/1]

- Reach the Inferno [ 0/1]

Confused, I returned to the original screen and tapped "Main Quest".

- Conquer Nine Circles of Hell. [ 0/9 ]

- Ascend to Achieve Reincarnation. [ 0/1 ]

Nine Circles of Hell? Reincarnation?

I thought back to what the voice in the Inferno said.

"You don't belong here... It is not your time..." What did it mean by that?

A notification appeared before me.

[If you're ever confused, ask your guide for help!]

My guide? Is that... Elara?

Feeling slightly awkward, I called out her name. After a brief pause, a small red flame appeared before me, and Elara's voice called out from it, "Tch! Already? As if the system isn't holding your hand enough."

The flames flickered and warped until they took the form of a small human figure. I leaned in close and realized it was Elara, shrunken down to the size of a moth.

"Elara?" I exclaimed. "What happened to you?"

She had a pixie-like form. In place of her clothes were black, obsidian scales decorating her entire body and a pair of bat-like wings fluttering furiously to keep her afloat. "This is my sprite form. I'm not really there with you," she said. "You'd think I'd spend all my energy going to the Barren Fields, are you kidding me?"

Curious, I passed my hand over her and it phased straight through, like she was composed of fire.

"Do you want to explain what's going on?" I asked. "You said 'peace and tranquility'. Does this look like 'peace and tranquility' to you?" I pointed to the hellish landscape behind me. As if on cue, a lightning bolt shot out of the sulfuric clouds and struck one of the jagged mountain peaks in the distance.

Elara shrugged, "I said 'final resting place' didn't I? And besides, I didn't know you were an aberrant."

I perked up at the word. "That's what the Inferno called me... What is that?"

Elara exhaled, annoyed at having to explain everything. "Where do I even start?

"Do you remember what I told you before, about how we cleanse a soul of its memories? We do it because life in the human world makes your soul all dirty and gross, filled with scar tissue. The Inferno's job is to clean you all up, nice and fresh, then send you back to the human world as a perfect blank slate.

"But aberrants are different. Your souls are just a little too... sticky, for lack of a better word. Or, more like, they just like to collect dirt? If that makes any sense.

It didn't really, but I let her continue.

"You're just too fixated on... human things. The typical cleansing process doesn't work on you. So the Inferno puts you on a different path, and if you're able to reach the end, then you get to be reborn while still retaining your memories."

I took a moment to realize what she was saying. I recalled the Main Quest items on the display. Reincarnation... Nine Circles of Hell...

"Then these nine Circles, if I can just conquer each one, I'll come back to life and still be me?"

"I mean, it's not that easy. Each one is designed and governed by one of the great demon lords. But yeh, if you conquer them, your soul will be reborn with all its uniquely icky human-ness."

The gears in my mind started to turn. This was perfect. And these Circles, they were almost like levels in a game. If I beat them all, I could start my life all over again.

This stirred something within me. My life had ended so abruptly, but now I really had a chance to do it all over.

Let's not waste any time then.

I pointed to the display, "This thing, do all aberrants get one?"

"That's what we call a Divine System. It helps guide aberrants through each Circle." She took a closer look at the display, cocking her head in confusion. "Though I will say, I've never seen a system look like that before. They're supposed to generate in the form that's most familiar to the aberrant. Usually it's a map or book. "

I thought back to the games I played when I was younger. Now that I was dead, I began to wish I had spent more time indulging in my hobbies.

"Can you explain these items?" I pointed to the "demonic trait" and "aether points" items on the display.

Elara explained that aether is the fundamental force that holds a soul intact. Without it, entropy would take over and rip the soul apart.

"If your aether stores reach zero, that's game over," Elara warned me.

I glanced at the system:

[Aether Points: 10/100]

I would have to keep a close eye on that count as I progressed.

"And the trait?" I asked.

"A trait is an ability that a demon carries with them. It's unique to the demon, and are oftentimes enhanced using aether they've collected. Aberrants are allowed to adopt a trait at the start of their journey that they'll carry with them as they enter the Circles."

I made a mental note. I'll have to choose a demon with a powerful trait.

"How do I adopt one?"

Elara smirked, "How do you think? You have to slay a demon."

I felt my blood run cold. Elara saw my concern, then laughed. "Don't worry. Human souls are too weak when they first arrive here, so the guides are allowed to give you a weapon for one time use only."

"A weapon?" My heart began to race, excited at the prospect.

Elara closed her eyes and went into a deep focus. After a few moments, her entire body started to glow and golden threads of light weaved their way towards her chest.

"Hold out your hand." She said, still concentrating.

I did as she said, and Elara took my hands. The threads of light surged from her chest, through her arms, and into mine. I felt my muscles twitch as the energy coursed through me.

[You have received: Holy Arrow x1]

"Whoa... It feels so..." I searched for the right word. "Powerful."

"That's what aether feels like," Elara said with a weary expression, sweat dripping down her neck. "When the time comes, you'll be able to one-shot any demon in the Wasteland. But you only get one chance, so make it count."

The trait I steal will affect the rest of this entire quest. I can't screw this up.

I asked Elara, "Where can I find demons here?"

"These are the Barren Fields. It's like the trash bin of Hell. Demons are crawling all over the place."

Hm... I could wander around in search of one, but that wouldn't guarantee they'd have a good trait. I need to find a way to increase my chances of finding a powerful demon.

A thought occurred to me.

"Can demons enter the Inferno too?"

Elara lifted an eyebrow, "They can. Demons that have been banished or killed will respawn here. They usually try to gather enough aether to get more powerful, then they'll enter the Inferno. Sometimes they even gather enough to reach the human world."

That was all I needed to hear. I knew what my plan was.

"That's all for now, Elara. I'll let you know if I need you."

That was all she needed to hear. Elara clapped her hands and she vanished into a puff of smoke without even saying good-bye.

I wonder if the other souls got a more attentive guide.

I turned to the Inferno, towering in the distance. If I was right, everything I needed would be there.

I journeyed through the Barren Fields with the Inferno as my destination. I don't know how much ground I covered. The landscape was so vast that any landmarks in the distance barely seemed to shift.

I also noticed my body didn't fatigue. I must have gone miles, but I didn't get tired or even hungry.

On the way, I noticed several skeletons buried halfway in the ground, worn down by the constant wind, decaying into dust. They were all different shapes and sizes. Some had stocky, gorilla-like builds with tails and horns, while others were long and serpentine.

I picked one of the fragments up and examined it. It was curved like a femur, but broken at the end into a sharp, jagged edge. There was clear damage from claws along the side.

These demons must have been killed for their aether.

As I looked over the item, I recalled the "Inventory" option on my status screen.

I wonder if I can store this thing?

I brought up the display and tapped "Inventory". There were fifty slots, and one was occupied with Elara's Holy Arrow. I tapped one of them and a notification appeared.

[Would you like to store Demon Bone Fragment in your inventory?]

(Yes/No)

I tapped "yes" and the bone vanished out of my hands, then appeared as an icon in my inventory.

Fifty slots... Should be okay for now, but I'll have to be mindful about what I store.

I continued on. The number of carcass sightings increased as I approached the Inferno and I knew I was on the right track.

After a long journey, I arrived at a cliff edge about a mile away from the towering flames. Even this far out, I could feel its heat radiating like a miniature sun.

I scanned the area around the base of the Inferno. There were no signs of any demons, but I knew that it was only a matter of time until one appeared. I found a nook, hidden by some large boulders, but with a clear view of the Inferno's base. I would wait here and keep a close watch.

There was no way to tell how much time passed. It could have been days, maybe even weeks. Without a sun there was no way to keep track. The only light source was the Inferno, looming over us.

Eventually, I noticed movement in the distance. I didn't believe it at first, thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But as I squinted my eyes, I saw something remarkable.

It was an entire caravan of demons, numbering at least twenty. At the rear, carried on a palanquin, was the clear leader of the group. He had a monstrous, bull-like physique, with the head of a goat. His horns curled into the air in a twisted tangle of ivory.

[You have discovered a new demon: Baphomet]

The Sabbatic Goat

Aether Points: 100/100

Demonic Trait: Chaos Berserker

A demon of ancient origin. Baphomet was once summoned by Templar Knights to aid in their crusades. HIs immense power and brutality led to the deaths of thousands.

I grinned as I read over Baphomet's description. It was a good idea to come here. After all, the only demons that would come all this way were the ones powerful enough to collect the necessary aether to ascend the Inferno.

I pulled the Holy Arrow out of the inventory. The aether surged through me and I could feel the energy flowing through my veins. I pulled back on an imaginary bow string, and an arrow of golden light appeared in my hands.

I could feel the heat radiating off of it and burning my skin. The arrow vibrated with pulsing energy, almost like it was alive and desperate to be let loose.

This is my one chance at getting a powerful ability. I can't miss...

I waited for my heart to settle down, and watched as the caravan approached the Inferno. I only had a few seconds before they entered it. I had to shoot now.

I let the arrow loose. A shockwave burst out in its wake and I felt a loud, painful crack as the boom tore through my forearm.

The arrow ripped through the air towards the caravan, and I saw its aim was true. My heart raced as the arrow approached the back of Baphomet's head.

But at the last moment, his goat ears twitched, perhaps sensing the ripples in the air. He leaped to the side. The arrow tore through his cloak...

... Then directly into the heart of the demon standing beside him.

Baphomet and the entire caravan turned to the victim of the arrow—a small demon with large, bulging eyes that was holding a scroll and quill. The demon's body disintegrated into a golden dust and the caravan watched as the particles floated through the air...

... directly towards me.

The particles of light entered my chest, and a display appeared before me.

[+5 Aether Points: (15/100)]

[Congratulations! You have adopted a Demonic Trait: Scribe]

[This trait grants the ability to chronicle any event you have witnessed first-hand.]

I read the description several times, trying to make sense of it, and could only come to one conclusion.

I screwed up.