Chapter 1: Arrival
One day while Matt was watching Sierra play her new videogame she got for a present from him he smelled something like hot metal. ``You smell that? Smells like the heater turned on but the stove isn't burning.'' ``Dunno, all I know is this demon is about to meet my shotgun. BOOM! No brains for you!'' Matt getting up sighing that she enjoyed her demon killing game to investigate the smell, and as soon as he walked down the hallway he heard a deep male voice. ``Curse these flammable homes mortals make. There that's the last fire. At least I was able to get the right size this time, head is still sore from breaking through the roof of the last ho...'' Matt walking into the kitchen seeing a half-naked purple demon staring at him, ``who are you and what are you doing in my house?'' The demon holding its head high, ``my name is not important to you. What is important is that I need your help if you're the one I've been searching for. If you are the one that goes by the name Matthew and you do have the power of shapeshifting I ask you to travel with me to my underworld and fight many other demons for me, letting me lead over the other demon lords. I don't plan on forcing you to fight for me but if you wish to then we can be on our way to my world. There I can give you weapons and armor for the battles.''
Matt crossing his arms not keen on making a deal with a demon, ``what's in it for me?'' ``For one the underworld will go to war with your world if you don't fight, I can almost guarantee that if I lose, the others in the fight have no love for this world; most want it destroyed, whereas I don't. And if you win I can do nearly anything for you in return afterward, though if you choose to fight you can't remain in that form unless I give you a rune. Otherwise your body will burn to ash in a few seconds of being in my world.'' Matt putting up a hand, ``I got this, let me just change into something more appropriate for the weather.'' Matt clenching his fists concentrating on a form he'd never dreamed of before. And after a few seconds Matt had changed his form into that of a demon with curled horns around the front of his head, sharp talons on his hands and feet, a skinny tail with a point on the end and larger yellowed eyes. ``How do I look?'' ``Like you just clawed your way out of the deepest pits of the underworld. Let me open the portal while you say your goodbyes.'' Matt yelling down the hall, ``hey Sierra! I'm going to Hell to fight a bunch of demons. Not sure when I'll be back!'' ``Kay! Bring me a souvenir if they have a gift shop!'' Matt looking back at the demon who stood next to a glowing purple portal, ``if you're ready simply walk into the portal. The transportation is instant but it may be a bit jarring.'' ``I've been through worse.'' The demon chuckling to himself, ``we shall see.'' Matt walking into the glowing energy feeling like the world was spinning around him like a whirlpool for a few seconds until he fell to his knees in a well lit chamber with the demon now nearly 20 feet tall sitting on a throne. ``I can't say I didn't warn you. To tell the truth you handled the transit well. Not to make it a rush because we have a while to the next fight but you should go down that stairwell to the second to last floor and speak to the forge master. He will make you a set of armor and weapons for the battles.'' Matt standing up, ``thank you. Can you please tell me your name?'' The demon scratching his chin, ``you may call me Veram. But around other demons and in battles you must refer to me as `Master' `Sire' or `My lord.' Understand?'' Matt bowing slightly, ``thank you. Sir.''
Matt following Veram's directions reaching a massive red stone door that hung ajar and as he got closer felt an immense heat billowing from the room. Walking in Matt spotted a bulky green creature that was shorter than him by a couple feet and missed an arm replaced with a huge hammer. ``You our new combatant?'' ``Yes sir.'' The creature laughing loudly, ``Sir? Me? Nah, I just run the forge for our Master. Now about your weapons, what is your fighting style? Spears, daggers, swords, clubs?'' Matt closing his eyes remembering his mock swordfights with Brian and his friends with thick branches they found. ``I'd say swords, and if possible the ability to hold a shield would be useful.'' The creature handing him a metal spike for moving coals around, ``show me how you move. I got a training dummy in the side of the room, and it'll retaliate so I can see you in action.'' Matt walking to the stone statue holding a huge club, and after a few strikes the statue moved quickly blocking the spike until it snapped in Matt's hand and the statue hit him on the side breaking his left arm and knocking him to the floor. The creature helping him up with his good arm, and then picked up the pieces of metal on the floor tossing them into a pool of molten metal on the far end of the room. ``Okay, I know what to make now, shame about your arm. Gunna make fighting tough.'' Matt gritting his teeth as he repaired his arm in seconds, ``need something more than a broken arm to slow me down. Anything else you need me for? And if you don't mind me asking what exactly are you? Your not like our Master.'' ``Just measurements for your armor won't take a minute. And I should say not, he's what your world would call an Ifrit, though this world that word is much more difficult to say. And I'm a troll.'' After a few quick measurements Matt was ushered out of the room being told that Veram was summoning him.
Matt kneeling in front of the huge ifrit demon Veram, ``you summoned me?'' ``More so you don't get in the forge master's way, also you need to go through an examination from the neutral party of this conflict to make sure you don't have any enhancements that would be considered cheating. We may be demons here but we don't stand cheating in the slightest. I will take you myself.'' Matt looking worried, ``not another portal right?'' ``No, I honestly hate using them myself.'' After a short walk on Veram's part (Matt jogging to keep up) they reached a large dark chamber with a large spider-like creature sitting in the middle staring at them both. The creature speaking in a deep rumble, ``is this organism your final choice?'' ``Yes Inquisitor, he is ready for the examination. I trust you will find no alterations from what I've told you of his skills.'' Matt saying quietly, ``they know I can heal?'' ``Yes, but they are forbidden to inform other combatants and I telling you of them.'' Matt walking to the creature getting picked up by two arms thicker than he was tall trying to control his fear as they lifted him in front of multicolored eyes that seemed to look right through him. ``Fascinating creature. Are you the only of your kind from you world?'' ``Y-yes. They've tried making more like me with no true success. You're not going to hurt me are you?'' After a few seconds of eerie silence the creature responded, ``no. You are free of any alterations aside from what your Master has notified us of. You may go. Though, if I may ask, should you die in your combat if I could obtain your body for research.'' The creature setting Matt down lightly, ``no. Even those that made me cannot understand what I am. And should I die I wish to be returned to my world for burial.'' ``As you wish.'' While they were walking back to the throne room Matt looked at Veram, ``why did that thing want my dead body so much?'' ``That faction is ruled by an odd creature, a succubus that wishes for nothing but research and will follow around battles to gather information and test subjects. Honestly? She scares most of us with what she's potentially capable of.'' ``What do you mean?'' ``I've met her twice in hundreds of years and when we met for the second time she was so different that I didn't even know it was her from her soul. Your weapons and armor should be just about complete. So why don't you obtain it.'' ``Yes Sir.'' Matt walking down the stairs once again to the forge wondering what his equipment would look like.
Matt entering the forge seeing a shiny suit of armor on a mannequin while the forge master was taking a sword off of a grinding wheel leaning it alongside the armor. ``Excellent you're right on time to test my greatest creation.'' Matt getting assisted in putting on his armor which fit perfectly and when he held the sword and shield in his hands they felt like they weren't in his hands but attached to his body. The troll smiling, ``that couldn't look better on you. It's almost time for your first battle in the Arena but before you go I say that you should test your weapon on the dummy again.'' Matt walking over to the statue again slashing at it cutting through the stones as if they were butter causing the dummy to collapse into a pile of stones, Matt looking at the sword expecting to see that it was damaged but it looked as if it had just gotten sharper in the defeat of his first enemy.
A small goblin running into the forge seeing Matt bowing, ``warrior your first battle of many is due to start soon. I have been honored into leading you to your arena.'' Matt sheathing the sword, ``excellent. The sooner the better.'' After a short walk Matt was standing on a lift clattering its way up a shaft towards a light strangely excited for the fight that he was dreading up to the last few minutes. Matt walking out to the sound of countless cheering demons raising his arms to hype them up more seeing a skinny but tall imp staring at him from the other side assuming that was his opponent. The imp bowing his head while Matt mirrored him waiting for the first strike, which came faster than he thought as he stopped a spear from driving into his neck at blinding speed with his shield. After a few minutes of near misses due to his opponents speed Matt made a mistake in a lunge barely nicking the arm of his foe who flipped overtop him driving the spear through Matt's back causing him to fall to the ground screaming in pain. Matt lying on his side quickly blacking out from pain and blood loss, whispering, ``so this is how I die.''
``KILL.''
Matt standing up surprising everyone as he grabbed the spear still jutting from his torso and pulling it out, the metal shaft gleaming red with blood. ``That, hurt.'' The imp screaming at Matt in a foul language clearly mad his easy win didn't go down quickly sprinted at Matt with a dagger in hand full speed stabbing him which is what Matt wanted as he caught the fast demon by the throat. ``Quick. But not smart.'' The imp clawing at Matt who proceeded to bash the imps' face with his gauntleted fist until the demon was merely clinging to consciousness only managing to scream as Matt hurled him at the wall where it collided with a sickening *THUNK* immediately followed by the demon's own spear impaling it to the wall causing the imp to shriek even louder for a few minutes until it finally died sticking to the wall by it's own weapon, a mixture of demonic blood and Matt's own pooling on the floor below. Matt walking back to the lift and as soon as the crowd was out of sight Matt fell to his knees holding his head, ``get out of me! You're not controlling me again!'' Matt screaming until his throat was raw and saw the demon Veram looking at him at the bottom of the lift, ``we need to talk.'' Matt following the demon to a small room with a stone chair, ``sit.'' Matt doing as ordered quickly being immobilized by conjured chains, ``until you tell me what in the name of the worlds you are you stay there. I don't care if you rot for eternity. So I'll repeat myself. What. Are. You?'' Matt looking at Veram who had shrunk down to look him in the eyes realizing that he was just as afraid as Matt was, hanging his head. ``Someone who lost control. I think it's obvious what happens when it's lost.'' Veram nodding, ``there's only one thing we can do now. I can kill you where you stand or you can face your darkness, and should you overcome it you'll be forever changed into a true warrior.'' ``I'll fight for you no matter what, if I'm to protect my world I don't have a choice. So what do I need to do?'' A door covered in symbols opening down the hall with an eerie silence, ``enter. And when it is over the door will open and release the victor, whether you or your dark half. Good luck.'' Matt walking through the door seeing it slide shut leaving him in near total darkness until a red orb lit up in the center of the room pulsing like a slow heartbeat. ``Well, here goes nothing.''
