No Sunshine in Hell

[Shang Tsung]

With a blood-curdling shriek, the succubus slung her head forward and released a bolt of energy toward the paladin. Argento knew he was too close to avoid the hellish projectile, so he did his best to roll with the attack. It struck the right side of his chest, scalding the steel as it skittered off and screeched passed him. Although he had avoided taking the hit head-on, the man could already feel another bruise forming under his plate mail.

“Foul demon,” Argento rasped as he clenched and unclenched his gauntleted fingers. Although four of his ten fingers were numb, his mind still willed them into action. Warm sunlight bubbled inside his palms as he clenched his teeth and glared at the wicked creature before him. Even here, in the belly of Hell, her continued existence made the bile well up in the back of his mouth. If he had to be damned to this place, than Argento Camarinos would do his best to bring the Sun and its cleansing rays.

“Spare me,” the creature hissed as she lunged at the paladin. He tensed up but did not play his card until she was too close to avoid what was coming to her.

“Repent!” Argento boomed as he threw forward one of his glowing hands. As his fingers unfurled, a beam of concentrated sunlight flared forth. With a less intimidating shriek, the succubus tried to stop herself, but she was speared by the yellow-orange beam, which burned cleanly through her impure flesh and set the rest of her defiled form ablaze. As Argento watched, his eyes stern and unwavering, the baleful creature was consumed by fire—her screams wailing up into the crimson skies overhead.

Once he was certain he had won some solitary time, the paladin exhaled. As the adrenaline started to wear out, he became all-too familiar with just how much his body had suffered over the last few days. The heavy plate that sheltered his body was blackened, bent, and badly dented, and beneath all of that, he was bruised and burnt as well. When he had some time, he would have to repair both his body and the suit of armor he wore.

Unfortunately for the paladin, the most peace and quiet he had experienced was only a pair of hours. He knew that, as a prime, he didn’t require the normal things that flesh-and-blood people needed to survive. Food, oxygen, and rest—or the lack thereof—didn’t affect him physically, but that didn’t stop the sleep deprivation from getting to him psychologically. Like an amputee experiences the presence of phantom limbs, so Argento endure the ghostly pangs of sleep loss, exhaustion, and a growling stomach.

Even so, he wouldn’t stop. He would never falter. He would never fail.

Shine on.