Demon Dreams

[Kuzuru]

In the middle of a field stands a massive tree, larger than any tree ought to be. The tree is tangled and choked with wrist-thick barbed vines. Except for a few branches carrying life the tree was barren. At the base of the tree, pierced into its trunk is a simple katana with a red and black handle. The vines emanate from this cursed blade, choking the life out of the tree. It is here that I find myself, at the base of this dying tree in front of this wicked sword.

I've been here before.

Without hesitating I reached out and gripped the handle of the blade. The tree melted away into a swirling mass of gray and brown. Eventually the mix stabilized and I found myself in a cold cement hallway. All color had disappeared except for a crimson red line that ran down the center of the hallway. Prison cells line either side of the walls, each cell housed a soul consumed by the Blade of Lost Souls. Thousands of years worth of souls all incarcerated within my blade. I walked past the cells and observed the prisoners, trying to remember those that I've slain. They never spoke, they hardly ever moved. Greyed-out and faded every soul was a shadow of its formal self.

I wondered what they experienced, trapped for an eternity unable to act only able to watch. In a way I pitied them, but if they were stronger they would not have been trapped.

One prisoner caught my eye, he seemed out of place. A some glow came from his body, he had color; it was faint but he had color. Before I could react he grinned wickedly and reached through the bars. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and with on fluid motion pulled me through the bars. The cell was flooded with color and the prisoner flashed brightly with color before fading to more moderate tones.

"Hello Renji, we've much to talk about" he spoke coyly, his voice slick with poison.

I backed away slightly and asked him "who are you?"

He grinned and said "me? I was the original owner of that sword you now wield." My heart sank. I turned to run, but the bars held me imprisoned. I wanted to get as far away from that man as possible. He was abhorrent, bringing sound and color to this prison of grayscale and silence.

"How are you talking? How did you pull me in here?" I asked, I was quite frankly frightened. He held out his hand and in it a small rainbow orb pulsed.

Omnilium

I dashed forward and tried to grab the orb from his hand and he pulled it back close to his chest. Somehow he got a hold of that mystical substance, somehow it gave him life and purpose. He chuckled venomously and pointed to the bars of the cell "looks like you've got bigger problems to deal with."

A red wicked arm reached from the darkness and grabbed me by the throat "what are you doing in there Renji!? Time to wake up, I smell blood!" Before I could protest Kuzuru's gaunt arm ripped me through the bars and back to reality.

[Kuzuru]

Once again I found myself before that great decaying tree. However something was different, the invasive barbed vine that once choked the life from this tree were dying and falling from its branches. My gut felt twisted and knotted, this wasn’t right the tree wasn’t supposed to be blooming. The buds of various fruits and flowers sprouted delicately on the fresh branches. This marked the first time in over a millennium that this damned tree had ever bore fruit. That damn demon was up to something and I needed to speak to him. With great purpose I stomped towards the katana staked into the base of the tree. My hand shook as I reached out to grab it, for some reason I was nervous.

The tree faded away and mixed int a swirling mass of bright colors. This cascade of bright pastels was mesmerizing. Normally it was dull shades of brown and black, but this time it was an intoxicating mix of bright primary colors. Without warning the whirlpool of pigments came to an abrupt stop and I found myself thrown onto the hard cold floor of the jail. Slowly I stood, the jail was dull and devoid of disgusting colors. My heart was at ease, but in the back of my mind I knew something wasn’t right.

“Kuzuru!” I yelled “Demon! Come out I need to speak with you!”

No reply.

“Damnit Demon do not ignore me!”

Again, no reply.

I turned around and stalked down the corridor. The cells on either side of me looked normal, their inhabitants gray and frozen in place. A large metal door stretched before me, Kuzuru’s gaunt face was carved into the relief. This was the warden’s quarters and the damn door was locked. In fact it was more than locked there was no keyhole and no handle. Something wasn’t right here and this cursed demon wasn’t going to answer my questions. Dejected and a bit upset I turned around sharply and began to walk back through the halls of the jail.

Kuzuru’s disappearance was vexing, especially after such a vicious battle. Normally he would be eager to speak to me and relive the battle. Perhaps he was exhausted from fighting in the Omniverse, his power did seem more limited here even though it was able to subsume my own consciousness. The fact that I had lost a battle of will to him was similarly vexing, my personal strength was diminished greatly upon being dragged here. Though this only meant I could improve and once again feel the challenge of a battle. Now this thought filled me with joy, the thought of clashing blades once again with the green-skinned warrior was exhilarating.

A flash of color and an open cell door ripped me from my violent fantasy. How could a cell be open!? My thoughts flashed back to that strange prisoner who had managed to steal some of my omnilium. That bastard would pay for breaking the sanctity of my jail and bringing color and life to this dreary prison. Faster I ran down the corridor, passing by another open cell and splash of color.
What was going on here?

Another open cell.

My jog turned into a sprint.

Several more open cell and several more splashes of bright pigment.

How many of these prisoners had escaped? Another string of empty cells rushed by me. Eventually after rushing past an eternity worth of slain foes I came to another large metal door. This one lacked any discernible markings, but I knew it well all the same. It was the entrance to the grand ball room. Whenever I allowed Kuzuru to take control and allowed myself to truly slip into the insanity of the blade this was where I went. This room of madness and music was my shelter during my fits of depravity.

Without hesitation I swung the doors open. Thousands of prisoners were dancing to fast-paced swing music. Each other them brightly colored and full of life, they were making a mockery of my ball. In the center of the massive room sat a large twisted piano. It was jet black and made of impossible geometry. At the helm was the original owner of the Blade of Lost Souls. He was the source of the music and dancing, he was the source of this absurd prison break. I stepped into the room and the music stopped. The man was dressed in a red suit with black pinstripes and he greeted me with a wicked smile.

“Welcome Renji to the grand abattoir! We’re glad you could finally make it.”

“Who are you!? Why are you all out of your cell?!”

He laughed and snapped his fingers “My name is Rou, but I don’t think you’re in the position to be making demands Renji, after all you’ve kept us here for an eternity.” With that a nearby party goer grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the whirlwind of dance and color. She smiled and pulled me tight against her slender frame. Her soft brown eyes and auburn hair were familiar. She smelled sweet and I couldn’t help but feel we knew each other long ago.

“Who are you?” I asked and she responded by pressing a finger against my lips. Even in this chaos of color and cacophony of music she made me feel at peace. Who was this girl and why did she make me feel like this? So many questions and so few answers. This didn’t feel right, but I didn’t fight her.

Renji Kiyomasa!

The music was halted and we all turned to stare at the door. From the dark corridor a clawed hand erupted forth and wrapped its bony fingers around my head. Kuzuru’s arm ripped me from the dance and back down the corridors of the jail at blinding speeds. It pulled me into his office and the large metal door sealed shut behind me. The tall demon sat behind an elegant wooden desk, carved from some colorless wood. His body was humanoid, but his limbs were stretched and elongated beyond that of a normal human. His maw held rows and rows of dagger-like teeth and his eyes were fiery little coals stuffed into the sockets of his head. A frightening appearance to say the least, but one that Renji was no stranger to.

“Kuzuru! What is going on!? How are the prisoners out of their cells!?”

He tapped his knife-like fingers against the wooden desk and leaned back in his opulent leather chair. The demon’s voice shook the very room and threatened to send a lesser mortal insane.

This Omniverse is strange Renji, I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now. Somehow the souls trapped within this blade managed to get a hold of that omnilium substance. It allowed them to change the rules of their imprisonment, it altered the very reality that this sword was built upon.

“Then why don’t you change it back demon?”

I can’t.

“What? Why not?”

I don’t have access to your omnilium like they do. Somehow they found a way to tap into your reserve of that vile stuff and used it to take control. I thought your fight with Retane would strengthen my grip on their rebellion, but rather it strengthened them with a new bounty of omnillium.

“So what happens now?

The demon smiled and reached across the table to place a bony hand on my shoulder. His touch sent shivers down my spine.

I need your help Renji, grant me your omnilium and I’ll take care of this rebellion for you.

I laughed at the audacity of this demon “you think I’ll hand over my new found power just because you can’t control your prisoners? No Kuzuru, not after that stunt you pulled verse Retane you tried to get me killed. Figure it out yourself, I’m waking up.” The demon shrugged at my tirade and raised his hands in deference. Even though he didn’t want to admit it I could tell he was worried. Well, I would let him worry some more the bastard deserved it. As much as I didn’t like Rou and his companions running loose, I liked this demon less.

Very well Renji suit yourself, just don’t be surprised if your defiance has an unfortunate outcome.