The serpentine Undead slammed its jaws. Serrated fangs tore flesh and bones… or so it thought.
Time stopped. And then it reversed.
The Undead moved backwards, the three figures from the tunnel returned to the surface, Czar was on his feet with Aliyah. The treacherous boy was behind him, his eyes snappy.
They all stood frozen like gargoyles , eyes aghast. They the fog dissipate. The ambience temperature rose by a several degree their body steaming up. Space fractured, and an entity descended to the world.
Ezekiel's eyes sparkled with a dozen and one stars. Blood trickled from his eyes down to his chin. His legs wobbled.
Czar's heart thumped. He had lost control of his body. The serpentine Undead was a few yards away. But he paid it not attention.
"W-what is this?"
"An Undead?"
"That associate me with this lowly things."
Thunderclap banged in Czar's ears making blood stream out of his orifices.
This being…
The height of an adult human. Right face burnt and oozing with pulse. Twelve primordial wings, all caught in brackish red flame. Draped in a long, inky hood that shrouded the two horns on his head.
Czar's thoughts muddled. Was this reality or a dream? He had no answer.
The smell of sulphur stung his nose. The air cracked with low murmurs from afarz and reality groaned. A forbidden entity was trespassing.
"Who are you?" Czar thought. His lips heavy.
"Ahh, who am I?"
A thousand voice overlapped. Reverberating from every angle.
"I think you humans call me Satan. Different civilizations, different names. "
"Satan?" Czar thought.
The name felt familiar, but he couldn't be aure where he heard that. Was it Elirah? He doubted it.
"Ah, my bad. This is the last civilization. No wonder you didn't remember the name." Laughters echoedd.
"The Civilization before the ressurection revered me a lot. Dreaded me even. And they loe a lot."
"Wh-what is it saying?" Czar's body trembled.
"It?" Satan rolled his left eye. The burning hall of squirmed, the wings fluttered.
Czar felt his heart stop — he could read his mind. He realized with a chill.
"Of course I can." Satan laughed. "If God can, why can't I?"
"God?" Czar thought.
Who was God? And wha was the relationship he had with Satan.
"I keep forgetting." Half of Stan's face smiled. "This civilization had abandoned God. "
"That's quite bold, who would've thought. I wonder how the old civilization would take it this. " He giggled, a satisfied expression crept on his face.
"Anyway, let's keep our visitors away for the time being. "
"Arghh!" The serpentine Undead wailed as it caught fire boack flames coiled around its body, leaving ashes in its wake.
The Undead present met the same fate. Black flames sprout out from the ground, the air, even inside their body.
The Undead screeched, and then in no time everything went silent.
Czar's chest tightened. Ezekiel looked ashen. Everyone was shaken from the scene before them.
What were the Undead? Creatures that could kill humans by wishing it. They were the apex predators at the top of the ood chain. Just a moment ago, they had been at the mercy of the Undead. They had seen other humans eaten alove, their screams carved in their mind.
Yet, this walking abomination had snuff out their lives without lifting a finger.
If the Undead were powerful and horrifying, just what exactly was this being then?
Ezekiel had no answer. Czar didn't, nor the did the others.
They all reached one concussion in their nind though — this being can unmake their existence, and they must never get in his bad book.
"I shouldn't be helping out. " Satan pulled his cheek, his eye gleamed with mischief. " God will be angry, won't he?"
His gaze returned to Czar. Friendly and laid back.
"Oh yeah, these ones too. " Satan's gaze turned meeting Ezekiel.
The latter's eyes faltered. His blood turned cold. Hairs erect. If this being wanted it, he'd die. There was no questioning it.
"You can go. For now." Satan whispered and time returned, everything moved.
Ezekiel jumped into the tunnel. A lazy followed. The boy dashed past Czar and joined them. He didn't trip him this time around. Not that he could. As for the pthers, they crumbled to dust.
"Why did you save everyone just to watch them die. " Czar asked, his voice shaken.
He might not know who this Satan person was, but he thought he could call him an ally after saving him and the others. Now, he thought otherwise.
"What do you think I am?"
"Some human babysitter?" Satan laughed, pulling his cheeks even longer.
"They've been recorded dead already. I can't undo that. Unless you want God to destroy this body and everyone involved. He's that cruel. " He chucked.
"What?" Czar dropped on his knees. He didn't realize it, but Aliyah wasn't around. Since the time reversed.
"Who's God, and why would he destroy us for saving someone? Is he really God then?"
"I don't know. You ask him when you have the chance to. I guess he hasn't been completely forgotten seeing how you speak about him."
"Surprised, surprised. "
Satan was right. While humanity had lost fate in God for abandoning them. His presence still lingered. Albeit watered down.
"They said he was the protector of the past humans, so why will he be angry that you saved someone? Why?" Czar yelled, his four limbs on the ground.
Just when he thought hope had arrived, it vanished right before him. He was losing it. And he didn't know for how long he'd be able to keep his shit together.
"Don't be mad at me, I'm innocent here." Satan laughed. He was always laughing. As though enjoying every moment.
"Actually, I came because of God. " Satan's casual demeanour dropped, his eye baleful.
Czar felt reality twist, and the terrain morphed. They were in a different location. Darkness spilled into the world. Flames crackled. Fettered beings wailed.