Chapter 5: Deal With the Evil God

“Oh, it seems that you finally broke,” the evil god commented, staring at Luke’s lifeless figure.

Luke had stopped reacting for some time, so the evil god had stopped to observe him.

“What a pity. You had seemed so determined to make it out of here and get revenge. I suppose your resolve was too weak,” the evil god said.

There was no response.

The evil god circled Luke a couple times before leaving the hero alone. Luke remained unmoving, staring listlessly at nothing.

Time passed before the evil god returned, but there was no change in Luke.

“I wonder how long it will be before I escape again. The shortest time had been one hundred years. The longest had been four hundred years. Perhaps I’ll break a new record this time,” the evil god said to himself.

Even though he didn’t get a response, the evil god didn’t mind and continued to chat mindlessly to himself.

After some time, he noticed one of Luke’s fingers twitch.

“Huh. Maybe you still have some sanity left in you, but it won’t last long at this rate. I’ll propose my offer once more. Make a deal with me, escape this place, and get your revenge. I’ll even throw in an enticing offer. I’ll give you a chance to deal with me for good after you successfully take your revenge,” the evil god said, spreading his arms out.

Luke’s head jerked, but there was otherwise no movement. The evil god waited patiently, watching Luke for a response. It was only after a large chunk of time had passed that Luke finally raised his head.

Despite how dead his eyes looked, there was still a slight spark buried deep in his eyes.

“What do you say, Luke Sheppard? Will you accept my deal or will you allow yourself to fall here?” the evil god asked, holding its hand out to Luke.

Luke stared at the outstretched hand for several moments before gritting his teeth and said, “Fine, but I have conditions of my own.”

“How bold. You dare to bargain with me in your condition?” the evil god said, looming over Luke.

Both sides stared at each, neither batting an eye.

Then the evil god pulled back and said, “I’ll allow it since you amuse me so much. What are your conditions?”

“I assume your deal means helping you escape this place. I want you to keep your hands off the innocent once we leave this place,” Luke said.

The evil god burst into laughter.

“That’s a good one. Asking an evil god to spare the innocent. What an amusing fellow. Have you forgotten who I am? I’m Bydos, the god of torture, suffering, sorrow, and all things wrong in the world. What makes you think I’ll agree to your condition?” the evil god said once his laughter ended.

“Because you offered a deal to me. You said it yourself that you will be sealed for at least a hundred years. The only reason you would offer a deal is to get out faster. Refraining from hurting the innocent isn’t too much to ask,” Luke said.

The evil god remained silent, staring coldly at Luke, who could barely stay conscious.

Luke could already feel himself slipping and fought to stay awake. If he closed his eyes, he wasn’t sure if he would be aware the next time he opened them again.

“What’s your next condition?” the evil god asked, which Luke took as a sign that he accepted the first condition.

“I want you to not create monsters once we escape,” Luke said.

“...Do you understand what you’re asking?” the evil god asked.

Luke did.

Monsters were the evil god’s creations. They were what helped the evil god spread its dark influence throughout the world. Without them, the evil god would have a harder time being able to act.

“I suppose I will let it slide. After all, I will have you,” the evil god said.

His words sent chills down Luke’s spine, but he had already decided to accept the evil god’s deal.

It wasn’t as if he had any other choice. It was either that or continuing to suffer at the hands of the evil god until his mind broke.

“Is that all your conditions?” the evil god asked.

Luke took a moment to think, his mind still slow from all the torture, but he was certain he had dealt a huge blow to the evil god with those two conditions. The evil god wouldn’t be a threat to the world, so Luke wouldn’t feel so guilty freeing the evil god from his prison.

“No,” Luke said.

“Then we have a deal. You will become my warrior, my champion. In exchange, you will be free from this place and get your revenge on those that betrayed you,” the evil god said.

Staring at the evil god, Luke said, “I accept.”

In an instant, the chains wrapped around Luke snapped.

For a moment, he stared at his hands in daze, hardly able to believe that he was finally free from the chains binding him for so long. Then a sharp pain stabbed him in the heart. A scream erupted from his mouth as he clawed at his chest.

“Stop struggling. I’m pouring my power into your human body to make you my warrior. Besides, haven’t you already experienced first hand what I could do already?” the evil god said.

Luke didn’t hear any of it, feeling as if his body was being torn to pieces again.

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. The taste of blood filled his mouth as he accidentally bit down on his tongue. When he thought he was about to pass out from the pain, it finally stopped.

Before he even had time to catch his breath, cracks formed in their surroundings. The cracks spread throughout the place until the space shattered.

The last thing Luke heard was the evil god saying, “I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with my power. Will you be able to retain your humanity until the end?”