Chapter 8 (The blessed abode of west)

As they passed the gate to another realm of Bardo,

Max said, “ Will Iason be alright?”

“Perhaps, we should speak for ourselves too, my boy,”

Jizo said while pointing at the land they stepped on.

The air was thick with gases and smoke. The duo felt a sudden shortness of breath. Unlike the desert they had been in, the barren wasteland was more threatening. Everywhere was red and coral as the setting sun. No trees have grown except dead bushes. No life was seen except themselves. The plain they were on was rough, dry, and filled with cracks. At some places, steams emerged through the cracks of dry earth. Blowing hot air carried red sand into their eyes. Despite being daytime, the sky was darkened by the clouds, mists, and the blowing smoke and ashes from volcanoes afar.

Upon setting on the crimson calamity, Max recognized its similarity with the land of Mordor and the setting of Mad Max. Little did he know that the land was more treacherous than Mordor and wilder than the world of Mad Max.

“This… This state of Bardo reflects your hatred, anger, and sins related to anger,” Jizo said.

Max’s eyes were widened. He held a grasp. The words shocked him to the core as he had slain demons when he raged out during his lifetimes. His anger worked as fuel for his fire to burn down his enemies.

“I… I’ve always been a monster when I rage out,” Tears of remorse rolled down his cheeks as he said.

Jizo patted him, saying “We all are monsters when we rage out,”

“But, I killed numerous demons in rage,”

“Fear not. Slaying enemies in a defensive move is forgivable. Defeating those who harm others is impure, yet still a merit. Blessed is who fought against oppression. Woed shall be who fought to oppress others. Depending on your deed, you will seek consequences. Who fought against oppression shall reach the blessed realm of Yuddharaja. Those who fought to oppress others shall be punished in the realms of King Yama,”

Max braced a bit. He knew he had to kill them to save his family. After all, those demons deserve not to live. Anyhow, he made up his mind and was determined to face the consequences of his actions as a form of justice.

“Worry not. Your love, mercy, and compassion will save you,” Jizo added his words.

“Grrr… Grrr…”

Suddenly, a group of demons adorned with red horns and wings appeared from the sky and began charging towards them.

Max remembered them as the minions of Aeshmadus (Asmodeus) he slayed. The demons were ten in number and attacked Max with their claws, flames, and magic. After a short fight, Max and Jizo started outnumbering them with Max’s pyrokinesis power and Jizo’s wand. Jizo cast various spells and mantras, causing the demons to push back. Max’s flame had a greater impact in this red realm. He needed not to think twice before setting the fire. Smells of burning demon flesh filled the battlefield.

“Shreek,”

A spear pierced into a demon’s chest. The wielder was a girl, twelve years old, adorned with curly, long red hair. She wore an armor-like suit made of waste metal parts.

Max was left flabbergasted by her familiar face. She possessed the expression of someone he desired to meet during the past months. Her smile and her face reminded him of Anna, his girlfriend. Her fierce appearance made her a braver version of Anna. Max accidentally whispered “Anna” upon seeing her.

The red-haired girl and her company of ready-to-fight children began attacking the demons with their weapons.

The demons showed no mercy towards the children but feared Max and Jizo. After a small-turn battle, six of them died, and the rest four flew away.

Suddenly, the children aimed their weapons toward Max and Jizo, asking, “Are you two, not the demons?” The kids were wild, rude, and harsh due to their environment. “We are not,” Max replied. “Then, why did you use the power of demons,”

“We are the passengers. Our destination was the gate to another realm,” Jizo said in a calm demeanor. Upon hearing it, the red-haired girl raised her left hand, commanding the kids to stop aiming their weapons.

“So, you are passengers. This realm is based upon you. So, because of you, these demons were born, right?” she asked. Her emotions were hard to define.

“Those demons are the manifestations of my anger and my sins related to anger,” Max said in a low voice.

This realm reflected his state of anger. The reason why it was so harsh was because of Max’s strong temper. He thought the girls would hate him as he was the source of the demons and their problems.

Furiously, the girl positioned her hand to slap Max’s face. Max braced himself and was ready to face her fury as punishment. He was as if an inmate waiting for the executioner.

But instead, the girl made a gentle pat on Max’s shoulder. This gentle touch shocked Max.

“No matter who you were in the past, the present is yours to change,” she said. Due to the environment, her face could grin no more but told them to follow her.

As they followed the children, they reached a small kingdom of children which was called “The blessed abode of the west,” led by the red-haired girl. The name was ironically similar to the blessed realm Max had been to before Bardo. Unlike the actual Blessed realm of children, this was just a group of Orphans living in a barren, apocalyptic wasteland of a fallen society. It was camped near a mountain cliff that resembles a vulture’s beak. Some ancient structures such as pillars and halls were present, indicating a once-renowned civilization.

The girl was still the beloved of the children, calling her a mother. Her name was Lucy. Amongst the children, she was the queen. And she had two younger brothers who walked alongside her, aged 10 and 9. Her middle brother wore white and had a striking calm face amongst the wild children. He also looked at Max, seemingly observing him and his personality to the core. His gazing eyes caused discomfort and insecurity in Max’s soul. The youngest brother of Lucy was a strong boy. He wore a singlet. He possessed a strength greater than all children.

It had turned dusk, and the queen of western pure abode forbade her guests for a night's travel. She warmed them about the creatures that lurked in the darkness. She placed them on a bed-site of the camp near a lake. It was a terrible stay. The lake smelled fetid by various chemicals and still water. Mosquitoes bit them as if they were their dinner. Jizo slept early without a response. Max, however, was rolling in his unclean bedsheets.