Abyss Progenitor

"What a bunch of dimwits. Did they actually believe the crap I told them?" Doc laughed while looting the dissected corpses scattered all over the place.

"But whatever it is, I can't scan the material it is made from. That insult about me not leaving Solaris Empire my entire life was quite spot on. It looks like I would have to contact a particular person in the Demon Cult." he then brought out an orb from his pocket, placing it on the counter. It lit up with an image of a dark room and a hooded figure standing in the center. 

"Did you call to annoy me again?" a harsh, yet feminine voice echoed from the orb, sending black energy waves out of it.

"Don't be so aggressive from the start. I got some good stuff that I am willing to sell to you." the sly man said with a smile.

"You dare to contact me just for this? And why should I do that? You are a wielder of the dark element. Yet, you refused to join our cause." the hooded woman spoke in an unfriendly tone. 

"I don't really like your fetish of turning everyone into demons." the man dropped his smile, as he instead brought the orb to face the silver pod.

"I am willing to sell this mysterious object to you. I don't know what it is, but I will accept whatever price you tell me, but don't try to swindle me. One more thing, I will only conduct the exchange at the border." Doc spoke somberly.

"Oh? By meeting at the border, do you wish to leave the empire?" the woman sounded surprised.

"It is a personal matter." Doc said dismissively.

The woman turned silent for a while. However, the man was fully confident that his offer would be accepted.

"Alright, meet me at the border near this city two days later." the woman then hung up the call, leaving Doc pondering about his future.

Two days later.

The man stood atop a barren cliff that looked like it might collapse at any moment. His eyes frantically darted around, his chest feeling a bit tight, as a bad premonition rumbled his guts.

"Maybe I should leave…" he mumbled under his breath. This unknown sense of danger started to gradually intensify. However, he forced himself to stay despite his guts telling him to flee. Being blinded by greed and confidence in himself turned him into a frog standing in a boiling pot of water, a pot where the heat slowly went up just enough for the victim to dismiss until it was too late.

"You are here." dark cloaked figures stepped out of the forest leading to the cliff. Their numbers reached several dozen.

"Why are there so many of you?!" the man became alarmed, as he reached out for his fan.

"Relax, it is for our own safety. You know the times had been rough on the bottom rug of the Demon Cult. We are being hunted without end, it got worse when the higher-ups decided to unleash a plague on the continent." a woman stepped out from the crowd, removing her hood. 

She appeared to be one of extreme beauty, glowing white skin, emerald green eyes and black hair, as well as the special charm exuding from her sensual movements. She didn't look like a vile demon, but rather a damsel from a fairy tale. 

However, the man couldn't enjoy that sight, as the feeling of danger reached its peak.

Suddenly, a loud bang shook the area, trees rustled as the whole clifftop and the forest leading to it became encased in a dome of bright golden flames.

"Finally, it took you long enough to reveal yourselves." a cheerful voice full of vigor and life graced everyone's ears, as a delicate figure stepped out of the forest. Followed by hundreds of golden-white armored men.

The demons quickly took a defensive formation, positioning the demoness in the center. 

The man's heart nearly stopped beating from the shock of being right all along. He should have fled while he still could…his greed and arrogance sentenced him to death!

Among the hundreds of soldiers, there was one person who had her helmet off. She had gorgeous shoulder-length blonde hair, her blue eyes shone with enthusiasm and a smile that could charm all. She was like a gem that was meant to be forever kept pure. Yet, this was truly an ironic sight, given she was about to slaughter them all.

"I knew you imperial leeches would follow us! Ambushing us as usual with your numbers." one of the hooded figures barked out in frustration, their hand tightly gripping their sword.

Hearing that, the woman's attention turned toward them, making their heart both flutter and despair. The stunning lady raised her hand, pointing at the person with an index finger. The next moment, a dazzling ray of blue-golden light shot out, piercing through the crowd of demons with ease. 

Yet, the golden beam didn't seem to follow common sense. It actually bent after piercing through one body to target another.

The demons hurriedly abandoned their formation, fleeing in all directions, some of them tried to jump off the cliff to the raging river below. 

However, it was all futile, as the men in golden-white armor easily intercepted them. Quickly overpowering them with numbers and gutting them like a freshly hunted game.

"Y-You will pay…" the demoness could only utter one last word as a spear pierced through her mouth and into her brain.

"Oh? Somebody is still alive?" the cheerful woman then turned her attention to the last standing figure.

The sly man was shaking in fear. All hope of escaping alive turned null.

However, in the last moment of pitiful defiance. He swiftly pushed off the only thing that might be valuable to his soon-to-be murderers.

The pod fell off the cliff to the ferocious river waters below.

The man watched as the water currents took the pod far away. His last action brought him immense satisfaction, as he grinned like a fool while aimlessly watching the river below.

"Looks like you aren't a demon." the blonde woman's perplexed voice sounded from behind.

But the sly man didn't have time to understand the implications, as a sword pierced through his heart and then brutally sliced his body in half.

"Your last-ditch action deserves death." the woman stated coldly, as the man fell to the waters below in two pieces.

The silver pod traveled through the turbulent waters of the huge river. It rocked and crashed many boulders on its way. Its destination was unknown, as it traveled for months without pause.

Eventually, it resurfaced on a grassy riverside, with beautiful flower beds littering the short hills in the distance. 

The silver vessel stuck out like a sore thumb, ruining the otherwise harmonious ambience. 

Not far away, a young woman in her twenties hummed herself a tune. Her full, flowing brown hair danced in the spring breeze. Her bright brown eyes shone with passion and love, as she washed the laundry on the riverside.

"Hm? What is that?" her eyes eventually fell upon the silver pod. Curiosity flourished in her mind. She stood up daintily while tying a small scarf around her hair, producing an elegant ponytail.

She hopped from one foot to another, avoiding the delicate flowers that were on the verge of blooming. 

Moments later, her beautiful brown eyes filled with curiosity and spirit, as she scanned the pod up and down.

"It can't be made of silver, right?" the woman chuckled to herself, finding the idea quite improbable. 

Then, she reached out with her hand to touch the sleek, glistening silver surface as a cold sensation traveled up her palm.

However, the intrigue was short-lived, as the woman's hand began to sink into the silver mass. She yelped in surprise and fear, trying to pull out her hand with all her might. But she soon found it futile, as the pod seemed to pull her into its embrace. 

With desperate screams for help and frantic thrashing of her delicate figure, the woman fully disappeared, with only the silver pod remaining, unbudging from its original place.

The riverside regained its silence.