THE FEAR "[English]"

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Chapter seven

The chapter begins with Gabriel, who has reached the shores of the frozen island and starts exploring the barren land, which is devoid of all forms of life. As he walks through the desolate area, a fierce snowstorm begins to brew. During his trek, he comes across a main road, which strikes him as odd. He finds it strange that such a road would exist on a deserted island, but that is not the most peculiar thing about it. The road was entirely free from snow, and no snowflakes seemed to fall upon it. Gabriel, however, paid no mind to these peculiarities. He was far too desperate to care about the strange details; he trudged along the long, seemingly endless road, hoping to reach the dreadful house he sought.

As he walks, a large cargo shipment passes by, and Gabriel calls out to the elderly driver of the truck: "Where are you headed Fellar?"

Gabriel: "I'm looking for a hut near the mountain. Have you heard of it?"

The truck driver stops, visibly shocked, his expression turning pale. "Oh, you must be talking about the Demon" 's House," he says, his voice trembling. "I wouldn't advise you to go there, Fellar."

"It's the Demon House," he says, his tone heavy with fear, before glancing nervously into the horizon as if something unseen was watching them.

Gabriel, confused, responds, "The Demon"s House ?"

"Yes," the driver continues. "Not many who've heard of it live to tell the tale. But since you're already here, I suppose it's time you knew. No one speaks of that house, because it's not just a house – it's an ancient place that vanishes from memory, yet you can never fully escape its past. There's always something unsettling about it, even if you try to forget."

The old man pauses for a moment, as though the words are almost too difficult to say, but then he continues:

"The house stands on this isolated island, far from any map or boundary. The island itself is lifeless, and the waters around it are always in turmoil. No one really understands how a place like that could have ever been inhabited. But, as you get closer to it, you suddenly find yourself confronted by something, something in the air, something that cannot be found anywhere else."

He takes a deep breath as if the memories are pulling him back into another time.

"In ancient times, a man named Edward Darson lived in that house. He was a strange fellow, a recluse, spending most of his days in that crumbling house. He claimed that the house hid dark secrets about the world, and he was determined to uncover them. He said that the house was not merely a physical structure but a gateway to other realms and that, with the right rituals, one could summon a shadow demon – a demon without a name, one that ruled the universe in secret. Or, if you were not a devout follower of the rituals and you failed to summon it, you might attempt to summon one of its offspring, such as Zulish, the Whisper in the Darknesses, or Seraphim. But the rituals were just as complex and difficult through the ages. Many cults have tried to summon these entities, but each time, they failed."

Gabriel, intrigued, responds, "Ah, continue."

The driver whispers, "But Edward Darson was not human. At least, that's what they say. Some say he was one of the powerful Alien who sought to draw close to these cosmic beings by creating cults and enslaving followers."

Gabriel, his curiosity growing, asks, "So, you mean the house was a temple for demons?"

The truck driver nods gravely. "More than that, Fellar..."

---More than that, my friend, the house has been, over the years, an attempt by these people to survive the wrath of these cosmic entities that rule the world. They used children and women, offering them as sacrifices just to save their own skins from what was to come. Gabriel: "So, what exactly is going to happen?"

The old man took a deep breath before answering. "For years, my Fellar, this house has been nothing more than a desperate attempt by these people to escape the wrath of the cosmic entities that govern our world. They used children and women, offering them as sacrifices, just so they could save their own skins from what was to come."

Gabriel: "Are you saying that it hasn't gone extinct?"

The old man shook his head. "No, my friend. It still exists. In fact, the cult I once served—the one that worships the Shadow Demon—is the last of its kind in this era."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "Hold on. Are you telling me that this cult still exists to this day?"

The old man nodded gravely. "Indeed, it does. In any case, I was told that every million years, the Shadow Demon destroys an entire solar system for reasons unknown. He simply deems its inhabitants unworthy, no longer of any value to him."

Gabriel clenched his fists. "I have two questions. First, is the cult currently inside the Devil's House? Second, are you one of its members?"

A sly grin spread across the old man's wrinkled face. "You're a sharp one, young man. You've figured me out. As for your first question—no, we have moved to a church instead. The Devil's House is a beast on its own, and we have no desire to disturb it. And yes, I am one of them. In fact, I came here to invite you to join us."

Gabriel scoffed. "Thanks, but no thanks. If such beings truly exist and are not just the product of some drug-induced hallucination, then I'd rather be free than a slave to them."

The old man chuckled darkly. "Oh, my brave young Fellar, I truly wonder how you plan to survive if you choose to stand against them. If I were in your shoes—either as an enemy of these beings or simply as someone who ignores them—I would die of sheer terror."

Gabriel smirked and turned away. "Well then, farewell."

As Gabriel walked off, the old man called out after him. "Wait, Gabriel! Listen to me. I have something important to tell you."

The man switched on a battered old radio, which crackled to life, playing a haunting melody. His voice rose above the static, reciting lyrics that sent a chill down Gabriel's spine:

"There's things we can't do anymore..."

Perhaps he was trying to communicate through the song—perhaps it was meant to be a warning, Maybe the old man means that humans can't fight the entities again.

"They're gonna recognize us, And then they gon' spy us, And they won't understand it..."

As Gabriel continued walking, the old man shouted in a loud, almost desperate voice:

"You cannot fight gravity!"

-- Gabriel, as he walked away, was bewildered by what had just happened, speaking to himself: "That old bastard, son of a whore… How the hell did he know my name? And why is everything he said so contradictory? At first, he spoke as if he feared the cults, and now he's a member of one? Then he told me this was an isolated and abandoned island—so how the hell is there a main road, people, sacrifices, and cults on an island that's supposed to be deserted?"

Gabriel turned his face back, both angry and confused, only to witness a majestic yet horrifying sight—the main road had vanished completely, along with the old man and the cargo truck. The island had returned to its previous state—nothing but snow and trees once more.

Overcome by sheer shock, Gabriel started running, heading towards his ominous fate at the Demon House and the Mountain of Madness.

---

We move our events to another savage spot in the ocean—an isolated, hellish, and terrifying island known as Skull Devil Prison Island. But unlike the previous island, the horror here does not stem from entities; rather, it is the bloodthirsty, depraved nature of humanity itself. This island has been called the bloodiest place on Earth.

Little is known about this island, as information about it is scarce in the public domain. However, what the members of Phantom Zero have uncovered is that this island is owned by the demonic Chivishenkov family. Anyone who dares to oppose them meets a fate worse than death—thrown behind bars, subjected to unspeakable torture, brutal assaults, and, at times, even sacrificed. The prisoners with pure white skin are particularly valued and offered as sacrifices to the true ruler of this world.

Of course, you all know exactly who I'm talking about. Contrary to what Gabriel, Mason, and Rose once believed back in school, the Chivishenkov family is not a mere Satanic cult worshipping Baphomet or Lucifer. No, they serve something far more powerful, far more terrifying—a real entity that secretly rules our galaxy, not a fictional deity like those.

In a massive underground facility, a colossal statue of Shadow Demon stands, depicting one of its many forms—the veiled woman draped in black robes. Around it, men and women kneel in devout worship, their chants echoing through the cavernous halls.

Inside a cage, we find Eva and Avery, bound and helpless, while the cult appears to be preparing them as sacrifices for Shadow Demon.

Seated high upon a throne-like platform, Manuel Chivishenkov, the Warden of the Prison, prays fervently, hoping to earn the favor of Shadow Demon.

Eva turns to Avery and whispers: "So… you are from the Valhaim family? One of the seven families that rule the world? What an interesting coincidence, Simon Valhaim."

Simon: "Yes, we are one of the ruling families of the world, but we will offer sacrifices here because we have chosen freedom over slavery."

Eva: "What's the story behind this statue they worship? I expected them to worship Lucifer or something like that, but that woman who looks like a giant black shadow, wearing a black robe and holding a butterfly... what a shadow statue."

Simon: "Ah, it seems they don't tell the women about the Shadow Demon in the cursed royal families."

Eva: "Shadow Demon? What the hell are you talking about?"

Simon sighed, his gaze distant. "I don't know much… only that it's the entity worshipped by the Seven Families. When I turned eighteen, my father told me that I had to pray to the Shadow Entity. He said that this being created us—the ruling families—along with the rest of humanity, making us the rightful rulers of the world. It's the reason we possess such vast wealth. And he warned me… if I refused to worship the Shadow Entity, it would kill me… using fear itself."

Eva's eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling. "That's impossible… this is insanity… I mean, this can't be real!"

Eva hesitated before asking, "Is that all you know about it? I mean, is this thing real, or is it just some delusion they believe in?"

Simon exhaled sharply. "I don't know… but I do know this—it has offspring, much like the Christian god has Jesus. But the Shadow Entity has an uncountable number of children. Each one is a cosmic being of immense power… and their strength is derived from spreading fear. Now, would you shut up and let me think of a way to escape?"

Eva smirked mockingly. "Hah! An escape plan? Do you mean like the last fourteen plans that failed? Tell me, cowboy, why are we even here in the first place?"

Simon shrugged. "We were going to end up here regardless."

Eva narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Simon looked away. "We were always meant to be sacrifices."

Eva's voice rose in anger. "What the hell are you talking about, you idiot? Why me, specifically? I mean, I'm not even that pale-skinned!"

She banged against the iron bars, yelling at the cultists. "Hey! You drug-addicted lunatics! You morons! Aren't you supposed to offer the palest people as sacrifices? Why the hell am I here, then?"

Simon sighed. "Because you are from a royal family."

He leaned against the bars, lowering his voice. "When I turned twenty, I found a hidden chamber in our estate. Most of the information there wasn't of much value… except for one thing. A list detailing the preferred types of sacrifices for the Overlord. At the top of the list were children from one of the ruling families, but only if they were either atheists or rebels. In third place were pregnant women. In fourth place… children aged between seven months and four years old. Those were the sacrifices it favored the most."

Eva scoffed. "So, you do know a lot about this, oh great and mighty leader."

Simon shook his head. "No, that's all I found. And don't blame me for this mess—it's not my fault there was a spy among the leaders. And your sister… she acted on her own."

Tears welled in Eva's eyes. "Oh, Rose… it wasn't her fault. I just hope she's safe… that she managed to escape somehow."

Simon exhaled. "Alright, stop crying. Just shut up and let me figure out a way to reunite you with your dear sister."

Just then, one of the cult priests raised his hands in prayer.

"Oh, mighty entity, forgive the sins of our children. Take their souls, feast upon their fear. Oh, great one, have mercy on us! In the name of the Princes! In the name of your greatest son, the Whisper in the Darkness, cast your wrath upon our offspring and grant us your blessing!"

One of the cultists stepped forward, unlocking the cage. He dragged Simon and Eva out.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Devil's Dwelling, Gabriel sat motionless on the bed. The hallucinations began almost immediately. Visions of Rose's execution flooded his mind—she was crucified before him, her lifeless eyes staring at him in accusation.

"Gabriel… you failed me."

The hallucinations intensified. The floor morphed into grotesque faces, their mouths lined with jagged teeth, whispering in an eerie cacophony. Chilling laughter echoed through the house. Grotesque imps leaped from the shadows, cackling, while enormous insects skittered across the walls.

But Gabriel lay still. His expression was devoid of emotion, his eyes hollow. He was drowning in despair, completely detached from the nightmarish world unfolding around him.

And then—a tempest struck.

The storm roared with such force that it nearly ripped the house from its foundation. Windows shattered. The ocean churned violently, its rage mirrored across all the seas of the Earth.

Gabriel stepped outside the ruined shack. The scene before him was nothing short of apocalyptic.

Five colossal tornadoes circled the island, yet none dared approach him. Something—someone—was commanding them. The sky burned red, thunder cracked like a divine whip, and the heavens bled. Yes… blood rained from the sky.

And then—it arrived.

A presence so overwhelming, so cosmically dreadful, that the very air seemed to tremble.

Zulish had descended.

For those unaware—Zulish was no ordinary being. He was the Undead King. A skeletal lich, a demon beyond mortal comprehension. The very entity that had hurled Gabriel into a storm of howling winds during his failed assassination attempt on the CEO.

Zulish's voice—deep, resonant, and dripping with unholy power—filled the air.

"Greetings, Chosen One…

You are the Hunter of the Dark… are you not?"

Gabriel, trembling, his mind on the verge of collapse, whispered hoarsely:You are the demonic skeleton, aren't you part of my hallucination?

Zulish bowed deeply to Gabriel in greeting and said:

Zulish: "Ooooh, forgive me, young one. I have not introduced myself. I am Zulish, a cosmic entity, one of the royal princes, and the son of the current ruler of the universe—the Shadow Demon."

Gabriel: "What?! I wish you had remained just a hallucination..."

Zulish: "Speaking of hallucinations, let me rid you of these annoying creatures."

Gabriel (astonished): "You... you can see them too?"

Zulish (chuckling): "Of course, young one. What has come over you?"

With a casual tap of his staff on the ground, a crimson aura erupted, expanding outward at an unfathomable speed. It surged across the island, then engulfed the entire continent, the whole planet, the entire solar system itself. A deep, nightmarish voice resonated through existence:

"SUBMIT."

In that instant, it was not just the monstrous entities that collapsed—it was everyone. Every living being upon the Earth fell to their knees, trembling in absolute terror. The moment was so surreal, so unnatural, that it spread across social media like wildfire, dominating news channels worldwide. Even the animals bowed in submission, their bodies quivering in instinctive fear. The most devout, those of the religious orders, found themselves prostrated against their will.

Zulish, with a mere thought, conjured enormous screens from the void, displaying the entire event to Gabriel.

Gabriel (stunned): "But... why am I not kneeling?"

Zulish (smirking): "Because you are the Hunter of the Dark."

Gabriel: "This all feels... familiar..."

Zulish (grinning): "Yes, here we are again, genius. Remember?"

A flicker of recognition passed through Gabriel's mind as fragmented memories surfaced.

Gabriel: "The legend... the legend of the Nameless Demon that Rose once told me... It's real? Are you saying... I am the chosen one? The one said to be the most intelligent of all beings?"

Zulish casually picked at his skeletal nose, withdrawing a tiny spider from within before flicking it aside.

Zulish: "Yes, young one, you are correct."

Gabriel: "But what I fail to understand... Why are you here? And why do you seem so... benevolent?"

Zulish (chuckling darkly): "Oh, do not mistake me for something good. I am as wicked as my father. But I am here to join forces with you so that we may overthrow him. The chosen ones have always been the closest to toppling him. It is the nature of the universe itself—your very birth was accompanied by an ability, a trait designed for this purpose. If you succeed in either defeating him or exposing his plans to the world, he will vanish entirely.

However, let us be clear—you are no match for him in raw power. To him, you are but a mere mind—nothing more."

Gabriel (scoffing): "Really? Is that all I amount to? How dull."

Zulish: "Well, you do possess one more ability, though it does not affect beings like us."

Gabriel: "And what is it?"

Zulish: "You can kill any human... with your own hands. Simply picture the manner of their death in your mind, and it will happen—but you must be near the event for it to take effect."

As he spoke, Zulish bit off a fragment of his own fingernail and spat it onto the ground. The moment it touched the earth, the very soil corroded and melted away, the fragment burrowing deep into the planet's crust as if it had a mind of its own.

Floating effortlessly above the ruined landscape, Zulish conjured a peculiar object—a contract made of ancient, leathery skin. It was inscribed with countless demonic sigils and bones, arranged in cryptic formations.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to Gabriel.

Zulish: "This is a demonic pact. If you sign it, you align yourself with me in the mission to overthrow my father. If you refuse... you will remain trapped in madness forever."

Gabriel: "But... your father is strong. I heard he can destroy entire solar systems... or something like that?"

Zulish (chuckling darkly): "What are you talking about? I am one of the weakest entities, yet even my staff can annihilate galaxies.

My father? He can obliterate entire universes. He suppresses his true power, relying only on the weakest form of fear energy, simply because he enjoys the challenge... and the thrill of watching his prey struggle.

Regardless, you have three days to decide. This is your chance—to avenge your fallen human comrades... and to take revenge on the Tchivishnikov family of scoundrels."

Gabriel: "But... if we win this war... you will rule. And you are evil too."

Zulish (grinning): "That would still be preferable to my father remaining in power—because he will destroy your solar system soon."

Gabriel (alarmed): "How do you know this?"

---

Meanwhile... in the far reaches of the galaxy

A lone figure drifted through the void.

The Shadow Demon hovered before a cluster of planets, his form shifting and twisting like a living abyss. He appeared as a robed figure, his form obscured by darkness, with ethereal butterflies fluttering in his presence—beautiful, yet unnatural.

As he approached the solar system, his voice, terrible and vast, reverberated across the cosmos:

"FEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!"

Instantly, an unnatural ashen-grey hue spread across the planets. Every living thing—from alien civilizations to primal beasts, from towering trees to microscopic lifeforms—succumbed in an instant, their bodies crumbling as pure terror consumed them.

One by one, the planets detonated, reduced to dust in a chain reaction of utter annihilation.

Even the Sun itself could not withstand the force—collapsing into a supernova, exploding with a brilliance that soon faded into the void.

As the destruction unfolded behind him, the Shadow Demon drifted away, his voice echoing through the empty abyss.

"Their level of intelligence has decreased... They have lost their value to me."

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End of Chapter