I was escorted by four imps towards a spacious cell. It was filthy; the beds were covered in what I could only assume was... bodily fluids.
The toilet was a bucket in the corner of the room, filled with feces that no one bothered to clean.
And to light the room, there was a small candle in the middle.
The guard opened the cell and ordered me to go inside. Once I was in, the smell hit me like a tidal wave.
It smelled like something died in here... which there was—a singular imp lay dead in the bed of the bottom bunk.
"You wait here, criminal. Lord Satan will be arranging your trial soon enough," one of the guards said to me before locking the door and leaving.
I scanned the outside and saw different cells filled with various demons. Most were likely criminals, but I saw a few demon beasts locked in as well.
"Hey, pipsqueak! What are you in for?" a voice suddenly spoke ahead of me.
I looked in front of me and saw a rather large imp. His red skin was covered in white spots that almost covered his entire body. Both his horns were broken, and his tail seemed shorter than most.
I didn't answer his question since there was no point.
"Hey! You ignoring me? Answer the damn question!" he barked, trying to intimidate me.
I just ignored him and began studying the cell. It had engravings on it that seemed to glow slightly when I touched them. This was most likely a way to stop demons from prying the bars open and escaping.
"I'm warning you! The moment I see you in the mess hall, you're dead! You hear me? Dead!"
I didn't bother listening to him. I just studied the cell and realized something—the space between the cells was big. Not too big, just enough for me to squeeze through.
So, not wasting time, I slipped past the bars and began walking around.
"Hey! Someone's escaping!" the imp from before began to scream.
I ignored him since it would be easier if the guards came. I continued walking until I stumbled upon a rather tall door.
There weren't any signs around or on the door, so I didn't know what was inside.
Slowly opening it, I was greeted by a rather large demonic dog. It had two heads and was chained to the wall.
It thrashed around as it saw me, most likely wanting to eat me.
I went back out and closed the door behind me. Well, that was a bust.
Walking back to my cell, I went back inside and stood there waiting for the trial.
There was no point in rushing out since the moment Charlie woke up, she could explain everything.
So I just waited in the filthy cell and went to sleep.
---
As I drifted to sleep, I found myself back in the vast void.
This time, though, I wasn't floating underwater. Instead, I was now in front of the same white light that allowed me to get out in the first place.
I was going to enter immediately, but I noticed it wasn't getting smaller like before.
Fascinated, I continued to observe the exit and found nothing was happening to it, no matter how long I stayed.
So, making do with my situation, I thought it'd be best if I trained here to improve my skills.
Reaching for my back, I tried to grab my nail but found nothing but air. Sighing, I got annoyed that I didn't have my weapon to train properly.
But as if on cue, the ground below began to rise up and take the shape of my nail.
Reaching out, I grabbed the black ooze that was shaped like my weapon, and immediately it solidified—turning into my actual weapon.
Huh... that's useful.
Not questioning how or why that happened, I began training using the different styles I'd learned over the years of surviving.
But training alone was inefficient. I needed a training partner or a dummy I could practice on.
And on cue once more, the ground began to rise again, revealing another one of those creatures that resembled me.
Once it was fully formed, it locked eyes with me and let out a screech, intending to fight me.
I got into a stance and waited for it to approach, but it never did.
Instead, it began shooting massive balls with eyes at me again.
I dodged every single one, but I couldn't get near it since every time I did, it would fly farther away.
Studying it, I tried to find a way to mimic what it was doing. Since it looked like me, most likely I could do that too.
"Root yourself to the world and release." Suddenly, a voice—which sounded like a woman's—spoke in my ear.
Turning, I saw no one but the exit.
I turned back toward the enemy and continued to study it while thinking about what that voice said.
Root myself... what did it mean?
I didn't have a clue, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
So, planting my feet firmly on the ground, I tried to focus and feel anything within me.
As I did, I felt something moving inside me—it felt like energy.
I held on to that feeling, and it reacted. In that moment, I felt something swell within me, growing larger and larger.
Once I couldn't hold on anymore, I released that feeling, and the moment I did, a burst of light exploded from within me. I released a massive ball made of pure white energy.
The enemy didn't react. It simply stared at it before being disintegrated.
I did it.
I can use magic!
Well, a form of magic—but it was still magic.
I felt the slightest hint of satisfaction in my achievement and actually felt proud of something.
Feeling satisfied, I walked toward the exit, and a blinding light shined as I slowly felt my eyes open.
---
"Oy, wake up! The Lords of Hell are here for your trial!" the imp yelled, making me wake up.
"Move quickly, or we'll drag you there!" They opened the gate, and I quickly walked out of my cell, following them.
We walked for a good while until we reached an imposing gate. It had spikes all over the frame and a massive skull in the center.
It opened with a loud creak and revealed a massive room filled with different demons—ranging from birds, a fish demon, a sheep, a clown... and a bee-wolf hybrid.
And in the center of it all was Satan. He was a towering figure that basically dwarfed everyone in the room.
"We will now begin the trial of the accused for the kidnapping of my niece, Princess Morningstar," he said with a deep growl in his voice.
Oh Charlie, you better wake up soon.