Michael's expression turned grim as he heard Dagon mention the debt. He couldn't imagine what kind of deal his past self had made with the ruler of Hell, but he knew it must have been something significant.
Dagon, on the other hand, seemed amused by Michael's reaction. His eyes glinted with a mischievous light as he spoke, relishing in the god of darkness's discomfort.
Despite his discomfort, Michael remained calm, trying to assess the situation. He knew that if his past self had revealed his realm name to Dagon, there must have been a reason for it.
Dagon's voice rang out across the throne hall, filling the space with a sinister, almost playful tone. "Let me sweeten the pot for you, Michael," he said, a wry smile playing across his lips. "If you help me, I will give back the soul of your recently departed friend."
Michael and Gaya stood frozen, their eyes widening in shock and disbelief. For a moment, Michael couldn't believe what he was hearing. The idea of getting his friend's soul back was something he had never even dared to dream of. But the suddenness of Dagon's offer left him feeling uneasy.
Gaya, too, was stunned by Dagon's words. Her heart raced as she stared at the ruler of hell, struggling to comprehend what was happening. The thought of seeing her dear little lizard Nightmare once more filled her with a mix of emotions - joy, hope, and fear.
Michael and Gaya were both stunned at Dagon's words. Michael's heart raced with a mixture of hope and disbelief. Could it be possible that Nightmare's soul was trapped in Hell all this time? And could they finally have the chance to get it back? Gaya's eyes widened in surprise, and her hand tightened on Michael's shoulder. The thought of Nightmare's soul being trapped in Hell was horrifying, and the possibility of getting it back was both exciting and terrifying. They both looked at Dagon, waiting for him to elaborate on his offer.
Gaya's heart was pounding as she struggled to comprehend what she had just heard. "What did you say?" she asked, her voice quavering with fear and hope. The thought of seeing her beloved pet Nightmare again filled her with a fierce longing.
Dagon merely smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. He snapped his fingers, and a ghostly figure of a small baby dragon appeared beside him. Michael felt his breath catch in his throat as he recognized the form - it was Nightmare, in his younger years.
Michael couldn't believe his eyes. Nightmare, his loyal companion and friend, had been lost to him for what felt like an eternity. And now, the possibility of seeing him again, even in this spectral form, filled him with a mix of emotions. He felt a pang of guilt for not being able to save him before, but also a spark of hope that they might be able to bring him back.
Dagon's face twisted into an evil smile as he clenched his fist. "Do what I ask of you, and you will get his soul back. Otherwise..." His voice trailed off ominously. Suddenly, a loud roar filled the throne room, a pained and agonized cry that seemed to come from the very depths of Hell itself. Michael and Gaya watched in horror as they saw the ghostly form of Nightmare floating beside Dagon, his unconscious body wracked with pain. Gaya's heart sank as she realized the true gravity of the situation - they had to help Dagon if they wanted to save their beloved friend.
At the sound of Nightmare's cry, Michael's heart sank. The thought of his dear friend's soul being trapped in Hell filled him with dread and panic. Without a second thought, he raised his hand in a gesture for Dagon to stop.
"Stop," Michael said firmly, his eyes fixed on the ghostly form of Nightmare.
As Gaya rushed towards Dagon to rescue Nightmare, Michael's heart sank with dread and panic. He knew that Dagon was not to be trifled with, and Gaya's impulsive action could have dire consequences. However, before he could intervene, a powerful gust of wind shot from Dagon's body, throwing both Michael and Gaya off their feet and pinning them against the wall.
"What do you want?" Michael demanded, his voice strained as he struggled to catch his breath. Despite his natural inclination to rebel against anyone who tried to control him, Michael realized that he was in no position to challenge Dagon's authority.
The realm of hell was an inhospitable place, and Dagon was the supreme ruler who held absolute power over it. Although the previous Dark Lord had the power to go against Dagon, Michael's current version was weak in front of him.
Knowing that Dagon held the soul of Nightmare, Michael couldn't afford to provoke him. Gaya's failed attempt at rescuing the soul was a reminder of how powerless they were in Hell.
With a sense of dread and defeat, Michael growled, "Tell me what you want me to do." He didn't dare fight against Dagon in a realm where he held absolute power. Getting back Nightmare's soul was his priority, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get it back.
It was a difficult pill to swallow, but Michael knew that he would do anything to get Nightmare's soul back. He glanced at Gaya, who was still recovering from the gust of wind that had sent her flying. He felt a surge of anger and frustration, but he knew that now was not the time to act on it. He needed to focus on the task at hand, whatever it might be.
"How can I be sure that this is not some sort of trick?" Michael asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Dagon raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "You have no reason to doubt me," he replied coolly. "And besides, what choice do you have but to believe me? If you want the soul of your dear friend back, you will do as I say."
Michael's jaw clenched as he fought to control his anger. He knew that Dagon was right - he had no other choice but to trust him.
Dagon's voice dripped with sinister amusement as he spoke. "Luckily for you, this task is right up your alley. You are known for your skill in killing, after all. I need you to eliminate someone for me." With a flick of his wrist, a holographic image appeared beside him, revealing a long-haired orc with a muscular build and a fierce expression. The orc's eyes seemed to glint with a hint of cruelty, and his armor was adorned with the bones of his enemies.
"Go kill him and bring his head to me. Getting back Nightmare's soul is just as easy as this," Dagon said nonchalantly, his voice echoing through the throne room. With a flick of his wrist, the force that had been pinning Michael and Gaya against the wall dissipated, and they landed on the ground with a thud. Michael and Gaya exchanged a glance, both of them knowing that they had no other choice but to agree to Dagon's demands.
Dagon turned his back to Michael and Gaya and began ascending the stairs leading to his throne, the echoes of his footsteps resonating through the silent chamber. As he climbed, he continued to speak in his nonchalant tone.
"My minion will guide you to his last known location. You have three hours to complete the task," he said, his voice carrying a hint of warning. Michael opened his mouth to say something, but before he could even utter a word, a sudden force enveloped him and Gaya, and they were instantly teleported away from the throne hall. The world around them dissolved into nothingness before being replaced by a dark, twisted landscape. The suddenness of the teleportation caught them off guard, and they stumbled as they landed on the hard ground. As they regained their footing, Michael took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead.
As Michael and Gaya were searching for Dagon's minion, a loud buzzing sound caught their attention. They turned to see a giant mosquito hovering in front of them. The mosquito was at least six feet long and had a wingspan wider than Michael's outstretched arms. Its long, thin legs were covered in a dense layer of hair, and its bulbous eyes gleamed in the dim light of the realm of hell.
Before Michael could react, Gaya, who was always quick to action, shot the mosquito down. "Wait wait wait," the mosquito cried out in a whiny buzzing sound, "I am not your target, I'm here to guide you to it."
Michael raised an eyebrow, surprised at the fact that a mosquito was capable of speech. "You're our guide?" he asked skeptically.
The mosquito nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, I swear on my proboscis! I'll show you the way, just don't squish me!"
"Sorry about that," Michael said, offering the mosquito a helping hand to get back in the air. "We're a bit on edge after what happened in the castle."
"I understand, I understand," the mosquito replied, still buzzing nervously. "But trust me, I'm on your side. I'm the best guide around here. Now, let's get going before any more mishaps happen."
As Michael and Gaya followed the panicky mosquito through the hellish landscape, they couldn't help but drown in their own thoughts. The thought of having to kill someone weighed heavily on Michael's mind, while Gaya couldn't shake off the image of Nightmare's ghostly figure.
Meanwhile, the mosquito continued to chatter on in a whiny voice, providing a commentary on the grotesque and macabre scenery around them. "Oh, look at that lovely sulfuric lake over there. Makes my wings itch just thinking about it," the mosquito exclaimed, sounding both panicked and amused.
"Be careful of the acid pools," Buzz warned. "One touch, and you'll be burned to a crisp. And watch out for the hell walkers- they're a nasty bunch. And whatever you do, don't step on the lava rocks. They're hotter than the sun!"
Michael and Gaya listened in silence, drowning in their own thoughts. Buzz's chattering was both funny and annoying at the same time, and they couldn't help but tune him out. However, every now and then, Buzz's panicked buzzing would snap them back to attention.
Michael and Gaya could barely keep up with the mosquito's rapid chatter, but couldn't help but find its comical observations amusing. "And watch out for those fiery geysers! One wrong step, and poof! You'll be roasted alive," the mosquito continued, flitting around their heads.
Despite the absurdity of their situation, Michael and Gaya remained focused on their mission, determined to do whatever it takes to retrieve Nightmare's soul. But for the moment, they couldn't help but listen to the mosquito's ramblings and let out a few chuckles.
"Are you even listening to me?" Buzz screeched, his wings buzzing furiously. "I'm trying to save your lives here!"
Michael sighed. "Yes, we're listening, Buzz. But can you give us a moment of silence to gather our thoughts?"
"Silence? In hell?" Buzz cackled. "Good luck with that! But sure, go ahead, take all the time you need."
Michael and Gaya exchanged a tired look as Buzz continued to chatter on. It was going to be a long journey.
As they flew across the barren wasteland, Buzz pointed out various landmarks, such as the "Lake of Fire," which he described as a great spot for swimming if you didn't mind being burned alive. Michael and Gaya couldn't help but shake their heads in amusement at Buzz's dark sense of humor.
His buzzing voice was surprisingly entertaining, and his comical observations gave them a much-needed distraction from the horrors of Hell.
Though the weight of their task still hung heavy over them, the levity provided by Buzz's chatter allowed them to forget the danger that lay ahead momentarily.
As Buzz continued to guide Michael and Gaya through the hellish landscape, his commentary had eased their worries and fears. However, his lighthearted tone suddenly took a dark turn when he brought up his ex-girlfriend.
"You know that orc you're supposed to kill? I bet he stole my girlfriend!" Buzz exclaimed, his buzzing voice filled with anger.
Michael and Gaya exchanged a bewildered look, unsure how to respond to the mosquito's sudden outburst.
"I mean, I may look like this, but I'm a killer at heart. I could take him down in a million ways," Buzz boasted, flexing his wings as if he were some sort of warrior.
Michael couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the tiny mosquito trying to act tough. Gaya, too, had a small smile on her face.
As they flew over the landscape of hell, Buzz continued to vent his frustrations about his ex-girlfriend and her alleged affair with the orc. "That stupid orc is lucky Dagon sent you after him," he grumbled. "Otherwise, I would have taught him a lesson he wouldn't forget."contemporary romance
Michael and Gaya exchanged a look but said nothing, not wanting to provoke Buzz any further. Buzz continued to ramble on about his plans to take down the orc, describing in hilarious detail the various methods he would use to kill him.
"I would've stung him with my venomous tail and then buzzed around his head until he couldn't take it anymore!" he exclaimed, his wings buzzing furiously with excitement.
Gaya couldn't help but giggle at the absurdity of it all while Michael simply shook his head and sighed. Even in the midst of their dangerous mission, Buzz's antics provided a much-needed moment of levity.
Following Michael and Gaya followed Buzz's directions, they eventually reached a barren wasteland, with only occasional bursts of flames in the distance. The sky above them was a sickly shade of green, with lightning bolts crackling in the clouds.
Buzz led them to a rocky outcrop, where Michael saw a dark cave in the distance, surrounded by an ominous aura. The wind howled around them, and Michael could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"Is that where we're headed?" Michael asked, his voice barely audible over the howling winds.
Buzz pointed his long, thin leg towards the cave and exclaimed, "Yes! That's where the cheatin' orc resides, and I'm gonna make him pay for what he did to me and my girl!"
Michael and Gaya exchanged a skeptical glance as they looked at the giant mosquito in front of them. Gaya whispered to Michael, "Do you think he knows he's a mosquito and not a warrior?"
But Buzz didn't seem to care about their doubts. He continued to boast about his fighting skills, "I'll take him down with one swift bite of my proboscis. Or maybe I'll use my powerful wings to create a gust and blow him away!"
Michael couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the six-foot-long mosquito attempting to take down an orc. "You know, Buzz, I think you're underestimating the orc's strength. He might not go down as easily as you think."
But Buzz was too busy pumping himself up to listen. "Nonsense! I am Buzz, the mighty mosquito warrior! No orc can defeat me!"
As they approached the cave, Buzz's bravado started to waver. He began to buzz nervously, "Maybe we should wait outside and come up with a better plan. Or maybe we can just ask him nicely to give me back my girl."
Gaya rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Yeah, because that's definitely going to work."
Michael sighed and turned to Buzz. "Listen, Buzz. We have a job to do. We need to get in there and take down the orc. Are you with us?"
Buzz hesitated for a moment, his wings fluttering uncertainly. But then he straightened up, puffing out his chest. "Of course, I'm with you! I'm Buzz, the fearless mosquito warrior! Let's go get that orc!"
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