Slumbering Sloth

Vikram felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at the lifeless corpse before him, a stark reminder of the dark deed he had committed. With a heavy heart, he shook his head, trying to dispel the haunting images that threatened to engulf him

Vikram gulped, shook his head, and repeated a mantra. 

'I am an Immortal reincarnated into a mortal body.'

'I am an Immortal reincarnated into a mortal body.'

'I am an Immortal reincarnated into a mortal body.'

Vikram's transformation was startling, his once meek demeanor giving way to an unsettling display of pride and arrogance. Despite his physical frailty, there was an air of superiority about him, as if he believed himself to be invincible despite all evidence to the contrary.

His eyes glinted with a fierce determination, yet behind the facade of confidence, there lurked a vulnerability that threatened to betray him at any moment.

With each flicker of light guiding his way, Vikram's heart pounded with anticipation until, at last, he reached the cavern's end. There, in the eerie glow, stood the tree with its ominous crimson hue, its branches stretching out like gnarled fingers reaching for the heavens.

But it was the sight of the crucified man that truly arrested Vikram's attention. Suspended upon the tree's twisted branches, the figure seemed to exude an aura of profound suffering and resignation. Vikram's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the scene, a sense of unease creeping over him like a shadow.

For a fleeting moment, Vikram wished he could turn away, to retreat from the chilling tableau before him. But there was no option to turn back. 

'W-What in the...'

As Vikram contemplated the scene before him, a chilling realization dawned upon him. The entity crucified upon the tree, with six arms outstretched, bore an unsettling resemblance to the mythical figures known as Asuras in Hindu mythology.

Asuras were often depicted as powerful and malevolent beings, in stark contrast to the benevolent gods of Hinduism. With their multiple arms and formidable strength, they were often associated with chaos and destruction.

The implications of encountering an Asura in the depths of the cave sent a shiver down Vikram's spine. If this creature truly was an Asura, then he was faced with a force beyond anything he had ever imagined—a being of immense power and malevolence.

With a deep breath, Vikram braced himself for what lay ahead. Whatever trials awaited him in the presence of this ancient and formidable entity, he knew that he would need to draw upon every ounce of courage and resilience he possessed. For in the presence of an Asura, there could be no room for fear or hesitation.

The head moved, and Vikram tried his best not to flinch. Vikram resolved himself for his final act. If he won this gamble, then he would return to the Head Slave, if he didn't, then he would die here. 

This was his last gamble. 

"An Asura? No, you don't possess the raw bloodline of their kind, A half-blood?" This was Vikram's gamble. He had to bullshit his way through the entity that was on the tree. 

The head titled as raven black hair that shrouded the head of the crucified entity moved a little, and Vikram saw red gleaming and murderous eyes look at him. 

Vikram stood there, as though he were some kind of invincible force, a figure whose body was scarred, missing a limb, and emaciated as though he hadn't eaten in years. Yet, despite the physical torment, his eyes remained sharp and full of life. They met the predator's murderous gaze unwaveringly, and a slow, confident grin crept across his face.

"Oh, sensitive about your identity, huh?" Vikram shook his head as he moved forward as he looked around him. 

"That's a hefty sealing magic you got there, someone really wanted you to never see light huh," Vikram looked at the iron nails that were on each of the entity's hands and one of the entity's feet. 

"Need help?" Vikram's grin spread slyly as though he was an old fox, living and conned many in his years

"Hmmmm" The entity's hair fell aside as Vikram saw his face. He was the most beautiful man that he had ever seen in his life, even though he didn't swing that way. His horns were majestic, and his eyes gleamed with murder. 

The voice of the horned entity was raspy. Its voice made Vikram's bones rattle.

The horned entity looked at Vikram with a complicated expression, then sighed. "Who are you?" 

"Me? Oh, I am no one. Just a guy who touched the Outer Gods." 

*RATTLE*

As the horned entity's eyes widened and the cave quaked with an unseen force, Vikram felt a wave of terror wash over him. The weight of multiple unseen presences bearing down upon him made his skin crawl, and he could feel his sanity slipping away with each passing moment.

In the midst of his rapidly deteriorating mind, dark and depraved thoughts began to surface, tempting him with hedonistic desires and unspeakable acts of violence. It was as though a veil of darkness had descended upon him, clouding his judgment and threatening to consume him whole.

But then, in a sudden and unexpected turn of events, a sense of clarity washed over Vikram like a cleansing tide. The malevolent presence that had gripped the cave seemed to dissipate, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity.

As Vikram's mind cleared, he looked around in wonder, his gaze meeting the terrified eyes of the crucified entity.

He felt something before the gazes left him. He felt a greater gaze settling on him before all the other gaze vanished. He didn't think just mentioning the Outer Gods would create this much commotion and he cursed himself for his stupidity. 

Vikram maintained his facade of boredom, his heart pounding with the weight of his deception. With a casual shrug, he replied to the horned entity's question.

"W-Who the hell are you?" The tone changed right now, as the entity was now seriously flustered.

"Yeah, those guys," he continued, gesturing around him. "Seems like they've got nothing better to do than hang around here all day. Must be boring, huh?"

But even as Vikram maintained his facade, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. The horned entity's piercing gaze seemed to bore into his very soul, and Vikram knew that he was treading on dangerous ground.

The entity was thoroughly shocked at Vikram's casual mentioning of what was Beyond. But the entity was far stronger than Vikram could ever imagine, so the horned entity had regained his composure in a second. He looked at Vikram intently. 

"Now... How about I get you out of your predicament, and you'll do the same?" Vikram smiled, but he was inwardly sweating buckets. 

"Just spread your blood on the tree..." The horned entity had a voice that was raspy and had a touch of... Hope, no, was it wariness?

"Oh! I need you to help me take me away from this shithole!" Vikram pointed his fingers to the topside of the cave and sighed. "Man, to think that all these complex bullshit runes would be just undone when you remove the nails," Vikram continued on with his bullshit as he looked like he was lamenting the complexity of the seal to be undone this easily. 

The horned entity raised an eyebrow at that, and Vikram thought that he had gone overboard with his bullshit if that was even possible. 

"The seal is not on the top side, the complexity of the seal is hidden is just the projection of what is hidden below. The seal just drains my power and distributes it into the land. It is a simple seal really, it's exactly that what makes it so complex." The horned entity sighed and shook his head as though he was trying to get rid of some memory in his mind. 

Vikram paused. 

This little shit was the whole reason that the sands were black? 

Vikram's mind raced as he processed the horned entity's words. So, the seal was not as straightforward as he had assumed. It wasn't just a barrier to be broken; it was a mechanism that siphoned the entity's power and dispersed it throughout the land.

The realization sent a shiver down Vikram's spine. This entity held the key to the very essence of the landscape, its power capable of shaping the world itself. And here he was, attempting to deceive it with his feeble charade.

Vikram rubbed his hands as he looked at the horned entity with a sly grin. 

"How do I know that you would help me escape this shithole?" At that, the atmosphere paused. The tension tightened, and the air stood still.