Broken(DC)

He lifted my body with one hand, gripping me by the neck, and all my internal organs began spilling out of my torn flesh. I couldn't understand how I was still conscious, able to move and think.

"Your life is mine now!" Hellborn declared.

As he raised me, flames erupted from his mouth, scorching my body. I felt unbearable pain; despite my resilience, my skin started to burn. The fire cauterized my ripped abdomen, preventing me from bleeding out. What remained of me was nothing more than a charred husk of flesh.

He didn't finish me off but carried me somewhere instead. I couldn't see where we were headed, but the sounds of human suffering echoed all around me.

"You will suffer for centuries," he said as he placed me on a stone table. My body was pierced by blades that held me immobile.

Then some kind of energy coursed through the blades, inflicting unimaginable pain. I no longer wanted to endure this agony, to feel this weakness. The torment lasted for ten long minutes.

"Enjoy your final moments of rest. I'll return later to give you some entertaining games, ha-ha-ha," he chuckled as he walked away. I was left lying on the table in a room filled with nothing but the moans of the suffering. It appeared to be some kind of torture chamber.

Lying in the darkness, I began to feel a deep fear for my future. Attempts to free myself from the bonds proved futile—they suppressed me completely. My regeneration was almost non-existent, though at least hunger had not yet set in.

"I can help you," a voice echoed in my mind, and four red eyes appeared in the darkness.

"Who are you?" I asked, realizing this was probably another demon.

"I am your friend," the demon said.

"There are no friends of mine here," I replied, my soul aching.

"Who else could be your friend in this world? Perhaps Bruce Wayne could help you?" the demon asked unexpectedly.

"How do you know about him?" I couldn't comprehend how this demon had such knowledge.

"I know many things, even what's happening on Earth right now," the demon replied cryptically.

"Tell me, how are they?" I wanted nothing more than to know he was okay.

"Hmm, you care for those who have forgotten you? They live better than ever, while you suffer here," the demon said.

"You're lying. They're waiting for me to return," I insisted. It was for them that I fought, and the hope of reuniting with them kept me going.

"You can see for yourself," the demon said. Before us appeared a vision of my home. We were like invisible ghosts, passing through objects.

Enough time had passed since my disappearance for the neighborhood to change significantly. The cars on the street were unfamiliar. Inside the house, most things remained the same. We stopped at the wall where our family photographs used to hang. But I had been erased from them. All the pictures now showed Elizabeth and her sister smiling, with the space where I should have been conspicuously empty.

"They don't remember you. They don't even know who you are," the demon continued to weave his deceit.

"I don't believe you. You're lying to me," I tried to convince myself.

"Then watch," he said.

The doors of the house opened, and an older Elizabeth entered. As always, she placed her keys on the stand, took off her coat, and headed to the kitchen to brew herself some tea. Unexpectedly, a photo of me appeared on the table, one where I was smiling. Elizabeth picked up the picture, looked at it, and frowned slightly.

"Who is this? Did Alice leave this photo here?" she asked before heading upstairs.

She didn't recognize me, and I couldn't understand how this was possible.

"You're lying to me. She couldn't have forgotten me!" I shouted at the demon beside me in fury.

"And what if someone helped her forget, heh-heh-heh," the demon chuckled softly and vanished, leaving me to watch further.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth had already gone upstairs and knocked on Alice's door. Loud music, something resembling rock, blared from the room.

"Alice, darling, open the door," Elizabeth called loudly.

After a few moments, the music subsided, and the door to the room opened. Alice stood before us, entirely transformed. She looked significantly older, about twenty years old. Her hair was dyed black with a pink streak, and her face bore dark makeup. A piercing adorned her nose, and her clothing followed the emo style. She had once been so angelic in appearance, beautiful without all this makeup.

"What do you want, Mom?" Alice asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Darling, did you leave this photograph?" Elizabeth showed her the picture. At first, Alice frowned, but then her hand touched her chest as if struck by something. Her breathing quickened, but she quickly masked her reaction.

"No, what am I, a pedophile? I didn't leave anything! What nonsense is this?" Alice said, grabbing the door handle.

"That's all I wanted to ask before dinner," Elizabeth replied with a heaviness in her voice.

Without responding, Alice closed the door, but she didn't return the photograph.

Once inside, I saw her sit down near the door, staring intently at the picture.

"Why does my heart hurt so much when I look at this photo?" she murmured softly. Her nose began to sniffle, and tears started forming in her eyes.

"Who are you?" she asked the photo.

"It's me, Brian! Alice!" I shouted, but she couldn't hear me. Bitterness filled my heart. I couldn't stay here—I had to escape this hell.

Wiping her tears, Alice stood up and placed the photo on one of the shelves. She turned up the music and lay down on her bed, staring at some incomprehensible device.

Suddenly, I was yanked back, the vision fading away. I found myself in darkness again, and the four glowing eyes reappeared before me.

"Do you see now? They've all forgotten you. To them, you're a stranger," the demon said.

"No, Alice remembers. If I return, she'll remember me for sure," I countered.

"Her soul remembers, yes, but her mind does not. And besides, you're still here," the demon stated matter-of-factly.

"What do you want in return?" I asked, realizing he wouldn't have come if he didn't want something from me.

"I want something very simple: to fulfill your vengeance," the demon replied.

Another vision appeared, showing the moment I was sent to hell. I recognized it instantly—the man in those golden armor plates.

"Who is that?" I asked, trying to hold back my rage. I desired his death more than anything.

"Mortals call him Doctor Fate. We know him as Nabu, Lord of Order. He is more cunning than most of us," the demon said, revealing Nabu. He appeared as an elderly man with dark skin and white hair. Golden ornaments adorned his limbs, gleaming like the flames of hell themselves.

"He doesn't look like the one who banished me—it was a different person," I said.

"No, they are one and the same. The mortal is merely a vessel for Nabu's power. Find the vessel, and you will find him," the demon replied, showing me a helmet. "His power is concentrated here."

"Is that really all you want?" I asked, doubting his sincerity.

"Yes, he is as much my enemy as he is yours. I merely wish for you to exact your vengeance, and I will be satisfied," the demon said sweetly. I saw no immediate downside to the deal, which made me suspicious. But the desire to return was stronger than my caution.

"I agree," I said, the words heavy on my tongue.

"Then seal the contract," he said, and in my mind, an ethereal agreement materialized. It bore the name Lord Trigon, along with my own. According to the terms, he would return me to Earth, and in return, I would be obligated to kill Nabu.

"How can I seal this contract? I'm still bound," I asked, confused.

"A word will suffice. Repeat after me: 'I accept the terms of this contract and will fulfill all its conditions,'" the demon instructed.

"I accept the terms of this contract and will fulfill all its conditions," I repeated. As soon as the words left my lips, my signature appeared on the contract, followed by the demon's.

"You'll need power to defeat Nabu. Kill the demon Hellborn and absorb his strength—you'll become far more powerful," the demon said. The shackles holding me disappeared. My body healed rapidly; my lost legs regenerated, and my renewed vision was so sharp it was initially sensitive to light.

There was, however, one drawback—I had no clothes at all.

"Take my power—it will help you defeat him," the demon offered, summoning a swirling mass of darkness. It radiated power, but also danger. I hesitated, knowing that relying on the demon's strength would make me dependent on him.

"I'll manage on my own," I declared firmly, walking past it.

"Don't regret it. I won't offer my help a second time," the demon warned before vanishing. Yet I knew he would continue to watch me.

My revenge was imminent. Reaching the throne room was surprisingly easy, and once again, massive doors loomed before me. I had one ace up my sleeve that I hadn't yet used—the beast inside me.

Taking a deep breath, I began relinquishing control of my body to the creature. It eagerly seized command, unleashing a guttural roar that reverberated through the air.

The doors, which had been a struggle for me to open before, were flung wide with a single swing, nearly ripped from their hinges. Hellborn stood up from his throne in surprise, shocked at the sight before him.

"How did you escape? No matter—I'll tear you apart again," he hissed, preparing to attack. His lunge was swift, but now I could easily evade and counter immediately.

My uppercut to his jaw sent him flying. Crashing into the ceiling, he plummeted back down. I was already there to meet him, slamming into his chest and lifting his body into the air. Flames burst from his mouth, engulfing the entire throne room. My flesh burned, but my regeneration healed the wounds almost instantly. The torrent of fire subsided, and he hovered in the air, beating his wings furiously.

Seeing me fully intact, he charged at me again, and I sprinted to meet him. As we neared, I leapt, driving all my momentum into a single blow.

Our fists collided, and the resulting shockwave obliterated everything around us, tearing down what little remained of the walls from our previous battle. The force hurled us both in opposite directions.

My arm shattered into pieces, reduced to dust. Bones crunched as they reformed, and within seconds, a new arm emerged in its place.

The castle trembled as fractures snaked across every arch, and under the relentless assault of our battle, it began to collapse.

"My palace! You'll pay for this!" Hellborn roared. His injuries were healing, but much slower now.

Our fight turned into a battle of endurance. He struck me, and I retaliated in kind. My regeneration outpaced his, but he had greater raw strength and the infernal fire that spewed from his maw. The beast within me bit into his flesh, devouring chunks to restore itself, driving the demon into a frenzy.

Another torrent of flames roared toward me, but it no longer hurt. The beast smiled wide, taunting him.

"Where did you get such power?" Hellborn asked, staring at me with disbelief. One of his wings was torn in half, his body riddled with wounds, and half his face destroyed, revealing raw, pulsing muscle.

The beast couldn't speak, and instead lunged forward in an unrelenting assault. Hellborn stumbled, stepping backward.

"Wait, wait! Let's make a deal. I'll send you back to Earth—just spare me!" Hellborn begged.

"But the time for negotiation has passed. You deceived me, and now you will die." Though he couldn't hear my thoughts, satisfaction coursed through me at the silent declaration.

Charging at him, I unleashed a flurry of powerful strikes from all angles. Hellborn struggled to keep up, his defenses faltering. My blows grew more precise, breaking through his armor until one struck deep, penetrating his torso. Hellborn howled in agony, but I didn't stop. Blow after blow battered him, spilling more of his blood.

In a desperate gambit, he conjured a wall of fire, obscuring himself from view. But as the flames subsided, I spotted his trail—a long, bloody path leading away. It didn't take long to track him.

The castle lay in ruins, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings. He had slumped against a statue, barely holding himself upright.

"Don't kill me. I'll send you back to Earth and tell you where my treasure hoard is," he pleaded again.

I didn't believe a word. This was just another ploy to buy time. I didn't stop the beast as it approached and drove its fist into his head, ending him. Hellborn's lifeless body sagged in my grip. The beast sniffed at him, then plunged its claw into his chest, searching for something.

Moments later, it pulled out a glowing orb of energy, flickering like fire, and devoured it greedily. Power surged through me, flooding every fiber of my being. My skin turned crimson, and then, suddenly, it ignited. Flames poured from my nostrils, and it felt as though my insides were ablaze.

A thunderous roar erupted from my chest, shaking the heavens and marking my victory—and ascension.

"Well done. You exceeded my expectations," came a voice. The demon reappeared, now a swirling mist with glowing red eyes.

The beast lunged at him but passed through harmlessly.

"Such hunger for battle—you're perfect," Trigon said, his tone almost gleeful. Shadows darted toward me, writhing and slithering around my form.

"I'll send you to Earth as my general. There, you'll establish a foothold for my invasion."

I fought desperately against the unseen force but to no avail. The shadows tightened, binding my limbs and seizing control of my body.

I had anticipated his treachery, but not like this. My desire to return home had blinded me. He had deliberately shown me my family, baiting me into his trap. Now I was paying the price.

A cage formed in my mind, imprisoning me. But the beast was not restrained; instead, it absorbed the shadows, growing stronger and more feral. Primal rage and bloodlust consumed me as I could only watch, powerless to intervene.

My appearance transformed as well. My eyes burned with fiery intensity, mirroring Trigon's. My arms became monstrous, like those of Hellborn, and soon my entire body was encased in demonic armor.

The transformation ended with a deafening roar of fire, shaking the earth.

"Excellent, child. Now destroy Nabu, and I shall step into this pitiful world," Trigon commanded.

"Yes, father," the words escaped my lips involuntarily.

The space around me fractured, and a vortex began pulling me in. The tunnel twisted and groaned, resisting my passage but ultimately yielding. Some unseen force sought to reject me, yet it accepted me as part of this world once again.

The tunnel collapsed behind me as I emerged into a dense forest. Landing with a fiery crash, I left a smoldering crater in the earth.

"Brother, the Tower of Fate is near," whispered the shadow beneath my feet.

My body accelerated to its maximum speed, tearing through the forest. Trees splintered into shards, unable to withstand my charge. I burst into a clearing where nothing seemed to be present, but my momentum carried me straight into an invisible barrier.

A door materialized in the air, covered in glowing symbols. The demon controlling my body began hammering it with unrelenting force. The barrier cracked under the sheer weight of his blows.

"Who dares disturb my sanctuary?" echoed a voice from all directions.

A portal opened in the sky, and from it descended Doctor Fate, his form radiating authority.

"A pathetic demon dares attempt to breach the Tower of Fate? None shall enter without my permission," he declared, his hands glowing with mystical energy.

"We shall see," the demon growled in response.

"I will send you back to hell!" Fate shouted as beams of energy erupted from his hands.

The demon retaliated with a torrent of flames, exhaled from his maw. The opposing forces collided in midair, locked in a stalemate. Neither side gained ground, each pushing against the other's strength.

"The power of Order is with me," said Doctor Fate as his energy surged, overwhelming the demon's flames.

The orderly energy lashed against the demon's armor, cracking it with ease. Fissures formed along its surface, and the arm the demon raised in defense began disintegrating—flesh burned away, leaving only bone. The power of Order inflicted significant damage on the demon's essence.

The cage imprisoning me shook violently. Sensing an opportunity, I struggled to break free.

"Brothers, I need help! The mortal is trying to escape," the demon called out.

Suddenly, the tide shifted. Shadows surged toward Doctor Fate, attacking him from all sides. Though he confidently fought them off, the assault gave the demon time to recover. His wounds healed, and his armor repaired itself. The cage over my mind solidified once more, sealing me inside.

The demon launched an assault on Doctor Fate, engaging him in close combat. Fate struggled with melee combat, relying heavily on his defensive wards, which crumbled under relentless strikes. With a powerful blow, the demon shattered his shield, striking Fate's head and sending him tumbling away.

"Enough," Fate growled as he regained his composure. Multiplying himself, he surrounded the demon with clones.

The clones unleashed magical whips that bound the demon's body.

"I summon the power of Order!" Fate shouted, unleashing another torrent of energy.

But the attack had lost its potency. The demon's armor had adapted, absorbing the brunt of the magic. Tearing through the chains, he slowly advanced toward the true Doctor Fate, seizing him by the throat. Fate struggled, striking back with all his strength, but his efforts grew weaker with each passing moment.

"It's over. You've lost," the demon sneered.

"Not yet," Fate replied, summoning an entirely different form of attack. A surge of energy struck the demon, hurling him backward.

In the chaos, Doctor Fate retreated toward the door, vanishing behind it. In the sky, the Tower of Fate revealed itself, surrounded by glowing magical circles radiating various forms of energy.

"And this is the mightiest sorcerer?" the demon scoffed, undeterred. With a smirk, he turned his attention back to the door, methodically tearing it apart, unbothered by the tower's defenses.