The Children of Zegandaria - Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov (world best books to read txt) 📗

of the monopoly imposed by Om Gur Nal.

He thought neither of Milo, who was almost like a brother to him, nor of Averia Downs, whom he considered his younger sister. He just wanted to move on - as if by inertia. To accomplish the mission he considered his own. To win - at any cost! Even with treachery!

But even here he felt like an alien - he would do everything in his power to turn his expectations into reality and do something with his life, because with Shame there was simply no prospect of any future.

He suffered and felt nostalgic for his time with him, realizing that doing so doomed him, but he had his own skin to think about.

He crept across the entirety of Enzok Ra, past the futuristic looking and beautiful structures of the supertall buildings and massive halls. He also looked around Ecclestone's establishment. Somewhere in there, broken western bottles full of cocktails were rolling around and there were horny whores blatantly eyeing him. He very carefully walked past them and went to the other End of the square. He shouldn't have attracted undue attention.

Then he sank into the darkness.

Om Gur Nal wanted the information from him specifically, not for anything else, but because of his closEness to Shame. They had to squeeze at least a little more.

Their chief was totally overwrought and depressed and wouldn't last much longer - they had to deal with him somehow.

Big John reported back to Om Gur Nal absolutely everything he knew - what weapons handling knowledge Shame had, where they were getting the dope, where exactly they were dealing it and at what prices, and also who the rival gangs were.

Om Gur Nal listened where he listened languidly where he didn't. These things concerned him comparatively less-yes, Shame's turnover was respectable-he was making at least a hundred thousand credits a week, or about five million a year, which was extraordinary-but Om Gur Nal didn't want them sniffing around him, and in particular getting at certain ideas, such as that the financial pyramid went through the people of the Om Gur Nal.

Equius - in other words, Shame was working for him, but he thought he was running shano[51].

Soon he was faced with quite a complex task - he had to choose between friendship and the real goal of becoming somebody.

He chose the latter. Om Gur Nal had the foresight to chip away at his consciousness in the right way too. Things were eventually falling into place.

Big John had gorged himself on virtual courage dope and felt his balls were about to burst like balloons. Om Gur Nal had his men secure the chip in his cerebral cortex and he felt strength and power.

- "I'll give you access to the fourth level of virtual reality," the overlord told him without blinking an eye. "But you should know one thing - it's there for the real players. Let's see how much you're worth."

The depth of his perceptions sharpEned and he began to see things differently - he also grasped that Om Gur Nal wanted to wipe everyone out. He was just groping from afar. And very slowly.

DEATH COMES TO THE ASTEROID

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: DEATH COMES TO THE ASTEROID

 

Gabriel was a true man's man, a hair's breadth away from her sure grave, and she continued to explore the tiny asteroid Izod Sin with the conviction of a conqueror. Soon she found something astonishing. In the distance she glimpsed a dead demon who had obviously been struck down by something terrifying. She approached to examine his corpse. It just wasn't that impressive, but it was still about two and a half meters tall, had elongated arms and webbed toes with huge claws. It was obvious that he was one of the lower demons of Ronwe's rank, the infernal policeman.

Beside him was a small memorial plaque engraved with, "Corruption Demon Xaphan - Former Fallen Angel Zagan"

The rest of the text was unreadable due to the fact that someone had forcibly erased it. But internally, Gabriel realized something.

The demons wanted this asteroid not as some kind of capitol, but as a starting point! But to what?

You looked at the demon's bulging eyes - they were dead, and the scariest thing was that the terror was still there - pervasive and confusing to your senses.

Many things had gone through Gabriel's head, including the demise of her lover, but for the first time she wondered what e demon to die? What was it like to come to this end?

She'd heard of the angel of death, Samael, but she had no idea who was in charge of demon souls.

Demons possessed a soul too, but this demon's soul was obviously taken by someone else.

Gabriel managed to find spare compressed air capsules for his suit.

He continued forward convincingly with the momentum of a true lioness. He knew he shouldn't be distracted or waste a second of his precious time.

So many things had piled on her head.

She also had other dangers to deal with, such as far over the ridges she sensed someone's presence. It was as if someone or something was watching her - there was no doubt that it would be here soon!

Soon a brutal feeling of sadness and hopelessness came over her - there was no escape from this trap.

Invisible eyes watched her very closely - she sensed danger looming.

Valak had actually decided to take matters into his own hands and not give Hans a chance to realize clearly and realistically what was happening. Pruflas had only been sent to distract and keep him busy while the real things were actually happening. He had read the formulas in his mind and knew that the scientist was dooming them to certain doom. But he'd also seen that their safety was assured when the asteroid passed. And he decided to act without waiting very long.

Gabriel soon realised that brutal images, probably caused by the demonic presence, were surfacing in her mind.

Somewhere in there, she caught a glimpse of their faces - they were approaching her with the savage grimaces of predator-conquerors. Everything would fall into place soon enough. Gabriel was cunning - she immediately grabbed the small plaque with the inscription and hid it behind her back. The tile wasn't particularly heavy - maybe half a kilo or so, but still, things were different in open space.

The demons bared their teeth brutally, eager to tear it apart piece by piece.

Valak appeared from somewhere, screaming:

- Take her alive and bring her to me! Now!

Demon flesh with the potential to sweep away an entire elite human army began to pour out of the secret portal of the shrine.

It was very frightening to listen to the endless thrashing, snorting, and brutal roars of these bizarre creatures.

Valak was a proud leader and as such kept them at bay.

Hans would stay in the Hellmouth until further notice so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. Valak had fucked him very, very hard! And he was proud of himself!

Gabriel felt like she was perishing and everything was going to hell - this was her chance to get out of the brutal trap of these damn freaks who were trying anything to get to her!

Things were the same here - so much hatred had built up in the souls of the demons that they were giving sweetly and dearly to be able to escape the hellish reality they were in.

Gabriel had a small laser cutter and managed to mow down the first demon with a brutal flick of the wrist. The monster snorted and died for good.

But his companions were much more cunning and poisoned. They didn't lunge recklessly forward, but growled from afar like a pack of nasty hyEnas out hunting for live carrion.

Valak wanted to penetrate her soul, to feel her mood and see how she had to deal with the sinners once and for all! Yes he would do it at the cost of everything!

Demons loved feasting on human souls - it suited them and made them truly alive!

Gabriel hid behind a rock - she knew they would catch her and be able to kill her very easily.

She could almost feel their presence now.

There was nothing terrible about a quick and painless death. But the demons would torment her before they finished her off. That was the way it had to be, and that was the way it would be!

A moment later she felt something peculiar in her head, voices whispering to her of death - uncharacteristically treacherous they were.

She heard all the worst things that could be heard. It wasn't a problem to die in hellish agony anyway, but at least she could deal with the damned things. It would give her soul some comfort.

Somewhere out there, Agares was chuckling derisively, but he was in no hurry to join the fight, just watching the seer.

Not least of all so many demons to deal with a nothing and no woman.

She was terrified because the disgusting creatures were so brazen and would soon achieve their goal.

She squeezed her eyes shut and swung the blade. And again, and again, and again, and again.

There were wheezing sounds and she felt the demon blood flood her like a river.

But then a powerful hand grabbed her and squeezed like a pair of pincers.

She had never felt so much pain. She couldn't catch her breath, struggling violently in convulsive spasms.

Valak roared:

- Let her go! Now!

She collapsed and began spitting blood into her own suit. It was terrifying.

- My girl, your human race will soon perish! And I'm definitely going to learn some things from you! Remember my face well! Because you're going to Hell!

The demons around roared fiercely! They could feel death approaching!

So many things were about to happen. Then it occurred to Gabriel to just kill herself.

When she felt like doing it, however, she somehow hung the tile she had strapped to her back. She felt a warming sensation and something seemed to nudge her. The tile seemed to move.

Suddenly she looked around - she was in a completely different place. Everything in her mind spoke of something very special - she wouldn't mind knowing the secrets of death!

THE DOOM OF THE DEMON

 

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: THE DOOM OF THE DEMON

 

Some consider death a blessing, others a deliverance. But there are those for whom it is the only possible solution. Everything had to happen more or less in its natural order.

When the tile worked, Gabriel felt the essence of death. He felt the whiff of oblivion and finally, felt what it was to long for