"Now Hwang Y/N, are you interested in having me as a guardian and source of power?"
You stare at the demon before you in shock, "Why are you asking me this?" The serpent hissed softly as it locked eyes with you, "The old gods are dead, and I have my days numbered while I stay here for more than a millennium." You place your hands on your hips as you shift your weight on the other feet. "And what does it have to do with me?"
"You were brought here by another celestial being, and made you lose that arm." You tilt your head as you look at the tendril that's snugly wrapped around your arm, "You want to know why?"
Its tail pointed at the resting tendrils behind your back, "Because that thing, sees everything."
"And it's about time we do something about those angels who dared to touch your family."
You pondered for a moment, your hands rest against your hips as you shift your weight to your other foot. "And if I allow you to my source of power?" The Neolithic demon grinned widely as it rests its head against the water. "What would happen to me if I let you?"
"Well little one, my abilities would be passed on to you, " Neosirth leaned close, "And I will be tied to you as you use my abilities at your disposal and I will become your guardian."
"And if I don't?"
"The answer is clear," The demon replies, "I will rot to nothingness."
You paused as you weigh your choices, part of you wanted to take it all-too-willingly for the sake of helping Irene to keep your family and loved ones safe, and part of you is suspicious on what else this serpent has in store of its offer, tendrils from your spine pulsed calmly as the points turn to your direction, as if waiting for a reply as the other one that is wrapped around your bicep pulsed in harmony with the ones at your back.
You huff in revelation as you plant your foot against the wet ground and locked eyes with the gargantuan serpent, "Can I trust you?"
The demon merely chuckled, "We were once the most trusted beings, little one. Have a little faith in me."
Gulping down hard, you raise your open palm at the demon, "Then I accept your offer." The serpent grinned widely, showing its vicious large sharp teeth as its body circled you as if caging you from escaping such a deal.
"Are you sure with your choices, mortal?" It asks again as it looms above you. "If I die, you'll die too and vice-versa."
"I.." You paused before inhaling sharply, "I'm confident with my choice."
The posture of the demon became poised as it straightens its back, "Very well," Neosirth leaned its snout close to your front as your intact hand touches the dry scales. The serpent's form began to turn to crimson liquid red, like blood as it wraps around your still-intact hand before traveling all over your body, its tendrils coiled tightly around you before piercing the skin, making you reel in pain and shock as your body felt like it was ignited with flames, you let out a pained yelp as the tendril that's coiled on your severed arm singed the flesh.
The excruciating pain brought you down to your knees, the water splash and slosh around you, rendering its cool useless as it did nothing to soothe your burning body.
Deafening screams and splashes of water echoed in the empty area as you felt fire run through your veins as red crystals form on your severed arm expanding until it looks like an arm posterior, the muscle fibers twitching with every move you make as your groans become muffled, a silver mask shields your eyesight as the burning sensation became a blur, your body no longer tensing, pulse calming down, breath evening as you regain your bearings. You stare at your reflection, mouth agape as your face is covered by an eyeless metallic mask, but despite that, you can still see yourself.
You noticed that you no longer wear outdoor clothing, but a black robe exposing your alabaster skin, the cold metal tendrils wrapped around your neck, your eyes widen as shock settles in. In between your neck as a long cut traveling down your chest, your former severed hand now intact, revealing gray tendrils that looked similar to your veins.
(This is what I had in mind for your form, except the color of your hair stays black, but it depends on you.)
You stare at your reflection again before looking up to see the moon turned black as its edges became crimson red, you jolt as you hear dark Gregorian chant echoing, Neosirth hissed, you turn to see the demon now looking like a normal snake, except it looked frail, the scales now falling off as it slithers towards you and stopped when it's only a meter away from you and bowed.
"All hail, Ovarielle, the harbinger of judgment."
The water rumbled to reveal a black bladed rapier, its blade glinted solemnly against the glow of the crimson moon. You stare at it with awe as your hands reach out for it.
Black glacier immediately glazes the handle as you held the rapier. Neosirth raises its head again, "By my promise, you shall take over with my abilities."
You turn to the former demon, "And what about you?"
"Solitude is something I enjoy, Ovarielle." It replies as its skin began to turn to stone, "I shall join you once we return to the mortal realm."
You called out for the serpent, yet your calls are silenced as the water swallows your form.
_____________________
You gasped as you arose from the dark loam, you immediately turned to your former severed hand, heart-swelling in exultation as it's now intact, revealing the Persephone ring that Irene gave you...Right...
You stand up and dusted the soil off from your attire, ooh, and you're still wearing the same robe, you look at the long cut traveling down your chest. You crane your neck to examine your surroundings, the cold tendrils stinging your neck as you move. Sighing in annoyance as you realized you're still at the same place where you almost died, you turn and almost stumbled as your hands immediately grasp the pommel of the rapier that's sticking out of the ground. You take the weapon examining it as you ignore the fact that it feels awkward against your hold.
"I might ask Irene for help on this one, " You mumbled, "That is if I manage to get the hell out of here."
The blade stared back at you mischievously as an idea pops into your mind, "Now about these abilities."
With a smirk, you take the blade with you as you walk towards the dense forest, "It's about time I get revenge on that ugly-ass snake for biting my arm off."
The red centerpiece of the sword glowed and pulsed as you raise it, and take an experimental slash against the poor tree, the bark cutting in half as it starts to either and decay, black dust oozed from your arms as you unintentionally materialized Irene, Jiah, and Jiwoo. You sighed as you look at the humanoid black dust, "Don't fret, I will come back to you, I promise."
The dust then falls onto the marsh soil as you walk past them, ears straining to hear any clues of the creature's whereabouts, your robe flowing with every movement, your mask providing you with protection from the harsh winds as you walk deeper into the forest.
And just then before you know it, you hear multiple hisses and stomps, your eyes lit up in carnal delight as you spot a familiar shadow, your back pulsed as red-scaled tendrils protrude from your skin, curling as it sensed a threatening presence. The multi-headed snake whirls its head to face you, grinning widely as it had found its prey.
With animalistic instinct, all six heads charged towards you as you dodged the nearest snakehead and raised your rapier, and brought it down with full force, the head lands on the ground with a soft thud as its body began to decay, the other heads hissed and snarl as the decapitated body raises.
"Idiot, once you cut its head another one will take its place." Another voice interrupts inside your head, "Neosirth?"
"Correct, now about the hydra-"
The multi-headed snake immediately lunged towards you again, snapping its jaw as red tendrils block off the head, you heard soft whines and a loud thud as black tendrils protrude from its ugly scales, your tendrils spread out to reveal the hydra now helplessly laid on the ground, you feel poison run through its body, decapitated head no longer regenerating as it's body began to decay.
You felt something slither on top of your shoulder, "I did not expect that, that thing usually regenerates at an unholy fast rate."
"Shame," Your voice became steely, "I expected more from an animal that bit my arm off."
"Now, now," Neosirth warned, "Calm down before you do something ugly."
You inhaled sharply as the tendrils began to dissipate, your rapier no longer pulsing as it sensed its owner is now at rest, before turning to black liquid and slithering on your arm, turning into nothing. "How do I get out of here?"
The snake lay its body at rest on your shoulder, "Use the black dust and materialize a pathway to the mortal realm."
"And if it doesn't work?"
"It should."
You rub your temple and sighed, "Alright," You take a deep breath as you feel your body pulsating, black sand oozed from your body as you picture the mortal realm. Lush forest, rich green leaves, fresh air, running river, your shared car, their laughter...
Neosirth straightens its posture, the pathway widening to reveal the colorful surrounding forest. Sighing in relief as you smell the earthy scent of your home realm, you felt your feet get soaked as you let out a lively chuckle, "Finally!"
"V-vixen?"
You froze as you hear a familiar voice, your hand palms the mask, the material clicks as you take it off from your face. You give them a soft smile as three figures stand with their jaws slacked, Irene's eyes faltered as she eyes your figure from head to toe, the twins, Jiah and Jiwoo looked at you with wide eyes with their mouths agape.
"Mom?!"
"Hello, everyone."