The light recedes.
It’s dark. Pitch black.
I flip on my headlights, flooding the large stone chamber with golden rays. A bloodied figure leans against the wall—huge, easily nine feet tall, with dark red skin.
A demon?
He shields his eyes from my high beams with his only good arm.
Whoops. I switch to low beams.
The demon raises his head, blinking against the dim light.
"Sire? Sire, is it really you? Blast it... I didn't have enough mana after all. Nothing—" COUGH!
Blood spills from his mouth, dripping through his fingers. He doesn’t have long.
I roll forward cautiously. The ground is solid, but uneven—cobblestone?
I curve around so that my driver-side door faces him. It’s strange. I’ve never had this much control over myself before.
It feels like I can control every part of myself—like a real body.
I open the driver’s door and switch on the cab light.
"What manner of beast are you?"
The demon looks confused.
"Can you understand me?"
I honk as briefly as I can to signal my reply. The demon flinches, then winces in pain. My bad.
“Then perhaps the summon did work… a little.” He lifts a shaking hand, palm up. A hologram flickers to life from a small magic circle.
"I guess rather than the Demon King, I only had enough to summon his steed..." His eyes narrow. "Still, I sense a great, dark power inside you. I can tell... you've shed the blood of many heroes— Gah!"
He retches violently, blood splattering his chest.
The hologram flickers—revealing four figures walking down a dark corridor. The leader is dressed in robes, a large brimmed hat, and a staff- sigh. Looks like we have a full fledge Gandalf. What's he going to do, burst in here and declare-
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"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"
Gandalf’s voice thunders through the summoning hall. Like, his actual voice. Was that my radio??
The demon’s eyes go wide.
Then—he grins. A wild, manic grin.
“YES! YES! You understand our situation perfectly! You are a fine demon! Let us make our final stand here! In the name of the Demon King!”
He laughs hysterically, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.
He leans forward, raises his arm and with the force of a cannon slaps the open cab door shut. My whole body shakes. A bloody handprint now stains my plain white exterior like a demonic logo.
His head droops. "Please," he whispers. "Avenge us." And then—he dies.
Wow. That was the most epic high five I've ever-
BOOM!
The doors blast open behind me, sending wooden shards and stone debris bouncing off my metallic body.
Smoke. Rubble. Chaos. And then—footsteps.
Through the dust, four figures emerge.
The warrior, now in front, raises his sword.
“Come forth, Demon King! Your reign of terror ends here!”
Silence. “Huh? Is that... a delivery truck?” The mage leaps forward, grabbing the warrior’s shoulder.
“Don’t be fooled, Kassian! I can sense immense dark energy from that thing! It might be a temporary form, or a failed concealment spell—we must stop it before the summoning ritual finishes! Everyone, quick! Formation B!" The heroes vanish—splitting up so fast, I lose sight of them.
I pull forward, trying to get a better look—and figure out how the hell to explain myself.
"NOW! BINDING VINES!" The mage shouts, his staff raised high above his head. A bright green magic circle flares to life beneath me.
Instinct kicks in.
I floor it in reverse.
KUTHUMP!
I clear the circle—but I definitely ran over something.
"AAAHH! I’VE BEEN HIT!" A small-framed boy dressed in black rolls across the ground, clutching a broken leg.
"Impossible!" the healer gasps. "He can see through Symon's stealth?"
Okay. These guys aren’t one to talk things out.
The magic circle erupts, huge vines explode from the ground, in thick columns reaching up the ceiling.
I flip it into drive.
"Gotta go fast!"
SERIOUSLY, WHAT IS UP WITH MY RADIO?!
No way am I sticking around for another spell like that—I gun it.
My tires squeal as I round the column of vines, drifting like a pro. It’s been ages since I’ve done a proper doughnut!
As I come around the bend, the mage and Kassian snap into view.
“SOLAR FLARE!” I flip on my high beams, flooding the room with blinding light.
"Look out!" Kassian shouts. He dives to shove the mage out of the way just before I blow past them.
For a brief moment, time slows.
Kassian turns back, his face finally clear as day.
"NANI?!" My radio chimes.
His eyes go wide with realization. He looks like he’s trying to say something—but I don’t stop.
The doorway looms ahead.
It’s gonna be a tight fit.
I slam through at full speed, metal screeching as my frame scrapes through the narrow passage.
Then—I’m free.
I continue barreling down the grand hall of the demon’s castle.
"NUMBER 5 IS ALIVE! NUMBER 5 IS ALIVE!" SHUT UP, YOU STUPID RADIO!
But… there was no denying it.
That was definitely my body back there.
???? To Be Continued
