Crimson Rebellion

Location: Elysium, Throne of Heaven

Perdition sat upon the throne, patiently awaiting the moment when all of creation would fall to the will of Rakshasa. As Elysium continued to fold upon itself, poisoned by the Outer Darkness conjured by the True Void, the doors to the throne room opened with a deafening thud. Passing through the gates came two corrupted figures of identical shape and sizes. They were shadowy-like beasts clad head to toe in black leather attire. They wore high-collared vests that clung firmly to their bodies like straight-jackets and thick leather pants with black boots to match. The rattling noises from each step they took was from the metallic buckles stringing their outfits together along with metal chains wrapped around their shoulders. Crowing their attire were horned masks with spiked blindfolds obscuring their identities, their faces strewn with sick smiles showcasing razor sharp teeth. These individuals were once proud champions that defended Elysium; now they are but corrupted phantoms of their former selves made to serve the Lord of Horrors.

The leather beasts strung along a familiar face in chains who fought alongside the former King of Elysium before his premature demise; the figure often referred to as the Janitor—Pariah. The servants threw Pariah down to his knees before the throne. Taking a minute to steel himself, Pariah looked up to see the visage of his brother's guise; the duo locking eyes with one another for a time as a strong silence passed between them. To describe the emotions between the two were complex, beyond human comprehension as their relationship was a tumultuous one. However, both seemed to stare into the depths of one another's essences as if passing judgment on whose perspective was ultimately correct.

"Even with the fighting spirit awakened in the Son of Mercer, it matters little now," Perdition broke the silence, a cold and commanding tone of voice wafting from his lips.

"The throne is mine, and the heavens have fallen into shadow. Soon, even the Archaeus and the Oldest House will be consumed by the Tacet. The path to Azoth is nearly complete."

Pariah's response from his normally desolate, and sullen expression flashed with a smile as a glint of defiance filled his eyes.

"You always did love the sound of your own voice…but deep down, you were always just a mama's boy."

Perdition's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossed his face, "Coming from a nameless rat disowned by our creator? That is quite sanctimonious. You stand for a hopeless dream, a fool's errand and I should execute you right here and now."

However, Perdition paused that train of thought as a cruel smirk curled his lips.

"But no, I want you to suffer for your foolish ways. Become the monster that haunts those you seek to protect."

Perdition lunged from the throne grabbing Pariah by the neck and brutally slamming him into the ground. Tendrils of darkness erupted from the floor and wrapped around the Janitor as they liberated him from the Lord of Horrors' grasp and lifted him into the air, binding him tightly to the point where the chain restraints from before snapped off. As the restraints coiled tightly around his body, Pariah felt the dark influence of Rakshasa and the Outer Darkness seeped into him, his very essence eroding away. His body was slowly enveloped by that darkness as his shape was changing in real time; metamorphosing into a monster without sentience.

Pariah was beginning to lose consciousness. As the light within began to fade, his mind was sucked into a vision. He found himself standing in the halls of an unknown domain where a singular house was suspended over the emptiness of an endless white page. A female loomed before him, someone of divine renown considering their immaculate presence. She wore midnight blue and black robes with a conical hat that tilted to the side from being oversized.

"All-Mother…" he murmured as his eyebrow raised upon seeing her face. However, the woman shook her head as she smiled with that clever grin of hers that only the daughter of Akasha and the Sovereign of Cocytus could yield.

"No, not Akasha, but someone with a vested interest in your sorry existence right now," she replied with a sharp quip that felt strangely warm.

"You can feel the doomed future that tormented Raizo taking root within you; but deep down, you know you are not that monster. You are Pariah. The question becomes this: What legacy will that name leave behind?"

"That name…" Pariah whispered, the weight of which sunk heavily upon him.

In an instant, the lucid dream gave way to reality. He awakened to discover he was still bound by the darkness that was gradually consuming him. The blanketed corruption twisted his vessel into a beast with black flames draping down from his waist. Four black angel wings protruded from his back; one set from the upper shoulder area, the other pair was at the base of his spine. His chest was exposed revealing a pale white complexion of dead, ashen colored skin with defined musculature as a mysterious circular disk rested on his chest.

Long, white hair flowed down his back and danced in the formless wind as the sclera of his eyes were dyed black, his pupils glowing yellow while smears of black blood washed down his face. This monstrous form was the heralding of the awakening of a new Aspect of Rakshasha; however, Pariah fought to cling onto the essence of who he was even while the darkness tried to claim him.

"Now nameless rat, say that you are but a slave to Rakshasa!" Perdition taunted with a sense of victorious glee; but Pariah chuckled much to his disdain.

"And there he is again…a foolish little boy seeking the love of a mother who never gave a damn about him…" Pariah shot back as the echoing of chains within the tendrils shattered one after the other; the darkness poisoning him now ignited with his resolve.

"What are you doing, fool?!" the Lord of Horrors spoke whilst taken aback.

"Just as the Primordial God of Thunder burned his essence away to save the world… I will burn away the Outer Darkness you used to change me together with my essence to give rise to a power that can bring you down…"

"Stand down, you foolish ant, or I will…"

"Or you will what? You are but a speck of darkness doomed to be obliterated beneath the heel of the mother you foolishly serve! Against me, Perdition, you are a powerless child. I am no longer the lost soul wandering in the abyss. I am nameless no more. From the Void, I have risen–returning all horrors to the shadows from which they came. I stand as the Pariah of humanity and a guardian of men! Our flesh may be weak, but we refuse to kneel! The human race has fought for every moment of its survival! Do your worst, Dark Lord!"