The Genesis Game

Volume I of "The Genesis Game" can be found at tiny.cc/AmazonTGG

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Announcements**

Volume II will be removed on February 1st to launch on Amazon and will be free through Kindle Unlimted. Volume III will continue to post on Web Novel.

(Sorry guys, but this story pays for my son's therapies)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seraph raised his head trying to find the voice, the effort exhausting as he peered into the darkness, not seeing anything and shook his head in frustration trying to clear his thoughts. Over the past few weeks, he had struggled to maintain his sanity, imaging many voices and conversations. Plagued by illusions. The lack of contact with anyone else slowly driving him insane from isolation.

From the other side of the room, Seraph heard the snap of two fingers as a blue flame appeared in the hands of a demon. "Perhaps you didn't hear me, little brother. You owe me a soul, andI've come to collect on your debt." Said Beezelbub, the Harlequin Demon Prince, his low as the words stalled in the frozen air, fixing Seraph with a look of malicious mirth, seeming to enjoy the pitiful sight of the imprisoned man.

Returning the look, Seraph stared into the eyes of the demon, the effort of raising his head leaving him more tired and exhausted then he was before. The very effort of trying to lift himself up taxing all of his strength, as the iron restraints that bound him and shackled him to the wall hindered his movements and weighed him down. In a broken voice, Seraph responded, his words raspy and dry. "I had wondered if you would come for me Beezlebub. I was uncertain if these walls of my prison would stop you. I have nothing to give you, I cannot pay the debt. I've no power here to collect. My hands are figuratively and literally restrained."

"The payment of debts has its own rules Seraph that must be repaid. You should know that better than most. I wouldn't say there's not anything you can do for me Seraph. I can still gain plenty from you." Replied the Demon Price as he stepped forward, the light in his upraised hand illuminating his face, showing the yellowed teeth running over with saliva that dripped down onto the edges of his Harlequin outfit, staining where it landed.

"So what then demon?" Asked Seraph wearily, letting his head slump down trying to find a moment of rest before the chains forced him back up and stole it from him. "You're going to do what? Take my soul instead? Kill me? Do what you want demon, it would be a favor."

The demon snarled. "Self-pity is not a good look on you genocider." Replied the demon in harsh critique. "I have seen the same thing that all of those who have condemned you have seen. Your hands are stained with more blood then my own. I've seen what your capible of, what you are, and what you can become. I am willing to negotiate alternative terms of your debt to me"

Seraph said nothing in response, angering the demon prince. "You stand there, sullen and angry, yet you do nothing. You do nothing knowing this world is doomed without you, and yet what do you do? You choose now to fall into a depressive malaise and the trap of self-pity? No little brother. I refuse to accept that. You will do so much more than that, I demand it."

"I'm not going to help you destroy this world demon. I won't trade one monster for another, one end for another." Resisted Seraph as he rebuked the demon.

"Why? Because I'm a demon and demons are evil. Don't be so simple little brother. My motives are pure. I crave that which I d.e.s.i.r.e, vengeance and retribution. Everything ends if humanity loses the game, everything, and for my brothers and I, we would be banished back to the formless void to wait for eons for another world to form before we can venture forth again. My motives are pure, I look out for myself." The demon snapped bitterly.

The demon walked forward, removed a glove from its hand as tiny bells rang, and grasping Seraphs chains with the uncovered hand, inspecting the links in the chain for weaknesses and flaws. Eventually finding whatever it had been looking for and channeled power through its hands, melting down the metal even as the heat burned Seraph's skin and caused the room to mist up.

Without the restraints to hold him up, Seraph fell to the ground.. In his state of perpetual exhaustion, he lacked the strength to stand, collapsing on his hands and knees. "Why did you free me a demon? What's your goal. Why are you helping me?"

The demon looked at Seraph oddly before replying. "I have the same goal as every living, breathing thing. I want to live and live well. Tell me Seraph, when you wield a weapon, do you clean it after use? Do you polish the blade and clean the rifle? Or do you let your tools languish and rust just because you can't or don't use them currently? You are the same to me."

"Well, I guess thank you for saving me, but I find it hard to believe its that simple. You'll have to forgive me if I still think you have an ulterior motive." Replied Seraph as he felt his body rapidly gaining strength, finally removed from his restraints.

"Of course I have an ulterior motive Seraph, I'm a demon. But I don't d.e.s.i.r.e the end of the world, neither do I d.e.s.i.r.e Hell on Earth or whatever other fantasy about the evil you humans have concocted. I want you to join us, not as this human you are, but as your true self, the Angel of Darkness, the Black Seraph. Even now I can see vestiges of your true self peaking through this disguise you wear. We want you to ascend and join the ranks of Demon Princes, and when this game is over, rule the world alongside us." Explained the Demon Prince as it walked towards the center of the room and began to disappear.

It's last words as it vanished were "By helping you, we help ourselves."

Where it had been, a set of heavy armor dropped, dark and swirling with images of the profane and a large spear with a black obsidian head. Without waiting for instructions, Seraph put the armor plate on and tested the balance of the spear. "Perfect," He said out loud as the door to his cell opened.