First, he wasn’t there. His consciousness had spread like blown ashes, scattering within the dark winds of his mind.

Maya.

A name appeared, and slowly the ashes reignited into a flame that stretched and spread across the lands, bringing his consciousness back together.

Twelve pillars of ice lit up the dark surroundings, glowing as if there was a tiny sun within them. As he touched one, a memory surged within him like a bubble.

Then it popped.

#

He was a man sitting on a throne of skulls, tossing one high in the air, and catching it on his outstretched palms.

Od was growing bored of this. The Bureau had sent thousands of heroes to kill him. Thousands and none of them a challenge to him. To him, they were like ants.

Maybe it was time to just attack the Bureau and be done with it.

With that in mind, he stood up ready to rip a portal to that accursed planet.

But one opened in the distant. A woman with blue hair stepped out gracefully.

One look was all that was needed to know that the woman was powerful. Possibly the most powerful being he had ever had the pleasure to meet.

He did not know that he would fall in love with her.

#

Dalton shuddered and gasped, forcing himself to step back from the pillar. He looked at his shaking hands.

What was that?

The pillars were gone now. Ozul was floating next to him, tapping his fingers together rhythmically.

“What an odd memory.” Ozul stretched out his hand as if he were serving food. “Now watch my memory. You shall see my origin story, of how I got in this situation to begin with.”

He didn’t even have a say in it. He was immediately thrust into his memory.

#

It all began when he was a boy. His mother worked interdimensional, and his father the same.

The only people he saw were the servants of his mansion. A gift that his parents had given to him at birth.

When he turned five, that all changed. A woman walked through his gate. She wore a lavender silk dress and wore a white shawl. She looked as uptight as her blonde bun. Her red lips curled in a tight little smile when she spotted him.

He was small, hugged his teddy bear. His eyes were large and kind. He only wanted the world to be as kind as him.

It was brief but Dalton’s own words screamed high in the air.

Who the fuck is that? There’s no way that is Ozul!

The scene continued undisturbed.

“Who are you?”

The woman jutted her chin and used a finger to lift his to inspect his face.

“I am your new teacher. Your parents paid quite the fortune for me to tutor you.” She licked her lips. “How old are you boy?”

“I’m ten.” He rose his hand.

“Ten.” She nodded. “Boy, have you heard of Hikaru Genji?”

“No ma’am, but I’m ready to learn.” He pumped his arms. “I wish to bring blessing to this world.”

“Oh, you will bring blessing.” A lion’s hunger stretched across her face.

Ozul didn’t know then, but in eight years, she stole his virginity.

#

Dalton shook out his stupor, horrified to what he just witnessed.

Ozul looked pretty calm by this.

“And that is why I am in this situation.”

“You were groomed.” Dalton stated.

Ozul nodded. “Yes. That little boy who wished to help the world, was stripped of his innocence. That night was amazing. Only later did I find out that was a Star Witch, and it was then, I decided to bang all eight Star Witches.”

“That explains nothing.” Then Dalton took a step back, his face hardened. “Don’t tell me the stalker was a Star Witch?”

“No.” Ozul gave a sad smile. “She was just an apprentice to one. I was going to bang my way up to her. Turns out, that was the witch’s favorite disciple, and she cursed me so I would not be able to approach her.”

“That…explains everything actually.” It certainly explained why she was so powerful as a ghost.

“And now, I shall take control of your body, and find the remaining seven Star Witches.” He thumped his chest. “That is my goal. It looks like you will lose your virginity after all.”

“Shut up!” Dalton said. “No way you’re going to take my body! I killed you fair and square!”

“You used a ghost.” Ozul seethed.

“You had a ghost too! And you were possessed by it! I hate you so much, that I thought your possessed self was a better version of you.” Dalton spat.

“Doesn’t matter! I’m still taking control of your body, and I’m going to bang your girlfriend. Oh, I’m sorry, that’s just your hand, isn’t it?” He laughed.

Dalton swore he was never going to tell Ozul that his girlfriend was a Star Witch.

He assumed that Maya would-

“Oh, look at you again. You’ve already given up haven’t you?” Ozul said, checking his fingernails. “I can see in your eyes you are just going to let me take your body.”

Dalton shrugged. “What do you want, Ozul? Do you want me to struggle? Isn’t it better if you just take the body?”

“It would be better if you at least put up a struggle.” Ozul turned his gaze at him. His lips curled in disgust. “This is why I hate you. You just give up. Never even try yourself. Maybe that’s why your father fucked you so hard.”

His finger twitched. “Father? What do you know about him?”

“Somebody up top hired me to make your work life miserable,” Ozul answered. “She gave me a lot of money, but I have always despised you, Dalton Attewater.”

“You know who I am?”

Dalton was surprised. He was sure he hid it as well as he could. On his resume, he even used a different name.

He smiled. “You don’t even remember when we first met, do you?” Ozul put his hand to his chest. “I am Ozul Crezin.”

The silence lingered between them for a good minute.

“Who?”

Ozul’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t wait to take over your body. I saw your memories. I truly am surprised you have a girlfriend, and that she is one of the eight Star Witches I have so desired. I will make sure to give her a night that she will never forget.” He moved his tongue in a prerogative way.

That was enough for Dalton to move. A motive for him to strike Ozul hard in the face. Ozul sputtered on his back, and Dalton slammed his foot on his chest and pinned him.

“I will never let you take her!” Dalton yelled.

“Somebody has grown some balls.” Ozul wiped his nose. “It’s a good punch. It’s too bad that will be the only blow you get me with.”

His foot was grabbed and twisted. He was on the ground now, and Ozul straddled his chest, and pinned his arms under his weight. Ozul licked his lips, reeling his fist back.

“I’m going to enjoy this.”

His nose crunched. He didn’t have enough time to feel the pain because another blow came again.

Ozul kept repeated the process.

“Weak.”

Punch.

“So weak.”

Punch. Blood splatted on his face.

“You have a Star Witch backing you. I wonder what she sees in you?”

Dalton attempted to pull himself free. Ozul laughed at his futility.

Punch.

“She must see you as some puppy. Cute to look at.” His expression darkened. “That’s what mine did. She told me she loved me. She taught me so many things. Giving me a new world. Then, after taking my virginity, she decided she was done.”

Punch.

Ozul looked up at the heavens. “Witches don’t see us as anything other than amusement. Your Witch will eventually grow tired of you. She will abandon you just like I was.”

Something warm dropped on Dalton’s bloodied face. His left eye was swollen shut, and he could barely see from his right eye.

Ozul was crying.

He gave a shudder.

“I loved her!” He declared. “But she never loved me.”

“She loves me.”

Ozul looked back down, shocked at what Dalton had said. “Did you not hear anything I said?”

“She loves me,” Dalton said. “I believe her when she said that to me.”

Ozul threw up his head. His laughter was hysterical, echoing through the heavens. At the end, it became sad, filled with a sob in between laughs.

When he stopped, Ozul looked at Dalton with pity.

“And that’s why, you are weak. You’re a pet to her.” He reeled back his fist. The punch this time had rung Dalton’s brain. His vision shook, and something bubbled up his throat, overflowing from his mouth.

Ozul gazed at him in disgust. He stood up, stepping away from him. He raked his hair.

“Disgusting. Don’t worry. I will get my revenge on all those witches, even for a fool like you.” Ozul turned his back against him and started to walk away.

This was bad, his vision was fading. His body wouldn’t move. Dalton felt that if he did not stand up right now, then it was over. His body would forfeit to Ozul.

What do you want, Dalton?

He remembered Maya asking that question. Why was it, that he was thinking about that now?

You will never amount to anything. So, just listen to me.

His father’s voice rung heavy.

“I would like to be stronger.” Dalton stood on his shaking legs.

Ozul stopped and turned around. His lips parted. “What?”

“I would like to be stronger,” Dalton said again.

“Stronger? Have you lost it? The time to get stronger has passed.”

His first step was a slog. It took his breath away to take another step towards him.

Ozul just shook his head. “Of the times to be stubborn, why now?”

“I want to be stronger.” His voice grew more resolute.

“Stop it.”

“I want to be stronger!”

“Shut up.”

“Strong-” He gritted his teeth. “-er!”

“It’s damn too late for that!” Ozul snapped. He lunged at Dalton and they both fell to the ground. He rose his fist, threatening to repeat what he did to him again.

Dalton used his thumb and stabbed his eye. Ozul yelled in pain, holding his left eye. Blood seeped from the cracks of his fingers, dripping down.

This was his chance. Dalton pushed him. Ozul saw it coming. He backhanded him, whacking his temple. Pain and hate mixed in Ozul’s face. He bore his teeth like a dog ready to retaliate for being whipped too much.

“Fuck! You bastard!”

He couldn’t give up. Dalton tried again. Ozul would not let that happen. The blow this time had a lot more weight to it.

He had been holding back. Dalton realized.

“Fucking! Stop! It!” He threw blow after blow.

“No!” Dalton screamed. “I won’t give up! No more!”

“It’s too late!” Ozul screamed back.

Suddenly, it became dark. At first Dalton thought he had finally lost consciousness.

“What is this?”

Until he heard Ozul’s scared voice.

“What is going on, Dalton?”

Twelve Pillars of Ice erupted from the darkness, giving an ominous soft blue glow. Ozul had stood up, looking around in apparent confusion.

“What is this?”

His confusion gave Dalton the chance he was waiting for.

With the last of his strength, he made a desperate lunge. Ozul wasn’t prepared, but Dalton’s tackle was lower than he thought it would be. It hit him in the leg, but it was enough for him to stumble back into a pillar.

The pillar glowed, and the light transferred to Ozul’s head. He gave a gasp and shudder. Sweat dripped from his pale face. He fell to his knees.

“It can’t be.” Ozul shook his head. “You…you…”

He wasn’t sure why, but the pillars were causing him pain.

Dalton tackled him again, this time his head hit him in the chest, and his head hit the ice pillar. Dalton grabbed and pressed his head against it. More light transferred into him. His eyes turned white, and his mouth opened to let out a horrifying scream.

Ozul struggled to push Dalton off, but his attacks were weaker, and Dalton gritted his teeth in pain. His hands were getting colder, like the pillars were sucking out he warmth from them.

Finally, after a few minutes after Ozul had become quiet, Dalton pried his grip off his head. He fell to the ground, taking in a couple of breaths as he realized that Ozul was completely frozen.

His body crumpled into nothingness.

Light broke through the darkness, and it felt like the floor was lifting him.