REBORN

d bruised, but his spirit unbroken. The demons h

LSEEN. You have pas

ill disoriented. "What

ars and desires," the voice replied. "You must fa

was LILA, his girlfriend. But her eyes were diff

her voice husky and seductive. "I'

im. He felt a mix of emotions: love, lu

rworldly intensity. JAKE felt himself being pulled

ing?" he asked, his

voice dripping with mystery. "The truth about

ses of his soul. He saw visions of his past, his present, and his future. He saw the hig

sping for air. LILA's eyes still held him captive, b

s voice shaking. "I do

er. "You must face the truth, JAKE," she said. "

distort, like a mirror reflecting a broken image. JAKE saw him

ered, her voice echoing in his min

d. He felt himself being pulled towards it,

ething in her gaze that made his blood run cold.

red, his voice shaking. "You

ming with malevolence. "I am the guardian of this realm

until it was no longer human. It grew taller, its skin turning a deep, dark purple.

" it bellowed. "You will never es

o get away, to find a way back to the world he knew. But as he turned t

f adrenaline and kicked out with his other foot, connecting with the creature's

m. He could feel its hot breath on his neck, its claws snapping at h

skidded to a stop, his eyes scanning the dunes for an escape route. But th

ut, repelling the creature. He stumbled backwards,

unleashing another blast of energy. The creature stumb

it hissed. "But it

m, its eyes never leaving his face. He knew he had to keep

JAKE raised his hands, and a shield of energy materialized, defl

LSEEN," it said. "Most morta

was happening. He had always thought of himself

f, his energy shield holding strong. But he knew he c

the one that had guided him through the desert

," the voice whispere

ed his hands, and a blast of energy shot out, striking the creature with

ed across the desert, the creature's roars echoing behind him. But he didn't loo

ose to something.

The dunes grew taller and steeper, the sand becoming softer and more tr

his eyes fixed on the horizon, hi

him, its face etched with ancient symbols. JAKE'

he whispered, his voice b

KE knew he had to move fast. He sprinted towards

gy shot out, repelling the creature. JAKE s

ple was