Other humans

I looked at my bloodied mess of a hand with a look of disbelief for a split second, but that quickly changed into a wide smile, from which I started laughing like an absolute maniac.

It's been so long since I've felt like this.

Since I felt... challenged.

This demon is way stronger than me.

So strong, in fact, that there's no way for me to defeat him right now.

Snapping me out of my daze, the demon spoke:

"What the Hell are you laughing about, crazy human? Did losing your hand make you lose your mind, too?"

"Hehe, sorry about that. I just thought about how this is the first that in years that I've truly felt alive." I replied.

"Alive? You're in Hell, you're as dead as one can be. I guess you truly did go insane."

"You wouldn't get it." I mumbled.

Although I did truly feel alive right now, I was also pretty much screwed.

As I said, there was no way for me to defeat the demon right now.

Maybe if I had a weapon capable of piercing its skin, but not like this.

And I was pretty sure that death in here wouldn't mean that I'd really die, I was pretty sure I'd respawn inside the fire pit again.

And I wanted anything but that.

I will have to gamble and try to lose him in one of the narrow streets on the side.

The demon was probably faster than me, but not by much, as for a split second I managed to see a genuine look of surprise on his face at the speed of my earlier attack.

But before I could try to run away, the demon started bombarding me with his own attacks.

His movements were faster than anyone who I've ever thought against.

At Least in reality.

Back on Earth, I could use virtual reality to simulate fights against opponents stronger than me.

Although it didn't feel anything like a real fight, it was a great means of training. And that training would sure come in handy now.

Using the experience and reaction speed I've accumulated over my years back on Earth, I was able to just barely dodge the demon's attacks. The attacks were indeed fast, but the demon lacked technique.

With each blow I dodged the demon grew more and more frustrated.

But I couldn't keep this up for long.

I needed an opening to escape.

Just as I thought that, the demon lunged at me with his fastest attack yet, which I couldn't dodge completely, so I decided to sacrifice what remained of my hand.

As he flew by me, my hand torn off, I dashed off into the narrow streets nearby, taking a series of complicated turns in an attempt to shake the demon off.

As I was navigating the narrow spaces, I noticed a group of four humans in the streets, which, unlike me, seemed to have some sort of basic clothes on.

This was perfect.

With some luck, the demon would give up on me and go after these humans.

Having decided on a plan, I rushed in the direction of the humans.

As I was passing through them, I snatched away a simple shirt from one of them, then continued running for about a hundred more meters.

Then I stopped for a second to tie the shirt around my arm to stop the bleeding, therefore making sure that there would no longer be a blood trail left behind wherever I go.

Then, hearing a few humans scream in the distance, I decided to quickly take off and find a place to hide.

After having run a few kilometers away, I decided to take a rest in one of the abandoned ashen houses.

Well, that was just a pretense, really.

Ever since I ran past that group of humans, no, since I started fighting the demon, I could feel an another human's eyes on my back.

And if a human wanted to fight me, I'd probably be able to face off against them.

Although I couldn't say that for sure, since some people in Hell might as well be thousands of years old.

Sensing a presence behind one of the windows, I spoke:

"You can show yourself"

From behind the window appeared a tall, slim figure, with feminine features. Her head was adorned with orange hair which reached all the way down to her waist. Accompanying it lay two emerald eyes, and an intimidating look on her face. Dressed in a simple leather tunic, although a bit fancier that the humans I saw before, she held a sai dagger in each of her hands.

Those may pose a bit of a problem, I thought.

Opening her mouth, she finally spoke:

"So, what the Hell do you think you're doing? Luring a demon towards my underlings."

"Oh, so sorry for that, I had no idea, and it was my only option to escape."

There was nothing else I could really do.

And not that I really cared for the lives of a few random humans that I knew nothing about.

Then she continued talking, trying to suppress her anger.

"Normally I'd kill you on the spot, but having witnessed your fight with the demon makes this all the more complicated. Just from that short brawl I can tell that you're strong, and ridiculously so. And, as much as it pains me to have lost my loyal members, this is just too good an opportunity to pass by."

"Surely you don't expect me to just follow you like that" I replied.

"Of course not. But I have something you very desperately need, considering you just crawled out of that pit not long ago. Which also surprised me, since I haven't seen many others, other than myself and my right hand man, who'd be able to crawl out of that hellhole."

"So let me guess, what you can offer me is information."

"Bingo. If you just help me and my gang out I'll tell you anything that you want to know."

This was the perfect opportunity for me. In fact, this deal was way more worth it for me than for her. Not only could I use the information that she gave me, if I play my cards right, I could use the entirety of her group to help me achieve my goals.

"Before I accept your deal, tell me one thing."

Not immediately accepting the deal as to avoid unnecessary suspicion, I decided to ask for a bit of information beforehand.

"Out of all the demons in Hell, about how strong was the one I went up against."

"Oh that one was the weakest kind of demon." she replied.

The weakest, huh. I thought that may be the case, but actually hearing it made me fully realize the reality of Hell.

And that is the fact that this realm is full of demons who are way stronger than me.

I felt just like when I started practicing martial arts again.

I finally have a goal to work towards.

For the second time today, I started maniacally laughing.

Ever since I ended up here it's been just pain and suffering.

Not a moment's respite.

But that made me feel truly alive.

But I needed to find a way to actually fight against demons.

Because just training more won't get me there.

Deciding to try my shot, I asked the woman one more question:

"So, do you know of a way for a human to defeat a demon?"

Furrowing her brows, she replied:

"None that I know of... wait, maybe there's one. But you're better off not doing that."

With a stern look on her face, she continued:

"It would most likely completely erase your mind, without a shred of your identity remaining."