Banished to the Underworld (Dice Changers)

The banishment was successful. The demon-possessed Nick was now floating in an empty void covered in scars from the battle. "I know this place. This is Kolora's Underworld. They're Sheol," said the demon, who was planning on celebrating but realized where he was. "You monster. You killed my friend," cried Nick, but he was too weak to fight back. Meanwhile, Nick's Koloran dice hero, Sheeren, stayed silent.

The battle in the parking lot outside of Nick's house was intense. Nick and Sheeren fought for control over Nick's body while their friends fought Nick's possessed body. During the battle, Jack, along with his Koloran dice hero, Kamoss, died. However, their sacerfice bought the Dice Changers enough time to perform a banishment ritual on the demon, taking Nick and Sheeren with him.

Now the trio was floating in an endless void. Nick felt trapped, and the feeling of despair was washing over him. Sheeren felt defeated but was trying to come up with a plan. Suddenly, the demon began to show signs of fear. His lips trembled, "Wait, what resides here that even a creature like you fears it?" asked Sheeren as he started to get into a battle stance once more. Then, from the darkness, a black and purple smoky cloud made its way to Nick's body. The cloud then dissipated and revealed a tall being. It had a horse-like head, wore silver armour, and carried a scythe in one hand. "You don't belong here," said the creature as it pointed its sycthe to Nick's body. It then began to walk toward Nick's body. The demon tried to move as fast as possible, but the creature quickly moved right in front of Nick's body. His red and green eyes produced a wavy purple mist that flowed like flames. Righteous anger was the only thing that could be felt. "None of you belongs here. Especially the unclean spirit that resides in this body," said the creature as it shoved its metal armour claw into Nick's chest and pulled the demon out of Nick's body. The demon tried to resist and hold on, but its strength was nothing compared to the horse-knight creature's, and for the first time in over a year, Nick and Sheeren felt true peace. The demon tried to wiggle and break out of the creature's grip, but it couldn't. The creature then opened its mouth and chomped on the demon. After a couple more chomps, the creature had eaten the entire demon. Fear and relief washed over Nick and Sheeren as the feeling of overwhelming holiness began to radiate from the creature. "Who or what are you?" asked Nick, slowly regaining control of his body. "I am the Monster of the True God: Sombres. Now it seems like you are lost. Especially the other soul that is with you. May I see him?" asked Sombres. His anger became a calm, welcoming presence, but holy power was still felt. Nick then reached into his pockets and pulled out his metal dice set, and a golden mist wrapped around Nick, and he became Sheeren. "Hello, Warrior of the True God. I see you lack magic yourself and have had to rely on magic items to keep up. However, I've seen your progress, your strength, your righteousness. I will give a piece of my power, and then I'll take you to the fey named Zaris to train you. She will make you into a powerful Warlock in no time, but I will warn you, she is not a servant of the True God. Thus, not all her teachings will be...fruitful. She is indeed a great teacher and one you will need," said Sombres. He then placed his armoured claw hand on Sheeren's head, and bright holy energy, purple and black smoke, and other colorful lights surrounded Sheeren as his eyes became green with red pupils. Sheeren then closed his eyes.

Sheeren then remembered hearing that name, that title. The Monster of God. It was a powerful being capable of killing off demons and ghosts. It could cause plagues and mass death. He would offer power to those he deemed worthy, usually people who were faithful to the True God and lacked magical power themselves. In fact, his sythe is said to be Death's until Sombres took it as a trophy and sign of victory thousands of years ago.

Sheeren then woke to a female elf sitting cross-legged, looking at her nails. She wore a big, fluffy, blue, purple, and white dress. He looked around. Instead of the empty void, he was in a black stone room from ceiling to floor. "So Sombres has dropped me a new student. How...lovely," she said with boredom and disdain. "I'm guessing you're Zaris?" asked Sheeren, dazed and confused about how he got there. "Why yes, though from now on you'll be joining the rest of my students," she said in a monotone voice as she walked away.

"Well, isn't she...welcoming," said Nick, confused. "Agreed, then again, she is a fey. I mean, how many times has Trevor complained about the fey talking down to him or trying to manipulate him?" asked Sheeren. "True, however, there are nine of them sharing the same body. Could her students just be her past selves?" asked Nick. "I have no idea," answered Sheeren.

"Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to follow me?" asked Zaris with disgust coming out of her mouth. "Sorry, my mind just wandered off," responded Sheeren. He began blushing from embarrassment for seemingly leaving a bad first impression. "'Your mind wandered off,' and prevented you from moving how?" asked Zaris. "Oh, I...uh...Well, see my soul left our world and was trapped in a dice set, and a kid got the set and freed me from the prison, and later we soul bonded, so now we share the same body and become each other." I know it's confusing, but..." before Sheeren could finish, Zaris started laughing. "You? You left this world? With your lack of magic? Please. The curse used to banish people to other worlds only works on magical people. Unless...it was your magic items wasn't? Huh, that's a first, actually, and look at that, I learned something," said Zaris with excitement and energy in her voice.

Zaris then led Sheeren to the other students, who were of various races and ages, all training with spells by dueling each other. They were wearing various colored robes. Zaris pointed her finger to a small middle-aged male gnome with a thick black beard "That's Xel. He's a paladin. He's very competive, so unless you're confident in your abilites I won't have you duel him any time soon.", Then pointed to a female elf teen her arms and face were covered in scars "That's Zenzee. She's a wizard and has been through more trauma than anyone I know, and anything will give her a flashback so be careful she might hit you with a magic missile.", then pointed to an older male half-elf "That's Kampo. He's a warlock and an old fool who thinks he can push past his limits and fails, but is too stubborn to quite.", then pointed at a another elf "This is Yarkol, my last mother, who also happens to be a cleric." said Zaris with annoyance and tiredness in her voice. "Then there's the twins, but they're not here yet, so when they come back I'll introduce them to you," said Zaris.

"So, quick question: Why aren't there more souls here?" asked Sheeren. "Is that you speaking or your out-of-world friend?" asked Zaris. "Both?" answered Sheeren with little confidence. "Interesting, and your out-of-world friend is just in your head, or can he take control, because I wish to meet him?" asked Zaris. "Um, sure," said Sheeren as he closed his eyes, and a gold mist wrapped itself around Sheeren and then dissipated into yellow particles with Nick standing in his place. His modern clothes made him out of place, but that didn't "Hi. I'm Nick," he said with a slow, tiny, nervous wave. He also began blushing. "Hmm, you're quite an interesting magician. Does the dice set have Sheeren's soul?" asked Zaris. "Yes, ma'am, wait, how do you know what a dice set is?" answered Nick, unable to stop blushing. "Now, this dice set comes from your world, right?" asked Zaris, seemingly more curious as the conversation kept going. "In short, yes, in long it's from the spirit realm that's then sent to various places across the world," answered Nick. "The spirit realm? How strange. Question, does your world have magic?" asked Zaris. "No, nothing like anything from your world. We only get the occasional miracle, but those are few and far between," answered Nick. "A world with no magic, and in your world, are there evil people? Especially rich ones who prey on those who are much weaker than them?" asked Zaris. "Yeah, one too many. It sucks," answered Nick. "Then let's make a deal, I'll train Sheeren and figure out how to make a portal to your world. Then I'll kill all your world's evil rich men," said Zaris. "Very tempting offer, though, why just evil rich men?" asked Nick. "Because justice can't touch them, but people like us. We have a power they could never possess. We can fix your world, since I couldn't fix mine," said Zaris. "Fix? I mean, I'm all for justice, but. I. This might be too much even for me, and I fought sex traffickers and cultists," said Nick. "Wait, there are sex traffickers in your world? I'll burn those too. I'll make sure of it," said Zaris as she held Nick's head in her hands. Nick's face was now fully red. "Trust me. You'll get strong and get to go home, and I'll get to burn so many evil people," said Zaris. "I...uh, don't know how to counter that. However, how do I know you won't just become a powerful tyrant and become drunk on power?" asked Nick. "Good question. Well, since you're my only connection to your world. You'll be my guide. You'll have to restrain me if I get out of hand. If you can," whispered Zaris into Nick's ear. Nick gulped in response. Zaris chuckled. "Fine, I accept the deal, even if you're just using me," said Nick. "Ha, I don't plan on 'using you'. I plan on making you an ally, a friend. You have nothing to worry," responded Zaris as she finally walked away.

"Man, why does every fey have to be seductive, and why am I falling for her?" asked Nick. "Because you're desperate and she's using your desire to seek justice against you, though I don't blame you. She's hundreds of years old and has lived many lives. She knows how to persuade people in any way. I say we get on her good side, and before she can enact her plans, we'll stop her. Can't have a self-righteous fey running around killing people in the name of justice," said Sheeren. "Agreed," responded Nick.

The next several spans of time were filled with training, recovery, bonding, and figuring out how to make a portal, followed by more training. Sheeren's power grew at an incredible rate, managing to impress even Zaris. During duels, Sheeren and Nick's bonds and teamwork were on full display, managing to counter complex spells, martial techniques, and whatever else Zaris and the rest could throw at them. This only raised more questions from Zaris. Some were answerable, others were not. Soon, Zaris and Sheeren were dueling each other, and their matches were always close, always intense, and always won by Zaris. Soon enough, Sheeren became a powerful warlock and a much more skilled fighter. Soon, the group found out how to make a portal, one similar to the one that sent Sheeren and Nick to this world.

Now it was finally time to go home.