The Ceiling of Power
Sakurako had felt scared many times since discovering the supernatural world. She’d even felt true, genuine, honest to god fear. But this…this was something entirely different. She remembered reading about the works of H.P. Lovecraft, how the root of the terror in his works was faced with something so monumentally powerful, so unbeatable, so overwhelming, that it made your presence in the universe feel pointless.
Right now, Sakurako decided that you didn’t need to dream up eldritch gods beyond mortal comprehension to make someone feel that fear.
The Heat Vampire, Count Helion, was something beyond Sakurako’s imagination. With every step he took closer to her, it got harder and harder to see, the heat distorting and warping light itself. Her skin practically begged to be allowed to blister, filling with uncomfortable warmth and letting uncried howls of pain echo in her head. Of course, the vampire wouldn’t allow her to blister. He wouldn’t allow her to die or overheat or be injured. He was here to capture her after all.
She could faintly hear Tsukitaro groaning in pain nearby. Tsukitaro, a real-honest to goodness demigod, hadn’t been able to do anything in the face of Helion. He’d charged the vampire, swinging his sword at the inhuman speed that stunned Sakurako everytime she saw it…
And Helion had countered his attempts effortlessly. A blast of inky, black fire, sent the demigod flying back, crashing into the concrete. Two more blasts of fire had followed, sending the boy flying farther and farther back, landing harder and harder each time.
“As much as I’d love to make you my dinner, I already promised Kiara’s fledgeling I’d leave you to him. So I tried not to bang you up too much. Don’t wanna make Kyo feel like I made it too easy for him.” Those were Helion’s words after effortlessly defeating Tsukitaro. This vampire - this monster - had near-effortlessly trounced a being with divinity in their very viens. What chance did a mere sorcerer like Sakurako have?
She tried, of course. She threw her shikigami at Helion again and again, from different angles, different tactics, desperately filling it with more and more magical energy. And each time she had to recall it before it could land even a scratch on him.
And now, she had nothing. She sank to her knees and bowed her head, not daring to look defeat in the face. The heat was unbearable as it was, she didn’t need the humiliation making it worse.
“So, you decided to do things the easy way, huh?” Helion asked, standing over her, “I gotta commend you tho, not many people have the balls to actually try and fight me like you did. Most humans just run or beg. And that shikigami was impressive. I can see why the mistress wants a chance to meetcha.”
Sakurako didn’t answer.
Helion sighed, “Listen, I get that this is kinda the worst from your perspective, but don’t shoot the messenger, okay? Maybe try thinking of it as an honor. The strongest vampire in the world wants to meet you personally! Most of the viscounts haven’t even seen her in the flesh.”
Sakurako bit back any words she had.
There was one last dejected sigh from Helion, “Man I hate doing this kinda dirty work, it's always so awkward. At least when I’m hunting for myself I can end things a bit more honorably-”
Whatever gripe Helion would have said next was cut off. Sakurako looked up, seeing a wave of golden fire crashing towards her and Helion. Before Sakurako could move, the wave engulfed her, and all she could do was close her eyes and embrace the -
…She wasn’t dead?
Sakurako opened her eyes to a view of solid gold. Well, not quite solid, but enough that she couldn’t see past the flames. And she felt…warm.
Not the blistering heat she felt earlier. A much cooler, more comfortable warmth. The satisfying comforting feeling you get on a warm summer afternoon or a nice bath. She began to feel…invigorated, as if her magic energy was returning.
Unfortunately, the blissful feeling passed as the flames receded, but thankfully Helion’s heat didn’t return.
“Man, you sure did quite a number on these rookies ‘demigod hunter’. Even if the dude’s a demigod don’t you think this is a bit below your weight class?” A voice called out, drawing Sakurako’s attention.
The owner of the voice was a young man, perhaps a year or two older than she was. He had dark skin and warm brown eyes - warm enough to almost be orange in color. It reminded Sakurako of fireplaces in all honesty. Dark hair was streaked with red, and a gentle smirk stretched across his face. He dressed simply enough; a souvenir t-shirt from an airport and jeans - both faded and worn - with short boots and a jacket tied around his waist.
But in spite of that charming appearance, Sakurako couldn’t escape the feeling of power emanating from the man. Instantly, she knew that if he had wanted it, that golden fire would have reduced her to ash as soon as it did heal her. Sakurako knew this feeling. This omnipresent power that filled the air with his presence. She’d thought she’d gotten used to it after so much time with Tsukitaro, but Sakurako knew at once just how wrong she was.
This man was undeniably a demigod. And one in a much, much different league when compared to Tsukitaro.
Helion, for his part, seemed mostly unharmed, but an excited grin spread across his face.
“You’re Arjun, aren’t ya? Son of Agni, right.”
“Yep!” Arjun laughed, taking out a slip of paper from his pocket, “Want a business card?”
“Sure, I’ll take one.” Helion laughed right back, “It’d be a shame to dishonor you before I hunt you.”
“Ah come on, man,” Arjun whined, still smiling, “It's the perfect season to go tour Mount Fuji, can’t we go do that instead.”
“You can go and let me complete my mission. Then maybe I’ll come meet you at Fuji and we can settle things there.”
“No can do buddy.” Arjun shook his head, “Can’t go see something as beautiful as Fuji with something like abandoning someone in need on my conscience.”
“Well then,” Helion’s grin was manic now, all thoughts of Sakurako and Tsukitaro lost, “Then we’ll just have to settle things my way.”
“If that’s how the cookie crumbles.”
Sakurako slowly backed away, inching her way over towards Tsukitaro. She realized she was wrong about Helion. He wasn’t a lovecraftian terror beyond her imagination. He was powerful, but still a vampire nonetheless. He was a knowable, perceivable.
And that’s why she knew he was light years ahead of every being able to take on.
“Sakurako,” Tsukitaro pulled himself to his feet, “We need to get a move on. I’m sure our fire-type friend over here can take the mirror match.”
Even beaten, that fool still spoke in gaming jargon.
Sakurako nodded, but even as Tsukitaro dragged her away, she turned to look back, seeing the clashes of black and gold flame, the two figures dancing in the firelight.
The young sorcerer realized something important that day. In the supernatural world, there were no unbeatable, unknowable monsters as H.P. Lovecraft envisioned. But the level of power someone - demigod, vampire, sorcerer, whatever - could reach was far beyond anything Sakurako conceived. A level of power whose ceiling felt monstrously out of Sakurako’s reach. On that day, Sakurako got her first true glimpse into the level of power she’d need to be among the apex of the supernatural world…and just how far she was from it.