Demons, actual demons in the flesh, were within sight of Praxis. He knew that he was going to encounter demons eventually. He was trapped in Tartarus, and the only way out was through the creatures that rule it, demons.
It was always in the back of his mind that he would run into demons eventually, but he did not expect them to be coming towards him. Then again, he was the one invading their realm, of course, they would find out eventually.
Too many thoughts began just pouring into his head. "Should I run away? Where can I even run to? I have nowhere left to run, and even if he could run away, my mind was not yet fully healed. I will collapse and be consumed by this place again."
Even though thoughts kept coming into his mind, it was still all cloudy and jumbled, and his ability to think was hindered. The reality of the situation was that he'd finally found demons, and demons are how he finds a way out of this place.
This was what he had been searching for this whole time. He had walked through Limbo for longer than he could even imagine. He needed a way out of Hell and the only option left for him was getting the aid of demons. There they were all coming towards him, and his only job was not to mess it up.
Again, luck was by his side. He was an experienced diplomat and knew how to obtain what he wanted from others. He just had to let them talk and direct the conversation to how he wanted it to go. He had to play this carefully because it was either he gets these demons to help him, or he dies here in the Empty.
If there was one talent he had in this world, he could negotiating and getting the deal with the terms best suited for his cause. He'd ended wars before they even began and created peace treaties between tribes at war for centuries. He also wasn't bleeding out and dying, which would make it easier for him to talk and think through this conversation.
That was his only option find a solution through conversation, else again he was going to be facing the death reaper again.
Praxis waited for the hulking figure to reach him. The closer it got, the clearer he could see its features. Even though this wasn't his first time meeting with a demon, seeing one right in front of his eyes was new. Its ashy skin somehow glittered in the light, and the fangs were as large as he initially thought they were. Its horn made a loop before curving towards the back of its head.
Looking at the creature now, as it was less than 15 feet away from him, if it wasn't for the fangs, horns, and the enormous size, it almost looked human. It was wearing clothes like a human and even shoes, something he wasn't wearing at the moment. The demon also seemed to be holding a large bag and dragging it along with him.
His first impression of a demon was already tainted by the scheme that the chain demon pulled on him, but this might be this demon's first time meeting a human. He needed to show the best possible side of himself and impress this creature. It was all or nothing now as the hulking beast stood just a few feet away from him.
"Well, gonna explain yourself," it said.
"My apologies, but what sort of explanation are you seeking?"
"What explanation am I seeking, huh. So, we have a funny man in this batch. I enjoy a funny man, so I'm gonna be nice and ask ya' one more time. Why are you over here?"
A few words into this conversation, and this demon was already displeased with him. Praxis thought that the best course of action was to be respectful as he could be to it.
"My apologies for coming into your territory," Praxis began talking. He concluded that the demon's discontentment with him was due to a human being in the realm of the demons. He continued, "My name is Prince Praxis Aarexi, and I am unfortunate enough to find myself within your territory. I only seek a passage out, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get out."
The demon started scoffing, "Ya, big strong demons think ya so big mighty. Well, I'm sorry to tell it to ya, Prince Praxi, but out here in the first circle, I'm the big man."
Its tone quickly turned serious, "You do as I say, or you DO NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE! I DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE HERE, NOT YOUR BIG DEMON MA OR DEMON PA!"
Speaking softly now, it said, "Do you understand what I'm saying to ya now?"
"Yes, my apologies for offending you," he said will a subdued voice.
"No, don't worry, no offense taken. Ya aren't the first big-time demon to come here, neither will ya be the last," it said. It pulled out a shovel from the sack and threw it at Praxis' feet.
"Now pick it up. I want at least 100 soulrocks from ya, or no food for ya. And I'm keeping an eye on ya, Prince Praxi," it said, then turned around and began walking towards the rest.
For first impressions, that could not have gone worse. Not only did "Prince Praxi" manage to upset the largest demon who looked to be in charge, but he was now on the demon's bad side. However, another concerning fact came from the conversation. Why did it keep referring to Praxis as a "big demon?" All Praxi wanted was some answers, but all he kept finding were more questions.
"WHAT!" he screamed in his mind. He just wanted to find a way out, but all he could do was find himself even more trouble. Somehow, he went from believing he had to negotiate with a demon to being told to start shoveling. Praxis realized at that moment his journey back to Airth was not going to be a straight path forward. No, fate most likely had something unholy and convoluted in the works for him.
The large demon walked away from him and towards the center of the crowd of other demons. Praxis leaned down and picked up the shovel. Now he needed to figure out what it was he supposed to do with the shovel. Surely, they didn't want him to dig a hole so they could bury him alive. Praxis thought about it for a second, and he quietly said to himself, "Maybe just dying now is the best option for me."
However, he had already avoided death more than once now and did not want to keep running into it. He saw that besides to large demon he just spoke to, the other smaller ones were all scattered around and digging into the ground with their shovels.
It looked like these shovels were able to penetrate through the thick grass and dirt. He did not want to upset the demon more, so he thought he should start by copying what they were doing. Somehow, he had to get his hands on 100 of these 'soulrocks,' or he feared the head demon would consume him alive.
"Do demons eat people?" Praxis thought.