Chapter 5

5 years ago

Deep in the depths of Netherworld, at the edge of the Cliffs Of Suffering, Akuma stood, wielding two swords, one of which he had impaled in the solar plexus of Dragon Slayer Jack, dangling him over the edge.

“What's the matter?” Akuma laughed, twisting his sword. “You seem to be in pain.”

“I take it you're enjoying my suffering?” Jack said, coughing up blood.

“Damn right I am

,” Akuma said, raising his second sword. “Any last words?”

“I was about to ask you the same question,” Jack said, raising his right hand.

His gauntlet began glowing brightly, and expanded so that it was large enough to strangle an elephant. He attempted to swipe at Akuma, but a circle of satanic symbols appeared in the air between the hand and Akuma. No matter how much Jack tried, he couldn't break through the seal.

“Satanic Seal 14, Barrier,” Akuma said. “Nice try, but I'm afraid it's not enough.”

Akuma raised his second sword again, and stabbed it through Jack's armor, penetrating his stomach. He stabbed again and again, hitting as many of Jack's vital organs as he could, until his body stopped moving. He pulled the swords from Jack's body, allowing it to fall to the ground far beneath him. He removed his blindfold and looked at the corpse, at the bottom of the cliffs.

“Too easy,” Akuma said. “One more rival bested. Time to surpass some more super beings.”

He merged his blades together, forming a motorcycle, and rode off into the distance.

Present day

Jack and Akuma stood face to face once again. A silver blade was held in Jack's hand, parrying Akuma's sword. Behind Jack, John Calwar was laying on the ground, injured. Deceit stood a few yards away, standing on the corpse of the fallen snake, watching the events unfold.

“How are you here?” Akuma demanded.

“I know I guy who owed me a favor,” Jack said. “So, shall we continue where we left off?”

“I'd love to!” Akuma shouted, raising his sword and attacking.

Deceit rushed forward with inhuman speed and pulled John away.

“This is a fight you don't wanna get too close to,” he said.

Akuma and Jack became locked in battle. Akuma's weapon transformed into six long swords  which hovered in midair. He sent them flying at Jack, who deflected them all and charged straight at Akuma. Akuma's swords returned to him and merged into a giant falchion. They clashed blades again and again, until Akuma managed to cleave Jack's sword in two. He raised his sword and brought it down hard, but Jack's gauntlet grew to enormous size and blocked it. He swatted Akuma away with all his force, sending him flying. He grew his gauntlet even more, and brought his fist down.

“Satanic Seal 14, Barrier!” Akuma shouted, as the seal appeared above him, blocking Jack's massive fist. He got back to his feet and shouted “Satanic Seal 2, Lightning!”

Another seal appeared in front of him, and a red lightning bolt shot from it, hitting Jack in the chest plate. Jack cried out in pain as the electricity surged through his body. His gauntlet returned to his original size, and Akuma charged at him, sword raised. Jack's gauntlet glowed with a blinding red light, and with right arm was encased in a massive red cannon. He lifted it effortlessly and fired an orb of red light at Akuma, who dodged it. The orb hit John's car, blowing it up.

“Dude!” John shouted. “My car! What the hell, man!?”

Akuma and Jack ignored him, continuing their fight. Akuma got up close to Jack, swinging his sword. Jack's gauntlet changed form once again, becoming a giant, double edged sword. They clashed repeatedly, before Jack managed to knock Akuma backwards. He shifted his gauntlet into a cannon again, firing another orb. Akuma blocked with another barrier, and jumped backwards. He raised a hand into the sky, and a huger seal appeared above them all.

“Satanic Seal 19,” he said. “The Final Summoning!”

A giant dragonic creature, with red scales and razor sharp horns, emerged from the seal, staring hungrily down at Jack. Jack began battling the monster, firing energy orbs at it and slashing it with his blade, but it wasn't enough. The beast whipped its tail, hitting Jack in the chest and knocking him to the ground. It then pinned him there with one of its clawed hands. Jack turned his gauntlet into a cannon and fired more orbs, but they weren't powerful enough. John couldn't stand on the sidelines any longer. He got to his feet, ignoring the pain, and raised his sword to the sky. Storm clouds began circling the sky, and a bolt of lightning struck the end of his sword. He felt new strength spreading through him. He aimed his blade at the dragon's face and released most of the power he had just absorbed. The dragon screeched in pain, and released Jack. Jack's gauntlet expanded, and reached up to the dragon's throat, choking it. John began running, and jumped up. A blast of thunder exploded beneath his feet, propelling him through the air, and towards the dragon's face. He landed on its snout, and plunged his sword between its eyes. It collapsed to the ground, dead. Deceit managed to catch John as he was falling, and landed safely on the ground. Akuma knelt on the ground, panting. Summoning the dragon had taken a lot out of him. He slammed his fist into the ground, and another seal appeared.

“Satanic Seal 12, Transit,” he said. He vanished in a flash of red light.

“What's that guys problem?” John demanded.

“Akuma, the Terrorspawn of rivalry,” Deceit said. “He views all powerful beings as his rivals, and seeks to surpass all of them.”

“I see,” John said. “So he wants to beat me because I'm the son of one of the Four Horsemen?””Exactly,” Deceit said.”And you!” John said to Jack. “Why the hell did you blow up my car!?”

“My apologies,” Jack said. “If you want, I can repair it. It won't cost much. All you have to do is shake my hand to seal the deal.”Jack reached his right hand out, but Deceit suddenly moved between them and grabbed it by the wrist.

“Sorry, Jack,” he said. “I'm afraid I can't let you have this one.”

They both vanished before John could even blink. He waited there a little while, before deciding he needed to find a way to get to Pittsburgh.

“Maybe there's a bus or train station nearby,” he said to himself, as he started limping toward his destroyed car. He wrapped his sword up in some of his clothes that survived the explosion, and headed out.

Meanwhile, in Netherworld

Akuma reappeared in a park in the capital city, and collapsed. A man was waiting there. He had jet black hair, avian eyes, and a pair of wings sprouting from his back. His right arm was muscular, and resembled a bird's talon.

“You've gone and wasted all your power again, didn't you, Akuma?” he asked.

“Shut up, Hell Talon,” Akuma said. “Where the hell is Glasp?”

“She's on business elsewhere,” Hell Talon said. “Why?”

“Because I'd rather look at her than you right now,” Akuma hissed. “We have a problem. Dragon Slayer Jack is alive.”

“Well, that's not good,” Hell Talon said.

“No, it's not,” said another voice.

A man, dressed in a black hooded cloak, with black bandages concealing his face, stepped out from behind a tree.

“Lord Strain,” Hell Talon said. “Are you sure you should be out in the open?”

“It doesn't matter where I go,” Strain said. “With Jack in the picture, things are likely to become more difficult for us.”

“So what do you want us to do?” Hell Talon asked.

“Akuma, once you have recovered, you will head to Dallas,” Strain said. “Glasp will rendezvous with you there. Hell Talon, You are to go to Pittsburgh, where you will be meeting with Bill Dawson. I want you guys to do what you can about the Terrorspawn who are guarding the hybrids.”

“Yes, my lord,” Hell Talon said.

“Fine, but I'd better see a challenge once I get there,” Akuma said.

“I'm sure you will,” Strain said. “It is important that you don't screw this up. I will have my revenge against the Horsemen, no matter what.”