Chapter one

22 years ago

In the depths of Netherworld, a figure waited atop the Mountain of Madness. The mountain was tall, far higher than any mountain on Earth. The skies surrounding it were dark purple, with clouds blacker than night. Sharp rocks stuck out from the mountain, making it a dangerous place to travel. Only the strongest beings ever meet there.

The man waiting at the top was ten feet tall, with gray skin and pointed ears. His hair was long and black, with a crown of gold circling it. He wore jet black armor, with gold edges encrusted with dark amethysts. He leaned against a rock with his eyes closed, waiting for his companions to show up. It didn't take long for the first to arrive.

A hulking man appeared, over twelve feet high, with muscles bulging from every square inch. His eyes were blank, with no irises or pupils, and his head was shaven bald. His skin was a deep tan, and lined with pulsing veins.

The first man opened his eyes, revealing triangle shaped irises with slit pupils.

“Rage,” he said. “Good to see you've made it. Where are the others?”

“I believe War is wrapping up some business with the Bone King,” Rage replied calmly. “As for Death, I cannot say with any certainty where his whereabouts are. Why is it you wish to speak with us, Conquest?”

“Death has done something foolish,” Conquest said. “I mean to confront him on it.”

“What has he done?” Rage asked.

“He has impregnated a woman,” Conquest said.

“I see,” Rage said. “And this concerns you?”

“When a Horseman has a child, their power is slowly transferred to the child,” Conquest says. “When the child turns ten, they will absorb the last of their parent's strength, and the Horseman shall die. Eventually, the child shall grow to replace their parent as a Horseman.”

“And in that way, there shall always be four of us,” Rage said. “I've been told of this, but I have never witnessed the event.”

“And soon you will, thanks to our foolish friend,” Conquest said.

“You do not wish to see him die?” Rage asked.

“That's not my problem,” Conquest said.

Before he could continue, a third man appeared, covered entirely in black and crimson armor, with a horned helmet. Ten glowing orbs circled his waist.

“Conquest, Rage, it is nice to see you two again,” he said.

“Hello, War,” Conquest replied.

“Greetings,” Rage said.

“So what's this about?” War asked.

“Death's mistake,” Conquest answered.

“What'd he do this time?” War sighed.

“He's impregnated a woman,” Conquest said.

“So what's the big deal?” War asked. “You gonna miss him when he's gone?”

“Hardly,” Conquest replied. “I'll explain what the big deal is when he get's here.”

“Well, I think we have a bit of time before then,” War said. He tapped one of the orbs circling him. With a flash of light, the orb was replaced by a greatsword so large that a human would need both hands to hold it. However, War was strong enough to use it effortlessly with a single hand. “Shall we spar?”

“Sure,” Conquest said. Flames engulfed his hand, and a giant sword, designed to be held in a reverse grip, appeared.

The two of them stood across from each other, with their swords at the ready, and charged. However, before they reached each other, there was an explosion of cold air between the two of them. They were pushed back by the force as a new figure appeared there. He had the form of a cloaked skeleton with horns. There were no eye holes on his face, but two fiery, misshapen eyes hovered beside his head.

“Am I late?” he asked.

“Slightly,” Conquest said.

“What took you so long, Death?” War asked.

“I was having a smoke with Deceit,” Death said. “So why are we here?”

Conquest began speaking. “I wish to talk to you about the woman you-”

“Knocked up?” Death finished for him. “Yeah what about it?”

“You know the consequences, right?” Conquest asked.

“Yeah yeah, I know,” death said. “But I don't care. We're thousands of years old. We were created for the sole purpose of destroying the world, and yet we haven't done so yet. We're just sitting around waiting for the big man to give us the green light. Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm sick of waiting. Why not pass on this destiny to the next generation. Let them do the waiting.”

“He has a point,” Rage said.

“Yes,” Conquest said. “But the woman you impregnated was human.”

“Oh really?” War asked. “Did you do it in your human form, or was she into giant skeletons with weird floating eyeballs?”

“The first one,” Death said. “But if you see any woman who like the second thing you mentioned, give them my number.”

“You two are so immature,” Conquest sighed. “But because of what you've done, the child will be half human. And you know what humans can do, correct?”

“Not much in terms of power,” War said. “Are you implying that they have some kind of power I'm not aware of?”

“They possess the ability to stray from their destined path,” Death said.

“I see,” Rage said. “That's why Conquest is concerned. It's destined that the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse will bring about the world's end.”

“And if a Horsemen is half human, there is the chance that they'll be able to change that destiny,” Conquest said.

“That's-” War said, but paused a moment before continuing to say “-unlikely. There is a chance, yes, but it's too slim to make a difference.”

“See?” Death said. “War agrees.”

“But still, couldn't you have mated with something that can't change destiny?” Conquest asked.

“Most of the things that can't change destiny are ugly as shit,” Death said.

“Agreed,” Rage said. “Although, you're probably not the one who should be talking.”

“I think perhaps we should move on,” War said. “Death's right. Let's give this task to the next generation.”

“Yes,” Rage said. “I haven't been around as long as any of you, but even I can admit that I've grown bored with waiting.”

“Do what you want,” Conquest said. “But I'll be sticking around to make sure your progeny don't screw up the order of things.”

“Okay,” Rage said, vanishing.

“You do that,” Death said, also vanishing.

“I suppose I'll be leaving too,” War said.

“Before you do, I'd like to know something,” Conquest said. “What went through your head when you paused?”

“Excuse me?” War asked.

”You possess the ability to think at lightning speed,” Conquest said. “It's a power that allows you to produce flawless battle strategies in a fraction of a second. What kind of ideas did you have during our conversation?”

War chuckled. “You ask too many questions,” he said, before vanishing.

A few days later

A handsome man was lying on his back on a park bench in a city in Netherworld, gazing carelessly up at the dark sky. A beautiful woman with dark orange hair approached him.

“I need to talk to you, Deceit,” she said to him calmly.

“What's this about, Omnipotence?” Deceit asked.

“One of the Horsemen approached me earlier,” she said. “He requires your services.”

“Why don't you help him?” Deceit asked. “What does he need me for?”

“Because he needs more than just her,” said another voice.

Deceit looked up to see a man leaning against a building. He had messy, crimson hair and wore a long coat.

“Nice to see you, Silene,” Deceit said.

Silene grinned broadly, much broader that anyone should be physically able to grin.

“I already discussed this with him,” Omnipotence said to Deceit. “We need your help as well, if we wish to accomplish the task the Horseman requested of us.”

“Tell you what,” Deceit said, pulling a cigar out of his pocket. “Light this, and I'll listen to what you have to say.”

Omnipotence raised a hand, and red chitin began growing over her forefinger and thumb, forming into the shape of talons. She snapped them together, creating a spark that ignited the end of Deceit's cigar.

“Much obliged,” Deceit said, taking a puff from the cigar. “Now, let's hear what this guy wants from us.”

A few years later, War and Rage also found human lovers, and reproduced. When their children reached the age of ten, the Horsemen died, save for Conquest, who chose not to breed. Instead, he waits for the day the youngest one comes of age, so that he can guide them down their destined path.

Present day

Jonathan Calwar lied in bed, fast asleep. His alarm clock struck seven, and began blaring loudly. Jonathan raised a hand sleepily, and brought it down on the snooze button with enough force that the bedside table collapsed in pieces.

“Shit...,” Jonathan muttered, getting up. He got dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen. “Hey mom,” he said as he passed her.

“Hey honey,” she said. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I'm heading over to Mike's, I'll be back later.”

“Make sure you're back by dinner,” she said. “I know you're an adult now, but you still live in this house so I don't want you being out too late.”

“Don't worry,” he said, walking out the door. “By the way, the bedside thingy broke again.”

He left, going out to enjoy his eighteen year. Little did he know that dark forces were about to enter his life.

For he is Jonathan Calwar, the son of the second Horseman of the Apocalypse.