Chapter 13

14 years ago

A young girl ran down the street in the pouring rain. She ran and ran, until she slipped in a puddle and fell to the ground. She curled up and began crying. She continued sobbing for several minutes before she heard a voice.

“What's wrong, young one?” said a man, who seemed to have come out of nowhere and was now standing over her, holding an umbrella.

She didn't say anything. She just continued to cry.

“Did your mother and father have a fight?” he asked.

“He's not my father!” she snapped.

“I see,” he chuckled. “You should go home.”

“No!” she said. “I hate it there! I'm running away and I'm never going back!”

“Some day, you'll be able to leave that place,” he said. “But now is not the time. You won't make it out there. Not at your age.”

“But-,” she started to say.

“It' okay,” he told her. “Until the day comes, there will be someone watching over you, to keep you safe.”

“You mean like a guardian angel?” she asked.

“Not quite,” the man chuckled.

He looked her in the eyes, and she became frozen in fear. His eyes had looked perfectly normal a moment ago. But now they were different. They were wrong. Inhuman. She would have screamed if she his gaze hadn't left her completely paralyzed.

“More like...,” he said, “...A devil.”

Present day

“This the place?” David asked, pulling his truck over across the street from an old building.

“Yeah, this is it,” Hera replied.

Hera, Kaiser, David, and John got out of the truck while Damien pulled up next to them on his motorcycle.

“Here goes nothing,” Hera said, approaching the door.

She was about to knock, but she noticed a paper taped to the door reading “It's unlocked come on in”. She tried the door knob, and it opened easily.

“Let's go,” she whispered to the others.

“Okay,” John said.

They followed her through the door. They found themselves in a dimly lit room. It was large, probably taking up the entire first floor of the building. There were no windows or lights. The only light came from the soft glow of the bizarre plants filling the room.

“I recognize a lot of these flowers,” Hera said.

“Did that guy send them to you?” John asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “This is definitely his place.”

Damien reached into hi pocket and pulled out a flashlight. He flipped it on and looked around. The beam of light fell upon a man sitting at a table at the far end of the room. In his hand was a bouquet full of weird looking flowers.

“Greetings,” he said to them. He got up and began approaching Hera. “I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

“Who are you!?” Hera demanded. “Why have you been stalking me?”

He finished his walk across the room, and stood before her. He brushed his hair aside to reveal his bright green eyes. They seemed perfectly normal, but they didn't stay that way for long. The pupils and irises seemed to melt and mix in with the whites, shifting colors rapidly . They swirled in a dance of strange colors, before taking a new form. A form impossible to describe. They were horrifying. Damien dropped his flashlight in terror, but the wicked eyes remained visible even in the darkness. No one could move. They were all completely frozen in fear as they gazed into his horrible eyes.

“Y-you!” Hera finally managed to choke out.

“So you remember now?” the man said. “Yes, it's me, your Guardian Devil. My name is Silene Stenophylla, the Terrorspawn of strangers and stalkers.”

“Why have you been stalking me!?” she demanded.

“It's in my nature,” he aid. “You see, before any of you were born, War concocted a plan involving the lot of you. So he hired me, and some of the other Terrorspawn, to keep you all safe from Conquest.”

“Safe from him?” Hera asked.

“He promised War that he would wait for the youngest of you to reach the age of 18 before he came to enlist you. In the meantime, we were hired behind his back to prevent him from doing so.”

“And what's this plan that War had in store for us?” Hera asked.

“I'm forbidden from telling you,” Silene said.

“Bullshit!” Hera snapped at him.

Silene opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a blur flashed by him, and he was decapitated. His head fell to the ground, and his body slumped to the floor. Deceit stood off to the side, still in his fiendish form, with blood dripping from his claws.

“Deceit!” John said. “You killed him!”

“No I didn't,” Deceit aid.

“You cut off his head!” John said.

“Yes I did,” Deceit said.

“He's dead!” John said.

“No he's not,” Deceit replied. “He numb-nuts, get up already!”

“Ugh, fine,” Silene said.

His body got to its feet, picking up his head and reattaching it. The wound disappeared as if it was never there to begin with.

“What the- how?” John asked.

“All Terrorspawn possess a healing factor,” Deceit explained. “It allows us to recover a lot faster than a human could. But Silene's healing factor dwarfs all of ours. Honestly, I'm not even sure if it's possible to keep him dead.”

“Indeed,” Silene said. “So, why did you interrupt me so brutally?”

“I need your attention,” Deceit said. “Strain's poison took a bigger toll on me than I thought. I need healing.”

“I see,” Silene said. “I'm going to have to ask you all to leave while I treat him.”

“I'm staying,” John said. “I want to help in any way I can.”

“You sure, kid?” Silene asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“Alright, but I ain't paying for therapy,” Silene replied.

Everyone else left, while Deceit lay down on the table. John stood a few feet away, watching. Silene drew a scalpel from his belt and lowered it to Deceit's chest.

“You may feel a slight disemboweling sensation,” he said.

A few minutes later

Hera, David, Kaiser, and Damien sat outside, waiting for them to finish.

“So, do you believe what he said?” Damien asked.

“I don't know,” Hera replied. “I don't trust him, but he could be telling the truth.”

“What about that clawed guy?” Damien asked. “Do you think he's trustworthy? I mean, his name is Deceit.”

“He gets that name from his biggest hobby,” David said. “From what I've heard, he whispers to people in their sleep, trying to turn them against their loved ones. He's a true deceiver.”

“Regardless of that, he bailed us out back when that beak-faced guy and his cronies attacked us,” Kaiser said. “And he's my one shot at getting my revenge.”

At that point, John burst through the door, panicked and gasping for breath.

“You okay?” David asked.

“It was... horrible!” John panted. “I didn't think it would be that bad.”

“Are they finished?” Hera asked.

“Far from it,” John replied. “I need to sit down.”

John dropped to the ground, still panting. A few minutes later, Zero rose from the ground before them and bowed to Hera.

“What's going on?” Hera asked.

“There's trouble coming our way,” it said.

“What kind of trouble?” David asked.

“Look,” it said, pointing to the horizon.

What appeared to be a thunderstorm was making its way toward them. As it grew closer, John realized that the cloud was composed of countless birds, all flying toward them. Lightning was flashing between them.

“What are those!?” John gasped.

“The Crown,” David said. “We're in trouble.”

“Yes, you are,” said a voice.

They all looked up to see a pair of figures standing at the top of the building, looking down at them. One of them was a young man with jet black hair and bird-like eyes. A pair of black wings sprouted from his back, and his right arm resembled a crow's talon. Next to him was a woman with dark hair, wearing a skin tight, snake skin dress.

“Who are you!?” John demanded.

“I am the Crown's sentinel, Andrew Miles,” the man said. “But you may call me Hell Talon.”

“I am Glasp, the Terrorspawn of inner darkness,” the woman said.

“Terrorspawn, huh?” John said, tapping one of the opals on his belt. A huge sledgehammer appeared in his hand.

“Where's Silene Stenophylla!?” Glasp demanded.

“Like I'm gonna tell you!” John said, shifting into a fighting stance.

“If you won't tell us, we'll force the answer out of you,” Glasp said. “Look around you. You don't have a chance against us.”

The Crown had all but surrounded them. They cawed viscously and sent bolts of lightning all over the place.

“This could get ugly,” Kaiser said, as Kestrel materialized on his shoulder. “You ready to fight?”

Kestrel nodded, and shifted it's form into a massive talon.

“Mistress, catch!” Zero said, tossing a scythe to Hera, who caught it.

“Thanks,” she said, holding it defensively.

“You think we have a chance?” Damien said, drawing his knife and standing back to back with David.

“Hopefully,” David said, raising his morningstar.

“Do you really intend to fight us?” Glasp asked.

“You bet,” John said.

“Very well,” Glasp said.”

She jumped from the roof and began running down the building toward them. Something flashed by her open her way down and grabbed her from behind by the hair.

“What?” she said, startled.

“Hello,” Deceit said.

He was now in his human form and seemingly in perfect condition. He stood on the wall as if gravity had no effect on him. He swung her by the hair with all his might, smashing her into the wall so hard it cracked. He then flung her down the street as if he was a rag doll. He jumped down, landing right next to John.

“Deceit!” John aid. “Are you okay?”

“Still a little damaged,” he replied, pulling a cigar out of his pocket. “I won't be able to use my full power for a while. But even in my human form, I'm still stronger and faster than her.”

He tossed his cigar into the sky just as a bolt of the Crown's lightning flashed above them. The two collided  and the lit cigar fell down straight into Deceit's hand.

“I'll be fine,” he said, taking a puff from it.

“You'll pay!” Glasp hissed, getting to her feet.

The ground rumbled, and three giant snakes burst from beneath it. They began slithering toward Deceit. He rushed toward them with blinding speed, swiping with his bare hand. His human fingers cut through their flesh like swords cutting paper. He beheaded the first one with little effort. He gouged the next one's eyes out with his bare hand, then ripped its throat out. He turned to the last one, which rushed at him with its mouth wide open. Deceit casually flicked his cigar into its mouth. It stopped and cried in pain as the embers burnt the inside of its throat. In an instant, Deceit was on it, holding the top half of its mouth in one hand and its lower mouth in the other. He tore its head in half like a pistachio shell.

“You son of a bitch!” Glasp yelled. “I'll kill you!”

John was awestruck by how much damage Deceit was able to do in his weakened human form. He had almost forgotten about Hell Talon.

“Don't let yourself get distracted,” Hell Talon said, descending to the ground behind John.

John turned and raised his hammer.

“I'll be your opponent,” Hell Talon said, raising a pair of sickly curved blades.

“That's fine by me,” John said. “I'll wipe the floor with you!”

“Don't count on it” Hell Talon said.

The two of them charged at each other, and their weapons collided in a flash of bright lightning. All around them, the birds charged forward, ready to kill.

Chapter 12

22 years ago

“So, are we clear on what needs to be done?” Omnipotence asked.

“Yeah, yeah,” Deceit said. “Wait for War and Rage to have kids, then keep an eye on them so that Conquest does't enlist them. Sounds easy enough.”

“But it won't be easy,” Omnipotence said. “Conquest is powerful enough on his own, but there's other Terrorspawn who are likely to take his side.”

“I like a challenge,” Deceit said.

“Still, it would be wise for you both to seek some assistance,” Omnipotence said.

“I can make some arrangements for that,” Silene said.

“And you, Deceit?” Omnipotence asked.

“I don't need help,” Deceit said. “But if you insist, Ice or Blaze might be interested.”

“And what about Kemuri Ha?” Omnipotence asked. “I don't think he'd want his wife allying herself with War.”

“Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't,” said a voice.

They all turned to see a man sitting at the top of a building looking down at them. He had tan skin, huge muscles, spiky red and gray hair, and black eyes. He didn't wear a shirt, and the symbols 封印 were branded into his chest. There a long chain wrapped several times around his waist and lower torso. A giant Claymore lay at his side, emitting a soft red light. Every time he exhaled, a cloud of red smoke blew from his mouth and nose.

“Well, hello there, Kemuri Ha,” Deceit said. “Hey Omnipotence, didn't you see him coming?”

“He must have teleported here,” Omnipotence said. “I couldn't see him in the area until a few seconds ago.”

“So in that case, you don't know what we're talking about, do you?”

“About War's plan to reproduce and keep the kids from Conquest, am I right?” Kemuri Ha asked.

“How'd you know?” Silene asked.

“None of your business how I know,” Kemuri Ha replied.

“So, are you against us?” Deceit asked.

“Nah,” Kemuri Ha said. “I don't like War much, but his kid might be a different story, so I'll let you guys do your thing and see where this goes. I'll go on and let Blaze know what's up.”

“Okay, then,” Deceit said. “You do that.”

Present Day

Hera opened her eyes and looked around.

“Ugh, what happened while I was out?” she asked.

“There was giant fight,” Zero said. “You were seriously wounded. It's a good thing David here had some Elixir.”

“What's Elixir?” Hera asked, sitting up.

“It's a substance with healing powers,” David said. He then turned to Deceit who was still lying on the ground. “You want some of this too? I've still got some left.”

“ Elixir doesn't work on Terrorspawn,” Deceit said.

“What the hell is that thing!?” Hera demanded.

“My name is Deceit,” he replied. “I was hired by War to keep you guys out of trouble. Now, if you'l excuse me, I have errands to run.”

Deceit got to his feet and started walking away.

“Hold on!” John said. “You're injured! Are you sure you should be moving around right now?”

“Ill be fine,” Deceit said.

“Wait a minute!” Kaiser said. “You're the clawed thing that interfered with that cult, right?”

“You mean the Cult Of Setriel?” Deceit asked. “Yeah, I've screwed with them some. Why do you ask?”

“They're the reason Kestrel is bound to me,” Kaiser said. “I want revenge on them for what they did to us. Can you help us?”

“Another time maybe,” Deceit said. “I've got more pressing matters to attend to right now.”

With that, Deceit sped off into the distance.

“Great,” John said. “Now what?”

A motorcycle pulled up out front, and an angry looking woman got off of it and stormed inside.

“DAMIEN!” she yelled. “What the fuck happened here!?”

She approached Damien's unconscious body and started shaking him violently.

“You'd better not be dead you stupid bastard!” She yelled.

Damien opened his eyes and looked at her.

“Sylvia?” he asked. “That you?”

She raised her hand and slapped him hard.

“Yes it's me, you dumb ass!” she yelled. “Where's that fucker Malkator!? Is this his fault!?”

“I'm right here!” Ben said, coming up from the basement. “This most definitely wasn't my fault.”

“Then would you mind explaining what happened!?” she snapped at him.

“Don't you take that tone with me!” Ben snapped back at here. “I already said, this isn't my fault! We were attacked!”

“By what, a fucking nuclear warhead!?” she demanded.

“No, they were monsters!” Ben said.

“Oh please!” she said. “You expect me to believe that!?”

“It's the truth,” John said.

“And who the hell are you people!?” she demanded.

“I'm... um... the son of the second Horseman of the Apocalypse...,” John said.

“You've gotta be fucking kidding me!” she yelled.

“I can prove it!” John said. “Watch.”

He tapped one of the opals on his belt, and his sword appeared in his hand.

“What... the hell!?” she said.

“It's complicated,” John said. “Some people came here to try and attack us, and we ended up having this huge fight.”

“So is any of this damage your fault?” she asked, glaring at him.

“Well... um... I guess... a little of it might be...,” John said nervously.

“Well, thanks a bunch, jackass,” she said, growling. “Thanks to you, we have to go stay at my dad's house until we can pay for repairs!”

“I'm sorry!” John said. “I didn't mean for any of this to happen.”

“Whatever!” she said. “I'm gonna go see there's anything here that wasn't damaged.”

Sylvia walked away angrily.

“That sister of yours scares me sometimes,” Hera said to Damien.

“I know,” Damien said. “You know, Ben, it might help if you didn't argue with her so much.”

“To hell with that bird!” Ben said, very Britishly. “She has no right to accuse me of this stuff!”

“So, what exactly is going here?” Hera asked. “You guys were looking for me, right?”

“Well, we sort of need your help,” John said. “We need to go to Netherworld and-”

“I'm in,” she said.

“Wait, what?” John asked. “You haven't even heard everything yet.”

“Don't care,” she said. “If it gives me a chance to get away from my lazy mom and alcoholic step dad, I'll go with you.”

“Okay, well, we have to go to Netherworld so that we can save my friend and resurect David's mom,” John said.

“Sure thing,” she said.

“If I might interject for a second,” Ben said, handing Hera a bouquet and a letter. “That guy dropped this off yesterday.”

“Oh, god, you mean Creepy-Stalker-Guy?” she asked.

“Yeah, him,” Ben said.

“Ugh, okay,” she said, taking the bouquet and stomping on it, then opening up the letter. She read it, then threw it on the ground. “I can't stand that guy!” she yelled.

“Who is he?” David asked.

“Some creep who's been sending me this kind of stuff for a while,” she said.

John picked up the letter and read it.

Dear Hera,

You look quite lovely today. Your cute goth clothes really bring out your eyes, and I like what you've done with your hair. I recommend adding some highlights. Oh, and tell Zero I said high. He/She doesn't look half bad in those robes.

Truly Yours,

S.S.

P.S. I hope you like the flowers. I grew them myself. Silver Ferripias with some red grigoris and blue and gold poliifs. You find those strains anywhere else on Earth.

“Wait a minute,” John said. “David, give me that note that lead us here.”

David pulled the note from his pocket and handed it over.

“I knew it!” John said. “The hand writing's the same! Whoever's been sending you stuff is the same person who told us to come here!”

“And he said those flowers can't be found anywhere else on Earth,” David said. “These must be Netherworld flowers.”

“So Creepy Stalker Guy is from this Netherworld place?” Hera asked.

“It seems so,” David said.

“Wait, look at this,” John said. “There's a return address here.”

“that's a first,” Hera said. “He usually doesn't leave those.”

“I think we should confront him,” David said. “He might be able to help us get to Netherworld.”

“And then I can kick his ass for harassing me!” Hera said.

“Can I come with you guys?” Damien asked.

“Why?” John asked.

“That guy... the one who looked like me,” Damien said. “I need to find out who he was. Also, I'd rather not move back in with my dad.”

“Why not?” Hera asked.

“He's a Devil worshiper,” Damien said. “I don't like to talk about it.”

“Well, I'm sorry, but we only have room for one more passenger,” David said.

“That's okay,” David said. “I can take my motorcycle.”

“Well, I guess that'll work out,” John said. “Let's go, then.”

“Sure thing,” Damien said.

Meanwhile, in an abandoned theater

“He... isn't... here!” Glasp yelled. “Damn it! There's a bunch of flower clippings and stuff, so he must have been here before, but he's gone! Where the hell is he!”

Meanwhile, in a dark room

A man sat alone in the room, his features obscured by the darkness.

“Hera, Hera, give me your answer, do,” he sang, heartily.

He was holding a pair of scissors in one hand and stroking a tall, flowered bush with the other. The bush was thorny  and grew strange, silver flowers, which seemed to glow enough so that they were visible, not not enough to cast light on the man's face.

“I'm half-crazy, all for the love of you,” he continued singing.

He raised the scissors, and cut off a couple flowers from the plant, and set them down on the table. He then turned to another plant, which was short and grew white flowers with black lines down the middle of the petals.

“It won't be a stylish marriage,” he sang.

He clipped three flowers from the plant and set them next to the silver ones.

“I can't afford a carriage,” he continued.

He turned his attention to a third plant. This one was gnarled  and quite a bit taller than him. He reached for a branch, and cut off a few flowers that seemed to shift constantly between purple, yellow, and gray.

“But you'l look sweet upon the seat,” he sang.

He reached for some tissue paper, and wrapped the flowers p into a colorful, yet strange bouquet.

“Of a bicycle built for two,” he finished, holding the bouquet to his chest.

He sat there in silence, listening for a while. Then, his mouth stretched into a smile, which surpassed the boundaries of his face.

“Feels like they're on their way,” he said, gleefully. “Come on over, Hera. I've been dying to meet you, my darling.”

Chapter 11

Approximately 300 years ago

Deceit was sprawled out on the ground, in his beast form. His body was covered in strange markings, which faded away after a short while. Blaze and Omnipotence appeared from thin air, standing over him.

“Are you okay?” Blaze asked.

Deceit twitched, and opened his eyes.

“Where' Silene?” he asked. “I could use some surgery right now.”

“You actually want Silene to cut you up?” Blaze asked. “You must really be in bad shape.”

“Deceit, what have you done to yourself?” Omnipotence asked. “Your aura... you can't have...”

“I did what needed to be done,” Deceit said. “Whatever you do, keep it secret. We can't have this getting out into the open.”

He looked at his clawed hand and sighed.

“I'm still in hideous form, aren't I?” he asked, reverting to his human form.

“That's the first time I've ever heard you show distaste for your true form,” Blaze said.

“I know,” Deceit said. “This human form's kind of grown on me.”

“Come,” Omnipotence said. “Silene should still be in town. We can catch up to him if we get moving now.”

Present day

Deceit and Lord Strain battled ferociously. All John could do was watch, awe-struck. Deceit's speed was blinding, far faster than anything John had ever seen before, and he knew for a fact that Deceit's mind could move just as fast. Strain wasn't nearly as fast, but he was close enough to defend himself from Deceit's assault. Deceit lashed out viscously with his claws, and Strain parried Strain slashed heavily with his sword, slicing Deceit's chest. The skin around Deceit's wound turned a greenish gray, and began to fester. He cried out in pain. Lord Strain spread his wings and took to the sky. He lifted his left hand, stretching his fingers out. The claws on his gauntlet shot out like projectiles straight at Deceit. He dodged them, and leapt into the air with his powerful legs. He clashed with Strain in midair, slashing wildly with his claws.

John was distracted from the fight by the sound of coughing a little while away. He turned to see David lying on the ground, looking horribly ill. John searched the ground and found the bottle of Elixir. He grabbed it and started running over to David. Something caught his leg in mid-sprint, causing him to trip and drop the bottle, which rolled across the ground, just out of David's reach. John rolled over and looked up, seeing Akuma standing over him.

“I'm not finished yet, kid,” he said. He raised his sword, and jabbed it into the ground. John rolled out of the way just in time, and ran to grab his ax. He got it, and turned to face Akuma.

Meanwhile, Kaiser continued his battle with Bill Dawson. Their swords of darkness clashed repeatedly.

“I don't understand,” Kaiser said, blocking an attack from Dawson. “How are you able to merge with the Avatars to this extent?”

“The ritual that cult performed on you was incomplete,” Bill said. “It was an ancient ceremony used by the ancient Egyptians using black magic, which the tried to replicate with technology. They were never fully successful, however. Only I, who have studied Egyptian spells and tombs, was able to perform the ceremony successfully, and become at one with the Avatar known as Anubis.”

Bill swung his sword heavily, knocking Kaiser over. He raised his sword, ready to strike him down. However, Zero appeared between them and blocked Bill's sword with its staff.

“How are you still standing?” Bill demanded. “I saw you get struck by Lord Strain's blade. You should be able to move, let alone fight.”

“I am an amalgamation of dead souls,” Zero said. “You'd be amazed how quickly I can recover from something as trivial as a simple plague.”

Kaiser got up and moved quickly, getting behind Bill. He raised his katana and swung it. Bill jumped out of the way, but got sliced across his left arm. Kaiser took the chance to attack, summoning a whirlwind of black feathers.

“Kestrel Feather Storm!” Kaiser yelled, swinging his blade and sending the feather flying at Bill, hitting him with a razor-like barrage.

Bill almost collapsed, but managed to remain standing. He raised his blade, which transformed into a jackal-like head, which shot toward Kaiser and dug its fangs into his shoulder. Kaiser collapsed, screaming in pain.

“Good work, Anubis,” Bill said, recalling his sword.

“Why?” Kaiser demanded. “Why work for him?”

Bill laughed out loud. “Lord Strain may be the Terrorspawn of disease, but he is not what plagues this world,” Bill said. “Humans are the true disease, and we seek to cure this world.”

“You're speaking of genocide!” Zero said.

“Not quite,” Bill said. “Those who serve under us shall live on, to become the Adam's and the Eve's of a new world. A world shaped in our image.”

“You're insane,” Kaiser said.

“That may be so,” Bill said. “But at least I'm on the winning side.”

With that, Bill faded away into the shadows.

Deceit and Strain continued fighting. New caws appeared on Strain's gauntlet, and he fired them at Deceit. He dodged most of them, but one hit him in his left forearm. It became consumed by disease, but he ignored it, digging the claw out with his fangs and spit it out. He jumped into the air and swung his claws at Strain. As he flew through the sky, his heart beat so strong it caused him pain. He fought through it, but the chest pains still worried him.

What is this? He thought to himself. Is this a symptom of Strain's plague? Or is it finally happening?

Akuma and John remained locked in battle. John tapped one of the orbs around his wrist, causing his ax to be replaced by a spear. Akuma jumped backwards and summoned a satanic seal.

“Satanic Seal 1, Fireball!” he exclaimed, launching a ball of flames at John.

John dodged out of the way and charged with his spear. Akuma raised his falchion, and the two of them clashed. Akuma swung wildly, knocking the spear from John's hand and throwing him off balance. He fell to the ground, and Akuma stood over him, sword raised.

“It's over!” Akuma yelled, excitedly.

“I don't think so!” David said, charging in with his morningstar and hitting Akuma so hard in his chest that he went flying.

“You're okay!” John said.

“Yeah,” David said, as a red aura surrounded him. “Thanks for rolling the Elixir over to me.”

“What's happened to you?” John asked. “How'd you get so strong?”

“I'm the Horseman of Rage,” David said. “I'm naturally a lot weaker than you are. However, the anger of other people empowers me.”

“You bastards!” Akuma exclaimed, getting to his feet.

David raised his morningstar into the air, as Akuma began charging.

“The Earth shall tremble with the anger of all mankind!” David yelled, as he slammed his morningstar into the ground.

The Earth shook, and a fissure appeared between them. Akuma tripped and hit the quaking ground. Pillars of rock rose, and collapsed on top of him, pinning him.

“You can control Earth?” John asked.

“To an extent, yes,” David say.

“I must say, I'm impressed,” Lord Strain said.

John and David turned around to see Lord Strain hovering in the sky above them, holding deceit by the throat.

“Deceit!” John exclaimed. “What did you do to him!?”

“Even he can't resist my plague for long,” Strain said, hurling Deceit at them. He crashed into both of them knocking them to the ground.

“Shit!” John said, trying to get back up. “Deceit, are you okay?”

Deceit let out a blood curling scream, as a red light poured from his eyes, and glowing green symbols appeared all over his body.

“No!” Deceit cried. “The seal! Not here! Not now!”

“Oh shit!” Akuma said, summoning a satanic seal beneath himself./ “I've done enough damage around this Popsicle stand! I'm Out!”

He vanished into the seal.

“Was he running from something?” David asked.

The symbols rose from Deceit's body and began circling the sky above them. There was a blinding flash of red light, and a new being appeared there. It was tall, at least 20 feet, and was dressed in a nice suit with a blood red tie. It had no facial features at all, yet it still seemed to be gazing everywhere at once.

“Nyasient'e,” Lord Strain said, staring into the emptiness where the creature's face should have been. “So this is where you've been.”

The creature vanished, reappearing in front of Strain. It reached out with a branch-like hand, and grabbed Strain by the throat. They both vanished.

“What... what the fuck was that!?” John asked, quivering in fear.

“You know the story, right?” Deceit asked. “How the Horsemen shall ride, and Hell follows after?”

“Yes,” David said. “What does that have to do with that... thing?”

“That thing, Nyasient'e,” Deceit said. “That was Hell.”

Chapter 10

Several centuries ago

A man in a cloak was lying unconscious on the ground. He eventual came to, but didn't get up. He lay there, weeping like a child. A large satanic seal appeared in the sky, and Akuma stepped out of it.

“It hurts, doesn't it?” he asked. The man didn't respond. “Look at you, stripped of your power, and reduced to this sniveling being.”

“Silence!” The man snapped, drawing a pistol and pointing it at Akuma's face.

“Don't make me laugh,” Akuma said. “What if I told you there's a way for you to get back into power?”

“What!?” The man asked. “Is that possible?”

“Entirely,” Akuma said. “I'm sure you know a lot about the Terrorspawn, correct?”

“Yes,” the man said. “Why?”

“Because I can help you become one,” Akuma said, grinning.

Present day

Akuma stood before Damien, grinning . Damien gripped his knife and attempted to slash at Akuma. Akuma caught Damien's arm in mid-swing. He turn sharply and threw Damien into the yard. His head struck the ground, knocking him out.

“That was disappointingly easy,” Akuma said.

John got up and grabbed his moonring blade, which had landed a few feet away. He charged at Akuma, swing the blade through the air. Akuma turned and parried the attack.

“So you can still fight?” he asked. “You certainly are a worthy opponent, Horseman.”

“Shut up!” John yelled, swinging his weapon.

Akuma blocked John's attack and swung his own sword with enough force to knock John on his back.

“You don't seem to have recovered much since our last fight,” he said. “And you look like you got a few more injuries since then too.”

“I can still fight!” John said, touching one of the orbs around his wrist.

His moonring blade was replaced by a large ax. He raised it into the air and brought it down. Akuma casually lifted his own blade and blocked the attack. Her kicked John in the chest, sending him flying. He hit the ground a few yards away. He tried getting back up, but collapsed in pain immediately  His ribs had been cracked from that attack. Akuma raised a hand to the sky, and a satanic seal appeared above him.

“Satanic Seal 8, Second Summoning,” he said.

A strange monster flew through the seal. It resembled a fanged goat, whose front legs had been replaced by a set of bat wings. It charged at John, but Kaiser stepped in its path.

“A flying creature, huh?” he asked, as his katana and sword materialized. “I think I should handle this one.”

He charged at the monster swinging his sword. It flew higher into the air, and Kaiser followed it. Akuma began walking toward John, but Hera stepped between them.

“I'll be your opponent,” she said, lifting her scythe.

“You seem eager to die,” Akuma said.

Hera began swinging her scythe rapidly, forcing Akuma onto the defensive. He was able to block the majority of her attacks, but one of them sliced him across the chest. He recoiled in pain.

“Zero, now!” She shouted.

Zero appeared behind him, holding a giant ax in its hand. It swung the ax, while Hera swung her scythe, attacking Akuma from two sides. Akuma melted his sword and reformed it into twin blades that he used to block both attacks simultaneously.

“Don't take me for an amateur,” he hissed.

They continues fighting. As they fought, David approached John, carrying a bottle of blue liquid.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I don't think so,” John said. “That guy got me pretty good.”

“Here, try some of this,” David said, twisting the cap off the bottle.

“What's that?” John asked.

“ Elixir,” David said. “It's supposed to have healing powers. I'd have used in on my mom, but I didn't have it with me at the time.”

John took a few sips from the bottle, and he felt his ribs suddenly repair themselves, and his wounds closed up.

“Whoa!” he said. “That stuff really works!”

“Yeah,” David said. “I've never tested it out, but I guess it does work.”

Hera and Zero continued fighting Akuma. Hera managed to slice one of his shins while Zero slashed him across the back. He cried out in pain, and Hera took her chance. She tripped him with the pole of her scythe, then raised it into the air, preparing to stab him through the chest with it. As she dropped the blade down, another figure appeared before her and blocked her attack with a wicked looking sword. The man's face was concealed beneath a bunch of black bandages, revealing only his left eye, which was a sickly green color. He wore a long, hooded robe. He slashed his sword quickly, cutting her across the stomach. She fell to the ground, turning deathly pale.

“Mistress!” Zero cried.

The man swung his blade, striking Zero to the ground as well. David gripped his morningstar and attempted to charge at him, but the man drew a gun with his free hand and shot David in the chest. David fell to the ground, twitching. Kaiser sliced through the monster he was fighting and flew toward the man, dodging the bullets fired at him. Another man, whose body was composed partially of shadow, rose from the ground and stopped Kaiser, blocking his katana with a shadowy blade of his own.

“Who the hell are you!?” Kaiser demanded.

“I'm Bill Dawson,” he said. “You didn't think you were the only human to be successfully fused with an Avatar, did you?”

John got up and ran over to check on David. David had turned completely pale, and his eyes had gone bloodshot.

“Poi... son...,” David muttered.

John looked up to see the man standing over him, sword raised. John parried his attack with his ax. He man knocked John's weapon from his hand, and kicked him so hard he was sent flying again, crashing into the side of David's horse trailer. The man raised his gun, aiming at John's face, but didn't fire.

“Who the hell are you!” John demanded.

“I am Lord Strain,” the man said. “The Terrorspawn of disease.”

The man stabbed his sword into the ground and tore the bandages from his face. John gasped, and nearly vomited from the sight of it. The mans right eyes had a light grey iris, surrounded by yellow. There was a huge scar beneath the eye, wide enough that the cheekbone beneath it visible. The skin around the eye was dry and cracked, and the rest of his face was dotted with boils and patches of decay.

“Or,” the man said, “As your fathers knew me, Famine.”

“What?” John asked.

“I was the third Horseman of the Apocalypse, before they replaced me with that fool Rage,” he said. “Now, I'm going have my revenge on the bastards who outcast me, by destroying their precious children!”

He charged at John sword raised. Deceit suddenly appeared between them. His right hand sprouted giant claws and clashed with Lord Strain's sword.

“You!” Strain said.

“Long time no see,” Deceit said, glaring into Strain's eyes.

Deceit's eyes turned pitch black, and his mouth twisted into a fanged snarl. His clothes seemed to dissolve, and his skin grew tight over his bones. His left hand and feet sprouted talons, just like his right hand had, and blades grew from his elbows and knees. His hair became a darker black and grew out past his waist. Kaiser caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, and gasped.

“The clawed thing!” he exclaimed.

“So, we clash yet again,” Strain said.

And ivory mask formed over Strain's face, forming into the shape of a birds beak. A pair od tattered and decayed bat wings sprouted from his back. His gun melted and covered his left hand, solidifying into a clawed gauntlet. His sword changed, developing a cutlass-like hand guard, and growing a longer, more jagged blade.

“I'll make you suffer!” Deceit hissed, his voice now deeper and more feral.

“I'd like to see you try, Deceit,” Stain said, glaring at him through the lenses of his mask.

John was paralyzed, unable to do anything but stand and watch as the two eldritch horrors began attacking each other viciously.

Chapter 9

22 years ago

A tall man with pale skin and dark black hair walked down an alleyway late at night.

“Not even gonna say goodbye to her?” a voice said.

The man looked up to see Deceit lying down at the edge of one of the buildings.

“Nice to see you, Deceit,” the man said. “What brings you around here?”

“You know, the usual,” he replied. “Scaring people.””I see,” the man said.

“So, you just gonna leave that woman in the middle of the night without saying anything?” Deceit asked.

“I think it's for the best,” he replied. “Better that the child never sees me.”

“And what if you're wrong, Death?” Deceit asked. “You know how often that is, right?”

“I'm the essence of destruction,” Death replied. “I'm not what one would call father material.”

“I see,” Deceit said. “You realize Conquest is gonna be pissed if he finds out about this, right?”

“I don't care,” Death said. “As a matter of fact, I would like you to deliver that news for me.”

“You really are reckless, aren't you?” Deceit asked.

“I'm Death,” he said. “It's my job to be completely unpredictable.”

Death began walking again.

“Are you really sure you wanna leave them?” Deceit asked.

“I left them something to remember me by,” Death said.

“And what would that be?” Deceit asked.

Death stopped for a moment and smiled.

“My scythe.”

Present day

John, David, and Kaiser sat in the damage living room silently. After a few minutes, John broke the silence.

“I'm sorry, man, “he said.

“It's not your fault,” David said. “If it's anyone's fault, it's Conquest's.”

“So what do we do now?” John asked.

“There's a being in Netherworld called the Bone King,” David said. “My father warned me about it, but it looks like the only way to get her back.”

“So, it can raise the dead?” John asked.

“From what I've heard,” David said.

“My friend Mike- I mean, Ice, is in Netherworld,” John said. “He was kidnapped by Conquest. We both have a reason to go there.”

“Well, we can't go there alone,” David said. “We'll need her help.”

“Who?” John asked.

“Death's daughter,” David said. “I don't know much about her, but if we wanna go to Netherworld, we'll need all the muscle we can get.”

“I'll go with you too,” Kaiser said.

“You sure?” John asked.

“I owe you guys,” he said. “Plus, I'm looking for someone. Or rather, something.”

“And what would this 'something' be?” David asked.

“The reason Kestrel and I are connected is because a cult fused us together,” Kaiser said. “The cult had an enemy. It was this clawed creature.”

“There's a lot of things out there with claws,” David said.

“I know,” Kaiser said. “But I have a feeling that I'll know this one when I see it. Or at least, Kestrel will.”

“Why do you wanna find this guy?” John asked.

“You know what they say,” Kaiser said. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I wanna bring that cult down, and I think the clawed thing can help me.”

“Okay then,” John said. “So, we need to wait for Death's daughter to come by for her horse, then we can find a way to Netherworld, right?”

“She won't come here,” David said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a folded up piece of paper. He handed it to John.

“'She won't come to you, you must go to her',” John read. “It has an address here, too. M&M Motel.”

“I looked it up,” David said. “It's a lodging just outside of Dallas. I think that's where we'll find her.”

“So, will we be taking the horses?” John asked.

“We'll have to bring them along in the horse trailer,” David said. “My horse, Fury, is blue, so we can't have her out in public. And Death's horse, Shroud, isn't gonna let Kaiser ride him.”

“So what's my horse named?” John asked.

“Squall,” David said.

“Well, are we just gonna sit around talking, or are we gonna go?” Kaiser asked.

“Right, we should get ready,” John said, getting up.

“Hey, where did that bow of yours go?” Kaiser asked.

John lifted up his shirt a bit to reveal a metal belt with ten opals embedded in it.

“All my weapons turned into this thing after the battle ended,” John said.

The next day, in Dallas

Glasp waited outside of a coffee shop, dressed in normal clothing in order to blend in with the civilians. Akuma approached her table and sat down.

“Finally recovered, huh?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “Silene is downtown, hiding out in this abandoned theater. Think you can take him?”

“Why, aren't you helping?” she asked.

“There's something I have to do,” he said.

“Well, think you can get it done quickly?” she asked.

“I can try,” he said. “Can't promise much.”

Outside of Dallas, at M&M Motel

“This isn't much of a Motel,” Kaiser said, unimpressed.

He was right. The place they had just pulled up in front of appeared to just be a large house with a bad paint job.

“Well, either way, we have to check it out,” John said. He approached the door and knocked.

“Come in!” said a very British voice from the other side of the door.

They entered the house. The foyer had a few couches, and a desk with a nameplate reading “B. Malkator”. The man sitting behind the desk was about nineteen years old, with light brown hair and green eyes, wearing a blue t-shirt and a red hoody.

“Um, hi,” John said. “I'm Jonathan Calwar, and these are David Dragen and Kaiser.”

“Ben Malkator,” the man said. “Nice to meet you. You guys looking to rent a room?”

“Well, we're actually looking for someone,” David said.

“You know there name?” Ben asked.

“Well... no,” David said.

A woman came into the room, followed by another nineteen year old man with shoulder length brown hair and black eyes.

“I'm sorry, I have to leave,” the woman said frantically. “I can't stay here another night with that... thing watching me.”

She ran out the door.

“Damn,” the man said. “Lost another one. That monster is scaring off all our- oh look! Customers!”

He had just noticed John and the others, and stepped forward with his hand outstretched.

“Hi, I'm Damien Monroe,” he said, walking toward John, who backed away quickly. “Something wrong?”

There was something wrong. Damien may have had different hair and eyes, and was wearing different clothing, but aside from that, he was almost completely identical to Akuma.

“Does the name Akuma mean anything to you?” John asked.

“No, why?” Damien asked.

“You look like someone I've seen before,” John said.

“Would you excuse us for a second?” David asked, pulling John aside. He began whispering. “You've seen Akuma?”

“Yeah,” John whispered back. “He looks a lot like this guy. I think we should watch out backs.”

“Okay,” David said.

“So what were you saying about a monster?” Kaiser asked.

“The Rake,” Damien said. “At least, that's what we think it is. A creature with black eyes and claws that whispers to people in there sleep. I'd think it was just an urban legend if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.”

“Same here,” Ben said. “Crazy shit.”

Kaiser turned to David and John.

“The clawed thing,” he said.

“You think this is it?” John asked.

“I know so,” Kaiser replied.

“So, you guys have seen supernatural things before, right?” John asked.

“I guess so,” Ben replied.

“Well, this may seem weird, but I'm the son of the second Horseman of the Apocalypse, War,” John said. “And David here is the son of Rage, the third Horseman.”

“That sounds hard to believe,” Damien said. “But, say it were true, why would you tell us?”

“The person we're looking for is the daughter of the fourth Horseman, Death,” David said. “Is there anyone here who might be that person?”

“Hera De'Athra,” Ben said.

“Excuse me?” John asked.

“She's probably who you're looking for,” Ben said.

“How can you tell?” John asked.

“Your last name contains the word War,” Ben said. “And his last name contains the word Rage, it would make sense that Death's daughter would have the word Death in her last name.”

"She's here right now,” Damien said. “She rents out our basement once a week for cult meetings.”

“She's in a cult?” John asked.

“She runs a cult,” Ben replied. “Their meeting should be wrapping up soon. Why don't you guys wait a bit? You can catch her on the way out.”

They waited for a while. About an hour later, a group of cloaked people came out of the basement and began leaving the building. Kaiser glared at them the whole time. The last two people to leave were a twenty one year old girl carrying a scythe, and a tall and an androgynous individual wearing a theater mask.

“Excuse me,” John said, getting up and approaching her. “Are you Hera De'Athra?”

“Yes,” she said. “What of it?”

“I'm John Calwar,” he said. “I need to talk to you. In private.”

“Anything you wanna say to me can be said in front of Zero,” she said, motioning to the androgynous figure beside her.

“Well um, I think you may be the daughter of the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse,” he said nervously.

She stood there looking at him questioningly for a couple minutes before saying “Okay.”

“Wait, that doesn't seem weird to you?” John asked.

“Well, of course it seems weird,” she said. “Bu tit does explain a few things. Like how I created Zero.”

“You... created Zero?” John asked.

Zero chuckled. “I am a culmination of dead souls given physical form by master Hera,” it said, in a voice that was both male and female.

“Is that a guy or a girl?” John asked.

Hera shrugged. “I wasn't really paying attention to gender when I created Zero,” she said.

I see,” John said.

Suddenly, the front of the house was blown off in a fiery explosion. John quickly tapped one of the opals on his belt. It transformed into a giant shield, while the other opals became glowing orbs that circled his wrist. He jumped in front of Hera and blocked as much rubble as he could with his shield.

He lowered the shield to see who was attacking. He locked eyes with Akuma, who was standing out front with a giant falchion in his hand. He raised his free hand into the air, and a giant satanic seal appeared in the sky.

“Satanic Seal 5, Rain Of Fire!” he yelled. Balls of fire began dropping from the seal, destroying the house. John tapped one of the orbs around his wrist. His shield was replaced by a his moonring blade. He threw it as hard as he could into the sky. It hit the satanic seal, shattering it. He turned to see Akuma standing right next to him, sword raised. Hera jumped between them, blocking Akuma's attack with her scythe.

“What's going on here!?” Damien said, entering the room.

He froze in place upon seeing Akuma. Akuma swung his sword with tremendous force, sending both Hera and John crashing into what was left of one of the walls. He then approached Damien, removing his blindfold.

“Who are you!?” Damien demanded. “Why do you look like me?”

“I've been waiting for my chance to meet you, Damien Monroe,” Akuma said, grinning broadly. “I'm gonna have some fun with you, dear friend!”

“Who are you!?” Damien demanded, drawing a knife from his belt and holding it defensively.

“I am Akuma,” he said. “And I'm your worst nightmare.”

Chapter 8

17 years ago

Deceit was lying down on a park bench in Netherworld's capital city, gazing up at the sky. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigar. As he stuck it in his mouth, a small bolt of lightning fell from the sky, hitting the tip of it and igniting it. Deceit turned his head to see War standing a few feet away.

“Oh, you're here,” he said. “Thanks for the light and all, but would mind if I asked why?”

“I know you well enough to know that you'll be more inclined to listen to what I have to say if I light your cigar for you,” War said.

“I see,” Deceit said. “So what is it you want?”

“I have to leave my family,” War said. “I won't be able to see my son anymore.””So?” Deceit asked.

“When he comes of age, I'd like you to deliver this to him,” War said, handing Deceit a magnificent sword with an intricate golden hand guard.

“And what makes you think I can be trusted with this?” Deceit asked.

“I trust you more than any of the other Terrorspawn,” War said.

“Ironic, considering my name,” Deceit replied.

You may be a natural born deceiver, but there's a good side to you,” War said. “You're not a monster like most of the others were. Elizabeth knew that.”

“Elizabeth,” Deceit said, as tears began dripping down his face. “I case you've forgotten, I killed Elizabeth with my own two hands.”

“And it's haunted you ever since,” War said. “A monster wouldn't feel such regret.”

Present day

David and John, on his horse, charged at each other. David's fist clashed with the morningstar in John's hand, and the sound of thunder filled the air. David stomped on the ground, causing another earthquake. John's horse jumped into the sky, and remained there, standing on thin air. The horse galloped higher into the sky. David jumped after it. John raised the morningstar, which was struck by another lightning bolt. He swung it with all his might as David reached them in the sky. The morningstar met his fist once again, and the enormous burst of thunder sent David crashing into the ground bellow. David fell unconscious and changed back into his human form. John landed on the ground and dismounted the horse. He lifted David onto the horse and got back on. He then heard the loud roaring of an engine behind him.

“The hell is that?” John asked, looking behind him.

He saw what appeared to be a flying lawnmower with a pair of claw-like mechanical arms.

“Oh shit!” John said. “Back to the house! Let's go!”

Meanwhile, in the living room

The body of the last Towerborn fell to the ground, dead. The entire roof had been torn off in the fight.

“Impressive,” Krysix said.

“Those guys were nothing,” Kaiser replied.

Kaiser's wings and sword flickered briefly.

“What's this?” Krysix said. “It seems your bird took more damage than you thought from that explosion.”

“Kestrel's still strong enough to-,” Kaiser started to say, but paused when he heard the sound of engines outside. “What was that?”

“I think that's the lawnmower,” Krysix said. “I modified it a bit. But that's not what you should be worrying about right now.”

Krysix raised its energy sword, pointing it at Kaiser. Kaiser gripped his katana with both hands and charged. The two of them clashed blades. Kaiser quickly swept Krysix's legs from beneath it and flew up into the air. He slashed his sword, and a barrage of feathers began pelting Krysix. Krysix vanished and reappeared in the sky above Kaiser, flying with a pair of jets in its feet. It threw a handful of small disks, which hovered in midair and began release loud screeching noises. Kaiser swung his katana again, releases even more feathers, which pierced through the disks and destroyed them. He charged at Krysix, and the two of them began sword fighting in midair.

Outside Miss Dragen's bedroom

John's horse stopped outside of the hole in the wall. He jumped off, gentle picked up David's mother, and set her on the horse.

“Take them somewhere safe, and try not to drop them,” he said. “Can you do that?”

The horse nodded its head and took off. John turned to see that the flying machine had almost caught up to him. He raised the morningstar and shot a bolt of lightning at the machine. It raised one of its claws and absorbed the lightning bolt.

“Oh crap,” John said, just as it shot a beam of energy at him.

He swung the morningstar in and attempt to deflect the attack, but was blown backwards. The weapon was knocked from his hand. He tried getting back up, but the wounds he had suffered before were beginning to hurt again. He looked around and saw his broken sword lying a couple feet away from him. It was broken, but it still had about half of its blade left. He might be able to use it. He reached out and gripped its hilt. A voice then sounded in the back of his head.

Jonathan, it said. Stand up and fight. Claim your true power.

The blade repaired itself and began glowing brightly. It rose into the air and split into ten glowing orbs, which circled the air above John. He grabbed one of them, and a blinding light filled the air. The orb transformed into a sword larger and more beautiful than the old one. Despite its size, it felt almost weightless in John's hand. The other nine orbs shrank to the size of marbles and began orbiting his wrist. The flying machine fired another energy beam at him. He dodged it and ran outside. He propelled himself into the air with a blast of thunder and sliced the machine with his new sword before falling back to the ground. He touched one of the orbs circling his wrist, and the sword was suddenly replaced by a giant moonring blade.

“The hell is this thing?” he said out loud.

He heard the machine above him turning around to face him. He had to figure out how to work this new weapon fast. The world around him slowed down. He examined the machine's arms, looking for weak points, and took into account the way the wind was blowing. Time began flowing normally again. He threw the blade, which spun through the air and sliced through one of the machine's arms, severing it completely. The blade flew back to him. He caught it and threw it again, cutting off the other arm.

He caught the weapon again. He decided he'd need something different to destroy the machine's body with. He touched another orb, and the moonring blade was replaced by a sledgehammer. He propelled himself through the air again, and struck the machine as hard as he could with the hammer, sending it flying higher into the air again. As he fell back to the ground, he touched another of the glowing orbs, hoping for a ranged weapon this time. A longbow appeared in his hand. He landed on the ground and examined the bow. There was a glowing sphere near the hand grip. He touched it, and an arrow appeared in his hand. He drew back on the bow string and aim. Time slowed while he examined the machine, looking for a weak spot. He found it. The slash he had made earlier revealed the machine's gas tank. He fired the arrow, which pierced the gas tank, causing it to explode and destroy the machine. He heard something else above him. He turned and saw Krysix battling Kaiser in the sky. He summoned another arrow and aim. Time slowed down again. He examined Krysix's movements, predicting where it would move next. He released the arrow, which tore through the air and struck Krysix through its knees, disabling its jets and causing it to fall to the ground. John ran up to it and pointed and arrow directly in its face. Kaiser landed nearby and pointed his sword at Krysix as well.

“Who the hell are you and why the hell are you here?” John demanded.

“Conquest sent me to capture you,” Krysix said. “But it seems I was unprepared. I won't maje the same mistake next time.”

It than vanished without a trace.

At the stable

John's horse came to a stop and allowed David and his mom to slide gently off of his back. David came to and looked around. He saw his mother lying in the grass next to him.

“Mom!” he said. “Are you okay?”

She coughed and opened her eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“No,” she whispered. “I'm...”

She started caughing again.

“Mom, you're gonna be okay,” Dacid said, crying. “I'm gonna go get help. You're gonna make it.”

“Listen to me,” she said, graqbbing him by the sleeve before he could leave. “You're not a monster. You're my son.”

She released him. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her breath came to a stop.

“Mom?” he said, checking her pulse. Nothing. “No. You... you can't be dead! No!”

He broke down, crying over her dead body.

A couple miles away

“This is a shame,” Omnipotence said. “Krysix has struck down Rage's wife.”

“So Conquest is getting serious?” Fade asked.

“It seems so,” Omnipotence said. “Despite this tragedy, John has displayed tremendous power. He was even able to detain David in his enraged state.”

“Interesting,” Fade said.

Suddenly, Hell Talon dropped to the ground behind Fade and placed a hand on his shoulder. Electricity flowed through Fade's body, incapacitating him. Shadow appeared beneath Omnipotence and rose into the air, taking the form of jackal heads. She grew chitin claws over her fingers and slashed through the shadowy hounds. A man appeared before her. His right arm, the left side of his face, his hair, and various other parts of his body were composed of pure darkness. A sword made of darkness appeared in his right hand, and he swung it. Omnipotence tried to defend herself, but he overpowered her and knocked her to the ground. Hell Talon electrocuted her as well.

“Well, that was easy,” the shadow man said.

“Yes, it was, Bill,” Hell Talon said. “Now come on, let's finish the job.”

A very large bird flew down from the sky and transformed into a large sword, which Hell Talon grasped in his hand.

“Sometimes, I'm amazed at what the Crown is capable of,” Bill said, raising his own sword, ready to behead Fade.

Something zoomed past them, and Fade and Omnipotence both vanished.

“The hell was that?” Bill demanded, shocked.

“Nice try, jackasses!” Deceit said, several yards away, carrying both Omnipotence and Fade in his arms.

“You!” Hell Talon said.

“Yeah, me!” Deceit said, turning and running away at tremendous speed.

“Damn it!” Bill said, starting to chase after him.

“Don't bother,” Hell Talon said. “Neither of us can catch up to him. Let's report back to Lord Strain. He's gonna want to know about this.”

Chapter 7

12 years ago

A seven year old boy was playing tag with a young girl at a park. The girl who was “it” was catching up to the boy.

“I'm gonna get you, David!” the girl said playfully.

“Yeah right, Jill!” the boy called back.

He suddenly tripped over and began rolling down a hill, coming to a stop when his shin struck a tree. He cried out in pain, clutching his leg.

“Are you okay!?” Jill called to him.

He opened his eyes, which were now glowing red. Jill stepped back in alarm. He got up, his body now expanding. His shirt ripped as his muscles and bones grew rapidly. He turned and started attacking the tree, smashing it into splinters. He then turned back to Jill, and raised a fist, ready to attack her. A tall, bald man appeared between them, blocking his strike.

“David, calm down!” he said.

David didn't listen. He grabbed the man by the throat and threw him. The man got back up and tried to tackle David. It didn't seem tpo phase him at all. David turned and began punching the man. He fell to the ground, and David raised a foot, ready to stomp on his head. The man got up, and in an instant, he became a beast much like what David had turned into, only his eyes glowed white instead of red, and he was several feet taller. He knocked David out in a single blow. David shrank back to his normal form.

“This can't keep happening, Rage,” said a voice. Rage turned to see an orange haired woman watching them.

“I know, Omnipotence,” Rage said, returning to his human form.

“I would recommend moving someplace quieter,” said another voice. There was an old man wearing dark glasses sitting on a park bench not far off. “Some place where he can learn to control those emotions of his.”

“You're right,” Rage said. “I've been considering that for a while now. I should bring him somewhere where he can be at peace.”

“Please don't take him away!” Jill said. Rage turned to look her in the eyes. “He's my only friend. I don't want him to leaave.”

Omnipotence knelt to the ground before her.

“It's going to be okay,” she said. Her voice was soothing, and calmed Jill down. “Your destinies shall cross again.”

The old man got up, holding a dusty old book in his hand.

“Shall I erase her memory of this event?” he asked.

“Don't bother, Fade,” Omnipotence said. “She can be allowed to remember. As a matter of fact, it would be better if she does.”

Rage picked David up and began walking away with him. Omnipoetence followed him.

“Something is troubling you,” she said. It wasn't a question.

“I only have a few more years left,” he said. “I won't be around to restrain him forever.”

“That is why your brother hired me,” she said. “To protect him from those who would try to harm him, and himself.”

“Are you sure you're up to it?” he asked.

“Don't underestimate me,” she said. “Besides, I have Fade with me. We'll be more than enough to keep him safe once you're gone.”

“I really hope you're right, Omnipotence,” he said. “I really do.”

Present day

“David, calm down, man!” John said.

It was no use. Anger had completely overtaken David's mind. He charged at Krysix, who vanished and reappeared behind him. Krysix detached a device from his hip and switched it on. A bblade of energy extended from the device. It raised the blade, ready to bring it down on David. John drew his own sword and charged at Krysix, who turned and parried the strike before kicking John in the chest so hard he was sent flying across the room. David turned back to Krysix and attempted to smash it, but it vanished again, reappearing over John. John got up and swung his sword, clashing with Krysix. Krysix pressed a button on its blade's handle, causing the energy blade to glow brighter. It swung it again, slicing John's blade in two. It raised the blade again, but David grabbed its skull from behind and lifted it into the air. A pair of antenae sprouted from Krysix's shoulder blades, and shot volts of electricity into David. David roared in pain and released Krysix, who immediately spun round and slashed David across the chest with its energy blade, leaving a deep gash. Krysix then vanished.

“Are you okay, David?” John asked.

David roared loudly and punched John through the wall. Johning landed on his back in the front yard. He stuggled to get back up, and saw David coming straight at him. He let out a burst of thunder from his feet, propelling into the air above David and landing behind him. John had always been ridiculously strong for someone of his slim physique. Strong enough that he frequently broke his belongings without meaning to. It was another gift he kept secret. But his strngth was infantile against David's new form. He began running back to the house. He entered David's mom's room again. He saw his broken sword lying on the floor a few feet away, but it would help him now. He ran over ton David's morningstar and picked it up. As he was lifted it, he heard a moan coming from David's mom's body.

“Miss Dragen!” John said, leaning over her. “Are you okay?”

She didn't answer, but she still had a pulse. John looked up to see David stepping through the hole in the wall.

“David, it'sokay, she's still alive!” John said.

David grabbed the wall next to him and ripped a chunk out, throwing it at John. John swung the morningstar, breaking the chunk of wall.

“Damn it, Dacid!” John yelled. “I don't wanna have to figth you!”

David ripped out another chunk of wall, and threw it. John smashed through it again.

“Alright, you're asking for it!” he yelled, charging.

He swung the mornigstar, but David simply caught the spiked ball in his hand and turn sharply, throwing John back outside again. John stood up, raising the mornigstar into the air. A bolt of lightning struck it, filling John's body with power. He'd need all the strength he could muster to defeat David.

Meanwhile, in the living room

Kaiser was backed into a corner, surrounded by the attackers. Kestrel had returned to his bird form. Krysix appeared across the room.

“That's an interesting Avatar you have there,” it said. “I've never seen one shaped like a bird before.”

“Kestrel and I are connected,” Kaiser said. “He takes the form that reflects what I desire most.”

“You desire a bird?” Krysix asked.

“No,” Kaiser chuckled. “What I desire most is freedom. The frredom possessed by the birds that soar across the sky.”

“I see,” Krysix said, dropping a machine on the floor.

“What's that?” Kaiser said.

“It's a time bomb I built from a weed eater,” Krysix said. “It'll destroy this entire block in about five minutes.””Kestrel, go!” Kaiser ordered.

Kestrel flew across the room, expanded, and swallowed the bomb, before taking off into the sky.

“Detonate!” Krysix said.

The bomb exploded inside of Kestrel,. Bits of darkness fell to the ground. They then flew together, reshaping into an almost bird-like shape.

“It'll take more than that to kill Kestrel,” Kaiser said. “As a Terrorspawn, you should know that.”

“Yes, but look at it,” Krysix said. “It's been damaged. It can barely keep its form.”

“Shut up!” Kaiser said. “Kestrel identifies as a male! He is not an 'it'!”

“Like that matters now,” Krysix said. “You're both about to be killed by my Towerborn.”

“Kestrel, let's do this!” Kaiser said.

Kestrel melted into blackness and flowed into Kaisers body. The wind surrounding Kaiser's body began swirling rapidly, keeping the Towerborn at bay. Black feathers materialized within the wind, slicing all the Towerborn that they touched. A pair of black wings sprouted from Kaiser's back, and a katana made of pure darkness formed in his hand. He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of bird shaped marks that had appeared in the center of his pupil-less eyes.

“What's this?” Krysix asked.

“It's like I said,” Kaiser said. “Kestrel and I are connected. This is our true form, the Kestrel Feather Storm!”

Outside

John charged at David, lifting the morningstar. David stomped on the ground, creating a miniature earthquake that caused John to lose his balance. David ran over to him and smashed his fist down. John barely dodged the attack. Another earthquake was created when David's fist hit the ground. John was almost knocked off balance again, but he managed to remain standing. He swung the morningstar, which colided with David's fist. Lightning shot through David's body, causing him to cry out in pain. He resisted it, and grabbed John by the throat and threw him across the field. He landing on the ground several yards away. He got up weakly, barely able to move. He saw redness out of the corner of his eye, and turned. He was face to face with the largest stallion he had ever seen, with red fur that wasn't natural for a horse. The feeling he had had since coming to the town, the feeling that he was close to what his father left for him, was stronger than ever. This was it. The second Horseman's steed.

“Hey,” he said, reaching up and petting the horse's nose.

It knelt down, offering him to ride it. He nervously got on, and it stood back up. He felt different. He was stronger. His wounds felt like nothing. They turned to face David, who was now charging at them.

“Let's ride!” John shouted, raising the morningstar.