Notes: I decided to revamp FA. So 44 chapters down the drain and rewriting the whole bloody thing. Why? Cause I reread it and realized it was just... bad. Hopefully the second time around is better. Thank you for your patience.

Disclaimer: Suikoden and its characters belong to their respected companies (Konami and such) and no money was made in the production of this Fanfiction.

GENSO SUIKODEN: Atonement

By: Chii Motosuwa

Prologue

High-pitched screams of lizard-like creatures tore through the silent night. The fresh meadow breeze of the grasslands was soon over powered by the smell of burning wood, stone, as well as flesh. The cries grew louder and stronger with the sound of blazing flames, creating an orchestra of chaos and suffering in a once peaceful night.

The violent requiem of the night was soon joined by the heavy marching of metal armor trampled over the lush greenery of the grasslands. Soldiers scattered through out the village where the so called 'danger' existed.

"BURN IT TO THE GROUND!" a voice shouted through the loud screams that tore the night, "FIND THE DEMON OF CHAOS!"

Soldiers continued to bombard the small homes with flaming arrows, setting them alight. Villagers ran out to save themselves from burning in their homes, only to meet the sharp edge of the blade of a soldier.

"Well?" The commander of the massive flank finally asked as he turned to one of his soldiers.

"No luck, sir." The soldier replied, trying his best not to cower before the overwhelming madness his superior began to display since their arrival at the small village.

The commander grabbed the front of the young soldier's collar and brought his face close to him, his eyes flashing with uninhibited pleasure.

"You will find that creature, or you will die by my blade." He growled.

"Y-Yes, sir!" the soldier said in fear.

"Commander!" another soldier ran towards them.

"What is it Lieutenant?"

"We found it."

The commander's eyes widened. He let go of the first soldier's collar, pushing him aside roughly. He grinned.

"Finally." He hissed. "Where?"

"There's a cave past the forest towards the lake. There's a strange cave over there. Unit 3 is already securing the area."

"Call the Bishop. Tell him that we've found what he's searching for." He ordered to the soldier from before then faced the soldier who claims to have found their mysterious goal in a village what he considered a wretched primitive backwater existence, "You, tell the others to get rid of everyone in this cursed village. I don't want any of them breathing the same air we are, lizards or barbarians. Then take some of the men with you to secure the area around the cave and wait for the bishop to arrive."

The soldier saluted the commander immediately and was about to turn and run when he suddenly stood rigid into another salute.

"Commander Rico." A voice called from behind.

The commander turned only to see a man with silver white hair and deep blue eyes. He looked like a man in his early twenties, standing at about 6'2" in height. He was wearing the blue and silver uniform, usually worn by the Bishops, equivalent of Generals, of Harmonia. A younger man followed the Bishop. He looked about 16 or 17 years of age, about 5'6". He had light brown hair and emerald green eyes.

The soldier saluted the younger man who followed the Bishop. The youngster returned the gesture and they exchanged weary smiles.

"What did I tell you soldier?" Commander Rico shouted.

The soldier flinched and gave the younger man a half glance, then ran off to inform the rest of the flank of their commander's orders.

"I have heard you've found what we have been searching for." The bishop continued as he walked towards him, while pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"You heard correct, your holiness." Rico replied as he gave him a half assed salute, making the brow of the younger soldier twitched slightly with irritation. "Apparently, the creature resides in a cave hidden off past the forest towards the north. There are already soldiers securing the area."

"Very well." The bishop muttered and headed towards the direction he was informed, "I'll go on ahead. When you're done here, follow and go to the cave to meet us."

"As you wish, your holiness." Rico saluted again as the Bishop and the younger soldier left.

"Lord Leon… is it wise to leave the village's well being to Commander Rico?" the young soldier questioned. "He'll surely murder them all."

"How now, Hisoka? Are you starting to question your superiors?"

"N-No, sir. Of course not!" the soldier called Hisoka stuttered, "I-I'm just…"

The bishop name Leon chuckled.

"I agree though. Rico has been rather hot blooded ever since the 'War of Chaos' came to a pause. But we do intend to take from them something that can change the course of that war and finally put it to a complete end."

"My lord?" Hisoka blinked as he watched his superior in interest.

"The Liskorans will surely try to take back what we are about to steal from them." Leon said calmly. "And you saw what they can do, did you not?"

"Those creatures..."

"Correct." He sighed. "And now we have mounds of dead bodies to burn when this is all over."

They had lost almost a quarter of their troops to the small village of the people they call the Tatsukai clan, one of the two Liskoran villages in existence. The Liskorans were known as great sorcerers. They had the ability to summon lizard like creatures that looked almost like dragons, only smaller in size. But they carry a fatal poison, and one bite could paralyze the body of a full grown adult in mere minutes. Hisoka had watched many of the soldiers bitten and dragged away into the darkness where they were eaten alive by hordes of the devil creatures. If Bishop Leon had not been there, all of their troops would have probably been eaten alive.

"To think..." He began, looking rather pleased with the sight before him, "that the greatest contributor of the war still lives and rests peacefully this very moment."

Hisoka turned to where the bishop was looking, only to see the entrance of a dark cave. Two soldiers stood alert by the entrance and saluted them as they came nearer. Something was shimmering from within the cave, beckoning them to come forward.

"Well done gentlemen." Leon smiled as he passed the two soldiers, "You may want to stay a little bit away from the entrance starting now."

The two soldiers exchanged glances, and then started to back away from the strange cave. The Bishop nodded at them then turned to his assistant.

"Do you remember the spell I taught you Hisoka?"

"Y-Yes my lord."

"Good. Cast it and hope that it'll protect you." They continued forward into the darkness of the cave.

The shimmering light continued deeper in the cavern. The further they walked into it, the brighter the shimmering light became. Time seem to pass slower within the cave as it almost felt like an hour or so when they finally reached the end of the fissure, when truthfully it only took minutes. The anxiety of seeing what was inside had made the trip long for the young man. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the source of the flickering light and all sounds seem to have vanished around him. In the inner sanctum was a room made completely of what appears to be crystal. Two stands with burning blue fire stood at either side before the uneven crystalline back wall of the room. This room... frightened him. That was when he caught the shadow within the furthest wall beyond the pedestal of the blue flame.

"My Lord…? W-what… what is that…?" Hisoka asked pointing reluctantly at the shimmering surface of the crystal wall.

"That is what we are searching for." Leon replied in a serious, yet pleased tone, "'she who lives only to serve', Liskoran's 'demon of chaos'."

(To be continued…)