The Reign of Wrath
Prologue
The Otherworld, moments after the declaration of war…
The sky was alight with hellfire, that night when the apocalypse began. White Steel Wrath, a foe many believed to be destroyed forever, had returned. What was more, the fiendish other-self had usurped Marluxia, a nobody who for four months had held the very multiverse in his grasp, only to have it all come crashing down upon him. Now that Wrath had returned to power, he revealed to the people of the worlds what the previous overseer had kept a secret. Shining brightly even from a great distance, was the core of the multiverse, the source of all creation. While the other-self and his forces were the closest to the ultimate power, they were still a long ways away from controlling it. Now that war had been declared, it was only a matter of time before other groups began seeking the core for their own purposes. Some would desire its power to claim the throne of god, some would use it in the pursuit of justice, and some would seek it for nothing more than a desire for chaos. But at that moment, there were some who did not seek any of these. Hisana Takanashi, accompanied by her friends Axel and Roxas, her angelic counterpart Valkyrie, and her newly instated relatives Yuu Koutari and White Rock Shooter, all had but one thing on their minds: the current condition of newly weds Evelyn and Shinzo Koutari. Mere moments before the declaration, a tremendous pillar of blue hellfire exploded towards the heavens, followed immediately by a cry of agony that could be heard across the world. The group of six had immediately recognized the owner of the cry as Evelyn, and with deep worry in their hearts, they set out to find the demoness. Upon reaching the remains of a great and shining fortress that had once belonged to the Koutari family, they found Evelyn standing in what was once her room, with Shinzo lying dead in her arms. Green/black blood that had once belonged to the younger of the pair covered the room, and a silver handgun with spent rounds could be seen next to a large scorch mark. Just as the first six were coming to terms with what lay before them, the pair of Kurai Shosetsuka, a sword smith and warrior, and Tsuyo-sa Irino, half-sister to Evelyn, entered. Like the group before them, the pair were horrified at what they saw. Evelyn's eyes were downcast as an aura of blue hellfire raged around her.
"Shinzo..." Hisana whispered.
"Evelyn nee-chan..." Tsuyo-sa muttered.
Shocked and concerned at the sight of her daughter, and being the only one in the room capable of withstanding the hellfire, Yuu rushed forward.
"Evelyn! Oh god, what happened?" the elder demoness asked.
Her daughter's head raised slightly. "Father...is that you?"
Yuu, along with everyone else, started at the tone of her voice.
"Yes, yes my little girl, it's me. I've finally come back to you." then, turning toward Shinzo. "But, it seems I came too late..."
Though they could not see her eyes, everyone saw a flood of tears begin to stream down the younger woman's face.
"They took her...the one I loved most...they took her away from me..."
Rage overtaking reason, Yuu put her hands on her daughter's shoulder's.
"Who did this? Who killed Shinzo?"
"It was Alucard..." Kurai spoke suddenly.
All but Evelyn turned toward the sword smith, who was currently holding the handgun that had been on the floor. Kurai had a look of enormous guilt upon his face. I never should have told him...I should've known he'd go this far to prevent the apocalypse...
"It was Alucard, wasn't it?"
Evelyn grit her teeth and tightened her grip. "Yes...he killed her...he killed our Shinzo...he was afraid of her...afraid of our child...so he took her away from us..."
Now everyone turned toward the demoness. "Us?"
"She was everything to us...without Shinzo, Evelyn can no longer love...without Shinzo, she can no longer forgive...without Shinzo..." Evelyn looked up, revealing a pair of burning blue eyes with ringed irises. "There is no more reason to hold me back."
All the room's occupants now looked at the tan demoness in fear in place of worry.
"Her eyes...she's an other-self?!"inquired White.
"No way...how is that possible?!" added Axel.
Yuu met her daughter's gaze with disbelief. "E-Evelyn?"
The younger woman's face conveyed no emotion, but her eyes were filled to the brim with a seemingly endless hatred.
"Both of you are correct. This body belongs to Evelyn Koutari, but it is also inhabited by me, her other-self, Strife. We shared the same body, and so we shared the same heart. I shared everything with her...love...friendship...joy..." her gaze seemed to darken. "Anger...loss...and more than anything else: pain. Pain from your words that cut like knives...pain from being alienated by you simply because of who she was...pain from loving another, but never being loved back...pain from finally finding acceptance, finally looking forward to a better life, then having it all taken away in the blink of an eye!"
With each word she spoke, the aura around Strife increased in size and fury. The woman's emotionless expression contorted to one of absolute rage.
"Both she and I have had enough of pain! Humans, vampires, it matters not who you are. All of you have hurt Evelyn, all of you have cast her aside, all of you have always seen her as nothing more than a monster! Nothing more than a sad, jealous, worthless girl who doesn't belong! And why? Because of her name, her heritage, her loved ones, even her child! You hated her simply because she existed! Never, not even once has anyone outside her family loved her! The only thing anyone has ever given her is hatred and pain! And because of that, both Evelyn and Shinzo have ceased to exist! I am all that remains of her will, and so I will avenge her and our beloved!"
Strife backed away from the others.
"Astaroth!"
At her command, a large muscular demon man with horns and a tail similar to Strife appeared behind her.
"You rang, little sis?" he said in a deep and commanding voice.
"The time has finally come. Mankind and all who exist beside them refuse to accept me, no matter how hard I try. They believe that the offspring of me and my beloved, who now lies dead in my arms, will grow to become the destroyer of worlds. If death and destruction is the only thing they expect of me, then I shall be more than happy to answer their demands. I will raise their cities to the ground, and I will slaughter their insolent hides without remorse. If the power proposed by that madman is true, then I will take it and create a new world for our kind, one where Shinzo and I can finally live in peace. I will have her back, I will not allow my child to be fatherless. Will you join me in my cause?"
Astaroth smiled madly. "With pleasure, dear sister."
Strife then turned to Yuu, who was still shocked beyond recognition at how much her daughter had fallen into despair.
"Father, if you truly do love me, then stand with me, and help me get Shinzo back. What say you?"
Yuu went into thought. She had prayed time after time that the girl wouldn't end up like her, alone and driven to the point of massacre and death. But it had been worse than that. Yuu's hatred had stemmed from her unrequited love toward Mato, which she knew would never be returned. But although Evelyn's love had also been unrequited, she had finally managed to not only convey her true feelings, but also have them answered. Then, when all seemed well, Evelyn lost everything. Her true love, and the father of the child growing within her, were taken away. As much as she hated to admit it, Strife's words were true. For both her and Evelyn, hatred and pain had been the only things that comprised their lives for so very long. Still unsure, but determined to help her daughter in any way she could, the elder demoness stepped through the hellfire to stand beside Strife.
"I...I will help you. I want my little girl to be happy again, I don't want her to suffer anymore. Please, promise me that when it's all over you'll give her back."
Strife nodded. "Once her anger is satisfied, then I will relinquish all control."
"Yuu!" White cried out.
The elder demoness turned to see the other-self staring at her through the barrier of hellfire with fear filled eyes.
"White..."
"Are you going away? Are you leaving me all alone again?"
Yuu paused, then turned back to her daughter.
"I'm sorry, White. I would take you with me, but I fear what people would think of you if you joined us."
"I don't care what other people think! I just want you to stay with me!"
"When its over, I will be by your side once more. And you're not alone." she turned to face White. "You still have Hisana and Valkyrie to look after. They're your family, and they need you more than you need me right now."
As the elder demoness turned towards her daughter again, she quickly mouthed 'forgive me' to the other-self. Strife then laid Shinzo's body at her feet and raised her hands.
"As for the rest of you, begone from this world! From my world!"
The hellfire raging around the three demons intensified, and the fortress began to repair itself and spread further across the world, causing everyone else to retreat. However, despite the danger Kurai and Hisana remained behind. The sword smith summoned all the willpower he could not to cry out from the burns forming on his body as he took a step forward.
"Your anger is misguided! If there is anyone you should hate, it is me! I was the one who first learned of the prophecy regarding Shinzo's offspring and told Alucard! It's my fault, so if you just punish someone, then let your anger out on me!" he said.
Strife shot him a glance of rage. Aside from the pain, the sword smith smirked internally. Good, she's directing her anger towards me. If she kills me, then not only will I have paid for my failure, but it will also eliminate Wrath. However, a killing blow never came. Instead, Strife merely blew the sword smith back.
"Fool, like I'd give you the satisfaction. In six months time, my child will be born. You will live to witness the price for your actions, and watch as my child burns the world to the ground. Now, away with you."
Sending forth a stronger blast this time, Kurai was blown away from the fortress. Strife then turned to Hisana, who to her surprise had made it farther than the sword smith, and without so much as a scratch. Inching toward her step by step, focusing the freezing power of her zanpakutou to keep herself from burning, the vampiress approached the tan demoness.
"Evelyn, Strife, whichever you are, is this really what you want?" she demanded. "I know Shinzo meant everything to you, it was my fault for not seeing it sooner, but is destruction really what you want? I know Shinzo wouldn't want this, and I'm sure you don't either, Evelyn. Please, just stop before you do something no one will forgive. I know it hurts, and that's why I'll help you feel better. Just please, don't become a monster. I'm your friend, so let me help you."
Hisana was now a few feet in front of Strife, and was awaiting the tan woman's response. Strife stared at the vampiress for a moment. Then, without warning, she reached out and tightly gripped Hisana by the throat.
"You really think that I give a fuck about what you think?" she said with a glare. "Shinzo wouldn't want this? You know it hurts? You're my friend, so you'll help me? Bullshit! You never knew how she felt! You never knew how your own sister felt! Everything has always been perfect for you! You have no fucking idea how badly it hurts to live this kind of life! To lose everything!"
Strife then called her own zanpakutou to her free hand, and pointed one end toward Hisana's chest.
"I cannot explain the pain anymore than I already have, so instead I will give you a sample of what it feels like!"
The vampiress cried out in anguish as hellfire tipped blades dug into her flesh. A few moments later, and a pair of long and jagged scars had been carved from below her left breast to the right of her collarbone, then up her neck, under her chin, and up her left cheek, finally coming to an end just under her left eye.
"Remember this well, you little bitch. If you ever cross me again, I will destroy you. Now, get out of my sight!"
With that, Strife threw the vampiress as hard as she could.
Hisana cringed as the still fresh wounds tormented her through her long flight away from the fortress. In the days to come, she knew there would be many more scars to gain, and many more enemies to fight. Still, despite the overwhelming despair over the loss of her sister and her best friend, one single resolution came about. I promise, no matter what happens, I will save her. I'll save her, and I'll bring back Shinzo. It's time to put all this madness to an end. Resigned to her goal, the vampiress closed her eyes and waited for her landing. Somehow, despite her resolution, she felt that the true madness was only just beginning. Now the entire multiverse was determined to gain the ultimate power. Only this time, the winner would decide the fate of the very multiverse itself.
A/N: The beginning of the end has finally come. This will be the final part to the Blademaster series (Game of Blades, Of Blood and Tears, A Game of Sorrows, etc.), so I'd like to take some time to thank everyone who's stuck with me throughout all these crazy adventures. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be writing. I don't intend to make this one as long as the previous two. Hell, it might not even make 10 chapters (excluding prologue). Regardless, I will strive to make this story as good as I possibly can. As always, if you have any questions or comments please leave them in a review or pm. Till next time! DarkNovelist out.