Chapter 1: The New World

I have always hated deserts more than any other form of ecosystem on this rock. Then again it's not really hated, for most of my better times have been in the sandy lands of deserts topped with mountainous portions here or there. Many a friend and I found ourselves amidst of the sandy dunes of the deserts many time, though those friends happened to be animals or beasts more than humans. Sometimes I'm alone and sometimes I'm not. It all depends on the job. I've have many good memories from my time in the deserts I have been to, but still I do not like the sandy area none the less.

Most people would believe that lands like a swamp or the tundra would be worse but in my book nothing really amounts towards the true treachery of a desert. The searing heat that threatens to drain you of every drop of water in your body. The sand licks away at your exposed skin scrapping it and peeling it away a layer at a time. On top of this it somehow gets everywhere even if you fully cover yourself almost as if it goes through your clothing. The sun's haze creates mirages in the distance that has driven men to insanity in due time. Despite my extreme dislike of deserts and near desperate attempt to stay away, I somehow still found myself awakening in the middle of one. I'm not sure how I got here either. Maybe another long week with me not having any memories of the days gone.

It was simple. My time in Spain and the old world was over and done with. I fulfilled my role and stopped the goddess who held my life and my leash. I was there to stop the end and survived despite my greatest attempt to end it all. I wanted to go to the void and finally rest until the end of time, the end of life, and the end of death. I wanted to stop it all but it seem the gods have further use for me sadly. And so I survived and so I moved on. I moved on to a world that was discovered some 100 years ago across the sea. I remember that moment of time well.

I yawned as the time and the moments of my life seemed to have pass me. For once in my life I didn't have a purpose. I didn't have anyone to protect anymore. All monsters in the world have been banished from the human world to the underworld or swallowed by the abyss. I have nothing to hunt and no way to travel to the other planes of existence away from this world full of humans. I've heard the saying that you don't know what you are missing until it's gone and I believe I am feeling this here and now.

Dahilia is gone, Rastit is dead, Isabella… she's best left unsaid. My own turned against me and I was forced to fulfil Annulment on my family. I was pushed to assimilate with my master. To become the one and only Hunter in this world. In a world where I'm no longer needed. In a world without monsters or even men that wear the faces of monsters. I'm left with only my life but nothing else but my code to keep me moving forward.

I sighed and climbed back up to my feet from my chair. So far I've taken a moment to rest my mind for a bit before taking the next step. Of what I'm stepping into I can only guess but who knows. Maybe in the new world, the colonies across the sea, I can find new beasts to hunt and some manner of purpose outside of a pale existence like I have now. An existence with only light and shadow incarnate to keep me company.

I'm alone

"Oy! Hunter are you ready!" I heard a call from behind me and heard the click of heavy footsteps on the wooden deck of the ship. I turned my head back a bit but couldn't physically see the man walking up behind me. I could see his soul and nearly taste it the closer he got to me. "We be ready to sail once more." The captain named Morgana walked up before me with a smile upon her lips. You don't normally see a woman in charge of anything let alone a ship but she's the only one I trusted to sail under. I would defend her honor and have a couple times from pirates that decided it was a good idea to board our ship. Of course she wanted to fight back but the last thing the ship needs is holes from cannon fire. I let them board and then I got into battle sleep. I wake up five or so minutes later in the middle of the hull surrounded by bodies with the neck of the captain in my hand. Of course I let the captain live and after we pillage the ship we burn it down with the captain aboard. The captain should go down with his ship.

"Yes," I spoke before climbing up to my feet from the barrel I sat on while in my dark corner. I wiped down my garb of salt and faced the woman that stood at the same height as me. More women are not this tall but she towers over most men her and my age and I'm ancient. "I'll take care of the anchor." I walked past the muscular woman towards the hatch to the top deck.

"Hey Hunter," Morgana called and I stopped with my hand on the knob of the hatch. "Have you thought on my proposition?"

I took a breath and turned my head back towards the woman. This Amazon, this inhuman monster that could pick up a grown man with ease and toss him through the mast and crack it. This is one of the few monsters that I've allowed to live even though I'm the Hunter. All inhuman monsters are not supposed to live and should have their heads detached from their bodies but it's not that simple. I learned that just because you're not human doesn't mean you're a monster. Sometimes humans are the real monsters and it makes me wonder why I persist to keep to my old vows. Why should I keep to them when I'm such a terrible Hunter with free thought? Because without them I'm less than nothing.

"What about it?" I questioned.

The woman crossed her arms under her breast and leaned on one side with a frown on her lips. "It's been almost two years that I've been waiting. When are you going to give it to me?"

"The last thing you need right now is a child, especially from me." I deadpanned. "You know what I am and what might be created when a Hunter and a non-human mend."

"I want you and I want your child Hunter. I'll take the risk."

"The ship needs a captain." I turned the knob and walked through the hatch to the top deck. "And you shouldn't tie yourself to something that doesn't exist." I left the woman in the room and heard a loud crash a moment later from behind me. "Don't break the walls please. They're hard to fix."

"Shut it you shite!" The woman roared at me.

I heard laughter throughout the deck and noticed the crew of the ship all with their eyes on me and smirks on their lips. One man, the Chief mate Artifice, walked up to me and pat me on the back. "Are you okay sir?" I nodded gestured to the mast.

"Let's weigh anchor… and you don't have to call me sir Artifice. I'm the Chief Engineer," I stated my rank. "You out rank me on the captain's ship."

"True," the larger man said with a smile showing through his red scraggly beard. "But we all know who and what you are remember sir?"

That is right. When it comes to any physical problems or distributes between the crew and out enemy I'm the one at the head of the boarding party and in charge of the executions. I'm the one that came up with the common trend of use leaving the captain to fall with his ship. It was me who acquired this ship for us and who freed most of the man that made up its crew. This is a nicely sized frigate with all the armament it needs matched by tenacity of the crew. Former pirates, sailors under the king's navy, slaves on their way to the colonies, and more. Men from all walks of life are on our ship with a woman as our captain. Some of the men on this ship would eat women alive but to save their lives I took care of them via a rope around their chests trailing behind the ship. A bucket of chum later and they learned their lesson once the sharks came.

Many of the men out rank me but they know better than to challenge me or the captain. Most of them are normal humans and can't seem to understand my monsters feats of strength and speed. With the veil rekindled and the other side sealed away most of the fairies and different spirits have left out world. Pure magic is dying and warlocks are becoming a trend. My three little loves are gone as well. Despite this I'm still a remnant of that old world and have my powers. I still use them as well when I have to. The monsters like the lamia walking around here somewhere thought it was a good idea to target a woman that works as a cook and I was forced to take care of it. He transformed and I cut off a bit of his tail and stabbed him in the chest. He shaped up after that. The first mate can be a bit of a horn dog. Rank means little to me on this ship because of what I've done and can do and they all know this. They even call me sir because of this.

"Anyway," I pointed at the mast. "Let's get the anchor up."

"Yes sir." The Chief made the announcement and the crew got to work. I followed along with it.

It's a bright day and sailing isn't going to be too hellish as long as we don't go west. I can see the storm building just from the lack of clouds in the sky. Most of the men nodded when I pass by and shook my hand once I made my way down the deck. "Afternoon Chief." I shook a former slave's hand and he got back to cleaning a cannon. I usually avoid the crew when I can because of this. The captain took the helm and took us out to sea away from the island we stopped at for repairs, maintenance, and food. It was mostly fruit but at least we can stop scurvy.

During times at sea I'm in the lower decks working on my engineering equipment, hot water steam heaters, boilers, and more. It helps me keep busy and calm. A week can pass and it'd feel like an hour to me. The man and woman under my charge listen to my orders without hesitation and it keeps the ship moving. I don't leave the lower hull of the ship much and faintly go up top but the captain summoned me. She brought up her desire to mate of all things. She told me once that only strong men, men stronger than her to be precise, have the right to mate with her and I'm the Hunter. I have no prey and she's one of the strongest females I've ever fought. It was fist fighting as well and her martial skills aren't anything to scuff at. I took a couple hits and was that man thrown through the mast. I still pinned her and a not too soon after we ended up in bed with each other. We didn't consummate our pairing because of my reluctance and it's for the best. She doesn't need something like me to complicate her life.

I just hope I didn't make her too angry. She becomes reckless she's angry.

I rose my hand and forced Od through my hand and a cannon the rolled towards me slowed to a stop and rested against my palm. I looked around and noticed that the ship is a bit lopsided. Why? I looked up and focused my spirit sight. I noticed people running frantically and tripping over one another. I looked further up and saw it.

"The storm."

"Chief I'm sorry, I didn't…!" I rose my hand to my second.

"Strap everything down now." I pushed the cannon away and waved my hand. The chains and leather straps took hold of the cannon and I shot to the hatch. I made my way up and listened to the hull as it creaked from the battering waves. I hit the top deck and rain battered my body and winds pushed me back. I looked around and saw the crew struggling to put the sails in.

"Hurry!" I heard from the quarterdeck. "Hunter," I looked back to the captain. "Get up here!"

I ran up and joined the captain as she struggled to keep us from overturning. "What happened?"

Morgana didn't answer. I frown but nodded. I looked out to the hurricane we somehow sailed in. I couldn't see anything. No way out. "Where did you sail into?" I looked around. I don't know these waters. I've sailed most of them from top to bottom but these… are strange.

"I don't know! I strong wind came in that forced us southwest! What do you mean what are these waters?"

"I'm not sure." I looked up for an answer but the gods are silent. "We have no guide."

"What!"

Suddenly lightning rained from above and fire spread through the sails. I looked up and pushed Morgana out of the way. I felt something ram into my chest and blur my vision. It picked me up and I went flying up past the edges of the ship.

"Hunter," was the last thing I heard before I hit the water. Darkness took me as the icy cool water consumed me.

My last memory came to an end. One minute I was out to sea with my comrades then this storm in a different sort of sea hit us. I was forced overboard and awoke here in a sea of sand instead of water. The sand storm that awoke me from my slumber is brushing suffocating sands past my body. My face mask can only block so much of the sand and my lungs can't take much more of these bone striping winds. How did I end up in the middle of a desert after being at sea for the last 3 years with my crew of renegades?

I have been to many different sorts of deserts in the world but this one is unfamiliar to me. I haven't seen this desert before and I have seen many sadly. I think I may be in a different region most likely. One that I have never explored and as a top notched Assassin I usually get around enough to see these sorts of things.

I suppose there is only one thing I can do in a sandstorm with little to no natural light around me. Yes the only thing I could really do at a time like this is to pick a direction and walk until I couldn't walk anymore and hope for the best in this I reach some sort of village or a place flourishing with life and vegetation. With my current supplies I could last maybe a week at the most with the low supply of water I have currently. I sighed at the situation I somehow landed in. I suppose I can only keep putting on leg in front of the other for now.

Then I soon found out that I choose west as my general direction and lucky for me the North Star is still in the sky. I continued for maybe three days until I saw a village in the distance from on top of the hill I found myself on. I walked until I saw the signs of vegetation and so came upon a grassland and the occasional tree every now and again, but still no water. I concluded that the sources of water must be farther into more of the greenery. I will admit that I'm relieved to finally get somewhere.

I slightly quickened my pace into the town to conduct business but slowed once the smell hit me. The smell of death was in the air. The smell of blood is tainting the air around me and at this distance that means there was a slaughter of sort. Quite recently as well. I could hear a scream from this distance which means that there are people left but that is quickly being rectified by the things below from the hill I stood on top of. I don't care about mindless slaughter for the reason of that I have done the same but if the slaughter persisted then most likely whatever is down there will pillage the goods the place holds. I will need to go down there soon before the water supplies runs dry. After all any water that has blood in it is useless and any paper maps covered in blood are just as bad.

I fixed my coat in the front to cover my blades and made my way down to the town. I made sure my weapons are all accounted. I don't mean to brag but the weapons I wield are works of miracles for whatever reason or another.

I have my pistol. An old colt single action from America that somehow an eastern islander pirate got his hands on but now belongs to me. The blacked steel and inscriptions that were engraved in its metal give it a blue glow to it. The funny thing is this was a shiny grey steel when I got my hands on it but after my constant conflict against them it became this. This thing took the lives of many of them and the souls of each kill give this colt its power.

I had Love and Hate in their scabbards on my hips. These twin swords, depending on others opinion, are the same yet complete opposites. Like ying and yang they complement each other and reflect the color of each as well perfectly.

On my back is my black sword that doesn't even have an official name. All I know is that is called The Black Blade and it has taken more lives than I could ever imagine. Created by some unknown smith for the supposed hero of a land long forgotten or some mess like that. I am not one to care much for history. Past is just that, the past, so its nest leave it like that than dwell on such things from a long time ago.

Most people would call me a fool for walking around in dark colors like black, grey, and green in a desert of all things but this is what I prefer over anything else. My black coat with green stitched into it so depending on the light I can appear in black or green with a hood that covers my eyes from view and a mask to cover my jaw so the mysterious factor is high. Well, is also for the sand storm I just had to walk through a couple days back. My dark grey near black long sleeve shirt underneath and black pants fit well on my body.

In between my coat and my clothing I wore some of my armor. In the day and age I live in armor is more for idiot collectors to wear or have around me, but I can't divulge away from the practicality of armor. I can't walk around without having a cuirass at the least to cover my chest and back. Of course its armor fashioned for me by one of my friends from a very long time ago. It the last one hundred years since I've existed again in the human world some people never change thankfully. My cuirass is without the large shoulder pads that spike out like some knight's armor but is mold more for my own style of fighting. My coat covers the cuirass well enough and since it's a dull grey it blends well enough. My bracers are made of steel and protected my forearms for years. I might have to replace them soon though. I can see the cuts, scuffs, and slash marks on them from my many battles. Most of these marks come from claws and fangs not swords or spears.

I looked down to the leather bracer on my right arm. Still in good condition even with all the tooth marks on its studded leather side. My boots are slightly reinforced with metal plating at the toes and where my shins are coupled with the shin guards that cover from top of my boots to my knees. My ebony black greaves will need some maintenance soon. I think there's a little rust between the plate mail segments and chain mail siding. My armor for now is good enough for a couple more fights but I will need to take it to a blacksmith soon. All that time at sea did nothing good to the metal.

I have my dirks on my sides under my swords and my crossbow on my back in its holster. I believe I'm about ready for anything I might discover in this dying town. The presence of something tainted was in the air so it's not human. Depending on the monster or inhuman creature I might just have the chance to walk in, grab what I need, and then leave without coming into conflict. This feeling though is dreadful and disgusted me beyond my comfort zone. So my chances for an easy in and out might just be right up there with angels coming from above handing out free liquor.

Maybe even a few of my crew are there. I doubt it and I'm not one to hope.

A/N: Revised and released. Read and Review.