Author's Notes: This story is meant to be a prequel of sorts to "Converging Souls". Essentially, that story takes place a year or two after Soul Calibur 3, but requires some specific things to have happened during that time. This is supposed to be my version of those events. I know, I know, "How weird is this guy, submitting a story about Soul Calibur 3 when 4 will be out by the time we see the end of it?" The fact of the matter is that I didn't start writing my first story until late last year, and none of this was in my head when the game was prevalent. If you're worried about being able to understand this story without reading the other one, don't worry. As nice as it would be for you to read both my stories, you don't need to read one to understand the other. Anyway, on with the description.

This "story" will basicly be a bunch of oneshots all lumped together to form a collection of battles meant to take place in the SC3 universe and utilizing all but one of the standard characters (though I did use the missing character in my other story). Each chapter will feature a battle between 2 characters from the game, with winners as necessary, and sometimes not, for "Converging Souls." Within the confines, herein, characters will die as necessary or as I see fit. I hope you enjoy what you're about to read.

Disclaimer: Much like everybody else on this site, I don't own what I'm writing about.


Maxi vs. Astaroth

Footsteps echoed within the crumbling ruins as Maxi made his way through the temple. He had gone to great lengths to find this place. It was here that the monster was created; the monster that he had sworn vengeance on for when it ruined his life by…. It seemed like it had been so long since he remembered and his mind ached as he tried to.

After arriving at the hidden temple, Maxi had managed to find the leader of the heretical cult before killing him in a blind rage. Based on some of his last words, it would seem that all the destruction here had been caused by the creature he'd created. The fact perplexed the warrior as he descended into the lower levels of the pagan shrine.

Walking along the center platform, a few small pebbles fell from above and caught his attention. Maxi looked up to see a massive figure rapidly descending upon him. He managed to roll out of the way as it crashed into the ground and created a small crater. Looking back, he saw the red-skinned form of the ax-wielding monster he had sworn to kill… Astaroth.

The golem rose to its full height and turned to its intended victim as it exclaimed, "Damn, I missed!"

Maxi brought a hand to the nunchaku, Soryuju, at his waist as he shouted at the monster. "I killed you once before. I don't know how you came back, but I'll gladly kill you again."

Astaroth rolled his neck and cracked it from within his leather headgear. "Oh, it won't be that easy. I underestimated you the last time we fought and you're not gonna be so lucky this time." Letting his fury take over, Maxi pulled out his nunchaku and charged at the monster.

Maxi's initial attack was simply brushed aside, but he quickly used the change in momentum to his advantage. While he turned, he began to spin Soryuju around. Blending each attack together, he rained blow after blow on the golem who did his best to keep them at bay.

Not willing to wait for an opening, Astaroth made his own. Wildly deflecting the small weapon, he tried to bring his ax down on the vengeful warrior. The victim managed to jump to the side and avoid the massive weapon, but soon found the monster's hand wrapped around his throat. Rearing his arm back, sliding the man along the ground in the process, the golem threw him to the tattered wall on the side of the platform.

Maxi hit the wall with a heavy thud and his eyes closed in pain. As his feet returned to the ground he felt something press against his throat and hold him against the wall. He opened his eyes to see the monster pinning him with the long staff of his weapon.

With an amused grin Astaroth brought his face closer to the warrior. "So much for vengeance. You're just too weak to kill me and take it." As he finished talking, he pushed his ax harder and harder against his enemy's throat.

Doing his best to push back against the staff and relieve the pressure on his airway, Maxi was losing his battle of strength with the monster. Needing his arms for what little help they were in allowing himself to breathe, he chose to lift his legs off the ground and push against the heretical creation's chest. The sudden force created an opening long enough for Maxi to escape and roll away before the golem's weapon slammed into the wall, causing it to crumble and fall into the waterways below.

Free to move again, Maxi returned to the offense. He began to strike faster and harder until the monster could no longer keep up with all of his strikes. Though the occasional blow did hit the creature, it didn't seem to react with any pain. Unnerved slightly at his enemy's lack of reaction, the warrior tried to keep up his assault. His attacks halted, however, as his nunchaku was caught within the golem's hand.

Gripping his opponent's weapon tightly, Astaroth let out a growl. "These little sticks of yours are becoming a nuisance." With that, he pushed his ax out of his other hand and onto the warrior. The immense weight of the weapon caused Maxi to fall back as his nunchaku was ripped from his hand. The monster then took a wooden handle in each hand and proceeded to pull them apart, breaking the tether holding them together.

Maxi managed to get out from under the large ax as he watched the golem chuckle and throw the remnants of his nunchaku to either side. He was then forced to back up as the monstrosity walked forward and reclaimed his own weapon. Now unarmed, the former pirate would need to be very careful about how he proceeded from now on.

Running forward, Maxi closed the distance between himself and his enemy. When the monster gave a wide swing of his ax, he managed to slide feet-first under it until he was on the ground just in front of his enemy's leather boots. He kicked out the inside of the massive red knees, widening the gap between the thick legs, before rolling forward and getting behind the golem. Quickly getting to his feet, he sprang back and gave a kick to the monster's side before it could turn around.

The fight continued like this for some time, with Maxi avoiding the heavy blows of his long-despised opponent and striking as hard as he could where the opportunity arose. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to effectively harm the inhuman creature. It would seem that a need for vengeance and justice were not enough to carry him to victory in this battle.

Astaroth soon sent the vengeful warrior to the floor with a sweep of the ground with his ax. Maxi's chest hurt after falling face down on the stone floor, but before he could begin to push himself up and return to his feet, a heavy foot pressed into his back and the voice of the monster rang out above him. "Oh, no. You're not going anywhere."

With those words, the foot began to push down into the floor and crush the warrior in between. Maxi cried out in pain as he felt some of his ribs break under the immense pressure. Just as the pain was getting to be too much, the golem laughed and lifted his foot slightly. The laughter did not stop when the pressure returned, evoking another cry of pain.

The creature would have continued toying with the now helpless warrior for many hours, feasting on his pain and anguish. This was cut short, however, as a bright orange ball of light appeared within the massive chamber, just behind its servant. A voice boomed from the ethereal entity and caught the red-skinned monster's attention. "Ker!"

Astaroth turned at the mention of his true name, keeping a foot on the nearly dead fighter. "Yes, master Ares?"

"Stop playing with the mortal! I have work for you!" The golem grunted his discontent at the order before removing his foot from the warrior's back.

Maxi was free for all of a second before the staff of his enemy's ax pierced his torso and impaled him into the ground. As the color drained from his face and the blood poured from his body, his life flashed before his eyes. In that brief moment he finally regained the memories of his friends and companions that he had lost in his lust for revenge. And as he drew his last breath, he remembered what it was that he had been fighting for.

Astaroth removed his weapon from the now dead body and addressed his master. "All right. Now that you've ruined my fun, I'll go back to my search for Soul Edge."

"Soul Edge will have to wait," the god retorted. "There is an ancient artifact and a young woman that will threaten its power. If she succeeds, then Soul Edge will be useless and I will never receive my prize. I'll need you to take care of the girl and the gem she carries with her."

The monster grunted his affirmation. "Sounds easy enough. I'll make sure she learns not to mess with the higher powers of this world."

"I warn you, Ker, since you have destroyed this temple, you can no longer be resurrected and I will not forgive failure."

Astaroth did not care for his master's implication. "I think I've just proven that I don't fall that easy," he said, pointing to the corpse behind him. "Besides, what could this girl do to stop me?"

Content with his servant's drive and attitude, Ares divulged the information he would need to find the woman and the gem. When everything had been said, the god disappeared and returned to the heavens. The golem took some time to heal the minimal damage he'd received in the fight before setting out to perform his master's latest bidding.


Author's Notes: Well, we have our first victim. Storywise, Maxi is actually incapable of going anywhere, which makes his story very stale. It is actually impossible to move his story away from Astaroth, so I decided it was better to get rid of him. Working with Ares, as well as Astaroth's true name, was a fun little side thing to do, I have to admit. As for the mission Ares sent his servant on, it has something to do with "Converging Souls" but will not be mentioned again, so don't worry. In our next chapter, we'll be seeing a battle on the sea. Find out more later, and leave a review while you wait.