Hello, hello, hello, what's happenin' readers?

Welcome to 'The Adventure Through RuneScape 2: Darkness Approaches'! (I couldn't include the last bit in the appearing title because of character limitations). This is the sequel to my story 'The Adventure Through RuneScape'. This story takes place three years after the events of the first story. I hope you enjoy it!

Please note that this story is written in first person from the viewpoint of the character Mainiac97, but there are occasions where I will slip into third person, this prologue being an example of that. Also, please note that the line "there is something on your back!" is repeated in the story. This is a reference to a show that I used to watch called Doctor Who.

The Adventure Through RuneScape and its sequel are part of a shared universe with Haseo the Terror of Death's The Sphere of Varrock. His story is placed one year behind The Adventure Through RuneScape, and six to seven years behind this story, The Adventure Through RuneScape 2. Although an understanding of that book isn't needed, I highly suggest you read it, not only because it is a good fanfiction, but because you will get some references in this story to that story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Jagex, RuneScape, or any of the RuneScape characters. All I own is the plot of this fanfiction and some of the characters in the story. I am not making a financial profit from this story.

THE ADVENTURE THROUGH RUNESCAPE 2: DARKNESS APPROACHES

Chapter 1: Prologue

The small camp deep within the wicked wilderness was teeming with activity. Dark wizards and chaos monks buzzed around small tents, chatting, practising battle, and doing business. The small camp constructed from tents, huts and even small makeshift houses surrounded a town square of sorts, even though Camp James definitely couldn't be described as a 'town'.

In the very centre of the camp, James the dark magician, master thief and evil forces leader constantly stood, flanked by the two MCMs (Mysterious Cloaked Mans/Men), his loyal guards and servants. He stood over a cauldron where an unspeakable potion bubbled. James held a tome that Master Samuel (a wicked, powerful man who once ruled over the army that James currently ruled over) had passed on to him.

"Oh, Master Samuel," James whispered, as if Master Samuel could actually hear him. "I have failed you. Three years have passed since you died and gave me this book, and your legacy is crumbling. I keep stalling the potion you gave me to complete while I fear its results. Mainiac97, the man who slew you, still exists. The dark wizards, the survivors of the war in Falador, are beginning to doubt me as a leader because of my uncertainty. I am slowly growing insane, drowning in my own panic and guilt. What am I to do?"

Suddenly, the dark wilderness sky rumbled, as if in reply. James was used to the rumbles in the sky – he'd put up with it for many years – but this rumple felt unnaturally loud. Most of the inhabitants of Camp James stared upwards.

A loud footstep marked an unwelcome intruder in Camp James. Heads turned as an unfamiliar man walked through the makeshift town. This man currently had a hood up, so nobody could truly see who he was. He wore thick black leather armour which was padded with black metal in certain areas, such as his knees, elbows, and chest area. He wore massive black travelling boots, and he wore a cracked black leather belt with some strange-shaped holsters attached to it, including a sword holster that currently held a long black sword. This man was so intimidating nobody dared move a muscle in his presence.

This man walked up to James, and he pulled his hood down. The man had done something to his face so nobody could truly see it; whenever they tried their eyes would go blurry and out of focus until they looked away. The only detail anybody could pick up about his face was that he had black, spiky hair.

"Who are you?" James yelled. "What are you doing here? I demand to know!" The man grabbed James by the neck and lifted him upwards, growling. All of the dark wizards and chaos monks began running forward. The man put his free hand in the air, telling the wizards and monks to stop. The presence of the mysterious intruder seemed to exude power, authority and superiority, so the wizards and monks stepped down reluctantly; eyeing the man's every move.

"James," the man hissed. "You disgust me. You've procrastinated probably the most important job of them all because you were afraid. You've wasted three years researching ways of delaying the potion, and your flimsy work may have botched up everything Master Samuel worked to achieve. Master Samuel, in his human foolishness; assigned you to be leader, when you were only fit to be a henchman. You've wasted three years doing trivial things, so I've been sent by Zamorak himself to replace you."

"That is complete nonsense!" James scoffed. "If you're so high and mighty, prove to me how superior and all-knowing you are!" The man sniggered. He tightened his grip on James' neck, and a terrible cracking noise followed. James fell to the floor at the man's feet, completely and utterly dead.

"I apologise for killing you, James, but it appears as if your existence will only serve to hinder my progress," the man said to the corpse at his feet in a mocking tone. He picked up the tome James once held, and he turned to the shocked crowd of dark wizards and chaos monks. "I am your new leader now!" he roared. "I have been sent by Zamorak to lead you to victory. James, your previous leader, was not up to scratch. He failed to follow in Master Samuel's footsteps, so I'm here to correct his mistakes."

"Why should we follow you?" one dark wizard yelled. "You've walked into our camp, killed our leader, and you haven't even introduced yourself to us! I refuse to follow you!" The man lifted his hand and revealed something shocking; he was holding the God Rune, a powerful and ancient rune which would provide the holder an infinite amount of magical power, despite magic levels. The dark wizard that questioned the man was reduced to ashes within seconds. Everybody in the camp gasped as they wondered the same question. How did this man acquire the God Rune, if it was supposed to be hidden in Yanille, protected by the wizards in the guild there? They all realised at that moment that this intruder was serious. None of them, not one, needed further evidence.

"This is why you should listen to me!" the man hissed. "I will not tolerate rebellion or ignorance. Anybody who dares go against me will be destroyed. It is as simple as that." He spun around, and shot what looked like a thunderbolt into the air. Suddenly, the black clouds started moving and forming sinister shapes. "I will complete that potion!" he bellowed. "I will finish what Master Samuel started! I will prove the might of Zamorak, and nothing will stand in my way!"

That concludes chapter 1 of 'The Adventure Through RuneScape 2: Darkness Approaches'! My question to you is, what are your thoughts on this mysterious new character who has the God Rune? I always appreciate your thoughts, opinions and comments!

I try my best to ensure that there are no grammatical mistakes in my chapters, but there will always be some that I overlooked/weren't aware of/made without realising that they were mistakes. So, if you see a mistake somewhere in the story, please point it out to me and I will rectify it.

Next chapter, old wounds are re-opened...

Until next time, toodles!