So hello again, my dear Readers ^^ Here i present you, the third chapter of the Tale. Also, I would like to thank you for the reviews. Constructive criticism is always appreciated ;). Well I hope it looks better this time ;p
Chapter 3 : The Ending of the Revolutionary War and the Last Training of the Reaper
After getting his first task, our protagonist surges forward to prepare himself, to finally leave his mark on the fields of history.
(Town of Boston, 1:00 pm April 14th 1775)
The town itself looked pretty plain, town folks doing their jobs in haste, because conflict is coming close towards the city of Boston. While Nero and Wraith were in the midst of a search, to find a supplier for their needs.
"Now... Where can I get a supply of lead, steel wire and maybe a weapon?" Thought Nero while walking the crowded streets
"Well, likely in a some sort of gun shop?" Wraith said in his thoughts while watching the town, to help out Nero find the place
Soon after, they found the big market in the middle side of town. Nero bought the supplies he needed, along with a flintlock pistol which truly sparked his interest. They needed to pay in Continental Currency, which they got from exchanging the rare paintings from the Castle. Their first new money indeed, but soon they would get a lot of it...painted in blood.
Just as they were traversing the streets in route to Lexington, the duo saw a group of merchants that didn't sound pleased.
"Oh? Something happened…" Nero thought and went towards the group to get some answers.
"So, what's troubling you gentleman?" Nero said to the group
The merchants examined Nero and with a sparkle of hope started to tell him about their dire problem hunting them at this unsteady times.
"Oh! You're that Mercenary, that got employed by the Patriots!"
"Indeed, it is me. My name is Reaper, and by watching your verbal exchange, I can tell you have a problem that needs solving. Am I right?"
"You're correct Reaper. Indeed, we have a problem, last night our supply carriage got ambushed by an unknown group of Mercenaries, which used unworldly powers…"
"That would be the devils Nero, and if they said it is an entire group, that means it is a peerage..." Wraith said in the Mindscape
"So, do you have any more information about the so called Group?" Nero asked the Merchants
"Yes, as one of the survivors noted it is a group of 6 people, leaded by a woman with long blonde hair" Merchants replied
"Let's say, I would like to help you about this matter, but I will want a payment for this." Nero replied towards the group
"We will pay you in 30K Continental, we want that bitch dead and bring her fucking head as a proof for it."
"Anything else you would want?" Nero asked further pointing towards the brutal subject
"Yes, leave them a message so they won't fuck with us again."
Wraith was laughing in a demonic manner, pleased by the sudden outcome.
Nero started to chuckle in a dark way, and said thus.
"I Accept the task, and it shall be done in the most brutal of ways to please my clients."
" Well then, we suspect good news along with the head of that bitch." The Merchants replied and left the scene.
After a while of silence, Nero started to head out towards the Lexington Camp discussing the matter with Wraith
(Main Road towards the Lexington Camp, 1:30 pm.)
"Nero, if I would be correct, I would say that these Devils are doing this for the Brits to destabilize the supplies of the Patriots." Wraith said curious about the agenda of the group
"You are most likely correct, also I would say that the Brits do know, about the Lexington Camp being the less protected... Which means that they will strike the place, that works for us well... Today will be our grand moment, to earn some blood money partner." Nero inputted with a devilish grin
"So, besides the Primary Objective of protecting the camp, we can add the hunt as the secondary one. If my assumption is correct, the devils will be inside the strike group. We will kill 2 birds, with one stone." Nero inputted further while watching the road ahead
The duo not only conversed, but also analyzed the forest and the road as well. The only way to strike the camp, would be taking the main road route. The surrounding wild would prove it harder, and more likely for them to be spotted early. Closer to the camp, the duo found an abandoned shed which would prove beneficial towards their objective, and decided to move inside. Making it their base of operations towards the task at hand.
(Abandoned Shed near the Camp, 2:00 pm)
The shed looked pretty straightforward, and it has been abandoned recently. The insides of it consisted of a working table, a lot of leftover scrap, and some caskets filled with explosive material.
"Hoho, Nero look!" Wraith said while looking towards the caskets and the scrap
Nero started to chuckle and he just found another marvelous idea for his tinkering.
"Well, we can make the traps on the ground, and below it as well. Earlier, I had the idea with making the ground traps, using a steel wire as the trigger for it to blow. Sending fragments of sharp metal and scrap, to inflict a lot of pain." Nero said while thinking about the underground option
"Don't tell me, that you have even more marvelous ideas?" Wraith asked shocked by Nero's creativity
"Indeed, I have Partner." Nero answered while pointing towards the barrels and continued his speech
"I, will extract the material from the caskets and use it along with the metal, to make some new tools of misery"
Wraith started to laugh like a madman. Every time, when Nero engaged with his tinkering, he created weapons that amazed the being with the sheer brutality delivered by them.
Now Nero was working with the materials he had and created the ground traps which reassembled the modern day clay more's. Next, he created the underground traps which would be anti infantry mines, filled with a significant amount of black powder. Last in line, was the flintlock pistol he bought earlier. Nero unbeknownst to himself had an amazing gunsmith talent. From a simple flintlock pistol, the boy made a revolver that would appear almost 100 years later. From the metal scrap, he made bullets and filled the chambers with lead and the liquid from the blade which couldn't end do to the magic of the mysterious Agnus. Further, working with his new beauty he created a revolver with a similar design to M6 Mateba Autorevolver. Using the blow back action after shooting to cock the hammer. Designed with an 8 inch barrel, to handle the firepower of his newly designed bullets which reassembled the modern .44 Remington Magnum, filled with the liquid from the blade now named as the Infernal Queen."
"Nero, this pistol is a thing of beauty... How do we name it?" Wraith asked, pointing towards the pistol which was now painted in black with silver thorns in the metal side of it."
"Black Rose it will be." Nero replied and picked up his new beauty while starting to gather the gear to head out since it was close to the night which they would attack.
"Perfect it suits the gun well. We should head out Nero, the night is coming close."
"Yeah, we need to trap the road ahead." Nero replied and went out towards the forest road.
(Main Road towards the Lexington Camp, 10:00 pm)
Nero started to plant his machinations of suffering all around the road, hiding the wires near the bushes and digging small holes to place the mines. The plan was simple... Let one of these fools touch the wire and hell will break loose, with a chain explosion of claymore's. After it they will start to scatter in fear and they will surely run into the mines, if they survive the clay more fragments of course. They don't expect it and the Devils are too prideful to care for a chance of a threat, since well they don't know that in the same day someone took an initiative to slaughter them alive.
"Everything planted! Now, we wait for them to step into our playground" Nero said chuckling with anticipation towards his first task
"Yes, they will suffer well today!" Wraith commented with a demonic chuckle
"Nero, you can also use the abyss magic I learned you, as well my form." Wraith inputted and Nero after hearing it had a flashback…
(Nero's Mindscape, The Training)
On the shore, Nero and Wraith fiercely fought against one another. After a clash of blades they skidded to a stop and Wraith spoke.
"Nero, it's time to teach you about the Abyss Spells which can aid you in battle."
"You mean the Soul Reverbearance?" Nero asked Wraith while thinking of possibilities of said spells.
"That's one of the Top Tier spells, along with the Resonating Blade. Your soon to be the best offensive spells to use in battle." Wraith replied while coating his blade with the Abyss Aura and swiped the blade sending a shock wave of pure abyss power towards the field decimating it in half.
"Holy Shit Wraith, was that the Resonative Blade?" Nero spoke shocked at the power spike it provides.
"Yes, and I see you're interested in it. But the utility and defense spells are top-notch as well." Wraith said while creating some sort of black sphere spiraling in a fast motion
"What is this spell Wraith?" Nero asked
"Shoot a spell at me, even a small fireball would be fine. Remember you need to imagine the spell to make it work." Wraith replied
"Okay then" Nero said and focused his power at his right hand, and shot forth a fireball speeding towards Wraith.
But as it was to hit, the sphere consumed it and afterwards opened itself up again near the sea and shot forth the earlier fireball empowered with the Abyss element, causing a big explosion on impact.
"And that's one of the counter spells you can use! Named the Twisted Barricade, it has 2 stages as you saw earlier... First is to create the sphere to intercept an enemy magic, and the second one is to imagine, where you want to shoot it back empowered with the Abyss."
"That's useful and powerful as well. Is there more of such spells?" Nero asked interested to learn more.
"Yes, try slashing me now." Wraith replied whilst coating himself with a shroud made of Abyss Power
Nero did slash Wraith, but the slash just went past through him doing no damage at all.
" That is a spell named Repel, after casting it your body will be immaterial for 3 seconds allowing you to completely negate all sorts of damage, although you can only use it twice a day. Due to the limitations of the gear since you didn't train the Abyss Break and Damnation Drive yet."
Nero nodded
"Also, the Resonating Blade has the same limit as Repel, and will work for 1 minute with the first cast, and half the minute with the second one. Twisted Barricade can be used 3 times with each consecutive use making the empowering effect weaker. There are also other spells, which you will learn at the later time but you need to master the 2 further stages of the Gear to be able to use them effectively. Along with the Soul Reverbearance."
Nero nodded and asked pointing towards the utility ones.
"Well now I can teach you how to use the Abyss Rift. It allows you to teleport towards a place you can imagine well. Or you will need a description of the place to imagine it and afterwards jump towards it. It's really useful and can be used 3 times a day but has a long preparation time. So it's a utility spell or an escape one, if your enemies will let you cast it till the end." Wraith replied and told Nero to do the last thing he needs him to do
"Nero, focus the power in the gauntlet and say Darkwraith calling." Nero obliged and after doing what he had to do he literally transformed into Wraith granting him his knowledge and speed. Along with the 2 hand black blade that seemed to operate well with the Abyss element.
"Wraith, did i just transformed into you?" Nero asked flabbergasted
Wraith laughed for a while and answered.
"Yes, it grants you my capabilities. Speed, Dexterity, Blade and an option to conceal your presence completely, for up to 5 minutes along with an overall power boost. You can use this mode for 15 minutes and it's the ultimate power of the 1st stage of the gear. In time you will be able to stay much longer in it."
"It's fucking amazing Wraith! I've just reached a new stage of badass!" Nero interjected with amazement
"Hahahaha, I'm glad you like it Partner. Our last thing here, will be making you release your wings." Wraith inputted with a smile and continued his speech
"So, focus some power in your back and urge yourself that you want to fly."
Nero did as he was told and after a stinging pain in his back the magnificent wings had emerged. Blasting off a tremendous surge of Abyss power. They were a massive set of wings like the ones of an eagle, but pitch black as the night with a ghastly aura all around them. Soon after the skulls sprouted to life with small boned hands grabbing Nero by his shoulders and screeched with joy saying…
"It's your choice to let your hatred and sadness burden you, or let it empower you... So host what is thy answer?"
Nero was silent for a while, and then he remembered his sadness, anguish and the everlasting hatred that burdened him, but as the skulls said he had a choice…
"I will let these feelings empower me... It's my only choice, after everything I've lost my only desire is to follow my hatred and avenge my family…"
"That's the answer we expected host...AT LONG LAST THE NEW DARK LORD WILL PLUNGE THE WORLD IN DARKNESS ONCE MORE, TO PUNISH THE CREATIONS OF GOD FOR THEIR DEEDS AND TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT OUR BEING TOOK FORM IN DEFIANCE!" The Skulls shouted in unison
"So, Nero the wings will let you fly, but the skulls can launch an attack that will be your trump card for now. Focus on the forest ahead and wish for it to be obliterated, channel your inner feelings, your hatred and suffering make the forest suffer as well, to be a target of your hatred." Wraith spoke while pointing towards the forest
Nero started to focus. Wishing for ultimate destruction of the forest ahead, hating it with all his heart…
"WE OBLIGE TO YOUR URGES HOST!" The Skulls screeched and started to amass a big sphere of abyss power together focusing it on one single point... When the sphere was big enough it started to condense and it shot forth as a small orb that traveled fast towards its destination and afterwards exploded in an explosion big enough to swallow the whole forest and obliterate the ground... After the smoke and dust cleared the forest was no more... Whilst the ground and the whole area ahead devoid of all meanings of life.
(Imagine the small violet ball which Aizen shot at Ichigo in their final battle.)
Nero fell to his knees after that display because it drained most of his available power.
"As you can see Nero you can use this for 1 time due to the power input it needs. If you master the power, you can shoot 6 of those simultaneously with reduced power or as you just did, shoot 1 with power big enough, to cause such high scale of destruction around you. Well if you would shoot that at the mountains they would be no more. As you fight and increase your power in the future, you can decimate a small city with it." Wraith commented and afterwards the flashback came to an end.
(Back at the Present, Main Road to the Camp)
"Yes I do remember about them, along with the sphere…" Nero said
"Good, look here they come…" Wraith inputted and notified about their prey
"Darkwraith's calling…" Nero said and transformed into Wraith hiding his presence…
The strike group was rather small. 8 standard foot soldiers of the British Army and 5 beings wearing shrouds that had a vibe of a devil. They were walking casually without care, since they expected an easy job. Faster contracts means more contracts to pull off after all, but for these devils... This contract was their last.
"8 rifleman, and 5 devils...that means someone of the group is missing… By their auras it means the leader is missing..." Nero thought
"Well one less to care about for now, if we kill her peerage here she will be an easier prey later." Wraith inputted
"You're right. And after we get them she will come after sensing their lives fading... They have a contract with her after all…" Nero commented on the subject while watching the group slowly advancing towards his playground.
"Hehe it's an easy job fellows!" One of the soldiers commented
"Yeah, it surely is…*DING*...what is thi…*BOOM*"
The poor bastard pulled the wire... And then hell broke loose. 7 soldiers and 2 devils died from the outburst. Fragments of metal and lead balls penetrating their skin. Most of them lost their legs to the explosion while the remnants started to panic at the sudden ambush. The last soldier and the 3rd devil started to scatter and yet again they stepped on the wrong spot...
"FUCK IT'S AN AMBUSH SCATTER THE HELL AWAY…*CLICK*...WHAT THE FU...*BOOM*..." and the next victims joined up with the dead. Blasted off limbs flying around the forest like puppets without strings.
Nero started to move out towards the 2 survivors. Silently strafing towards his prey... The remaining devils were stunned and shocked by what they experienced. Noble Devil families sending their heirs with their servants unskilled in the ways of true battle. Only by playing the so called Rating Games, they had a shred of experience, but it was a game after all, rarely someone died there they played for glory and success while the true fields of battle consisted of different aspects entirely, kill or be killed, survive or die trying. These 2 Devils will learn that truth tonight…
"Olivia! We need to escape, we are facing a dire threat I can't even sense it." Said one of the Devils terrified and afraid about his life.
"Shut up Derek, we can't shame our master, we are the devils of the proud house of Agares! And I represent a Queen piece I won't fail this easily." Now named Olivia answered with pride
A moment later an evil ghastly voice spoke to them.
"WE WONDER ABOUT THAT...WORM"
"Who said that? Come out you coward! You're afraid to fight like a real man? I will kill you with eas…." Derek didn't finish that speech since the dark wraith sword pierced him from behind, ripping through his back with his heart impaled on the tip of the blade.
"You...bastard…" Derek managed to say these words and soon started to vomit blood after that act. Nero violently brought the blade back whilst slashing it upwards cleaving the devils upper torso and head in half.
"Pathetic lesser creature…" Nero spat with disgust and swiped the blood from the blade
Olivia was terrified at how fast and without any resistance her last comrade had fallen. In complete despair she managed to ask…
"Who or what in the world are you?"
Wraith started to laugh in a twisted manner acting in his plural manner again
"WE ARE YOUR DAMNATION LITTLE GIRL! YOUR SOUL WILL SERVE US AS A FUEL TOWARDS OUR GOAL! YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO YOUR COMRADE AND RUN...BUT OH WELL WE WOULD BUTCHER YOU ANYWAY HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!"
"It's insane…" Olivia replied
"As my partner said, we are your damnation and I'm a mercenary named Reaper, just doing my bloody job." Nero interjected and started to charge towards the girl aiming to grab her in a choke hold, but she didn't want to fall so easily like Derek did.
Olivia spawned her wings and ascended into the air evading Nero's charge and started to amass a gigantic ball of lighting mixed with fire and threw it at Nero.
"Take this Reaper... It's a magic attack able to wipe this forest from the side of the earth along with you...ELEMENTAL RAGE!"
"Now Nero show her some Abyss Magic hehehehe…" Wraith said in his Mindscape
Just as the ball was closing in, Nero caste the Twisted Barricade which absorbed the attack and afterwards opened itself up above her and shot the ball behind her back sending her plummeting towards the open field ahead annihilating it whole in an explosion of fire followed by a raging thunder.
After the smoke cleared, Olivia's laid on the ground mortally wounded by her own attack. Nero advanced towards her and grabbed her throat lifting her up to his eye level and asked her a question.
"Where is your master Olivia?"
Olivia started to cough strange purple flames and said
"Go fuck yourself Reaper I will tell you nothing…"
Wraith started to shout
"NERO GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Nero didn't manage to dash away in time and got caught in an explosion of purple holy flames
Half of his mask torn away and several burn marks along his jacket with his left hand damaged from 2nd degree burns…
Nero stood on his knee and spat some blood on the ground while Olivia appeared again with a smirk on her face.
"Did you like, the holy flames of Incinerate Anthem Reaper?" Olivia said with pride slowly preparing a barrage of flames.
"Nero... This girl is more dangerous than we originally thought... She possesses a longinus sacred gear capable of killing you. These flames are dangerous, and while I may regenerate your hand now... Next time it will be harder to do so…" Wraith said in his thoughts concerned about the current state of the battle.
Nero started to shake violently and soon a tremendous aura of the Abyss started to surround him... He was infuriated to a point when her head below his feet mattered the most now. His eyes changed from his original bloody red. To the eyes which resembled those of angered Zeref, with only discerning feature of them glowing violently.
"I will slaughter her today…" Nero said in a dark ghastly voice tone
"So...the inner killer had awakened…" Wraith commented silently in the Mindscape
Olivia watched the ominous power which started to dance around Reaper, it started to spin and merge itself with him. She didn't have a clue what being he was his power had a vibe of a demon, but more primordial...a feral one tainted with hatred and everlasting darkness. Soon after the power started to cloak him in a shroud of darkness, while ghosts resembling souls of the damned, started to swirl around him and groan to give them a victim to kill.
"I pity you Woman... You just awoke the true abyss demon in him. Even I won't stop it now. You should run after that explosion... Now you will learn true fear…" Wraith spoke in a dark tone condemning the Woman after what she brought upon herself
"Nonsense! I will get his head now!" Olivia replied while sending a wave of holy flames coming at Nero, but they didn't hit their mark, and Nero blinked behind her with abnormal speed aiming to decimate her in half with his blade now coated with the Abyss, meaning that he caste the Resonating Blade…
Olivia barely in time, coated herself with a shroud of Holy Flames which absorbed the slash, but the Abyss wave send her plummeting towards the forest, decimating the land and a few trees in the process. Without delay Nero crouched and afterwards made a huge leap towards her, aiming the blade to impale her and obliterate the land to further increase the damage.
"His power is ridiculous, if I want to survive, I will need to use my Balance Breaker…*cough*... But an Abyss Demon... It was a myth originating from the great war... Shit here he comes" Olivia said and jumped out of the way, watching as Reaper obliterated the ground making a huge crater inside. She used that moment to prepare her balance breaker…
"BY THE WILL OF THE JUDGE I RELEASE THEE! BALANCE BREAKER" Olivia shouted and soon the cross started to shake on her neck seething with holy heat. It blasted off a huge aura of flames, which started to mold a clone of herself made purely by the holy flames.
Nero pulled off the Black Rose from his jacket and started to shoot at Olivia. She made a defensive magic seal consisting of 6 barriers to absorb the attack. Just as the first bullet connected it smashed the first barrier and severely damaged the next one with the explosion of liquid from the Infernal Queen.
"Such power, I need to hold him off until the clone is complete…*BLAM*..." Olivia thought while the next bullet obliterated 2 layers at once.
"Once the barrier gets destroyed I will get her head…" Nero thought whilst unloading the clip at the barrier ahead
"I need to further reinforce the barrier... What is this weapon? It has abnormal power…" Olivia said and added 3 more layers to the barrier, when 2 more bullets connected.
Nero after seeing this started to empower the gun with the abyss element further increasing the damage output. He fired the 2 remaining bullets in the clip...5th one shattered almost all off the remaining barriers while the last obliterated the remaining ones, and blasted through Olivia's left shoulder.
Olivia started to scream in pain as the bullet ripped off through her shoulder rendering her right hand useless.
"Black Rose surely has a kick, wouldn't you say bitch?" Nero commented with the dark ghastly tone cackling madly at her screams of pain
"You will soon suffer the same fate" Olivia replied and the clone finally molded itself and was ready to play
"Meet the Memento of the Judge, Balance Breaker of Incinerate Anthem she's just as a clone of mine, and will launch even more powerful flame attacks now!" Olivia continued to show off while Nero lunged at her in a straight line, aiming to impale her by the chest whilst using the last moments of the Resonating Blade.
"Not so easy now!" Olivia said and the clone moved in front of her and blasted off a wall of flames, heading out on Nero's line of attack. Just as the wall closed in Nero whispered…
"Repel…" And phased through the flames and the clone, destroying its form for a few moments and didn't stop the lunge. Olivia managed to move out slightly to the right managing to alter the trajectory, but for that she sacrificed her left arm. Nero skidded to a stop and spanned in a 90 degree motion to decapitate her using the momentum of the spin.
Just as he wanted to do that however… The clone regenerated and forced Nero to jump out of the way and fired a holy flame sphere at him.
"Shit...REPEL!" Nero shouted and the flames went right through him and blasted off 3 meters behind him.
"So he has a spell that allows him to get immaterial for short time... I would guess it has a limit of 2 or 3 seconds... Such powerful defensive spell must have a limit of consecutive usage…" Olivia thought while preparing a multidirectional attack to test that theory
"I've used up my last repel cast… I need to distract her somehow to finish this up. If these flames hit me, I'm done for..." Nero thought while spotting Olivia preparing a large scale attack…
"Get this! FLAME RETRIBUTION!" Olivia shouted and fired 6 fast moving fireballs of holy flame at Nero
"Twisted Barricade…" Nero prepared the sphere with the second cast of it waiting for the fireballs to get sucked in.
"NOW SPLIT!" Olivia shouted and 3 fireballs changed their trajectory and circled around Nero aiming for his backside.
"This will hurt…a lot" Nero thought and after consuming the 3 projectiles at front, he instantly shot them back to intercept the ones at his back, but the close range explosion blasted him away and burned the back of the jacket shielding his own backside from the damage.
"Yes! So he can't use that Repel spell anymore. Works for me!" Olivia thought on the advantage she has now.
"At least my back is safe... I could use both casts simultaneously with my hands, but it would leave me without any magical defense and probably the clone would shield her from the counter. Time to improvise then..." Nero thought while standing up
"How did you like it Reaper?" Olivia asked.
Instead of answering, Nero unsheathed the Infernal Queen and started to heat her up while placing his last cast of the resonating blade on the Wraith sword.
"What is he up to?" Olivia thought while ordering the clone to stand in front of her for defensive measures.
"Behold the most powerful attack i have!" Nero yelled and threw the Wraith blade upwards in a spinning motion which released an Abyss wave into the clouds cutting them in half. Olivia shifted her attention towards the slash wave eating the bait from Nero's hands…
"NOW!" Nero thought and swung the fully heated up Queen vertically releasing the destructive wave which got shielded by the clone, but obscured her sight completely. Not wasting a moment he picked up the falling Wraith sword and focused the entire resonating boost to shoot out at once and made a diagonal slash sending the empowered Abyss wave straight at her.
Clone took the brunt of the attack which destroyed its form again while Olivia got a nasty slash mark on her chest...
Olivia was bleeding profusely from the spot of her left hand. While the right hand was useless due to the bullet wound earlier and the slash mark at her chest started to bleed as well.
"You're a monster Reaper, I'll give you that. But our fight is far from over!" Olivia said and focused a large sphere of flames which formed themselves to look like a gigantic cross and hurled it towards Nero.
"Twisted Barricade…" Nero said and the spell absorbed the cross and shot it back towards Olivia blasting a flame circle that trapped Olivia in her own flames.
"Now what? You can't slash me with your blade... You just made it harder for yourself." Olivia commented the scene with a cocky remark forgetting that she can't escape the zone
"No. You shall die now…" Nero replied and unfurled his wings which blasted off a tremendous wave of the Abyss Power, and then the skulls appeared.
"HOST! IT SEEMS YOU BROUGHT US A WORTHY FOE TO OBLITERATE INTO OBLIVION!" Skulls yelled with joy
"What are these wings... His power earlier was toe to toe with an Ultimate Class Devil... Now it surpassed it even more... It's like I'm facing one of the Satans." Olivia commented and asked
"What in the seven circles of hell are you Reaper?!"
Nero and the Skulls started to laugh madly, and Nero replied
"Well, you're about to die so I can tell you this... I'm the next Dark Lord that will plunge the 3 factions in darkness once more. Just as my ancestor Siegfried Schtauffen slaughtered the Biblical God in the Great War…"
"Impossible! THE GOD IS DEAD?" Olivia interjected shocked by the news…
Nero laughed again and continued.
"He's dead for almost 7 decades now... Archangel Michael is his substitute now."
"Then why I didn't know that fact?" Olivia interjected again
"The 3 factions after suffering so many losses, needed the god fearing humans to fill their ranks... Angels, Fallen Angels and the Devils...all factions needed the help of the humans to survive." Nero finished his lecture and Olivia commented.
"This is insane... I've been fooled for so long."
Nero was tired of her antics and pointed towards her and said…
"DESTROY HER…"
Skulls answered with glee
"WE OBLIGE TO YOUR URGES HOST!"
The skulls started to amass the Abyss Sphere... But it was more powerful than the last one at the training. The gear started to absorb all the negativity around the area... Feelings of hatred, suffering, torment everything was used to further empower the sphere.
Afterwards it blasted off... The whole forest, and the surrounding fields got obliterated. Swallowed in a gigantic explosion of power, which sent a shock wave that delivered even more damage to the surroundings. After the smoke and dust cleared off, Nero descended to the remains of what was left of Olivia. His eyes reverted back to normal, and the wings disappeared.
"You gave her a hell of a show Nero…" Wraith said
"A deserved one indeed, although I underestimated her... First lesson learned." Nero replied and saw the Anthem Cross along with a leaflet laying on the ground.
Nero picked it up the cross and hid it in his jacket, and afterwards started to examine the leaflet...
"We grant your wish" with a summoning circle of Agares embedded in it.
Nero and Wraith started to laugh maniacally, although they just formed a twisted plan to play out…
(Abandoned Shed near the camp, 11:00 Pm)
Nero took all the devil bodies or...the remains of them to the shed and hid them in the storage room. While preparing a chair with some steel wire for a little questioning session…
Soon after the preparations were complete. Nero wished with all his evil heart to summon the heiress of Agares because he sure has a wish…
After few seconds the leaflet started to fly and the summoning circle appeared... It flashed in light yellow light and the heiress came and introduced herself.
"I'm Leonora Agares the proud Heiress of the House of Agares and I've come this night to fulfill your wish."
The lady which was a buxom Blondie started to examine the room and before she turned back, Nero knocked her out on the floor and started his devious plan.
(Abandoned Shed near the camp, 1 hour later...)
After an hour she woke up, strapped to the chair with steel wire which hurt like fuck. Whilst the shed encased in a barrier of the Abyss making other spells then itself useless.
"Where, Am I? And what the hell you did to me you fiend!?" Leonora started to scream
"Hello there proud devil of the Agares house... I'm Reaper a humble mercenary extraordinaire in a middle of an errand, which consists of you on the list…" Nero replied with a dark chuckle
"What the hell do you want from me, you freak?" Leonora asked again with anger present in her voice
"Tell me, why are you serving the both sides of the conflict?" Nero replied with a question and continued
"And...if you will answer me in a satisfying manner, I will maybe let you rejoice with your peerage which I captured as well." and finished with a hateful snark
"You captured my peerage? So, the Patriots hired you to defend Lexington is that correct?" Leonora asked afraid
"Correct. And let's say that the soldiers can be found in bits, for you to count along the road." Nero replied with a dramatic ending
"Ok... The archduke of my house ordered us to support both sides concurrently along with the house of Glasya-Labolas to prolong the conflict and get us young devils some contracts, but after the Lexington assault we were supposed to pull off from helping the Patriots and focus on the British entirely…" Leonora started to leak Intel afraid of her own life
"Where is the Glasya-Labolas peerage now?" Nero asked
Leonora started to sweat and shake violently terrified at the outcome…
"I've told you enough already please leave me be and let me go back with my peerage and never come back again…" Leonora squeaked in despair
"Wrong answer…" Nero interjected and stabbed her right thigh with a rusted piece of metal embedding it deep in the thigh and afterwards violently pulling it out resulting in Leonoras screams of pain, and blood gushing out in streams from the wound.
Afterwards he stabbed again at her left thigh repeating the process.
"Where are they?" Nero asked again preparing to shoot her knee with his pistol. She started to scream more in a helpless fashion. Her loud yells of suffering reaching nowhere due to the barrier blocking the sounds, after she saw Nero's finger on the trigger she started to tell him the truth.
"They were sent in to Concord, to help the Patriots defend the base and afterwards, sabotage it and escape ending the help for the Patriots."
"Good Girl... So now you wanted to rejoice with your peerage right?" Nero said and twisted her chair backwards and lighted the small corridor for the brutal display and continued whispering to her lifeless face.
"You can rejoice with them...IN HELL!" And pierced her heart with a metal pole bringing it out behind her spine, and whilst watching her passing moments and her lifeless gaze towards her former peerage...
Wraith started to scream in joy and continued to laugh in a demonic manner complimenting Nero for the sick show that was the most despair inducing the being saw in its entire life.
"HAHAHAHA! NERO THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL! SHE HAD HER HOPES HIGH TILL THE END…"
"It's not over yet Wraith. Look she has a reversal teleport leaflet... I will send these worms a message…" Nero replied and started to work on his first message to the Devil World...
(Ground Hall of the House of Agares)
The housemaids were strolling happily doing their jobs, while Grayfia Lucifuge the strongest Queen of the Underworld was on a visitation in the Grand Hall, talking with the current leader of the House. Unbeknownst to the duo a teleportation circle of the Next heiress appeared in the hall summoning a rather grotesque structure…
The structure was a wooden gallows with 6 slots which were occupied, with the bodies of the heiress peerage hanged on steel wire but the most discerning feature was the structure in the middle of it... A wooden pentagram with Leonora's body pinned to it by iron rods along with her face torn off to reveal a grim reaper face, formed from her own skull and a message written on the stand with her blood…
Leader was terrified and started to cry at the horrifying creation, Grayfia shocked and disgusted while the remaining maids vomited on the floor…
Grayfia came closer to the stand and red the message out loud.
"GREETINGS LESSER BEINGS, IF YOU WILL MEDDLE FURTHER WITH THE MATTERS OF THE HUMAN WORLD I WILL SEND YOU MORE OF MY CREATIONS, I WILL CUT DOWN ANYONE WHO STANDS ON MY WAY. TAKE IT AS A FIRST AND LAST WARNING. OTHERWISE, MORE CREATIONS OF MY TWISTED ART WILL COME TO YOUR DOORSTEP. JUST AS YOU SACRIFICE HUMAN BEINGS, I WILL SACRIFICE YOUR OWN KIN FOR MY OWN TWISTED FUN!" In the bottom of the stand a big "REAPER" sign was engraved with Abyss Aura seeping from the mark.
"Oh, dear Maou…. My daughter…." The father mumbled
"I will contact Lucifer immediately" Grayfia said and jumped with a magic circle to the Gremory Manor to deliver the grim news from the human world…
(Town of Boston, 1 day later, 4:00 Pm)
The news of Victory had spread like a blessing. When Nero came to the town, a cheering crowd could be heard, along with the message that the Mercenaries had failed to sabotage the Concord Base. Nero went straight to the Official office, while telling the merchants to meet him there to discuss about their own matter.
"I'm back official Matthews. How did you like my work?" Nero asked with serious tone
Matthews stood from his seat and offered Nero a handshake which he gladly accepted and then Matthews said.
"Indeed, I'm pleased with the outcome. You shall be rewarded with 50K Continental and a next assignment if you wish to work for us again."
Nero was by no means pleased. He had succeeded his main task with sparkling results and just got a chance of another one, and a more serious than the first.
Just as they wanted to discuss the next one, the merchants came curious about the outcome of their own errand.
"Reaper, how did it go? Did you succeed?"
"Of course. I've also sent them a message so trust me...they won't fuck with you again." Nero replied with a chuckle
"That's perfect! Did you bring her head?" The Merchants asked
"I used it for the message and trust me it was worth it…" Nero replied with a sinister chuckle
" Well 's perfect but do you have anything else?" Merchants pressed on the subject
"Yes, I have this" Nero replied and brought out Incinerate Anthem Cross and burst out a small flame from it for a show
"This flames are the same, which were used to cut off the area on the assault!" Merchants replied shocked at the revelation
"Is that so? Do you want that cross?" Nero replied and asked the merchants if they would accept the cross as the proof.
"No, we believe you now... Keep this thing away from us." Merchants replied scared at the power of this thing
"Good choice…" Nero thought
Merchants after a heated dispute came closer to Nero giving him his checkout
"Thank you Reaper, here is your reward." The merchants said and handed Nero a big file of money that was indeed 30000 continental…
"HAHAHAHAHA! Eighty thousand blood money on the first errand Nero! What a perfect outcome…" Wraith yelled with joy in the Mindscape
After the merchants left the place. Nero started to discuss the next errand with official Matthews at his personal office.
(Official Matthews office, 10 minutes later)
Matthews and Nero discussed about the next job which was to say... A job of a completely different caliber.
"The next job is a matter of top secrecy…" Matthews said in a serious manner
Nero nodded
"You will be assigned as a personal guard to our top in command. General George Washington. Only the two of us know about this... While I'm an official here I'm also his right hand and an adviser. After your outstanding performance I offered him this option, since the Brits will try to take off his head soon…" Matthews said and stopped for a while
"Nero, this is a fucking serious top tier job I would say, if we would make arrangements with the General we can get significant profit from it…" Wraith commented in the Mindscape
"Before we proceed further answer me this... You're not human aren't you?" Matthews said out of nowhere
"Oh?" Nero raised an eyebrow and commented
"What makes you so sure I'm not human?" Nero retorted with a question of his own
"The merchants case Reaper... You successfully killed the mercenary group which used unworldly powers and at top of that you've brought a cross which emits flames which no one ever saw before the merchants, if you want my trust tell me the truth…" Matthews replied with a serious tone
Nero started to chuckle and asked Matthews in a grim tone
"Are you surely prepared for that Matthews? It will twist your current worldview in a whole 360 degrees spin."
"Throw it at me." Matthews replied in a confident tone.
At that one Wraith started to laugh in a twisted manner revealing his presence to Matthews
"Are you sure about this human?" Wraith spoken in a dark tone scaring the shit off the poor official
"Oh fuck me, Who are you?" Matthews replied interested
"I'm an ancient being name's Wraith" Wraith replied suddenly interested in Matthews sudden mood swing
"So, Matthews... Can I trust you to the point where this conversation stays between us and the General only if you intend to send him a report after this?" Nero asked to confirm if Matthews would be his first friend and contractor in the Human Realm
Matthews replied with a nod
"Okay, then first things first…" Nero said and took off his mask revealing himself to Matthews
"My real name is Nero Schtauffen and I'm an abyss demon." Nero continued
"Abyss Demon?" Matthews asked interested
And then Nero gave Matthews a roundup with the Supernatural which we all already know about. 3 factions and stuff, also what an Abyss Demon is and why Nero came to him in the first place.
"You were right Nero... My fucking world view just twisted in a full spin." Matthews commented the lecture
Nero and Wraith started to chuckle at that and said
"Well, we told you so."
Matthews laughed as well and asked
"So this mercenary group you killed, was a group from one of the factions you mentioned right?"
Nero nodded and answered
"Yes, a devil peerage of Agares. One of the families from the 72 pillars of hell."
"Do you know their agenda?" Matthews asked pointing towards their goals
"Yes, they wanted to get some contracts out of you and the Brits to get power by completing them. It's a common play made by them to intensify the conflict to get more of it. Greed rules them after all…" Nero replied with a sigh
"So I can presume the merc group at Concord was a devil peerage as well?" Matthews asked again
Nero nodded and answered
"Devil Peerage of the Glasya-Labolas family, and good that they failed the sabotage. After the stunts in Lexington and Concord they wanted to abandon your side and stick with the Brits to obliterate now our side."
"How do you know all this?" Matthews asked
"I've captured and interrogated the king of the Agares peerage. And afterwards wasted her just as the Merchants wanted it, while sending a rather bloody message to the main family…" Nero replied with a sinister chuckle at the end
"God save us…" Matthews commented
But after that comment Nero encased the office with a barrier, to close off the office from the outside world in task of saving Matthews form being marked as a heretic after what he's going to say...
"The god you speak of is dead for almost 7 decades now…" Nero interjected
Matthews was by no means shocked to the core. The god which he believed with all his heart is in reality dead for a long time…
"And the God wasn't so good as we portrayed him all these years. He only cared for his Angels and treated humans as mere cattle for a slaughter. Recall the old crusades and fights in the name of God. Each side in reality fought for the same person, but in the same time twisted in the wrong way." Nero continued and ended his lecture with a statement
"I've experienced it first hand. His own fallen children took everything from me just as I told you earlier. The Great war took its toll on your kind. And main before, even if I'm not human anymore.
After that long dispute Nero headed out to sleep in the guest room and in the next day headed out to the mansion in Boston where George Washington resided. To start the real task or rather a mission…
(Mansion of George Washington, 3:00 Pm, April 15th 1775)
The mansion itself was a normal one. To mean the description of normality here let's say that George didn't like to show off his wealth. He acted as an equal toward his countrymen. That earned him a good first impression from our duo. They went towards his office at the upper floor and entered the place.
(Well we all know how George looked like so I'll spare the description of his appearance.)
"Please take a seat Nero" George said pointing towards the chair next to his desk
Nero obliged and took a seat near the General, and then the serious part begins.
"Well it's obvious that the British men with support of the Devils will strike at Boston at any moment now." George said in a serious manner
"So, what do you propose General?" Nero commented with a question
"Just George will be fine Nero, I'm calling you by your name so you should do the same" George replied with a honest smile
"Okay George, tell me this do you possess a sacred gear? I'd sensed a draconian aura while entering the room." Nero asked with curiosity in mind
[Oh? How clever of you Nero.] An unknown being spoke from George's right hand
"And who might you be Dragon?" Nero asked the new being
[I'm the Welsh Dragon or Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig, currently sealed in this gauntlet named Boosted Gear.]
"Nice to see you again. Overgrown lizard." Wraith spoken from the gauntlet in Nero's hand and the eye opened.
[Is that you Wraith? The primordial Dark Wraith?] Ddraig flooded Wraith with questions shocked at who is he talking to
"Correct, It is me." Wraith replied in a friendly tone
Nero and George were listening to the greeting of the 2 beings with interest and Nero decided to ask about their relationship
"So, if you don't mind me. How do you know each other? By the way you speak it looks like you've met before and on friendly terms?"
[Yes, I've met your Ancestor Siegfried on his tales hundreds of years ago. He offered me and my brother Albion help if the 3 factions decide to interrupt our duel. But we refused due to our dragon pride... Let's say I regret this now, but slightly since George is a great host and one of its only kind.] Ddraig replied with words of compliment towards his host
"Thank you Ddraig" George replied with a honest smile
[No Problem George!] Ddraig replied with a happy tone
After a friendly reunion of souls the now serious matter had started.
"So Nero, I would ask you for your help in defending this good city and maybe helping me in the future if you're willing to." George asked Nero with a serious tone
"Request accepted. You and Matthews are the only humans I trust at the moment and which I treat as friends." Nero replied with a friendly smile
"And, if Ddraig said you're a good man which he's one of Wraith's pals I can't refuse." Nero inputted
"Well can you tell me why you accept it so freely, besides the friendly terms?" George asked with interest
"It's simple, I treat Wraith as my older brother and if one of his friends has a problem I act accordingly. I treat you as a friend George so that doubles the effort." Nero replied
[Thank you Nero.] Ddraig commented with gratitude
"No problem pal" Nero said with a shrug
"You truly treat me as a Brother Nero?" Wraith asked in his Mindscape
"Yes bro." Nero replied to Wraith with a chuckle
"Thank you brother…" Wraith whispered in the Mindscape
Nero started to clasp to break the current happy mood.
"So, George tell me how much proficient are you with Ddraig?" Nero asked
[He's the only human host able to use my Balance Breaker for 20 minutes straight. That's why i meant George is a special case.] Ddraig replied with pride toward his host
"Well then let me give you this as a helper." Nero said and handed George the Incinerate Anthem cross.
"Before you ask, it is another longinus sacred gear which I've got from the Queen of Agares peerage when I killed her. It lets you produce holy flames that can outright slaughter devils with ease. You can even pose a threat to Satan class devils with it. One of the deadliest longinus gears, along with the true one in my opinion." And explained the Cross Abilities
[If you boost the cross and eject the power, it will be our trump card George.] Ddraig added his 2 cents to the subject
"Okay then, now to the plan…" George said
"Too late for that George, I can sense them coming close to Boston!" Nero interjected
"How many!?" George asked
"200 humans, probably British soldiers and 2 devil peerages consisting of 12 men and I can sense the same aura which the Agares princess had…" Nero replied with an excited tone
"These worms came for revenge Nero! That Gallows was a masterpiece after all!" Wraith commented with glee
"What gallows?" George deadpanned at the mention of gallows mixed with masterpiece
Nero and Wraith laughed in a sinister manner
"It's the message I've sent to the Devils by a reverse teleport circle which the Merchants requested from me." Nero replied and pushed onto the main subject at hand
"George let's go fight these fucks!" Nero said with excitement
George stood up, flexed his mighty posture and flashed a grin
So the team sprinted off to the city gates to greet the newcomers…
(City Gate of the Boston City, 15 minutes later)
Enemy forces were nearing the city, and the team already had a plan how to greet them properly.
George in his Balance Breaker preparing a 14 times boost in plan of granting Nero the half of it and using the other to power up the cross. While Nero focused as much as he could into resonating the Infernal Queen on heat to shoot off, yet another wave of doom.
"Hoho, Nero they're coming!" George said while giving a signal that he's ready
"Ready as well, on your mark George." Nero replied
The enemy force saw the duo and felt their power resonating through the land. They had prepared to enact revenge for their losses and the Devils to punish Reaper for that sick creation he sent them, but they weren't prepared for what's to come…
"We've come for you George Washington! And you as well Reaper!" The small army yelled with hatred
George and Nero had twisted grins behind their masks now. And they said together
"We would like to welcome you to your funeral, It shall be enacted by cremation you twisted fucks!"
After that George used the transfer ability and granted Nero a sparkling seven times booster, while George used his own part on the Cross. In an act of single breath the duo released their attacks. An enormous showcase of flames came after this. A Tsunami of Purple and Black Flames flooded the small army burning them alive in a veil of screams.
"HAHAHAHAHA, FUCKING PERFECT YOU GUYS! LET'S WATCH THE SONS OF BITCHES BURN ALIVE IN FRONT OF OUR EYES! AAAAAAAHHHH! THE SUFFERING ITS PERFECT!" Wraith started to scream in mad joy feasting on the torment ahead. 212 victims to a fiery tsunami of flames a perfect sight indeed. Napalm strike is a baby's toy before this.
[That's why, I always loved to roast my adversaries with my Dragon's breath back in the day.] Ddraig commented on the show with a manly tear shed for the sweet memories
After that heartfelt flame show, the Brits started to lose the war. The news spread like a wildfire, the Father of this great country and his dear friend mercenary, had brought justice upon the British infidels. It couldn't get better than this. In 1783 the victory has been taken by the Patriots. In all the battles that happened back there Nero took active part in them. Behind the lines spreading havoc upon the Brits. Also in that re mindful year, George stepped back from his General position and soon has been elected as the First President of the United States of America.
And soon he had sent Nero a letter with an invitation to a party, along with the cross since well he doesn't need it anymore. Now Nero and Wraith went back to their home with a letter in their hands.
(The Abyss, Grand Hall of the Castle)
Well in the Grand Halls... Sieg and Artorias had a hard time. Daily Rachel would come to them, asking when Nero comes back from his first adventure. Soon it started to be a daily routine that popped a few blood vessels from the ancient beings… And in one of these days, something which everyone in the castle waited for did happen at last.
"Ohhh... Lord Siegfried when will Nero come back!?" Rachel asked for like 1240 time according to Artorias counting s on the matter
Siegfried had an annoyed expression and answered with the same line he did for these 1240 questions again!
"I don't know and I'm waiting for him as well."
"But, when he will come back?" Rachel asked again with a pleading tone
"1241…" Artorias mumbled and noted in his notebook with a calculative look
"Lord Artorias why you do this to me?" Rachel retorted with sadness
"666…" Artorias mumbled again with a cheesy grin noting the changes in his second notebook
"Mmm, Rachel that feels quite satanic if you ask me." Inquired Artorias with a troll face
Rachel started to scream and insult Artorias with a new vocabulary of her own further intensifying his pleasure at the action
"And the old monks always said thus : Never feed the troll." Artorias replied with his troll face in shape of it eating her screams to feed itself
Just as Artorias was enjoying his own troll show, an abyss rift had opened and the long awaited Nero emerged from it.
"I'm back. Father, Uncle and Rachel" Nero said with a smile
Before Sieg or Artorias could reply Nero got caught in the mighty titty hug and the show which Wraith loves with all his heart had started once more.
"I've missed this! Oh fuck me I've so missed this!" Wraith yelled drowning in his new pool of nosebleed
"Hi there Rachel! How are you?" Nero said between the fluffy tits and embraced her in a hug
Rachel started to cry from happiness and kissed Nero with a passionate one just like the other time…
"BLGDSDSG... It's over for me." Wraith mumbled some words and the ambulance came again for our top tier blood swimmer. A round of applause if you please…
After Rachel and Nero ended their passionate reunion, Nero had a question for Sieg
"Hey, Sieg?"
"Yeah, what's up son?" Sieg replied
"Can we postpone the training for a single human realm day?" Nero asked
"Why?" Sieg replied with a question interested on the matter
"Well, I've got an invitation to a party organized by yours truly George Washington! I can't miss it, Wraith as well." Nero replied
"Sure, go have some fun kid" Sieg replied
"Okay. Can I take someone with me?" Nero asked again
"Oh?" Siegfried retorted with a question and the old bastard knew who will soon be asked for it. A perfect opportunity to lift a questioning burden from his tattered patience
"Okay I don't see a problem with that." Sieg replied with a smile
Rachel listened to the discussion laying her head on Nero's shoulder, and started to catch the facts bit by a bit, when she wanted to act on her own Nero did it first.
"Would you accept my invitation to a grand party my lovely lady?" Nero asked in a gentleman tone caressing Rachel's hand
Rachel replied with another passionate kissing session, when it ended she said.
"Oh i just caught a lovely gentleman, lead the way my prince..." Rachel said in a sultry tone and strolled with Nero to prepare towards the party ahead, after they left Sieg started to converse with Artorias about this…
"I'm so proud of him. He knows how to treat a lady with respect..." Sieg said with pride
Artorias started to chuckle
"Well only in a friendly environment…" Artorias interjected with a sinister smirk reminding Siegfried about the questioning he did in that shed and the Gallows which granted him bonus points of respect in Artorias book
"True. He changed a lot…" Siegfried agreed with Artorias statement
"Well he knows that in a battle gender doesn't matter anymore, age as well, they were his enemies and he slaughtered them in a perfect fashion. I'm proud of the boy." Artorias inputted further towards the subject
"Yup. We'll see how well he improved when he comes back." Siegfried added finishing the conversation
(Manor of Washington, 8:30 Pm, May 20th 1783)
Nero and Rachel came at the party and had the best greeting of their lives.
"Ladies and Gentleman! I would like to welcome my dear friend Nero and his lovely lady Rachel! Round of applause for the perfect couple!" George yelled and soon the whole hall started clapping for the pair in an aura of positivism
Nero and Rachel bowed before the audience and well they did look special. Nero wore a black tuxedo set with matching slacks and patent leather shoes, also had his hair set in a flair. Rachel wore a long black and red flannel dress. With black pantyhose and fitting black heels to the set. Her hair set into a ponytail empathizing her beauty, after the introductions have been made. Ddraig and Wraith had their bro like conversation while the party had finally started. Soon Nero took Rachel's hand and strolled to the dance zone leading her in a passionate salsa dance which captivated the audience. After the dance ended the couple sealed it with a kiss granting a round of applause and shouts of approval. They both drunk to a hardcore level later and went back to the Abyss at the morning to recuperate the incoming hangover, while Nero had a nasty premonition of hangover training…
So with this the curtain drops on the chapter! Tell me what you think of this chapter in the Reviews! I've taken the reviews to my heart and tried my best efforts to improve the story for a better read ;) We have some heated battles and a few dark scenes with a twist of comedy here and there ;) I hoped you liked the chapter and George Washington the Badass Red Dragon Emperor.
Next chapter : The not so final training and the Civil War!
PS: Expect a slight twist of some cowboy reaping next time ^^