Wyald marched through the snowy blizzard, unbothered by the cold. As he made his way towards Yamatai, he took this moment to think.

"Huh, I wonder what's going on back home." Ever since he had found himself in this mad world, he had not thought much about Midland. After all, he was essentially in paradise now. No need to think about when he died. In fact, he didn't really care about why and how he was at this place. Still, he was curious over what had happened to the Hawks.

The Hawk Raider. Wyald couldn't help but glower at the thought. That human, whoever the hell he was, managed to beat him. No way around it.

The human had managed to match him blow for blow when Wyald was in his human form. Every trick Wyald used, punching out the man's horse, grabbing his sword, biting his sword, did nothing but slow him down briefly.

For the first time in a hundred years, Wyald had been afraid.

Hiding his fear under laughter and boisterous boasting, Wyald then transformed into his apostle form. The battle than began to completely turn in Wyald's favor, but-

SNIKT

No one had ever managed to hurt him so bad.

At least that part of him was restored in this world.

The battle that followed was absolutely brutal. Wyald punched and the Raider sliced, and they were both bleeding and near death at the end of it.

Somehow, the swordsman survived.

When Wyald was crawling around bleeding and screaming, guaranteed to die, the warrior was still alive, and probably still able to fight. A mere human somehow managed to live through a fight that brought an apostle to the brink of death.

This was not natural.

At least nothing like him was in this world. At the same time, Wyald knew that he would never get his revenge. Not knowing or caring about how to travel back to Midland meant that the swordsman would essentially get away with hurting him.

The bastard was probably off living out his days in peace, might have hung up his sword. He'd killed the beast and saved his commander. Now he was likely retired at the Midland border. Probably living in a cottage like a damn fairy tale.

XXX

Koka, Midland

Something was burning.

"No! Stop-" The Snake apostle screamed in agony, helpless, as Guts fired his crossbow into the monsters face, again and again. Guts suddenly felt the urge to laugh maniacally as he fired away.

It did little to bring relief as blood slid down from the Brand on his neck.

XXX

With that dark-skinned woman too, the only one who had ever gotten away from him. They probably lived together, kids on the way, peaceful. They probably watched stars at night together, safe in each others arms.

Wyald's fists clenched. His nails dug into his palms, blood dripping from them.
XXX

The Hill of Swords, Midland

Even though her mind had been reduced to that of a child, even though she had begun to forget the close bond she shared with the man she loved, Casca couldn't help but feel a profound sense of sadness as she stared at the snow covered hill of swords.

XXX

Wyald growled with anger, steam rising from his body.

He took several deep breaths as he tried to calm down.

The Band of the Hawk was no longer his problem, even though they were likely living like kings now. Probably sold their services to Chuder.

XXX

''The Prophecy was not mistaken. The "Red Lake" has appeared."

XXX

At least he could get one small victory. Griffith was likely dead by now. No way he could have lived long with those injuries. Probably passed away in the night. Sure, the Hawks would mourn, but they would go on.

Wyald smiled thinly, only wishing that he could have done the deed himself.

XXX

"You...were the only the one... to make me forget my dream..."

I Sacrifice

XXX

Than last of all...there was Zodd. Nosferatu Zodd.

Wyald paused, shivering for a moment before he continued forwards. Zodd had been the one who ultimately killed Wyald, ripping him in half and tearing his guts out. If the Hawk Raider scared him, Zodd completely terrified Wyald. No way he could ever beat a monster like that.

Still, at least there was nothing like that in this world.

By now, he had finally broken through the blizzard. Snowy peaks gave way to grassy plains. If the map was right, he was headed straight towards Yamatai.

He would do well to make sure that everyone there would know Enjoyment and Excitement.

XXX

Succubus Village

The nine tailed Kitsune knew that this would not be an easy night when she stepped foot into the remains of Succubus Village.

That elder succubus who lived in the Monster Lord's castle had gotten a message from a carrier familiar, dated a day ago. Apparently, the village had come under attack. Lots of casualties. And at the center of it was a massive human, the one who had managed to instigate this tragedy. The note had clearly been written and sent hastily, and it seemed to have been dated hours earlier. Alipheese decided to send Tamamo to investigate, knowing just how strong and experienced she was. The sheer distance took up a good amount of power because of the teleportation she used, but Tamamo knew that she could still fight.

Then she saw the village.

Dead bodies littered amongst burnt out wreckage.

Mother's had died holding their children.

Some bodies lay impaled on wood in a feral display of cruelty. Some of the human males appeared to have died next to the succubi they had been paired with.

While Tamamo knew very well that some of the humans in the village did not come here willingly, plenty were happy to "serve." It was a fact of life, one she accepted during her countless years of life.

On the surface, she appeared calm, only one eyebrow twitching on her head. On the inside however, Tamamo felt something bottling up inside of her.

Something raw, something fiery that wanted to be let out. Keeping her emotions in check with all she had, she continued to look around for survivors.

All she found was her own personal horror show.

It had been a thousand years, but it still felt like the Great Monster Wars had never ended.

Some bodies had bites taken out of them. Others had burned alive. She was soon unable to tell humans from succubi with the sheer extent of the trauma inflicted on the victims.

Clinically, she took a closer look, focusing as hard as she could.

''Blunt Trauma, likely done with some kind of club. The sheer strength needed to pull of limbs. The massive bites taken out. The amount of destruction delivered. The suspect was a human male. But all this...Perhaps a sign of Monster ancestry? Dragon for bites? Orc for strength? Human's born with monster abilities from their parents are Mutation?

A weapon from the War?

Something new entirely?"

Still deep in thought, she reached the Chief's house. It was in ruins.

She walked through the ruins, observing damaged stone and artifacts. She reached a collapsed room from the looks of it. Pulling open the a damaged door, her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness inside. She first spotted the torn up fabric of what remained of what appeared to be a dress. One worn by the Chief, if she remembered correctly.

It didn't take long to find what was left of the Chief, along with the corpse of another succubus.

She quickly saw the state of the bodies.

She stood there, absolutely still for five solid minutes.

It took a lot to rend her speechless. This was one of those moments.

A crack formed underneath her feet as she unconsciously drew the breath of the Earth into her body. As the room began to collapse around her, the gnawing feeling in her chest began to make sense.

Pure, untamed rage.

It had been a long, long time since she had hated someone so much.

Walking forwards, she felt her detective stoicism began to slip. She soon found a massive pair of foot prints in the ground, bigger than the other ones around.

It led out of the village.

Pressing her nose against the foot prints, she smelt ape hair much to her confusion.

Bracing her hands into the ground, Tamamo drew as much of the Earth's power as she could into her body.

The footprints seemed to create mental map in her head. She could see the trail of footprints stretching out through the forest surrounding the village. The trail seemed to grow and head for-

Her mental map shattered as she began to breathe heavily, her eyes wide.

The killer was on his way to Yamatai.

No,-he was right on the edge of her home.

No.

He had gotten there five minutes ago.

Drawing all of her strength once again, Tamamo stomped the ground, cracking it as she back flipped into the sky with all of her might, shattering stone and tree with her impact.

Hopefully she would get there in time.

XXX

Yamatai

Wyald looked at the sign in front of him, and his smile widened considerably. He held his club as he continued walking forwards. Tree's surrounded him, and he felt his excitement grow as he moved under the cover of darkness. He was eager to hear some screams. He thought about breaking through the front entrance like last time, but then he decided that he would attack from the back for a change. That would be fun. Of course, his performance would need to make a maximum impact on his victims.

Then he got an idea.

Grinning widely, he walked up to a tree and punched it with his dark nailed fist. The tree fell down with a tremendous thud. Grabbing onto it, he held on with both hands. He dragged it behind him only to hear a tapping sound approaching him. Guards.

"We shouldn't be out here big sister.."

"Didn't your hear that? Nothing exciting ever happens around here, let's see what that noise was-"

He turned his head and saw what appeared to be two little white haired girls wearing kimonos.

They also had the lower half's of a white snake.

Not guards, just kids.

Either that Snake Baron had been getting busy, or this was gonna be funner than he thought.

He had half a mind to splatter them, but he pushed that thought away.

He wanted them to see what would happen next.

Then they would die screaming.

Their eyes widened in fear when they saw him. In the darkness, his pale eyes shone like pinpricks. "Shh." He said as he made a shushing gesture. "Stay there, and you might see something fun. Move or scream, and I'll drop the tree on you." Staying still, the lamia kids dully nodded as they held onto one another. Chuckling quietly to himself, he walked near a good set of tree's. Peering through the spaces, he saw the back of the village.

Humans and monsters walked around together near wooden houses. Some kind of cat thing was playing around in a pool of water. Some older looking people were kneeling in prayer in front of a shrine of sorts, one that depicted a large, nine tailed fox.

Well, better late than never.

Wyald ran forwards, laughing as he held the tree like a battering ram. He busted through several smaller trees, before he slammed his way through a house, and it collapsed on top of him. As the dust settled around him, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him in shock.

On a hill a head of him, a white haired, white tailed lamia wearing plate armor glared at him as she held up a curved sword. Alongside her, several human guards began to pace down the hill at him.

Wyald just grinned as he threw the tree forwards.

He was rewarded with a brutal splattering sound.

The tree slammed through the men, turning them into red paint while the lamia barely dodged to the side, the tree grazing her as she tumbled down the hill into a pool. Pulling his club from his side, Wyald laughed maniacally.

"Tonight's act is going to cost and arm and a leg, don't be afraid to step up!'' He howled with laughter as he began to swing at every living thing in sight as humans and monsters began to run away from him.

"Mighty Fox save us-"

"No please I have a family-"

Wyald got his enjoyable, exciting night.

Blood rained on him, the entire thing descending into a haze.

Only two minutes passed, and he was already having tons of fun.

"I can't feel my legs!"

"Shame." Wyald chuckled as he bit into a severed limb.

At that moment, he felt a sting in his arm.

He turned and saw a blade buried into his left arm. It had gone through the fur and stopped after coming into contact with his thick flesh. At the end of the blade, a human soldier with a big black beard held onto it and grunted as he struggled to bring it downwards.

Not for long.

"Huh, you cut right through the armor, but looks like my arm was too much for you." Grabbing the blade with his other arm, he casually pulled the blade out and squeezed it.

The katana shattered under his strength. As the man's eye's widened, he casually struck him with his club. He slammed down into the ground, blood pooling under him. "Father!" two young voices yelled amidst the battlefield.

Wyald saw the two young white haired lamias slithering forwards. He then looked at the man, who lay still.

It all made sense now. "Want to join Papa?" He cruelly laughed as he turned to them. They once again stiffened in horror when they saw him. Before he took a single step, the man's eyes opened and he lunged at Wyald with the broken edge of his sword. "Don't your dare-" He sprung at him-

and he grabbed his outstretched sword arm mid air. "Kids. Watch closely."

He taunted before he thrust a clawed hand into his abdomen.

The man gasped out in pain as four bladelike nails pierced through his red stained back.

In and Out, In and Out. Again and again.

Wyald looked him right in the eyes as he bled his guts out over his claw in front him. They were full of fear.

Not for himself.

"They'll join you shortly." Wyald cruelly laughed. Sliding his bloody claw out, he dropped the dead father to ground. He then walked towards the white haired lamia kids.

They clung to each other, tears in their eyes. Their tales flicked around in agitation.

In the moonlight, Wyald's bloodstained form looked like it was from Hell.

He slowly began to lift his club up-

and then a stick flicked against the back of his helmet. Groaning in annoyance, he turned and his mood turned right around.

In front of him was a small Kitsune. She had seven yellow tails, and while she had the upper half of a human, she had the lower half of a fox. Her red eyes peered at him, and she had her hands on her hips. "You bully!'' she yelled, waving a stick at him. Wyald's grin widened almost impossibly wide.

He had finally found a kitsune.

"Ready to die?"

The kitsune threw another stick at him. "You are an asshole, and Mama say's I shouldn't let mean guys bully people around!"

"Huh, so this one's really young, maybe four or five? She's probably too young really understand this situation."

"I'm gonna love breaking her."

"Nanabi! Get back inside!" A woman's voice called, stricken with horror. "Nanabi, eh?" Wyald said as he laughed. "Hello then, I'm Wyald, and I really love the sound of screaming!" He moved forwards with insane speed, grabbing her by her tails. She yelped out in surprise as he held her in the air in front of him. By now, the survivors of his rampage were either numb with horror or trying to run forwards.

Wyald loved it when a crowd formed.

He held Nanabi out like a shield, deterring anyone who tried to come forwards. He could see the horror and anguish in their eyes.

"So Kid," he whispered as she tried to squirm out of his grip. Absorbed in the coming murder, he did not hear the rapid stomping behind him. "Let's see how much fuckin blood's in you!'' He prepared to swing-

Only to blink rapidly in surprise when he found his clubbing arm halted. Something was grabbing it and holding it still. "The fuck-" He looked down and saw another small kitsune, this one with nine tails, wearing a kimono with blonde hair and green eyes looking at him. At the same time, he didn't notice one of her tails reaching behind the hand holding Nanabi. A frown on her face was the only indication of any feelings on her seemingly stoic face. Before he could react, she poked him between his ribs.

By the time Wyald realized what was happening, Tamamo had sent him flying backwards through a house twenty feet away.

As he slammed through the rubble, yelling out in surprise, Tamamo gently set Nanabi down. She patted the young kitsune on the head. As the young girl tilted her head, a bigger seven tail with a body similar to Nanabi's ran forwards. "Nanabi, thank the first!" She cried out as she held her daughter to her chest.

Tamamo couldn't help but let out a small smile before she turned back towards Wyald. A grim frown settled on her face.

Wyald's bear belt helmet had fallen off, revealing his messy head of black hair. "I'm gonna fucking skin you alive!'' He screamed, blood and spittle flying from his lips, his cheerfulness gone as he began to lift his club out of the rubble. Behind her, several villagers had pulled out pitchforks and other assorted farm tools. Her mere presence seemed to change the mood from despair to hope. "Might Fox! Let us help you!" they shouted. "Nya!" a grey haired neko exclaimed as she held up a battle axe. "Don't get involved, I will do this." She responded, yet she couldn't help but feel pride in how quickly they were willing to fight. "Please-" One of them said, but Tamamo put her foot down. Cracks appeared in the Earth around her. "I don't want anyone getting hurt. Stay out of this!" She spoke, this time more harshly. Suddenly, the people gasped as Wyald ran forwards, screaming and roaring as he held his club in both hands.

Tamamo stood, her back turned.

Roaring with rage, Wyald brought his club down onto Tamamo's skull with all of his strength.

His eyes widened as his entire club shattered into bits on her forehead.

Tamamo stood there, her eyes hidden under her hair. A single drop of water, so small it might as well have been invisible, fell from her forehead, and that was all. She cracked her neck.

"My turn."

Thrusting her head forwards, Tamamo head-butted Wyald right in his chest. He yelled out in pain as the middle part of his chest armor shattered, and he flew through the air, going past the tree's where he had busted into Yamatai.

Bracing herself on her knee, Tamamo jumped after him.

XXX

On the green grass outside of Yamatai, Wyald groaned, spitting up blood as Tamamo slowly walked towards him. He wobbled around like a drunkard. This wasn't supposed to happen. He was strong, nothing could stop him.

Rain began to fall from the sky, drenching them.

Wyald thrust his head back, howling as steam burst from his mouth. He ran forwards on his knuckles like an ape, mindless with rage as his hand curled up in a fist. He sent a punch flying at Tamamo.

She simply held up her palm, letting it connect. She grabbed his hand and squeezed.

SNAP

Wyald drew his fist back, screaming in pain as the bloodied, bent fingers on his right hand jutted out uselessly.

Tamamo ignored his cries as a single tail shot forwards, slamming into Wyald's chest and body like a cannon, annihilating his armor.

The rest smacked against his chest and head, flesh crunching skin splitting like a jigsaw puzzle.

She finally relented, and Wyald weakly fell forwards, blood spilling from his jaw and across his body. Suddenly, he jumped forwards, roaring. Wyald tried to slam his arms into the side of her head.

Two tails shot upwards, destroying the furry gauntlets on his arms. Another tail snaked around his neck. He gagged as she tightened her grip and knocked him down into the mud. Snarling, he bit down on her tail.

If Tamamo was hurt, she didn't show it.

With a loud yell and a flash of lightning, Tamamo let her anger be known.

Her tail flung Wyald into a nearby tree, knocking it right down with a tremendous blast of noise. Wyald coughed, puking up blood and chunks of meat as he got to his knees. Grimacing, he pulled a chunk of sharp wood out of his back.

He stumbled towards her, raising the tree chunk like a dagger as he panted, not able to roar at this rate.

Tamamo dodged to the side, and a tail shot out, tripping him, and at the same time another tail slammed into his back. Wyald gasped out in pain as he slid through the mud. Steam rose from his wounds.

He could just turn into his apostle form, but-

By doing that, he was admitting that she was stronger than him.

He remembered being humiliated by a swordsman.

"Wow, Tamamo really is the coolest!" An excited voice said.

Wyald and Tamamo immediately turned around and saw Nanabi standing behind a tree. "Kick his butt, Tamamo!'' She excitedly shouted as she punched the air.

Wyald let a grin loose at Tamamo's horrified face. "That's my way out of here." He immediately began to drag himself forwards with all his might. He ran forwards on all four of his limbs, grunting as blood trailed down his mouth.

A yellow tail grabbed his leg. He was flung backwards onto the ground. He tried to pull himself up, but her foot slammed down onto his chest as the rain began to pour down furiously. "Go!" Tamamo said as her tails began to coil around Wyald, referring to Nanabi. The young kitsune blinked. "But-"

"NOW!" Tamamo yelled. Nodding in surprise, Nanabi turned and ran. Tamamo looked down at Wyald, who struggled and roared under her foot. Drawing back, wet in the rain, Tamamo punched Wyald right in his head.

THUNK

His head was knocked to the side, and he gurgled out in pain as a tooth was sent flying from his upper jaw.

Wyald's body rolled to the side, stained with mud and blood, he coughed, teeth and flesh spilling from his mouth His left eye hung uselessly.

A fang had been embedded in Tamamo's hand. With a flex, she shattered it.

Tamamo let out an angry growl as her tails grabbed Wyald's legs and lifted him over her head.

It had been a long, long, time since she had hated anyone so much.

Running forwards, she flung him down onto the stump of the fallen tree. A brutal crunch rang out as the stump shattered under his weight. He rolled off, groaning as his wounds began to take their toll.

Walking away from him, she grabbed the fallen tree and lifted it up with her hands and tail. Wyald walked backwards, hunched over weakly.

" no..nuh.." He weakly moaned as he stumbled about, trying in vain to walk away.

"You think your some kind of ultra badass because you murdered some innocent villagers? Honestly, I don't know where you came from and what you are, and I don't care. The second you met someone who could actually fight back, you fell like a pack of cards. And you instantly run for a hostage because your afraid of dying, aren't you? Doesn't that scare you? You're not just some schoolyard bully who never grew up," She hefted the tree in the air, positioning it like a baseball player about to swing. Her tails snaked around it, ripping off branches.

''You murder and kill because you think it somehow makes you the bigger man, because you're showing that you're not afraid of death. Specifically, you want to believe that you can make yourself less afraid of dying by inflicting it on others." ...Right?"

Wyald's eyes reignited with a familiar rage. "Kil...ou..." He growled as he weakly limped forwards, stumbling with his undamaged claw outstretched. "no...weak..i..win..do...this...tak..you...ta...hell...wit..me"

"If I see you in Hell,"

...Run." She reared back fully, a furious expression on her face, and in that moment, Wyald didn't feel that he was looking at Tamamo.

For one brief moment, Wyald found himself staring at Nosferatu Zodd.

Once again, Wyald felt fear.

Thunder struck behind them.

She swung the tree right at him point blank.

It took less than a second.

Wyald was there one moment, and then he wasn't.

In the distant snow covered mountains, Tamamo saw an explosion of snow as something fell from the sky, and a rough impact echoed in her ears.

Dropping the shattered tree to ground, she walked away, uncaring of how soaked or dirty she was.

Her people needed her.

Whatever that thing was, he likely died on impact.

Had to.

XXX

Inside a bedroom, an old man coughed.

It was his last day.

He had lived a long life. Raised a family. Lived beyond the age of 30, which was already quite the achievement for a peasant farmer.

Now, after all these years, his lifespan was finally nearing it's end.

He had his regrets, of course.

He coughed, blood spilling out. At least he wasn't alone. Near his bed, a young boy with long black hair sat next to him. He looked on sympathetically before raising a pail of water to the old man's lips. The man drank, and when he coughed again, it only came out as little sputter. He thanked the boy, who nodded before going out to fetch some more water. The old man was left with his thoughts.

Now he knew his regrets. Nothing major happened to him. He wasn't attacked by a bear. Bandits never pillaged his farm. He wasn't drafted into the army to fight in the war. He had lived a peaceful, uneventful life.

And that was exactly what he hated.

He never had any excitement in his life.

All he wished for was to have done something with his time. Instead, he stayed on the farm, doing the same task's for countless years, never seizing an opportunity to do something truly special.

And what did all these years lead to? Him dying in this bed, waiting to rejoin his wife who had passed away years ago? His only son had run off to join the army when he was eighteen. Years later, some guy that looked important dropped off the boy at this house.

Told the old man that his son died in battle. Apparently, the boy was his grandson. His own son instructed that he be dropped off to the old man in the event of his death.

Well, it wasn't like he had anything better to do. An extra hand around the house was nice.

Now, he just wished for it to end, as he regretted and reviewed his life. He could've joined his boy on the battlefield an lived a life of excitement.

Instead of spending all his time at the farm, he could've gone to the bar more.

Instead of that one time where he met the woman who became his wife, he could've made more friends.

He could've learned from them how to live a life of enjoyment.

He felt a pounding noise come from his heart, and then the world began to fade to black slowly.

Not long now.

He let out one final cough, sending a trickle of blood down the side of his bed next to him.

Underneath his bed, something brown and egg shaped rolled from under it. His blood fell on it as his eyes began to close.

"...Grandpa?"

Then, the world exploded into white light.

"Say the words, and we shall grant you a body that will know true power. You shall know no sickness, and the toils of time will not harm you. You will be stronger, faster, just say it!"

I...

I SACRIFICE

XXX

Days Later

The sun rose over the mountains, heralding the morning rise as a large white crater lay in the ground, snow softly filling it.

Suddenly, a large muscley hand punched it's way through the snow.

Something large and bloody began to rise, shaking off the frost.

"No..." Wyald growled as he pulled himself out. He crawled forwards, holding onto his injured hand.

"I'll never be weak like that again...I'll never die slowly again...I won't ever hesitate again..."

Steam shrouded his body as it began the slow process of healing itself. It wasn't as good as Zodd's, but it would get the job done.

"Have to be careful...can't rush next time...I'm still not the strongest, but what do I do...?"

Wyald paused, hunched in the snow. He had an idea. An awful, horrible idea.

Then he grinned. Then he laughed. Soon, full on psychotic mania set in as he laughed and shook nonstop, steam bursting from the scars on his body.

"I know just what to do..."

Wyald slowly crawled forwards, still laughing despite his earlier humiliation.

''Now...how did that fat bastard do it?"

-END

XXX

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed seeing Wyald finally get his ass kicked. If anyone feels that I went too far, let me know.

Next chapter will once again feature Alma and Granberia. Additionally, we get to see some aftermath of the Yamatai attack.

Trivia: Tamamo's "fight" with Wyald was based off of Frank Castle's beat down of Jigsaw in Punisher: War Zone.

The title is a reference to a chapter of Berserk, ''The Black Swordsman, Once More."

Any reviews or feedback are much appreciated.