Annnnd here we go! Oh and, you guys are probably going to hate me for the ending of the chapter...
Ch. 10
The runes started glowing brighter as the circle expanded. It moved on the ground, under the Horsemen, all the way to the edge of the arena. Once there, the runes turned black, as fire started rising from it. It climbed higher and higher, until it was high above the balcony. Once there, it started spreading towards the other sides and a barrier was created.
The two brothers stared in shock as they were trapped. When it was complete, Strife grabbed Redemption and shot at the fire, only to have the bullet swallowed by the flames and shot back, missing his head by an inch.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Death yelled and glared at the Demon. He and the other two were outside the barrier.
"Is it not obvious? This is your task," the master's laughter filled the whole arena as Ari and Victor started, stunned.
"I shall finally pay you back, Pale rider! For all the suffering you have caused me!" the laughter stopped as his black eyes looked down upon the two, showing his excitement and craziness.
"What are you saying? To hell with the reason! Why am I here?" Strife shouted.
"Oh, worry not Strife. You have a very important role to play," no matter how hard he tried the Demon couldn't stop smirking.
"Care to enlighten us?" both Nephilim frowned.
"Why, how kind of you to ask… Death, you probably don't remember that night, but it haunts me still. The day you took everything from me!" his expression suddenly changed into hatred and anger.
"You will have to be more specific," the Reaper was calm on the outside, but on the inside was a different story.
"129 years ago, you raided a village of Demons on the order of your Council. You killed everyone in you path, as such was your mission. That included my younger brother! He, who was hiding away, yet you sought him out!"
"I only followed my order! I sought no one out! If they hid, I did not bother to kill them. Your brother must have been outside at the time!"
"Liar!" the scream made the gunner groan as he covered his ears. "But… that is over… Today I avenge him," Tynan seemed to have calmed down, as his smirk returned.
"Today, you pay for what you did."
"If you expect me to fight my own-" Death was speaking through gritted teeth until he was cut off.
"I expect you to kill him! And I am not giving you a choice in the matter," as he spoke, some of the fire runes turned white and plunged from the barrier and flew at the Horsemen. They tried to evade, but the runes followed them, until they reached the two and, as chains, wrapped around their ankles.
The younger let out a short scream, as the runes burned his leg, while the elder one winced. Both got on one knee and looked at the rune chains, before looking at the master.
"Do not worry. The rune chain won't restrain your movement or power. It has a very different purpose. The longer the fight lasts, the closer each one of you is to death. The more damage you suffer, the quicker the runes will kill you."
"Then the battle is pointless! One dies either way!"
"I never said that… If one of you is killed by the other, then the winner is free. And as I promised, he shall be granted his deepest desire."
"And if none of us wants to fight? The runes have no effect if we don't take any hits," the gun user had a feeling he didn't want that answered.
"So glad you asked… If you refuse to fight, I shall kill the other two, slowly, painfully, in every way I know." The two growled as their eyes were practically glowing with anger.
"You should hurry; I have something special in mind for the one that is defeated."
"What more do you want?!" the Reaper yelled. For the first time in a long time, he felt regret. He blamed himself for this.
"He's gonna resurrect the loser," Strife clenched his fist.
His brother looked at him, confused, while Tynan gritted his teeth and glared at the Nephilim.
"What do you mean?"
"He's like you. A necromancer and a psychic," the gunner turned to look at his sibling and then glance at the Demon for the side.
"How does a brat like you know that?" Strife could hear his teeth grit as he smirked under his helmet.
"I saw your lil study room. Read a few notes. I know all about it. About the Test-" he was interrupted by the master yelling: "How dare you!"
"Master… what is he talking about?" Victor asked, gulping and gathering the courage.
"You should not listen to him. All he speaks are lies."
"Actually, you are one of the few people that odda listen, Vic!" the White rider called, which only made the Demon angrier.
"The alchemist that experimented with you? They were under his orders!" he pointed at Tynan, as the chimera's breath got caught in his chest.
"N-No… it's not true…"
"I have the proof here!" he took out the scroll and looked at Ari. "Even you," he stared at her, as her eyes opened wide.
"He was the one that told the Angels you let a family go. Just 'casue he wanted your power! That's all you guys are to him. Test subjects! How do you think he even found you guys?"
The female took a step back, horror in her eyes as she turned her head towards Tynan, who was shaking with anger.
"You and I both know he can't give you what you want," that was what Death told her in the cell. And now she truly knew he was right.
"DAMN YOU!" the whole arena started shaking, as a black aura surrounded Tynan. Cracks appeared on the roof, as some chunks of stone started falling. The barrier consumed them all, and shot them back, destroying it even more.
"I will have my revenge!" the door behind him, Victor and Ari slammed close as his eyes glowed a dark blue and stared at Death.
"Kill him!" he ordered as the Reaper's own started switching between his normal yellow or a dark blue.
"D-Damn –Y-You!" he managed to speak as he turned towards Strife every time his eyes were blue.
"You have no choice! Obey me!" he pressed so hard, until the Demon found himself inside the Pale riders mind.
"W-What is this place?" his voice echoed in the darkness.
"So you are the one," a voice, one he has never heard spoke, as a figure appeared before him.
"This one is mine to break. I won't have anyone interfering!" the figure laughed as it raised a large scythe, before slashing Tynan and banishing him from the void. (1)
Without a sound, the Demon collapsed and with him, the barrier broke.
Death screamed and grabbed his head and feel to his knees. Strife took a step beck, shaking slightly as he looked at his brother.
"No… not this… Please anything but him! Fight him! By the Creator, don't let that thing take over again!" he yelled. (1-2)
The elder brother's eyes glowed yellow, as his screams stopped and he started taking deep breaths. A few moments later, he started laughing slightly, and then more and more, until he threw his head back and laughed like he was crazy.
Standing up, he took a deep breath before looking up at the balcony. Tynan had collapsed as drool dripped from his half open mouth.
"Feels good to be back," 'Death' said before turning to face a horrified Strife.
"I remember you. The little brat that forced me back. I'll get to you, when I deal whit them," his eyes glowed brighter, as the gunner saw a flash of sadism in his eyes, before 'Death' jumped in the air and brought Harvesters out, aiming for Air, who was frozen by fear. She wanted to move, but couldn't, as her body was numb.
A second later, blood was flying in the air; her eyes opened even wider and couldn't breathe. All she could do was look; as the red liquid spilled on the ground someone hit the wall.
As the blood flew, something pushed the Reaper off the balcony and down to the arena.
Yes, a hanger! And you'll hang for two more chapters... Normally don't do this, but felt like I should at least try...
(1) If you read Before you know who that is. If you don't, here's a short review: Death's Chaos from- I made it an actually being, one that wants nothing more than to kill everyone and everything. Last time, Death lost it during the Nephilim war and Strife managed to beat him.