Ch 25

Notes: I like using 'Jack o' blades' rather than 'Jack of blades', I dun no sounds a bit better to me, if it annoys you just say so and I'll fix it k?

The skies didn't seem so dark anymore after a whole village waves you off.

"Ah yes, the sunny skies, the birds chirping the…" I stared down, watching as Bill tugged down on his hat. Ever since Bill awoke after I carried him pretty far back to the village, his whole appearance changed somewhat. He grew a more feral look, especially with those yellow eyes of his that seemed to glow when he was annoyed or angered, not only that, his nails were sharper, his ears where a bit longer and thinner, like a wolf's, and his skin, it was pretty thick if you ask me. There was probably more but, I rather not see Bill naked so well I observed what I could.

"Gah," I watched as Bill made a noise as he covered his ears again, one eye open while his other closed as if it was too bright, "I can hear everything, when will I get used to this?" he said a bit annoyed as one of the fangs from his teeth stuck out from his lips which made him look a bit wolfish.

"Well, you would have thought good hearing would be a plus…"I scratched my head as I heard a low growl come from my balverine friend here.

"Dang David can you be serious," he replied while sighing before seemingly closing his eyes and concentrating on his body.

I chuckled as he asked me, "where are we going anyways, wasn't there a Cullis gate near the village?"

"Yeah," I nodded while we continued walking down a familiar path, passing by the temple of Avo, "come on Balv Bill, don't you want to go site seeing?"

"I said not to call me that," I could have sworn I heard another growl as he replied, "I have had enough of this place," he lifted up his arm, staring at the bracelet I had given him, "where are we going anyways?"

I watched as he stared at the bracelet I had given him. In every human life there will always be a form of will power flowing inside their body, that bracelet channels that willpower that allows almost anyone to use it. Since Billy came into contact with dark will powers, his original will in his body must have increased, which is a good thing if he wanted to summon stronger trolls.

"Well remember we passed by a demon door along the way?" I asked him as he seemed to have remembered.

"So we are checking it out?" he asked as I nodded in response.

"I don't remember any reports on a demon door back in the old days but my armies never did make it past the shores so," I shrugged, I was just curious really since well, a lot of good things are guarded by those doors, that was how I had found a few of my weapons back then.



The mountainous terrain became a lot easier a few times around. The pathway only showed the way, it didn't really allow things like wagons or stalls to easily travel through, which makes supplies hard to obtain around this area.

"Hey David I have a question for you," Billy asked as I slightly turned my head down, glancing at him curiously as he stared up at me.

"It's been only a few months since you've left the Death Lord business," I nodded serious as he asked me, "are you sure there isn't anyone else out there under your old command?"

I glanced at him, my mind pondering. My mind was a bit hazy in the past; my knowledge on my old army is to a point, I only remember things that stuck out, a few spells, research, and some noticeable conquest that I rather not try to remember.

'…As your orders my Lord, I will await your return…'

My eye brows shot up surprised at a familiar voice, I just couldn't seem to place a face to it. Whatever or whoever that was, I had a feeling he must have been important, 'oh well, I am pretty sure it's nothing to worry about,' I hoped.

"I am sure my whole army was with me when I destroyed them," I spoke as we passed by those four pillar stones, nearing our target, "I ordered them all to stand down and return to camp until I instruct otherwise, why?"

He flashed the bracelet in front of me again before a serious look crossed his face, "even if you aren't in control, your weapons make foes a lot harder to beat down," he stared up at me, watching as I nodded, already seeing a pattern, "your old lieutenants, if any are alive and they get a hand on your weapons and they actually know how to fully use them, I wonder how much more bloodshed will spread until someone stops them."

Our foots stopped in front of the demon door, my lips already replying, "Yeah, I know," we watched as the eyes on the old face of the door opened and its stony lips moved to speak.

"I will not open unless you know my true name," we watched its eyes look off into the distance, towards the four stone pillars, "letters in stones, will you find my name?" the stone eyes gazed upon us before finally closing.

"Hmm," my hand rubbed at my chin as I stared off into the distance, towards the four pillars, "So those four pillars will help us figure out this doors name," I turned my gaze to Bill, watching as his eyes curiously stared upon the pillars, "Bill," he looked up at me as I felt a smirk appear on my face, "I'll leave it to you."

"What?"His voice almost yelled out to me, almost. I took a seat near the pond across the demon door.



"You ever solve a demon door?" I asked him, watching as he shook his head, "I've solve many in my time, now it's yours," I smiled as him as Bill seemingly quirked his lips, "come on, take it as a learning experience."

"Ch," Bill started walking off towards the stone, his eyes rolling as I heard him mutter the word, 'lazy,' before finally leaving me to my thoughts.

Weapons, items of power, dark magic, and my name, the Deathbringer, it seems I have to fix my past mistakes, even the weapons I leave behind. Then my thoughts led me to Jack o Blades, when I was in command it seemed my old idol was quiet, he didn't make a move to aide or hinder me, he just watched and waited. Did he know I was still alive, or that I am really David? Do I have the power to defeat him now? I wonder.

..You seal up the power to fight Jack O Blades…

I watched as a shadow appeared in front of me, chains protruding from the dark flames from the floor, keeping it to its knees.

"And here I thought I was finally free from you," I sighed before staring at a darker figure of myself.

It didn't seem to struggle, just continued to stare at me while the cowl hid its face.

"What will it take for me to finally be rid of you," I asked hopelessly, watching and pretty much wishing I would know the answer to.

'You know as I do that we cannot part from one another,' his voice sounded irritated as well, 'I am forever a part of yo…'

"Yes, yes, me," I interrupted before standing up. I knew this all already and so did it; we are from the same soul are we not. "But," I pondered, my eyes calculating. I had thought on this for a while, "tell me then 'evil me'."

'Evil?' It chuckled, interrupting me, 'human beings will always have evil within them, I do not represent evil, I am power,' I knew its eyes were narrowing at me, intensely narrowing at me especially with the way the shadows around it shot out and sucked in dark energy, 'the power you sealed away.'

I quirked my lips, yes I can agree to that statement to a point, "ok really evil me," I knew it rolled its eyes as I continued, "I have been having this theory for the past months, but, if you really are a part of me then," my eyes stared intently, seeing how it would react to my idea, "when I change, will you also change as well?"

I watched it, staring as the most visible of flinches appeared. It stayed quiet and I knew I was on to something as it answered.

'What a foolish idea,' it seemed distracted, something I couldn't describe before I heard a voice.



"David I found the stupid name already."

I glanced to the path on my left, spotting Billy walking up. It seemed his armor had a claw mark on it and there were also a few blots of dark blood on his clothes.

I stared back at the spot of my shadow, seeing as nothing was there before standing up and asking, "What happened to you?"

He looked at me in annoyance before explaining, "There seems to be a defense mechanism with the stones, you guess the name wrong, it summons a balverine to attack you."

I whistled, raising one brow before asking again, "so, how many times did you get it wrong?"

Bill turned away before facing the door, he replied, "I can tell you what is not his name, and still get attacked as if I had gotten it wrong twice, now can we please just get this over with?"

I chuckled at the impatience in his voice; he seems like he doesn't really like this place, "alright then Bill, would you do the honor?"

Bill briefly glanced at me before staring down at the demon stone, "it should already be open but," I watched as Bill slammed a fist as if knocking at the stone door, "open up S#&t face."

I blanched at the name before the door opened its eyes in irritation. It seemed to be glaring at Bill, "that is not my name," it sighed, speaking in a defeated tone, "but I will open as you have already solved my name," it said in annoyance as Billy seemed to be grinning his feral grin, "and to think, all this time I knew some brain dead twit would even think of a name like that."

"Hey!" Billy barked back before it opened a path, leading to a dark cavern.

Bill, still a bit annoyed at the doors last remark, waited for me to enter.

"Now calm down Bill, it's just a door," I chuckled as he nearly growled at me before turning my gaze to the path ahead, "so, wonder what's inside here?"