Face off. Shibusen's fight for survival.

Shibusen Graveyard

Sakuya looked up worried into the face of her panting partner. She'd been running all night, she was drenched in sweat and covered in several bruises from ambushes they had fought off single handedly. At this rate, she was sure to collapse.

"Okay. Wait, you need to rest." Sakuya retook human form and grabbed Allison's arm to halt her. "I don't think the Buster will appreciate me letting you run yourself to death." She firmly grasped her arguing friend about the shoulders and gently pushed her against a nearby tree. "Rest here. If he is around I should be able to find him alone.

Allison's only rebuttle was a tired nod of her head as she panted herself to sleep.

Sakuya smiled and moved aside a stray strand of hair from Allison's sleeping face. "I hope he appreciates how much you care about him." Her friend sound asleep; Sakuya ran off deeper into the cemetery , unaware of the formless shapes slithering about in the shadows.

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"What did this?" Rosa asked aloud. Daniel turned away disgusted in spite of himself. Before him, strewn about the deserted street, were the mutilated remains of student and civilian alike. Each corpse was covered in deep gashes, most likely caused by the claws of some great beast. Many of them seemed to be missing limbs.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Fauna said, covering her mouth against the vomit.

"We need to be prepared, Daniel-kun, I suggest we begin forging here." Hana tried to sound like the voice of focus despite her own disturbance at the sight.

"Agreed." Daniel pulled Fauna from her scabbard and set her into the ground beside him. He did the same with Rosa and finally took to a knee with Hana laid out in his hands before him.

"Beginning Soul Forging." The cobalt blue orb flared up around him as Fauna and Rosa became streams of energy and flowed into Hana. The process was beginning as Hana's normally red shaft became pale silver and her normal naginata blade became the spade-like tip of a spear.

This process would require Leon's undivided attention and thus would leave him very vulnerable. Especially with a hunting creature about.

Snarl!

It landed atop Leon. Biting, clawing, tearing using every weapon its gruesome body had its disposal. The frenzy continued for several more moments until the creature noticed how cold its prey had already become. Readjusting its position it realized that it had just pounced upon an already mangled corpse.

"Looking for me." Leon called nonchalantly as he tapped Quick Silver against the beast's shoulder. It was his spears speed boost ability that allowed him to dodge the unexpected backhand. Daniel swore he heard bones break in the monsters arm as it immediately popped back into place from its impossible position. The creature turned fully around to face its newest foe.

It was new type of Chimera. It stood at least six and a half feet. Its face was a disgusting mix of teeth and eyes, with a pair of razor sharp mandibles and a lolling tongue wiping the blood from its gore covered teeth. Its seven eyes were arranged in a hexagonal pattern with a one more in the center. Dread lock styled hair hung from its monstrous head. Its trunk like arms were covered in a bone like exo-skeleton, with each hand ending in seven digit fingers, each equipped with blood covered hook claws. His legs were much shorter than his arms, giving him the gait of a knuckle walking ape. Its body was covered in blood red, vein-like lines that ran half-hazard across his body and down his legs.

"Now I'm going to be sick." Rosa wretched at the sight of their hideous foe.

"A heinous form for a heinous crime." Daniel said as he pointed his spear ahead in challenge. "Now, face death at the hands of my beautiful blades." The cobalt soul with a red mane flared up around him once more as he charged at the chimera with blinding speed.

The creature seemed to grin as Quick Silver's tip came in straight for his eyes. In a split second, a loud popping sound could be heard as the creature neck seemed to snap it self, causing the creature's head to hang at angle, an angle Leon unfortunately couldn't hit.

Daniel watched wide eyed as the creature's seemingly limp head seemed to curve around and grasp Quick Silver's handle in its powerful jaws. With a deft twist of its neck it flung the red haired meister and his weapon against a far wall.

It tool Daniel some time to get back to his feet, luckily his chimera opponent seemed busy readjusting its head back into place. It was then that Danny heard the whimpering.

In a nearby alley, a small child knelt beside a prone corpse, tears streamed from her eyes as she desperately tried to awaken her father who would never awaken again. Daniel turned back to his foe, it didn't seem like it noticed her yet. He had to draw it away.

Now, in Daniel's mind, these chimerae were the same as animals, like hunting dogs, as long as one person has their attention they won't focus on another.

"Hey! You ugly spawn of an insect and an ape!" That seemed to get its attention. "You think your little tricks are enough to put me down. I am the noble lion of Shibusen, Daniel Leon!" He started tapping Quick Silver against the ground, for an added touch as the Chimera slowly knuckle walked toward him, its mandibles clacking curiously. Soon they were walking past the alley where the child continued to sob. 'Just a little more.' He thought hopefully. "C'mon kill me I'm right here."

"In time little cub, in time." Daniel froze shocked when the creature spoke. Its voice had a deep tone that seemed to possess both articulation and menace. Before Daniel could respond, the chimera wrapped its powerful hand around a nearby lamppost and ripped the spear like object free from the ground. Daniel readied him self, preparing to dodge when the creature would inevitably throw the projectile. To his shock, the creature pivoted on its spine and loosed the spear down the alley. Daniel stood rooted in place as the whimpering suddenly ended. No other sound followed, no cry of shock, no panicked pants that implied that the child was alive and now running for safety, just silence.

"You-you…" Daniel couldn't get the words out.

"Bastard? Son of a bitch? Beast?" The monster laughed at his stunned expression. "Chimera Peccatum, at your service."

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"Remind me again. Why aren't we using the Death Rails?" Phoenix complained for what felt like the umpteenth time. Xeal and Phoenix were among one of several groups of Shibusen students leading civilians out of the city. The trek so far seemed to take them several hours, a time that could have been halved if they had taken the trains, however:

"The trains would have made to much noise, thus alerting the enemy to our actions." Xeal spoke matter of factly.

"Hey quiet back there you two!" A two star mesiter who led their group growled back to them as he held up his hand for halt. He seemed to peer into the darkness cautiously. He readied his scimitar weapon partner. "Send all the civies back down the tunnels." He commanded. Xeal looked back noticing that their leader seemed to be staying behind.

"Don't sweat it bro., this guy's a two-star. He can handle himself." Phoenix reassured as Xeal followed the others down the tunnel.

They had gone only several yards when he heard it.

Buzz. Buzz.

Xeal skidded to a halt, confusing one of his companions who ran behind him. "Hey what's wrong?"

"I have to go back." He muttered further confusing his peer.

"Hey! Wait!" Xeal rushed past him as he sprinted back down the tunnel.

His eyes fell on the sight he expected.

The two-star desperately chopped at the tendrils that flailed around him. The black, feature less giant seemed unaffected as another one of its tendrils was cut down. More flared out from the giant's bulk to replace it. The two-star continued to chop away at them despite how exhausted he seemed. The giant seemed to quickly tire of this unending defensive and pulled the tendrils back into it self. It then lifted its trunk like arms and swung downward. Xeal decided it was time to act.

He split Phoenix into dual katana mode and quickly crossed both weapons above his head, catching the colossal arm before it could squish his senior. The two-star stared shocked as Xeal struggled to hold up the heavy attack.

"I thought I told you to take the civilians back down the tunnel."

"Sorry sir, but this isn't an enemy you can beat." To prove his point he slowly began his chant causing Phoenix's blades to glow bright gold. He could feel his foe ease away from him, he took this chance to slash upward, cutting the hand away from the wrist and shatter into a pile of dead black flies.

The two-star looked on stunned. "Are you-?"

"Don't ask questions just run!" Phoenix commanded. The senior nodded and retreated back down the tunnel to join the others. "You do realize the cats out of the bag now." Phoenix commented.

"He'd just get in the way anyway. Besides you knew it would come to this." Xeal knew he had to be the one to face Beltza. Only he could save the Black Death from himself.

Phoenix sighed. "What is with you hybrids and thinking you have a duty to take on everything alone?"

"Well I'm not alone now am I?" Xeal grinned turning to face the recovering Bios.

"Got that right. Let's cure this clown!"

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"Hello…" He called, trying to warm himself against the chill. Weird, he never had any problems with cold before. The last thing he remembered was Malus coming at him with his sword and then… nothing. Now Gabriel found himself alone in a never ending corridor of frozen glass. His reflection looked back at him from all sides.

"Where the hell I am?" He demanded aloud as if someone would answer.

Suddenly, the mirrors all around him shimmered, he went on the defensive expecting some kind of ambush. His arms went down though, and his eye's widened in horror as he peered into the first mirror.

"Thomas!" His mentor's mutilated corpse fell through the untarnished glass into his arms. His eyes looked lifelessly onward, his body was full of puncture wounds. Gabe looked at the blood now staining his hands.

"It's your fault you know." Gabe's head jerked up in search of the familiarly icy voice. "This is what comes of turning your back on destiny." More corpses fell from their icy tombs. Gabe watched in horror as the bodies of his friends in Diablon, his teachers, his friends from the orphanage, many of his loved ones clattered to the ground baring similar and even worse wounds than Thomas.

And then they stepped from the shadows. His twisted brother carrying Gabriel's most important person by the throat.

"Gabriel." Allison called to him weakly as Malus chuckled at his dismay.

"A fine woman." Malus said suggestively, running a white finger down her chin.

"Put her down!" Gabriel snarled as he set Thomas aside and glared at his half brother furiously." Malus only sneered as white mist swirled around his hand. "Don't do it Malus!"

"Gabri-!" In powerful blast of artic wind, she was silenced. Gabriel froze in horror at the sight of her body covered in ice, her face trapped in an eternal plea for help.

"Keep the bitch then." Malus laughed as he tossed Allison into Gabriel's arms.

He looked down at the person who lay in his arms dead. Never again to feel the warmth of day. To laugh along with all of their friends. To never call his name again.

"Aaugh….auhgh!" The fury boiled in his heart, threatening to turn his blood to acid in his veins. His wings flared out sending out a wave of all encompassing volcanic wind.

"MALUS!"

The ice shattered around him, the corpses burned away into ash and even Malus burned away with a sneer still on his face.

It all burned away. Except him and what remained of his beloved.

"Such an easily agitated child." Gabe's hunting gaze lurched left and right. Searching for whoever remained to mock his pain. He then felt the steering in his arms. He looked down in shock as Allison lifted her head to meet his.

"Very good my little devil." Her eyes were a bright purple with a yellow iris.

Gabe blinked in shock as the image of Allison disappeared and the vast emptiness that was the icy corridor became the familiar volcano like pit of fire he recognized.

"We won't be disturbed this time." The ancient voice called up to him from the firey pit.

"Dammit, I can't believe I fell for your tricks." Gabe growled back down, his horror completely vanished, for it was all a dream created by his cruel tenant.

The lava filling the bottom of the pit began to bubble as something beneath disturbed its surface. It suddenly shot skyward. Sitting upon the lava plume as if it were a chair, sat a red demon, with purple eyes.

"Surtur."

Sorry I'm late guy's, I've been sick. And I know its another build up chapter but their necessary.

Next time: We'll be focusing on these three confrontations. Can Danny best the greatest of Plaguea's chimerae. Will Xeal be able to hold up against the brainwashed Beltza. And what will come of this meeting between Gabriel and Surtur. Find out next time.

Thankyou A.D. Aldous Dragon for your Oc Peccatum.

I'd also like to mention before anyone asks, its not the same demon Soul had, I'll give the full description next time.

Please review

I do not own Soul Eater.