Soul Cradle, The Nomad's Path
Chapter 1- Where am I
A red haired swordswoman stood before her allies as they faced the gods of another world that saw fit to syphon off their world's souls. Each time she got up and fought the rulers of this foreign world the more of blood would fall from her and her allies and yet still it was not enough. The swordswoman's allies were dropping like flies, she felt their connection with her getting severed with each new attack. Desperation, that was the word for this situation. Her town elder sent her and her friend on a journey to save the world by purging it of three other worldly titans known as "World Eaters" but to ensure their success the elder had bound the spirit of Death personified to the swordswoman's very soul.
Through numerous battles and revelations, one being the fact that she was reincarnated daughter of the warrior king that had at one time unified every nation and even managed to slay a god of death and not to mention that she herself was a "World Eater", a being who grew stronger by being able to devour souls. Each encounter she survived made her grow in strength. Unfortunately that still wasn't enough as the woman stood defiantly with her two-handed sword poised, ready to attack at a moment's notice. They, the defenders of their own world, were on their last legs and their opponents knew it. Seeing how she little chance of surviving this final battle she decided to at least attempt to save the last of her comrades.
"Gig," the woman called to the soul bound to her.
"What the hell do you want kid?" The disembodied voice responded in irritation.
"... It's time," the swordswoman stated while gripping her onyx sword even tighter.
Her childhood friend/rival was stunned however that only lasted a moment when fury took its place. "No! I forbid it! Lady Layna would not allow that! She sent me to protect you!"
The woman smiled. This was possibly the first time she actually smiled at her friend which caught her off guard. "Its fine. After all she bound Gig to my soul. She knew this might happen." She then turned her attention toward the monstrosity that was the gods of the realm. Her face shifted to a look of determination, "do it."
"... Just so you know when I take over there is no going back." Gig stated as if he wasn't concerned.
"I'm aware."
"heh heh heh, ok then. Maybe the reaper will let you sit back and watch as I take care of these wannabe gods!" Gig said with mad glee. The woman's friend sadly released the final seal that kept her soul and the god of death from fully merging. A jolt, no that term failed to convey what she felt. Power, absolute and divine power flooded over her soul, as the two were finally one. However that power was pushing her soul out and physically changing her body to be what Gig used to look like. Before her vision faded she heard his voice one last time. "Kid, no matter what happens we are soulmates. I ain't leaving ya behind so don't be getting lost before I come back. Besides we have to eat all of the world's hot pods!"
She slipped away with a smirk. 'With as much power as he has, and the fact he nearly conquered the world he certainly has an unhealthy obsession with food.' With that last thought she sank into darkness.
**Sometime Later**
She woke up in a field in a strange robe with people staring at her. She could hear them whispering something in a language she didn't understand. The woman got up and clutched the thin robe close to her body as she could. Deciding to try find out exactly where in Mesphisto she was. She had only taken a few steps before a sudden realization hit her.
"I don't know who I am," she muttered as her legs gave out. Her memories, her comrades, everything... "it's all gone." Before she even could deal with the fact that she was alone, homeless, and was unable to understand what anyone was saying she heard a scream not too far away from her present location. Her inner turmoil could wait as she ran towards the area where the cry came from. The woman saw two men in black robes swaggering with swords at their side through the rural community of poorly built huts. At their feet was a woman barely out of her teens, now that she thought about it she actually was in her teens herself.
The female before the two men was begging about something when one of the two grabbed her by the hair and raised a sword to her throat. It seemed that whatever they wanted they were going to get it by any means necessary. The woman looked hopefully toward the others only to see the other citizens look away in fear as the two were about to enjoy themselves in front of everyone.
The red haired female decided that she wouldn't let something this happen. Without thinking she grabbed a long iron rod that was from a nearby shop. With her makeshift weapon she strode forward and challenged the two men before her. They took in her appearance and were about to dismiss her until they saw the look the woman's eyes. The one who did not have their weapon drawn yet moved to confront her.
The moment the girl was no longer in the way of her target the red haired amnesiac leapt forward with her pole. Seeing her intent the man who hadn't initially drawn their weapon deftly readied that. The attack was narrowly parried by the swordsman who then retaliated with several hurried sword thrusts with the intent to throw off his attacker's balance which she nimbly evaded. She then returned to her stance, something that she did not remember but her body certainly did. The woman felt a sense of power coming from within, excited that this felt somewhat familiar she swung her 'sword' vertically, followed up with a thrust, feinted with another strike before catching her foe unaware with an elbow to the nose.
With a shriek the man dropped his sword and his hands instinctively grabbed his face as if the fend off any more blows to it. The woman took the opportunity and swiped the weapon he dropped before he came to his senses. She then threw the pole at the person as he was too busy to guard himself. The improvised projectile caught the man in his family jewels making her smirk, 'then I robbed him of his weapon. Both of them.'
With one taken care of she turn her attention the remaining black robed man. Seeing his friend dispatched with ease he threw the girl aside and redirected his blade toward the woman who took down his friend. He said something she didn't understand and to her surprise the weapon changed from a simple long sword to a polearm.
With sword in hand she studied the enemy as he smirked and was probably boasting something however her concern was with the lack of openings. 'At least this one isn't that stupid.' The woman decided to test her foe by making several quick slashes without purposely exposing a noticeable opening. He deflected her attacks with minimal effort unlike her previous opponent. Seeing this the swordswoman then attacked his side, again making minimal effort the man blocked each of her attacks though she did notice that the man was breathing heavy as each of her attacks were negated.
'I see. That transformation must take a lot of his stamina.' With her observation she made the swordswoman decided to make her attacks more difficult to handle by adding more of her strength to each blow, making the man exert more energy to defend himself. Unknown to her the villagers began to stare in hope as their mystery savoir was making these two men regret visiting their home. With one final strike the swordswoman sliced his weapon in half and in the process cutting the man down.
"Take your friend and leave this place," she ordered the other black robed man as she was coated in said friend's blood, forgetting the language barrier between her and everyone else. When the disarmed man didn't respond she sighed then pointed to him then to his friend and finally the direction, she hoped, they came from. The conscious one nodded with fervor and lifted his friend over his shoulder before making the way from her sight. When they were finally gone she collapsed from where she was standing. "So hungry..."
With their savior passed out a few of the villagers carefully made their way to her. They carefully took her to one of the empty huts and deposited her there with some fruit and her newly acquired sword. Sometime before she woke she had a dream. She saw herself, some green haired girl, various other beings and full on squads confronting some powerful abomination. She then saw herself smile as she faded from the world.
"Kid, no matter what happens we are soulmates. I ain't leaving ya behind so don't be getting lost before I come back."
"Heh, looks like I did exactly that. I'm sorry... ***."
While she was still out cold the form of a young male appeared next to her. "You just couldn't wait for me, could ya?" The form said as if exasperated but did bother to hide his content smirk. He was proud that his soulmate could still kick some ass. "See ya soon, kid."