Chapter 13: Recruitment
The Citadel of Corruption (The Shadow Realm)
Absalom was seen sitting down in his chambers in silence as he had a troubled look on his face as he remembered himself before his corrupted state rubbing his beard in deep thought as Death stood by his side his face masked in shadows as he elbowed Absalom and joking "Thinking of some sort of scheme brother?"
Absalom scoffed with an amused smile gently shoved Death who chuckle in amusement and playfully responded "As always."
Death and Absalom laughed in amusement as Absalom vision changed into the battle on Eden as Absalom had a clear angered look on his face seeing Death, War, Strife and Fury slaying their own kin while he gritted his teeth in anger sadness before leaping out at Death who stood among the dead bodies of his kin.
Death now wore his skull-mask and had arrows stuck in his back and shoulders clearly unaffected by the wounds as Absalom demanded "DEATH! Why do you slay your own?!"
Death turned around and stabbed Absalom's chest without hesitation showing that in Absalom's mindset Death was had betrayed him with no regrets and guilt and reached out his arm to him questioning "Was it worth it?"
Absalom's vision ended as he looked at his left hand seeing his deformed crystalized arm and clenched his hand into a fist demanding silently "Why didn't you answer me?! Are you that consumed of power that you'd ignore your own brother?!"
Absalom envisioned himself sinking into a black pool and drowned in Corruption as two massive yellow crystalline eyes shined down upon him as Oblivio's voice echoed "A kindred spirit... do you wish for vengeance? To avenge those of the fallen and to ensure true peace?"
Absalom looked at Oblivio's eyes as the Absent God questioned "Do you wish to have your end here? I can offer you an escape from this end but in time you will face it, you will him again, to avenge those you called your kin or to drown in your blackened blood?"
Absalom reached his left hand out to Oblivio without words as Oblivio shot beams of pure corrupted energy into Absalom's left arm beginning his transformation into the Avatar of Chaos his lips rotted away as his teeth sharpened giving a permeant toothy gapping mouth.
Absalom's vision ended again as Oblivio stood in front of him and questioned "Do you wish to have your end now?"
Absalom looked down and stood up stating "If I will end, it will be by Death's hand."
Oblivio closed his eyes and nodded saying "Again? Hmpf very well then I shall honor your decision. (sits down in a chair in front of Absalom) I can sense that the Dark Prince is aware of my Corruption, he seems infatuated by my power. And from what I can tell he's scheming to use me against all of creation."
Absalom scoffed and suggested "Knowing that the Dark Prince rarely reveals himself, I would recommend cautious my lord."
Oblivio nodded and stated "I am aware of the Dark Prince's capabilities and yet even he cannot fathom the fullest power of the power of Primordial darkness and nothingness."
Oblivio stood up and began to walk away as Absalom questioned "You said that you know what's like to be betrayed... what betrayal compels you to defy the Creator, the Council and all of creation?"
Oblivio froze as he turned his head slightly and answered "I have plenty of reasons to defy 'the Creator' all reason enough to hate him, but as for the rest, they are just blind followers to him, and I think it is wrong for those to blindly follow an ungodly god who has a petty jealousy of me. But you wish to learn a specific reason yes? There is are too many reasons for me to be just one... though I guess you can say he used my daughter and murdered her."
Absalom gave a slightly confused look as Oblivio looked at him and suggested "I would spend time with the Mistress of Destruction if I were you, every child needs their father, believe me... I didn't have that chance for long."
Oblivio left Absalom in his chambers alone to ponder of his master's suggestion while Oblivio was seen walking down a hall and turned his gaze to see a memory of himself in his previous life which oddly enough he appeared similar to his current form. The memory showed Oblivio reading through books, tomes and plenty of objects that increased his knowledge and perspective, each time he finished he began to realize how lonely his existence was before the creation of the first universe.
Oblivio seeing himself learning scoffed amusingly as a faint young child-like voice was heard calling "Father."
The memory of Oblivio look up to see a young Sheba leaping at him into a hug as he laughed amusingly while she asked innocently "Father, anything new you've learned?"
Oblivio seeing a young Sheba froze in guilt as hthe memory of himself responded "Yes my child, it seems in time I will no longer be known as the Idiot god hahahaha!"
The memory of his past self and a young Sheba faded as Oblivio gave a saddened look before walking away in silence with only his footsteps echoing in the halls of his fortress.
But the Herald's voice was heard through telepathy "My Lord, I have found something peculiar."
Oblivio kept walking as he questioned seemingly uninterested "Is that so?"
The Herald was seen near an underground entrance way with the Mistress who was squatting down on top of a stone pillar observing the dead walking in the distance while the Herald holding a undead scarab hulk's head and stated "One of the inhabitants say Lady Morgana will avenge him, I have not heard this individual before..."
Oblivio stopped in his tracks and stated in a oddly enough satisfied tone "Huh... haven't heard that name in a long time... I'm on my way, do not enter that place without me, Herald."
The Herald nodded and responded "As you... command my lord."
The Herald turn towards the Mistress who questioned "So what does the master want us to do?"
The Herald crossed his upper arms and placed is lower arms behind his back and stated "He wants us to await for him to personally arrive."
The Mistress grunted and looked at the Herald and questioned "WAIT, WHAT FOR?!"
The Herald stated coldly "I'd rather not ask, but the master seems to know Morgana and if he wants us to wait for him to personally arrive to meet her I surmise she is ally. She must also be a very dangerous individual to have our lord arrive himself to meet her in person, I've only heard him do that once with the Avatar of Chaos."
The Mistress placed her right hand on her chin in thought while a strange metal Maker construct was seen floating above the two members of the Black Tide before floating away.
Oblivio entered his throne room and saw his previous body laying lifeless as he thought out loud "I'll be back for you later, an old friend is waiting."
Oblivio stepped into the pool of Corruption and sank down allowing himself to be transported to the Kingdom of the dead even if he still remains imprisoned within the Shadow realm Oblivio stepped out of the Tree of Death eyeing the environment from left to right until he gave a unimpressed four eyed squint.
Bayonetta and Death's room
Bayonetta was seen tending to Death's injuries as he was naked on the bed, Rosa entered their room with a health potion and handed it to Bayonetta who held it over Death's back and looked at him with a worried look on her as she poured the potion on his back. The dog was seen whining worryingly about Death as Bayonetta's shadow from the Arbiter while he separated himself from her shadow which returne dot being Madama Butterfly and entered the Dog's shadow.
Death's spine began to painfully realign itself back in place causing Death to cry out in pain "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHHHHH!"
Bayonetta's eyes twitched from Death's cries of pain and quickly grabbed his right hand with her own as he squeezed hard before Death's spine fully recovered making Death pant in relief as Rosa walked out quietly leaving the Deadly couple alone. Bayonetta gently rubbed Death's spine as he stilled panted in relief until Bayonetta noticed Death started to fall unconscious from the ordeal.
Bayonetta feeling Death's body heat noticed that due to the loss of blood and without his healing powers Death's body felt very cold as she retracted her hair off her body and pulled Death over on his back and laid right against him and pulled her glasses off. Bayonetta set her glasses down and laid back against Death while pulling the covers of the bed over them hoping that her body heat would help warm Death up as he rested.
Bayonetta nuzzled her head against Death's neck and began to sleep with him as the dog who was seen in the bar secretly leave through the portal with the Arbiter of Terror hiding within it's shadow who gave a sinister grin.
Later at night Death and Bayonetta were seen still sleeping, Bayonetta cuddling against Death's right side until Death awoke from his slumber to see Bayonetta sleeping comfortably against him.
Death remained in place as he silently embraced Bayonetta in bed while she slept and began to talk in her sleep "Hmmm... don't worry Death (yawns) I won't leave you cold."
Death removed his arms off of Bayonetta and began to sit while gently removing Bayonetta off him and laid her on the bed and for a moment couldn't stop staring at her face and sighed while palming his mask noticing his own stares would looked if she had woke up right then.
Death removed his hand and thought to himself "I suppose a reward is appropriate for her help..."
Death leaned down and slid his mask off from his mouth for him to kiss Bayonetta's forehead who grumbled in her sleep as Death pulled his mask back down and magically formed brown leather pants while he to walked towards the door and turn back to see Bayonetta turning over and existed the room.
But unknown to Death Bayonetta had formed happy smile showing that she was partly awake for Death's kiss to her forehead and whispered "Yessss."
Death was seen entering the bar as Rosa was seen sitting having a drink and saw Death and joked "Hey if it isn't my daughter's boy toy!"
Death ignored Rosa's joke and sat on the other side of the bar while Rosa jokingly acted offended "Oh that's rude hehe."
Death sat at his table placing his hands together and close to his masked mouth and had a thousand yard stare while remembering what Argul had said "Thous is finished yet?"
Death removed his right hand and stared quietly at his palm and clenched it firmly saying quietly "Not yet."
Rosa sat at the table where Death sat at and questioned with a genuine concerned tone "Are you alright?"
Death remained silent as Rosa nodded and said "I understand you don't really know me, and I'm glad that my daughter is warming you up to her but between you and me, if you need advise for... mmm how should I say this? Making Cereza happier, I think a gift could work."
Death remained silent as he tried to think of smoothing else besides Argul beating him and the taunting of the souls embedded in his chest as he remembered Bayonetta gifting him the Talons of Bhethir scythes and thought of Bayonetta's consistent affiliation with Butterflies.
Death sighed seemingly unprepared to ask but admitted "Your daughter is... rather intoxicating to be around, I oddly find comfort around her. And I have never felt like this, even when I was still with my kin. But I can't have these feelings for her... it makes my betrayal to my kin all the more painful."
Rosa gave a sympathetic look as Death continued "But yet I cannot fathom why I feel this way around her, I hunger for it, yearn for it and still I... I dread it."
Unknown to the two Bayonetta was seen overhearing their entire conversation from behind the door to her and Death's room with her right hand over her heart and had began to show a happy smile yet at the same time anxious to hear how Death feels that their relationship.
Rosa looked at Death who looked down quietly and questioned "Is there something else?"
Death sighed and admitted "Ever since the Forge Lands was destroyed I have been plagued by my own personal demons seeing those who no longer exist, and the souls within my chest act out more frequently since I learned that Absalom is alive. And then there was the one who attacked me at the Gilded Arena, the one called the Arbiter of Terror... he made he see things I feared the most, failing my brothers, Absalom and War."
Bayonetta remained silent with a worried look on her face upon hearing this but Death finished "But like a ray of light that so rarely shines, Bayonetta comes to my time of need, I normally would refuse anyone else's help unless it was absolutely necessary, yet I feel just fine with her help and feel I would guess complete around her."
Bayonetta began to blush and walked away from the door licking her lips with anticipation as Rosa was seen giving a gentle smile towards Death and said "I'm happy that you were willing to talk to me... (shows a devilish expression) but cheat on my daughter and you rue the day you were born."
Death squinted at Rosa and wittingly countered "It's hard to cheat on the perfect woman."
Rosa stood up and hugged Death's and patted his head complimented "Ohhhh you two are just adorable together!"
Argul's prison
Argul had returned to his former prison with Frostbane who asked "My lord why do we return to this unworthy sight?"
Argul walked ahead placing his hands behind his back and in front of his cape as he explained "Thy will must be done, Frostbane and my will is to unleash the Frozen Battalion."
Argul removed his arms from behind his back and summoned his scepter and began to slam down upon the floor causing a crater to form as Argul continued to beat down the floor until it broke apart and revealing more frozen undead warriors as Argul stood on the edge of the entrance.
Argul's face was darkened by shadow as his eye sockets glowed blue as he ordered "ARISE THY WARRIORS OF ICE AND WINTER, THY WILL MUST BE DONE!"
The frozen undead's icy prisoned began to crack as one broke free with a mighty roar "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Other icy prisons began to break freeing more members of the Frozen Battalion as a single undead Ice Giant broke free giving a sinister chuckle before a ice Lich hissed with an icy mist fuming out of his rotted mouth "Freedom..."
A icy beast similar to the Tormentor broke free with a gurgling roar "GRAAAGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRLLLLL!"
Argul opened his arms out and greeted "REJOICE MY SUBJECTS! FOR THOU'S KING HAS RETURNED!"
The entire battalion that were free then raised their icy weapons and cheered "ALL HAIL ARGUL, LORD OF ICE AND WINTER!"
Argul turned towards Frostbane who bowed his head in respect as the frozen battalion began to crawl out of the entrance and rushed past Argul who kept a calm demeanor as his army began to crawl out of the prison.
Bayonetta and Death's room
Death returned to the room and sighed as he close the door and entered the restroom turning on the overhead shower on as he removed his pants. Death stepped into the large bath tub having the water rain on his body before Bayonetta entered still naked and went ahead and decided to to shower with him.
Death was calm with Bayonetta entering the shower with him and gently rubbing his back asking with a concerned tone "Is it still hurting?"
Death looked up as the water rapidly rained on his mask while he answered "It's only sore now..."
Bayonetta rested her head on Death's back closing her eyes feeling comfortable being near him yet had a worried frown on her face, later after the two had dried off, Death was seen materializing his armor on.
Bayonetta only wearing a black thong and night gown lunged at him with a hug and stated "No, you need to rest, Death."
Bayonetta rested her head on Death's chest and heard her trying to hold back tears as she insisted "Please... I don't want to lose another person I love..."
Death froze hearing how Bayonetta views him and he sighed in a defeated manner as the armor he wore dematerialized and formed his brown leather pants as Bayonetta remained bring her face in his chest and felt him embrace her in a hug. Bayonetta squeezed her hug slightly harder than before reassured Death wasn't going to run out to his own death.
(No pun intended)
Bayonetta released Death and walked over to the table picking up a blindfold and turned towards Death demanding "I want you to show me how you feel."
Death gave a slightly confused stare as Bayonetta stated "Iover heard you and mummy last night and I want you to show me your feelings."
Death was silent as Bayonetta finished "All you have to do is just kiss me if not well... (playful tone, while cracking knuckles) I might have to dominate you again hahaha!"
Death sighed as he slide the mask off his mouth while keeping most of his face hidden and leaned in towards Bayonetta's left ear and whispered something which made Bayonetta blushed before he kissed her. Bayonetta wrapped her arms around Death's neck as he placed his hands on her waist while prolonging their kiss.
Bayonetta released her lips and smiled teasing "I love you too naughty reaper."
The Dead plains
Argul was seen sitting upon a giant stone throne that froze over from his body which also froze him in place, his hand on the hilt of his scepter in his right hand mounting it on the ground with ice sickles hanging down his arms and hand. Artorus returned with a hundred undead, most consisted of skeletons but a few were undead Generals and tormentors.
Artorus bowed before Argul and gestured his right hand towards the hundred undead and stated "These souls have come to serve you, my King."
Argul's eye sockets glowed blue as the ice encasing his body cracked and spoke "I bid thee welcome to thy army, but to know thou's potential thy must prove thou worthy."
Argul snapped his left hand out of the ice and pointed at the entire dead army and ordered "I only accept strong souls, and thou who art unworthy shall perish and make the victor stronger. Fight before me until there are only three standing."
Argul placed his left hand back on the arm rest of his throne while a undead general began to pant before striking out first swirling his spear around slaying fifteen of his fellow undead while Artorus and Argul watched with malicious glowing blue eyes. But a tormentor body slammed the general before it was swarmed and played by a single skeleton champion who roared out in victory before a wraith with blinding speeds cut him to literal pieces.
A undead demon skeleton charged at the humanoid skeletons with his large curved horns like a bull and grabbed a wraith by her face, dragging the wraith's face on the ground until he left her without a head before tossing her body away and roared fiercely at a undead general. The undead kept at it until there was only four, the wraith, the skeleton demon, a undead general and a skeleton archer as Argul kept an interest in the fight.
The undead general looked at the archer taunted him "You are too weak little soul, over up your life to me and I will make you end qui..."
But the archer using the general's own pride against himself shot an arrow at him which erupted in flames when impacting his skull and exploded blowing off his head in the process.
The archer walked causally towards the general's still standing body and side kicked it while turning towards Argul and opened out his arms while the body fell down and shouted "ANYMORE TESTS FOR US?!"
Artorus looked at Argul and admitted "He's has balls my lord, that much is clear... but is he really what you need?"
Argul raised his right index and middle finger silencing Artorus who bowed not daring to speak further as Argul stated "I need competent warriors and he's proving himself competent enough only time will tell if he will remain so."
Argul stood up from his throne the ice break off him as he did and he welcomed "Welcome to the Frozen Legion, brave warriors!"
And out from behind Argul's throne his battalion began to march out cheering "ARGUL! ARGUL! ARGUL! ARGUL!"
Argul walked out and turned towards his army and gave a motivational speech "MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ICE AND WINTER! THE BETRAYAL OF THE LORD OF BONES WAS OF A HEAVY HEART, BUT WE REMAIN STRONGER! WE REMAIN VIGILANT AND WE STILL ARE HERE!"
The army cheered as Argul pointed out to his entire army continued "WE SHALL BRING THE UNIVERSE THE ORDER IT DESERVES! ALL LIFE MUST BE ERADICATED AND JOIN THE DEAD THEY MOCK AND SO EASILY FORGET!"
The army cheered as Argul opened out his arms and shouted "TO WAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!"
The army cheered repeating "TO WAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!"
The army began to march out with Argul, Artorus and the three new members of their army while Frostbane was seen flying passed them and roared as a lone lich gave a raspy growl before floating away.
Bayonetta and Death's room
Bayonetta woke to see Death gone and quickly sat up looking around before her hair extended and formed her skin tight suit while walking out of her room and eyed Rodin who was serving a drink to a mummy and questioned "Where is he?"
Rodin looked at Bayonetta as he put a cigar in his mouth and lit it stating "He's using the forge right now."
Bayonetta gave a sigh of relief and asked "What is he making?"
Rodin shrugged and claimed "I have no idea."
With Death who was seen bare chested in the forge with Rosa fashioning something in secret between the two as Rosa helped him with his project as Death used Bheithir's Talons to heat up the forge. Hammering down on some hot metal while Death kept silent as he clamped down n the metal and placed it in a small bucket of water causing it to boil and steam before pulling it out revealing the metal's shape of a ring.
Bayonetta entered the forge as Death placed the ring down and turn dot see Bayonetta who saw his bare sweaty chest and kept a satisfied smirk and said "Oh don't mind me... just checking out... if you're alright."
Death teased while placing his right hand on his hip "That's sweat of you."
Bayonetta watched as Rosa claimed "Death needed aid for making a special tool."
Bayonetta raised a brow and questioned "Will it help you defeat Argul?"
Death kept a calm demeanor and simply responded "Possibly."
Bayonetta seeing through everyone's facades left the forge more curious and intrigued with the mystery of what Death was forging but wasn't too bothered with it. Death picked up the ring and saw it was magically beginning to take shape into a butterfly on the top end of the ring while leaving the wings dented inwards for gems to be placed in.
Death sighed as Rosa gave a smug smile and said "She's suspecting you know."
Death eyed Rosa and responded "Clearly."
Later after Death had existed the forge and clearly was fully recovered from his injuries he and Bayonetta began to take their leave as Bayonetta noticed that the dog was gone and asked "Where's your dog?"
Death looked around and stated "I do not know."
The Tree of Death
The dog had come to the Tree as his shadow split while the Arbiter formed his original form pulling his black hood over his yellow crystal skull and eyed the hound and said "Go back to your master mutt, I have some fears to taste, demons to slaughter the fun stuff ahahahahaha!"
The dog ran away from the Arbiter in fear as the Arbiter extended a black tongue and licked his teeth and said "Poor mutt hahahaha!"
The Arbiter of Terror walked closer towards the tree but noticed a newly made portal as the metal construct floated passed the Arbiter and entered the portal catching the Arbiter's interest and attention as he walked towards the portal.
The Gilded Arena (hours later)
Death and Bayonetta returned to the arena as with death wearing his crow armor once again, the arena's keepers turned towards the two and as the raspy voiced one said "Ahhhh the champion and his lover return."
The deeper raspy voiced statue said "Tell us what you seek, rider."
Death raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist stating "We seek the Pychameron!"
The statue in the back chuckled in a disturbing manner stating "If such a thing were possible, (a swirling vortex opens) It will surely tear your souls apart."
Death and Bayonetta climbed on the railing as Death looked at his chest and towards Bayonetta and without hesitation stated "I have few to spare."
The statue chuckled once more and said "True, but are they too old to burn?"
Death and Bayonetta leaped off the railing and dived into the vortex as the statues in unison said "Why don't we find out?"
Death and Bayonetta felt some pressure as they dived headfirst through the vortex until they crashed landed on solid ground as mysertiously enough the statues were already down their turning towards the deadly couple.
Then a portal formed as a skeleton Stalker climbed out and roared at the two as Bayonetta teased "Oh I remember what you are!"
Death sighed as undead prowler erupted from portals and all began to attack the two as Death pulled out his scythes and slashed a prowler into pieces as Bayonetta dropped kicked the stalker and backflipped off it before pulling out her guns and rapidly shot it to dust. Death kicked the prowler's skull into another prowler as Bayonetta punched it's skull into the floor shattering it, before an undead bat dropped down and screeched at the two.
Bayonetta summoned her hammer and tossed it at the bat hitting it in midair and crashed it into the side of the chamber before recalling it back into her hands and playfully taunted by licking her finger tips and placed it on the right cheek of her ass and teased "Tssssssssss!"
The two walked up some stairs and opened the doors seeing doors that were inaccessible to them for deadly soul swarmed the doors but Death looked at his right hand as it glowed green and snapped his fingers summoning the two lords of the dead.
Phariseer bowed and stated "From dust I am reborn..."
Judicator bowed and stated "I am yours to command."
Death pointed at the doors and ordered "Find a way for the two of us to pass through the doors unharmed."
The two lords bowed as Bayonetta eyed Death with a smirk and teased "Oh somebody's having fun giving orders."
Death could only give a satisfied stare in his eyes as the two Dead Lords cast the souls away into themselves allowing Bayonetta and Death to pass through the doors unharmed but froze in awe and shock to see blue crystals on the walls ceiling and tunnels with few structures. Bayonetta looked at the crystals in both shock and awe while notching the crystals had souls within them swirling around as blue spectral and demonic beings flew passed the four.
Judicator growled in anger and said "The gall! Basileus dares to steal the souls of the dead and harbor them for profit?!"
Bayonetta eyed Judicator and questioned "What?"
Death gestured at the crystals and stated "Crystalized souls are very valuable in the universe but by decree of the Charred Council and by the urging of the Lords of the dead the crystals were to be harvested and sent to the Well of Souls. But the Black Market has interest in the crystals, so some risk to grow crystalized souls and gain profit from it."
Bayonetta looked at the crystals and questioned quietly "Does that make Basileus a member of the Dead Men?"
Death responded quietly "I wouldn't argue against it."
Death dispersed the two lords as Bayonetta went on ahead staring with awe at the crystals which caught Death's noticed as he quietly broke a small hand sized chunk off and hid it away. Later the deadly couple continued their search for the third and final lord of the dead but when they reached a massive cavern they saw the spider that Basileus road which screeched at them before crawling on the on the walls and out of the cavern.
Bayonetta gestured her and confusingly and said with a confused tone "Ok by?"
Later the two reached the darkest area of the Pychameron, in fact it was so dark that Death had to use his death grip's purple glow to help the two see in the pitch black area.
But the spider crawled un the ceiling causing the two to take stance with their weapons out until Basielus' green glow was seen as he walked out from the darkness and had yellow glowing eyes and stated "I knew a champion would arise to face the Corruption, and you two have come very far, a pity your journey ends here!"
Basileus unlike his fellow Lords teleported behind Bayonetta and kicked his away before clashing blades with Death who growled in annoyance before Basileus laughed madly clearly being affected by Corruption at this point.
Bayonetta seeing how Basileus had quickly begun to grow mad from Corruption thought to herself "How is he just now beginning to change?"
But the spider slammed down behind Bayonetta and gave a raspy female chuckle "Hehehehe! Some ford for the Spider Queen, Achidna!"
Bayonetta turned slowly towards Achidna seeing her upper body shadowed while her glowing green eyes gave her an imposing appearance as Bayonetta nodded and said with relief "At least you're not a cockroach."
Bayonetta took stance as Achidna's mandibles flickered with electricity while screeching at her, Death kicked Basileus who blocked Death's attack with his twin serrated blades before floating up and spun cutting Death's chest splattering his blood on the ground while Death grunted in pain "GRNNNNNN!"
Basileus grinned before teleported above Death and punched his head into the ground causing a crater to form with Death dead center of it while Bayonetta dodged Achidna's strikes slowing down time and taunting "So close!"
Bayonetta leaped in the air and kicked Achidna's head befoe turning to see Death in a crater slowly standing up as time returned to normal as Achidna flung head first into the ceiling with a pathetic yelp "AAAAAAHKKK!"
Bayonetta dropped back down the ground and charged at Basileus who swung his right blade at Bayonetta who rolled over the incoming blade slowing time down again before drop kicking his face. Landing in a crouching position Bayonetta stood up and walked passed Basileus and stood before Death as time returned to normal while Basileus was flung across the chamber and crashed into the wall as Bayonetta cross her arms while raising a brow and had kept a smirk.
Death climbed out of the crater as Bayonetta kept her smirk before Basileus forced himself to from the wall and whistled as Achidna dropped down behind him as he floated up and mounted on her shoulders and pointed both index fingers at Death and Bayonetta ordering "CHAAAARGE!"
Death walked ahead and stated "I'll deal with this."
Bayonetta raised a brow and questioned "You sure about that? You might scare him."
Death turned towards Bayonetta with a smug stare in his eyes as Bayonetta nodded and said "That's fine too."
Death changed into his reaper form and slashed upwards with his scythe cutting Achidna's belly and chest before Death swung his blade across her neck decapitating her while Basileus fell off into Death's grip.
Death catching Basileus' leg began to slam him on the ground in a swinging manner before tossing him in the air and catching him by the neck choking him as he reached out his right palm and begged "ENOUGH! I YIELD HORSEMAN!"
Death dropped Basileus who landed back first in front of Bayonetta who playfully shivered and teased "Ohhh that gave me the chills."
Basileus sat up and was in a bowing position as he stated "I will ride with you Horseman... even unto the Lord of Bones... even unto the Mad King himself... (slowly floats up) and even unto death."
Basileus' sank down vanishing as Death looked at his right hand seeing it glowing green again and kept a serious stare at it while a portal opened beneath the two and they sank down and reappeared at the Gilded Arena.
Bayonetta looked around and teased "Huh... fancy that."
The Tree of Death
Lilith was seen approaching the Tree as a portal to Hell was seen as she bowed as the portal revealed a only a dark shadowy figure who appeared to be elderly and frail but yet Lilith had a sense of a fearful yet fragile look on her face.
The pointed seemingly devoid of motion in his body language questioned with a calm tone "Lilith why are you in the Kingdom of the Dead, I thought I ordered you to remain at Blackstone and await for Death's eventual arrival?"
Lilith attempted to make an excuse "My Prince I..."
But the figure only known as 'the Prince' interrupted stating "You are curious of Vulgrim's reports about Death having a lover aren't you?"
Lilith shivered in fear and she bowed her head in silence while the Prince questioned "Then what have your learned?"
Lilith gave a sighed of relief and reported "I did not meet her directly but I managed to meet her mother, a human witch named Rosa."
The Prince was silent and ordered "Then it is true... Bayonetta has survived, but how? Lilith, have your old pet, Draven fight Bayonetta and keep an eye on their fight I want a detailed report when you return."
Lilith bowed and stated "I shall do as you command, my Prince."
The portal broke apart seemingly held up by the Prince's dark power as Lilith in relief as she began to walk away and kept her focus on the mission given to her by the Prince.
The City of the Dead
The Wailing Host was seen bathing in a lake of souls within the deepest quarters of the City growing in power and strength from the souls he absorbed as the Lich who spied on Argul appeared before him and bowed reporting "Master, Argul has unleashed his army upon the Kingdom he is heading towards the City as we speak."
The Wailing growled as he raising his open palm over the Lich and crushed him stating "We will crush him like all the others!"
The Wailing raised both hands summoning twenty wailing serpents and ordered "Destroy Argul the Mad king!"
Outside the City Argul was seen with his cape fluttering in the wind as he pointed his scepter at the main gates and ordered "ATTACK!"
The Frozen battalion charged forth giving their war cries as the Lichs spread ashes down the City walls summoning large hordes of spectral skeletons who were easily bested by the sheer skills of the Frozen battalion. The wailing serpents arose from behind the walls and flew over and down the other side as Argul chuckled as he pointed his scepter out while Frostbane roared as he flew passed his master breathing ice upon the serpents.
The serpents froze in midair and fell and broke apart when landing the on the bridge while the frozen battalion began to form ice claws over their hands and feet and started climbing up the city walls.
Argul stood vigilant as an Ice giant and Ice Titan walked behind him which he ordered without even looking at the two "Break down the gates."
The giant and titan both charged out across the bridge as the rest of the battalion stood aside as the giant and titan slammed their fists upon the gate while the warriors climbing up the wall kept climb some were knocked off by incoming boulders being thrown by tormentors and bone giants.
But the skeleton archer was seen on the bridge pulling back an arrow and shot it into a tormentor's mouth making it gurgle before it swung it's arm widely before accidentally knocking off the giant down the wall which roared in fear "ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAHAHAHA!"
The titan and giant kept punching the door making it dent as the Wailing Host casting a spell to observe the battle growled in annoyance said "Fine we will handle this ourselves!"
The Wailing stood up and changed into a massive beam of green light Argul pointed his scepter at the city and kept ordering "Do not falter! Thy enemies shall know our might!"
But the beam struck down upon the bridge breaking it cutting off Argul with his battalion as the Wailing host formed while spinning before stopping to look down upon Argul who when compared to the Wailing host was dwarfed.
The Wailing host gave a sinister growling chuckle before raising his fist and thew a punch down upon Argul who held up his shield as the punched landed but when the Wailing Host's punch touched Argul's shield reality itself denied it magically fling the Wailing Host back first into the gate. The Wailing host growled in shock as Argul grunted in shock as well and look at his palms realizing what was happening while his armies were completely decimated by the Wailing Host's.
Artorus and Frostbane returned to Argul who ordered "Retreat..."
Artorus eyed Argul and questioned "My lord?"
Argul turned around and walked away as his cape blew in the wind as he repeated himself "Retreat."
Artorus turned towards the city seeing the frozen battalion getting completely overpowered and had a cautious look before turning back to see Frostbane and Argul already ahead of him before he himself followed after.
Argul punched a boulder in anger as Artorus asked "My lord what is wrong?"
Argul turned towards his servant and stated "It would seem Death still lives, the Nex Sacramentum has not been finished as I had believed..."
Artorus questioned while gesturing both hands towards his master "But my lord how would that prevent the Wailing host from striking you?"
Argul gestured his right hand at Artorus and explained "That strike would have killed me, if not for the Nex Sacramentum I called on Death, but that being said... Death being alive would only mean I failed to end him."
Argul walked away as Artorus asked "Where are you going my lord?"
Argul growled and responded sternly "FINISHED WHAT I STARTED!"
The Eternal Throne
Draven was seen training the royal guards as he spotted Lilith leaning against a wall with a seductive smirk causing him to grunt int shock before ordering "Train amongst each other, I'll be back."
Draven kept a serious stare as he walked towards Lilith and pointed his blade at her throat and demanded "Why are you here?!"
Lilith licked her lips and stated "I've come to offer you a chance to regain your life."
Draven scowled as Lilith continued "You know of the woman with Death right? I want you to fight her, not kill per say, but if it happens it happens, do this I will want you what you most desire... (whispers into Draven's ear) your freedom from this eternal torment of the Lord of bones."
Draven grunted as he lowered his blade and asked "Is that all I must do?"
Lilith nodded and stated "Oh and tell me of the results, I will be waiting for you at the Tree of Death."
Lilith vanished in front of Draven's eyes as he groaned in annoyance before walked away intending to find Bayonetta and fight her to gain his freedom from the Lord of Bones' leash that he set upon the once great warrior.
Rodin's bar
Rodin was seen talking to the Black Knight who had come to the bar as Death and Bayonetta returned to see him standing while Rodin greeted "Hey ya two've got a..."
But the Black Knight turned towards Death and Bayonetta as he interrupted "I have come on behalf of my love and my brothers, we're being hunted by the Lord of Bones' royal guards, we are to be judged and possible to be placed in eternal torment and so I have come to make a deal with you, Reaper of souls."
Death crossed his arms and questioned "Why me?"
The Black Knight explained while pacing back and forth seemingly in a hurry "I am told if we sell our souls the King's guards will stop hunting us, so I come to the only one who may be able to save us even if we must serve you, we would do so not being hunted."
Bayonetta looked at Death and whispered "Trust me the Umbra witches and the Umbra Knights together are worth it."
Death eyed Bayonetta and sighed before answering "Very well... I accept your deal, currently I have no need of an army, so you will be sent to my abode, there a soul will be waiting to quaint you to your new duties."
The Black Knight crouched down and bowed and said "I am forever in your debt... my lord."
Death sighed while rolling his eyes and ordered "I am no one's lord, so get up before you embarrass yourself."
The Black Knight stood up and nodded quietly as Rosa nodded being impressed before saying "Huh... the entire umbra clan serving a Rider... sounds like fun."
Death and Bayonetta then notice the dog had returned as Bayonetta questioned "Wait where did the dog go Rodin?"
Rodin shrugged and stated "Dunno, he just came back recently."
The dog woke up to see death and barked happily before getting up and leaped at him as he caught it by it's neck and held it up while it panted happily towards Death who kept an unamused stare at it and said "You need a bath."
The dog whined in a fearful manner as Bayonetta feeling sorry for the dog said "Ohh look that sad face poor mutt."
Unknown location
The Arbiter of Terror had crossed through the portal and entered a world between the Tree of Life and Death a place where the Shadow realm and the material realm converged and are one and the same.
The Arbiter looked around seeing metal Maker structures as the water was tainted with what appeared to be poison and oily liquids, as the metal sentinel floated towards a structure as a deep monotone metallic voice was heard "Unidentified creature detected in the Shadow lands. Summoning metal construct Stalkers to investigate."
The Arbiter scoffed as large metal pillers rose up from the oily waters while metallic contract stalkers crawled out and spotted the Arbiter and reported in a monotoned and yet annoying manner "INTRUDER! INTRUDER!"
The Arbiter sighed as he shouted "I AM THE ARBITER OF TERROR! A CHAMPION OF CORRUPTION!"
The voice was heard once again "Corruption... unknown entity explain."
The Arbiter gave a sinister chuckle as he explained "We exist to bring order by ending all that exists."
The voice then questioned "You appose the chaos of organic life? Explanation... accepted. The Abyssal Forge is at your master's command."
The Arbiter raised both hands and said "Oh what joy the past few days has been AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Boneriven (The Shadow realm)
Oblivio traveled into the deepest depths of the Kingdom of the dead until he along with the Herald and Mistress stubbled upon a massive snake-like skeleton the size of which dwarfed all living creatures in the current age as Oblivio stared in shock and awe and said "The World Serpent of the first incarnation of the universe..."
But within the eye socket of the long dead serpent a dim light was seen as Oblivio led his two champions onward as the three entered the skull they saw candles and books littering the floor as a seductive womanly voice was heard "I smell company."
Oblivio hearing the voice scoffed amusingly as the three walked up some stairs and entered a room within the skull seeing another skull being used as a throne by a woman in all a black dress as her eyes had a grey glow to them before pointed at the Herald and Mistress and greeted "Welcome my house, so why are you here and why should I care?"
The Herald suggested "Our master wishes to see you, within the Shadow realm."
The woman sighed in a annoyed manner before twirling her right index finger casting herself into the realm of shadow and gasped in shock to see Oblivio who greeted "It has been a long time, Morgana."
The woman now revealed to be Morgana leaped out to her throne showing her white hair and bowed before Oblivio with excitement and said "Boss man! Is it really you?!"
Oblivio crouched down and answered "It is."
Morgana looked up and with a excited yet crazed grin she asked "How may I serve you, boss man?"
To be continued
Since the release of Darksiders 3 I will be taking a bit of a break to learn if there is new lore introduced in Darksiders 3 that can be expanded or help me in the future.
