The Chaos Chronicles
It was after part three that Chaos folded. From this point on, the story is mostly my own, based on hints Chaos Comics gave out about what was to happen next.
Lady Death
Dark Alliance
Part Four: Onslaught
The arena at Times Square in New York City had seen many great battles. From Mike Tyson and Muhammed Ali, to the staged conflicts of the costumed wrestlers, mighty warriors had come from all over the world to prove their skills against each other.
But nothing could have prepared anybody for what happened in the arena that night.
A heavyweight battle between two boxing champions had been arranged, to determine who would be the champion of the world, and the arena had been packed out. Several lesser fights had already been fought, to whet the crowd's appetite, and they chanted eagerly for the main event. The two boxing masters made their way to the ring, and the crowd roared with bloodlust.
Only to be drowned out by a deafening howl from the back of the crowd.
At the back of the crowd, a large man began to glow, his body surrounded flames. He began to change, his bones twisting, his muscles warping, and he grew even larger. He fell onto all fours, and his limbs twisted into hooves. A spiked tail burst out of his lower spine. His upper body extended, and a new set of arms sprouted from his shoulders, and a pair of spiked horns grew up out his head. His shredded clothes burst into the flame, and were replaced by steel armour, viciously spiked and painted blood-red. Over his head he wore a steel helm, through which only his blazing eyes could be seen.
The demonic centaur glared out over the crowd, all of whom were paralyzed with terror. With a roar, the beast lashed out with the spikes protruding from his wrists, gutting five people in a single sweep.
"Time to die, humans!"
The beast trampled through the crowd, crushing many with his hooves. He picked people up and killed them with his bare hands. In terror, the crowd attempted to flee for the exits.
The centaur glared at them, and blazing energy shot out from his eyes, incinerating everyone he looked at. He cantered from one end of the stadium to another, massacring everyone he could reach with his bare hands, trampling hooves and spiked tail, and everyone who attempted to escape was cut down by his blazing eye beams. The people screamed as they died, and the beast laughed with sadistic pleasure.
"Is there no one who will fight me? Who will challenge Asteroth?"
Suddenly, there was a crack in the air above the arena, and a rift appeared in empty space. Through that rift flew a pale-skinned woman, armed with a glowing sword and a golden sickle. Behind her, a large man with burning hands also leapt through the rift, landing on the boxing ring below. The woman caught sight of Asteroth, dripping blood and holding the dismembered of a woman in his massive hands.
"Asteroth! You gutless worm!" she roared with rage. "Where is your vaunted honour in slaughtering helpless humans?! Fight me, you coward!"
Asteroth turned towards her. "Ah, Lady Death. About time, you got here, wench!" he snarled, and his eye beams lanced out at her. She held her mystic blade, Apocalypse, in front of her and the beams bounced off, crashing into the roof above. Heavy masonry fell down from the broken ceiling, crushing and killing several more of the crowd.
Lady Death snapped the golden sickle, known as Scynister, forward and at her mental command a golden chain extended between the blade and the hilt. The blade whipped towards Asteroth and the chain wrapped around his neck. Asteroth took hold of the chain and, with a single tug, wrenched Lady Death towards him and clubbed her across the jaw with a tremendous blow. Lady Death was sent flying through the air and landed hard in the centre of the boxing ring.
"I am not as I was, bitch!" Asteroth roared as he cantered down the aisle. "I am more powerful now than ever!"
The large man, Cremator, helped Lady Death struggle back to her feet, while Asteroth leapt into the ring. He trotted towards her, his fists blazing with hellfire.
"This time," he told her, "you will die screaming!"
The Golden Gate Bridge, regarded as one of the world's modern structural wonders, was perhaps the most treasured landmark of San Francisco. Thousands of people passed over it every day, and thousands more every night.
But tonight, the traffic had ground to a halt. Dozens of vehicles lay strewn across the bridge, and hundreds of bodies lay scattered among them. But it was no traffic accident, no drunken driver, that had caused this carnage.
The waters beneath the bridge churned wildly, and from out of a tremendous whirlpool, a massive reptilian beast surged upwards, it's titanic neck and gargantuan jaws rearing up alongside the bridge. The beast shimmered, and those still alive on the bridge could see the moonlight glinting through its body. It appeared to be composed of nothing but water.
The beast thrust its head down at the bridge, scooping up a pair of trucks in its jaws and shaking them wildly, while a second watery beast reared up on the other side. The first beast threw the trucks back down onto the bridge, causing an explosion that killed a score of people, while the second beast breathed a great cloud of steam on the bridge. Everyone caught within the cloud was boiled to death.
Hovering in the air high above the bridge was a green skinned man with horns and a silken veil over his face. He gestured, shouted out a powerful incantation, and a third liquid beast rose up out of the waters to attack the bridge and everyone on it.
Suddenly, the hovering man was distracted from his attack as he heard a rip in the air behind him. He turned to see a glowing rift appear in the air, and through the rift flew a woman with oriental features, and the fangs of a vampire.
"The water dragons are mine to command, Séance!" the Chinese vampire told him. "Release them to me, or suffer the consequences."
Séance gazed calmly back at her. "I am afraid I cannot do that, mistress Jade. This bridge must fall, and I still have use for the dragons."
Jade gestured at him, and green mist flowed out of her hands. The mist grew larger, and coalesced into the form of a massive emerald dragon. At her command, the emerald dragon flew at Séance, but then one of the water dragons turned away from the bridge and snapped its jaws over the smaller beast, crushing it between its fangs.
The other two dragons beside the bridge dropped back into the water, only to rear up beside their companion, and the three water dragons surrounded Chinese vampire threateningly.
"Your sorcery is powerful," Séance told her, "but I am a Lord of Hell. You cannot defeat me alone."
"I am not alone," Jade replied.
Suddenly, a second woman dived through the glowing rift. This woman had skin that was red as blood, horns on her head, and flew with great bat- like wings. She also bore the fangs of a vampire.
The second vampire weaved between the three massive dragons and flew directly at Séance, crashing into him. As they both flew backwards, the vampire pinned his arms against his side and sank her fangs into his throat.
Instantly, she released him and pulled away, hacking and gagging. "Your blood is acid," she cried, "poison!"
"Indeed, Purgatori," Séance told her. "I am not unprepared for this confrontation."
Séance gestured, and threw a bolt of green fire at Purgatori, while the water dragons snapped at Jade.
In every city, there was a part of town that never slept, that was busier at night than ever was during the day. A place of parties, dancing, and having fun. Chicago had many such places, and on one such street, a street lined with nightclubs and bars and semi-legal brothels, it was busier than ever, and packed with people.
But these people were not having fun. They were too busy dying.
At one end of the street, giant figures marched along. The giants were at least forty feet tall, and they appeared to be composed entirely of fire. They cast gouts of flame from their hands at the buildings on both sides of the street, turning each one into a blazing inferno. The people attempted to flee from the giants, but there were too many of them, and many people were killed in the crush.
The giants reached the back of the crowd, and they swept their arms through the line, incinerating scores of people.
At the feet of the flame giants, there was a capering imp in the attire of a medieval court jester, embroidered with inverted crucifixes. The imp held a set of wooden pipes to his mouth, and played a wild tune. As the shrill notes mingled with the screams of the dying, more giants strode out of the flames in the street behind.
In the sky above the burning street, a rift appeared in the empty air. Two winged women flew through the rift, and gazed down in horror at the seemingly pointless slaughter.
One of the women, who bore bright golden hair, spoke. "This is awful, Vulnavia! Whatever his purpose is summoning the flame giants, Pagan has to be stopped!"
The other woman, whose hair was chestnut brown and who wore a patch over one eye, replied. "Don't worry, Vandala, I will kill Pagan and give you his lungs as a gift."
"Kill him quickly!" Vandala replied. "I will try to get these people to safety."
With a nod, Vulnavia flew down towards the imp, while Vandala flew down towards the crowd ahead.
Vandala hovered before the terrified crowd, and called upon her own power, causing her body to glow with a golden light, and when she spoke, it was with a gentle, soothing tone.
"Please, do not panic. Run this way, but you must help each other. Your fear is causing you to slow each other down, hindering your escape. Come this way, and help those who cannot run as fast as you."
Vandala waved to the street behind, and the people ran along beneath her. But her voice caused the fear and terror to recede somewhat, and many of those in the crowd discovered their own courage. Children were gathered up by the adults, and the elderly were helped along by the young, and with Vandala's guidance, the pace of the crowd increased, leaving the flame giants behind.
Vulnavia shot down towards Pagan, dodging between the titanic forms of the giants, and slammed into him. They both were sent hurtling down the street, and the pipes were sent flying from Pagan's hands.
"The Pipes of Pan won't save you now, imp!" Vulnavia snarled as she kneeled on top of his stomach. She drew a long dagger and slammed it down into his chest.
"Ouch," Pagan snickered, leering up at her with not a single flicker of pain. "C'mon, sweetie. I've been sliced and diced more times than I can count. Surely you can do better than that?"
Vulnavia stood up, keeping one boot on Pagan's stomach, and drew her sword. "A lot better, runt," she sneered. Focused on Pagan, she did not see the flame giant stalking up behind her.
"Sister!" Vandala screamed in warning, but it was too late.
The flame giant swept down with a massive blazing fist, and Vulnavia was sent flying through the air, her entire body coated in flames, and she screamed in agony.
"Nooooooo!" Vandala howled in fury. Leaving the crowd of terrified people behind, Vandala flew through the air as fast as she could towards Pagan, summoning a golden sword into her hands.
"You bastard!" Vandala screamed. "I'll kill you!"
"That's it, gorgeous," Pagan cackled, while the flame giants stood protectively around him. "Come get some."
Meanwhile, within a homeless shelter in a quiet corner of New York City, a teenage girl crept furtively towards the exit. She opened the door, and gestured to those waiting in the night outside.
"It's all clear," she whispered. "Come inside, quickly."
Three young women entered the shelter, followed by a big man with a goatee, and a skull-faced figure wearing a hat and cowboy boots.
"Thanks, Sarah," said the red-haired woman. "Is everybody asleep?"
"No they're not, Chastity," Sarah replied. "A lot of the older lodgers have been invited to a special assembly in the back. But those who are new here, like me, haven't been invited."
"Do you know what this assembly is about?" asked the goateed man.
"I don't know, Mr. Gallows. It's only just started."
"Then I think we should check it out," Gallows told her. "Lead the way."
Sarah quietly guided the five of them towards the back of the shelter. The last room was empty, but a final doorway stood open, with stairs leading down. From the bottom of the stairs, eerie chanting could be heard.
Gallows put his hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Thanks kid. Now get out of here. Make your way to that church and wait for us there."
Sarah shook his hand off. "No. I'm coming with you."
"Things could get nasty down there, Sarah," Chastity warned her.
"I think I've proved I can take care of myself," Sarah replied. "I'm not going."
"Would joo get movin' already?" said one of the other women, a half- spanish girl who didn't look much older than Sarah.
"Alright. But be careful." Gallows told Sarah, then turned and led the way down the stairs. At the bottom was a doorway, and they peered round the corner into a large room which was packed with people, most of whom were adolescents. On a podium at the front of the room, a young man was preaching to the crowd.
"Neox." Gallows growled, recognising the preacher.
"The old gods have failed," Neox told the crowd, his voice powerful and persuasive. "The old ways have failed. It is time for a new way, and a new order. I speak directly to the Lord, and he has shown me the way. A dark time is coming, when the old gods and the older will be swept away in a tide of blood. They will fight among themselves, and mankind will be caught in their conflict. They care nothing for humanity, their battles would destroy us all. But my Lord will keep us safe in his fold. And when the old gods have destroyed themselves, He will be there to inherit the Earth, and we will inherit it with Him."
"Amen," the assembly droned.
"Let's get 'im," said the Spanish girl.
"No, Oblivia," Gallows told her. "We don't know what we're up against."
"Each day, the Word of the Lord spreads farther," Neox continued his preaching, "and our numbers grow ever greater. Most who hear my words instantly recognise the truth, and eagerly join our cause. But there are some whose minds are caught too deeply within the lies of the old gods, and who remain deaf to the Message. But my Lord is merciful, and his love is without limit. He will not give up on these lost souls, and has commanded me to do whatever I must to show them the Light of Truth!"
Neox stepped aside, to reveal two women bound by ropes to the wall behind him. One of them had oriental features, while the other had raven- black hair. Neither of them appeared to have been harmed, and they glared at Neox with defiance.
"I recognise that Asian one," said the third woman, who had blonde hair and carried a pair of machine-pistols. A black cat rested on her shoulder. "It's Silence!"
"And the other one must be Rakshasa," Gallows confirmed. "She matches Purgatori's description of her."
Neox took out a strange amulet from beneath his shirt. The amulet was forged in a strange geometric shape, painful and confusing to the eye, which was unlike any holy amulet ever seen before. The amulet began to glow in Neox's hands, and he held it up before Rakshasa's eyes.
"Do you accept the Word of the Lord, renouncing all other gods, and all the old ways?" he asked her.
Rakshasa spat in his face.
Neox turned back to the crowd. "The old lies have dug themselves deeply into her mind. I cannot free her. Only the Lord himself can free her. I speak directly to Him, and He hears me. He will come at my call. Lord, hear me!" Neox raised the amulet above his head, and it began to glow brighter. "These unbelievers refuse to see the truth of You! Come down and show them Your glory! Come, my Lord! Come forth and show us the Truth!"
"What are we going to do?" Chastity hissed. "We can't leave them there!"
"This whole thing stinks of a trap!" Gallows growled.
"We got no choice, pal," said the skull-faced man. "If we don't rescue those two ladies, Jade and Purgatori will never fight with us again, and the whole dark alliance will fall apart!"
"Besides, I never leave people behind!" said the blonde-haired woman.
"Okay," Gallows growled. "On my signal, we go in. Strike hard. Strike fast. Oblivia, Chastity, you're with me. Bedlam, Bad Kitty, shoot him! Sarah, use that power of yours to kill him if you can. Take no chances, any of you. Do not underestimate our enemy!"
The others nodded grimly. Within the chamber, the light of the amulet was almost blinding. Behind him, the wall on which Silence and Rakshasa were bound began to twist and warp strangely.
"Ready?" Gallows rumbled. "Now!"
Gallows charged through the doorway, and his body changed as he did so, sprouting fur, growing larger, his face extending into a fanged muzzle. Behind the werewolf, Oblivia and Chastity also charged into the room, their teeth lengthening into vampiric fangs. The skull-faced man known as Bedlam and the blonde-haired woman known as Bad Kitty drew their pistols, stepped out from either side of the doorway, and fired at Neox. Sarah kneeled down between them, summoned her own mystical power, and threw a bolt of dark energy at the preacher.
"Neox!" Gallows roared, as he charged through the crowd. "Stop what you're doing or die!"
The bullets and dark energy crashed into the light around Neox and were absorbed harmlessly. Gallows and the two vampires stopped just outside the light and circled warily around it. Neox laughed at them.
"I don't think so, Morgan. I have found my faith at last. You cannot stop me now."
"You know me, preacher?" Gallows growled.
"Of course," Neox replied. "We're old friends, you and I."
Neox's features changed subtly, his face becoming different, becoming a face that Morgan Gallows recognised.
"Saviour?!" Gallows hissed.
"Once I was the Faithless One," Saviour replied, "but I am faithless no more. I speak with the only god worth worshipping, and he demands sacrifice!"
The audience suddenly ran at them and attempted to overpower them. Chastity and Oblivia fought back desperately, using their vampiric strength to hold them off while trying not to hurt them. Bedlam and Bad Kitty also charged into the fight, while Gallows and the Saviour continued to stare at each other.
"He comes, Gallows!" Saviour spoke. "My Lord comes!"
The back wall warped and disappeared, opening to another place entirely. Rakshasa and Silence fell back and disappeared into this other place. From out of this place a powerful figure stepped forward, a figure with blood red skin, sweeping horns and eyes that blazed with power.
"Bedlam! Get us out of here!" Gallows cried.
"Ah caint," Bedlam shouted back, as he desperately fought off two burly runaways. "For some reason, my powers ain't working."
The figure stepped down from the podium and glared around the room. The Saviour's audience instantly stopped their fighting and kneeled before the figure. The Saviour raised up his glowing amulet. "Lucifer!" he cried out in worship. "Lord of Lies!"
Everyone in the room was paralyzed with awe and terror.
Everyone except Oblivia.
The Spanish vampire ran forward. "Joo ain't so tough!" she cried. "I've had bigger an' meaner 'n' you!"
"Oblivia! No!" Gallows cried.
Oblivia leapt at Lucifer, her fingers reaching for his throat. Lucifer caught her in mid-leap. She kicked out futilely at his massive arm, and he laughed at her.
"One can never have too many sacrifices. Time to die, little vampire!"
Gallows howled with rage and leapt forward, his fury so great as to surprise even the Fallen One. Lucifer fell back, releasing his grip on Oblivia, while Gallows tore savagely at his crimson flesh. Wherever his claws dug in, fiery blood flowed.
"You have...more power than I...expected, Gallows," Lucifer snarled, as he pulled the werewolf away by the scruff of his neck. "With time, you might have actually become a threat to me. But time is something you no longer have."
With savage strength, Lucifer sank his claws into Gallows chest, and tore out his heart.
"Dad!" Oblivia cried in horror.
Lucifer dropped the corpse of the werewolf to the floor, and in death Gallows reverted back to his human shape. With a laugh, Lucifer stalked towards Oblivia. Bedlam and Bad Kitty emptied their guns at Lucifer, but the bullets melted as they touched his flesh.
"Don't worry, my dear." Lucifer said to Oblivia, as she backed away fearfully. "You will soon be joining your father in death, and both your souls will be mine!"
"No!" Sarah cried from the back of the room. "Keep away from my friends!"
Sarah's entire body began to glow with black energy, and she threw a tremendous stream of it at Lucifer. The Lord of Lies threw up a shield of hellfire in front of him, and the black energy collided with it. Lucifer grunted, and stepped back.
"What kind of power...?"
Sarah continued to hurl her power at Lucifer, and Lucifer continued to block it with his own. But the strain of the effort was visible on his face, and he snarled with rage.
"You can't keep this up forever, girl!" he roared.
"My powers are back!" Bedlam cried. "People, we are leaving!"
Bedlam held up his right hand, and with a bright flash of light, he and his companions all disappeared from the room. Even Gallows' corpse disappeared.
As Sarah disappeared with the rest of them, her attack ceased and Lucifer dropped his shield.
"Come," Lucifer turned to the Saviour. "Let us prepare for the endgame."
Lucifer turned and walked back through the portal, and the Saviour followed after him. As they left, a wave of fire surged out from the portal, incinerating everyone in the room, and transforming the entire shelter into an inferno.
It was after part three that Chaos folded. From this point on, the story is mostly my own, based on hints Chaos Comics gave out about what was to happen next.
Lady Death
Dark Alliance
Part Four: Onslaught
The arena at Times Square in New York City had seen many great battles. From Mike Tyson and Muhammed Ali, to the staged conflicts of the costumed wrestlers, mighty warriors had come from all over the world to prove their skills against each other.
But nothing could have prepared anybody for what happened in the arena that night.
A heavyweight battle between two boxing champions had been arranged, to determine who would be the champion of the world, and the arena had been packed out. Several lesser fights had already been fought, to whet the crowd's appetite, and they chanted eagerly for the main event. The two boxing masters made their way to the ring, and the crowd roared with bloodlust.
Only to be drowned out by a deafening howl from the back of the crowd.
At the back of the crowd, a large man began to glow, his body surrounded flames. He began to change, his bones twisting, his muscles warping, and he grew even larger. He fell onto all fours, and his limbs twisted into hooves. A spiked tail burst out of his lower spine. His upper body extended, and a new set of arms sprouted from his shoulders, and a pair of spiked horns grew up out his head. His shredded clothes burst into the flame, and were replaced by steel armour, viciously spiked and painted blood-red. Over his head he wore a steel helm, through which only his blazing eyes could be seen.
The demonic centaur glared out over the crowd, all of whom were paralyzed with terror. With a roar, the beast lashed out with the spikes protruding from his wrists, gutting five people in a single sweep.
"Time to die, humans!"
The beast trampled through the crowd, crushing many with his hooves. He picked people up and killed them with his bare hands. In terror, the crowd attempted to flee for the exits.
The centaur glared at them, and blazing energy shot out from his eyes, incinerating everyone he looked at. He cantered from one end of the stadium to another, massacring everyone he could reach with his bare hands, trampling hooves and spiked tail, and everyone who attempted to escape was cut down by his blazing eye beams. The people screamed as they died, and the beast laughed with sadistic pleasure.
"Is there no one who will fight me? Who will challenge Asteroth?"
Suddenly, there was a crack in the air above the arena, and a rift appeared in empty space. Through that rift flew a pale-skinned woman, armed with a glowing sword and a golden sickle. Behind her, a large man with burning hands also leapt through the rift, landing on the boxing ring below. The woman caught sight of Asteroth, dripping blood and holding the dismembered of a woman in his massive hands.
"Asteroth! You gutless worm!" she roared with rage. "Where is your vaunted honour in slaughtering helpless humans?! Fight me, you coward!"
Asteroth turned towards her. "Ah, Lady Death. About time, you got here, wench!" he snarled, and his eye beams lanced out at her. She held her mystic blade, Apocalypse, in front of her and the beams bounced off, crashing into the roof above. Heavy masonry fell down from the broken ceiling, crushing and killing several more of the crowd.
Lady Death snapped the golden sickle, known as Scynister, forward and at her mental command a golden chain extended between the blade and the hilt. The blade whipped towards Asteroth and the chain wrapped around his neck. Asteroth took hold of the chain and, with a single tug, wrenched Lady Death towards him and clubbed her across the jaw with a tremendous blow. Lady Death was sent flying through the air and landed hard in the centre of the boxing ring.
"I am not as I was, bitch!" Asteroth roared as he cantered down the aisle. "I am more powerful now than ever!"
The large man, Cremator, helped Lady Death struggle back to her feet, while Asteroth leapt into the ring. He trotted towards her, his fists blazing with hellfire.
"This time," he told her, "you will die screaming!"
The Golden Gate Bridge, regarded as one of the world's modern structural wonders, was perhaps the most treasured landmark of San Francisco. Thousands of people passed over it every day, and thousands more every night.
But tonight, the traffic had ground to a halt. Dozens of vehicles lay strewn across the bridge, and hundreds of bodies lay scattered among them. But it was no traffic accident, no drunken driver, that had caused this carnage.
The waters beneath the bridge churned wildly, and from out of a tremendous whirlpool, a massive reptilian beast surged upwards, it's titanic neck and gargantuan jaws rearing up alongside the bridge. The beast shimmered, and those still alive on the bridge could see the moonlight glinting through its body. It appeared to be composed of nothing but water.
The beast thrust its head down at the bridge, scooping up a pair of trucks in its jaws and shaking them wildly, while a second watery beast reared up on the other side. The first beast threw the trucks back down onto the bridge, causing an explosion that killed a score of people, while the second beast breathed a great cloud of steam on the bridge. Everyone caught within the cloud was boiled to death.
Hovering in the air high above the bridge was a green skinned man with horns and a silken veil over his face. He gestured, shouted out a powerful incantation, and a third liquid beast rose up out of the waters to attack the bridge and everyone on it.
Suddenly, the hovering man was distracted from his attack as he heard a rip in the air behind him. He turned to see a glowing rift appear in the air, and through the rift flew a woman with oriental features, and the fangs of a vampire.
"The water dragons are mine to command, Séance!" the Chinese vampire told him. "Release them to me, or suffer the consequences."
Séance gazed calmly back at her. "I am afraid I cannot do that, mistress Jade. This bridge must fall, and I still have use for the dragons."
Jade gestured at him, and green mist flowed out of her hands. The mist grew larger, and coalesced into the form of a massive emerald dragon. At her command, the emerald dragon flew at Séance, but then one of the water dragons turned away from the bridge and snapped its jaws over the smaller beast, crushing it between its fangs.
The other two dragons beside the bridge dropped back into the water, only to rear up beside their companion, and the three water dragons surrounded Chinese vampire threateningly.
"Your sorcery is powerful," Séance told her, "but I am a Lord of Hell. You cannot defeat me alone."
"I am not alone," Jade replied.
Suddenly, a second woman dived through the glowing rift. This woman had skin that was red as blood, horns on her head, and flew with great bat- like wings. She also bore the fangs of a vampire.
The second vampire weaved between the three massive dragons and flew directly at Séance, crashing into him. As they both flew backwards, the vampire pinned his arms against his side and sank her fangs into his throat.
Instantly, she released him and pulled away, hacking and gagging. "Your blood is acid," she cried, "poison!"
"Indeed, Purgatori," Séance told her. "I am not unprepared for this confrontation."
Séance gestured, and threw a bolt of green fire at Purgatori, while the water dragons snapped at Jade.
In every city, there was a part of town that never slept, that was busier at night than ever was during the day. A place of parties, dancing, and having fun. Chicago had many such places, and on one such street, a street lined with nightclubs and bars and semi-legal brothels, it was busier than ever, and packed with people.
But these people were not having fun. They were too busy dying.
At one end of the street, giant figures marched along. The giants were at least forty feet tall, and they appeared to be composed entirely of fire. They cast gouts of flame from their hands at the buildings on both sides of the street, turning each one into a blazing inferno. The people attempted to flee from the giants, but there were too many of them, and many people were killed in the crush.
The giants reached the back of the crowd, and they swept their arms through the line, incinerating scores of people.
At the feet of the flame giants, there was a capering imp in the attire of a medieval court jester, embroidered with inverted crucifixes. The imp held a set of wooden pipes to his mouth, and played a wild tune. As the shrill notes mingled with the screams of the dying, more giants strode out of the flames in the street behind.
In the sky above the burning street, a rift appeared in the empty air. Two winged women flew through the rift, and gazed down in horror at the seemingly pointless slaughter.
One of the women, who bore bright golden hair, spoke. "This is awful, Vulnavia! Whatever his purpose is summoning the flame giants, Pagan has to be stopped!"
The other woman, whose hair was chestnut brown and who wore a patch over one eye, replied. "Don't worry, Vandala, I will kill Pagan and give you his lungs as a gift."
"Kill him quickly!" Vandala replied. "I will try to get these people to safety."
With a nod, Vulnavia flew down towards the imp, while Vandala flew down towards the crowd ahead.
Vandala hovered before the terrified crowd, and called upon her own power, causing her body to glow with a golden light, and when she spoke, it was with a gentle, soothing tone.
"Please, do not panic. Run this way, but you must help each other. Your fear is causing you to slow each other down, hindering your escape. Come this way, and help those who cannot run as fast as you."
Vandala waved to the street behind, and the people ran along beneath her. But her voice caused the fear and terror to recede somewhat, and many of those in the crowd discovered their own courage. Children were gathered up by the adults, and the elderly were helped along by the young, and with Vandala's guidance, the pace of the crowd increased, leaving the flame giants behind.
Vulnavia shot down towards Pagan, dodging between the titanic forms of the giants, and slammed into him. They both were sent hurtling down the street, and the pipes were sent flying from Pagan's hands.
"The Pipes of Pan won't save you now, imp!" Vulnavia snarled as she kneeled on top of his stomach. She drew a long dagger and slammed it down into his chest.
"Ouch," Pagan snickered, leering up at her with not a single flicker of pain. "C'mon, sweetie. I've been sliced and diced more times than I can count. Surely you can do better than that?"
Vulnavia stood up, keeping one boot on Pagan's stomach, and drew her sword. "A lot better, runt," she sneered. Focused on Pagan, she did not see the flame giant stalking up behind her.
"Sister!" Vandala screamed in warning, but it was too late.
The flame giant swept down with a massive blazing fist, and Vulnavia was sent flying through the air, her entire body coated in flames, and she screamed in agony.
"Nooooooo!" Vandala howled in fury. Leaving the crowd of terrified people behind, Vandala flew through the air as fast as she could towards Pagan, summoning a golden sword into her hands.
"You bastard!" Vandala screamed. "I'll kill you!"
"That's it, gorgeous," Pagan cackled, while the flame giants stood protectively around him. "Come get some."
Meanwhile, within a homeless shelter in a quiet corner of New York City, a teenage girl crept furtively towards the exit. She opened the door, and gestured to those waiting in the night outside.
"It's all clear," she whispered. "Come inside, quickly."
Three young women entered the shelter, followed by a big man with a goatee, and a skull-faced figure wearing a hat and cowboy boots.
"Thanks, Sarah," said the red-haired woman. "Is everybody asleep?"
"No they're not, Chastity," Sarah replied. "A lot of the older lodgers have been invited to a special assembly in the back. But those who are new here, like me, haven't been invited."
"Do you know what this assembly is about?" asked the goateed man.
"I don't know, Mr. Gallows. It's only just started."
"Then I think we should check it out," Gallows told her. "Lead the way."
Sarah quietly guided the five of them towards the back of the shelter. The last room was empty, but a final doorway stood open, with stairs leading down. From the bottom of the stairs, eerie chanting could be heard.
Gallows put his hand on Sarah's shoulder. "Thanks kid. Now get out of here. Make your way to that church and wait for us there."
Sarah shook his hand off. "No. I'm coming with you."
"Things could get nasty down there, Sarah," Chastity warned her.
"I think I've proved I can take care of myself," Sarah replied. "I'm not going."
"Would joo get movin' already?" said one of the other women, a half- spanish girl who didn't look much older than Sarah.
"Alright. But be careful." Gallows told Sarah, then turned and led the way down the stairs. At the bottom was a doorway, and they peered round the corner into a large room which was packed with people, most of whom were adolescents. On a podium at the front of the room, a young man was preaching to the crowd.
"Neox." Gallows growled, recognising the preacher.
"The old gods have failed," Neox told the crowd, his voice powerful and persuasive. "The old ways have failed. It is time for a new way, and a new order. I speak directly to the Lord, and he has shown me the way. A dark time is coming, when the old gods and the older will be swept away in a tide of blood. They will fight among themselves, and mankind will be caught in their conflict. They care nothing for humanity, their battles would destroy us all. But my Lord will keep us safe in his fold. And when the old gods have destroyed themselves, He will be there to inherit the Earth, and we will inherit it with Him."
"Amen," the assembly droned.
"Let's get 'im," said the Spanish girl.
"No, Oblivia," Gallows told her. "We don't know what we're up against."
"Each day, the Word of the Lord spreads farther," Neox continued his preaching, "and our numbers grow ever greater. Most who hear my words instantly recognise the truth, and eagerly join our cause. But there are some whose minds are caught too deeply within the lies of the old gods, and who remain deaf to the Message. But my Lord is merciful, and his love is without limit. He will not give up on these lost souls, and has commanded me to do whatever I must to show them the Light of Truth!"
Neox stepped aside, to reveal two women bound by ropes to the wall behind him. One of them had oriental features, while the other had raven- black hair. Neither of them appeared to have been harmed, and they glared at Neox with defiance.
"I recognise that Asian one," said the third woman, who had blonde hair and carried a pair of machine-pistols. A black cat rested on her shoulder. "It's Silence!"
"And the other one must be Rakshasa," Gallows confirmed. "She matches Purgatori's description of her."
Neox took out a strange amulet from beneath his shirt. The amulet was forged in a strange geometric shape, painful and confusing to the eye, which was unlike any holy amulet ever seen before. The amulet began to glow in Neox's hands, and he held it up before Rakshasa's eyes.
"Do you accept the Word of the Lord, renouncing all other gods, and all the old ways?" he asked her.
Rakshasa spat in his face.
Neox turned back to the crowd. "The old lies have dug themselves deeply into her mind. I cannot free her. Only the Lord himself can free her. I speak directly to Him, and He hears me. He will come at my call. Lord, hear me!" Neox raised the amulet above his head, and it began to glow brighter. "These unbelievers refuse to see the truth of You! Come down and show them Your glory! Come, my Lord! Come forth and show us the Truth!"
"What are we going to do?" Chastity hissed. "We can't leave them there!"
"This whole thing stinks of a trap!" Gallows growled.
"We got no choice, pal," said the skull-faced man. "If we don't rescue those two ladies, Jade and Purgatori will never fight with us again, and the whole dark alliance will fall apart!"
"Besides, I never leave people behind!" said the blonde-haired woman.
"Okay," Gallows growled. "On my signal, we go in. Strike hard. Strike fast. Oblivia, Chastity, you're with me. Bedlam, Bad Kitty, shoot him! Sarah, use that power of yours to kill him if you can. Take no chances, any of you. Do not underestimate our enemy!"
The others nodded grimly. Within the chamber, the light of the amulet was almost blinding. Behind him, the wall on which Silence and Rakshasa were bound began to twist and warp strangely.
"Ready?" Gallows rumbled. "Now!"
Gallows charged through the doorway, and his body changed as he did so, sprouting fur, growing larger, his face extending into a fanged muzzle. Behind the werewolf, Oblivia and Chastity also charged into the room, their teeth lengthening into vampiric fangs. The skull-faced man known as Bedlam and the blonde-haired woman known as Bad Kitty drew their pistols, stepped out from either side of the doorway, and fired at Neox. Sarah kneeled down between them, summoned her own mystical power, and threw a bolt of dark energy at the preacher.
"Neox!" Gallows roared, as he charged through the crowd. "Stop what you're doing or die!"
The bullets and dark energy crashed into the light around Neox and were absorbed harmlessly. Gallows and the two vampires stopped just outside the light and circled warily around it. Neox laughed at them.
"I don't think so, Morgan. I have found my faith at last. You cannot stop me now."
"You know me, preacher?" Gallows growled.
"Of course," Neox replied. "We're old friends, you and I."
Neox's features changed subtly, his face becoming different, becoming a face that Morgan Gallows recognised.
"Saviour?!" Gallows hissed.
"Once I was the Faithless One," Saviour replied, "but I am faithless no more. I speak with the only god worth worshipping, and he demands sacrifice!"
The audience suddenly ran at them and attempted to overpower them. Chastity and Oblivia fought back desperately, using their vampiric strength to hold them off while trying not to hurt them. Bedlam and Bad Kitty also charged into the fight, while Gallows and the Saviour continued to stare at each other.
"He comes, Gallows!" Saviour spoke. "My Lord comes!"
The back wall warped and disappeared, opening to another place entirely. Rakshasa and Silence fell back and disappeared into this other place. From out of this place a powerful figure stepped forward, a figure with blood red skin, sweeping horns and eyes that blazed with power.
"Bedlam! Get us out of here!" Gallows cried.
"Ah caint," Bedlam shouted back, as he desperately fought off two burly runaways. "For some reason, my powers ain't working."
The figure stepped down from the podium and glared around the room. The Saviour's audience instantly stopped their fighting and kneeled before the figure. The Saviour raised up his glowing amulet. "Lucifer!" he cried out in worship. "Lord of Lies!"
Everyone in the room was paralyzed with awe and terror.
Everyone except Oblivia.
The Spanish vampire ran forward. "Joo ain't so tough!" she cried. "I've had bigger an' meaner 'n' you!"
"Oblivia! No!" Gallows cried.
Oblivia leapt at Lucifer, her fingers reaching for his throat. Lucifer caught her in mid-leap. She kicked out futilely at his massive arm, and he laughed at her.
"One can never have too many sacrifices. Time to die, little vampire!"
Gallows howled with rage and leapt forward, his fury so great as to surprise even the Fallen One. Lucifer fell back, releasing his grip on Oblivia, while Gallows tore savagely at his crimson flesh. Wherever his claws dug in, fiery blood flowed.
"You have...more power than I...expected, Gallows," Lucifer snarled, as he pulled the werewolf away by the scruff of his neck. "With time, you might have actually become a threat to me. But time is something you no longer have."
With savage strength, Lucifer sank his claws into Gallows chest, and tore out his heart.
"Dad!" Oblivia cried in horror.
Lucifer dropped the corpse of the werewolf to the floor, and in death Gallows reverted back to his human shape. With a laugh, Lucifer stalked towards Oblivia. Bedlam and Bad Kitty emptied their guns at Lucifer, but the bullets melted as they touched his flesh.
"Don't worry, my dear." Lucifer said to Oblivia, as she backed away fearfully. "You will soon be joining your father in death, and both your souls will be mine!"
"No!" Sarah cried from the back of the room. "Keep away from my friends!"
Sarah's entire body began to glow with black energy, and she threw a tremendous stream of it at Lucifer. The Lord of Lies threw up a shield of hellfire in front of him, and the black energy collided with it. Lucifer grunted, and stepped back.
"What kind of power...?"
Sarah continued to hurl her power at Lucifer, and Lucifer continued to block it with his own. But the strain of the effort was visible on his face, and he snarled with rage.
"You can't keep this up forever, girl!" he roared.
"My powers are back!" Bedlam cried. "People, we are leaving!"
Bedlam held up his right hand, and with a bright flash of light, he and his companions all disappeared from the room. Even Gallows' corpse disappeared.
As Sarah disappeared with the rest of them, her attack ceased and Lucifer dropped his shield.
"Come," Lucifer turned to the Saviour. "Let us prepare for the endgame."
Lucifer turned and walked back through the portal, and the Saviour followed after him. As they left, a wave of fire surged out from the portal, incinerating everyone in the room, and transforming the entire shelter into an inferno.