Lord Chaos by Deus X Machina

Chapter 2: The Gates of Hell

High walls rose up from the ground, protecting the order within from the chaos without. The weaker souls who were not granted admission to Heaven would be annihilated by the Plains of Chaos, which was a land of constant destruction and mutilation. Perhaps it was a mistake on the part of the Lord to allow only the strongest sinners access to Satan's kingdom. But then again, He never made mistakes. Or none that He would admit to, as the angel who was once Lucifer would say.

The only entrance was a tall gate of black iron, decorated with images of beasts and demons. Standing watch outside it was a man tightly clenching a spear. Anger permanently twisted his face as he listened intently for incoming footsteps.

A small window opened from inside the gate. "Are you certain you will not enter?" an unseen woman asked yet again.

"Yes," growled the man. "Not until he gets here."

"The essence of Chaos is constant destruction. You are very fortunate to still exist."

"I don't care! I'll endure the Chaos as long as he does."

"Was he a close friend?"

"No. My worst enemy."

"Perhaps he has already been destroyed," said the woman's voice.

For the first time ever, the man turned to face her. For the first time, she could see the extent of his rage on his face. Letting out a wordless shout, the man struck the outside of the window with the heavy weight attached to the end of his spear.

Resigned, the woman shut the window and left the man to his own devices.

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After their battle with Nebiros and his patrol group, Shishio, Yumi, and Houji had come across a stone highway. Shishio had chosen to go in one direction instead of another; Yumi and Houji had followed without question.

After what seemed like hours of walking, the trio saw a tall black structure rise up into the dark sky. "I'm sure we can rest here, my lord," Yumi said tiredly.

"Unless we run into some more of Nebiros's friends," said Shishio. Desperation was affecting Yumi's common sense.

"Perhaps we should take our chances with the angels, my lord," said Houji. "Yumi and I won't survive much longer out here."

Shishio gave Houji a small glare for once again telling him what to do. However, the hitokiri was smart enough to know a good idea when he heard one. "Very well, Houji. We'll go inside."

There was something about the black walls that Shishio did not like. They seemed to him like the walls of a prison cell, hard and binding. If Shishio was a creature of chaos and freedom, then those walls were the essence of unyielding order.

Shishio noticed movement by the wall. A dark figure made its way towards him, picking up speed in a run. It had no wings, so it was no angel. It was definitely a human. But why…?

"Shishio!"

Shishio recognized the voice. "Usui."

Screaming like a madman, Usui launched himself into the air, preparing to skewer Shishio on the end of his rochin. The spearhead tore into the ground, sending chunks of stone flying into the air. Usui swung the massive weight on the end of his rochin, followed by a slash from the blade. Shishio dodged Usui's attacks, still not drawing a weapon. Usui spun his rochin and stabbed downward, embedding the weapon firmly in the ground at Shishio's feet.

With smug simplicity, Shishio flipped the switch on the shaft of Usui's rochin. The heavy weight and more than half of the shaft dropped away with a soft click.

The sound of the weight hitting the ground seemed to echo. For a moment, neither combatant moved. Shishio's face wore a smirk while Usui's mouth was wide open in rage and humiliation.

"Give up, Usui," said Shishio. "You've known for a long time that you have no hope of defeating me."

"Shut up!" Usui started trying to tug his weapon from the ground.

"Actually, I'd like to make you an offer, Usui. I plan on taking control of this nice little place called Hell. Care to join up with us again?"

"Never!" Usui pulled his weapon free from the ground.

"Have it your way." Shishio drew the Mugenjin and lit the deadly flame. "I'm using angel flesh to fuel this Homura Dama. Those creatures are better nourishment than any human."

'He's going to do it,' thought Yumi. 'Lord Shishio is going to kill Usui.'

Shishio began waving his fiery sword back and forth like a flag. He evaded Usui's charge like a Spanish bullfighter. Usui spun on his heel and charged Shishio again.

The hitokiri tossed his remaining gunpowder gauntlet into the air and slashed it with the Homura Dama. As the glove exploded, Shishio snatched up the fallen weight from Usui's rochin and swung it against its owner's temple. Usui fell to the ground, unconscious.

"What was that?" asked Yumi. "Usui's Eye of the Heart should have let him dodge that blow easily!"

"I understand," said Houji. "The Lord Chaos used the heat and roar of the Homura Dama and the blast from the Guren Kaina to distract Usui's sense of hearing. Truly ingenious, my lord!"

"That's right, Houji. The fact that Usui had such sensitive hearing only made the distractions stronger." Shishio smirked. "When you get down to the core of it all, five senses is still better than four."

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"He's regaining consciousness, Lord Shishio," said Houji.

"Good. Usui, get up!" Shishio nudged him with his boot.

"Ungh," grumbled Usui. "Damn you, Shishio," he said weakly.

Shishio laughed quietly. "I've already been damned, Usui." His face turned serious. "Yumi, give me your knife."

Shishio took the dagger from his love and held it out to Usui. "You've got two options, Usui. You can join me in a warrior's cause or die a warrior's death. Which will it be?"

Usui took the weapon, feeling the sheath of lacquered wood in his hand. He had been defeated and humiliated by Saito and Shishio. He had charged down his rival like an insecure boy with a bruised ego and lost again. Death would be a welcome relief from dishonor.

'But if I continue to live,' thought Usui, 'I could get another chance to regain my honor.' With that hope in his mind, he dropped Yumi's knife onto the ground.

"All right, Shishio. You can help me take over Hell."

Shishio laughed at Usui's joke. "On the condition that you can try to kill me whenever you want?"

"I'll either kill you or die trying, Shishio," said Usui. "Either way, I'll be at peace."

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There it is, the second installment of Lord Chaos. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a review.

DXM