Sparda's Revenge: Story 2

It seemed like Sparda was climbing those dark stairs forever. Every once in a while a undead, harpy, or minotaur would show up but it was nothing Sparda could take care of. When he finally reached the end of the stairs, he found himself on a ledge where a bridge used to be. On the other side was another ledge but had a gong hanging. A couple of feet above Sparda was a bridge but looked like it could be lowered down.

Sparda: "I wonder if…"

Sparda took out is blades and tossed them in hopes of hitting the gong. Unfortunately, the chains were too short to allow the blades to hit the gong.

Sparda: "There must be another way."

At that instant, a harpy swooped down at Sparda and attempted to attack him. Sparda simple grabbed the harpy and tore of its wings and limbs. As he was about to throw the corpse, he stopped. He took aim with the dead harpy and let it fly towards the gong. The harpy hit the gong and fell just below it. The sound of the gong vibrated the whole area as parts of the ledges debris began to fall off. The bridge from of above began to lower itself down towards the two ledges. As it fit into place, Sparda stepped with one foot to check if the stone bridge was safe. Satisfied, he continued to move over to the center of the bridge where a mystical design was carved. It was a shape of a snake and a bird around a golden circle. As he surveyed the design, he noticed a small bright hole right in the center of the design. He kneeled down next to it and placed his hand over it. Immediately, a shower of fire exploded from the hole causing Sparda to jump in alarm. The flame soon expanded a bit wider as if trying to fit someone inside. When the flames extinguished, a woman was shown standing in front of Sparda. She wore a silver see through dress and her brown hair combed back.

Oracle of Artines: "Do not fear, Sparda. I am the Oracle of Artines, here to help you defeat Argoton."

Sparda looked at the oracle from head to toe and saw that she had a very pale appearance. Sparda reached out forth at the oracles bust but his hand just went through her. He pulled back his hand and walked the oracle once more.

Oracle of Artines: "The gods have informed me that your are in need of help. Come to my temple just past the Artines city square. There I will tell you how to kill a God."

The hologram then vanished leaving Sparda alone.

Sparda: "So I'm reaching my wish ever so closer. Heh…Feel regretful that it will end this fast."

Sparda passed the bridge to the other ledge. As he stepped onto the ledge where the gong was, bridge then lowered itself into the dark pit below. Sparda saw the corpse of the harpy lay nearby and kicked it down the pit as well. He then continued his way up another flight of stairs that seemed to be glowing gold by all the torches. Yet he wasn't alone inside the flight of stairs. Behind him crept four minotaurs followed closely by a pair of gorgons. Sparda slowly turned around as if all ready annoyed by them. The minotaurs bellowed at Sparda with ear shattering roars.

Sparda: "Quite Demon."

He reached into the sack that hung by his legs and pulled out Medusa's head. He let the minotaur's face it as they fought to not turn into stone. When all four had turned, he came close to them. Smiling, he spun his leg around knocking off the heads of all the minotaurs. Sparda failed to notice the gorgons behind the minotaurs until they crashed through the bodies of the minotaurs. The gorgons were the servants and children of Medusa. The looked like Medusa but were smaller and had a golden color. They hissed at Sparda as the pair slithered to him. Sparda shown Medusa's head at the gorgons but they seemed unfazed by it. One of the gorgons knocked Sparda off his feet by its tail. Sparda sat on the step of the stair looking at the gorgons. He pulled his blades from his back and rammed it into the throat of one of the gorgons. The other gorgon attempted to jump on Sparda but was rammed by Sparda's horns. Impaled by Sparda's horns, it slowly bled on Sparda's body. Sparda pushed the snake Demon of his head and stomped on top of its head. He wiped the blood off his face and continued on. He finally reached two iron doors at seemed to have screams coming from the other side. Sparda stood for a second and transformed into his human self. He pushed the doors open to find himself on a balcony facing the burning city of Artines. The kingdom spread far as the eye could see with thousands of buildings and temples. It was a grand kingdom of a city but it was falling apart. Everything was burning and falling apart into rubble. The sky was spinning like a whirlpool and fired burning balls of fire at the city. Below, thousands of Artines inhabitants fought to survive the hoards of Demons unleashed upon them. Suddenly huge footsteps could be heard coming close to Sparda. He crouched down under on of the rails and felt the huge figure getting closer. Then the fire emerged to be no one other then Argoton. He stood two hundred feet tall as he wondered the city and destroyed anything that got in his path. In his hand was Sparda's red sword with a dragon's eye on the side. He used it to cut down the temples of Artines. He passed by Sparda, unknowing that he was very close to him. The God of War left the sight of Sparda with a path of rubble and debris.

Sparda: "God of War, I haven't forgotten you. For what you did that night… This city will be your grave."

He lend against the rail of the balcony to see the he was still was very high off the ground. With a deep breath, Sparda got on top off the rail. With a mighty jump, Sparda flew through the air on top of a temple. From there, he leaped acrobatic jumps and moves across the buildings on Artines. If a harpy came in his way, Sparda would drop them from the sky. He stopped on top of a stronghold and used his sharp red eyes to find the oracles temple. As Sparda was about to leap once more, a ball of molten lava fall on the stronghold causing it to collapse. All Sparda could do was avoid being hit by the rubble and hold on. As the building crumbled, Sparda made a jump for a large statue of Sareena. He grabbed hold of it just before the huge stronghold crashed onto the people and Demons below. Sparda sighed a breath of relief as he began to lower himself down the bust of Sareena. How he slid down the statue, he used only on hand and seemed to be running as he slid. When he reached the knees of Sareena, he jumped of as another fireball tumbled the great statue. Luck for Sparda, an undead warrior made a nice welcoming landing. He rose from the corpse to find hundreds of citizens and soldiers dead across the streets. Hundreds more were scrambling around, trying to avoid killed by the Demons or snacked out of the skies by harpies. Sparda watched as two harpies picked up a man and ribbed him in half. They then flew off to eat their own piece. Sparda walked through the screaming crowds as they bumped passed Sparda. He heard a scream of a child coming from behind him. He turned around to find a young girl backing away while still sitting on the floor. A number of Demons and undeads came wandering closer to her, with their bloody weapons drawn. Out of rage, Sparda transformed into Demon self and charge at the Demons. Ruthlessly, he hewed every single one that he could catch. He ripped their limbs of their still living bodies and cracked their bones. Sparda sleighed the last one around him and drew big breaths of air. Out of his fury, he had killed twenty Demons in less then a minute. His blood began to race and his eyes began to glow red. His thirst for killing had exploded out of him as he saw the ruthless slaughter of the inhabitance. He almost felt like the rage was going to cause him to explode. A small hand tugged at Sparda very softly. Sparda looked down to find the little girl looking up at him with watery eyes. Sparda felt his rage simmer down as he looked at the little girl. Her frightened face was cover in dirt and blood. Sparda crouched in front of her and smiled.

The little girl seemed frightened as ever when Sparda came closer to her. He suddenly realized he was in his legendary Demon form. He quickly exorcised his Demon self and turned into his human self. The girl now seemed to be less frightened but rather more curious at the man before here.

Girl: "What's your name?"

Sparda: "Sparda. Who you may be?"

Girl: "Ariel."

Sparda: "Ariel? That's a wonderful name."

The little girl let out a small weak smile across her face. For some reason, Sparda thought that this little girl looked liked Arella. She had the same purple hair as Sparda's wife and the same pale face.

Sparda: "Can you help me little Ariel? I'm looking for a way to the Oracle of Artines' Temple. Do you know where I can find it?"

Ariel: (Brightly) "Of coarse I do! It's by the gardens with the golden roses."

She grabbed his hand and started to guide him towards the street. While citizens ran one way, Sparda and Ariel walked the opposite way. They reached a huge circular area where the temples and pillars stood around the empty street.

Ariel: "This is the town square. The temple is just passed that."

She pointed at a massive church like building that seemed to by the only one made of wood. She took Sparda's hand once more and started to guide him when a stampede of people erupted from the corners and ran wildly.

Citizen 1: "We're doom! Why have the Gods betrayed us?"

Citizen 2: "Run! It'll kill us all."

Sparda: "Pray tell what will?"

Following the fleeing Azarathians was three massive Cyclops Demons. They pushed pasted the pillars of buildings as if they were tall grasses. Their one eyes spied their meals running around helplessly. They wore small loin clothes and held mallets mad from the lower jaw of dragons. Their heads wear incredibly small compared to the rest of their body. They grabbed handfuls of people and devoured them alive in their mouths. Ariel hid behind Sparda as he watched one of the Cyclops Demons bite a man in half.

Sparda: "Ariel, go hid yourself."

She looked into Sparda's red eyes helplessly but listened to him. She ran over to a pillar that tumbled and hide underneath it. Sparda walked up to one of the Cyclops and whistled to get its attention. It turned its head slowly as it smashed three soldiers with its mallet. It growled underneath its breath as it averted its attention to Sparda.

Sparda: "That's right. Come to Sparda."

The Cyclopes made his way towards Sparda, stepping on those who got in his way. Just as the Cyclops reached out to grab its meal, Sparda turned into his Demon self and ran up the arm of the Cyclops. The Cyclops had very little time to react to Sparda's great speed. Sparda stopped by the Demon's shoulder and drew his blades out. He took the blades and slid the throat of the massive titan. The Cyclops placed its large hand across its throat as the blood trickled down his hands to the ground. Sparda wrapped his chains around its neck and with incredible strength, flipped the Cyclops on its back. The Cyclops gargled its last breath as blood ran down its mouth. The other two Cyclops stopped and looked at Sparda in rage. They held their mallets in the air and charged at Sparda. Sparda put one blade in front of him and the other back as he prepared to attack. Sparda made a great back flip over the first Cyclops but landed strait onto the second Cyclops' eye. The Cyclops roared in pain as blood exploded from its eye. Sparda wasn't finished yet with him yet. He started to stab and re-stab the Cyclops' eye before if finally fall to the ground.

Sparda: "One to go."

Sparda tossed his blades at the last Cyclops. The blades pierced through the knees of the grand titan. Sparda then ran around his legs, wrapping the chains around them. The Cyclops tripped and fell on top of a pillar that ran itself through its large belly. Sparda released his chains and pulled out his blades from the creature's knees.

Sparda: "Damn! I forgot to make use of Medusa's head on them."

He passed by a crowd of people who watched Sparda in great awe.

Sparda: "Are you sure it's wise to just stand there?" (Pointing to the dead) "Demons will come. Better run and hide yourself."

The crowd then quickly broke apart as they looked for shelter.

Sparda: "Ariel!"

The little girl peered her head from underneath a pillar.

Ariel: "Master Sparda, can you please become your other self."

Sparda chuckled as he relinquished his form that scared the little girl so. He picked Ariel up from under the pillar and placed her firmly on her feet.

Ariel: "Come, this way."

She once again began to pull Sparda towards the large wooden building. As hey reached the doors, two more Cyclops emerged from the sides. Ariel shrieked and hid behind Sparda. Sparda smiled and reached into the sack that held Medusa's head.

Sparda: "Close your eyes."

The little girl shut here eyes tightly as Sparda held the head up at the Cyclops. When Ariel final opened her eyes she found that the two Cyclops were switched with statue replicas.

Sparda: "Now I made use."

He then once more progressed towards the doors. With one hand, he pushed over the two statues away from the doors. They fell and shattered completely against the ground. Sparda and Ariel walked into the chamber of the building to find that it was a small church for the Gods. As Sparda walked, he spied a statue of Argoton among the statues of the other Gods. Out of rage, he defiles the statue with his blades.

Ariel: "Up these stairs. Hurry up."

She pushed Sparda up the stairs as he nearly stumbled about. The stairs where short and there was a chamber at the end of the stairs. As they walked, a woman in a blue rag like dress came from the top of the stairs. She stopped in her steps as she saw Sparda walking towards her.

Woman: "Stay away, don't come near me! Stay away you monster!"

She ran back inside through the chamber doors.

Sparda: "Inhabitants here sure are not as friendly as I hoped."

Sparda pushed the doors but found the to be locked. Annoyed, he rammed his hand through the door and unlocks it from the other side. The room was full of books and paintings of eminent Azarathians. The woman shook her had and backed away towards the balcony.

Woman: "Scared Woman: I know who you are. I know what you've done, monster! Stay away! Don't come near me! Keep awa…"

The woman lost her balance as he backed up over the ledge of the balcony. Sparda leaped for the woman but missed her as she fell from the balcony. The woman fell onto the concrete below, splattering blood from her corpse. Sparda turned away and spied a key on of the desks full of books

Ariel: "That quite all right. She was a bit strange, Master Sparda."

Sparda: (Taking the key) "So, where to from here."

Ariel pushed out a painting out of the way to reveal a crack in the wall. She entered inside followed closely by Sparda.

Sparda: (Sighing) "Are you really leading by to there little girl."

Ariel: " Of course Master Sparda. The priests don't allow others to enter the oracle's temple. I usually enter gardens of the oracle secretly through here."

The passage way was much for different then the other one. This one moved in all directions and had steep falls or high ledges. When finally they reached the end, they where facing a drawbridge.

Ariel: "Who's that?"

Sparda turns to find a soldier, cowering behind a lever.

Sparda: "You! We must get across! Release the lever, extend the bridge!"

Soldier: "No…No! I won't let them get me. They won't get across. These monsters, they… they'll tear me apart!"

Sparda grabbed the lever by the man and pulled it.

Sparda: "Coward."

The bridge lowered itself down as the soldier shock his head viciously.

Soldier: "No, you'll let them pass!"

Sparda ignored the man's pleas and made his way on the bridge with Ariel. As they crossed the bridge, Sparda felt someone's presence real close by. He put his hand in front of Ariel to signify her to stop.

Sparda: "Something is coming this way."

Sparda drew his blades and listened carefully. He heard large footsteps coming from behind the huge doors in front of them. Sparda got in front of the girl as the footsteps shock the bridge and then stopped.

Sparda: "Stay here."

Sparda made his way to the doors at the end of the bridge. Suddenly, a hand burst through the door holding a mace. The hand then pulled back as another crashed through. Finally the doors feel as three Cyclops stood in front of the doorway. Behind them, an army of undeads, minotaurs, gorgons, and Demons crowded together.

Sparda: "Damn."

The Demons charged at Sparda as he drew the head of Medusa. He pulled it at the faces of the Cyclops and Demons as the turned to stone. Sparda smiled but quickly notice that more Demons came through the doorway. Sparda picked up the Medusa's head once more but was snacked out of Sparda's hands by a harpy. The harpy flew away as the Demons crowed on to the bridge. Sparda backed away with the little girl behind. Suddenly, the doors behind them burst up to show all another army of Demons. The soldier screamed as his limbs where ripped away by the greedy Demons. Sparda could of fought off the number of Demons but protecting the girl as well would prove to be difficult. The Demons pushed each other as the army screeched and roared at their next victims.

Sparda: "Let's have at it!"

Just as the Demons where inches away, lightning exploded out of the sky. The lightning hit the Demons on the bridge as their corpses and limbs exploded in a gory incineration. Sparda covered himself over Ariel as the blood and gore of the Demons. Sparda felt the blood stop falling on him and got off Ariel. He looked around the bridge as smoke fumed from the blood and corpses of the Demons. As the smoke slowly cleared, a man in white clothes robes stood on the other side of the bridge. His perfect silky hair hung to his back as electricity surged through his body.

Sparda: "Krondos."

Krondos: "Raiden. My name is Raiden."

Sparda: "Surly it is Krondos."

Krondos: "Sparda. I realize that you may be upset with me. I know that have broken our brotherhood deal of not taking the offers to become Gods but…"

Sparda: "Why have you come here Krondos?"

Krondos: (Sighing) "I have come to aid you as well in your fight against Argoton."

Sparda: (Sarcastically) "The Gods are so genres to me."

Krondos: (Laughing) "I miss your wits Sparda."

Sparda looked at him with a confused faced. Suddenly Sparda felt his chest shake and he too began to laugh. He came up and grabbed Krondos' hand in one of their childhood handshakes.

Sparda: "Now then, what will you give me?"

Krondos: "Right. Let me see your blades."

Sparda pulled the blades from his back and handed it to his friend. Krondos held the blades in his hands as electricity and lightning shocked into it. Krondos eyes turned white as he finished his presaged. He loosened the grip from the blades as Sparda pulled them with incredible speed to his hands and then his back. Krondos pointed to a Demon who was crawling away with out its legs.

Krondos: "Aim your blades at it."

Sparda pointed one of the blades at the fleeing Demon and stood still.

Sparda: "Now what?"

Krondos: "Considerate and feel the power within the blades."

Sparda closed his eyes and cleared his mind. Suddenly he felt a foreign power that he never felt before. He felt the power drain from him and into the sword. Sparda opened his eyes and pushed the blades out further. A large surge of lighting emerged from the blades and obliterated the Demon.

Sparda: (Smiling) "Oh yeah!"

Krondos "Now then…(Turning to the little girl hiding behind Sparda) "Who's this?"

Ariel: "Ariel, lord Raiden."

Krondos: "Would you like to come with me? I'll take you some place safe."

Ariel: (Looking at Sparda) "But I need to show master Sparda where to go. He looks for the Oracles temple."

Sparda: "That is fine Ariel but I can take it from here."

Ariel: "Ok…"

Krondos bend down and picked up the little girl. He held her in one hand as he said his farewells to Sparda.

Krondos: "May you prosper."

With that, the former Demon and girl vanished as a lighting bolt landed on them. Sparda stood for a minute before turning into his Demon body. He made his way passed the bloody bridge, stepping on a Cyclops' eye.