Sparda's Revenge: Story 2

It seemed an eternity that everything was black and silent. Not even Sparda's nightmares awoke him even though through some reason they haunted him even after death. Slowly, a strong breeze was hitting Sparda's face and his body felt numb as if nothing was supporting it. Slowly, his ears filled with the sounds of screams from agonized individuals. As Sparda came to he found himself fall down from a red burning sky into a red sea of blood. Around him, different numbers of Azarathians fell while creaming and waiting in horror to hit the sea below. As Sparda focused his eyes down below, he saw nothing but souls swimming in the sea of blood as more and more Azarathians hit the surface. Despite, Sparda began to look for some way to stop himself from falling into the abyss below. Suddenly, a platform caught his eyes as he fell closer to it. On it also hung another individual that refused to fall. Stretching his arm forward, Sparda tried with all his might to have his hand ready to catch the ledge of the platform as he was inches over it. His hand grabbed onto the ledge for a brief second but slipped off instantly. Luckily for him, he managed to grab a hold of the person you hung on by his leg.

Ship Captain: "Let go fool! You will drag me down to that cursed river!"

Sparda: "There is a task left for me above. I will see it completed."

Sparda took his blades and stabbed the back of the captain as he pushed himself up unto the platform. The Ship Captain that ended his life inside the stomach of the Hydra looked at Sparda with wide eyes.

Ship Captain: "You again!"

Sparda recognized the man as the one he failed to save but also the same man that left him for dead with the entire navy fleet. Sparda smiled amusedly as he watched the man try to grab a hold of his feet.

Sparda: "I don't know why I tried to save you before, but now I will leave you to die as you did for me."

Ship Captain: "No, wait! Please! I can't hold on anymore!"

Finally the half-dead captain lost his grip and fell into the abyss below. As Sparda turned around sighing he was shocked to find six pairs of eyes staring at him. The eyes belonged to an incredible large canine that had three heads coming from its neck. Its body was mixed with three different colors that signified the color of the head. One stood as blue with silver eyes, the other as silver with black eyes, and finally the last one as a red one with orange eyes.

Cerberus: "What do you think you are doing? No one is allowed to even step onto hear. Go back into the river before we devourer your soul."

Sparda: "Stand aside guardian of the underworld. I have not intentions of fighting you unless you let me pass to Azarath."

Cerberus: (Laughing) "Who do you think you be?"

Sparda: "If you don't move, I'll forcefully pass."

Cerberus: "You amuse use you filthy insect. Perhaps we should devour your soul and show you respect through torture!"

The blue head opened its mouth and breathed out a large wave of purple liquid. Sparda rolled out of the way as the liquid seeped down the edge of the plat form. Still the lighting fast strike of the monstrous canine's paw knocked Sparda onto the ground. Then the silver headed on released his cold breath and froze Sparda's hands and feet where they stood.

Cerberus: (Laughing) "Infidel! You are nothing but a sinful mere mortal that seems to be begging for torture. Someone like you will never be allowed to step onto Azarath again and besides, there is no way to escape the underworld without the help of the Gods."

Sparda just looked at the three-headed dog before he broke free from the ice and transformed into his true Demon self. He grabbed the handles on his blades but stopped as he saw the canine's reaction.

Cerberus: "You are a Demon. No, you are the Demon Sparda that our master has been talking about. He has been expecting you for some time now."

Sparda: "Do you speak of Shao Kahn?"

Cerberus: "Yes. Please follow us and we will lead you to him."

As the canine turned around and walked forwards, Sparda hesitated before he began to follow its lead. The Demon Sparda followed the monster through different levels of platforms and bridges. As he followed, he kept looking around himself as he watched souls being tortured while others still fell from the sky to the blood river below.

Cerberus: "We are a bit surprise that The Legendary Dark Knight is in the underworld. We always heard that you were invincible and over millenniums years old. What happened, die of old age?"

Sparda didn't answer but just followed the mocking canine across the underworld. After some time, Sparda saw that they came to a large set of stairs that lead up into a large black temple. As they climbed up the stairs, Sparda saw below that a large portal was opened with different Demons trying to escape but were held back by the army of Shao Kahn. As they finally reached the temple's door, Cerberus pushed it open with two of it's head s as it stood aside to let Sparda enter. At first Sparda looked inside the dark temple before stepping into it. After a few steps, a creature out of nowhere fell from the ceiling in front of Sparda. It stood like a man but his entire figure was that of a lizard. It wore a black and green like armor that was incredibly thin with a medallion of Shao Kahn on his chest. It looked at Sparda with its lizard eyes as it flicked its snake like tongue at him. Looked at the lizard creature with his hand on the handle of his blades. The creature saw Sparda's readiness and in grand speed pulled a large sword with wondrous designs and curve on the blade.

Voice: "Now, now Reptile. Be polite to our guest."

The lizard creature looked straight into Sparda's red eyes as he moved away from him. As Sparda looked ahead of himself, he saw a large throne seated upon gold and treasure all colored black. The throne was carved with such monstrous design that it looked like it might come animated. The figure that sat was the ruler of the underworld, Shao Kahn. The God was covered in black art work and tattoos across his body. On his chest was a pair of leather belts that crossed each other and held different colored rubies. He wore on his head a skull like helmet that head long horns from it and covered his face.

Sparda: "Lord Shao Kahn."

Shao Kahn: "Sparda, it has been a while since we have seen each other. Still I'm surprised to see you here out of all places."

Sparda looked at Cerberus through the corner of his eyes, as the comment was similar to his. Shao Kahn got off his throne and disappeared in a cloud of smoke only to reappear closer to Sparda.

Shao Kahn: "So, tell me how did our champion meet his end?"

Sparda said nothing but only looked at Shao Kahn.

Shao Kahn: "Still I think it's no wonder that you would come here instead ascend into the skies or be reborn, is that right Sparda?"

Once again Sparda said nothing and this began to irritate Shao Kahn a bit.

Shao Kahn: (Irritated) "Not on speaking terms?"

Sparda: "Tell Lord of the Under world, why did you ask for me? If you really want to sent be back how will I if I am dead."

Shao Kahn looked at Sparda studying his Demon form before turning away and heading towards a window from the temple. The lizard creature, Reptile, followed closely after his master.

Shao Kahn: "Look at them down there. My minions and Elder God's armies are still trying to hold back those Demons…I have no idea how Argoton could of freed them right under my nose. I have spent thousands of years watching over them with out a mistake…But yet, it wasn't enough."

Shao Kahn turned towards Sparda and looked at him through his skull helmet.

Shao Kahn: "Now, I the God of the Underworld must watch helplessly as the Demons flow through Azarath once more as Argoton gets stronger by the minute. In time, he might even over throw my own brother, Elder God. Even worst, our own champion, the one who was to kill Argoton and end this, is dead."

Sparda looked uneasy at the thought that he was dead with his corpse still burning in the Desert of Lost Souls. Still he really didn't care for what the God said about his own troubles.

Sparda: "So I see. Well, is there any way?"

Shao Kahn: (Sighing) "To tell you the truth, there is no way to return you back to the surface. That is unless a God thinks you worthy enough."

Shao Kahn disappeared from his spot and returned to the throne. Sparda seemed to be waiting for Shao Kahn to tell him his worth.

Sparda: "Well?"

Shao Kahn: (Laughing) "Now Sparda, do you really think your worthy. You maybe our last chance but I recall heroes being less sinful and usually killed the fiends not the innocent."

Sparda looked at Shao Kahn with rage filling his eyes as he clutched his fists. Shao Kahn laughed at the Demon below as he felt the rage flowing out from his body.

Shao Kahn: "You may be angry with me Sparda, but have I lied."

With those words the God of the Underworld vanished in a cloud of fumes. Sparda stood in front of the lone throne as he shaked in rage. Cerberus and Reptile stood behind Sparda as they sensed his rage. Slowly they backed away into the darkness and disappeared leaving Sparda alone. Just as he was about to unleash his anger, something hit his back. He turned around to find a large rope hanging down as it leads through the temple. Curiously, Sparda looked at the rope before tugging on it to make sure it was held on tight. Satisfied, he began to climb up the rope and hope that it leads to the surface. He felt himself rise out of the temple and into the skies of the underworld. As he climbed he stopped for a moment as he looked down at the open portal full of Demons. For an instant, Sparda could have sworn he heard the wicked laugh of the Demon King, Fortinbras. Not taking it into consideration, he began to pull himself farther up the rope. He felt he legs dangling as he used all the strength in his arms to lift himself. After climbing up the exulting rope, Sparda found himself inside a hole in the ground. He looked up and saw the night filled with thousands of bright stars. He pulled himself out and saw that he was standing in front of the Oracle's Temple in Artines. By his side was the old gravedigger that Sparda met a while ago.

Grave Digger: "Ah Sparda, and not a moment too soon. I only finished digging just a moment ago.

Sparda: "Who are you really?"

Grave Digger: "Ah, now that is an interesting question."

The old man looks to his right, hearing Ares continue to destroy the city

Grave Digger: "But for now, you must hurry, Artines needs you."

Sparda looked at the old man with a confused face.

Sparda: "But how did you know I…"

Grave Digger: (Interrupting Sparda) "Sareena isn't the only God keeping watch on you."

His eyes became wide open as he was about to ask the old man a question if it wasn't for a large blast. Sparda turned to his right to still se the chaos happening down hill.

Grave Digger: "Complete your task, Sparda, and the Gods will forgive your sins!"

As Sparda turned to face the old man, he found that he had disappeared. Shaking his head in a puzzled matter, he looked down at Artines as it lay nearly in entire ruins. He closed his eyes as he could taste is revenge close at hand. He ran down the hill of the Oracle's Temple in search of the God of War.