Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to anything in the Soul Calibur franchise. Characters in this fanfiction are owned by Namco, with the exception of my own creations.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, TriggerdFlame and DiLaZirK. Much appreciated. I'll continue doing the first person narrative for a couple more chapters, to see how it goes. If it doesn't turn out too well, I'll revise them into third person. Thanks again!

Transcending history and the world,

a tale of souls and swords,

eternally retold..

Soul Calibur

Chronicles of the Soul

Chapter I

The Enigma

Alas! Alas! Time eats away our lives,

-"Les Fleus du Mal: L'Ennemi," Charles Baudelaire

Peaceful death. What does it feel like? I've asked this question to myself countless of times in the past and still, I have no answer. I have traversed this world, searching for an answer that will finally take me away from this horrible place. Cursed for an eternity, I've been through the passing ages of time, trapped in a cycle of eternal life. For once in my lifetime, I finally want to feel the peaceful moments of death, anything for the chance to finally depart from this world.

But not before long, after I was brought into the land of the living once more, I learned that Soul Edge had appeared, along with the Sword of Salvation, Soul Calibur. This was my opportunity to obtain both for myself and finally end my destiny as a tool of reincarnation. But seeking out both swords would be no easy task to handle.

I heard his voice call out to my being. A voice familiar to me. A voice I haven't heard in ages. Yes, the spirit of the evil blade was finally calling out to me once more. I set forth to the direction of his voice, leading me to an abandoned and ruined cathedral. The structure of the building had nearly been demolished, as if a great battle had occurred within its core. The stained glass that would normally create beautiful images on the floor with the sunlight had been shattered, pieces of ceramic glass scattered around the solid marble surface.

I could still hear his voice, slowly fading towards the dark. I can feel his presence fading into nothingness. Then it came to me. The violet aura of the blade began to swirl around the surrounding atmosphere of the cathedral, a vortex of spinning malice had engulfed the ruined cathedral entirely. It was clear that Soul Edge was beginning to weaken. No, who could have done this? My only means of death will soon escape my grasp! No, I can't let this happen.

Siegfried..

Siegfried..

Siegfried? The sword was chanting this name. Could he be the one who challenged the mighty sword of evil? Could he be the one keeping me from seeking my death? I had to prevent the spirit of Soul Edge from dying. Then I saw it, pieces of an azure armor lying on the floor. Reincarnation to this spirit is the only way to keep him alive, if only for a little while.

And with that decision, I performed the ancient ritual that I had learned a long time ago. The ancient ritual that would reincarnate the spirit of those who died. The spirit of Soul Edge was returning to the suit of armor lying on the ground. Grinning at the sight of the armor becoming animated once more, my plans were coming back to life. The azure knight has returned. Returned to this world as a new and more powerful creature.

The azure knight had informed me that Siegfried carried both the physical manifestations of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur with him. Now the true task is to find this "Siegfried" and take the swords away from his hands. With this scythe, I will scavenge the land for this man and those who oppose me in my task, shall come along with me to the other realm. No one shall confine me into this world any longer. No man, no woman, nothing. For I am Zasalamel, the enigma..