He gripped the cliff face with hands bloody from the jagged edges of the rocks.

He could not remember how long he had climbed, how many times he had fallen. Or worse, been dragged down by the creatures from the pit.

He had forgotten more fight's then most immortals fought in there eternity.

Forcing his straining muscles he forced himself up several more inches of the rock face.

Opening his eyes he looked around at the walls of the pit he was in. It had taken him an eternity but he had almost reached the top. He had almost achieved his escape.

Looking down at the near bottomless pit he gazed over the empty, nearly razor sharp rocks he had climbed, from the multitude that had followed him up only four remained to follow in his steps. With a feeling of loss he thought back to the millions of faces that had gripped the small sliver of hope he had managed to conjure as they started the exodus so many centuries ago.

Shaking off the feeling he quickly turned his attention back to the task at hand, it had been he who had freed the shattered souls so long ago. In a fight that had raged from one side of hell to the other they had forced their way out.

He had led them to this pit and started the climb to the surface. So many had been pulled back to the fiery pits they were escaping, so many giving up hope and sliding back down into the flames.

So many lost because of him.

With rage fueling him he forced his way up again.

Looking up he could see the darkness of a cave, the cold welcoming world they had left so long ago.

He could not remember if it was an eternity or a day before he found himself unable to continue, no longer due to exhaustion but due to the barrier known as the Hellmouth.

Waiting for the others in silence he watched the comings and goings of nightlife on the mortal plain.

As the last one reached the top they looked at each other in silence for a moment before nodding.

They knew what was required of them. They where the greatest warriors of the escape, the four generals of his army.

He did not care what their crimes were in life, he knew only that they had redeemed themselves through victory against Gog himself.

Placing their hands against the shimmering barrier the five beings pushed, they knew it would strip them of nearly all their powers, they knew it may well shatter there very souls. They knew, and did not care.

As his fingertips felt the cold air of the mortal realm he felt his companions start to falter. Their strength was nearing an end.

With a surge he broke the barrier, once free he pulled himself to the edge before turning back, the four were holding on to the edge, lacking the strength to pull themselves to freedom.

Gripping the edge tightly he leaned down and gripped the hand of his oldest general. She had been with him from the beginning, she had watched as he had freed himself from the shackles of Abbedon. She had been the first to rally to his call. In the millenniums since that time neither had asked each others names, it simply wasn't important.

Pulling her up he made sure she was well back from the pit before returning.

This time he grabbed the newest of his generals, a man he had found in the Gladiator pits of Asforoth.

He wiped his forehead with his hand and brought it back with a mix of blood and sweat as he moved back to help the others.

His strongest General had made it up and the two of them helped up the last female, a woman he had brought out of the Abyss.

As the three of them moved back to the other two he idly watched as the Hellmouth closed once more.

They rested for a moment before he wiped the blood away from his eyes and forced himself to his feet.

They had been walking towards the surface for several minutes before the first interruption stepped out in the form of several Vampires in full game face.

The lead Vampire looked at the five armored humans with a sneer. "Well boys, looks like dinner has been delivered." He said as he looked at them for a moment before shrugging "Eat the bastards and leave the two chicks for later... I think we need some company tonight"

The Warlord looked the vampires over with disdain before waving off the approach of the others.

The lead Vamp stared as only one moved up. He took a moment to look the human over again. He would almost swear the blood bag was smiling behind the mask.

The Warlord smiled as he slipped into a combat position.