Hooray, three reviews. That's one review per week! For those of you who actually do read this story, I apologize for any misconception this story has brought about, and I'm especially sorry for taking so god damn long to update. It's not as bad as some people though XD

Also, I noticed two ( I think) mistakes in my own writing. And that doesn't count what Slash pointed out on the day I posted this. You all make lazy editors XD

Disclaimer: Same as Chapter One, I do not own Riviera: The Promised Land, its storyline, characters, items, or anything. I do own a copy of the game though, and it's a good game mind you.

Edit: Made some very last minute changes, and fixed some stuff.

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Chapter Two: Darkness

The depths of darkness brought by death. It wasn't the standard darkness like when you turn out a light at night. It had no warmth to it; no kind of familiarity. It was an empty kind of darkness, but it would call to you. Call you to come; let it devour you whole. There was no escape from the darkness.

Seeping into the darkness. Nothing in life can prepare you for such an event. An event so awkward; so unrealistic that it can't be described in normal wordage. It was painful, but full of peace. The end and beginning at once. Soothing torment. It made no sense, but it didn't need to make sense. It was the end, and beginning, of me.

The soul. A key ingrediant to life. Some say that when you die your soul is purified and reused. Others say your soul just vanishes. And even others say that they roam around their death sites until they are forgiven or taken. None of these are right, but none of these are wrong. For they are all absolute.

The absolute end. A desolate form of existance. A dark passage, and the light at the end. The decision made. I had signed my fate when I died.

From my death there was nothing. No one felt bad, no one cared. No one suffered from my death.

Death had passed.

Awakening.

I somehow found myself in a void. A dimension of sorts. A place that wasn't accessable. A passage that led almost nowhere. A one-way road, and at the end of it was a light.

From where I was, I could only barely see the light. A guide through the darkness. What purpous it served I did not know, but it called me, and I went to it.

For days upon days it seemed that I walked to the light. The road never changed; no obstacles blocked my passage. However, as I walked, the light never got closer. It was as if it was moving from me; avoiding me.

Never feeling tired, hungry, or devoid of some necessity required for life, I marched on ahead. My destination was unknown, my origin was painful, and my existance was futile.

Suddenly, I reached the end. The light was before me, darkness behind me, and abyss on both sides. Taking one step into the light, the world suddenly lit up once more. I was temporarily blinded from the sudden appearance of color. When I recovered, I found myself in an arena, a coliseum of sorts.

" Welcome, my child..." a voice with no origin spoke out.

What in the hell is this place, and where did that voice come from? I thought inside my head.

" You, Merithu, are in Valhalla..." the voice spoke out again.

How th- wait...you can read my thoughts?

" Yes, Merithu..."

So, what are you then? And how the hell do you know that name!

" No need to get angry, Merithu...I am the start of life. I am the end of life...I am the creator..."

That leaves my unanswered question then.

" Incorrect, Merithu...I created you. Would it only be logical to know your true name...?"

...Well...You got a point there...So why am I here, then?

" Tell me, Merithu...Do you know what Valhalla is for?"

Er...Doesn't it have to deal with fighting to be reborn in a new life or something?

" Does that answer your question...?"

...God damnit, stop avoiding my questions.

" Either way, tell me this, Merithu...How does the concept of a new life appeal to you?"

Well...if I had a new life...I guess...I could start over. I'd let the gods decide from there.

" Would you like a second chance at life, Merithu...?"

...Why are you asking this? By this time, I was starting to get really annoyed at all these questions. When would something happen?

" If you are going to act like that, then I guess I won't let you have a chance at it, Merithu..."

God damnit! Okay, fine. Just explain already, because this is very annoying.

" Very well. Basically, I am going to give you a chance to prove your worth, Merithu...If I find you worthy, I shall grant you new life..."

...Is this within the gods' juristriction?

" Do you need to know the answer to that, Merithu...?"

Did you just answer a question with a rhetorical question?

" Did you just answer a rhetorical question with a rhetorical question, Merithu...?"

Can we just get on with this already?

" Have you no respect for who I am, Merithu...? I made you, god damnit!" This creator person or whatnot, I could tell was getting quite frusterated. Looking back, I could tell it was worth being a pain in the ass.

Just...shut up and lets get this over with already.

" Fine. "

Suddenly, in a great flash, a man appeared before me, bearing a giant waraxe. He appeared quite amused based on what he saw, and probably thought he had it easy.

" So, this wench is the one I must fight, eh? Tough luck for one as fragile as you, missy." the man said with a grin. He then spun his waraxe a few times, then ran straight at me, bringing his massive weapon down in a giant vertical arc. Instinctively, but unprepared, I jumped to the side, threw my hand at the ground and used it to shoot myself into the air spinning. During this midair vault I drew Skadi which for one reason or another was at my side.

Landing atop a pillar, I spoke back to the man. " I may be a 'wench' but I sure as hell ain't fragile!"

Then, I jumped into the air and shot down at him using my wings to pick up speed. I raised Skadi and pointed it at him while shooting downwards at him. The man for a second freaked out then ran to the side, barely evading my strike, and Skadi was then lodged into the ground. The force from the attack left a slight crator in the ground.

Seeing the man bring his waraxe into the air, I tightened my grip on Skadi and tried to move out of the way, but something held me back. Looking down at my axe, I noticed it was literally stuck in the ground. Without much time to react, I then jumped the opposite way, just barely avoiding any critical wound as the waraxe skimmed my foot. He then swung his waraxe to the side at me, and I brought Skadi's hilt up to block it. The blow was halted but the force kept going, and I could feel it try to shoot me back a few feet.

Keeping my grip on Skadi, I would either dodge or block each of his attacks. During this assault, I would continue to try to pull Skadi out. Suddenly, he lifted his axe up in the air and it radiated with power. He then swung it down in a vicious arc. Not thinking, I let go of Skadi and literally ran like hell as the waraxe connected with the ground.

The impact created a mini-explosion, causing me to not only lose my balance but rocket backwards about fifteen feet. This explosion left a huge cloud of dust where he and Skadi was. Because of this, I did not know where he was, or if my blue false-Diviner survived the impact. My troubles were more or less soon solved as my axe shot out of the cloud and flew straight at me.

I jumped up and ran straight at my own weapon, and as it almost seemed as if I connected with its shimmering point, I spun to the side slightly to avoid it completely, and in midspin I grapped the hilt, bringing my weapon back under my control.

Just as the dust was settling, the man shot out of the dust, swinging his waraxe quite wildly, heading right at me. I then ran at him as well, and just as he was about to swing at me, I jumped right over him. However, he seemed to predict this somehow, and while I was above him, he turned around and swung his axe vertically from the ground, using the blunt side. Not prepared for this, I was hit with the waraxe, and was sent flying backwards. During flight, a loud pop shot out of nowhere, and a great pain appeared inside me. From the sound and pain, I assumed that he had broken a rib or something. I then connected with a wall.

Slowly getting up, still in pain, I realized that Skadi was missing. I looked out into the path I had taken before I connected to the wall, and about fifteen feet away from me was Skadi. However, the man was in my way, so I could not make for my weapon. The man was charging straight at me, swinging his axe some more. When he reached me, he brought it down vertically once more, but I did not make an effort to dodge it. I easily sidestepped to avoid it, and brought one of my feet down onto it.

The man appeared surprised at this.

" Turn the enemy's weapon into your own! Last Resort! Weapon Thievary! " I suddenly shouted, using two skills at the same time.

With much dexterity, I brought my other foot underneath the handle of the axe, kicked it up into the air, then brought my first foot in an awkward arc and kicked the man in the jaw, sending him into the air a few feet. The waraxe that I knocked into the air started to fall at this point, and I caught it as the man started to fall down.

" With fury, the axe shall become the blizzard of destruction! Absolute Zero!"

I then shot straight at my opponent and brought the axe from above down onto him as he fell, impaling him with the sharp edge. I then brought it out, spun around, then brought the axe from below upwards into him, knocking him back into the air. Then, I jumped into the air after him, and swung the axe several times, attacking from all directions almost. I then landed, spun the waraxe behind me several times, and then threw it, still spinning, at the man.

It shot straight through him. Icicles then formed out of thin air and impaled him from all directions, with each impalement his inner body temperature fell. After the ice barrage, he was pretty much frozen solid, and the waraxe flew through him once more, this time from behind, as it returned to me. The impact from the waraxe shattered the man, and I caught the waraxe.

" The ice has assaulted his soul..." I said, throwing the axe to the side. Almost immediately, I then stumbled downward awkwardly, settling myself into sitting against a wall. Severly worn out and in great pain, I was close to fleeting consciousness.

" Well done, Merithu..." the voice had returned...Just my luck...

God...damnit...are we done yet?

" Yes, Merithu...I find you worthy."

Slowly, I forced myself to stand up.

Then...let's get this...done already.

" Very well, Merithu..."

A bolt shot down from the sky, creating a blinding light, once again blinding me temporarily. When I could see once more, I could not help but stare in awe. In front of me was some kind of being, shrouded in light of a silver tone. The being more or less had the appearance of a small girl, but the aura it gave off signaled that wasn't the truth.

" I wish you the best of luck, Merithu..." the being said. Suddenly, the being thrusted its hand into my chest, causing great anguish. It then tore at my heart for a moment, then seemed to settle. It then pushed its hand into my heard, and soon after the entire being transferred itself into my heart. I felt pain, but also warmth and pleasure of sorts. It was a weird feeling; such as when you fly for the first time. You fear falling, but you get such freedom out of it.

The next thing I knew, I was standing at the entrence to the Maze of Shadows, which for some reason was collapsing. I did not fear the collapsing castle of darkness, but I did not stand around and do nothing either. I proceeded to work my way into the Heaven's Gate.

All pain in my mind was replaced with one name.

Ymir...

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Okay, about damn time I got this thing done. Trust me when I say this, this chapter was hell to write, and I even started over on it twice.

A few things I want to clear up.

Valhalla, in Norse Mythology, is where a warrior goes when they die. There, they face other warriors in one on one battles. The winner of that battle is then granted to go onto the next life, in a reborned state. So in theory, they live a new live, starting as a small infant once more.

Merithu happens to be a name I made up for Malice. The concept behind it is that since Ein's name in the Japanese Riviera is Ecthel, and that most people use it as a formal name, why doesn't Malice or Ledah have another, more formal name? I happened to make one for Malice, and that name is Merithu.

Lastly, Ymir happens to be the first living being in Norse Mythology. It ( I say it because in Norse Mythology Ymir is a hermaphrodite XD) more or less started the first civilization in the World known as Yggdrasil, when you think about it, and so I dubbed it The Creator, which does seem to fit.

As always, review please :D