Hello Everybody, This is Wombag1786 here. So originally I was going to upload the next chapter of 'Thus the Bear of the West Roamed there.' But I couldn't find the time to write it. I had this chapter half done from last Halloween and with Finals approach I'd figure I give you something. So, to that end I give you a Gate JSDF Halloween short story. This is one of my first Gate JSDF story idea, and I wonder if you can guess the story before the ending. With that I wish you readers a happy Halloween, and please enjoy.
I don't own **** Or Gate JSDF
Lelei Narrative 2nd POV
The gate, considered by many to be a holy sight. For all species, Elf, Monster, Demi Human, and recently human comes from. The God Hardy once every few millennium would open the gate, allowing for something new into the region. However this time, she open the gate to a world that was long since dead. A world where something much darker shambles silently. A word that is on the brink of destruction. What spawn came through will ripple the world, however one amongst the millions of poor souls is not dead.
IC 687 Alnus Hill, 3rd POV
A war party of ten thousand strong marched through the hills towards Alnus. The location of the sacred gate. At the helm was none other then Count Formal of Italica. He and a few others were summoned to the gate. Rumor spread that the gate will open and the empire saw it as a chance to strike and loot what ever was on the other side. Untold riches, exotic crops and slaves filled the minds of the solders he commands. However not Count Formal. He's not one for such things. His two eldest daughters had wed, and his youngest is set to inherit the kingdom. He'd wish to spend his time with his youngest, teaching her to rule. But atlas duty calls. His thoughts were interrupted when his eyes set upon the ancient stone object. The Gate. A magnificent and divine relic that stands the test of time. They are trotting on holy grounds, so with a quick prayer to the gods for a swift and easy victory he rides to the front. He arrived near the front, along side Count Sway and Count Magnus, both of which greeted him.
"Ah, count Formal. Glad to have you at the helm. Today is a good day for the subjugation of whomever is beyond the gate." Count Sway said with a prideful and delusional tone.
"Hmm, I agree. I'll… we I mean we will be extremely rich from the slaves we bring back." Count Magnus remarks as he tried to not get caught up in the fantasy of slaves from the other side.
"Hmm, let us stay focus Count Sway, Count Magnus. We don't know what we are expecting or the other side." Count Formal remarks cautiously.
"Bah, cation. If we were cautious then the empire itself would be nothing but fearing senators groveling for protection." Count Sway remarks as he waved off Count Formals warning.
"I'd have to disagree Count Sway. A little caution into the unknown never hurt anyone…" Count Magnus said in agreement with Count Formal, before letting his greed show by remarking, "We should let the Demi-humans and low borns go ahead first. Would save us money should they be killed off first."
Count Formal gives a small sigh. He was not one for violence, and he had more forward ideas about the Demi-Humans. But he was a man of honor, first and foremost. His emperor has called upon him and thus he must leave his land and into the unknown. They continue riding till they reach the gate. Any moment now, it shall open. Taking the moment, Formal turned around and shouts as loud as he can to his soldiers.
"Men! We have been given a sacred and honorable task. I can't promise you victory. I can't promise you riches. I can't promise your safety. But know this. Very few would dare to answer the call of fate. I'm proud and honor to serve with you. I'd pray we all make… or at the very least die with honor!" Count Formal shouts out causing the soldiers to applaud in admiration. The other counts didn't much care for it, but none the less chose to applaud Formal.
That's when the Gate opened. A cold chill went through with a huge gust of wind blowing snow from the other side. This of course made the men a bit hesitant. However they watch on as the Demi-Human and mercenaries race forward with no resistance. So the militia and low borns marched on through. Just as the main legion was about to head on in, the winds turned against them. What was freezing cold air blowing out was now a powerful suction that was dragging the men in. Count Formal was thrown from his horse and hit the ground. He had dislocated his arm and was being pulled inside, acting quickly he pulled his blade from his scabbard and stabbed it into the ground. Preventing himself from being sucked in. After a few moments the extreme suction had stopped and those who weren't pulled I had a moment to pull themselves to there feet.
"What in Hardy's name was tha…" Before Count Formal could finish there was an extreme output of rock, dust, metal, and ice that shot out from beyond the gate. The huge fragments shot out across the world like a shotgun blast.
As far as the Northern Desert, to the mountain of Ice and snow. It rained debris from pebbles to the size of castles down. Crushing and killing untold hundreds. For those at the gate, the rocks that shot out had formed a cave like surface, burying untold thousands in a rockslide as the scene goes to black.
An unknown amount of time passes by as the scene opens on the Count. He is covered in multiple rocks, struggling to breath. As his body is being slowly crushed, voices can be heard through the rocks.
"I found him! I found him! Gods be good, help me get this off him!" A voice from above called out as the rocks were slowly being removed. Suddenly the Count could breath as a dim light appeared above him. He takes a few gasp of air as two soldier pulled him from the ruble.
"Are you alright Count Formal?" A soldier asked.
"(Cough, cough) I'll (cough, cough) I'll be alright… just some (cough, cough) water will help." Count Formal remarks as he was handed a water skin. Quickly chugging it to free his throat of dust, he then looked at the small group. "Ah… soldier… where are we?"
"I know not my lord. It seems whatever happened on the other side, had resulted in a rockslide." The soldier replies as a few others begin to make makeshift torches.
"So we are still on Alnus Hill. Rather, buried under it." Count Formal remarks as he looks around. "Any chance the entrenching tools survive?"
"Aye, but only a few and not for the work we need to escape this place." The soldier points out. The few tools the count can see among the small band of soldiers were just a few shovels and picks, most broken in half. "We must find a spot close to surface if we are to ever escape this tomb."
"Hmm, alright. Just keep a look out for any other soldiers. I'd rather they not die alone in this tomb." Count Formal said as he stands up.
The soldier nods before directing everyone to keep a keen eye for any signs of soldiers or sunlight. As Formal looks around trying to adjust to the dark surroundings, he couldn't help but notice something off in the distance. It looked human but moved in an unnatural way. Sadly, he had no time to investigate as it was only a brief moment. The group of twenty strong and ten injured. They moved cautiously through the maze-like system, trying to find any lights or evidence pointing to an escape. Yet they never came across anything that would point them to it. However there was a nagging feeling that they were being watch. The feeling of being watch, as well as no sign of seeing the light has caused despair to set in the men. With that despair came annoyance, annoyance that now turned to desperation.
"Ugh, we are never getting out of here." One soldier complains.
"Stow it soldier, we will escape this place." Another soldier shouts down in anger.
"Look around, we have been marching around for hours and we have not seen sunlight." A different soldier complained.
"If you mutter another word about dying down here, then I will ensure your predications come true. Starting with you low born!" A high ranking soldier said as he put's his hand on his weapon.
"Stop it!" Count Formal snaps in anger. It took him a few moments before calming down. The caves were starting to get to him as well, but his children need him more then ever. "We have been swept up in the excitement of the gate, and now the gods have shown the consequence of our hubris. But we must not waver. We must escape from this cavern. For if we die here how, then let it be known we have done everything to escape this hell."
His little speech didn't sow the seed's of resilient and inner strength as before. But it was enough to calm the soldiers. They continued traveling through the treacherous caves till they couldn't no more. Stopping to rest they rationed the little food that survived and scavenged the meat from dead horses they found. That night was torment for everyone. Very few soldiers slept, and even then, their dreams were filled with the most haunting of nightmares. Count Formal had dreamt of his home, ablaze with the screams of his citizens, and something else of monstrous origins. He couldn't see what it was, but a strange structure stood above Italica's burning gate. A strange obelisk stood tall, overshadowing the land. It glowed red with multiple runes whispering terrible secrets. He tried to run away but was met by his daughters. All three had slit throat wounds, jagged teeth, and glowing eyes. They screamed the most horrific of curses before tackling him. They ripped out his guts, tore his limbs from their sockets, and shredded his throat. This visage caused Count Formal to nearly scream in fright as he woke from a cold sweat.
He breathed heavily as he looked around the cavern. He see's many of his soldiers were resting, but couldn't sleep. The few soldiers were twisting fiercely as if they were being assaulted in their dreams. He begins to rub his eyes, but dared not close them for long. The images in his head was to vivid to be dream. He dared not to think about what he saw, nor ever to witness it again. Dream or not. As he tried to recover a humming voice caught his attention. The humming was low and pleasant, but the voice. He recognizes the voice and it nearly drove him mad with horror. It was the voice of his wife, his long dead wife.
"P-Pricilla?" Count Formal asked as he gets to his feet. "Is that you?"
The haunting melody got louder and louder drawing Count Formal away from the group. He travels down the cave before finding himself facing a beautiful cherry blond woman. She danced like garden fairy. He was tempted to approach his wife, but he knew that this wasn't her. She was dead, she died to give birth to his youngest. What ever this… abomination is, it was just luring him away, possible to his death. He found the inner strength to turn away, but the moment he did those angelic hums turn to blood soak screams. His eye flickered open. It dawned upon him that he was sleep walking and those angelic hmm's of his dead wife was the screams of soldiers. Turning around his eyes widen in horror as it then became apparent that he was in a cavern of the dead. Multiple soldiers, some he knew from Italica league were being feasted upon by horrific monsters. Monsters with contorted limbs, claws sticking out of their rib cage, tendrils of bone and flesh out of their shoulders, and worst of all wearing the blood soak clothes of their uniforms.
Only now that he has taken in the full horror of it did these grotesque abominations took notice to him. One of these Abominations, was the slave that Count Magnus had brought was staring at him. Pale as a corpse with blood stained mouth. She was standing over her master, or rather inside his hollowed out chest cavity. He fingers had fallen off, with only sharpen bones remained. She let's a horrific scream before rushing to Count Formal with cannibalistic intent in her eyes.
"Gods be damned!" Count Formal screamed before grabbing his sword. He ducked down to avoid the slash, but it still tore the side of his face. Blood dripped down as he removed his sword and took a swing at the monster.
He pierced her body, impaling the heart but that didn't slowed the monster that she had become. It still tried to tear apart. It pushes down on him and as he was pushed down as those creatures pounced on him. His screams go silent as the monsters tore him to shreds. That is when he awoke. He could feel the pain of being torn apart. As he gasped for air he looked around finding that he hadn't even left the room where he was sleeping.
"What madness had that gate brought upon us?" Count formal said as he hugs his head.
He dared not fall back asleep, though he questioned if he was really dreaming. After an hour it became apparent that nobody could fall back to sleep. So with what little rations they have they continued their search to escape this hell. They continued trudging on for hours. Sleep deprived and barley conscious. The marched on and on and on. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours, hours… feel like days. As time carried on the groups eventually found themselves on boarder of Madness when one soldier spots something.
"By the gods, is that… is that dirt?" One soldier nearly screamed.
"Were surrounded by dirt and stone you fool. Course it's dirt." A highborn soldier scolds.
"No soft dirt. Father always told me never to plant on soft dirt, as it's to shallow from surface." The soldier retorts as he begins to dig. The group gave an odd look, believing him to have lost it. That's when a single ray of light shined on through.
"Oh by the gods. Bless the farmers. Gods bless you stinking famers!" the same highborn soldier shouts with joy.
"You heard him men. We need to dig!" Count Formal shouts out to his men quickly grabbed whatever can be used as tools to dig.
There were two huge boulders between the soft dirt. To escape they need to chip away at the stone. They dig, and dig, and dig till eventually they could shove a full arm through. They continued to dig when noises from behind slowly made their way forward. It was a gurgling moaning noise. Almost like someone was drowning.
"What in Hardys name is that sound?" One soldier asked as he goes to inspect. Another soldier followed him, wondering the same thing.
As they approach the darkness, they noticed a figure, hunched over. Rocking back and forth. He was deathly pale, and wasn't bold. This confused the two as they don't recall anyone from the group being bald. Hesitantly one soldier reaches out to touch the shoulder, as he does the entire head fell back. Only thing holding it to the body was nervous and mussels.
"By the gods!" The soldier screamed in horror when suddenly the body jumped him.
Over with Count Formal, he had given up his position to take a breather when he heard the distant screams from behind. Looking over he can see two men being attacked by a corpse. One of the soldiers was unlucky and was being ripped to shreds by the bare finger nails of the abomination. The other savagely hacked and slashed away at the body but nothing seemed to kill it. That's when he finally severed the head. The creature fell to the ground dead as the man it had killed. With a horrified huff of exhaustion the soldier looked down at his comrade he had failed to save. Looking back up he notices that everyone had stopped digging to see what had happened. He takes a step forward when suddenly the creatures head pounced on him. The soldiers watch in horror as a number of tendrils made from nerves and bones, strangled the soldier. Like a wire, it decapitated him before shoving it's tendrils down his exposed neck. The body shudders before going still. Then it moved, picking up the dangling head before shoving it crudely upright.
"By the gods…" Count Formal managed to squeak out before suddenly the creature makes a loud gurgling roar.
In the distance, more gurginling sounds can be heard as multiple goo-ie footsteps came racing from the dark. Horrific monsters similar to the counts dream raced out of the dark towards the cornered men.
"It's a TRAP!" One soldier shout as he goes for his sword. Before he could even remove it from his sheath one of those monsters grabbed him from a small hole. Try as he might he was pulled in. having all his bones broken and snapped to fit into the tight hole.
"We need to get out of here! Get out of my way!" Another soldier panicked as he raced over to the hole. He panics as he clawed away at dirt and stone.
All the soldiers begin to panic more and more of these abominations raced towards them. All misshapen and disturbingly flayed. Some soldiers were killed instantly and brutally, other tried to run but were caught by these monsters. Other tried to dig their way out. Not caring if they flayed their finger nails on the dirt. As for the Count, it became all to apparent. They need to escape, warn the empire of the monsters on the other side. He screams out to his men to take rank. Few only followed command of their Count.
"Hold the line men! We need to escape this hell hole. Hold the line!" Count Formal calls as he drew his sword.
The few men who followed his command grabbed a mismatch of weapons and shields. Taking a few shields to form a turtle defense. These monsters were not made of steel, rather fought with bone and flesh. Despite the soft tissue, they did not go down when stabbed. Rather they continued on despite the grievous wounds. Even when their head was decapitated they didn't stay dead for long. Those… walking parasites got into there bodies, and continued on. The line couldn't hold for long. As every few moments one of the monsters would drag one of the soldiers in, before tearing them apart. What would have taken a regular army, it took these monster minutes to break the Empires formable turtle stance. They were being pushed back, with multiple casualties. Finally one of the soldiers broke through the dirt and rock. Getting a hole big enough for the smallest of soldiers.
"Count we made a hole! But it isn't big enough!" one soldier shouts as he quickly strips down.
"Go! We need to warn everyone! These monsters can't make their way to the surface!" Count Formal shouts as he dismembered one monster.
The soldiers begin to panic. They did not want to die down here. They begin clawing and fighting among each other to escape. Despite their size and armor almost all of them couldn't fit, but that didn't stop them from trying. As the line begins to break and the monsters rushed through, Count Formal takes his last swing when he felt a sobbing pain in his chest. Looking down he see's a child size hand going through him. looking behind, he see's the small creature that had his heart. The slave Count Magnus had brough was on him. Refusing to let go without revenge He pulled a knife from his belt. A gift from his youngest. He shoved it into the monstrous face just before she could rip his throat out. The creature fell of his back and was quickly delt with by one of the few remaining soldiers. Despite their brave attempt to save their Count, it was all in vain. The monster were upon them and the Count's heart was being trampled. In his last moments he looked up to see the Monster that were slaughtering his men.
"Elle, Loui, Myui… forgive me." Count Formal said with a single tear of regret falling down his face. He had promise to return safely to his children… but it seems he will no longer make that promise. The monsters then dived on top of him, ripping the Count to shreds as the scene goes to dark.
All that can be heard in the darkness, was multiple screams of agony, pain, and fear. Along with a gushing sound of bones breaking, flesh stripping, and blood oozing out onto the cold ground. The howls of these monsters overtakes the screams of the men… before everything goes silent. A long void silent. No screams, no roars, and no flesh… pure maddening cold silence.
Lelei Narrative 2nd POV
The view now opens on Alnus hill. Weeks later, an army from allied kingdoms march upon what was once known as Alnus. As they march along, a lone soldier approaches a small hole in the ground. Hearing strange noises, he goes to investigate it.
"In the first hour, 100,000 men and Demi-Human mercenaries disappeared under a landslide. Only three managed to escape. Two went mad before killing themselves and the sole survivor told a tale of horrific creatures laying beneath the rock and soil. Despite his warnings and mad terror in his eyes, no one believed him. In the following weeks, story's begin to spread about whole towns going missing. Bodies of people twisted beyond recognition hunting in the shadows near Alnus. Then they emerged."
Before he walk's away, multiple hands grabbed him. He screams can be heard as his body was snapped in multiple places, just so he can be dragged into the hole. The allies begin to panic as across the whole field, multiple hands sprung out of the narrowest of holes. Slicing limbs and dragging them bellow. Just as things can't get any worst, a single attack appeared from the ground. It sliced two men to pieces with it's bone like claws. The others were hesitant to attack, as they knew the attacker.
"Monsters of horrific deformity, with arms protrude from the abdomen and shoulders, sharp enough to slice and render flesh like butter. But most haunting of all, are those who are recognizable, the dead had reanimated the dead, and those 100,000 who died beneath the landslide had arisen to find a fresh source of food, just above them."
The monster ripped huge chunks out of the soldier's body before slowly turning around. Reaving him much to the horror of King Duran that the man was None other than Count Formal. The resurrected Count struggled to stand with its rotting leg and missing sword arm. But it lets out a haunting scream before tackling King Duran off his hoarse. That's when more monsters came out of the holes. Some more drastically different then the others. The Screen pulls down to reveal the Allied armies silhouette's being ripped to shreds. Many screams in agony as limbs from both the dead and the allied offensive were thrown about. However like before the dead won out in the end as the last of the army that didn't flee were toppled by the ever growing hoard of flesh eating monstrosities. When the scene pulls up, the number of monsters had grown twice as large, now being lead by the nobles they raced far and wide, into other lands seeking the more bodies to add to theirs.
"The allied armies of Alguna, Elbe, League Principality, and Mudwan, were no match for the dead. Though able to kill only a few hundred, the dead didn't die as easily as the soldiers. They travel far, hitting many villages, towns and kingdoms. Adding more and more to their numbers. Nothing could compare to the bodies they had left. Not the Artic war, and certainly not even the flame dragon. However with the dead, in the midst of all the madness a figure emerged from it all.
The scene pulls far, revealing the dead moving away from the hill. As time passed on, time skipped forward to the third day. In the early mornings, the view pulls down on one hole in the ground. First there was darkness, then a low blue light appeared. Loud metallic thuds can be heard alongside heavy breathing. Whatever was emerging, it was alive.
"Many people question to this day where he had come from. But the few things that are agreed is that he was the answer to everyone's prayers. A warrior who crafted a magical set of armor and weapons out of scrap. He goes by many names, but the one that is only known to those who knew him was his real name.
The figure then emerges, falling to his knees. As he laid there, his helmet retracted into his armor revealing himself. As he breaths in the fresh air like he was just drowning, the view pulls around to revel his face. A man in his fifties, looking exhausted, he takes a few breaths before looking around. As he does he mutters something to himself before his helmet retracted over his face. He then wanders off as the view goes black. Just as it does Lelei finishes his narration.
"The man we know, as Isaac. The Man in the Magic Armor."
Hello everybody.
Does anyone have any goosebumps? Because this was awesome. A Dead Space X Gate JSDF story was one of the first ideas that I wanted to work on. However due to time constraint and the similarities between two stories I had to can the idea. Maybe I'll attempt it one day, or if anyone in the crowd wants to give it a shot, they have my permission to take the idea…. Just P.M in advance. I read stories too. Anyways let's answere some comments and questions.
From Dasgun: Um… thanks.
Thanks for writing Dasgun, Happy Halloween.
From Amon34: Thanks. I'll be posting page 7 soon. Just a bit longer. I got some things to work out.
Thanks for writing Amon34, Happy Halloween.
From Maroon567: Trust me… you'll be getting a classic Sergio Leone style showdown.
Thanks for writing Maroon567, Happy Halloween.
From MarauderPrime12: Thanks
Thanks for writing MarauderPrime12, Happy Halloween.
From Crimson Weresloth: Good to be back.
Thanks for writing Crimson Weresloth, Happy Halloween
From Perseus12: Heh, a thumb huh? Funny enough I got a lot of thumbs from Carre who did the same thing with his comments. Made a joke about having a pile of thumbs in the corner.
Thanks for writing Perseus12, Happy Halloween.
Now with that done, Happy Halloween. Enjoy this festival holiday of fright and terror. Be working on getting the next chapter done.. Till then please fav and Fol the story. Leave a comment or question as well. This is Wombag1786, signing off.