The Horsemen

by Marutectz552

Those who walk among man are no longer are bond to chains, nor are they hidden or care not for anything. Four of One, as one among them stands freely, no longer bound and that alone is damning. Heaven, or Hell matters naught when they walk, for they are the beginning. It is the beginning of an end, though which one is for man to stand isn't the question. Will a man stand, or fall?

1. Prologue

High School DXD

The Horsemen

"I love the name of honor, more than I fear death." -

Gaius Julius Caesar

Prologue

The entire school yard which held numerous foes had all but stood silent now. Moments ago they were all fighting for whatever reasons, for whatever goals and ambitions yet they were frozen when their conflict triggered something else. It was beyond entertaining to realize they were all so shocked to see an appearance of what many would consider an end bringer. An end to the world of mankind if it came to pass yet those were a part of the old rules. I smiled widely, finding joy in the fact that God was dead and as such the old rules which were supposed to be ironclad were nothing more than dust on swift winds.

Inhaling deeply I could smell blood despite being above them all overlooking an entire field full of supernatural creatures. Devils, Angels and Fallen Angels were all staring at myself as though I weren't expected to appear. Yet I arrived as I had felt this looming battle since arriving inside a city I couldn't say in a language not native to my own birth place. I wasn't born in this country, I'd been across an entire ocean and the land full of sins on that distant continent was my territory. But someone among those battling had attempted to kill someone who I just happened to give a damn about, so I investigated through whatever means to find a source. And after a time it just so happened I found it, I found it completely.

Which one of them? I thought scanning an entire field of faces which inevitably came up short. Irritation came close to having my hands clenching into balls of condensed muscle. Yet I avoided temptation by remembering what interrogations had given me, I had clues and evidence to suspect which of those fighting below me would yield answers. There's a supposed member of this 'Khaos' brigade embedded within the Fallen Angels, or so rumors claim. Now I wonder if they're going to give up answers willingly?

An impatient nickering drew my gaze as a hand idly began padding warm flesh belonging to a mount of mine. I scowled mainly due to what my companion could feel through a bond none in this world would ever imagine, "I know, I know." Despite being an old friend that seemed completely ironic I did understand why she would feel agitated, "You want them to feed this conflict a little while longer, right Fury?" Her armored legs left exposed hooves that held edges so sharp even popularized titanium became tin foil if she desired to tear that metal apart.

Reddish cyan like smoke wafted around myself and Fury as our anger became visible. I was not happy to be led into another war zone without getting what I wanted! My teeth bared themselves to display rage as one would be expected to find answers. Fuck these people, fuck them and whatever the hell they're fighting for! I was told to find those who'd give me answers, but instead I'm watching a school yard brawl for all my troubles? It went beyond mere vexing me to absolute god damned humiliation that needed to be satisfied through physical relief.

"Shall we?" I intoned all too quietly as a grin worthy of murderers of old appeared, "I'd hate to be a rude guest, but quite frankly?" My hands snapped forward as Fury bellowed a cry so piercing and damning it sent lesser beings who couldn't handle it's weighted demand to their knees. I don't give a fuck about this place! My mount jumped off the ledge where we'd been overlooking an entire area and the next thing I knew gravity did it's magic to slam us both down onto collapsing earth. Tremors erupted underneath deepened fissures of granite causing miniature quakes to shake buildings both in and out of a dimensional border that protected innocent lives.

Yet I couldn't care less about people as a whole! Fury's hooves tore up huge chunks of dirt laced in bloodied stains, scorched half brownish like grass and pure rock to set it all aflame to smolder behind us. My body hardly moved despite a smile growing wider and wider when it became apparent only one being came to its senses. It was a being I'd known in passing, a being who I should have been adhering too yet once again old rules were destroyed due to their careless actions. I wanted to almost laugh at how desperate this being sounded.

"How can you manifest on Earth!" An angel whose very being was of it's highest granted among those birthed in heaven's light, "You were not summoned!" Those among fallen, or angelic alike realized what I was rather too quickly. It made me feel flattered, if not outright entertained given how after all these millenniums since I'd been granted enlightenment. To become what I was now, I had to die in order to be reborn and find out all of this information years ago when I was but a child on the streets within a city?

Breathing out two words steam slipped past as an internal fire refused to die, "Tough shit." Fury neighed dangerously, almost taking several steps towards an angel whose wings brightly extended to their full length. You may have held me bound in eon's past Michael of Heaven, but now those rules which limited my existence and my entire power are gone. Thanks to your blessed careless actions of allowing your 'Father' to die, I'm my own being and I have will now! It'd been unnerving to hear about beings whose existences were of legend among humankind, I'd gotten close to reconsidering if I should ever reveal myself yet I had no options left.

Fury steadied herself once I placed a hand on reins meant to urge restraint. It was barely acknowledged considering I too wanted to tear off those chicken ass looking wings! Heaven and I weren't the best of friends considering they were supposed to be my wardens of a prison. Laughing deeply I tilted my head over to the right revealing bright red pupils which hadn't faded, "I'm half tempted to see if an angel can fly without his wings. Want to volunteer?" I ventured deceptively friendly as an archangel refused to back away from growing tendrils of reddish cyan smoke, if anything he was underneath an impression I was still bound by creation's laws.

"Go back home." Michael ordered coldly narrowing his eyes trying to avoid a confrontation that would shatter a continent, if it got to that point. My home is Earth! And it has been for the last twenty two years since I was born human, Angel! Silently seething due to old memories of heaven's coldest pits being my past selves purgatory proved too much. Old memories from bullies who thought they were much more powerful than I came creeping back, I exhaled deeply releasing steam which singed particles floating too close to myself.

I laughed obnoxiously loud in equal parts happy and enraged to such a degree I almost thought I went insane. Fury neighed shrilly sending another pulsating wave that sent several devils to their knees, a few fallen beings actually clutched their throats as though thirsty and mostly angels having white wings back peddling. My laughter continued with words telling these being one thing, "I'm already home you two faced bastard." An entire layer of earth literally began melting akin to magma forming gave way to my warning, "And I'm not leaving it, ever."

Another angel slid next to the supposed leader of heaven trying in a bid to pacify my rage. With a face beautiful and deceptive childlike in its appearance framed by long strands of blond hair, I stared briefly due to passive influences coming full on display. Despite being crafted by God's very hands every angel had a physical manifestation so perfect and sculpted it'd be an insult to believe any human could come close to perfection. Yet it was artificial in hindsight as I kept a hand on Fury which found such influences beyond insulting to be pacified. After all I remember a few things, my mount's namesake implied something that could not be tamed by those unlike myself.

"Please listen to my brother, I know what Father did was..." Her excuses meant nothing despite residual memories creeping up. Their words were nothing but dust and ash to my ears! I swiftly cut apart any hope on these angelic siblings to rein in the inevitable apocalypse, "Shut your mouth." The very air shimmered as though it'd been threatened to be set ablaze, I had enough rage internally without them adding more to it. Past lives came rushing forth sending me mixed warnings, promises and other such twisted ironies that involved heaven's internal politics.

I don't want to listen to old news. Centuries ago, or perhaps an unanswered amount of millennium were well enough to remain in the past long since declared to be dead. Right now I have a fucking life presently, one which is my own way and I'm sure as fuck going back to it. I vowed by inhaling deeply to ward off temptation itself. But my mount held no such resistance by her shrieking wail that threatened to cave in skulls, if any of these beings had been human they'd have passed on violently. Time to stop sugar coating this age old bullshit, if they want to beg me to go away then fine! But first of all, they'll have to give me answers!

Settling Fury's incensed desires to wage absolute hell on these two angels had to be addressed immediately. Leaning forward I began rubbing her left neck all too calmly, "Easy." I repeated it again by softly padding inflamed flesh, "We'll be gone from this place as soon as I get some answers, please calm down girl." My mount nickered painfully yet acquiesced to a tone which I earnestly held sympathy to rip those angel's wings out of their backs. It'd certainly appeal to grudges that were still in place after thousands of years.

"You better tell me what I need to hear, or I will level this entire damned city." I told them loudly promising enough destruction to make this nation wish for nuclear bombs instead of my wrath, "A friend of mine was attacked." If by attacked I meant killed viciously once I discovered his home absolutely covered in bloodied chunks. His family while not the most kindest of people towards strangers, I'd been welcomed as an exception and truth be told? I actually liked them all, even if I was a huge dick to his wife. They didn't deserve it, but since I was around them it came without warning.

Grasping reins so tightly I actually came close to tearing them to shreds when I kept them in fists. I stared dangerously furious at both of my would be wardens of a prison. The blond woman whose name I knew just as clearly as Michael wavered, "There's no need of you to declare war on mankind." Her wings came to settle down peacefully creating a cloak of white feathers as opposed to her brother's extended disposition to violently enact age old disputes, "But right now I'm asking you to set aside your rage. The past doesn't have to be repeated for you, or those like you as I'm asking you to please help us create a peaceful era."

My eyes rolled to the sky since it sounded so god damned cliché! She thinks appealing to my humane origins I'll just roll over and hold hands until rainbows come flowing over the earth? Is she fucking high right now, or am I crazy enough to humor it? Avoiding to reach down for my concealed sawed off shotgun was averted when I plucked out a cigar, "Peace?" I parroted finding that goal beyond ludicrous since humanity was too busy killing itself despite supernatural beings holding enough power to wipe this measly little planet out of reality, "That's the greatest load of bullshit I've ever heard and I've heard some really, really dumb bullshit in my life so far."

The cigar came to settle in my mouth when a finger ignited as reddish flames burned it's intended end all too easily. Inhaling deeply to actually feel pleasantly buzzed I managed to divert anything too negative from forming, "You're wasting my time. Gabriel!" The angelic woman softened her features when she understood I wasn't budging on past grudges, "There's an agent of that Khaos brigade thing around here somewhere. Do the math since I'm here for someone to drop a name, if one plus one equals two then you're going to see an answer when I get to happily eviscerate the lucky winning bastard personally."

Before she could answer we were interrupted when a fallen angel who had caused all of this wonderful conflict appeared. What's this guy's name again? Fucking snitch told me someone would do something extremely insane to disrupt all of these supernatural leaders. Memories distantly tried to place a name and face yet I had nothing except to take a long drag on my well earned semi cancer stick. Beautifully knowing my lungs weren't in danger, I could chain smoke cigars day and night until the world ended on its own accord.

"Yet another sign of God's death to you all!" The five winged fallen cried out cruelly entertained when my gaze settled onto him a bit bored, "An end to all of man and those born of God's creations stands before us." Even I could tell this guy wasn't all there in the head yet I humored by tipping my head drawing out, "Pop the confetti would you and make this day by bringing out some drinks." Sarcasm simply didn't do itself justice when I somewhat was a bit nark to aloud a little too happily, "Let's party like it's nineteen forty four because God is dead, good job!"

Every angel seemingly dared themselves by struggling to not strike me dead for taking this situation less than seriously. Michael of all angels came within striking distance of his insane fallen kin, "Kokabiel! Are you mad enough to tempt the winds of Apocalypse because there's nothing holding it back if he's standing outside of Father's safeguards!" There was a sense of uneasiness to see the normally passive and reserved leader of heaven to act some concerned, if anything I was modestly surprised to see Gabriel trying to calm her brother down.

The knock off elven looking man could only sneer all too gleefully, "Scared that you can't fulfill father's shoes, Michael?" Narrowing both eyes I noted gathering vertical lines of light that were sickly giving off warning signs yet I made no move to intervene if these angelic cousins fought. In fact I actually wanted them to do so as I smirked, "Daddy isn't here to hold your hand, kid." Three sets of eyes looked towards me when I raised a hand to spark reddish bolts that simmered across air itself, I leisurely began whistling before flicking everything forward.

It was a subtle shift yet everyone who wasn't human saw waves of red seep into the very ground. The churning sensations of an earthquake seemingly were about to set off before sporadic electric looking bolts seeped upwards clawing their way into reality. Oh yeah, I can feel all that desire to wage war and conflict, so let me indulge you people. My patience was at an end for them to willingly tell me a name, so it was time to do what all good men did and lent a hand. After all, I can't just let such an opportunity slip between my fingers and not feel left out.

"You know what? Fuck you people and your bullshit. " I told these three angelic creatures rather flippantly, "Beat your faces together, I'm not pretending to be your friends and so rip your own wings off, I'll enjoy the blood bath." Internal tremors rocked an entire area as various angels in particular screamed with war cry's so vicious and ear piercing it sent the devils who looked like school kids reeling back. With one subtle push of suggestion I told every single being that desired to initiate a fight to do so, I laughed far too pleased to reveal, "Fight until you give me enough of a reason to laugh."

Immediately creatures of both angelic kin suddenly flew at one another above in the skies as screeching wails of hatred erupted. Black and white wings representing light, or fallen alike bled red to send droplets onto a stricken earth. It was akin to a shower of rain yet it equally destroyed any notion of peace would reign onto those seeking mercy. The three higher tier creatures either looked upon my smiling face with horror, or absolute glee in seeing such brutal combat being enacted without ever understanding how it came to be. Throughout it all, I couldn't help but widely grin as reddish haze flared to illuminate their faces.

Inhaling deeply on my cigar I earnestly began chortling in finding it all so wonderful. How many years did I suffer living and all too recently finally have power to decide what I desired? It was too long when I spoke up quite vindictive, "Sickness breeds into conflict." I looked upwards to see an angel being impaled by two fallen who hacked off limbs, "Conflict breeds into war." The sheer hatred of both distant kindred were so potent it only led me to at last sigh out happily, as I looked at them. I said this very clearly, "War breeds into rage!"

Bluish smoke pushed itself leisurely past Fury's ear as she nickered irritably, "Rage breeds death." Bodies were dissipating into fragmented lights, or crumbling flesh as both factions of supernatural beings slaughtered one another. The only ones capable to ignore these sensations were of devil-kind mainly due to their natures of indulging themselves in sin itself. I didn't know for sure but apparently angels were on my shit list since they were succumbing to passive influences meant to create animosity among mankind personally. All of these sayings resonated within one being who watched them all very entertained, as entertained my being was I'd do more and as such, I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to kick these people in their collective ball sacks either.

"Yes!" I looked over to see that five winged instigator literally begin losing his grasp on reality, "This is what it means! The war anew and fire ignited!" Whoever this nut was apparently got off on people slaughtering one another, so I could sympathize when seeing people you hated do your own work and sitting back to enjoy it. Yet it got boring all too quickly, if one were to admit not finding effort in making it so naturally pan out. But I had one purpose here which was to find out a certain name which I humored long enough.

Raising a hand I clenched one fist practically sending all reddish electric streaking soaring back to my palm. Energy so vibrant rivaling the sun itself condensed until sensations of bliss ran down my spinal cord in joy. I'd gotten my filling hunger, my longing desires and absolutely joy in seeing beings who I'd despised for a while return to their senses. Most of them were coming down as though in a daze, I saw limbs trembling as a few crumbled onto the ground crying out in either shame, or despair. I found it all so daringly satisfying that it got me into an improved mood, it'd only be natural for those who weren't truly alive to succumb to mankind's natural emotions. Angels were meant to watch over mankind, as in unable to emulate us and not the other way around yet they were both weak to the temptation of nature itself.

"God created mankind in his image, for creation itself obeys natural laws and you are a creature to be seemingly perfect, if I recall." I spoke possibly ignorant despite not truly caring so much, "Yet mankind chose to have will while your kind did not." Flames trickled down Fury's side to scorched earth in blackened swirls as my voice lowered all too disgusted, "Your kind's perfection is an illusion where you have no control, no will and nothing but empty shells while mankind has learned to endure against those seeking our demise. I am a man of earth, a being of flesh and blood yet I have no desire to see you think you're above me angel."

The supposed leader of heaven started coldly finding my words too close for comfort. He may have fanatically obeyed his father in the past, to do all in his power to live by God's word and passions but Michael wasn't immune to truth. He wasn't as infallible as he'd believe, or righteous despite taking over the throne to watch over mankind in God's deceased absence. I knew all of this because someone provided insight, I learned by wandering in places I called home and if anything I was sure God's death meant one thing for mankind's future. I knew without a doubt we were coming to the edge of a cliff and it was on us whether to stop ourselves, or just fall off.

Overhead coloration of pure white and bright crimson forced me to wonder what exactly was happening above. Staring pointedly I noted two figures encased in armor of some kind fighting wildly and brutally. Oh, I forgot there were others who aren't devil or angel here! No wonder, I'm getting an adrenaline rush in seeing dragons of all things having a grudge match. I'd been informed dragons were going to be in proximity and I had slight reservations to tango with either of them, I wasn't immortal or all powerful to take on both without suffering extreme repercussion. Everything in the world of power answered to something higher, or found their match when ego's became sizes of mountains as I learned too quickly.

"Gabriel." I invoked the fair person's name while staring upwards tracking each brutal strike both dragons inflicted, "You tell me what I want to hear and I leave." I said it so simply laying out one last offering since I had my fill for now. Just introducing my presence succeeded in letting the world know Armageddon itself had a vanguard, if it so decided to kick start things early. Among those standing within this bounded field of magic she was possibly the only creature I'd be able to humor to talk too, I understood that much at least.

She turned to her brother who rigidly avoided saying a word but they must have had an unspoken signal. Her wings extended briefly before lightly leaping over to hover to where I'd be able stare eye to eye. Absently fingering the trigger well of a sawed off shotgun beneath my cloak I waited impatiently, "Name and location." I said those three words coldly when I noted her hand had tried to reach upwards, I remembered too many old memories of such a gesture and I hissed in irritation. Thousands of years were like yesterday to beings who had immortality, I had no such thing given I was human and even if I lived longer I still wanted the past to remain dead.

Light flashed briefly illuminating reddish orbs that blazed with an internal fire as a slim piece of delicate parchment appeared. Plucking it off artificial flesh I memorized exactly the name before it ignited suddenly! I burned every fleck of light until it was nothing but grayish ash flickering past us both. About fucking time, I was going to fall asleep but now I know! You're going to hell. Jerking Fury's reigns over she nickered all too happily as we made our way towards a simmering circle hole that burned away between reality and this bounded area. My business in this school yard brawl was finished, I honestly loathed myself in involving these beings who'd wish for peace in a war torn world.

"Horseman." I heard her call out solemnly despite Fury casually moving towards our exit, "What?" I blurted out exhaling bluish smoke while enjoying the nicotine high. If she wanted to rekindle old memories I wasn't in any mood to play that game again, "For what it's worth, I implored Father to show you mercy." Even Fury snorted in apparent disgust as I laughed uproariously finding her words thousands of years too fucking late! I wanted to laugh until my face turned bluer than someone suffocating in space itself.

Callously raising a middle finger I replied crassly, "Thousands of fucking years too late, angel." We kept moving without stopping towards a portal wreathed in reddish blackened churning flames. Occasionally if one stared hard enough they'd imagine seeing skulls howling silently before dispersing yet I maintained what little patience I held. Apparently my departure wouldn't be without it's smallest tastes of drama as the woman who'd all but damned me into purgatory floated between my exit and I in her glory.

"Is this really the time and place?" I remarked a bit sourly since it's already been far too long for past lives to come into life. Maybe even beings whose life spans measured in thousands of years were far too immature to understand that things in which they were destroyed remained dead and buried. I wasn't the horseman she remembered, if it was that kind of thing because I sure as hell refused to humor her persistence. Nudging Fury's right side with an overly pointed boot which couldn't harm her reinforced flesh she made way past an angel's broken gaze.

I tilted my head over to tell her off once again, "Don't pretend you're hurt over me." I saw right through this pitiful act which ensnared many a heart's eye, "Even I don't remember what exactly you pulled since I was born a human, angel." I told her truthfully inhaling deeply on my cigar to lean back into substantial bliss. Too many memories were slowly crawling back everyday I honed in on gaining, or increasing my own strength to where past lives of distant pasts so vast and unknown I couldn't make it out too clearly. They weren't going to help me at all, I lived and breathed as I lived day to day in the present and only the future was what I'd give a damn about technically.

Her blond bangs shadowed eyes before they looked up at me slightly moist. Well I'll be damned, I guess it's true when an angel begins to cry the whole world shatters. I thought rather morbidly amused taking personal satisfaction to see such a beautiful creature, an artificial one losing composure over whatever happened to my past self. It spoke volumes, I humored an unseen guilt to at least hear her words yet this was the work of God himself, to craft perfection superficially since this creation of his wasn't even a person at heart. They were immature beings who seemed indestructible, they weren't of flesh or blood but they collapsed like children when faced with an actual struggle.

"Father...he warned me, horseman." Rolling both eyes to the heavens to wish in spitting the dead creator of mankind I listened halfheartedly, "He told me if I opened my heart to someone, I'd understand why he views your kind to inherit his greatest gifts." Groaning loudly I pulled out a sawed off shotgun to have it idly tap against my right shoulder. I was being very impatient which would lead into me pulling the damned trigger of said weapon. Should I pull the fucking trigger on her, or do myself a solid to warp somewhere not in this country!

Despite having an innocent look of a youthful woman I saw those eyes straining to remain open as a hand reached outwards. Instantly flames of reddish blackened went up reflexively yet despite that her unblemished hand pushed through it. Her straining gasps of air were all what needed to be said, if anything agony in seeing your flesh burnt off was quite traumatizing, but to willingly endure it to simply touch another person? I didn't even remotely tone down an already potent barrier which was instinctual at best. In a rare display of mutual annoyance, I heard my mount Fury even nickered angrily adding her own influx of irritation that I as her rider felt in spades.

Her blistering hand practically turned a mixture of an ugly reddish black managed to place itself on my closest forearm. I took note of how her robes were flaking away into grayish dust along an entire arm, "Without Father to guide us we're desperate to keep his vision of peace, horseman." Gabriel's face twisted painfully whenever flames licked against constantly regenerating flesh which was being corrupted figuratively and literally inside out, "And I do feel regret. I'm so sorry, I'm..." Whatever words were going to be said I'd had enough off as I leveled both barrels of a shotgun directly between her very eyes.

Silvery metallic barrels contorted from a normalized appearance into twisted and snaking like tendrils. At the end of each barrel materialized a snake's gaping maw with said barrel nestled between extended fangs as reddish steam fizzled from heated transfiguration. Runes of forgotten languages of mankind appeared in an angry glowing organism along the wooden butte which came close to igniting into sickly graying smoke. The very air simmered just over the iron sights giving my sight of her to be boiling flickers. If I wasn't enraged beforehand, well I could hear blood rushing through ears to say I heard the doorbell was ringing and someone was getting an answer easily.

"I'm going to make this so perfectly clear to you." I spoke slowly reaching down to grasp a trembling hand of crisp flesh. Crushing it with strength to break even bone itself she winced when I forcefully removed it off my personal body, "Keep your hands off me." Nudging the weapon forward it came to settle just dead center of a forehead with blond bangs being singed off piece by piece, "Or I will pull this trigger, understand? I don't give a flying fuck about you, or your self-pity streak because I don't care about whatsoever is eating you alive."

I often asked myself whenever I was drinking alone whether I had a choice in life. But it seemed people from wherever just wanted in, hell I found it deplorable and absolutely narcissistic which were quite ironic traits I exhumed. Bitch! She just thinks she can just touch me, drop a few tears and maybe flaunt an ass later on, to think all is forgiven? What the fuck kind of logic is that? Holy hell it's just I mean who in their right mind even thinks having a woman throwing themselves at you is an instant 'all is forgiven'?

Shoving her back was far too easy to see an angel stumble in mid air even more gratifying. Fury moved forward again as I kept my shotgun leveled to follow a target I wanted to destroy, "Heed my warning, Gabriel the 'innocent' daughter of God and to your faithful brother of Michael who cannot fill his daddy's shoes!" Glancing from my peripheral I sneered a bit too gleeful to see a hurt look on that face appear too obviously, "You best prepare for War, because I'm in it for the long haul and there's nothing on earth that will stop me from doing whatever I desire. Enjoy your battle with a bunch of children, I can only imagine I'll be around taking it all in just like the first time!"

---

And with that I roared out for Fury to bellow in agreement as we sped off into our exit. We sped forward engulfed by a flaming tunnel as though it were an expressway straight from hell. My mount moved upwards gaining traction on air, or possibly unseen pathways meant for one such as Fury's nature to exploit for an entry befitting a beast of carnage. The person who I'm seeking is in an enclave far from this country, Fury you know where to take us both! Let the world know that war and flame is ascending for all men who will know to cry out in terror!

Bellowing out I gave my friend all of her recognition to be feared, "Show them Fury! Show all who dare to stand against those of Armageddon!" She cried outwards shrilly galloping at speeds rivaling any modern day contraption that dared to invoke the territory we traversed. Time seemingly bled over with clouds and wind whipping past my face to lightly sting it, I grinned due to relishing in this freedom to traverse where I demanded. Not once did I consider those flying in metallic contraptions which were called jetliners.

I could see it's outline approaching us at speeds no man would be able to handle. It looked small at first underneath an open moon to showcase glinting metal, I savored this moment realizing it wasn't just an entrance to entertain. I was the horseman of Armageddon and as such mankind would inevitably decide it's destiny whether to rise above their madness, or succumb to an eternal fire of war itself. Inhaling huge lungfuls of air I spurred Fury head on right into the container of jet fuel. No mercy for the weak, none for the ignorant as well!

"These are our skies to burn!" Screaming so dastardly due to steering Fury's route right into the direct pathway of an airline which was cruising at us! The sheer bulk of it from the ground made it appear small yet up close it came close to an entire building's width. Galloping within edges of a tunnel I sent us both colliding head on with an airliner that exploded into a mass of yellowish orange as it's muffled noises hardly affected my ability to stop smiling. We galloped right through it's interior setting, ablaze anyone dying in their seats, or those spared an over crisp tan to fall miles to their inevitable graves beneath an ocean.

Looks like they'll have to tweak their safety protocols again, oh well! I thought looking back feeling anything but nothing came to my mind. Laughing loudly I shouted at the top of my lungs allowing a message to be heard, "Nothing will stop me! Let the hunt begin, or so help me God!" Too much humor finally became clear when I sped through the distant skies illuminating cloud cover to mimic thunder storms which rumbled definitely across a vast openness of the Pacific Ocean. Sharks were quite plentiful this time of year from what I knew, so they'd appreciate food that was well down and not so fatty for once.

Whoever is apart of this so called 'Khaos' brigade, I'm going to tear your fucking skull off and mount it on my car's hood back home. I vowed silently allowing Fury to push herself to the limit when it came to freely moving through air and gravity alike. Warping flames surged along our flanks bending backwards as we gained speed, it looked akin to wings yet unlike beauty these were a sickly orange in actuality. Embers sharply flared to life, ash broke apart underneath flesh and along with flecks of electric reddish strands snapped appeared at will without any sort of prompting once my gaze remained firm.

I felt nothing for destroying so many innocents because they'd always die against beings above them. No matter what kind of power obeyed creation, law or even order itself did innocents just happen to collect the bills owed. No one cared about a dying boy on the road, no one cared about him being toyed and tortured by his 'loving' parents! Not one of them cared for anything but their own fucking lives, not one of them cared for others except whenever money was involved and I had nothing except my gut to live on!

The world of man was so full of sin it couldn't be contained any longer even with God's death. Humans as I knew were so full of shit, so full of hypocrisy and more than often dallied into sinful desires whether willingly, or not! And I loved them for it! I enjoyed seeing meth users begging in the streets clawing at rotting flesh asking for another hit, I loved seeing their faces twist in agony and desperate need to satisfy their addictions. It made me money, it made me richer and I'd say all the more power to this world of absolute hell for my gains! Mankind would inevitably destroy themselves at this rate but they were living on my whims, if I so granted I'd kick start war on such a scale all the factions of the supernatural realms would react.

Earth itself was my home and I'd decide when it'd shit the bed. They weren't going to decide it's fate, I'd never allow it and for certainly I was my own man. A man who held power, a man who held strength and a man who knew what his fellow man would respond too. Peace is mankind's greatest lie to swallow, if they understood conflict and violence is but a natural thing they'd live more at ease with themselves. Yet they struggle against contradictions that make no sense, they pretend to play nice and become righteous but they're more monstrous just underneath the surface of all this illusion. I'm the monster who rides among them.

Sharply descending I came above the location where I'd been given. It was a city massive in size with millions upon millions of people, I had to take a moment to realize I wasn't normally home because it was far larger than most. Sky scrappers created a looming view yet I hovered above scanning one particular building which stood larger among all of them. It seemed it was a welcoming gesture because there was a helicopter pad cleared and well lit as though expecting something to land upon its surface. Fury nickered a warning turning to face me as a pitiless red slit eye full of blood and carnage exposed caution.

"I know girl, I know." I murmured exhaling with the cigar still inside my mouth, "Looks like someone is trying to play grab ass with us." Yanking her reigns swiftly we both descended akin to a dive bomber straight out hell itself! Air whipped past my ears stinging them slightly as gravity provided all the momentum and velocity to our weighted mass. We came streaking down as a metallic whistling shattered windows nearby once Fury crashed down onto the building's roof. A muffled groan of protest threatened to destroy it's support beams from energy akin to an earthquake, I remained absolutely calm despite grinning widely.

The shifting building ceased abruptly as though someone had just clamped it from its sides! Someone who can shrug off my arrival, sounds like I got a fan! Chortling I scanned each flank seeing nothing except for an open helicopter pad and there was an entrance leading below ahead of us. It looked akin to someone having a private penthouse, or maybe a business tower at least. Yet not a soul stirred either below, or around us as I frowned outwardly realizing this may have been a trap to catch myself off guard.

Flickering a quarter of my cigar ash stub to have it nimbly fall into flames. Hissing smoke angrily arose briefly before I inhaled on it again, "Where?" I whispered checking behind to see nothing except for a calm breeze shifting several lingering flames idly, I certainly felt right at home because I wasn't welcomed too much. You'd think someone would try to...oh, shit! My thoughtfulness reformed into an amused grin when the door leading below into said building opened. And someone walked out to what I'd say was rather curiously.

"Did you really have to disturb my nap?" A question said yawning from one lanky looking man who stood taller than I was. The man looked of mixed heritage between native Japanese and possibly from another nationality in this part of the region. Yet he spoke perfect english which caught me flat footed, "Well? You fucking asshole, I was asleep and here you are! Acting like the world is your toy, to cause a mini earthquake above my bedroom!" His eyes looked sunken to literally sink in as though he were a man who hadn't slept in maybe days on end.

Puffing out smoke I replied rather crassly, "Cry me a river, you gook looking bitch." If he was offended it showed when his half dressed state of a tuxedo showcased carelessness, "White devil from America, huh? Least you could have not picked such a thuggish race." I raised an eyebrow not even humoring an answer to catch me beyond startled, so by the powers vested by my own will I hid it well by inhaling deeply. What the hell is the guy talking about, do I know him or am I missing something? Cause I've never seen this man ever, so what the fuck gives?

The lanky man rubbed a half shaven face sniffing tiredly, "And you stink like shit!" Yawning loudly he then shrugged as though it were nothing, "Ah, well...least you got the hint to come here, finally." I began tapping my fingers along a shotgun's trigger well all too tempting. If this person was what Gabriel had said I'd unleash hell itself, "Is your name Shinji Saito?" I called out rather impatiently as Fury nickered loudly shaking her head side to side, I had an urge to allow her to burn down this entire fucking city.

A pair of yellowish green pupils blinked owlishly at first, "Oh, yeah." The guy walked over stuffing both hands into his pocket before reaching over to lift up a handle? Blinking a bit stunned to see double handled doors swinging upwards I saw this lanky gook pull up a half rotting corpse, I stared openly with both eyebrows raised. He spoke rather dully yet I almost felt fury itself, "I can say for sure he served his purpose all too easily, so I just offed him because I fucking hated this piece of shit, I mean I let him have a few kids to toy around with and as such hoped you'd get your ass here." Once he concluded that piece of information I started laughing lowly before shouldering my sawed off shotgun which faced upwards.

So I'm going on a limb to assume he had this guy rape, torture and fuck with my pal's kids? Twitching my jawline left to right I hissed out a wheezing rasp of breath. Oh, oh, okay! If there wasn't one thing I particularly humored it'd be fucking with people who were underneath me directly, so this was a deliberate attack to get my happy ass here? What an amazing plan because it worked in fucking spades and two thirds of absolution.

"Well congratulations, gook." I smiled widely showcasing teeth as sensations akin to liquid napalm went through my veins, "You got it." Leveling my shotgun I pulled the trigger sending an immense shock-wave crashing through steel and concrete slamming full force into the lanky man whose eyes widened briefly. An explosion rocked the entire building having it sway dangerously yet Fury remained stationary with her armored hooves pawing at the ground to move rapidly, I got close to charge but I had a gut feeling to wait.

Smoke wafted where I had leveled shells capable of sending buildings to ruble yet something was wrong. Absently unloading both shells which popped out before being pulled by reddish tendrils into the barrel, a constant regeneration of pure energy fueled by my desires locked it into place ready for another volley. He's not dead, isn't he? I internally hummed when a coughing fit broke the silence as a half shredded corpse got thrown aside rakishly.

"That's a nasty piece of hardware you got there round eye." Our racial bantering certainly didn't appease any sense of civil hope for talking. Unlike beforehand his expression hardened due to a hand being shaken aside rapidly, "Burns worse than that piss you beasts drink over across that ocean." I equally retorted in kind giving him a warning, "Next time I'll amp it up so I can burn you alive, I hear Japanese are very good nuked." That was due to a war almost half a century plus again to float across historical facts as he openly sneered not even humoring that kind of atrocity which I held no shame to admit.

The lanky piece of work shook his head, "Yeah, you're a beast who's got no class." Reaching into a pocket he pulled out some kind of phone, "I'm not even going to pretend to try to talk to you. I'll let the person who wanted you here do it, I fucking hate you already." I humored this guy long enough as I jumped off from Fury's saddle to land on both feet. Entire sections of concrete and steel started to boil once I began walking leisurely towards this lanky bastard who eyed me in response. He suddenly found himself moving backwards rather quickly once it was clear I wasn't slowing down. I had it with this guy's mouth and it needed to be broken immediately.

The phone vibrated inside his hand as a swift demand followed, "Where the fuck are you! I'm in no damned mood to entertain an animal, so..." I raised my shotgun immediately firing both shells forcing the lanky man to suddenly roll away yelping. Screams of the damned seemingly filled the night causing an echo across a city shattering windows which couldn't handle such strain, I absently reloaded utilizing tendrils to rearm the spent shells. The literal fireballs went screeching over this building's rooftop to slam in an adjacent one exploding akin to a bomb, orange and red washed over anything in a dastardly show of fiery force.

Despite holding one phone to an ear he peered behind whistling a bit impressed, "Yeah, he's pissed!" Multiple floors filled with people possibly went up in a series of infernos as though every inch of flammable material were soaked in gasoline. Screams of dying people reached our ears, I saw even a few orange infected figures leaping out over their apartment's edges in a state of blind agony. Nothing would satisfy me more than throwing this piece of shit off as he quickly spoke to whoever, "Don't fucking play games with me! You wanted him out and in the open, you wanted me to draw him out and now when he's about to fucking nuke my home you're sitting back because...it's too goddamn funny seeing him this way, right?"

Sprinting forward I reached back feeling weight materialize as a weapon I'd long since envied appeared in it's flaming glory. The handle was some kind of snake's head rearing back with gems aligned on a pommel greeted my peripherals as it's length matched nearly the size of a man! About time you wanted a piece one the action, I'd almost forgotten you and Fury had mood swings. Starting to wonder if you're on your period, or something! A blade which fed off essentially bloody conflict heated itself to such a point where my own hands burned, I scoffed realizing it must have found those thoughts rather offensive at best.

Leaping forward I reared back slamming a blade's sharpened crimson edge mere inches from the lanky man who wasn't bored. He kept well out of range yet his conversation turned serious, "You said manifestation wasn't possible for him, so what the hell is this?" Lashing horizontally forced him to duck to the ground and shoulder roll away as I pursued avidly, "If we escalate then my city goes up in flames and you have to deal with him full on in his element! I want nothing but to go back to sleep, so fucking get off your ass and..." The man yelped suddenly when I nicked partially his arm causing said limb to flail in an effort to rid itself of reddish scorch marks, if another inch had been drawn it'd have been a whole limb.

Rumbling above made me glance upwards in irritation despite coming closer to drawing blood in this fight. The clouds which had been nonexistent had formed into what appeared to a crudely extended hand of some kind. What in the actual fuck is going on? It reached upwards consuming all light from an open moon which had been bright as it could have been. Yet it was snuffed out much to my savage smirk as shivers went up a spinal cord. I was feeling very alive all of a sudden, a sensation I hadn't had since becoming an end-bringer of mankind.

Thunder boomed distantly along with palish blue light as a storm formed so suddenly the very air's temperature dropped drastically. Wind picked howling fiercely fanning flames across a street where the dead and dying screams increased in volume. I shouldered my weapon studying immediately every scrap of terrain among the surrounding area due to this phenomena. Something is coming, something very powerful and I'm smack down right in the center of it! This is too good to be true, I must have done something great in the past life to get an opportunity.

"Finally!" I heard the lanky man state irritably as his eyes bore right into my own, "Hope you still think God's around, I hear he's a hell of a lot nicer." The phone got pocketed immediately with him standing fully upright. He really did tower over me to such an extent it was rather humbling, if not a bit humorous to think Asians were short by default. Darkening clouds consumed all light from the heavens themselves as stars were snuffed out, a moon whisked away as howling gusts centered themselves to be fed through compacted steel towers.

Nonetheless I leveled my shotgun right at him leering, "Didn't get the memo yet chink?" His face twitched at that vulgar remark, "God's dead! And I'm here!" His expression hardly changed in response despite a hand straightening rather rigidly, "Glad to know, I get to kill you and not face any repercussions from that sack of shit." I nodded in agreement for once shocking us both rather too easily in response, "Agreed, pal."

Before either of us could react an ear shattering wail caused our eyes to look to our left hand side. Wisps of smoke came barreling downwards adjacent to where the thickest of clouds had gathered and something akin to a train smashed itself forward. Tremors so violent and beyond natural sent several buildings nearby swaying dangerously side to side, I'd peg one or two to fall over given these vibrations were mimicking earthquakes. Myself and the lanky looking gook both stared to see a head of an animal akin to Fury's appearance casually walking out of dust. For once my heart ceased to beat when it became clear something similar to myself existed.

No way in hell! I stared stone-faced to see a pale rider cloaked in smoky layered clothing looking down at us both. I felt a desire arising in my blood to fight this person, a need to conquer and overwhelming desire to struggle to fuel the inferno within. Whoever this is, I want blood and guts on my sword's length to call it a day! Fucking amazing, who are these people really and how can I break their faces until I'm happy?

A distinct youthful sounding girl's voice spoke up from beneath layered clothing, "You two need to calm down, or else someone's going to be very, very mad." It was definitely a little girl which threw me for the strangest loop, ever. I wasn't above beating down kids, if they mouthed off too much like little shits or something so still I wanted to break her in half. Apparently the lanky man retorted a little too hotly as though feeling insulted, "Both? He's the one shooting up my goddamned city, so fuck off you little too shoes shit! And where the hell did you come from, I know you don't get my number cause you're a brat at best."

This grayish cloaked rider tilted her head curiously replying back as though he were a retard, "I was flying when I got called, idiot." Lanky gook as I called him sneered by flipping her off, "Go back to your room and play with your dolls, brat! I don't need another immature beast pretending to act civil, so go fuck yourself you little c..." Whatever word which could never be said got interrupted when an arrow shot past his cheek. He gnashed down on both sets of teeth trying not to scream when a sizzling series of veins bloated healing a nasty palish gash.

"No saying the bad word, meanie!" She chastised him all too merrily as her own mount snorted loudly by stopping both hooves onto crumbling stone. Fuck it, I see an opening and I'm taking it! Leaping forward I roared out happily, "Surprise!" My blade came striking down so rapidly and absolutely catching the lanky guy off guard he yelped in sheer shock. Metallic edge met flesh as a scream of absolute rage and agony rewarded patience all too familiarly, I needed to see that blood spewing outwards to get compensation.

He rolled away backpedaling clutching a stump of his forearm tightly seething. Apparently that cheap shot got a standing ovation from the little girl who found it joyful, "Classic!" Humoring an unexpected audience I gave a salute, "Thank you, thank you! Throw me some flowers, please doll?" That triggered a series of giggles with that palish rider clapping, "Aw! You're so sweet even if you're an ass, but that's okay, I think I like you more than that emo over there." Even I laughed obnoxiously because it definitely made sense for lanky gook's cripplingly attitude, I'd be doing him a favor if he wanted to cut himself open.

"Don't know who this kid is, but she's got taste." I remarked flipping my blade in hand leisurely to see a hand covering an overly pleased face. She's still powerful for being so young, I may have to watch my own ass from now on. Smiling pleasantly I stood just over several arms length away from a one armed gook who let off an ugly snarl, "Beasts, the both of you." Taking another drag I expelled bluish smoke before leveling out an entire blade to have it's edges angled, I'd cut this bastard into pieces and maybe piss on his ashes for good measure.

Yet before I took a step the lanky man screamed in an apparent rage before tendrils materialized from behind him. Rearing upwards akin to slithering snakes they impaled him right through his chest and arms engulfing him in a swirling mass of a cocoon. Misty sickly brackish like mist formed from apparently everywhere and nowhere to such an extent I backed up several steps, for every inch exposed to this mist had started to literally...decay? More distantly I had a wailing cry along with echoing steps of another animal seemingly galloping, "Another one?" I murmured slightly realizing the gook bastard was like that little kid, I should have known since losing an arm lead to blood loss yet he'd been standing relatively solid.

Speeding around several buildings I witnessed a similar mount to Fury and that pale beast coming to land just behind the cocoon of brownish black mist. A sickly yellowish green pair of eyes glared dangerously as rotten wings of smoke swept aside, I'd peg it as an act of hatred. Half rotted armor covered most of its neckline yet clothing akin to a cap draped along it's flanks, I lowered my blade to have it's tip scorching the ground. A part of me wanted to impale it's length into that cocoon but even I realized this was all one elaborate setup. I knew someone wanted to pick a fight with me, but I just stepped into a world of shit now, so great!

Various buildings groaned along with exterior glass windows shattered as a line of decaying mist from the lanky gook's creature ate everything. For a better lack of disbelief I saw everything just seemingly die off in a sickly diseased state, I remained standing with Fury moving behind me in a bid to stare down her counterpart. Feeling residual heat granted me a sense of amusement, if anything she wanted to take on this other creature which wanted me dead. After all I did slice off an arm to someone it obviously thought highly about, so doing me in would appease any lingering rage and hatred, but Fury would say otherwise. All in all, I took another drag on my cigar once it became clear I wasn't going to be leaving that easily.

The brackish cocoon shattered by unseen winds sending that sickly cloud outwards revealing an armored hooded figure staring disgusted. An overly greenish brown steel axe and shield were gripped tightly as a pair of sickly green eyes burned hatefully. The raspy voice hissing out signified a quasi-hoarse dead man, "I'm going to tear your eyes out, beast." I laughed in response beckoning him forward with my shotgun which came innocently prepared, "Take your best shot chink, I'm not going anywhere."

Clapping started up from the smaller rider whose very giggling filtered across an entire rooftop. She had found it all entirely as entertainment, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Chanting that word to egg us onward proved too much for myself, or that gook when we launched ourselves forward! I roared out in laughter as an axe met my blade's edge to send an entire shock wave exploding and a singular shimmering wave got slammed into every building within our proximity. And the next thing I heard were multiple explosions as windows decompressed sending cascading waterfalls of glass shards all around us among a litany of terrified screams.

My body remained adjacent from an axe's head as wisps of sickly smoke tried to eat away at the blade which burned it's attempts. Flames and smoke struggling for supremacy as I leveled my shotgun before pulling the trigger. Firing both shells point blank proved to be quite reality quaking as dual explosions of fiery red and yellow consumed us. The man got sent flying backwards while bracing himself to have a shield take an entire burnt, it sent him skidding almost off the edge yet singed metal held firm even against miniature nuclear explosions. Huh, guess he's got some guts after all to take that head on, I didn't sugar coat that amount of power. And I hate to admit, I think I might be starting to enjoy having someone to take me on!

Another massive exploding series of fireballs came surging outwards since the shield hadn't absorbed but merely deflected the inferno induced shells. Two more skyscrapers similar to the first went up in a fiery act of carelessness on this gook's efforts, I all but chuckled finding his lack of consideration a sign of hypocrisy. I snarled out a scathing point, "You say this is your city and you're letting its inhabitants burn alive? How cruel, how very cruel and I like it!" Sirens blared to life below as emergency services ranging from ambulances, to firetrucks and maybe more illuminated in a flash of reddish blue below signifying their efforts to save lives.

Despite holding him back with one arm I felt myself straining to ward off phantom pangs of pain when an axe readied itself. He didn't sound so happy, "Don't flatter yourself, white devil." The shotgun ejected two shells again before it started to reload itself. Walking forward I grinned savagely bemused because I already would mount this guy's skull on my car's hood, I'd ride around with in full glory and there wasn't fuck all anyone would say to me otherwise. I was in my element now, "I'm already loving this attention, chink."

Lightning suddenly splintered the skyline as rain began dropping quietly unable to quell unnatural infernos. Wind howled powerfully yet I stopped once again when a harmonious giggling coming from our spectator drew my gaze, "You two are going to have to postpone your fight." The child grinned innocently despite allowing her tiny legs to swing idly back and forth, it seemed her mount of all things was looking upward. Armed with a bow, arrows and one quiver she had an air of someone who'd wielded a machine gun, "I told you someone is going to get very, very mad and now, we get to see if you can handle being a bad boy."

Thunderous booms echoed distantly as lightning crackled streaking across the skyline in a display of deadly elegance. I can't...I can't move? Fidgeting in place I grunted to slowly turn around coming to see what source of this thundering wave originated from. Fury nickered a warning, nudging my arm to break it free with a low crimson glow enveloping its entirety, "Thanks girl." Puffing out smoke I peered over into a blackened sky to see something churning distantly, I blinked seeing an entire outline of a skull forming with those clouds and it's jaw extended downwards as though acting akin to a twisted gate.

Whatever is coming it's powerful, hell it puts these two behind me to shame! Breathing in heavily I watched transfixed to hear another screeching hair that sent shivers up my spine, a cry so full of despair that it attributed to one word. Death! It's like I'm facing down where I'm going to be buried, am I going more crazier than usual here? Clouds churned into withering serpents as an object came spiraling downward mimicking twisters from back home, it looked beyond intimidating to see flashes of whitish lightning crackle angrily within its confines.

This descending mass came crashing downwards in a fury yet no tremors occurred. Not one quaking sensation threatened to destroy the building, I found myself growing absolutely wary because now I understood what kept said structure together. So this is the person whose ruining my fun? I guess preventing a city from being leveled is grounds to keep it intact. Facing this swirling mass I raised my shotgun to have it level exactly where a person's head would be, I started ramping up enough will to really make these next two shots do some damage. If whatever wanted to disrupt my run, I'd blow it's fucking head off for sure.

Waiting impatiently for several moments I heard a distinct sound that made me blink owlishly. It was a clicking sound from someone walking in...high heels? The fuck? Shapes began forming within those clouds when numerous skulls of silently screaming humans opened their jawlines as one, I saw so many that it seemed disorienting yet I resisted to vomit. Cutting through these smokeless skulls an elongated blackish blade swept them aside through an overpowering arch, it's very exterior looked polished since it reflected my own flaming posture.

"Holy...shit." I breathed outward stunned when I realized it wasn't just some damned blade! It'd been an honest to hell scythe! That clacking sound of footsteps morphed into a low laughter as though someone were walking from inside a distant tunnel. This sound echoed so strongly it sent my bones humming when I found it all nearly overpowering, it wasn't natural to say the least. Yet I still had both barrels thrumming with crimson energy sparkling dangerously, I'd pull the trigger if whoever wanted to play games.

A figure emerged hooded in black robs carrying that polished scythe leisurely as another mount followed behind obediently. Unlike those behind my back I had an uneasy feeling as this hooded figure looked up possibly grinning. Metallic plating granted me enough reason to believe armor of some kind was underneath those excessive robes, "Who the fuck you supposed to be?" I scoffed aloud unable to resist getting a proverbial shot at whoever the hell this was, I felt beyond uneasy and bordered onto absolute caution to back away. For I hadn't felt this unsure since the night I became an end-bringer of mankind years ago.

An ornate looking glove pulled back a hood to reveal black raven like locks flowing down onto shoulders. A face so beautiful and beyond alluring greeted my paralyzed expression, I saw two blackish near purple like eyes narrowing playfully. Now that's what I call a hell of a woman...holy shit! It was a woman who shouldered an overly massive scythe that was twice the size of any normal man, I had to admit she'd had one hell of a rack too. She looked older than I was, but younger than that chink yet I pegged her overall appearance to be regal.

"Well?" I barked out irritably making her smile grow ever so casually, "Spit it out, bitch." I heard a cooing clap of expectation, "Oh you're in trouble!" The little girl declared laughing merrily as another agreed rather grudgingly, "About time you get out here and to put this piece of shit in his place." He seemingly moved out of my peripherals towards where that kid sat merrily bouncing in place, an excitable detail among all children who were eagerly awaiting something amazing. I had an urge to turn around to shoot them both.

"I've been searching for you for a long time." My spine tingled glaringly obvious when this woman spoke in a way that the world sultry couldn't do justice. There was an underlying warning I adhered to, raising my blade when she began walking towards me, "And you have really changed, far too much." Her cloaked vanquished into smoke giving me an eyeful of a leathery armor that was dressed up in skulls, runes and possibly spikes. There was a cloak trailing behind making air itself fade away into oblivion and I hardly seemed too concerned given my strength.

Grinning widely I kept my shotgun level as I raised my blade walking to meet her head on, "You still haven't told me who the fuck you are. Do I have to ask nicely?" She laughed softly brandishing her scythe to have it scrap along the ground slowly cutting through concrete and steel like butter, "You'd need to say please first." Entire layers of metallic plating on the helipad itself buckled and withered away when her scythe kept on tracing through it. It wasn't just decaying as I witnessed, but it simply ceased to exist and blackened veins akin to spider webs just sprouted along whenever said edge dragged into it.

"You'd have to buy me drinks and dinner to get me on board." I flirted with raising both eyebrows making her smirk coyly, "My, my, my." Both our weapons angled themselves accordingly as an unseen weight began making the very ground buckle once we got closer. My grin turned blood thirsty impatient due to adrenaline surging through veins that were screaming in blind warning, "Think you can handle this ass and me so easily?" She questioned innocently by cocking her hips in a deliberate manner causing me to stare far too obliged to whistle appreciatively.

Woman, I'd tear your ass up and call it mine! Chortling I circled adjacent so we mirrored each other completely keeping ourselves well out of range. Puffing on a half smoked cigar I gruffly humored her challenge, "Only one way to find out, if you walk afterward when I have you on a bed." The shotgun found itself tracking her smug looking grin. Her eyes glowed internally invoking tendrils to slither their way towards myself yet they were stopped by what seemed to be a barrier, an unseen reddish line had been drawn with both energies seeking dominance.

Blood rapidly surged making my heart race in gleeful anticipation to see who'd strike first, her or myself in this aloof stand off. The very air between us started to crackle with reddish and blackened wisps rearing back signifying neither of us were backing down, "Have you heard of a saying?" She asked me sweetly, almost purring, "Men who often tempt their fates cross with the very thing in which they fear." I tilted my head unable to formulate a response in time when that scythe came screeching forward with millions of voices crying out as one, "Death."

Metal met metal and I expected to hold my own! But to an obvious shock I got sent flying backwards grunting while stabbing said blade in an effort to avoid being sent off the edge. I can't feel my arm, holy fuck it's gone utterly numb! An entire sword was embedded nearly to it's hilt just between both legs which strained in earnest effort to remain standing. I looked up just in time to snarl angrily rolling away when that scythe came downwards, out of sheer reflex my shotgun went off sending highly compacted shells wailing forward into the woman's exposed abdomen.

And both fireballs were promptly swatted away by her very weapon! They were split literally down the middle much to my hell infused disbelief and an entire sector of the city burned as a result! Four explosions rocked this very structure as she waltzed forward humming in thoughtful praise, "Brutal and utterly effective in causing destruction. Quite impressive, if I hadn't already suspected your awakening despite you being the youngest of us." Her words alone caused me to inhale on my cigar angrily not even trying to hold said fumes inside lungs which were beyond natural.

"The fuck are you saying?" I bit out sprinting with a blade raised as she met my strike far too happily, "I'm an only child, bitch." Flames exploded around us both seeking to burn alive flesh in which my opponent laughed merrily. Her scythe angled to have it's serrated edge dip closer and closer towards my right facial cheek to nearly nick it. Uh oh, I can't push her back! What in the hell is this shit, a joke or a really bad time?

Lunging a barrel into her gut I quickly pulled the triggers desperate enough to get some distance! However she taunted me, "You really believe you weren't the only one?" The rounds ejected akin to rockets to send her skidding backwards as I leaped away reloading again to fire another volley in several moments. Four shots in six seconds slammed into a kneel form as monstrous displays of fiery force obscured my adversary. I'd never fired so many in so little time since my arm shook in exhaustion making myself exhale deeply, "Get up from that you fucking..." My words died immediately due to what happened next, I didn't even have a moment to realize what hell I'd provoked.

The armored woman came flying downwards scythe descending too quickly for me to dodge, or avoid! Fuck me! Dropping the firearm I used both hands to brace myself and the next thing I knew I was sent flying! Screaming out painfully, I skidded back face first, feeling flesh being torn off in a rash of jagged rocks, "...ow, hell..." I moaned trying to shake off what had to be pain I hadn't experienced in god knows how long, I had rubber like arms struggling to push me up. But I couldn't do anything except roll over to see the bitch smirking triumphantly.

"In times of peace does war diminish, to be dulled and paving the way for pestilence to erode man in a cycle of famine from his mistakes." She spoke twirling that scythe around expertly pleased, "Strife shall engulf mankind while famine forces them to kneel, starvation shall creep forward in its bid to wrestle peace into war itself, but there's one thing that war, pestilence and strife all adhered to in their ways." I struggled to stand barely getting onto both knees yet I couldn't raise my weapon which was smoldering due to blackened tendrils wrapping themselves around it. My rage peaked when I let out a guttural scream of frustration, it was like steel crushing me effortlessly.

She leveled a scythe for it's tip to angle just above the rooftop which fizzled away piece by piece. What the actual fuck is this bull? I took on that guy over there rather well, but a bitch with an ass and sassy mouth waltz's in to do this? My mind processed every little detail unable to come up with an explanation and it sure as hell was a kick to the balls. Of all times I'd met my match, or worse yet someone capable to fucking gut me open? Now after years of establishing myself as something not to be fucked with?

"War, pestilence, strife and peace all feed into the very thing in which all life's creations fear most." Her voice darkened when standing just over me to allow a curved edge to settle underneath my gnashing jaws, "Death." I gagged when smoke arose beneath her feet to choke out air as I grasped at my neck unable to breathe properly, "For death is absolute until everything ends! Everything ends with death to make all bow before what I am, so listen well because there is nothing in this world that is above me."

I spat out a wad of blackened blood right onto her chest piece in response. Narrowed slits for pupils inspected where I'd stained her attire, "Fuck you!" I rasped out seeing her fingers bring said substance as though it were an interesting find. Yet an armored high heel snapped aside into my temple and I got sent to the ground, hard. Groaning while dealing with the mother of all migraines I barely had time before another kick sent me sprawling away.

"You've changed entirely for not the better, I think being human has made you forget where you stand among us." She spoke entirely absently rubbing gloved fingers as I weakly demanded, "What are you?" Her gaze came closer to when someone asked stupid questions, I often broke faces in and she was of that similar temptation. Stabbing the scythe to have remained in place she cracked her knuckles loudly when approaching, "Someone whose about to enact justice on a betraying piece of shit. You may have forgotten while being born as a human, but you cannot escape consequences!"

Looming over my downed form I got yanked onto both feet before feeling a fist dig right into an exposed gut and I lurched forward spewing out reddish gore, "And I am very, very pissed." Wheezing out air didn't stop a burning sensation as another fist sent my jawline well out of line, "You have not learned what it means to anger death!" I had no sensation of feeling after that as a series of strikes sent me forcefully upwards with a hand burying itself right over internal guts, I gurgled out bloodied chunks falling to both knees gagging on my own life blood. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't fight and I couldn't understand what was happening.

Her face looked positively twisted when hoisting my numbed out body having us stare eye to eye. I definitely glared, mustering enough will to split a wad of red right into that face. She jolted back shocked as if such a gesture shouldn't have been done, "...fuck...you..." I hoarsely laughed in weakened gasps finding this so surreal that it wasn't just madness. I was being manhandled by a regal looking bitch who had an ass and it was beyond ludicrous to think something hadn't been done to set me up for this confrontation. With a trembling hand she wiped that massive wad of saliva, blood and gore before I got a new definition of pain.

Regal facial features twisted from a controlled fury into an absolutely twisted monster who'd break me in two. With a mighty roar matching even my own she sent us skyrocketing above and twisted us around hissing out livid, "Such insolence!" Gravity did it's perfected job as a powerful kick right into my sternum sent descending to smash right into the concrete rooftop! An internal groan worthy of a leviathan of ancient times rewarded those to hear it as an entire building almost caved in underneath the sheer force alone. I found myself flickering in and out of unconsciousness dangerously yet I saw her come barreling down like akin to a meteor.

"Oh...shit..." I groaned right before feeling fire to such a degree I screamed feeling ribs caving inwards and bones splintering where I unleashed torrents of bloodied saliva. Pressure so vast and god damned heavy crushed every inch of flesh not capable to withstand it's source. Unable to move I lay there choking my own blood, dying piece by piece and there wasn't fuck all I'd be able to do to high tail it out of here. Tremors racked through every limb as I blindly tried to reach for anything through the smoke but that hope faded entirely.

An armored hand snatched my forearm tightly snapping it akin to a twig almost immediately. Biting down hard I managed to allow myself internally shrieking while breathing in rapidly, a desperate bid for the human body to remain consciously aware. An overall sharpened heel came stomping over my chest digging it's spike right through flesh and cloth alike, I coughed up darkish liquid indicating it was a deep puncture. Somehow through sheer will I managed to weakly stare upwards at a face which would haunt me for an entire life, or worse yet be my nightmare made manifest. I couldn't do anything except close an eye due to swelling.

"Yield." She ordered coldly to which I promptly shook my head albeit minimally, "No." A beautiful scowl capable to send men to their knees got closer briefly before another fist slammed me downwards. I do not give in to any person, I live freely, or die hard. Crying out when she began twisting a spike heel closer and closer towards an organ called the heart, I weakly grasped an ankle in a bid to remove it in futility. It didn't budge at all, it didn't even lift an inch yet an opposite reaction occurred. The spike dug deeper and deeper, much to my heart struggling to beat.

"You've embraced humanity's defiance so naturally, I'd say you were like them." The woman stated disgustedly realizing she'd be unable to have me fold. Raising an arm she reached outwards as a scythe came swirling over landing perfectly in an outstretched palm, "But you are no child of God. You are no creation of his and yet what's more?" Settling the curved edge over my shoulder she hoisted it upwards before impaling the massive cause through me to hoarsely scream to the skies. I screamed in earnest not even daring to humor agony to such a degree, it brought back older and far more crueler times when pain wasn't too far away.

Stomping on her weapon to have half of its length impaled through me and the rooftop she knelt down yanking me upward. I fell into convulsions feeling my body rejecting itself, in trying to kill itself and yet I resisted to stare through tear stricken eyes. Her expressions turned colder than ever just by seeing what pitiful state I looked to be in, "You desire both his creations and child in this life as was your past existence. Did your angelic virgin convince you to stand before us, to have you arrogantly believe you'd triumph over me especially...brother?" She whispered that last word so delightfully sweet and chilling I inhaled deeply in shock.

Two similarly dressed figures appeared just over behind as two similar mounts were beneath them. Both cloaked riders were staring down at me with either gleeful hunger, or disgusted wishful hope I'd be eviscerated. These people are my...family, but that's impossible! I sneered regardless of revelations being dropped on me, "My family's dead, so don't bullshit me." Struggling to speak took considerable effort as this regal woman laughed harshly in response. Taking a portion of my shirt around the neck I got hoisted roughly to be within inches of her face.

"You're a rider of Armageddon, right?" Her smile turned cruelly amused seeing my eyes widen since it was technically true, "Brother, you're one of us just as we four have been together for eons." She began absently tracing my jawline thoughtful for whatever purpose, "You've grown so much in so little time and your strength is beyond even of your siblings, but not me." Her expression softened when one told another that they tried so hard yet it wouldn't be enough, "Yet your progress ends tonight. Your actions which lead us to become humans cannot be overlooked, for even I cannot overlook it and the three of us will have our retribution enacted upon your flesh."

Throughout this entire explanation I couldn't make heads, or tails of what in the hell these people referred to. What does this bitch get off on, I don't remember shit or even have an idea since I was just born into this world without a choice! I didn't ask to be born in a shit hole of a life, I didn't wonder why and I fought my way through life to live. My eyes must have given away panic to such a degree she actually cooed stroking the part of flesh she held. It looked eerily faked yet so genuine it made me feel disgust knowing both.

"To see your true self crying out in defiance despite being so lost, so confused and utterly hurt is so delectable." She sighed aloud finding it all too tasteful to be kept hidden, "I'm tempted to rip your eyes out and suck them clean, it'd do you more good." I cringed reflexively realizing this wasn't just some beauty with an ass, or a sassy attitude to humor men. I knew without a doubt it was an honest to god psychopath that made me look normal. This was the stuff of nightmares in which people thought to be sick fantasy yet mankind held monsters so depraved it made devils look akin to angels.

"You want me dead?" I coughed out smiling deranged since I was literally staring death in the face, "Get in line, I take numbers." Her eyes became darkened, voids completely black like mirrors as I saw my own battered face looking right back. Smoke wafted upwards clogging every capable means to breathe as she whispered callously, "Not nearly enough, brother. For the first time we riders have agreed upon one thing mutually and it's all thanks to your schemes, as they say you reap what you sow from your hands!"

I got slammed backed down before that scythe lifted itself causing me to scream gurgling out liquid. She only used one hand to hoist my battered body along the serrated edge, I barely understood what was what and where I found myself. A brief fluttering sensation of air before everything turned dark as my skull nearly caved from being dragged across an entire rooftop, I coughed weakly trying to muster anything yet it was beyond hopeless. I was a god damned rag doll, powerless and utterly drained from whatever this damned scythe infected me internally, I wanted to vomit either blood or gore from what little remained.

Limply I swayed back and forth being placed on display for those seeking my perpetual agonized disgrace. With only one functioning arm I managed to grasp the scythe's lubricated edge to struggle in pulling myself forward. But I barely twitched despite feeling inch by inch of flesh being serrated by gravity's pull alone, I'd been effectively screwed and was open season officially. Do something you dumb fuck, get off your ass and yank this piece of shit out of you! Screaming internally managed to push an arm enough to slowly slide upwards as a curved blade's entire length made it seem like I had to move up a mountain side.

"Finally you white devil!" I heard that gook exclaim striding forward to swipe his axe burying itself into my right rib cage and I jerked in response. Gasping for oxygen proved to be what little will I held when he shoved the weapon's edge so far it pierced possibly vital organs, I felt incredibly cold and far beyond weak to barely remain awake. Three piercing pangs of searing frigid came next due to palish looking arrowheads fired by a giggling archer merrily calling out, "How are you feeling now big brother? I told you you'd made someone very, very angry!"

Coughing to expunge liquid which filled both lungs I breathed in shallow yet rapid breaths struggling to remain living. Damn it, I'm...I'm actually dying, so fucking wonderful! Staring upwards blankly seeing nothing except darkened clouds was I honestly disappointed. I'd been struggling to arise in a place where hell among mankind was all but confirmed, I fought to control the very veins of disgusting sin and nightmares in the very place where this world looked too. Yet here I was being strung up like a piece of meat being shredded for sport.

"Death will not claim you so easily, brother." I heard my supposed sister speak out knowingly as a jolting sensation of life came to make both eyes widen, "I will not let you have that mercy, for am I not satisfied." Wheezing out in shock I looked down seeing flesh being forcefully stitched together by blackened tendrils and pain freshly came back so powerfully I shrieked unable to handle it's vastness, she got off on every little detail, "Scream with that wonderful pain I can feed on, brother! Scream!" She cried out yanking the blade further upwards closer to slicing an entire arm off as I kicked feebly in mid air.

Another swing impaled itself into my gut as tears fell hissing away due to being dissolved by fiery flesh. I won't beg you bastards to stop, you hear me! I won't! I seethed feeling heat worming it's way back through destroyed flesh as half a dozen arrows pierced me at various locations. Again flesh knitted itself back together before more and more acts of brutality threatened to shatter what little sanity I'd humored for years. I will never beg for help, I will never cry out for someone to save me and I will never accept defeat!

I snapped my eyes opening while roaring out furiously as scorching flames blasted outwards incinerating anything in range. But the scythe hardly changed from it's polished metallic exterior to forever mock my efforts, "Oh?" I heard my sister purring rather entertained, "You still have some fire in you!" Gaining strength I began wildly thrashing around in a bid to remove myself off this insulting place I'd been strung up. But I soon found myself whisked around to be slammed face first onto shattered jagged rocks and twisted steel.

Whispers crawled into both ears seemingly mocking me in an endless torrent of despair, "Break! Break!" Grasping that scythe's edge again I began pushing off of it gnashing my teeth so hard I chipped several in mere moments, "Give in to Death, give in!" Yelling out in sheer defiance I all but stood up on a knee struggling to lift my head to face them all, "Would...you shut the fuck up!" I felt the scythe being expelled inch by inch as harmonious laughter coming from a sister who was but another monster of mankind.

I will not die here! Chanting those five words over and over gave me power to get to both feet straining to stay upright. Flames redder than blood surged along every fiber of my frame, I hissed out steam once it was clear heat returned once more due to gaining traction to be fed anew. I WILL NOT DIE HERE! Bringing both hands I took one last moment before doing something even the most brutal of man didn't dare imagine as I silenced every lingering whisper.

With a mighty surge of will I ran forward completely coming close to severing my entire arm off and yet it paid off! Despite enduring hell's grace I sprinted leaving a limb hanging by few strands of flesh and I bellowed sending out waves of force to shatter anything unable to stand against my power, "DO YOU ALL HEAR ME NOW?" Lightning flashed overhead until it came streaking downwards as I raised my gloved hand where a shattered sword began forming invoking the wrath of a storm itself. The streaking bolt came down blinding all in a sea of bluish white, it came right at my face in which I lost all senses and I roared out declaring my will to never be beneath another.

---

Moments passed within electric potent shocks destroyed every fiber attributing to feeling agony and flesh rendering pangs of mind numbing understanding. I stood upright looking down to see my wound healing in plain sight as fiery red sprang up from behind, "What in hell's name?" I softly uttered seeing wings akin to angels wreathed in flame yet they weren't crimson red. They were a soft glue of orange and gold aligned in fiery tips rippling closely akin to the very blade which had been broken reformed into a healthier brighter reddish crimson marred by sporadic bluish sparks seeping off it's tip, it looked beyond lethal.

"Disgusting!" My sister's voice rang out coldly as I looked over glaring hatefully, "Even now you mock us with God's fake virgin aiding you from afar!" Her scythe partially melted began reforming through blackened wisps yet I couldn't care less. I wanted blood, I wanted an eye for an eye and I made it clear by leveling the twisted weapon I wielded. Reaching outwards my shotgun came racing back into an eager ready hand nearly completing my arsenal of destruction, I only needed one other piece who I whistled sharply for me to ride.

Fury's entire frame molded with bloodied flames with this latest evolution I'd been granted. And her bellowing call made all know she wasn't pleased. I turned to face down all three of my supposed family members sneering in earnest, "The flames of war will never be snuffed out! You wanted war?" I asked them menacingly to jump up to land on Fury's saddle which her fiery exterior turned brighter, "Well now you fuckers got something even worse..." I thumbed my chest indicating I was going to be their worst nightmare, "You got me!"

The other three moved towards their own mounted beasts which shuffled anxiously awaiting an order to charge. I stood against them all, one versus three and not one of them wouldn't stop until I was but ash itself. So be it, I've had everything come at me and more ready to put me six feet under. Fuck the world since it wants me dead, then I'll make my own world and by God's lovely death, I swear there's nothing that will keep me down. I stood glaring, reloading both shotgun shells with enough power to pack a punch even nuclear warheads of this modern era paled to emulate in distant dreams.

I memorized all three's features so I'd never would dare to assume they were similar to me. Taking a hold of the left flank among them was someone who I knew now as Strife. A child innocent in her appearance yet fueled by this conflict who waved cheerfully at my sneering face. With arrows and a bow aligned to take my head off. But to their immediate right stood a lanky gook, or chink who'd I scalp him for good measure.

Pestilence would be his name I'd recall forever and of his sickly desire to see me mutilated. Brownish green smoke wafted from around him, I witnessed his own mount angrily stomp the ground in a fit of impatience. Phantom sensations akin to crawling worms originated from both locations; he'd impaled an axe drenched in disease, or acid technically since I still had trouble breathing a bit. Yet I'd take him out first if he wanted to step up, I'd do more than scalp him really and personally to see that weapon cutting away it's owners limbs? I'd do it, personally.

However the gravest threat stood right in between them with eyes that promised a fate far worse than I'd ever imagine. Death was her name, for it seemed I would face down death and her strength which potently extruded from a beast bathed in it's vast depths. Armor decorative as much as it was practical framed by a face many would fall to their knees in awe. Yet I saw through it's deceptive appearance beneath lay a psychopath who'd skin me alive. The eldest among us supposedly while I was the youngest and whoever ironic it all came to be, I stood closest to match Death despite odds stacked against me heavily.

"It's poetically perfect!" Pestilence shouted grandly, spreading his arms with both shield and axe on display, "A beast alone and facing judgment!" His posture seemed sickly hunching over slightly but held gleeful facial expressions to atone for such a deception, "Remember this beast and remember it well!" The man's lips pulled back revealed yellow teeth which were sharpening akin to a shark's mouth, "You will never be among your own again, for retribution is our cause and your existence is no longer tolerated."

Strife sitting in an oversized saddle childlike in appearance chimed in merrily as always, "Big brother is a bad boy, he did bad things." I stared between the two of them before hefting a blade longer than one man above myself. It's flaming exterior tore through reality almost as an angry reddish tear extended once I vigorously had it come down parallel to Fury's flank. While my shotgun got shouldered I refused to show them I was far too excited to kick this conflict off, if they wanted an apocalypse early then who the hell was I to not oblige it?

"You disgust me, more than ever." My gaze settled on allegedly the eldest sibling whose face scowled due to seeing a detail, "Heaven's stench is all over you." She wasn't wrong because light golden at times mixed in with reddish crimson to give off an appearance of orange. Wings which mimicked angelic kind were an anomaly even I couldn't explain, for I had no experience having a pair of limbs which spread themselves accordingly. Yet I would admit one thing about having wings whose very tips leveled to scorch concrete and steel. It was absolutely fucking badass realizing I'd be able to fly, if Fury didn't mind me doing so.

You did something to me, Gabriel when you gave me this location! I looked down to see my hand where she'd given that enlightened parchment. Small traces of a holy light golden and white in it's absolute purity circulated within veins underneath heated flesh. They enveloped along my blade's handle to trickle upwards mixing with reddish flames, bluish sparks and gave off an incredibly bright light matching heat only earth's core dared to rival. I'll deal with your interference on a later day angel, a day I'll personally mark down but I guess having an old school family showdown takes priority presently.

Death's regal feature twisted into an ugly fierce expression as she shouted, "You dare to mock us, brother? You dare to still stand with God's fake virgin over your brothers and sisters, I can sense her light mixed among her stench which is all over you!" An eruption blasted all to tremble from a furious rider whose very power quaked the earth. Her eyes were wide, wild and absolutely psychotic to such a damned degree it made me feel very normal. But in response to this metal breakdown I smiled widely egging it onwards by telling them all a fact which sent them all in fits of fury, "Bitch, I'm an only child."

Lightning snapped overhead masking completely void pitch black eyes that were blazing so potently it looked akin to a monster. Her shoulders trembled at first hands quaking and straining as a mount nickered in sheer agitation. That scythe wavered briefly until it's tip started to extend upwards, I kept on smiling widely, gloating at her, "What? Are you going to throw a tantrum because some choir angel chick wants my dick?" Chortling lowly since it technically would lead into that sort of action, if said angel wasn't a prude church going girl and honestly it'd be an interesting experience to have her cry out my name in battle.

Both riders between Death began edging away very cautiously once a grin so wide and beyond humane revealed elongated teeth. I triggered something loose because I had a bad feeling crawling up my spinal cord in that moment. She giggled unabashedly using a hand to partially obscure fangs which glistened from brightly flashing lightning. Rain began dour pouring in earnest swiping aside as gusts of wind were strengthened due to burning buildings. The infernos weren't dampened too much yet they fiercely illuminated anything in a reddish hue.

"I'll kill her!" I tilted my head hearing that vow over and over again, "I'll rip those fucking white wings off at their roots, I'll break her back into pieces and bathe in her blood." Those void eyes flashed dementedly as though I were property being stolen and it felt rather demeaning. Her hand trembled so openly it seemed closer to convulsion from drug addicts unable to get their fix, "She took you already from us once, brother...but I will never allow it twice." I raised an eyebrow doing a mental count since I had next to no clue what this bitch spouted out, I'd never met said angel until recently and even then I wasn't exactly civil.

Regardless I chuckled aloud finding her episode too damned funny, "What's the big deal? She looks like a babe, so I think it's kind of a win-win." An explosion surged underneath sending layers upon layers of concrete and steel flying outwards. Several floors were outright obliterated by sheer force perpetually flowing from the blackened rider. Fury remained in place standing yet her own winged limbs casually lowered to keep us both level, I whistled finding this entire spectacle far too entertaining to provoke it further, "Flowing blond hair, beautiful sculpted body despite God giving her a goody two shoes personality and to see what's underneath those robes..." I got interrupted by an earth shattering scream from my sibling launching herself where I stood.

Scythe met blade in a clash of explosive force as I yelled out triumphantly holding her at bay. Fury and her counterpart snapped at one another due to their proximity. Seething possibly from me talking too much, or perhaps sheer rage I leered openly, "Should I fuck her senseless and make her cry out my name?" The metallic weaponry began emitting shrill sounds due to the sheer force of our struggle yet I found myself growing more powerful. Crimson cyan like energy snapped between us to literally pull whatever blackened wisps into swirling masses, I felt my supposed siblings desire to war with me and destroy everything pertaining to a certain angel.

Perfect, I got you know bitch! Mustering my mount who began bellowing angrily driving her own counterpart upwards I slanted the blade to see those voided eyes growing darker. Veins were slowly popping in an ugly display of blackish sickness along her entire face, "You're not as all powerful as you claimed to be." I barked out laughing inching her backwards as I leveled the shotgun right into those eyes widened in alarm.

She had actually forgotten a modern innovation of destruction due to a subtle influence. One I'd enacted as rage blinded any senses for a time and I exploited it all too easily. Whispering three words I found her shock grow into absolute anger, "Suck it, sister." Both shells fired with forces rivaling those of nature and I witnessed a blackened reddish ball soaring backwards. I watched triumphantly seeing it smash right into the nearest skyscraper and continuing through several more buildings descending towards the ground!

The other riders had dodged a miniature comet of fire and flesh giving me an opportunity. Yelling aloud while slamming my boot into Fury's side we ascending rapidly intercepting Pestilence who barely managed to block an inflamed blade, "I haven't forgotten you, you chink looking ass clown!" His face livid in appearance struggled to remain angry as both Fury and I slammed into his frame sending us all skidding forward to slam in an inferno. Stone, glass and metal all pelted us in a shower of debris as we shot through tons of material.

Crashing onto a paved road the very tar folded upwards like tin foil as it couldn't withstand the sheer pressure of our descent. Pressing up against an axe whose outward edges began turning white from the flames potency Pestilence snarled out, "Damned beast! You come here and destroy my home, my people!" He lurched backwards on his own mount as the sword I wielded started to really inflamed due to my own rage, "And you killed mine to get me here. It's blood for blood and an eye for an eye, brother."

His eyes turned a solid darkening green finding that word beyond disgusting to lock our weapons in a screeching bind. A foul rotting smell perpetually eroded off his body as wisps of sickly coloration attempted to eat away at myself. Yet a barrier of heat less flames met it in a fizzling manner, "Thousands of mine for a few of yours?" My so called brother exclaimed looking upwards behind me specifically to see a hole the size of several vehicles exposing our original location. He actually in a grudging fashion acknowledged the consequences of incurring my wrath, "I'd hate to imagine what your insatiable appetite for destruction will cost this world."

He never saw the reloaded shotgun level just underneath my blade's pommel when I pulled a trigger smirking widely. Both mount and rider were sent flying backwards letting out sharply pained screams due to being blindsided. Cars and trucks parked, or not were ideally flung around like tin cans with those operating them crying out in sheer terror. Explosions rocked the street sending hundreds of people who had no idea what was happening fleeing in all directions, I stood perfectly content scorching vehicles which detonated due to gasoline ignited internally and Fury moved us past everything without incident. Thick smoke throat clogging clouds amassed over the very street obscuring mostly anything not illuminated like myself.

Staring into a series of burning car wreckage they were flung aside as my enemy clutched his gut openly. The beast which was his own found itself saying dangerously hacking up greenish sludge before rigidly standing in place. Pestilence spat out a glob of red off to his right, "I'm beginning to see why our sister is absolutely out of her mind." He moved past corpses which were charred pieces of flesh mouths open in silent agony and horror, "You'll never come to your senses, brother and she finds it so endearing I cannot understand her intentions. What were of you two before we became humans on this earth?"

Flipping my sword's handle in hand reflexively I shrugged, "Hell if I should know!" Fury began moving over twisted wreckage of burning debris, I noted the tar and stone began sweltering in a whitish coloration underneath us due to extreme temperatures to make it akin to magma. Flames began licking their way onto anything flammable as I angled the great blade back marking an attack I'd commit too, "I'm just here to take your head, brother." I sneered that word disgustedly since I had no attachment to that semblance of relation, "And personally? I don't appreciate fuck wits messing with my people, on my time and on my blood to be spilled on my turf."

An ever familiar tingling returned to ripple down my back as a soft wind proceeded someone's presence. Behind! Whipping around I just barely managed to jerk aside from several palish glowering arrowheads smashing into several burning piles of wreckage and forcefully sending them rolling over violently. Childlike giggling echoed briefly from Strife's obscured position beyond in thickened smoke clogging this street, "Nice one big brother! You're quick!" The compliments weren't exactly comforting given how Pestilence naturally disappeared from where he'd been, a successful distraction that slowly became beyond irritating.

"I'm going to put you in a corner." I spoke loudly again flipping sword in hand to ward off rage which came too naturally, "And maybe give you the belt." Strife's childlike voice turned fearful in a mocking manner to get underneath my skin, "I don't wanna be in time out, big brother! I'll be a good girl, I promise!" This constant chatter certainly provided a screen for my greatest obstacle as Death's absence didn't settle well. She'd be back if I had to guess, somehow I had a hunch because if it were that easy to kill her supposedly I'd have won the lottery back home.

Alright, let's find out what you gave me to play with an angel. I raised the blade upwards snarling angrily as a storm raged upwards in darkened skies. Lightning streaked across illuminating everything in an eerily whitish blue as a bolt came rocketing downwards, I channeled whatever I could into it and by proxy I was a lightning rod. Immense power so daringly heavy and beyond hot scorched right through every pore I held and I bellowed out a cry, "Is this what heaven's power amounts too? A little tingling and light show?"

Thundered boomed angrily with lightning snapping at various points drawing bolts downwards! Continuous weight of electric volts manifested into physical tremors rippling over me as I unleashed an overly powerful echoing roar daring the might of Heaven itself to showcase it's true power, "SHOW ME!" Screeching downwards a mighty bolt stretching possibly for miles struck the sword dead on and all I felt was fire. Electric currents capable of melting steel, iron and turning flesh into ash surged within my chest causing me to roar out my approval to the very beings I'd been loathed to acknowledge. If they wanted me to win for whatever reason, I'd do so and I'd do it for my selfish reasoning for mankind was mine to decide whether they'd live, or die!

Panting heavily with droplets of sweat coursing down each facial cheek I smiled so widely it revealed sharpening teeth. Now this I can like, I can like it a lot! Hissing and crackling snaps of electricity systematically emerged from anything conductive in immediate proximity. I felt tremors running along every piece of flesh and it was so god damned light it couldn't be more amazing. Bringing an electrified blade of reddish flame and streaks of static dead center of my forehead I peered right through everything to see all of those who'd want me struck dead. I only looked up to see them gathered as one line of strength.

All three horsemen stood opposing me, to be lurking at an afar ending avenue where people fled in mindless droves. Death had reappeared with a deranged expression so daringly twisted and vile it showed exactly what she'd been hiding internally. Pestilence held an ugly scowl in seeing what I'd evolved into as one of their own, I could see his eyes burning with either envy or sheer hatred due to who'd been aiding myself. Strife still wearing her palish hood could only swing both legs merrily in such a child like fashion and flashed me an innocent smile, a masterful deception as I knew she'd gut me like a pig given the chance. They'd all mutilate myself and Fury for daring to go against what they perceived was their place among mankind.

I stood against them all as I considered myself what all bad ass men decided in such times. Brandishing an elementally mixed blade with scorched and electrified air itself, I stood alone as man chose to do long ago. Steam coiled around a hellish and heavenly mixed tool screeching due to air protesting from condensed and being manifested into reddish coils of wisps. Fire borne of earth's core, crafted from endless stars of the void beyond sky and air, I withheld a fire so bright not one being until my dying breath would snuff it out. I knew who I was and what I wanted to become, for I stood alone against those who believed mankind had a choice to endure.

My eyes burned within their sockets to boil air in a shimmering gaze worthy of hell. Sheathing the firearm into its rightful place I held a sword with two hands and prepared myself accordingly. Inhaling deeply I took all the sights of this war zone freshly minted anew, a field of battle forcefully made of burning flesh and eternally being natural among mankind who sought to embrace themselves in an illusion of peace. I was that illusion broken to manifest to those who believe peace to be natural, it wasn't and it'd never would until I decided to make it so. For I was something beyond mere men could hope to attain, I knew it so.

War became my name regardless of blood and flesh, for I am War. The last rider of Armageddon who'd decide whether mankind would flourish within the flames of conflict, or perish beneath its weight for war itself kicked the end of all mankind. They want me to join them to end mankind, but I like being where I'm at and as such I am something else. I sighed aloud, feeling pleasure from seeing everything burning into ash and dust, if my so-called siblings wanted me that bad? They'd have to kill themselves long before I'd submit to any of them.

For I wasn't just a horseman of the end times because I was a renegade! The renegade of war, not bound to God's word, not chained to creation's laws and not subservient to death itself. I chose my path, I had will and I had desire as all mankind decided upon when granted strength to chart their own destiny out of God's ilk. War was me, I was War and yet I still held a semblance of excitement when I thought of an angel with blond hair wearing nothing except to cry out my name. Oh, now I'm really tempted because of you, Gabriel and I can't wait till I see what's underneath those robes. Now that was something I'd have to conquer without hesitation...eventually.

Lighting crackled overhead drenching every being in a downpour worthy of biblical proportions. Yet no fires were put out thanks to my smiling face as I denied any sort of mercy tonight. Nudging my mount's flank she began trotting forward neighing in delight as I snarled out an angry yell, "Tonight mark these words and mark them well because we are bringing hell itself onto God's green earth...my brothers and sisters!" Speeding towards them I raised the sword high as it could have gone with another bolt of electric destruction striking the tip, angrily I whipped it backwards sending shock waves crashing into buildings.

Gusts of howling wind crashed into me despite this and I kept on urging Fury forward. For a brief moment I thought I heard someone call out my name, a distant voice and for one fleeting moment I blinked to see something...odd. As I got closer towards the three who began their own charge at me did I feel someone hugging my back. Blinking owlishly I glanced over to see two pure innocent hands clasping underneath where my chest plate and clothing met. Hands so pure gentle yet firm in their strength, so full of light and seemed sculpted too beautiful to be natural.

Right on the edge of my peripheral I saw a face smiling sadly and having the eyes of a woman who'd never betray their other half. An angel's wings wrapped within flames of hell and destruction molded into a harmonious light, "Forgive me, horseman." A voice tinged in earnest regret as tears fell from God's perfect daughter as her presence had been projected from afar, "I have never forgiven myself for what was done to you, please...forgive me." Those words were beyond sorrowful belonging to one's whose heart had been broken because of selfish actions, I sneered livid due to finding them all to be poisonous yet I did one thing naturally.

"Shut your damn mouth woman, I'm busy." Staring ahead I felt that light dim enough to where I sneered openly grandly proclaiming an ever classy response, "I'll see you soon enough, so get some practice in and you better keep a bed warm with that ass of yours. I'm feeling rather...needy!" The angelic woman's expression seemed shocked at first before a kind happy smile formed. You better smile, I want to wipe it away when I hear you screaming for me to stop! She'd learn her place, either in to be my kitchen or maybe learning how to take it when I fuck her senseless eventually. Either way it got the job done, it shut her up and I wasn't in any damned mood to play nice again.

And with that I spurned my beast of destruction riding into the heart of battle. Nothing would stand today as years of efforts, years of living and harboring ambition I'd take everything on! Yelling out gleeful in wild abandonment I charged headlong in the three who were spearheaded by Death's hand alone. We got closer and closer as scythe met my raised blade! In a flash of light our weapons collided and the very earth cracked underneath our power. The Horseman of the Apocalypse had gathered for the first in Earth's history and there was nothing in the universe which could claim to stop forces even God himself couldn't contain. For the end had begun for all to see as it began.

End Prologue

Author's Note: I've had several prologues among other things lying around, I've always had an urge to do something in any medium (Anime/Movie/Shows) whereas it simply nudges everything towards a more realistic setting. High School DXD is literally, what I call, an absolute never ending pool of historical references filled with tits, ass and that generic by the number's formula which has annoyed me for years on end. Personally, I've lost my patience for anime in general, I considered it a phase and grew out of it.

But more often than not, I don't discard it since it's obviously a popular medium. So make no mistake, if you expected a generic by the numbers story. Using old cliche, but adding that dose of realism is what makes or breaks a story in this setting. You can say anything you want about my less than favorable opinion on this site, more so I personally just don't care for anime settings yet I don't deny many people really do browse it to escape from our own reality. And I intend to showcase something that few can't accept.

I present to you as a preview and if anyone wants to see it continue beyond this prologue is just me probing waters. Welcome to the story, hopefully one among many in which I've dubbed it simply as, "The Horseman." It's an original character, in a cliche among cliches, as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are a popular subject. Yet I've never seen anyone willing to channel an essence of the primordial powers of supernatural effects.

Obviously in the source material (canon), we never hear or see of these figures. I suppose they're only pop-culture references given the whole, fan-service routine, I witnessed watching this series years ago and only recently...confirmed it. I wasn't pleased, I was just running out of humor in everything pertaining to whatever generic 'hero' is massively perverted, a degenerate and fosters this attitude we've seen in our present day. It's not a problem, it's an issue...note the difference I'm conveying because it's simply a product of our modern day.

So I can't take it seriously, but it's a popular section many people fish through at times. And this is the story of an OC (original character) who becomes One of Four. The Four Horsemen who have been unleashed quite figuratively upon God's demise to the Beast. Now, I suppose I'll go over a few questions since what kind of scale am I aiming for? Quite simply, the Beast of Apocalypse is vastly different yet is symbolic of the original Four Horsemen, who are a product of Mankind's sins manifesting through a universal state we see in our lives.

It's not using the Darksider's portrayal, which I avoided since most tend to view the Horseman as these unbreakable kin. Yet that is not the case, they use brother and sister mainly to deviate themselves as they're similar. Yet they are not of Heaven, Hell, Mankind or among the known supernatural races inhabiting earth underneath God's creation. They are embodiment of forces long before, as well after, so only they themselves call each other brother/sister depending on who manifested their respective role. And unfortunately, it doesn't translate to affection since only they as Four can decide a course for those who have reigned unchecked for so long that something took over.

So where does this lead up into? The Four Horsemen cannot be killed, or rather their physical manifestations can die. Yet they'll reform, which is ironically them being forced into beings of flesh and blood. They're apart of creation, no longer above it and aware they'll be never their original voiceless roles in the cosmos as force alone cannot be stopped. Below, I'll explain what I mean, it's not simply: 'X grows stronger because of X." It took me awhile to figure out where to rank them, or how it'd stand in the present context.

War. Self- explanatory, we war within ourselves, against God or each other. Life is a war, to survive and endure, to constantly battle within elements as nature is often conflicting with our ability to live in our living duration. And yet among the super-natural, War is what brought them into conflict and it's a primordial force in the cosmos. Planets form, star's endure and burn, they fight to continue until something within forces it out. Mankind's wars, physical conflict and even those who live committing crimes can spark wars, or battles.

Strife. Everything struggles, everyone who lives or even the idea of struggling is what that prescribed too. In a war, strife is wrought with struggling to live and die, as in nature strives to struggle remaining without withering away. Again I stress it's force among those who live and Mankind is eternally struggling to strive past in this universe. Even though it's completely watered down, it's there if you watch between characters and arcs in their journey.

Pestilence. Even the star's grow sick, as they wither into flaming ends or do we see sickness in man, nature and supernatural beings grow. It doesn't have to be physical, it can be spiritual, morally and generally a decline of health in a relative fashion. Nature, the cosmos or more occasionally sickens due to natural means, bad circumstances and inevitably we see all life grow sick for living in a world worsening. Humanity, in this case is a festering hub of it not including Devils, or Angels who have warred against one another.

Death. Death is the beginning as is the end. All forces, all notions of life in Mankind, nature, or the cosmos do inevitably end up dying. Death is absolute, it is whether you accept it or deny it, yet it comes nonetheless for all without mercy, or discrimination. Simply put the primordial concept of death is everything's end, of life, of purpose and so many other topics in which it all feeds into that inevitable truth all creation faces. Our end…

I'm explaining these Four because their 'power' is more attuned to their environment. As you've witnessed they have huge influences in supernatural realms that 'Gods' of each faith cannot hope to match, because they are mirrors as opposed to the Four who God, of our Christian Faith, chained long ago to judge mankind if they ever became...worse than anything he'd care to admit. At least in this interpretation for High School DXD. Please note, it's of our reality, this is just source material I skimmed over several times.

On Earth, their presences affect mankind without warning. Matter, flesh or soul, for they are the originators that men endured after receiving free-will from God. They entered the world, they've seen the worst and best, but it grew with them no matter how hard they ignored it. Or rather, it manifested into being due to their 'Gods' of past, present or future to reaffirm their presences to be the Four of One. They are the Beast, yet the Beast is them...in a mirror of creation, though the Beast is simply Four in One.

Now this explanation is meant for context, since it gives nothing away except a general outlook. Why is 'War' more man, than a horseman? Why are the 'Four' seeking to kill him, because they are flesh and blood, when they'd been nothing except pillars within the realms of supernatural and natural means. They are the Primordial elements of all creation, God is a creator, in which he wanted Mankind to flourish without exterior threats. And as a result?

We have a paradox, as an Angel, a creation of God chose to act. And as a result? A bargain, or agreement was struck...eon's ago. Well before this Universe's conception, or rather it was long ago it might as well never happened. And now when the War between these Three Factions concluded...all bets and chains were no longer maintained.

And now we have a new group within the High School DXD universe. A group of Four, who don't care about anyone or anything save for themselves. These Horsemen...they're not nice people, they're not playing when battle occurs. These four go for kill shots, they make you wish a Devil, or Angel is torturing your existence regardless of how lighthearted said show is portraying them akin to being alive. This is why it's so graphic...it's utterly stomach turning because when something that isn't supposed to happen...happens?

What does this mean for any future in which main characters show up? I can say this, it's not going to be pretty at all. With their arrival, all factors and preconceived notions are immediately tossed out a window when you have embodiment's wandering around as flesh, or blood. With their arrival on earth, all Factions and all elements pertaining to what we see later in this show? It becomes something incredibly dangerous, dark and there's little hope to reason with beings who are out to make Mankind their own playground.

Heaven, or Hell...they'll storm it if they damn well want too. And that's a serious danger to their peace in establishing. And their strength is relative to whenever those who act against them feed them the potent force of their established embodiment's. How do you fight war, if you're warring against War himself? Quite frankly, it's a fucking mess to imagine because how do you fight a being that thrives off fighting as if you breathed air?

Better yet, how do you kill 'Death' when death is absolute and cannot be defeated? You see why only these Four fight each other, because they can only do so, it won't cut it with the Arch-Angels, Ultimate Demons, Fallen or any other super-natural faction. And before anyone asks me, about the 'Phoenix' devil clan, or whatever?

They're immortal from aging, or dying naturally. Yet they can still be killed, it's death's absolute consequence since they're not invulnerable. Angelic beings inevitably fall from grace, to wither and become husks of what they once were. (Strife), or (Pestilence) would grow in strength whenever it has occurred over millennia. Now do you see what I'm explaining, it's far beyond the typical notion of 'Insert Sacred Gear' tropes. And you already know about the Devils, so I don't even have to say much pertaining to them as a whole.

This is literally an ambitious story telling with an Anime-medium as my testing ground for you readers to get a feel. I don't plan on updating this story, or another until I'm finished with Imperial Saber, or The Inquisitor story since I'm only several chapters off. Not to mention, if there's a huge demand for this story to be updated. I'll consider it, I have plenty to keep me busy and I'll throw this one out there because it's mindless direction for me to humor.

It's on you, not I, to decide if you want more of this story's progress. Leave a review, if you want too and all I ask is tell me: what do you like, not like, enjoy or simply love to see when I ask since it's all I require. This isn't a 'Kids', or 'Edgy' concept, it's a mature read and one that will pull you to ask yourselves questions. What is a man relative to a monster, who simply refuses to allow man become one until he deems it so?