High School DXD
The Horsemen
Chapter III
Storms rippled violently churning across an entire expanse sending waves outward despite eons of locking together. Reddish mixtures began forming within darker rivers stretching upwards, if only to curve downward consuming cataclysmic schisms forming. An orb of light within reddish orange and yellow burned away darker boundaries, piece by piece until only dust flaked outwards settling onto cooling rocks stationary below it's conception. Endless storms battled, raged and seemingly were starving off a scar of darkened gaps siphoning coloration away to only an unendurable darkness inside it's depths.
Spiraling downward did an entire gaping hole seize gradually, waves of shimmering dust and glass cascading onto orbiting rocks below. The star ignited partially due to pieces of reddish streams fading overhead, going from a dull weakened red towards brighter yellow coloration in which cooling dust glimmered on one rock's surface. It shined akin to a star, if not briefly and inevitably cooled off where storms kept clashing overhead. And the singular orb hovered within reddish bands to weave back into prominent bodies stretching over eons.
Rippling distances kept appearing from a void clashing together soundlessly yet pushed even distances no rock could escape. Yet the eight below hardly moved, or were knocked away due to a flickering orb moving on boundaries allowing cold darkened streams to devour it. But again reddish streaks merged behind give said energetic orb time to weave away, ever quickly despite holding in place to see storms of electric flashes erupt in earnest. Gradually a gaping maw above closed ceasing any momentum to expand, or widen once again.
Time ceased endlessly to a grueling halt when one rock began to glimmer as smaller one struck across it's surface. Pale blue streaks trailed behind for almost seemingly eternity, if only to abruptly crash into a spinning rock. Pieces flaked, some burned and others landed on a smaller body just hovering around the larger mass. And distantly above storms churned dangerously closer, if only to be drifting away due to an orb weaving within their depths.
Rippling waves sent smaller streaks endlessly onto a surface until storms dissipated to split apart in going in directions of all manner. Despite churning voids, eight rocks gradually settled without interruption to continuously spin and orbit a yellow star with bands of coloration breaking apart over their own. But only one stream remained in place, if only breaking apart slower due to an orb of light lingering just out of reach. It weaved quickly around, spinning and circulating around one storm of reddish turmoil.
It darted forward, if not suddenly backward igniting to draw a storm overhead where two rocks spun together. Below on a rock's surface orange glowering of smaller explosions went off continuously, if only for dust to cool into a glimmering sphere. Bands of red dissipated over as an orb remained stationary in seeing it finally return to mere shimmering. Yet despite ripples distantly returning, it descended closer towards spinning rocks. And the storm followed suite gradually becoming nothing save for reddish dust sprinkling over a rock's surface.
On the surface eruptions from inclined earth shot fire, ash and dust to coat a cooling surface. Despite ash a glimmering tint remained against the yellow sun, as an orb dipped within reddish storms hovering in place. And in a fleeting moment. Only light ignited bathing two spinning rocks until only silence remained in the void. Below underneath ash, dust and dirt did glimmering pools begin amounting to coat thickly over rock itself.
The growing heat inside my chest didn't relent when coming up to a doorway where two similarly dressed suited people stood motionlessly. Although unlike those other one's at a gate and podium, they were differently. But only partially considering one was a woman, if another seemed taller as opposed to those other two earlier. Yet they eyed Chase and I due to their faces tilting questioningly towards Slim's brazen expression hinting enjoyment. It'd been an interesting route to go behind seating arrangements up into privatized areas that screamed wealthy.
Between them were two pillars were some sort of craved out gaping mouth spat out snakes, or what it appeared honestly. Though Slim reached down to pull out a simple black card, "Mind if I bring these two in with me? Old Sim might have something, if you're already here." The taller man loomed over him partially flipping said piece of paper several times. He only snorted eventually due to a woman leering due to a couple of supposed sister's whispering excitably into an ear. More than once, I saw one of them looking over towards myself when I'd crossed arms unhappily and it seemed to tip everyone else off except for Chase.
"Very aggressive for one of your kind, I'd say." If Slim seemed eager it showed due to him loosely shrugging shoulders, "Rex's been a hot head since we clicked years ago. Brought the boy scout because he can't take a hint, so he's not at all too bad." I wasn't getting close to snarling beyond clenching fingers knowingly, "But this isn't typical for any man. Now usually I'd say you're bringing some issues, or else I'd have bet more if your King is humoring his attitude. Can't say it, but twice in a day isn't normal."
The woman who had streaks of color that seemed dyed rivaling darkened blue spoke rather smoothly, "You've always hoarded treasures, Jimmy. Must be so rewarding to see greed coming full circle, it's not often we find sacred prospects." One of near nude escorts bashfully took an extended hand to lightly trace a mouth around the speaker's finger. I shuddered due to an equally smug grin extended far beyond natural limits, it didn't look right. And more importantly, I couldn't stop a wave of heat burning within when eyes flickered onto me personally.
Though when said person tried inching closer towards my friend who seemed uncomfortable I harshly gave them pause, "Only thing sacred is when I get one of you inside that cage! Back off, or I'll make your night." My words garnered a larger man to walk over looking down as I looked right back unwillingly to back down. He was massive, if not outright towering over my somewhat average height and I came up to just below his nose. I didn't doubt he'd have been picked on a sports team, if it'd been somewhat reasonable.
"You reek of arrogance for a man." I didn't even remotely blink to smirk brazenly to uncross arms in having hands loosened up, "And you've got a big nose, pal. Looks crooked, if I get my way." I wasn't muscular, or remotely one of those well fit gym junkie's I'd seen on numerous occasions. I like running, walking and occasionally swimming to get workouts to ward off food that in this city were enough to cause heart attacks on any given year. But I felt no fear, I knew fear led to someone in being disappeared on streets where hesitation meant a one way ticket into a river's depths.
He tilted his face over to notice fists lazily uncurling, "Strange, indeed." A soft chortling from behind came when one lone hand lightly forced him backward, "Maybe Jim's got more treasure for us to seek out and I don't think pawns have a say in it. Sometimes a bishop needs to step in, arrogance alone only hides a delightful sin...wrath." Her glasses concealed eyes despite an ever pleased grin stretching flesh back to expose somewhat sharpened teeth. I almost blinked in seeing them partially fade due to lights flashing overhead.
Turning away did she press an ornate slate of concrete where it partially glowered as a door slid open revealing some well off interior. Sin? Wrath? I thought to almost laugh aloud to see her grin turning modestly amused, "Behave human. Or else, I might get a little...tempted." She laughed softly to gesture for Slim to move head as he rubbed a nose tiredly. Although I saw him wave us through, I wasn't one for someone to get in a last word without telling them off.
"Let's see if you talk big outside a cage, I think I'll wrath it up your ass when I'm behaving." A whistle of mocking amazement left little imagination. Despite moving past I saw an eye narrowing far too pleased when the door closed shut. What the hell? Bringing an arm up I felt stinging sensations when a narrow red line exposed itself slightly. Blood hadn't been drawn yet I saw it trail back towards an elbow all too obviously.
She had a god damned switch bladed knife, I bet! Growling lowly under breath only proved once I got into any fight in those cages. I only had one rule to follow, survive or die. And at least they were being playful apparently. I assumed I had a couple of faces to rearrange eventually, but at least they were showing me because I wasn't playing. Using a knife on me, it'd be sweet satisfaction using a bullet when I'd get a chance for trying to scare me into submission.
Slim's voice shook me away to warn playfully due him noticing a thin red line being drawn, "Careful Rex." He gestured behind where a window exposed who'd done it to smile pleasantly, "That's a devil who gets off on all kinds of trouble. You really need to figure it out, son." I glared coming up to said window where an impish grin grew far too enticing. Apparently she'd cut my arm with a knife that probably was inside a pant pocket, or else I'd have been really screwed given a long finger had reddish tint on it's tip.
And he fucking calls me that word, I'm not happy anymore. The darkened blue hair woman lightly tasted her own finger to glance down momentarily. She went rigid at first, if only to glance through glass slowly rubbing away what was probably blood. It almost got me unnerved when she blew out a kiss to lightly tap her cheek signaling some sort of crude joke for being hot as I mouthed out three words, "I'll remember you."
Turning away hardly appeased an ever simmering anger that just kept building due to Slim leaning over sharply. He whistled painfully saying to me quite alarmed, "You better watch your neck around that one, Rex. That devil isn't worth getting drained over, but hey, you never learn until it comes into your room at night." Both women underneath his arms giggled far too loudly, as if realizing a joke that never failed to keep me wishing otherwise.
Chase tried appeasing given he didn't see anything remotely off, "Maybe you'll find someone yet, Rex. Can't say you aren't drawing attention, so maybe it's a good thing." I gave my friend an utterly queer look of disbelief that even had Slim and his two escorts laughing abruptly. Holy shit, Chase. More so in the former's case who hunched over, unable to get off on the fact something wasn't right. It took him several moments to inhale deeply while clearing eyes of enjoyment.
"Oh, my gut!" He pulled away from two cooing women who made an attempt in being annoyed for being left behind, Chase found himself being hugged with an arm. Slim couldn't resist patting my friend's chest far too pitifully, "I'll say it again but I love this boy scout because I'm honestly feeling bad now, sonny. You should have left him at home, well I'm really regretting seeing him again in this kind of place."
Striding forward while pulling an out of mind weirded out friend of mine didn't help an urge to put a bullet into his back. The private viewing area certainly had an environment of utter depravity, if seeing a golden chandelier where some sort of oval indentation spiraling upwards contained an almost surreal scene. Winged humanoids of various coloration were literally impaling each other, grasping at supposed swords or maybe spears in light and darkened textures. Among above were endless murky backgrounds of storms whereas they were masterfully done, I never saw anything like that in my entire life at all.
A low dimmed series of candles on some chandelier curving inwards before spiraling downward formed an almost face like design. And yet through that mouth when peering through it, I saw found distinct figures of pitch black at a peak raising themselves against one lone shining line with rays pooling downwards through their chests. It made me nauseous to a degree due to how heat shimmered off candles in making images, even if they were still slightly giving an almost wavering motion until I glanced away. Another headache started forming due to glass case's nearby displaying some sort of ragged parchment, or books that were clasped shut by pentagram like locks leaving little imagination for occult origins.
Walls of grayed out marble with supporting pillars all had identical markers of a gaping face spitting out snakes. They were craved so smoothy, it appeared they were blending inward despite being off marble exteriors. This is absolutely surreal, how much does someone pay for this kind of crap in a city like this one? It's not right, or maybe having so much money does that to anyone. It vexed me that wealth alone gave anyone power, or means to do whatever they desired compared to being forced to survive on streets since I was born in utter disgusting conditions.
Dark crimson carpets separated by tiled floors lead up to several pieces of furniture where a lone person sitting watched multiple screens. Each fight was so damned perfect, so clear and I could even seeing bruising on faces whenever fists struck in brutal displays of clarity. The televisions were so thin, I'd have been able to pinch them given a waft of smoke lazily drifted upwards. Multiple unopened bottles of wine, or maybe alcohol so expensive I'd be able to pay an entire month's worth to consume was on display. It was a sign of power, money and unadulterated pride since I recognized a wide brim hat thrown on some coat rack.
"Leave us." I heard an almost spine tingling man's voice lazily demand without turning out as two women groaned somewhat pitifully. Yet they obeyed without an issue given Slim whispered into one of their ears, "It won't be long, my little devil. Keep the seat warm, because we're going to have a show and I just might wish for something...devious." They giggled to give him chaste kisses on each cheek to head on out behind us, if only for one to wink at me temptingly. My hand dropped to a load revolver just underneath a shirt's edge in silent warning.
One of the sister's along looked down hungrily to lick her lips briefly, "Fuck off." I barked out angrily keeping an eye on them as we were left alone. Chase lightly tried to dissuading since he saw a pistol's wooden grip, "Easy man, they're just playing." I shook an arm off less than happily to whisper far too aware of certain details he hadn't been seeing at all, "No! Women playing is flashing their ass for a good time, or maybe they'll suck you off if they're drunk off but those two, I just know they're not...right."
Apparently someone ahead of us sitting must have heard what I said given he quietly chuckled, "Good eyes, human." Slim seemingly took a seat where one lone gesture allowed him to drink, or outright take his pick freely without interference. Human? Three time's is the charm, as they say and so what in god's name is this place? Nothing has made sense, nothing at all and I have half a mind to start something now.
The man seemed young given he his hair reached just below a neckline where an eye looked over a shoulder indifferently. Though unlike others I swore lightning dimmed momentarily, "What kind of man seeks treasures in places where he believes is his world, Rex?" He used my alias as if it weren't really worth mentioning. I could barely help it, but snarl faintly, I'd heard that kind of tone on people who thought they were above me. Not at all smug, prideful or remotely gleeful but simply natural to make it far worse.
"How in the hell would I know, pal?" I barked back in making him turn an almost solidified blackened eye turn away. It's not natural, no way in hell I saw that! Contacts, or something! He raised a glass of liquid which was probably wine, or maybe something stronger. Yet he downed a whole glass without even pausing to breathe in it's tastes. It might as well have been water, if not a damned reaction met my uneasy understanding.
Chase quietly cleared his throat to ask somewhat curiously, "Is it alright if we take a seat? You're the owner of this...club, right?" The man sitting whose darkened hair closer to charcoal in coloration faintly sounded bored, "Owner? No, I'd say I rule this club as a king should, but your ignorance is understandable given you weren't invited. Men such as you are common, yet your friend is far more aware and that alone is enough. Although it is quite a question that you as a mere man, are now involving yourself, even if you're being shielded admirably from harm."
Despite an almost dismissive gesture he did allow said request, if only out of formality to be an uptight host apparently. Doesn't strike me as some player in the city, most don't even know how to wipe their ass and think it's clean. This guy...is he cartel, or mob? Off in a corner an old record player of all things began playing musical melodies, I couldn't help but shiver unintentionally. It was far too different, too surreal and I managed to keep a grip on one firearm mainly out of reflex due to it's cold grip keeping my instinct's alert.
"Would you at least humor my question Rex, I'm only curious after all." I heard him state plainly while watching a death match reach it's end on one screen. One man looked as if his face had been crushed inwards, as a resounding bell signaled the winner with suited observers dragging possibly the corpse off to make way for more fights. And the crowd roared with either delight, or booed loudly in losing out on bets being collected to various attendants. It was utterly effective given most were in pairs and I caught more than one couple getting frisky.
Though I remained standing in favor of staring at various portraits aligned on walls which had a golden tint to their edges. But all of them had similar images painted by hands I'd doubt any machine, or modern day artist could ever do. Figures which were deformed, a mix of humanoid and animal were always locking fights with figures of pure light. Wings behind them upwards, arched and prepared to gouge them without warning. Spears, or swords in sharp white contrast were shinning underneath an upward light with darkened swirls appearing below. It painted an entire battlefield, endless and without doubt in my rationalization.
"I'm not looking for treasure, I heard you give out decent payouts for fights. I don't have the luxury to think about it." I finally replied coming to sit as far as possible away from him. He looked far younger than I was, if only due to a faint smile enjoying the attention. A well groomed shaven outline of a goatee still lingered, but he looked far too pale. And there was an audible sense I found myself humoring to remain less than civil.
Slim spoke up fairly amused to make it clearer, "I don't think he's interested in wishes. Boy's always had that one track mind, but I guess he's not like your usual contract offers." For a moment irritation flirted between bemusing wonder, if only to return to that indifferent expression. Though he stared right at me seemingly trying to provoke myself, "Perhaps. But men always have wishes to be granted, to be known and yet wrath alone...isn't a wish one loosely indulges. Never have I seen any man, or any of your kind so full of it without even seeing why."
He leaned forward easily to stare given his very pupils were widening gradually, "Tell me, boy." I sneered vividly in being called that willingly by anyone, "What do you know of sin? Do you know why your kind is so fulfilling? You walk right into a dark place, full of us and yet you don't know your arrogance is because of ignorance naturally ordained. Tell me, why you're aware of us so easily yet your other kin is not."
Leaning back on an expensive leather couch I didn't bother hiding disdain to snark out, "Never went to church, but I think God is full of it. Sin?" I said that lone word testing how it applied to what I'd seen already, "People are full of shit, so why bother changing when they're already screwed. Selling product to junkies, I deal it but never do it. World is falling apart, I deal with it and what else do you need to say let it do it's own thing!"
That garnered an almost amused snort to have him lift a glass, "Indeed your kind is like wine. Drink it once, then sensations of fulfilling wonder to nourish an ever growing addiction. But man is a wild creature, so raw and young yet many among you strive to emulate...your latest creator's hope to see you flourish. He's not as omnipotent as those word's of his hand came into one of your being since coming onto the scene, but one cannot wonder to say you reek of his arrogance as many who wallow in his teachings."
Out of all things did this mob member, or whoever wanted to ask me about? God, huh? I couldn't help but laugh at it's sheer ridiculousness, "Love everyone? Be good when I was a smart kid in school, getting jumped and for being a lighter skin color? Only thing church taught me, is sleeping in the back whenever someone preached about that book." Putting both feet up on a glass table hardly made this man seem irritated, but he noticed I wasn't in any mood for humoring such age old bullshit I'd seen been proven time and time again.
"It's attacked because it made our world kneel, back then shit was worse and today it hasn't changed much. Never paid too much attention to history, but this right here..." I paused to lift up a cross around my neck made him narrow eyes spitefully for once, "It made our world, it's a shit place and people in my mind? Are pissed off, it wasn't fun and games, but at least the good word in that book came around because they were better...at getting it done."
His expression twisted momentarily when I didn't even realize it, "Everyone hates God, or anything yet I only hate him because I get nothing out of it. Words are words until someone does something, but I say surviving in a world full of utter shit is well worth it, because it's given me joy to know I'm already ahead of the curve. And if I'm so arrogant, I'm just confident I can put a boot up your ass pal." Laughing near that end far too eagerly was enough to make this person stare undeniably impressed, if not outright conflicted. I didn't have time to care about being 'good', because it quite frankly was a waste of my own damned time to see another month go by normally.
"You believe in Him, so loosely?" Questioningly leaning forward as I shrugged to lean back to leer far too annoyed, "I believe in only one thing. Living, God is just...moral support, it keeps some in line and unfortunately I don't have time to care for it. So, why are you wasting my time to ask about something that doesn't even matter?" I implied irritably in humoring enough of conversations I'd never willingly, or desire to have unless plenty of alcohol made it worthwhile. He wasn't fishing for an answer, or else I'd give a lead induced hint.
Again those eyes seemingly darkened when they flickered towards Chase who'd been preoccupied by Slim offering drinks. It'd been effective, if only out of sheer convenience yet he hadn't heard a single word apparently. Why? He's more in-tune with that crap, I never cared about it. Though a cross partially lingered on an exposed chest, I kept it mainly because it'd been a gift from few I daringly considered friends in kinder places. I just never bought into it outright, but it kept me from doing far more shadier means of survival in this city's filth.
"Wrath isn't just sin, a man is full of them all." The guy mentioned appraising an object to lightly tap a glass against his hand idly, "But I can not just smell, or taste it. I can see it, literally it doesn't take much. But I see it all radiating off your flesh while you preach His treachery of your kind. It's very peculiar, how any of your kind resonate with that sin so naturally." Candles above dimmed almost fully, if not outright drenching an entire room into subdued light which caused something undeniably surreal.
Steam of all things exhaled to shimmer right in front of my gaze, I glanced down alarmed to only have an internal burning sensation. What the hell? The man's eyes darkened further to almost become blended within as an audible glower of reddish tint hovered along edges, "Such a treasure, I'd believe but what do you desire to have in your grasp Rex? There must be something you wish to have at your finger tips, so why not indulge it?"
My jawline twitched viciously due to how uncomfortable I found myself growing a temper. You're pushing your luck, pal. I wanted to fight for money, but you and your little fucked up friends down here are pissing me off. Slim and Chase aren't even reacting anymore, so what the hell are you on to make me think I'm going insane? It didn't make sense as to why, hell not one bit and I'd humored enough to exhale out an almost burning breath of air.
"I hope even your available for a one on one in that cage up there, pal." I said it so flippantly to grin far too excited when he stared merely indifferently, "I already got three choices lined up. And you're taking the top spot, so far. I can't even begin to wonder why, let alone answer because I think it's just my blood boiling for a fight for once. It's nothing new, I just survive and live with it so I can see another day in this shit forsaken world."
An overt frown followed with a repeated question, "Surely there's something for a treasure any man would pay to have in his grasp?" For a moment light returned which seemed to shine within those iris's enough to get me to blink several times. It looked yellowed partially, but I managed to see darkened features gradually returning to natural coloration. What in god's name are you? You're not right, no one in this damned place is anyone I've seen on those streets.
Debating for several moments I outright refused to listen to whoever wanted to play Gods and men because I loathed both equally. My voice hardened due to a gaze flickering over lazily towards Slim and Chase seeing them well off in their oblivious conversation, "What in the actual fuck are you?" It didn't take long for a toothy grin exposing an extended smile, it curled far too sharply and it looked utterly fake on skin alone. Underneath flesh I swore faded outlines of an extended jawline darken just enough to be visibly leering hungrily.
An ever growing infernal heat inside my chest burned stronger, "You've already heard that answer since arriving to this dark place, Rex." He smoothly waved it all off to lean back in his position to pour himself more wine lazily, "Man only see's what is front of him. Your kind never looks behind what makes your world seemingly spin, but on occasion a few like yourself...learn. But many disregard it, as lunacy or perhaps paranoia among your own existences in which you fight among yourselves due to internal nature."
There was an underlying mocking pity in those words despite being true to the damned core. I wasn't blind because my own city had descended into literal degenerate filth, "Money, gold or your newest piece of technology make your kind so full of greed...yet you hold wrath. An anomaly among a perfect system of control, so what is your desire?" He questioned once again plainly curious when light returned above shedding away darkened corners as I heard my friend, Slim as well an entire crowd erupting in bellowing cheers.
Regardless I shook myself to snort aloud not even willing to humor this eerie fuck head anymore, "Put me in that god damned cage, now. I don't have a luxury to talk about desires, because quite frankly it doesn't matter for you to play God." It was at this point Slim and Chase snapped out of their induced conversation much a sly smirk. Whoever this man, or whatever it appeared firmly found it endearing in ignoring his curiosity.
Candles above returned to their usual brightness in illuminating an entire room fairly as Slim prodded somewhat energetically, "So what do you think? Maybe, or what?" The nameless man hardly seemed effected to reply laconically, "Perhaps. Your collection of treasures tends to be a hobby, but one can perhaps compensate your eagerness to sate wishes on your own contracts. An anomaly is entirely something worth...considering."
Chase somewhat interestingly asked about a cage given one fight had ended leaving an empty interior where pits of fire smouldered between iron pillars. It gave off heat akin to deserts simmering underneath boiling temperatures, "Slim mentioned you allow bets, for fighting? What's the difference since there's three...levels?" He said that last word somewhat trying to apply logic to an impish expression of amusement. I kept one hand on a revolver hell intent on letting lead fly, if he tried anything to someone who didn't understand what was sitting next to us as I swore on hell itself it'd been unnatural.
"Tiers, it's merely spectacles in which many of your fellow kin expect to witness." An almost bored difference settled in with wine swirling inside one lone glass, "The bottom is merely sport. Men fight for entertainment, it's nothing too dangerous. Above is where rules are left in your world, but permanent injury is kept at bay save for victory." Every screen mainly lingered on a second tier where one person got dragged off with a lone victor bellowing themselves to cheers, or booing that seemed to be fading in earnest.
Although his gaze flickered over to where I sat to imply coyly, "The highest point among the pits is where only one rule is kept sacred. Rex, I'm sure you'll find it desirable, since you already know that answer too. Not many place themselves on nature's whims, it's an act of folly I'd wager. But I dare say if you manage it'll pay your way with certainty."
The very room stilled momentarily when heat returned due to my own breathing struggling to cool off an ever growing inferno. Survival. Eyes crinkled due to a playful piece of advice, "In that world nothing is kept hidden for a man to see. Nothing hides when it never did, it'll only exist and treasures of soul, mind and body all together become a folly for man to think there's a price involved." He spoke rather keenly aware to get me less than appeased, I knew already it was both warning and smug enticement.
"Proof." Slim's voice tinged on exhilarated wonder to say as a man sipped wine casually, "If you don't believe old Slim-Jim about devils, boy? Seems like the head man himself is telling you...see for yourself and I hope you still got that luck inside ya, cause wanna know why?" He bared teeth which were whiter than any day I'd seen rotting yellowed mostly, "Because money talks when a man's an underdog in a world that eats him alive. So what do you say Rex, wanna make us all some green paper on your blood for once?"
There wasn't any foreplay to make me agree all too happily except I did have one stipulation, "Who the hell are you?" I stared hotly at someone who wasn't entirely right, or natural given his grin slipped against to expose an impossibly wide jaw. It stretched again coming up to his eye's corners where they fell onto me all too intrigued. And an answer for once didn't come without warning, I believed it so I'd break that face one day.
"In your tongue in days where man were far more aware, I'm apart of Valac of old." He stated more amused than anything to comment rather fondly as if it were an earnest attempt to be sensible, "As the last and rightful heir, to that legacy. But I guess in these growing days where peace is so sought after without regards for price, or cost...as one who calls himself Rex. From one to another, it'll be left to you to figure it out eventually. Yet since I tend to seek out treasures, I can say you can call me Vincent Valac."
Ash of gray, yellow and brown all fell without abandon in coating an entire landscape full of raging fire ascending from peaks of rock. Orange gloom faded away into darkened skies were a flickering star shined brightly, if portions of overhead ash faltered. Pools of liquid, glimmering and churned over a vast distance smudging away into rock in which mass formed over time's seemingly gradual crawl that halted abruptly. Though rippling waves distant from beyond rock, liquid and soon to be dirt collided above sending waves of ashy clouds to move faster. And soon only a howling moan of gust pushed ash constantly in unyielding fury.
Time kept passing where liquid formed into massive bodies churning relentlessly when light shinned through clouds above. Gusts swept through a barren landscape, even though storms raged above it and further beyond into a deepened void. Distant rumbling from peaks of rock showering fire, ash and other elements began to cool quickly. Streams of orange, red and yellow blending together to meet pools of liquid in titanic waves of steam arising. Thickened walls grew, spreading across a landscape as steam and ash blended to layer cooling rock with layers of thin yet distinct mass one would call as simply earth.
Storms churned violently on distant horizons were an orb of fire providing warmth and light faded from one end to another. Slowly did fire cool as ash withered, stilled and inevitably began to fade above as spinning stars began flickering after eons coming to a grueling halt. Ever did distant stars flicker constantly amidst storms consuming, or outright creating new lights among an ever crowded skyline of fading ashy trails. Regardless in despite such clarity on a rock of fire, dirt and liquid it'd eventually began to stir with only a small sign of different.
Liquid pools condensed to ripple as gusts pushed waves of fluid murky brown towards boundaries of cooling rock. Endlessly a world of brown, of gray and reddish gloom ceased overtime even though a distant orb of light weaved upwards casting away darkness. Peaks arose as tremors ripped apart cascading leagues of granite, earth and liquid into becoming split apart with liquid pooling within crevices in submerging most of rock itself. And the spinning stars kept bounding around circulating as light flooded an entire landscape.
Descending above gray skies an orb of light flickered rapidly to weave until settling above cooling earth that bordered liquid waves. An internal coloration of red, black, greenish blue and white seeped outwards clawing it's way over every piece of cooled rock. Streams seeping beneath, if only to cause a cataclysmic shaking beyond any known understanding. Leagues upon leagues of liquid, earth and stone fractured immediately sending peaks towering above, if only to break apart constantly in shifting masses to send them further apart.
The orb flickered as a cloud of steam and ash washed over a landscape where rumbling sky's flashed an almost innumerable amount of lightning. Swirling clouds circulated faster, gusts became stronger and untamed to break peaks of rock as they cascaded downwards become little more than dust, further solidifying layers of earth. Yet an orb remained in place until a reddish haze seeped upwards from earth to linger as rippling waves of liquid met heated boundaries. And on the horizon a sun emerged drenching all in constant warmth.
An entire landscape was drenched when liquid from clouds began falling in earnest, saturating earth and more until only a shimmering gleam cascaded across all in shining light. Glints of droplets formed, to filter through ash and dirt, if only to leave an orb which weaved upwards to skim over an entire land growing moist. But beneath earth alone, a small coloration of green began emerging slowly as time passed without understanding or could be known. The orb energetically halted above one portion of green, slowly descending until a reddish haze seeped upward as portions became blackened muck until emerging greener again.
Storms thundered enough to shatter peaks of rock until only shifting masses began slowing down to settle in distances across huge swaths of liquid. Yet despite such things, an orb remained in place as reddish haze seeped within it making it grow brighter and illuminated a vast array of green emerging with time itself. The haze solidifying towards a horizon that was drenched in reddish orange gloom, as yellow rays pierced it partially striking earth. And the orb only weaved in place unbothered, or harmed despite darker coloration's rising to meet them both.
Churning in place did these coloration's finally become an almost golden tint of light as darker bands were withering away. But only red remained as a spark of light, with smoke growing within green consume landscapes into flickering embers. Fire returned, if only to be snuffed out in constant downpours meant to sustain greenery. As an orb lightly touched earth did haze around itself dissipate yet light exploded outward revealing something never before seen. And out of it's growing expanse a figure emerged brighter than any star begin to walk among a ruined landscape with reddish haze seeping behind in it's wake.
The headache inside my skull refused to die as I shook away another dizzy spell of lightheaded sensations aside irritably. I sat outside of bars watching on the most bottom pit where two people were fighting somewhat dully. Behind my back Slim chuckled good naturally, "I put a hundred on the boy scout, sonny boy. Figured to give him some of my soon to be earned cash, he's a bit sloppy but I guess going to college does that to ya. Damned kids, growing up and having their own with Old-Slim watching it all."
Above ascending walls where pillars of a gaping maw with snakes of sorts slithering around were quite annoying. Every eye hole in hand craved out holes held lights shining downward onto this particular ring, if it'd been locked inside. Bars which were a cool blackened metal, if that were possible and were filled in amounting to painful barriers. None would escape, or risk being impaled given thorn like wiring wrapped made it abundantly clear. No one inside would dare think about running, or else be known to flee as a coward's way out.
Though few very spectators were down on this tier of the pits given only a dozen, or so couples cheering in mixed waves of drunken howling. Most were men with women dressed in little, or nothing and some were far more occupied than seeing blood being split over fists. No one cares about anything down here, apparently. Sex, drugs and booze are a man's dream in a place where no one is going to keep an eye on things. I rolled both eyes considering I'd favored going to bars above, if not outright showing off when I walked out with money on hand.
Inside past cages I saw Chase manage in pinning some drunkard who'd entered probably on a dare, or given cheering from pairs of people said it all. It was literally wrestling, full of rules and on occasion suited people similar to the gate greeters were lazily walking around it. None of them seemed annoyed, or bored yet they were indifferent to let anything happen down in a place where few considered money being gambled in large amounts. My foot tapped loosely against a stone pillar when I muttered literally amazed, "Talk about fucking around. Literally, fuck on and off, what a way to get off in public when no one gives a damn."
Slim's muffled chortling due to him being buried neck deep in one of the sisters lounging between seats left little imagination. I swear to God, if I see hands going up skirts! I wasn't going to humor seeing an old junkie, or some pair of sloppy seconds going at it when I didn't need to hear it. But at least I had someone's name to go on, I glared upwards seeing distant windows of private sections where various figures were sitting. It'd been getting crowded up there given the supposed ruler, owner or slippery bastard must've sent word about myself.
Still what's worse, ever since I got inside this place...day dreams have been happening a lot more often. I placed a hand over my own eyes momentarily trying to ward off lightheaded sensation growing stronger and it never stopped getting worse. Inwardly my own stomach churned into ever consuming inferno, I rasped out air just to see a slight shimmering again. Blinking several times I stared again only to see nothing, but regardless it kept happening. Now I didn't understand what in hell made me see things...things that didn't seem natural at all.
"Look's like the boy scout's gotten slower since settling down, Rex." Slim's voice spoke up seeing him getting leveled by a drunk's fist, "But he'd always follow ya ass anywhere, if you'd needed someone to watch your back. Shame really, he might have been something worth putting money down on." Sweat started dripping off my chin as I wiped it away angrily, it'd always been a risk in trusting few who I called friend. More than once, Chase and I along with other's in school had been enough to swing fights in our favor whenever anyone came after those we'd hang with occasionally.
Another solid punch sent him stumbling back as a drunk lunged forward slamming him onto the cage's less than comfortable padding. It might as well have been polished stone, I could see droplets of crimson and other sorts glistening from overhanging lighting. Lighting which seemed to illuminate drawings of humanoid figures battling, if seeing half torn neck's depicting a blood bath spiraling upwards towards one longer pentagram. Within it's very center of a circular outline, a face extended with slithering serpents curled out of eyes and inwards towards a mouth with multiple heads biting at winged humanoids of pure white.
"Maybe it's because he's a better man that you, or I would ever think." Speaking rather smugly to turn over a shoulder leering rather vindictively, "And it's no loss if you, disappear Slim. You never think watching your back around me is all fun, but start praying one day it'll come full circle. Wouldn't that be worth putting money down on, or what?" He only laughed finding it all rather amusing considering it'd come down to that eventually.
The two leaning up against him eyed myself far too demurred to not be interested, "If there's one thing I've liked about ya, sonny boy? You don't stab someone in their back, I appreciate a man whose got balls and guts to do it face to face. Reminds me of the war when old Sim did a few things, so at least I'd thank someone since you have something inside ya worth seeing." Perhaps he'd been drinking too much, or else him being so clear cut was a sign of his old age showing at least. Why else would he say it outright, I couldn't figure it out and that alone screwed me immensely.
Metal bars suddenly rattled as I turned away seeing Chase being pinned up against serrated barbed wiring. Why wasn't Chase using his head since he'd never allow that in a kid as my patience finally snapped, "Oh to hell with this side show!" Gnashing teeth tightly together I got up immediately heading towards a cage's entry way. It was just a plain gated doorway where one suited person stood by at all times watching for signs of calling a victor. I needed a warm up anyway, I'm tired of playing patience because I already know his woman is going to bitch at him. And then, I'll never hear an end of to it.
The man whose smile inched wider asked me rather conversationally, "Is there a problem, sir?" Inside I heard my friend's muffled scream when getting kicked in his groin. They should have called a clear victor, but they were prolonging it deliberately. Someone's fucking with me, by using him since I wasn't putting up with games. But I guess it's time to play, I'll show this drunk to take on someone who's going to realize fighting dirty is worse. I'm tired of being jerked around, so God help me because I'll call it an opportunity.
Shrugging off a coat which had been patched up and kept me warm during chilly days became too stiffing. I threw it off to the side to get right into this grinning man's face, "There's going to be a problem, if you don't open this damned door. You rigged a fight, I've never seen a damned drunk punch that cleanly." Inside another scream of disbelief when a friend of mine skidded across an entire interior left crimson streaks. He was clasping his jaw so tightly, I didn't even need to be a doctor to know it'd been broken possibly.
What in the hell is that guy taking? Steroids? I blinked seeing something about this drunk who openly swayed cracking knuckles together. Staring far more lividly, I couldn't stop breathing heavily eager and outright furious. How did anyone who was taught how to wrestle, as well took professional fighting get tossed like a rag doll! It wasn't natural, it wasn't right and I found myself clenching knuckles to a damned point where they popped louder than possible.
"I assure you as a guest, we take your kind to be treated fairly." Another detail seemed off due to how casual he'd blown off in forgoing as Chase got lifted by his very throat behind. He was frantically struggling in kicking out of sheer desperation. Bullshit, pal! I couldn't stop grinding teeth to finally break what little humor I maintained. And as a resounding crack followed due to ribs splintering set my patience to nonexistent.
The doorway only had a simple lock on it where it'd met metallic barbed wired bars. There was nothing complicated, but seeing one full grown man being flung against an interior left little imagination. One vertical piece out of them had been bent backwards through sheer force alone, "Open it. Or God help you when I get my hands on you!" I swore quite pleasantly in getting that threat done, if only to pull out a revolver into showing it roughly underneath his jawline to have a barrel twist upwards into freezing him in place.
His face twisted to snarl outright angrily as I shoved him right into barbed wire with adrenaline making every second get far too enjoyable, "Open it you son of a bitch, or start praying." Another gut wrenching haymaker sent a near unconscious body floundering not even an arm's length away from said doorway. All I saw was crimson leaking out of eyes, ears and nose with hallowed breathes as I saw my friend crack a swelling eyelid open. The sheer amount of bruising was incredibly surreal, it looked like someone took a damned crowbar to his face!
Reddish light swelled underneath one of his palms briefly drawing my gaze to hear him hiss under breath, "My king will not..." The revolver's trigger well clicked sending a resounding crack and I saw crimson splatter upwards drenching metallic bars. He slumped over immediately falling aside once I threw him before reaching a gate no longer in any mood. Too many words, asshole. Yanking the damned piece of upward, I stepped right through a doorway despite an audible horn blaring overhead signaling an end.
The horn unlike beforehand when sounding wasn't piercing in being drawn out yet baritone to echo partially. Kneeling down scowling to lightly press fingers against a bloodied neck did I actually feel pulse, "Your woman and kid, Chase. God help you since they better appreciate throwing my ass into a fire to get your own out of one!" It was a damned mistake to bring him into this place, I'd gotten too cocky for my own damned good. But funnily enough, I found motivation to really let loose pent up frustrations since I owned my friend this favor.
Glaring over rightfully enraged in seeing a drunkard grin smugly, "Not...human." Chase rasped out looking upwards in a blank gaze to cough out dark crimson, "Rex!" Above lights started rapidly shifting coloration as something slammed off to my right! No fucking way, that's impossible! There was no amount of reasoning, or excuses I'd be able into coming up o that moment when I thought it all out in perfect view. Instinct within screamed in warning, I was rooted into being stunned to see an actual corpse sitting up right.
The man who'd I just put a damned bullet through got up without any sort of issue. Although there was an audible guttural growling that shook my bones to their core, I could see trace lines of crimson retracting inwards. And through a bullet one from the stop of his skull, through his damned neck I saw a hole literally wrap itself shut. It just slowly ceased to be a fatal wound, I couldn't stop shaking because his glasses were removed all too angrily.
He reached over towards bars which were emitting a slow burning of reddish metal exteriors into heating up, "My King will not allow any who are not a guest to be harmed fatally, human." My heart lurched beneath an ever burning chest, I couldn't breathe when his eyes turned a solid back where a sickly yellow slit stared back quite angrily. Behind clothing got torn asunder when two god damned wings sprung freely obscuring someone's laughing expression, but I heard unrestrained joy in hands smacking together.
Slim-Jim started thunderously clapping to cheer me on, "Congratulations, son! You pissed off a real devil for once in my life!" Above roaring seemed to come to an end as another horn bellowed an ear shattering tone that sent my ear's ringing. Not human huh, well I'll be god fucking damned that devils exist. Glaring back towards Chase who coughed up more crimson didn't help an internal rage, I bit my tongue to avoid lashing out yet it wasn't helping.
An actual god damned devil extended wings whereas fingers elongated when he stared with pitiless eyes that showcased internal yellowed slits. A smile extended further lengthening due to my legs trembling place, "In the Cage do eyes of men shed their ignorance, human." This creature spoke quite deviously smug relishing when crimson streams evaporated due to it cracking a neck, I couldn't stop shaking in place despite grinning equally in disbelief. It wasn't possible, it couldn't have been but nothing else determined a rational reason!
Hair extended downward, if only retracted into exposing lengthened ears that were growing darker at their tips. Teeth filled due to glinting canines further left little imagination, "You reek of arrogance even though truth is your proof, human." It said walking through metallic bars coming into looking down at seeing Chase's shallower breathing. It gave off indifference yet casually picked him up by a scuff of clothing akin to garbage being handled. Underneath that skin which peeled like a mirage did an extended jawline leer far too pleased.
"My King also conveys his amusement for emulating His teachings, but we're no longer willing to hear you invoke heaven's arrogance." It turned it's back as reddish surges came streaking around wherever I stood pinning my own limbs into numbed tremors, "Whatever you hold within as treasure, we will discover since your wrath is so naturally ingrained for a man. Enjoy surviving to your heart's content because you have earned our joy for your own folly."
Metallic interior's bent outward leaving absolutely alone as another gate slammed shut making my gaze follow. Above reddish light surged before darkness plunged me somewhere, I couldn't breathe yet alone scream in sheer shock. Everything literally melded away when I reached out only to fall further, weightless and only one thing occurred. There was one brief flash of utter crimson light until I found myself slammed onto a hard floor, as an entire crowd roared hearing an overt horn blow signaling a start for one being to walk out alive.
End Chapter III
Author's Note: Notice a few things about devils, they're not human and therefore are completely unnatural to those who'd believe otherwise. Admitting I'm using a few cliche, but the trick is not to make it obviously sold off. Already things were aligning, how does someone accept the truth from the very thing they were taught were as myth, or found in an old book? Simply put, it tells you yourself, so think about that ramification because rational mindsets would be hard pressed to figure it out. And in this case, how would anyone not already aware of small discordance to your view into finally connect the dots?
By canon in the source material, devils/angels or anything remotely not human has a distinct advantage in being stronger physically. Whether it's through their own natures, magic or whatever influence leads to an obvious conclusion. A man would not last against them, physically and the character recognized certain detail that were fitting. Normally, a person like his friend who wrestled and trained with classes in some martial art, whether anything wouldn't normally be flung around to that extent. And the sheer quickness in seeing a fight end, or turn that quickly set off plenty of warning signals.
Despite extreme actions aside, I highly doubt a single bullet made of lead and material would do anything remotely to a devil, angel or anything capable to shrug off wounds that normally are fatal to man. So really, that was icing on a cake to realize how useless such means are without figuring out how, or what exactly is in front of anyone. Unfortunately, angering them regardless of concern or urgency, it tend to leave them very intrigued. Such aggression, such utter lack of fear and sins of man are there for them to siphon off to make them grow...whether to be powerful, or further in-tune with their own because both Hell/Heaven factions lack the one thing we as humans have inside of us.
Soul. If you put a price on mind, or soul then it is a folly of man. It's not without wisdom as well as warning, the Clan who owns this protected territory is apart of the 72 Pillars canonically. You can look it up, but why I chose that one, is what made me dive into the source in which it'd been based around loosely. Mythology has a lot of rich historical, occult and far ever reaching consequences given that there is something there at all times. But luckily for us, it can be molded into our own perception given it won't be always pretty. And considering Rex (War) is more man, but isn't entirely so, well that leaves his unique circumstance to really see and hear what these creatures represent.
They feast off the Seven Sins, so they're well aware of their own hunger and longing to feed upon soul's who are ripe with it. Wrath though, is incredibly uncontrollable and ultimately a fairly simple deduction to them. But they're drawn to it, why? Because the character (MC) radiates it off his very action, unwilling to back down, never one to afford patience and will never give them satisfactions to see fear. The idea is simple, why would a human to them exclude one sin among seven so naturally and yet be capable to still believe in Him. You've noticed, Devils/Angels are not exactly naturally inclined to tolerate one another since in canon it's fairly obvious that hostility only recently was...put aside.
But now we enter the fun aspect, in these sequences of abstract dreams pertaining to: creation's presence. It's not something physical, it's not metaphorical but as old as time itself. Forces, unseen or not, influencing life as it creates the place where...it can flourish. More, or less I'm using loose mythology while maintaining a semblance into how it all began, but not entirely explaining because quite simply? It simply was already there, in creation's existence of all beings, I'm only giving my readers an interesting take on it all. Justifying it, but nonetheless showcasing power is only as effective when it still adheres to things that we naturally do without realizing it feeds into primordial existences older than us.
The goal isn't just using Christian mythology, it's a starting point and therefore easier for myself considering this setting. Eventually, I will branch out but until that point it's the method I use, but it won't be the mark. This is where I say, "There's always a beginning, before we reach an end." And as such, I welcome reviews because that's my only reward for putting out a story for most to enjoy. I hope you all have a safe weekend coming up, stay strong and be aware that times are changing far too rapidly for us to think as so.