The Shadow Ghoul chuckled as he dug into the bushel of apples, chopping at them, gorging himself. All round him, fear rolled down the streets and filled the air. It was like wonderful dining music, and the demon couldn't help but hum a little tune as he shoveled food into his maw.
"I am assuming you paid for those."
The Shadow Ghoul linked, pausing mid-bite, before bursting into laughter. Bits of apple flew from his mouth as he chortled, eyes flashing red in amusement.
"Oh, yes, of course sir." The demon assumed that this was some foolish young knight, seeking to bring peace to the area. A greenhorn, a weakling that would piss himself when faced with the Shadow Ghoul's roar. "Would you like to…" He paused as he felt the taletell signs of magic use shimmer in the air behind him.
He then watched as his arm was cleaved from his shoulder.
The Shadow Ghoul turned slowly, taking in the knight. This one was indeed young, just as he had expected. In his mid twenties, he had piercing eyes and long blonde hair that was pushed away by a summoner's charm headband. He was dressed in silver and blue armor, with red gems lining the metal and cloth. He spun his sword, the blade glowing as he summoned a fireball in his other hand.
It wasn't a knight at all.
It was a Paladin. The most famous of the new paladins, the hero of light.
Neo.
The paladin grinned, swinging his blade and driving it into the Ghoul's chest. He paused, just for a moment, then pulled upwards, splitting the creature's head in half. As the body fell, Neo caught an apple that the ghoul had stolen and took a bite of it.
"Pathetic."
&&&
"You push your luck, Neo."
The Paladin merely shrugged his shoulders, sharpening his blade. It wasn't done so that it could remain sharp, as the magics he spun around the blade kept it in perfect condition. No, it was merely something to relax his mind after battle…if you could call the killing of the ghoul a battle.
"How so, Freed?"
The man known as the Matchless General shook his head. "The way you handle yourself, your arrogance, it disturbs many of the knights." The older ma sighed, rubbing his meaty palm over his forehead. "You are reckless, Neo. You rely upon those silly spells too much, and it weakens your natural abilities. You storm in headfirst, without thought or battle plan, endanger all those around you, and that is barely scratching the surface." He paused. "Tell me…did you, or did you not talk back to the Shadow Ghoul when you should have been engaging it?"
"That's part of my strategy." Neo rationalized. "Throws them off."
"And cutting off an arm instead of merely beheading it?"
Neo frowned. "Why does this even matter? I killed the demon, didn't I? Why should it matter how?"
Freed sighed. "You tempt fate, Neo."
Lifting himself from his sleeping mat, Neo glared at the older general. "Fate does not scare me. I am meant for great things, Freed. My name will be known through the lands, and there will never be another knight like me." He turned his back to his commander and teacher. "But this isn't why you came here…what news have you heard from the Heavens?"
"The gods have bade you to journey north, and find the cave of Grani, the wind dragon. For too long, his wings have sent storms against the villages that dwell beneath his mountains, and the goddess Aera demands his skin."
Neo grinned, pulling on his cape. "I will leave at once." He rubbed his hands together. "A dragon! This will be fun."
&&&
One Month LaterIt wasn't suppose to end this way.
He was meant to die an old man, surrounded by strapping sons and beautiful daughters. He was meant to die long after those not yet born this day had taken their last breath. Older then all others, more powerful, he was suppose to be mourned by all, a fallen king lost to time.
He was not meant to die here, in the corner of a cave, beaten, bloodied and facing an unhurt dragon.
He had arrived at the foot of the mountain to find the villages in ruin, all of their citizens gone. He had boldly strode through the destruction, a layer of protection magic swirling about his armor, as he made his way towards the trail. He had assumed that this battle would be easy enough. That he could defeat the dragon, claim it's hide for the gods, and perhaps even grab a few of its claws and teeth to be made into powerful weapons and spells.
He'd been a fool.
The dragon had blown his spells away with a flick of its wings. His carefully planned attacks were broken before he could begin them. His sword would slice through the beast's body, only for the blood to ooze back into his form and the skin to seal shut. The great green dragon merely laughed, biting at his arms and legs, tossing him about, breaking bones and spirit.
Neo had been unclassed. He could not defeat the dragon, no matter how hard he tried. It was too strong, too filled with light, to fall to his spells or swordplay. The beast had driven him back, and Neo grew more desperate. For only in the end did he understand: He had tempted fate…and now he would die.
"Do you fear death?"
Neo blinked.
The world seemed to freeze, the dragon's jaws opened wide to deliver a finishing blow. It was frozen in the air, silent as the air around them, and Neo watched on, wondering if this was some sort of trick.
"Do you fear that dark abyss?" The voice called out again. "Where your soul is ripped from your body and left bare?" Light and darkness began to swirl about him, and the sky went from day to night rapidly, until the sun and moon hung side by side. "Your mind wiped clean, and all the deeds of you life are forever lost to the nothingness. Is that what you fear?"
The world around him pitched and swayed, and the knight struggled to hold onto his sanity. Nothing made sense, and as he watched the cave tear apart, he found himself on a small patch of land, hanging in the sky. The moon in front, the sun behind, both in harmony with each other.
"You have been betrayed, Neo. Something I know all to well about."
"Who…who are you?"
The swirl of energy spun tighter, then tighter once more, until it took form. Towering over him, it took the form of a man…no, a titan god. Massive, Neo barely came reaching the man's ankle. The god's hair was white, eyes black of stone, and great tendrils moved along his back, made seemingly of diamonds. At his side hung a great sword, diamond tipped and black metal. The titan god looked down at him, smiling slightly.
"I am called by some Anarkyis."
Neo frozen at that. "The god of the moon?" He had trouble believing that. He had heard legends of Anarkyis, the divine master of the night. He was said to be a pale god, lithe and lean, quiet face drawn up in a hidden sadness and appearing to always be alone. He rarely talked, the legends said, and darkness was his cloak. And while this man did have pale hair and a touch of darkness, there was also light in him. That, and he was no longer thin, but muscle bound, much like Freed was.
"For a long time. But now, no longer." Anarkyis said smoothly. "What do you know of Solaris?"
Neo responded automatically. "The goddess of the sun, your twin sister, Lord Anarkyis. Said to be radiant but danger, warm yet fiery. She can bring new life, or burn it away with just as much ease."
Anarkyis chuckled. "Which she remains. Solaris is light, I am the darkness. Kept apart, we have spent many years seeking to free ourselves from our prisons: The moon and the sun. Finally, we discovered how: A merging of ourselves, to make us no longer of mere light or mere darkness." His eyes flashed "We were reborn Anarchy and Sola, the god and goddess of chaos."
That shocked the knight. "The…gods of chaos?"
Anarchy nodded. "Yes." His form shrank, tendrils retreating into his back, until he stood at Neo's height. "There is much you do not know, young knight. A war is brewing that will decide the fate of all worlds.
"There have been 3 factors within the heavens: The old ones, made of only my sisters Gaia and Sola, and myself. Then there are the beings called the old gods, and who some call the titans. They are the sons and daughters of Gaia and the fallen old one, Sky. And finally, there are the gods, children of the titans. The titans rule the world, and have allowed their children to aid them. But the gods wish for more power. It was they, the first of their kind, that separated Solaris and I. It was they that forced the titans back. But they did not make prisons that would hold us.
"A war is brewing. Soon, the old ones will choose sides, and the gods and the titans will wage war. The Earth will quake, the seas will boil, and the winds will shatter. And at long last, I will take my revenge for the betrayal of the gods."
Neo looked upon the old one, as he called himself, in utter confusion. "Why…why are you telling me this?"
Anarchy frowned. "For you are like me." He waved his hand, the swirls of black and white pooling. "You just don't realize it."
Neo watched as the mirror the god had formed shimmered, before revealing a scene. He watched himself battle with the Shadow Ghoul, killing it. As he did so, the image moved to inside the temple, where Freed knelt before the statue of Aera.
"Is that enough prove, Lady Aera?"The statue creaked and groaned, then seemed to come alive, head tilted down to stare at Freed. Her lips turned to a frown, and she shook her head sadly. "The ghoul I had Anubus send has proven your point, General Freed. The paladin, Neo, has grown too strong."
"His skill is beyond what it should be. And his magic…curse his father for being with that witch!"
Aera nodded. "The witch of the black forest, again her wickedness has touched the line of man. That she could corrupt Buster Blader, the dragon slayer…and bring about this child…"
"He must be dealt with, goddess. Neo can not live a day longer."
"The gods agree with you, General Freed. I will send my servant, Grani the dragon, to the villages near the Ash Mountains. Send Neo there, and my dragon will kill him for sure."
The image faded, and Neo shivered in disgust. "Freed…the gods…they hate me for my mother?"
Anarchy had long since sat down on the frozen head of Grani, boots kicked off and legs crossed. The god shrugged, hand flipping about in the air. "Such is the way of the gods. Grow too strong, and they kill you."
Neo ground his teeth together. "Let me kill that dragon, then I will deal with Freed."
"It will do nothing. The gods will smite you before you can step foot outside the cave." Anarchy turned his eyes to the knight. "But…what if I offered you a chance to escape your fate?"
"How so?"
"Now, you are limited to your body, your mortal form. But let me aid you, and I can make you stronger then any being…any god." Anarchy's boot flew onto his feet as he rose from the drag, hovering in the air. "You could do great things, Neo…terrible things, but great, none-the-less."
"I don't…understand…"
"Join with me…aid the titans, and we will wipe out the petty gods. You will be no mere man, but a rider in my army…my horsemen, my champion, the lord of war." He waved his hand at Grani. "And I will make this beast, the creature sent to kill you, your steed."
Neo looked on, fist opening and closing. His thoughts turned dark as he envisioned himself riding on the dragon's back, laying siege on those that kept him from his greatness…
"Do it." He said harshly.
"Splendid." Anarchy said, his hand darting out and punching through Neo's chest. The knight screamed as a hole formed, a bit of his soul burned away. "But, a test…claim the dragon, use it to complete yourself, and my horsemen you will be. Fail, and you will visit the darkness that is death."
Neo stumbled as the world returned to normal. Grani roared, confused as to why the knight suddenly had a hole in his chest. Not questioning this new situation, he lunged, ready to devour him.
'Now!' Anarchy's voice called out.
Neo's hand plunged forward, and to his shock, drove straight into the dragon's chest, just as Anarchy had done to him. The great beast blinked, confused, before howling in terror as his form was drawn into the knight. Neo cried out as the dragon's flesh and blood was forced into his body, but the scream turned to laughter as he felt himself ascend. The wound healed instantly, and his bones cracked as he grew taller. The cave crumbled around him as he rose, muscle added to his frame as his body filed with light and darkness. His armor broke apart, leaving him nude, but scales from Grani formed new living armor. He chuckled madly as the dragon's wings burst form his back, as did his tail, and from his head the scaly horns of Grani brushed through his hair. His hand shot out, a great sword forged from the dragon's spine appearing, and he bared his fangs in a mad grin as his transformation reached completion.
Towering over the broken remains of the mountain, his booming laughter filled the air as Anarchy appeared in his natural form, the two standing shoulder to shoulder as they observed the land.
"We will find others like you, my horsemen. And we will make them like you. 4 horsemen to ravage this world. The souls of these fools will become are slaves, and we will use them to journey to join the titans in the other worlds…we live this dimension, and journey to our proper place! The age of Anarchy has come!"
&&&
One by one, the free cities of the world many knew as the Duel Monster Realm fell to the power of Anarchy. With his sister, Sola, he toppled governments, dethroned kings, and shattered parliaments. Once the city states were brought under his thumb, Anarchy recruited all that would join him unto his army. He gave them strength, power beyond imagination. The young were brought to adulthood with a snap of his fingers, the old back to their prime. All that was required was a pledge of eternal loyalty to their new gods.
Those who did not fell to the sword of the Horsemen of War.
&&&
"aaarrrrgggg." Freed groaned, struggling against his bonds. Hanging only by his wrists, the general blinked unfocused eyes. Blood dripped from the many wounds that lined his naked body, staining his grand dining hall.
Anarchy was seated at the head of the table, Sola resting on the arm rest, as they watched Neo work. Behind them, two of their newly added horsemen stood at attention. The first was Aetos, once the guardian of the heavens in this world. Sola had seduced him, offered him freedom from his tireless duty of guarding the stronghold of the gods. He was now Deathscythe, the masked horsemen of death. The second was Parshath, the centaur healer that was now their horsemen of disease, spreading plagues onto those that resisted the new order.
The final horsemen was Dumas, the dark witch of pestilence…former wife of Freed.
Who was currently being plowed by Neo.
Freed shuddered as his transformed wife cried out in bliss, his former soldier always looking over with red eyes to make sure Freed was taking in his every move.
"He's sadistic." Sola commented as Neo finished with Dumas, shoving her to the group and gathering his armor. She didn't react, instant she merely grinned at Freed, who groaned again as she slid herself into her armor. "I like him."
"He will be our second in command, dear sister." Anarchy said with a grin as Neo moved towards Freed, holding out his hand. "With him at our side, we will rule not only this world, but all others." He wrapped an arm around his dear sister's waist. Her was the only being he had cared about since he had been born, the one the gods of this world had tried to steal from him. He had promised his twin that he would avenge them, then bring all the worlds unto their domination. "Imagine it, Sola…we will use the titans to take over the next world. Then, my generals, my spies within their ranks, will help us turn against them, killing them and leaving us sole victors. We will move to the next world, over and over…until none are left to ever separate us."
Freed screamed as Neo blasted him, transforming the general into a tablet of stone. With this, Anarchy would be able to summon Freed, and the millions of souls like him, into the other world and force them to wage his war.
"Burn all that remains." Sola commanded Dumas and Parshath. "Kill any that are weak and resist us, then turn the strong." She stated, Deathscythe bowing while Neo marched to his masters' side. "We move out at down."
&&&
It was this way that, 10 years after being sent to kill Grani, Neo the Celestial Swordsman found himself in a new world, their world locked away until they needed it. Standing before them were the few that Anarchy had entrusted with he knowledge of what he was about to do.
Here were the divine beasts, and the dark brothers of the Egyptian Gods Slifer, Obelisk and Ra. Then there was the terrible god of darkness Zorc Necrophades, who held the knowledge of how to create weapons that could kill a god. Anarchy had freed him from his first master, the god of time Destiny, wielder of the Millennium Dagger. And the god of light, the god of the tarot, as well as the dark dimensional hopping being known simply as the Supreme King.
Infront of them were his most trusted spies and advisors, his 4 generals, all 4 he and Sola had brought into the world, their children. First Robin Longfellow, also known as Puck, the shadowy trickster. And Loki, the malicious liar. Beside him was Sweet, the demon of song and dance brought forth from Hell who always brought a smile to his masters' faces. And finally Coyote, the beast with a mind as sharp as steel.
Behind him stood his horsemen, each waiting for the moment to bring destruction down upon these new gods. Only Neo held them in place, the horsemen waiting for Anarchy to speak.
"Soon we enter battle, my brothers. Together we will defeat the gods, and then, with the aid of my generals, we will destroy the Titans and the giants. We will then move to a new world, and each of you will receive a dimension to rule as you please. All that is required is your fight."
'And die when we turn the generals and the horsemen on you too, leaving us sole rulers.' Sola thought with a grin. She looked up suddenly. "Generals, away…the titans and the giants approach."
The four nodded, disappearing just as the mighty Cronos thundered over the horizon, behind him an army of titans and giants and other creatures.
"Neo…begin the blight on this world."
Neo nodded, the skeletal form of Grani appearing under him as he cackled, launching into the skies to spread war. Dumas headed south to bring pestilence and famine, while Parshath galloped west to bring illness. And to all corners zoomed Deathscythe, slaughtering the innocent by the thousands. Anarchy and Sola strode forward, mountains crumbling as the titan-gods covered hundreds of millions in several strides, as they met with their 'allies'.
"Lord Cronos."
"Lord Anarchy, Lady Sola." Cronos said, glad to see his dimensional hopping allies. "I have gathered my armies, as have the frost giants. I see your troops are ready." He grinned. "Soon my treacherous children and their forces will fall, and we will leave any resistance in our wake massacred."
Sola nodded. "Ready the troops…today, we finish this rebellion."
&&&
The war lasted years.
For a human, it would have been impossible to comprehend continuous fighting like what happened during that war. But for the gods and the titans, years were nothing. Immortals measured time in millions of years, not single ones or even the human concept of days.
The battle was brutal, and it was never ending. When it would appear that one had gained the upper hand, the other side would rally and drive them back. Thus it went, over and over, neither side able to take a decisive blow and hold it. A great god, whose name humans had never heard, would fall, only for the titans to lose their own warrior. Back and forth, back and forth, blood soaking the earth, fissures born from massive feet slamming into the ground, the fury of creation unleashed.
But, as all wars go, the tide finally turned for the last time. The horsemen fell, first Parshath was cut down by Hades, chopped into bits. Then fell Dumas at the hands of Krishna, the hindu god making short work of her. And the feared Deathscythe, the efforts of Odin and his family destroyed him, cracking his mask and snapping his own scythe into his back.
The divine beasts were locked away, the gods learning how Anarchy and Sola imprisioned souls and doing the same to them. Zorc, in fear of being brought under control of Destiny, escaped the battle, Anarchy cursing his name. The god of the tarot was flung into space by Osiris, light years upon light years from battle. The Supreme King fled as well, watching as the 3 dark god brothers were imprisoned.
The titans and giants fell then, till only three stood: Anarchy, Sola and Neo. The three held their own, battling for a full year without pause, murdering hundreds of gods. They worked perfectly: Neo would gut goddesses and gods with his blade, while Anarchy tore them apart with his tendrils and Sola pierced them with her spider-like appendages that wiggled on her back.
Neo's terrible battlecry became, for the gods and goddesses, the trumpeting of the end. His sword the bearer of destruction and pain, his wings kicking up storms that ravaged the land. Anarchy and Sola were more feared, however, due to their mastery of chaos magic. With a wave of their hands, the powers of good and evil would collide. Gods found themselves being ripped apart, their light and dark sides forced apart and dying without the other. Their spells could easily
But this could not last.
Finally, a goddess from the lands of Egypt arose to face Neo, the final horsemen. She rightly assumed that as long as Anarchy and Solacontrolled the horsemen of war, he could not fall in battle. War would have to die if the chaos titan-gods were to die.
Thus Aera, goddess of the winds, lead Neo from his masters, from the battle itself, till the two stood alone on the other side of the world.
Realizing he had been tricked, Neo attacked, sword cutting against her armor as the two waged war. No songs would be sung of their violent battle, no paintings of their fight. Lost to the ages this deciding skirmish, the determiner of the fates of all.
Aera knew this was not a battle she could win. She had never planned on winning it. No…she loved this world too much to let Anarchy destroy it, and thus she would give the world a gift…her life for its freedom.
That is why she allowed Neo to slide his sword into her gut.
As her ichor poured from the mortal wound, the goddess grabbed ahold of his face and planted a deep kiss upon his lips. Neo found no joy from this, as it was a kiss of death. Her godhood tore through him, causing his blood to boil and heart to explode before they both fell. Each felt agony, each dying at the other's hand.
Had anyone looked upon their bodies, before they disintegrated to dust, they would have found them appearing to be two lovers trapped in an eternal kiss, and not two warriors at their death.
&&&
With their horsemen gone, Anarchy and Sola knew it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. Despite their power, the sheer number of gods and goddesses united against them would crash over them like a storm, and leave them broken on the field of battle.
It was cunning Sola that thought of their escape plan.
Their moment came, when Destiny, the cruel god of time and wielder of the Millennium Dagger, came upon. Waiting for him to strike, as Destiny brought down his dagger, the two forced their bodies to fire blood from all their wounds. To the gods and goddesses, it appeared as if Destiny had landed a grand blow, a killing blow.
But to the generals, who remained hidden within the enemy ranks, they knew this was their chance to save the chaos gods.
"They have fallen, my lords!" Loki cried out, rushing to Anarchy's side and kicking him in the head. Anarchy sent his forgiveness for the action, and the trickster let out a sigh of relief.
"Yes." Coyote commented. "The war is at an end. With their deaths, the gods may now rule."
A great cheer went up among the ranks, but one was not satisfied. Isis, the wife of Osiris and one of the goddess' of the dead, had not felt the titan-gods pass. And while it was known they were from a different world, no one wished to risk a trick by the two cunning creatures.
"If you do not believe they are gone…" Sweet sang as he slide over to the bodies, "let us do this right and not wrong. For as they are cunning as a fox, let us lock their bones in a box."
"Yes, a box!" Coyote proclaimed. "Let us forge a great metal box, and seal them inside. Hide them away, so that they may never be found."
Puck bowed to the gods. "Allow me to make it, my lords, and I will bring you no shame. Yes, no shame from Puck."
The gods agreed, and the generals cast a great steel box, and with care locked their master inside. Anarchy and Sola were ready…infact they were thrilled. For gods, millions of years were nothing, and for the brother and sister, they could wait. Within the box, they would plot their revenge, and when released, with the gods now fat and complacent, they would strike like vipers and murder them all.
Puck himself carved the ruins, as their ally, the god of the tarot, had commanded. In a million years, when he returned, the god would see the fate of Anarchy and Sola, and Loki would have him send a disciple to the sea, to retrieve the box and free the chaos gods.
All they had to do was wait.
Millions upon millions of years past. Anarchy and Sola bid their time, waiting for the day they would be found by the humans. The gods rebuilt the world, and set up their new empires…forgetting the faults of the titans and making them all over again. And the world of duel monsters came under control of the humans, a new game arising.
But then, 21 some odd years before the current day, two babies cried out for the first time, as the same time.
One a girl, born to a wealth Greek family.
The other the male half of a set of twins, born to a couple in Texas.
Samantha Ciro…Alexander Milo.
Mayday and Arlen.
&&&
"There's nothing to talk about." Mayday said, marching over to Arlen and grabbing his face. Grani growled but she ignored him, locking eyes with her husband. "I love you…and no past life will make me say otherwise." She pressed a heated kiss to his lips, and mentally cried out for joy when he returned it. "You are not the horsemen…and I am no goddess." She whispered. "We are the guardians…and we are going to rule this world, you hear me baby?"
"I hear ya…loud and clear." Arlen whispered, before kissing her again.
Next time on GX: Hunters- We have seen the rise of the Hunters. We have seen the return of Anarchy and Sola. We have seen the fall of Doc K and his rebirth as Adrian Kratos. But what of the gods? Have they sat idly by?
The stirring of forces he long thought gone calls to Yugi Moto, commanding him to call for a gathering the likes of which the world has never seen. Duelists from around the globe, each believing their time as heroes was over, must now meet to learn of this new danger.
Seto Kaiba, the billionaire duelist
Joey Wheeler, the underdog of our time
Maximillion Pegasus, creator of the game
Mai Valentine, the mistress of the harpies
Mako Tsunami, tamer of the seas
Bandit Keith, the intercontinental champion
Guy Roads, the envoy of creation and destruction
And the most famous of them all… The son of Destiny and Isis, the god of the stars, the lord of the lightning war
Geno Roads
Episode 70: Weapons of the Gods
Not all heroes are hunters
Author's Note: For those of you who don't know, Destiny is the father of Geno Roads, the fallen god of the stars, and the villain/hero of Weapons of the Gods. The Millennium Dagger was originally help by his father, but when Destiny came to kill Geno, the goddess of the dead Nephthys opened a portal to the mortal world and stripped the baby of his godhood and aging him instantly to adulthood. But before he fell, Geno stole his father's dagger, and made it his own.
Author's Note 2: The hunters will be featured in episode 71, as that is when they travel with the school to Domino, and we see some major duels.