I wandered aimlessly through the city, letting my feet carry me as my mind was engulfed by question after question. It had been months since the most recent attack on the city, the church of the Savior had disbanded, Fortuna Castle had fallen and the city was in ruin. Repairs were being made here and there, but after the last devastating attack, a good portion if the patrons had fled the city in search of sanctuary. Leaving only a spare few remaining, which had consisted of war veterans, police, medical personnel, a spare few average people and...us hunters.

We had all stayed behind because we saw no other place to go...no city would dare allow survivors of the Daemon city to venture inside their safe homes in fear that Daemons would plague their homes. The hospital personnel stayed behind for obvious reasons, but the veterans and the police remained behind because they wanted to protect people. The morons who stayed behind that were just ordinary people...only stayed because no one had cared enough to make them leave. Now us hunters...we stayed behind for a good hunt and a chance to earn a living on whatever poor daemon happened to be lurking in the shadows of the city.

It had become boring however, doing the same thing day in and out...I was bored of this routine. I had found myself wanting more out of my lonely and pathetic existence...found myself purposely seeking danger in order to find something more out of this life...but in the end I only managed to get either bored or nothing but irritated.

I wanted a challenge; a real challenge...but the only thing that kept coming my way was low level daemons and imps. So save to say I was more than tired of the games Hell was throwing at me.

I stopped walking when I felt a familiar pull of energy, I looked up and couldn't hold back the grin that spread across my face, somehow or another, my legs had carried me to the epicenter of the destruction...the ruins of Fortuna. I stood outside the broken gate, looking up at the huge cathedral church. My eyes scanned over the area...any idiot could sense the demonic aura here, but there was something else...an underlying presence and a powerful one at that.

I arched an eyebrow as my eyes narrowed, something about this energy was off...it was unlike anything I'd ever sensed...no...I'd sensed something similar to this energy before...and I'd dealt with the irksome person behind it.

I felt my eye beginning to twitch as I gritted my teeth, the so called man behind that energy was no man, he was a Devil hiding behind human facade...every hunter knew of him, he was a powerful Devil Hunter...brash and hard headed. He got himself and several others into heaps of trouble...

I shook my head and tried to push that hunter from my head, so I could try and focus. But I found it hard since the energy signature was similar. I took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching me, which happened a lot since people couldn't help but watch others ruin their lives.

I then turned back to the gate, prying it open just enough so that I could fit my body through the opening and not as soon as I had done so, did a chill rush up and down my spine. I took a quick look around, taking in my surroundings as I gripped the gun at my hip, my eyes narrowing as the once lifeless energy seemed to spring life and swirl around. I shook my head as I sighed.

"Fuckin' lovely...more low level assholes...just what I needed to deal with." I sighed as I pulled out one of my 50 caliber Desert Eagles, narrowing my eyes as I stood calmly near the entrance of the church gates before leaping out of the way just as a large rock landed where I was once standing. I landed a few feet away before spinning on my heel to stare down the bubbling to life imps. I sighed as I shook my head; I seriously couldn't roll my eyes hard enough at this.

"Really...all you fuck heads can send me are your weakest assholes? Tch...typical fuckin' daemons. You slime balls ain't even worth the bullets." I holstered my gun before turning my back on the imps, causing them to shriek in fury and outrage, but I continued on my way, sensing that they were about to pounce.

Just before they could do so, I quickly stilled, grabbing one of my guns, pulling it from the safety of its holster before aiming it over my shoulder at the hanging material over the imps as I growled low. "I won't have some low leveled assholes stand in my way."

I took no more than three shots, before holstering my gun as I continued on my way while hearing the satisfying crash of the material and pained screeches of the imps behind me. I ignored their cries as I walked up the path, my brow furrowed as a determined look crossed my face all while the wind within the area of the church sprang up and swirled around me as I walked up to the broken front doors of the church.

I suddenly stilled, my body becoming as rigid as steel, a jolt of emotion rushed through my entire body as I caught sight of a child's bloody hand print stained on the door of the church, I felt tears well up in my eyes flashes of that horrible day rushed to my mind, I felt my throat tighten with emotion as pain lashed at my chest, and just before I could snap mentally from the intense emotion, I was snapped out of my reverie from a massive pulse of energy which nearly knocked me off my feet.

"Now that's what I call interesting." I stepped back a bit, shaking away the emotion before narrowing my eyes as observed the doors. When I saw that nothing was wrong with the doors and there wasn't a trap, I yanked open the door, before jumping back as it fell, my eyes twitching as I stared down at the door, then eyed the door frame and saw that the hinges were beyond rusted and the wood that was the door frame was rotted through.

An annoyed look spread across my face as I sighed in utter irritation as I ran my hand through my hair as I shook my head. People seriously needed to keep up with cleaning this dump or it was just going to keep going to hell. But then again...who was left in this desolate little hell hole that actually gave a damn about the towns up keep? This town was long since dead...there was no hope in saving something that had long since decayed.

I sighed, shrugging off the weighing feeling of agony and sadness before walking through the rotten doorway of the church, ignoring the painful strong smell of dank air, dust and the smell of rotted wood. The sound of my footsteps echoed throughout the large area, resonating in my ears, the sound hollow enough to create an unbearable sadness in my heart. This place that was once filled with thousands of devout people every day and night, and was once a beautiful monument was now a lonely, dark and dank place lying in ruin. This truth brought me more sadness than what was humanly possible. I hated that this was true, I hated that this once prosperous town was now empty save a few people.

I loathed the one that was responsible, I hated that person more than anything and wanted whoever had caused this to be brought to justice...but having not been born when the tower of Temen Ni Gru had been raised, I could not have been able to stop the person or people responsible for the beginning of this Hell on earth.

Shaking away those thoughts, I walked further into the church, taking a moment to stop before a few old dust covered paintings. My eyes narrowed in the dim lighting, I walked over to them taking in a breath, before blowing on the dust, sending it flying as the painting was fully revealed. Showing a portrait of a priest, my eye twitched as I shook my head. Who on earth would want to look upon a grubby old man?

I huffed before blowing the dust off a few more paintings, revealing yet again more and more priests before I gave up, it was fruitless to think that there would be anything worth finding in this place. I sighed; shrugging the dust off my shoulders, before instinct suddenly took over, flashes of old memories long since forgotten springing forth to the fore front of my mind.

My body felt rigid, my eyes snapped wide open as the memories flooded my brain, flashing across my line of vision, playing before me like an old movie. I felt tears springing to my eyes, an old feeling was tearing away at my heart, and I bowed my head as I forced myself back before I was swallowed by those memories. I held in my tears as I shook my head, forcing myself to ignore the pain and the emotion that was tearing away at my heart. I knew better than this, knew better then to venture into those thoughts, knew better then to ever remember...

Then I felt it, my instincts kicked in, I looked over at a pair of solid pine double doors, my eyes narrowing in speculation. Something...something about those doors...something was telling me to venture inside, to follow my instincts. I could not ignore this tug, it was growing stronger and stronger by each passing second and before I could stop myself, my legs were carrying me over to the doors. I stared down at the handles, I jolted when I saw no rust on the black handles, the same went for the hinges...it was as if time had stopped for these doors. Which when you think about it was really rather odd considering everything else looked like a whirl wind had struck it.

I shakily reached forward, lightly gripping the handle before it hit, and old power of mine kicked into full gear as I tilted my head back, gasping aloud as memories that were not my own suddenly flooded the expanse that was my mind. Shaky flashes of...of...a library, staring down and an old book, the script was in a now dead language, but the hands holding the book were not my own. They were larger, but yet delicate, the flipped through the pages of the book, it seemed inconsequential, but somehow it beheld meaning.

I gripped the handle of the door more tightly as the memory flickered to something new, yet old. It was shaky still, but if was of the top of a city, the older Capulate city...from years before the attack. This...this was before the attack...but how could I be seeing this...

It faltered again, switched to a rainy version of the top of the city, I could hear a faint voice, it was male and the voice was deep, sounding beyond pissed off and yet an underlying tone of betrayal. The image flashed once more, it was hard to make it out, but I seemed to be looking at a young man. He...looked familiar...that gaudy red coat...those guns...that...sword...the silver hair...that body language...that...that voi-...waaaaaaait a minute...oh for the sweet heavily love of God! Not him...anyone but this nut job!

In the back of my brain, I felt beyond annoyed, I wanted to yank myself from whatever THIS was...but it seemed like I had to sit through it and just get it over with.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the memory switched to his face rushing at me, wielding that irritating sword, he came battering who ever this was with attack after attack. The pure fury in those blue eyes of his was unrivaled to anything I had ever seen before. It played out before my eyes for what seemed like hours, when it fact it was mere minutes. The memory began making images flash across my line of vision, faster and faster, my eyes widening as the information flooded my mind. It was too much...it was too much to handle in such short amount of time...before I felt like my brain was going to burst...the flow of information suddenly slowed, revealing his pained eyes, the worried expression on his face, it suddenly seemed to be getting further and further away, before fading into darkness.

I suddenly cried out as my hand let go of the door, I fell back onto the ground with a dull thud. My head was pounding and my body felt like I had been training for days, I groaned weakly as I slowly sat up, trembling as I shook my head before looking back at the door, seeing it open slightly. I must've opened the door when I fell back...I was gonna go with that since I was too lazy to think of a real excuse and too immensely freaked out.

I shook off the dizzying nausea before slowly managing to get back onto my feet, gripping the side of my head, trying to push away the amount of pain my poor brain was being engulfed in. Seeing as how this feeling was not going to cease, I decided it was just better to let it happen, before getting back to why I was here. In this of all places.

Moving closer to the door, I suddenly felt a shiver unlike any I've ever had race up my spine, curling around my body as if I had just been thrown in ice cold water. It was almost suffocating. This was no doubt a Demonic Aura...but what could possibly have an Aura this powerful?

Feeling more than compelled to press on, I slipped through the small opening, holding down the urge to cough, while letting my eyes adjust to the dim lightning as I slowly walked into the main church hall. My eyes widened at the sight...everything may have been covered in years of dust...but there was a certain beauty to it. Light seeped into the room through the broken stained glass windows, the dust seeming to dance through the slivers of light. I really couldn't help but wonder what a photographer might do is he or she saw such a sight as this...perhaps have a field day.

I felt a rush of excitement as I walked further into the church hall, being careful to avoid the rubble and broken pews scattered here and there. Before I could get much farther down the walkway, it was then that I heard the sound of a booted foot shifting over dirt. Somehow managing to react, I darted behind a lopsided pillar, something in my gut tightened as I slowly reached down to my side, ready to draw my gun in case whatever it was attacked.

But there was an unsettling silence that was sinking into my being, wrapping around me, as if to suffocate me, I shook off the clinging feeling and in that brief moment of clarity, if I had not shook myself from that feeling, I would not have heard the blade cutting through the dust filled air in time to jump back from the pillar. Just in time too...for the pillar fell to the side, hitting the ground with a deafening thud as I spun on my heel, turning to face whomever attacked.

It was then that the air rushed out of my lungs, as if I was kicked in the chest by some unseen force...for some odd reason my face heated a bright crimson as my eyes widened...there standing on the podium, the light his spotlight as dust swirled around him as if welcoming my eyes to greet his form. What looked to be a man, but the aura he gave off...his very stance said otherwise.

Somehow there was something about him that intimidated me...something that made my knees quiver with fear...but his back was to me, as if to say you're not worthy to look upon me. Yet...as he stood there, sword in hand as the light shimmered off it, I felt the strongest urge to turn heel and run for my life. Sweat beaded my brow as I gripped my gun, feeling my instincts kick in, begging and pleading me to take him down before he could attack. Something told me that if he attacked...I would not be walking out of here alive...or at all for that matter.

But before I could pull my gun from its holster, he spoke...his voice rang throughout the church, gaining my full and complete attention.

"Not a wise action...you would not fare well against me with that shabby excuse for a weapon." He spoke simply, he said in a mocking tone, looking over his shoulder ever so slightly, keeping his face hidden.

It hit me then...I had the deepest urge to pick up the heaviest thing and throw it at him, perhaps pummeling him into a bloody pulp would satisfy my anger. I could not stop my eye from twitching even if I had a gun put to my temple...those words kept nagging at me...how he dare insult my weapons!

"Y-You..." I managed to say as my eye continued to twitch...which by now probably looked like a nervous tick. I was about to throw a numerous amount of insults at him, but before I could, I saw it, part of his face...he had HIS face...only somehow different. It seemed more angular, masculine...yet...smug...h-he had a smug smile on his face...like that...that senile old pervert!

My annoyance hit full drive as I yanked my gun out of its holster, pointing it at the man with brazen anger as my eyes narrowed viciously. "Take it back you perverted jackass!"

A silence fell over the situation, long minutes went by before he turned to face me, a more then confused look on his face, my eyes widened when he looked at me, he had what looked to be an ever so slight beard and mustache...his clothes were tattered and worn, covered in blood and...what I HOPED was food...he looked like a worn down, bum version of Dante. I felt my lips tightening as my cheeks flushed, the urge to fall over laughing was hard to resist, but I managed to just lower my head, shaking my head as I began laughing.

"O-Oh that's rich...just too rich...he'd flip his shit if he knew I was laughing this hard at him." My laughter was cut short when I felt the aura flare, wrapping around my person as I looked up, seeing his eyes narrowed, the color upon closer inspection appeared to be a dark icy blue, the color spilled out around his eyes as he actually growled at me.

"And what pray tell do you find so funny?" He said between clenched teeth, the very words sent chills down my already ice covered spine, as my eyes seemed to snap wide open and as if of their own accord, my legs began to make me walk backwards, making me take shaky, hesitant steps. I mentally cursed myself…I was taught well to never show fear when on the battle field. It would drive the opponent into a frenzy.

I watched in horror as his eyes slowly closed as he tilted his head back, it appeared as if he was sniffing the air, a low growl rumbled up from his chest, I took this brief chance to quickly turn on my heal and make a break for it. But the very moment I turned on my heel to run for the exit, I felt a cold, calloused hand grab my wrist, pinning my arm behind my back as I was viciously slammed into the wall, blood trickling down my now cut open cheek as the air was knocked out of my lungs. I weakly opened my eyes, looking over my shoulder at him, the side of my face already beginning to bruise, before I gasped, seeing the cold, fury filled glare in those eyes of his.

"I will ask this only once…why do you smell of him?" He spoke in a deep voice, the sound nothing more than a dangerous purr as his eyes flashed a dark blue. Standing there now, looking up at him with fear filled eyes, I couldn't be more compelled to answer him, something in my DNA told me to obey him, yet every ounce of my teaching told me to find a way to get him off of me and run from him.

But I found I could neither speak nor move, the only thing that was seeming to be happening was that my vision was blurring, I felt a rush of nausea curling in my stomach before my eyes rolled up into my head, everything quickly going dark…the last thing I heard annoyed me to no end.

"Tch…pathetic human…"