A/N: This is the chapter that gave me some trouble but its hopefully good also Thanks to all the reviews I learn alot with them

Disclaimer Same as always.

Nosferatu Zodd

Alrun stood his eyes on the black darkness that had always been the arena. This was where he was trained this was where he would either die or become the perfect tool. This was were he took his first of many lives. "You are going to either live through this or die going through this understand?!" Alrun was silent he heard many of the other children and tools cry or the ones who relished killing laugh. But he only stared at the gate that was in front of them. He sensed something he wasn't sure what but he felt it all the same. He couldn't hear the masters he didn't see the others all he saw was the gate. Then he heard the masters chilling laugh and looked up at the old man that had trained them all and made them what they were. "You will all fight this man a man that has come here expecting a great battle a man that expects you to fight him or die." Alrun looked at the gate as it slowly opened, Alrun felt an enormous pressure more then any thing he had ever felt before he staggered slightly at the strange pressence and looked at the dark gate.

Alrun waited for the thing behind the gate to come out but before it did three of the spear weilders charged for the gate disappearing into the dark gate. They waited listening for the sound of battle what they heard was three seperate screams. Then he appeared standing eight feet tall with only a loincloth covering him, he weilded a huge curved sword with the three kids impaled on it's blade. Alrun looked at his eyes blood red with slit irises and fangs seeming to protrude from his mouth.

The monster of a man smiled at the bloody looking blade. "I hope you all have more fire in you then this... or else this will be no fun at all." Alrun drew his sword along with all the others then it began. The monster was like a twister of death he would kill three at once and dodge attack after attack. The children backed off looking at the decimated corpses of the ones that had met the monsters blade. Alrun stood with a cold look on his face and noted that two others stood next to him one with a bow and the other a girl with twin knives.

Alrun looked at them each met the others eyes then with a nod Alrun charged the beast. "Ahh a brave one." The monster raised his sword and as he swang two arrows hit his elbow joint the monster slowed allowing Alrun to duck and stabb the man in the chest. The monster smiled then the girl came from behind and stabbed him in the back. "Ahhh not once but three times I was wounded it has been so many years since this has happened!" He grabbed Alrun's blade and pulled it out then his body began to buldge and grow he grew to ten feet red fur covered his body and huge horns came out of his head and he threw him back Alrun slid and looked to see the girl coming at him he caught her and looked at the monster.

"You are fun I will enjoy this battle come and fight me fight Nosferatu Zodd!" Then he charged the two tools Alrun and the girl Knives.

Alrun awoke with a start sweat on his face his shoulder length black hair wet with sweat. He held his hand to his face a stern look on his face. "Why did I dream about that?" Alrun looked over to see his misstress Casca was still asleep, next to her was Allan who slept with her like a small child Casca never seemed to mind so Allan kept doing it. Alrun stood and looked at his body it had been two months since he'd been injured in the explosion that had been set by Adon. He had small scars along with a fresh scar on his shoulder from the wood that had gone into him like an arrow.

Alrun stood and walked out of the tent and looked down towards the besieged castle his blue and green eye on the dark castle. "Remeber that dreams can be like a vision... I hope the masters were wrong I can only speculate what would happen if he was here." He turned back to the tent tommarow the walls would be gone and the final battle for the castle would start.

The battle had gone perfectly Gatts had led his men in and had cornered the leader in a matter of time the battle would be over. But Alrun felt a dark feeling almost the same he'd felt just before he'd foughten Zodd. They watched from atop the hill the battle was taking longer then expected. Alrun turned his head to a man hurrying up the hill towards them. Then he bowed to Griffith,"Commander Griffith I have a report. Captain Gatts and the raiders have made it to the keep and taken over the castle but they seem to be unable to get past a one of the enemy's soldiers... he's just to strong." Alrun listened and the more he heard the more he knew Zodd it was only that monster that could possibly do that. "Just one man we can't rely on Gatts at all." Alrun looked at Corcus, "Zodd..." Everyone turned and looked at Judeau, "Zodd! Judeau you know him?"

Alrun looked at the man with his eyes hidden by his mask, "Before the battle I heard a rumor that Nosferatu Zodd had joined the enemy's army." Alrun looked back towards the castle his eyes on where he knew Gatts was standing. "Who is that?" Alrun turned and looked at Pipin the big bronze mace wielder was very strong but not one to talk. "Pipin you don't know him?" Rickert looked down and began the tale. "Among MercenariesNosferatu Zodd is a Legendary sword master. Any battle he participates results in mountains of dead. But thats just part of his legend. They say... Even when he was thought to be dead... He would appear again on another Battlefield. The incredible part is that... His name has been heard for more than a hundread years. Thats why many call him the Immortal Nosferatu Zodd." Corcus laughed and turned towards Rickert. "You don't actually believe that do you?"

Rickert looked at Corcus with annoyance. "Amoung some Mercenaries Zodd is believed to be the God of Battle." Alrun looked at the castle and a wave of discomfort assailed him. "A god... No Zodd is something far worse than a god." He felt them look at him then he turned and saw that Casca was next to him. "Alrun what do you mean." Alrun looked at her then to Griffith, "I don't think Gatts can fight Zodd. If he does he will die." Everyone looked at him then turned towards the castle, then Griffith after twenty minutes turned towards them. "We are going down to the castle to assist Gatts."

Alrun nodded along with everyone else, Allan stay by Casca understand." The small boy nodded and held his dagger tightly as they rode down to the castle. As they closed in They saw Gastle Gatts second looking at the entrance with fear on his face. "Commander Gatts went in but we sent five hundred in before not one of them came back except him." They looked to see a man missing half his body Alrun only looked ahead he knew Zodd's handy work when he saw it. "We should hurry Zodd is more then human." Griffith along with everyone else dismounted and taking a small amount of men went into the dark keep.

"Alrun you said that Zodd was more then a human what did you mean?" Alrun looked at Casca and then drew his broadsword. "When I was ten we were put into a arena we were tested and killed our other tools to see which were the best. My final battle before leaving that place was with a monster." Alrun felt the air chill and he felt his grip tighten on his sword. "That day about two hundred of us were put in the arena to face one man when the battle ended only myself and two others still lived." They looked at him and he felt Casca shudder slightly. "The man was Nosferatu Zodd."

They entered the main room to find Gatts held by a monster but as they fired arrows into its back Alrun silently moved to the side his blade on the beast the nightmare of a past he had survived. "Show no fear fire!" Alrun knew where this was headed Zodd had transformed there had still been sixty of the children left but after they had tried to fight Zodd. "Unforgivable..." Everyone stopped and looked at the monster. "I won't forgive you!!" He dropped Gatts and roared, "Those who dare to interfere in my fight... No matter who I WILL NOT FORGIVE!!" Alrun remebered he had not been very happy and killed them all then gone back to them. "Casca retreat!" Griffith moved to save Gatts but Casca only looked sadly at him.

Griffith helped Gatts up then turned to find Zodd glareing at them both. "What are you doing!? Your heart is still beating you still can breath!" Alrun charged forward Zodd spun and looked in time and raised his hands blocking the sword by useing his flesh. Alrun pulled free and slid back Zodd smiled as his wounds healed quickly. "What is going on today I find to men that can wound me so..." Alrun held his sword up he didn't shake he didn't have quick breathing Zodd looked at him closer. "What is this no fear no hesitation...What are you mortal?" Alrun looked at Zodd his eyes calm and cold. "Interseting well then lets see what you've got!"

Zodd charged his speed much faster then anything his size, Alrun rolled out of the way as Zodd's horns crushed a piller and sent rubble all over the area. Alrun turned as Zodd's Claw came from the side Alrun moved back the claws an inch from his masked face. Alrun countered with a quick thrust of his sword that went into Zodd's shoulder zodd roared as Alruns blade sank deeply into his shoulder. "Good not many can last this long but." Zodd grabbed the blade and pulled it out then slammed Alrun in the chest with his hoof Alrun flew back the air shot from his lungs. He looked up in time to see Zodd's claws he pulled his body back only to have the claws hit his mask and send him hurtleing over Gatts and Griffith who had been watching unable to move with out fear of getting killed.

"ALRUN!" Alrun heard Casca's voice and stood on weak legs his mask fell from his face blood covered the right side of his face thanks to a cut on his forehead he guessed he didn't have much strength yet and possibly two or three cracked ribs. "Are you still alive?" Griffith was next to him his eyes on Zodd, Alrun spit out some of the blood in his mouth. "Yes but I have some injuries." Zodd roared and charged, "Gatts right Alrun high and I'll left!" They attacked Alrun leapt slashed and connected with Zodds Shoulder Gatts took his mid section and Griffith took off Zodd's arm.

"Success now Gatts-" Alrun turned and before the words escaped his lips Zodd slammed Griffith in the chest with his own severed arm sending Griffith flaying into the wall he coughed blood and was out Gatts turned and moved towards Giffith and Zodd tossed his arm into Gatts sending him sliding back Alrun moved with every last bit of his own strength but Zodd saw him and back handed him sending him flying back towards the hawks. "You three have been a lot of fun." He took his arm and placed it on the stump of his shoulder steam came from the wound and in a instant his arm was back. "So you three shall die together. First it shall be this one."

Zodd walked towards the fallen form of Griffith and reached down Alrun barely could hear him over the sounds of Casca and the hawks screaming Griffiths name. Then he saw Zodd back up he was to far to hear him and the bloodloss and now broken ribs were slowly putting him into a state of uncounciousness but he stood and using his sword as a crutch kept himself from falling. I see so thats it well then I guess our little fight is done unfortunate but before I go I have a warning no a prophecy. When this mans ambition crumbles and he has nothing left." He opened demonic wings and laughed. "You will face your death! A death you cannot escape!"

He turned towards Alrun and was in front of him before he could react and grabbed him Alrun heard Casca scream and felt himself get lifted and the crashing of rubble then his world went black.

Alrun stood blood dripping on his arms and face his allies the archer boy and knife girl in similar shape Zodd stood before them smileing at them his pointed teeth and horns the very epitaph of fear and demons. "You still would fight even after all this you still would fight... You are truely an interesting trio so I shall let you live so that I may have the chance to fight you again." He transformed back to his human form and picked up his discarded blade. "I will hope for a day that we meet again so that you may fight me once more."
Alrun awoke to the sound of a fire and looked up to find himself in a forest. He looked around there was three rabbits cooking over the fire he looked for the ones who had started the fire but when he tried to move he felt the stiff feelings of bandages. "I wouldn't move if I were you." Alrun looked around to find a man in armor he had a halberd in his right hand and was looking around. "You had a nasty fall. You landed in a lake near here and I happened to see ya." The man extended his hand in a frendly gesture allowing Alrun a better look. He was young maybe twenty one with short sandy blonde hair he had piercing blue eyes and a beard coming in. His Halberd was made of steel and at the tip was a long curved blade.

"Names Jake Carter." Alrun took the hand and nodded, "Alrun." Jake smiled and relesed the hand and walked over to the rabbits and sat down. "You were in luck my friend and I had finished a job near here and were passing through when a huge shadow passed over us and then we saw you hitting the water. It was a real shock." Jake took the rabbits and handed Alrun one, as he did another man with black hair and an annoyed expression walked up and grabbed the final rabbit. He was tall and had a Claymore on his back. "Finally I was Starveing." Jake yawned and ate Alrun only ate but kept his eyes on the two, judgeing by their expressions and armor and wepons there was no doubt they were soldiers but Alrun wasn't sure of which side.

"Hmph you burned the rabbits again." Jake only laughed and bit into the last bit of the rabbit. "Well what do you expect I never was a man to cook his food I prefer a woman to do that." The other man laughed and kept eating, Jake turned towards Alrun and noticed he had finished. "So where are you headed?" Alrun thought about the two they had saved him and fed him they seemed to be on a good way so he recounted the events of what had happened to the point of where they were. To his surprise Jake laughed, "So you're one of the Hawks well lucky us. We were planning on talking to the leader for a job and we go and save a key member. Matt can you believe this?"

Matt only laughed and shrugged, "Fate truly is funny some times." Jake stood and extended his hand, "Alrun as I said names Jake this other guy is Matt we are Mercenaries, we have very interesting reputations that luckly not many know about and we also know one other thing." Jake smiled, "We happen to be headed to were the Hawks are. So you are in luck." Alrun shook his head and shook his hand and then he laid down the two were allies he had fallen into a lucky predicament.

Three days later they arrived in the capital Jake and Matt were met by three men in noble clothing, "Ahh did you finish the job?" Jake turned towards Matt and nodded, Matt rode off with the four and Jake turned towards Alrun. "The injuries they recieved should've kept them here so head toward the hospital and you may find them. We will meet again but if it's on opposite sides we'll know. Oh and one more thing before I go." Jake's smile disappeared and was replaced by cold blue eyes and a dark smile. "I never join anything until I see the skill of the group myself." Then the dark look vanished and he trotted away, "So until then stay alive tool of Casca Alrun of the Band of the Hawk."

Alrun watched as Jake rode off his eyes on the mans back Jake had known who he was and had chosen to act as if he knew nothing he had told him he planned to join the hawks when he intended to fight them. Alrun felt his grip tighten on his horses reigns, Jake and Matt were much more then they appeared. He turned and headed for the infirmary his thoughts back to returning to his Mistress and the Hawks.

Matt stood over the bloody remains of the three nobles and rummaged through their clothes. Jake slashed down the last three guards that had been following the men and spun around cutting through a dying guards final motion. "Hmpf they tried to screw us over." Jake removed the point of his Halberd from the dead man and leaned on it with a annoyied expression, What do you expect it is Midland Nobility... hell I can't believe we stayed on their payroll for as long as we did." Matt pulled out five seperate coin purses and various jewels. "Guess we're back on the free run where to next?" Jake smiled and looked at the castle, "I think Chuda has a big battle planned and was calling for mercs and rumor has it the Hawks will be healed up by then."

Matt stood and dusted himself off. "So we're going back to Chuda?" Jake nodded and put his Halberd across his shoulder, "Yes the Mercenary of Death and the sword of the reaper are going to participate in the next battle against Midland." Jake smiled and walked into the shadows of the alley, "This next battle will truly be a interesting conformtation."

The two of them laughed and then they were gone the next day the assassination of three high ranking nobles and their fifty guards filled the crowds with dread and Alrun overheard a dark rumor in the nobles courtyard from two servent girls. The assassination had been the work of to men two men whose reputation had been kept quiet by the Midland army but were revered in the Chuda army. The names Jake Carter the Mercenary of Death and Matt the Sword of the Reaper, Alrun didn't tell anyone about how he'd survived but he did tell Casca and she only felt a dark feeling of dread.

"Those two... They paln to fight us?" Alrun nodded and looked at her, "Yes there is no doubt about it those two want to test our strength and they will do it with no mercy." She nodded and went to tell Griffith but Alrun only stood and looked down at the floor remembering Jake's final words then he took in a deep breath and sighed. "Archer Jake Matt... They will all be at the next battle... How bothersome."

With a last sigh he stood and walked out after Casca.

A/N: Okay here is chapter 4 Jake and Matt have made their apperence and they have left a warning Zodd has delivered his prophecy and Alrun forsees a tough battle on the horizon. But as the Hawks are recovering Alrun will be put to a test he will go to a place he has never even imagined. A party.

Next Chapter The world of Nobility

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