Where...When...How... ?
" Yes, remember what became of you. Long has it been since someone like you has entered my realm. Many a soul has come here seeking something, a prize, or a punishment yet I sense you know nothing of that. "
Orion tried to open his mouth to speak but found that no words could come out. Even sight was gone, and he began to wonder if he really was dead. He was expecting his personal hell to be more...hell like.
" Ah you can't speak. It seems that you were beaten and dragged in here. No matter, wound's such as these are trivial."
Orion felt his body burn before feeling a chilling sensation as his arm snapped back into place and he felt revitalized.
Orion's eyes opened as he was turned around and saw a massive black shadow like mass in front of him. The only noticeable face was that of two large holes that appeared to be its eyes.
" What are you and where the hell am I ? "
" You are in my domain, or rather you've been imprisoned in here. Do you remember how ? "
" I...I lost a fight to Uriel. That's the last thing I remember but what are you ? "
" What I am is not important. What is, is why you are here. You shall be here for a long time. I can sense a great rage in you, tempered by loss and regret."
" I regret nothing ! "
" Lies. You cannot deny that which dwells in your own heart, you feel regret and guilt for your past actions, but not all of them. Were some atrocities committed at of anger, vengeance, or do you want for strength as to protect or destroy at your leisure ? "
" Destruction seems nice." Orion answered.
" Lies. That is not what truly dwells in your heart, I can sense it."
" You know what, I've stopped caring. Just where the hell am I ? "
" You are in the Book Of Oblivion. You say a..Uriel, placed you here ? "
" It would seem so. I was fighting her and I lost, next thing I know I'm here."
" Interesting, it seems he has returned."
Orion rubbed his temples as he realized that him and this creature were getting no where. " You're talking in circles, what or who is he, what are you, and why am even here ? "
" Very well, I shall answer your questions but first, do you know what I am ? "
" Oh my god, enough of the goddamn riddles ! " Orion yelled in announce before blasting the mass of shadows with hellfire, only for it to reform effortlessly as the shadows restrained Orion's arms and legs.
" Humans, defiant to a fault. Are you done with you temper ? I could have killed you a thousand over but you are an interesting being. Now do you know what I am ? "
" No..."
" Then I shall tell you. I am Chaos , the manifestation of darkness and the progenitor of all Grimm. Since the dawn of mankind, I've existed because of you humans, your innate malice, your negativity is what allows the Grimm, my creations to flourish."
" Well...fuck." That was the only thing that Orion could say as his mind ran a-mile-a minute. " What does this have to do with me ? "
Shadows swirled around Orion as he felt his mind being invaded and his memory being invaded and sifted through . " Long have I slept, lying dormant. I must know what has happened since my imprisonment. Dust, that accursed element is what allowed humanity to banish me within the depths of this book, my prison, my domain. Now he seeks to desecrate my sanctuary."
As Orion felt his innate privacy of his mind return to normal, the shadows that restrained him let him go. " Again, who the hell is he ? "
" The first human that I corrupted. When I first waged war against you humans, I noticed the...ingenuity that you humans possessed and an idea came to me. If I could use you against your own kind, then our battles would be one-sided massacres. I succeeded and it seemed that you would be driven to extinction, but then Dust was brought to humans. With it, you humans banished me into this book. What better to trap a demon than to use his own flesh."
" So this book...Is your flesh ? Meaning...Oh that is just disturbing. But why are you telling me this ? "
" Because, long has it been since I've met one such as you. What you encountered, this Uriel is not a hybrid of human and Grimm. She and the others you faced are simply humans that have been enticed to the darkness. I'm telling you this because Uriel captured you and placed you in this prison. As such, I require your help."
" Wait wait wait...You need my help ? Why can't you just leave, if the book is apart of you should be able to just leave, right ? "
" Wrong. I have been imprisoned here for centuries because the humans who created this prison created it as a one way domain, meaning we are trapped here unless something releases us. Over the years, I've gained a finite control over this place , but that is where it ends. This book has the ability to not only seal me away, but it holds many other abilities. Such as imprisoning you here, and the ability to steal what you humans call...semblances."
Orion's eyes widened in surprise as everything began to fall into place. " Ok that's it, how do I get out of here ? Uriel crossed the line, trying to steal my semblance and then tossing me in here like it was nothing ! I'm going to destroy her ! "
" As you are now, you stand no chance. The strength of both human and demon, combined with human's adaptability is far more than what you can fight, as I'm sure you remember."
" Oh I remember alright. How do I get out of here ? I have a score to see with than wanna be angel."
" Did you not here me, you stand no chance of victory. Your semblance, your Hellfire, is a power befitting a demon. Yet you developed this for a strange reason, one that is buried in the depths of your memory and heart."
Shadows merged and formed jagged clawed hands that surprisingly gently clasp Orion who clutched his head and let out a pained scream.
" See your life as you have lived."
A/N : Trolololo. Don't worry guys you'll learn about Orion's past just not this chapter but don't worry I have things planned ;) Back to the story !
Everyone was dead silent as they finally reached the ship that had brought them to Vacuo. As they boarded one of the guards looked at them and took count of them, realizing they were one short.
" What happened to the red haired one ? "
Everyone kept quiet as they ignored him and boarded the ship in silence.
Later that night, when everyone had recovered, Team RWBY was silent in their room while Ruby cleaned Muramasa in silence.
" Can anyone of you read this ? " Ruby questioned as she looked at Muramasa's blade. She passed it under to Blake who opened a satchel in her bed as he shifted through it to find a small book.
Her eyes shifted from her book to Muramasa before closing her book and looking at the writing along Muramasa's blade and handle that was inscribed in a kanji like writing.
" I am Murmasa, the blade of the shifting sands. Orion...what kind of a person is he ? " Blake said, partly to herself as she handed the blade to Yang, who wanted to see it.
" He tried his best to kill us at one point...and then risk his life to save us now. I know that there's more to a person than they show you but I don't understand.."
" I don't think even he understand himself."
Orion weakly opened his eyes as he felt a throbbing painful headache. Having sifted through his earlier memories he arrived a sense of understanding. He fully opened his eyes to see that he was alone in a section of the Book of Oblivion, the never-ending lake that Chaos left him in.
" IM BACK ! "
With that announcement, the water rippled before a swirling mass of shadows formed in front him to create Chaos, who imposing size loomed over Orion.
" Ah it appears you've recovered."
" No thanks to you. How long was I out ? "
" Time has no meaning here."
Orion sighed in annoyance before rubbing the bridge of his nose. " Great...just great. Look you said you needed my help, how exactly ? "
" I can no longer leave this place, and I'm sure I am but a legend now. You however are not. If Uriel placed you in here, than she will certainly release you from here. That could happen at anytime."
" HOLD IT ! If that could happen at anytime then why in the nine hells would you waste time with-?"
" Silence. Humans, always so arrogant. How do expect to gain strength without knowing your weaknesses ? I have learned much from when I ruled over Remnant. Humans are creatures whose strength comes from your..."hearts". How this is possible I do not know, but I have learned how your semblances develop. Through your experiences it becomes something that reflects your inner being coupled with your hereditary traits. Together those create powers unique to the individual."
" I already know this ! I don't need...no I'm wrong." Orion said suddenly his mood changing to a more serious but somber tone. " I'm weak...My hellfire was made from my families fire abilities and..."
" You know."
" And...my weakness." A single tear dropped from Orion's cheek before it turned to steam as he evaporated it. " Look I get it, I've made mistakes, like you said I've done things that were out of anger. I've burned entire bodies to ash, tortured people who did and didn't deserve. I get it, I am a VERY messed up person. Do I want to change, no. This is who I am and I won't deny it but...right now I've met my match, and not just a thing that I overcome by fighting faster, but changing my self."
" And how do you expect to change yourself ? "
Orion's hand went up in a swathe of hellfire before Orion closed his eyes and sighed before opening his palm as the hellfire weakly raged on.
" Since the dawn of I met many a human who sought the power of darkness. Some wished to become gods, some wished to protect and other wished to destroy. I've encountered humans who sought to purge the land of darkness, and you. What do you truly seek ? "
" I'll answer that if you answer my question. Why are you even helping me ? "
" You are the conduit of my vengeance. Do you simply believe humans with their new-found Dust could be the only thing to banish me ? Now, become my sword, and enact our vengeance."
" What do you want in return, there's always a catch.."
" No. I've lived longer than any being on this earth but I have been confined to this prison. I cannot leave if I wanted to but within this book my power is still finite but in here I am onto a god here. I shall give you two powers, one born from darkness and free either. For the latter it is up too you to develop it as you see fit. In return, destroy these false Grimm, they are a mockery to my powers and thus deserve death. "
" You don't even have to ask."
Shadows enveloped Orion's arms as his hellfire changed from a frightful black to a brilliant golden flame before vanishing.
" Your hellfire is lost to you, but in exchange for flames that destroy, they have been changed by these flames and they are yours to manipulate as you will. Think of them as a blank slate, free for you too write."
Orion watched as his flames flickered brightly before vanishing. " So...they're really gone..."
" Now these are the gifts I give to you now."
Chaos manipulated shadows that formed hands that once again clasp Orion as he felt pain shoot through his whole body.
A dark throne for a dark king was fitting for Uriel and Sauriel's master. They both bowed at the foot of the throne as Uriel placed the Book of Oblivion in front of her.
" My lord Elias Arc, we retrieved your book. We encountered resistance and during the battle I entrapped a human within the book. He possessed an aura as dark as ours, he would make an excellent addition to your service."
Elias gauged the weight of Uriel's answer as he rose from his throne and walked to the base of it, his cape trailing the floor behind him. A dark but elegant blade hung at his side the book responded to his presence as he picked it up from the ground.
" I gave you specific orders Uriel." Elias said as the pages of the book flipped through itself until it stopped at an exact page. Uriel took a frightened gulp of air as she bowed even lower.
" I apologize my king, but I felt the need mandatory. Please forgive my insolence, but he is in no place to pose a threat from now on."
Elias tore a page from the book as he let it float to the ground between himself and Uriel as it formed a swirling black portal. " We shall see."
What they were expecting was not what they got. A flaming golden phoenix shot out from the portal before changing in a mass of flames to Orion who dive kicked Elias in the chest, shattering the wall he crashed into as he caught the Book of Oblivion in mid-fall before changing back into a phoenix.
" My king ! "
Sauriel's mace appeared at his side and tried to strike Orion who easily evaded the blow and destroyed the roof above him, revealing a blue snowy sky as he escaped from the throne room.
" No you don't ! " Uriel's wings extended to their full length as she flew through the hole and flew in the air but stopped as she couldn't find Orion, instead he found her.
Orion back-flipped while falling and as he and Uriel made eye contact, time seemed to slow down for her. Orion winked smugly as his float went up in a mass of blue flames as he kicked Uriel back down to the ground and changed again into a golden phoenix as he quickly made his escape.
Uriel couldn't find a to cushion the blow as she crashed back into throne room, shattering her mask in the impact. Umbra appeared through a swirling red portal and bowed before Elias who was already back on his dark throne.
Shadows restrained Uriel by her arms, legs and throat and squeezed tightly.
" Umbra, retrieve my possession and end this thorn in my side. Do not fail me." Elias commanded as Umbra bowed lowly before stopping in front of Uriel and shaking her head. Umbra stepped through the portal and was gone in an instant.
" Uriel, you have failed me but I am not without mercy. You shall be punished for your failure but I shall not kill you."
The shadows ignited in flames that slowly trailed through them until they reached Uriel who screamed in agony.