S1-79
Searching for Michael

3:25 PM
05/03/3241

Planet Earth - Low orbit

Music
none

City Hawk 723 was searching all over for any sign of Michael, but he was just... gone.

Suddenly, as they started to give up hope for him, Michael's signal was reacquired. The Cosmodrome.

Planet Earth - Old Russia
Cosmodrome

Hayden-10 was sent alone to find him. "This is Hayden. I'm closing in on the signature."

As he approached the coordinates, the Exo spotted a strange humanoid skeletal Taken soldier... examining an old book found in one of the ancient cars?

The entity put the book down and looked around, finding an old tattered robe. Hayden-10 used the Marksman Sight of his Queenbreakers' Bow to look at the book, seeing the image of an old fabled entity. The Grim Reaper. The robe this entity had donned made him resemble the Grim Reaper, and the resemblance was pushed further when it created a scythe out of dark energy.

"I think I found Michael, but he's definitely Taken. Looks like his new Taken self is dressing itself up as the Grim Reaper." Hayden-10 reported.

As the being looked at itself in one of the car's side mirrors, it noticed Hayden-10 in the reflection, then turned directly at him. Then, it spoke. "⍙⟒⌰⌰ ⋏⍜⍙... ⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⍜ ⍙⟒ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⊑⟒⍀⟒?"

Hayden-10 vanished, returning to his ship up in orbit.

DESCRIPTION
The Shadow, despite being a Taken version of Michael, assumes the appearance of a human skeleton comprised of solidified dark energy, with fingers that end in razor sharp claws. The Shadow, unlike other Taken, does not shiver. Under normal circumstances, there is no glow in his skull face. But when enraged, the Shadow has been known to combust in an Ascendant white fire as glowing red pupils manifest in his eye-holes.

The Shadow wears an old robe and wields a scythe made out of darkness, making himself resemble the Grim Reaper. Because of this, the Shadow has given himself the name 'Death'.

In addition to corrupted versions of Michael's unique abilities, the Shadow has his own power. If his target is hit with his weapon, known as the Darkscythe, the Shadow can use his ultimate ability, called the Grasp of Death, to drain the life out of his victim, becoming more powerful. This ability can only be used if the target is hit while the blade of the Darkscythe is glowing.

The Darkscythe resembles a scythe, hence the name, but with a few... additions and differences. At the point where the staff and blade connect is what looks like a double-sided skull, with the blade coming out from between the two faces. Where the Shadow holds the Darkscythe, there is a grip guard, big enough for both hands. The guard for the grip sharply resembled a rib-cage. Two chains connect the top and bottom of the Darkscythe to the grip.

The Grasp of Death can only take effect when the Darkscythe's blade glows with Ascendant energy. Otherwise, the Darkscythe will function no different from a normal scythe... despite being able to slice through reinforced steel girders like a hot knife through butter.

Sorry for the short chapter, but I didn't have any other ideas for introducing the Shadow passively.

I've had this idea about Michael and the Shadow being like yin and yang. A bit strange, I know, but it also means that Michael, unlike the others that have been Taken, can still be brought back. Keep in mind that this is my story's version of both the Grim Reaper and the Ghost Rider.

I tried using these 'wingdings' for the Shadow's speech, but the format ends up being erased when I hit 'Save' on the document. As a result, I'm using... a different form of language used in another story of mine.

In the words of the Shadow, ⌇⟒⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⋏⟒⌖⏁ ⏁⟟⋔⟒.