A/N: I do not own Soul Eater.

Here's the first interlude giving a bit of backstory to the villains of Pantheon.

Interlude 1: Dr. Isaac Asovamich

Deep in the lower basement of a shoddy run-down apartment building lies a secret laboratory. The interior is large but dimly lit by flickering lights on the brick walls. The space inside is filled with metal tables. There are gears, wires, and other mechanical components strewn about the tables haphazardly. Various papers and diagrams litter the floor. Most of them appear to be bills of some sort or another. Against one wall lies a green chalkboard. Its surface is covered with complicated mathematical formulae.

At the far end of the room, an elderly man sits atop a stool hunched over a work bench. His balding head is framed by unkempt silver white hair. His pale skin is wrinkled with several liver spots. His eyes sag with the exhaustion of a lifetime of sleepless nights. His shaggy white beard reaches down to his mid chest. He wore a disheveled white lab coat with tattered sleeves and edges. He sits toying with a glass cylinder, trying to desperately attach it to a metal base with his arthritic fingers. Once attached he flips a switch on the side. A blue light flickers into existence within the cylinder. It swirls and coalesces into a sphere. But the light soon begins to dissipate and fade into tiny motes which float off into the air. The man sighs with equal parts frustration and resignation.

"Another failure." He whispers half-heartedly. He takes the glass cylinder and tosses it over his shoulder. The glass shatters on the cold concrete flooring of his ram-shackle laboratory. The aging scientist buries his head in his hands. He could feel his body giving out on him with each passing day. It seemed he was destined to be a failure. Ever since his true work was discovered he had been without assistance, without money, and without resources. At this rate, he would never see his life's work come to fruition.

A sudden knock at the door broke the elderly researcher from his self-loathing. He glanced back at the rusting steel door with narrowed eyes. He was past due on rent, but he didn't expect his landlord to come knocking so soon. Not that it mattered as he didn't have the money right now anyway. He was slightly surprised as the voice on the other end was not one he recognized.

"Dr. Asovamich, I know you are in there. Can we please speak?" The voice called out before knocking again. Dr. I sighed again before calling back.

"Go away!" He shouted.

"Please doctor, I have a proposition I believe you would find quite interesting." The voice called again. The doctor turned from the door intent on ignoring whoever was pestering him. However, a strange sensation overcame him. He turned back to the door and got back up from his stool. He distantly recognized that he wasn't in control of his actions, but he couldn't seem to stop. It was as though something was compelling him to walk over to the door. Once he reached the door, Dr. I watched with surprise as his hand reached up to the myriad locks, undoing them swiftly before he realized what he was doing.

As soon as the door was unlocked, it was pushed open to reveal a young man with tan skin and black curly hair. He wore simple colored robes and traditional sandals. His smile was warm and genuine but the doctor couldn't see the same emotions in his eyes. He stood a good foot and a half taller than the doctor and despite his open posture he loomed over the doctor like a predator over its prey. He bowed with a slight inclination before gesturing inside. At that moment, whatever compulsion the doctor had felt previously disappeared. He looked back up at the stranger and whatever suspicions he had towards the figure diminished once he spoke with his charismatic voice.

"May I come in?" He asked. Dr. I glanced around suspiciously for a second. He sighed with resignation as he realized the man already had his foot halfway through the door.

"I suppose." He said none too pleased. The figure followed him inside, shutting the door behind himself. Dr. I went to clean off another stool which had been occupied by various mechanical parts.

"So who are you and what do you want?" Dr. I asked gruffly. The stranger put a hand to his chest and smiled his same warm smile before speaking.

"My name is King Avatar Deva, ruler of the Shambala Kingdom." He introduced himself. Dr. I scoffed.

"Yeah and I'm Albert Einstein." The doctor replied.

"Ah, a true skeptic to the core. That is what I like about you good doctor. And that is why I have come seeking your assistance in a great endeavor." Deva explained. Dr. I gazed at him with narrowed eyes.

"Look youngster, I don't know what kind of prank you're trying to pull or what pitch you're trying to sell, but I'm not buying it." Dr. I said with finality before turning around.

"Perhaps this might convince you?" He heard Deva say. Suddenly a quick flash of blue light exploded from behind him. Dr. I turned around as quickly as his aging body would let him. What he saw was the same man from before. However, he now wore a tiara on his head, and his robes had disappeared to reveal an orange silk sash wrapped around his torso. The doctor blinked curiously and rubbed his eyes.

"How did you?..." He began to ask.

"I have many abilities I am sure you would find fascinating Dr. Isaac." Deva said stepping forward. "But I have come seeking your abilities." He said putting a reassuring hand on Dr. I's shoulder. The doctor licked his lips nervously before replying.

"Well, I'm not sure what use an old codger like me could be to you." He said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"On the contrary, you are one of the most brilliant minds in the world!" Deva said stepping back.

"You see, I am trying to put together a group of individuals with the goal of uprooting the foundations of this world. And to do that I need your knowledge and expertise." Deva said.

Dr. I shifted his gaze nervously. He still wasn't clear on what exactly the young man was talking about. Moreover he could tell that the king was trying to butter him up with flattery. That didn't necessarily mean it wasn't working though. Besides, there was not much time left for him and his current research wasn't going anywhere at the moment. It might be worth it to go along with whatever schemes this boy was planning.

"Of course, this wouldn't be a one-sided interaction by any means." Deva clarified. "It's only fair that if you help me achieve my goals, I should help you achieve yours." He said with a sly smile.

Dr. I looked at Deva suspiciously. "What do you know of my goals?" He asked carefully.

"Quite a lot in fact. I've read up on much of your work, even some of the experiments that weren't quite… board certified." Deva said. "With my kingdom's vast resources at your disposal, I'm sure we could help you to create your perfect machine. And help you achieve immortality." Deva spoke with a conspiratory whisper.

Dr.I's face lit up for a brief moment. He thought of all the progress he could make if he just had the money and materials. But just as quickly as the elation came, it faded. Dr. I's expression fell to one of sadness.

"While I greatly appreciate the offer," He began. "I'm afraid I'm running out of time." He said walking over to his work bench. "I haven't even solved the main problem impeding my progress. Plus, all I have are prototypes and designs. It would take far too long to complete my work." He said with a dejected sigh.

Deva frowned for the first time since entering the dingy basement. He strode over to the workbench and stood next to the doctor. Dr. I barely noticed his approach, too lost in examining another glass cylinder. An idea popped into Deva's head.

"May I see that?" He asked, holding out a hand. Dr. I glanced between his hand and the cylinder before shrugging.

"Sure, not like you could make it any worse." Dr. I said.

Deva examined the cylinder. He poked and prodded at the mechanical base. He took a nearby tool and replaced several of the components. Dr. I watched the king work with a curious look on his face. After Deva was apparently satisfied with his work, he held the cylinder in one hand. A faint blue aura began to glow from his hand. Shortly after the base of the cylinder began to glow as well. A familiar energy began to coalesce inside the cylinder. It formed into a round sphere before finally stabilizing into the familiar shape of a soul.

Dr. I gasped in amazement. "You… how did you…" He muttered in shock as he reached up reverently to take the cylinder from Deva. The king in question handed over the glowing blue cylinder with a wry smirk on his face. Dr. I could hardly believe it. He had struggled for years to get the soul to stabilize in an artificial environment. And yet this man had managed to accomplish what he could not in mere minutes. He turned the cylinder over and over in his hands. Finally, Dr. I gazed up at Deva with awe.

"I assure you Dr. I, this is only the beginning. With my assistance and your knowledge, we will surely create a better body for you." Deva said confidently.

"So what do you say?" Deva asked with an outstretched hand. Dr. I regarded the hand with his mouth still agape. He closed his mouth and let out a big smile.

"Where do I sign?" He asked enthusiastically.

Hope you enjoyed that, next chapter is back to the action. Please read and review!