Disclaimer: Hellsing and Devil May Cry are not owned by me, so I'll forego all the copyright stuff.
In this chapter; Vladimir's forces make the final preparation before leaving for Egypt. Among the wolf pack there is great joy and celebration as Michael has finally claimed Kathy for his mate. With the two securing their position as Alpha male and female, the bonds between pack members becomes stronger than ever. And for good measure, the journey to Egypt will prove challenging and dangerous.
Hellsing arrives in Carthage, searching the ancient ruins. While there, Alucard, Seras and soon even Anderson discover something else: An ancient and deadly secret has been lying within the crumbling ruins for centuries. This secret could provide our heroes with the vital information necessary to uncovering the identity of Klaus, if it doesn't kill them first.
In New York, Kazuya has been captured by the Nighstalkers. After centuries of violence, Kazuya faces justice for the lives he has taken. While preparing his eventual trial and execution, Rosette and the others reach a startling conclusion: Someone within the FBI's command is secretly under the orders of Klaus and has been leaking information to him. Moreover, this individual may be just the person Kazuya has been seeking for over half a century.
Nero and Dante track down the cult leader Tobias. While confronting him, Tobias reveals his groups connection to LOD and more specifically Klaus. The information he provided points towards LOD's next objective.
Lastly, Klaus sends Rogue, Theokoles and Rashkor on an important mission to obtain an artifact located within the city of Prague. His orders: Kill all in your path. In reality Klaus is merely using this as a demonstration of Theokoles' frightening powers. The Harbinger of Death single handedly unleashes a torrent of death and destruction upon the city, revealing to the world his power.
Our heroes continue in their struggle against Klaus' forces. Will they succeed? The final confrontation between them and LOD is soon approaching.
Note: Someone messaged me and asked if this were an anime adaptation, who would voice certain characters. Well I had a lot of fun deciding which actors I could see doing it and so far I've chosen:
Seth- Vic Mignogna
Sion- Vic Mignogna (his Broly voice is perfect for when I will have Sion transform into his original power and state) as an alternative, Justin Cook
Dexter- Yuri Lowenthal
Kazuya- Steve Blum
Michael- This was a little tricky but I decided on J. Shannon Weaver.
Rosette- Laura Bailey
Vladimir- Travis Willingham
P.S: This story, although fiction portrays real locations and/or settings in a purely fictional context. To accurately describe and portray in detail, for example, the ruins of Carthage or spread of Gnosticism would require tremendous more time and effort than what can go into simple fan fiction. I do research before writing each chapter so as to try and stay somewhat realistic. So again, if you're nitpicky about historical factuality, this is not the story for you .
With that said, enjoy!
Chapter Twenty Five- A Shared Destiny: The Journey to Egypt Begins
Morning had finally approached at the Order of the Crosses headquarters. It would only be a few hours before the mission to recover the lost device in Egypt would begin. It was currently about 10:30, the morning rays creeping into his office as Vladimir was busy prepping for the pack's mission. His phone had been ringing off the hook non-stop; one moment it was the Prime Minister's office, wanting to know if he could guarantee the success of the mission. At one point Vladimir quit answering the phone, frustrated he had to deal with this so early.
There was a knock to his door.
"Come in" he said gruffly. The door creaked open, walking in one by one was Captain Reznov, dressed in his old Spetzsnav uniform, Colonel Gruzinsky, dressed in a dark blue military uniform, Proctor, wearing his trademark all black suit.
"Well well, such company so early in the morning" Vladimir said facing the group. Captain Reznov said "Just making sure everything is in order. The men I arranged to be part of the special strike team are on their way, they'll be here by this evening."
"My own men are likewise on their way. We've got the best of the best. I've personally handpicked these men based on experience, mission completion and factors like age and combat readiness." Colonel Gruzinsky said. Vladimir took a seat as he folded his arms.
"That's all well and nice, but how are they as a team? The success of this mission is going to be based on how well we can function as a single fighting unit." Vladimir said eyeing each of them.
Captain Reznov chuckled, "Trust me, if these weren't team players I wouldn't have bothered" he said.
Vladimir nodded, thanking his good fortune he had reliable comrades. He then faced the men and said "Alright, let's wait for the pack to get themselves ready, then we can have a brief debriefing before we begin preparations this evening" he said as they all nodded.
Meanwhile in the pack's living quarters, they were in the midst of breakfast. Everyone was in attendance, save for Kathy and Michael. Just when it seemed like they would miss breakfast, the two stepped out of their bedroom, walking hand in hand and fully dressed with a huge smile across each of their faces.
"GOOOOOOOOD MORNING EVERYONE" Michael said, uncharacteristically cheerful and bright for once. Everyone froze and stared at the two as they slowly made their past the table, and towards the kitchen area. "Uh yeah….morning Boss" Raul said slowly placing his fork down and watching the two of them curiously. Kathy and Michael both grabbed themselves a plate, scooping massive spoonful's of scrambled eggs before reaching for the enormous stack of pancakes. While doing so, everyone noticed there was a certain amount of 'fluff' between the two. Kathy would lean close to him, rubbing his back and kissing him along the nape of his neck, giggling the whole time. Michael would wrap his arm around her, kissing her cheeks and neck while squeezing her behind.
It was odd to see them display such affection and tenderness, and at the same time, it was strangely adorable.
"Dude, is there something….different about Mike and Kathy?' Sergei asked his brother, who was busy stuffing his face. Alex paused, looked at the couple fixing their plates, then at his brother. Shrugging, he finished chewing, swallowed, and said "Dunno. Maybe they just had a good night of sleep or something. What do you think Rob?" he asked.
Robert poured syrup on his pancakes and blinked twice. "Beats me." He said watching the two continuing to fondle and flirt. One point Michael jokingly tickled Kathy on her sides, only for her to playfully slap his hands away before giggling.
Hiro on the other hand didn't seem too concerned. After finishing his breakfast he casually sat at the table, eyes closed with his arms folded. Upon hearing Kathy giggle, he twitched his brow. "This is most unusual, seeing them in such high spirits."
Raven, who had made breakfast for the entire pack sat a large plate of cooked sausages and hash browns. Chuckling she shook her long purple hair loose and said "Honestly you guys are clueless. Look real closely, aren't they a little cozy with each other? Now, why would they be like that?" she asked hinting in her voice the real reason.
Raul stared at her, then to Michael and Kathy, then to the rest of the group. Finally, a very coy and sly grin crept to his face, getting a good idea of what she meant. He leaned over to Sergei, "Dude. Did they…did they… did they have-"
"No way. I mean, maybe. I mean, yeah I thought I smelled something. And I don't mean the food" Sergei said, a wide shit eating grin as he began chuckling. Robert and Alex began snickering, stopping once Kathy and Michael finally sat down. Michael instantly dug into his food.
"Oh man Raven you outdid yourself, this stuff is great!" he said stuffing his mouth with eggs. Raven narrowed her eyes, smirking. "Thanks. Glad you like it" she said snickering and turning her head away. Kathy blinked; she noticed everyone was either snickering or suppressing a laugh. What was so funny?
At that point Hanya finally entered, walking past the table and looking grumpy.
"Morning Hanya, help yourself to some breakfast" Michael said as Hanya grunted a reply. The massive Werewolf paused, blinking twice before slowly turning around. He looked at Michael, then to Kathy. What Hanya did next was most strange. He sniffed the air, or more accurately, he sniffed three times, long and hard as Kathy stared, confused.
Hanya sniffed a last time and then said, "Heh heh. Bout time" and then abruptly walked off to fix himself a plate, leaving behind a bewildered Kathy whose eyes widened to the point they almost bulged from her skull. Blushing furiously she turned to Michael, his fork had dropped to the floor in embarrassment as he too blushed.
That was it, the entire pack then burst into laughter. "I KNEW IT. You son of a bitch! It's about damn time, congratulations you guys!" Raul said getting up and slapping Michael hard on the back. Raven jumped up, hugging Kathy tight and laughing as Kathy squirmed in her grip.
"Raven wait, just…let go I can't breathe" Kathy stammered as Raven continued laughing.
"I'm so happy for you too. So tell me, how good was it?" she asked as Kathy blushed. "Oh my God Raven, really?" she said as everyone began laughing.
With this, Michael and Kathy quickly found themselves elevated to a higher status. A Werewolf pack is typically composes of an Alpha male, the overall leader, the Alpha female, his chosen mate followed by a Beta male and Beta female. Michael's pack was unique: For centuries he served as the Alpha male, with Karl and Raul serving as his Betas, his right hands and second in command. Now, with Kathy as his mate the pack finally had their Alpha male and Alpha female, strengthening the pack's unity, brotherhood, kinship and bond. After breakfast, they celebrated this new union.
"ALRIGHT! Michael and Kathy, our Alphas, our leaders, our father, our mother. Now the pack is truly complete! Klaus and his goonies better watch out, no force can stand up to our full might!" Sergei and Alex said excitedly as the pack stood in a circle. Hanya swopped in and wrapping his massive arms around Kathy, pulled her in a crushing bear hug. Everyone laughed as Kathy squirmed.
"Hell yeah now we can really kick some ass!" he said excitedly placing her down as she gasped and laughed nervously.
"So this is what being an Alpha feels like" Kathy said smirking as Michael held her hand. "You get used to it. More importantly, this is how it's going to be from now on. We are not just a pack of wolves. We are the Order of the Crosses secret weapons. We are Vladimir's tools. And most important" he said turning to the others who either grinned or smiled. Michael smiled and said, "We are family." And with that the pack gave a long howl.
At Hellsing…
"Madam, reports indicate that Alucard and Seras should touch down within the next couple of hours" Walter said reading from a sheet in Integra's office. Integra nodded, clutching the cigar in her hand.
"Good, have we made any progress in tracking the Vatican's activity?" Integra asked.
Again, Walter looked down at the sheet. "Based on reports, Anderson was rumored to have departed long ago. We've not encountered any chatter about his current whereabouts"
Walter then noticed the shrill and displeased look on Integra. This business with the Vatican was agitating her way past her normal tolerance. "What of Vladimir's forces?" she asked taking a seat at her desk. "Word is he is preparing to send them to Egypt. Apparently, they've uncovered where the device hidden there is hidden and are attempting to intercept it." Walter explained.
Integra's eyes narrowed, causing Walter to blink in confusion.
"Sir Integra?" he asked.
"There's something I need to be sure of, Walter, get me in contact with the British Evangelical Society again. There is something I want to look into" Integra said as Walter bowed and exited the office. Twenty minutes later her direct line rang. Picking up the phone she heard Walter say "Sir, Mr. Charles Bryant is on the main line"
"Good, I'll switch it over. Thank you Walter" Integra said switching lines.
"Hello? Sir Integra?"
"Yes. Good to hear from you Mr. Bryant" Integra said adjusting the phone.
"Likewise, I take it everything is going smoothly into your investigation?" he asked. Integra sighed and said, "If only so. More developments have turned up. Which is why I need your assistance" she said.
"Oh dear, well, how may I assist now?" he asked.
"Do you recall our previous conversation? Regarding the beginning of early Christianity, the spread of heresies, the Great Fire of Rome and LOD's apparent connection to it all?" Integra asked.
Charles said, "Yes of course. What sort of new developments have you encountered?' he asked.
Integra hesitated; it wasn't going to be easy explaining about what Maxwell said regarding LOD and the church.
"Mr. Bryant. I have come to believe that LOD was far more than just some Gnostic cult. I believe, very strongly that LOD actually began in the church. I was contacted by a Vatican official not too long ago and he mentioned that the Catholic Church had been fighting against the members of LOD for centuries. He said they were going to do whatever was necessary to stop their goals." Integra said.
The phone line grew silent, minutes passed before Charles finally spoke.
"LOD beginning….in the church? That's outrageous!" he shouted. Quickly calming himself he then said "If that's true, it might explain how they remained so low key. But Ms. Hellsing I need to explain something: We went back and began combing through the ancient texts and archives. We began right around Paul began his missionary travels, his establishing the churches in Corinth and Ephesus and then ended shortly after his incarceration and before he was sentenced to be executed. We found something rather…disturbing" Charles said.
Integra hesitated. "What did you uncover?" she asked.
Charles took a deep breath before beginning to speak.
"We found something, something awful. It turns out that what we thought was just some low key cult, turns out to be a horrible conspiracy. I have reason to believe this could even go before the church began. This cult, calling itself LOD was founded just at the peak of early Christendom. Originally, their goal was to oppose the church, both spiritually and theologically. For the latter; they began the spreading of false doctrines and heresies. The early Christian community fought against these heretical teachings, evident by the letter's Paul would write stressing their need to stay right with God. And for the former.." Charles said breaking off as Integra waited.
"For the former, they begin dabbling in awful cultic and demonic practices. It was rumored they had the power to bind and summon demons to this plane to suit their needs. Time passed and this cult began to fade to obscurity. Coincidentally, this happened just after the Great Fire of AD 64. Right after the fire, there is widespread persecution of the church with many Christians being brutally tortured and executed. And this is when LOD again resurfaces. Their leader was a man named Klaus. Two years after the fire Klaus approached the church leaders at the time with an offer: LOD would give them a way to fight back against their oppressors if the church would agree to finance their operations." Charles said.
Integra widened her eyes a little. It seemed her suspicions regarding the Iscariot and LOD were true. "And did they agree?" Integra asked Charles.
"Yes. And with this, LOD once again faded back into obscurity. And with good reason too. There were rumors circulating that Klaus had found some way to manipulate and control the minds of his subjects through means of some odd mechanism. A kind of device or weapon said to possess terrifying power." Charles said.
Integra froze; was he talking about the devices everyone was searching for?
"Did…did these devices have a name?" she asked.
Charles said, "Ah yes I believe they were called Imunda anima. Roughly translated it means "impure soul" in Latin. They were called Anima for short.
"I see. So LOD was paid by the early church, they then faded into obscurity before resurfacing with these strange devices. Is that about right? Is there anything else?" Integra asked.
"Well if current archaeological data is accurate, we know where Klaus is buried. According to a text dating back to…hello? Ms. Hellsing?" Charles asked.
His question went unanswered. Integra had dropped the receiver to the floor, her hand trembling as she gasped and widened her eyes. She couldn't believe what she heard.
Picking up the receiver she shouted "What? You mean Klaus is dead?"
"Well, of course. We're discussing events that happened well over 2,000 years ago. Based on our research, Klaus' tomb is somewhere in Egypt." Charles said.
"What? Why Egypt?" Integra asked feeling her heart beginning to pound.
"Well apparently, Rome still controlled some provinces in Egypt. Klaus used LOD to spread their influence there around the time of his death, so the texts say."
Integra closed her eyes, remaining that way for some time. Finally after moments passed she slowly opened them.
"Charles, where is Klaus said to be buried at?"
"In the Valley of the Kings"
Elsewhere…
"So this is the place eh? How fitting" Nero grumbled as he and Dante approached a decrepit and run down abandoned building. Located on the far side of the city, the windows were boarded up and the entire front of the building was covered with graffiti.
Dante smirked, "What? You getting scared?" he teased. Nero flashed him a look, "Far from it. I just hope this isn't some wild goose chase" he said as the two men walked down the street. They approached the front steps of the building. Before entering Dante said "Hey you hear from the others? Hellsing and those other guys?" he asked.
Nero paused, slowly turning around and saying "Apparently, Hellsing is headed for Carthage and the Order of the Cross is sending their men to Egypt. They seem to be looking for those devices Klaus said he needs. Maybe if we can find this Tobias guy he can give us some intel on that" Nero said walking up the front steps of the building followed closely by Dante.
The two men entered inside, walking down the long dark hall. Their footsteps echoing and creaking on the old and rotten wooden floor.
"Hey, you feel that?" Dante asked.
Nero nodded, "Yeah. I felt the same sensation when we were fighting in Russia" he said quickly looking around.
They turned a corner, coming to a long spiraling stair case descending deep down to the lower levels. After ten minutes they descended down into the basement level. The air grew thinner, and colder, and carried the scent of methane and incense burning.
Reaching the bottom, the basement was lit by rows of candles along the walls, illuminating the otherwise dark and dank space.
Nero and Dante followed the path, reaching another corner and making a turn before continuing on the path. Finally they came out of the hallway and into a large underground chamber, filled with rows of benches before a massive stage. Looking around for a few moments, they then heard the slow approach of footsteps. A throat was cleared and from the back of the stage they heard a man's voice as he said "Who enters into our chamber?"
Dante raised his eyebrow, "Guess they weren't expecting company" he said as Nero narrowed his eyes.
The man appeared upon the stage, half dragging and half limping forward as he kept his head low. Slowly rising, he scanned from Dante to Nero and back again before saying.
"Who are you?" he asked. Nero and Dante stared, long and hard at him.
Standing before them was Tobias, leader of the Prophets of Mundus. He was dressed in dark red robes and wore black open toed sandals. He had dusty and ragged dark brown hair that was tied in a small pony tail. His eyes were crusted, heavy bags appeared underneath each eye and they were a dull light brown. Most strangely, he wore black lipstick and black finger and toe nail polish. To the casual observer, he would have appeared like a Gothic punk rocker.
"Are you Tobias?" Nero asked taking a step forward.
"Indeed. I ask again, who are you?" Tobias replied, this time sounding a little more impatient.
"Just think of us as the friends you haven't met yet. Word is you're in league with Klaus and his lackeys. We want all you know about him. Every move he is planning, every goal he has. Give us the goods and we promise not to bite" Dante said opening his coat and revealing one of his pistols stashed away.
Tobias eyed Nero and Dante cautiously. He then coughed, several times before clearing his throat.
"I don't have much time anyway, I see no harm in telling you what shall transpire so I will be brief. Right now, even as we speak Klaus is drawing closer to realizing his ambition. For centuries he's been building towards establishing a New World Order by subjugating all beings under his sway. And for many year, my subjects and I were his loyal members. But something changed. When Theokoles was awakened Klaus realized he no longer had to be as cautious as before. He's planning to unleash him as we speak." Tobias said.
Dante narrowed his eyes. He recalled when Seth explained to them all about the terrifying reality of Theokoles' power. Maybe there really was something to this thing afterall.
"What is he going to use Theokoles for?" Nero asked.
"He's going to showcase his power to the world. It will be Klaus' message, for those that oppose him. I don't know the specifics but be prepared." Tobias said and again began a furious coughing fit. Dante then began pacing. "Ok so Klaus is going to prepare another attack. Big deal, what else is there?" he asked.
Tobias eyed Dante, meeting his intense gaze. "This is not just about him showing off his power. Don't you see? All of Klaus' dreams are becoming reality. He's one step closer to gaining that which he lost 2,000 years ago."
Both Nero and Dante paused, slowly turning to each other in confusion. Tobias noticed it and said "Don't tell me you weren't aware of his current state? Ever since the last time it happened Klaus has been slowly building himself back to his former strength and glory. He's not just looking for these devices to further his plans; he's looking to restore himself." Tobias explained.
Nero frowned, folding both his arms as he tapped his foot. "Can't we ever just catch a break? Alright, Klaus wants to restore himself. How does he plan on doing that?' he asked.
Tobias coughed, wiping his mouth before answering. "With those devices. They are part of the ritual. Once he assembles them all he can return to his former state. Go, you've got to find him, before Klaus does."
"Find who? Who the hell is Klaus looking for now? What do you mean return to his former state?" Nero asked, growing more and more impatient. This was clearly leading nowhere.
Tobias instead began another coughing fit. This time, he spat up copious amounts of blood causing Nero and Dante to stare in bewilderment. Despite his ailing condition, Tobias managed a weak chuckle. "Damn, thought I had more time. I guess that's what happens when you abuse demonic power for so long. It looks like my time is up. I will leave you with this parting message" Tobias said already beginning to feel the life drain from him. Struggling, he dropped to his knees, blood trickling from his eyes, nose, ears and mouth before he faced the two men before him.
"9, 31, 108, 7, 16, 101, 54. Take this code. Once you decipher it, you will understand who it is you're up against" Tobias said as his body crumbled to the floor. Dante and Nero watched as his body convulsed several times before crumbling and breaking apart like dust.
Remaining silent Nero shook his head and said "Man, I was kinda hoping we'd at least get a fight out of this or something."
Dante said nothing, turning to walk away. After exiting the underground lair, the pair headed back for Dante's shop where they were soon joined by Lady and Trish. Immediately, Trish began deciphering the coded message, doing all she could with Lady offering assistance as well.
Nero sat on Dante's couch, stretched out as his hands rested behind him. "How much longer is this going to take, all this boring crap is putting me to sleep" he complained. Dante flipped through a magazine, not bothering to answer. Trish tucked a few strands of her blonde hair behind ear, standing up straight. Lady placed her hands on her hips and then said "Guys, you better come see this"
Nero and Dante stood and moved to the table, where the code was written on a large sheet of paper. All four surrounded it as Trish viewed it before her eyes widened.
The numbers 9, 31, 108, 7, 16, 101, 54 were written across horizontally. Each number was circled, with a written word underneath.
"So we figured it out. It says.." Trish said looking up as Dante cocked his brow and motioned for her to continue.
"It says, 'The real one isn't with them'" Trish said. Nero blinked; "Ok, and what's so bad about that?" he asked.
Lady turned to him, "Think about it. This guy said Klaus is moving to restore himself to his previous power and glory right? He says Klaus is closer to finding 'him', whoever that may be. Maybe Klaus is looking for another part of him, I don't know, another body or something" she explained.
Nero frowned, "Come on that sounds so stupid. If Klaus is looking for another body why go through all this trouble?" he asked.
"Because maybe it's not just any one, but rather, his body" Dante said sighing. Trish then said, "Well, that would make sense given the message. 'The real one isn't with them'. Guys, maybe we're dealing with an imposter, someone purposefully masquerading as Klaus."
Dante chuckled, "An imposter eh? Stringing us all along while he takes his time with his plans. Typical." He said in a mock tone. Nero cleared his throat before saying, "Yeah sorry to bring us back to reality but we have a bigger problem." Everyone turned to him. "If the message is true, and the real Klaus is not with LOD right now then we're dealing with a fake. If that Klaus is a fake then I have two questions: Who the hell was it that showed them to us on Fortuna? And, where the hell then is the real Klaus?" Nero asked.
No one answered, everyone just grew deathly silent as they contemplated this recent development.
In Russia…
Vladimir watched from his bedroom window as four large military vans pulled up the driveway of the Order's headquarters. The bedroom door opened and Mariska walked inside, "Babe, they've arrived." She said walking behind and placing her hand on his back.
Nodding Vladimir said "Let's do it then" as the pair turned and exited, walking hand in hand.
They made their way downstairs in the grand meeting area. Proctor was there waiting, as were Captain Reznov and Colonel Gruzinsky.
Captain Reznov stood, adjusting his uniform before nodding. "Vladimir, meet the Bloodpack. This will be the special unit along with your men deployed to Egypt." He said as Vladimir crossed both arms behind his back. He carefully eyed each individual before him.
There were a total of four uniformed soldiers; two men, two women standing before him. Each was dressed in identical military uniforms: They wore black pants, ankle length black and silver boots, a black tactical vest, a black light fitting jacket underneath, black fingerless gloves and a black facemask covering the lower portion of their face. The similarities ended there as all four individuals had slight customizations to their uniforms. The woman closest to Vladimir, slowly turned around, gazing at him with intense electric blue colored eyes. She had brown hair with blonde highlights tied in a long braid with two bangs parting down her face, roughly framing her cheeks. She appeared in her mid-thirties, possibly slightly older. Aside from the standard uniform, she was also sporting an ankle length military style black trench coat, reminiscent of old style wear.
She greeted Vladimir with a slight nod. "Greetings, Mr. Sokolov. My name is Helena Alexeyev. I am the leader of the Bloodpack" she said. The other members likewise gave a light greeting.
One of the men said "I am Davis, Davis Antronov" and gave a slight bow. He had black hair tied in a low ponytail and brown eyes. The other man was much shorter, perhaps about 5'3. He had a slimmer build, more defined and tight. He wore a hood over his face, concealing his head but showing his hazel eyes.
"Call me, Toby" he stated simply. The last woman had light brown hair tied in a high pony tail and blue eyes. "I am Tatiana" she said.
Vladimir nodded, clearing his throat as Colonel Gruzinsky walked over.
"The Bloodpack is a small tactical unit I formed three years ago. They are composed of specially selected soldier who have displayed exceptional combat skills. You name it: Infiltration, espionage, intelligence gathering, hand-to-hand combat and weapons, explosives. They are Russia's elite, superior even to the Spetsnaz." He explained.
Vladimir said, "Good. Listen up, I don't know how well you've been briefed so I'll say this: This mission could potentially prove far more dangerous than anything you've ever experienced. You will see things, things worse than anything in your nightmares. We are working towards stopping a madman who threatens not just Russia, but all of humanity. It is highly crucial we are successful. Understand this: You will be following the command of Captain Reznov, Colonel Gruzinsky and my own man, Michael but ultimately, I am in charge. If you have any objections, leave now because you'll only get in our way. Questions?" Vladimir asked the Bloodpack.
Helena narrowed her eyes, "They told us we'll be fighting monsters, is this true?" she asked. The others looked at her, then to Vladimir. With a slight smirk Vladimir said "Indeed. The worst kind of monster. Not terrorists, not assassins, not war lords. You will be combating savage inhuman fighting beasts born out of the pits of Hell. This is where my pack comes in, this is their specialty."
Vladimir and the Bloodpack then began becoming better acquainted, going over the mission plan. Meanwhile, the pack was doing their own preparation in their living quarters.
Karl, Raul and Robert were loading weaponry and checking ammunition. Karl and Robert were dressed in a sleeveless black under armour shirt, black pants, black boots and black gloves. Raul was wearing a dark blue tactical vest, black cargo pants and black boots. Both of his forearms were heavily taped with a black bandage. Strapped across his back were his twin short swords; single edged with Russian inscriptions and the handle wrapped with black tape. They finished loading, with Robert strapping an assault rifle around his shoulder.
Sergei and Alex were stuffing explosive equipment; grenades, C4 and Semtex explosives into several large duffel bags. Sergei wore black cargo pants, black boots, a white thermal long sleeved and a black military jacket. Alex had on similar pants and boots but wore a leather tactical vest and a black thermal with the sleeved rolled up past his elbows.
Hiro had on his typical black cloak like jacket reaching his ankles and wore a twin tailed red scarf around his neck and black fingerless gloves. He wore black trench boots and loose black pants. He was busy sitting down on the side, watching the others prepare themselves when he noticed Hanya approaching. He was carrying something quite large and massive, causing Hiro to stare. Hanya was wearing a tight fitting sleeveless black shirt tucked into dark grey pants and wore black and silver boots. He wore a long sleeveless jacket reaching past his ankles; his jacket was tattered and ripped at the bottom and was colored white with a grey inside. In his right hand, carried across his shoulders was what appeared to a very long and thick pole wrapped tightly by a white cloth.
Hiro stared, "You're really bringing that? Just for this mission?" he asked curiously. Hanya cocked his head, "My baby here hasn't seen much action lately. I promised her I would let her have some fun and besides, I think she'll enjoy it, she's been very good lately" he said with a wicked grin as he licked his lips. Hiro chuckled and shrugged, "Very well. God help whatever poor sap runs across….her" he said.
Raven walked out, wearing tight black pants, a sleeveless black shirt, a small vest over and black boots. "Are we ready?" she asked. "Just waiting on Mike and Kathy" Raul answered setting a bag down.
In their room, Michael was finishing getting dressed. He had on baggy black pants and black boots. Lacing up the boots he stood up, placing on a sleeveless black shirt, tucking it into his pants. He then placed on a long sleeved black shirt with a high collar and black fingerless gloves. Michael then paused, feeling a sensation creep through his body. He turned over to the far corner of the room where his long katana, Fenrir rested on its stand. The blade was vibrating slightly as Michael walked over to inspect it.
Picking it up, he pulled the blade from its red scabbard; it still vibrated as he waved it once.
"This mission could prove extremely dangerous old friend. We're going to need to stay in tune and in synch with each other to survive. Fenrir, lend me your strength so that we may protect our family." Michael said waving it once more before sheathing it. Kathy then entered the room, carrying something in her arms. With a bright and warm smile she walked over and offered it to him. "I had Proctor design it for you. I hope you like it" she said as Michael swiftly tossed it on. He walked to the mirror, admiring it.
His trademark black long coat was customized in a stylish fashion; It retained the same colors, black with a red lining. The sleeves were half way rolled up to the elbow joint. The hood had a red interior and was folded down, roughly framing his shoulders. On the back of the coat was a Latin inscription for 'Alpha'.
Michael grinned, "Damn this is pretty badass. It's perfect Kathy" he said turning and giving her a big kiss as she giggled. Now fully dressed the pack then gathered outside with Michael surveying the group. Armed with his sword in his right hand and his Desert Eagles tucked into his waist, Michael gave a thumbs up and turned for the exit.
"Well, time to do what we do best. Let's go save the world guys" he said as the pack gave a howl in response.
In New York…
He sat in the holding cell, ankles cuffed, hands cuffed behind his back and staring blankly in front of him. He had a face mask covering him, preventing any biting or spitting. His eyes seemed empty, devoid of thought or emotion. Here sat Kazuya, chained, miserable, and captured. News of his arrest by the FBI for the murders committed has once again turned the Big Apple into a media melee. Reporters, journalists, even celebrity gossip sites flooded the streets. They stormed City Hall and the Bureau's headquarters, demanding answers, interviews with the FBI's Director, the Mayor for surviving the attack on City Hall and even with Dexter for making the arrest.
The citizens meanwhile were divided in their own internal strife. Those that supported Kazuya's work and actions stormed and protested in the streets, demanding his release and exoneration of all charges. Others countered by saying no matter the reason, Kazuya is a murderer and a criminal and as such to let him go, especially given the severity of his latest kills would be a perversion of justice.
At the FBI headquarters, protestors, supporters, journalists and news teams lined up for blocks, shouting, screaming, cheering and hollering for justice to be done.
The sidewalks were crowded with people beginning to spill into the streets. Police and SWAT were keeping peace; full riot gear was in effect complete with riot shields, non lethal ammunition and even attack dogs. One protestor, waving a sign which read "No Justice for Vigilantes: Execute the Night Angel" had the unfortunate luck of shoving back a police officer, only to have the officer's 150 lb. German Sheperd 'Cujo' attack in retribution, knocking him down and biting into his arm.
Pulling up to the curb, Dexter and Seth jumped out of his car and were immediately surrounded by a flurry of reporters. Cameras flashed and microphones were shoved into their faces as they pushed and shoved their way through.
"Agent Smith we're from TMZ. Can you comment on these recent events? What's the FBI planning to do with the famed Night Angel? Can you give us a comment?"
Dexter and Seth stared, dumb founded. "TMZ? Shouldn't you guys be busy following around Snooki's pudgy ass or asking about the Kim and Kanye rumors? Get the fuck on" Dexter spat angrily as he shoved past the crowd, Seth followed in close suit as stepped on to the curb and approached the main building. Once inside they quickly ascended to the Nightstalker's headquarters and made their way for the interrogation cell where Kazuya was being held.
Stepping inside, Rosette, Sion and Director McGrath were viewing the interrogation taking place as three agents were inside, firing off with an array of questions while Kazuya remained stoic and emotionless.
"Any change?" Dexter asked. Rosette shook her head. "They've been at it for half an hour. He's not talking. I mean…look at him." She said gesturing to Kazuya. Director McGrath shook his head. "He's, just a kid. He looks…17, maybe 19. He can't be any older than my own son. How could such a young man be responsible for over half a century's worth of murder and killings?" he asked.
"He's not just some kid" Dexter said watching the interrogation. Everyone turned as his gaze intensified. "It's like I told Rosette, there's something….unnatural about him. I can't quite describe it, but whatever it is I'll say this" he said before pausing.
"It's not human. I haven't felt something this strong since…since I first met you, Sion" Dexter said turning over to the devil who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. Just then the doors opened, an agent exited, looking exceedingly pissed off.
"This is bullshit. He's not going to talk. We've asked him where he came from, who supplies him with his weapons, how he selects his targets. Everything. He's not going to give up shit" he spat angrily. Rosette closed her eyes, slowly opening them.
"I'm going in, give me a few seconds" she said as he nodded and stepped back inside closing the door behind him.
"Rosette are you crazy? No way in hell I'm letting you go in there" Seth said. "Seth is right Rosette, I mean, Jesus have you seen what this guy is capable of?" Dexter said strongly. In an earlier debriefing, they viewed actual displays of Kazuya's past killings, some which had been sent from as far away as Russia and other parts of the world. It was an unpleasant sight.
"I'm not stupid, I know what he's capable of, but, we have to try a different approach. Just trying to force it out of him won't work" Rosette replied looking at both Dexter and Seth.
'So what? We hold his hand and guide him through it? Why do you give this guy so much sympathy?" Dexter asked. Rosette glared, "Because you didn't see the reports I read. Dexter, he witnessed his mother get raped and butchered. It's no surprise he has a serious psychological defunct. I broke through to him once and I'll do it again" she said confidently.
Dexter swore under his breath; he didn't like it. "Anything funny happens and we're pulling you out" he said turning back and looking into the room.
Rosette stepped inside, nodded to the two agents who slowly exited before she took a seat sitting in front of Kazuya, whom still stared off. Crossing her legs, she calmly rested her hands on the table before taking a deep breath and clearing her throat.
"Kazuya, my name is Rosette" she said.
He slowly looked up, his eyes seemingly recognizing her.
"I'll cut to the chase: You are captured by the FBI. We are well aware of your crimes Kazuya, not just here in New York. We've been monitoring your kills across the globe; Africa, Asia, Europe. You're wanted in over ten different European countries including Prague, France, Belgium and Italy. In Africa, the leaders of Somalia, Darfur, Sudan, Cape Town, the Congo and even Rwanda demand your extradition for the slayings of dozens of war criminals. Japan wants you for the killings of numerous Yakuza clans. To sum it up; the whole world want you tried, convicted and executed for your crimes. You've done terrible things, Kazuya" Rosette stated.
Kazuya stared, not responding for several moments. He blinked twice before turning his head. "3,250" he said randomly and causing Rosette to raise her eyebrow. He turned back to face her.
"3,250. That's how many sinners I have judged" he said.
Rosette's jaw tightened as she folded her fingers. "And by judged, you mean, you killed them" she said more as a statement than a question. Kazuya said, "In one way or another". Rosette then said "I'm not sure I follow Kazuya. Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"Because they deserved judgment. All those that break God's law rightly deserve to face punishment for their crimes. But those that never face justice, those that mask their crimes by preying and exploiting the weak, they deserve something far worse" Kazuya answered.
Rosette then folded her arms, "And that's what you've been doing for the past 50 years? Killing in the name of God? How can you possibly justify that? Last I checked, murder is murder, no matter the justification" she challenged.
Kazuya did not answer, remaining quiet. Then, he began chuckling. "If you want to know, I will tell you but understand: You think this is just about killing off a bunch of murderers and rapists? This is bigger, far bigger than just New York" he said. Rosette paused, "Bigger meaning what?"
Kazuya settled into his seat "This is something that started at the dawn of the early church." With that the room grew silent as Rosette's eyes widened. Outside, Dexter and Seth stared at each other. "What the hell is he saying? What does he mean it began with the early church?" Dexter said as Seth shrugged.
Back inside, Rosette hesitated before saying "So enlighten me. What exactly are you referring to?"
Kazuya said, "Remove this face mask and I will tell you" he said. After slight hesitation, Rosette stood and walked over to remove the face mask. After doing so she sat back down and listened as Kazuya began his lengthy explanation.
"To understand my quest for vengeance you need to understand that this is a battle fought for generations. It all began in Judea shortly after the Jewish revolt against the Roman occupation in AD 70. Shortly after the revolt ended, a sudden and violent outbreak of demonic possession swept through the country. The demon responsible was indiscriminant in selecting its targets. Both men and women fell victim to possession leading them to commit terrible acts of brutality and wickedness. Violence, murder, rape, even cruel and ceremonial wild orgies. The depravity was such that it made brutality of the Romans seem almost tame. Then, in AD 72 a Rabbi managed to confront the demon responsible. He tried exorcising it, but the demon proved too strong. The Rabbi then took a drastic step: He offered his body and soul, promising the demon that as long as his bloodline lived on the demon was free to use them for its purposes" Kazuya stated.
Rosette narrowed her eyes, she had never heard of this before. Kazuya continued as he shifted in his seat.
"The Rabbi then used his heightened spiritual powers to further combat the outbreak of possession, but at a price. To maintain, he had to devour the sins of those he defeated. This is how my bloodline began, this was the birth of the Sin Eaters. As time passed, members of the Sin Eaters would devour the sins of all who transgressed God's Law. But such power came at a price; the continued devouring of sins began to corrupt the wielder's soul, allowing the demon to further possess them to the point that all born into the bloodline would show signs of being touched by this great evil. The demon stalked entire generations, gradually corrupting and forcing the person to commit brutal acts so as to strengthen its power. And then…" Kazuya said trailing off.
"Then, it happened. The Great Fire of Rome, it was said they were all killed in the blaze during the three days it burned." Kazuya said. Rosette said "What does this have to do with why you kill sinners?" Rosette asked.
"My family was the modern day descendants of the Sin Eater bloodline. For generations we lived in peace until the day I was born. I was the first Hale child in over four generations to display the afflictions: In human abilities such as strength, speed, stamina, a natural affinity and disposition towards violent and aggressive behavior. Finally, my powers manifested during an incident involving my mother, just before she was murdered." Kazuya continued explaining.
"The men who killed her were sent by someone working with LOD. But it was beyond that. I hated them, despised them, the ones who would transgress God's Law, the ones who flaunted their sin and wickedness and with no shame in doing it. And so to avenge my mother, my clansmen, to rectify the evils committed to and by my own bloodline and ancestry, I made it my goal to hunt and punish all who sinned against God. That is why I kill them. That is what I am. An avenger." Kazuya said.
Outside Dexter and the others continued listening in as Kazuya recounted his tragic history. "An avenger huh? It's almost poetic" Seth said shaking his head. Sion was strangely quiet, he stared at Kazuya. He reflected on what Dexter had mentioned earlier. He could sense something unusual about Kazuya. Something that was very old; possibly older than him and very powerful.
"Kazuya, you said someone working for LOD ordered your mother's death. Do you know who it is?" Rosette asked.
Kazuya's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as his nose flared. Rosette noticed how quickly his demeanor changed. Staring into his youthful face, she noticed how suddenly detatched his face looked. It was as if Kazuya was no longer in control but some other force was now controlling him, dictating his thought and speech. It scared the hell out of her.
"It's someone that has eluded me for over 50 years. It's the main reason I came back to New York. This person, is the reason why my family was wiped out. When I find him, and I will, it will be more than just killing him. By killing him, it will be the true restoration of my clan. The Hale Family name will be rightly cleansed and the stain of their sin will be purged from the earth. That will be the culmination of my vengeance." Kazuya said chuckling, his voice rising in pitch as it echoed. Rosette's eyes widened; she recognized as back at the court house. But more disturbingly was his previous statement. He said it was the reason he came back to New York. Does this mean then that Kazuya has committed similar acts years past?
"But to answer you, it is someone here in this very building. It's someone within the FBI's top chain of command. This person, even as we speak now has been leaking information to Klaus. I suggest you stop wasting time with me and figure out who is betraying your organization" Kazuya said though it was too late. Rosette was already out the door as it slammed shut behind her.
"Rosette do you seriously believe that? Someone with the Bureau is leaking information to Klaus?" Director McGrath asked frantically. Rosette's face twisted into a dark scowl. "Look, given everything we have witnessed in the past few days I don't think we can afford to just dismiss his claims. Face it; like it or not he's facing execution for what he's done so he's got nothing to lose and thus no reason to lie." She said as everyone nodded.
"But who could it be? He said it's someone within the top chain of command." Director McGrath said.
Everyone paused to stare at him. Clearing his throat he said "Well I can certainly vouch for myself, I've done no such thing" he said. Sion at that point nodded. "It's true, I've already read his thoughts, he's not the one"
"And I would have smelled if he were lying" Seth added giving the Director a funny smirk.
Dexter then suddenly jerked his head up, his eyes narrowing as he grit his teeth. "Chief Quinton hasn't been heard from since we arrested him. Where the hell could he be?" he asked. Again, everyone grew silent. Seth then said, "Ah shit"
Elsewhere…
Though relatively small and unassuming, compared to its former glory, the current city state of Carthage was once an economic and cultural mecca which lasted for 600 years before its fall to Rome at the end of the Third Punic Wars. Currently, it is a small suburb of Tunis, Tunisia, sporting a population of just over 20,000. After Rome destroyed it, Carthage was later rebuilt, where it remained as one of the empire's chief important cities until finally falling to Muslim invaders in the year 698. Now, the decrepit and dusty ruins of this ancient city held a darker secret. One which the Hellsing family's greatest weapon; the famed No Life King, Alucard and his progeny Seras Victoria were going to discover.
It was just approaching dusk, the sun beginning to set over the horizon and reflecting on the calm waters of Lake Tunis. Walking along the dusty road were Alucard and Seras. Alucard paused, slowly staring up at the sky. A light breeze carried across from the lake and stirring his clothes as his fedora hat flapped in the gentle drift. With a chuckle, he grinned and continued staring at the sky. Seras paused and turned to him. "Master?" she questioned.
"It's going to be a lovely evening" the vampire count said as they continued walking. Alucard and Seras traveled through the ruins, past old and crumbling temples, tombs and towers. Their goal was the temple of Tanit, the chief Carthaginians goddess during its reign in ancient times. According to legend one of the devices Klaus is searching for, an Anima is rumored to be buried within the temple.
The temple dedicated to Tanit was located on the east side of the city. Alucard and Seras approached a massive temple with crumbling steps and several pillars. Before them was a stone tablet or tophet designed with the symbol of Tanit; it consisted of a trapezoid/trapezium closed by a horizontal line at the top and surmounted in the middle by a circle: the horizontal arm is often terminated either by two short upright lines at right angles to it or by hooks. A crescent moon could be seen hanging over.
Seras, who had the massive Harkonnen cannon strapped across her back as well as her smaller assault rifle dropped the load to the ground. "That right there is the symbol for Tanit. Historians believed it to be symbolic of a woman raising her hands to the sky since Tanit was a goddess of fertility and life" Seras explained. A voice behind them interrupted her thoughts.
"My my, the little Draculina has done her homework"
Seras froze; she knew that thick Irish accent. Slowly turning she found, much to her dismay, leaning against one of the stone pillars with his arms folded was none other than Father Alexander Anderson. His eyes narrowed, his lips creeping to a cruel smile as he stared at her then to Alucard who began wildly chuckling.
"Well isn't this a surprise, hello, father" Alucard said sarcastically and greeting Anderson with a mock bow.
"Why is Iscariot here?" Seras shouted.
Anderson scoffed before saying "Don't feel flattered. My business isn't here with you. Iscariot is seeking to put an end to LOD and so we are tasked with doing anything necessary to achieve that, even if it means working with you lot" he explained.
Anderson then stood up straight, walking over to the two vampires. "We are aware of what Klaus is searching for here. With your cooperation, we should be able to acquire this…Anima without any problems. How about it then, vampire Alucard?" Anderson said curiously glancing at Alucard. Alucard laughed, adjusting his glasses as his crimson eyes cast a dangerous and frightening gleam.
"Only if you remember we must settle our score, Judas Priest" he said. Anderson smirked, "In time, I will destroy you both" he said glancing at Seras who's eyes glowed dangerously.
Putting aside their mutual animosity, the trio proceeded to enter the temple. The stairs twisted and spiraled down into a long and dark chamber. The walls etched with the writing of the Carthaginians, depicting their worship and reverence to the goddess Tanit.
The temple also held a grisly reality; inside and buried in a large chamber were the remains of scores of children and infants which the Carthaginians sacrificed as part of their religious practices. Children offered to appease the gods were sent into flames. When Carthage was finally sacked by Rome during the Punic Wars, such abominable practices ceased.
The group continued on before they found something interesting. Standing in the center and surrounded by a pit of skulls was a large stone coffin. Taking a cautious step forward Seras suddenly froze.
"Master, do you…do you smell that?" she asked.
Alucard prepared to answer when a booming voice suddenly halted them.
"Who enters?" it rang out.
Anderson narrowed his eyes, reaching into his jacket for his blessed bayonets as Alucard's eyes scanned the room.
"We've come for the Anima" Anderson answered back. Suddenly, the room began violently shaking. After several seconds it stopped and a deep hissing sound erupted. A bright blue colored light suddenly surrounded the coffin in a shield.
Alucard squinted, "It's a forcefield protecting the coffin" he said.
From the corners of the room formed the black spectral outlines of dozens of figures. They stood six feet tall, clad in ancient Roman armor and with sunken out eyes as they hissed and moaned. Seras' eyes widened. "Master are these…"
"The ancient Carthaginians. It must be a defense to protect the device. They're probably just re-animated corpses." Anderson explained as he pulled out two of his bayonets.
Behind the coffin, another figure suddenly appeared, holding a large and frightening looking spear in one hand while sitting on the coffin. It was dressed in thick and withered battle armor complete with a shield in one hand and a flowing red cape.
"I am the Guardian. All who wish to defile this temple shall pay for it in blood" it spoke. The spectral figures began closing in as Seras cocked her assault rifle. Alucard chuckled, slowly reaching for his hat and letting it fall to the ground as his grin widened into a sadistic and crazed sneer.
"Then let the blood flow" he said.
And lastly…
The city of Prague was currently enjoying a blissful and productive late afternoon. The city streets were bustling; citizens going about their respective activities while tourists flocked around the famed city. In the New Town of Prague, at Wenceslas Square, dozens of tourists and visitors to the city gathered at the famed monument, taking photos and appreciating the overall beauty and scenery. Their delight would soon be turned to anguish and torment.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently three times. The earth rumbling as if suddenly struck by a massive object. The resulting force could be felt through out much of the city. The rumbling continued before stopping. Then there was a loud and powerful BOOM as an explosion erupted, destroying the monument and causing a massive shockwave, sending people, debris and objects scattering into the sky. The ground beneath gave way, expanding in size until a crater a good thirty feet in diameter suddenly formed. People screamed and tried fleeing but were dragged into the earth. The violence continued for thirty seconds before finally calming down, throwing the rest of the city into panic as people were scurrying and running for their lives. Small fires broke out near and around where the explosion occurred. And then, a massively powerful and booming hissing voice filled the air.
"RRIIIIIISSE!"
The few people which had managed to escape the initial blast watched as dozens upon dozens of heavily armored, tall and imposing brutish figures emerged from the hole. The two nearest the front, armed with a bone plated oval shaped shield and large flail encased in metal and with helmets resembling a Viking emerged, their footsteps thumping as they chuckled and grinned ominously.
The Reapers spanned out in a phalanx formation, their shields at the ready. More individuals could be seen emerging from the hole. The second had dark skin and long dreadlocks, wielding two double bladed axes as it grinned and clicked its teeth. Rashkor walked down the middle, followed by Theokoles as the Shadow of Hell held his hands in his pocket, eyes filled with a monstrous hate and madness.
Lastly, Rogue, leader of the Reapers emerged. The massive brute's booming footsteps thundered as the Reapers hissed and growled. Rogue wore his typical armor, wielding a large sword in his right hand; the blade now had a jagged and cruel looking shape slightly resembling a lightning bolt and with a menacing skull like design on the handle. Rogue hissed and raised his left hand.
"SLLAAAUGHTERRRR!" he shouted as the Reapers commenced their destruction.
People immediately began fleeing and running away. Many met their end as the Reapers proceeded to pound and flatten them with their massive flails. "CRRUUSSH!" one shouted as it raised its flail overhead and smashed a man to bloody bits.
Rogue walked at the front, flanked by Theokoles who merely looked on. Rogue was surrounded by his shield of swarming crows; the birds squawking and cawing as he waved his hand, signaling the attack. More and more Reapers began to emerge from the hole, spilling into the streets and slaughtering any in their path.
"Rogue, make these humans suffer. Make them understand what true pain is!" Klaus spoke telepathically to his general. Rogue gave a shrill howl in response as the attack pressed o, taking down the street. Rogue approached a large truck which had been overturned in the explosion. With his left hand he lifted it over his head and tossed it into the side of a building as a massive fireball erupted causing much of the building to shatter and crumble. "AATTTTAAACK!" Rogue shouted at the top of his lungs, swinging his blade and slicing down two women as they cried out.
The Reaper horde continued their invasion as the city of Prague became swept in panic and fear. Civilians did their best to escape the slaughter; some made it, others did not. Rogue led them towards their true goal: Aside from the invasion, Rogue was to lead his forces towards Prague Castle where an artifact was rumored to be kept that would aid Klaus.
Rashkor laughed and placed his axes away after decapitating two police officers that tried stopping them. "Now it's time we liven this up!" the Beast Tamer said. Licking his lips Rashkor then took his right palm and smashed it to the ground, hard as a black circle formed underneath decorated with cultic symbols. Rumbling could be heard before a massive crack split the street level in two. The crack then spread in width, growing wider and wider before more rumbling could be heard and a deep and awful inhuman roar filled the air as a massive tremor broke out.
From the crack, a massive behemoth crawled out. It was a giant lizard, again resembling a two headed Komodo dragon. The lizard emerged, measuring over 60 feet long and standing around 20 feet tall. Rashkor grinned and climbed on top of its head, sitting atop the harness as he snapped the reigns. The lizard gave another awful roar and began fueling the destruction. It took its massive tail and swiped hard, completely cleaving several buildings and sending them crumbling to the floor in a heap of rubble and debris. It took its front hand and smashed the ground, crushing and bludgeoning any unfortunate victim underneath. Rashkor again snapped the harness as the lizard reared on its hind legs. Taking a deep breath, its eyes glowed brightly before it breathed a continued stream of scorching hot magma, melting the ground and burning dozens of citizens in its path.
"Excellent, my friend" Klaus said as Rashkor continued.
The assault had now been occurring for over twenty minutes before the military finally mobilized a strike team. Several vehicles; armored trucks, vans and cars began pouring in as several choppers and other air craft flew over. Rogue looked up the street to see a convoy of about six armored vans approaching. They pulled to a stop as soldiers poured out, loaded their weapons and took aim.
"Fire on my command!" their commander ordered as they aimed straight for Rogue. Rogue snarled, waving his left hand as his shield of crows disbanded and formed into a massive swarm that swiftly flocked to the soldiers. Their cries of agony carried out as the vicious birds attacked and stripped them down to bloody bits leaving entrails and copious amounts of blood.
"Theokoles, it is time. The time has come for you to show the world why you are called the Harbinger of Death. Go forth my brother, go forth and reign down destruction!"
Theokoles froze, viewing the battle from atop a large tower. The wind picked up causing his black jacket to flap in the breeze. The Reaper horde continued pouring in as they fought against the military's retaliation. Rogue led them; crying and hissing as he would slash through and cut down their ranks while ordering his followers to continue their slaughter. Rashkor continued riding atop his massive lizard, stomping, biting and belching forth scorching hot magma sending fire and death to the city. Buildings crumbled and burned down as the attack on Prague continued.
With a chuckle Theokoles grinned. "Ah yes, I haven't enjoyed a sight like this in over 2,000 years. The sight of bloodshed, the cries of women being eviscerated. This will be fun" he said. Down below a convoy of heavily armored tanks rolled down the street. Theokoles grinned, teleporting in a swift blurry motion. He appeared on the ground level and with one hand smashed a tank into the side of a nearby bank as the building was smashed.
The rest of the convoy froze, turning to aim and fire at this new arrival. Six vans pulled up as soldiers poured out and began opening fire, not wasting any time.
"FIRE NOW!" the commander shouted as they unleashed a hail of bullets towards Theokoles. Theokoles chuckled as he raised his left hand, halting the onslaught of gun fire as he used telekinetic powers to stop the bullets from striking. A tank fired two shots; the missiles speeding towards Theokoles. Theokoles sent the bullets back, striking the soldiers as he caught both missiles with his bare hands. Grinning he laughed as he tossed them back, destroying two of the tanks and creating a massive explosion that sent further devastation.
Theokoles watched as the soldiers began cowering, "What…what the hell is that thing!" one shouted. Grinning, Theokoles then raised his right hand overhead as a black shape emerged.
It was a sword, but with a frightening and sinister appearance; it was colored jet black, including the handle. The blade was wide, double edged and resembled the old zanbatou style of sword from Japan's feudal era. The handle was thick, with a spiky tip on the very bottom. The cross guard was decorated with what resembled an oni demon complete with black sunken eyes and horned protrusions. Most disturbingly, on the flat side of the blade was a single open eye colored dark crimson with a black pupil.
With this new weapon Theokoles spun it rapidly overhead using only one arm. With one swing he unleashed a massive burst of red energy in a wide arc, obliterating much of the ground. The energy continued spreading out, destroying more of the building as well as vaporizing the soldiers who cried out in agony.
Theokoles laughed wildly before sprinting forward, using this terrifying new weapon to slash and cut through any in his path. He sliced another soldier in two before spinning and decapitating a second. Theokoles continued his torrent of destruction as he continued slicing through and killing any soldiers in his path, staining the ground with their blood. Looking up, he saw another large convoy of military vehicles approaching. With a smirk he prepared to attack when he noticed Rogue approaching, escorted by about a dozen or so Reapers. Rogue grunted; signaling with his hand for them to prepare as the Reapers raised their shield.
"FFOOR THE HOOORRRRDDEE!" Rogue shouted preparing to raise his sword. He was halted however by Theokoles.
"Take five big boy, you and your buddies ain't too shabby. Allow me. They want a fight? I'll give them a massacre!" Theokoles said walking forward in front of the group. Rogue hissed, cocking his head curiously to the side before signaling for his Reapers to move back a few inches.
Theokoles' body glowed dark red, his eyes changing color as his sclera turned crimson red. He raised his sword overhead and began spinning it rapidly, increasing in speed as wind picked up. The soldiers in front began firing, creating a hail of bullets. More wind picked up stirring dust and smoke which surrounded Theokoles in a swirling vortex. After a few moments there was a bright and powerful explosion of red light which cleared the dust away. The soldiers gasped at Theokoles' new appearance.
His body pulsed and glowed with a red energy. Above him, the massive and spectral form of a four armed devil complete with swooping horns and red eyes and an evil fanged grin hovered over as Theokoles continued charging his attack. A bright and potent concentration of red energy began forming in the center of the sword as it continued spinning rapidly. The energy then formed into a small soccer sized ball which began growing rapidly in size, soon forming into a deadly and potent ball about the size of a large car.
"Jesus Christ what the hell is he!" a soldier shouted firing, but to no avail as Theokoles was unharmed.
Cackling wildly Theokoles spun the blade one last time and with a fearsome shout, fired the ball of energy as he slashed with his sword sending it racing to the soldiers. Colliding with them, their bodies were vaporized but the initial violence did not stop. The ball of energy continued growing in size, growing large, wider and more dense as it continued racing forward, destroying anything in its path. It finally stopped, now several times bigger and more deadly as it collided with several buildings, completely destroying them and utterly leveling the street as it then detonated in a massive explosion creating a wide torrent of destruction.
Theokoles grinned, beginning to laugh wildly. "This is even better than I thought!" he shouted and continued laughing.
The Shadow of Hell had unleashed a massive torrent of destruction upon the city of Prague sending fear and mayhem into its citizens. With Rashkor summoning forth more creatures and the Reaper Horde at Rogue's command the destruction continued on.
Rogue hissed, turning to his soldiers as they nodded.
"FFOOOOOR KLAAAAAAUSSSS!" he shouted as they continued on.
End Chapter
Stayed tuned, more coming very soon.