"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Flashback"

"Attack/Name"

"Narrator"

At the end of the Great War

Higher Plane - Underworld

Both warriors swung their weapons, spark crashing off of the refined metal. The first warrior had a beard and long stringy hair soaked in blood, wielding a massive warhammer. The second wielded a spear, his blonde hair tied into a winding ponytail, undulating behind him with his every movement.

The first raised his hammer, before crashing it down onto the ground, dirt erupting from the floor. His exhaustion finally caught up to him, evident by his failure to raise his weapon once more. The blonde swiped his spear across the man's cheek, nearly tearing the first's jaw off; before stabbing his spear in the first's collarbone, snapping through the bone and muscle.

The warrior was forced back, letting go of his weapon, screaming as his jaw hung loose. The spear piercing through pinned him to the dirt, forcing him to stare up at the sky. Breathing heavily, the spearman's eyes glowed red before staring at the hammer still embedded in the dirt.

'Yes, do it. After all, he was the one who killed your family.' A deep, gravelly voice stated within the spearman's mind. A voice that had been with him for a while now, aiding him on his conquest.

The second warrior took the hammer, dragging it through the spongy dirt. It wasn't his forte, yet it would do just fine in killing the brute before him. He stepped on the near-dead man, looking into his eyes just as the first did his family. 'Yes... Do it, this is what he deserves.'

The voice materialized in the second's head again, causing him to raise the weapon above his head. All before smashing down into the first's skull, taking a gross pleasure in hearing the flesh and bone explode.

Falling backward onto the ground, the blonde stared up at the sky. Pleased with the outcome, the voice spoke once more. 'You did good boy, you both will be useful to me...'

Panicking, the second man sat up, scanning the area around him. Confused, he yelled, "W-what do you mean? I killed him, just like he deserved!"

'That you did, even so, the ritual is not complete. The king still needs more.' The voice said, with an almost ritualistic tone. 'Just look up.'

Obeying his command, the warrior looked away from the setting sun. Watching as a massive beam of raw magic energy was about to obliterate the land.

"You, you did this! Didn't you!" The warrior screamed, grabbing his spear before running from impending doom. 'It is useless to run. You will be next, then I will continue to slaughter the other clans so that they may be useful to me.'

"Then, may they remain safe, for all eternity..." The warrior spat back before the beam of light crashed down into the land. A ball of pure light raced toward the warrior, incinerating everything it touched. Closing his eyes, the warrior fell to his knees, reflecting on his life one last time.

As the warmth of the ball finally dissipated, all that was left was the resulting crater. The only one present remains in a shadowed form. Watching over the barren landscape, he chanted, "The time for Goetia's completion is near, when he is completed he will destroy the Lower Plane of Earth."

Why was it here, there had been no Demons around it even after he destroyed it. Perhaps it wasn't even a Gore Nest? No, he could sense the Hell Energy flowing from it, corrupting the land around it. Something was coming, the Demons were planning an invasion.

Tearing through the landscapes of Hell, he heard through the cries of the damned of an impending invasion of his home world. He had been to many copies of Earth, yet they were still targeting his world.

He had only touched down a few hours ago, crashing into a forest as though he were an asteroid from space. He thought it might've taken longer to find one, yet he already found the first.

Just how many were there? Did he just get lucky, or did he stumble on one of many? Regardless if there were more, the one he destroyed wouldn't be the last.

Stabbing his sword through the trunk of a tree, he swung himself through the forest with the mighty chain at the end of the hilt. Traveling through the forest, he honed his senses to detect any more Hell Energy present. Luckily he hadn't, though that didn't mean he would stop; not until every trace of Hell on his home planet was destroyed.

If he judged correctly, right now he was somewhere in Britain. While he had no intent on speaking to the locals, it did help that he could understand the signs.

Suddenly he felt something, it was an energy similar to his own, yet further refined and diluted. It wasn't Hell Energy, but it certainly wasn't benevolent. Jumping further into the trees, he cast a watchful eye down onto the ground.

'Behind!' He yelled to himself, twisting around before slicing a missile clean in half. The resulting explosion burned the top of the tree, yet did no damage to him or his armor. The attack certainly wasn't a Demon, likely a police force, or even a private military. Then why did they attack, unless they could sense his energy?

Regardless he jumped to another tree, seeing the forms of several armored vehicles, and soldiers surrounding the site. He saw the headlights of one last vehicle pull up, a figure stepping out as it stopped. Seemingly in a frustrated tone, the figure yelled, "The Holy Grail War hasn't even started! Who summoned their Servant already?"

A Servant? He certainly wasn't anyone's Servant, but that's not what she meant. He thought to himself, confusion flooding his mind rather than rage.

Regardless, these people were still his enemies. While he wouldn't kill them, he at least needed to disarm them. Jumping down, he swung his sword through the center of a vehicle. The truck lifted as the two halves separated, both glowing where he cut with his red sword. Turning around, he looked as the soldiers began to surround him. Under his helmet he smirked, ready for their best attempt.

"Open fire!" A commander yelled, the barrels of their rifles lighting up as bullets struck against his armor. He stood still watching as several trees were hit because of the ricochet. These people were nothing to him, merely scared of who he was.

Rolling his eyes in annoyance he swung his sword, stabbing into a tree before reeling himself through the forest. In the moments when he soared above the tree line he spotted a vast city down the hill, his next destination.

It was a mindless task swinging from tree to tree, as he had gotten so used to the motion. Eventually, the tree line stopped at a highway winding through the mountains. It wasn't a straight path, but it was the easiest.

Unfortunately, there were no cars for him to steal, though he did see a sign for a rest stop. After running a few miles down the street, he saw the rest stop with a few trucks parked in the lot.

Walking in the desolate lot, he found himself browsing around as though he were buying a new car. Most were standard cabs, though there was one that stuck out. A black Peterbilt 389, attached to a flatbed carrying a white container simply marked with Mage's Association.

Looking inside, he was surprised to find no one. Made it easier for him as he punched through the window, before unlocking the door for himself. Stepping inside he found a strange console in the driver's seat, glowing a dull blue as though it was charging.

Merely chucking it onto the street, he slammed the door shut before starting the vehicle. A low rumble emitted from the engine, a smirk appearing on his face as he thought, 'Always wanted to drive one of these...'

Pulling out of the lot, he began to make his way down the road. While the road system wasn't what he was used to, he was able to adapt rather quickly, leaving him with his thoughts.

Several things ran through his head, specifically why that woman called him a Servant. Perhaps a Servant was a type of being only summoned during specific occasions. Regardless of the answer he kept driving, reminiscing on how peaceful his home world was before They arrived.

His fingers wrapped around the wheel, the black leather creasing as he did so. Turning his head slightly, he saw the lights of London around. He had never been to this place, it was a shame he wouldn't be able to play tourist.

A glimmer of light in his mirror caught his attention, though he couldn't see the vehicle it came from. Looking ahead he saw the famous downtown approaching in the distance.

Suddenly to his right, a massive truck pulled up, a rocket launcher pointed directly at him. The man in the passenger seat yelled, "Pull over!"

Slamming on the brakes the missile grazed past the windshield, exploding mid-air. Twisting the wheel, he drove the front of his truck into the rear left tire, causing the armored vehicle to jerk out of place. Rather than wait for reinforcements, he hauled past the vehicle, inadvertently forcing it to look backward.

'Looks like the peace is over...' he thought to himself, making his way down an exit ramp into traffic. Above him, a helicopter pointed its floodlight at his track, its missiles no doubt doing the same.

Just before the missile launched, he jerked right causing the truck to squeal into a lane beneath the highway. Explosions boomed behind the trailer, scorching the area behind the truck, the asphalt crumbling beneath its weight.

Deciding the truck was slowing him down, he jumped out of the windscreen. The glass bursts around as though he were an olympic swimmer breaking the surface tension of a pool.

Launching his sword into the underside of the highway, he yanked himself forwards. His feet skidded on the tarmac, yet it did no damage to him. Behind him another volley of missiles was launched, the highway falling apart.

Rather than stay on the road, he stabbed his blade into the facade of a building before jerking himself forwards. The building strained at the very force of the movement, yet it stood strong just long enough for him to land on. Once he did he bolted from roof to roof, avoiding his pursuers and falling to the ground. To anyone looking below, he would've looked like a firework had been launched at a building, exploding on contact.

Making his way closer to the center of London, he began picking up on something. It was more of the energy he had sensed in those people. There were two types of it, one felt like his own and the other felt like you took the first and condensed it. Refining it until you had created something entirely different, it was the second one he had sensed within the people in the words.

As he drew closer he felt its location, the Clock Tower. With a new destination now in mind, he began to charge toward it.

"What do you mean you lost the Servant!?" A man yelled into a phone, his anger taking over his aristocratic dignity.

"Do you at least know his next location?" He asked, his anger subsiding. However, his answer would come sooner than he thought as he felt the building rumble ever so slightly. Looking up at the roof he asked through the phone, "You said towards the Clock Tower?"

Without waiting for a response he put the phone down into the receiver, before walking out of his large office into a connecting hall. Around him, several scientists and Magi were running amuck, either trying to hide or protect their work.

Regardless it meant nothing to him, as long as the Servant wasn't able to access the tomb. Walking down the building further, he reached the security section. Without knocking he barged into an office, looking at the desk he saw the name 'General R.E. Downfall' positioned front and center.

"Robert! What the hell's going on?!" The aristocratic yelled, slamming his hands on the desk. The aforementioned Robert looked up at him before stating, "A Servant is attacking us, what else do you think it is?"

His patronizing tone angered the Mage, "Yeah I know that, what are your men doing about it?"

He questioned, Robert, rolling his eyes before turning to pick up a call. Still watching the Mage he spoke, "I want all non-essential forces to attack this Servant, use as much equipment as you see fit."

He ordered before putting down the phone, looking back at the Mage's bewildered expression.

"You didn't even wait for a response?" The younger male questioned, watching the older man's wrinkles form a smile. Turning away the General replied, "Didn't have to, been waiting for that call for the past five minutes now."

He explained, pointing at a wall-mounted clock before resuming with, "Whatcha think that call was, a delivery for pizza?"

Rolling his eyes the Mage insulted, "Your humor is very misplaced."

Letting out a bark of laughter the General said, "We're about to kill a Servant, I think a little humor is needed."

The Mage backed up before sighing heavily, his old friend won't change for anything. Regardless he was very overconfident in his forces. The Servant tore through an armored truck in one swing, tanked a volley of bullets without reacting, and evaded his military forces.

"You're sending those men out to die." The Mage spat back at his colleague before stomping out of the office.

The rain began to pick up around him, droplets of water splashing against him and the roof. Though he wasn't here to play in the rain. Honing his senses he felt the energy all around him, both the first and second.

Deciding where he was as a good enough spot to start digging, he stabbed his blade into the roof before concentrating his energy on it. His sword glowed red, before a vibrant green engulfed the red, pulsing as more and more energy poured into it. Just as it grew brighter he fired a massive beam of energy into the building below him, punching through the foundation undoubtedly.

Kicking away the excess ruble he jumped into the building, now a black crater still smoking from the heat. Around him was a cave, not created by him. Rather it looked like a massive being had dug it before he arrived.

Before he could take a step further a bullet hit the back of his helmet. Behind him, a group of soldiers pooled into the cave with him. However the most notable were the people he looked like scientists, not in the best physical condition yet extremely capable. Surely they'd be a better fight.

Activating his blade, the cave began to glow red. The soldiers took this as a threat before firing all at once. As expected they did not affect him, not until the scientists did some incantation. After they did the bullets suddenly became beams of light, scorching at the landscape before exploding on contact.

While no damage was done, he figured he might as well put on a show. Grabbing the end of the chain he began whipping his sword. Flashes of light tore through the stone beneath him in a 'V' shape. The magic bullets exploded against his barrier as he began marching forwards.

He whipped his chain faster, before jumping back and pointing his sword above him. His energy channeled into the blade, torrents of red and green spiraling around the blade as though it were a tornado. The storm grew brighter and larger before he finally pointed it at the small regiment. A massive beam of green energy burst from the sword, colliding with the back wall and causing a massive explosion. The fireball burst through the roof of the original building.

Happy with the scene, he turned before walking further down the cave. The second energy he felt was stronger the further he went. It didn't feel like Hell Energy, almost the opposite of it.

However, something struck him when he approached closer. The energy was similar to something he had felt before. The energy he first felt on the planet he was sent to, a different Lower Plane from the Earth. Sentinel Energy, how was this place flooded with the same energy? Whatever it was, he'd find out soon enough.

Looking up, he found his eyes widened in curiosity. Above him was a massive rib cage, the rib cage looking as though it belonged to a massive dragon. He found himself staring up at it, wondering what the beast may have looked like originally.

However, there was something else that hooked his attention. The skeleton above him reeked of the pseudo-Sentinel Energy, as though it was born from a place that was full of it. Regardless he pushed forwards, the Sentinel Energy growing more and more as he went further down.

Around him, the dirt was torn away, massive claw marks which came from the beast above him. The landscape alone looked as though it could kill a man. Consisting of massive stone spires shaping into chasms below. On top of that, the cave dove down, narrowing past the clutches of the dragon. Though it wasn't small by any means, spanning enough to house the dragons from the old world he found himself on long ago.

Once the cave slimmed down, he continued walking. No longer having to swing from rock to rock just to move forwards. By this point, the very air was polluted with Sentinel Energy. Even before the dragon, the sheer amount of energy present would've killed anyone from the world above. However he wasn't just a person, he wasn't someone who would die from the energy within the cave.

Below the cave dove down, a blue light shining as though it were a portal to another world. Hanging from a chain just before the chasm dived, he debated all possible outcomes.

However only one seemed right, ripping the chain from the rock he dived. The blue light took over his body in full as he passed through the gate.

When he landed, he found himself lying in a field of pink flowers. Above him was an ever-present blue sky, the horizon fading into a distant pink. Whenever he moved through the field, a soft blue glow lifted from the flowers.

His gauntleted fingers sifted through the flowers, the blue Sentinel Energy flowing into the sky as blue flowers. Some of the energy flowed into his body, the armor around him aiding him in doing so.

His eyes widened, this energy felt as though it was the complete opposite of the Hell Energy he always absorbed. The energy could only be described as Heavenly Energy.

A realization struck him, beings who were responsible for the downfall of a Lower Plane he was on. The energy which flowed through them was the same as the one here.

He stood up, the serenity of the land he found himself within dropping like a burning facade. Turning to face behind him, he found himself growing with a near childish wonder.

In front of him was a massive spire, and at the bottom a massive shard of chiseled purple crystal with the bottom stabbed into the field. Above the crystal was a white and gray tower, the middle home to another purple crystal. At the top were various geometric archways lined around the circumference of the tower. The upper segments contain arrow-like structures jutting out from the building, resembling a crown. Lastly, at the very top, several antennae sat on the top piercing through the clouds above.

Surrounding the spire were flocks of glittering lilies, floating in a magic-like wind. Pulling out his blade he began swinging it by the chain before throwing it at the building. However before the blade attached, a flock of leaves blocked the sword. Watching his attempt to scale the tower fail, he pulled his weapon back to his side.

"If you wanted access into my home, you could've just knocked!" A voice yelled from the tower, causing him to look up to where it might've come from.

From a grim window up the tower was a man with long white manic hair. Draped around him was a white cloak with various flora and feathers around his collar. In his hand almost out of view was a wooden staff, the end resembling a hook with colored cloth tied around it. On his face was a small smile, before he yelled down, "Just come up with the little sword you have there! It's been a while since I've had company."

He looked up at the man in the tower, before swinging his chain again. This time the blade connected, allowing him to reel himself up to the window. The wizard moved out of the way as he landed, his sword back in his hand.

Around him was a circular library, and in the center was a stone table. The walls were lined with six books shelves, and in between each was stone pillars with various artworks displayed open them. Above the stone table was a massive white chandelier, white-cast candlelight down onto the room like a pitiful red star.

The ceiling consisted of wooden beams fitted against the stone tower. Banners of saturated color hung next to various vines and roots, pink flowers blooming from the vines.

"It's a beautiful room, plus it keeps me entertained during my stay in this garden." The wizard commented from behind him. Standing up he got a better look at the Mage, seeing baggy black pants with black leather boots adding height to the magician.

"Ah! How rude of me. I've forgotten to introduce myself." The white-haired man added, an apologetic look on his face before he said, "My name is Merlin. It's a pleasure to see another face here."

At that, he was surprised. Merlin, like the Mage from Arthurian legends? It wouldn't be the craziest thing he's ever heard of, especially not with his enemies lurking around.

Studying Merlin's face, he sensed no deceit, besides he doubted that Merlin could kill him if it came down to that. Taking his hand he shook it, careful not to crush it beneath his might.

"Might I ask your name? Or do you prefer to remain silent?" Merlin asked before he shook his head yes to the latter question. Seemingly unhindered by his silence, Merlin said, "Ah, so the silent type. No matter, I have my ways of getting information."

He knew what Merlin meant, whatever it was he wouldn't let the Mage read his mind. Sensing his anger Merlin backed away slightly, his hands in front of him as though surrendering.

"Please don't fret, it's simply mind reading. I won't look at the information you don't want me to." Merlin reassured, his anger subsiding for now. The tension cut back, Merlin stated, "Please follow me. This isn't the best place to do it."

Nodding he watched as Merlin held out his staff. Pointing it at the stone table, he watched as it expanded, the center lighting up a soft pink before a vertical column of light connected to the ceiling. The chandelier broke into hundreds of pieces before each was sent into various cabinets and drawers around the library. Above the chandelier was a corresponding disk that lit up purple as the column of light hit it. Merlin looked at him, before saying, "Well, come on in."

Both walked into the disk, the pink glow lifting them to the other disk before teleporting them elsewhere. When the light dimmed down, he saw a garden. Flowering pink trees with their roots embedded in the stone of the tower, kept alive by some unknown mechanism. Around them was a still pond, pink flowers floating gracefully in its peaceful current. Looking at his feet he saw the faint light of the teleporter he used, however around it was a small island just big enough for a few people to sit on.

"Have a seat, please. I need to focus if I'm going to learn who you are." Merlin stated as the Mage patted the ground next to him, his eyes closed with a relaxed expression on his face. Hesitantly he sat opposite, the artificial garden in the tower doing nothing to calm him down.

He watched as Merlin brought his staff before him, closing his eyes and concentrating. He let what he wanted to be known flood his mind, closing his eyes and joining Merlin. Memories of him slaughtering the damned for days on end, exploring other dimensions and Lower Planes. Most of all, his name. Merlin looked back at him, done probing before staring into his eyes.

"I never expected someone like you to make your way down here. It makes sense that you'd be able to survive down here." Merlin started, a slight glare on his face as he looked off into the distance, obviously affected by the negative emotions held within. Rubbing the anger out of his eyes like a contagious plague, he stated, "All I can say now is welcome to my home, Avalon. Inside of the Reverse Side of the World, Doom Slayer."

A/N: Well that's chapter one done, this marks the start of what may be day become an epic saga. For now, though I'll just see how this does before I get my hopes up.

Word Count - 4,372