author note: This prologue is based on the introduction of the game of the same name. Neither of the two works belong to me, but to their respective owners and creators.

Dark…

Immaculate..

Foreboding..

Strange..

These are words that could describe the current decadence around us.

"How would you live in this?"

"Why would you keep trying?"

The answer would be many. A "change". A "cycle". "willpower". "Finding something" but there is only one answer that could be formulated for such a question, it would be–

–Survival of the fittest.– the answer can be condensed into these 4 words.

Staggering, the tall and slender figure fell to his knees on the ground. "Was he injured?", "Sick?" Or "was he just drunk?" who knows? His face is abnormally pale. The chain that adorns his body rattles. You wouldn't expect someone carrying such a heavy adornment around his body.

Despite this, he exudes a sinister smell That reminds you of torture chambers.

"Ah…damn…this is such bad luck.."

As he staggered to his feet, the man dressed in black turned his face to the sky. However, he saw no stars, no sun, no moon, or the beautiful view of the night sky. Only black and gray clouds without flavor or beauty.

"Ghe..hehe.."

The smile on his face was ironic.

It was as if the canopy was about to collapse. On nights like this, neither mercy nor love would be found.

He walked slowly, his movements mechanical, as if each gesture was a struggle against gravity, as if his own will was in conflict with his body.

The man outlined a feeling of self-deprecation and resignation in the face of what was about to happen… only a slight twitch in his nose was what betrayed his irritation.

The night breeze caressed his black hair. And his eyes with jet-black pupils stared into nothingness.

"Can't you spare me at least one?"

The figure spoke to itself. As if it had company, despite being as lonely as ever.

But suddenly—

'Gorigoki'

With a sound that echoed only in the man's head.

The dark air suddenly gained a scarlet fragrance. And the man answered himself.

"Well..hehehe..I guess I can try…my god…I really am lucky.."

The man exuded a different aura now. His drunken walk was still the same. His voice, his face, everything was the same. But at the same time. Everything was different.

The man let out what could be called a devilish symphony.

But it was just his laughter.

Above him, the streetlight cracked with a loud "CLICK" before exploding. Soon followed by the other streetlights.

The man stood alone in the darkness, before answering himself again.

"This…really is a good night…"

As if it were a mirage, the man disappeared into the darkness. Like a predator hunting its prey.

CRUNCH

The sound of flesh being crushed echoed through the alleys.

Soon followed by the sound of footsteps and voices.

"I think this is the 8th one tonight."

One of the people said, as he pulled his weapon, similar to a flail with sharp spikes from the body of a woman.

The once slender and beautiful body now lay bleeding and torn on the ground, its torso open with its organs spilling out and limbs crushed.

How could a human being produce so much force with an object like this?* you ask yourself?

The answer could only be one—

"Hunters."

People with supernatural powers who hunted Grimms…but sometimes…they hunted smaller prey.

"Do you think this is okay, Mr. Gordo?"

The owner of the Flail asked "Mr. Gordo."

The owner of the Flail asked the one who went by the title "Mr. Gordo," a relatively tall man of 1.70m with the appearance of a middle-aged man and bald, wearing what would be a gray suit.

"We still have to finish the job, boys. After all, these are a threat to my colleagues." The man barely deigned to look at the corpse near his feet, never mind that the body was still convulsing. "Hmm…I wonder what consequences those who don't follow us in this city have faced…"

The man called "Gordo" looked up at the sky with a tired face. His face was furrowed in disgust at the metallic smell of the blood of what was once a simple prostitute.

Gordo was one of the top members of the "Viper" gang that rules this city in Mistral. A gang that rules with blood AND violence. So normally he would have nothing to fear on a night like this.

Even if a corpse was at his feet like a stray dog, the man didn't seem to really care beyond "Disgust", after all, such an occurrence was normal among the residents here.

In this city, every man for himself, survival of the fittest, not even a child would be spared from this city motto.

"Well... I can understand why you don't care."

The owner of the flail, a bald man in black robes, threw the cigarette he was smoking into the bloody puddle, with complete disregard for the fallen man.

"As a mine of resources from the dark parts of the kingdom, this place is important. But this place still gives me the creeps." The ex-hunter wrinkled his nose, as if he could smell death and decay.

"..." Gordo opened his mouth to reply, but when he felt a chill on the back of his neck, he closed it with an audible click.

The ex-hunter just raised his eyebrows at him.

"Never mind…this air here gives me the creeps too.."

Gordo was as uncomfortable as his partner.

"Wow? Who would have thought you would be here associating with me for these ridiculous things."

"Shut up and just listen to me."

Gordo replied scathingly.

The black suits around him, who remained attentive and silent, laughed softly, their boss was always arguing with his partner. After a few seconds of laughter, Gordo spoke again.

"Don't forget our mission. We're here to find whoever is in charge of these prostitutes… after all, if you're inefficient, the bodies you're proud of are worthless!" Gordo soon started walking again, ignoring the fallen body. The former hunter looked at the corpse for a moment longer before speaking again, looking up at the sky.

"It looks like it's going to rain…" The man started walking again as he called Gordo's attention. "So? The plan is for you to kidnap these prostitutes one by one and get rid of them until you find the "Matron"? Considering your drinking habits, I doubt it will be quick." The man said as he continued with his hands in his pockets. However. As soon as the man took a step past the corpse, he heard a murmur of agony, making his face crumple.

"Ah…ah…help…me…sorry…"

The prostitute who had just been killed and dismembered, clung to life, the dim light of her eyes staring into nothingness as she begged.

"I…don't…want…to…die…"

The man answered the woman's pleas with a quick, incredulous murmur.

"Hey Hey Hey Hey hey!"

He was in disbelief, he was sure he had ripped out her marrow and organs. How was she still alive? "I'm sorry girl…but you're already dead…"

He was a Killer, but not a scoundrel to torment someone who was already dying.

"Besides. How are you living without a torso? You shouldn't even be able to breathe." "Impossible," yes, what was happening there defied logic. She had died and should have died, not continued.

However, Gordo, who had noticed his pause, called him again.

"Leave her alone. She's already dead. Just throw her away." Gordo dismissed her as if the corpse that was still clinging to life was a mere bag of trash.

The man in black simply shrugged as he grabbed the dismembered prostitute's throat and threw her across the alley. The corpse disappeared into the darkness with an arc in the air, the man's nose squeaked with the blood that splashed onto it.

"How annoying."

"I agree…do you want to hurry up?"

As he watched the man in a bad mood, Gordo patted his back. They both acted as if they hadn't just massacred an innocent prostitute.

"Let's kill two more and go out tonight, what do you think?"

"It's okay. You drunk, hahaha."

"Hahhahaha!"

The black suits and Gordo laughed casually as if they were talking about something trivial, and not premeditated murder.

However, a horrible tinkling sound echoed there.

"What?"

Gordo couldn't see because he suddenly found himself face to face with the back of a tall man in the darkness. However, the warm blood dripping from his face was easy to deduce.

'Someone was attacking them.'

Before they could react, the tall man in dark robes jumped into the air, pulling the chain with him. In the process, crushing his target with inhuman strength. He exploded from the pressure like a balloon of blood and flesh and then fell to the ground like a mannequin.

The man who caused this stood up smoothly after landing, camouflaged in the darkness, his threatening voice echoing in the place.

"Hello, good evening… I would say that you are definitely the unluckiest people tonight."

Gordo and his henchmen were speechless.

The hunter who had been superior moments ago was now a broken puddle at their feet. Ironically, he had died in the same gruesome way as his victims. An irony indeed.

Meanwhile, Gordo stared at the tall Clown wearing a jet black suit, who was playing with a bloody chain in the darkness like a snake. Even in this darkness, it was possible to see his bright ruby eyes and his Machiavellian smile.

"Come on~ don't be so scared." The man teased them. 'Or are you going to tell me that you're used to killing, but not to being killed?' The man chattered as if he were talking about the weather. Still interrupted. "Ah…but those who die prematurely Are insignificant….like your friend over there?" After what seemed like hours, Gordo gathered the courage for a single question.

"W..who are you?" The man Paused for a moment, tilting his head to the side. As if he was considering…

"Who…am I?" The man smiled slightly And the air plummeted dangerously. It was illogical, their relationship. But still, The man smiled as he saw them even more paralyzed. "I see…well! I have several names…but none that are important…after all, I don't even remember my real name." The man took a step forward slowly before answering. "But I'll give you one so you can scream when you go to hell." And so, the blood in his veins ran cold and his breathing became heavy. The man in front of him released a wave of malice as great as a mass of sins. That was a monster worse than the Grimms.

"I'm Natch. It's a nickname a friend gave me, but I like it… now… as I was saying.." The man who threatened them, suddenly kicked the dying body of the woman that had been thrown away moments ago.

"Ah… ah…. s…a…l…e… me…"

"That poor woman… she deserved sympathy."

Gordo didn't understand how she ended up there, he was sure the body had been thrown behind them, but now it was at his feet. Had she come crawling?

The man in black turned to the corpse at his feet, his Machiavellian smile never leaving his face.

"S…a…l…e… me…"

"Everyone shouted the same thing. You know… 'I don't want to die. I want to live.' but this afternoon… you're already dead."

The man…this clown…his actions were no longer fearless, but rather crazy. He babbled as if he were talking to children about life.

What kind of man was this?

"Yes….it's too late…the most I can do…is avenge you.." the man said as he stood up to his full height and glared at the fat man.

"W-what?"

"Kukuku relax, let's talk a little more~"

And again like before, the man was closer in the blink of an eye.

"Imagine a food chain…where humans are at the TOP.."

With a relaxed and open posture, the man–Natch– twisted his silver tongue, his air tense and dark before the monster in human skin.

"The world is a pyramid where the base is more numerous than the–TOP!"

With an audible CRUNCH he crushed the remains of what was once the woman's neck and separated it from the broken torso.

"Therefore, if the top is more numerous, the base will become extinct and therefore, the Top will starve...do you know what I mean?"

The woman's head rolled across the floor to her feet, and without a shred of sympathy, Natch kicked it up and continued his damned logic.

"There is only one plausible answer...humans must devour each other. So, I will not accuse or judge you. After all, that is how the world is. So, do not cry or be sad. Just accept that you should not have left the house tonight...and simply DIE."

With a simple, almost lazy slide–

BOOM

The black suit next to Gordo was hit like a bullet. What was that projectile? It was nothing more than the head of the prostitute thrown at high speed straight into his face.

'Is that what he meant by "avenging you"? What kind of madman's logic is this?'

Natch's laughter was audible to everyone as he replied:

"The kiss is expensive, you little fish!"

At that moment, Gordo's Rage overcame his instincts for self-preservation and barked his order:

"SHOOT TO KILL!"

At the same moment as the order, a deafening gunshot rang out. Flashes and smoke rose into the night as they blocked the shooters' vision, but at such a short distance, there should have been nothing left but a smoking, torn corpse.

However—

"Unfortunately—"

Through the curtain of gunpowder, a silver serpent was thrown, its wide fangs sinking into one and tying up 3 others. In total, 4 black suits were pulled without resistance towards Natch.

It was an inconceivable feat For a seemingly normal human. All the black suits were grown men weighing in the high double digits. But they were all pulled like dolls.

"This is the end."

Along with a melodic voice, the sound of a blade being drawn was heard behind the smoke screen.

Of course, not only that. But like a magic show, 4 heads rolled off the body in a terrifying synchrony.

The strength required for this defied the common logic of human strength. The simple blade that should have shattered upon impact with a large human body, tore through flesh like paper. It was as if a reaper of death was passing by to reap their lives. Upon seeing such an Action, Gordo remembered a single Name. One that was feared in the realm where enhanced humans, Faunus, bandits and hunters feared like a Bogeyman. And with a trembling voice that sounded like someone else, Gordo spoke;

"Y-you are…Deathscythe?"

"I wonder if that Name is better known.." with a voice full of mockery, Deathscythe killed With a strange Subtlety murderousness the rest of the men.

One. Two. Three. Four. Six. Eight. More than half of the people were reduced to masses of blood on the ground, all before Gordo had time to draw his weapon.

"This is already boring."

With a slurred voice, Natch suddenly Touched his body in the air and with a spinning kick–

CHRUNCH

His Target's head was crushed and thrown into the side of a building. It didn't matter if it was an aura-coated skull. To Natch it was a simple egg.

And Natch didn't stop there. White chains and blades danced along his feet like a deadly rhythm. Silver flashes were the last sight before the bloody red.

And when Gordo finally managed to draw his weapon– everyone was already dead.

A total of 10 seconds had passed since the death of the 4 men.

"Impossible"

Gordo muttered as he looked at the massacre in front of him. His voice and confidence reduced to tatters by the DEATH in front of him.

"I'm Here."

"AH!"

Before Gordo could do anything, he felt his enemy's Weapon pushing against the back of his skull.

"Too fragile. Right?"

Gordo didn't even have time to answer that mocking question in the face of the excruciating pain.

In his mind he lamented:

'Am I going to die like this? Like an insect? Like a nobody?'

And as if hearing his thoughts, Narch replied.

"I said…don't lament…this is reality…"

"W-WAIT–"

"I said…you were unlucky."

Without giving him time to beg, Gordo was ripped apart from the top of his head to his chin like jelly.

And what happened next was similar to a dissection process.

For with a single hand wielding a white blade, Natch tore through Gordo, skin, bones, organs, flesh, everything was shredded until they were strips that lost any previous weight.

At that very moment, a torrential rain fell…the so-called "Rain of Death." named after Natch and his "works" that come with it.

…

….

…..

Lifting his face to the sky and closing his eyes, Nacht questioned himself.

"What is it?...any complaints?"

…

….

….

"I see…don't be grumpy…if it were you and not me, the outcome wouldn't change, even though you have a surprisingly gentle side…

kukukuku…kakaka…HAHAHAHAHA!"

The man laughed to himself as he allowed the rain to wash the blood and remains from his body.

…

….

"Oh? Don't hide or lie, it's not good for your body, or rather, not just YOUR body. So take care of me."

The man who was talking and laughing to himself, at the same time gave an innocent smile in the face of the carnage around him.

Was he crazy?

"Wake up, Liar…or should I say…Lyle?"

At that moment, he changed. Or should I say, "I" changed.

"You have a terrible sense of humor, Natch. Killing 13 people.."

'Oh? Did you count? Trust me. This was also unexpected.'

Dialect, facial expressions, posture and body language. Everything was the same and different at the same time, even the ruby eyes were now jet black.

'Come on Lyle! It was unexpected even for me! Don't you believe in your friends?'

"Friends? And since when are we friends?"

He was talking to himself, his face that was previously murderous, was now calm. Like a calm lake.

"Every time you show up…nothing good happens…just disappear and disappear NATCH…"

'kukukuku…I refuse'

Natch replied with mockery in his voice.

"What?"

"Didn't you hear? I'm still not satisfied.."

'Gorigoki'

And just like before, the entire atmosphere changed.

A mischievous smile spread across the man's face.

"I won't sleep until I've enjoyed everything tonight. Until I'm satisfied, I won't give it to you."

Natch laughed at Lyle's anger that he felt internally and at his "friends" joke.

The obvious was already exposed. Lyle and Natch, two people in one body. Despite that, many would say that it was closer to a possession than a personality swap.

"Until then. Sleep."

Natch muttered as he opened his eyes that changed from black to red.

"Slaughter...everything.."

The figure of the man soaked in darkness could only be called a "god of death." And he would live up to his nickname.