(Thunderclouds...Lightning striking)...(A voice in the background)
Skull...Dust...Blood...Scars! Not once had the darkness been conquered, not once had the red skies become clear...for the land had been so barren, filled with trees, flowers so withered away, and the soil so hot like the fire from the dawn of creation. A kingdom that had been ruled by a supreme ruler where no one ever went against his wishes. The ancient kingdom...the land of misery...the Kingdom of CHAOS!!! (Lightning striking).
(Voice slowly fading away)...
(Michael and Anna were traveling over the barren lands)...
"Eight districts were created by Death in order to maintain order. Each one was ruled by the most powerful evils of Chaos," Michael said as he placed a scarf around Anna's neck. "This will protect you from any long-range attacks, but be careful; the most tricky of them stayed in District Seven," he said with a serious expression on his face as he continued to walk.
Anna adjusted the scarf and continued to walk with him. "Are you talking about the Six generals that were loyal to Death?" she asked with a curious expression. Michael was telling her that the Six generals were really strong, but none could challenge the one who ruled over District Seven. He continued to explain as he told her about Death's closest friend and only comrade, the one who was strong enough to challenge even Death as he was a greater evil of his own. Immediately, when Michael mentioned this, Anna instinctively knew who he was talking about.
"I was being told many stories about him when I was a kid. He was training the Six generals of Chaos and was once Death's right-hand man. He had the power to place anyone under his will. He was fighting many wars on his own and also coming out victorious. The one who walks alone...Desire," Anna explained in a calm manner. She was noticing Michael was quiet and asked him if he was okay.
"We were being watched," he said as he stood his ground and unsheathed his blade.
"What? Where?" she asked in a scared tone as she moved closer to him and pushed her back against his. Suddenly, shadows were starting to come out to the surface, and what was emerging from it were eight beasts of Chaos...dark in color with crimson red eyes...their figures were not quite being made out as they were blurry. They were the watchdogs, protectors of the barren lands of Chaos...also known as Bloodhounds.
They were growling as they approached Anna and Michael, with hot saliva pouring down their mouths.
"Stay close to me no matter what and avoid direct contact with them by all means," Michael warned Anna as he held his sword firmly. The Bloodhounds continued to growl as they closed the distance with each step. Three immediately jumped towards Michael in unison, but instead, their heads were being cut off in a flash before they landed. Blood was gushing out of their heads as they rolled on the floor. The remaining five were becoming more aggressive as three of their brethren had already fallen. They were about to attack, but they saw Michael's eyes and instinctively knew they had no chance against him. They decided to retreat.
(Note: Michael's eyes are gold in colour...they also glow when he uses his Angelic abilities)
"Why were they suddenly retreating?" Anna was asking with curiosity as she stepped in front of Michael. He replied, continuing to walk, "They knew who I was. We needed to hurry!" Anna and Michael decided to pick up the pace.
A few moments later...
Meanwhile, Death was being approached in his Royal Hall by the Bloodhounds that had evaded Michael. They were kneeling before Death as he raised a finger, commanding one of them to come closer to him. A Bloodhound moved closer. Death stood from his throne and bent a knee before the watchdog. He began to stroke its fur as he asked for a report. "What happened, my child? What has frightened you so much to have you all so nervous?" Death was asking in a devilish tone.
He suddenly noticed that three of the Bloodhounds were missing. He returned to his throne and sat while holding his scythe. Death started to emit a demonic aura strong enough to make any being submit before him.
Death's left eye began to glow as he read the Bloodhound's memories. He now had the knowledge about what had happened.
(Note: One of Death's abilities is the power to read any creature's mind. This power resides in his left eye).
"Archangel... He was here!" Death laughed with a devilish expression on his face as he hit his scythe on the ground, causing the whole castle to vibrate. "Grimoire... come forth!" Death commanded in a devilish tone. Suddenly, huge smoke started pouring off the ground and began to take a human figure. What emerged was a naked human with chains all over his body and a hole in his chest. He was bald and had a handsome face with green crystallized eyes.
(Note: Grimoire was a loyal entity to Death. He had been among the first men but had fallen in love with an Angel who was disguised as human. His love had been taken for granted as he felt betrayed when she returned to the Creator. He had studied the ancient words his whole life and had learned the dark ways of the forgotten one {Samael}. He had destroyed countless villages until the Angel decided she could not allow him to destroy humanity anymore. He was cursed by the Angel he loved. His chains were symbols of his imprisonment, while the hole in his heart was that of the betrayal he had suffered from his beloved Angel. His curse had been immortality with extreme pain in his body every time. He had never had rest.)
"My King! Why have you summoned me?" Grimoire was bowing his head before Death while groaning in pain. Death moved closer to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Rise, my loyal servant! Your time has come to prove yourself once again." Grimoire stood up while his gaze was down. "I was yours to command, my Liege. Tell me your will and it shall be done," he replied to Death as he continued to moan in pain. "I had just discovered someone whom I had since forgotten had been among us all this while! He was responsible for our imprisonment... the one who had fought us over thousands of years ago. The Creator's warrior was here! He had been here all along! The Archangel was here," Death was telling Grimoire as he circled him while explaining. "Do you want these insolent chains gone? I promise I will set you free once you bring him before me... same as the human who was traveling with him." Death was convincing him in a devilish tone. "Your will shall be carried out, my King," Grimoire said as he vanished along with the smoke.
However, Michael and Anna had entered District Seven using an abandoned tunnel that led to the main square. As soon as they exited, Michael had brought out hooded cloaks from his travel bag and instructed her to put one on. Their aim was to gather enough information about Death's agenda and find a way to exit Chaos and return to Earth. "Be careful, Anna, and stay close to me," Michael whispered to her as he opened the gate to the main square. Anna quietly followed along, covering her face with her hood.
(Note: The hooded cloaks were crafted by Michael and infused with one of his Anfelic abilities which grants the power of illusion to whoever puts it on. The cloaks gives an illusion to anyone who sees them as evils of Chaos.)
The creatures were passing them by without any indication of detection. Michael had suddenly dragged Anna into an alley. "We should be safer this way," he was convincing her as he continued walking ahead of her. Michael had suddenly noticed a figure emerging from the shadows that was approaching them. Immediately, he stopped moving. "What is it? Why are we stopping?" Anna was whispering, having no idea about what was happening. "Someone's coming...or rather, something," Michael replied to Anna with a serious expression on his face. Anna had also noticed the figure and took a stand beside Michael.
A man had come out of the shadows, chains all over his body embedded into his skin. "We have to run. He's here!" Michael had said in a serious tone. Anna had become so scared as soon as she saw his chains. She couldn't move and was standing still, frozen in place. Suddenly, she remembered one of the stories Gerald had told her as a child.
"It's bedtime, Anna...go to bed, my sweet child," Gerald was saying as he covered her up with a blanket.
"Am I safe, Grandpa?" Little Anna was asking with a scared expression on her face. Gerald was convincing her that she was safe with him. He promised to always protect her. "But what if he comes back?" Little Anna was asking Gerald in a concerned tone. "His chains and the hole in his heart will forever be his weakness, Anna. He is always in pain," Gerald was explaining to her.
Anna was lost in thought until Michael called out her name. "Anna! Anna! Snap out of it!" Michael was saying as he held her hand and unsheathed his blade. "It's him, Michael...it's really Grimoire," Anna said in a scared tone. "It was too late to run now, but I promised I would protect you with my life," Michael was reassuring Anna as he stood before her, taking his stance with his angelic sword. Grimoire was continuing to approach them, his chains dangling and sparking on the floor with each of his footsteps. "There was no way out," Grimoire said as he laughed hysterically. Dark wings were popping out of his back, and an axe had suddenly conjured in flames, appearing in his left hand. It was engraved with ancient words.
Michael instinctively knew he had no chance against the creature standing in front of him at that moment, but he had to protect Anna, so he was putting on a brave look. "Things just got out of hand," Michael said as his eyes started glowing.