“This place is weird, but it’s kind of like the city back on earth.”
“Well that’s because Hell City was once a normal city.”
“Ah!”
Yamato punches the small skinny creature in the face sending it crashing to the ground. Its large bulbous head was twisted 360 degrees. The creature stood up and snapped its head back into place, bones making a sickly popping noise with each motion.
The creature was about 2 feet tall and its head was way too big for its body. Its limbs were pencil thin and it had no eyes, but instead a thick layer of skin covered its eye sockets like a blindfold. When it spoke, there was light crackling sound coming from each word.
“For give me master I did not mean to startle you.”
“What the hell are you?”
“I am a grimmling.”
“A what?”
“I am a creature of hell whose job is to escort souls to their respective level of Hell. But since the tournament is to begin soon, my brethren and I were task to serving the fighters.”
“Alright, so your kind of like a corner coach.”
“Corner coach?”
“Never mind, so what can you tell me about this place and the tournament?”
“Well as I said before, Hell City use to be a real city, the first city actually.”
“What happened?”
“When the great mast fell, he landed on the first city and the force was enough to send it here along with him. Once he awoke, he began twisting and creating a world in his image using the first city as a base.”
“And the tournament?”
“Ah, that my master will have to be explained in small doses, especially since this is my first time accompanying a fighter.”
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Yamato looked around Hell City and watched how each demonic creature mingled and traded with each other like as if they were normal people. That’s when it came to him.
“Are these demons…”
“Yes, they are the inhabitants of the first city. Those that submitted to the great ones will were twisted into what you see before you.”
“And the others?”
“Need you really ask?”
Yamato could hear the faint screams of millions of souls being tortured. Yamato took a deep breath and continued to walk the streets of Hell City. The creature followed closely behind hopping each movement.
“So, what’s your name?”
“It is whatever master desires.”
“You don’t already have one?”
“We lower creatures are not worth given a true name.”
Yamato considered what to call the grimmling.
“Grimm.”
“Grimm?”
“It’s your name from now on got it?”
“Yes master, from this day forth I shall be known as Grimm.”
“Good, now where can I find a place to hold out?”
“There is special place for fighters just up ahead master.”
“Then lead the way Grimm-san.”
…
Grimm leads Yamato to a tower that reached the very top of Hell. The two approached the front entrance where they are met by huge horned muscular demon.
“We wish to gain access to the house of fighters.”
The demon glares at Grimm and then turns his attention to Yamato. Yamato gets in his combat stance ready to take down the beast, but Grimm grabs his arm with the mark on it. The demon sees the mark and steps aside allowing the two to enter. Yamato follows Grimm inside but keeps his eyes on the other demon.
Once inside, Yamato looked around the brightly lit halls of the tower. He was surprise to see it as bright as it was considering it was all lit by candles. Yamato sees other creatures there giving him a look that wild animals gave to their prey just before they struck. Like him they also had grimmlings, but each one was different from the last. Finally, Grimm brings Yamato to door that appeared to be made from flesh and bone. Yamato opens the door to what looks like a small apartment. He starts having flashbacks of his own back on earth that he shared with Junko. Yamato lays back on the bed and stares at the ceiling.
“This can’t be real…”
“But it is real master.”
“Ah!”
Grimm appears inches away from Yamato’s face making him strike Grimm into the ceiling snapping the creatures neck. Grimm stands up and pops his head back into place.
“You can’t keep doing that, you’re haunting to look at. Ah… sorry Grimm-san.”
“You do not need to apologize to me master. If it pleases you, you may beat Grimm until you are satisfied.”
“That… that’s pretty fucked up.”
“It is the life of a grimmling.”
“So now what, do I wait for someone to come get me for my match?”
Grimm points to the mark on Yamato’s arm.
“That will glow when it is your time to fight. After that you will instinctively know where to go.”
Yamato looks at the mark.
“Really?”
The mark on his arm began to glow and Grimm began to cackle something like a laugh.
“It seems is it time master. Your first match is next.”