I walk with a decent stride to my name as my hands bury themselves deeper into my pockets. Since it's the first time conceal carrying, the weight of a fully loaded Glock 19 resting in my holster makes walking just a little cumbersome. My breathe fogs up my glasses due to the relatively low temperature during the afternoon. Following my usual route leading to the lake, I stick to the self made trail for around 40 minutes before tiring out and sitting on a rock. I removed my glasses and turn my music up to help the cloudy sky gain more ambience. This hiking trip is definitely what I needed to clear my mind. The more leaves I crunch under my boot adds extra peace.

I continue for around 20 minutes till I break through the tree line to my standard fishing spot. Or that's what I should have found, I remember leaving flag markers around my tent the last time I was out here, but I couldn't find any trace of my encampment the week before. The lake was supposed to run in front of my route, but it was no where in sight. Getting a little worried, I decide to continue in the same direction for the next ten minutes. If I am still somewhat lost at that point, I will head back in the direction I came and call it a day.

The road leading back to the parking lot is paved, so finding it shouldn't be too much of a problem. This is why I overpack...

As I moved forward my trail dissipated back into the forested ground returning to an untrecked state. The reason I came out here was complicated. You see, the last thing I wanted to see was the lake I would always visited during my childhood. It was also the place I had lost my father in a boating accident, and I thought if I wanted to follow a similar fate, I would follow suite. Since it was nowhere to be found, I just kept walking till I found a high enough cliff or something. I thought I left my clip on shades on my glasses but when I discovered them in my pocket the sight in front of me presented itself to be very unsuitable.

The unatural thing I noticed was the physical color of the ground grew darker. The sun wasn't dipping below the treeline yet, so this raised even more concern. Crouching down to inspect the ground more closly, the exposed roots and any ground level shrubs also seemed to be lacking any other color. Rubbing it with my fingers, the leaves felt as strong and life like at ever. No ash, no odor of paint, no nothing. The only thing I could come up with was the aftermath of a semi serious forest fire occuring in the area, but it continued as far as I can see. Nothing from the local news explained this black and grey landscape in front of me. I stare at the trees and see that the outer layers resemble being charred, but there was still no odor.

The air began to grow stale instead, and the trees were now completely devoid of leaves, and the sky grew darker and darker despite it being late in the morning. I watch my back instinctively and hover my hand over my holster waiting for something to make contact with me. This continues before a border of smoke obscures my vision. The wall of smoke in front of me seems to rise to at least 150 feet in the air, so climding a tree won't be needed. It also doesn't seem to loose intensity and keeps it shape. All I could do was stare as the smoke caught my gaze with it's subtle changes in shades.

A black figure navigates through the smoke before emerging from it with a strong gust of wind. The trees are lit ablaze and I unholster my weapon and aim in the relative direction of the thing in front of me. The figure was completely covered in a robe masking it's face with physical darkness.

"Do not fight me mortal, you have no chance challenging me in my own domain."

"Who- What are you? Where am I?"

"I am who your people call The God of Death, and you are the first ever being to make it this far alive."

"Death's Domain? Why am I here."

"I do not have an answer to your question human, but you are something I have not seen before."

"To enter my plane of excistance, one must die and I am the one that guides them to the eternal resting place."

"So I am dead, now?"

"Not yet at least, you are already dead to me, but for you to be here now is something I must take care of."

"So do you want me to leave? I'd be happy to if it doesn't bother you."

"I can not fullfill your request, for you to leave here now and return from the realm of death will cause a shift in the balance."

"As soon as you die again, I will not have the power to put you to rest, making you a lost soul for eternity once you perish."

"Any other options for me?"

"I can send you away from your previous world on the condition you agree to serve me and my fellow Servants of Ouroborus."

"Can I think about it, I want to weigh my options here, can you also kill the flames, it isn't helping the atmosphere."

"I will give you 2 minutes to decide your fate, don't keep me waiting."

I lower my weapon and holster it. I sit on the ground in denial about my situation. Becoming a lost soul? What kind of dark end was that, to truly be lost after death is dreadfull? But to leave everything behind, could I really do that? I mean, I was really going to do that anyway...

I'm only fucking 19, I can't die yet, but was it really dying? Fuck, what the fuck do I decide, I doubt a god would care about a single lost soul.

This time after emerging, the gusts of wind kills the flames and it grows a chair out of the ground composed of black roots.

"Thanks, and I have made my decision."

"I await your answer."

"I choose to be sent to wherever you need me and serve under you."

"Alright human, I accept your offer of servitude."

"The outer realm which you will be taken to is a land mass much larger than the one you have lived on previously. The extent of humanoid races amongst other things are also something you have not had to deal with. Your previous world has enough death over a short period of time that I do not need to intervene indirectly. But this other realm has not had enough death to satisfy me. This is where you will serve as my apostle. Those who have died and entered my plane naturally are now under your command as well as mine. The more death you cause, the more will your forces grow. If you end up dying in the world, you will not be led to the after life like everyone else. My worshipers in the other realm are many and praise a false idol in the image of myself, I would be in your debt if you where to exterminate these followers."

"What your people call "The Age of Imperialism" should start you off on the right foot based on the standard of an individual unit."

"Era of the smoothbore? No complaints from me, I think I should be set."

"Very well human, I expect a high mortality rate."

I feel a burning sensation on my right hand as I see that a mark was branded on my back hand with a skull surrounded by dated lettering.

"You have been marked by the Ouroborus Servant of Death, this should allow you to summon souls to do your bidding."

Death resides back into the smoke as I give it a salute before the smoke surrounds me as well. I close my eyes with a twisted smile on my face while shaking my head.

I rub my eyes to see grass in front of me. I grasp it with my hand and put out some blades before rubbing my hands together. Standing upright, I look around to see I'm in a field. More specifically, a pasture, with various dirt roads and medieval farm houses around. Taking in the scenery, I walk along the path trying to find a main road, or some recognizable structure. The vast countryside reminded me of native France or Germany.

My hiking gear felt heavier due to the sudden change of gravity. I could breathe, so that was a good start. It was a lot hotter in the sun, and my pack was really weighing me down. I shuffle into my backpack and pull out a pair of binoculars I used for bird watching. I also equip some gloves and ascend the nearest tree. Taking a look at my surroundings, the nearest town did have walls around it, meaning I couldn't just walk in.

Taking a sip of bottled water, I count up my resources and now extra thankful I overpacked, but it wasn't going to last me forever. I put on a black baseball cap and facemask before setting out. My glock still rested in my holster unfired for the time being. I descend the tree and take the dirt path, I inspect the mark on my hand. Since the burn wore off, it resembled a tatoo if you didn't look to close at it.

I move closer to the town until I see a wagon stuck on the outskirts of town with a broken wheel. I slowly circle around it to find it empty. I dug into the contents of the various boxes and crates found and discovered nothing of value. I didn't find a single cooking pot, or anything like it, I had left my previous cooking pan in the tent, which was not at the top of the item list.

Stepping out, my back ached a little due to crouching down even for a short amount of time.

While stretching my hand catches my attention again, but I decide against trying anything yet since I have no need to.

I sneak into the town by crouching and keeping pace with a supply wagon which was now a lot bigger than expected since it's contents was more than enough to mask me from sight. The local language on the signs and whatever I overheard sounded completely foreign to me. I curse under my breathe realizing I could't converse and I a pretty sure I stepped on someone else's property due to people avoiding the area around me. I move to the side but I am tapped on the shoulder by a man in chainmail.

The back of my hand starts burns like it was just rebranded but then the pain transfered to my head as I could suddenly understand what he was saying.

"Are you waiting outside for the piece of armor you ordered, this is the pick up area you know. The order doesn't finsih for another 3 hours, you can come inside you want. We are having a sale at the moment if you are interested..."

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to loiter in this area. Can you point me to the nearest inn, I'll check up on your shop later, but I need a place to stay for now."

When I spoke, the sounds coming out of my mouth were of foreign tounge, but I still spoke modern english from my standpoint. I look at my hand which I could have swore burned a little brighter than normal, but since it gave me the power of translation, I couldn't complain.

He points me to a three story building a few streets down. I thank him before waving and striding at a fast pace.

I relized I had to pay them with something... I dig in my pocket to grab anything I felt and I doubt the coins of the United States would mean much here. But the composition of metal would probably add value. I open my wallet to find the standard coins and paper bills. Realizing the armor shop probably had a the means to melt down my coins, but with such a low composition, it didn't really matter.

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I look at the building for a few seconds before pushing my arm against the door frame to enter. I remove my hat and clip it to the side to my jeans. I adjust my mask a little higher due to the smell of the occupants inside.

I approach the front desk but the bells from the second story ring franticly as everyone gets up from their seats and scrambles for the front or back door.

"Everyone please evacuate to the church or garrison. Those hired to fight assemble at your designated rally points."

"What's going on?"

"Huh, those are the bells of an incoming attack traveler."

"Oh thank you, stay safe or something."

Lines of people started to run thin as the offer of safety or combat was an enticing offer to anyone who wanted to take part respectively.

A majority of people have already left leaving only me and some passed out drunk slumping in a chair in the corner. I here a voice in my head that fully freezes my already tensed up body.

"Ouroborus Servant of Death here, as you can see, this world has a lot of people who are better off dead, you can end his life here, allowing you to summon someone who is loyal to you and will be by your side in conquest, or wait for him to die in the battle to come. He will reach me no matter what, so why don't you help yourself out."

I look around again and the ajar door is something I turn to face before I hear another sentence.

"A soul for a soul, it's only fair right? I'll make it easier on you, since your life will be in danger shortly, I'll you give five for the tradeoff of one, but only this one time. And I don't have all day you know, or you do rather."

I scoff a little before turning to the man weigh my options.

"My offer still stands, plus he isn't the most sinless one here, being a mercenary, he has ended the lives of a lot of innocent people, how delight-saddening."

"I'll do it if you let me think, also quit your fucking monologuing."

"Carry on and good luck."

I reach down and pull out my glock with a sudden motion and close in on my victim. His positioned changed to leaning headfirst on the table like he was offering it to me. Considering I would have six guns total pointing in the same direction instead of one would be a game changer. All I had to do was pull the trigger once. A 9mm bullet would pierce and not exit the skull in some instances. I sling my bag over the table and bring out some hearing protecting I bought from the local range and adjust it over my head.

Now that the sound would be bearable even indoors I guide the end of the barrel to face the mans forehead. I rest my hand of the trigger and pull. I stare at the result of my action until the voice in my head seems to take no mind to my current hearing protection.

"Thank you human, he accepted the release of death willingly. I've seleted participants that have perrished in the Battle of Lexington and Concord. You can summon them whenever you please."

"I will keep that in mind, thanks for the future assistance."

I let go of my handgun and rub my hand sweat covered hands together. I take my leave and find the outside area in disarray. Groups are running about and I tail behind a group of lightly armored individuals with hoods.

The one leading the group turns a little but continues to lead us to the border wall.

"Bow casters! Now is your time to help your allies in battle, take positions along the wall and cast fire light or sub burner to hold the line. Our footmen are tiring out, get to it."

We near the edge of the wall and wooden ladders and steps are the only things allowing us access to the top of the wall. I realized I followed the wrong crowd as someone was shot off the wall landing with a defeating crushing sound which already broke my morale. I realize the arrow inside him was 2 feet long with spikes along the shaft pointing either direction making removal of the arrow impossible. The land also had enough force behind it to impale him to the ground. He lost his grip with life and died looking at the sky with tears coming out of his eyes.

I get yelled at to join the fight but run away as dying in some random raid was the last thing I wanted. I follow along the street until I find a crack in a different section of wall I could squeeze through and escape. After running along the same street for a while, another defensive section was being attacked with even more punishment than the last.

The gate holding the advancing army burst open with a ball of flames eating away at anything close to the entrance. I kneel down behind a food stall and watch the carnage unfold. I considered taking a few pot shots at the crowd, but considering my ammo count, I wanted to conserve in case I had to shoot.

This section of the wall had been overrun, with soldiers dressed in black and gray armor reminding me of the Teutonic knights of the 12th century. They hacked and stabbled though pretty much everyone leaving them bleeding out on the street. Instead of a black cross as the main symbol, it looks liked a tribute to a being I couldn't recognize.

Religious fanatics are dangerous in enough numbers, and the sight of one taking a spear to the chest and continuing to tread on until blood loss caught up to him wasn't a pleasent sight. I winced as a body was rammed against the stall with a gap in his head spreading blood painting the wall of the buidling I was hiding next to.

The soldier then pulls a dagger out of his arm and inspects it before dropping it to the ground a lumbering on. I watch him walk out of view before I let more pass through the hole in the gate and wait my turn to make a break for it.

I noticed a new set soldiers walked through the gates in sets of 4-8 every 10 seconds and seemed to decrease in numbers the longer I waited. Another option was a small hole to the right of the main gate I could just leap through. But I had no info on what was on the other side of the wall. Taking my chances, I scurry to the gap in the wall and peek through.

I see that they didn't take prisoners as every body dead or alive was dragged outside the walls and slit across the throat. Other than that, it was nothing but open field out there, and if I could run fast enough, I might be able to make it to the tree line. I slide through the gap and come face to face with a man with a missing leg.

He grabs my arm and doesn't let go speaking gibberish and he gets impaled from behind with a sword. I reach for my glock and aim center mass at the thing infront of me. I panic and fire 5 rounds into the chest and kick him to the ground. The 9mm bullets passing right through the front of the plate amror. This caught the unwanted attention of everyone else around me as they start closing in.

Deciding to counter, I charge at the furthest one from the main group needing to run past or through him to get the range advantage. Not breaking pace, I discharge 4 shots to the neck before he can respond killing him quickly. I don't turn around before running for my life and making a break for it. The grass and dirt provides some comfort to my feet as I run for my life. The tree line got closer and closer until I rammed my foot on an exposed branch and landed on my side.

Picking myself up, only 3 decided to pursue me and I extend my arm to my side. The light seething sensation around my hand returning as the end of another barrel gets caught in my peripheral vision. I turn and I yell the first things that comes to my head.

"Fire, shoot! Aim center mass now!" The British accent catches me off guard since it sounded different than I imagined. I fumble another magazine in the meantime.

"Sir, we have not loaded shots yet, sir."

"Bayonets then, I want them on your rifles now." We don't have time, the 21 foot rule was already passed. Five out of the seven musketeers had their bayonets at the ready when I explained my plan.

"I just need you to pin them down for the most part, I can fatally kill them quickly, so just hold. You, now isn't the time to fiddle with your bayonet, just load a shot in the back. Make sure it isn't a blank."

"Understood sir."

The enemy didn't care for self preservation as each took 2 stabs to the upper body before stopping. Seeing the now raging men thrashing about being held back made it seem he was being controlled or influenced. I lift my pistol and place three holes where the mans heart should of been. He stops struggling but the other wrestles the rifle out of the hands of one of my men and arks the end of the rifle against the shoulder of another making him mobile again.

I fire again riddling the body with 6 9mm shots to the abdomen. The third and final opponent removes his helmet and reveals a pair of tired and bloodshot eyes, he stumbles forward with arms out before seizing which forces him to pull out a blade. He stands still smiling until he points the knife toward himself and quickly stabs his own throath over and over until he ceases movement.

That encounter really fucked me up and I just stared at the corpse processing what I just saw. I unload the completely spent magazine and put in my last fresh one. I still remembered to keep a bullet for myself, if things ever went that south.

"Line up now, I have a plan in the works."

I remove my headset so I could converse with the confused looking musket wielding allies.

"I favor this position so we won't run just yet, I'll get some more intrantry units." I extend my hand and this time but when I look up I see a face that is rather unhappy that I have a hand on them.

"How dare you try and fondle a women like me, a member of the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers."

"I can explain! Hold up, can anyone help me out here?"

"I don't believe my words can't assist you at this time."

"Thanks for the input, funny hat by the way, what regiment are you from?"

"5th Foot Infrantry sir."

"Thanks for the help, very helpfull."

"I think you own me an apology you masked pervert."

"Listen, I'll apolagize for now, but I want to thank you for not shooting...so that makes 6 total and I should be able to add 3 more." I feel for the empty magazine I place in my pocket and transfer it to my backpack while getting stared at.

"So we have 6 of you right now. Are all of you are from line infrantry regiments?"

"The 2 of us are apart of the British marines, what is your rank if you don't mind me asking?"

"Staff Seargent Joshua Rommel 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment."

"Ah a continental then, why the dark cloths and such, I doubt that would be uniform in any army."

"This is hiking gear, since I'm off duty at the moment, but I will bring someone who you should recognize."

The newest addition wore a blue coat with similar white garments relative to the british.

I put my hat back on and removed my facemask for my next set of words to be heard a lot easier. But the muskets were still raised with myself in the middle of the crossfire.

"I won't perish to some bloody back bastards!"

"Look around yankee, we have you surrounded." The britsh girl remarked.

"Ahem." I try and lower the musket closest to me but get pricked in the hand which puts 1 more figure to my side which follows the trend of having a weapon raised.

Everyone takes a few paces back as my battle buddy detaches from me to form a 2 man last stand with the previous rebel.

"If you take a look around the battle being fought relatively close to us is neither a British or American conflict right now, so if you can talk this out and understand each other, I'm sure sure we can form a common strategy eh?"

A rather short women emerges from behind one of the redcoats and orders me on my knees.

"Quiet colonial, we have a use for you, but your fellow patriots don't have the same fate."

"Oh you must by my ninth, officer cunt if I had to guess the name, is that right on the money?"

I get slapped across the face which removes my hat and shades from my face. My smile fades as I aim my glock forward.

"I can put two bullets into each of your men if you continue to mess around. Now I really suggest we talk this out before we get into another engagement against a common enemy."

"Tie them up, I want a man guarding them at all times. Bring me the dark dressed one to me after we have subdued them."

My fellow Americans knew they didn't have a chance and begrudgingly lowered their rifles while I toss my glock to the ground. My hands were guided to my back and tied and the others were tied to the same tree. I was brought to a different tree as 3 of the redcoats approached me while the other 4 watch our surrounding or the prisoners of war.

"It seems you have an ability Mr. Rommel. Now I would like to ask you about your items you have on you before we talk about what you are."

The officer is handed my glock and inspects it thoroughly before smiling at me.

"Your fellow colonist craft this gun?"

"It's Austrian."

"Interesting, so what allows you to summon my countrymen to this place."

"If you take a look at my hand." I raise it to show her what I mean. "I witness your life ending before you appear in front of me, I can describe it if you think I'm lying."

"We don't need to dwell on that event, on the other hand, you brought a majority of fallen British to aid you, I don't see a reason for this."

"Well let's just say the Americans and British are on friendly terms later on. And I would rather have British boots on the ground rather than American at this time."

"American?"

"Oh that's what we call ourselves when we won our independence. But at the end of the day we ended up being allies so don't dwell on it to hard."

"It is not out of the realm of possibility but I doubt your words."

"Now as I've been saying, I don't want to and can't afford to die for obvious reasons. I am willing to work with you and if I made the wrong choice giving you a second chance, I can put a bullet in between the eyes just like last time."

"Why are you so loud mouthed right now? You are in no position of power what so ever. You lineman, gag him please, we will need him later or not." She states and she walks away.

"Wait before you do, you need a translator, or someone who knows how to operate my pistol, or uh you know will increase your numbers in the future you know!"

"Uhhh stand him up and bring him over here."

I am guided by the end of a bayonet at my back for a few paces before I am standing right next the officer.

"I want you to bring forth more British marines right now you swine."

"I'd love to but there needs to be something that has to happen first."

"That requirment being what."

"The life of another, well the end of the life of another to be clear."

"Are you certain that is the case?"

"Yeah after you I couldn't grasp anyone else, trust me I've tried it."

"How splendid, but we will use it nevertheless."

"If you perform this action in front of my own eyes then you will get your weapon back or if not, you and your allies will get killed."

"I get that, but I won't dissapoint."

"You six on me, line formation! Get to it!"

"You two, keep our captives company, that's an order."

"Yes Sir."

"And finally you good sir, in pace next to me now come on. I don't bite."

I could see that she really needed me to perform what I claimed, but I thought that the personnel already here was more than enough evidence other than that maybe forcing me into combat would make me summon more out of fear. It didn't really matter, since we had to same goal for now.