“Praise he who decides our fate, and pledge your souls to his unyielding power and grace,” Former Lord Tankenu declared, his arms stretched wide as if welcoming the imminent chaos. Above, the sky was a chaotic canvas of bright lightning bolts, each flash followed by the deep roar of thunder. Shrouding the once bright snowy mountains in an ominous darkness.
The instructors knelt on the trembling ground, their heads lowered in silence as they felt the life force of every student disappear by the passing second. Fists clenched and hearts burned with rage, yet their force did not reflect their unyielding behaviour; instead, they sought to protect the very heads atop their burdened shoulders.
Tears formed in Tankenu's eyes as he whispered, "I was right all along." Lowering his arms, he turned to face his subordinates, a wicked grin creeping across his face. “My expectations of them were not wasted,” he said, walking to them. “Prepare a reservation at the House of Quell. Tonight, we will celebrate this glorious moment. The new children will bear witness to our ceremony.”
The earth shook, and a loud and painful cry was heard within the clouds. Where the supreme being's fury had once cast dark shadows, a far more sinister energy began swirling. A red hue, darker and more menacing, bled across the clouds. Snow fell in a fury, blanketing the mountains, but it quickly melted into an unrelenting storm, turning to a torrential downpour over the cursed land of Heathens.
Townsfolk peered from behind shuttered windows astonished by the sudden change. However, none dared step outside, for the air carried the unmistakable chill of death.
Sensei Tankenu’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned back toward the sky. “That accursed devil,” he said. “Daring to poison the very heavens our master commands.”
The flashes of lightning that conquered the skies became a bright crimson, and the wind howled, calling forth a world ending storm. A decay spread through the land, rotting the trees and blackening the earth.
Amidst the chaos, Luca left his head bowed, recognizing the cause of this change of the atmosphere, “Forty-two.”
*
Every drop of rain struck her head, but she stood still, her fists clenched tightly around her blade. How could a heart bear this much pain, this much sorrow, and yet remain concealed? Words were meant to voice the deepest parts of ourselves, and tears to release the anguish we carry within. Hers were sealed shut, a mask that once covered her pain became nothing more than a cage holding it in.
“Bon, Levi,” she whispered, her eyes locked on their charred bodies. Their hands still clutched their swords even in death. The rain grew, shifting from gentle tears to unrelenting bullets. She wasn’t hit by a single bolt of lightning, as quickly as they fell from the skies, it didn't take her some serious effort to avoid them.
She knelt, wiping the mud from their faces. A promise was a promise, no matter the circumstances. No exceptions. She understood this as her trembling smile fought against the tears threatening to fall.
“But,” Lily whispered, her voice cracking. “Maybe no one will notice with the rain.”
Lily lifted her head, her eyes red, but the fragile smile lingered. The wind knocked loose boulders from the mountainside. She unsheathed her blade, cleaving the falling rocks in half. Unsatisfied, she reduced them to dust before they hit the ground.
She noticed the horned beast hidden within the bloody, storm-filled sky. “Hades?” she said under her breath.
A presence stirred behind her. Lily spun, her blade already poised, feeling a strange aura, one that reminded her of the celestial swordsmith. A golden spiral formed, and from it, a portal opened, bathing the area in a soft glow.
From the portal stepped a man draped in a white robe, its edges lined with intricate golden embroidery. A cloth obscured his face, and in his hands, he carried a box similar to the one Lucifer had presented on his last visit.
“Congratulations, child,” he said, his voice gentle. “What a spectacle you’ve shown, dodging those lightning bolts without a hint of struggle. Our liege will be glad he has you in his ranks”
He opened the box, revealing a gleaming flower insignia. “A humble token from him. Accept it, and come with me to the holy land. Your knighthood awaits—”
The man found his head severed from his shoulders and the box shattered to pieces. His blood mixed with puddles and arms in the air. Shocked, he grabbed his neck and then his head, before he fell to the muddy floors. An Illusion?
Lily stood behind him, her blade unsheathed. “Leave now,” she said. “Before I change my mind.”
The messenger struggled to his feet, his once-pristine robe now drenched in mud. “You arrogant child,” he said, his voice trembling with rage. “Do you now defy the supreme being? Your comrades were weak, unworthy of his blessing. There is no need for your pity.”
He took a step toward her, seething. “You bear his mark now. As long as it stains your soul, you will never know peace.”
“Ok,” she said, casually strolling to Hades.
*
Broken trees scattered the foot of the mountain, the blood and sweat of the fallen staining the stony ground. Hades’ dark energy surged through the air, his long hair twisting like a storm in the wind. His eyes, devoid of any white, were as black as the abyss.
The adventurers were shaken with fear. Nothing they did had any effect on this man. He slaughtered them without hesitation, without any words of explanation.
“Camden,” one adventurer called out to a younger boy, desperation in his voice. “I’ll try to hold him off. You run.”
The boy looked at him, drawing his short sword. “No, Vans. This man killed Garry. I can’t turn a blind eye to that”
More adventurers gathered, drawing their weapons. Their clothes mixed with sweat and rain.
“Garry was just an A-rank,” someone muttered, trying to rally the group. “We’ve got six more, plus four B-ranks, and others with skills of their own. We can take him.”
“We just need to hit him all at once,” another said, walking forward as he placed an assuring hand on Camden's shoulder.
From the way this man fought, there were certain observations to be made. He was a swordsman, capable of harnessing both first and second powers. Above, the skies revealed the silhouette of a monstrous figure, which lingered there, letting out a mournful cry. This seemed to be his gift, but the extent of its power remained a mystery to them. Charging head-on without a clear plan would be suicide.
“Let's retreat for now,” he said, stepping on Maki’s broken fingers.
In an instant, Hades was on him. His blade flashed, and Vans was split in two, the young adventurer gasping as blood poured from his mouth. “He’s too fast,” Vans muttered, his body collapsing to the ground.
The others hesitated, paralysed by fear. But Camden’s voice rang out, cutting through the heavy downpour. “Kill him!”
With a roar fueled by anger and grief, the adventurers charged. But Hades’ dark gaze met theirs, and in that moment, the world around them drained of colour. Some still moved, but others froze in place.
Hades stretched his blade out, his feet sliding back as he prepared to launch forward. Camden’s heart raced, his face pale with terror. “We’re all going to die here,” he whispered, seeing the dark-eyed man already closing the distance, his sword aimed at Camden’s exposed throat. The boy closed his eyes, bracing for death.
Sparks flew, and the sound of clashing metal echoed in the storm. Camden opened his eyes to see a vibrant figure standing before him surrounded by grey.
“Sorry, I took so long,” Lily said, blocking the strike but was pushed back.
She grabbed the boy, while she swiftly kicked the other adventurers off their feet, preventing them to head closer to Hades.
Camden’s breath caught as he looked up at the beautiful woman holding him. He, an eighteen years old as if he was nothing. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
She turned to him with a smile. “Aren’t you a pretty-looking one”
Before Camden could respond, the other adventurers surrounded them.
“Who are you?”
“Are you with that demon?”
Lily sighed, dropping the boy on the muddy floor and turned to Hades. No that's not Hades.
“We’re close,” she said.
They raised their weapons again. This time ready to attack.
“Men sure are dumb,” she said, sliding her blade back into its sheath. “You’re already struggling with him, and now you want to fight me too?”
“We do what we must, my lady. That man is a monster; we’re adventurers, and we signed up for this kind of work.”
“Adventurers?” Lily said, her eyes narrowing as she studied Hades. She could feel his life force fluctuating wildly. If he attacked now, she couldn’t guarantee their survival.
“I don’t know if adventurers have a death wish,” she said, glancing down at Camden in the mud. “But don’t blame me if things go south.”
Hades began to advance, counting his steps.
“We don’t care,” Camden said, standing shakily. “We have to avenge our friends, even if it costs us our lives. If you’re willing to help, we’ll accept it.”
“No, Camden!” someone shouted. “We can’t trust her.”
Camden turned to the others, his voice barely heard over the storm. “We need all the help we can get. There’s no time for pride.”
Lily placed a hand over her chest, exasperated. “This is becoming a hassle,” she muttered. “You’ll just get in the way, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
Before Camden could respond, an explosion of energy burst through the forest, sending them all crashing to the ground. Lily’s eyes sharpened, her control over the wind knocking their bodies back from the battlefield.
Stolen story; please report.
She scanned the blood-soaked mountain floor, her heart heavy. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, both adventurers and swordsmen alike. Hades had slaughtered the adventurers, without mercy or hesitation, as if their lives meant nothing.
Am I being foolish? she wondered. They once felt like soothing feathers, but now they felt like shackles around my heart. Is this what a promise truly feels like?
Hades stepped close, each delayed. His body was already battered from the fall and he still had his clothes on.
Lily, standing firm, began removing the weights from her outfit, the heavy metal crashing into the earth. She discarded the ones around her arms, waist, and legs.
“If I want to have the slightest chance of stopping you in that form, I need to push beyond my limits,” she said, taking a step forward, loving her eyes with his. “Come back, Hady. I really need you right now,” she whispered, her breath trembling.
Hades' sword sliced through the air, aimed where she once stood, but she was already gone. He searched, but she was suddenly beside him, her voice a whisper in his ear. "I know you're in pain, but..."
With another swing, his energy tore through the trees, but she vanished again, her bells ringing around him as if she never left his side.
“What can I do to bring you back?” she whispered.
Hades screamed, his energy levels continuing to rise. He slammed his feet onto the ground, sending a cloud of dirt into the air. Taking a fighting stance, he swung his blade, sending the debris flying in all directions. The wind whipped around him like a hurricane, swirling the rocks and creating a barrier away from the fallen swordsmen.
Finally, his eyes locked onto her—dodging the flying rocks. He leapt into the air, closing the distance between them, his blade clashing against hers.
Each of his blows was stronger than hers. If the fight continued like this, his strength could snap her blade in two. Realising the danger, she stopped trying to block and focused on dodging his attacks.
Focus, focus, focus. Lily thought, almost losing balance. Damn, he restrained my movements.
There was nowhere to run; he didn’t allow her out of his sight. If a single slash were to pass by, she would be dead. What am I even doing? Do I really want to kill Hades? If I could, would I go through with it?
She dodged again, but this time he anticipated it, slamming his foot into her stomach. The pain surged through her body. His blade came down toward her exposed neck, leaving no time for her to dodge.
“Damn it!” she screamed, pushing him back and momentarily startling him. That was all the time she needed. She released her grip and turned away from his gaze, sweeping him off his feet. Lily observed him from the parallel space, noticing he was about to regain his balance just before he hit the ground.
She leapt back and threw bells from her outfit towards his ear. He cut through the bells but was immediately kicked from the other side and sent to the floor.
Lily sat atop him, having disarmed him of his sword, her fists coated with energy. Without a word, she started punching him. “What do you think you’re doing? Is this the time for you to go berserk?!”
She punched him again and again, breaking his coating, and drawing blood. “You think you’re the only one hurt? Uh? Tell me, Hades!"
Her punches slowed as the rain began to ease, the clouds parting. Exhausted, she collapsed onto his chest, her fists still weakly beating against him until, finally, his hand reached out and caught hers.
“What are you doing... Forty-three?”
Lily froze, her breath catching in her throat. His voice—it was his voice. She raised her head, meeting his teary eyes. “Hades?” Her voice trembled, her heart racing as she wrapped her arms around him. “You’re back!”
Hades hugged her in return, his gaze drifting over the carnage surrounding them. “What happened here?” he asked, pulling back. His eyes were distant, confused. “And... why did you call me Hades?”
Her face paled, and she stared at him, wide-eyed. “W-What do you mean? That’s your name,” she said with a nervous laugh, trying to hold back the tears.
Forty-two chuckled. “Oh, you’re serious? We don’t have names, Forty-three just numbers. And the others just died they are weak after all-”
Forty-three slapped him. “What's wrong with you? You sound like you did years ago” she whispered, her voice filled with hatred.
“What was that for, f-forty three?” Hades asked, perplexed.
Her head lowered, her hands balled into fists. “You really don’t remember anything, do you? Not your name, not your friends... nothing?”
“I remember... we jumped off the mountain together. Then I woke up to find you crying... surrounded by all this.”
Her lip quivered. “And Jin? What about him?”
“Jin?” He looked at her blankly.
She grabbed his collar, her anger boiling over. “Maki! Harold! Bon! Levi! Kim! Do none of those names mean anything to you?!”
“Maki…” his eyes met her lifeless body. Fragments of memories flickered in his mind—playing with a blonde boy, his first visit to the village, teaching the second power. But with every memory, a searing pain tore through his head, like fire.
Forget the pain. Just forget! A strange voice echoed in his head, sorrow enveloping his soul like a great torrent.
He screamed, clutching his head. “No... please, no!”
Forty-three expression darkened, her hand hovering over her sword, and then she stopped. “So that’s it? You’ve erased everything, haven’t you? Is it to protect yourself from the pain... or is it something else?”
He staggered to his feet, panting. “Forty-three, please... I need to rest.”
She turned away. “I’m leaving,” she said, taking a step. “Never change, Lily. Promise me that”
Behind her, Hades stretched out a hand, his eyes flickering between light and darkness. “Please, Lily, don’t go.”
Forty-three spun around and punched him hard in the face, her tears finally falling. “I hate you, H-H... Forty-two.”
He collapsed to the ground, stunned. She called me something else earlier... what was it again?
Forty-three eyed the bodies of her comrades. “Come,” she whispered. “Let’s give them a proper burial”
Hours had passed since they completed the burial. One body was still missing—Jin’s. He must have been trapped somewhere high in the mountains.
She turned to Forty-two. “You need to hide"
He nodded, disappearing into the shadows as she went to meet the approaching adventurers. When they arrived, she apologised for knocking them out and lied, telling them she had defeated forty-two herself. They believed her, offering her a place among them and a trip to the fifth realm where she’d be rewarded.
But she refused.
Later that evening, Forty-three stood at the edge of the forest. The air was cool, and the night had settled in. She wore forty-two hat since hers was missing—while she faced Hades, who leaned against a tree with his arms crossed.
"I couldn’t find his body anywhere," she said, a trace of frustration in her voice. "We’ll have to come back another time. It’s getting late."
“Alright,” forty-two responded, pushing off the tree and falling into step behind her as they walked into the growing darkness.
*
A year had passed since their journey began, travelling between the sixth and seventh realms. Rumours of two swordsmen drifted through the lands—one, a powerful woman; the other, a monster. The tale of the "monster" spread far, his name whispered across the realms. It was said he attacked adventurers, hunters, and mercenaries without mercy, a beast with no restraint.
They spoke of how he was once normal until something inside him snapped. He would clutch his head, screaming, before launching into a violent frenzy. The female swordswoman was always there to stop him, not with her blade, but by calming him, holding him in her arms when he lost control.
But one day, she vanished without a trace.
Her last words lingered in the mind of the berserk swordsman. "I wish to spend every moment by your side, but the flames within me grow dimmer by the day. The memories we once shared are long gone, along with the promises we made. I haven’t forgiven you yet, and I don’t believe you’re H***. He’s no coward; I know that for sure. You refuse to remember, claiming it’s too hard to bear—even forgetting about your gift. My trip to the fourth won’t be easy, but I’ll survive. There’s a group there called the Disciples, and I think they may help with the Supreme Being mark and I think *** might be there also. I’ll leave you to the only one I believe could handle you. Take care, *****. We’ll meet again."
Her words were like the passing autumn leaf in a cold breeze, to be remembered and felt at the moment, but they disappear out of sight and memory.
*
Amidst the bodies of fallen adventurers, the swordsman stood in silence, his blade slick with fresh blood. The skies were empty, not a beast in sight, and his energy remained as stagnant as the still air around him
Once, there was someone who would stop him in this state. Like him, she didn’t have a name. Yet, he knew that the girl meant everything to him, though he couldn’t understand why. A power also resided deep within him, but he knew nothing about it.
Staring at his bloodied hand, he murmured to himself, “Just who am I?”
"You’re really troublesome, you know that? I turn my back for one second and look what happens," an old voice echoed from the trees.
One of the adventurers, barely clinging to life, glanced up and managed a faint smile. “Guildmaster,” he whispered.
An old man strode over, dressed in a long, dark leather coat that gave him an air of nobility. His short hair and piercing blue eyes held a calm, fatherly warmth.
“Who are you?” the swordsman asked, raising his blade. “It doesn’t matter, you need to die”
“Oh? Please tell me why-“
Before Bloodbone could finish, Hades lunged towards him. His sword aimed for the old man’s chest.
"You really are a handful!" Bloodborne said, dodging the attack. He elbowed him in the back, sending him staggering. In the next instant, he summoned a massive hammer from thin air. "Brace yourself—this is going to hurt," he warned, slamming the hammer down, and cracking the earth beneath the swordsman.
The adventurers watched, filled with awe. The Guildmaster has defeated the rogue swordsman in mere seconds.
Bloodborne lifted the hammer into the air and retrieved some bandages and medicine.
“Take your time to treat yourselves, okay?” he said to the fallen adventurers. He then turned back to the swordsman, picking him up. “I apologize for my new partner; he isn't quite content with our relationship."
"Sir!" one of the adventurers called out, still in shock. "You’re not taking him with you, are you?"
“He’s a murderer, surely you don’t want to ruin your status being involved with him,” another said.
Bloodborne smiled. "This guy? He’s nothing but a lost child," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I made a promise to a rather intimidating young woman, one who believed I could help him. What sort of man would I be if I didn’t honour that?"
The adventurers watched, speechless, as the guildmaster carried him into the depths of the forest, disappearing from sight.
When the swordsman regained consciousness, he found himself being carried like a sack of grain. "Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!"
Bloodborne chuckled. "We’re travel companions now. No use running off again"
"I refuse! Put me down!" Hades struggled, but the old man’s grip was like iron. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, giving up.
Bloodborne turned to him. "Calm now? Good," he said, dropping the swordsman. "Your friend, the female swordsman, assigned you to me. Does that answer your question?" he asked, eyeing the swordsman. " Do you even know her name?"
The swordsman stared at him. “She has no name, same as I”
The guildmaster continued walking, then glanced back over his shoulder. "If you want to learn about yourself, come with me. Or you can keep playing the monster everyone fears."
The swordsman's stomach rumbled. Bloodborne smiled devilishly, "You little one, come on. I'm an amazing cook too; you just got yourself a first-class companion, buddy."
The swordsman hesitated. Knowing everything about myself. Do I really want that?
He took a step forward and began to follow Bloodborne. Not like I have anything better to do, he thought.
“It better be delicious,” the swordsman said, frustrated.
Bloodborne laughed out. “ I bet your mother’ s left leg on it!”
The swordsman sighed as they walked out of the forest on a mission that seemed either too impossible or never existed in the first place.
*
Hades awoke, tears streaming down his cheeks. All this time, he thought, his body floating just above the surface of the shallow, shimmering pool. “Jin... Maki... Krissy... Harold, Bon, Levi, Kim...” He covered his face, his voice breaking as he whispered, “I’m sorry.”
The dark underground temple was eerily quiet, save for the soft rippling of the water. His wounds, still fresh, bled into the pool, tinting the water red.
An old woman stepped forward, her voice raspy and laced with frustration. "Hmm, I’m exhausted... Let’s end it here"
She waded into the water, her footsteps splashing. She reached down and pulled Hades up, resting his head on her shoulder, her hands gently stroking his hair.
“Bloodborne really is remarkable,” she said with a smile. “He dragged you through countless dangerous adventures, knowing only he could survive them, all to shove you into a corner. And then, after all that, you reawoke your gift, didn’t you? Oh, I remember how happy she was when that happened. It was then that you met her again, correct?.”
Hades nodded against her shoulder. “Yes... And I remember what I did afterwards. I remembered my gift... but all I felt was hatred. Hatred for the Supreme Being, for my Sensei. I wanted to destroy them all. That’s why I left in the first place. I didn’t care about what she was going through. I didn’t want to know.”
The woman wiped the tears from his face. "Then she erupted in anger and left you behind again. You returned to the Mountains, but by then, Tankenu was gone, already in the third realm. On your way back, I heard you slaughtered some heroic adventurers. You truly are a devil, aren’t you?”
Hades shook his head. “I’m no devil,” he whispered. “She’s right... I’m nothing but a coward.” He clenched his fist, causing it to bleed. “I left her all alone, tormented her, and then made her promise always to smile. And I... I forgot it all.”
“So what are you going to do now? Continue crying?”
“I’ll go meet her,” he whispered.
The woman laughed, standing up and stepping back. “Do you even realise what you’re saying? She’s a disciple now. They choose when and if they want to see you, not the other way around. Finding her would be like trying to find a needle in this snow-covered wasteland.”
“I don’t care,” Hades said, his voice firmer. “Lily needs me. I just... can’t stay here.”
She sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Very well. Follow me, then. I’ve got something for you.”
Hades rose from the pool, clutching at his wounds as he followed her down a narrow corridor. They arrived at a wooden door, the torches mounted on either side casting long shadows
Inside the room, ancient relics and treasures lined the shelves—armour once worn by legendary knights, swords with storied pasts, and letters of great importance. But the woman stopped before a small box that radiated an aura Hades immediately recognised.
"Take this with you," she said, pointing to the box. "Wear it on your journey. Perhaps then, she’ll grant you a second glance."
Hades reached for the box, his hands trembling. As soon as he opened it, he fell to his knees. He hugged the box to his chest, eyes closed, whispering, "T-Thank you..."