dothackers.net

Okay, so I've been wanting to post this here for a while... but things got in my way. Namely, procrastinating. Anyway, this is a rewrite based in an "alternate reality" - if you want, I can explain some of the goings-on of the story.

~*~

It had been six months. Six awful, harrowing months since her consciousness was sealed away in the spirit of that murderer...

He would never forgive anyone who killed other people for the fun of it. Never in his life...

Determined to obtain 'power' and 'strength', he had gone out to get revenge on those who had hurt his loved ones. Those people were no more than despicable... people who deserved to die for their transgressions, or so he thought...

Today, they were terrorizing a girl, one that he realized looked similar to his old friend. He turned away, snarling... even if she wasn't who he was looking for, she still didn't deserve to be hurt like that.

Minutes later, he had arrived on the scene. His eyes immediately fell on the girl who had been terrorized... she looked almost as if she was on the verge of death.

"Ul Repth!"

The girl was surprised to feel her strength returning. The eyes of the people surrounding her had turned... she took the opportunity to pick herself up and get away as quickly as possible. However, one of the pursuers noticed her and grabbed onto her roughly - a hunched-over man with tied-up green hair.

"You're not getting away so easily, girlie!"

This man was the first one he targeted. He drew a large scythe with a jagged edge - one of his three weapons of choice. In one blow, he had struck the man down. Turning to their leader, he glared, still in a combat stance.

The red-haired woman that was obviously the leader of the pack sneered. "Oh, it's you. The 'Terror of Death'... Haseo."

"Yeah, it's me," he stated, the sharp edge of his tone biting into her spirit. "...Hey, do you guys know anything about Tri-Edge?"

"Tri-Edge?" The woman laughed. "Never heard anything about him. Well, nothing more than fake rumors, anyway..."

"...Fake? What do you mean fake? Everything about him is real."

She stared back at him, drawing her blade. "Oh yeah? How could it even be possible to have your spirit sealed? Never return to the world and just be teetering on the edge of existence? Pah, I don't believe those stupid rumors. Not for one second."

"...Then I'm just gonna have to kill you," he growled. "And especially... after what you did to that girl."

The girl was sitting on the ground, watching the scene. Finally bringing up the courage to speak, she called out, "Look out, Haseo! This 'Bordeaux' person is... really strong... you don't want to face her alone!"

"Bordeaux... so that's your name," Haseo said. "Well, Miss Bordeaux, it looks like you're gonna have to shape up your attitude in the Soul Cycle. That is, if you ever make it that far..."

"Hah! You think you can challenge me?" Once again, Bordeaux charged, only to have her weapon knocked out of her hand by Haseo's scythe. She approached him, but was unable to get close to him before she felt a taloned hand close in around her neck.

"Yeah, I can challenge you," Haseo stated. "Especially after you tried to kill that innocent girl."

Bordeaux struggled, but couldn't free herself. She was harshly thrown down to the ground, and felt the darkness of unconsciousness claim her seconds before she was killed by Haseo.

"Hey, you. Are you okay?"

He strode on over to the girl, the sound of his armor clinking together making her slowly crawl away.

"...Don't worry. I'm not gonna kill you. You don't deserve it."

She looked up at him, still frightened. "H-Haseo... you're the 'Terror of Death', right? Why... did you save me?"

"You're innocent," he replied, turning away. "...You were lucky to have come out of here alive. Now get away before they can attack again."

"Y-yes! Thank you, Haseo!" she said, nodding briefly before turning and running. "By the way, my name's Atoli! I'll try to repay the favor if I ever meet you again!"

He shook his head. "...Sure, fine by me... I only did what anyone else would've done... she's too nice..."

~*~

The peculiar feeling enveloped his body as he returned to the city. He hated that teleportation system... it always irked him when he underwent the process. Of course, he hardly noticed this time... his mind was still alight with the memory.

She didn't deserve it... those guys are gonna get their asses kicked if I come across them again.

He stepped forward, looking around. "...Pointless."

Hearing a sharp clang, which he recognized as the sound of the teleporter, he turned around to see the girl he had saved waving back at him with a smile on her face. "Hello!"

His response was silence. She tilted her head at him confusedly, wondering why he seemed so upset.

"...I'm sorry," she said quietly. "...I'll see you later, then..."

"Hmph." Haseo turned away, simply raising a hand for his farewell. Atoli nodded, then left.

He pondered to himself, considering where he should go next. "...Tri-Edge... I get the feeling he'll be coming back soon. I guess I'll go find him..." He turned to the teleporter, grimacing. "...I'm gonna go to the Hulle Granz Cathedral. He might be there... back at the scene of the crime."

After all... that's what Ovan told me.

He tried to ignore the sensation of teleporting again. Something else was on his mind, but even with thoughts of his old friends running through his brain, he couldn't ignore the annoying sound and feeling as he warped off.

~*~

The pathway leading to the cathedral itself was surrounded by open space. A mystic land, linked to other places via an unknown connection... this place was where she had been sealed, and where he had first seen his arch-nemesis.

"I wonder if he'll show up today..." he pondered to himself as he pushed open the surprisingly light doors of the building. He walked up to the altar in the middle of the cathedral, placing his hands on the fencing that blocked it off and staring at the three-edged red mark that had embedded itself in the altar's stone.

"...Shino..."

His mind was about to drift off before he heard the air burning. Surprised, he turned to see a sphere of blue flame drifting down. He was able to see it begin to erupt before he was knocked back, trying to keep his balance as his claws screeched against the cathedral's floor.

Looking up, he saw the doll-like figure approaching him. His thoughts turned to the day when he had marked this person as his enemy...

"...Tri-Edge, I'll get you!"

He charged, drawing two small, multi-edged swords and beginning his attack. His enemy was faster, though, blocking every strike of the dual swords and forcing Haseo back. Skidding against the ground again, Haseo attempted to pick himself up, eventually succeeding and this time drawing a much larger sword with menacing-looking blades rotating around its edge.

He clashed with his foe for a time before again being knocked back. Feeling the broadsword slip out of his hands and seeing it land mere inches from his head, he once again tried to pick himself up, but was unable. Looking up at 'Tri-Edge', Haseo pondered where he got his strength.

This guy's strong... I can't beat him like this... damn... just like...

'Tri-Edge' raised his arm, and a number of nearly transparent tendrils shot from around a glowing bracelet which had just now appeared. The tendrils enveloped Haseo, cutting through his armor and his skin and rendering him helpless. He felt his spirit slowly draining away, wondering silently if this was the end...

His power was gone. He'd been defeated... would he suffer the same fate as Shino...?

~*~

He opened his eyes, his vision blurred. He was in pain, and bleeding from multiple wounds covering his entire body. He couldn't move, he realized... and his strength had been completely drained, his form changed by the backlash of his loss.

"Haseo!"

The voice stung his ears. He looked up, seeing the faint outline of a girl standing over him. He felt pressure against his abdomen, and slowly the pain began to disappear. Still laying in a pool of his own blood, he made an effort to sit up. He noticed that with the pain, the wounds had also disappeared.

"Are... are you okay, Haseo?" she inquired. "Are you in pain still?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Got beaten up by... Tri-Edge."

"You met Tri-Edge?" She seemed surprised, but nodded. "...Oh... well, I know that you've been looking for Tri-Edge so you could defeat him... I'm sorry you couldn't..."

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," he said. "...I've lost all my power, though. I can't do a damn thing in the state I am now..."

She tilted her head. "Do you mind... if I help you regain your strength? I wanted to pay you back... for helping me..."

"No objection," he replied, sounding as if he minded the idea but didn't really care at the moment. "...thanks, Atoli."

"You remembered my name?" She seemed surprised by this fact. "...Um, you're welcome... I... I'll be waiting in Mac Anu, so... I'll take you to a place where you can get stronger if you want."

He nodded, this time more appreciative. "...Yeah." Standing up, he walked off, glancing back at her only once.

She hung her head, wondering if he'd really meant it when he thanked her. She stood, following him and leaving the cathedral.

~*~

Yes, I know I'm a terrible writer. You don't need to say that.