Somewhere in a place far from earth:
La Sombra stirred in a world entirely unfamiliar. Eyes adjusting to the light that bathed the realm in an ugly dirty gold. Around him; green men of all shapes and sizes stood. Most were hunched over, some with muscles as big as tree trunks and others were stick thin. Many wore leather and fur, whilst some expertly woven lion clothes that fit them perfectly. Their faces were all unique from one another, yet there was one commonality. All seemed amused at the pale man before them.
"Whnnnn... Huhhhhhhh." La Sombra went to speak but could only manage to feel his tongue wag loose and free.
"He's alive!" One of the green creatures said in a skittish tone.
"Quick, get the court Sharman." A bigger one ordered.
Unable to even move from his position; La sombra titled his head as much as he could. Naked, pale skin, legs missing below the knees and arms gone from the shoulder down.
"Hnnngh... Nnnngh." He was able to feel more; not only of the tongue, but of the pain that blood markings that encircled his entire body. Runes of unknown power etched into every inch of his pale white flesh. Blood dried and crusted all over.
Surrounded by wooden buildings, dirty brick pagodas and stone archways. Most were run down and looked to have been hastily repaired. Others suffered in the dirt; moss, rot and rust the only colour to them.
"What is the meaning of this? How did a human appear in the great western city of the Dominus?" A tall black robbed figure approached the man, a long walking stick held tightly. A hunched over enough to meet the eyes of La Sombra.
"Is this a message from the humans? Have they become so desperate that they have sent a pale mute cripple to negotiate?" The shaman sneered down at La Sombra. Its face worn and old, crooked nose close to the tip of a hood that kept most of the Shamans identity secret.
"Nnnnghh... Hnnngg." La Sombra was still only able to manage a garbled mess of words.
"Look, it's trying to speak! It's a sign of- Oh."
The runes engraved into the pale skin began to glow white. Brighter and brighter until eventually.
*FAWOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM*
A blinding white light engulfed the city square, setting ablaze the wooden and fabric buildings in a flash. White fire rose high, as goblins scattered away covered in flames. Many dropped to roll the fire off, but the flames clung to flesh.
In a near instant; La Sombra blew apart, the fires came from within his corpse. A living bomb; a white fire carrier. A message for all the worlds to see, the first deliverance would begin here.
The last sight in the living world; a smile within those white flames. Shadow soldiers emerging from behind.
***
"Hurghhhhhh!" A deep breath in.
La Sombra awoke in an ashen land. Dunes to the left and right, an overcast sky above. The land of the dead; home of the one he coveted most. A small blessing to be here.
A line formed in front of him. Many a soul with dower expressions. No light in their dead eyes, no joy in their heart. They were in a queue, waiting for judgement.
Not La Sombra though, a delight in the fact that the man would join death. Leaving his judgement in the hands of the dead god.
However, a familiar pair of hands clasped over the shoulders of La Sombra. The fear had followed the zealot to the other side.
"Well, you got what you wanted. A place among the dead, yet I see no joy. Death takes many like you... Turning them into reapers for servitude; long lives spent hunting those who cheat it. Guiding others on."
"What do you want? Foul creature born of the deepest abyss. Unnatural, unholy, abomination." Anger in the voice. Here the pale zealot found his voice again.
"My, my, my... Look at how quickly your mode changes when you think you are beyond me..." A finger traced along the neck of La Sombra, the feeling of a cold, sharp prick brought back the pain of the runes etched into his skin.
"However, still we have unfinished business." A black tendril wrapped around the head of La Sombra; caressing his smooth skin.
The queue began to take notice of the commotion; rippled like waves through the line. Souls turned and whispered; some even began to push away.
The ripple caught the attention of the residents of the world quite quickly.
Three wings flew with haste towards the disturbance.
Landing with graceful steps; the three men stood before La Sombra and the Reaper. Lucifer stood front as he usually did. No welcoming smile for the pale man that blew up his idol agency.
"Eren is that you?" He asked. Looking at the beast of madness.
"Eren's not home right now. He has left me in charge while he is away." The skull of white spoke.
"So, the ring has made his way forward? I'm sorry, I cannot allow you to take this soul. His judgement is for Death alone." Twin daggers drawn; Lucifer readied himself to face the mask that took his former ward.
"No. He is needed for something greater, a plan that will save us all." Fully enveloping La Sombra in its tendril cocoon.
"Heh, sharp talk from a blunt object. Eren would never- EUGH!" Tendrils sent forth from under the monster's cloak. Pinning the blonde into the ashen sand, the other two suited reapers not so lucky as they were pulled into the shadows and swallowed without resistance.
"The only reason you still draw breath is because my host holds love for you in his heart..." The beast approached and leaned over him; tendrils taught against the skin of the blonde reaper.
"I leave you... to lose his love by your own hand; just as all before him did. None can stomach your nature, even Eren grows weary of you. A lonesome life waits for a nuisance like you. My host will be better for it if you leave him." Whispering those words like a poisoned dagger to the heart.
Lucifers eyes trembled slightly; the monster was many things, a liar it was not, why would Lucifer be worth lying too. His head bowed down, daggers dropped to the sand and tears began to form in the ducts of his eyes. The truth hurt, the sting of the worlds apathy for his existence cut deep. Deeper than any blade or weapon ever could.
The monster stood to his feet; a black gate appeared before the Reaper and La Sombra. Both entered the portal, and left Lucifer behind.
---
Over and over black runes were etched and burned into the flesh of La Sombra. With the zealot now a living conduit of white fire; the pale man screamed and cried in agony. But no shadows would spare him, nor feel pity.
The second time; much like the first. Dropped in the empire of the dominus western region. A city of dirt and stone, goblins engulfed in white inferno or tendrils that tore through the city streets. Shadow soldiers marched in formation; cutting a path through those that would attempt to defend. Yet, the fire did most of the work before the shadows could raise a blade.
A cycle of torment began for La Sombra. Salvation in the land of the dead; before being taken once more, and once more after that. Every time the Reapers attempted resistance but were either consumed or too slow to stop the monster.
The fifth cycle:
"Please... No more..." A broken voice pleaded from all fours. Gathering the ashen sand in pale hands. Only for the Reaper to pick him up, holding him high into the air.
"No... More?" A cold voice spoke from behind. His body wrapped tightly by shadowy tendrils, squeezing tighter and tighter.
"You lost that power when your organization crossed us. There is no more until I say so."
La Sombra gave no answer, near acceptance to whatever the shadow would further subject the zealot too.
Not before a faster force arrived.
"ENOUGH!" Two white wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the two men.
Gabriel had arrived first; then more and more wings came. An army of reapers descended into the ashen dunes.
"Eren! Stop this now, you have defied death's will four times now-"
"And I will continue to do so until I see my task through." Like Eren, the monster held a defiant attitude towards authority. But unlike Eren, he would kill Gabriel without thought for the consequences. An army at his beckoning and call, they would tear apart all who stood against the beast of madness and its goals.
"Arrogant like your host. You are not Eren; you are merely a parasite that requires leaching to exist. A little bug in a jar that has become too small... Foul insect, beast of sloth."
"Oh, how I miss the old names, but I suppose I have done enough to move on. I'll stop coming by... for now." He turned and began to walk away without another thought for the winged reapers. La Sombra in tow, but Gabriel wasn't finished yet.
"You cannot simply walk away after breaking the rules of life and death. You will be held until-"
*Schick* *Schick* Schick* *Schick* Schick*
Tendrils erupted from the ground and shot towards the army. Gabriel blocked with hurried parries. Armoured Reapers used large scythes and swords to create a barrier against the attack. But even more tendrils emerged from behind. The suited reapers unable to sustain the defence.
Disarmed and devoured in an instant.
"I thank you, for these willing sacrifices. A reapers soul is worth so much more than most." The beast said with a twisted grin.
Although, all that was worth taking was taken. The Reaper left through the black portal. Only the weapons of fallen reapers and a furious Gabriel left in the dust. He scrunched the ashen sand in his fists.
"Gabriel... Did you stop him?" Anubis came seemingly out of thin air. Looking over the discarded weapons of his fallen brethren.
"No. He took more. I didn't even land a single hit." Disappointment in his inability to protect those directly under him.
"Was Malphas right then? That thing would bring ruin to us all?"
"I can't say. It doesn't appear to be as mad as I expected. Control to his actions. And Lucifer was spared its immediate wrath. Although, he has locked himself away in his home and won't tell anyone what was said to him."
"What does lord Azazel have to say?"
A bitter expression from Gabriel. "He said to let him be."
"Let him be?" Anubis perhaps acted out far more surprised than intended. He earnt an astonished gaze from Gabriel, before he steadied himself again. "What is his goal to allow this creature to exist without consequence. Perhaps there is something greater at play." A thoughtful tone much more expected from Anubis.
"Tch, using our reapers as pieces for some game. Death must have something in mind, to allow the parasite to act so recklessly." Frustrated at deaths lack of action, but also a blind faith that his master has thought through many outcomes.
For the time being, he shall continue to serve faithfully and trust in whatever games his Lord is playing.
---
Back in the land far, far away:
"Halt, monster of shadow." Continuing his campaign through the dominus empire. A hulking brute, like a boulder in the way of a river stood before the Reaper. A troll, an ugly looking, cave dwelling, rock skinned troll. Standing in the middle road of a city of goblins.
"I am Ulag, 11th in the court of dominus; you have drawn the eye of the great Dominus." A booming voice. His face was a mess of scars and two tusks that looked ready to pierce the very flesh.
"Yes... That was the point." Tongue running across razor sharp teeth. A grin grew upon the white face.
"Bah! You seem to believe yourself to be as strong as the mighty ULAG?!" A confident laugh from the troll. Unimpressed by the shadow before it.
Although, the many tendrils that emerged from beneath the monster. Quickly the confidence faded.
*Bang*
The central tower. The home to the governor over the dominus empire western region. Far cleaner than the surrounding world. Inside the throne room, a grand space, a place of worship to the goblins of these lands.
In the monster walked in. Ulag in tow; bound in tendrils and black runes that burned against rock skin.
"M-master Ulag?!" A surprised goblin servant. Hand resting on the hilt of a sword.
"You can risk fighting for your master, or you can run." The beast of madness offered a simple choice.
"I- I..." Dropping the sword, running past the shadow knights without a second thought.
Centre in the room. The monster stood high on the troll. Summoning a hammer from nothing, different from his other arsenal. Made of white metal. An ancient tool of destruction and creation.
"Mrrph - Errrphh."
"You will serve as a beacon for what is to come." Raising the hammer above its head, bringing down onto the thick hide.
*THWACK* *BOOOOOOOM*
The tower turned into a spire of white. A great light that shone through the land of the dominus. A light that shone so far, it reached the heavens above. A white inferno rose to the sky.
*BOOOOOOOOM* *BOOOOOOOOM* *BOOOOOOOOOM* BOOOOOOM* BOOOOOM!
The city engulfed absolutely in the light, turning everything into a greater pillar. A signal to all that the monster has come, and will not be stopped.
***
Back on Earth. Somewhere hidden far from the light of the world:
"And here we go." La Sombra placed against a concrete slab in a room of near pitch black. A single crack in the roof provided a sliver of light to the cold dark place. A soft humming of machinery echoed through the concrete.
"Hnnghhh." A tongue dangled from a jawless La Sombra. Legs and arms cut away, no blood either. Covered stumps, a head with a single rune carved into the forehead.
"That marking on your head... An ancient language, the long forgotten by all worlds. Banished by the gods, for they feared what it would do."
Tendrils withdrawn fully. Leaving behind a husk of the pale zealot. Head tilted up to view the skull.
"You will be the first... Of many. Your own fate brought on by hubris and faith. You are banished from death. Doomed to spend eternity watching the world change through a tiny crack in the ceiling." A cold whisper from the beast of madness.
"Even when the day comes that someone comes across your rotting and whitening body... That symbol will keep you from the realm you so covert. Goodbye." In a snap, La Sombra was left alone to the dark.
That single light began to fade away. A final tear as the last light faded to darkness.