.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Horseman Four ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter Twenty- Horseman Four- The World

 

He saw the floor flying at him, so he did the only natural thing; he flipped so that his feet would hit first.

The momentum that he hit the ground with caused the earth surrounding him to break, crack, and fly everywhere, creating a dust storm. He smiled as the dust cleared, only to sober when he found someone standing in front of him, about six feet away. He looked closer.

“Casper!” He shouted, charging at her. She merely raised her hand.

“I am not here to fight. I am your guide to Death.” She laughed. “It sounds funny. Fight there, and save your strength. He won't have you weak.” Sircosgi nodded as he walked slightly behind her.

“Where is he?”

“Follow me. He isn't far ahead. He just wanted me to meet you, that's all.” Sircosgi took stock of his surroundings. They were on what appeared to be a ledge, off of which was a lake of fire, lava, and brimstone. He looked up and saw a door. Inscribed upon it were many symbols and runes. He looked at is closely. “If you go beyond that door,” Casper said, “unless you kill Death, or if he allows you to leave, you may not exit.” Sircosgi sighed.

“Very well. I take it he is behind it.”

“Yes. He wanted to make sure you understood that.”

“Why does he care?” Sircosgi asked.

“Because, Death is very patient, yet everyone has to meet him sometime, if not now, then later. He knows you'll come. He just wants you ready.”

“Ah. Nice to know he cares.”

“Well, enter.” Casper pointed at the doors, which opened. The two walked into the darkness that was in the room.

As soon as Sircosgi took five steps in the doors slammed shut behind him. Torches immediately began to spring to life, aiding Sircosgi. He looked around.

“We're back at the church?” It looked exactly like the cathedral. Yet, he began to see small differences. Like the pentagram on the ground, the upside down crucifixes, and other items of Satanic ritual.

“Welcome.” A man said. Descending from a staircase was a man, dressed in black, with long blonde hair. His eyes were black, yet he still looked perfect. He carried no weapon at the present time. “I hope you'll take a seat. I have something to show you.” Sircosgi sighed.

“You are Death?”

“Death, Life, the Reaper, whatever you want to call me. I grant those who wish it eternal freedom from the kiss of pain. Yet, you seem to fight me, I who grant freedom, by giving those around you pain. Thus, I want to show you the embodiment of this pain.” He waved his hands. Five crosses descended from the ceiling, each one directly over a point of the pentagram. Two of the crosses were empty. The other three-

“Emily! Jas! Morgan!” He shouted. They made no response.

“They are here, yet not. They can not speak to you in any way, shape, or form.” Death smiled. “But, as you can see, there are two empty crosses. Want to guess who they're for?”

“Well, I know me, but who else?”

“Well, that's my next proposition. Here, I would like it if you sat down.” Sircosgi sighed and did so. “Well, I have a story to tell you.

“Once upon a time, there was a simple, little girl. She had simple, little dreams. But, her family hated her, so they gave her up for adoption. While she was adopted, her father came home drunk one night, beat her, raped her, and almost killed her. You remember, don't you?” Death laughed as Sircosgi remembered.

“Yes. You speak of Elizabeth. Make your point?”

“Well, she moved far, far away, where another family adopted her.

“This family loved her, embraced her and her differences. So, Elizabeth decided that since her past father was Christian, she would stand for everything he was against. Thus, she became a Wiccan.” Death paused. “One day, she was given The World. She logged in, and started asking questions, seeing if any other player could help her, a simple Wiccan, out. You know,” Death laughed, “she actually said that. So, a man came to her and promised her incredible power. So, as any person would, she accepted. She was immediately rendered comatose, and forced to work in his so-called-evil plans.

“That man was Boragia, as you probably know, and the girl stands before you now.” Sircosgi, though he had already guessed that, was still shocked. Casper hung her head.

“Thanks for that. Now, what purpose did that have?”

“Simple. I want you to know the circumstances of what happened, and what is about to happen.”

“About to happen?” Death's voice was as smooth as silk.

“Yes. To fight me, you must kill Casper.” Sircosgi was incredulous.

“WHAT?”

“To fight me-“

“I heard you the first time. Why?”

“I'll explain that. First off I can't personally touch Casper.”

“Why?”

“Helba gave her a little gift, along with you, the gift of protection, a clever little gift. It doesn't lift until the presence it is invoked under is dead, so it is almost a one-time gift. She invoked it in my presence, thus preventing me from touching her. So, in order for me to enter into The World, she must die. You as well. That's why there are two crosses. One for each of the five gifted.” Sircosgi understood.

“Thus invoking a spell, allowing you to leave this room?”

“How did you-“

“On the door, it had a Grace. That allows no evil to cross through the portal, thus proving you're evil.”

“What is truly evil?” Death asked. “But, that is beside the point. You must kill Casper.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I'll kill you. But, even if you DO kill Casper, I'll still kill you. But your death will trigger an event. All the gifts will return to Helba, because Casper has used hers to exhaustion, and the others are dead. Thus, it will allow me to kill Casper.”

“So, either way, I lose?”
“No. You win. You get the kiss of Death, the kiss that takes all pain and sorrow away.”

“I'd rather live eternally than die to the likes of you.” He looked at Casper.

“Kill me. I can't stand it anymore.” She said. “Either way I'm toast. At least I can give you a chance at winning.” Sircosgi thought as he sat.

“Well, that is true. Elizabeth, are you in pain.”

“Much.”

“Very well. If that is your wish, I will call it a mercy kill. Besides, you killed two of my teammates.”

“Sorry about that. I couldn't apologize then, because of Boragia and Uso.”

“Yeah, what happened to Uso?”

“Well, in order to open the door originally, I had to kill him. You guys kept the book. I was able to read his entrails to divine the correct spell to use.”

“Ah.” Sircosgi drew out his blade. “Helba stocked me with top level gifts. One hit should do the trick.” He pointed the blade at Casper's throat. “As Bearer of Light, I hereby kill you for crimes against man, The World, and for impeding justice.” He swung his sword, lopping her head off. He waited for the blood, yet there was none. Casper's corpse disappeared, then reappeared, whole, on the cross. Death smiled.

“I feel it. My reign will begin soon.” He looked at Sircosgi. “Now, I believe it is time for my part of the deal.” He extended his hand and a double-edged halberd appeared. It looked like Boragia's and Casper's, yet fused together. Sircosgi laughed as he pulled out another blade.

“Prepare to be exterminated.”

“Death can not be killed.”