The Fallen Kings [M]

[Shang Tsung]

Allanon stepped away from his adversaries.

Gilgamesh tensed, wanting to advanced once more upon the pair’s mutual foe. He was stopped by a hand on his elbow that clutched with surprising strength. “Press our advantage.”

“A façade,” Argento whispered as he paced back and used his massive hammer to gesture at their foe. “He lures us. Note the ground.”

Beneath the goliath, there were faint fissures in the floor of the arena. The paladin was certain it was the precursor to some sort of fel magics, and the reigning champion who stood opposed to them intended to bait them into his simmering trap.

The golden warrior scowled as he rhythmically clenched and unclenched his gauntleted fists around his spear. “Divide and conquer. Force him to engage.”

“Can you throw that?” Argento inquired as he started to edge to the left.

Gilgamesh offered no response as he moved to the right. With cautious steps, the pair of primes moved in a half circle away from one another. For his part, Allanon remained where he stood—his expression one of amusement as he watched the smaller warriors try their part at strategy.

“You both should know better,” Allanon boasted as he extended his warhammer toward Gilgamesh and turned his eyes toward the paladin. “I’ve slaughtered a score of some of this arena’s finest warriors. You don’t believe I can simultaneously murder the pair of you? Your ignorance insults me.”

Allanon smirked as he opened his fingers. Instead of falling to the floor, his giant hammer hovered in the air as if held up by invisible puppet strings. After that initial lull, it propelled itself across the air like a missile, eliciting a desperate dive from the former monarch. Argento watched with mild apprehension as the weapon redirected and continue its pursuit of Gilgamesh, who managed to get his feet back under him and parry the floating hammer with his spear. As if wielded by a master warrior, the hammer pulled back and went in for another massive swing that, while likewise defended, caused the king’s legs to quiver.

“Now you will perish,” the Champion of the Colosseum boomed as he came marching forward from his magical boobytrap. Argento noted that the leylines in the sand did not dissipate.

Still live.

Even without a weapon, the seven-foot goliath was an imposing figure as he squeezed his hands into fists and stalked closer to his foe. “How many times did you die here, Paladin?”

“Many.” Argento muttered just loud enough for his foe to hear.

“Are you excited to perish once more for the thrill of those demons and monsters you must loath so much? Are you excited to spend another two years in those dark, desolate cells living a cycle of eternal undying misery?”

“One thing does excite me.” The paladin smiled faintly as the air around him started to glow.

“What is that, Sunshine? The thrill of dying next to your new friend, Goldilocks?”

Argento shook his helmeted cranium. “I’m just excited by the prospect of being talked to death by a self-absorbed tyrant.”

The smile fell from Allalon’s visage. “I will make yours a miserable demise.”

“You will try, demon!” Argento roared as he thrust forward with the Day’suis. The shimmering air surged with light as sunbursts erupted along the length of the paladin’s hammer. The miniature explosions coalesced just beyond the tip of the weapon and erupted forth as an erratic beam of concentrated sunshine.

Massive and full of himself, Allalon was also far too close to avoid the attack as it smashed against his chest. A lesser demonic entity would have been shorn in twain by the assault, but the champion of the arena stood firm even as the crackling energy ate into his armor. Driving his feet into the ground, Allalon grimaced as the earth itself foundered, and he was pressed back. “Futile.” He choked as he puffed out his chest and swung his forearms into the path of the attack.

Argento, his knuckles whitened as he continued to fuel the barrage, thought for a faint moment that his foe would attempt to overpower the attack. For all his bluster and bravado, Allalon was not foolish enough to try such and act, and the use of his forearms was only as a momentary buffer to let him leap free from the path of destruction.

Lowering the Day’suis, Argento wiped the sweat from his brow as a slightly humbled Allalon rose to his feet. His armor hung is tatters around a chest that had been torn open in a few areas by the force of the attack.

“Is that all you have, Paladin?” The fiend asked with a toothy grin.

Never one for hubris, Argento calmly shook his head. “Nay, villain, that is not the limit of my abilities.” The time with Tyrael and the freedom from the pits had allowed the holy warrior to become full of body, mind, and soul. Even though his heart thudded in his chest and his back was stained with sweat, he had never felt quite so alive. “You face the might of the Sun today, and you will be laid low beneath its awesome might.”

“The sad part is that I know you types don’t brag, so you honestly think your feeble powers will see you through.”

“Try us.” Argento declared as the air around him started to shimmer once more.

[Sasuke Uchiha]

Animated, bloodthirsty, and almost sentient, Allanon’s deadly Warhammer had a mind of its own. The hammer zoomed about the coliseum, showcasing its raw power and vicious intent to end the gilded king’s life. Collision after collision, Gilgamesh desperately gathered his strength to defend himself from the weapon’s onslaught, but was becoming less and less successful. The hammer never seemed to tire and with each blow, the earth trembled under the might that sought to end the, would be king of sands.

Argento, however, was true to his fame and had succeeded at upstaging Allanon. A defiant roar boomed across the crimson sky as a colossal, hot lance of concentrated energy erupted from the paladin’s own hammer. It tore through the air with its impending catastrophe, bearing down on Allanon, and searing his flesh. He did his best to overcome the blast, attempting to overpower and return it, until finally he was forced to mitigate the damage instead. 

The crowd gasped as they watched their champion waver under the might of Argento’s trump card. They had never seen Allanon fail to overpower an attack and though the brute deflected its vigor, many in attendance were shocked and took to hushed whispers. Who were these two? One had managed to injure Allanon and now another had matched his brute power? A bloodthirsty roar of the crowd erupted in response; they were getting their money’s worth today and their cheers reflected it.

“You have impressed me, paladin.” Allanon cooed, displaying a devious smile, “An accomplishment you will grow to regret.” As the words left his lips, instant gratification came in the form of his hammer, blindsiding the paladin. It smashed into the back of his head on is return to Allanon, sending Aregento to the dirt with a hell of a knot forming on his head. Gripping the shaft, Allanon took action. Raising his weapon overhead, he intended to end the paladin. Standing above Argento’s head, the brute thrust the danger end of the hammer down, like one of those strong man carnival games.

Allanon seethed in rage as the impact of his hammer’s collision destroyed the earth and sent tremors in all directions, but it failed to exterminate his foe. Argento had rolled out of harm’s way in the last instant, finding his feet under him just as Allanon lifted him off them. The brute’s mighty war hammer found its prey and collided with Argento’s sternum, rocketing him several yards across the arena. Demonic eyes glistened with glee as they followed the paladin’s limp form skip, slam, and skid across the arena floor right into the trap he had laid in wait.

Deafening sounds of the explosion consumed the coliseum as Allanon admired his handiwork. “For if today I face the sun,” the monster smirked, “then today, you shall die in the shade.”

[Gilgamesh]

Allanon’s hammer prepared for a large swing and Gilgamesh brought up his golden spear to block the blow. The massive weapon, however, gave the treasure enough of a beating. Breaking the spear in two, the weapon smashed Gilgamesh’s shoulder, forcing him to the ground. Gil heard a loud *crack* as the weapon most likely broke his shoulder. This is the end of me. Damn demon and their fel weaponry. However, oblivion did not come for the King. Gil turned his head up to see the hammer twirl towards Allanon’s outstretched hand, bashing Argento as it returned to its owner. Gil’s legs quivered as he tried to get back onto his feet, the pain from his multiple broken bones was more than enough to waver his confidence.

With his legs feeling as if they had a ball and chain attached to them, he opened a portal and took out a sword to use as a crutch. Lifting his limp body off the ground Gil raised his head to see the Paladin trying to keep up with the brutish demon. The infernal warhammer collided with his body, throwing the Holy Knight right on top of the trap that Allanon had set earlier. Gilgamesh’s eyes went wide and he panicked, with a limp he dashed towards the fallen paladin. The fissures on the ground began to rumble and bright with an eerie orange glow. He had no time, the Paladin must be saved. Gil skidded on the dirt feet first, kicking Argento out of the immediate blast zone. The orange crescendoed into a huge explosion, knocking both Gilgamesh and Argento away. The Gilded King was flipped midair before ungracefully plummeting to the floor. On the floor, Gilgamesh sucked in air through his teeth as he rushed his hand to his sore ribs. His head was spinning and he felt his consciousness wane for a second.

A few feet away from him was the Holy Knight, groaning in pain, slowly bringing himself up from the blast. He was the first on his feet from the two, swaying in pace, seeming to have lost his balance. Gilgamesh was able to get on his feet as well, though getting up again would seem like a daunting task. The Holy Knight brought his Day’suis back into a comfortable position from his hands as the Gilded King brought out another sword to weild.

“I appreciate your assistance,” Argento spoke with a sincere tone without taking his eyes off the advancing Demon. Gilgamesh flustered for a second before answering in a denying, angry tone.

“I only did so because you serve some use to me.” The Holy Knighted glanced over with a resenting look in his eyes as Gilgamesh brought up his sword with one hand. Allanon’s gruff voice boomed out to the two Primes.

“Continuing to persevere against me is pointless. I will crush your bodies and your spirits.” He clenched his fist at an attempt of intimidation. Gil brought his hand up to his face and laughed in earnestly. The entire arena went wide with silence as the Gilded King seemed to have lost his mind. Even Zanzibar who was trying to shoutcast the match had went silence. Gilgamesh’s laughter stopped Allanon in his tracks and he raised a single eyebrow in complete confusion

“Is there something that amuses you Goldilocks?” Allanon spoke with anger and impatience. Gilgamesh’s bright red eyes peered through his fingertips. His cheeriness seemed to dampen when his eyes meet Allanon’s vile yellow ones.

“I seem to remember that you said you would show me fifty percent of your power. I wished to destroy you at your full power.” The King broke out a creepy smile, tilting his head slightly. “I now know I wish to see you grovel helplessly. This fight is over” The Gilded King’s armor began to fall off, revealing his upper body. Glowing red tattoos intertwined with purple bruisings of the numerous marks of where Allanon’s hammer met. Gilgamesh’s demeanor overall changed, as if he had gotten a second wind.

Allanon chuckled and playfully tossed his hammer around in his hands, “Just because you stripped to show off your tattoos doesn’t mean you can beat me Goldie.” Gilgamesh dashed towards Allanon with intense speed, that surprised even Argento.

“Oh my Diablo folks, Gilgamesh is a new man and is looking to tear Allanon a new one.” Zanzibar excitedly announced. Gil had no desire to look up but he was sure that Zanzibar was on the edge of his seat. He was already upon Allanon, broadly striking with his sword and which Allanon blocked with the hilt of his warhammer. The mighty Allanon’s staggered at the King’s newfound strength. However, he was the champion of the Arena and he would not be bested by a shirtless fraud. The Demon gathered his strength before pushing off the King’s sword with a grunt and brought his warhammer up for a massive strike.

Argento wasted no time and immediately covered for Gilgamesh, delivering a swift sucker punch to Allanon’s stomach with his Day’suis. Allanon’s rage turned towards Argento for a split second and he reached out to grab the Holy Knight with his massive hand. Gilgamesh, at this point, had recovered and brought his blade down into Allanon’s shoulder blade. The demon roared in pain before ripping out the blade and smacking Gilgamesh with the hilt of his own sword.

Gilgamesh flew backwards, tumbling on his ass before regaining his composure. He brushed off the dust from himself to see Argento flying towards him as well. Gilgamesh ducked, avoiding the Holy Knight Missle. The Gilded King turned back towards his rival, opened a few golden portals to threaten the demon. Allanon chuckled before speaking.

“Do you not know anything else?” The Demon whirled his warhammer around before smashing it into the ground in front of him. Cracks in the earth spread in a spiderweb fashion, crawling underneath Gilgamesh and Argento. Gil gave an unimpressed smirk before the ground beneath him began to glow and shake horribly. Gil fell onto his hands, trying to balance himself. Argento followed suit, tumbling onto his ass. The two primes tried to keep themselves from falling over from the massive tremors, Allanon steadily advanced, unaffected by the earthquake he caused.

“You think that your little party trick can fucking hurt me, cur?” Gilgamesh spat with venom as Allanon walked up. He gave a smug grin before giving his snarky comment.

“No but this will.” The demon’s hammer swung down before three swords appeared from golden portals, blocking the blow. Gilgamesh groaned under the pressure of the blow, barely able to keep the swords up. The hammer inched closer and closer to Gilgamesh’s face before he rolled out of the way. Without the resistance of the swords, Allanon’s hammer smashed into the ground. The still shaking ground made it hard for Gil to get back onto his feet, but the Colosseum wall made it easier to stay balanced. Gilgamesh opened a few portals to threaten Allanon as he advanced towards Gilgamesh. Each sword that was shot was knocked away by a massive swing of his weapon or he merely sidestepped out of its path.

The Fel Earth Magic began to subside and the tremors began to ease into small shakes. Allanon turned to see Argento rise and ready his weapon and looked at Gilgamesh opened an even larger arsenal of weapons ready to fire. He grit his teeth and took a large leap backwards, disengaging from the primes.

“You have no idea what you have unleashed.” Allanon spoke sullenly as his yellow eyes began to shade in until his eyes were completely black.

18502 words

[Gilgamesh]

The Demon’s eyes filled out with a black color, his veins bulging from his skin. Allanon rushed off, sprinting towards the Gilded King, the earth shattering beneath his every step. The demon raised his weapon and brought it down on Gilgamesh, seething rage through his teeth as if he were a bull. Gil rose his hand to raise a purple barrier, yet it shattered instantly under the weight of the weapon. The warhammer smashed down onto Gil, crushing him to the floor. Blood spattered out of his mouth and he could feel his insides being squished by the brute weapon. His vision faded to black for a few second and he could feel his conscience fading.

Argento’s response was a little too late, swinging his Day’suis, “Nothing will give me such satisfaction than when you fall,” he decreed valiantly. Yet his hammer smacked with an unsatisfactory thud upon Allanon’s back. The Demon’s elbow jutted back hitting Argento in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and forcing him to one knee.

Allanon’s twisted face smiled as he saw the breathless paladin, “Be proud that you have managed to elicit this from me, Holy Knight.” He whipped his hand across the paladin’s face, causing the paladin to tumble across the floor. His Day’suis escaped his hand as he barreled across the floor. As Argento came to a skidding halt, he rose his hand to his head to ease the aching pain. He slowly turned to see Allanon striding towards him, warhammer in hand, and behind him, Gilgamesh still trying to recover from the demon’s strike. Argento stumbled onto his feet and tried to sprint towards his holy weapon, stopped only by a massive hammer coming in between him and the Day’suis. Allanon gave the Holy Knight a fake pout before tutting.

“Tsk tsk tsk. I’m sorry I can’t let you get that right now. It’s just you and me.” Allanon grinned as he lunged, fist leading towards Argento. The Holy Knight was able to evade the blow, leaving the demon’s fight to pound into the ground. Argento backed away before bringing his hands into a fighting stance, hopping in place. Allanon gave Argento a condescending smile and turned to look at Gilgamesh, seeing him still writhe on the ground.

“I suppose I can enjoy toying with you for a while Holy Knight. It’s not like Goldilocks can do anything more.” Allanon smashed his warhammer on the ground, letting it stand of its own accord while bringing his own hands into a fighting stance. Without hesitation the Demon was on the offensive, using his large weight to put enormous force behind his blows. The Paladin was seemingly quick on his feet, managing to avoid the large and easily-telegraphed blows that the Demon threw. Allanon’s blows sent packets of wind flying, easily intimidating a less confident man. Argento would respond by dodging the massive blow by dishing out a small series of blows of his own. Allanon, however, treated Argento’s fists as if they were the wind, almost taking pleasure from the Paladin trying so hard.

Allanon laughed at the weak blows of the Holy Knight, and their boxing match continued eventually pressing Argento against the wall. Argento ducked one of Allanon’s massive fists, causing it to break and become stuck in the colosseum’s wall. Argento rushed behind the behemoth, Allanon reaching and missing with his other arm. The Holy Knight rushed towards his trusted weapon as the Demon pulled his fist from out of the wall. He shook off the rubble from his fist before looking up at the fleeing Holy Knight.

“Aww I was having so much fun toying with you, Holy Knight.” Allanon teased as he brought the chase. Managing to reach the Day’suis as Allanon overcame him, the demon’s fist was stopped by the Day’suis’ hilt. However, the force was enough to knock Argento from his feet onto his ass.

A series of stabbing pains erupted into Allanon’s back, turning to see Gilgamesh back onto his feet shooting swords as the demon. Allanon’s brow furrowed, turning his attention to the new nuisance. The Demon ran towards Gilgamesh, picking up his warhammer on his path swinging at the projectiles, knocking them from the sky. Gilgamesh opened up his Gates of Babylon further, presenting more of a challenge for the demon. Allanon jumped to the side, avoiding an array of weaponry, still bound to the Gilded King’s position. A bead of sweat ran down Gilgamesh’s face as the impending demon was ever closer. He sent another firing of his weapons, all but one deflected by the Demon’s hammer. The final blade managed to get past Allanon’s defenses, piercing into his bicep.

This served as little deterrent as the Demon was finally upon Gilgamesh, bringing the hilt of his hammer across Gilgamesh’s face. Gilgamesh rose up to one knee, the taste of his blood flooding his mouth. He swiped his hand across the air, conjuring portals from thin air. His finger swaying in the air before landing on Allanon’s figure. Allanon spat into the nearby dirt before charging the Fallen King. A cruel smirk crawled on the demon’s face as he raised the warhammer, preparing to smash Gilgamesh’s skull. Rattling sounds flowed through the air as chains shot out of the golden portals, wrapping themselves around the Demon’s body immobilizing him. Allanon’s flexing muscles and efforts to escape proved futile while Gilgamesh grabbed a sword from his treasury.

Gilgamesh walked over to the paralyzed demon, amused by the struggling of the pathetic creature. Allanon threatened the King, “You will forever perish and stay forever in this hells-,” Gilgamesh smashed the hilt of his sword into the demon’s nose. Blood trailed down Allanon’s newly deformed nose.

“You will not speak to me this way anymore, brute.” Gilgamesh’s face showed no semblance of satisfaction or happiness but more of one of relief.

“I will speak to you as I wish you fucking weakling!” Allanon struggled in the chains more, slinging curses and screaming at Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh raised his sword and swung with all of his power to cleave off the demon’s arm. The resistance of Allanon’s skin proved to be more than Gilgamesh could cleave in one swing. Slicing through most of the flesh on the first strike it took two more to cleave off the entire arm. Allanon growled out in pain, cursing Gilgamesh and his heritage. Gilgamesh spoke with disdain in his voice as he worked at hacking the other arm off.

“You pride yourself on strength that you are not worthy of. It is your penance that you shall be deprived of it.” Allanon’s eyes filled with hatred and pain as the other arm plopped onto the floor. Gilgamesh kicked over the armless Demon onto the floor, the chains beginning to slither and release from Allanon’s body. The demon, his lifeblood draining from his body, squirmed and screamed in rage, still futilely trying to destroy the Monarch. Gil stumbled away, leaving Allanon to wail in pain like the insect he was. Argento gave Gilgamesh a disgusted look in his eyes at the torment he just witnessed, “I thought you said that you did not fight for the entertainment of the audience.”

“I do not. I am the Judge and carried out his sentence.” Gilgamesh walked away from the Holy Knight, leaving him questioning the morality of Gil’s character. His knees feeling weak Gilgamesh looked for an exit or some solace of where he could just relax. He saw the exit door and began to limp towards it. The orcs guarding the door provided no resistance as the King left. However, just as Gil opened the door his legs wobbled before giving out. Zanzibar was on the other side and managed to catch Gil before he fell.

“I’ve caught you my liege. Would you like me to carry you?” Zanzibar asked with a great big smile on his face.

Gilgamesh gave him a weak smile in return, “That would be entirely ungraceful for a King.” Zanzibar let Gilgamesh wobble back onto his feet before he made his first step. However, his leg didn’t support it, letting Gilgamesh crumple like a rag doll onto the floor. The two of them giggled as Zanzibar helped Gil back onto his feet. “Although I suppose it would also be un-kingly to refuse assistance.” Zanzibar put the King’s arm around his shoulder and began to assist him down the stairs.

Not much time had passed until they were brought to a waiting room of sorts in which Gilgamesh could lay his body, focusing on just staying alive. Soon after the two sat down, goblins came in with great, jingling bags of presumably gold. “I see that I have made you quite wealthy, Zanzibar.” Zanzibar responded with a cheeky smile, cradling his bags of money as if they were his children.

“Although I am pleased by this massive amounts of wealth, I know that isn’t what you were looking for.” His smile dimmed a little bit, “I hope that this ‘performance’ was enough to entertain Diablo himself.”

Gilgamesh sighed before closing his eyes. “You and I both.”

20036 words

[Gilgamesh]

Hours had passed and Gilgamesh laid there, bored out of his mind. Zanzibar had decided to let Gilgamesh have his freedom before taking his leave, letting Gilgamesh’s imagination be his only entertainment. Surveying his environment, he found nothing particularly useful in aiding the relief of his boredom. With nothing to do, Gilgamesh was left alone to be tormented with his own thoughts.

What if this wasn’t enough? How long must I battle these abominations before I am set free? How long must my Kingdom suffer without my presence? Hundreds of thoughts ran through his mind, and clenched his heart. The mere thought of that he hadn’t done enough to impress the Lord of Terror was more defeating than any blow from his ex-rival. Tears welled up in his eyes and he slammed his fist into the couch cushion he was on with an unsatisfactory thud. The door to the waiting room burst open and Gilgamesh quickly wiped his eyes before turning his head. An eerily normal human, his garb indicating he was a servant of sorts, greeted Gilgamesh.

“The all supreme Lord of Terror, Diablo, demands to meet with you. I will take you to him once you are prepared.” The man eyed Gilgamesh up and down before sneering at him. “Make sure you aren’t...prone to more human emotions when in his presence.” His voice was filled with contempt and he gave him a scoff before shutting the door.

Relief flowed throughout his body, every muscle relaxing at the servant’s disdainful words. He would finally meet someone who had greater power than himself. Gilgamesh’s golden armor materialized around him, shining in all of its glory. It was almost humorous that he was trying to impress this Diablo, but he felt he had no other choice. Getting up, Gilgamesh walked to the closest mirror to wipe away any remaining tears or other imperfections he may have shown. Breathing a deep sigh he walked towards the exit. He mustn't keep Diablo waiting.

[Storyteller]

The manacles clasped down on his wrists. A beat later, a metal casing clamped down over his head. Gilgamesh had been briefed on the restraints—they were designed to nullify even the most supernatural of senses. From what he had been told, it wasn’t a matter of secrets being spilled. After all, the location of the Chaos Sanctuary was not a secret to the denizens of the Underverse. If anything, the associated superstructure loomed higher than any manmade structure in this or any parallel universe.

Many days outside the colosseum, Gilgamesh had glimpsed up at the foreboding structure and its impossible height. He saw the massive, sun-like orb of hell fire that constantly shifted. Legends said it was some sort of cosmic eye that could let Diablo see for thousands of miles in any direction he desired. People had called Gilgamesh a tyrant, but even he could never be capable of such monumental feats. To personally lord oneself over a space that likely dwarfed Mesopotamia in scale?

Phenomenal.

Or, as the plebs would call it…

Terrifying.

Because he had heard the story, Gilgamesh stood tall as the restraints were locked around him. He knew this was a mental game—a ploy designed to weaken minds and coy even the strongest of resolves. Even when he got shoved a few times and handled a little too harshly by his demonic escort, the gilded king did not falter in the march from the Colosseum gates to the Chaos Sanctuary. He spoke no words, although he was asked a handful of times whether or not he ‘felt ready’ to meet the sovereign of the Underverse. Even when it felt as if they had been marching him around for the better part of an afternoon, he held his tongue despite the growing ire he felt.

They play games.

They came to a stop, and unlike the other times they had ceased movement, this time was the last. Gilgamesh felt scaled fingers scrape at his forearms and legs. The heavy, enchanted irons slipped from his extremeities as he felt some nails slip from the headgear and purposefully lacerate one of his shoulders.

Mongrel demons.

When the helmet was removed, the king wore a sneer on his face, even though his eyes wanted to blink fiercely to adjust to the foreboding crimson light that bathed the church-like chamber. Gilgamesh would show no such weakness. He was a king, and he would be damned before he showed weakness to some hellspawn.

Leave us.

The dark, heavy voice spoke echoed all around them, and despite his best efforts, Gilgamesh caught himself glancing at the shadows of the massive church.

Without a word, the demons who had transported the gladiator retrieved the rest of the restraints and slunk their way from the room like scolded cats.

When Gligmesh heard that booming voice the second time, it was much closer. “You come a long way from the deserts above.”

The sovereign of Nippur scowled, but the momentary discomfort had been replaced by a growing indignation. “I had no choice,” he growled as he lifted his head up to try and locate the supposed Lord of Terror.

“Because you are weak.”

Had he been feathered, Gilgamesh would have ruffled at that remark. For his part, the blonde-haired king clenched his fists. “I killed your best gladiators. I put them under heel and des—”

Clawed fingers wrapped around the man’s shoulder and squeezed. There was a moment of steel resolve, and then the bones groaned as they were crushed. Before any lasting damage was given, the gladiator was thrown like a piece of garbage across the floor of the Chaos Sanctuary. At the end of what felt like a blur of agony, Gilgamesh found himself wrapped around a stone obelisk.

“You…” the king of Nippur shoved away from the monument and rose to his feet. Whatever else he had planned to say fell silent when the nine-foot form of Diablo strode out from the shadows. A living mountain of spikes, claws, scales, and muscles, the Prime Evil saw the hesitation in Gilgamesh’s face—that momentary waver—and knew how this situation would play out.

“Yes, me.” Diablo bellowed as, suddenly, blood-red chandeliers and wall sconces flared to life throughout the Chaos Sanctuary. “Your Lord and Savior, Gilgamesh.” The king, for his part, ignored the pain radiating from his injured shoulder and kept his eyes locked on the molten orbs of the demon. “I know that look, would-be king. It is the look of someone who thinks themselves above their station.”

“I am a king,” Gilgamesh spat back before he was suddenly hit by a wave of force that drove the air from his lungs. Instead of oxygen, it was almost as if ash and soot flowed into his body, for the gladiator immediately could not breath. After hacking for several seconds, he planted a hand on his chest and another on his throat, hoping to find something there. The edges of his vision blackened, and the world started to tilt and shuffle around.

His legs gave out, and with a thud, Gilgamesh landed on his hands and knees, but then it all ended. Whatever the mirage had been, it faded almost as quickly as it had happened.

The question was in his head, but Diablo didn’t need to hear it asked.

“I am the King here, slave, and you will know your place before me.”

Gilgamesh tried to stand, but the moment he tensed the muscles in his arms and legs he suffered a horrible burst of electricity through his body. He couldn’t stop the scream that violently tore itself from his maw as he fell sideways to the ground. His hearing, initially robbed from him by the assault, returned just in time for him to hear the laughter of the monster.

Laughter!

“You defeated a toy of mine, and you think yourself a demigod. You are a fool.”

“I am… a king,” Gilgamesh groaned from his spot on the floor of the Sanctuary. At once, another oppressive burst of electricity blanketed him internally, and this time, he momentarily lost consciousness. When he revived, he saw that he had been lifted up into the air by the Lord of Terror.

“Do you remember?” Diablo asked.

“Re-remember what?”

The Prime Evil snickered as it took its bladed index finger and started to twist the tip into the man’s breastbone. “Do you remember your demise?” Blood began to sputter and ooze from the deepening wound, but the demon did not relent. “Remember your fall from grace? Your legacy and the war it wrought upon you?”

“The mouse.” Gilgamesh rasped as he felt blood on his tongue. At some point over the last few minutes, he must have gnashed apart the insides of his mouth. “Defeated me. S-s-sent me here.”

Diablo smiled a molten, fire-laced grin before dumping the broken king back onto the ground. “Quite the king you were… beaten by a pseudo-child and his pet.”

“I will destroy them both,” Gilgamesh growled as he slowly tried to right himself. His vision was still doubled, and his muscles weren’t responding as he would desire them to do. “The armies of Nippur will sweep over the Dunes… we will destroy them.” Gilgamesh, his head throbbing, took a laborious moment to push himself up to his feet. As he reached his full height, his legs caved out beneath him.

“What armies?” Diablo replied. “Do you know how long you have languished down here?”

The banished sovereign made it to his knees and lifted his head. “W-weeks?” He slurred. When had he split his lip open?

“Nearly two years,” The Lord of Terror remarked.

“Y-you lie!” Gilgamesh gurgled. He then saw a brief flash of red before realizing that his left hand had been literally [ii]crushed[/i] into the ground. There was just a blood sputtering stump and a spike of bone where a wrist had been.

“See how frail you are, Gilgamesh?” Diablo’s voice boomed as his massive shadow fell over the hobbled gladiator. “Your legacy was just as fragile as your ego and your body. Crumbled to pieces. Your people turned on themselves in the power vacuum, and those that didn’t murder each other feast off the corpse of their civilization like carrion vultures.”

He couldn’t pass out.

He couldn’t lose.

Gilgamesh squeezed at the severed limb and tried to focus on the anger that burned in his veins. Two years? Two fucking years? The mouse-child had taken two years from him and reduced his city to squalor?

“That rage will get you through the sleepless nights,” Diablo boomed as he reached down and wrapped a hand around the man’s neck. After lifting up the broken gladiator to his look him in the eyes, the Lord of Terror sneered. “How far are you willing to go to assuage that anger, Gilgamesh? What price will you pay to rise, stronger and madder, to reclaim that which should have never been lost to you?”

“Anything.”

There was no pause before the response…

Just as Diablo had known.

The Lord of Terror nodded his head. “You will return to the surface, Gilgamesh. You will do so, however, as my vassal. Do not fret, for you will have all illusions that your actions are your own and your decisions are yours. But know that I will watch you, and when you are called upon, you will respond to my commands. If you violate this oath, you will suffer eternal… Do you understand?”

Rage was all that kept the battered and destroyed body of Gilgamesh from failing. “Yes,” he growled.

Diablo reached a hand out and pressed it against the king’s left breast. The clothes vaporized, and then there was a searing pain—too much and too fast.

Gilgamesh blacked out once again.

When the king regained consciousness, he quickly realized that he was standing on his feet. More than that, his left hand was where it should be—attached to his arm. All the cuts and bruises and shattered bones were gone, as if they had been figments of his imagination.

“It was real,” Diablo spoke from behind the king, who spun on his heels. “I trust you will carry those memories in the event that you ever decide to cross your Sovereign.”

He intended to answer, but the gladiator felt a warmth on his chest. He lifted his shirt and saw the brand seared into his flesh.

“A more visual reminder of the cost of your oath.”

Gilgamesh spoke no words as he let his clothes fall back to their normal spots. He merely lifted his head to look upon the demonic countenance of his new overlord. “When do I leave?”

Diablo smirked as he pointed a blade-like finger to the ground beneath the man. “Go now, Vassal.” Something started to shift underneath Gilgamesh’s feet. “Go now and have your revenge on the Omniverse.”

Like many other times in the recent past, the blonde king could not respond because the world around him reacted faster. As he opened his mouth, the ground collapsed as a portal opened up beneath him. He was gone in the blink of an eye as the floor returned to its normal state.

Diablo grinned.

“Spread Chaos and Terror, my Little King.”

Gilgamesh receives +1 Brand of Diablo
Gilgamesh is dropped into the Void, please make sure you read the Void Info Thread