Chapter 1

Astride the Deathsteed, I carved my path through the cosmic tapestry, Darla, my loyal companion and harbinger of doom, fastened to my back, singing a silent requiem to the stars. The bike exuded a malevolent aura, its presence slicing through the very fabric of space-time with an ease born of dark enchantment. Being of divine lineage, I traversed the endless expanse without the constraints of mortal needs, my godly nature an armor against the harsh void.

Our journey took us beyond the fringes of known realms, through the swirling nebulas and past the watchful eyes of ancient celestial entities. We descended upon Neptic—a planet infamous for its decay and lawlessness, a haven for the most vile of criminals and outcasts. The air was thick with the stench of corruption and desperation, a perfect playground for a soul such as mine.

As I navigated the chaotic labyrinth of Brittleton City, the desolate streets seemed to recoil from my presence. The wretched and the lost scurried like vermin, their eyes darting with a mix of fear and awe. They could sense the aura of danger that clung to me like a shroud, the very air around me charged with a predatory grace. My very stride was a proclamation of my unearthly heritage—each step an assertion of my dominion over life and death.

The denizens of Brittleton, despite their own depravity, recognized an apex predator when they saw one. My devilish mien, the ominous glint in my azure gaze, spoke of untold power and a disregard for the petty rules that bound lesser beings. They parted before me, a sea of misery and vice yielding to the force of my will. In their downtrodden faces, I saw the flicker of realization—they were in the presence of a being not just of importance, but of cosmic significance. Here, in the heart of decay, I was the embodiment of chaos and anarchy, a god amongst the damned.

The decrepit streets of Brittleton, with their shadow-laden alleys and an air of desolation, were akin to a second home to me, their gloom a mere echo of the realm of death where I had honed my existence. My journey towards Jingo's brothel, a den of carnal distractions, was interrupted by the emergence of four dark elflings. They slinked out from the shadows, their forms cloaked in tattered, ebony garments that fluttered like the wings of carrion birds. Their eyes, glinting with malice under hooded brows, betrayed their predatory intent. Concealed daggers, sharp and eager for blood, lay hidden beneath their ragged cloaks.

"Young man, you seem astray. Where might you be heading?" inquired one, his voice dripping with deceit, a twisted smile carved into his scarred visage.

Their audacity amused me. "Oh, what charming company," I retorted, my voice a serenade of impending doom. I watched, almost affectionately, as terror and doubt crept into the eyes of the lead elfling, while his companions attempted a stealthy encirclement.

Anticipating their move, I sidestepped with supernatural agility, my form a blur, evading their clumsy lunge. "My mother always cautioned against playing with one's food," I quipped with a sardonic grin.

Their confusion was palpable, a moment of vulnerability I exploited with relish. Unsheathing Darla, the scythe seemed to thrum with anticipation, its dark aura pulsating in sync with my heartbeat. Raising my arm, I executed a swift, horizontal arc. Darla moved as if alive, a sentient force of destruction. In a singular, fluid motion, the blade cleaved through the three elflings. Their bodies, severed in a grotesque ballet, crumpled to the ground, their insides painting the cobblestones in a macabre tapestry of gore.

The fourth, gripped by primal fear, fled into the labyrinthine alleyways. But Darla, ever faithful, soared from my grip, an avenging specter in pursuit. The elfling's pleas for mercy were cut short as the scythe, with unerring precision, decapitated him, his head rolling to a stop at my feet, eyes still wide with terror.

"What an exhilarating diversion," I mused, feeling a rush of exhilaration as Darla returned to my hand, its blade still singing with the echoes of the kill. I looked down at the head staring up at me, and knelt down and whisper "And by the way I don't have a mother.". The street, now silent save for the echoes of death, bore witness to the carnage—a reminder that in my world, play and peril were one and the same.

The scythe, Darla, exhaled a spectral sigh as I slid it into its sheath, its thirst for chaos momentarily sated. "More, please, I crave more!" it implored, a hunger for bloodshed echoing in its tone. "Enough for now, my dearest," I whispered back, quelling its restless spirit as I navigated the serpentine alleys leading to Jingo's brothel.

As I stepped into Jingo's brothel, the atmosphere shifted palpably, enveloping me in a world far removed from the bleak streets of Brittleton. The dimly lit interior, bathed in a seductive orange hue, exuded an air of forbidden luxury. Plush leather booths snaked along the walls, their curves inviting whispered secrets and clandestine encounters. The pulse of heavy metal reverberated through the space, a rhythmic heartbeat syncing with the darker desires of the soul.

Jingo, the dwarf proprietor, emerged from the throng, his attire a striking contrast of black and red, a sartorial nod to the decadence that his establishment celebrated. His face, wise and weathered, was framed by a beard intricately braided, each twist a testament to his life's stories. "Cedrix, my eternal youth," he greeted me with a mix of respect and familiarity, extending a hand gnarled by years but firm in its grip.

"Jingo, the keeper of nightly delights," I responded, shaking his hand with an ease born of many such meetings. Our pleasantries were cut short by the excited arrival of Marla, Jenie, and Lianna, a trio of elven beauties, each more enchanting than the last.

Marla, a pink-haired siren, her attire a daring dance of fishnets and scant fabric, approached with a gaze as captivating as the depths of the ocean. Jenie, with her flowing mane of vibrant green, bore the artistry of ink upon her arms, each tattoo a story etched in skin. Her embrace was a mix of strength and sensuality, a testament to her untamed spirit. Lianna, with her playful orange bob, radiated a devious charm, her eyes flickering with mischief and allure.

Together, we retreated to a private chamber, a sanctuary of velvet and shadow. The room hummed with an intimate energy, the air thick with anticipation. Marla and Jenie pressed close, their lips tracing the contours of my neck, each kiss a spark igniting the air. Lianna, with the grace of a temptress, poured drinks that shimmered like liquid stars, their contents a mystery best left unspoken.

I lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around me like a spectral embrace. My eyes closed, savoring the moment, the gentle caresses, the whispered laughter. Here, I was more than a harbinger of doom; I was a revered patron, a protector of these ethereal creatures who found solace in my shadow.

Our cocoon of hedonism was abruptly torn asunder by a cataclysmic crash from the streets. I leaped to my feet, a predator alert to the scent of an intruder. The girls, a blend of concern and curiosity, followed as I strode back to the entrance. The sight that greeted us was one of chaotic beauty—a crater, aglow with a celestial blue aura, a cosmic wound in the heart of Brittleton, beckoning with the promise of mysteries and dangers yet unknown.

figure clad in glistening golden armor emerged, radiating a powerful blue aura that permeated the air with a sense of divine might. His presence stirred a tumult in my gut, an instinctual recognition of a formidable adversary. "Arius, the son of the God of Light," I muttered with a sneer, observing his helm fashioned in the noble visage of a falcon, and the formidable sword he wielded, each step crushing the debris beneath his celestial boots.

"What misfortune brings you to this forsaken pit?" I taunted, watching his fiery gaze lock onto me with righteous indignation. "Why so grim, light-bringer?" I jeered, amused by his solemnity.

"Cedrix, what have you unleashed?" Arius bellowed, advancing towards me, his sword an extension of his wrath. His accusation hung in the air, a challenge to the chaos I harbored.

"What riddles do you speak?" I retorted, my demeanor unflinchingly cavalier. Our paths had crossed before, his righteousness always a stark contrast to my anarchic spirit.

"That scythe... its awakening reverberated across the cosmos. I recognized its tumultuous aura instantly and knew I must intervene. How did you come to possess such an artifact, Cedrix?" Arius's voice boomed, the force of his concern palpable.

"Curiosity doesn't become you, Arius. I'm merely indulging in a little entertainment," I replied, drawing Darla with a fluid motion. The scythe snarled at the golden warrior, eager for the clash of divine forces.

"That weapon is no mere plaything! Hand it over, Cedrix. I shall return you to your father for judgment. Such power is not meant for a half-born!" Arius declared, his approach steely and determined.

"You'll take me nowhere," I hissed, lunging forward with Darla in a deadly arc. Arius met my strike with his sword, the collision of our weapons igniting a storm of sparks, a maelstrom of black and blue energies dancing perilously close to annihilation.

Our battle commenced, a ballet of gods, each movement a tempest of force and fury. The air crackled with the clash of our wills, the very ground beneath us shuddering at the might of our confrontation. This was no mere skirmish; it was the embodiment of light and darkness, order and chaos, vying for supremacy in a world teetering on the brink of cosmic upheaval.

The air around us crackled with the raw energy of our clash, the streets of Brittleton transformed into an arena for gods. Arius, in his radiant armor, was a beacon of divine fury, his sword movements precise and fluid, each strike a testament to centuries of celestial warfare. I, Cedrix, with Darla in hand, was his antithesis—a tempest of darkness and chaos, each swing of my scythe an anarchic dance of death.

Our weapons met with a force that shook the very foundations of the planet. Sparks flew as the scythe's dark edge clashed against the holy steel of Arius's sword, casting eerie shadows across the devastated street. The blue and black auras of our respective powers swirled and collided, an ethereal storm of light and shadow.

Arius advanced with a series of swift, calculated thrusts, each blow aimed with the precision of a seasoned warrior. I parried with equal fervor, Darla cutting through the air with a sinister hum. Our battle was a symphony of destruction, a relentless exchange of skill and strength.

I ducked under a sweeping strike, feeling the heat of the sword's aura graze the tips of my hair. Seizing the moment, I spun, bringing Darla in a vicious arc aimed at Arius's flank. He countered, but not quickly enough to avoid the searing kiss of Darla's blade against his armor. The scythe tore through the divine metal, sending sparks and shards flying.

Arius staggered, his aura flickering. Sensing his momentary weakness, I unleashed a flurry of strikes, each more ferocious than the last. Darla moved as if alive, hungry for the light that Arius emanated.

With a final, thunderous clash, I drove Darla forward, piercing through Arius's defenses. The scythe found its mark, burying deep into his side. Arius let out a pained cry, the light of his aura dimming as he fell to his knees.

Standing over the fallen son of the God of Light, I felt a surge of triumphant power. Darla hummed in my grasp, its thirst quenched by the divine ichor that now stained its blade.

The air grew heavy with an ominous chill as Arius clutched his wound, his voice a strained whisper. "Cedrix, you meddle with powers beyond your comprehension. That scythe is not a mere weapon..." His warning fell on deaf ears. "Spare me your concern, Arius. Darla is mine," I retorted, my gaze fixed upon him with cold defiance.

But then, the atmosphere shifted, a familiar dread creeping through the streets. A thick fog rolled in, engulfing the scene in a shroud of mist, its icy tendrils snaking across the ground. This chilling embrace, a herald of his arrival, sent a ripple of unease through my spine. "Cedrix, what have you done, you reckless child?" boomed a voice, resonant and deep, from within the fog.

"Father..." The word was a bitter acknowledgment as the formidable figure of Demetrys, the God of Death, materialized from the mists. His presence was overwhelming, an embodiment of dread and sovereignty. His hair, white as the untouched snow, contrasted starkly against the abyssal depth of his eyes, eyes that could extinguish the very essence of the sun. Enveloped in a black cloak that seemed to absorb the light around him, his armor exuded streams of dark energy, shadows coiling around him like loyal serpents.

His approach was both stern and ethereal, a silent glide that belied the immense power he wielded. "How did you come upon that scythe?" he demanded, his voice a command that demanded obedience.

I met his inquiry with a defiant sneer. "I didn't seek it out; it chose me. We are bound, inseparable." My tone was laced with contempt, the disdain for my father palpable in every word.

"Hand it over, Cedrix," he ordered, a tone that brooked no dissent.

"And if I refuse?" I challenged, gripping Darla tightly, feeling a sense of unity with this instrument of annihilation.

Demetrys's lips curled into a sinister smile. "You dare defy me? I, who gave you life, can just as easily strip it away." His words were a cold whisper, a promise of retribution.

In that instant, time seemed to stand still. Darla quivered in my grasp, its energy waning under the oppressive might of my father. Demetrys began to chant an incantation, "Death Prism," and a cylinder of ice erupted from the ground, ensnaring me in its frosty grasp. Walls of ice rose around me, sealing me within a tomb of frozen silence. Through the translucent barrier, I could see his malevolent gaze, triumphant and unyielding.

With a final clap of his hands, the icy prison completed its encasement. Darkness engulfed me, my consciousness slipping away into an abyss of cold oblivion.

When awareness returned, I found myself confined to this room, a solitary space where time lost its meaning. Silence was my only companion, save for the guitar that lay at the room's edge—a silent witness to my entrapment. Days turned into an endless cycle of waiting, each moment stretching into eternity, a prisoner in the realm of my own father, the God of Death.