Half-Step

Puerto Rico

Not all the bunkers were completely safe, some where, especially depending on the people inside or the proximity to a shield base or the closeness to a powerful shield agents. Hence, casualties such as this were only to be expected, nothing to be shocked by. Well, not that it would bother the Grand Prime anyway.

Where could one begin when talking about the Grand Prime Edgar Lionharte. The second child of the Lionharte family, he was considered to be a prodigy, having been compatible with the licht weapon Excalibur, which was meant for only the head of the family. Tragedy struck when he was kidnapped, who to this day are unknown. It was the crime that rippled through the world.

Then he appeared again. After an entire year, he returned, but he was a changed boy. The once noble, meticulous and meek boy was replaced with a loose cannon. Somewhat noble, but still a loose cannon, more interested in daemon extermination than history. Some say it was the experiments done to him, evidenced by the numerous needle holes found all over his body, others say it was the exposure to the harsh environments. Either way, Edgar was never the same from that day.

And then, on one faithful morning, Edgar approached the then Grand Prime, Jahn Vu Jor, requesting to be under his command. It threw the Lionharte family down, especially since the Lionhartes openly disliked the Inquisition. But there was no changing his mind. No stopping Edgar, not even Elizabeth, the one member of the family he truly cherished, could change his mind.

It was, ironically, in the inquisition that the might of the Lionharte family was showcased, as during the second daemon incident, when all seemed lost did Edgar spring out of the dark and annihilate swarms off daemon and a sin, ending the incident. From that day, he became the Grand Prime, and saving the Inquisition from being replaced

Standing in the destroyed bunker, Edgar said nothing, watching the walls slowly crumble, paying no heed to his aide who stood behind him quietly, or the numerous bodies of men, women and children, all who were slain mercilessly, or the daemon who was at the back of the room. It seemed to be writing on the wall, using the blood of his victims. The inscription was in English, interestingly enough. It had written; 'From the works of Mars' The daemon had crossed out the s from 'Mars'.

Edgar scratched his head as it began to rain. He sighed and approached the daemon.

[Grand Prime Edgar Lionharte, I presume.] the daemon said, as it added finishing touches to its design.

"That's me." Edgar said.

[Here to destroy the portal?]

"Yes."

[You'll fail.]

"Not the first person to tell me that. My aide has been hammering that into my ear. All day long."

[He has wisdom then.]

"Judging that this place was wiped out first, I can presume that I am close. That and the fact that there are so many white daemon around."

[We do have to guard our front doors after all. On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate my art?]

"You want me to rate your art?"

[I understand that it is a strange request for a daemon...]

"No, I thought you were doing it to pass the time."

[On the contrary. I was a big fan of Leonardo Da Vinci, watched him as he drew the Mona Lisa. From the shadows, that is. A nice artist. A shame he died.]

"I'd go with 8. Love the italics."

"4." Damien said, "I hate the color red."

[A shame. You're missing out.]

"Well, for showing me this...fine art, how would you like to be cut in half? Horizontally, vertically or diagonally?"

[Diagonally?]

"Yeah, Wanna try it?"

[Hmmm....Sure.]

Edger immediately swiped his hand diagonally and immediately slashed the daemon in half, killing it. Edgar sighed as he turned to face the massive ocean. A huge storm was brewing in the triangle, lightening and dark clouds hovered all around. In the dead center was a crack in space, running down from the top down to the ocean. For something that was supposed to be secret, it was oddly showing itself. Like a trap. Edgar smiled.

"EDGAR!!!" A young voice squealed. Kaien jumped on Edgar's back, beaming widely.

"Hey, kid!" Edgar said, "How was your rounds?"

"COOOL!! There were a lot of daemons though."

"Seems like you've been having fun

"Yeah."

"Sir," Damien protested, closing his book, "Would not taking the young Sannin with us be a bad idea? We might not return."

"Chillax." Edgar said, "Don't you trust me?"

Damien sighed. He rolled his eyes as Kaien looked at him and stuck out his tongue. 

A White daemon popped out of the crack. It looked skeletal, having a circle around it laced through orbs. It began to hit the orbs, producing a sound akin to a large drum, only it resounded throughout the Earth.

After a few minutes, it stopped.

[The first March has ended. Here come the March of Sins.]