Regardless of how many souls exist here you are alone, barren clay extends forever, burning the soles of your feet like fire, as the sky overhead glows a dark angry red as three suns wind upon their course. The air burns as you struggle to breathe, the hanging sulfer smog choking your lungs and burning your skin. Intermitantly the ground quakes as around you small fissures open up venting steam and noxious stenches into the air as the temperature seems to rise forever, never reaching a stable level. A fierce wind whips clouds of sulfur drenched dust into the air searing the flesh, as foot prints lead off into the distance. In their wake sound the echoes of the voices of loved ones long gone, calling to you from the first moment you entered this place, forever calling. Never stopping the footprints and voices seem only to mock you with the possibility that you are not totally alone out here, and it is a loved one who is also suffering out here driving you insane. Stinking carcases litter the ground, rotting eternally under the angry light of the suns. There is no shade here only heat and eternal emptiness. Welcome to the Plains of Penance, suffering is all this place has to offer, except today that is...for an army of darkness gathers, preparing to go to war, but not with the forces of light, with another darkness.


The heavy air shimmered as Vorach made his dimensional crossing his body becoming somewhat corporeal in this place of torment. Before him is massed an army of immense beasts, their scaled skin and thin wiry frames almost perfectly suited to survival in this place, great wings stretch from their backs over their heads providing limited shelter from the burning suns. Vorach entered the mass of demons moving towards their centre where there was a small clearing and there stood a throne, upon which sat an angel, wings like shadows streaming from his back, Lucifer. Vorach entered the clearing and approached the throne, nodding in greeting as Lucifer looked up and yawned, his red eyes bored yet intense none the less as they stared out from his beautiful face.

[Color=sky blue]Greetings lord of the mountain, I come bearing good news. The Pantheon has decided to allow you to join our ranks...[/color]

Vorach said, purposefully letting his voice trail off at the end as he sought to manipulate Lucifer. Lucifer's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed as his mind worked.

I am gladdened to hear that, but I get the feeling that there is a condition upon my acceptance which you are not telling me. What is it?

Vorach chuckled internally, as he paused to exhale before speaking again.

[Color=sky blue]The Pantheon accepts your terms, but on condition of our own. You may join us only when the war is over, not before, you must play your role to the end before you can take on your new casting.[/color]

Lucifer stared at Vorach, his eyes emotionless.

Very well, I accept your terms, my army is yours and once this war is won I shall move on from this reality.

Vorach smiled as Lucifer agreed to the bargain.

[Color=sky blue]Very good. You are to split your forces into three equal groups, two groups shall harry Set's forces as they march on Reficul thinning his ranks a little, the third group shall move in and attack the rear, destroying the Black Citadel on the way through, ultimately meeting in Reficul with the forces of light.[/color]

Lucifer eyes widened as he quirked an eyebrow and was about to speak when Vorach cut him off.

[Color=sky blue]The forces of light will be on strict orders not to attack your ranks. Jus be ready to attack Set as he moves his forces. That is all for now, adieu.[/color]

Vorach shimmered out of Plains of Penance as his last words left his mouth, leaving no room for arguement. Lucifer smiled as he sat upon his throne, he would finally stand on equal terms with Jahova as one of the Pantheon instead of forever in his shadow.

The air before Lucifer's throne flickered as Vorach appeared. Lucifer was gone and the plains were empty. Vorach's eyes flared as realisation hit.

Set on the move, so it begins. By the master, play your role well Lucifer.

Suddenly something in his mind snapped as images of Dante and the burning page returned to his mind. Around the page was a minute aura of energy, something more than it originally possessed, an illusion field. Vorach snarled as he willed himself from the Plains back to Reficul.

*Sanosuke had awoken to this living hell. No longer the monster he had become on the earth realm, he was now back to his normal self or as normal as he could possibly be. This place was a waste land of sulfer and fire, it was like no place he had ever seen before and in a way he wished he did not have to see it now. Every thing was a blank to him, he tryed to recall how he had got here but drew nothing from his mind, his last memory was fighting with Ken and then waking up on the burn ground of this place thanks to heated sulfer gas spuing up from the ground and burning his face slightly.

He had been walking for some time now left only with his boots and a piar of ripped pants on, looking for some form of life, but he could not find any so far. wether it was the heat from the suns above or the fumes coming from the gases Sanosuke began to hear voices, at first they were fiant but then they became clearer and clearer untill what he heard scared him*

Daddy come play with us
Daddy come play with us

*He was hearing the voices of his children, the children that had died at the hands of his so called siblings. but that wasnt it, he began to hear his dead wifes voice at all, speaking about how much she had loved her life with him, but these words soon began to turn sour and twisted untill he heard somthing that brought tears to his eyes voices all in unision*

Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,Its your fault we died,

*Was this hell, he thougt to himself as he fell to his knees almost in tears. Had he finaly be killed after all this time. Agian the voices rang through his head, paralzing him in his fallen position. What had happened he thougt why had he been condemed to a place were his most pianfull thougts would not leave him alone.*

*As if floating to his ears on he infernal winds a beautiful female voice came. Her sweet and enchanting voice sounded like angelic song compared to the screaming in Sano's mind.

"You're here because poor Sano - you need to suffer. You are here because you're friend has left you here to die......and die....and die. That's what this level of Hell is Sano - it's repetition, you'll die over and over and over again."

*The voice then took physical form, it was that of a beautiful woman with long black hair and a sleek black dress with purple gloves. The woman appeared five feet infront of Sano, staring deep into his eyes. She slowly and gracefully moved towards him......stopping arms reach from poor old Sano. She lifted her arm and ran it down Sano's bleeding cheek.

"Poor soul, left here all alone by one who you trusted......completely taken away from the physical worlds.....completely out of the Light's protection."

*The woman gave a little smile as she slowly walked back, now standing three feet from Sano.....her beautiful eyes still staring into Sano's.

A beautiful woman in a place like this, I am either really in hell or having the worst fantasy dream in history

*These were the last words he was able to speak before hit with another migrian caused by the words of fallen friends and loved ones. They were all so angry with him and thier words just kept repeating in his head. He could feel himself getting weaker as though his energy was beging drained from the very air that he breathed, he couldnt even move. All he could do was stare into the eyes of the woman infront of him, not even realizing the hundreds of small cuts opening on his body*

So what are you here for, to watch me suffer or is it because satan feels I need company in this place of torture

*The beautiful woman smiled a blushing smile, her beautiful white skin so dry and cool in the ungodly heat. Not a drop of sweat or a shimmer of uncomfort shone from her. She was perfectly at ease. Moving her beautiful deep blue eyes to Sano's body, she spoke.

"Sano, you look so hot and uncomfortable."

*The woman simply moved her eyes up to meet Sano's. With but a thought demonic flames consumed Sano's clothing - leaving him standing before her completely naked. His slightly beautiful body bearing no protection from the inferno. His body was standing in a flaming plain of agony, and yet his skin did not whilt, his body did not burn. After all - if the flames of Hell ever really consumed something - then they wouldn't be eternal.

"Tell me poor Sano - whom do you mean by Satan? Are you meaning to say Lucifer......or......"

*Suddenly the woman's eyes flashed a deep, endless, swirling black. The horrible change lasted but a second before her eyes reverted back to normal.

"......somone else? After all, Satan is such a loose term."

*The woman smiled again, her beautiful mouth softly laughing.

*Sanosuke stood before the beautiful completly naked, every scare he had ever recived was visible and the seemed to cover every part of his body but were the tattoo on his right fore arm was. He was covered in a mixture of sweat and blood which was sepping out of the tiny cuts opening on his musclar body. He looked deeply into the womans eyes and although gorgous they remined him of a empty abyss, he had only felt ths kind of emptyness infront of one other being*

Some one else...so I guess you are implying that I mean Set dont you. It would make perfect sense after all. So are you him or just working for him aother demon lacky

*Agian a mind numbing migrian nearly brought him to his knees but this time there were no voices in his head just pian which seemed to spread through out his body. He soon began to bleed through his nose and ears*

So who are you

*The woman began to laugh, her sweet soft laugh echoed through the lands of dust and flame. Her cold, smooth face showing signs of beauty that Sano has never seen before.

"Oh, you don't know who I am? Please - let me give you the chance to help clear your mind."

*The woman looked up to the sky and blinked. Suddenly, with all the speed of darkness then screaming stopped, the flames died, the heat faded, the burning three suns were covered with black clouds. The entire realm had changed into a barren, purple-black desert. The weather changed from hot and dry to icy cold and windy. A huge storm covered the limitless sky, the jet black clouds going on for as far as the eye could see. Every now and then purple lighting fell from the chaotic heavens to the barren ground. With but a blink of an eye, the entire world had changed.

"Indeed Sano - I am Set. And your supposed friend has betrayed you by taking you out of the physical worlds protected by the Light.......he brought you out of it's protection....he brought you to where I have the power to hurt you physically. What a friend he is."

*The woman disappeared, and with the blink of an eye - reappeared directly infront of Sano. She moved on of her hands to touch his chest, while the other slid behind him and slowly began to run over his nude ass. She smiled at this as she wispered in his ear.

"You see Sano, here I can take physical form....here I can give both pain and pleasure.....here I am whole. However, poor Sano that comes with a price for you. I am unstoppable here - your strongest attack will be as good as a light breeze against a concret wall. But I do not wish to harm you dear Sano - just the opposite......I wish to help you."

Believe me Set I want no pleasure from you, I just dont swing that way, I hope your feeling aint hurt

*The weather was freezzing, the burning hot went directly to icy cold and standing there nude was no longer in anyway enjoyible. Sano jumped backwards away from what was now the gorgous Set which was quite disturbing when he put some thougt into it*

So you say you are unstopible here, yet you want to help me for a price. Sounds like I have to trust you and that is somthing I am not prepare to do. But then agian I really have no choice here do I, I cant shift to any realm I dont have that power so its either you or here

*He wanted to kill himself but even doing that he would just end up back in this horrid place. H e was really left with no choice at all. The fire in his eyes that usually showed rebelion and agression died out. He could not fight a god he could barly fight his own siblings, and even if he had the power to fight Set that would still leave him here. For once he had to swallow his pride*

Okay what do I have to do to get out of this place

*The woman smiled, she did nothing more but smile as Sano walked away.

"Oh? Do you not find this form attractive? Does this body not please you? Please allow me to produce something that does."

*The woman's dress melted off, it's black shreds fading away into oblivion. She too now stood there completely nude. He smooth white skin seemed to shine against her black silky hair. She was everything Sano could have ever hoped for in a woman. The beautiful form walked over to Sano, she again slowly ran her right hand down his body - starting from his chest, moving down to his stomach, then down futher still to right above his hip. It was then her beautiful face fell dark and cold. She no longer smile, but now looked at him with cold, emotionless evil. Suddenly, out of nowhere black blades erupted from her head, the ungodly metal tearing her flesh and completely ripping her body to pieces. Within a few seconds a new figure stood where she once did, a figure made completely of black metal....a figure who stood a good eight feet tall...a figure of complete darkness. Set had assumed his favored physical form - that of the Iron Crown. The tall and evil figure of greatness looked down at Sano with the two black holes within it's crowned mask-helmet that posed as it's eyes. A huge black cape was whipping around from behind this titanic figure of cruelity. This was the most correct form that the physical world could hold that resembled that of the real Set.

*Suddenly, Set took his right clawed metal hand and quickly cluched Sano by his neck. The poor being's neck being cut by the bladed claws of the Dark Lord. His icy grip was much much colder than the winds that blew harshly at Sano's maked body. The black metal figure lifted up the poor being until Sano's eyes were even with those holes of Set's evil metal mask. It was then that the Dark Lord spoke, but his voice no longer sweet and material.....it was now that dreaded echoing of a thousand evil voices all apeaking at once.

"Understand now that I do not wish to kill you, I will even reward you if you complete the task I have for you with success. Your job is this - I will send you out of this world, I will grant you vast power.....and I will send you to a realm of chaos. This world is already under my shadow, but it is still physical - I cannot enter it myself. Find Aeon and bring him before me......when the time is right, I will open up a gateway to the realm of the Pandemonium Fortress. Bring him though, and you will be richly rewarded.........or you can stay here and rot..........or better yet, I could take you into myself and allow you to feel agony that you cannot possibly fathom as you become lost in the void of oblivion. The choice is yours."

*The Dark Lord paused for a moment, his deep empty black holes looking into Sano's very soul. After a few seconds, Set threw Sano down to the ground. The poor being was cold and naked before the metal feet of The Iron Crown himself - Hell itself was not as horrible as where Sano was now.

"Make your choice little one."

*Sanosuke was threw hard to the ground, although he was use to it what he was not use to was being totaly powerless. He could feel it when he was in the grip of what was now the titanic form of Set, as much as he had tried he could not break the beings grip from around his neck he was only freed because it was Sets will that allowed it. The dark power that arose from around Sets body was over powering so much so that even the Dragon Tattoo on his forearm that served as his family crest began to roar in agony. He had then heard his choices and began to stand to his feet trying to look set in the eye with no luck at doing so*

So my choices are stay here, be tortured for eternity in you or get Aeon. Figureing as how I have a hard time dying the first two choices arnt in my best interest are they.......... Fine I`ll go and get that bastard Aeon, in a way he is sorta responible for me being here. But you do not grant me any power instead you heat the inferno back up get me my trianing weights a pair of pants and figuring you are a god I bet you can excelerate time here

*A sort moment passed before he got enough moistur back in his mouth to speak, the cold air around him was drying out him out terribly*

You make it so I can trian here for exactly one year in a reasonbly sort amount of time. I promise to advance atleast 5 fold of what I am capible of now, then when all is said and done I will go after Aeon with my own power. Sorry to burst your bubble but I know exactly what will happen to me if I except any power you are offering, and on some level I still enjoy living

*Even in this freezzing weather his nerves made him sweat from his forehead, even though it froze immediatly onto his skin looking like little glass balls attached to his face. What was Sets answer going to be*

*Thunder roared, lighting stuck the barren land here and there. The Iron Crown and Sano stood alone, looking at each other. The infinite mind of the Dark Lord raced with ideas as his black voice shook the heavens.

"So be it - but understand that a year in this level of Hell is but a hour on the realm that Aeon roams now. Take your time little one, work up your own power."

*Purple lighting stuck the ground directly behind Sano, pushing the naked man a little closer to Set. The emotionless cold black holes within the mask of terror looked down at him. The unholy echoing then continued.

"Once you are finished with your 'training', I will dress you in armor - but until then you will remain naked......completely unprotected from the harsh flames of this Hell. I have spoken, and so it is done."

*Suddenly, a mighty purple lighting bolt fell from the heavens and crashed into Set's physical body and caused it to quickly disappear. Then, the storm above let out one final roar before a titanic explosion erupted from both the heavens and the ground. These eruptions caused the eternal flames to pour forth from them. Within a matter of seconds, the realm was back to normal.....a endless desert of burning clay, the heat constantly rising, the screaming filling the air, the endless realm making you feel like you are completely alone. And yet something changed, Sano was given all the tools he needed to make himself stronger. Granted, he was still naked - but now he could improve himself. The flames danced around his tools as the poor being was left there naked, and alone, with only the screams of other and his hatred to keep him company. The pain in his head was no longer there - instead a chilling voice spoke from within his mind.

I have granted you everything you need......when you become powerful enough, I will return

I hope you I once lived at a nudiest colony for three years, being Naked aint nothing new to me you demonic son of a bitch. By balls though just couldnt take the cold before. I`ll enjoy having my boys flaping free in this sawna

*Sanosuke screamed shaking his fist to the air, though no one could hear him he still felt like making his incoherant rants even if it was just to hear himself talk. So he was finaly alone in this place with no one screaming in his ears what a relif from what he had just been put through. He eye his equipment that was left for him, every thing he needed besides food and water, and of course clothing, but he was sure enough there must be some sort of demons living on this realm were he could get all three from.

He walked over to his unusual weights and placed the on his body, although they covered parts of his body they did not cover much. After all five were on he stared at them, programing their magic with his mind overriding the saftys he had placed on them nearly half a century ago when he first got them. Now not only would they pull on his body but also his bodies energy giving him for lack of a better phrase a full body work out, and also now as soon as he got even the slightest bit stronger the weights on there own would become heavier.

Sano took one of his classic fighting stances, raising the engery of his body. As he did the weights turned themselves on, growing slightly as thier weight grew . It took exactly 30 seconds to awake all of his bodies strength and energy and each weight had grown to a rediculos 10,000 lbs, luckily the burning stone grownd beneth his feet held up and didnt crumble. Every vein on his body popped out pumping bllod through his body under the enomous weight*

I hope one year is gunna be enough for this

*Much more time then one year had passed on this level of hell since he had begun and though he had meet his quota in the one year time slot he had promised somthing told him not to call out to Set. No instead he had stayed he for nearly ten years trianing to his hearts content, just becoming stronger and stronger feeding off the demons that lived in this realm.

Sanosuke stood still for a moment he had finaly been able to reach what secret goals he had placed for himself and even exceed them to some small extent. He looked very different now yet so very much like himself, this demonic world had changed his appearance some what to take on the characteristic of a demon. Now instead of lightly tanned flesh his flesh had become brick colored making the scares on his body now twice as noticible, his once slightly more then shoulder length brown hair had grown down wards reaching the middle of his back and had some how turned silver. Even his finger nails had turned into steel like claws but his general body frame had remianed the same, no sign of aging on his face his muscle mass was still at a medium build and the dragon tattoo on his forearm still was there remining him who he really was.

He body now became completly relaxed, as his muscles relaxed and his power went and crashed downwards the weight he had on which had reached an unmesurible amount shrunk quickly and began to turn to dust. The magics that had controlled them was completly used up so much so that they didnt even have the energy to keep thier moleclar bonds together.

Sanosuke then looked upwards to the hellish sky filled with its sulfer clouds and suns, he chuckled slightly to himself thinkingTen whole years in this hell hole and this is actualy the first time I look up at the sky . It was now time to get out of this place to foefill the promise he had made to Set such a long time ago*

Set you get your ass down here and get me out of this place, I have kept my promise and now you must keep yours

*Just as soon as the last word left Sano's mouth, the ground began to shake. The burning clay began to swirl a few feet infront of Sano in a whirlwind like nature, the ground swirling into a massive black hole. This dark twisting pit grew larger and larger in size, until the radius of the swirling pit was that of a football field. Suddenly, several great lighting bolts of purple and black energy shot forth from the pit and struck the sulferic sky. Within a matter of seconds the sky became black as demonic thunder clouds quickly spread across them. The weather once again became artic, completely lossing all of the infernal energy that the realm once held - the power of Set had decended upon this realm once more.

*Sano's ears then beheld another horror, a great roaring sound came forth from the swirling blackhole within the ground. The horrible roaring grew louder and louder, it seemed to be that of a thousand armies screaming in bloodlust all at once. Just as the noise grew to it's peak and it seemed like the very sound itself would tear the world apart - something happened. From out of this enormous pit of darkness came a titanic being. Set rose from the swirling darkess - no longer the eight foot tall figure of black metal - now, his crowned-helmet itself stood to be nearly twenty feet tall. His body was huge, but his ascent stopped at the midsection of his waist. Only the top half of his metallic body apeared from the blackhole. Sano, in all of his might was maybe he size of one of Set's bladed fingers. The titanic form of the Iron Crown only looked down at Sano - the world had gone completely silent. Set's "eyes" of endless darkness within his helmet only peered down at the poor being with emotionless cruelity. The massive being crossed his demonic, sharp, black metal arms across his divinely armored chest. The Iron Crown then spoke - his horrible icy cold echo seemed to freeze the land with unending darkness - as if the very meaning of the word "cold" grew with each passing word that echoed from the Dark Lord's mask of terror. Poor Sano, still naked and still powerless.

"I trust you have used the time given to you wisely Sano.......for failure is not an option."

*The massive lighting bolts that fell from the sky seemed to be only little strings compared to the awesome being that existed infront of Sano now. Many beings have heard stories of what the real "Satan" would be like, and what would happen if they were ever brought before the "real" source of all evil......well, Sano now knew. Thunder ripped through the sky as the Dark Lord awaited Sano's reply.

*the slightly changed Sanosuke stood in aww and amazment. There were few words to describe what stood infront of him and he was unable to think of any of them. All he could do was answer*

Believe me Set, I had just spent ten years in this place doing nothing but trianing. I know I am more then ready to fufill our agreement

*The titanic figure simply looked down. The storm above and the swirling black below seemed to be completely irrelevent compared to the presence of the Dark Lord himself. Then, the horrible echoing voice that shook both the heavens and the earth spoke again.

"So be it....."

*Suddenly, a powerful lighting bolt of not purple, but black energy fell from the heavens and crashed directly into Sano. Pain rippled through his body - even the burning Hells did not hold so much agony, as the raw dark powers flowed through his naked body, black armor suddenly appeared on him. The armor covered most of his body, shining with dark nobility. This was truly armor of a powerful servant of Set. As this armor painfully appeared on him, the breast piece was stuck with another bolt of powerful lighting. As the unholy powers worked their way through the armor - reinforcing it with the authority of Set, a great burning eye appeared in the middle of the chest plate. The burning eye then became solid and a symbol within the black armor. The eye fo Set - allowed others on the realm to know that he was a servant of the Dark Lord. The Dark Knight was now ready, all he needed was a weapon. Set's huge figure never moved during all of this, it simply stood silently and watched. Suddenly the heavens roared louder than before as a single item fell from the storm above, crashing hard into the ground before Sano. It was that of a sword. The demonic blade was engaved with many dark symbols of the realm of Pandemonioum. This blade was unmatched in it's power, it was greater than all battle swords, with the exception of the blades the Four Deaths held within the Pandemonioum Fortress itself! It was then that Set's unholy voice spoke.

"You were naked, I clothed you. You were weak - I gave you the chance to improve yourself. You were weaponless - I gave you a weapon that cannot be destroyed on the physical worlds. Remember well who it is that gave you all of these things."

*The Iron Crown paused for a moment.

"Go to the realm mistakenly called the Chaos Plains. Seek out a man by the name of Darklight - his family has been loyal to my priest for several generations. He and his army will aid you in hunting down Aeon and those who would help him. And whenever you find Aeon, remember that you must keep him alive. Whenever your blade is within his skin, call out to me and I will bring the two of you into my capital....and out of the physical world. You see little warrior, your sword is a key into my fortress. Whenever the time comes.......stab him and call to me. Do you understand?"

*Suddenly, from behind Sano a portal opened, a swirling doorway of darkness and evil. Behind this portal was the Chaos Plains. With the unseen force of Set's thoughts, Sano's body was pushed back through the portal. He was now standing within the Chaos Plains, his sword in his hand. As the portal closed, Set's voice rang in Sano's mind.

"Failure is not an option Sano......remember that. For if you fail, you will become the hunted."

*The portal suddenly closed, leaving Sano in this new world looking for a man called Darklight. Meanwhile, within the Plains of Penance Set looked to the heavens.

"It won't be long now brother, soon enough everything you have created will be destroyed and we will be one."

*Within the blink of an eye everything had disappeared, the storm had vanished, the swirling pit into oblivion had faded, and Set was no longer on this realm. The Plains of Penance had reverted back to normal. It was once again the burning desert of clay and sulfer, with the three suns ever present.