Chapter 2: Deepest Circle of Hell (I)

To call it hell would be a compliment.

It was, if anything...quiet. Perhaps too quiet. He could hear his own breathing. His heartbeat echoed across the room. Inside this hellish prison cell, nothing is too loud except for the deafening silence, to a point where his own thoughts are drowned out. Perhaps that is better for the man contained within.

Perhaps it's better for him to forget and just rot away alone. In a prison colony so guarded not even the highest-ranked officers of The U.C.P. could access. They named it Tartarus. Perhaps The Pits of Hell would be more fitting.

The Bottom of the Abyss, some people call it. The Place where your hopes die first before you do.

Located beneath the Ganymede Prison Colonies, Tartarus Prison is known for many frightening things but it's mostly known for the cesspool of degenerates it holds. Criminal masterminds, Drug Lords, Gang Leaders, Political Rivals, Insane scientists. You name It, Tartarus has it. A nice blend of insanity.

They're identified as outlaws by both the law and society. Condemned to the most inhuman treatments imaginable.

It would be a surprise to everyone if anyone could last a week without going insane, to say the least.

However, one such man has lasted for almost a year without getting killed or going batshit crazy. Among the fucked up inmates in this shit hole. He was one of the most fearsome. That his moniker alone could strike fear to anyone who has heard it before. All who live know his name, all who oppose him shall know Death.

The Wolf of Ragnarok.

The Self Proclaimed Greatest Mercenary in the galaxy. Although he was but a fragile human he had taken down countless empires, governments, and criminal organizations. He has even taken on the most fearsome monsters the galaxy has churned out of its blisters.

However, right now the very same man is chained and isolated. Away from light or sound. His only company is the darkness and his vile memories.

His lengthened black hair was shaggy and caked in blood. His handsome face was covered in grime. His entire body was scarred and littered with scabs and fresh wounds. His throat parched and his mouth pale. His black eyes are lifeless and hollow.

Tied like a domesticated dog. A special mechanical collar hung around his neck keeping it magnetized to the wall. His hands spread Eagle wearing the same mechanized cuffs that keep his hands stuck to the walls. Trails of blood littered the damp cell. Battered and starved like a feral animal, his hollow eyes gleamed with hatred and despair.

Suddenly the quiet moment stopped. A swirl of darkness, even darker than black. His eyes could suddenly see through the darkness. A man in a black suit wearing a hat, slightly visible, however, his face was obscured. Only its eyes and porcelain white smile could be seen. His Burning orange eyes flickered with a menacing light.

A soft and eerie chuckle filled the entire room. "It seems you're doing rather well, wolf." The man said. The man chained to the wall growled and scoffed. "Well... if it isn't my piece of shit friend? What the fuck do you want now, Mr. Nobody?"

The man gave a toothy grin, "Come now Mister Haruki, Can't I visit a friend in need? After all, we still haven't fulfilled both our terms in our... Bargain." Haruki narrowed his eyes. "Bargain? You have the nerve to call this a Bargain!? I've been stuck in this fucking hell hole for god knows how long. All because of this goddamn thing that doesn't even fucking work! Is this thing even real? Why can't anyone see it!?" He screamed at Nobody.

He looked down at the bloodied flooring and laughed hollowly. "Fucking hell, I can't even tell if you're real or not. Either I've gone mad or you've been lying to me about this fucking thing's capabilities." He said with a low growl.

"I understand that you're weary and exhausted, but that thing you're referring to is one of the most powerful weapons in the multiverse." He said as shadow-like tendrils extended from where he stood and gripped the metal watch strapped to Haruki's arm. The thing in his arms shone a tinge of crimson. However, this went by unnoticed as Haruki was shouting profanities at nobody.

"Power!? What part of this screams power!? We had a fucking deal! I find this weapon and you give me the one I want the most!"

However, Nobody just shrugged, "What else do you want from me? I gave you an opportunity. One of the greatest weapons in the multiverse yet you treat it like a toy... Its capabilities are even beyond mine. Yet your feeble mind only wants to bring back the dead? Now that's madness..."

Haruki struggled wildly, he wanted to grab the man in the suit. To use his remaining strength to bite his neck. Tear him limb from limb. He bared his fangs towards this lanky man. "Give her back to me!! We had a fucking deal!!" He screamed as his bones creaked trying to unbind himself.

His struggles grew weaker and weaker his voice shrank into a whisper, "I just want her back..." Nobody sighed and solemnly closed his eyes, "I... cannot... As of now, I'm still bound by my seals. Forgive me, Mr. Haruki... I cannot fulfill my end of the bargain. I would suggest a change of terms. Tampering the cycle could bring upon disaster of unimaginable proportions."

"Do I look like I give a damn about your cycle or whatever!? You can go sync up that cycle with any other bastard that lives!" He said as he extended his chained figure to claw towards Nobody. "I... Cannot. I truly am incapable of such feats."

Haruki had his head lowered, but as he heard nobody's words he raised his head. His expression warped in his fury. "Then fucking end me!" He screamed towards the man. "I'm fucking tired.. I've killed so many... and for what? a change of terms? Just kill me." He said weakly as he gave out a hollow laugh.

Nobody turned around, "No... You are free to do whatever you want with the weapon. So until I can fulfill my end of the bargain I shall withhold the task you owe me, at least for a little while, so live until then. Consider it a Merchant's Honor." He said as he was slowly being swallowed by the shadows as black tendrils wrapped around him.

Haruki tried to shamble towards him, "Do you have any idea how much I've lost!? How much I have sacrificed just to try and get this!? How much I'm willing to pay to get her back!? Get back here you bastard!!!" His screams echoed across his Narrow cell. "Do you have any idea what I had to do? What I did to all those people...? A Thousand lifetimes isn't even enough to erase my sins..." He said towards the spot nobody disappeared to. However only silence followed. He clenched his teeth and tried to bite his tongue. However, an electric shock ran across his body preventing him from doing so.

His entire body convulsed as his binding stuck towards the wall once more. The only thing he could do was laugh helplessly towards his miserable fate.

After a few more minutes of silence, stomping footsteps could be heard beyond his closed doors. The Metal door swung open and a bulky man in a white military uniform entered. His entire face had gashes all over. His glare was drab and cold. A stoic frown permanently plastered on his face.

"No no no. You can't do that wolf. How many times do I have to tell you. Killing yourself is not going to be that easy. Here in my paradise, you die when I decide it's time to die. I control everything. Even your death. Especially your corpse. Outside you may be all-powerful, feared across the galaxies. Right here? You're a goddamn peon just like the rest of these fuckers."

Haruki stayed silent as he glared at the man in front of him. The man sighed as he kicked Haruki in the stomach. Haruki coughed and grit his teeth.

"Day after day we do this dance and I'm honestly surprised how tenacious you are. It seems your title isn't just for show. However, your pack won't save you now. You're all alone here in hell. And I'm the warden with the biggest fucking horns. But even then I do tire of these redundant back and forth.

How about I make it easier for the both of us. After all beating, a man half dead every time for 11 months can become stale. Like bread.

You tell me where you stashed that weapon the U.C.P. Has been hounding me about and I'll even add Sermalis Steak on your future meals. Perhaps I'd even skimp out on the beating entirely." He said as he cruelly mashed his fist across Haruki's battered body. He stood up slowly as he wiped the blood off his fists with his white handkerchief.

"Kazama Haruki giving me the silent treatment again? Don't you have a comeback? A retort? A wisecracking insult? Nothing? Have I succeeded in dulling your fangs?" He said as he sat across Haruki.

He slowly raised his head spat out a mouthful of blood at the floor. "Sermalis steak does sound nice. Alright, Warden Oslo... I'll tell you the only thing I know...

It's in your mother's bedr- -" A loud thud was heard as Oslo's fist crashed on Haruki's face. Oslo stared at the man sprawled on the floor with barely enough strength to groan and move his fingers.

"If the others saw you in this pathetic state they'd be laughing. I was earnestly giving you a chance. And you blew it. Like you did everything else. That's all you're capable of." He said as he looked down at the man laying on the floor.

"This is your reality now. You're no longer the man you used to be. No longer the feared warrior. Just a broken idiot who can't take the only saving grace left. The only pittance the Devil is willing to offer." He said as he slammed the prison door shut. Slowly the footsteps faded away. Only Haruki's rough breathing remained. He could even hear himself bleed. He stared at his messy reflection on his flowing blood. He forced a manic laugh as he withstood the pain in his lungs.

Time passed slowly. It must've been hours or just minutes. He wasn't sure. He lay there silently trying to withstand the pain. However, his thoughts were quickly interrupted by loud alarms and distant explosions.

[Warning!]

[Security Breach on Sector 13]

[All security personnel form up and secure the escapees.]

Haruki grinned as he forced himself up. He stared at the metal watch permanently stuck in his hand. He noticed something odd about it. Slowly the glow on his right hand got stronger. The Crimson light illuminated the dark room. Suddenly A series of robotic voices echoed inside his head.

Haruki frowned as he clutched his head from the stabbing pain in his head. He thought he was used to the pain from the beatings, however, this was infinitely more painful. It felt like the universe was invading his psyche.

Suddenly a gravely and eerie voice resounded inside his head.

<<The Devourer with the Blood of the Gods on his Fang...

The Pale Rider, Whose Hatred will burn the heavens...

The Lone Sword in an empty battlefield, Screaming in Agony and Despair.

Scattered and Fallen white feathers, Forgotten by Time

The Faithless Believer chained by his own holy oath.

The Wise King of King's Return, The Butterfly flaps its wings once more.>>

It kept playing on repeat inside his head. He tried to scream but no sound would come out. Suddenly the voices stopped. The pain was washed away by the soothing robotic voice.

<I am Ars Magus, I am the way towards the truth.

With their blood, you shall unbind me.

Bend reality to your will.

By your will, command me.

For you are one of the chosen.

Unchain yourself from these shackles!

However your blood...

Their blood...

Everyone's Blood...

Give it to me.

I yearn for it.

SPILL IT! Then I shall show you...

TRUE POWER!>

Haruki's Black eyes slowly changed and shone a deadly crimson light as he tore off his binding with his bare hands. Red and black swirls of mana coiled around his body as he slowly stood up. His wounds both old and fresh healed at a visible rate. The vigor he has lost over the months seemingly doubled.

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