You steel yourself ready to face the darkness an inch away from you: The steel of your axe gleams. Beyond the stone door, you hear the growls, the baring of fangs and that dread horn! Beyond you, is a world of darkness!

The beast finally manages to open the door. It's face peers through the half-lid door! You chop at it! Blood spills. The whimper of a dog followed by howls.

The horn blows again! Who is doing that? It sounds like the wind itself is commanding these beasts! Whips and lashes, and deep growls echo from beyond. The sound of steel chains bursting!

"The shield! Throw it to me!" you yell to the man. And as he does, you aim and bash. The wolf's face turns to ash with a loud snap.

"S-so many of them! They're endless, coming from the hills!"

What is this? The door is opening...it's not a wolf...that hand? A human? No, an undead! A slayer!

A flash. And loud ringing. You feel your head rupture with the sound, from the inside, like a storm blasting inside of your skull! You reel back. 

The silver shield falls flat on your chest.

A voice echoes inside of your head:

"See! See the unfolding flower of reality within your head! See now, the city of Enkidu, and see it burn. See the flame. See the mask of the Merzubiels and the Rods of Uranus. Boy! You have much to learn! But you will have to learn to look behind your nape, and see it, see the back of your head! You will see, you will see the eternal silver plate of mirrors!"

"Much has been lost but much is to come. You must see it unfold! I promise you, you won't die a coward, here, surrounded by these animal killers! These hounds of long forgotten vengeance! No! You! You are the one true son of Adam! Wake!"

The voice...

"Sodom! Sodom and Gommorah! These were my kingdoms! Kingdoms that stood to fight Ur! Gael! Akkad!" this voice is different "All lost to a venom tipped pig's head...The blood...it ran thick!"

A force, like a puppet's string, it jolts you upright! Aye, and such fury, you cleave downwards at the creature! His chest spills phlegm and black blood as the breastbone breaks. He lurches backwards; behind him, the entire world. The cold wind, some force, pushes his body upright again! He points at you.

With a flash of green teeth that arrow comes barreling past your ear, until it hits something behind you. You fall back grasping at your ears. Again! Rock splinters fly out above to the ground. Again! He is going to bring the house down!

You punch him right in the jaw. He falls down. You raise your weapon high, and cleave the thing in two.

It is now wholly silent. Blood drinks the soil and paints the plants black. CONTINUE