Armani Phantomblade: Old Gods

2: The Hidden Dangers of Péthaménos.

"Daruma, Reaper, stand outside, keep watch for anything suspicious. I can't put my finger on it but something doesn't feel right here, almost like we were too conveniently placed in this time. I lived this war once, I won't do it again." Armani whispered to the two.

Daruma-San and Dark Reaper nodded silently, standing back and watching as The Dark Lord and Armani entered a large, neatly decorated tent that resembled something of a commanders shelter. As Armani entered, his attention was drawn towards someone that was nearby, someone who hadn't noticed him walk in. He saw a younger version of himself, his old jacket, his old blade, his power still growing stronger but still had strength to it. He carried on moving, almost quickly, attempting to slip past his younger self, hoping that the paradox could be avoided so long as his younger self doesn't recognise him. 

"Are you a fool? Bringing me within close proximity to my younger self? Don't you remember the paradoxical situations that it can cause?" Armani hissed closely to The Dark Lord.

"I made the Paradox up, so as to not have Demons time travelling all the time, think about how many rivalries would have ended if every demon just went back in time to end the rivalries before they began? It would destroy the demon world as we know it. We reserve the ability for a select few." The Dark lord muttered back.

Armani hissed slightly, as they entered The Dark lords personal quarters, he turned to the Dark Lord watching him pull a map up of the surrounding area, the map listed the location of the tombs required,  Pethamenos, Hadranos, Markos, and one he didn't recognise, Andresso. Armani stared at the last name with confusion, he had not heard of Andresso, and probably for good reason. 

"Pethamenos, the god of the Hunt, Hadranos, the god of strength, Markos the god of war, and Andresso, the Goddess of destruction. Rumour has it Andresso never died, and she still lives, impisoned and enraged within the tomb. The destruction wrought by this war is rumoured to be sustaining her vitae." The Dark Lord explained.

"I had heard of the first three, but not her. I never knew your real name either, only what the demons called you." Armani replied almost hesitantly.

"My true name? Lucifer Morningstar." The Dark Lord replied.

"I only ever saw this form you hid behind too, never your true form. It scares me to think what lies behind thine mask." Armani explained, almost immediately.

"Something tells me that you shall see it. Soon." Lucifer replied.

Armani, Daruma-San and Dark Reaper, teleported to the entrance of Pethamenos' tomb, finding the entrance was aghast, like an open wound festering with rot and infection, the statues that once stood proudly outside the tomb had become overgrown, almost looking like a topiary, nearly twenty-feet tall. Armani threw a large ball of fire through the entrance, watching as the torches lining the wall lit up in unison. Shortly after, the trio began to walk along a dimly lit path, either side was a long fall of almost certain death. They must have walked at least fifty feet before coming to another door, scorched black from Armani's fireball meeting its end, save for a small slit in the centre, wide enough for a blade to slip through, Armani ran his skeletal fingers along the slit, trying to feel for any draft coming through, only to find nothing. The silence around them was deafening, save for the occasional cracks from the torch flames. Armani drew his blade and wedged it into the slit, pushing until he heard an audible click from within. Before any of them had any chance to process what they had discovered, the room began to vibrate aggressively, rocks and vines crumbled around them, crashing into the inky blackness below, the drop was at least two hundred feet down, certain death for almost all of them. A loud crash filled the room, they turned to find the door had opened into a room filled with gold, gemstones and the rotting remains of Pethamenos, perched atop of a golden throne. Neatly planted on his head was a solid gold crown, with a single, large, flawless Onyx sitting within the centre. Armani stepped forward, tripping a wire, the doorway behind him slammed shut, separating him from the other two, he turned to see the once rotting corpse rise to his feet, his decrepit skin slowly patching itself up, blood could be seen flowing through his open veins, as Armani stared in shock, he watched as the Old God stepped forward, and with each step, his life filling his former husk of a body. 

"Who dares disturb my eternal slumber," Pethamenos hissed raspy.

"I did not mean to disturb you my lord, I had come searching for the legendary Pethamenos, to ask for thine help." Armani bellowed respectfully.

"You would ask for help yet have nothing to offer? I saw the rise and fall of the first human empire, I gave demonkind the boost to growing their eternal empire and here you stand before me asking for MY assisstance? What offering do you give?" 

"I only came with my companions, the only thing I have to offer would-" 

"Your companions? Yes I see them, the Cat and the Lizard? I shall take them as tribute!" Pethamenos bellowed, interrupting Armani.

"No! You can't they're not part of the-" 

"Do NOT tell me what I can and cannot do, you are merely an insect compared to me!"

"Armani! What's going on? Shit, REAPER LOOK OUT!" Daruma-San growled, muffled by the thick stone between them.

The sound of blades clashing and creatures hissing in agony could be heard, almost deafened by the stone wall that separated them. Armani could only listen in horror as Reaper could be heard being dragged away, his hissing screams fading, leaving Daruma-San alone.

"As we speak, my guardians, creatures of Flesh and stone, are advancing on your companions, soon they will be mine." Pethamenos explained, almost laughing.

Armani turned to see Pethamenos standing in front of him, almost close enough for their faces to be touching. His skin was charred black, looking almost like obsidian, with cracks spreading across, which had a colour and heat that resembled magma, both of his hands were completely covered with this substance, which seemed to become more like obsidian the closer it got to his chest and head. His eyes glowing with a fiery orange that cracked and spread along his face. His hair was blood red, and his armour had been somewhat melted into a robe that draped along his right shoulder down across his body.

"These deformities shall become part of your companions unless you can figure out how to escape in time." Pethamenos chuckled.

Armani checked the door he entered from, there was no slit on this side, Armani used his fire to engulf his fist, he began punching the stone, he used all his strength and more, before finally breaking the wall after punching non stop. He saw Daruma-San, panting, holding his greatsword which had been doused in a substance that looked like blood. Bodies surrounded him, Pethamenon stepped from behind Armani and stared at the sunlight emanating from the entrance to the tomb, he turned to Armani and reached his arms up. He grasped the stone within the crown on his head and pulled it out, handing it to Armani. 

"This stone is the cause of all that is wrong with me, a curse resides within. But beware, while my tomb seemed relatively easy, the others shall be worse. Beware the hand of Andresso, they watch from the shadows and seek to hinder any who would search us out." Pethamenos warned. 

Armani held the stone close to him, before placing it in his jacket pocket. He turned to Pethamenos to say thank you, only to see him back in his throne, watching from the distance, his skin slowly turning back to normal. The curse seemingly lifting him the gods body. 

"Reaper's gone, they took him. Armani I don't know what to do he's gone." Daruma-San started, panic stricken.

"The guardians have dragged your friend to the corruption chambers in the Tomb of Hadranos, Andresso cursed us to do her bidding, she will do so again to your friend it seems." Pethamenos gasped, breathlessly.

Armani raced to the old god, his blade drawn and held against his throat. The god knew that while his skeletal face held no features, anger was fuelling his actions. He used one finger to push the blade away before rising to his feet.

"I will join you, my guidance is necessary to avoid further losses to your crew, I may be able to undo what has been done to your companion." Pethamenos explained.

Armani sheathed his blade before turning to Daruma-san, the three of them leaving the tomb, heading back to the demons camp at the war front.