Shadowraven: Ascension

Touch of Death

Hermes stood in front of Shadowraven, a bronze dagger in his hands. "Well Shadowraven, I see you've come out of hiding." He sneered, his green eyes twinkling menacingly. Shadowraven simply stayed quiet, glaring at the god. "What, too cool to reply? No biggie, I'll just cut you and your ego down!" He shouted. He lunged at Shadowraven and he moved to the side. The Garuga, as soon as it saw violence, flew into the shadows and disappeared. Shadowraven spun around, the gauntlet and blade glinting in the light. Hermes lunged again, Shadowraven aware that Hermes was intentionally letting himself be seen. Shadowraven raised his blade as Hermes raised his and the two crashed. The blades sent sparks in every direction as Hermes and Shadowraven swung them, deflecting and stabbing and parrying, hitting nothing but air.

Shadowraven's eyes kept flickering, sometimes sending the world into a reddish tint and sometimes being sent into its normal colors. He blinked, getting dizzier and dizzier by the minute. "Curse, what's happening?" He asked his symbiote. He slammed his blade forward as Hermes charged, sending a blast of air towards the god. The god was blown back and Shadowraven stood alone as Curse began to speak. "Okay, so, seems like you and Ragnarok, along with me, are going through some changes. You might be able to use Ragnarok here in his God Slayer form while I get a little more time outside your body without dying. Up to an hour. I also get to help you by being able to give you an adrenaline boost of magic. Gotta go." Slurred the creature. "Curse? Talk to me buddy." Shadowraven said. Curse stayed silent. "Ragnarok?" He asked. No reply. Shadowraven looked at his arm, his veins back to blue. The Mark of Ragnarok wasn't glowing anymore. Shadowraven cursed as Hermes flew forward. Shadowraven deflected the god's weapon, then kicked him in the ribs. Hermes crashed into a wall, gasping. Shadowraven quickly ran forward, placing his foot on Hermes's neck. "Zeus. Now." He snarled.

Hermes laughed, then disappeared. He appeared behind Shadowraven, dagger at his throat. "How about I send you to Hades instead?" The god jeered. Shadowraven slammed his elbow into the god and he coughed. Shadowraven grabbed the hand with the dagger and broke the god's hand, the sickening crunch echoing around the throne room. He screamed in pain, clutching his hand. "How about I make you disappear for good, Hermes?" Snarled Shadowraven, Drakensang turning into a revolver. "One bullet in the chamber, Hermes. Tell me where Zeus is." He snarled. "I told you, he's in Hades!" Hermes replied. Shadowraven lowered the gun. "You're kidding." He said. Hermes shook his head. "Kid, I was trying to get you to Hades the fastest way possible: death." The god explained. "Dude, what the hell." Shadowraven said. "Sorry, I got carried away." Hermes replied.

Shadowraven sighed. "Open up a portal or something, like Jesus Christ you don't have to kill me!" Shadowraven exclaimed. The god rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed. He snapped and a portal appeared, black and purple swirling together.  Shadowraven steeled himself and walked through the portal. As soon as he stepped in, he felt a tug in his stomach, a pull in his soul, and then he stepped into a different world. It was cold, gloomy, and screaming could be heard from some miles away. Shadowraven began walking to a large castle made of black rock that seemed to rise from the earth itself. As Shadowraven neared it, he heard howling and barking from inside. The howls and barks were cut off and the door opened. Shadowraven felt Drakensang shift in his hand, the gun now becoming a chain. "Okay, why a chain?" He asked the sword. The chain gleamed and Elizabeth's face appeared in the links. "Wider attacks. Works like a daggertail but you won't stab yourself with it." She explained. "Alright then." Shadowraven replied, wrapping the chain around his hand and arm. As Shadowraven walked to the now open castle doors, he saw what appeared to be dogs running towards him. "Drakensang, you ready?" He asked. The chain glowed brightly in response. Shadowraven shook his arm and the chain fell loose around him. He grabbed on to one end of it, then swung it as soon as the dogs appeared close enough.

The dogs were grey, with cloudy eyes and teeth like steak knives. "Hellhounds." Shadowraven murmured. "Greek hellhounds. Nothing like the ones in actual hell." Explained Drakensang, the chain immediately switching into a daggertail. Shadowraven kept swinging it around him, cutting down several at a time as he walked through them. Shadowraven reached the doors and a man in a black tuxedo appeared. His hair was long and wild but in a way that made Shadowraven think of a rock star. His goatee and mustache were nearly trimmed, finishing off the rock star manager look. The man, who Shadowraven assumed was Hades, flicked his hand and the dogs dispersed. "Looking for Zeus?" He asked. Shadowraven nodded, the daggertail becoming a sword. Hades laughed. "You just missed him. He's waiting for you in Olympus." He said. Shadowraven frowned. "I just came from Olympus. I fought Athena and Hermes, then came here. Then you tell me that old airhead went back to Olympus?!" Snarled Shadowraven. Hades glared at him. "Watch how you speak about my brother, mortal." He cautioned. Shadowraven laughed. "Listen here, Hades. I didn't sign up to fight you guys. So either I take on Zeus and nobody gets hurt or I take on all of you and then on Zeus. You choose." He snarled. Hades raised an eyebrow. "Fine, you want to be tough then I'll show you tough. Shadowraven, I curse you. Every time you go to touch something, it will die. Animate or inanimate, it will die." Hades said. Thunder rumbled and Shadowraven glared. He shoved Hades and Hades gasped, then doubled over. "Your curse backfired, old man." Shadowraven said, glaring. The god began to crumble into ashes and Shadowraven realized it wasn't a death curse. "All you did was raise my body temperature to the point where everything I touch becomes ashes. Hades, if I beat Zeus will the curse disappear?" He asked. The crumbling god nodded, then disappeared into the wind as ashes.

"This'll be easier than I thought." He said as Drakensang went back into the Void. He was grateful that the blade was magical, because it would've surely crumbled into nothing if it hadn't been.