Lord of Wrath

Tsi Luen City, Cheena, Earth

***

A man, in his early fifties, wearing a gray suit, perched at the edge of a sixty-story building's roof deck. He enjoyed the strong wind that blew against his body and challenged his balance. The moon was high and bright but the stars were faintly visible caused of the polluted skies.

Towering structures constricted in a populated city and various hues of lights streaked in all directions like it was always Christmas. The man inhaled the air as he had never experienced it before, although it was dusty, it was extremely better than the air in hell - the smell of blood and rotten flesh even in the cold continents.

"What a great city!" The man said to Belrag who stood behind him.

"This city is mine, Zerath!" Belrag replied.

The man opened his palms to the air, placed them outwardly, and once again made deep inhalations and exhalations.

"Such beauty. Hmm," Zerath chuckled, "Even I have this old human body but I can feel the power coursing through my veins."

"Why are you here, Zerath!" Belrag asked, irritated.

"Could you just savor the moment, Belrag? No more Hell stench, no more fire, no more suffering, and a world full of love. So much to destroy, so much to kill, so much to defile!" Zerath said.

He felt the coolness brought by the breeze that caressed his seasoned face.

"Very different indeed. No painful heat and biting cold." Zerath added.

The car horns represented the technological advancements that humans achieved. Zerath was so fascinated with the city lights, the dancing billboards, the colorful LED screens, and even the street lamps, which gave Zerath a sense of excitement.

"You haven't answered my question Zerath," Belrag reiterated.

"Hmm. I haven't felt so much peace here, Belrag." He continued regaling in his moment. "To answer your question. I am here to destroy Earth, just like you. I even questioned him why I was sent before you. I could make a better job in terms of destruction."

"Yeah. You could have. The Lord of Wrath!" Belrag said, then he continued, "But you only know of destruction and nothing else."

"Envy. Envy. Envy. You are always jealous of me, Belrag. The power I possessed was the most useful for him. You only long for position and power. But for me, it comes naturally." Zerath said teasingly.

Belrag held his samurai sword in his holster, "Do not test me, Zerath!"

Zerath turned to him and said, "You are ruining the moment, Belrag. You know that it would be bad for you if you fight me here. All your hard work. The Triad. Your drug operations. All for nothing if we fight here. This city will be destroyed. You know my capabilities, Belrag. I don't fight silently, I fight to decimate. I spark wars."

"Kragus could have cast you in another location. Why here? Why Tsi Luen?" Belrag asked.

"It seemed that your forces could not handle the Death Harbinger. He was defeating you slowly. Can't you see that?" Zerath said.

Belrag had reported to Kragus about his operations being destroyed and the reduction of slaves in the process. Dreygo was on the right path in slowly killing the Triad's network, thus diminishing his power. The traitor angel also failed in his encounter in the ports.

"I have execution plans. Tell me, how exactly are you going to locate the Death Harbinger?" Belrag said.

"Easy! They are driven to save whatever we destroy. So, we will make destruction and death to lure them out. Then, I will take care of them. " Zerath responded with a mischievous grin.

"It won't be easy. There is an angel. He was blessed by the Earth god - Nebirus." Belrag said.

"Interesting. Nebirus, you say." Zerath hissed. It was being told that Nebirus ceased to exist. They believed such power left Earth defenseless.

"Yes. The angel can now control earth plants and even Earth forms."

"I wonder if Kragus knew Nebirus' existence. He was the one he wanted. Trying to find him for Centuries. I can't even fathom the way he thinks. Cunning. He wants to defile Earth slowly until Nebirus shows himself."

"You are right, Zerath. Your purpose is not to destroy but only to defeat Dreygo and the angel. I could not micromanage them to run the Triad and kill puny enemies like them. It has become your job now." Belrag said.

"You are getting weaker, Belrag. You are just afraid that you will lose your precious gang."

"Careful with your words, Lord of Wrath."

"Ooh. Well, I am not here to fight you. I am just here to enjoy your city."

"Then tell me your plans, Zerath. Do not waste my time."

Belrag agreed to meet Zerath to discuss plans, to prevent conflicts with the plan he devised to kill Dreygo. Killing the Death Harbinger will be favorable to Kragus, but the Lord of Envy did not want the Lord of Wrath to steal that objective. It could be a sign of weakness.

"I will take Tengzu and lure the death harbinger and his precious comrades there. Wrath will be upon that place. Ha ha ha," Zerath laughed devilishly.

Belrag knew how the Lord of Wrath operates. If Zerath operated in Tsi Luen, there will be unrest among the people. It might disrupt his drug business and other thriving business to fuel the Triad. But Belrag knew that there was no stopping Zerath from his plans.

Zerath fell his eyes upon the ninja that stood behind Belrag. His Ninjas, wearing black-clad armor and samurai swords, were his escorts wherever the Triad leader goes. The most lethal assassins in the city.

"Fascinating bodyguards, aren't they?" The Lord of Wrath regarded the ninjas.

"Yeah, humans but effective," The Lord of Envy affirmed.

"How about an experiment? Shall we?" Zerath walked towards one of the ninjas and placed his hand on top of the ninja's shoulder.

Zerath's palms heat up and the ninja did not flinch. He was not obliged to defend unless commanded by their leader. Red smoke started to appear in his palm and demon ether slowly escaped his forearm, it wafted a bit in the air as its tails gradually emerged.

The ninja grunted in pain. The heat was strong that it almost melted his armor. The ether started to flow toward the ninja's nostrils and mouth, going through his black helmet.

The ninja screamed a bit until he gargled, overwhelming his throat. It lasted only a few seconds and everything settled. The demon ether completely entered the ninja's body. He growled as he regained. He was a little disoriented. He unsheathed his sword and turn toward the other Ninja.

The other ninja was compelled to defend himself from the monstrosity the other had become. But the undead Ninja did not attack, he awaited orders from the Lord of Wrath. He continued to growl and his saliva was tremendously dripping on his chin.

"On your signal, Belrag," Zerath said.

Belrag nodded and the Lord of Wrath flicked his finger into the air. It was the signal. The undead ninja attacked the other ninja with swords. Clanging sounds of metal against metal rang loudly. A mindless killer who had been trained as an assassin had mustered his skill in a sword fight.

The undead ninja did not possess evasive maneuvers and absorbed five quick fatal slashes in a matter of twenty seconds. But it did not cease attacking.

Blood continued to spray on the floor as the undead ninja moved, no evidence of pain, no hint of fear, only the thirst to kill. They continued to circle the roof deck, ninja blades thrown towards the undead ninja, all lodged in its chest and its neck, but it did not discourage the mindless assassin.

Until its right arm was cut off together with its sword. It did not seem to matter. The undead continued its attack on his target with only one arm. He removed his helmet, and used his fangs, sharpened teeth, as its weapon.

But because of the ninja's adept maneuvering skills, the ninja successfully evaded being grappled. Quickly, he stabbed the undead in the head which delivered his demise.

"See, what my power can do? I could turn all your assassins into this." Zerath said as he caressed the head of the undead demon to the ground. It was not yet dead, but weak. Its brain function had paralyzed his whole body like a corpse. The corpse seemed to convulse slightly.

Zerath placed his hand on the demon and fire started to engulf the undead's body. The undead ninja burned and demon ethers entered Zerath again.