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Description
The walls of reality parted before them, and soon they were traveling on the Event Horizon, a special path that led to any world, and was accessible to only the Horsemen. The Horizon was a mixture between a rainbow and a sunset, as if it were a messed up painting beyond hope of salvaging. It allowed the Horsemen to materialize wherever they wished, on whatever world they wished. It could also allow them to leave from wherever they were, provided they were on horseback. If anyone stayed in one place for too long, they’d sink as if in quicksand, and only the blazing speed of a Phantom Horse like Mischief could count as fast enough. Strife’s first destination was his home to pick up a few things he would need, such as souls coins, and a few knockout darts in case he needed someone alive.
As Strife crossed the barriers between worlds again, Mischief ran at breakneck speeds, and he soon found himself literally in Hell. But at his favorite shop; The Bottom of the Barrel. The store itself was rather spacious, as it held several artifacts on countless shelves, some demonic, some angelic, some Pagan, and some even Strife didn’t know. Upon entering, he heard the familiar voice of the closest thing you could get to an honest demon.
“What would you ask of this humble merchant?”
This ‘humble’ merchant had no visible feet, only a robe with a blue mist pouring out from under it. He had two massive horns jutting out of his left and right sides of his head that curved forward. He had no nose, only a hole where it should be, and several small fangs acting as teeth. He wore no shirt, and a right claw incased in gold, with several items strapped around his belt. On the left side of his chest, he wore the Eye of Greed, an amulet which allowed him to tell if an item was genuine or fake. His eyes were like emerald gems, and his skin was a depressing grey.
“Information, Vulgrim. I assume you’ve heard of the Cosmic Scavenger Hunt?”
“They’re calling it ‘The Cosmic Race’. But yes I have. Who hasn’t? But information is one of the most precious resources. I need something in return.”
“But of course. How about a few hundred souls?”
“Knowing you, they’re from the River Styx. You know how much I despise hateful souls. They taste so sour. Besides, there are others who wish to have the same thing and will pay higher prices. I need something more…. Exotic.”
Just as Vulgrim finished, a pack of ten mercenaries entered. These beings had skin that was composed entirely of steel, but it was black as smoke, with blue energy coursing through lines that clearly were supposed to be veins and other body features such as the mouth. The only clothes they wore were cloths in white that formed skirts and scarves, with one that had a cape, and another with a trench coat. The largest, and most likely their leader, wore a robe composed of the same white cloth, but with gold trimmings. These creatures were Old Ones known as Colossi.
“Are you the demon called Vulgrim?”
“The one and only. Greetings.”
“Demon, we have come here to demand the knowledge you have of the Cosmic Race.”
“I’m sure you have something to compensate for such a trade, friends. What would you offer me?”
“Your life.”
As if on cue, the other nine Colossi drew their weapons; spears, axes, swords and shields. The one with the cape began to hover and prepare arcane spells, and the one in the trench coat pulled out a flask that bubbled with an unknown fluid.
“Strife, would you kindly show… Strife??”
The Horseman, in the action, had made his way to the exit.
“What are you doing?!”
“Going to find someone who I can pay a far lower price for the same thing. But, I could be persuaded to…”
“Oh, you drive too hard a bargain, friend. Get rid of these thugs, and I’ll give you what you desire.”
“Be gone, Horseman. This does not concern you.”
“Ummm, sir? I don’t think we should try to take on a Horseman.” The one in the cape declared.
“Someone with a brain? What’s he doing with you?” Strife asked as he looked at the leader.
“Kermanshah!”
At the command, everyone with melee weapons surrounded Strife, the one in the trench coat climbed extremely quickly up the highest shelf and prepared to bombard Strife with alchemical concoctions. The one in the cape began to chant spells, and the leader had a smirk of satisfaction. Perhaps he was content with committing suicide?
“I’ll give you to the count of three. Then everyone who isn’t out will have their corpses sold or melted for spare parts by Vulgrim.” Strife warned as he pulled out Mercy and aimed it at the leader’s face.
“You are -one- in no position to make -two- demands Horseman.”
A massive BOOM! Was heard as Strife finished counting and fired Mercy, leaving a massive hole, or rather, a lack of a head where it once was. Pieces of it lay scattered across the floor, and as the energy rushed to escape via the fresh hole, Strife leapt to where the leader tumbled. He had many gifts; echolocation, photographic memory, magic, eyes that could pick up even the smallest details with no effort, and perfectly predict the trajectory of his bullets, should Strife want them to ricochet. But his greatest was his special Adrenaline. He could activate it at will, and when he did, he perceived events in slower motion, while he himself moved at a normal rate. It wasn’t that he slowed down time, Adrenaline just gave him a massive upgrade in speed, perception, and other traits, allowing him to do things like see bullets whiz by and catch them. And before the others had time to react, he activated his Adrenaline.
He first fired two bullets from Redemption at the ones wearing the cape and trench coat. The mage fell too easily from the headshot, but the second bullet hit the flask the one in the trench coat held, and the fluid ate through the steel skin and white cloth with ease and ignited the other chemicals, giving a flashbang effect to the remaining Colossi.
Strife activated another one of his gifts; magic, or, as the Horsemen called it: Wrath. Wrath was the combat magic one could get only in battle, and the Horsemen were among the few living creatures that could tap into it flawlessly, with no ill after-effects. Strife taped into his Wrath and two portals; one small, and one big, appeared. The small one appeared under Mercy, and the large one directly in front of Strife. The latter was about half his body size and the former was just enough to fit Mercy through. Strife slid the barrels of his pistol through the small portal and it re-emerged through the big one, each of its quadruple barrels the size of a cannon. By the time the others turned to run, Strife already fired. The result was a massive explosion that sent wood, metal, and fire everywhere. When the dust settled, blue mists floated from the defeated Colossi and vanished in the air.
“Now, Vulgrim…. I do believe we had a deal.”
Vulgrim was utterly dumbstruck by what had happened in the precious few moments after Strife finished counting. But he eventually snapped back and complied.
“What do you wish to know, Horseman?”
“Tell me the clues, or rather, tell me where they lead to.”
“The first one leads to the Golden Garden, a realm where the angels grow the plants to feed their animals and provide food. It’s not the only one, but it’s the largest angelic food supplier in the cosmos. The second one leads not far from here, aboard the Depraved Train. I suppose I shouldn’t tell you how it got its name should I? The third leads to the Forge lands, specifically the Mad Smith’s lair. Only the brave or foolish would dare to venture there. The fourth leads to the Jade Realm, specifically the house of Sun Wukong. I know you two aren’t exactly on the best of terms since your last visit. The fifth leads to the Veil, but where exactly, no one knows. Perhaps the Keeper can aid you? The sixth leads to Mount Olympus, somewhere in the Realm of Poseidon, otherwise known as Atlantis. Good luck convincing those xenophobes to let you in.”
“Where did the others go to?”
“Death went to the Veil, War to the Mad Smith, and Fury to Atlantis. The demons and angels have completely locked down and fortified their respective locations.”
“Oh dammit, that means I’m going to the Palace.” Strife said, not willing to aid Heaven or Hell in the race. He summoned Mischief and the walls of reality opened again, and Strife rode to the Jade Palace.