From miles in any direction, smoke could be seen rising from a small nomadic encampment. However this wasn't the normal white smoke the nomads cooking fires. These were flames of destruction. The balck smoke was rising from the camp with great speeds.

The black smoke was thick in the encampment. There where tents everywhere burning to the ground. There where bodies everywhere, all showing signs of burns in various degrees, however most of them where cut badly. Some had limbs that had been copmletly removed. Some even had gashes down there backs, as though someone had killed them as they attempted to flee.

From the center of the town a voice could be heard. "No, please why have you killed us? What have we done?" It was the Nomads chief. "Well," Came the reply from the man who had apparently done all of the killing and was covered in blood. "You see it was just the way you acted, your stench of happiness and love." He said. "You...you killed us because we where happy and full of love? Your a...a monster!" The Cheif yelled. It was the last noise that came from him. For a split second later, the mans sword slashed through the air, removing the mans head from his shoulder. "Heh, yes I am."

Little grew in this arid land and very few people lived there and even less chose to willingly travel the scorching sands except the occasional nomad tribes who made a life by traveling from oasis to oasis and transporting valuable minerals from one side of the desert to the other. It was one such tribe that had attracted the attention of the newest member of the Council of Corruption. But it was not the caravan itself that was worthy of note... it was the semi-demon that stalked in their wake. For days he had stayed hidden. Watching as the man watched the nomads... and then it had begun. He had watched as the hunter made his move.

High upon the dune hill, the hooded figure watched the slaughter closely. The sun shining upon his back masked his face in darkness unfamiliar in this burning land. The cloaked man observed the movements and attitude of the killer; Watching as he stepped amongst the nomads, hacking off limbs and gutting others; finally stopping before the nomad elder. A short exchange drifted by his ears before the blood of the chief joined the pools forming from the rest of the tribe. The vultures would feed well today.

'He is a capable killer but he is untamed; arrogant in his movements.' The man thought to himself, 'But he can be taught'

The hooded figure began to walk slowly towards the killer from behind; never lowering his hood or cloak; keeping his face in darkness.

As he approached he began to clap slowly and speak in a cold, deep voice.

"The river of fate is flowing once more but will you ride the rapids or be washed away by them?"

Slypher smiled as the blood pooled around him. "Well now that that is taken care of..." He said to himself. He was about to go search through the cheifs tent to look for valubales and the supply of minerals that they had been transporting. However before he could enter the tent he heard somebody clapping behind him.

As he turned the person began to speak. "The river of fate is flowing once more but will you ride the rapids or be washed away by them?" Slyper raised his sword and blood from the nomads dripped off of it. "Who are you, and what do you mean by that?" He asked, moving his right foot foreward in a semi-defensive position.

The bright sun was directly behind the man. So Slypher could not see the mans face, and he did not like that at all. If he could not see his face then he would not be able to read if the man was a threat or not. Well...either way the half-demon would not be threatend and if need be...well another body for the vultures wouldn't hurt. "What are you doing here?"

"My initial business is my own... but now you have become my business."
The hooded figure stepped closer still showing no signs of fear. "You may not realise it but your destiny currently hangs in the scales of your own choices. On one side is a life of darkness and power eternal... on the other sits a life of pain and despair."

Suddenly dropping the hood of his cloak, Vaul's deep blue eyes stared directly towards the demi-demon. Reaching back over his shoulder Vaul drew out Enyo, one of the fabled Blades of War.

"I come baring an offer. I am Vaul Felinate. Ranking member of the Brotherhood of Darkness and speaker for the Council of Corruption." Vaul extended the sword towards Slypher, "If you are strong enough we would be willing to accept you into our family where we will train you in arts beyond your wildest dreams. We will hone your power until you are a force to be reckoned with. But first... you must pass a small challenge. What is your answer?"
Vaul awaited the demon's response. Intentionally not telling him the details of the challenge.

Slypher took a step foreward. "Well, your offer is very tempting." He told him. "And I could always use more power." He told him. His grip on the blade tightened and a smirk came to his face. "Ok, you've got my attention. What is this challenge that you have for me?"

Slypher was pretty sure he knew what this challenge was. He'd heard them before. It was probably going to be a fight, well, whatever, he had killed so many people that came up to him looking for those. But this one was diffrent. He could feel the strength in this one.

This would be a good battle. One that he would enjoy very much. "Come," He said bluntly. "Let us start this challenge of yours." His eyes seemed to glow with the embers of hate and anger as he prepared himself for whatever it was that the man intended for him.

"My challenge to you is a simple one. You are to attack me and cut me once." Vaul smirked darkly, "It is only a minor challenge compared to those that many have had to endure. But I think you will find it sufficient."

Vaul turned and walked away from Slypher. It was not the standard of test that he had faced. He had fought Alba himself to a stalemate but Vaul had already witnessed this man's skill with a blade, so such a test would be unnecessary.

Re-turning to face his opponent, Vaul readied himself for the first attack.

"Whenever you are ready, you may attack."

Vaul's mind shifted into his state of cold harmony. His thoughts emptied of all except his sword and Slypher's. It was a state of perfect peace within the soul that few could obtain; especially those who were untrained in the subtleties of battle.

For many, they could rush into battle and hack and slash their way to victory through brute force. But that would only take you so far. Vaul however had long since learned that battle was like a dance. Comprised of many acts and imbued with a dark grace. Now it was time to show another brute the beauty of battle.

Slypher nodded and smirked. "Well is that all?" He asked acting overly confident. However inside of his mind he was calmed. He knew that this, 'simple test' Wouldn't be as easy as it sounded. Well he would have to play it smart this time. And if need be, well he could always use his ace in the hole.

"Well no time like the present." He said as he began slowly advance towards this mysterious man. He knew rushing in would be unwise, so he advanced some what slowly. He keept his eyes focused and the man., his eyes moving quickly between the mans feet and his sword.

When he got to where he figured he was close enough, Slypher quickly struck at at the man, bringing his sword down towards his chest diagonaly.

Narrow had been walking for miles none stop uncontrolably. Then somthing made narrow stop the sight of smoke and the smell of burning flesh somthing narrow thought to be a grate smell. the smoke was black and way to big to be on acidente so someone or something must be there killing the nomades and that means that this force can help me controle my new found power. well not new powers but powers that must be controld. Narrow ran up a hill to see to men standing there and narrow was in the middile.....