Placidità, a large, hidden village on Earth enshrouded by mystery. Placidità is home to hordes of shadow masters, assassins of the night who mastered the deadly arts of darkness, alchemy, and assassination. At the edge of Placidità, surrounded by cliffs and rivers was it's large black castle.The inside didn't seem to be much like a castle, it was more like a library with all the scrolls, texts, and books around. To take away from the castle look the place had only two floors. There was a large set of wooden stairs that led to the garden behind the castle and to the Master's post.

There was Rage at the Master post. Rage was about 18 and 6'3. Rage was dressed in the regular shadow master's gear for his rank. A large black hood with white designs that stretched down to his knees, a brown sash across his waiste where he stored his secret daggers, a brown strapp on his back where he held his black and grey long, curvy darkness dagger, black pants with a couple of hidden daggers on the side, and brown boots. He also wore a very, very large, silver armband on his left arm that held secret suriken in it along with a secret blade for stealth assassinations. Also, a grey, black, and golden sword with a very weird handle on the left side of his hood. Nothing could be told about Rage's body or facial's feature's since the hood covered his face and body. All that could be told about it was that he had light brown skin. His master was dressed in a very similar wardrobe accept with better everything and lighter skin.

The master was sitting down on a firm, decorative wooden chair at his large wooden desk at his post reading a large, thick book about different types of mythology while Rage stood a few feet away from the desk.

Rage: Master I'm the strongest warrior you have, I've perfected all the arts of the assassin, shadow master, ninja, gunslinger, fighter, rogue, and even the trickster, it's time I leave here and fulfill my ambition of dominance.

Master: You were always an ominous one Rage, the thing that surpises me now is that you haven't asked for expert training to become an Dread's Cross.

Rage: I'm not interested in that level of assassination and Shadow Mastery yet, but I will come back to learn it another time. Anyway I know the rules for leaving the Crave, what task will I have to perform to prove my undying honor?

Master: Rage you know better than anyone the secret of the Crave. We use the arts of alchemy so when we die we can come back in a body specialy prepared in the thirty minute ritual.

Rage: Yes I know this master, but does it has anything to do with the task I must perform?

Master: Your great, great, great, great, great grandfather Ittchi was the first member of the Crave stupid enough to fall in love with a mortal, one of those beings who die and goes to either heaven or hell, they are so unknowledgeable about the universe and the things around them.

Rage: I know the story and the rules, when you fall in love with a mortal you betray the Crave and Shadow Masters are suppose to come and kill you for this, accept Ittchi was the strongest member of the Crave at the time and noone was strong enough to kill him so he was just forsaken by the Crave.

Master: Your correct, but another Shadow Master was dumb enough to fall in love with a mortal. He impregnated the one he was in love with, but instead of assassinating him and his wife he made a deal with us. If his firstborn child could become an Shadow Master of your rank before the child turns 20 they could live, but fail and they all die.

Rage: The sins of the father, eh.

Master: As your final task for the Crave you'll have two years to raise the child to become a Shadow Master of your rank, if you fail at this Rage you will be assassinated along with the family. Do you accept this mission or will you decline?

Rage: How old and tall is the child, because I don't feel like being paired up with no iffant or no midget!?

Master: Hahaha, from what I had learned on the child she should be about your age and a couple inches shorter than you.

Rage: Hmph, I hope she isn't stuck up like some of the girls I met in my past lives.

Master: Rage becareful when your with her, because when a Shadow Master has a child with a mortal that will be the child's first life so she'll think in situations differently than we will.

Rage: Understood.

???: Hello, are you the Master?

A strange woman entered in the Master's post. She had skin that was lighter than Rage and looked to be Rage's age, but a couple inches smaller than him. She had short cut black hair that stretched down to her shoulders and covered her forehead. She wore a very large red jacket that had man zippers and brown straps on it with one large strap that was to cover her large breast. She also wore large brown jeans and large brown boots. Her arsonal was composed of a very, very large silver broadsword that was connected to her by a strap on her jacket and a pair of black and golden handguns.

Master: Yes, are you the child I presume?

???: Yea, my name is Stacey.

Rage: C'mon couldn't you give me someone that dressed more classy and like a real Shadow Master.

Stacey: You betta not be talking about me or I'll beat your bottom little boy!

Rage: I'm actually taller than you and your not even my league. In a serious fight I would destroy you.

Stacey: Okay let's test that!

Stacey gripped onto her blade with her right hand and swung it at amazing speed at Rage who easily gaurded himself with his armband.

Rage: The materials Shadow Master use to make their weapons are much more powerful than using the normal material. We use our alchemy to harden and strengthen the materials, maybe you should of use those materials to get you a real blade instead of this knockoff.

Stacey: Shut up!

Stacey tried a much more powerful and barbaric slash to try and kill Rage, but it failed. Rage teleported behind her and the two wounded up back to back.

Rage: Your sloppy and make to many errors don't worry when your with me I'll get rid of that for you or kill you trying.

Rage at full strength slapped Stacey with his armband, knocking the blade out of her hands, and her to the ground. Rage took away her two handguns and handed them over to the master, then he put the sword on his back. When the girl tried getting up he restrained her by her arms, then he carried off to the garden.

Stacey: Let me go or I'll kill you!

Rage entered into the garden with Stacey kicking and screaming. The garden was very, very huge and it looked magnificent from all the beautiful and rare flowers inside. The garden had a huge silver gate around it's perimeter. The garden was composed of two places, the higher level where most of the flowers were plus a few benches and the lower level that was connected by large set of marvel stairs. The lower level was over ten times bigger than the higher garden, since it's where the Master spars. Also, beyond the lower level of the garden is nothing but moutains, lakes, and fog. Rage took Stacey down to the lower level of the garden where he took her to a man in a huge white robe that covered his entire body, so nothing could be told about him.

Stacey: Why did you take me down here!?

Rage: When I was training to become an Shadow Master he helped me alot on my arsonal, advice, and supplies.

Stacey: I prefer to be dressed this way and use my own weapons.

Rage: Why do you tend to be so ignorant?

Stacey: Why do you tend to be so annoying?

Rage: With an attitude like it's no wonder your so weak.

Stacey: I ain't weak you moron!

???: Young love!

Rage & Stacey: F*** you!

Rage: Sorry, but she's my second subordinate Barret.

Stacey: If you think I'm so weak then show me why!

Rage: It's obvious I'm stronger than you, but I'll let my first subordinate deal
with you.

Rage clapped two times and a figure of darkness came behind him, it formed into the figure of a man. He looked to be about 15 and 5'9. He had white skin, grey eyes, and he had long black hair with a red bandana on his forehead. He wore a grey, sleeveless hoodie with the number twenty-six on front with the hood over his head, black gloves with white patches on them, grey jeans with wave designs, and black shoe with grey stripes. He also wore black, half-rimmed glasses and a black bandana with a spider on it over his face. He also had black rays and wave like tattoos on his arms.

His arsonal was made of a Ninja Officer Sword, a 24.75in. two-tone stainless steel blade, steel handle with hard wood inlay with a nylon sheith that had a belt loop that was on his back. A Iron Reaver Finger on the index of his right hand, a 5.5in. highly polished steel claw with an outstretched blade that has an anodized finish and extends upward in a poised, ready to strike position. Finally, in the large pocket of his hoodie were 20 Egyptian Falcon Knives, a 8in. stainless steel curved blade with hieroglyphics engraved on it and an intricately detailed cast metal handle with an falcon's head on the end.

The man walked over to Stacey and extended out his hand.

???: Hi my name is Kyle, Kyle Steigen. I'm a Rank 3 Shadow Master.

Rage: Kyle here will be your opponent. If you win I'll ascend your rank to mine
immediately, lose and you'll have to do everything I tell you to.

Stacey: Sounds more than fair, prepare to lose boy!

Kyle: I won't fail you Master Rage.

The two warriors walked off about thirty to forty feet from Rage and Barret and then ten feet from each other.

Barret: Kinda mean having Kyle battle her, you both finish your fights withquick stealth assassinations, but atleast Kyle doesn't show his true power straight from the start.

Rage: Hmph, how long do you think it's going to take for her to lose?

Barret: I say at most, three minutes.

Rage: I give her about a minute.

Barret: Be generous.

Rage: Fine, a minute and fifthteen seconds.

Kyle put his hands together and bowed his head down before the match started as a symbol of respect and honor while Stacey armed herself with her blade.

Barret: On my mark go......Ready.......Set......Go!!!

Kyle: Ladies first.

Stacey: Oh, your such a gentlemen.

Stacey rushed towards Kyle at full speed while he armed himself with his sword, he held it in his right hand with the blade pointing to the ground. She unleashed a barrage of slashes onto him, but Kyle easily used his sword to parry her attacks without moving. Stacey took her distance away from Kyle and rushed at him with a much more powerful and speedy attack that she would be sure to do some serious damage towards Kyle.

Kyle: Your attacks have no strategy you'll never win that way.

Stacey: Whatever!

Stacey's attack was successful and she overwhelmed Kyle, she had sent him flying towards the edge of the garden. She chased after him with another powerful attack, but she was quick enough to catch up with him. He came flying towards the gates and in the blink of an eye flipped off the gates and was headed towards Stacey.

Stacer: Blade's Drive!!

Stacey swung her blade at Kyle at an electric speed, suddenly a feirce red
shockwave came towards Kyle.

Kyle: Impressive, but the end of this warm-up is here.

Kyle put his hands together and created from the shadows a doppleganger of himself. Kyle used his doppleganger to take the the blast, while he jumped over it and used his sword for an arial attack.

Stacey: You say my attacks are simple, it's over for you kid!

Kyle: We'll see.

As soon as Stacey raised her blade for another attack, Kyle's doppleganger threw a knife at her hand forcing her to drop her blade. Kyle came down from the air and landed his feet on top of Stacey head. From this action Kyle busted Stacey forhead and she started bleeding majorly from her head and minorly from her mouth.

Rage: Time?

Barret: One minute and three seconds.

Stacey: How did you do so much damage? You weren't even that far from
me.

Kyle: You underestimated me because of my age and rank, so you got cocky and only led yourself to your own downfall. To tell you the truth I should be a rank 7 Shadow Master, it's just that I'm to lazy to do the work rank up. Also, I'm the fastest Shadow Master, in Placidità it's just the hundred pound weights I wear under my gear is what slows me down.

Rage: Hmm, she lasted longer than expected. Kyle's getting to soft with his
opponent's. I rember in his 8th life where I gave him the name, Jack The Ripper, oh, how gruesome he fought. If I could feel happiness, he would of made me the proudest warriors ever.

Barret: Your truly a sick person, you know?

Rage: Sick or not, it's the way the cold universe turned me.

Kyle began walking over to Rage and Barret: Oh yeah, I'm not right handed, I'm left.

As soon as Kyle said what he did Stacey fainted from her heavy blood loss.

Rage: Stop being so soft, your gonna get yourself killed that way.

Kyle: Sorry Master Rage.

Barret: So what will happen now?

Rage: The Crave has prepared a small starship a ways away from the village for my journey, all the gear need for that girl to become a Shadow Master and the things they confiscated from me is own there. Oh yeah, since I'm leaving I'm turning in my gear.

Rage took out his sword, daggers, and knives and put them on the ground next to Barret.

Barret: Your not turning in your armband.

Rage: It's an extremely rare and cool weapon, I'm not giving it up without a fight and you can mark my words on that.

Barret: Well said and good luck on your journey.

Rage: Thank you.

Rage walked over to Stacey and had her piggyback on his back. A purple aura came off of Rage and onto Stacey, showing that he was healing her with his alchemy. Rage and Kyle walked out of the garden of Placidità and walk through the village to the exit.

Rage: You know this might be the last time were here, you got anyone you wanna say by to?

Kyle: You know I only hang around you and Master.

Rage walked through the village gates and onto a dusty path surrounded by mountains until they reached a very large near circular area surrounded by bigger moutains than before with a small silver ship in the middle.

Rage: Kyle wait, who are you three!?

Two Shadow Masters came out of the ship dressed like Rage was before accept with their hood off. They were both man, one was seven feet, looked to be about fifty, had golden eyes, and very long black hair and the other was about the same age and height as Rage, his eyes were all white, his skin was white, and he had long white hair.

Seven foot man: I'm Altura and my freind here is Blanco.

A woman came from out of the ground and stood next to Altura and Blanco. She looked to be about 19 and the same height as Rage. She had long golden and black hair that was comed over her right eye, her left eye was yellow, and very, very light brown skin. She wore a hood like the others accept longer and with buttons. Only the top of the hood was buttoned and she wore a very, very, very small black shirt that was only big enough to cover her large breasts. She also wore black pants and brown boots.

???: I'm surprised you could see me, but if you couldn't that would of made our job that much easier.

Rage: Who are you and what's your job!?

???: I'm Peligra Muerte, and our job is to take over this ship.

Rage set Stacey on the ground next to a mountain so she wouldn't get in the way of the battle and to ensure her safety. Rage and Kyle walked a few feet closer towards Blanco and Altura and prepared themselves for battle. Rage stood like he was a boxer while Kyle bowed his head in honor and armed himself with his sword.

Altura: This is gonna be fun.

Blanco: Don't kill them quick I want to finally enjoy a fight with another rank 9
Shadow Master besides you two.

Rage: Kyle, don't play with these two, if needed take off those weights I put on you for training.

Kyle: Alright Master Rage.

Altura stuck out his right hand and a giant black scythe with four long, curved, two-toned blades came into it from out of the darkness. Blanco stuck out his left hand and a magnificent fifty eight inch steel blade with a blood curve, and a white chord wrapped handle.

Blanco: Let's go!

Altura and Rage came rushing towards each other. Altura tried slashing Rage down the middle, but Rage evaded him and gave him a powerful right jab to the stomach knocking him back a couple feet.

Altura: Without a weapon you'll never win against me. RISING WHIRLWIND!!

Altura swung his blade around him and created a huge whirlwind around him that sent Rage flying up into the air while Kyle rushed towards Blanco. Blanco evaded Kyle's attack and jumped into the air after Rage. He tried numerous attacks against Rage, but Rage managed to gaurd himself some what successfully with his armband. Kyle jumped into the air and let himself be sweeped up by the whirlwind so he could go after Blanco, but as soon as he reached him Altura ended his whirlwind. Rage body was falling to the ground in a dangerous position and Altura took advantage of this while Kyle and Blanco had their own arial struggle against each other.

Altura: Die.

Just as Rage's body was going to hit the ground Alture swung his blade at him and tried cutting him in half, however Altura only hit a doppleganger of Rage and got his blade covered in gray doppleganger goo. Rage appeared behind Altura and tried assassinating with his hidden blade in his armband, but Altura easily countered and kicked Rage into a mountain.

Altura: What a pity, it seems that the weapon really does make the warrior.

Rage: Doesn't matter all I have to do is use some skills I learned in my past thirty-two lives.

Blanco and Kyle took their own battle positions away from Rage and Altura. The two warriors slashed, hacked, and cut at each other at amazingly fast rate, but it was obvious that Blanco was winning between the two.

Blanco: I expected more from the ledgendary Gray Ripper, but it seems you've gotten slow, how dreadful.

Kyle: Fine, fine everyone wants me to get so serious in fights, so I guess I'll get serious. RAGE I'M GONNA GET SERIOUS FOR ONCE, SO CAN YOU?!

Rage: It took long enough slacker!

Altura: I hope you makes this a nice fight for me.

Blanco: Let's see if that speed of yours is really as fast they say.

Kyle began doing real short excercises, stretches, and warm-ups to get himself ready.

Kyle: Okay, let's go.

Kyle began weilding his sword in his left hand and came at Blanco more than three times faster than before. He began softly cutting at his gear from different angle's until he came spinning down from the sky, cut Blanco's right cheek on the way down, and landed on the ground beneath Blanco. Blanco took his distance away from Kyle, but before he could even see the ground he was standing on Kyle super kicked him in his stomach, and cut him across his chest.

Blanco: Nice, I think I'll use my Shadow Form now.

Kyle: Shit, my Shadow Form still isn't mastered yet, this could be dangerous.

Blanco's body was engulfed by dozens of shadows until they disappeared and a new Blanco stood. All his clothes were like living shadows with red designs on them, his eyes turned pitch black, and he had black hair now.

Blanco: Round two, let's begin.

Rage and Altura were locked into a feirce battle. Rage tried using alchemy and martial arts to get the upper hand, but everytime Altura used his power of wind to turn the tables.

Rage: KYLE LET'S HAVE A CONTEST, FIRST ONE TO KILL THEIR OPPONENT WINS, GOT IT!!??

Kyle: Hmph.

Altura's blade was engulfed in wind and he began trying to strike at Rage, but with amazing skills evaded the attacks with ease.

Altura: SHOCKWIND!

Altura swung his blade at rage at an extremely quick speed, causing a shockwave of wind to fly from his blade towards Rage. Rage with ease teleported on top of Altura's shoulder, jumped off of it, and kicked him on his head.

Altura: Make me look like an ameteaur, I'll show you. Shadow Form.

Altura's clothes turned into living shadows and his eyes turned all black. Altura swung his blade at Rage and living shadow soared off of it towards Rage. Rage teleported from where he was into the air to dodge his attack. Altura telported right after him and tried slicing him in half, however Rage jumped off of him and teleported, higher into the air. He pulled out some hidden suriken stars that was inside his armband and threw them at Altura. Altura easily knocked them out the way and sent out more shadows after Rage.

Rage: Damn.

Altura: It's over.

Rage took the blast head on and landed on the hard ground while Altura teleported back on the ground safely.

Altura: I hope that wasn't all.

Meanwhile, Kyle was still locked into battle with Blanco, desperately trying to find the key to success. Blanco used his blade and shot flashes of light plus large shadows of darkness at him, but Kyle dodged most of the attacks.

Kyle: I suppose that since you were generous enough to show me your Shadow Form I'll show you mine.

A circular prism of darkness and shadows engulfed the area around Kyle's body until it dispursed and a new Kyle was born. Now Kyle hair was all grey, completely grey eyes, his tattoos turned grey, and even grey fingernails. Kyle now wore a very large tattered grey hood that was red on the indside which stretched down to the bottom of his feet with white designs, a tattered gothic gray shirt that was red on the inside, and his sword length was extended by a large black and white aura.

Kyle: Sorry this form really takes the life out of me so let's finish this up with a quick duel like samurai?

Blanco: By killing Grey Ripper I'll definitely become known throughout the universe as the greatest swordsman ever.

Rage: darn Kyle's gonna win, I'll end this quickly. LIGHTNING SEVERE!!

Rage gripped onto his left hand and lightning from all directions came into his palm. Rage at the speed of lightning came charging towards Altura while he tried using his blade and the power of wind to overwhelm him. Blanco and Kyle took their positions from each other and armed themselves with their blades for the duel.

Kyle: Let's go.

In the blink of an eye, Kyle and Blanco at an amazing rate struck each other. The two warriors just stood several yards from each other with their backs facing each other and their blades in hand.

Blanco: I see why they call you the Gray Ripper now.

Kyle began smiling and sheith his blade.

Kyle: Why do you say that now?

Blanco: The name Gray comes from your look and aura, but the ripper part comes from the fact that all your hidden blades have hooks for gutting and ripping your enemies apart.

Kyle: Your very observant to bad you couldn't prepare your body for the next life I would of enjoyed your companionship, now you'll just die like a mortal would.

Blanco: Before I pass I need to, how many of your blades did you hit me with?

Kyle: Only thirteen.

Rage: Are we gonna have to kill you to?

Peligra: Unlike you two, I know the secret to retaining my full power in the prescence of darkness and light. All I want is to come along with you.

Rage walked over to Stacey and saw that she was awake, so he tried making sure nothing was wrong with her while Kyle turned back to normal.

Rage: Kyle, I'll let you make the decision I really don't care what you say.

Peligra: So what it'll be Ripper?

Kyle: You can come, I guess.

In the blink of an eye, Peligra appeared behind Kyle, wrapped both her arms around him, and rested her head on top of his.

Kyle & Rage: What, I didn't even see her.

Peligra: Thanks, handsome. By the way I didn't teleport, I walked.