Well... I'm horrible about ever actually sharing fics here and keeping up to date with them... But why not? I recently got into .hack and had an idea for this fic. A shame that there's only a SIGN category bc I'm gonna feel bad putting a G.U. focused story there (though Sora will be important to the story in a few ways), but eh...


Ryou Misaki, like most monster hunters, wasn't exactly best known by his real name. Of course, he wasn't known by his chosen codename of 'Haseo', either. At least not as known as he was by the title the 'Terror of Death'.

The Terror of Death… Apparently a name plucked right out of past catastrophe and given to him… It didn't matter much to him, though. It wasn't as if it affected him in any major way. If anything, it brought the types he wanted to him faster…

After all, the types to hunt other hunters almost always had their ear to the ground… And someone with their ear to the ground was more likely to have information about a mysterious and dangerous monster than your usual by the book hunters.

Of course, it didn't mean much when no one seemed to have any information about the monster known as Tri-Edge… It made his frustration grow, but at least some of it could be nipped by felling those he asked…

Not that he actually killed them, though. Not on the off chance they'd drag themselves off and find something out, try to mock him with their knowledge or bargain for some levity in Haseo's attack using it… Anything could get him closer to Tri-Edge.

Closer to saving Shino.

He could still remember the day she invited him to the Hulle Granz Cathedral, the day tragedy had struck. Walking in, watching her fall to the ground, begging her to stay with him… Watching her succumb to her wound, falling into a deep sleep… The strange black pattern that grew across her stomach growing as he dragged her body to town and begged someone to help him…

He shook his head, trying to ignore the feelings of pain those memories dredged up. He would save her from her affliction, no matter what it took.

He walked down the streets of Mac Anu, thinking about his next move, when he noticed he was being watched… Sakaki from Moon Tree, along with that girl that looked so much like Shino… Atoli was it? Of course they had to be here, they'd been bothering him for a week now. He needed to move bases to another town or something…

"Sakaki." He looked down at the little brat, still trying to wrap his head around the fact he was able to get so high up in this apparently huge guild so quickly. "Do you want something?"

Sakaki looked up at him, face full of the usual amount of pure vanity he usually had in place. "I'm here to talk about your hunting of other hunters, Terror of Death. You're no different from them, hunting those weaker than them-"

"Shouldn't your babysitter there tell you not to shove your nose in other's business?" He gestured towards Atoli. "I'll do what I want and your preaching isn't gonna stop me."

"Please…" Atoli frowned. "Sakaki just wants to help you be a better you! If you-"

"I don't care what Sakaki wants to do!" Haseo shook his head, turning away. "I have no interest in listening to you if what you propose doesn't get me closer to my goal!"

Before Sakaki or Atoli could even try and say something to him, a ping alerted them to the fact a message had come through to Haseo. He pulled out the small, mechanical item. A new creation, infused with magic to make sure it worked… And a useful one for staying in contact with those close to you.

Not that Haseo had many people like that anymore.

He did, however, recognize this name. Ovan, the guildmaster of the Twilight Brigade, a place he'd held so close to his heart for so long… And a man he'd held so much respect for, before he disappeared.

But here he was, messaging Haseo and telling him to meet him at Arche Koeln Waterfall. He'd been gone so long and this was the first sign he'd given to show he was back… His lower lip quivered and he bit into it to try and stop any tears that could come.

Atoli let out a gasp, trying to place a hand on his arm. "You're bleeding…!"

Without a word, she was shrugged off and Haseo was making his way to the dome. He would get to the Chaos Gate and would get to Ovan, see what he wanted… Hope against all hope that maybe he could tell him something about Tri-Edge.

"Arche Koeln Waterfall." He placed his hand against the Chaos Gate as he spoke, the familiar and uncomfortable feeling of magic warping his body falling across him.

A place he knew all too well, Haseo sucked in a breath when he saw Ovan standing there in the distance. Now wasn't the time to let feelings of the past sneak up on him. He needed to stay focused on his current plans and goals.

"Ovan!"

There he was, standing tall and mysterious as he always had before he disappeared and left the Twilight Brigade to flounder and die. At first, Haseo thought he hadn't heard him, but finally he did turn around, their eyes meeting.

"It's been a long time, Haseo." He pulled his gaze away. "Or maybe I should call you "The Terror of Death"?"

Haseo said nothing, doing his best to keep his face neutral. Commenting on that now would just serve to derail the conversation.

"You've gotten quite a bit stronger. A lot stronger than you were back then."

"Well, I was forced to become stronger…" He shrugged. "Thanks to you. You. Where have you been?"

"Haseo. Always the reliable one. I knew I could count on you." Shrugging off the question, it seemed, Ovan began walking towards Haseo. Only to brush past him, speaking so casually…

Haseo turned his gaze towards him, not letting him out of his sight. Not this time. "When the Twilight Brigade broke up, why didn't you come then? What have you been doing the last six months?!"

"I was busy. It was such a small seed." There Ovan went again, as cryptic as ever. "I needed to find out what was growing inside. And there was only one way to find out. That's why I decided to raise it."

With every word, he took a step away and Haseo just watched. Unsure if he should try to chase after him, if that would prove fruitful in any way or not… This was all so confusing…

"You raised it?" He took a stumbling step forward. "What are you talking about, Ovan?"

Ovan finally turned to face him again, right before hitting the Chaos Gate. "I'm speaking figuratively."

Haseo straightened out his shoulders, taking another step towards him. "When you suddenly disappeared, we all just…" He cut himself off. "Why did you disappear like that?!"

Ovan said nothing, as if waiting for Haseo to continue… He didn't need much prodding to do that, eyes travelling to look at the ground instead of the man.

"After that, Shino…"

"Haseo, do you want to know about Tri-Edge?" Ovan spoke, right before the silence that fell could become suffocating… And the way he mentioned him so casually, too.

"Wait, you know Tri-Edge?!" Were things about to change for Haseo?!

"Six months now, and Shino hasn't recovered even a bit since Tri-Edge attacked her. No one seems to know the reason why." He looked to the sky. "Tri-Edge. He is not a normal monster."

"So you knew about Shino?" Even when he hadn't shown his face in Mac Anu once since up and leaving?

"Yes, but that's all that I know." Ah, so maybe he'd heard it through whispers and rumors spreading around… "But if you were to find Tri-Edge, you might learn something about Shino's condition… You may also learn more about what really happened that day. And if you were somehow to defeat Tri-Edge…"

"Then maybe Shino's condition would start to change for the better."

A small nod. "If my information is correct, he will be back today… At the scene of the crime."

"The scene of the crime?" Haseo thought for a moment, eyes widening in realization. "You mean-"

"The Hulle Granz Cathedral, the place Shino was attacked."

"The Hulle Granz Cathedral…" He gripped his hands together, teeth grinding. "Yes, finally. I'll get my chance! I swear I'll make Shino better! I'll do it, Ovan!"

"Yes. You and I. We're the only ones who could possibly help her recover."

"We're the only ones." Haseo jumped a bit when Ovan once again began walking away. "Ovan?"

"I'll meet you at the Cathedral. There are some things I must do." And with that, he was gone. Fine by Haseo, he would just be there first. Get the first strike in on Tri-Edge, even.

He wasted no time doing just that. He stocked up on any supplies he needed and made it to the Hulle Granz Cathedral. No Ovan in sight, but he couldn't bring himself to just wait. He needed to find Tri-Edge and he needed to find him now .

He made his way into the building, coming to a stop in front of the altar. The fabled goddess statue still gone and Tri-Edge's mark still an ugly red sight to behold… He closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath. He needed to stay calm.

It was hard to when a blue flame appeared as soon as he opened his eyes, stopping in front of him. Soon enough, the flame was replaced by a figure, the figure of Tri-Edge.

He's green eyes looked empty, staring straight through him. His skin was an ashy, inhuman grey, enough to prove him non-human; though even if it had been a natural color the scales the same color as his hair scattered across his body would be enough to give it away.

His hands and feet where clawed and had the clearest smattering of scales, as if they were weapons of their own. Weapons he didn't even choose to use as he summoned dual blades, continuing to stare right through Haseo.

"Tri-Edge…!"

He wasted no time brandishing his own weapon and attacking mercilessly. Switching between all he had on him at as quick a pace as he could manage. If he could be unrelenting enough, there would be sure to be a chip in his armor…!

Or so he thought, but every attack was deflected without as much as a blink from Tri-Edge. Eventually, his weapons began to break under the duress of constant attack and he was left with only his scythe.

Before Haseo could leap forward to continue trying to attack, Tri-Edge let out a breath. A breath that was very clearly not normal, seeing as the same blue flame he appeared in seemed to escape from him, catching the scythe on fire.

He dropped it with a curse, turning back to Tri-Edge just in time to see him extending his hand. Before he could even form a thought of what to do, watching something glowing form around his arm, it shot out at him.

He felt like his soul was being ripped from his body, a scream loosening from his throat as he fell to his knees. After a moment, the feeling was gone, but he didn't feel right, as if something was missing… As he fell to the ground, consciousness fading and Tri-Edge leaving, a voice crept into his head.

"The soul will soon become whole again."

Haseo didn't even have a chance to think on what that could mean before his head finally hit the floor of the Cathedral and everything went dark.


Azure Kite - Dragon