Bobby Island- the gateway to true wonder, beauty, mysteries and horror.
The isle's unique population is predominantly comprised of the descendants of Maverick and Kinsmen settlers, whose arrival on the island predates Godfather's reign by over a century. The Iron God was rumoured to despise the Islanders' harmonious ethos, but more than that, he allegedly detested the Kinsmen settlers' choice to repudiate their Clans- the foulest sin and most repellent act of treachery a person could ever commit in the eyes of the Giants.
Furthermore, the atoll's additional resolve in becoming a more neutral island and administration further soured their relationship with Crown. But, even in all his unsatiated fury, the Sovereign still never once dared make the island tremble. It wasn't because the settlers had any way of fighting back- or fighting at all; but because the Sovereign had a sense of preservation and knew when departing would cause him less problems than engaging. Crown Godfather's forces retreated from the island to avoid stirring conflict with them- the Children of Death, informally known as... The Death Walkers.
Primarily inhabiting the Eastern Forest whilst occasionally migrating North and South during different seasons and steering clear of the West due to its prominent lack of rough terrain and plentiful sun, these beings are nightmares and horror incarnate.
With bodies forged in darkness and faces hewn from sin transmuted into distorted, mangled figures of malevolent shadow, they possess eyes of crimson, frozen death. They are the bringers of despair and settlers of grudges...
The Un-Forgivers.
Typically, they are known for being highly jaded and peevish creatures that get perturbed at and take offense to the smallest gestures. Coupled with their territorial and aggressive behaviour, which is amplified when and if they are disturbed from their feast or slumber; they reveal exactly why they are so loved by Death.
The Death Walkers are creatures that exist as both separate beings and the same entity- they share pain and certain emotions but not minds or bodies. So, if one takes umbrage at a person, then so does the entire Horde. This chain of reaction automatically results in a special Curse afflicting the individual.
This foul enchantment is called...
Till Death Do Us Part.
It is an intricate and ancient Curse whose origins are only sourced back to the Children of Death. When and how these beings of darkness and nightmare came to be and with which power and techniques they continuously conjure Till Death Do Us Part remains one of Goisha's greatest and most horrifying mysteries.
As the Curse of Death is not only ancient, but wicked, cruel:
The instant the Children of Death cast the foul enchantment upon their target, the individual is forever marked as an enemy. Wherever they may run or hide and whomever they may be is of no consequence as the Un-Forgivers- when they seek vengeance- are relentless and will never cease their hunt...not until the victim's blood quenches their never-ending thirst and the unfortunate, miserable soul's flesh fills their hollow stomachs.
This is because the Curse not only acts as the means through which the Walkers track their target but also serves as the mystical path on which the creatures tread in order to self-summon to the person's exact location.
Furthermore, the soulless enchantment ensures every injury inflicted on the cursed individual that is not induced by the Children fully and quickly recovers, whilst making certain all wounds caused by the Walkers themselves don't properly or never heal altogether.
The Curse, through its instant regeneration and healing abilities, makes it impossible for the individual to end their own life or be killed by anyone else other than the Death Walkers themselves.
Death by Death Walker, it is said even the Iron Death himself couldn't stomach looking at a body disposed of by the creatures. Their methods of execution are beyond cruelty and depravity- they are senseless and lack genuine purpose as the creatures do not seem to possess any form of intelligence beyond a horrifying need for vengeance and feasting constantly. They are neither fully sentient, nor are they entirely alive or dead- it makes them all the more terrifying.
And to think the Angels were bold enough to establish their Heaven in the home of these Demons.
***
With every last bone in his body, Carrot was fairly certain this forest was the most abhorrent place he had ever had the misfortune of venturing in.
He hated how much these woods of nightmare seemed to devour every shred of moonlight, how they seemed to beckon and absorb the night's darkness. Despised the faint howling of the wind and rustling of the leaves. Detested how the trees stood so tall- like giant, looming figures of horror in the dark. But most of all, he abhorred the smell. He knew his Gift was the only reason he could detect this stench whilst Dolffie couldn't. It reeked of rotting flesh with a tinge of fresh blood and desiccated bones. The pong of pure death and hunger.
Carrot, even with a handkerchief filtering the air he breathed, resisted the urge to gag and vomit as he made his way deeper into the forest; the abhorrence of the odour seemed to worsen the further inward he treaded.
A sign their Heaven-Break-in was going accordingly, he supposed.
He estimated he was about a few hundred metres away from the Heaven and Dolffie as he jumped over a particularly large fallen tree trunk.
He thought nothing much of it before a chilling shiver ran down his spine as he caught a crucial detail from the corner of his eye...
The Eastern Dead Forest was naturally devoid of most human presence thanks to its... esteemed caretakers.
Without human interference, nature had largely taken its course. The forest was large and glorious, with trees of various ages, sizes, and shapes, including crooked trees and a multitude of dead trunks standing or lying on the ground. It was rife with what Carrot liked to call 'dead life': there was incredible biodiversity that harmonized well with the large variety of beautiful animals thriving in the absence of human intrusion- yet it all, for some reason, felt sorrowful, gloomy and joyless.
Ever since their arrival earlier that afternoon, Carrot had noticed it.
The birds did not sing their merry tunes, the deer did not bounce to their pleasant hymns, and the trees did not whisper their gentle, wise words, instead they either screeched- howled- or just remained quiet, silent... almost dead. They had life- were in fact brimming with it, yet at the same, they seemed to be drowning in it.
It was heart-breaking. The forest could have been a truly magnificent haven.
'But alas...' Carrot turned back and carefully began investigating the fallen tree trunk.
It appeared to have fallen some time ago- a few months ago at best, he noted as he did a closer inspection.
The series of concentric rings- growth rings or annual rings, which provided a visual record of the tree's growth over time- were visible. And although he couldn't quite make out the colours of the rings' layers under the weak moonlight, they looked to be and smelled like light springwood or summer dark-wood. The trunk's inner structure, including the xylem and phloem, were also visible.
But the most important detail:
There was a sequence of cuts with varying depths along the spine, then one final string of slashes that brought the whole thing down.
Cuts. Slashes. Sharp and precise... man-made.
'...We humans really can't resist our needless urge to destroy.' Carrot sighed as he wiped his hands with his handkerchief.
He looked up, as further ahead into the forest as he could in the darkness.
'Ha! I won't take any risks by going further and will just assume this is how far the Angels can go-' He turned his gaze back to the trunk, '...How much land access they managed to bargain with the Children of Death.'
Carrot scoffed as he dropped his arms to his side.
'I guess Mr Dolffie was right. -He presents himself a fool when in truth, he's actually a genius.'
Carrot had a flashback of their journey to the forest:
Earlier in their travels, Dolffie had voiced a theory, a guess he had had on his mind regarding how the Angels not only managed to establish a base but also ran full operations within the Forest without incurring the cursed wrath of its residents.
The theory- Dolly B. Dolffie, had been correct, it seemed.
The Children of God were indeed in cahoots with the Children of Death.
The Angels Denied Heaven had some form of co-existence pact with the Death Walkers:
In exchange for the Angels establishing one of their bases and running their operations within a certain part of the Forest, the Walkers would receive death roll inmates and prisoners as payment.
The last part explained the smell, Carrot thought as he folded the handkerchief, then stuffed it back into his pocket shortly before he stepped onto the fallen trunk and cracked his knuckles as he exclaimed, "Onto business."
His lips curled into a sensuous grin as his eyes slowly emitted a bright, crimson glow, and then...
Whooosh!
…He unleashed his curse upon the forest.
"Over Heaven"
***
Dolffie couldn't help but let out an exhausted, overexaggerated sigh.
The show- his show- was finally reaching its climax- its finale... and here he was, the main acter- the main character, hiding behind a crooked tree in a smelly forest... with stage-fright.
He paced around, his heart racing.
Him, the Dolly B. Dolffie, was nervous... anxious. Not because he doubted the success of his plan, but because he questioned himself.
The problem: he was... frightened, scared... of what his treasure would say-think- of him. He was agitated by the thought of it all being for nothing.
Petrified at the thought of being rejected, turned away...unwanted.
No.
No.
No.
'Calm. Calm. I'm calm, gentle, like a flowing stream. I'm Dolly B. Dolffie. I'm Dolly B. Dolffie. I'm... I'm... No. He will not reject me. He will not. He will not.'
He felt his heart sink, burn as his breathing became increasingly laboured and his skin felt sticky as sweat drenched his body. His marks, they felt hot, too hot for a human to handle. His clothes were too tight and his hair too heavy.
It was wrong. It all felt wrong.
His marked limbs emitted a bright, crimson glow whilst his dark emerald eyes transmuted to a striking silver-grey that shone with a magnificent light as his face contorted in rage and confusion.
No.
No. They will not reject him, denied him.
"THEY WILL NOT!!" His voice, overlapped with multiple others, echoed and shook the surrounding woods as he fell to his knees on the damp forest floor.
He cuddled his body tightly, digging his nails so hard and deep into his own flesh he almost drew blood.
His limbs and eyes were still glowing when he finally took a long and deep breath, then calmly got to his feet.
He was silent when he wiped the dirt from his knees but slowly smiled as he proceeded to flex his neck and knuckles.
'Ahh. That feels much better.' He grinned as he looked up at the dark sky. His marks ceased their glowing and his eyes reverted back to their emerald hue.
This was because to stay healthy and utterly perfect, he lived by certain standards and codes. One of which required him to occasionally let doubt cloud his mind shortly before releasing it in one brilliant burst.
Allowing uncertainty to simmer and flood his mind with indecision like a plague, then letting it all out in a wonderful outburst was extremely healthy in his opinion. It stopped him from blowing up at important people or during essential times and allowed him to have better control of his emotions and in turn, actions and words. Let it consume, let it explode and then move forward clean, light and free.
Dolffie stretched his arms as his serpent-like smile widened. Ever since they entered this forest, doubt had slowly crept up, clouding his judgement and scattering his thoughts.
But now, all was clear.
He was free. Light. And absolutely ready.
He was Dolly B. Dolffie.
"Now. Let's get on with it."
He hummed a lazy tune as he nonchalantly made his toward the Heaven.
Etched directly from the side of towering cliffs and rugged landscapes, there was undeniably something magnificent about the rock-cut architecture that was Heaven, carved directly from stone forged in fire.
The ominous building, standing over fifty stories high, was hewn from rose-coloured cliffs with a majestic, castle-like façade. It seemed to effortlessly blend imposing grandeur with intricately detailed elegance.
Massive rose-red stone walls and towers dominated the cliffside, rising dramatically, anchored by sturdy, towering structures-round or square, some with conical roofs, others flat-topped with crenelations and arrow slits along the grand heavy portcullis entrance.
The enormous rosy, stone walls were further punctuated by lush climbing ivy and vines. Tall, imposing keeps, slender turrets, and distinct towers, some with intricate patterns, stood mighty. High, arched, and diamond-paned windows, occasionally glinted and sparkled with colour in the faint moonlight.
Every inch was undoubtedly packed with some form of elaborate trap or high-tech defence, and the structure was unquestionably filled with complex networks of carefully managed tunnels and channels with an ambuscade ready at every point.
It made Dolffie smile, after all, it further validated his theory:
If they were able to fully construct this massive structure and operate inside and around it without problems, then the Angels paid a hefty rent. The payment itself most likely being deathroll prisoners and inmates captured across Goisha.
Disgusting. Heartless. Cruel... and utterly genius.
Dolffie had to admit... he was pretty impressed, so much so he was quite eager to meet whoever came up with the idea. He was curious; who had been so bold as to approach and strike up a deal with death itself?
If it had been him, then he might have mused over the plan but actually be brave enough to carry it out... he valued his life way too much... And maybe that was the main difference between him and the mastermind. One placed more value in his life, while the other in his mission's success.
"Huh." He scoffed, then shook his head as he faced the magnificent building.
"Too bad." He laughed before bolting into a sprint and jumping onto a tree close to the entrance.
The Angels understood the reputation of the Forest and took advantage of it... but it also led them to be lax in their security up to certain points. Dolffie could sense if he treaded further, the defences would activate, but he was close enough.
So, now all that was left was...
"3. 2. 1."
Under the moon's gaze, Dolffie saw a figure clad in scarlet-red fast approaching the Heaven. And behind the figure, followed darkness with eyes of blood. Several, large moving entities with bodies of mangled shadows.
Dolffie was momentarily stunned at the terrifying sight as a chilling shiver made its way down his partially frozen spine. The Children of Death were larger... far larger than he had anticipated- reaching up to 10 ft tall whilst walking on all fours.
Their bodies were grotesque, contorted and dark yet still managed to appear human-like. They possess the hands, arms and legs of a man crawling on four, with their elongated anthropomorphic, twisted limbs, and faceless head with just two crimson crystal dots for eyes.
And to think... Carrot D. Snow... had tamed them.
His terrifying Gift, Over Heaven, gave him the ability to not only control corpses and see curses, but interact with them, communicate with them, and strike up deals, propose far better bargains than the Angels.
In exchange for avenging their needlessly cruel deaths, Carrot awoke and instigated the corpses buried and scattered all across the forest to rise and match for justice toward the Heaven. And in trade for unstained and pure flesh and blood that has yet to be tainted by sin and depravity, Dolffie's Chief Advisor managed to get Death matching behind him.
Death Walkers, regardless of how they appeared, represented what the Angels saw in the Clans.
They Who Hunger To No End.
They didn't eat to feel full- instead they ate to feel anything. Their hunger and thirst was unsatiable, but most of importantly, they got bored easily. They frequently sought out new foods in pursuit of a miserable desire to feel new things... And what could possibly be better than Holy men? The knuckleheads who constantly swore and murdered on their cleanliness and purity.
When they arrived and first struck up the bargain with the Death Walkers, there was no arguing particularly strong individuals, most likely Arch Angels and even a Primordial Angel, were present. So, if the discussion had taken an erroneous turn, then the Angels easily could have escaped with little to no casualties thanks to their forces... but today...
Today was an ambush.
Today was a momentous day to be marked in history as the day Dolly B. Dolffie... (and Carrot) destroyed Heaven.
With that, Dolffie grinned as his eyes and crimson limbs emitted their bright glow and reverted to their otherworldly form. He let out a maniacal laugh when he jumped off the tree with such force the plant exploded in his wake, sending chunks of wood and debris flying in the night air. His silver-grey eyes gleamed as he drew his arm back, clenched his glowing hand into a fist and...
"ALABASTA!!!!"
Carrot D. Snow's eyes glinted in pure awe as the entire forest shook from Dolly B. Dolffie landing a strike on the Gate of Stone Heaven. He was met with some resistance- enchantment- the portcullis bent and trembled under his fist, but ultimately, it was no match for his power- for Alabasta- his Gift of Dominion.
He drew his fist back once more and let out a war-cry as his knuckles slammed harder into the structure...
BOOM!!!
The sounds of alarms blaring quickly filled the air as Carrot moved to the side and let the horde of rot, death and darkness flood into the Heaven.