Everywhere he went, the smell of blood always seemed to follow him. It was something he could never fully rid himself of, no matter how hard he tried. It was like a curse, one that he hoped to one day lift but not today or anytime soon for that matter.

Even now, the smell of blood stained his hands as he carried a decapitated Wendigo head towards his contractors - the illustrious Huldra brothers.

"There you go! One intact Wendigo head. Don't know why you guys would want it, though." He proclaimed to the brothers as he slammed the beasts, still bleeding, head down onto the table. "Now, my payment, please."

"Don't get yer panties in a twist!" Brok barked, his blue-skinned fingers caked with soot as he fished out a leather bag from a cluttered workbench and slammed it down on the table while his other hand grabbed the Wendigo's head. "Always a pleasure doing business with ya, Hyoudou!"

Without another word, Hyoudou grabbed his bag of coins and turned to leave before he heard Brok's brother, Sindri, call out to him.

"Hold up there, Issei, before you leave, we wanted to give you something."

"What is it?" Issei asked as his eyes narrowed. Rarely did gifts come without strings attached, and he knew the Huldra brothers weren't the type to hand them out lightly.

Instead of answering, Sindri rummaged beneath the desk and pulled out a strange, beautifully crafted axe.

It was a magnificent weapon-one that seemed to hold a power of its own. The double-edged blade was forged from dark metal that had an almost obsidian sheen, its surface covered in intricate, golden inlays forming a pattern like constellations set against a night sky. The edges gleamed with a dangerous sharpness, perfect for cleaving through foes with ease.

At the centre of the blade, where it met the haft, was a golden crest of interlocking arcs-a symbol of strength and unity. The handle was a rich, deep red wood, polished to perfection, with gold veins winding down its length in elegant curves. Near the base of the handle, mysterious symbols were intricately carved, each one emitting a faint magical aura, suggesting the weapon held more than just raw strength.

The pommel ended in a twisted, bronze-like design, shaped like a snarling beast's head, giving the axe an intimidating presence. It was a weapon of legend, one built to last through ages and wielded only by those who were truly worthy of its might.

"Here. After doing so many jobs for us, we thought we'd make you something that would forever symbolise our partnership."

Issei smiled as he accepted the weapon, "Does it have a name?" He asked as he took a moment to admire the axe's blade.

"Leviathan."

'How fitting.' He thought as he placed the axe onto his back. Who knows when it'll come in handy, but he was glad to have it nonetheless.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Issei asked as he turned back to face to the two dwarven brothers as he scanned their stock for anything useful he could buy.

Brok shook his head. "Not that I can remember but my brother does!" He replied as he jerked his thumb over to a very nervous looking Sindri.

"Right, yes. I nearly forgot to tell you this but... a Fallen came to see us." The dwarf began as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. Issei arched an eyebrow at this but gestured for the dwarf to continue his story, "He said that he had some urgent business with you and wanted us to point him in your general direction."

"And? Did you?"

"Nope." Sindri replied before pointing over to a bench, "We told him that he could wait around over there for a bit because we knew you'd be back soon any way."

Issei let out a sigh, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his new axe as his gaze drifted toward the bench Sindri had pointed to. Sure enough, sitting in the shadows was a figure cloaked in dark, tattered robes, his head bowed and features obscured by the hood. The air around the stranger seemed to ripple faintly, as if it couldn't decide whether to remain still or flee from his presence.

"A Fallen, huh?" Issei muttered to himself, stepping closer. He'd dealt with Fallen before-corrupted warriors cast from grace, remnants of something once noble, now twisted by despair and malice. They weren't always enemies, but they were rarely allies either.

Before he could get any closer, the Fallen suddenly looked up to reveal a very familiar face causing Issei to blink in surprise as his hand fell from his new axe's handle.

"Azazel?"

Azazel gave a crooked grin, his golden eyes gleaming with the same mischievous glint Issei remembered from their last encounter. His face bore signs of wear-new scars and a tiredness that wasn't there before. But even in his tattered state, there was an undeniable air of confidence, like a predator biding its time.

"Long time no see, Issei," Azazel said, his voice smooth but carrying a weight Issei wasn't used to hearing. "Still collecting heads for a living, I see. Nice to know some things don't change."

"Azazel... what the hell happened to you?" Issei asked, his initial surprise giving way to concern as he scanned the Fallen's appearance. "You look like you've been dragged through every layer of hell."

Azazel chuckled dryly. "Close enough. Let's just say falling from grace wasn't the soft landing I'd hoped for. But I'm not here to talk about me." He leaned forward, his expression growing serious. "I'm here because we have a problem."

Issei crossed his arms, his instincts already on high alert. Azazel didn't come around unless there was trouble, and trouble usually meant bloodshed. "What kind of problem?"

"The kind that can start another Great War if we don't act soon." Azazel gravely answered with a solemn look on his face.

Issei tensed, his mind racing as he processed Azazel's words. "Another Great War?" he repeated, his tone sharp. "Gou better not be joking, Azazel. The last one nearly tore everything apart, and the only reason it ended was because God died sealing the two Heavinly Dragons."

Azazel raised a hand in mock surrender, though his face remained serious. "Do I look like I'm joking, kid? Trust me, I wouldn't be here if this wasn't bigger than both of us."

"Fine," Issei said, sighing as he sat down on a nearby crate, the weight of Azazel's words sinking in. "Start from the beginning. What are we dealing with?"

Azazel paused as he thought on how to answer Issei's question before he answered, "One of my subordinates has gone rogue and taken a few Fallen with her to kill Sacred Gears users before they have a chance to awaken them."

"And?" Issei gestured for Azazel to continue.

"And I've just learned her next target is the user of Twilight Healing - an exiled nun from the Vatican called Asia Argento."

...

"Funny, never thought I'd be here again." Issei mused as he stepped off of the plane.

The air in Kuoh Town smelled fresher than he remembered. It was almost jarring after so many years spent surrounded by the iron tang of blood and the acrid scent of burning flesh. Yet, even as he breathed in the clean air, his thoughts remained heavy. Kuoh wasn't just a town to him-it was a graveyard of memories, some cherished, some better left buried.

As Issei stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac, his gaze instinctively shifted toward the skyline. The familiar silhouette of the town greeted him, its serene charm unaltered by the passage of time. Yet, he felt like a stranger walking through the echoes of his past.

Issei frowned. Now was not the time to dwell on old memories. Shaking his head, he pulled out the small piece of paper that Azazel had given him.

The paper crinkled slightly as Issei unfolded it, revealing a set of neatly written directions in Azazel's surprisingly elegant handwriting. Beneath the directions, there was a small note that read:

"This place isn't much, but it should be enough for you to regroup and figure out your next steps. Don't lose the key under the mat."

He frowned, reading over the instructions again to ensure he had them memorized. Azazel wasn't one to waste words or effort-if he'd gone out of his way to prepare a place for Issei, it wasn't just an act of kindness. There was always a purpose behind his actions.

Slipping the paper back into his pocket, Issei exited the airport terminal. The noise of bustling travelers faded as he reached the edge of the parking lot, where a black sedan awaited him. The driver, a stoic young man in a dark suit, wordlessly opened the door.

"Sent by Azazel, I'm guessing?" Issei asked as he slid into the backseat.

The driver nodded, offering no further explanation.

...

The car ride was uneventful, but Issei's mind churned with questions. Asia Argento-a name he hadn't heard before today. An exiled nun with the Twilight Healing Sacred Gear. What kind of mess had she gotten herself into, and why was Azazel so adamant about protecting her? Whatever the case, if another Great War was brewing, he had no intention of being a passive observer.

The sedan pulled to a stop at the edge of town. Issei stepped out, taking in his surroundings. The directions had led him to a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Kuoh. The streets were lined with modest houses, their lights casting a warm glow against the encroaching twilight.

The house in question stood at the very end of the street, nestled against a cluster of trees that separated the neighborhood from the forest beyond. It was small, unassuming, and well-kept despite its isolation. The porch light flickered faintly, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead.

Issei approached cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of Leviathan as he scanned the area for any signs of danger. He crouched down, lifting the corner of the worn doormat to find a single brass key.

"Guess some habits never change," he muttered, slipping the key into the lock and stepping inside.

The interior of the house was sparse but functional. A small living room with a couch and coffee table sat to his right, while the kitchen was tucked into the corner to his left. A single hallway led to a bedroom and bathroom, and a faintly glowing ward etched into the floor by the door suggested that Azazel had gone to some trouble to ensure the place was secure.

"How cozy..." He muttered as he tossed his bag onto the couch and let out a long sigh as he sat down, leaning back and closing his eyes. The silence was almost unsettling after years of chaos and violence. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, letting his guard down just enough to appreciate the temporary reprieve.

Although admittedly, he was probably going to have to buy a few things to make this place more comfortable but for now it would have to do.

The faint hum of the ward resonated in the silence, a gentle reminder that he was safe-for now. Yet, Issei couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease creeping into the back of his mind. Kuoh Town might've seemed peaceful on the surface, but from what he had heard during his travels, the town was actually a cesspit for all sorts of supernatural things.

One of the things that he was surprised to learn was that Kuoh was actually ruled by two Devil Clans - the Sitri's and the Gremory's.

That might make things a bit difficult for him if he wasn't careful but at least he knew that there would be ample opportunities to offer his service for money.

But for now, he was going to get some good night's rest. After all, the trip to Japan had been a long one and the jet lag was finally beginning to catch up to him.

Blinking tiredly, he barely made it over to his bed before collapsing onto it and falling asleep in a matter of seconds.

...

In an abandoned church not far from Kuoh, a lone figure cloaked in a dark brown cloak stood skulking in the shadows. "The pieces are in place and soon the Great War will begin again."

The lone figure glanced up at the sky, "None shall stand in my way. Not the Witchers, not the Angels, not the Demons or the Gods. All shall fall in the coming War and with it - a new stronger civilization will arise." They proclaimed as a set of black wings sprouted from their back before they jumped out the abandoned churches window and took to the skies.
_______________________________________________
And there we have it! The very first chapter of my Witcher: DXD story.

Hope you guys enjoyed because now I'm going to start working on the Prologue for Mass Effect: Galactic Turmoil - which hopefully will be pushed up to 4,000 - 5,000 words long instead of measly 2,000 words.

Other that, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please don't be afraid to ask questions or express your thoughts on the story because all criticism is welcomed.

Bye.