(???)

Something smelled good...

Before he could open his eyes the Spartan III could smell the usually pleasant aroma that was in the air.

It was strong enough to make his numb mouth water.

Slowly he began to open his eyes but unlike before his vision in his unwrapped eye was much more than before, this allowed him to see his surroundings.

Still unable to move Six only moved his head to look around.

Was he in some sort of Japanese-style room?

From the design of the ceiling, walls, floor, and even noticing the futon he was on made it was quite clear he was in what was called a 'washitsu' if he could recall.

"Good morning," Turning his head he looked up to see someone sit down next to him...

It was the strange woman from before: Priestess Tao.

Six was finally able to get a good look at the strange humanoid seeing her yellow fur, blue eyes with blue irises, three fingers.

Tao looked like some sort of anthropoid vulpine creature, yet the spartan III could feel a sort of familiarity when looking at her.

"Iguuuuh-" His voice wasn't going to come out just yet and to this, Tao gently hushed him.

"Don't speak," Moving her hand to the back of his head she gently pushed him up before bringing the bowl to his lips. "Here drink this,"

Looking into the bowl Six's nose flared at the source of the smell causing him to open up and begin to drink the liquid, even though his taste buds were still numb he could taste the deliciousness of the broth and soft small chucks that floated in it.

It's been too long since the former-ONI agent had a freshly cooked meal, for years he only had the protein paste that he was given if he wasn't on a mission or placed in Cryo.

So when this brown golden liquid touched his lips he took no time into scoffing it down as fast as he could.

Drinking down so fast in fact it poured from his lips and down his mouth onto his neck, not noticing him move his arm to grab the fox lady's hand that held the bowl in a weak grip. In seconds the bowl was empty and Six let his grip on her hand go allowing her to place the bowl down before grabbing something and brought to his face cleaning it.

"I'm glad you like my miso soup," Tao spoke in her low soothing voice. "You could notice the taste the herbs I put in it to help you recover,"

Placing the cloth down she then placed her hands on the blanket coving him before pulling it down, Six looked down at his chest which every inch of his skin was covered in blood-stained bandages. Feeling her glide her hand over his covered chest, then to his surprise, her hands began to glow with a golden hue.

Tao was speaking some words in a whisper but due to how low she was speaking it was hard to tell, though it did sound like some sort of chatting.

Baffled by what was happing Six then flinched at the feeling of pain slowly fading ever so slightly at the warm feeling that began to wash over him. Soon after the wounded spartan soon fall asleep drifting in and out of sleep seeing Tao take care of him while sometimes others would enter the room.

They were similar to Tao looking like some kinda vulpine humanoid but some looked like strange equines humanoids...

Six was still trying to process what was going on around him... Then something happened the warm feeling was gone allowing the spartan to think straight.

The brightness of the room faded replaced by the glow of candlelight and his caretaker was gone.

Confused Six looked around not seeing Tao or any of the others that were in the room, then he heard something.

Screaming.

Gritting his teeth Six got up but fell down on his side, he didn't get to his feet yet but still, the spartan III collected himself pain hissed through his body while the warm feeling had completely disappeared replaced by a cold wave that rushed over his body even though he was covered head to toe in bandages. Pushing himself up onto his feet the spartan immediately fell over again, his legs felt like jelly screaming at him to stop yet Six knew if he stayed whatever was happening out there would soon find its way to him.

Biting through the pain, Six got up and hugged the wall before pushing himself over to the sliding door.

Going to the door so he could push it open only for it to slide open before someone walked forward couched down dressed in dark clothing with a blade in his hand.

'Is that a ninja?'

Seeing the Ninja not see the spartan along with the fact the blade was mostly meant for him Six threw himself at the intruder before getting him into a headlock. Throwing the Ninja to the ground Six's body screamed in pain at the action, this caused the assassin to try and fight off the spartan.

Even though he was weakened his augmented body allowed him to keep a hold on the ninja, yet his attack wasn't going down without a fight. Rolling over where Six was now on his back, seeing the Ninja reach to his belt for a weapon the spartan acted fast grabbing whatever was close and slamming it in the eye of the assailant.

The still-burning wick of the candle that Six grabbed burned the open eye of the ninja who screamed in pain and naturally grabbed his eye in pain. Acting quickly the reach 'survivor' reached down grabbing the weapon the ninja was going for before stabbing it into the Ninja's neck multiple times causing blood to fly out into the air. Looking up Six watched a second Ninja walk forward most likely to investigate the scream with a longer bladed weapon but acting quickly the spartan threw the bladed weapon at the Ninja.

From the pain, Six's aim was off missing the part of the body of the Ninja that he was aiming for but hit knee of the assassin, watching the dark-robed attacker get to one knee after crying in pain the spartan threw the dead body off of him and leaped into the air before balled his fist to hit the ninja in the jaw.

*Crack*

The force caused the ninja to fall with Six on the ground screaming through a broken jaw the spartan reached out grabbing the ninja's own weapon before slamming it down into the ninja's head and the very floor. Pulling himself up the pain still present, Six tried to pull out the weapon but it wasn't going to come out any time soon. Grunting he got to the door frame leaning up against it but then noticed a corpse leaning against the wall to his left, it wasn't a ninja but one of those Equine creatures from before dead with her small intestine laid on the floor.

Breathing heavily through the bandages, he reached up to his face and ripped the pieces of cloth around his face feeling his face go free being able to see through both eyes now.

Though his head felt... different.

Reaching out he felt his hand brush against his hair but like his head it was different and his ears were-

"KAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Six looked down to see another Ninjas coming down the hall with his blade out rushing at him.

Unarmed the spartan began to try and get away limping slightly from the pain but biting through it before he was going at a full sprint, rushing forward down the hall before a Ninja turned to surprise to see him. Before he could attack the rampaging spartan the spartan grabbed the ninja and using inhuman strength was able to push through the wall behind the ninja even though.

Landing with a thud onto the rocky ground Six got up panting looking to see the Ninjas were still on his tail, turning he looked at the Ninja either dead or knocked out the spartan III didn't care before reaching out and picking up the Japanese style sword and began to move forward. Even though it was night time the many lanterns and moonlight helped the recovering spartan see where he was going.

Hearing screams and the sounds of a raging fire in the distance the spartan III found himself in some sort of village which was in the same style as the building he had escaped from. Six's heart raced at the sight and sounds of screaming in the distance.

"GET BACK!" Six turned at the familiar voice.

Two ninjas moved to Tao would be pinned under a wooden beam not knowing what to do Six rushed forward his body running of pure adrenal now. Running forward with the blade in hand Six strikes at the ninjas from behind but the keen ears of the shinobi are turned by his rush footsteps turning at him while he swung the stolen blade.

(-)

Tao looked up from the ground to see the convalescent that was under her care standing with a sword and covered in even more blood than before. Fear filled her thinking that he was injured by these attackers but from what she could tell the fresh blood that stained his bandages wasn't his.

Then to her surprise, the wounded stranger that could barely move but an hour ago was moving faster than the ninjas, at first she assumed it was the goddess's gift that was bestowed to save his life. Even though the gift greatly changed his appearance it hadn't been fully unlocked this speed and strength was all his natural skill.

It baffled her how he could be standing after so short of a time.

The priestess watched him overpower the two ninjas by using a very usual form of combat but he end up disemboweling one of the ninjas while the other ninja was beheaded. As the head of the dead ninja fell to the ground so did the wounded being's left knee panting while holding over the wound that almost allowed death to claim him.

Turning to her he dropped his blade before moving to her and grabbing the beam.

"M-m-move," Speaking for the first time towards her that wasn't a jumbled mess, to her surprise he lifted the wooden beam allowing her to escape.

Dropping the beam she moved to him catching him before he could fall down, Tao held her bandaged covered savor in her arms who was heaving from all the effort.

"Priestess!" Turning her head she saw the temple guard rush down finally arriving. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," She turned to look at the stranger who was now passed out from the overexertion. "He saved me,"

Author's Note

This felt... short for some reason most because it was a straight-up attack and Six was trying his best not to blackout or sub come to the pain.

I know this isn't the cool epic scene from my original story where the MC fights hordes of countless enemies without breaking a sweat but Six isn't a space marine. Sure he's a spartan but he doesn't have his armor or his weapons, plus he's still recovering from his injuries from reach which were more grievous than you would think.

First off he was fighting for days before the mission 'lone wolf' the only break he had is when he was on the pelican with Emile and Carter trying to get Cortana to Captain Keyes. After delivering the AI he then ends up fighting wave upon wave of enemies to the point where he's on his last legs getting pelted by plasma weapons and then finally stabbed in the chest. (I was listening to the half-life 2 OST 'last legs' when writing the fight scenes)

I guess you would have the first chapter and this one as a two-part prologue into the story (actually might rename it to that) to set the groundworks of the story.

I'm really looking forward to being using some Japanese-style weapons that aren't a katana.
(Hint: Drifter's weapons)

Sorry, I'm rambling and I might be a little drunk, my uncle finally took me drinking as he promised. I'm sorry in advance if the chapter isn't as good as the first part.