BISHOP (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
getting_better) wrote2021-07-09 05:43 am
getting_better) wrote2021-07-09 05:43 am
Magisteria BG
Samuel Joseph Mercer
Nickname: Sam, Sammy, BISHOP
Age - 37(Actual), 23 (Physical)
Birth: December 12 1999
Background:
Samuel Joseph Mercer grew up in a middle-class family Queens, New York. His father, Eric Mercer, was a businessman and his mother, Charlotte Mercer, was a housewife. He wasn't the most spectacular kid growing up in fact he was very passive and weak minded as a child, then grew up to very pugnacious which was a constant frustration for his perfectionist and controlling mother. In school he was the target of bullying and didn't have a lot of friends but this quickly changed and those confrontations usually resulted in a fight, getting him suspended from school a few times, although he never bullied others including his own tormentors.
His situation at home wasn't terrible but not great either. His father was distant and quiet, often more interested in watching television or working. He would also drink heavily whenever work didn't come his way, and this upset Sam's mother and him to a degree since his father wouldn't remember most of the conversations they have. His relationship with his mother was also strained as she constantly lectured and scolded him for his short comings since he was young, sometimes even going so far that she would hit him. She would compare him to how she was at his age and always micro-managed his life and this served to infuriate him which would lead to arguments between the two. He would sometimes go out of his way to disobey her out just to make her mad or avoid her all together.
To add to this, his parents were like cats and dogs. Rarely getting along and leaving him feeling alone, and these isolated moments caused him stress and triggered paranoia making him believe that they were fighting because of him. He distanced himself from his parents and built walls around himself, making him a loner. Despite all their flaws he still loved his parents who did try their best to raise him with what little they had. They showered him all the love and affection they had, although a bit awkward in execution. He still kept his interactions with them brief or layered with caution and hesitation, though this would only cause him pain later on in life.
This was his life before 2012. Troubled, not always easy or peaceful but normal. On his 13th birthday, moon turned red and filled the sky with evil light as demons came out from the shadows and drove mankind to near extinction. Hell had come.
Sam saw his childhood home get torn to shreds, and the city he lived in burned in a matter of hours. He saw people get torn to pieces, eaten; blood and guts splattered everywhere he looked as they ran. They ran, hid and fought for days, sometimes joining up with groups only to see them die one after the other in horrible ways. Things seemed hopeless but eventually word reached them that the military had finally gotten a success foothold in the city with the aid of an unlikely ally. The mage society had come out of hiding to fight against the hordes of hell though they still had a lot to do.
By some stroke of luck, the Mercer family managed to make contact the military, and after a day in quarantine were on an escorted convoy to Washington D.C., possibly the last standing city in the east coast. The trip was short and the Mercer family made it to the capital and secured themselves a small space in the refugee center near the barrier wall.
Life in the capital wasn’t pleasant, but they were alive. Fresh food was scarce along with clothing and medicine, but the latter wasn’t too much of an issue with magic around but that luxury was mostly reserved for the soldiers. What made things really stressful were the demon attacks which had become a daily occurrence with a few dozen people disappearing after every attack. Some were close to the Mercers and with each lost soul Samuel grew more and more frustrated.
He held a great hatred for the demons for taking away his home, his friends, for turning the world on its head and making them suffer. He raged over how they were looked down on, how the demons took pleasure in their grief, how they drove them into a corner. He wanted to fight and take back their world, but his parents didn't approve of his intentions.
Sam pleaded with them to let him go, he reasoned that he’ll just be enrolled into the Military Academy and won’t even see combat until he turns 16. He'll be trained, taught, given the best equipment – magictech - and he won't be alone but still, they forbade it. They even refused to even speak of the matter and this caused friction between him and them, but this didn’t stop him. That night he snuck out of their apartment to enlist in the army and swore that he wouldn't die, that he would come back to his parents a hero. At least that's what he hoped.
That night, before Samuel could even reach the academy, demons managed to break a portion of the defensive wall which was close to his home. He rushed back to save his parents but, he was greeted by the sight of his home ablaze. The military responded as quickly as they could and successfully subjugated the demons however, there were unfortunately no survivors.
Samuel buried his parents with his own hands that night. He was 14 at the time.
Following the attack Samuel enlisted in the academy. He spent the next two years under intense training, resting only when necessary and pushing himself well past his limits. While he tried his best to keep to himself and focus on his training, Samuel met Kylie Crest and Matt Peterson two survivors from the same demon attack that claimed his parents. He grew close to the two, often competing with them during training, trading stories at night, and sharing the grief of losing their family.
He rose to be the top of his class and upon graduation was assigned to a special unit for the top-ranking cadets alongside his best friends. This unit gave them the chance to choose which division they wanted to join once they came of age. There was the Griffon's Talon Force which specialized in the elimination of demons from an area, the Wings of Mercy which sent medical aid wherever needed, the Eagle Eyes that scouted and patrolled the area, Guard Hounds which is the city defense force, and the Cornerstones which specialized in reclaiming demon infested lands and rebuilding.
Samuel aimed for the Griffon's Talon while Kylie and Matt worked towards the Cornerstones and Wings of Mercy respectively, however while their goals were different the three always worked with each other. They volunteered the same missions, the same unit, and always had each other’s back. Eventually they each turned 18 and were due join a division however, tragedy struck on their way back from a mission in New York.
Their unit, alongside other marines and soldiers was attacked by a large fire demon along with its followers and familiars and decimated the unit. The remaining units huddled together to secure an evacuation point but Samuel, Kylie, and Matt were separated from the group. To make things worse Kylie was seriously injured and with Matt tending to Kylie, Samuel was forced to do most of the fighting. Fear took root in Samuel's heart and nerves as he led the two through the dark shadowy streets, each shade bearing a face with fangs and claws just waiting to dig into their flesh. He hated it, he hated the situation they were in, but most of all he hated feeling like the small boy that ran away from them all those years ago. He clung on to that anger to steel himself and it proved sufficient as they neared their destination although they were still far from safe.
Their path was blocked by a collapsed building with paths wide enough for people to get through, but not accessible enough to let Kylie traverse it easily. The three were forced to split up, temporarily and Samuel went ahead to check the situation to see if he could get back up while Matt and Kylie hid. Navigating the ruins was not difficult for Samuel but the sight that greeted him on the other side made him lurch.
He saw the remaining soldiers being sacrificed to the fire demon in different sadistic ways. They were beheaded, burned alive, tortured in different ways all for the demon’s amusement. The ones who died quickly were the lucky ones from what Samuel saw. He watched as the group was slowly decimated and toyed with, his gut twisting with agony with each life taken and with a heavy heart, made his way back to his friends amidst the sound of death filling his head. He thought about his life as walked back, about his home, his friends, his parents, the life he lived up to that point, and with a deep breath found resolve; not to accept death but to fight against it.
Rage swelled in his chest as memories and dark predictions came forward in his mind. He did not accept this twisted reality and sought to make one of his own, one that had dozens of demon corpses laid beneath his feet, and to achieve this he had to be prepared to lose many things, things that he can never take back.
Against Matt's wishes Samuel forced Kylie to make the trip back to base. He would find them a safe spot before going on ahead to scout and kill whatever wandered close by. His first kill was a minor demon that was searching for stragglers and something to eat. It caught wind of the scent of Kylie’s blood and tracked them down but, Samuel caught it by surprise and took it down. The demon was dispatched quickly but the fight had drawn the attention of a couple more demons which Samuel had also dispatched, though with a lot more trouble than he’d like.
He continued to guide his friends through the ruined city while scouting ahead and carefully assassinating demons they encountered and with every demon he killed, Samuel refined his technique. He first took advantage of loners and struck when they were vulnerable or distracted but soon after, he started to fight them in pairs, then groups, dispatching them with relative ease unaware of the change happening in his body.
He became stronger, faster, more agile, more durable, and more aware of his surroundings than ever before. He felt unstoppable, almost like he was flying as he became bolder with his actions and even able to physically overpower other demons then killing them with a knife or whatever object he could find, he even found medicine Matt could use to treat Kylie along the way though she was still in no condition to fight. Samuel was drenched in the blood of demons and the foul liquid oozed into his body and soul turning him into something not quite a demon, but no longer human.
It took some time but Samuel managed to get them out of the city limits and rescued by a scouting party who immediately took them to a secure location however, Samuel’s troubles did not end there. He was drugged midway and when next he awoke he found himself in a padded cell, bound at the wrist with heavy cuffs, no windows, his friends nowhere in sight, and a single camera watching him. There was a door with no knob but with a little slot in the middle for food which came three times a day and is always serving the same thing.
He never saw who served him the food, not for lack of trying, but whenever he tried the shackles around his wrists would send bolts of electricity to paralyze him until the person serving was in the clear. After his first few tries Samuel became docile and waited patiently for something to change and after what felt like a week the door opened and he was assaulted and restrained by a group of heavily armed soldiers. When next he came to, he was strapped to a chair in an interrogation room with a lady armed with a katana.
He anxiously stared at her while she studied him the same way a person would study a wild animal and when she finally spoke, he didn’t like what she had to say. She introduced herself as Queen, an agent for the government, and she knew everything about him. His history in the academy, records as a soldier, his reason for enlisting, and his life before the Calamity, she had it all. She went on to explain that since he returned from New York City a week ago he had been tagged as a threat to humanity that had to be removed with extreme prejudice and that the only reason he wasn’t killed on sight was solely because of her intervention.
She explained that his actions to escape the city caused his body to change and that while he may not be a demon, he was no longer a normal human being. His enhanced physical traits were more than enough proof of that, after all a human being able to overpower demons was unheard of and it was because of this that he was seen as a danger to others. No one knew what he was capable of or he could even turn others into whatever he was, and it was here that she gave him a choice. To die, then and there by her hand, or live by working for the save division she comes from but at the cost of his existence and the lives of his friends.
Samuel was angered by this and, fuelled by this rage, broke free from his bonds and attacked Queen but was easily overpowered. She pinned him to the ground with lightning fast movements and put the blade to his throat with a pleased smile on her face. “You passed.” She said as she eased off of him and then gestured to his binds which were enchanted to be able to restrain a goliath class demon and he managed to break them. She further explained that everything since he returned to Washington was a test to see if he would be useful and that he’d only be imprisoned if he failed.
As for his friends, she said they were checked in to their medical facility for observation and treatment and she could take him to see them if he wanted, but only if he agreed to follow her after. Unfortunately, it would also be the last time he’d be allowed to see them or interact with society and refusing meant death. He agreed, and they were off to see his friends one last time.
Matt and Kylie were relieved to see him alive and well just as he was to see them, and with their ordeal finally behind them, the trio broke down into tears as they let go of their fear and anxiety. They talked for hours, reminiscing about the comrades they lost that night, before Samuel told them that after that day he can’t be with them anymore.
When pressed for answers he simply told them that he had changed in a way he can’t figure out and that there was somewhere he can go that can help him but, there was no promise they’ll ever see each other again. Samuel left with Queen once they said their goodbyes and his heart earned a few more cracks but he knew it was for the best.
Samuel was quickly taken to a facility a little outside the city walls and hidden by illusion magitech. The facility was bigger than he thought, a little over a quarter the size of an army base and the soldiers stationed there were better equipped. Once inside he noticed the amount of people in lab coats whispering to each other as he and Queen walked by, all of them seemed to have eyes on him. Queen brought him to a large meeting room where a single well-dressed man was waiting for them, immediately asking Samuel to take a seat near him while Queen sat across. The man introduced himself as Director Francis Apollo of the Strategic Threat Reconnaissance and Intervention for Key Emergencies, or S.T.R.I.K.E, a special government division tasked with studying and subduing or eliminating critical threats to mankind while developing weapons to counter them and all future threats.
One of their initiatives is to find individuals who have, or attained some special ability in these chaotic times regardless of the origin or nature of these abilities and train them to be operatives. These operatives are given missions that are impossible to complete by normal humans and are expected to succeed. Failure entails the government will disavow their existence and will most likely lead to death. Director Apollo continued to state that operatives of S.T.R.I.K.E are removed from any and all government records and given a new identity, one that only exists within their division.
Samuel asked what would become of his friends upon hearing this but Apollo assured him that they will not be harmed. They were soldiers as well so when they find out Samuel’s existence was removed, they should be smart enough to know to stay quiet, he said. Before their discussion ended, Samuel asked why they took an interest in him. Outside of being stronger than lesser demons, he doesn’t think he’s that special. Queen handed him a tablet and showed him a clip they have of him assassinating various demons and he was shocked. His body seemed to turn into a shadow for a moment before reshaping back into himself as he struck.
The footage was recorded by another one of their operatives who tracked them all the way back to D.C, disposing of demons that were a bit too much for Samuel to handle at the time, but it was because of his ability that they felt him a perfect match for their division. After getting answers to a few more questions Samuel was ready and set to become a member of S.T.R.I.K.E but, he first had to meet the team and get his new identity.
Queen, who was revealed to be the captain of their team and his commanding officer, took him to meet the other members who gave him excited and apathetic greetings alike. There was Knight, the close-quarters combat specialist and she possesses the powers of a Valkyrie. Chevalier, Knight’s partner and weapons and demolition specialist, he possessed a magical sentient weapon called a Tyrfing. Rook, the sniper, can commune directly with spirits. She was the one who tracked Samuel, was closest to his age, and disliked him the most at the start but eventually grew fond of him. Tower was a brilliant and capable alchemist, engineer, hacker, and wizard. Then finally there was Queen, a half demon called an Oni. They followed a chess inspired naming for their call signs, and Samuel would receive the call sign Bishop.
Given the nature of his powers the task of training him fell to Queen, with Knight sometimes stepping in as a sparring partner. She built up on the training he received in the academy, adjusting the sessions as Bishop grew into his powers and got used to his new-found physical prowess. Training with her was rough on him and usually ended with him being knocked out or passing out from the pain, then receiving a cold douse of water to wake him up and starting all over again.
She taught him various martial arts, and while his CQC training was above par, she believed that by mastering several other arts he could develop a style all of his own. She taught him karate, ninjutsu, judo, tiger, monkey, crane, and snake kung-fu, kick boxing, krav maga, eskrima, and kendo. The latter being the one she was particularly strict with. While she was incredibly demanding as a trainer Queen was very gentle and caring with Bishop outside of training and missions, often inviting him to eat together and doting on him like a big sister. He found her incredibly overbearing and annoying at first however he eventually started to warm up to her and treated her like she was his sister, bonding and spending a lot of time together. It was in this time that she taught him to read and write Japanese and got him interested in cooking, a hobby he took a great liking to and fostered which eventually made him the designated team chef.
After a few months Bishop’s powers settled and he gained the ability to transform into animals. He favored birds; particularly the Eagle Owl and he spent a good portion of his free time outside of training to mastering this ability. He could eventually shift between his human and owl form at will solidifying his role in the team as their scout. Another power which surfaced was his manipulation of all known magical elements, which he uses by creating kunai like feathers and imbuing them with the element. He also often took the roll of assassin in more shadowy operations. Bishop’s life in S.T.R.I.K.E was not the best, but certainly not the worst.
He and his unit would travel the world and aid in critical missions, save stranded refugees in demon hotspots, become heroes to people who needed it all while remaining totally hidden. They were even responsible for saving entire cities, developing weapons that turned the tide of the war, and tragedies that would plunge mankind into despair. As an operative, Bishop grew to be one of the units most active members but, this meant he was constantly put into dangerous situations, sometimes alone. He was given assignation assignments that were questionable, even for their group, which made him uncomfortable. His targets were human rebel leaders, smugglers trafficking goods to poorer countries, people who were forced to do illegal acts to save the lives of others. He was chosen for this because of his willingness to do anything for the "good of humanity".
These missions made his skin crawl and stomach churn however he carried them out anyway all the while telling himself it was the preservation of all and any disorder, no matter how honorable, would upset the delicate balance humanity had.
Bishop served as an agent of S.T.R.I.K.E for seven years and earned his name in the world of espionage as an assassin. He grew close to his teammates, even earning Rooks respect, friendship, and trust. He even mentored their newest member, a werewolf codenamed Cardinal who arrived three years after him, with the aid Knight and Rook but even with a protégée of his own Bishop was still closest to Queen. They formed a tight familial bond where they kept no secrets and they knew how the other thought in any situation. She even told him her real name, Hikari Miyamoto, and learned of her story, how she became a demon, and how he reminded her of her little brother, Hikaru, who during the calamity. She also heavily punished him greatly for the shadowy missions he took, telling him that she believes him to be best out of all of them, and was able to get him out of doing those kinds of missions. This only strengthened their bond and motivated him to become better.
At the age of 24, in Austria, their team was assigned to rescue a group of researchers who stumbled upon a way to kill Fenrir, the wolf of Ragnarok. They had supposedly found the sword of Vidar who killed the wolf in Norse legend. The researchers were hunted down by followers of Fenrir and were chased all the way to the ruined city of Salzburg where they were finally able to send a distress message out however, when Bishop and his team finally arrived they found all the researchers and their convoy killed. As for the sword, it was taken and the data destroyed but that wasn’t the end of it. A loud and haunting sound echoed across the sky, Fenrir was close-by and so were his followers.
The team found themselves surrounded and as Fenrir’s head poked over the horizon, they knew something was terribly wrong. No one should know they were there, not even the researchers would have known, and it was here that Tower revealed his betrayal. He was a member of Fenrir’s followers and it was his plan to lure their team there and be offered to Fenrir as a sacrifice. The fight for survival was on as they raced against the demon wolf and the cultist, trying their best to escape but the entire city was booby trapped and their foes were armed to fight them.
This fight was not theirs to win and the first to fall was Chevalier, who sacrificed himself to help them escape the city. His sacrifice bought them a bit of time, but their small glimmer of hope was taken away as more cultists had appeared to give chase. Knight and Cardinal were next to go, partnering up once again as a giant mutated werewolf cornered their team. It was only Bishop, Queen, and Rook who were left to escape into the Austrian mountains but they were met with snipers hidden in the rocks and snow. Rook stepped up and took them out but in a moment of carelessness, Rook was shot through the stomach by one of the dying snipers. Rook died in Bishop’s arms, her last words telling them to live.
With their group trimmed down to just him and Queen, hiding from the cultist and sneaking by was easier, but the threat of Fenrir being relatively nearby loomed over their heads like a guillotine but Bishop was motivated and angry. He saw his entire team, his family, killed before his eyes and even with all his skill and power he couldn’t save them. The anger he felt from the time in New York came rushing back and he believed it would be this anger that would help him and Queen. But he was wrong. Tower had prepared for this as he appeared before the two of them with an army of cultists, and Bishop’s rage blinded him and Queen paid the price. She took a fatal blow for him as he charged to kill Tower, and Bishop’s rage iced over with dread and despair.
In this moment, Queen gave Bishop her last orders. Live. Leave the underworld and live the life he deserves. She gave him her katana and kissed him on the brow before using the last of her strength to cause an avalanche then launching Bishop into the air as the snow buried her and the cultists. When the snow had settled Bishop searched for Queen, praying and hoping she survived but as Fenrir’s howl cut across the sky he was forced to leave.
He flew and flew, stopping only to catch his breath, and before he knew it he couldn’t fly anymore. He collapsed on the ground, tired, hungry, his body in excruciating pain, but most painful of all he was in despair. Once again, his life was ripped apart and he couldn’t do anything to stop it and he had lost another family. When Bishop came to, he was unsure where he was or when he even passed out but he knew he wasn't alone. A scavenger and his dog had stumbled upon Bishop while they were looking for a place to make camp. He told Bishop he was in the ruins of the Vatican in Rome, Italy which he had a hard time believing at first but, after studying the surroundings he eventually had to take it as fact.
The scavenger, Damian, told Bishop to rest as his wounds weren't healed and he was still fatigued, though when pressed about how unsafe it is being outside Damian said that demons avoid the Vatican for some reason. He suspects that there's some buried holy relic still hidden there and that's whats keeping them away, and he aims to find it. Bishop listened to his ramblings and interacting very little with him while his despair clung to his core making time melt away as Damian's voice slowly drowned out his senses. A few hours later Bishop was well enough to move although by this time, Damian and his dog had fallen asleep and he was in no condition to wander through a ruined city.
At dawn Damian guided Bishop through the city, the latter pondering why he even bothered trying to leave which was something the scavenger didn't overlook. He asked what Bishop was going to do once they reached the outskirts to which he replied "I don't know". All he knew was the last request of Queen telling him to live which he didn't know how to do outside of fighting, he even pondered just committing suicide, however, Damian had an answer. He told him go out into the world, no orders, no guide, no plan, just to follow his gut. That's how he lived as a scavenger and even while he had little, he had life and something to look forward to every sunrise even in their dark world.
The words echoed in Bishop's soul, though he had his doubts and had no reason to even believe a stranger, he decided to follow his advice. They parted ways and Bishop headed to Venice where, through underground channels via his connections, got on a smuggler boat whose destination was unknown to him. After months at sea and stopping at several places, defending the shop from pirates and demons alike, the ship stopped at Tokyo and something had taken a hold of Bishop making get off at that port.
He had been to Japan on several missions in the past but this was his first time actually stepping foot in Tokyo. The city was bright and large and he easily got lost in the crowded streets and bustling city life. He was awestruck by how normal the city was, as if the Calamity never struck it but the sight of the fortified and heavily armored wall always broke his immersion whenever it poked out in the skyline. Eventually Bishop grew hungry and stumbled upon a diner, the scent of food drawing him in and before he knew he was already eating. Unfortunately, when it came time to pay he had found he was pick pocketed and couldn't pay. While money was no object to him, the owners of the restaurant wouldn't let him go out and get some so instead they put him to work.
He was cleaning dishes, floors, and serving food with ease. He eventually was put to work in the kitchen when he instinctively cut up some vegetables in seconds, the chef taking a keen interest and immediately got him working even harder even though he had well paid for his meal. The work was tough and the chef even tougher but Bishop enjoyed it, and when it came time to close the family had invited him in for a meal. They introduced themselves as the Kimura's, the father Masahiro, the mother Yuka, the teenage daughter Natsumi, and the son Takumi. They were deeply interested in Bishop, asking one question after the other as they gave him food and alcohol. When they learned he didn't have a place to sleep they brought him to a bread and breakfast where he stayed for the night, but not before asking him if he wanted to come by again that night to help. He gave it some thought and accepted.
This was the start of a new life for him, not as Samuel Mercer or Agent Bishop, but as a new man. He went by the name "Joe" as he worked at the Kimura's diner, improving his cooking skill while learning new recipes. Eventually he found himself a small apartment nearby and as he settled into his new life, others started taking notice of him. Soon he suddenly himself working at the bakery, then at the ramen shop, then the wet market, the super market, convenience store, the bar down the street, and so on and so forth as his name started becoming synonymous with "helping-hand" among the local shop owners.
He learned a lot working in different places but always came back to the little family diner, helping the Kimura's whenever he can and as much as he can. They started to treat him like part of the family as time passed and Bishop was happy and at peace for the first time since Calamity. He didn't have to worry about demons, he slept well, ate well, laughed, smiled, and celebrated life everyday but something always felt off to him. It was a small lingering feeling, an ember of a dying fire, that nudged at him before he slept but he could never figure out what it was. Five years had passed in a blink of an eye and Bishop's life was never brighter, though a shadow would pass over him again as the Japanese government had approached him.
They informed him that they knew of his existence since her settled there five years ago and had left him alone since had no intention of revealing himself but, the situation had changed. A yakuza group that was silent had suddenly been more aggressive and there were signs of demons among their ranks but before they could tell him more, Bishop refused them. He knew they were there to ask for his cooperation but he said he left that life behind, that has a chef and handyman, nothing more. The government agents, aware what would happen if they proceeded any further, left and he left for work. The shadow over head however, hadn't passed as Bishop headed to the street where the diner was only to find a lesser demon terrorizing the residents.
Bishop was paralyzed out of fear, not at the demon, but the years of training and missions as an operative came rushing back and fighting with his desire to live a normal and happy life. His memories flashed before his eyes as attack patterns and strategies ran through his mind while his heart told him to run like the rest, hide and wait for the soldiers to come, but when Natsumi's scream cut across the raging noise in his head Bishop snapped back to reality to see the demon making it's way to her. He sprinted and tackled the demon, wrestling it to the ground but before he could use his powers to kill it the soldiers had arrived on time to do that for him.
The people cheered and cried in relief at the sight of their protectors, the Kimura's commending him for his bravery and saving their daughter, but Bishop felt the familiar rage swelling up in him. Street and the respective shops and stalls were closed for the day and Bishop went home to mull over his conflicting feelings. He understood then what was off about his life, while it was certainly one that he deserves he knows he cannot live peacefully while demons were still around. Tokyo was safe but there was a threat coming, a threat he chose to ignore that morning and nearly paid by the life of another. He took hold of his rage and sorrow as he steeled his heart and donned the familiar uniform.
It didn't take him long to find the yakuza that housed demons, their manor was drenched with their malice, but before he attacked Bishop left letters of goodbye to each of the Kimuras to thank them for their kindness and giving him a reason to continue living. That night Bishop drew Queen's sword and decimated the yakuza and every demon they were hiding. He then went further beyond to trace how they got the demons in, a mole in the army, and killed them too. The government wasn't far behind and before the sun rose, the manor was cleaned up and the death of the mole was prepared. He saved a city, but more importantly, he saved the lives of those he cared for. Bishop left Tokyo that night, refusing the Japanese government's offer to become their agent, deciding to become a free agent though he'll only do jobs that fit with his terms.
In two years Bishop's had become a notable figure in the underworld and everyone who was anyone knew his name and knew that death always followed in suit. He stayed mobile, never lingering in one city for too long but always doing everything he can in the situations and adventures he found himself in. One such situation had him travelling with a group of refugees heading towards New Strasbourg from Domrémy-la-Pucelle, the new capital of France. He wasn't hired but he was easily the most capable fighter in a group so he took volunteered to help keep them safe as they made the trip via land. The group was poor and everyone who was helping either had their own agenda, doing it voluntarily, or had family.
As they reached the half way mark, the convoy was attacked on two fronts, harpies from the sky and ghouls from a nearby forest. Things were looking bleak for the defenseless people, some militia men had already cut and run to save themselves, but then the strangest thing had happened. Bishop's katana let out a gentle ring, like a chime, before glowing with a faint white light that made the ghouls hiss and growl in pain as its glow touched them. At the same time, the wind seemed to gather around and with each swing, they followed the blade as light and gust rent the harpies and ghouls asunder and before he knew it the fight was over and the sword went quiet.
Bishop was hailed and praised as a hero, much to his chagrin, and the remainder of the trek continued without a hitch but he was bothered by what had happened to his sword. He had known the sword was not normal but he didn't expect it to do what it did, and after checking the condition of the sword he found the Japanese character for 'Heaven' engraved on the tang which was not there before. His curiosity piqued, Bishop quickly set out to find answers about the swords origin, how Queen came to posses it, and why she left it to him.
The obvious place to look was in Japan but he had no idea where to even start, though after much debating with himself he ended up going there anyway. The only clue he had was the character on the blade and it was still not much to go on, but the sword would be the least of his problems. Upon arriving at Kobe, Bishop was immediately being tracked by two groups, the government and the yakuza. Regardless of why the two groups tailing him Bishop proceeded to look for clues about the sword, reaching out to his resources in the Japanese underworld about weapons or recovered awakened relics.
His search yielded only one item, a report about a foothold that the JSDF had managed to set up and defend in Kyoto after they noticed a spot where the demons did not go. This was a year ago and while the nature of the information amazed Bishop on it's own, it also meant he had a chance to get into one of the oldest cities in Japan. This information wasn't made public as a good percentage of a the population believe that Kyoto should just be left alone and any attack would cause outrage among the demons causing them to actively attack.
However if there was a clue about the sword to be found it would be there, but getting there would prove to be a challenge because of the government monitoring him and there was no way they were going to let him near a base that important. He had to find a way to get passed their defenses and into Kyoto but it seemed impossible, even when he was able to get his hands on the blue prints and specs of the base, it was impossible with his lack of gear.
An idea eventually came to him and he himself thought it to be a terrible plan, he let himself get arrested and imprisoned by the government to get close and offer his aid in taking back Kyoto - at least until he got what he wanted. Fortunately, he had the perfect way to get the governments attention while also relieving some stress so after attacking the government agents who were tagging him Bishop was quickly arrested and imprisoned at Fuchu prison in Tokyo. Once in prison Bishop was thrown into solitary and left there for a week with heavily armed and armored guards and a turret tracking his every move.
When he finally met with PSIA agents, a woman named Uehara Hotaru and a man Oda Masanori, they already had an idea that he wanted something - thus began the negotiations. They demanded the reason for his actions and why he went to such lengths but only revealed that he caught wind of the Kyoto base and that he wanted a chance to simply strike back at the demons. They didn't buy what he was selling but they left it alone, but when his sword came up Bishop was surprised even further. The agents revealed that no one could draw the blade, even when they used magic it would not budge, and they asked him to take apart the sword. He hesitated but agreed knowing that their reaction would serve as a hint as well although when he drew the blade and revealed the tang, the heaven character was gone. He hid his surprise well and the PSIA agents left to relay their conversation to their superiors and once alone, Bishop was once again plagued with questions about the sword and Queen.
The two agents returned a week later and immediately took him from solitary and gave him back his weapons and placed a brace on his arm to serve as a tracker if he tries to run. It will also inject him with one of two poisons should he try something, one that will neutralize him and the other will kill him. He was taken immediately to the Kyoto base while informing him of a situation, a siege by the demons that's been ongoing for two days and nights and they want him to break the stalemate. The task was easy enough to complete and was immediately placed in solitary after, and this marked his temporary alliance with the PSIA.
Over the course of eight months, Bishop was dragged in and out of solitary to fight and each time he earned himself some freedom and trust within the prison. Soon enough he was living comfortably in his hotel-like concrete and glass cell. They even trust him enough so that they let him out when to help whenever there was a riot or break out, though they still put the brace on him whenever he was taken outside the facility. The only thing that frustrated him was his investigation into the sword. The demons in Kyoto seemed to recognize and either fear and hate it but he couldn't get enough time to speak to one to ask - not that any of them were really willing to talk. That is save one demon who's been a thorn in his side. The demon was called Shuten-doji, an oni lord of Japanese folklore, only this demon seemed willing to speak but Bishop knew that getting an audience would mean a fight to the death. A deadly game proceeded and each clash between him and Shuten always ended in a draw, either because of some interruption or Bishop's captors pulling on his leash leading to the onis escape. The latter always angered him but more than that, he grew suspicious of the reason why they didn't want him pursuing Shuten-doji.
One year finally passed since he had been in captivity and Bishop feels like he had only taken a single step forward in finding the truth about the sword, until one mission on New Year's Eve. Demons had somehow managed to sneak into Tokyo and are responsible for a serial kidnapping and murder case, and Bishop was tasked with finding and eliminating these demons. It didn't end there as he was given a partner, Japan's number one demon hunter Murakami Asuka and heiress to the Murakami Enterprises, to make sure that he gets the job done and doesn't do anything untowards. Bishop went about the mission as told with Asuka keeping a close eye on him however, after a while he began to feel like her she was watching him a little too much, despite the few words she said to him, and he could never shake this feeling for the few hours they were working together. It wasn't until Bishop had cornered and subjugated the demon that Asuka finally asked him if he knew Eric Mercer.
Bishop was shocked to hear his father's name from her lips with his reaction giving her all the answer, and much like when he tries to chase down Shuten-doji, he restrained before he could get anything out of her. Days passed and Bishop was even more irritated as he sat in his cell but eventually he was taken out and restrained, more than usual, and was taken to Tokyo instead of the Kyoto battlefield - much to his surprise. He was taken specifically to the Murakami Enterprises building and taken to the office of it's CEO and current patriach of the Murakami family, Murakami Rentaro.
Rentaro ordered for Bishop to be unrestrained and treated as a guest while there, in fact, it was just him and Rentaro in his office. While Rentaro tried to start the conversation amicably Bishop was in no mood and got straight to the heart of the matter, asking him why he's there and how did his daughter know his father's name. Getting straight to the point, Rentaro revealed that he and his father were long time friends and business partners for a time, but they had a falling out when Bishop was just a baby and never managed to fix it much to Rentaro's dismay. When the Calamity started and the Murakami's gained a lot of power, he tried to find Eric and his family but ultimately failed and assumed he died until Asuka had found someone who bore a striking resemblance to his dear friend. Rentaro spoke a lot about Eric to Bishop and learned alot about his father, bringing up old pains and new joys in equal measure.
Their conversation was long and mundane by Bishop's standard, speaking of how his parents died and his life to that point, but he felt like somethings were resolved in his heart. When it came time for him to be taken away, Rentaro parted saying that he'll make some arrangements to meet Bishop again because there was something else he had to say. Two days later, Masanori and Hotaru angrily and reluctantly released Bishop from their custody to Rentaro, who had pulled some strings to get that to happen. There was a condition that Bishop is closely monitored by the Murakami family, and they did this by housing him in the Murakami manor and Rentaro took it a step further by adopting him into the family.
He was given the name Murakami Seijuro on paper, and was registered as part of the Murakami's private military company, Kagutsuchi, as a special agent. When pressed by Bishop why he went so far, Rentaro said its partially a way apologize and make things up to Eric, but it also had to do with Bishop's sword. Rentaro took Bishop deep inside the hidden section of Murakami's R&D division which he monitors very closely, and there he revealed the truth about the sword to him. Bishop learned that his katana is a fragment of the Kusanagi, the real one, and that sometime in the past before the Calamity, it had fallen apart from lack of magical power being fed into it and a suitable master. He showed Bishop that the some of the other fragments were being kept by them and that there were a total five fragments, three were found by the Murakami's, one being kept somewhere in Kyoto, and the last with Bishop. Rentaro believes that since Bishop was chose by one fragment to be its master then he may be able to reforge it, though he must prove to the other pieces that he is worthy.
Realizing how much power was in his hands now, Bishop agreed and became the adoptive son of Rentaro, though he still used the name Bishop rather than his adoptive name. He still had many questions, but with the shackles gone and reliable allies on his side, he pursued the answers to his remaining questions with renewed vigor and hope while learning how to become worthy of the Kusanagi. Two years would pass since his adoption and Bishop became a reliable if not unpredictable addition to the Kagutsuchi and in command of his own team. On the front with Kusanagi and finding more about Queen's past barely any progress was made. He knows the fragments are testing him constantly and some are in favor while others are indifferent much to his frustration. He did manage to confirm where the last fragment is, but it's being closely guarded by Izanami herself. As for Queen, he know that Shuten-doji has that answer, but getting him to reveal anything is more than a challenge.
Nickname: Sam, Sammy, BISHOP
Age - 37(Actual), 23 (Physical)
Birth: December 12 1999
Background:
Samuel Joseph Mercer grew up in a middle-class family Queens, New York. His father, Eric Mercer, was a businessman and his mother, Charlotte Mercer, was a housewife. He wasn't the most spectacular kid growing up in fact he was very passive and weak minded as a child, then grew up to very pugnacious which was a constant frustration for his perfectionist and controlling mother. In school he was the target of bullying and didn't have a lot of friends but this quickly changed and those confrontations usually resulted in a fight, getting him suspended from school a few times, although he never bullied others including his own tormentors.
His situation at home wasn't terrible but not great either. His father was distant and quiet, often more interested in watching television or working. He would also drink heavily whenever work didn't come his way, and this upset Sam's mother and him to a degree since his father wouldn't remember most of the conversations they have. His relationship with his mother was also strained as she constantly lectured and scolded him for his short comings since he was young, sometimes even going so far that she would hit him. She would compare him to how she was at his age and always micro-managed his life and this served to infuriate him which would lead to arguments between the two. He would sometimes go out of his way to disobey her out just to make her mad or avoid her all together.
To add to this, his parents were like cats and dogs. Rarely getting along and leaving him feeling alone, and these isolated moments caused him stress and triggered paranoia making him believe that they were fighting because of him. He distanced himself from his parents and built walls around himself, making him a loner. Despite all their flaws he still loved his parents who did try their best to raise him with what little they had. They showered him all the love and affection they had, although a bit awkward in execution. He still kept his interactions with them brief or layered with caution and hesitation, though this would only cause him pain later on in life.
This was his life before 2012. Troubled, not always easy or peaceful but normal. On his 13th birthday, moon turned red and filled the sky with evil light as demons came out from the shadows and drove mankind to near extinction. Hell had come.
Sam saw his childhood home get torn to shreds, and the city he lived in burned in a matter of hours. He saw people get torn to pieces, eaten; blood and guts splattered everywhere he looked as they ran. They ran, hid and fought for days, sometimes joining up with groups only to see them die one after the other in horrible ways. Things seemed hopeless but eventually word reached them that the military had finally gotten a success foothold in the city with the aid of an unlikely ally. The mage society had come out of hiding to fight against the hordes of hell though they still had a lot to do.
By some stroke of luck, the Mercer family managed to make contact the military, and after a day in quarantine were on an escorted convoy to Washington D.C., possibly the last standing city in the east coast. The trip was short and the Mercer family made it to the capital and secured themselves a small space in the refugee center near the barrier wall.
Life in the capital wasn’t pleasant, but they were alive. Fresh food was scarce along with clothing and medicine, but the latter wasn’t too much of an issue with magic around but that luxury was mostly reserved for the soldiers. What made things really stressful were the demon attacks which had become a daily occurrence with a few dozen people disappearing after every attack. Some were close to the Mercers and with each lost soul Samuel grew more and more frustrated.
He held a great hatred for the demons for taking away his home, his friends, for turning the world on its head and making them suffer. He raged over how they were looked down on, how the demons took pleasure in their grief, how they drove them into a corner. He wanted to fight and take back their world, but his parents didn't approve of his intentions.
Sam pleaded with them to let him go, he reasoned that he’ll just be enrolled into the Military Academy and won’t even see combat until he turns 16. He'll be trained, taught, given the best equipment – magictech - and he won't be alone but still, they forbade it. They even refused to even speak of the matter and this caused friction between him and them, but this didn’t stop him. That night he snuck out of their apartment to enlist in the army and swore that he wouldn't die, that he would come back to his parents a hero. At least that's what he hoped.
That night, before Samuel could even reach the academy, demons managed to break a portion of the defensive wall which was close to his home. He rushed back to save his parents but, he was greeted by the sight of his home ablaze. The military responded as quickly as they could and successfully subjugated the demons however, there were unfortunately no survivors.
Samuel buried his parents with his own hands that night. He was 14 at the time.
Following the attack Samuel enlisted in the academy. He spent the next two years under intense training, resting only when necessary and pushing himself well past his limits. While he tried his best to keep to himself and focus on his training, Samuel met Kylie Crest and Matt Peterson two survivors from the same demon attack that claimed his parents. He grew close to the two, often competing with them during training, trading stories at night, and sharing the grief of losing their family.
He rose to be the top of his class and upon graduation was assigned to a special unit for the top-ranking cadets alongside his best friends. This unit gave them the chance to choose which division they wanted to join once they came of age. There was the Griffon's Talon Force which specialized in the elimination of demons from an area, the Wings of Mercy which sent medical aid wherever needed, the Eagle Eyes that scouted and patrolled the area, Guard Hounds which is the city defense force, and the Cornerstones which specialized in reclaiming demon infested lands and rebuilding.
Samuel aimed for the Griffon's Talon while Kylie and Matt worked towards the Cornerstones and Wings of Mercy respectively, however while their goals were different the three always worked with each other. They volunteered the same missions, the same unit, and always had each other’s back. Eventually they each turned 18 and were due join a division however, tragedy struck on their way back from a mission in New York.
Their unit, alongside other marines and soldiers was attacked by a large fire demon along with its followers and familiars and decimated the unit. The remaining units huddled together to secure an evacuation point but Samuel, Kylie, and Matt were separated from the group. To make things worse Kylie was seriously injured and with Matt tending to Kylie, Samuel was forced to do most of the fighting. Fear took root in Samuel's heart and nerves as he led the two through the dark shadowy streets, each shade bearing a face with fangs and claws just waiting to dig into their flesh. He hated it, he hated the situation they were in, but most of all he hated feeling like the small boy that ran away from them all those years ago. He clung on to that anger to steel himself and it proved sufficient as they neared their destination although they were still far from safe.
Their path was blocked by a collapsed building with paths wide enough for people to get through, but not accessible enough to let Kylie traverse it easily. The three were forced to split up, temporarily and Samuel went ahead to check the situation to see if he could get back up while Matt and Kylie hid. Navigating the ruins was not difficult for Samuel but the sight that greeted him on the other side made him lurch.
He saw the remaining soldiers being sacrificed to the fire demon in different sadistic ways. They were beheaded, burned alive, tortured in different ways all for the demon’s amusement. The ones who died quickly were the lucky ones from what Samuel saw. He watched as the group was slowly decimated and toyed with, his gut twisting with agony with each life taken and with a heavy heart, made his way back to his friends amidst the sound of death filling his head. He thought about his life as walked back, about his home, his friends, his parents, the life he lived up to that point, and with a deep breath found resolve; not to accept death but to fight against it.
Rage swelled in his chest as memories and dark predictions came forward in his mind. He did not accept this twisted reality and sought to make one of his own, one that had dozens of demon corpses laid beneath his feet, and to achieve this he had to be prepared to lose many things, things that he can never take back.
Against Matt's wishes Samuel forced Kylie to make the trip back to base. He would find them a safe spot before going on ahead to scout and kill whatever wandered close by. His first kill was a minor demon that was searching for stragglers and something to eat. It caught wind of the scent of Kylie’s blood and tracked them down but, Samuel caught it by surprise and took it down. The demon was dispatched quickly but the fight had drawn the attention of a couple more demons which Samuel had also dispatched, though with a lot more trouble than he’d like.
He continued to guide his friends through the ruined city while scouting ahead and carefully assassinating demons they encountered and with every demon he killed, Samuel refined his technique. He first took advantage of loners and struck when they were vulnerable or distracted but soon after, he started to fight them in pairs, then groups, dispatching them with relative ease unaware of the change happening in his body.
He became stronger, faster, more agile, more durable, and more aware of his surroundings than ever before. He felt unstoppable, almost like he was flying as he became bolder with his actions and even able to physically overpower other demons then killing them with a knife or whatever object he could find, he even found medicine Matt could use to treat Kylie along the way though she was still in no condition to fight. Samuel was drenched in the blood of demons and the foul liquid oozed into his body and soul turning him into something not quite a demon, but no longer human.
It took some time but Samuel managed to get them out of the city limits and rescued by a scouting party who immediately took them to a secure location however, Samuel’s troubles did not end there. He was drugged midway and when next he awoke he found himself in a padded cell, bound at the wrist with heavy cuffs, no windows, his friends nowhere in sight, and a single camera watching him. There was a door with no knob but with a little slot in the middle for food which came three times a day and is always serving the same thing.
He never saw who served him the food, not for lack of trying, but whenever he tried the shackles around his wrists would send bolts of electricity to paralyze him until the person serving was in the clear. After his first few tries Samuel became docile and waited patiently for something to change and after what felt like a week the door opened and he was assaulted and restrained by a group of heavily armed soldiers. When next he came to, he was strapped to a chair in an interrogation room with a lady armed with a katana.
He anxiously stared at her while she studied him the same way a person would study a wild animal and when she finally spoke, he didn’t like what she had to say. She introduced herself as Queen, an agent for the government, and she knew everything about him. His history in the academy, records as a soldier, his reason for enlisting, and his life before the Calamity, she had it all. She went on to explain that since he returned from New York City a week ago he had been tagged as a threat to humanity that had to be removed with extreme prejudice and that the only reason he wasn’t killed on sight was solely because of her intervention.
She explained that his actions to escape the city caused his body to change and that while he may not be a demon, he was no longer a normal human being. His enhanced physical traits were more than enough proof of that, after all a human being able to overpower demons was unheard of and it was because of this that he was seen as a danger to others. No one knew what he was capable of or he could even turn others into whatever he was, and it was here that she gave him a choice. To die, then and there by her hand, or live by working for the save division she comes from but at the cost of his existence and the lives of his friends.
Samuel was angered by this and, fuelled by this rage, broke free from his bonds and attacked Queen but was easily overpowered. She pinned him to the ground with lightning fast movements and put the blade to his throat with a pleased smile on her face. “You passed.” She said as she eased off of him and then gestured to his binds which were enchanted to be able to restrain a goliath class demon and he managed to break them. She further explained that everything since he returned to Washington was a test to see if he would be useful and that he’d only be imprisoned if he failed.
As for his friends, she said they were checked in to their medical facility for observation and treatment and she could take him to see them if he wanted, but only if he agreed to follow her after. Unfortunately, it would also be the last time he’d be allowed to see them or interact with society and refusing meant death. He agreed, and they were off to see his friends one last time.
Matt and Kylie were relieved to see him alive and well just as he was to see them, and with their ordeal finally behind them, the trio broke down into tears as they let go of their fear and anxiety. They talked for hours, reminiscing about the comrades they lost that night, before Samuel told them that after that day he can’t be with them anymore.
When pressed for answers he simply told them that he had changed in a way he can’t figure out and that there was somewhere he can go that can help him but, there was no promise they’ll ever see each other again. Samuel left with Queen once they said their goodbyes and his heart earned a few more cracks but he knew it was for the best.
Samuel was quickly taken to a facility a little outside the city walls and hidden by illusion magitech. The facility was bigger than he thought, a little over a quarter the size of an army base and the soldiers stationed there were better equipped. Once inside he noticed the amount of people in lab coats whispering to each other as he and Queen walked by, all of them seemed to have eyes on him. Queen brought him to a large meeting room where a single well-dressed man was waiting for them, immediately asking Samuel to take a seat near him while Queen sat across. The man introduced himself as Director Francis Apollo of the Strategic Threat Reconnaissance and Intervention for Key Emergencies, or S.T.R.I.K.E, a special government division tasked with studying and subduing or eliminating critical threats to mankind while developing weapons to counter them and all future threats.
One of their initiatives is to find individuals who have, or attained some special ability in these chaotic times regardless of the origin or nature of these abilities and train them to be operatives. These operatives are given missions that are impossible to complete by normal humans and are expected to succeed. Failure entails the government will disavow their existence and will most likely lead to death. Director Apollo continued to state that operatives of S.T.R.I.K.E are removed from any and all government records and given a new identity, one that only exists within their division.
Samuel asked what would become of his friends upon hearing this but Apollo assured him that they will not be harmed. They were soldiers as well so when they find out Samuel’s existence was removed, they should be smart enough to know to stay quiet, he said. Before their discussion ended, Samuel asked why they took an interest in him. Outside of being stronger than lesser demons, he doesn’t think he’s that special. Queen handed him a tablet and showed him a clip they have of him assassinating various demons and he was shocked. His body seemed to turn into a shadow for a moment before reshaping back into himself as he struck.
The footage was recorded by another one of their operatives who tracked them all the way back to D.C, disposing of demons that were a bit too much for Samuel to handle at the time, but it was because of his ability that they felt him a perfect match for their division. After getting answers to a few more questions Samuel was ready and set to become a member of S.T.R.I.K.E but, he first had to meet the team and get his new identity.
Queen, who was revealed to be the captain of their team and his commanding officer, took him to meet the other members who gave him excited and apathetic greetings alike. There was Knight, the close-quarters combat specialist and she possesses the powers of a Valkyrie. Chevalier, Knight’s partner and weapons and demolition specialist, he possessed a magical sentient weapon called a Tyrfing. Rook, the sniper, can commune directly with spirits. She was the one who tracked Samuel, was closest to his age, and disliked him the most at the start but eventually grew fond of him. Tower was a brilliant and capable alchemist, engineer, hacker, and wizard. Then finally there was Queen, a half demon called an Oni. They followed a chess inspired naming for their call signs, and Samuel would receive the call sign Bishop.
Given the nature of his powers the task of training him fell to Queen, with Knight sometimes stepping in as a sparring partner. She built up on the training he received in the academy, adjusting the sessions as Bishop grew into his powers and got used to his new-found physical prowess. Training with her was rough on him and usually ended with him being knocked out or passing out from the pain, then receiving a cold douse of water to wake him up and starting all over again.
She taught him various martial arts, and while his CQC training was above par, she believed that by mastering several other arts he could develop a style all of his own. She taught him karate, ninjutsu, judo, tiger, monkey, crane, and snake kung-fu, kick boxing, krav maga, eskrima, and kendo. The latter being the one she was particularly strict with. While she was incredibly demanding as a trainer Queen was very gentle and caring with Bishop outside of training and missions, often inviting him to eat together and doting on him like a big sister. He found her incredibly overbearing and annoying at first however he eventually started to warm up to her and treated her like she was his sister, bonding and spending a lot of time together. It was in this time that she taught him to read and write Japanese and got him interested in cooking, a hobby he took a great liking to and fostered which eventually made him the designated team chef.
After a few months Bishop’s powers settled and he gained the ability to transform into animals. He favored birds; particularly the Eagle Owl and he spent a good portion of his free time outside of training to mastering this ability. He could eventually shift between his human and owl form at will solidifying his role in the team as their scout. Another power which surfaced was his manipulation of all known magical elements, which he uses by creating kunai like feathers and imbuing them with the element. He also often took the roll of assassin in more shadowy operations. Bishop’s life in S.T.R.I.K.E was not the best, but certainly not the worst.
He and his unit would travel the world and aid in critical missions, save stranded refugees in demon hotspots, become heroes to people who needed it all while remaining totally hidden. They were even responsible for saving entire cities, developing weapons that turned the tide of the war, and tragedies that would plunge mankind into despair. As an operative, Bishop grew to be one of the units most active members but, this meant he was constantly put into dangerous situations, sometimes alone. He was given assignation assignments that were questionable, even for their group, which made him uncomfortable. His targets were human rebel leaders, smugglers trafficking goods to poorer countries, people who were forced to do illegal acts to save the lives of others. He was chosen for this because of his willingness to do anything for the "good of humanity".
These missions made his skin crawl and stomach churn however he carried them out anyway all the while telling himself it was the preservation of all and any disorder, no matter how honorable, would upset the delicate balance humanity had.
Bishop served as an agent of S.T.R.I.K.E for seven years and earned his name in the world of espionage as an assassin. He grew close to his teammates, even earning Rooks respect, friendship, and trust. He even mentored their newest member, a werewolf codenamed Cardinal who arrived three years after him, with the aid Knight and Rook but even with a protégée of his own Bishop was still closest to Queen. They formed a tight familial bond where they kept no secrets and they knew how the other thought in any situation. She even told him her real name, Hikari Miyamoto, and learned of her story, how she became a demon, and how he reminded her of her little brother, Hikaru, who during the calamity. She also heavily punished him greatly for the shadowy missions he took, telling him that she believes him to be best out of all of them, and was able to get him out of doing those kinds of missions. This only strengthened their bond and motivated him to become better.
At the age of 24, in Austria, their team was assigned to rescue a group of researchers who stumbled upon a way to kill Fenrir, the wolf of Ragnarok. They had supposedly found the sword of Vidar who killed the wolf in Norse legend. The researchers were hunted down by followers of Fenrir and were chased all the way to the ruined city of Salzburg where they were finally able to send a distress message out however, when Bishop and his team finally arrived they found all the researchers and their convoy killed. As for the sword, it was taken and the data destroyed but that wasn’t the end of it. A loud and haunting sound echoed across the sky, Fenrir was close-by and so were his followers.
The team found themselves surrounded and as Fenrir’s head poked over the horizon, they knew something was terribly wrong. No one should know they were there, not even the researchers would have known, and it was here that Tower revealed his betrayal. He was a member of Fenrir’s followers and it was his plan to lure their team there and be offered to Fenrir as a sacrifice. The fight for survival was on as they raced against the demon wolf and the cultist, trying their best to escape but the entire city was booby trapped and their foes were armed to fight them.
This fight was not theirs to win and the first to fall was Chevalier, who sacrificed himself to help them escape the city. His sacrifice bought them a bit of time, but their small glimmer of hope was taken away as more cultists had appeared to give chase. Knight and Cardinal were next to go, partnering up once again as a giant mutated werewolf cornered their team. It was only Bishop, Queen, and Rook who were left to escape into the Austrian mountains but they were met with snipers hidden in the rocks and snow. Rook stepped up and took them out but in a moment of carelessness, Rook was shot through the stomach by one of the dying snipers. Rook died in Bishop’s arms, her last words telling them to live.
With their group trimmed down to just him and Queen, hiding from the cultist and sneaking by was easier, but the threat of Fenrir being relatively nearby loomed over their heads like a guillotine but Bishop was motivated and angry. He saw his entire team, his family, killed before his eyes and even with all his skill and power he couldn’t save them. The anger he felt from the time in New York came rushing back and he believed it would be this anger that would help him and Queen. But he was wrong. Tower had prepared for this as he appeared before the two of them with an army of cultists, and Bishop’s rage blinded him and Queen paid the price. She took a fatal blow for him as he charged to kill Tower, and Bishop’s rage iced over with dread and despair.
In this moment, Queen gave Bishop her last orders. Live. Leave the underworld and live the life he deserves. She gave him her katana and kissed him on the brow before using the last of her strength to cause an avalanche then launching Bishop into the air as the snow buried her and the cultists. When the snow had settled Bishop searched for Queen, praying and hoping she survived but as Fenrir’s howl cut across the sky he was forced to leave.
He flew and flew, stopping only to catch his breath, and before he knew it he couldn’t fly anymore. He collapsed on the ground, tired, hungry, his body in excruciating pain, but most painful of all he was in despair. Once again, his life was ripped apart and he couldn’t do anything to stop it and he had lost another family. When Bishop came to, he was unsure where he was or when he even passed out but he knew he wasn't alone. A scavenger and his dog had stumbled upon Bishop while they were looking for a place to make camp. He told Bishop he was in the ruins of the Vatican in Rome, Italy which he had a hard time believing at first but, after studying the surroundings he eventually had to take it as fact.
The scavenger, Damian, told Bishop to rest as his wounds weren't healed and he was still fatigued, though when pressed about how unsafe it is being outside Damian said that demons avoid the Vatican for some reason. He suspects that there's some buried holy relic still hidden there and that's whats keeping them away, and he aims to find it. Bishop listened to his ramblings and interacting very little with him while his despair clung to his core making time melt away as Damian's voice slowly drowned out his senses. A few hours later Bishop was well enough to move although by this time, Damian and his dog had fallen asleep and he was in no condition to wander through a ruined city.
At dawn Damian guided Bishop through the city, the latter pondering why he even bothered trying to leave which was something the scavenger didn't overlook. He asked what Bishop was going to do once they reached the outskirts to which he replied "I don't know". All he knew was the last request of Queen telling him to live which he didn't know how to do outside of fighting, he even pondered just committing suicide, however, Damian had an answer. He told him go out into the world, no orders, no guide, no plan, just to follow his gut. That's how he lived as a scavenger and even while he had little, he had life and something to look forward to every sunrise even in their dark world.
The words echoed in Bishop's soul, though he had his doubts and had no reason to even believe a stranger, he decided to follow his advice. They parted ways and Bishop headed to Venice where, through underground channels via his connections, got on a smuggler boat whose destination was unknown to him. After months at sea and stopping at several places, defending the shop from pirates and demons alike, the ship stopped at Tokyo and something had taken a hold of Bishop making get off at that port.
He had been to Japan on several missions in the past but this was his first time actually stepping foot in Tokyo. The city was bright and large and he easily got lost in the crowded streets and bustling city life. He was awestruck by how normal the city was, as if the Calamity never struck it but the sight of the fortified and heavily armored wall always broke his immersion whenever it poked out in the skyline. Eventually Bishop grew hungry and stumbled upon a diner, the scent of food drawing him in and before he knew he was already eating. Unfortunately, when it came time to pay he had found he was pick pocketed and couldn't pay. While money was no object to him, the owners of the restaurant wouldn't let him go out and get some so instead they put him to work.
He was cleaning dishes, floors, and serving food with ease. He eventually was put to work in the kitchen when he instinctively cut up some vegetables in seconds, the chef taking a keen interest and immediately got him working even harder even though he had well paid for his meal. The work was tough and the chef even tougher but Bishop enjoyed it, and when it came time to close the family had invited him in for a meal. They introduced themselves as the Kimura's, the father Masahiro, the mother Yuka, the teenage daughter Natsumi, and the son Takumi. They were deeply interested in Bishop, asking one question after the other as they gave him food and alcohol. When they learned he didn't have a place to sleep they brought him to a bread and breakfast where he stayed for the night, but not before asking him if he wanted to come by again that night to help. He gave it some thought and accepted.
This was the start of a new life for him, not as Samuel Mercer or Agent Bishop, but as a new man. He went by the name "Joe" as he worked at the Kimura's diner, improving his cooking skill while learning new recipes. Eventually he found himself a small apartment nearby and as he settled into his new life, others started taking notice of him. Soon he suddenly himself working at the bakery, then at the ramen shop, then the wet market, the super market, convenience store, the bar down the street, and so on and so forth as his name started becoming synonymous with "helping-hand" among the local shop owners.
He learned a lot working in different places but always came back to the little family diner, helping the Kimura's whenever he can and as much as he can. They started to treat him like part of the family as time passed and Bishop was happy and at peace for the first time since Calamity. He didn't have to worry about demons, he slept well, ate well, laughed, smiled, and celebrated life everyday but something always felt off to him. It was a small lingering feeling, an ember of a dying fire, that nudged at him before he slept but he could never figure out what it was. Five years had passed in a blink of an eye and Bishop's life was never brighter, though a shadow would pass over him again as the Japanese government had approached him.
They informed him that they knew of his existence since her settled there five years ago and had left him alone since had no intention of revealing himself but, the situation had changed. A yakuza group that was silent had suddenly been more aggressive and there were signs of demons among their ranks but before they could tell him more, Bishop refused them. He knew they were there to ask for his cooperation but he said he left that life behind, that has a chef and handyman, nothing more. The government agents, aware what would happen if they proceeded any further, left and he left for work. The shadow over head however, hadn't passed as Bishop headed to the street where the diner was only to find a lesser demon terrorizing the residents.
Bishop was paralyzed out of fear, not at the demon, but the years of training and missions as an operative came rushing back and fighting with his desire to live a normal and happy life. His memories flashed before his eyes as attack patterns and strategies ran through his mind while his heart told him to run like the rest, hide and wait for the soldiers to come, but when Natsumi's scream cut across the raging noise in his head Bishop snapped back to reality to see the demon making it's way to her. He sprinted and tackled the demon, wrestling it to the ground but before he could use his powers to kill it the soldiers had arrived on time to do that for him.
The people cheered and cried in relief at the sight of their protectors, the Kimura's commending him for his bravery and saving their daughter, but Bishop felt the familiar rage swelling up in him. Street and the respective shops and stalls were closed for the day and Bishop went home to mull over his conflicting feelings. He understood then what was off about his life, while it was certainly one that he deserves he knows he cannot live peacefully while demons were still around. Tokyo was safe but there was a threat coming, a threat he chose to ignore that morning and nearly paid by the life of another. He took hold of his rage and sorrow as he steeled his heart and donned the familiar uniform.
It didn't take him long to find the yakuza that housed demons, their manor was drenched with their malice, but before he attacked Bishop left letters of goodbye to each of the Kimuras to thank them for their kindness and giving him a reason to continue living. That night Bishop drew Queen's sword and decimated the yakuza and every demon they were hiding. He then went further beyond to trace how they got the demons in, a mole in the army, and killed them too. The government wasn't far behind and before the sun rose, the manor was cleaned up and the death of the mole was prepared. He saved a city, but more importantly, he saved the lives of those he cared for. Bishop left Tokyo that night, refusing the Japanese government's offer to become their agent, deciding to become a free agent though he'll only do jobs that fit with his terms.
In two years Bishop's had become a notable figure in the underworld and everyone who was anyone knew his name and knew that death always followed in suit. He stayed mobile, never lingering in one city for too long but always doing everything he can in the situations and adventures he found himself in. One such situation had him travelling with a group of refugees heading towards New Strasbourg from Domrémy-la-Pucelle, the new capital of France. He wasn't hired but he was easily the most capable fighter in a group so he took volunteered to help keep them safe as they made the trip via land. The group was poor and everyone who was helping either had their own agenda, doing it voluntarily, or had family.
As they reached the half way mark, the convoy was attacked on two fronts, harpies from the sky and ghouls from a nearby forest. Things were looking bleak for the defenseless people, some militia men had already cut and run to save themselves, but then the strangest thing had happened. Bishop's katana let out a gentle ring, like a chime, before glowing with a faint white light that made the ghouls hiss and growl in pain as its glow touched them. At the same time, the wind seemed to gather around and with each swing, they followed the blade as light and gust rent the harpies and ghouls asunder and before he knew it the fight was over and the sword went quiet.
Bishop was hailed and praised as a hero, much to his chagrin, and the remainder of the trek continued without a hitch but he was bothered by what had happened to his sword. He had known the sword was not normal but he didn't expect it to do what it did, and after checking the condition of the sword he found the Japanese character for 'Heaven' engraved on the tang which was not there before. His curiosity piqued, Bishop quickly set out to find answers about the swords origin, how Queen came to posses it, and why she left it to him.
The obvious place to look was in Japan but he had no idea where to even start, though after much debating with himself he ended up going there anyway. The only clue he had was the character on the blade and it was still not much to go on, but the sword would be the least of his problems. Upon arriving at Kobe, Bishop was immediately being tracked by two groups, the government and the yakuza. Regardless of why the two groups tailing him Bishop proceeded to look for clues about the sword, reaching out to his resources in the Japanese underworld about weapons or recovered awakened relics.
His search yielded only one item, a report about a foothold that the JSDF had managed to set up and defend in Kyoto after they noticed a spot where the demons did not go. This was a year ago and while the nature of the information amazed Bishop on it's own, it also meant he had a chance to get into one of the oldest cities in Japan. This information wasn't made public as a good percentage of a the population believe that Kyoto should just be left alone and any attack would cause outrage among the demons causing them to actively attack.
However if there was a clue about the sword to be found it would be there, but getting there would prove to be a challenge because of the government monitoring him and there was no way they were going to let him near a base that important. He had to find a way to get passed their defenses and into Kyoto but it seemed impossible, even when he was able to get his hands on the blue prints and specs of the base, it was impossible with his lack of gear.
An idea eventually came to him and he himself thought it to be a terrible plan, he let himself get arrested and imprisoned by the government to get close and offer his aid in taking back Kyoto - at least until he got what he wanted. Fortunately, he had the perfect way to get the governments attention while also relieving some stress so after attacking the government agents who were tagging him Bishop was quickly arrested and imprisoned at Fuchu prison in Tokyo. Once in prison Bishop was thrown into solitary and left there for a week with heavily armed and armored guards and a turret tracking his every move.
When he finally met with PSIA agents, a woman named Uehara Hotaru and a man Oda Masanori, they already had an idea that he wanted something - thus began the negotiations. They demanded the reason for his actions and why he went to such lengths but only revealed that he caught wind of the Kyoto base and that he wanted a chance to simply strike back at the demons. They didn't buy what he was selling but they left it alone, but when his sword came up Bishop was surprised even further. The agents revealed that no one could draw the blade, even when they used magic it would not budge, and they asked him to take apart the sword. He hesitated but agreed knowing that their reaction would serve as a hint as well although when he drew the blade and revealed the tang, the heaven character was gone. He hid his surprise well and the PSIA agents left to relay their conversation to their superiors and once alone, Bishop was once again plagued with questions about the sword and Queen.
The two agents returned a week later and immediately took him from solitary and gave him back his weapons and placed a brace on his arm to serve as a tracker if he tries to run. It will also inject him with one of two poisons should he try something, one that will neutralize him and the other will kill him. He was taken immediately to the Kyoto base while informing him of a situation, a siege by the demons that's been ongoing for two days and nights and they want him to break the stalemate. The task was easy enough to complete and was immediately placed in solitary after, and this marked his temporary alliance with the PSIA.
Over the course of eight months, Bishop was dragged in and out of solitary to fight and each time he earned himself some freedom and trust within the prison. Soon enough he was living comfortably in his hotel-like concrete and glass cell. They even trust him enough so that they let him out when to help whenever there was a riot or break out, though they still put the brace on him whenever he was taken outside the facility. The only thing that frustrated him was his investigation into the sword. The demons in Kyoto seemed to recognize and either fear and hate it but he couldn't get enough time to speak to one to ask - not that any of them were really willing to talk. That is save one demon who's been a thorn in his side. The demon was called Shuten-doji, an oni lord of Japanese folklore, only this demon seemed willing to speak but Bishop knew that getting an audience would mean a fight to the death. A deadly game proceeded and each clash between him and Shuten always ended in a draw, either because of some interruption or Bishop's captors pulling on his leash leading to the onis escape. The latter always angered him but more than that, he grew suspicious of the reason why they didn't want him pursuing Shuten-doji.
One year finally passed since he had been in captivity and Bishop feels like he had only taken a single step forward in finding the truth about the sword, until one mission on New Year's Eve. Demons had somehow managed to sneak into Tokyo and are responsible for a serial kidnapping and murder case, and Bishop was tasked with finding and eliminating these demons. It didn't end there as he was given a partner, Japan's number one demon hunter Murakami Asuka and heiress to the Murakami Enterprises, to make sure that he gets the job done and doesn't do anything untowards. Bishop went about the mission as told with Asuka keeping a close eye on him however, after a while he began to feel like her she was watching him a little too much, despite the few words she said to him, and he could never shake this feeling for the few hours they were working together. It wasn't until Bishop had cornered and subjugated the demon that Asuka finally asked him if he knew Eric Mercer.
Bishop was shocked to hear his father's name from her lips with his reaction giving her all the answer, and much like when he tries to chase down Shuten-doji, he restrained before he could get anything out of her. Days passed and Bishop was even more irritated as he sat in his cell but eventually he was taken out and restrained, more than usual, and was taken to Tokyo instead of the Kyoto battlefield - much to his surprise. He was taken specifically to the Murakami Enterprises building and taken to the office of it's CEO and current patriach of the Murakami family, Murakami Rentaro.
Rentaro ordered for Bishop to be unrestrained and treated as a guest while there, in fact, it was just him and Rentaro in his office. While Rentaro tried to start the conversation amicably Bishop was in no mood and got straight to the heart of the matter, asking him why he's there and how did his daughter know his father's name. Getting straight to the point, Rentaro revealed that he and his father were long time friends and business partners for a time, but they had a falling out when Bishop was just a baby and never managed to fix it much to Rentaro's dismay. When the Calamity started and the Murakami's gained a lot of power, he tried to find Eric and his family but ultimately failed and assumed he died until Asuka had found someone who bore a striking resemblance to his dear friend. Rentaro spoke a lot about Eric to Bishop and learned alot about his father, bringing up old pains and new joys in equal measure.
Their conversation was long and mundane by Bishop's standard, speaking of how his parents died and his life to that point, but he felt like somethings were resolved in his heart. When it came time for him to be taken away, Rentaro parted saying that he'll make some arrangements to meet Bishop again because there was something else he had to say. Two days later, Masanori and Hotaru angrily and reluctantly released Bishop from their custody to Rentaro, who had pulled some strings to get that to happen. There was a condition that Bishop is closely monitored by the Murakami family, and they did this by housing him in the Murakami manor and Rentaro took it a step further by adopting him into the family.
He was given the name Murakami Seijuro on paper, and was registered as part of the Murakami's private military company, Kagutsuchi, as a special agent. When pressed by Bishop why he went so far, Rentaro said its partially a way apologize and make things up to Eric, but it also had to do with Bishop's sword. Rentaro took Bishop deep inside the hidden section of Murakami's R&D division which he monitors very closely, and there he revealed the truth about the sword to him. Bishop learned that his katana is a fragment of the Kusanagi, the real one, and that sometime in the past before the Calamity, it had fallen apart from lack of magical power being fed into it and a suitable master. He showed Bishop that the some of the other fragments were being kept by them and that there were a total five fragments, three were found by the Murakami's, one being kept somewhere in Kyoto, and the last with Bishop. Rentaro believes that since Bishop was chose by one fragment to be its master then he may be able to reforge it, though he must prove to the other pieces that he is worthy.
Realizing how much power was in his hands now, Bishop agreed and became the adoptive son of Rentaro, though he still used the name Bishop rather than his adoptive name. He still had many questions, but with the shackles gone and reliable allies on his side, he pursued the answers to his remaining questions with renewed vigor and hope while learning how to become worthy of the Kusanagi. Two years would pass since his adoption and Bishop became a reliable if not unpredictable addition to the Kagutsuchi and in command of his own team. On the front with Kusanagi and finding more about Queen's past barely any progress was made. He knows the fragments are testing him constantly and some are in favor while others are indifferent much to his frustration. He did manage to confirm where the last fragment is, but it's being closely guarded by Izanami herself. As for Queen, he know that Shuten-doji has that answer, but getting him to reveal anything is more than a challenge.