The winds of the High Heavens screamed past as the vessel of Diablo splintered, the embers of his corpse spreading across the sky. Thousands of cries of joy burst through the tense silence. Weapons fell in rejoice, shields clattered on the ground as victorious fists reached up to the light, now piercing through the dark clouds above. Tyrael looked around him at the shattered towers of the Heavens, but saw new peace, new solace, and new life in the cracks.

“Justice,” A booming voice echoed through the chamber, Imperious marched over to his brother and extended a hand, “has been met today.” Shaking Imperious’ hand, Tyrael only nodded silently, a smile appearing on his face for the first time.

“Indeed, it has, though many lives were lost, the lives that were not can rest knowing they are safe.” The two turned to face the brilliant light now spanning across their home.

But in the dark, something sinister whispered…

“Your time in this realm is over, Terror Lord…” A hissing voice pierced his fading consciousness. “But you may yet serve a purpose.”

Black. Maddening black expanded for as far as he could see, further still. Pain, agony unlike anything he’d felt before coursed through Diablo’s reconstructing veins. His bellow echoed through cavernous expanse of darkness.

“Show yourself,” Diablo uttered, “so that I may rip your heart out!” He slashed at the air like a rabid animal.

“Calm yourself.” A cloaked figure materialized in front of him. A large scythe in hand, the figure glided towards Diablo. “I am the Grave Keeper. And this,” he waved his hand, presenting a dark, decrepit city to the Prime Evil, “is my domain.” The Dark Lord took a heavy breath, the pain now subsided.

“This is but one of the Ancient Realms pulled into the Nexus—”

“The Nexus?” Diablo interjected, his patience wearing thin. The Grave Keeper hobbled over to Diablo, his giant antlers swaying with each step. He raised his hand to Diablo’s brow. In an instant the Lord of Terror grasped the necromancer’s throat. Diablo neared the Grave Keeper’s face with a chuckling growl. As he squeezed to crush his neck, the Grave Keeper turned to ash and surrounded Diablo, reappearing behind him. He tapped his scythe’s tip against Diablo’s head and with a flash images of the Nexus rushed through Diablo’s mind. A shifting technological landscape, blurs of kingdoms, lush verdant lands, and battle-torn worlds all coming in overwhelming waves into his consciousness. As the Grave Keeper released him from this vision, Diablo collapsed onto his knees.

“You shall be my first champion, Diablo. A dark power resides in the Nexus, and that feeling deep in your spine,” Diablo eyes met the Grave Keeper’s abyssal hood, “fear. That is the first time you feel it, yes? Well that will be all you feel when the invasion begins.” Flames expanded around them, walls of fire erected in a circle around the two.

“I serve no one.” Higher, the flames howled and Diablo stomped closer to the Grave Keeper, “And I do not feel it,” he sneered, “I feast on fear. I will conquer this Nexus, and all its realms. Nothing will stand in my way.”

“Heh,” the laugh escaped the Grave Keeper, “so be it. In time you will see. There is a power here that even you, now in your most powerful form, cannot fight.” With a wave of his hand, the Grave Keeper opened a portal behind Diablo. With no hesitation or regard for the entity across from him, Diablo turned and marched through the portal.

“There is no power greater than mine.” Diablo proclaimed as he was transported far away.

“So easily manipulated. Will they all be this foolish?” The Grave Keeper laughed as his physical form began to dissipate. “No matter, with these champions I’ll crush that Raven Lord, and begin my conquest. The Singularity shall be mine.”