Vercci was an arms merchant located in what would eventually become Italy. He was renowned for his vast wealth and astounding array of wares. More than just common weaponry, exotic blades from the far east, swords of Damascus steel with finely wrought handles, and armors ranging from the standard to the nearly forgotten filled his inventory. He once boasted "There is nothing I do not own. Everything is within my grasp!" and, with one look at his vast riches, most would agree. But his greatest treasure was not gleaming steel or glittering gold. It was his right hand man: Voldo.

Voldo started as an unassuming young man from Palermo, but over many years he gained Vercci's trust. He was loyal, brave, and very driven going so far as to teach himself how to fight in order to better protect his master. While the outside world seemed to be burning down as his brothers were claimed in various wars, all was well in Vercci's sphere of influence. Voldo was gratefully devoted to the man whom he felt gave him everything. Voldo would do anything for Vercci. He truly loved his master.

But Vercci was not satisfied with his vast arsenal. When he heard of the legendary sword Soul Edge, he decided it belonged in his collection. Multiple men tried and failed to bring him the cursed blade. Success was finally within Vercci's grasp after he contracted the pirate Cervantes to collect the sword for him. Upon hearing that the sword had been finally captured, Vercci left his palatial estate bringing Voldo and a large cache of wealth and weapons with him.

While Vercci was gone the fires of war stoked into a blaze not even he could have predicted. His estate had been attacked. All of his men except for Voldo had been killed. His treasury was ransacked. His weapons and armor were commandeered. Everything was gone. Vercci was furious. He turned his back on his home country, deciding to retreat from the world to regroup. He sent Voldo along with most of his possessions to an uninhabited island off the coast of Sicily. Vercci instructed the sailors to build a deep vault compound to hold his wealth and serve as a home base. In secret, he also instructed Voldo to slaughter the sailors once construction was complete. This sanctuary would need to remain secret. Vercci himself decided to return to the mainland to finalize any remaining business dealings before retreating to his new home.

He did not return. Vercci was killed not long after reaching the mainland. His body was sent back with the last of his belongings. Upon finding his master dead, Voldo killed the remaining sailors before entombing both himself and his beloved master in the compound. There he stood quiet vigil in his master's memory, his final command to protect this place still ringing true years after Vercci's demise. He was a living ghost in a place forgotten by the world.

But nothing remains secret forever. Passing ships noted the island. Curious visitors stumbled upon the deep, vast vault filled with treasures. They also encountered a mysterious guardian, striking swift and true from the pitch darkness. They dubbed the place "The Money Pit" and warned each other that it was haunted. Despite the warnings, occasionally thieves attempted to plunder the riches within. The few that escaped were lucky to have made it out with their lives.

Voldo adapted to the deep silent darkness. His sight faded, but his other senses enhanced. Without even realizing it, he was also honing his innate ability to sense energies. Years spent alone wandering the twisted maze of treasures left him even more flexible than before as well. With nothing but time on his hands, he practiced new movements and incorporated them into his fighting style. Amid all of these adaptations, one thing did not change: his unwavering loyalty to his beloved master.

Voldo realized that one thing had been left undone. The final sword Vercci had purchased was still not in the collection. He needed to collect Soul Edge. And he needed to get it done before too many people learned about this place. He communed with his master's spirit. Upon getting Vercci's blessing, Voldo left, hoping to return with the missing treasure. And he thought he had it upon bringing home an unusually strong sword filled with peculiar energy. Voldo knew his master would be pleased. Yet why did his master say nothing? Voldo was puzzled. But first more pressing issues had to be dealt with. A storm had flooded the lower levels of the compound. He had to rescue the treasures and take everything to higher levels.

Beyond that, life continued as always in the quiet solitude until one day an unusual thief arrived. It was a woman with a very strong aura of darkness, brimming with strange energy. She showed no interest in the glittering treasures surrounding her. Instead, she went after a few bits of an old broken sword. Voldo fought her off just like all the others, then stopped to examine the pieces. They, too, contained a deep dark energy. How could he have overlooked this? The idea struck him at once: no wonder Vercci had said nothing! He brought in the wrong sword! He left the pieces behind for safekeeping, then followed her in hopes of securing Soul Edge. He roamed from country to country, listening to rumors and seeking traces of that deep dark energy. It was grueling, but he managed to eventually wrest the sword away from the hands of a cursed knight. Soul Edge was brought to it's true home, deep in the darkness where it belonged.

But all was not well when he returned. He had been gone longer than anticipated. Thieves had ransacked the compound. Voldo cried out in agony and sorrow; a wordless plea for forgiveness. It took years for Voldo to find and rescue the many lost treasures. As he scoured the land, a thought occurred to him. He would die eventually which would leave the island unprotected. He would need a successor. The object of his search shifted. Who could bear the weight of his duty? Who could understand the love and loyalty it entailed?

He found his answer in a peculiar place: a reptilian humanoid with the interesting ability to also sense energy. It's unclear how he convinced this peculiar pupil to follow him, but follow him he did. So Voldo triumphantly returned to the island with his protege in tow with the intention of training him. He knew his master approved of this and was very happy to get to work. Unfortunately this companionship did not last. His student secretly fled one night taking Soul Edge with him.

Voldo left once more to track down Soul Edge and return it to it's rightful place. By now he was rather used to the hunt. In fact, this time was oddly familiar. The cursed knight from many years ago had required Soul Edge and brought it back to his castle. Voldo snuck into the knight's castle as if protected by an unseen force and simply took the sword back while the knight slept! Upon reaching the sword, it began to whisper to him, trying to command him. Then Voldo finally heard his master's voice once more. "Don't be fooled!" Vercci warned him. And Voldo resisted the call of the cursed blade.

A living ghost stalks glittering hallways. The cursed sword, Soul Edge, will never be touched by human hands again as long as he keeps his cautious vigil.

Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.

- Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle

(As seen on Soul Calibur 3 promotional artwork)