Futuristic An Agent of Maniacles

[mmarage]

The twins listened to Kotsu and looked down. "...Is... gaining power worth your soul though...?" 01 asked quietly. He... had a bad feeling about Kotsu trying to attain power that way. It was clearly taking a heavy toll on him mentally. He... saw himself as a demon.

02 crossed his arms. "We don't need protection, Kotsu. You know very well why. Besides, we're a team, we don't protect you, and you don't protect us. We protect each other. By constantly putting the blame on yourself, you'll just keep taking on more and more weight, you're just gonna get crushed by it." He chided, his expression quite stern as he looked at Kotsu.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Aria​

"You might feel like you become stronger, but is it worth the burden?" Aria pointed at the faces on Kotsu's horns.

"You might feel, 'yes, it's worth it', right now. But will you say the same for the next century? Next eon? We can live very long Kotsu, our sins will keep piling. At certain point we will try to make excuse for all of our sins.." Aria sighed. This topic was quite heavy one for her.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want you to become the next Alucard. When he was alive, I mean, when he still has a physical body, sometimes I can see faces of people, thousands of them, hiding in his shadow. Agony, vengeance, sadness, terror, betrayal." Aria shivered when she recalled about that.

"He enjoyed those screams now, but I'm sure far in the past he wasn't this wicked vampire he had become."

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu's demeanor shifted, and so did his form. His teeth had become sharp and his eyes red. He listened to what the twins said,

"...Is... gaining power worth your soul though...?" Kotsu knew what the answer was. He didn't have a soul already due to his curse. What was the harm? He said nothing though. "We don't need protection, Kotsu. You know very well why. Besides, we're a team, we don't protect you, and you don't protect us. We protect each other. By constantly putting the blame on yourself, you'll just keep taking on more and more weight, you're just gonna get crushed by it." He felt the judging gaze of his friends for his actions and the weight of his sins on his head. Aria was next to speak.

"You might feel like you become stronger, but is it worth the burden?" Aria had pointed at the cacophony of voices. The horns felt like possessed and animate laurels on Kotsu's head from his victories as hollow as they were. "You might feel, 'yes, it's worth it', right now. But will you say the same for the next century? Next eon? We can live very long Kotsu, our sins will keep piling. At certain point we will try to make excuse for all of our sins.." Kotsu never made an excuse. The nightmares kept him up. He knew the consequences of his actions. He needed power. Power at any cost to protect the people he loves. "Without strength and power, you can't protect the things you love." Kotsu pulled out his flask and drank from it offering Aria and the Joe's some. At least in the dream world, he wouldn't be running out of cigarettes and alcohol soon. "Let alone your own self." Kotsu said, with a almost the same face he made staring at Blue Owl's corpse. "I couldn't protect her. And I doubt she'll forgive me for my actions." Kotsu said sighing as Aria spoke again.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want you to become the next Alucard. When he was alive, I mean, when he still has a physical body, sometimes I can see faces of people, thousands of them, hiding in his shadow. Agony, vengeance, sadness, terror, betrayal." Kotsu made a sour face at the comparison between him and Alucard. "I'll never be like that. I want to protect you all. I'd never hurt you. And I for damn sure wouldn't almost break my kid's neck to look at me. Vampire or not, it's just wrong. You deserve better than that by drastic milestones, Aria." Kotsu looked offended genuinely, and sighed as he composed himself again. "I'm sorry. I get he's your Dad, but I'd sooner break his smug ass face in repeatedly before seeing him treat you like a dog again." Kotsu's red eyes flared at the mention and Kotsu's horns swirled swiftly as Kotsu thought how strong he would become if he could eat Alucard. It was a fleeting thought, but he thought better of it after. He'd probably taste terrible anyway. He saw Aria shiver and put his trench coat over her and listened to her speak.

"He enjoyed those screams now, but I'm sure far in the past he wasn't this wicked vampire he had become." Kotsu gazed down at the ground and opened his hands in front of his vision. Weighing the sin and the power he had found on this escapade he had gone on, Kotsu pondered a dark thought. Would his lust for power lead him down the same road? Could be truly become like Alucard over his long life? No. He had his friends to anchor him to the scraps of his humanity. He looked back at Aria. "I have you guys to keep me from becoming like that, but I understand what you're saying all the same. I'll stop it." Kotsu said, in a considerate manner. "I'll never be like he is. At least I have friends. He seems like a loser. At least you're cool though, Aria. You're the winner in the family lottery in that regard! No offense." Kotsu said while laughing calmly at first before it erupted into louder laughter after a couple minutes.

Spoiled Bread mmarage

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Aria​

Aria laugh weakly with Kotsu. She was glad to at least able to prevent Kotsu from going down further, at least for now.

"If you have anything about our vampirism that you want discuss you can come to me." Aria pulled the trench coat Kotsu gave her tightly. "I might not looks like it but I used to discuss things like this a lot with my old friends."

Ah, yes. Aria suddenly recalled her time with her co-workers far ago. They're all vampires, yet they're all enslaved under Alucard's thumb. While Aria wouldn't say that time as a good one, she couldn't deny the benefit of having another vampires to support her in all those decades. She wondered if Kotsu ever live in a supportive vampire community and suddenly she had a budding idea.

"Kotsu, if I say that I want to build a nice little vampire community, will you support me? Not a nest, I mean. Just a place for us vampires to become ourself and help each other. No worries of hunted by vampire hunter, no worries of changing our identity every few decades, we can also have our own festivals with proper blood dishes." Aria was sincerely excited with this idea of hers. Though for some reason she could heard Alucard laughing inside her head.

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu was taken aback by the offer, but he quickly recovered. This could be a great idea to find out more about himself and maybe even raise vampires to be more socially acceptable. Plus, this would be a way to show them how to live a more peaceful life and not have to feed off blood or make leech farms like Aria. Kotsu smiled a genuine soft smile. "Yeah, I'd like that a lot, Aria." Kotsu said with his eyes focused on how excited she was becoming.

"You could teach them to make leech farms instead of feeding on humans. We could teach them combat and I can get stronger through taking on various different opponents with different abilities. I'll also learn how to leech farm from you." Kotsu said, chuckling while rubbing the back of his neck. Kotsu's horns started to recede a bit until they were just wisps of what they used to be, still there though. His teeth had become normal and his eyes had as well. "Ya sure you wanna build a community with me though? Owl might get jealous if we spend too much time together when we save her." Kotsu said, with a sad smile forming his lips. He'd been alone for so long he'd forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by his companions. He'd forgotten what it was like to not be a monster.

Spoiled Bread

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Aria​

"Great then! Don't worry, we will take this project slowly so you can spend time with Owl if you want." Aria was overjoyed with the prospect of having more long-lasting companions. Though she won't underestimate the effort needed for this project so she assumed this would take a while, maybe even decades.

"I'm sure master will approve this!" Her mind wandering to her own imagination of Utopia. Blood dishes started popping to existence around her without she even realizing it.

 

[Exzalia]

"Excuse me, tell me more of this Lord?" He asked. "And, if you don't mind me asking, what's the most common form of demon you all deal with?"

"We don't deal with demons, our village is peaceful, but I have heard they roam else where summoned by witches and warlocks. As for the Lord, he's a paranoid man. Names Moa Do. We don't pay him much mind, are village is far far out in the country. We pay our taxes and just ask to be left alone.

"Quentin?" A womans voice sounds above the crowds, she is garbed in silken robes white and red. Her raven black hair is done up in a traditional bun and she carries with her spell tags. "Quentin my son I've been looking for you."

"Quentin?" A womans voice sounds above the crowds, she is garbed in silken robes white and red. Her raven black hair is done up in a traditional bun and she carries with her spell tags. "Quentin my son I've been looking for you."

When his name was called, his heart dropped. He knew the voice perfectly. His eyes turned in the direction and he smiled. "I'm here mother!" He shouted as he darted towards her hugging her. "I never forgot you mother. I've missed you so much". It was like he forgot they were even in the Dreamland. It felt so real.

"Missed me? You saw me this morning. Don't be silly, come your father will be here soon. You know that man likes to eat." His mother looks up at his allies curiously. "My, my now those are some interesting spirits you've befriended, they are welcome to come as well."

"Right right. Sorry mother. These are my friends as well. Thank you for letting them tag along! What are we having?"

Some roast pork with fresh rice ought to do the trick, although I may have to cook more seeing as you have brought friends.

Owl clears her throat. "Um Quentin you do know she's not re-"

Bickle elbows her. "Let him have this will ya?"

He heard Owls comment but chose to ignore it. He walked inside his old home. He looked around. He was filled with happiness. Walking to his room he started to tear up. "it's just how I remember" but of course it did. It was his memories they were seeing.

His old home was small but cozy and well kept, an alter sit in the corner honoring his ancestors, he bows to them as was tradition. Other others file inside or mill about at the front taking in the view of the villiage.

Quentins mother was squeezing him tight then patting him on the head heads into the kitchen. "You wait here your father will be home any minute."

"Quentin." Owl says softly. "I can feel this memory growing stronger, your subconscious is going to trap us here if you don't snap out of it. She's not real."

"Do you know what it's like? To lose everything you've ever loved! I get to feel my mother's hands even if it isn't real! I've wanted this for so so long. To go back to this moment in my life. Before those people fucked it up. I've had it up to here with kotsu complaining about not having enough power but he's actually right. If I was stronger back then, if I had this demon back then, Non of this would have happened." Quentin's voice changed with that last part. Almost demonic. He started to tear up again. "Besides, my father doesn't even make it into the house before he dies. My mom should be running out any minute now."

Owl gets an idea she looks at his mother happily cooking then at the door, she remembered what happened here. She didn't know why she had his memory she must have taken it when she was blue Owl, but she does know that in five minutes his father and his men would be ambushed, then they would come for his mother. She didn't know if this would help, but she makes up her mind.

"Then lets stop it, lets change this memory. Lets save your parents and finally put your nightmare to rest."

"If non of this is real, then how am I supposed to change what happens. Won't my own memory keep me from trying to save them since that memory doesn't exist?"

"I don't know but the only other alternative is to sit and watch them die with out even trying. Do you want to do that instead?" Owl asks harshly. "This is not just a memory, it's a dream a dream you can influence so lets influence it."

Quentin stood there thinking. Maybe it would help him in the long run and he really didn't want to see them die again. He darted out the door and ready himself for whatever was about to come.

Owl addresses the group. "Okay this is whats happening. If we don't help Quentin get over this memory we will be trapped here for all eternity. His father is about to be killed outside the village then his mother. I think if we can save his parents with in the dream it should help him, and allow us to leave. But we have to go now!"

 

[GamerCarrot]

Vivian followed Quentin, Owl and the rest of the group to Quentin's old home, she could feel her heart sink when she heard the two talking and hearing how hurt he was about knowing what will soon happen to his family. She remembered him telling her what had happened to his parents but she couldn't believe that in this world they would all be living it with him, she felt terrible for him and wished she could give him a hug before he ran out when Owl told him that they could change the memory. She wasn't even paying attention to Owl until they said they had to help him, without a second thought she drew the two guns that were resting on her hips "You don't have to tell me twice." she spoke with determination before walking out the door. Standing outside she looked around to see if she could spot the attackers and let the others know so they weren't taken by surprise.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Aria​

Aria snapped back to realitynot-so-real reality from her daydreaming. She was now crowned with a hat made of blood patty and has a big ring made of blood sausage hung over her shoulder. The question mark over her head had changed into a lightbulb.

She heard Owl's statement and was now ready to leap into action. She cracked her fingers, something that she rarely do before. She's just in a good mood and wants to appear a bit cooler.

"Then let's kill this killer before they kill Quentin's father!"

 

[Darkling0096]

"Spirit?" Sam hoped she wasn't the only one confused by that. She knew she looked weird, her body was transparent in places, showing the machinery within. For some reason the armor vanished from the visual once the memory zone started, but she looked more like a golem than a spirit, and that was stretching it a bit. "I'm not a spirit, I just look weird.

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu looked at Quentin. "I'll let your comment slide about my desire for power. But we're more powerful now then we were before. What'dya say, my naked fireproof underwear twin? We gonna save your family, or not?" Kotsu said with a smile. "I ain't taking no for an answer. So buck up, kiddo. We got some renegades to kill." Kotsu said with a wicked smile forming his lips.

 

[Exzalia]

Matricide​

The others race outside following Quentin as he leads the way. As he runs a curious thought crosses owls mind. This wasn’t apart of the memory, Quentin never saw his father until after he was slain, long dead. What they would they find? Would the memory glitch out like a video game played wrong?

She didn’t know nor could she anticipate what they would find.

They arrive just in time, a tall man with feature resembling Quentin stands sword drawn surrounded by three enemies. The garb in well made armor his attackers were no simple bandits but skilled soldiers. Five more of them lay dead slain by their target and his men. And then, there was a forth man, one sitting on a portable throne with two long thin mustaches well groomed, white silken robes and a fat gut, a noble.

“Last chance fool.” The Lord says. “Hand over the boy and you will live.”


“You have no honor Moa do!” his father roars. “You are demon slayers should be stopping demons not summoning them!”


Mao Do, the fat lord of this by gone area leans back on his throne. “Indeed, that is what I thought also. But then I realized, the world of magic, of vampires, spirits and mages it can not be hidden forever. One day it will come to light and then, those kingdoms who killed their demons, burned there witches, spurned there gods. They will be first to fall, the world will belong to those insane enough to harness the powers of the supernatural! What I do I do for the good of my province, of China!”


“And you are going to use Qeuntin, my son! As a vessel? All the years I served you and you would do that to me?”


Mao Do smiles. “His mother is a mage, or did you not know? His potential for magic is potent my seers have told me. Give him to me and I will reward you with gold, and your life.”


“Never!” His father roars and charges against his three foes.


Mao Do grunts. “Kill him, then his mother, and bring the boy to me.”


Owl stops in her tracks, the conversation they had just over heard was not in the memory she stole from Quentin. How could that be? The dream world was showing them new information. Impossible! And yet…there they stand over hearing words Quentin never heard, seeing things he never saw.


Quentins father, bloody from battle and near death charges his sword raised, the three soldiers close in ready to strike him down.

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu dashes to protect Quentin's father, rushing in front of the three men and Quentin's father. Kotsu summoned his whips to swipe back all three of the foes to give Quentin's father time to retreat. He summoned his blades on his whips when striking at them with half of his strength. "YOU'RE NEXT FAT BOY!" Kotsu yelled at Mao Do with a crazed smile on his face as he swiped at the men. His eyes, horns, and teeth were back.

 

[Freikugel]

As Dyonisius claimed, form of enemies can show up in the world of dreams and although they can't die there if they're convinced of death it would pretty much means the same. The enemies however targeted which could be Quentin's father. Given this is a past memory there is no way to save him, does that mean?

That saving him is useless... hence facing the soldiers is a waste of time, they should grab Owl and run away from the situation.

Is that lack of flexibility, that stubborness that doesn't let you grow up Fizzy...

Was that... momma? Wondered Fizzy.

You don't have many friends do you? Just you, your sister....

That's not true stated Fizzy as he raised up his stuffed animal

But bunny won't be forever with you.... You're a grown up man now, is ok to be strong, but do you really want to be alone?

I am not alone anymore exclaimed the man

Sam you mean? She is important for you right.... But what will she think of a man who abandon his comrades? No, a coward man who can't abandon his past

But...

Denton you mean? He is important for you right... But can you trust a man who is willing to sell his allies for a greater purpose?

The chains felt heavier than ever.

The logical course means abandoning him, but.... in this world logic doesn't work, you really, really want to save that kid's father, even if it won't affect the true outcome.

You don't want him to suffer the same as you right Fizzy?

...................

Fritz Roy closed his eyes, he heard and talked with momma, a long time which wrapped in a split of second in this dream world.
Saving Quentin's father was useless but.... he wanted to do it.

Fizzy dashed into battle, he tried to produce his energy blade, but it didn't exist in this world....

Think, it exists, it does exists

Bunny will be protecting you Fizzy Mother's voice echoed in his being

Suddenly his energy blade, longer than ever clashed against a soldier's sword. In the real world it would had sliced through the metallic sword with ease, yet this was a world without logic.
Bunny wasn't there, it turned itself into the energy blade

"Aaaah" Exclaimed Fizzy with energy as he readied his blade again to strike his opponent, this time the blade bursting with what seemed to be a ethereal energy

Think, it exist, it does exists... I want it to exist... I want it to be stronger!

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Aria​

Aria swung her leg, but instead of aiming it towards the enemy she use it to kick Quentin's father in the guts. Not strong enough to break his bones, but strong enough to stop his charge and make him kneel on the ground, he was already battered anyway. She then use her blood sausage sash to tie him up and carry him over her shoulder.

From what she understand there's two objectives here. Kill the enemies, protect Quentin's father. They have enough personell for these so she would just focus on making sure the father was save. This will be like that time when she carried Morgan to keep her out of reach of danger, right.

 

[Exzalia]

Kotsu vampire strength sends one of the soldiers flying back and tumbling across the ground.

Fizzroy clashes with the second soldier they are matched in skill and strength until Fizzroys sword glows bright with eather. The soldiers backs up alarmed by his power, Fizz roy slashes at him cutting through the solder armor and drawing blood.

Mao Do stands up in his seat. His eyes go wide with yearning and he almost seems to squeal in delight. "The super natural! Ahhhh, yes YES! Show me more!"

"I'll show you more!" owl says angrily she manifests a giant plush hammer in her hands and swings it's with strength she should not have. It smashes into the third soldier sending him bouncing across the grassy terrain.

Mao Do jumps up and down with glee. "SUPERB! This, this is GLORIOUS!" He grabs a sachel from his pouch and throws it at their feet. Gold coins spill across the ground rolling to a stop by the heroes feet.

"Join me strangers, together we will rule all of china!"

 

[AbatedBigfoot]

When Quentin walked outside he heard the conversation. "My mother is a mage, is that where my power comes from and not the demon?".

He walked to the middle of the battle and stared Mao Do. "Fighting us is pointless. Leave now or die. Your choice" and with that he went into a battle stance and ignited his whole body. His clothes didn't burn off this time, just swirrled around like he was in the middle of a tornado. He was thinking they were fire proof.

 

[Freikugel]

Fizzy's attack was effective, a confident smirk showed on his face

I'm beginning to understand how to use this world's ilogic

An effective slash which made the soldier lost his balance. Fizzy produced a gun.... there was no gun? Yes there was! Bunny took the form of Fizzy's real world weapon, a combat gun with a very large cannon which he pressed right under the soldier's chin; he pulled the trigger and a loud bang followed

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu raced up to the soldier he had already struck and attempted to grab him by his shirt, squaring his body again, and preparing to deliver a sharp blow with his full power to the chin of the soldier. If the soldier left the ground, he could grab him and finish him with no resistance.

 

[GamerCarrot]

Vivian quickly loaded her gun and checked everything was in order before aiming at the soldier Fizzy was attacking, as much as she would love to attack their commander she figured it would be best to deal with him last. After finding a way to hit the soldier without hitting anyone else she fired her gun repeatedly, since Aria was dealing with saving Quentin's father she didn't have to worry too much there so she kept her concentration on the soldier in front of her.

 

[Kinggunlucky]

Denton hung back, avoiding the conflict all together. He wanted to help, yes, but he felt his involvement would be less than useful. The others were more inclined for battle. Better abilities suited to ripping enemies apart.

The subtle approach is what he excelled at and subtlety rarely had place in a fight like this....except when it did. He circled around the others, doing his best to stay as beneath notice as possible. It wasn't hard.

Kotsu, Fizzy, Aria, and the rest were doing their best to cause as much attention as possible to be. And the idiot Mao was making for an obvious target. He shouted, threw Gold, ranted. Denton could have used his spirits to maybe spook the soldiers or Mao or something, but that would mean attention. So he started channeling his magic energy, feeling the dead he kept with him, readying to release several at once.

One false move from any threat then he could deploy them as a distraction, then either flee or hopefully get a clean hit in. If what he was planning fell through. And it would. The Lord seemed crazier than Kris Kringle on crack. Still...the man was entitled to a fair deal. A talk.

Denton crouched over one of the fallen soldiers, taking a small knife from his assortment of weapons, and looping it through the back of his belt. He stretched, cracking his back, and carefully began navigating his way towards the Lord.

These memories seemed incredibly life like, as if they had been transported into another time as opposed to the Sandlands. No telling how direct and varied communication would go. He approached Mao Do, standing only a few feet away, hands clearly in a non aggressive stance.

"Mao Do, right?" Denton said as he started picking up the gold. "I apologize for the violence happening. My team is very passionate as you can see. It is unlikely your men are going to win. I'm quite intrigued by your goal of harnessing the supernatural as a defense mechanism against the monsters that would do humanity harm. I am actually in that business myself somewhat. I think we can come to some form of agreement here. Peace talks." Denton bowed slightly. "I highly doubt you'll need the boy with the services I can provide."

 

[Exzalia]

"Mao Do, right?" Denton said as he started picking up the gold. "I apologize for the violence happening. My team is very passionate as you can see. It is unlikely your men are going to win. I'm quite intrigued by your goal of harnessing the supernatural as a defense mechanism against the monsters that would do humanity harm. I am actually in that business myself somewhat. I think we can come to some form of agreement here. Peace talks." Denton bowed slightly. "I highly doubt you'll need the boy with the services I can provide."

"Ahhh a man of culture. I am intrigued, these are, your soldiers? Splendid, but just a moment."

Mao Do turns and begins to weave his own magic. "Fight harder your dogs, I have business to attend to."

The three soldiers get up, consumed by Mao Do's magic, they rise wounds healing eyes glowing red and attack! One lunges at Kotsu with a sudden speed that was not expected thrusting forward with a stab. it cuts deep into Kotsu side.

The second soldier is knocked over by Fizzroy's gun blast blowing a hole through his head, but he gets up anyway his body not his own. Necromagic keeps him in the fight and he punches fizzroy with enough force to throw him back.

Vivian peppers the third one with shots bringing him to his knees, but he two is empowered by magic and lunges at her with a fierce kick she's knocked over but rolls to her feet.

Mean while....

"Tea?" Mao Do says getting Denton a cup. He snaps his fingers and a servant bring Denton a chair.

 

[KotaKotsu]

Kotsu did something that not many normal people would do. Or could do. He took the sword into his chest while, grabbing the soldier's arm that was attached to it. He stared at the soldier with a wild grin on his face his voice gravely as he spoke. "I trained for this, you weak bitch!" Spitting blood as he spoke, it was evident Kotsu was... Clearly not himself at the moment.

Kotsu used the opportunity to jam his fist into the soldier's mouth, his whips shooting down into the soldier's intestines with their 30 feet of reach. Kotsu summoned his whips blades and formed the blood blades that rotated constantly. Kotsu's horns let out an audible scream while the speed of the blood flow increased, tearing the soldier apart from the inside. Kotsu unhinged the soldiers jaw with a sickening crack, forcing a torrent of blood, muscle, and teeth to come out of the mouth, while he summoned his other whip to do the same, he held up the soldier while staring at Mao Po, ripping the soldier in half with a wicked smile while slashing the body into fourths, and then eighths with viscera spraying on anybody in close range.

Kotsu sized up Mao Do. "I bet your insides have more wiggle room." Kotsu said, a sick cackle coming from his mouth. "I hope you scream. I love it when they scream. Add your voice to the screams!" Kotsu bellowed. His red eyes had gone black. His horns were more tangible than ethereal at this point, but were still made of screaming faces. Two different rows of teeth revealed everytime he spoke.

 

[Freikugel]

Fizzy was pushed with a unthinkable strength, he landed with violence in the ground.

Clayton who was now a hyena took its chance to jump against the soldier and attack it

 

[Exzalia]

Kotsu's attack had reduced his foe to a bloody mist, but then necromagic swarms about him. The soldier reforms out of the read mist striking Kotsu with a blow to the face.

Clayton leaps onto the second soldier tearing into his back with savage claws. But the second soldier was already dead, fueled by necromagic he spins kicking Clayton in the face.

"They won't stay down!" Owl shouts "We have to cut off the magic keeping them alive that means attacking- DENTON!?"

Owl just notices denton and Mao Do talking amiably. Her telepathy rings in his head.

"What are you doing? He's the enemy! attack him already!"