Conundrum: The Question Without An Answer (Season One)

[babyjoker36610]

Kimirou watched as the scene unfolded. Kimirou’s eyes began to burn so he had no choice but to close them. “Your eyes haven’t gotten used to the thermal view for a rather long time.” His koumpi expressed with concern. Kimirou opened his eyes and they were still burning but at least it wasn’t as bad as it was. He let his eyes adjust and by the time they returned to normal, at least for his eyes, the enemy was gone and there stood Rina. Kimirou knew of Rina quite well considering she was a Hiringu. Not only that but she travel to Sin City quite often to heal some of the higher ups after a horrendous mission. He tried to converse with her on several occasions to try to get a location of his brother. Most times she treated him like a child and asked him to run along due to her being busy at work.


Kimirou listened to her speech and watched as Kehinde started off announcing the arrival of the thieves. Kimirou rolled his eyes as the two appeared and instantly began to irritate him. He tried to ignore them but of course he couldn’t with the help of his heightened senses. He decided no nod at the both of them in recognition for their arrival. Kimirou waited a second before looking away figuring there would be a grand entrance for Sora. Instead out of nowhere a new face appeared. Kimirou could easily tell that it was a female due to some slight details that not even the best crossdresser could hide without surgery. The derogatory comments that came out of her mouth made Kimirou totally disregard her presence. “Really? You want to be that harsh when you are first meeting a group that is supposed to keep your life in their best interest? I think not.” He thought to himself.


When Kimirou looked away, his eyes fell upon Vienna. At that point, his thoughts completely ceased. Kimirou watched as she ran after Kehinde shadow stepping from shadow to shadow. His Koumpi chimed in. “I wish you would act like the prince you are and not this person you perceive to be. Come on my child, break out of your shell.” Kimirou broke out of his trance in time to catch the rhythm of Vienna’s shadow stepping. “Do it.” His koumpi demanded. Kimirou took a die from his pocket and dropped it towards his feet. It transitioned into his classic board. He stepped onto the board and proceeded after Kehinde and Vienna. He finally caught up to Vienna and Kehinde. He greeted Kehinde with a smile. Kimirou then looked over to Vienna as she was shadow stepping. Between shadow steps he managed to get out the words. “Mi’Lady why shadowstep and waste your energy when you have a carriage waiting to sweep you off of your feet.” With that Kimirou reached his hand out hoping that her delicate skin will grace it.“That’s my boy. Become the real you. A gentleman, a prince, matter a fact a king. Wait I wasn’t supposed to say that.” Kimirou tried to not let the anger with his koumpi show in his face as he cursed his koumpi out. “Would you shut your damn non existent mouth? I am in the middle of something if you can’t see.” Kimirou sat with his hand reached out so gracefully towards Vienna. He could only hope at wait at this point. @OwlOne @FrontLine @Edric Yuma @DergTheDergon @Pretzel Heart

 

[Field Marshall]

Sora froze in True Concealment as the woman walked out and claimed to be of the Kaminari Bloodline. But even more so the fact that she basically revealed she was responsible for the Kaminari massacre. Kou wanted to Awaken here and take her down, he was sure with the others he had a chance to win here. But then the Raikouryuu objected. "No! The copy cat twins plus that woman who must scare them for good reason, is risky considering this is a diversion. Now is not the time to settle your scores!" Sora fell silent as it seemed that woman and Felix had a past together, so he made a mental note to grill Felix on the details ASAP as well as his koumpi who clearly knows something but is not saying. "Don't look!" He heard his koumpi say as the woman flashed her nails, Sora shut his eyes as she and the twins vanished, with a technique that didn't seem like it was a main branch technique. Could she be from a branch family because the technique nor the Woman jogs anything in his memory?


Immediately Sora dropped True Concealment and followed Felix taking fast steps to catch up him and then match his stride. "I want everything you know about that woman now." Sora said with a voice that beared a mixture of fury and anxiety. The thought just kept going round ad round in his head, they were more important right now that the main objectice. 'Who is she? Why did she have the Kaminari killed? What did Felix have to do with her?' Sora thought to himself. "This cannot wait, I just feel too much has been going on that I haven't been noticing. You must know not something but several thinfs." Sora said a little more agitatedly.


@OwlOne

 

[FrontLine]

Character Quick Sheet

Mood: Concerned and Heighted Alert

(helmet) Basic Information

Name: Kehinde Akachi


Weight: 163lbs


Height: 5'10


Eye Color: Brown


Hair Color: Black


Age: 20


Rank: Apprentice


Faction: Scout

(crown)Current Outfit

Scouts Attire.

(dagger)Weapons

Jammer


Set of brass knuckles (with spikes)


Twin blades


Spikes


Darts

“So caught up in your feeling that you completely missed valuable information your comrade told you.” Kehinde’s Koumpi spoke. The words of his Koumpi seemed to have fell on deaf ears as Kehinde’s mind was elsewhere. Rina. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Kehinde thought that he was over the feelings he had for her, but seeing her seemed to have rekindled an old flame. He had to shake these feelings and quick because they would only get in the way. His Koumpi tried once again to get him to realize what it was he missed, “Your comrade told you about an Omada showing up and you’re thinking about the past. Just like an Akachi I suppose.” Hearing this made Kehinde come back too, “Wha...huh?” The tone of his Koumpi’s voice changed, “Mentioned something about the soul stealer.”


A slight jolt ran up Kehinde’s spine after hearing his Koumpi say that. He really didn’t know how to take the news. Being what they had to go through in the infirmary, the soul stealer was the last person Kehinde wanted to see. One thing struck him as odd, the fact that showed up twice in the same time frame the graduates were located. Could be just a mere coincidence or it could be something of interest to investigate later. The soul stealer was not meant to be trusted by any means. Anyone who tarnishes a hospital for the sake of trying to get information is lower than low in Kehinde’s book.


Whilst Kehinde was lost in thought, Vienna must have shown up and decided to accompany him deeper into the prison. Once Kehinde noticed her presence it came as a relief because to be honest they didn’t know the first thing about this place beside the scary stories, legends, and lore that this place alone seemed to have churned out. “Thank you for coming,” He spoke to her politely not even stealing a glance. A scout never took their eyes off of what’s ahead of them because looking back can get you killed. At least, that’s what he was told.


With the lights off and the emergency lights on, visibility was at a serious low. Throughout the halls you could hear the clanking of the rails on the doors from inmates tapping on them, different sources of chatter, a bit of music, and the eerie feeling that you were being watched. No doubt with all the commotion going on up front, word would travel fast within the walls of this place. They probably know everything about Kehinde and his comrades by now. “Hey, there sweet thing. How about you leave that guy and come over to a real man.” An inmate with a raspy sounding voice spoke apparently to Vienna. “Be careful. The last group to come through never seem to make it.” Another inmate taunted. Various other inmates spouted out taunts and insanities, but Kehinde just ignored them. If he didn’t learn anything during the academy, one thing the he did learn was to never let anyone get into you head. Once inside, you might as well give up the battle. @DergTheDergon


“Your handling this well and so am I considering how long it been.” His Koumpi spoke up. “Oh yeah that’s right, you never told me what you meant earlier,” Kehinde replied. Just as his Koumpi was about to go into detail, Kimirou whisked around on his board offering for Vienna to hop aboard. “Maybe another time son,” His Koumpi finished. Looking to Vienna, he spoke, “Go on ahead I’ll catch up. No need for me to hold you back.” He smiled confidently. He was telling her right. Kehinde was a slow pacer. He tends to scope out every detail in order to keep a few steps ahead of the enemy. Plus, he didn’t want these inmates to keep insulting her every step of the way. “I’m not going to say anything. Just well done.” His Koumpi commented. @DergTheDergon @babyjoker36610


Kehinde decided to continue on thinking Vienna was going to go on with Kimirou. He had no time to waste as the uneasy feeling within him on grew. As he was walking, out the corner of his left eye he noticed a figure sitting on the floor slouched over. “What the hell?” He paused. “Well go on,” His Koumpi directed. “This could be a clue.” Kehinde did as was told and approached the figure. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was in fact wearing a guard uniform. “Damn it,” Kehinde cursed as he sped over kneeling down to the man. Kehinde took to two fingers to his neck to check for a pulse. “Damn no luck.” He retracted his hand. “See anything strange?” His Koumpi questioned. Kehinde began to examine the body for anything that could be of interest. “No telling how long he’s been here. Gonna need an extra set of eyes for this.” He decided. Kehinde slowly exited his kneel, brought his finger to his mouth, and blew, “Fweep!” A loud yet short whistle sounded alerting anyone near, “Come check this out.” He whispered. This could be something serious if it turned out to be a clue of some sorts. Either way, Kehinde felt they were on to something. @DergTheDergon @babyjoker36610 @Anyone who comes along.

 

[Affili]

The barrels of his pistols hadn't even finished smoking before their situation took a turn for the better. The pirate's aim had proven true as each of the prisoners fell unconscious, a trail of smoke and clouds of dust flying up from where the bullets had chewed into their surroundings mere moments before a third prisoner came crashing through a nearby wall slamming into Czar. "Well if the bullets had missed, that guy would have taken up the slack!" He commented, as he holstered the weapons.


Darious looked through the new hole in the wall. there were so many new additions to the prison he was beginning to lose track of them all. It seemed wherever he and the graduates ended up, buildings tended to be remodeled. Barely a minute to breathe before Rina suggested they kill any resistance on sight in order to keep moving.


'So it seems that the more experienced hunters have sound advice Darious, perhaps you should consider following it. Hell if you have problems taking life, let me out and I'll handle that for you.' His koumpi offered sarcastically.


'Why are you so keen on killing?'


'I've been around for a while, killing seems to be the best course most of the time, but alas, we haven't the time for a history lesson right now. Two hours and counting, before all these cells get unlocked and these prisoners start swarming like the vermin they are!'





During his brief conversation with his Koumpi, the thieves from the beach and a new assassin had all joined the group. the assassin was female, though she dressed and acted as manly as any guy. She offered no real introduction, just a mouthful of jargon that clearly expressed she was unhappy to be a part of their motley crew and boldly stated she would kill Blood Beard if no one else could. That statement ushered in a chuckle from the Koumpi within the pirate's mind.


'All of them together now, like a herd of cattle amidst a field of wolves.' Darious' Koumpi spat.


The pirate dismissed that remark but found himself feeling the same way. Vienna, Kehinde and Kimirou. Darious knew them and was familiar with their capabilities and the four of them had been working well together thus far. These new additions though, he had no idea what they were capable of and as it stood, they were all even himself still just graduates, with a small handful of Knights and experienced hunters.


'tsk tsk Darious! Doubting yourself and the others could get you killed.'


'I don't get you sometimes Koumpi. One minute you despise everything around you, the next you're encouraging me to work with the others. Make up your damned mind would you.'


Silence... Darious sighed.


The others were moving again. Before Darious followed them he took a minute to raise his soul essence. Just as before, the wind around him seemed to guide him towards that strange sensation he had felt from Blood Beard's voice earlier. the others were moving in the same direction, except Kehinde, who had paused for a moment.


Darious felt himself move without a second thought, it was a different sensation that his usual kinisi. He Felt disembodied, strangely light for a moment and in the blink of an eye, the wind spiraled like a cyclone to the side of Kehinde and Darious was suddenly there, looking around and slightly confused for a moment. His heightened sensitivity to the stirring winds and their currents throughout the entire complex had left his pores open, and he shuttered for a few minutes as his core body temperature fought to normalize itself once more.


"That was weird" he commented aloud


'That's how a windstep makes you feel though how you managed to execute it, leaves me wondering as it normally takes intense training to learn. But then again, you are of the skipped generation so, I'm not that surprised... just like your grandfather!'


'I'm nothing like him.'


'If you say so!' it finished with a chuckle.





Darious' eyes fell to the man in a guard's uniform and the tone of his voice was strangely cold as he spoke


"He's long dead by the looks of it. We should move on. Vienna seems to have located Blood Beard, if she should fail, I can feel him and he's certainly no where near this dead guard."

 

[Edric Yuma]

Rufus

​

Rufus stepped back in surprise when an assassin suddenly appeared in front of him, addressing all of them in a rather rude fashion. The assassin seemed to have quite a big head, and Rufus wasn't in the mood to try and deflate it. At least, not until he felt Shen tapping him on the shoulder. "What?" He asked. Shen grinned. "The assassin looks like she could use some cheering up. Wanna try and make her jovial?" Rufus groaned inwardly.





"Dude, first of all this is most certainly not the right place to go about cheering someone up, in a prison of death and murderous criminals. Second of all, that assassin is clearly a male." Shen frowned. "Really? I'm pretty sure she is a female. Hm, let me find out." Before Rufus could act, Shen had walked up to the assassin, tapping him (because the assassin was clearly a male, no matter what Shen said) on the shoulder. "Hey, hey, are you a woman?" Shen grinned, tapping his head knowingly and pointing at Rufus. "You are, aren't you? You almost fooled my comrade." @Pretzel Heart


Rufus dragged the palm of his hand down his face. "Shen...." Shen literally never knew when to start conversations, and almost always said the wrong things. But saying something so abruptly rude to a stranger... Shen certainly knew how make terrible first impressions. He had done it to Rufus as well, remarking how 'hot' his attire had been when they first met. Rufus sighed.

Hey, hey, are you a woman? You are, aren't you? Shen

Shen

​

"Shen, what are you doing!?" A voice barked into Shen's mind, causing him to flinch at the sound of his Koumpi's voice. "Yo, military officer-kun. Long time no see. Or should I say hear? Think? I don't know. How do I even communicate with you?" The Koumpi's response came back in full force. "I AM NOT A MILITARY OFFICER! I am your Koumpi, get it right. Stop flirting with that girl right now, just go check out the dead guard everyone else is looking at. I want to get a good look at it."


Shen sighed. His Koumpi was way too formal, and acted serious all the time. "Hey Koumpi? Why was I stuck with someone like you, and not some cheerful Koumpi who always joked around with me? Besides, you know I don't lean that way towards females." He said to his Koumpi. His Koumpi's response was fierce and - was that a hint of jealousy? "You know that if you had a jokester for a Koumpi, you and your Koumpi would never get anything done! You should be grateful I'm sticking with you!"


Shen paused, letting a silent pause erupt between them. He turned and winked at the assassin, saying, "Excuse me, please." To be honest he was truly grateful for his Koumpi, it always kept him on track, like the time when they were facing the twins. Focusing on the Koumpi, he remarked in his thoughts, "I take it you are pissed." @Pretzel Heart





"VERY! GO TO THAT DEAD GUARD RIGHT NOW!"


"Alright, alright, I got you. Shut up before my brain's mental ears fall off."


Shen heard nothing else from his Koumpi, which honestly was a relief. Walking over to the guard, he beckoned Rufus, who followed. As they both looked at the guard, Shen frowned. "We should give him a proper burial," He said, turning to the group. "Or at least something that can honor his sacrifice. Right now, it's just like we are disrespecting a dead body for a means of information. I don't think that's right."

 

[Pretzel Heart]

Basic

Name: Feivel Whitney Hobllordy

Age: 23

Faction: Assassin

Rank: Apprentice

Status

Location: Inside Destirdere (Guard's body)

Company: Kehinde, Darious, Rufus, (Kimirou?, Vienna?) Cadaver

Mood: Restless

​

‘Pretty talkative for someone who hates people.’ The witch punctuated her tease with a light laugh. Such a pretentious, jovial sound that never had any dignity in it. Feivel hated that laugh.


More talk now, less later. Better to make it clear what our relationship is up front.


Feivel had paused for a moment to catch her breath. She needed to be careful, given that her stamina wasn’t what it used to be, thanks to certain voices in her head. As she did so she tossed her eyes about to try and take in what she could of the graduates.


Geeze. What a sausage fest.


As far as she could tell, there was only one other female among them, a sallow-looking girl that might have been another assassin from the way she hid behind her hood if not for her long, nasty-looking scythe. The signature of a shadow. Everyone else seemed to be wearing their faction colors as well. ‘A ragtag band of idiots,’ was the ultimate impression.


Yup. A bunch of a**holes.


At least they were potentially useful ones. At least the girl was. Feivel liked the playful way she rebounded off of her own loudmouthed “introduction” ... well, like was a strong word, but she wasn’t disgusted, at least. Instantly the assassin made to take off in pursuit when an irritating pair of voices began to ring in her ears. Two guys arguing about her goddamn gender. Since Feivel tended to keep to herself and, when she did try and make impressions, they were never very good ones, this was thankfully an experience she hadn’t had to often undergo.


Even with all the effort she had thrown into getting rewritten identification, a voice operation, change in clothing, attitude, and lifestyle, making sure to keep the bottom half of her face covered up with her hood whenever possible, makeup techniques...for some reason some a**holes just couldn’t get it into their thick skulls that she didn’t want to be read as female anymore.


'No matter how far you run, you can’t change the life you were born with,' was the inescapable life lesson.


Like a curse. Going around in circles under a black star.


Well, either way she didn’t have much interest in them, and so again prepared to leap into kinsi to go after the shadow girl when, to her immense annoyance, one of the jackos got a bright idea to tap her on the shoulder.


“Hey, hey, are you a woman?”


Feivel shivered at the touch, but she made no motion to respond.


Don’t have time for this. Focus on the mission. Kill that bloody b**tard and never have to see any of these bimbos ever again.


She could hear laughter echoing all through her brain and knew her Koumpi was having a grand view of this show. Probably payback for all the times Feivel tried to shut her off and ignore her.


“You are, aren't you? You almost fooled my comrade.”


For a reason that the assassin couldn’t imagine, the guy refused to drop it.


Her body reacting before her logic had time to kick in, Feivel grabbed her interrogator by the collar taking in his vapid blank slate of a face.


“Why? Jealous you weren’t born this pretty or something?”


She then released him with a slight push as if she couldn’t care less about the man, which was one hundred percent true. But something about his dopey grin continued to rattle around her brain like an aftershock.


A flash.


That smile.


Just like Barrett.


She couldn’t leave it alone.


“See if this feels like a chick to you.”


With that, she sent a quick, hard kick railing straight towards the idiot’s crotch. With all the anatomical studying she had dedicated her life to, a man’s greatest weak spot was the simplest and oldest rule in the book. @Edric Yuma


As much as she was tempted to stick around and turn his tabula rasa into a black and blue work of art, she instead used the motion of the attack to propel her into kinsi finally going after the shadow girl.


Only to be stopped by a whistle, signifying some sort of hold up in a room deeper into the prison.


Is this it?


Every muscle in her body was already pulled taunt as a tightrope but she somehow managed to pull them even tighter, her fingers edging towards her utility belt as she slowed to a stealthy walk. Still, even with her lousy soul essence senses, she did notice a distinct lack of...well...anything interesting, despite the graduates whose essences were already becoming irritatingly more recognizable.


A corpse. The posse had stopped over a corpse.


While a few stood around talking about it Feivel could only tap her foot impatiently, arms crossed.


“Why waste time? It’s just a damn cadaver. Even if he has gone to the afterlife I doubt he’s floating around this dump to see what happened to his meat sack.”


She didn’t have time for this crap, she wanted to hurry up and release her pent-up energy before it exploded. Bringing her trouble, like those times in Council City. Kicking at nosy boy had only served to make the craving more intolerable. She needed a good old fashioned fight.


‘Come, now. You’re an assassin, aren’t you? You can do better than that. Show these other factions you’re not just about the kill.’


Feivel’s intellectuality couldn’t stand the challenge, so with a huff she pushed her way through to the dead guard. She wasn’t a crime scene investigator or anything, but she had poured through enough of her mother’s medical books to know a thing or two about human bodies. Without any hesitation (she was, as usual, wearing gloves, after all) she began poking around, more to give herself an excuse to clear her mind a bit than an actually giving a flying f**k about what had happened to him.


“Hmm...that’s strange.”


There wasn’t a single wound on the man’s body, well, as far as Feivel could tell, and she wasn’t in the mood to start stripping dead strangers. His eyes were brightly bloodshot, however, and there was a distinct pattern of bruising around his partially-opened mouth.


“He suffocated...but there’s no signs of strangulation,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone who might be listening. Maybe that was Bloody’s power? The Council hadn’t been so hot on that part of the brief.


With a shrug she turned away. For all she knew or cared he’d choked on a chicken wing. She looked around expectantly waiting for some to start showing her the way to a body she’d have a lot more interest in.

 

[DergTheDergon]

As Vienna followed Kehinde, shadow stepping every few feet, she heard the familiar sound behind her of one of Kimirou's dice cracking, spread an ice trail for him, and Kimirou himself skating along the ice as it spread in front of him. Before she knew it, Vienna noticed Kimirou skating in her peripheral vision., seeming to slide alongside her as best he could. To her surprise, he was able to reach a pace that kept up with her every time she teleported to the next shadow, despite the unevenness and difference in size between many of the shadows in this place. His next actions startled her, and honestly embarassed her quite a bit. He made it quite clear he was flirting with her, in front of everyone else on this mission. Her cheeks flushed bright crimson, but thankfully due to the darkness that little detail would probably be indiscernible to nearly everyone. She looked down in thought for a while, before, a couple shadow jumps later, she tentative reached out her hand and took Kimirou's, allowing him to so kindly speed them up. Suddenly, she heard her Koumpi speak up within her mind. "Hmm, I wondered when he'd catch on..." "...Kimirou?" "Yes." "...Catch on to what?" "He saved your life on the island, what do you think I mean?" Her Koumpi was met only with nervous mental silence from this point on. Seeing as Vienna understood what he was getting at, that perhaps she may be developing feelings for Kirou, he stayed quiet for a while. @Newtype @OwlOne @Affili

 

[FrontLine]

Character Quick Sheet

Mood: Concerned and Heighted Alert

(helmet) Basic Information

Name: Kehinde Akachi


Weight: 163lbs


Height: 5'10


Eye Color: Brown


Hair Color: Black


Age: 20


Rank: Apprentice


Faction: Scout

(crown)Current Outfit

Scouts Attire.

(dagger)Weapons

Jammer


Set of brass knuckles (with spikes)


Twin blades


Spikes


Darts

“What are you thinking?” Kehinde’s Koumpi asked with a puzzling tone. “I’m not entirely sure.” He sighed curiously. “It’s strange because why leave a body just sitting here like this. If it wasn’t meant to be found.” He finished. Kehinde seemed like he wasn’t buying the fact that there was an expired guard laid out in the middle of the hallway. He looked up and noticed that the camera was even disconnected. By the looks of it, the camera has been for awhile.


As Kehinde was scanning the corridor for any more possible clues, he felt Darious join him only to dismiss the body in a colder tone than usual. Though, in any other instance, Kehinde would have agreed and moved on, but something just wasn’t sitting well. “He’s long dead for sure, but it doesn’t strike you as a bit concerning that this guard is here? Grant it. There weren’t any to begin with.” He replied to Darious. “But what do you have to back up you claim?” His Koumpi asked. To be honest, Kehinde wasn’t really sure. He just figured that with there being an escape attempt of some sort, they would at least try and hide things. @Affili


Then a familiar voice hugged Kehinde’s eardrums which brought him out of his thoughts. The voice made Kehinde cringe a little because he really didn’t care to hear the opinion of the thief, but for what it was worth he did have a point. “Although you do have a point, I don’t think we should move him right now.” His Koumpi chimed in, “Well you can’t leave him here. That’s not right.” Kehinde shook his head in an attempt to drown out his Koumpi. Yes, both the thief and his Koumpi had a point, but now was not a good time. @Edric Yuma


Kehinde then returned his attention to the corridor they were standing in. His eyes flirted both walls that contained cells. “Surely they saw something.” He furrowed his eyebrows. “I doubt they saw anything. Think about it. Why would they need to talk you?” His Koumpi’s words ranged true within him. He bit his bottom lip lightly because the scene looked strange, but there wasn’t an explanation as to why. A somewhat of a relief came when someone he never met took a gander at the body. Unlike everyone else, this one decided to go in for a closer look. As the guy was looking, Kehinde took notice of the attire that the hunter was wearing. He squinted his eyes slightly in an almost disgust once he figured he was an assassin. Then he spoke softly of course. Kehinde’s raised his eyebrow just a little after hearing the tone of voice coming from the guy. He rather not question him on what it was he was trying to pull because he didn’t know the person well enough. “I noticed the same thing oddly enough,” Kehinde folded his arms. “If you look up the cameras on this hall have been disabled. For awhile that is.” He continued. @Pretzel Heart


He was about to go on with another explanation, but he was interrupted by a husky yet soft on the ears sounding voice, “He wasn’t alone.” Kehinde shot his head in the direction from which the voice came. “Who said that?” He asked with a slight yell. “Calm down. I ain here to fight ya.” He returned placing his hand out of the railing, “You don’t have ta truss me, but Mr. Guard never really saw it coming.” He continued.


At that moment, Vienna and Kimirou mentioned they were going to go on ahead. Kehinde nodded to them and they were off. Kehinde figured he would move on to seeing that standing there trying to wrap their mind around what happened was not going to get them anywhere. “Be careful. I’ll warn ya, even the most skilled hunters aren’t able to keep up with a strategy so well put together. If you haven’t realized, this place belongs to them.” With that, the inmates hand retracted back within the cell as if it were never there. Kehinde looked back to his comrades to see if he were the only one who heard the guy. If he was, well he won’t worry too much about it. If he wasn’t well then it was time to get serious. Kehinde took one more look at the body just to be on the safe side. To his shocking surprise, the body had significantly decayed. “Ohhhhh what?” Kehinde exclamied. His Koumpi chimed in, “Haven’t seen anything like that in a while. He was just fine a moment ago.” Kehinde took a step back, “Rigamortis?” Kehinde thought, “No. Rigamortis doesn’t do that.” Stepping back a few more feet, Kehinde finally turned around and started deeper into the corridor. “We should keep our eyes peeled,” He commented. @Affili @Edric Yuma @Pretzel Heart

 

[OwlOne]

1 hour and 45 minutes

​

When Sora approached him, Felix rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. Plus our main objective should be your focus. This is not the time for that.” Felix then looked over to Niclaus. He noticed a strange look was on his face. He didn’t want to pry or anything because of what just happened. Not many people knew he actually worked with her and with the questions Sora kept asking, it wasn’t making it any easier. “Look I can explain,” He started with Niclaus. Niclaus was brought out of his thoughts. He looked over to Felix with a smile on his face and chuckled a bit. “You mean the fact that you used to work for Naiomi Kaminari? You really think Isi and I didn’t know?” Niclaus chuckled a bit more. “Of course, we knew. Isi for one was furious. However, I made him understand. Isi wanted to snatch the life out of you, but he just didn’t know the reason behind your actions.” Niclaus’ voice then became a bit more serious as he looked back ahead of himself as they walked down the cell filled corridor. “You don’t realize, but you and I have a lot in common.”


Felix took a moment to think about Nereus’ response before responding. He really just needed the urd back then because the waiting list for the Academy was a mile long and being only nine years old, there wasn't really a rush unless he showed exemplary talent. Like that of the fourth. Before he could even get out the first word, Sora fired off another comment. Felix was so caught up in his thoughts he blurted out, “I know enough.” His voice slightly raised. “I know enough that will leave you questioning yourself about the name you wear like a badge.” Niclaus intervened into the conversation. “Sora, she is gone. You will have plenty of time to get your revenge. Even though revenge is just a distraction from your true destiny. Please drop the subject. We have more important things to deal with. Such as the prison becoming a gorefest in the next hour and 45 minutes.” Felix put his hand up, “I'll say this then I'll drop it.” He retracted his hand, “I'd take a good look at your family history.” @Newtype


With that, Felix turned around and continued his stride. Niclaus looked over to Felix again and smiled, then returned back to his thoughts. Just as he was good and into them, a corner approached ahead. Once he turned the corner, he was greeted by an Assassin kicking Shen in the nads and a whistle to catch attention. Niclaus followed the Assassin to the room where Kehinde was inspecting a body. The Assassin took over the inspection and concluded suffocation but no strangle marks. Blood beard came to mind.


Walking up slowly behind the two, was Rina, Margie, and Paige. Rina lightly tapped Niclaus on the shoulder and whispered, “Omg! Nereus? Goodness, how longs it been girl?” Niclaus squealed halfway through the statement, turned around, and hugged Rina so hard that he literally lifted her from the ground. “Giiiiirrrrrllllll” He then set her down and stepped back. “Girl you looking good. What the hell have you been doing for the last four years? I haven’t seen you since Isi passed away.” Rina rolled her eyes playfully and smiled, “Well as you can see being a Hunter. I thought I wouldn’t have to do it again, but here I am. A girl is a little rusty after all these years.” She then slid her hair behind her ear, “What about you? How everything been since Isi?” Niclaus giggled a little after her response. “Girl, obviously. Have you not looked in the mirror? Girl your clothes and hair are all jacked up.” Niclaus then looked over to Margie. “How you holding up?” He asked concerned and sincere. Rina rolled her shoulders jokingly in response to Niclaus’ comment, “Oh I woke up like this. Flawless.” Margie then added with a scough. Her voice raspy as if she had been smoking cuban cigars all of her life. “I’m trying to make it. I would be better if Paige could mix up a decent fucking tonic.” Irritatingly she looked over to Rina. “Have you taught her nothing?” Paige diverted her vision and quietly mumbled. “It’s hard to make a tonic without water. You're the one that doesn’t want a shot or a pill.” Rina quietly interjected, “Ladies keep it classy. Don’t need to be like that Assassin and that Thief. Did you see that kick?” She shivered a little, “Ouch.”


Rina then looked back to Niclaus, “Dear we need to do lunch. I hear there’s a new cafe on the southern island. I hear they have wonderful shrimp. Girl, it’s your fave.” She gestured taping his arm lightly. Niclaus quickly looked back to Rina as she mentioned the “S” word. A small tear appeared in his left eye. “Girl you know me so well. We will have to do it one day.” Niclaus’ eyes then scanned over to Rina’s shoes. “BIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTCCCCCHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Where did you get those sicknen shoes?” Rina bowed her feet out to have a look, “Huntas. Huntas Kicks. New store they added to Cloverleaf Cove. That mall stays with the latest and greatest. Must be nice since they got that new indoor water park. That has a giant Jacuzzi girl! Yes, a Jacuzzi.” She then flipped her frizzed hair, “Tch we have got to get together. We have so much to catch up on.” Felix walked up to the meeting of the acting teens. “Really guys? We are kind of in the middle of something important.” Margie noticing Felix averting his vision from her commented. “Hey, Felix.” Felix just lifted his hand, not even shaking it in a wave-like motion. “Margaret.” He nonchalantly greeted.


Paige then spoke up, “I think the graduates might have stumbled upon something you guys.” Niclaus then responded, “Well I guess it’s back to work then.” Niclaus then turned his attention back to the graduates. Rina looked over and noticed the body that one of the graduates were examining. They were a few yards from where the graduates were so she had to see what in spots. She looked back at Paige and gestures for her to have a look. Once she was next to Rina, she stole a glance at the body as well. "Well?" Felix asked Rina. "I can't really tell from this far. I would have to get closer." Paige then waved her hand, "Shhhhhhhhh! Listen." She pointed to the assassin from earlier.


Rina listened intently to the bits she could make out from the quiet speaking assassin. From what she heard, she was quite impressed with the observation the graduate was giving. "Future Hiringu right there. Omada style." She smiled. "Well, what are they saying, Rina?" Margie rejoined. "Ahh, I can't really hear. Said something about a suffocation possible strangulation....I don't know." Margie winced in pain for a moment before replying. If anything, she could provide first-hand details because she was there before any of them. "Sounds about right. That's up Bloodbeard's alley, but he'd never waste his time on a guard, though." Felix then chimed in, "Christopher maybe?" All eyes fell on Felix after he mentioned that name. “It’s just a hunch.” Silence among them lingered a moment before another person spoke, “Well, your ‘hunches’ are most of the time correct.” Niclaus spoke up with a slight chuckle. Paige then directed their attention to the departing graduate, “Looks like they’re on the move. Don’t need to fall too far behind.” All nodded and decided to follow at a distance.

 

[Edric Yuma]

Shen

​

"OW! OW!... OW... Ow... ow...." Shen doubled over as waves of pain coursed upward through his body from his private area. "Shen!" Rufus came over, appearing to try not to laugh. "Are you okay?" Shen shook his head, tears of pain forming at his eyes. "Never... Ask... A... Woman... Her... Gender...." He gasped in pain, and Rufus was clearly grinning now. "Gotta say, Shen, that was pretty dumb." Rufus chuckled a little. "But nice try."


After Shen felt he was able to move again, the two rejoined the group, with Shen mulling over the words of the Assassin. Was he jealous? He had thought about being a woman before, but it hadn't really been a strong desire. It would have been nice if more guys paid attention to him, though.


The scout's comment knocked Shen out of his thoughts, and he started with surprise. "Ah! Oh, I mean, okay...." He looked down at the guard. "I guess. Let me get something to honor his death at least. Be right back." He stepped back a little, then sent a message up to his brain.


"Hey, military officer-kun, you still there?"





No response. Shen tried again.


"Hey, Koumpi? You still there?"





The Koumpi shouted back.


"I AM NOT A MILITARY OFFICER! YOU JUST TOLD ME TO GO AWAY, WHY SHOULD I COME BACK?!"


"Because we're in this head together. No leaving allowed."





His Koumpi paused, and Shen could tell it was trying to come up with a retort, but it appeared unable to find one, instead answering in an annoyed voice.


"Anyway, what do you want?"


"Take me into awakening, will ya?"





"....Why?"


"I need to grab a flower from outside to honor the fallen guard. He is serving us even in his death."





His Koumpi's answer was not quite what Shen hoped to hear, and it deafened his mind.


"YOUR AWAKENING IS FOR FIGHTING PURPOSES ONLY! FIGHT-ING PUR-PO-SES!" The Koumpi drug out every last word, emphasizing its meaning. "Besides, you can probably get back out, grab a flower, and get back in a minute or two if you use your ability."


"Yeah, maybe if I knew my way out. I don't though, so I was just planning on using awakening and running around the prison until I get out."





Shen didn't know if Koumpi could sigh, but he could clearly tell his was quite annoyed. It gave Shen a one-word response.


"No."





Afterwards, no matter how hard Shen tried to nag his Koumpi, it never responded. With a "hmph," Shen rejoined the group, instead bowing to the guard to pay his respects, only to find it already decayed.

...I was just planning on using awakening and running around the prison until I get out. Shen

Rufus

Rufus looked at Shen, who seemed rather put out. "What happened?" He asked. Shen dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. "Ah, nothing, just my Koumpi being uncooperative as usual."


Rufus cocked his head. "Koumpi? What's that?" Shen winked. "You'll find out." Was all Rufus got. Turning to the assassin, Rufus quickly bowed. "I apologize for our behavior, it was rather rude of us."


Shen nodded, bowing as well. "My manly marbles will never be the same," He remarked. "I will forever remember you." He turned to Rufus. "Oh yeah, what is our mission anyway?"


Rufus frowned. "I'm not sure either, but I think we're looking for someone." @Newtype @babyjoker36610


Rufus' mouth dropped open. "What are you thinking? Now the entire prison knows of our presence!" Shen laughed in response. "I bet they already did, to be honest. Word travels pretty quickly when you have nothing to do but talk in a cell." He gestured to the group. "Besides, the worst that could happen is that it forces us to move forward and get off our asses, which really isn't that bad at all. And maybe the person we are looking for will even come to us."


Rufus groaned for the upteenth time. "Or... we could die." Shen did have point, though. They seriously needed to get moving, dawdling around in a dangerous place was never a good thing.

 

[Field Marshall]

Sora's fury only grew more as Felix refused to give a proper explanation about the situation. Niclaus's interjection only left him with more questions. He couldn't take it, he couldn't calm down. "Just save it, you knew about that woman and you likely knew about a whole lot more. You likely know about the massacre of the Great Kaminari clan, how do I know you didn't help that plot come to fruition?" Sora said with words of fire but that would feel like the coldest ice. Felix's reply made Sora want to go into awakening right there he likely would've if his koumpi hadn't gone silent on him. Niclaus spoke once again creating more new questions and so did Felix's final words. All he was left with is questions in the end, it was the massacre all over again just questions and questions all over with no end to it at all.


Sora stopped as the others went on ahead. 'You're not ready for this, I need you focused on the task at hand. You mustn't falter now, you must soldier on. ' The Raikouryuu said. Sora just didn't want to hear any of it, it felt as if the world itself was lying to him. He walked on just barely keeping the others within sight, he had no desire to hear their words only the desire to unload on the first enemy to think he a helpless straggler. They will find out just how helpless he is..... to stop himself.


@OwlOne @FrontLine @babyjoker36610 @DergTheDergon @Edric Yuma @everyone else I am too sleepy to add

 

[Affili]

Darious' eyes narrowed upon one final inspection of the corpse. The Knights had all agreed it seemed to be Bloodbeard's work but the younger pirate had no recollections of his grandfather sucking people dry and forcing accelerated decomposition. Just what had the man he once called grandpa become over the years.


'What do you make of it Koumpi?' he asked as he nudged what was left of the body's foot with his boot. Then watched in disgust as the flesh seemed to crumble like peanut brittle. There didn't appear to be any bodily fluids, no blood or anything left within the corpse as he watched it wither away even further.


"Just a dry empty husk?" he questioned out loud.


'Like a spider sucking its meal dry. I've not seen anything like this..this vampiric nature within the bloodline Darious, but I don't like it. We need to find him, and find him fast!'


'For once we agree on something, but what about the others?'


'Like I said earlier, Cornelius will not likely kill you on first sight, as for them, well...It's anybody's guess. They can find you when they are ready. Better it be you that confronts him first than one of your comrades. even the two that went on ahead won't suffice to contain him.-'


'And I will?' Darious interrupted


'I was merely stating, that he probably won't kill you on first sight. Besides, there's only one other Soul essence similar to yours within this complex so two of them in one location, will definitely register for easy tracking. Now do you think you can wind step again?


'I Don't know, I just did it. I wanted to get here and the next thing I knew, I was here.'


'I don't know if that makes you a prodigy, or just extremely lucky.' the Koumpi interjected with frustration and for an instant Darious thought that he saw something with a snout and two glowing sapphire blue orbs for eyes shake its wolf like head slowly within his mind's eye.


He heard Shen yelling through the prison and that alone was enough to give the two thieves positions away.


'Leave them for now. They will follow you. Focus once more now and the moment you feel his essence, will yourself to be near.'


Darious did as he was told, raising his soul essence once more without a word and just as before, he registered a brief map of the environment from the winds. There was one location in particular where a familiar sensation gained his focus.


'There?' it was more a question to his Koumpi then an actual statement.


'Yes, it hissed. Don't want to be there, just be there. For just as the wind is everywhere, so you should be!' the words echoed in his mind as if he was at the base of a massive canyon, bouncing and ricocheting from all angles and Darious suddenly felt lighter almost weightless in actual fact. Those around him would feel a strong gust of wind manifest from nowhere and in an instant, the pirate was gone, suddenly reappearing at the heart of the prison, the mess hall with his soul essence suppressed.


The winds encircled him like a cyclone as he felt himself grow heavy once more. Once Darious' feet connected with the tiled floor he looked around, slightly confused, body shivering violently once more as he tried to raise his core temperature back to its normal levels.


'I don't think I'll ever get used to that sensation.' he thought in between the shivers.


'You will in time, and with time you will be able to travel further, gain all the freedom the the winds would share with you boy!' For now though, I'm impressed you were able to execute it at will. If I had hands, I'd even offer you an applaud, but alas for now, you will just have to settle for a compliment. Now, pay attention! This is a big room, but I can feel him nearby.'


The prison's emergency lights cast an eerie red ambiance to the room as all other light struggled to penetrate the vast hall and Darious couldn't help but think of Vienna. This would be the perfect stomping ground for her, or any other member of the shadow faction for that matter.


Darious' soul essence was as suppressed as he could keep it in any case, making it difficult to pinpoint his immediate location and the pirate kept to the shadows as he slowly prowled the mess hall, pulsing his soul essence briefly every so often to gain some perception to the room amidst the poor lighting.


Perhaps only one other person could feel his presence at the moment. Just the person he had come to see!


There was only one clear entrance and exit from the large hall.


"Now, where are you Grandfather? It is time we had that talk!" He uttered quietly as he slowly unsheathed his sword.


"Do you recognize this sword Grandfather? Do you remember who once wielded it? I remember! I remember them well." he added coldly as he held the blade up, allowing the reflection of the red emergency lights to dance off of the polished metal

 

[OwlOne]

Times Up!

​

The prison, at this point, was becoming more livelier than usual. Since the first showdown at the front, word seemed to travel fast about the unannounced guest. First it was loud booms then a few rumbles causing dust to fall from the ceiling to the power being shut off. “You know it will be just a matter of time before they all find us.” A rather soft disembodied voice spoke. “And if they do we will award them accordingly.” A short but informative response came. Truthfully, the group never thought they would be able to pull this off. With all the lockdown they have it’s next to impossible to escape.


Materializing out of thin air was Lance, along with Czar and Opal. Lance looked ok, but Czar and Opal looked rather banged up. Without saying a word, Lance walked over and laid both of them down. “Well they are just useless now aren't they?" A very sarcastic, gumbly, decrepit voice announced. Soon to be followed by a more sophisticated voice. "At least they have done something. What have you done?" The rapidly sarcastic voice spoke again. "My talent will become useful soon enough." the voice then laughed a laugh that sounded of death. Lance waved his hand dismissing them as if he didn’t care. He wasn’t really in the mood considering he and his team were severely outnumbered. Before he knew it he replied, “All this talk of who’s doing what yet only one of you has only engaged the enemy.” Lance’s eyes slid over to the obvious party. The sophisticated woman replied again but this time towards lance. "Awww is someone upset? Well, my boys did wonderfully. Damien, go heal the boy so he may still be of some use." She started towards one of the twins. “But Madam I don’t remember such ability I dare not use it or it may backfire on me,” Damien explained.


Whilst everything was taking place. All the parties became quiet as the felt so skirmishes roaming the halls of the prison. "Darnell what about you?" She asked the other twin. “Well, I’m with him. Whatever he can’t do I can’t do sorry.” She shrugged.


Illari retracted himself back to the corner he was on to avoid being seen. He knew going at it alone would prove to be beneficial to finding at least where they hid. It’s been awhile since Illari was by himself on recon, so he had to be sure he wasn’t spotted at all. From what he could tell, there were about five occupants in the room. He couldn’t tell, but he didn’t see any sign of blood beard. Oddly enough, the cells on this hall were empty probably due to the emergency alert when everything first took place. Being that he saw a few gutted out and dead guards on his way up, he feared that they would go down without a fight. “The soul stealer would go right in there and own all of them.” A proper yet aged sounding voice resonated within his head. “Well, I do have senses,” He replied. “Without backup I’d be asking for a death wish.” His Koumpi scoffed, “You know lady Kaminari is in there right?” Illari peered around the corner once more, “I’m aware.” His Koumpi went on, “Have you thought of a way to not engage her? Your families are still under a peace treaty. How did that twat of a brother of yours put it….ahh yes…’No blood no fight’...such an idiot.” Illari spotted Naiomi and glared at her intently. She hadn’t changed since the last time they crossed paths. Still quite the fancy lady who had too much to drink and settled for a roughneck bad boy from the Gaal bloodline. Not that Illari didn’t enjoy it time after time, he just couldn’t afford her. Plus her family wasn’t too accepting of her dealing with a low-income family.


Illari balled his fist so tight his knuckles turned white. “Still thinking about what her father said to you?” His Koumpi edged. “Bastard said I’m not worth the crap on the bottom of his shoe. Showed him.” His Koumpi continued, “That you did...that you did.” Ilari then returned from his glare and hugged the wall with his back, “Just because we didn’t have pure lightning they put us under their feet and spat on us.” He began gesture with his hands, “Kaminari this….Kaminari that….Ohhhhh the Kaminari...what a twist when they were all massacred and nobody even took the time to ask questions. We...WE….were the only ones there to comfort those cut throat son of a bitches and not even a thank you came from the branch family. Burns me up every time I think about it.” He beat his fist into the wall behind him. “It just sounds like you’re upset about being used as a quickie rather than being praised.” Illari didn’t even respond to the comment. Maybe his Koumpi was right maybe that was the reason. Or it probably was how the Kaminari was conceited, cut throat, bastards, that were wealthy. Now they don’t have so much as a penny to their name.


Away from all of the commotion, Cornelius set in his old cell seemingly staring at nothing. “Tik….tok…..tik...tok….” the clock on the wall in the Atrium sounded. Each second came with a sound and Cornelius tapped along with the rhythm of the clock. He looked over to his right, into the atrium, only to see the eerie emergency lights. In the hall, he could see the rotating strobe light which probably came on when he escaped. Cornelius was an observant man. Skilled thinker and strategist. Because of such attributes, that makes him one of the most feared hunters between all of the councils. He knew what he was capable of doing and has spent years putting it to good use. Now he was considering retirement. Cornelius scoffed then chuckled as the thought crossed his mind. Though it wouldn't be a bad idea, the would have to kill him first before he would even entertain the idea. As he sat there, he could feel a familiar feeling surge through his aged veins. A feeling that only blood relatives could feel for one another. A smile crept its way upon the Pirate’s face because he knew who it was that was coming. “So his Koumpi is helping him hmm?” He thought to himself.


“Grandfather you look puzzled. I doubt you're worried about seeing your son's child.” An intelligent and robust sounding voice spoke. Cornelius cleared his thought with a slight chuckle, “Christopher.” He greeted. “I thought I told you to stay with everyone else. Now wouldn't be a good time to see your cousin.” The young man hissed, “He's my father's nephew and that's about it. I have no relation to someone who turned their back on us.” Cornelius interjected, “His father was just naive. Had this assinine thought of saving his people.” He then turned to Christopher with a look, “I then asked him how do you save a group of people that can't be saved? Want to know the answer I received?” He gestured. Christopher nodded and waved his hand. “The answer I received was he was killed.” He chuckled. “So he died trying.” Christopher assessed. “No, he died because He didn't realize his failure before executing his ploy. Idiots never learn.” Cornelius dismissed.


He then felt the temperature within the room decrease he looked over to Christopher, “Hit the road. My grandson is here.” Christopher looked, “Hmph.” and walked off From Cornelius. As Darious materialized From thin air, Cornelius watched him. He took his pipe, lit it, and began to smoke it. He watched Darious’ moves, his reactions, his mannerisms, and his choice of steps. Reminded him of when he was Darious' age. From what he could tell, he was all alone. His Grandson tried to hide his soul essence, but Cornelius was a step ahead. He set up the room in a way to block out any tracking hunters.

*Character Intro Song*​

Cornelius then heard his Grandson address him and from the shadows, a slow loud clap began. *Press Play* From the same direction a man identical to Darious began to appear slowly, smoking his pipe. Once fully visible, the man dropped his hands to his side diagonally with his palms facing Darious. His attire wasn’t like that of an @Newtype @FrontLine @Pretzel Heart @Edric Yuma

 

[Affili]

Had it not been for the fact that Darious knew the room was empty, and the glowing embers from Bloodbeard's pipe, he would of thought he was staring into a mirror, that had been placed in the middle of the room.


"You...look well for your age..."he offered through his confusion as his face turned serious "Was it you then that sucked that guard dry? I never knew I had vampires within the family... Whats left of it anyway."


His grandfather vanished for a moment, reappearing behind him and Darious resisted the urge to swing his blade, but the moment Bloodbeard had whispered he had drawn his pistol which was already trained on the elder pirate's abdomen as Darious caught a glimpse of the man behind him from the dull reflection of his blade.


"Too slow? Well that's what happens when you have no one to train you properly old man. but we both know this story already. What I don't know is why. How could anyone bare the weight of slaughtering their own Kin?"


He listened as the doors all shut, and although he pulsed his essence to locate the others, he could get no response from the wind outside the room at that moment, as if the room was in penetrable both from the inside and from the outside. His eyes nor his pistol ever left Bloodbeard as the man he once respected above everyone kicked a chair towards him.


The glowing sapphire rings returned and encircled his irises once more. "So tell me then...Why?" he asked, as his soul essence fluctuated violently until he managed to contain it. "The crew...mother...father...All murdered by you."


'Darious...Darious, calm down...perhaps you should just listen.' His Koumpi prodded softly.


'Shut up! How could you even entertain that thought? Were you not there that day, along with me? Don't you remember...what this man did?'


Against Darious' will, the hand holding the pistol moved ever so slightly to the side of Bloodbeard a split second before the pistol roared in response to the rage that was threatening to consume him.


Darious watched as the bullet tore through the side of his grandfather's waistcoat, narrowly grazing the flesh underneath it.


'No...Why would you? I didn't even know you could...!'


'I said listen damn it! Now sit...It's time you knew.' The anger was evident in his Koumpi's voice and Darious was slammed down onto the chair with enough force to rattle his teeth. He struggled to stand to his feet once more but the resistance proved too great and he felt as though a massive gale was pouring down on top of him.


All he could do was glare hatefully at his grandfather


"Damn you both to hell! I never miss a shot!" he spat through clenched teeth.


@OwlOne

 

[Field Marshall]

The Raikouryuu couldn't let Sora continue on as he currently is, he needed Sora to believe in him and himself. To that end the Raikouryuu intiated a flash back of the Kaminari massacre. Everything was a dark and hazed, he was wondering the Estate looking at the dead bodies of his relatives. Then he heard the sounds of voices and quickly pressed himself against the wall. "Hmmmmm..... don't you think it's strange there is no terastios or any hirudo its like all that koumpi just diappeared. Weird especially for how many that died here we should be facing some massive storm monster." one of them said. Another said "Yeah, but this whole thing is strange just like how we can't find any of the children. Maybe they were obliterated to ash and blew away?" Sora had a sharp intake of breath which made the two hunters pause. One of them came around the corner and Sora prepared to run when he turned right into another hunter. "Hey look I think I found a survivor. Can you tell us what happened kid? Hey kid......" The voice dissolved into haze as the flashback faded.


"You see now I will help you solve all of this just like Niclaus and Felix will as well. So you have to get over yourself, right now we are in battle so now you must fight." The Raikouryuu spoke into his head. As soon as Sora heard that a blue blast came around the corner and Sora narrowly ducked it. Several more blasts came forcing Sora to retreat down a corridor into a large room which he realized was a cell block all too late. He was surrounded by inmates on all sides and Sora knew he couldn't take them all normally. "Okay I see your point. So let's do it!" Sora replied as the air began to have a charged feeling to it as he raised his soul essence.




"Raikouryuu!" Sora roared as his pupil became dragon slits and lightning surged through his eyeballs, his irises glowed bright yellow the color of the lightning in his eyes. This occured as the first of the inmates leapt at him. Lightning surged all over his body as he formed a blade of electricity and then moved as if he was a lightning bolt cutting through the first of the foolish inmates. He then from his hand unleash a volley of lightning shocking and burning multiple inmates as the bolts jumped from one inmate to another. He knew he has only a few minutes before it wears of so he was making every move count. He then dived into the center of them unleash a field of electricity shocking more inmates into unconsciousness. Then one inmates who's ability seemed to be metal turned into metal channeling Sora's lightning and used it to punch him. Sora was blown back across the room. Then another inmate who's ability seemed rubber related appeared and kicked him across the room back to the metal inmate. Sora knew he needed to find some way to regain leverage. He concentrated his electricity within his body to enhance his physical strength and speed and then with a hypersonic super strength punch he punch the metal inmate right in the side of his head knocking him out. Sora began breathing heavy then sadly his awakening not timed out but in the process of doing so. Sora dropped to his knees as the final inmate approached him, Sora was at a loss about what to do. Even as the inmate picked him up by the throat and began to choke the life out of him. Then he heard the Raikouryuu. "He is draining the life from you by constriction, now you must drain the life from him." Sora with the last of his awakening grabbed the inmates arm and then focus hard. Suddenly the inmate let go and fell down while electricity arced from his body into Sora's hands. Sora's awakening timed out right then and he felt tired but not as if he was going to fall unconscious. "That's because you drain his bio electricity so that energy is currently feeding you right now offsetting the consumption but since it was your first time taking power from an outside source this will only be temporary so try not to exert yourself in another battle or you'll fall unconscious." the Raikouryuu explained.

 

[Pretzel Heart]

Basic

Name: Feivel Whitney Hobllordy

Age: 23

Faction: Assassin

Rank: Apprentice

Status

Location: Inside Destirdere (outside room with Darious and Blood Beard)

Company: Alone (?)

Mood: Bloodlust

​

“I noticed the same thing oddly enough.”


The first one to speak instantly drew the razor-sharp reaction of Feivel's scrutinizing gaze. She grunted at what she saw.


"Of course you did," she muttered, her irritation partially blocking out whatever had followed...something about security cameras. Whatever.


Without any attempts to hide it she fish-eyed the graduate who had spoken. He seemed like a real dandy, and she hated dandies, having grown up around them. Moreover his clothing and mannerisms marked him as a scout. [ @FrontLine ]


While Feivel held a particular disgust for all humanity, and especially all other Hunter Factions, there was a special place in the Hell of her hatred for scouts. The "smart guys." Whenever anyone thought of a brainiac, a scout was the first likely image to come to mind. Never mind that in the cesspool of neredowells like thieves, pirates, and gamblers, the one Faction to stand heads and shoulders above the others in both killing accuracy and intellectual superiority were the assassins. No. it was always the scouts that got the rep for intelligence. Assassins were just mindless killing machines.


Hmph. I'll show him a mindless killing machine.


'Jealous, are we?'


Witch giggled her windchime laugh, but the assassin wasn't paying attention. An eerie silence had befallen the little group, with only the echoing of a nearby prisoner's taunts filling in the void left by the empty hallways. He spoke in the ephemeral whisper of one breathing steam into cold air, so Feivel could barely make out what he was actually saying. The smokey stillness of the moment stayed with her, however.


"If you haven’t realized, this place belongs to them."


The prisoner's last words rang like an omen upon the graduates' heads, seeming to remain in the air long after the speaker had slunk away into his cell.


"Yeah, if by 'them' you mean the taxpayers, or the Council who commissioned this junk pile then dumped in all you losers."


As much as she loved the haunting chill the prisoner had cast over the room, Feivel was in too rash a mood to appreciate it. Besides, if she didn't break up the stillness, she was afraid she would remain hanging in that moment forever.


Still, picking a fight with someone trapped behind bars wasn't very big, bad, tough, or manly, so she reeled in her tongue before it could flap any looser. Such a barrier would make for a rather unsatisfactory brawl, anyways.


Her eyes were again distracted by the scout making a movement away from the corpse.


What the--


The perfectly fine (well, despite been dead) human body that had been leaning peacefully suddenly collapsed into a decayed ruin. For one horrifying second, the assassin's eyes felt caught on the image of the exposed skull's empty eye sockets, her mental theater snagged like a piece of clothing on a rusty nail.


Decay.


Ruin.


A rotting corpse.


Barrett.


Poisoned.


A jolt of pain allowed Feivel to finally blink away, and she realized that her fingernails were gouging into her arms. If it weren't for all the layers of clothing, she wondered if she would have drawn blood.


Disgusting.


She again turned from the corpse, still feeling a lingering nausea. Her fingers fluttered briefly around her heart, and she was reminded that it was the same, delicate organ that had once belonged to a lost and foolish girl.


'Feivel...'


If Hunter and Koumpi had been about to have a much needed heart-to-heart, they were interrupted by the arrival of a new cacophonous band of jabberers. The long hallways of the prison were perfect for conducting sound, and so as they grew closer and eventually joined the graduates, Feivel had the sense that they had been chittering among themselves the whole time they walked.


Finally one of them, a young punk by the looks of it, decided to give his opinion on the body. The kid seemed to be talking more to his mysterious little posse than to the graduates, but Feivel thought she caught the gist of it.


"The f**k is Christopher?" she couldn't help but ask. [@OwlOne ]


'You do realize that's one of the Knights of the Round you're speaking to, do you not?'


The numbered insignias they bore. 5. 7. 8. And some Hiringu by the looks of it. That made the assassin think of her mother, accompanied by a pang of loss and distaste.


Huh. Even Knights can be annoying chatterboxes. Good to know.


Rounding out the cycle of hate, the person who had had the bright idea to bury the corpse piped up again. This time Feivel recognized the voice as belonging to the nosy boy who had interrogated her. He sure had reappeared quickly after her attempt to emasculate him. For a second she wondered if she had somehow missed his gnads in her rush to get the ball moving on her mission, but his pained words, much to her satisfaction, proved she had not.


"My manly marbles will never be the same. I will forever remember you." [ @Edric Yuma ]


Feivel had to smirk at the blank slate's comment. That's exactly what she liked to hear from the people she beat up. Fighting to her wasn't just about winning, wasn't about damaging an opponent until they backed off or heeded to her will. When she fought someone she wanted to mark them. Send poison deep inside tangled veins like gnarled roots so that, even years after recovery, they'll never belong fully to themselves again.


Scars that cut deeper than skin, muscle tissue, bone.


Destinies you can't escape.


So he's a thief, huh?


Now that she was getting a bigger picture of the guy than his dopey face, the glove seemed to fit. Feivel couldn't help but mentally will him to try and steal anything from her, giving her an excuse to steal a little something of her own. Like, say, a vital organ. She knew all the softest parts of the body to pry them from, and had grown up always wanting to play doctor.


Even more irritating was the fact that he seemed to be pretty buddy-buddy with...another thief? She had assumed that the 'Merry Band of Faction Warriors' had no room for repeats, but maybe she had been wrong. Or maybe he was another Council member. Or not a thief. Or a flying unicorn. Who knew, who cared? Despite his being politer and slightly less aggravating that his companion, number 2's hair was offensively outrageous. If he was a thief she couldn't imagine he was a very successful one.


'Who was it who stole your bag?' 'That one! With the bright pink spiky hair! You can't miss him!'


Blank Slate wasn't doing much better with his bright red-orange crop. The fact that they were teamed up only seemed to make the eye-blinding, designer-tear-inducing color combination even more grotesque.


Still, there was a certain harmony in the way they verbally played off of one another that was distinctly lacking in their hair color.


While assassins were largely considered to be the "lone wolves" of the factions, if there were to be a runner-up for least likely to trust anyone, Feivel felt it would be the thieves. The two were playing like mates now, but all she could see were the inner workings of their brains turning like cogwheels.


What were they thinking?


Which of the two was planning to betray his friend? Steal the glory? Take more than his cut of the profits?


Her annoyance ran over her like a wave, washing away these possibilities at their continued friendly banter, leaving only a naked, crude thing washed up on the shore.


Envy.


None of the other Factions trusted thieves, but she had seen that they could work together quite well. A pickpocket sneaking behind to someone's purse while their buddy chattered about directions. Someone good at picking locks and someone else better at eyeballing which jewelry was the priciest.


That kind of teamwork, even in the rare cases it did crop up among assassins, like in the hitman gangs that roamed the underbelly of Shutter City, was superficial at best. People begrudging one another's presences to achieve a common goal of taking down an especially slippery target or pass an exam. Even at the academy in Council City, one of the most competitive Hunter training grounds in North America, friendship among assassins had been a tense and tenuous thing.


Feivel, being more skilled than most at seeing through those kinds of brittle relationships, hadn't a tinge of regret in keeping to herself.


As far as her knowledge went, there had been only one significant exception.


A pair of assassins so close that they could weave through a target like knitting needles. Without words they could exist in one another's heads.


Sly. Whit.


But Sly had turned out to be a Sly bas**rd, hadn't he?


Like she'd said, there had been one exception.


But two assassins, working in perfect harmony, one mind, one heart, one soul...it was a lie so cheap sounding even a thief wouldn't touch it. Only an idiot would have ever believed in such a thing.


'You are not an idiot, Feivel.'


Not anymore, at least.


As she had been musing all this to herself, it seemed as if Pinky and Blank Slate were getting into more shenanigans. They didn't know that they were supposed to be looking for Captain Blood-in-His-Beard? Were they even a part of the graduates? The more time that she paid attention to them, it seemed less and less likely that that they were even capable enough to be Hunters.


Tweelde Dum and Tweedle Mentally Incapacitated.


But then Blanky had the bright idea of shouting throughout the whole prison at the top of his lungs. Feivel briefly recalled her observation about sound travel earlier. Well, whoever the flip Christopher was, looks like they were all about to find out.


Her poor head still addled from being screamed into by the dumbest person on the island, Feivel raised her fist wondering if it would really be such a waste of time to make true her fantasy about adding some color to vapid face.


"Is there a brain in that candy factory hair!?" She yelled.


She wanted a punching bag and Blank Slate was tailor-made to fit the bill. It was like he was asking her to punch him.


Maybe he's a masochist.


The thought was strangely calming enough to get her to bring her fist down.


That's right. Save your energy for the big boys.


Speaking of the big boys...


'That pirate, just then.'


You mean Mr. All-Swagger-No-Impact?


'I said pirate, yes.'


Feivel let out a puff at that one. It was very unusual for her Koumpi to make a joke which she could get in on.


'His Soul Essence, did you notice something about it?'


Trying to make fun of me?


Feivel could dish it out much better than she could take it.


'It's something to work on, anyways. But perhaps if you concentrate, you can sense that there is one very similar...deep...powerful...simmering in the heart of this prison.'


Since Feivel rarely willingly let her Koumpi out, and usually when the witch did make an appearance it was during such times that left little room for chitchat, she had never received direction from her before. Usually the voice in her head was prodding at her just to use her powers, let alone give her advice on how.


So although she mentally grumbled something about having already graduated, even just barely, Feivel attempted to do what the witch advised. She scrunched up her eyes, doing her best to block out all of the many annoyances around her, and tried to let her mind wander, spreading out across the small prison island.


There! I can sense something!


Amidst the various pings of Soul Essences, there was one that pulsated louder than the rest, being swiftly approached by one of a similar feel. Then the second one vanished.


The pirate found Bloody, and he's masked his Soul Essence so as not to be found out.


'Very good. But it makes me wonder. Why are their patterns so similar?'


Cause they're both pirates? Come to think of it, Bloody the Beard sounds like a pretty piratey name.





'Is that what the Council called him?'


Whatever. I know where to go now, so I don't need the shadow girl, these idiots, or even you. This time it's all on me, baby.


"Corpses may be in this season, but you all can get your rotting flesh fix at any graveyard once we're outta here."


She didn't know why she bothered mentioning anything to the others at all. But as she dropped her already painfully easy to miss Soul Essence into the indistinguishability of her Flickering Stealth mode, Feivel comforted herself in saying that if she didn't jerk their chains a bit, they'd probably be too stupid to ever move on. And like it or not, it seemed that the Council had decided to tie up their destinies in a neat, inextricable little bow.


But that didn't mean she had to give a rat's a** about how they handled themselves. Not waiting to see if anyone would follow, Fievel began to zip through the prison's corridors, banishing Witch further and further into the back of her mind as she ran with all the energy and freedom of Kinsi. The freedom of knowing she was moving full-speed towards what was potentially the most dangerous battle of her short life. And like a train with broken breaks, she didn't care.


Until that train slammed head-on into a steel-fortified damn.


The actual...?


She had been so preoccupied locking onto the finally recognized Soul Essence that Fievel hadn't noticed the door until it was bolted in her face. In anger she pounded her fist against it, as if that would do anything, and suffered the immediate consequence of trying to beat down a metal door.


Taking a deep breath to nurse her smarting hand, she re-concentrated her thoughts to confirm what she already feared: For whatever reason, Bloody and the pirate had locked themselves up inside that very room.


God.


Damn.


"You cheat! That isn't fair! Come out and let me kill you like a man!" She screamed at the door, thought she doubted if sound could even penetrate it. [ @Affili ]


'Looks like you won't be taking the glory on this mission.'


Yeah, and looks like someone took advantage of my vulnerability to sneak back into my consciousness.


Feivel was feeling a little too worn to be moody, however. All this running around for nothing was starting to really wear down on her stamina.


As a new graduate, she had never been in a long-term fight before...


While she remained slinking in front of the door, a slow, grating noise dragged itself along the Hunter's hearing.


"What's that?"


The long, hollow screeching of metal against metal sounded throughout the hallways. Throughout the entire prison.


The sound of gates being pulled back.


Unlocking.


'If you haven’t realized, this place belongs to them.'


"Shi---"


Feivel caught herself mid-curse. Wait. This is just what she wanted. A chance for a good old-fashioned brawl.


The re-awakened need to sink her fist into the stomach of all the BS she had had to deal with - with the academy's board, the Council, the Omada, the Knights, the graduates - it rekindled the cool flame inside of her, flickering deep in her heart and soul. The drive to fight back. To obliterate. No matter the direction, no matter the consequences--- The pure drive to destroy.


As the sound of countless footsteps began to trundle nearer, Feivel couldn't wait to see who would be the first to tempt her frustration. And her Koumpi couldn't wait to use the assassin's burgeoning bloodlust for a chance to unleash herself from her own long-locked cell.