Fantasy Cross Blades: The Divine Conquerors Main

[YsFanatic]

Perhaps a few minutes passed before Charon skipped over to where Princess Athena and the others were waiting for the Summoned. While the android's metal hide had been cleaned, mostly, the wooden sign hanging from his neck wasn't so lucky as black splotches from crushing some of the Dolls stained it's surface. Despite that, most of the lettering could still be ready.

In the event that the android didn't already have everyone's attention he announced his arrival on a deep, booming voice. "Greetings fleshies and robots!". Charon pauses for a moment as he glances over at the princess's three bodyguards. "Or are they androids like me? Can't tell from a basic scan!"

StaidFoal

 

[Solirus]

Adon​

Adon wasn’t surprised by the refusal of help from the mage and neither was he surprised by the harsh rejection of sharing their name. He was planning on climbing up but he didn’t want to leave the mage behind, he knew that the mage lacked any type of friends so maybe Adon could help him be his friend, not by the mage's suggestion or choice, but by Adon’s own choice. However the mage wouldn’t climb onto his back and didn’t seem to want any help so Adon was thinking of some other alternative to maybe indirectly help the mage get out.

While thinking his visor picked up the magic that the mage was about to cast and immediately realized what he wanted to do but failed just as he did with the portal. “An interesting idea.” Adon spoke. “Then I shall destroy a section of the cliff to help any further individuals that get stuck here, which in this case also includes both of us.” Adon walked up near the somewhat damaged wall and stood in front of the Mage so they wouldn’t get hurt.

Adon softly placed his hand on the damaged wall to get a feel for it and took a deep breath. He took a simple combat stance and punched the wall causing a crack to form on the wall. Adon punched again and again causing the wall to break more and more, but it still didn’t fall apart. Adon slowly left his stance and walked up to the wall grabbing onto one of the rocks still on the wall and pulling it off causing the wall and part of the cliff to fall apart creating a sort of pathway from the place they were in back to the top, showing off not only brute strength but the precision of a sculptor. Adon looked back at the mage while moving out of the way. “You're welcome.” he said with a positive tone, waiting for the mage to walk back up first.

nighttimecatplayer

 

[Solirus]

Dr. Xander​

The day was coming to a close as I saw my last patient walk out the door. The young boy had been having troubles getting used to life without his parents even though they were abusive. It was interesting at the least, how one could miss such uncomfortable feelings in life, but that was one of the beauty’s of humanity as I would come to learn. Every single one was different and reacted to situations differently.

I got up from my chair and left an hour later after the session with my patient. I put on my coat and hat, and headed to my home. It was rather cold outside, approximately -4.28193 degrees Celsius or about 268.86807 Kelvin and dropping slowly. I took a deep breath and kept making my way home, pretending to ignore the other people around me and the homeless on the street begging for even a coin. I know that the majority will just waste that money in drugs and only fall back down even the kindest ones are controlled by their vices, but from experience I can tell some are not like the others, some are able to pick themselves back up after falling down so many times, eventually making the right decision in life and recovering with little time left for many.

I took another deep breath as my shoes began picking up snow and the temperature had dropped even further. I’m used to impossible temperatures or at least my true self is, but a drop of 2.273997 in degrees was not going to kill this body.

I pulled out my keys as I was face to face with the door to my house, it was rather big, but when compared to most of the other houses, it could be considered small. I unlocked the door and stepped into my house, locking the door as I went inside. I took one last deep breath and sat down on the couch, enjoying the warmth of my home and the lights which began to fill it, but I quickly noticed I hadn’t opened any of the light of my home, and the sun had already slowly been setting which would not be able to produce such light. I softly stood up from my couch and went outside as I saw many others walking outside to see something I wasn’t expecting to see for another 14.831 billion years.

The Sun had gone supernova and soon I wanted to check my odds of survival.

Could I survive the blast head on? No, the supernova would obliterate me before my body could regenerate.

Could I block it with my eldritch energy? Yes but in using so much I’d be dragged back, so no point in doing so.

Can I enter my dimension to dodge it? Yes, but when I would leave there would be nothing left and I’d be alone.

So the only reasonable option would be to just, give up…

I didn’t think about it too much. However it was a shame my time with the mortals was cut so abruptly… However I’d enjoy my last moments as best as I could. The blast wouldn’t reach for another 15 minutes so that gave me time to enjoy what I had left.

I went back inside and began making tea, listening to the chaos outside as humans began to neglect and lose their minds over their inevitable doom.

When the tea was finally done Xander poured it into his favorite cup and sat down again on the couch and took a sip from the tea. It was clearly burning but I was never worried, I liked it especially when it was burning. So refreshing considering it was still rather cold. Though the temperature would rise the moment the supernova would hit.

And soon when the supernova hit, my body was almost annihilated but was being repaired again and again by my regeneration. If I were to survive this, I’d be left alone. So I decided to cut off my regeneration and let the Supernova finish the work. Turning my body into nothingness and having my Soul back into the Eldritch dimension to Fuse with the one that gave me the body.

------------------------------------------------------------------​

My soul traveled through dimensions, almost making it back to IT. Though I felt a strange sensation as my soul was snatched away and sent off course, as if someone or something powerful enough to mess with my fellow Eldritch beings summoned me. And soon enough I was summoned here in a place I didn’t know faced with a being that I couldn't recognize.

Popular to common belief, Eldritch beings don’t have infinite knowledge, but we have the capabilities to learn anything we want and so it’s no surprise when we don’t know something.

This being even summoned me with my clothing and all my items, but seemed to forget my coat and hat. What a shame, but I simply stood there, analyzing those around me and taking a deep breath to enjoy that my Pseudo mortality was given another chance.

 

[Damafaud]

Francis Ward and... His Mind?

Francis and Vex
Interaction: Vaux, Mia, Argris, Adon
Mention: StaidFoal Solirus Juju Kloudy​

Adon’s reaction was met with a snort.

“Very well. You may swim in your foolishness while this Son of Heaven and the Great Mistress of Defecation bask-”

No one, unfortunately, could hear what Francis and Mia would bask in. His usual rumbling was interrupted by a sudden explosion of light. Even those without the capability to detect spiritual energy would see the glorious halo expanding from the pile of pebbles constructed earlier by Francis. The halo gave off a feeling of purity with an unmistakable divine presence.

The halo expanded until it hit Francis. The man let out an inhumane shout as golden cracks rapidly appeared on his skin. A look of excitement flashed through his eyes, but the phenomenon disappeared as sudden as its appearance. The cracks widened until Francis was enveloped entirely by light.

Slowly, the halo weakened along with the divine presence it contained. As the light faded, Francis’ laugh slowly echoed through the cliff as if coming from afar. The halo changed him drastically. Gone was the crazed man in a black vest so tidy and far from fitting the wearer’s conduct.

Francis was now standing in a Michael Jackson pose in a gold glitter disco shirt tucked into a white pair of trousers and a similarly golden pair of sunglasses.

And Mia was in an identical outfit. With an afro wig to pour salt onto the wound.

“Behold!” shouted Francis. If one was to only focus on his face, it would be as if he was sliding backwards. He was moonwalking back and forth in front of Mia.

“The outfit used by those blessed by the God of Light itself! Admire its ability to reflect natural sunlight and vampiric curses! Gasp at its glorious design and handsome wearer! Fall in love with me! Yes, me! The perfect bachelor and madness-inducingly handsome Son of Heaven! Though Heaven yet remains out of my reach, I bow to no one on this mortal realm but to my Mistress, the Lady of Waste, Shit!”

As if to prove his point, Francis knelt on both knees and held his arms against Mia in a grandiose manner. Though his intense gaze was obscured by the dandy sunglasses, his shining lopsided grin was clear for the world to see. Yes, shining.

All of Francis’ teeth were shining like light bulbs. In his grand display of randomised-eccentricity, an equally random thought hit him with all the curious innocence of a suddenly self-aware toddler.

'But how does that make me feel?'

"A personal maid cares not for his personal feeling. However!" Francis raised his voice. "It is a shame that Ezekiel failed to bestow a throne fitting for you, my mistress."

'Perhaps I could have provided better for my mistress. Perhaps I'm too hard on myself."

"Ah, the irony of it all. For such a magnificent ritual to fail to provide something completely unrelated and unrealistic to a God of Light."

Francis shook his head, disappointed. Through his open mouth when speaking, it was noticed that the light on his teeth could also glow green and blue. He hadn't noticed it yet, but for once, his internal thought derailed from his dilapidated usual structure. Of course, his usual line of thought was so messy that it was impossible to take notice of where he ended and anything else began. Naturally, the new part of him that began noticed and made sure that it was not.

"A deified being is something to worship and love. What do I love?"

“Me! I love me! But that means-” Epiphany struck. Francis cupped his mouth with both hands in disbelief. He had it wrong all this time. How stupid he had been!

“I am my God. Of course.”

At this point, SIN gave his intro to the third group of summoned. Francis, for once, listened attentively. He felt happier than usual, perhaps due to his latest divine insight, perhaps the engineered release of dopamine in his brain.

"How should I ascend, I wonder? A God needs His disciples…"

"But of course!" Francis raised his voice. "As Heaven has once said to no one, one cannot be two as they are different numbers. And so!"

Francis turned toward Mia once again. This time, he did not grovel.

"As the only God able to bind a Son of Heaven for his will, I declare the contract between the Lowly, Subservient Self of Man and the Griffonage Writing of a Pathologist's Purlicue as invalid as the former party no longer existed and the latter is a nonsensical string of words."

He showed an open palm toward Mia.

"I now demand my wage as your Personal Maid for the last 15 minutes."

Spoiler: What Francis wears now

 

[YsFanatic]

Judith sighed when she heard SIN's answer. She had expected something like that, but this was definitely a case where she would have been glad to be wrong. The devil hunter turned her attention back to the other people that had been summoned, noting the extremely odd combination of beings that had been brought here including a blasted succubus. She knew that type of demon could be particularly troublesome if not dealt with early, but on the other hand not all of them were evil. The white hair woman tapped her foot as she contemplated following the fiend from a distance until she could determine the demon's goal, but then a blinding light caught her attention.

The sight that greeted Judith and the things that Francis said caused her jaw to drop open in disbelief for several moments before she threw her hands up in the air and started walking off in a random direction. She just wasn't ready to deal with that level of crazy today, it was bad enough she sometimes had to deal with that kind of chaos when getting a haircut and the devil hunter really didn't feel like dealing with that kind of crap today.

 

[Solirus]

Rojy Erac​

“How great.” Rojy said walking through the hallway, “it seems some people are willing to help.”

(Rojy’s Mind)

Chaotic: “PFFFFFTTT”

Good: “What’s so funny?”

Chaotic: “My Goodness you’re just going to trust a scumbag like that? You barely know him and he was clearly being rude to you wasn’t he?”

Good: “Well yeah but… ”

Lawful: “Even when you are ejected into space and forced to suffer, you still muster up the courage to even trust the words of a thief.”

Good: “Hey we don’t know if he's a thief.”

Chaotic: “PPFFFFTTTTT”

Lawful: “no? He wears clothing very suited for a thief, he knows this place which immediately makes him quite suspicious, and with the body he has, he’d most likely be a thief and thus a liar.”

Good: “...”

Lawful: “Out of words I see. Look, no one can be trusted. The moment you trust someone, they’ll push you off. But you know who you can trust. You can trust us, We are always honest with you and we have spent the longest amount of time with you. No one knows you better than we do. So do me a favor head back to the ”Library” you have more important work to do.”

Good: “hm… f-fine”

(Reality)

Rojy with all the evidence being handed over to not trust the individual, turned back around and made his way back to the library. “I guess they’re right, even though they treat me poorly, they aren't as harsh as back then and they're at least honest..”

Soon after wasting a bit of time walking around the Guild, Rojy oriented himself back to the library and sat back down on the uncomfortable to resume his reading and gain all the knowledge he needed while also allowing his power to grow, so his others may… test out some things.

Mentions: Gohan510

 

[Snackofthefuture]

IVAN FEDERICO AND KOTORI
(Collab between Juju and Snackofthefuture )
PT.2
​

Ivan and Kotori continued to help the wounded to their assigned beds and open spaces, filling the already crowded room even further with the soldiers of the fading red empire. They worked for many hours, from the morning into the evening; Ivan would have guessed it to be around 6PM if he had been in his old world. Nortestra had been a gracious host nation to the summoned so far, thankful and benevolent towards the outworlders. If the old empire had been a human being, it would have been an old man, rugged and scarred, but smiling and grateful. He would have taken their hands in thanks and treated them to a feast grand enough to be remembered unto the the farthest depths of the future. Alas Nortestra was no individual, it was the masses, the many people that formed the old empire, it was those very same individuals that Ivan and Kotori were helping.

The two of them slowly and hesitantly got to know each other through their work, Kotori truly desiring to help the wounded and Ivan in his good but bored nature simply assisting to pass the time. By the end of their work both were covered in more blood than what would have passed for normal in Castellan, despite the fact it was engulfed in conflict. The two both took a break for a moment panting and sighing from the hard work; They had moved many men and assisted the healers and civilian workers with much. Kotori was obviously more tired than Ivan, having shown off her impressive healing powers at many moments to save the lives of some of the wounded. Ivan assisted Kotori in reaching the second floor, taking her arm over his shoulder as he led her to one of the rooms reserved for the healers of the building. Ivan was impressed with her to be fully honest, she had saved many lives in the short time they had been there, her magic healing and soothing many of the injured Nortestrans to points where they could bear the pain themselves.
As they entered the room, Ivan almost sighed at its state, old and near empty save for a bed, a couch and two chairs. The room was connected to a balcony that looked out over the bustling and ruined courtyard and had a single bathroom with a strange looking shower and all the other accoutrements of the average washroom.

He helped Kotori onto one of the chairs and she let out a weary breath, relieved to be off her feet for the first time in hours. The white fur on her attire was splotched in dry rust and blood had caked beneath her nails. None of it belonged to her, but to any onlooker her red-smeared skin and wilted posture would no doubt place her among the ranks of the infirm. She would have to find a stream or well to wash herself in, but before that she would need to find some strength. Of course, there was also the strange bathroom, but neither of them knew how to use it so it remained unoccupied.

She had used too much power today, but her only worry was if it was enough. Energy would return, like the summer wind in the spring, but blood that flowed did not. At least she had saved many lives, and perhaps more than she should have thanks to the help of Ivan. She looked at the gunslinger, understanding what that title meant after sharing conversations with him.

“Ivan’federico…”

Kotori said with tired eyes and a warm smile,

“Thank you... for everything today. You have a good heart. I am grateful fate brought us together.”

Ivan smiled wearily and sat down in the chair opposing Kotori, he then pulled off both of his boots and leaned back in the seat. He replied in a tone that spoke of his lack of energy and satisfaction at the day's work. “I did little compared to you Kotori, I just moved some bodies. You, you were impressive…” He then sighed and took off his coat, hanging it on his chair before rummaging through the pockets quickly. Laying out his things on the floor in front of him, Ivan took his massive pack of weed and his pipe and loaded himself yet another bowl. Lighting the flower quickly, the gunslinger inhaled, breathing in the sweet smoke with a sigh of relaxation. He looked at Kotori, and despite the blood and dirt, he found her strangely pretty, almost in an ethereal or angelic sense. He almost found himself blushing, but instead began coughing intensely instead. As he doubled over hacking and coughing, he offered the pipe to Kotori, wondering if she had any experience with the plant, or the process of smoking itself. It wasn't a very good coping mechanism for the troubles that besieged his soul, but it really did help most of the time, maybe if it could help the healing girl before him he’d feel a little better about it.

Kotori chuckled at his compliment, smiling wryly, “You should see the Ocean Beast’s power, mine is hardly a fraction.”

She peered curiously over at Ivan, watching him unpack strange items from his pockets. One was a bundle of herbs, though none that Kotori recognized. A pungent smell arose from them as they were lit, making her wonder if it was some sort of incense for the gods? That of course was disproved when he breathed in the smoke...and then choked on it. Her eyes sparked with alertness, “Are you alright? Oh?”

Taking the strange pipe from Ivan, she looked down at the burning herbs. “I...do not recognize this herb. What is it for?”

Ivan responded curtly, sitting upright after finishing his coughing fit, laughing towards the end of it. “Gets you fucked up, is good shit. Helps you forget the pain and do away with the aches in the muscle. I use it too much, but in moderation it can help the mind. Just inhale the smoke through the hole there and cover the other one with your finger.” Ivan stood up and assisted Kotori with the pipe, helping her to understand the device. “It's similar in a way to alcohol in that you will feel it immediately, but it feels much better than drink I assure you. Don't think too much however or you may find yourself going in circles.”

"Forget the pain? It sounds... almost too good to be true." Kotori looked distant and troubled as Ivan explained. She stared down at the strange device, watching tendrils of the smoke form little swirling pillars. In the burning aroma she could faintly smell charred flesh, the pipe's burning heart gleamed up at her like a molten eye.

"They say to embrace joy you must accept pain, but pain seems to be rather plentiful, doesn't it? I..." she gently took Ivan's hand in her own, offering a sad smile "I want you to know I understand. Perhaps better than anyone here. But I cannot forget. My world exists only in memory now, yoked in so much misery, but I will not leave any of them behind."

Kotori placed the pipe back into Ivan's hand, curling his fingers around it. "Even if those memories make me sad and I remember my failures, my grief, I have to keep going, keep believing in a better future. For them. Their memories make me stronger."

Ivan looked at her with a slightly bewildered look, his eyes red and glazed with a distant pain, thoughts of his old world and the old wars he had fought there resurfaced. Ivan’s hand tightened around her own and for a moment he felt a strange emotion in his heart, a mix of wondrous joy and deep pain. It was confusing for him, and he didn't know how to feel about it. They sat there for a moment and he looked her in the eyes, his own tired and weary, he almost blushed as he did so, before he pushed away the feeling. He had things he had to deal with before he could even begin to think of something like romance. Then his own memories overwhelmed him and he stood up; blinking away tears he put the pipe and his weed away before walking over to the couch. Slumping down on the cushions he smiled for a moment, enjoying the simple pleasure of the comfort of the cushions. Then he turned to Kotori for a moment and asked with a smile, “Wanna check out how that shower works with me?”


Kotori was silent when Ivan withdrew, watching him cross the cramped room to sit on the strange bed-chair (which she had learned was called a couch). There had been so much sorrow in his features, in the tears he tried so hard to bite back. She found admiration for him in all these little things, but most of all when he put away his precious bundle of herbs and pipe. It was not a happy thing, but it was perhaps one step towards peace. Perhaps he would find it someday, and Kotori truly prayed he would. She watched him for a moment, her gaze soft, until he rather suddenly asked a question about some 'shower'.

Kotori blinked in confusion, “Shower? Forgive me, I am unsure of what you mean, but I suppose I will soon find out. Where is this shower?”

“A shower is like a bath. In that you wash yourself, like water comes down and showers you, then you use it to bathe. Problem is, this shower looks weird as fuck, so i'm sorta confused as to what to do. Gimme a sec.” Ivan walked into the bathroom and fiddled around with the components of the strange shower for a moment, Kotori following slightly after to near the entrance to the washroom. Moments later shouts of "arrgh" and "fuck" could be heard echoing from the room. Ivan walked out with a soaked head and shoulders, saying, "Well, disregarding how im soaked now, I know how it works at least. Twist the lever around and pull the chain and the water just falls out."

Kotori hid a smile behind her hand when Ivan walked out with water dripping from his head and shoulders. The shower sounded simple enough to understand, but of course she would have to see it for herself. Slowly, she stood from her chair and walked towards the shower-room, placing her hand on the wall for support.

It took her a moment, but she figured it out relatively quickly from his instructions. The water was cold, but being used to streams and rivers, she didn’t mind. First she undressed (once Ivan had left the room) and scrubbed the dried blood from her skin, then she got to work on her clothing. After she was done she went to turn off the shower but instead discovered something else. The temperature of the water could be altered, as if soaked in flame. Kotori found herself gasping in wonder at the warm water falling like rain. Of course, Kotori couldn't help but return to the shower, feeling some vitality sink into her skin from the soothing water.

She took longer than she should have, but it was worth it. Once she was done she turned off the shower and wrapped herself with a thick towel. She stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, carrying her washed clothing in an arm.

"Showers are amazing, Ivan'federico!"

She said, wet hair falling around her shoulders and her eyes sparkling with a smile.

Ivan smiled widely at the sight of Kotori’s happiness, and blushed a bright shade of red to boot. She was a beautiful girl and Ivan thanked his lucky stars for a moment for meeting her, it only helped that she was summoned as well. It was a nice happenstance that they got along so well on that note, he realized that many of the other summoned would probably not be as friendly. Of course Hecate had been a sweet child as well, minus the whole cannibalism and ultraviolence; He wondered where the adopted little sister was at that moment in fact. He stood up and gathered his own clothes and grabbed a towel from the bed before walking into the bathroom past her; their bare arms brushed for a moment and abashedly Ivan said, “They really are nice aren't they? It's strange that they exist in this world, it's quite a nice luxury to have to be fairly honest. Got to appreciate that in a world as harsh as this one appears to be.” He closed the door for a moment and his whole face turned bright red once again. She really was quite a cute one.

Kotori blinked at Ivan’s quick retreat, though she felt some color rise in her face when she realized why he was behaving so strangely. Now that she thought about it, she felt strange too; a feeling that lingered where Ivan had touched her shoulder. Kotori looked down to find SIN’s brand, fingertips tracing the new line that had formed, as black as ink and swirling into the growing maelstrom. Sometimes she forgot the mark was there, as well as the burdensome task that came with it. A small frown passed over her face, but she decided that she trusted the gunslinger. Ivan did not seem like a marauding warlord, and if anything, she was glad to have a new ally.

Smiling to herself, she crossed the room and sat on the sofa, wondering what it was filled with. It definitely was not filled with straw, and neither was the bed. They were both much too soft. She sighed at yet another thing she would have to ask about this strange world. It became almost overwhelming sometimes, to recognize so little, but Ivan had been patient in his explanations. Maybe when he was done with the shower-ing she would ask him.

Kotori held back a yawn with her hand. Outside, the new world was growing darker and already she could feel the inviting pull of the couch beneath her. It would seem that the shower had been a little too soothing. She intended to wait for Ivan to finish but instead fell asleep, curled up against the couch’s arm.

Ivan showered quickly and efficiently, removing the blood, dirt and grime of the day’s work with a steady hand some soap he had discovered inside the small washroom. As he showered he noticed that the mark SIN had branded them with was on his chest right smack dab underneath his collarbone in the center of his chest. The mark was strange and almost seemed to pulse with an ethereal light and life. It was not altogether something he appreciated, even if it allowed telepathic communication; Something about the brand spoke of malign intent and a force behind the scenes that was in no way benevolent.

After finishing his shower, Ivan washed his clothes as best he could with the strange world’s utilities, and then upon finishing exited the room quietly. He noticed fairly quickly that the strange, and pretty girl had fallen asleep on the couch. He chuckled quietly and laid a blanket over her sprawled out form, slightly snoring and in the throes of recently acquired slumber. Ivan then laid his items out to dry and almost turned to ask the girl if he should do the same with hers. He remembered just as his mouth opened, turning already to ask, before quickly silencing himself. He laid out her cloths as well as his own to dry and then sat on the bed, not at all ashamed at having taken the soft furniture. She had chosen the couch and that was fine by him.

He fell asleep quickly and dreamed of strange figures, ones he recognized and others unique in their mystery. A beautiful woman with white hair and alabaster skin appeared, smiling evilly, a royal stance taken and looming far over Ivan, hands shadowy claws, poised to grab and destroy the gunslinger.

He found little rest that night.

 

[Solirus]

Dirk Ault​

“No activity yet...” Dirk quietly said, positioned inside a broken building near the mansion that was acting as a sort of medical station. Soon after the whole first invasion, Dirk and Katie repositioned closer to the city with Dirk staying as a sort of secret guard while Katie was doing whatever the hell he was doing, Dirk didn’t really care what the cat was up to. He instead cared for any attackers at night that would try to take advantage of the soldiers sleeping.

Since if everyone died and Nortestra was destroyed then he surely wouldn’t get paid by the enemy after killing many of their troops and a giant beast that was also from the enemy. “Still nothing” he said to himself again quietly…

*step*

Dirk heard it. A swift step that walked over his sound trap which sent the sound directly towards him. Judging from the step and the urgency, they had to be assassins. Dirk moved his view towards the origin of the sound and surely enough, he saw shadowy figures moving through buildings and headed towards the mansion to prey on the weak and vulnerable.

Dirk quietly left his position and sneaked his way to the entrance of the mansion where the Massive lightning Beast known as Wakinyan was resting. Dirk entered the mansion without waking him up and began using his sound magic to muffle his footsteps so he wouldn’t be heard. He made his way to the upper rooms, avoiding all of the sleeping and injured soldiers and moving into a hiding place to wait for the assassins.

As if on queue, the assassins entered the mansion and skipped over all of the others, ignoring the others and moving quickly to the upper floors to hunt down some more important targets. Though Dirk was still not sure why they wouldn’t take out some along the way, he assumed that they were strictly following a mission, the disadvantages of joining an army.

The assassins walked past him without realizing he was near. These guys were clearly not the most elite and they seemed rushed and nervous. When they finally left to enter the other room Dirk wasted no time to get out of his hiding spot and begin walking towards them while keeping a distance. At this point Dirk had put his sniper on his back and pulled out his knife to hopefully remain as quiet as possible.

Room after room the assassin searched while Dirk had to move around and improvise to not be spotted until finally, the assassin found their targets, already both fast asleep. The assassins hesitated at first especially with the girl and that hesitation is what led Dirk to sneak up on the first one and slight their throat. The other three assassins quickly reacted and jumped Dirk. Dirk Pushed the dying assassin to the other two and blocked the attack of the other assassin.

Dirk wasted no opportunities as he kicked the assassin right on the crotch, catching him by surprise and causing immeasurable pain, Dirk stabbed the neck of the assassin and tossed him aside only to be met once again by one of the other assassin’s who recovered from having their friend thrown at them. Caught in having his knife far away to be unable to block, Dirk quickdraws his small smg and riddled the assassin with sound bullets causing him to loudy explode and covering the room in blood. The last assassin, afraid and covered with blood, jumped off the window and retreated, afraid for their life and to potentially report back to high command. Dirk couldn’t have that as he put away both his weapons and pulled out his sniper, creating a bullet in the process.

Even when covered in blood, Dirk didn’t bother cleaning himself or worrying if the others had woken up, he leaned a bit through the broken window with the scope of his sniper dirty with blood and the darkness of night obscuring his vision further, but that wouldn’t stop the Merc as without hesitation, Dirk took a shot and domed the assassin on the head causing the massive sound of the sniper to resonate more.

Dirk looked back at the two who were probably not asleep anymore. “You’re welcome, now tell me if I damaged your eardrums.”

Mentions: Damafaud

Interactions: Juju Snackofthefuture

 

[StaidFoal]

Tobias and Mii

"So, your name is Mii, then?" Tobias knelt down to the slime's eye level (she was in her human form). She was currently "cleaning" out pieces of armor, spitting out shiny breastplates and helmets. "Pukyuu!" Mii exclaimed. The astronomer smiled, then rising above the battlefield. It seemed that the Mollugs had all retreated; that or they were hiding in an abandoned building. Something wet then wrapped around his foot like a snake, and Tobias looked down at Mii, who extended a tentacle up to grab him. He smiled at the pouting slime, as if he came across a little puppy. "Don't worry!" he shouted, failing to muffle a chuckle in his tone. "I'm only looking for any stray primitives!" During the battle, Tobias went against supposed mages, but they all died before he could take a thorough examination of them and how they used the fictional tool called magic. Once he looked back around, he spotted a few Mollugs sneak into a mansion. Tobias grinned.

"PRIMITIVE LOCATED!"

Mii spat out the set of armor, looking up at Tobias in confusion. He dropped back down, slowing just before he hit the floor. Tobias extended his arm out, allowing Mii to latch on like a snake. "No biomass conversion, Mii! It's easier to learn how a Valucian works when they're alive!" he ordered. However, Tobias' flight could only send him up and down, meaning the fastest he could go horizontally was a mere walking speed, and the mansion was quite a distance away.

When it finally came into view, one of the Mollugs hopped out the window and made a break for it. "Yes! An undamaged speci—" The Mollug's brains then splattered across the floor. He stared at the twitching body in disbelief, then at the room he hopped out of. Mii reached one of her tentacles out towards the corpse, but Tobias increased the gravity of the tendril and made it splatter against the floor. Mii shrunk a little. "Surely there's more in the mansion," he muttered, then floating above the roof. Mii held tightly against Tobias's arm as he focused on the mansion's roof. Bricks fell, and a few walls far from the room crumbled. Dust rained from the ceiling as it tore from the foundation and rose above the whole building, flipping around in zero gravity. Tobias descended into the room. "I'll be taking one of you primitives for—!" He quickly realized that none of the standing people were the primitives.

"Why are the primitives all dead?" Tobias muttered, palming his face. Mii hopped off and hid behind Tobias' hand, suspicious of the room's inhabitants. "Well, no matter. Dirk, I see you've met that cosplayer from before, and... a shady man with a large gun." Tobias then broke into nervous laughter. "Not saying that you are shady, seeing as my wear is more extravagant than yours." Tobias floated over to them, arms crossed. Mii hopped off his back, standing away with a pouting look. "Anyway, strangers, my name is Tobias Nyseth, and that specimen which I am referring to as a 'slime' is Mii. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"

Solirus Snackofthefuture Juju​

 

[Juju]

Silver Jon and Lady Ichika

A collaborative post between Juju & Snackofthefuture​

Silver Jon regretted with every ounce of his being allowing the patrol to go out that morning. He wasn't even a fan of morning patrols. What had persuaded him to go off so easily in pursuit of the mission? He could have taken his time, waited for the blizzard to lessen up, eaten a larger breakfast, rallied more men, any number of things to avoid the placement of every recent event within the past hour. He could have gone to the old post later after the blizzard and the aftermath of the summoned’s fight with all the shit back there would have been all he would have had to deal with. Now he was stuck bringing in multiple outsiders to his fort all the while being chased by 3 separate and unique demons all hungry for blood. And he was sure more demons would be arriving any minute at the fort.

The blizzard was still raging, the snow flurries coming down at the average Czarsnikei pace of “Really fuckin fast” and visibility was still low because of it. This meant all of them would have to get rather close to the fortress before the gates were opened for them. They’d have to hold off the demons while that was happening. Thank goodness for the ice and fire mages in the fort. His warriors inside exited the fortress as their planning indicated and surrounded the entrance with a wall of blades and spears waiting for the new arrivals. Silver Jon was proud they followed policy and hoped they wouldn't skewer the newcomers that were alongside him. He didn't know what to make of the 2 new demons and the summoner however, those were variables he had not accounted for. And the demon from the watchpost was most certainly bad news. It would have to be disposed of before they could get in the fort, or it would most certainly cause much harm to the countryside,

He had arrived at the spear line now and with quick motions to the commanding officers, identified in the blizzard by the banners upon their backs, to send soldiers out to fight. Troops began to stream in squads of ten out of the spear line , drawing blades and throwing themselves into the fray with solemn discipline and fortitude. They were now holding off the demons effectively enough for a battle line to have been drawn. Isekare, Ronin and Doroteya were dealing with the watchpost demon it seemed, though it was putting up one helluva fight. His soldiers had retreated inside the fort, all the mustachioed warriors panting and tired from the desperate retreat. The demon summoner and the other individuals from the watchpost were taking care of the strange summoned one. They seemed to all be handling themselves well, so Silver stayed in his position, waiting in front of the spear line and directing soldiers to fill in gaps in the battle line ahead of him. The feral demons were falling left and right, but it would be a good idea to get all of them back in the fortress, before worse predators arrived. The battle needed to be finished soon, then the fortress mother would take care of all the corpses littering the field.

Elsewhere...

The light from the brazier was soft, its flickering heat pleasant. Trails of incense flows up in the warm currents, twisting ever upwards like saplings in the spring. It made the air heavy with the scent of flowers and sweet spice, but Ichika could only smell the luscious tang of copper. White. Black. Red. Her canvas sung a quiet song as the battle in the snow grew into a crescendo. Black over the red. Red over the white. Ichika drew a line, thinly this time, and meandering as a pathway in a garden yet with total purpose. It wouldn’t be long now, the battle was hastily coming to a close, though there would be many broken little ones left in its wake. Already she could feel the warmth of their corpses bleeding out into the snow. It saddened the tree, but she would cradle each and every one of them in her roots.

“Hina, darling?”

“Y-yes Lady Ichika?” was the girl’s timid reply. She was day-dreaming again. From the way her feet shifted Ichika could also tell that numbness was spreading through her legs. No matter, she would be using them soon.

“We will have some guests arriving shortly. Very important guests. I would like you to prepare rooms for five.” The paintbrush swirled again and then stopped. “And before you do that tell the medics to be ready.”

“J-jon?”

“Is completely alright. They are at the gates. Be swift, darling.”

Hina bowed and quickly scurried from the room, sliding the door shut behind her. Of course, Ichika had already made preparations before this, but certain appearances had to be upkept. She placed her brush into the waterpot, watching for a moment as the black trickled into the clear. With a soft sigh she stood up and left the room.

❀ ❀ ❀
​

Silver Jon hacked down a shambling demon with intense fury, hacking it clean in two from right shoulder down to its hip bone, the flesh separating with a bloody flourish and spray of gore. The red painted the white of the snow with a brilliant crimson, and then he sheathed his black blade with a loud “Harumph!” and a scowl at the infantry who had allowed the demon so close. The commander of the fortress kept his scowl as he continued to survey the battlefield. Minutes had passed since he had arrived at the spear wall and already he felt his nerves were on edge. Demons continued to shamble out of the trees, moaning and snarling, some running, others walking, all of them hungry for the flesh of the fortress’s inhabitants. He hoped Ichika would arrive soon, things had a tendency for calming down whenever she was around; hell even he, Silver Jon, calmed when she appeared.

She came as if carried by prayers upon a spring wind. The storm raged, and yet all around her was the scent of fresh blossoms and ripened peaches. Even the thick flakes of snow seemed no more than white petals before the mistress of the keep. Her feet fell lightly upon the snow, leaving hardly a trace behind her. The flowing silks of her dress trailed behind her like a red river, hissing gently with each movement.

Serenely, she parted between sword and spear until she was near Silver Jon, behind him by a few paces. Her voice was so gentle, and yet it easily broke through the wind. “oh my brave soldiers, demons come to steal your light, banished by sunrise”

She placed a hand lightly on Silver Jon’s shoulder, gazing out across the battlefield. “There are many, how troublesome. My heart twists in sorrow for the little ones they have taken from us this day, but it swells with joy to see you well. A lion stalks among the wolves. I could hear his roar from the keep.”

"A lion…? bah! An annoying pest at most, surrounded by dogs at the least! Baying mutts we take in as a necessity only due to the threat they pose, as the Last Shogun once said, 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.' I intend to follow that doctrine, and be close at hand, should these hounds need to be put down. Are you with me in this Lady Ichika? We have the numbers to bury them, and the armament necessary to do the digging."

Silver Jon unsheathed his blade quickly and abruptly, blood flinging off into the air in a splattering pattern. Red against white and red against black, once again. The demon in the snow beneath them, moaned and spasmed twice before stilling. Jon stared down angrily, and then kicked the corpse, furious with the losses they had taken that day. He hated losing men, there was little he despised more. The demons fell on that minuscule list.

The slain demon’s blood sunk into the snow, so fresh and sweet. Ichika's roots drank deeply of it, yet the flavour paled before that royal blood so tantalizingly close. Every droplet that fell made her boughs shiver with delight. How long had it been since she tasted something so refined? If she had a heart it would surely skip a beat. A few hundred years ago she may have lost focus, but discipline had become one of her favourite human fancies. Such succulence was not for herself. There was so much she could do, could give with that raw power.

The lady answered Jon’s question with a generous smile. She clasped her hands daintily before her, as if discussing tea. “Of course, a mother does not abandon her little ones in the snow. I am with you, as always and forevermore.”

In the heat of battle hardly anyone noticed the demon corpse disappear beneath the snow. Her roots made quick work of it, breaking it down within seconds. The materials were mediocre at best, but a true artist was never hindered by such. Red petals scattered in the wind around Ichika, carried on a fragrant breeze that revitalized the soldiers nearest to her, including Jon. Minor wounds sealed up instantly, while strength returned to cold and tired limbs.

 

[YsFanatic]

Lucy stood her ground during negotiations, always. She knew when she had the upper hand, when she had the most desired item on the playing field. She knew a base of operations would be essential for fighters fluent in the art of modern war. Kezathul was a name Lucy had made sure to remember. Out of all the summoned that had appeared in the last week, few had gained the fame and notoriety of Kezathul and his brotherhood. There was the Dark Child Hecate, known already by many whispered names, the metal man Charon, terror of the siege of Castellan and the abyss knight Malagar, a warrior who seemed to be on the way to the northern regions of the world. And these were just the individuals who had gotten their names into the papers and mouths of the common folk. Legends of old were being revived by the dozen to celebrate the appearance of the summoned; Everytime a summoning occurred the world changed drastically. Harbingers of change they were, bringers of chaos and calamity, upheaval and destruction. The summoned were not necessarily evil, but their appearance in the world changed things, and most definitely drew battlelines without meaning to.

“It's not unreasonable for me to start with these sort of expectations. My name is Lucy Kai and what I offer is your salvation. Your army cannot hope to stand against Mollug alone and unprotected, with this fortress and my men with yours, we have the beginnings of a chance. But you need my help to gain this opportunity. All I really ask for is an alliance and assistance.”

Lucy crossed her arms and smiled slightly as she finished, radiant and shining in her imperial splendor. She had lost none of her majesty in the crossover to Valucia.

Kana’s eyes narrowed slightly at this woman’s choice of words and the fact that the question she had asked was ignored. Her arrogance was astounding and it worried the goddess that would be a valid reason for her confidence. For now she would continue as if Lucy was bluffing or was the type to be confident without valid reason. “You talk as if you know everything about us and what we can do. I’ve already stated that an alliance is a possibility, but not one where our people fall under your leadership. Other terms can be negotiated, but not that one. If you can’t accept that, then we will leave.”

“You are right in one regard, I do not know your full capabilities, but I do know what a portion of Mollug strength is capable of. I have enough veterans on my side to know the forces both of us hold are alone or together, insufficient. But together we may have a chance of rivaling this dark kingdom. You have no people yet, I simply ask for assistance in founding a nation of my own. My terms are of course negotiable, but I will always seek out the greatest answer for myself and my people. Surely you can understand that? We can have peace and unity for the time being, but I know you desire for an independence of sorts. I too desire that for myself, trust my people will be content with myself as a ruler. I trust yours will be with yourselves.”

Lucy’s toothy smile remained positive as she spoke, delivering her lines perfectly and in a wonderfully diplomatic voice. In reality, Lucy didn't desire as much as she made it out to be as of that moment. But to go for as much power as quickly as possible was her nature. She relished challenging the odds and winning, especially when those odds were as dangerous they were in the summoned’s current condition. Lucy was in her element when things were bad, but she was just as bad as the worst of situations; she KNEW she could handle herself and find success in the end. She too needed allies to find that success though, and the Brotherhood was a perfect choice in that regard.

The goddess held her silence for a moment, carefully considering what Lucy was saying. It was not ideal, but this woman had the truth of it. Allying with them would indeed speed up Mollug’s liberation, but what would happen afterwards was still a concern. “If we do this, I would need to know more about the area you would seek to claim before I support any such efforts. I will not take part in any campaigns against a good, peaceful country. And our support would only be for a single area, much as you are doing for us. An equal trade.”

“Give me half of whatever we take and I'm good! We are business and war partners in this! I will swear myself as an eternal ally of the brotherhood before you and all your men so long as my men and my own independence are recognized! So long as I take half of what we earn together I will be happy, and be assured that the work I put in will be equal if not greater than your own.” Lucy uncrossed her arms as she said this, and the mirth of her expression disappeared as she did so. She was serious in her proposition and truly wished to work with the brotherhood. What she brought to the table was more than worthy of making her equal with the leaders of Kezathul’s movement. “Split Mollug with me and I will continue to work with you as we conquer more. The neighbors of this dark kingdom are little better than this warmongering land. The Xact Empire remains an imperial dictatorship bent on accumulating wealth in the highest levels. The north is constantly under siege from demons, Nortestra is in ruins yet once retained the title of The Great Oppressor, and the South West is ruled by a tyrannical Magic oligarchy. Every way we turn, injustice and misuse of power! I want to stop that Kana! I've learned much about this land in the week I've spent here and I know we can make things better! We have the power to!”

As the goddess listened to Lucy’s latest statements, she closed her eyes and thought back to the things Kez had been advocating as the Brotherhood’s goals and how he wanted to go about things. In the end Kana realized she had been approaching this the wrong way. Opening her eyes, she looked Lucy in the eyes before speaking. “I’m sorry, but I can not agree to that. We are to be liberators, not conquerors. We can not depose an existing government just to put another ruler in their place. Ultimately the people leading these countries will have to be ones that the common people trust and want ruling them. If you want to rule a nation we liberate, you will need to get their trust via peaceful means without any manipulations. If you can not agree to this, then we must part ways.”

Lucy laughed as Kana finished her sentence, then she took a step forward, her eyes narrowing slightly, some of her power leaking through the corners of them as she neared the goddess. She was slightly frustrated by the goddess. It didn't matter what the title they took was, in the end ruling was the same when it came to war torn lands like these. Absolute power was needed, a fast decision maker and a singular ruling party absolutely necessary, Mollug wouldn't survive a rebellion without it. “I think you misunderstand me, my goals do not include oppression; I seek to lift the peasant to the level of the noble. All equal under a singular and true rule. You too seek to rule over others, I know this, it matters not what your motivations or oaths be. You raise an army and seek to use violence to overcome a malevolent regime. In this our goals are the same, but you must realize, you will have to retain power for a time in order to keep the land from falling into ruin and anarchy. Even I will not rule forever, that's no fun, just long enough to leave a legacy and change things for the better.”

Relaxing again, Lucy finished with an important fact. “You need me and this fortress Kana, that is an indisputable fact. An alliance between us is what we both desire right now, and will give us both a greater chance of winning this fight. We need each other Kana, we need each other right now, the future is the future, what is the present is the present. Ally yourself with me for now, if my methods and goals seem too opposed to your own, you can always turn on me; That is life, that is politics, that is the situation we are in right now.”

Lucy held out her hand in friendship as she finished, her smile turning genuine but still dangerous.

Kana’s breathing stilled for a moment as she focused on the tattoo on her back, her eyes half closing in the process. As quickly as she could the goddess sent a quick summary of how things were going to Kezathul as she was going to need his thoughts on how to handle this. She would have liked to handle this on her own, but sadly her experience with mortal politics was non-existent and that left her unsure on how to resolve this without force.

The Alien General sat, legs crossed and his hands on his knees in his Command Tent. He shut his eyes, focussing on the mental connection he had with Kana, his trusted ally. He took a few moments to collect his thoughts on the matter between Kana and Lucy, before he was ready to contribute. To begin with, Lucy overstates her position. In her sway are only a scattering of warriors, many fewer than we. To say, her fortress is something we have even less need of. Not only is it barely anything more than a pile of rocks, but it is a target she paints upon her head. To take this castle and wage open conflict upon the state is foolishness, for it makes for her only a trap. As far as she has stated, she has made no familiarity with the local people or terrain, and so has no means to hide if the state comes for her hideout. We however, do. All that she can provide to us is a distraction, at the moment. She will grow in power as shall we, but for now, these are the signs fate has given to us.

There is but no reason for you to budge from the ground you have claimed in this exchange of words. If she wishes dominion over a land and its people, it shall be a place and such a people that have chosen her for it. We are not in the spirit of cutting up land for parcel. We come to improve the situation of this world’s people, and will not see it split up by the Summoned, were they petty warlords. We may work with her as it may need be against Mollug and foes beyond, but her ambitions and ours are very much different.

Having received the alien’s response, Kana’s eyes slowly opened and looked right at Lucy. “What you and the Brotherhood want are not compatible. I gave you our terms, and since you are not willing to agree to them then we must part ways.” With a gesture the goddess indicated to those who were with her to be prepared to leave. At the same time her guardian moved up to right behind her as if it was anticipating trouble.

"You'll regret backing down, Kana, it is truly unwise of you to refuse civilization's cause, I have the power and experience necessary to bring this land true peace... I assume we will clash one day, given… your religious tendencies… so I warn you, there is no mercy for those not on the side of modernity. A religious dictatorship is not compatible with my interests. Gods remain gods, new world or not."

Lucy frowned as Kana turned away, saddened at the exchange just had. She was sure this Kana was an intelligent sort, open to negotiations and the art of debate. Her ignorance was infuriating to an insane degree, Lucy had learned of the locals and the lore of Mollug to a superhuman degree as of the past days and her knowledge was great enough for her to know that unless they united they would stand no chance against Mollug independently. The more the summoned united, the easier the time of war against the dark kingdom would be.

The Alien sighed, shaking his head. And so Lucy’s mask dissolves. Let not her words get to you, friend. I know well you are no dictator.

I know, Kezathul. I inspire and provide guidance, but I do not rule. An immortal ruler leads to stagnation, nothing more. The goddess and her group quickly left the fort, wary of any ambushes. Thankfully there were no issues and they were able to meet up with Cassandra’s group and get out of the area.

Lucy turned to her advisors as the negotiations ended, telling them to close the gates immediately after the goddess departed, and to be on guard for ambush of any sort. She knew the Brotherhood would have soldiers nearby, waiting in case of violence. She cared little for the setback, she was already in contact with Mollug officials and their representatives were on the way to enlist her support in ending the other summoned. Mollug was right to fear the summoned, and Lucy knew wariness was key with her fellow outworlders. Their goals were clear and defined, set by SIN himself, she knew it would be wise to remove as many obstacles to power as quickly as possible

 

[Juju]

​

Goodest BoiGoodest Boi followed the smiley man dutifully. The man was tall and walked fast, like he wanted to get out of here, but Goodest Boi had four little paws and a waggy tail so he easily kept pace. He was sure to follow just beside Smiley, just enough so he knew he was not alone, but not too close to make him trip up. That would be bad. While he trotted along, the doggo help his beady eyes peeled for the missing arm. It had to be around here somewhere. Did somebody hide it?

The tiny gears in his head were turning, trying to think of where the arm could be. His sniffer sniffed too... but then he stopped. What was that? He heard something on the wind that wasn't a sound. Goodest Boi tilted his head in confusion and curiosity. Animals had instincts, and although his species had been domesticated for thousands of years he knew when something was up. His ears pricked up and his tail wagged. Somebody needed him.

"BORK!" called the Goodest Boi in his bestest bark. He would come back for the Smiley man, maybe with the arm!

A small cloud of dust lingered where the dog had been moments before dashing off at an alarming speed. His little paws pattered on the ground, floof bouncing in the wind as he bounded towards the place he had to be. There stood the metal man with the cigarette-and-oil smell. Goodest Boi raced past the afro people and zoomed under the legs of a pretty lady.

Goodest Boi stopped in front of the being known as SIN, his tail wagging. "BORK!"

Snackofthefuture

 

[StaidFoal]

Mia & Argris

"Mia! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Argris shouted, having heard his vessel's horrified shriek. After whatever Francis did, Mia stretched her clothes out, and then she fell onto her bum, on the verge of tears. In an instant, her clothes had changed and an out-of-place afro was stuck over her head. Yet no injury. "Mia, why are you crying? This is... quite amusing."

She looked up, wiping away her tears. "It's gone!" she wailed. "Servant man made my dress disappear! Why would he do that to me?" She dug her face into the 90s styled pants and continued to cry.

"What..?" Argris figured there was an actual reason for her tears that made more sense, but remembering the stuff she cried for in the past made him doubt that. "I'd be more concerned with how he did that! Mia, you're such an..." She wasn't listening. But just how stupid could she possibly be? With a sigh, bright flames then surrounded Mia. She paused her irritating wails as a blinding orange appeared before her eyes. It dissipated as quickly as it appeared, revealing Mia in her original attire with no afro wig or sunglasses. "I can never understand you children! Who cries over clothes? Why didn't you think to look underneath those old-fashioned rags? You made me think the miserable loony had hurt you!"

Mia stood back up, twirling happily in her dress. "Thank you, Mr Voice!" she said. She turned back to Francis, who showed his hand asking for a wage. Mia stared blankly at his face, then his hand. With a cheerful smile, she gave him a high five.

"No, Mia, no!" Argris shouted, stifling his groans. "By wage, he means the money you're paying him to be a maid!"

"Money? What money?"

"Why, Mia, this money!"

Above Francis, a pitch black portal opened up. From it burst a mass pile of gold coins, knocking Francis down and covering him with a light blanket of coins. "Whoops, didn't see him there!"

Mia pursed her lips. "Mr Voice, you liar! You definitely saw him there!" She scurried over to the buried Francis and scooped handfuls of the gold coins away, having to squint because of the sunlight reflecting off of them. She found Francis' hand and tried to yank him out, only to find that her strength was far from enough. She thought she heard Mr Voice sigh, and her hips were then grabbed and pulled. The sudden pull sent Mia stumbling back and Francis erupting from the pile of coins. "Mr Voice says he's sorry..." she said, wiping dirt off her dress.

Damafaud​

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

LORD MALAGAR​

The Dark Lord of Iron marched North like Time. Unstoppable, inevitable, and with boots that crushed through the snow and ice. The Dark Lord knew by nature the direction of North, and following the information of terrified villagers, he sought the North. More specifically, he sought the demons within. According to all those he had spoken to, it seemed that the demons of the Northern Wastes were the worlds' most dangerous beasts, and they filled that uninhabited land to the brim. If his strength was more than that of these creatures, they would serve as a natural barrier against disturbance by other Summoned and this worlds' inhabitants, while also being no true threat to him. Already, he had fought, yet he had not been challenged. Minor demons had accosted him as he entered this frozen land of Czarsnieki. And already, bounty hunters had come for him. Apparently, his sight alone was enough to inspire a sizable bounty. There had been two of them, each worthless against him. He had offered them their lives, but they had refused, running at him with the arrogance only the youth could possess. Their deaths were quick, and now their corpses were dragged through the snow by his metal servants, their souls taken by the Dark Lord himself. He had made no use of their souls yet, simply keeping them on his person. He had not yet found an answer to his question, on what the use of power should be, so for now, he was hesitant to make use of them.

Now, Malagar passed by a fortress in this land, taking little heed. He could see the locals, wielding curved blades, and all manner of demons, but the Dark Lord took little notice or care. These petty squabbles were nothing to him, and he took no involvement unless it involved him directly.

 

[Snackofthefuture]

Sakujo Honomura​

An explosion rattled the earth around Sakujo, throwing dirt, bodies and all sorts of extraneous other materials into the air. The trench was filled with the deafening sounds of gunfire and screaming, a common theme on the world of Dracoza. Men all around Sakujo were dying, torn apart by the fire lighting up the night all round them. Sakujo was the last noble warrior in the trench, the others long dead fighting off the enemy incursion. He aimed his rifle down the long trench to his right and gunned down with ferocity a recently arrived Sectan soldier, splattering the man's innards all over the trench wall facing his own front. Sakujo turned the gun back to the front and let loose the remainder of his magazine in the enemy's direction.

The Sectan Republic was a vast and powerful war machine that had formed in response to the Shogun Empire. They had been at war for many years now and Sakujo had found himself fighting them many times in the past years. They were a conglomerate of different races and governments aligned against the warmongering Shoguns, their clothing reptilian in design and armor insectoid in appearance. The war had come to a stalemate on the world of Dracoza and was currently considered the worst meat grinder the empire had ever encountered. Millions had died in the opening days of the war, and not a single soul on the black soil of the world was safe from the ever present hands of death both sides hovered over each other. Generals and kings fought alongside peasants and slaves on the trench covered world. Underground skirmishes and orbital conflict made sure no aspect of the world was left untouched by the conflict, and the world had already begun to resemble a graveyard in many aspects.

The world was coveted as a source of material and energy, alongside its other perks: being a stop point between multiple important systems, a refueling point for starships, a planetary armory interred with billions upon billions of rare and powerful munitions. Dracoza had even once been a pretty world, rolling fields and plains filled to the brim with golden wheat, barley, oats and other alien foodstuffs necessary for intergalactic conflict. That was all gone now, replaced with endlessly empty horizons and smoking remnants of plant matter.

Sakujo howled and chopped his blade down on the neck of a crying soldier, blood splattering his face and armor with a pattern resembling petals. The Sectan crumpled and another rushed forward brandishing a heavy war axe of foreign build. The soldier was screaming behind his insect looking helmet and hacked down multiple times before brandishing a horizontal slice with avenging rage. Sakujo narrowly dodged the vertical slices before suddenly taking the horizontal slash with his armor. Snarling, he was thrown backwards bouncing off the steps to a gun post in the trench, landing in the mud with a rude flop.

The soldier rushed forward, hacking down with his charge in an attempt to kill Sakujo quickly; Without getting up, the samurai noble leaned forward and shoved his blade through the gap in the soldier’s neck armor, conjuring a weak gasp from the man before swinging the corpse to the side to bounce off the muddy wall. Getting up out of the all-encompassing mud, Sakujo scowled and cursed. His men were few, he could sense only a dozen of his thralls still fighting in the hellish mud-hole, the others dead and drowning in the filth. The Sectans continued to pour from their own trenches, onrushing towards the Shogun front line. Sakujo’s trench had only been recently retaken several days earlier, marking the futility of the combat around him as they slowly lost the ground once again. He couldn't lose now, he thought to himself as he struggled to a knee and foot, there was far too much on the line, too many livelihoods at stake, so much honor that would be lost. Another explosion rumbled, throwing Sakujo off balance for a moment as another Sectan dropped into the trench in front of him. This one brandished a pistol and a shovel, slowly raising the firearm in Sakujo’s view to shoot him; the gun shone a dull green and glowed briefly as it charged to put some new holes in the noble samurai’s body.

Suddenly the man’s head exploded, the body flying forward into Sakujo’s own, knocking him from his position back into the mud.

Reinforcements had arrived once again, armored warriors blasting away at the charging Sectans with samurai energy rifles. Sakujo cursed, shoving off the corpse and once again slowly began to pull himself from the mud. Two forms suddenly plopped down next to the noble, pulling him from the mud quickly to face an entirely new but not unfamiliar scarred face. His younger half brother, Rako Honomura, heir to the Honomura line and truly the last face Sakujo wanted to see at that moment. Disgust was visible in droves on the younger warrior’s face, standing at the edge of the trench valiantly as more and more samurai warriors rushed past. This was a full on counterattack, not simply a reinforcing of the line; dropships rumbled overhead, energy cannons blasting as quickly as they could, depositing their cargo onto the frontline with extreme prejudice. Thousands of katana-brandishing soldiers rushed the Sectan trenchline, staccato fire answering the sudden charge with faltering enthusiasm. The enemy line broke quickly and none but the fastest were spared the blade. Sakujo could tell from the look in Rako’s single eye that the blade was being considered for Sakujo at that very moment.

The two samurai warriors held Sakujo’s arms and stood on guard as the carnage around them subsided and flowed with the tide of Shogun warriors. Now it was the Sectan trench that found itself besieged and on the edge of expiring. Sakujo himself was in a similar state, covered from head to toe in mud and bleeding wounds, at the edge of life and death itself. Smirking, Rako began, “Sakujo Honomura, Butcher of the North, the Dark Oni, Pride of Honomura…” He sneered and pulled a short blade from his side, tossing it into the mud in front of Sakujo unceremoniously. “You are ordered, here and now, on behalf of the Empire of Shogun and the emperor himself, through my charge, to commit honorable seppuku and die for the good of our nation. Your service is no longer required.”

Sakujo could only stare dully at the blade dropped before him. It had sunk into the mud slightly, and yet one half still gleamed with the Emperor’s signet, signing that the blade had indeed come from the great Shogun himself. Rako was obviously acting in his own interest here, intending to bury Sakujo in the mud and carnage of the world, but his interest apparently coincided with the Emperor’s, which changed absolutely everything. Sakujo had no choice but to die now.

Sakujo took the blade and snarled up at Rako as another explosion crashed in the distance. More dropships rumbled overhead, flying off to restock and refuel or to drop off more soldiers. There was light rain now, falling from the sky in patches and with abandon; the rain pattered off of Sakujo’s armor as he asked a question, “Will I have a second? Or am I to die now for no reason with no honor? May I at least die on even ground? I have no wish to perish in this filthy rut.” Rako sneered heavily, his single eye twitching with malice and hatred. “I would not have you run Sakujo Honomura, do not take me for a fool.” The insult was naked and unafraid. Sakujo was furious, trembling, teeth clenched and fists taut with rage. He had never run, not from his first battle, not from his dying sister’s side, not from the beast that killed her, not from his first or second wives, not even from a Shogun himself. Sakujo had never run and the implication he might have was insulting beyond little the samurai had ever encountered. He knew Rako hated him, he despised the runt himself, and yet he almost felt sadness at the place they had come to. It was a dark and honorless one, and now it was going to kill him.

“Running is the farthest thing from my mind Rako Honomura, and it would never be from you. Never have I run from death and that will never change. But I will die if that is what you wish you bastard.” One of the samurai drew his blade at this last insult but Rako waved a hand dismissively. “Face your death with honor Sakujo, it is the one thing you have left. You will have your second, now die quickly and waste no more of my time.” Sakujo sank to his knees at this, a blank and unfeeling look on his face. It was true that now he had little left, and yet, he still did not want to die. More than anything he did not want to die.

He had never felt more like running than in that moment. There was still so much left to do, so many battles left to win, so many foes to slay, women to bed, drink to drink and honor to gain. All of it was being stolen for nearly losing a battle. HE had not even lost the trench! It was all just politics now, perspective and respective hatreds aligning to crush the Honomura noble. And in truth, in the end, he was crushed, his eyes empty, his soul drained, his most vicious fight ended now. Sakujo was about to lose his last battle, and he was disgusted with himself. Removing his upper layer of armor and clothing, he kneeled in the mud, rain pattering down all around as the other samurai raised his blade expectantly.

“It is an honor, Lord Sakujo.” his second said as he waited for Sakujo’s imminent disemboweling. It would be a very painful way to go, Sakujo knew from the many times he had ordered it himself. It would be next to impossible not to cry out in agony, yet some proved themselves worthy in their end, he hoped he would be among those coveted few. Sakujo leveled the blade with his stomach and pressed the tip up against his flesh, tingling at the imminent sensation. He then raised the blade quickly and abruptly, before stabbing directly into his own stomach. Clenching his teeth, his eyes bulging, Sakujo wrenched the knife sideways, cutting deep into his own innards. They spilled out over his knees into the mud as he cut horizontally, steaming and disgusting with red. He raged against crying in that moment, praying to whatever gods were out there, for mercy, escape, anything. And then his second’s blade came down. Sakujo glimpsed his chest for a moment realizing his own death as his head fell directly onto his knees, being picked up by the other smiling warrior before it could reach the dirt. Lord Rako Honomura smiled as well then, genuinely, and ordered for the head to be preserved and sent to join his collection on Shogun. Sakujo Honomura’s own head! What a fine addition to any collection!

-ELSEWHERE-

Sakujo woke with a start, sweating heavily, eyes wide and pupils wider. Then he realized he wasn't dead, he was sitting in a field of grass. He hesitantly touched his face for a moment, then his chest, and finally his stomach. All were intact and clean, his armor and clothing clean and comfy on his body, completely lacking in mud and gore. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what had just happened and then stood up. He couldn't help himself, he was smiling, laughing, and shouting suddenly, expanding with boisterous joy. He was so happy, so alive, so complete and full once again. Everything that had been stolen from him in his last moments had been returned to the samurai. He was once again alive!

He was also in a field on the edge of a cliff. Others were also around the man, ranging wildly in shape and size. He listened then for a moment, catching the very tail end of SIN’s speech. He had been brought back to conquer? Sakujo smiled and looked down at his now clenched fist. Now that was a job for Sakujo Honomura. If there was anything the lord named SIN desired, Sakujo would see it done, especially if it was something as near and dear to his heart as combat or violence. Sakujo enjoyed many things, but most paled in comparison to the pleasure he found in battle. It was the most honorable of samurai pastimes in the Honomura’s opinion, and Sakujo was no different from the rest of his clan in this.

Approaching the man named SIN, Sakujo bowed quickly and deeply in thanks, falling to his knees for several moments to show the depth of his gratitude. He then stood up, ignoring most of the others in the area, stuck in their own zany and weird interactions. Bowing slightly one more time with a barely concealed but wide smile, Sakujo turned on his foot and marched off into the field, his direction somewhere in between Mollug and Nortestra, north but more likely to find himself in Mollug than Nortestra. He had big, big plans and he needed men to go about accomplishing them. Hopefully he’d find a suitable civilization of sorts to assume control over soon enough, but until then, he would march.

 

[Snackofthefuture]

Outside the Solomon Fortress

​

Orobo had growled like a demon himself when getting back up from the frozen ground after enduring the explosion from the kamikaze demon. Blows and words were not having much of an effect on the demon he had summoned; this Khaoul was a figure of immense power, on par with the summoned themselves. Orobo growled again and wondered if another summoning was going down right at that moment, elsewhere on the continent. It would be just like that psychopath god to just spam the world with heroes and villains. Orobo watched as the strange demon from the watchhouse launched an assault on Khaoul, horns shooting from its head towards the demon lord.

As Orobo recovered, Khaoul was then assaulted by some large demon’s attack. Twin horns extended in his direction with the intent to pierce his body. Khaoul doubted that the creature had the strength and sharpness to bring any harm to him, but he was beginning to tire of these incessantly heckling pests. Every so often, one of the weaker demons would try to scratch or bite him to no avail. They seemed to be dumb creatures, but perhaps this would send a message?

“Pitiful mortal…”

Khaoul directed his attention at the horned demon and grabbed both horns in his hands, halting the assault in its tracks. With an unshakeable grip, he yanked on the horns and the demon attached to them flew towards him with a surprised yelp. As the creature reached Khaoul, it stamped on the ground and leaped right over him. sliding to a stop right behind him, the creature hissed and lashed out with both of its claws leaving shallow cuts along Khaoul’s ribs. Several other minor demons rushed him moments after, sensing distraction. Khaoul raised a tense hand and chopped down on one vertically. The feral demon was cleanly sliced along its length and the two halves of its body slid to a gruesome, bloody stop. The other minor demons howled and charged at him at once. Khaoul grabbed both creatures with both hands and smashed their skulls into each other. Blood and gore exploded into the air everywhere, fluids stained Khaoul’s front but the demon ignored the mess and returned his brooding gaze to Orobo. Not exactly his plan as the greater demon threat had evaded his grasp, but the gore soaked bodies of the lesser demons would do.

Orobo gritted his teeth, facing demons had never been his job, it'd always been the far more holy sorta things he’d engaged in combat with. It was a strange feeling to have so many foul beings so spited by him. It was one thing to fight alongside demons, another entirely to fight them. Well, at the least, they all died the same for the most part. Orobo morphed his right arm into a blade as the thought crossed his mind, before flinging his left arm out horizontally from his body to summon several demons. The creatures all appeared facing away from the summoner and his most recent travel companion, fending off the feral demons around them all. The demon from the watchpost howled and turned its attention to Ronin and Isekare, charging at them with reckless abandon and endless fury. Orobo stalked towards Khaoul, ready for a fight but starting with words once again. “Khaoul, y'know I just don't understand it, comin after me from the get-go and all. You don't know where you are or what anything is yet and you immediately come after me, the man with all the info you could want on your situation. I'm not your enemy Khaoul, I don't care about whatever ire you hold towards mortals, in my old world that would’ve been nothing; there are greater threats than that which is right in front of you.” As the words left Orobo’s mouth he lunged forward, blinding speed and ferocity kicking up the snow in his wake as the mutated arm-blade stabbed forward multiple times. Khaoul took each thrust in step, dodging each attack narrowly before taking several large steps back, unharmed. But, Orobo wasn't aiming to kill or really wound, just distract and steal time.

“Why do you despise me already Khaoul, give me your reasoning and let us see if we can parley? Perhaps we can both benefit from conversation? Maybe our goals are not so unalike? At least, for SIN’s sake, join with us against these other monsters, I mean c'mon, at least we can talk back to you and your threatening voice. Those fuckers can't, you won't get anything outta them!”

As Orobo finished speaking he finished jabbing forward and pulled back, narrowly avoiding Khaoul’s outstretched hand. Spinning almost immediately he bisected another lesser demon that had been trying to sneak up on the summoner, blood splattering into the air all around them like a crimson cloud. Orobo was back to facing Khaoul a moment later, a pause separating the action as the summoner waited for the demon’s next move. The demon prince’s eyes narrowed in response, but he continued walking forwards brazenly. Ashes from the embered ground swirled through the air, mixing with the snow in a blend of black, white and grey.

“Your 'parley' falls on deaf ears, mortal. I am the judgement of sinners, the wrathful punisher of mortals. You possess nothing I desire and you sin…"

Khaoul pointed at the Mark of Pride curse etched into Orobo's skin, still sapping his strength and increasing Khaoul's durability further. With this, even that suicide demon would start having trouble dealing damage to Khaoul.

"Judgement will be brought to you, and the rest of these pitiful mortals."

The demon prince gestured to the lesser demons behind him. Clearly, he viewed Orobo and his friends with as much respect as he did these mindless demonic creatures. To him, they were all just mortals in need of destruction. And while Orobo was being as diplomatic as possible, thousands of millenia killing mortals was a hard mindset to simply cast aside through one meagre conversation. It seemed as though the summoner would have to defeat Khaoul first before the demon was ready to hear him out. The demon made this clear as he bore his talons wide and went to slash horizontally as Orobo with incredible speed, strength and precision. The summoner could tell instantly that his opponents physical abilities were unlike any he had currently faced in Valucia. The summoner responded with righteous anger and trashtalk.

"Judge my ass bitchface!"

In his old world Orobo had at times been engaged in larger battles for humanity’s fate and during them he had witnessed god-like beings and minor deities themselves engaged in the earthly clash. Orobo had never summoned any of the Devil-Kings or SIN-forbid, the Demon Emperors, but he had seen them at work on many a fire-scorched battlefield. This Khaoul seemed to be as strong as a Devil-King, perhaps one of the stronger demons of that distinguishing class. The Devil-Kings had been known for their eccentricity, emotions wild and flaring unpredictably. In keeping with that theme, Khaoul’s own pride in himself seemed near absolute. His mission and own attitude would most certainly prevent him from being easily manipulated or controlled. So like a bucking bronco or a fast car, Orobo needed to take control fast or risk extensive injury and even death.

“Fine Khaoul, wallow in ignorance, your own foolishness and the rigid stance that will be your downfall; I will make sure it is in fact. What I see in you is an old machine in a new factory; You still think your old function applies while a new one and a new path have just appeared before you! You speak to me like you know me or like any of your old world’s rules apply here or to me in fact. None of your tenets or rulers are here to command you Khaoul, their objectives and reasonings are dead! If anyone here has done wrong, it's you, too lazy and set in your ways to learn the new truth of your world!”

Orobo twisted his fingers and left arm around, using his mutations to bend the joints and lengthen them unnaturally, forming symbols and shapes sickeningly with the flesh digits. A blade of unnatural metal and strength appeared in his left hand, the arm returning to normal with the finishing of the summon. The blade was long and straight, narrow but dense in material, black and red demon steel, on a hilt made from a skull with it’s mouth agape, the blade jutting from its stretched maw. Orobo shifted his right arm back to normal as the summoning completed, before smirking at the Demon-lord. “You will not listen to reason, so I assume force is necessary. I hope we can still work together after I knock that scowling face into the dirt.” Grasping the blade with both hands, Orobo assumed a relaxed sword stance, the blade in front of him pointed at Khaoul. Then suddenly, with speed far past that of any normal creature, Orobo lunged forward and sliced horizontally at the demon lord. Khaoul narrowly dodged backwards, a long thin line appearing on his chest as the demon skidded backwards. Orobo followed this up with multiple other attacks, cutting diagonally, vertically and from every direction available to the summoner.

A single flame sparked from one of the demon’s eyes.

“This world is new, but I see mortals have not changed…”

Instead of humouring this mortal by allowing him to press an attack, Khaoul raised a forearm and took the blade’s attack head on. Orobo’s sword sank into the demon lord’s flesh for a few inches before stopping. Khaoul’s face didn’t express much, but his eyes held a particular malice for the summoner now. So this mortal was capable of piercing not only his skin, but his flesh too? With a grunt, Khaoul swung his forearm outwards in a feat of monstrous strength that would fling Orobo into the ground unless he released his grip on the sword.

Orobo snarled as the blade sank into Khaoul's flesh, not nearly as deep as he had been hoping. Then suddenly the ground came out from underneath the summoner, and he was spinning away from the demon lord, flung by the devil's immense physique. Flying through the air screaming angrily, his blade unsheathing itself from Khaoul's flesh in the process, Orobo landed like he had earlier, sliding to a stop in the snow. Getting out of the snow using his left hand to push himself from the ground, it could be seen that Orobo's right hand had fused with the demon blade, the conglomeration of demonic flesh and steel pulsing and throbbing with unholy rage. Orobo lifted the blade and pointed it at Khaoul again, before spitting some blood from his mouth. "Yknow Khaoul, I'd say the same damn thing, but replace mortal with demon." Orobo wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and tensed as the mutation affecting his body pulsed. His skin crawled as veins all over his body doubled in size to accommodate the mutated blood cells and demonic changes affecting his body.

Khaoul had grown tired of the verbal back and forth. This mortal was too blinded by his ideals to accept that his death was the only acceptable recompense for his sinful ways. Khaoul could tell because his Pride Curse was getting stronger the more the man tried to force his beliefs on the demon. While Orobo's demonic cells were enhancing his body's physical capabilities, the curse was counteracting its effect on his strength quite noticeably. Perhaps the summoner's strike on Khaoul's arm would have reached bone were he not afflicted by his own weakness.

"Be consumed in wrath."

Raising a hand in a familiar gesture towards Orobo, Khaoul gathered mana to his palm to charge up another massive cone of fire. Orobo, along with anyone within a five-mile radius, had already seen what the fiery spell could do. Given the instant damage it had done to the attacking demons before, at this range the flames would fry the skin of any normal mortal on contact.

Orobo could hear his blood pumping, pounding loudly over and over again in his brain and ears. Taking his blade in both hands, Orobo spun around once and then twice and then let go. Flesh ripping, tearing and unraveling from Orobo's arm as it went, the demon sword aimed at Khaoul. The blade screamed in joy as it hurtled towards its target. The demon was somewhat surprised at the speed with which the blade moved and, in his entrancement, failed to dodge its attack. The blade pierced his massive open palm and sank into the flesh, emerging from the other side. Khaoul examined the sword as it remained lodged in his hand. It was some kind of semi-biological manifestation from the summoner's body, but the demon could smell demonic flesh from the weapon. This confused Khaoul. This mortal certainly wasn't a demon, but he didn't smell entirely human.

Khaoul decided not to distract himself. He was the most supreme duellist in his old world amongst any power, but this new world was dividing his attention. If he was too inattentive, he would underestimate the mortals that bid to defeat him. Such indignation could not be allowed for someone of his stature. Khaoul grasped the blade with his punctured hand so that it remained stuck and with his other, raised a palm to Orobo and began to charge his mana once more for another fire cone blast. Flames began to curl from Khaoul's hand as the spell began to take effect. Orobo summoned another lesser demon blade, this one a simple broadsword with a twitching eye in the hilt and he began to strafe towards the demon lord. The distance between the two was hazardous now and if Orobo didn't reach the demon lord or safety of any sort in time he would end up a barbeque.

And barbecue he became. Khaoul was surprised at Orobo's foolishly headstrong attack, choosing to rush directly towards the demon lord despite having witnessed his spell previously. Khaoul was a masterful one-on-one fighter, but demonic battle tactics such as what was being displayed by this mortal angered the demon. A cone-like beam erupted from his hand like a solar flare, the mix of kinetic and heat energy slamming directly into Orobo as he took the flaming laser head on. Yet another clash of dark orange light washed over the land surrounding Solomon Fortress as the fire illuminated a horde of lesser demons sulking towards the two demonic combatants like parasites. Everything became a silhouette in the face of the brilliant piercing light of Khaoul's attack. Orobo was thrown from the explosion of flame a great distance many tens of yards from the demon lord.

The third time was the charm for Orobo and as he stood up again, still burning, he began to form symbols with both of his charred arms. Blackened flesh cracked and split as the limbs moved in tandem, gathering as much of the demonic flame still covering Orobo on the two limbs as possible. Orobo's face was a charred and burning mess as he rose from the snow. He was a good distance from the demon lord now and began to once again move slowly in his direction, his skin crackling and popping as the fires on his body slowly went out. Orobo had kept his flame resistance from the suicide demon's explosion but his body still raged with Khaoul's fire. His fingers began to twitch and flail in different directions along with his arms, the fires still burning on both until finally a thin black line appeared in the space of reality in front of Orobo. He had used the flames and his own flesh to enhance his summoning, Khaoul’s own power amplifying the summoning. A hand appeared from the line suddenly, clasping a wall that wasn't really there, and slowly but surely a beast came in to view from the portal, ripping open the air and line it had come from. Screaming could be heard coming from the line of black the creature was pulling itself from, echoing and distorted to a horrifying degree. Behind the creature only void glistened, pitch black and empty, utterly dark in its midnight hue.

The demon that pulled itself into the snows of Czarsnikei's reality was a terror in it's very existence. Orobo had summoned Romose Ett Galah, The Third King and Devourer of Hearts, a powerful demon lord with a mastery of close combat, and physical strength to challenge Khaoul. Romose had no complicated abilities or powers, he was simply a very strong, very ancient flaming demon lord that won most of his fights by either pounding his enemies into a bloody pulp or incinerating them with his constantly burning fires. The newly summoned demon lord ripped open the tear in reality and took several heavy steps forward. The tear closed shut behind him and then all was quiet save for the snow and howling demons again. Romose’s appearance was very visible, very loud and yet the creature itself had no mouth, fires burning everywhere that recognizable features should have been.

As the Demon Lord made a grand appearance, a loud sound could be heard in the back of the horde of demons. As it drew closer, a tornado made of fire could be seen, slicing, burning, and even biting off pieces of any unfortunate demon in its way. Seemingly the tornado moved randomly, going from one place to the other with no clear direction, but in reality it was targeting the largest clusters of demons, even attacking the bigger ones, in which it would start in the legs and work its way up to the head. The tornado had however spotted Orobo and Khaoul and it soon began traveling to their location.

Romose began to stride towards Khaoul, fists clenched and flames raging all over the demon’s back. The demon snorted a burst of flame from its nostrils, and began to jog as it neared the opposing demon lord. Then Romose was sprinting, and then suddenly he was upon Khaoul, throwing a heavy and burning fist at the target. The blow connected with the Prince of Sin's cheekbone and his head cocked to the side. A drop of black blood escaped the corner of his mouth, but Khaoul had yet to take a step back and yield ground to this challenger. Khaoul responded by agilely placing a foot on Romose's chest and extending his leg with incredible force. The demon flew backwards and crashed into the ground, rolling for a hundred feet further before coming to a stop. Already on his feet, Romose dashed forward again, throwing another punch at his opponent's face. Khaoul ducked under the attack and threaded one arm of Romose's shoulder and one under his armpit, shoulder-throwing the demon into the ground with a heavy impact. To some of the observing summoned, it was very reminiscent of a Judo technique. A resounding boom was heard and a crater crumbling beneath the two demonic gladiators. The heat energy permeating the immediate vicinity began increasing as the flames latent in both demon lords flared. The smell of burning ozone and the waves of heated air emitting from the two was stifling.

Romose managed to kick Khaoul off him and get back to his feet, striking low to then swing an uppercut for the jaw. Khaoul deflected the first punch to the side but took the uppercut with a grunt. This demon had some strength and speed about them then. Khaoul slammed an elbow into Romose's temple, but the demon managed to get an arm up to barely block the attack. Even still, Romose staggered to the side before launching a kick at the knee joint. Khaoul brought his shin up to block the vital spot off before launching a straight piston kick for the sternum. Now the techniques were calling to Muay Thai. Romose staggered back, winded but still rearing to fight.

Orobo fell then finally, sitting down on the snow gently, the ice and frozen particles melting under and all around him as the fires covering his arms and body went out. The summoner laid back for a second, panting and coughing as his summoned demon continued to throw fist after fist at Khaoul. Orobo knew he didn't have much time, he got up and began to hurry towards the group of humans that had assembled against the feral demons. The fortress they had nearly reached hadn’t responded to the demons surrounding the group save for opening the gate and surrounding the opening with soldiers. None were coming for the summoned or the patrol from earlier. Czarsnikei fortress policy demanded patience and restraint in dealing with the demons. There would be no heroic charge to save the summoned. They would have to fight their way to the fortress to get inside. Orobo recognized the strategy from his homeworld, protecting only what you know that you can, nothing more, at the risk of absolute destruction.

The tornado had been given time to approach and thanks to the environment or the inability to care. The tornado was able to quickly approach Khaoul when he threw a kick at Romose. In that moment the tornado began to fade away, revealing Ullis with one arm turned into a netherwalker arm having netherwalker corpses impaled into it, and his other arm with his sword. With a simple motion, Ullis threw the corpses at Khaoul and then swung his sword downwards, aiming to deal damage to the demon while it was distracted by the other demon and the corpses. The corpses impacted off the demon lord in sequential fashion, the knock-back barely budging the 10ft grey giant. The sword came to bear down on Khaoul and he raised a forearm to meet the dissecting blade's edge with stoney mettle. It sank into his skin a few millimetres and stopped short of the flesh. With a grunt, Khaoul swiped outwards with the forearm to throw Ullis back and hopefully crush his ribs in the process.

Romose snorted a breath of flame from the two narrow slits on his face that took the place of nostrils. Then breathing in deeply, the demon lord took 3 steps back, recollecting itself as the newcomer assaulted the foe of his master. Romose Ett Galah was a powerful demon lord of flame and muscle, a towering and intimidating monster, known for inconceivable malice, unswerving loyalty and machiavellian tendencies to match the Italian minister himself. He had fought and schemed his way into a position few other demonic entities could ever even hope to find themselves in.

Ullis had hoped the blade would travel further into the demons skin, but with his sword suddenly stopping, Ullis broke out of rage and transformed his free arm into that of a Netherwalkers, suppressing most of Khaouls attack and only break his arm which sent him flying back landing on the snow. He looked at his netherwalker arm to see it broken and looked back at his other one still holding the sword. “Still not sharp enough eh?” Ullis said heavily breathing and turning around to run back at the massive horde of Netherwalkers to heal and sharpen his blade.

Romose sighed as the human began to run away from the fight he had just entered, the demon lord had hoped Ullis would occupy Khaoul for a little longer and as usual Romose Ett Galah found himself disappointed. Mortals were so useless, he thought to himself as he clenched both fists and began to run at Khaoul once again. Flame billowed out behind the demon as he charged towards the horned figure. Several lesser Nether Walkers threw themselves into Romose’s path, hoping for easy blood, and found themselves scorched stains on the snow. Romose body slammed Khaoul with his full weight and roared as he did so, flame bursting out from all over his body as he connected with the other demon lord. It was easy to see what Romose was intending and Khaoul had no urge to allow himself to be stifled. Romose was strong and it was a shame two demons had to fight. But Khaoul was not so weak-willed to doubt his purpose over dirtying his hands in such a way. They were both demons ensnared by contract, only Romose had not been able to break free of his. Perhaps killing the mortal would liberate him, in some manner or another.

As Romose threw himself at his opponent, Khaoul braced his body by lowering his stance and rolling his shoulder forward as the point of contact. Romose slammed into the Demon Lord with a resounding boom. Khaoul found his shoulder digging into the solar plexus, a sure-fire way of winding a person by targeting the diaphragm. His feet dragged back in the snow by a couple metres, marked ruts carved by his curled toes. To extricate himself from his attacker, Khaoul threw Romose off with his free arm. The sinful demon's arm hung loose at the shoulder. Dislocated perhaps? Khaoul snapped his arm back into place by rolling the shoulder joint into the socket. His natural healing factor would sort the rest. Turning to his assailant with a scowl, Khaoul decided it would be best to go on the attack finally. He'd had enough of gauging the creatures of this realm. Mortals were still sinners and demons were not the rulers of this place. These facts would have to change.

With a low growl indicative of his species, Khaoul exercised great speed in bounding over to Romose in but a mere second, launching a straight kick to the chest with enough power to puncture a steel wall. The clever element here was that Khaoul was targeting the solar plexus again.

Romose recognized that the demon was finally taking the initiative and attacking. He began to feign stability in his stance, waiting for Khaoul’s kick until the very last instant. Romose lunged under the kick right before Khaoul’s blow would have connected and grabbed the opposing demon lord's leg and chest. The force of Khaoul’s assault and the strength in the blow startled the summoned demon and Romose was nearly thrown entirely off balance in the instant of the two moves. Romose Ett Galah would not be thrown off so easily however and he then lifted the beast of a demon lord in the air for a moment before hurling the bulky devil several yards away to crash into a snowbank. Khaoul sailed through the air, surprise of his own apparent in his expression at Romose's ability to lift the demon lord at all. He twisted in his trajectory once before landing with a resounding thud on crouched legs, maintaining his balance quite expertly despite his size. Returning to a neutral body posture, Khaoul wiped a smear of blood from his lip.

Orobo stood up behind the demon lord several yards away and growled at the difficulty of the situation. He needed to take control fast before things got even more hectic, he was wounded though, and tired as all hell. Taking the heat blast directly had not been good for the devil summoner, his skin was scorched and healing slowly, despite his many mutations and the resistance to fire he had given himself when the suicide demon had exploded. He was panting and sweating badly, he needed assistance definitely, and from someone who’d actually stick around unlike that bastard Ullis. He had run from the fight almost immediately from what Orobo could tell, throwing himself at the weaker demons around them instead. Orobo’s own lesser demons were on their last legs now, reduced to 5 individuals and they were all injured. Romose stood in front of his master, blocking Khaoul’s view of the summoner, but not reducing Orobo’s own sight of the area.

Though Ullis had seemingly abandoned the fight, he had actually retreated to heal his wound. But most importantly he realised something, his blade wasn’t cutting enough for the demon. So when he retreated he kept striking at the demons cutting them more and more easily as his blade grew in strength and sharpness. Even if the demon's skin was extremely durable, with enough kills, Ullis’s sword could cut through anything, and what better place to kill than the horde of demons. Ullis lept back into the horde now being more conscious and eating some more demons to heal his wounds while the rest were precisely cut into pieces, each strike and bite, Ullis felt his speed and strength grow bit by bit. Soon as Ullis cut one of the demons his sword slipped and cut through the ground, a good symbol that his sword was perhaps sharp enough now. Without wasting much time, Ullis leapt out of the horde and ran back towards Khaoul, this time grabbing his sword with both hands. “Over here you ugly bastard,” Ullis taunted Khaoul as he approached again with his feet slowly lighting up with fire, leaving a trail of melting snow with his footsteps. Khaoul's deliberate permanent scowl swung in the offending metal's direction with discourtesy.

"Insults and pride are all you mortals offer…"

Khaoul raised a hand and began gathering mana at the palm. By now Orobo had not only seen but had directly come into contact with the demon's magic, and so he was very familiar with what was about to happen. The summoner’s eyes widened as he recognized the issue, his chef’s goose was about to get cooked. “Ullis! Dodge you bastard, get out of the damn way!!!”

Ullis heard Orobo’s words, but instead of moving aside, Ullis moved faster and faster towards Khaoul, the bottom of his feet beginning to shine even brighter than before. If what Ullis thought was going to happen was true, then even if he dodged, the demon would simply be able to move his laser, track him, and hit him, so the only place to go was forward, but where would he strike? He added a couple more kills to his sword, but it wouldn’t nearly be enough to do an entire cut, he knew this through experience… So where, where would he- Ullis finally thought of where, but he might not come out unscathed. Now he just ran towards the massive demon waiting for the perfect opportunity. Khaoul had finished charging his spell by now and Ullis had drawn speedily near, telling of an enhanced swiftness not found in most mortals. Khaoul's scowl lessened slightly. This mortal wished to fight up close, as gladiators do.

Instead of firing his cone of fire directly at Ullis, the demon lowered his hand. The mortal may have possessed the agility to dodge the blast radius, but more importantly, Khaoul held a curiosity that did not often spark from many opponents. The heat rose and steam rose from the snowy ground, obscuring the area around them. Ullis drew close, close enough that any moment he would be upon him. Then Khaoul loosed his magical laser of flame.

Directly into the ground before him.

The floor beneath Ullis' feet exploded in molten slag and licks of fire as the very surface under him erupted. He may have been able to dodge the spell head on, but this was a mortal that required a battlefield to step on. Khaoul too was pushed back by the force of his own spell, though still managed to maintain his footing. His double-enhanced durability saw him unscathed.

Ullis quickly began turning the muscles of his legs into that of more demonic to gain a boost in his speed. But even with the speed the explosion was too great and hit him in the back, launching him forward and near Khaoul. But getting closer was what Ullis wanted. Khaoul in kind pulled the demon sword left as an unkind gift from Orobo out of his own hand and brandished it loosely. As Ullis moved through the air for a short time he landed on the molten ground and as it did, his foot shined brighter than ever. In that single moment another explosion was heard, but this one came from Ullis’s feet. His feet shining weren’t for speed, that came naturally, those were for a very specific use and that use was to explode. Ullis was launched directly towards the demon at an incredible speed with Ullis pulling back his blade and swinging it with his own force and the force of the launch to a place the demon had little to no protection with it’s muscle. The elbow-joint.

The demon lord brought the borrowed demon sword to bear on the quickened mortal, but the quickness of his assailant had suddenly increased at a more exponential rate than anticipated. The blade found its mark. Ullis' sword proved to lodge itself in the elbow-joint of Khaoul's left arm. It sank past the skin and cut part-way into the cartilage, but it did not exit out the other side. However Ullis had achieved his goal nonetheless. The arm hung limp, Khaoul unable to stimulate movement to his forearm or hand for the moment. Despite this grievous injury, the Prince of Sin did not seem particularly disturbed by the fact. Choosing to place his attention on the fight instead, Khaoul lunged forward as well. Stabbing the point of the demon blade at Ullis much akin to a fencer's flurry, a series of fast jabs formed a wall of straight-tip strikes as he attempted to skewer the offending mortal multiple times in swift succession. The strikes came just as fast as Ullis could deliver himself.

Orobo sighed as Ullis launched himself at the demon lord, a feeling of relief overcoming the summoner. He turned away, gesturing with his hand loosely at Romose to continue the attack as he turned to limp towards the fortress. A lone netherwalker stood in his way in that moment, growling and drooling a low tone. Orobo himself growled back and seized the demon by the throat quickly, right before it could launch itself at him. Orobo smashed the demon into the cold snow, anger and pain fueling him in his weakened state. The beast thrashed around wildly, stabbing Orobo once in the belly before it suddenly stopped. Orobo grunted in pain and raised an eyebrow as he felt a strange connection with the monster awaken. His blood had mixed with his own, it being an earlier foe of one of his own demons. Orobo snarled and punched it one time. A light flashed for an instant, cold and white in its hue, and slowly a mark appeared on his wrist and the beast's neck where his hand was. Had he finally achieved control over one of the creatures? Orobo lightened the grip and shuffled away from the body for a moment. The beast rose to its forelegs, eye’s glowing with purple light, before staggering slightly. Orobo gestured to another of the nearby Netherwalkers, and with a thought, the demon had turned against its former brethren.

'Tough bastard' Ullis thought inside his head. Even when he went back to kill more demons and used a new spell to gain more speed, he still could only sever a part of the demon's flesh. Ullis fell back down onto the ground near the demon only to be met with hundreds of jabs in front of him. Ullis could see and block the jabs, but lacked the technique to perfectly defend, leading to the sides of his body getting riddled with wounds but still being able to hold up. Khaoul grunted and pulled back his assault for a moment of respite. The jabs finally ended and Ullis saw an opportunity to strike, using fire breath at the demon's face to maybe disorient it, and striking the limp arm once to hopefully, fully sever it. Ignoring the flames entirely, Khaoul anticipated the strike and had rushed forward with a slash of his own. Sweeping the demon blade horizontally from left to right, the two swords clashed against each other in a hail of bright sparks. The two struggled against each other and, slowly, Khaoul's strength seemed to be proving superior. With the blizzard flurrying snow about, a bubble of heat kept the two shielded from the frost in waves of thermo-mana. The ground beneath their feet revealed grass amongst the cracked earth, scorched black by Khaoul's magic. Ullis had proficient heat resistance, but it had a limit. One that he would reach much sooner than Khaoul ever would.

Ullis swiftly stepped back, slowly losing the strength on his arms and having his clothes burning up more than ever. In a rather weird move, Ullis sheathed his sword and slowly began walking around the demon, stepping on the snow around him and getting progressively faster. The demon had shown incredible strength and durability, to the point Ullis couldn’t just slice through it’s skin, not without wasting hours killing netherwalkers, at which point the demon could escape or worse. So Ullis needed to get creative and that is what he would do as he began kicking snow towards the demon causing it to evaporate and slowly obscuring vision for those inside and outside the vapor.

Orobo turned to the misty battle erupting between Ullis and Khaoul and he then summoned a final demon blade for one more assault. Romose was hopping up and down, a boxer’s stance acquired as he eagerly readied himself to rejoin the fight. The demon summoner waved his blade once and Romose was charging at Khaoul once again, this time followed by Orobo, moving at a more leisurely jogging pace. Orobo needed to tame this demon lord and fast, before they were all overwhelmed by the many demons of the Czarsnikei wilds. The watchpost demon was busy itself, fighting the soldiers from the fortress. A samurai-looking man with a mask was flitting about here and there slashing at it, while one with a singular blade was steadily keeping it occupied. A third with a powerful lightning bow was blasting away at it’s tough hide from afar. Orobo himself, with the damage he had sustained, would take on the samurai’s tactic with Khaoul. As they approached the demon lord, Romose prepared to launch a powerful right hook, propelled by his own speed and muscle to the point of ability where his fist would be able to smash solid concrete. Romose threw the punch and Khaoul narrowly dodged, a baleful expression cast at the attacker as the fist passed him by. Romose followed up with several jabs and Orobo flitted in and about, feinting and stabbing with his demon blade. Their sudden assault took the attention off Ullis for a moment as chaos of the battle intensified.

As Orobo and Romose tried to hit Khaoul with a slurry of attacks, three blue transparent bears the size of trucks wandered from the trees. Their eyes glowed yellow, and they walked beside the witch, Delilah. “I thought a demon summoner would be in control of their familiars,” she said with a smirk. She aimed her staff at Khaoul, and the enormous bears roared in their charge. They stampeded around Khaoul and rose on their hind feet, slashing their claws and baring their teeth at the enemy. Beside the witch, Yamiko appeared out of nowhere, followed closely by the ice spirit, frosty air emanating around its head. Skathi had slain many of the feral demons, and frozen blood coated the figure from head to toe. With one glance at the monstrous figure being Khaoul and its disobedience towards his summoner, Yamiko let out a sigh and drew her katana again. Skathi, still excited by the thrilling battle of the lower demons, hovered above the battlefield, the icy floor beneath them cracking up. As Yamiko joined Orobo in slashing at Khaoul, ice fragments from the ground flew between Skathi’s hands like a magnet, forming a growing ball of ice.

"Your numbers are not sufficient."

Khaoul's deep voice of gravel rumbled as a thick mist of steam kicked up in the surrounding area. Ullis had begun an artful game of cat and mouse and Khaoul did not have the patience to play around. Closing his eyes, the demon lord attuned his ears. His senses were so accurate, he could hear the footfalls of his quarry and echolocated a mental map of his destroyed surroundings. The steps, the breath, and even the man's beating heart revealed itself like a greyed oil painting in his mind. Khaoul tore a chunk of hard, earthy stone out from the ground and threw it at the chef spellsword with such accurate force that the projectile broke the sound barrier with a resounding boom. The white mist parted to reveal to Khaoul a misfortune sight. Several more mortals had dived into action, converging on the demon lord's location like ants to a hill. With a grimacing grunt, Khaoul bore his sword aloft his head in two hands. The style may have been somewhat familiar to the samurai nearby. He waited. His elbow had healed to the point that his hand was usable again, but it was not nearly regenerated enough to be used with any finesse. He waited…

And the moment came. Romose rushed forth with flying fists and Khaoul laid a hand flat on his blade, parrying the strikes to the side artfully. Spinning on the spot with agility that did not match his size, Khaoul sweeped with a leg at Romose's ankles before spinning again and attempting to slash open his chest horizontally. Romose pulled away just dodging the horizontal slices, his forearms raised back over his head in a defensive boxing stance. He replied with several right handed jabs and then a couple left ones, fists flying at the demon lord with terrible strength and viciousness. Khaoul blocked a few of the jabs with one hand and swiped at Romose with the sword a couple of times in quick succession. Orobo's strikes had managed to get through in the process and Khaoul found several shallow slash wounds across his arms and torso. Growling intermittently between puffs of breath, the demon lord was struck on the back of the head by a large claw from one of the mortals' minion creatures. Baring his own fanged teeth, Khaoul swiped his sword twice in quick succession at Orobo but was interrupted by Yamiko's pressed assault. Forced to block the strikes with his borrowed demon blade, Khaoul swung a fist at the katana-wielding woman before following it up with several sword thrusts at both her and Orobo. Another bear chanced to swipe at Khaoul, who ducked under the claw and loosed a sharp swipe of his own. The bear went flying as a result, but soon after he was heckled once again from behind by Delilah’s magic again.

Ullis, taken by surprise, was hit by the full force of the rock, right in his abdomen. Thankfully he reacted quickly enough to turn his abdomen’s resilience into that of a couple netherwalkers, preventing the rock from creating a massive hole in his stomach but launching him far away from the fight and almost knocking him unconscious.

Yamiko was forced to go on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Khaoul’s onslaught of attacks. She stole a quick glance at the ice spirit, and then flipped backwards, glowing brightly midair. Her yellow silhouette shaped into a dragonfly, and Yamiko flew above Khaoul. Skathi’s orb was now bigger than the spirit itself, and with the clench of his fists, the ball of ice split into hundreds of baseball-sized asteroids and icicles. They split off on each side, flying through the air as Skathi waved his arms like a conductor. Skathi aimed his arms at Khaoul, and the barrage blasted the demon from all sides. The demon lord turned around to meet this barrage and raised his arms up to protect himself. The icicle hail of pellets individually could not manage much damage against his durable body, but enough repeated blows managed to chip away at his skin in places and slow his regeneration. Delilah didn’t realize what Skathi was doing, and as such lost one of the bears to friendly fire. She rolled her eyes, lazing away in the background. As the projectiles ceased, the dragonfly above Khaoul grew brightly and Yamiko was now dropping towards Khaoul, her katana pointed straight down. Weakened by the previous attacks, Khaoul reacted to Yamiko less quickly than he normally could and only had time to raise a hand in meagre defence. The katana went straight through his palm and partway into his chest, causing him to fall backwards to the ground. This would have destroyed one of his hearts, but Yamiko did not have the strength or weight to plunge it directly into his organ. Growling in frustration, Khaoul gripped the blade with his pierced hand to stop it moving and swiped with the demon sword he was still holding in an attempt to decapitate Yamiko.

Ullis slowly recovered from the impact and even began coughing up blood, unsure of what to do. Ullis looked around and looked at the rock that had been thrown at him… Maybe… just maybe he could do something with it. Soon an idea came to fruition as Ullis’s right arm picked up the rock and began growing the muscles of his arm. Ullis tightly gripped the rock and with it, his arm began to glow with the same shine as did his feet a while ago. He waited and waited, trying to pick where he would throw it, if he threw it while the demon was on the defensive the rock would be deflected. Then it happened as one of his new allies stabbed the demon almost reaching his heart but being stopped. The demon sent out a strike to decapitate his ally and that is when Ullis saw the opportunity. Ullis swung his arm and detonated part of it using his fire magic, sending the rock flying even faster than normally possible right at the demon's right wrist hitting another joint.

Romose then backed up quickly as Yamiko stabbed into Khaoul's body from above, deeply jutting through the demon lord's form with brutality only an oni could deliver. Orobo's loyal servant then immediately rushed forward and pulled Yamiko out of the way of Khaoul's decapitation blows. The demon's loyalty to those classified as superiors was legendary in the devilish community of his lands and the pull was true, Yamiko evading Khaoul's slashes and Ullis's projectile completely. Her blade was left in Khaoul for several moments, hindering his movement. Ullis' projectile had missed Khaoul's wrist but instead dashed the sword itself from his grasp and Romose considered tossing aside the woman in order to finish the demon lord's limb. He waited however, for the most opportune moment to do so.

Orobo rushed in at that moment, blade drawn and poised to plunge into his renegade summoning's chest. He moved past even this however and the blade moved from chest to being right at the creature’s throat. Khaoul was damaged heavily at this point and surrounded on all sides; There was no help on its way and no reinforcements for the demon lord to call upon. Orobo’s sword was poised at Khaoul’s adam apple and both of his arms were heavily damaged; a blade, Yamiko’s, was thrust into his chest, through Khaoul’s own hand, hobbling his movement with steel. In Orobo's opinion, even a complete idiot would have seen that at this point, Khaoul could never win. Orobo, of course being a complete idiot, still didn't think the fight was over.

Khaoul sneered at Orobo in irritated malice and tried to rise to meet the summoner on equal footing. Romose swiftly stopped the demon lord by planting a foot on the blade lodged in his chest, forcing the Prince of Sin back into the charred molten earth. The prince growled in response to the duo.

"You will pay for your sinning, mortal. I shall see to it that you perish soon…"

In an attempt to get the jump on the summoner, Khaoul raised his right hand to Orobo's face with pyromanic mana charged in his palm. He intended to blow the man's face away before he had a chance to thrust his blade. However, once again, Romose was a fraction faster due to his comparatively less injured state. He stamped on the blade's pommel without hesitation and the tip penetrated Khaoul's heart sharply. This gave way for a brief pause of shock for having one of his hearts destroyed and Khaoul's delay gave Orobo just enough time to sink his own blade directly into the demon lord's throat. Black blood spilled from an artery as the top of his spine suffered a deep laceration from the tip of the sword. Khaoul's hand struggled for a moment, attempting to hold still and pump mana into the spell to kill Orobo. But to no avail, the large creature grunted and his arm fell to the side, Khaoul lay still. For a moment, he appeared to be dead, but it seemed as though he still had a pulse despite having effectively been staked. Orobo withdrew his blade and flicked the dark blood from its steel.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah... Shut up asshole.”

He gestured at his own summon and Romose picked up the still form of Khaoul, slinging his much larger counterpart over his shoulder. Despite his size and strength, even Romose had to slightly grunt at the weight of Khaoul's body.

Orobo and company turned back to the fortress.

Authored by: Snackofthefuture Kloudy StaidFoal Solirus

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

LORD MALAGAR​

The Dark Lord continued to walk. Beside him, demons clashed and magic flares, as the Dark Lord trudged through the snow. He left deep footprints behind him, and reached up. The dark Lord's iron fingers closed around the hilt of his sword, and he pulled it free of its sheathe. The blade thrummed and glowed in the fading light as he lazily swung it about in an arc. The Ironclad behind him unsheathed their weapons as well, preparing for combat with the surrounding menace. Low and behold, one small demon ran at Malagar. They were fearless, almost beastial. Malagar stepped forward and raised up the blade, swinging down in a quick, brutal vertical arc. The demon fell, shivering and shaking, cleaved in half. Acrid steam raised from its boiling blood in teh snow, as Malagar knelt, picking up the corpse, examining it. "BOILING BLOOD. BESTIAL IN MIND. THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THE DEMONIC BEASTS OF MY HELL. THEY SHALL BE MADE TO KNEEL IN TIME. EVEN IF THEY DO NOT KNOW IT." The Dark Lord dropped the corpse, and another Ironclad dragged both halves of the corpse along behind it. Their corpses would be examined later on.

The Dark Lord gave half a sideways glance to the warriors who fought eachother and the demons, as he held his sword aloft, the glowing blade keeping the demons back. Those who did not fear it, feared nothing any longer. He paid little mind to those who stood on the field still. Soldiers and mercenaries were of no concern to him, ultimately.

 

[Solirus]

Ullis Hrundu​

“Fucking tough bastard…” Ullis breathed heavily with his right arm almost destroyed from using his fire magic and causing an explosion just to throw the rock. Ullis looked around and seemed to see a massive armored figure in the distance, but was just too tired and disregarded it as maybe hallucinations. Ullis needed some way to recover the damage to his arm so attacking small demons wouldn’t help as their numbers increased. So the best option was to get as much blood from the demon they took down and maybe heal his wounds.

Ullis neared to the area with most blood, where the demon had been defeated, hopefully the blood was still fresh enough. Ullis quickly knelt down and removed his entire mask to properly drink the blood.

Ullis had to get as much blood as possible so with his left hand still working, he scooped up as much as he could from the messy ground and began drinking. It tasted terrible, worse than anything he drank before, well the blackness sure didn’t make it any more tolerable, but Ullis kept chunging still not noticing any changes or healing to his body… Was he too late. “Fuck” Ullis said quietly standing back up and reach to grab his mask, only for his hand to tense up and soon his entire body.

Ullis’s veins quickly began appearing and his skin seemed to be turning grey in some sections while returning. “GGRRRR” Ullis slowly began feeling a pain reaching his neck… one second he couldn’t breath and then the next his blood felt like it was boiling with anger and hatred… Why was it taking so long? This has only ever happened with powerful creatures, but to think it’d happen with such a small portion of its blood. Ullis thought in his had as he fell backwards. Then the memories came, even with such a small portion, he gained so many memories. How long had this demon been living for? Ullis then fell unconscious and woke up immediately feeling his body completely refreshed with his arm fully healed. Ullis got back up but jumped up a bit, realizing his new strength. This little blood and I got so much strength… what a monster. Ullis thought to himself, Ullis saw the rest of them leaving and quickly grabbed his cap noticing vines near them. Weird… I'm sure those vines would be burning up by now.. Ullis stared for a second before putting back his cap and rejoining the group, being as bloody as ever.

@ people heading to Solomon Fortress

 

[Solirus]

[BOOTING UP: “Mulv”]
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS?]: [Y/N]
…
Y
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS = TRUE]
…
[BODY SYSTEMS = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[ENERGY CORE = 82%]
[WEAPON SYSTEMS = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[SCANNING EQUIPMENT = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[AI CORE = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
…
[DIAGNOSTICS: SUCCESSFUL]
[OVERALL RESULTS: FUNCTIONAL]
…
[LOADING: PRIME DIRECTIVES]
…
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 1: “survive”]
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 2: “learn”]
…
[COMMENCING: SCAN]
…
[SCANNING = TRUE]
…
[SCAN = SUCCESSFUL]
[LIFEFORMS = 4]
[DARK HAND SCIENTISTS = 3]
[FIRE EAGLE MERCENARY = 1]
…
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 1 = TRUE]
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 2 = FALSE]
…
[COMMENCING: LEARNING]
[ENABLE: “hearing”?] [Y/N]
…
Y
…
[“hearing” = TRUE]
…​

“-and that’s why I think taking the main road is a terrible idea” one of the scientists explained.

“I’m the driver and I get to decide where we go” the mercenary responded.

“Hmmm, I’m starting to feel like we made a poor choice picking you as our driver.” another scientist remarked.

“Well if you wanted you could’ve picked any of the other 6 cars, but you ended up with me so suck it up.” the mercenary barked back.

“... Hey look who just woke up, hey Mulv how are you doing.” the scientist next to Mulv said.

“I am… doing functional,” Mulv responded, deploying his legs and facing the scientist as Mulv now stood on the car seat.

“Now now Mulv, saying, I’m doing function doesn’t make much sense, you could instead do: “I am functional” or “I am doing fine” sound good?” the scientist explained.

“Yes, that sounds good.” Mulv responded.

“Hey, how long has that thing been learning for?” the mercenary asked.

“Well, I think just a week.” one of the scientists responded.

“A WEEK?!” The mercenary shouted in surprise.”AI like those only learn to speak broken english after 2 months of learning and that thing did it in one week?”

“Well it started learning to talk in a couple days but I think you get the point.” The same scientist responded giving off a feeling of pride for being a main factor in Mulv’s creation.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

The scientist next to the one who spoke bumped his elbow and whispered: “dude shut up, he’s a mercenary, he doesn’t need to know anything.” the scientist then looked at Mulv. “Mulv, commence: “sleeping””

[COMMENCING: “sleeping”]
[SHUTTING DOWN = TRUE]
…
[SHUTTING DOWN]
…
…
…
…
[WARNING: NON AUTHORIZED HAND TOUCHING MULV]
[COMMENCING: “waking up”]
…
[BOOTING UP]
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS?] [Y/N]
…
N
…
[SCANNING = TRUE]
…
[SCAN COMPLETE]
[LIFEFORMS = 7]
[BLACK MANTIS THIEVES = 5]
[DARK HAND SCIENTISTS = 2]
…
…​

Mulv opened its eyes and saw the environment it was in. Dark, humid, terrible smell, blood… Mulv quickly saw the mercenary and one of the scientists dead on the ground with a hole right through their skulls. Mulv then saw the two remaining scientists being held to the ground while Mulv itself was being held by another.

“FUCK YOU.” one of the scientists shouted while still being held to the ground.

“So be it.” a thief said with a tone of authority as he waved his hand to the other thief to shoot the scientists head off. The thief’s rifle charged for a second and released a beam of energy that instantly traveled through the head of the scientist.

“FUCKHEAD, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SHOOT HIM WHILE I WAS HOLDING HIM?!” one of the thieves screamed, nearly being shot by his own comrade.

“DANGER DETECTED, PRIME DIRECTIVE 1 IN ACTION” Mulv said out loud, gaining the attention of the other thieves. “COMMENCING SCAN” Mulv tried to move but hadn’t paid much attention to the Thief holding onto it, now that it was a danger, Mulv quickly began to move breaking free from the thieves grip and landing on the ground, with two of the thieves quickly pulling out their guns.

[4 LEVEL 3 SHIELD CORES DETECTED]
[1 LEVEL 5 SHIELD CORE DETECTED]​

Mulv quickly charged its laser and shot right at the head of one of the thieves, quickly killing the thief having learnt from what it saw. The other thief missed a shot, getting scared from Mulv suddenly firing and killing their companion. Mulv soon fired again and killed the scared thief.

[2 HOSTILES DOWN]
[3 HOSTILES REMAINING]​

“WHAT THE HELL?” the thief holding down the last scientist screamed. “IT’S ONLY A WEEK OLD, HOW CAN IT DO THA-?” the thief was cut off as he was pushed away by the scientist and quickly shot in the head by Mulv.

[2 HOSTILES REMAINING]
[2 SHOTS LEFT]​

Without saying a word, the leader of the thieves quickly pulled out his weapon and dispatched the scientist before he could do anything. “You’re coming with us, dead or alive. Which one will you pick? Also don’t just stand there, pull out your weapon.” The other remaining thief shakingly grabbed his weapon and pointed it at Mulv.

Mulv didn’t hesitate one bit and quickly shot at the leader in the head, although instead of collapsing, Mulv saw his laser stop and sizzle out as the leaders shield stopped it. “It’s Dead then.”

…
…

[LEARNING = TRUE]
…
[SCANNING = TRUE]
…
[NEW TARGET]
… ​

Mulv swiftly dashed to the side nearly dodging the shots and soon aimed his laser from the leaders head to it’s gun. As their weapons charged to fire again, Mulv shot out his last remaining shot, going through the whole of the gun and exploding right in their faces, effectively killing them.

[0 HOSTILES REMAINING]
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS?] [Y/N]
…
Y
…
[WARNING: BODY SYSTEMS = HEAVILY DAMAGED]
…​

Mulv had noticed too late that the other thief had been able to get a clean shot on Mulv, nearly missing the AI core but ripping apart most of its current body.

[ENERGY = 52% and RAPIDLY DEPLETING]
[AI CORE = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
…
[ENERGY = 32% and RAPIDLY DEPLETING]
…
[ENERGY = CRITICAL LEVELS]
[FORCED SHUT DOWN = TRUE]​

Mulv quickly ran out of energy and collapsed, leaving an interesting scene. Though before Mulv completely shut down, it saw another thing, a blinding flashing light that seemingly enveloped everything.

[SCANNING]
…
[ERROR: COULDN’T IDENTIFY OBJECT]
[LEAR-...

…
…
…
…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

[BOOTING UP: “Mulv”]
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS?] [Y/N]
…
…
Y
…
[RUN DIAGNOSTICS = TRUE]
…
[BODY SYSTEMS = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[ENERGY CORE = 100% and INCREASING]
[WEAPON SYSTEMS = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[SCANNING EQUIPMENT = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
[AI CORE = FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
…
[DIAGNOSTICS: SUCCESSFUL]
[OVERALL RESULTS: FULLY FUNCTIONAL]
…
[LOADING: PRIME DIRECTIVES]
…
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 1: “survive”]
[PRIME DIRECTIVE 2: “learn”]
…​

Mulv paused for a second and then opened its eyes and looked around, the environment was unknown, there were unknown things…

[SCANNING = TRUE]
…
[UNKNOWN LIFEFORMS DETECTED]
…
[LEARNING = TRUE]​

Mulv simply remained still scanning and learning, leaving himself open while still analyzing the area.

@ third summoning

 

[StaidFoal]

Lord Nicholas

This was madness! Everything about this was madness! From the ominous figures to the animals and children, none of them seemed to worship the great Quirke! And this powerful man named SIN wanted them all to conquer this 'Valucia'? Unless... it seemed to dawn on Nicholas, who muttered, "I understand, now." He then pointed at SIN "You must be one of Lord Quirke's disciples! Let the Lord know that I vill rebuild zhe Übermensch and execute all heretics zhat do not conform to his greatness, all in his name!" Nicholas kneeled for a moment before leaving the god.

But if Nicholas was really to start anew, he'd have to recreate the weapons of the Übermensch from scratch, and he doubted that finding a factory would be an easy task. The first step would be recruitments. If there wasn't anyone here, then there'd definitely be some potential soldiers at some nearby village. Nicholas looked through the summoned, ignoring the robots, animals, children, and abnormal characters among the group. Hush would've been arrested and executed just for looking like that in his world, so Nicholas skipped over him. The eastern continent caused the most issue back then, so he decided against the samurai. But in the midst of it all was someone in similar attire. Not that of the Übermensch, but crusader armor nonetheless. Nicholas appeared before Adon, a mechanical whir constantly winding from his pack. "Comrade! I am electing you to be part of my valiant crusade to cleanse the world of heretics and spread the name of—"

"YOU!"

Nicholas noticeably tensed up, cringing at the horrid noise. Great Quirke! Was that the small creature from before? Why does it sound like an unoiled spinnenpanzer? "Ahem! And spread the name of Lord Quirke, the inventor of electricity! Let it be known that it is a great honor to be personally chosen by the Grand Inquisitor! Together we can—"

"And don't even waste your time stalling or playing ignorant, because I have the proof right here!"

Nicholas tensed up once more. Good God! The little rat screams louder than Hans' wife! "Together we can answer our Lord's wishes and potentially become one of his disciples! What do y—"

"What did you do to me?! I should smite you where you stand for meddling with affairs that were never your own! GIVE ME BACK MY MAGIC NOW YOU INSOLENT FOOL!"

Nicholas silently turned around, eyeing Nyx from afar. "QUIET DOWN YOU BLUBBEROUS FURBY!"

Snackofthefuture (SIN) nighttimecatplayer (Nyx) Solirus (Adon)​

 

[Snackofthefuture]

Beth and Seth
By Snackofthefuture EccentricFantasy

Beth scowled at SIN, his refusal to answer questions and his overall demeanor was one that exuded annoyance. She couldn't stand the man already. This SIN was an arrogant bastard, a being with way too much time and power at their fingertips; she could tell he looked down on all of them, that he considered himself so far up the chain from them that he could barely even catch a glimpse of them looking down.
Beth looked at the figure SIN had just bestowed a name upon. The former "Nameless One" was a very monochrome man, shades of black and white decorating his whole figure. He was strange most certainly, handsome and human in a way that seemed almost indestructible and yet at the same time strangely vulnerable.

She liked the name Seth personally, one good thing gifted by the annoying god. It rolled off the tongue with her own title in an amusing way that made her think of some sort of old nursery rhyme. She dispelled the massive blade sheathed in the earth where she had lain when she had awoken. It shifted out of reality and a smaller saber form appeared sheathed on her waist.

Nameless was a bit unamused by the aspect of being given a name. It was honestly a concept he couldn't care less about. It was senseless and honestly didn't seem like it was entirely necessary. It was just a name. If he was trying to get to know anyone, they would not need to know a name for him.
After a moment he looked down to his hands and flexed them a bit. He felt…..off. What was going on? It was an odd feeling. He thought about it, then turned to a boulder close by. He walked to it and took a breath. He opened his eyes and drew back. With a breath he drove his fist into the rock. The rock shattered into almost perfect cubes that tumbled all over.
After inspecting both the remains of the rock and his hand he found it disappointing. He was using his energy manipulation. That rock should no longer exist. Somehow, he was weaker.
He turned to the woman SIN called Beth. After a moment he walked over to her. Studying her energy he saw it was mostly Yang energy. It was so pure, but not pure enough to escape the Yin that also festered in her soul. There wasn't much, but there was enough. The pale destroyer of life leaned down and looked into her eyes. He sat there for a moment, awkwardly looking into her soul with no emotion on his face.
It took a solid 30 seconds of him looking at her he finally spoke in a voice that sounded like many people speaking at once "Complex lifeforms have a concept called 'beautiful'. Is that what you are?"
He had no clue what the concept or word was, but he had heard it often enough through the rifts in space that allowed him to watch the beings of complex life communicate, so he figured it was something that she could explain for him.

Beth watched curiously as the (former) nameless one walked away from SIN agitatedly. She wondered why he was so upset, tensing his arms and clenching his fists so. He approached a large boulder in the field they had been summoned in, stopping abruptly in front of it. The man then suddenly punched the boulder with a uniform and perfect strength. The rock shattered into a thousand perfectly angled cubes, all clattering down to the floor neatly. Beth raised an eyebrow and placed one hand on her blade, slightly tensing as the man turned to walk towards her. As he got closer she remembered to appreciate his handsome features, noting the cute nose and eyes the being bore on his face. She could appreciate being murdered by a pretty lil thang.

Beth huffed and scowled as The Salt King entered her personal bubble, looking deep into her eyes for several moments that would have been considered awkward had either of them been truly modern beings. She didn't back down or away however, instead wrapping the fingers of her hand around the rapier's hilt and staring back into the empty eyes with blazing defiance and good humor. She looked in those eyes, and saw someone who could do many kind and great things, but simply didn't realize it yet. He seemed to be sorta immature though, pouting and smashing boulders like nobody's business. Probably a lack of experience in her opinion.

"Well first of all, I'm not a concept, second, give me a little space please, and third, is this really your idea of flirting? You're gonna ask me if I'm the concept of beautiful?"

Beth smiled slightly, still not giving an inch, looking into The Salt King's black eyes with nothing close to a flinch. He was quirky and definitely a weirdo, but he was cute too she'd give him that. Never a very safe combination, but, she wasn't a very safe sorta person either.

Nameless immediately stood up straight. It was not out of fear or any obligation. She asked and he decided that there was no need to deny her request. However, there were few things in her sentence that he didn't really understand. He kept his eyes locked to her as he tilted his head "I don't understand. What do you mean by….flirting? I simply had a question and you seem to be in a place to understand the question."
He looked around and he could sense the chaos of this world. It was entirely overwhelming. Yes, there were signs of Yang energy scattered around, but most of it was Yin. This place was riddled with it. It was then that he noticed a few spots. Spots far off in the distance that radiated a very specific type of Yin energy. His Yin energy.
After a moment he spoke again "I see. The one who calls himself SIN separated pieces of my power and scattered them." He turned to the one he could tell was closest "It is not wise to toy with the destroyer of life SIN. Soon I will get it all back. Then decide if I want to kill life." He then realized he had said that all right in front of Beth. He didn't really care about her opinion at all, but she was specifically paired with him for a reason. Maybe she could answer his questions.
He turned to her and looked at her. He was still so emotionless and seemed to have no real option on her "If you are coming with me that's fine. You can answer my questions." He said nothing else before turning and beginning his journey to collect his power. SIN might be a god, but killing a god was easy. At least for the destroyer it was.

Turning so her side faced him, she answered his question and strange statements boldly.
"Flirting is a way to endear yourself to someone, using romantic language often, I'd say. The way you were speaking to me held more than a little resemblance to it, I'm not complaining but it is just strange. What's more strange however is the way you're talking about life and such. What's this about killing all life? Like what the heck? For one thing, why? And for another thing, why are you walking away as I'm speaking to you? Most people would treat the person they want as a companion more respectfully. Don't you know anything about manners?"

Beth crossed her arms as she spoke to the tall pale man, scowling slightly as the rude destroyer began to walk away. She would have really appreciated a bit more interest in her, or at least more of an introduction of some sort. She had no idea who the strange man was and she didn't like that one bit. "Can you stop for a moment? Seth is it? Seth, if you want me as a companion of sorts, you'll have to talk to me a minute first." She walked away from SIN who smiled eerily at the two as a dog padded up. SIN exclaimed loudly with joy as the dog brushed up against him, the god immediately getting up. His attention shifted entirely, he began petting and scratching the dog with a vigour that lay hidden in his robotic limbs, petting as if the dog were the only one in the world and deserved that very same world. The Goodest Boi responded with endless joy pressing up against the god's hands and scratches with boundless energy.

Away from SIN now but still near to The Salt King, Beth asked, "Answer a couple questions for me first would you? Like who and what are you? What do you mean to do?" She placed a hand on her hip as she spoke, hopeful for an answer that would signal good within the being but wary of an answer that would dim her own hopes.

Nameless stopped at her line of questions. He looked back at her. His voice spoke out again. The voice of the destroyer sounding of hundreds speaking in unison with still no emotion on his face.
"I am The Natural end to life. There is no other way to put it. I am the universe's natural way of destroying that which puts so much Yin energy into the universe." He turned to her "I am not alive. Nor do I care at all about what people do. Living creatures create Yin energy, but in doing so they have created me. I am simply the end of a cycle."
He looked directly into her eyes. The way he spoke of such mass genocide with no emotion would be off putting to even the strongest willed person "Since life has existed, the universe funneled all of the negative energy it created into a pocket dimension. That pocket reality created me. The natural destroyer of all life. It powered me. The only way to stop this cycle is for life to finally accept Yang over Yin. Until then, my kind will continue to destroy life."

He then stepped closer to her, this time the closer he got, the more intense and sickening the negative energy from him became. It was thick and intoxicating. It made one wonder, if this was him weakened a great deal by SIN, what was his full power like.
Nameless leaned down again and looked into Beth's eyes. Suddenly his sickening presence turned docile and almost innocent "I am different from the countless others of my kind there have been before. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have a curiosity about life. It does terrible things, creates so much negative energy….." He then takes his cold, devoid hand and places it on her chest. Since he was made of the negative energy of countless realities, it felt sickening to the touch, but there was something gentle about it. Even as he looked at her with emotionless, dead eyes.
"......but life also creates illogical things that make living better. Things called faith, friendship and love. Love especially makes living beings want to live despite the inevitability of death. I want to understand this. I want to understand why I should destroy something that can create something as miraculous as love."
Finally removing his hand from her chest and standing straight once more "I do not wish to have you as a traveling companion. That being said, there are some things in the universe that only life can explain. Since you are life, it would seem you can explain it best. So, it is up to you if you want to travel with me, but I hold no pretense that you will. I simply thought it might be something you would be curious about. Was I wrong?"

Beth felt her own power flare in response to Seth, a force of gravity and power suddenly focusing around the pair as they looked at each other. His words were grim to hear, very grim indeed if he was what he said he was. But hope seemed apparent as well, visible in the way the being held himself and the air around him. Immense power lay in the Nameless One's grip indeed. She almost gasped when his hand touched her chest, cold and heavy, dense with an aura of strange energy that enveloped Seth. She let the hand remain for a moment as he spoke to her, his strange chanting voice haunting in its uniform totality. "Can you fix that voice to sound a little more, I don't know, not-threatening-as-all-get-out? And to your destroyer thing? No one's path is set before them. You may be one thing right now, but time and experience will make sure that changes. Nothing is set for you Seth, this life is your own to choose. At least, that's what I believe…"
She was a little embarrassed about the hand on her chest, but Beth didn't sense any malign intent in the man. She blushed slightly at it but didn't let the feeling overtake her, he was handsome, but still a strange dude.

Beth took a step back from The Salt King for a moment, not in surrender, but recognition. She nodded at Seth twice, hearing his words and finding her own as she processed them.

"In all honesty Seth, the reason I'm gonna follow you right now is simply how dangerous you are. You're really attractive Ill admit, but also have a lot of very obvious homicidal tendencies. I don't think you're a bad person, but I wanna make sure you're at the very least a good one if I'm gonna leave you alone. Maybe I can help you enjoy life too if you want? I mean we've both been summoned here to do as we please. We could just up and relax right here if we wanted."

Nameless tilted his head a bit "I don't understand why everyone is calling me Seth, nor why it matters who I kill, but it does mean you can answer my questions." He then turned towards the closest source of his own Yin once again "I suppose we could start by you explaining what you mean by attractive. Care to explain?"
The emotionless figure began to walk once again towards one of his fractured pieces of power. This time however, it was clear he was maintaining a pace that she could keep up with. Even keeping his emotionless gaze upon her.
As he walked, someone paying close enough attention could see that the grass he stepped on immediately died beneath his feet. He was a true incarnation of death.

"I call you Seth because SIN named you that, It's not a bad name really. I don't like him much to be honest, but he chose well with your name." Beth smiled at Seth in that moment, baring her teeth with good humor. "I mean, if it's that bad we can always get you another name? And it's bad to kill because when you kill, whatever died doesnt have a good chance of coming back into it's old form anytime soon! It's a tough state to reverse out of. If you kill you're accelerating the process of life unnaturally, which can be sorta not good. Different situations call for violence and death sometimes, as that's just how living and the world work, but y'know. Just be careful about what you kill."

Beth blushed as she finished her statement before finishing, "I really wish I didn't have to explain everything to youuuuuu… but, attractive is where you look really good to something, like how you called me beautiful, it's like flirting sorta? Arghhhh it's tough to explainnnnnnn… like you calling me beautiful would normally be an expression of attraction. Like that feeling you might get in your chest when you see me, it might be attraction..." She sighed as she looked at the Nameless One for a mercy he couldn't deliver in that moment. Her eyes were wide and pretty, shining crimson in the evening light, her dark hair reflecting the lighting in a way that made her magnificent to look at. As she walked alongside him she glanced at the earth with concern as grass died beneath him. "Better get em some shoes…" she whispered to herself as they left the cliff ledge.

Nameless walked as he listened to her. He then looked forward "Life of all kinds have different things that happen after death. Some go to live with their gods in a beautiful place, others simply die and there are the rare few who believe that they will never die. Death is a fickle saying in the mind of a mortal." While it didn't directly oppose her point, he did have a good point himself. Complex lifeforms all had a multitude of different beliefs when it came to the point of death. There was no one set thing that they all believed, so what made her point any more valid than another?
After her explanation, or fractured explanation of what attractive meant, he thought to himself for a moment. Then he spoke again "Following that logic, it would mean you are trying to endear yourself to me. You find me attractive, ergo you wish to endear yourself to me, so you're flirting with me."
Finally he turned his eyes back to her. He still held an emotionless face and the voice of a thousand voices "If this is the correct order, then what would come after flirting and endearing yourself to someone else?"
He waited for her answer as he walked with her. His movements seeming almost like very calculated, graceful movements, to the point it was just….unnatural.

Needless to say, Beth found the strange ways Seth viewed life and death to be quite worrying. It didn't matter what the afterlife was like or who believed what, killing was an absolute end! One that shouldn't be taken lightly, and she stated it after his reply on it saying, "Seth, the afterlife and point of view on death is just semantics, the truth of it is that most beings are mortal, as in they have a lifespan, non-sentient beings as well. No one is right to take life, it doesn't make you evil to do so as morality is complex, but life is something to be cherished and held onto with one's whole might. To take it is wrong in near all situations, even the being who gave something life has a duty to it once it is alive."

The Blade Bunny blushed once again, a deep shade of crimson as Seth conveyed his thoughts on attraction to her. "Well you flirted with me first, whether you knew it or not okay?" She laughed as she blushed, moving closer to him as she spoke excitedly. She was no liar, he was attractive, "I've nothing to hide Seth, the idea of you being endeared to me is not at all an uncomfortable one. Though I'm no easy target I'll let you know. You have much to learn before you wish to romance me. And after… well that's after, often it becomes permanent y'know? Maybe not completely permanent but really close, and nothing in life or death can truly replicate it. It's not something it sounds like you'll get that quickly, but eventually y'know?"

Nameless took in this information and processed it as best as he knew how. He went through the steps and remembered what he saw through the Rifts in space in his original pocket of reality. After thinking for a long moment he decided on a course of action. He stopped and turned to her "I don't understand this. Actually it is quite confusing. I don't understand these words such as endear or romance. These words mean nothing to me."
He stepped a bit closer. He leaned down once more. This time his face only inches from hers "That being said, maybe practical experience is better than simply hearing of it." He tilted his head and looked deep into her eyes, his own eyes still empty and emotionless "From what I remember from what I've seen, it is usually common for those who engage in this sort of behavior with one another, to give each other a new name, so from this point forward, the only one allowed to call me Seth is you."
He didn't speak or move at all after that. He simply looked her over. Not like he was before, but more in depth. Like he was studying every aspect about who she was and what she looked like. Then, his eyes fell back to hers "You remind me of a creature I used to watch from the rifts. With that in mind I think I may call you Little Rabbit or Bunny. Which do you prefer?"

Beth laughed as Seth finished, his attempts at concealing his own interest, easy to see through and adorable in their blunt yet polite manner. She hadn't hidden her own interest and she was happy Seth was so blatant in his own. "My name is actually Beth Revault, The Blade Bunny. So I'd say "Bunny" works just fine if you must Seth." They continued to walk and she noticed as Seth finished speaking, that less life had died around him while they interacted. It seemed his negative effect, or aura of sorts, shifted with his moods and emotions.

Nameless looked at her for a bit longer before turning again "This will be an interesting thing to study. But, let us move on." After he stated that he moved and began to walk again. He didn't know what was to come, but he did know this journey was going to be interesting.

Beth looked back at the assembled group of Summoned on the cliffside, glancing at the ominous figure named SIN once more. He almost glowed with reserved dark energy; Something about the man spoke of an otherworldliness Beth had never encountered before. SIN was a being past godliness, past divinity, someone or something that could take gods in his hands and remold them to fit his image. The other summoned were all interesting as well, but none of the individuals compared to SIN in terms of strangeness. Seth had turned from her and the rest of them and was walking off into the forest now, the trees sparse at first and mostly pines of some sort. It was a scenic vista they had all been greeted with, and with slight reluctance Beth left it behind.

X by Gydw1n on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

 

[Snackofthefuture]

SIN​

SIN sighed and watched as his precious new summonings began to get to know each other. They were all adorable little bugs to him, and the idea of them getting squashed was neither pleasant or unpleasant in that moment. The Summoned almost never liked SIN, that had been something that the years did not change, that those he brought to Valucia often despised him was no secret. He didn't blame them however, his personality and demeanor were difficult to adjust to even at the best of times. His vernacular and appearance alone were often too much for most, let alone his abilities or actual forms. SIN sighed as he thought about it.

The dog SIN had summoned then proceeded to trot up to him and hold itself up for petting. SIN smiled jovially and began to scratch the dog all over, scritching behind the ears, on his lil snout, and all over his back. He rubbed Goodest Boi’s belly all over and started talking to the lil dog. “Whos a good boy? You are! Such an awesomely good boy, such a sweet lil dude! You’re such a good boy, thank you for blessing me with your presence, you good dog you!” SIN closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment for several seconds, letting the awesome power of pet therapy wash over him in waves.

The moment was wonderful and wouldn't last long enough at all for SIN; Of course no moment with a dog like this was ever long enough. Thankfully a cat had appeared alongside the dog somewhere, so there were plenty of pets to give out. Then that very same cat appeared, it was ranting and cursing about powers and such, losing them and all that. SIN raised an eyebrow and looked the cat in the eyes for a moment. Such disrespect was often irritating to the deity, but for a moment he let the arrogance of Nyx serve as an excuse. Then, sighing, SIN changed something. It was only visible to Nyx and SIN, it was a change in the atmosphere that none other would ever notice, so minute and strange and individual that proof of the shift would never be found. The world darkened for the two of them, shifting and changing in it’s hues to a greyish color with streaks of red and black running through it. Faded screaming could be heard in the distance, coming from all sides and everywhere. Along with this, there was the sound of a ticking clock vibrating in the air; The screams and the ticking could be heard coming from inside Nyx and SIN, echoing all around with a sinister low quality. Static buzzed from underneath them and above and SIN stared deep into Nyx’s innermost parts. “I know what you are and what you claim to be Nyx.” He said in an arrogant sneering tone. “Don't think that just because I've saved you from your own pitiful, self-indulgent existence of destruction, that I wont annihilate you and everything you've ever done right now. Treat me with respect and maybe one day you’ll have an ounce of the power you once had. Otherwise get used to being a sniveling, weakling coward who can't change ANYTHING for the better.”

Then with a wave of his hand, everything reverted back to normal, right as Nicholas started speaking to Nyx. Before Nyx could respond, SIN grabbed the cat out of the air and plopped him in his lap. He began scratching and petting Nyx just as he had the Goodest Boy, who was still by his feet. SIN gave plenty of attention to the struggling Nyx for a moment before leaning over to start petting the dog as well again. SIN loved animals, pets, anything he could give a good scratching. There was something ethereally satisfying about petting a pet.
“But for real Nyx, you died in your last world, what's the point of continuing on your quest, seems to me it was a little pointless given that you're no god or great destroyer, just another silly little mortal with plans of grandiosity”

nighttimecatplayer

 

[StaidFoal]

Qasim Bhattacharyya

A man with golden pupils stood before the compound. It was grey and bland, yet it housed the apparent leader that set his arbitrary laws to limit his children's freedom. A system that went against Qasim's intended way of life for them to live. On the Rachan world, there was truly nothing to limit others; they all understood not to interfere with their comrades as they worked on their own projects. So what was it with humans that made these so called leaders rise up?

In the broad daylight, several black vans rounded the corner of the streets, speeding towards Qasim. They screeched to a halt, loading their guns and weapons of baseless violence. Perhaps it was these tools that made certain people feel empowered over others. One of the men in black suits asked, "You are Anarchy's Herald?" as if he were a terrorist. If being "Anarchy's Herald" meant giving his children the freedom they truly deserved, then yes, he certainly was. These people, however, lost the privilege of being their children the moment they deemed themselves as part of a higher order.

Qasim turned to face these men of basic violence. Their shifty eyes and nervous breath. Hands behind his back, he moved tiny pebbles along the road with telekinesis, rolling them under each vehicle where the fuel tanks were. They demanded for him to put his hands up, and he complied. As he did so, the pebbles flew up fast enough to spring a leak in the tanks, and now gasoline slowly pooled up out of their vision. As the tanks emptied, two agents approached Qasim with handcuffs. His eyes glowed a bright, shining yellow as he flinged an agent's pistol from their hands and fired at the pools of gasoline.

The explosions set off in chain reaction, sending the agents flying through the air in bloodied tatters of clothes. The ones arresting him jumped forward from the explosion, their pistols also flying from their hands. Qasim put his hands behind his back once more as the weapons emptied their clip into the agents, clattering against the floor. His children ran from their hiding spots throwing flurries of molotovs into the government building. The officials ran out in tattered suits into the violent crowds, as Qasim watched his creations sought ruin to those who thought they could hold a higher power than their brethren. Were they not born the same way? Cut out of a stomach and graced in the arms of others?

His eyes glowed again, and he looked up at the sky to see a large jet circling around, black as pitch. While Qasim was trying to decipher which foreign country it hailed from, an egg-like device dropped from a hatch below it. Qasim could only grimace. Whatever country sent it must've seen this kingdom's state of anarchy as a chance to invade. Why do they think that treading over more land and claiming it as their own gives more "power?" He didn't recall designing humans this way a million years back. His fellow anarchists noticed the bomb, and were now cowering or resigning to their fates. Some looked to Qasim for help, but he turned his back on them. Freedom. Vengeance. Anarchy. All things that the rebellious children embrace and fight for; the ideas that make them labeled as terrorists. The ones who claim to be in power must be sheltered to think they're temporary causes. Those ideas have existed since he created humans. Wiping out hundreds upon thousands of people who fought for them... such a course of action was useless.

The bomb was far away, but he knew that nobody around him would survive. The most efficient thing to do, he thought, was to save himself. As the bomb made contact with the earth, Qasim erupted a geyser of dirt and rock and hopped into the crudely made shelter. As he covered up the entrance, holding the ceiling in stasis with his mind, all went to black, then white.

---

Grass. The ocean. A beautiful cliff side. None of this resembled the area he once was in. Where were the ruins? The decomposed corpses of those he inspired? All but replaced by a mix of humans and alien races, all sharing the same confusion as him. Was a fellow Rachan behind this? He was certain that the bomb didn't affect him. And to appear in an entirely new terrain, he concluded that a third party was involved; some alien race powerful enough for teleportation. But it wasn't long until this "alien" revealed himself and his scheme. SIN, as he called himself, brought everyone here for the purpose of conquering this world. An absurd objective, he thought.

For the most part, he stood and watched calmly, hands behind his back. Some of these beings were evidently not human, but another intelligent form of life. He knew of other Rachans that created different species, so perhaps they were the fruits of his comrades? But without conclusive evidence, that was as far as Qasim thought on that subject. Was he truly forbid from returning home? To an earth of regular humans? It may have been possible, but once again he didn't have enough information. And to be honest, he felt an urge greater than returning home, and that was to learn more about Valucia. Rachans were always searching for more to learn about, and Qasim was no different.

Perhaps the specimen who brought us here can shed some light, he thought, staring at SIN. After his fiasco with the cat, Qasim couldn't help but smirk with amusement. He walked up to him and said, "╎⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ╎ᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵᔑᓭᒷ, ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷリ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ'ᓭ リ𝙹 リᒷᒷ↸ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ∴ᒷᒷ!¡ 𝙹⍊ᒷ∷ ᓭ⚍ᓵ⍑ ᒲᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ᓭ. ╎ ᔑᒲ ᑑᔑᓭ╎ᒲ ᑑ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ᔑᓵ⍑ᔑ∷||||ᔑ. !¡ꖎᒷᔑᓭ⚍∷ᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒲᒷᒷℸ ̣—" It was by then he realized that these people from different worlds probaby wouldn't understand a thing he said in Voiyteseno. With a cough, he started over. "Me, Qasim Bhattacharyya. New world us brought. Yes? Conquer, but will no. Humans is like child. Smart life fun for study. Cannot make wish be done. Nice cat, cute, as human say." He went ahead and stroked Nyx's fur backwards, spiking it.

Several theories about SIN already formulated in Qasim's mind. He was most definitely an alien race of immense power, but what did he want with this world? A resource within? Someone within? A test for his species? Either way, Qasim wasn't about to abide by this person's word. "Rule world. Impossible for people. You. Mistaken ideal. All people equal. I create them equal, to live. No laws for stop them. Mistaken 'rulers' do bad. Disgusting. Not what I made all for. Non-humans, same. You encourage more, then I go stop all them. Yes?"

Snackofthefuture (SIN) nighttimecatplayer (Nyx)
​

Spoiler: Translation if needed

"I am Qasim Bhattacharyya. You brought us to this new world, yes? I will not conquer it, though, because to me, humans are like children. Intelligent life itself is fascinating to study. I refuse to obey your wishes. Nice cat. It's cute, as humans say."

"Your intention of having people rule over this world is a mistaken ideal. I created the human race with the intent of each and every one of them being equal, and having nothing to limit their life's fullest potential. With mistaken 'rulers,' they try to control others' lives in ways that disgust me. I believe that applies to non-humans, too. If you continue to encourage these types, I shall have to go against all of them. Understand?"

 

[Gohan510]

Gen & Toren
Waving at some soldiers running around trying to get things back together and help each other, Gen accompanied by three knights arrived at a broken building. Gen signaled the two of the knights to stay outside and wait for him while he stepped into the broken building. Every step he took made a crackle through the wood floor. Gen saw everything was burnt down picking up a burnt document. Gen passed the burnt papers to the knight behind him.

After some time of investigation of a mass murder of knights Gen stepped out of the building with all three knights following behind him now. He turned towards them with a smile and his eyes closed per usual.

“Go tell the hurting king everything we found in there. The bodies were nowhere to be found. It was an inside job.”

The knights nodded running off, Gen watched the knights with his smile still lingering following behind them walking. As the knights turned the alleyway they all fell to the floor. Turning into the dark alleyway Gen still had a smile on his face as all the three knights laid in blood on the floor.

“You know you didn’t have to do it. I had it.”

“You may be right, yet I was bored.”

“Interesting. Those three knights were my favorite too, oh well this is what happens in war. Am I wrong?”

“You’re not, now lets go before we worry the princess on why we haven’t arrived with the other commanders.“

“Sure.”

Gen pulled out a strange artifact, as it glowed a bright purple the souls of three knights who were killed were then swallowed by the artifact. Once the bright light shined it attracted a bunch of knights in the area drawing them to it. After the light faded the knights arrived on the scene and were left with three dead bodies not understanding what happened. The knights discussed that there might be a mollug infantry still lingering. The knights noded all running off towards the meeting area where the commanders and the summoned are said to be meeting.

The two watched from a rooftop the knights run off. Gen was still smiling while Toren had his usual poker face. The two flashed stepped off arriving at the scene where the Princess was said to be awaiting the summoned to meet with her.

“Sorry that we’re late madam.” Gen stated with his sly voice. Toren walked beside Gen not saying anything to the princess yet bow to her.

“Greetings princess.” Toren stated with his bow still in affect soon standing up straight.
Interactions: StaidFoal
Around: Everyone in the meeting area

 

[Gohan510]

Aren
Finally the horde of demons ended after Aren and every knight who defended the giant royal building. Aren looked around to his fellow knights making sure everyone was okay. A female knight ran to him mentioning the condition to Ara making Aren’s whole demeanor drop. Though he understood his post was not to be left. He will afterwards pay his love a visit after his duty was fulfilled.

“Thank you for the message. I will head to her soon after checking on the king.”

The female knight nodded running back off. Aren turned his attention to the sky as the black cloud was gone and replaced by the night sky. Aren never thought in a day of his life to see the walls of Castellan crumble. Today especially, Castellan was blessed to see another day thanks to the outworlders. Aren’s thought was broken after hearing grunting. Running over to help a knight carrying their fellow comrade back into the castle to hopefully get him some medical attention.

“We’re almost there!”

Finally they reached a medical bed for the knight to lay in. Aren and the other who carried the young man to the medical room they both nodded glad they saved his life. Medics came soon after attempting to care for the man's wounds. With that Aren turns to then check on the king.

Running back with a cup of water in his hand Aren ran towards the king's room opening the giant doors leading to the inside. There were maids and medics all over the room trying to take care of the king and everything in the room. Aren greeted each of them walking towards the king with the cup in hand.

“Here sir. Drink up. How’s your… missing arm? All is well though! Castellan was saved to see another morning. Your daughter believing in Sulric’s words was the right choice sir. I’m sure you’re proud.”
Snackofthefuture