Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"I FOUND YOU MOTHERFUCKERS."

That panicky feeling from earlier hits her hard as another icon has arrived. Trying to take down just one cost the lives of one of their own, and taking out the other nearly killed her in the process. She's not sure how she'll take on a third. Panicking, she taps her armor incessantly in a feeble attempt to "re-activate" it.
"Adriel, are you there!?" She taps and taps before looking at the others. "Do we run or do we fight?!"

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson holds up a hand to Leakhena, shaking it slightly as he gives a quick nod of appreciation. "I'm alright, thanks. Owe the even speedier recovery to all of the... energy in the air." he said, waving his hand about in the vague area affected by Xiaòzhou's spell. Just then he once again looked to Mariette, noting just how frantic the vampire had gotten as she furthered herself along to demon hood. The further mutilation of Azgon's corpse bore a pit into his stomach. Though Hudson had never knew the countess he had heard about her through his wife's recounting of the Grimtham Inquiry, and he could tell that she was slipping to demonic influence.

Desperately he wanted to speak out against it, at the very least mention that his greatest fears about using these artifacts were coming to pass. However at this point he knew that it would do no good for their situation, and at worst it would earn him a death made before he could even blink to see it. With a sigh of inward reservation he started to look ahead again, only to notice that Xager had addressed his question. They failed their mission in more ways than one, it seemed but he didn't seem too distraught if it meant that they got to go home. Before he could even speak, there came a shout of unhinged rage that got him to swivel his head and draw his sword again.

Hudson only knew Sazak's vessel from the description Camille gave him, but even as it was cracked and failing he could tell exactly who they were now dealing with. At first, the hunter said nothing as he tightly gripped the handle of the angelic sword, striding forward as his own rage was building within him. This was the being that caused him all of that misery, clipped the wings of his wife and haunted her so terribly. Even now unbeknownst to him, Sazak had cursed their entire bloodline without his knowing. For that reason Hudson was incapable of feeling fear, merely the blind rage that possessed him upon being face to face with the demon that all but forced him to cave his firstborn son's head in.

"You rat bastard - you fucking insignificant little whelp..." Hudson spat through grit teeth. "Every ounce of pain you've caused her and others, I'll make you feel it tenfold!" With that he rushed toward Sazak, aiming to cross swords with the Icon. It didn't matter if he was still wounded from the fight with Azgon, there was no pain left in the Abyss that would stop him from doing this.

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou watched as the scene unfolded in front of him, the intense demonification seen in Mariette (following up Henderson's efforts in this area), Xager's arrival and the subsequent declared failure of the main mission at large (even if many side-objectives had been achieved), and the arrival of the one whom they can consider the biggest enemy in this whole conflict, the one that started it all. Zazriel's voice remained quiet, as if knowing that he needn't repeat what the hermit already inherently knew.

Watching Hudson charge at Sazak brought upon intense worry, and he knew he would have to act quiet, as this could be a matter of life or death for those who had yet fully recovered. He had the potential, for his aura lingered throughout the courtyard still following his assault and healing. He just needed to figure out the correct course of action.

He could likely not restrain Sazak, his fury akin to the Icons previous. Blinding him would likely not help, as he could imagine sound or aura fueling his ambition to slaughter them all, and restraining his innate ability to sense aura would still allow him to see the charging hunter before him. Disarming the Icon would only prompt him to use his hands to rip them apart, or worse still mystic abilities, so limiting him in his rage to the blade made more sense. Passing Zazriel's blessings onto Hudson could be for naught if Sazak struck too quickly. And an attack of his own may be too little too late.

Xiaòzhou would not allow another to pass, and to him, making it harder to kill them seemed like the only way. The aura surrounding him which he held control over, he surged into his compatriots, as to try and pass Zazriel's protection onto them, most of all in the man who seemed to have a deathwish.

 

[K0mori]

In spite of the shock Sazak's arrival had caused everyone else, Mariette was almost pleased to see him. She had been at the heart of his misfortune since her escape, and couldn't be prouder. He even managed to find her just moments after Azgon's death, as she still had the Icon's blood coursing through her body. She gave him a wide grin and greeted him with a sing-song, "bonjour~!"

Hudson then spoke up, causing Mariette to lose her smile. Oddly, after so many battles to help his and the others' survival, she felt disinclined to save him if he was going to be such a reckless fool. Still, she leaped forward, easily catching up to the human and grabbing him by the back of his collar and throwing him backwards to where he had been. "Don't be stupid," she snapped at him.

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor was about to reply to Hudson before he felt an aura all too familiar arrive. His eyes widened as he turned to see his own father now appeared before them with murderous intent. Yet he felt only fury enter his soul as he was face to face with him once more as he brought out his sword as stepped forward. "Xager. Get them and my men out of here-" he began to speak before seeing Hudson charge forward in a suicidal manner towards Sazak. Thankfully, Mariette was fast enough to ensure his survival by throwing him back where he was before and quickly snapped his gaze to Xager. "Get them out, now!" he stated before returning his attention back to Sazak.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson found himself jerked backward and landing flat on his ass, scrambling up to his feet as he repeated the insult. "Stupid?!" he shouts, flourishing his sword as he starts to begin an intense march back up to Sazak. "We just killed two fucking Icons in a row, and I don't know about you but I'm fixing to put a third in the ground, right now! The last thing I'll give this smug, bodysnatching fuck is the satisfaction that I ran away from a fight with him! He's going to face the consequences of what he's done or I'll die trying!"

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor quickly intervened by walking over and placed a hand on Hudson's chest and looked at him straight in the eye: "Don't throw your life away you idiot! Many of you aren't in the best of shape to fight... so live to fight another day. Your wizard friend gave his life with the hope that you all might live. Don't dishonor his memory by suicidally charging in."

 

[Infab]

"Bonjour~!"

"Fuck you, you scum-sucking witch." spat Sazak, his tone shifting yet again as he spoke. "This is how you repay me? You fake going Hollow, you link up with these idiots, you raid my palace, kill my son, steal from my library, desecrate my room...and you spring that gutter scum from the cage in which she belongs?" He pointed to Valeria, before slowly shifting his finger to Mariette. "Your life as a demon will be really fucking short, witch. I will make damn sure of that. But your death will feel like an eternity."

He then snapped his attention to Cassandra. "And you will join her, Cass. I can't separate the two of you now." He then shifted to Azathor. "My rebellious son. Here. Helping these fucks. Good. I'll personally make sure you see your dead brothers and sister in the Nether."

And then, his attention shifted to Hudson. "...You're Camille's husband. I can smell her on you. The curse I placed on her made its connection to you...and thus your abomination was born." he said, pointing at Hudson. "...I think I'll end the curse the hard way. First, I'll break every bone in your body. Then, I'll go to your home. I'll drag you there with me. I'll flay whatever other children you have alive, then feed them to a hellhound. And then, saving the best part for last, I will beat Camille to death with my bare fucking hands. And I will make you watch it all before I rip your head off your shoulders."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson tightened his grip around Azathor's wrist, visibly fuming as he stared straight through the demon prince and looked to Sazak. "I'm not afraid of you." the hunter spat back, trying to shove Azathor out of the way. "Keeping me alive for all of that would be the last mistake you make - the only reason Valeria lives right now is because you're incapable of finishing the job. That's why I'm not going to run away from you, I'm not giving you the chance to slink back into the shadows to ruin any more lives from the background."

"What's it going to be then, you slimy fuck?! You think I don't know pain? There isn't a single terror I won't endure to right the wrongs you've caused! My shadow was scarier than you, and you know what?!" Hudson growled, shifting into a combat stance yet again. "You're fucking nothing. And the only reason you're here right now is because you're trying to prove that you're not. You're irrelevant, a tiny little bitch of an Icon. And that terrifies you."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

'Oh, that's it. I really am going to die here.' thinks Leakhena as she listens to Hudson and Sazak fight eachother verbally. The healing done by her waters and from Takato mended her body a little but she's still in great pain. It'll be a hell of an effort just to move around like she did again. Though the very least she can do is merely look like she's ready to fight. A cigarette is found somewhere deep within her bag, somehow hidden to her all this time. She lights it up and stands beside Hudson.

"Ralvas is dead, and so is Azgon. Are you really stupid enough to be next?" she taunts him while uncoiling her whip.

 

[K0mori]

Mariette began to laugh. She couldn't help herself. "You... reached out to me, those years ago, because I am a terrific liar, and my loyalty is about as reliable as the wind. That's what made you believe I would betray the Inquisitors... How in the world could you be surprised at what I've done to you?"

 

[Infab]

"...the only reason Valeria lives right now is because you're incapable of finishing the job."

"The reason she's alive, you stupid son of a bitch, is because I want her alive. To suffer for all of eternity in a dark hole. Her bloodline ends with her." stated Sazak. "...It is a hatred burning within me for centuries. And you took her away from me. So, you shall suffer too."

"I am here because you have taken from me what is mine. I need not prove myself because I already have. I took Adona's Ring. I took Velin's Sword. I am the very reason Taranoch is King. I am here as a testament to determination. And I will have what belongs to me, even if I have to break each and every one of you one by fucking one."

"Ralvas is dead, and so is Azgon. Are you really stupid enough to be next?"

Sazak's head snapped about to look at Leakhena. "The real question is, glutton...are you stupid enough to try me? I will feed your corpse to your Icon. He's still alive. And he wants a piece of who poisoned him."

"You... reached out to me, those years ago, because I am a terrific liar, and my loyalty is about as reliable as the wind. That's what made you believe I would betray the Inquisitors... How in the world could you be surprised at what I've done to you?"

"I kept you from a worse fate in the Abyss. I took care of you as you served me. And even intended to make you a demon." responded Sazak. "Instead, I get to kill you permanently...after you suffer."

Sazak gripped the handle of his zweihander tighter, eyeing his targets. But before he could make his move, Xager made hers. "GET THROUGH THE PORTAL NOW." she barked, snapping her fingers and opening a portal near the group. On the other side, the empty area with the lone tree that the group first met Xager and Tariun at. "GET TO TARIUN! SHE'S NEAR THE GATE! IF YOU DON'T GO NOW, YOU ALL WILL BE STUCK HERE FOR GOOD." she continued. "I'll hold him off with Azathor!"

Valeria did not hesitate at all, quickly rushing through the portal. Vincent was close behind her, motioning for the group to follow. "NO!" roared Sazak, charging for the portal. Xager collided with him, sending him tumbling across the cobblestone ground before springing back up to attack her.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Leakhena makes an obscene gesture with her hands towards Sazak right before she leaps into the portal, though almost dropping her cigarette in the process.

 

[K0mori]

"Not if I kill you first," Mariette replied. "We shall see... someday. Au revoir."

She took a deep, theatrical bow before darting through the portal, so quickly that it appeared as if she vanished into thin air.

 

[joshuadim]

"You won't be doing ANY of that to Hudson, or anyone else here." Azathor announced as he stepped in between the group and Sazak, Hudson in particular. Truth was, he was terrified to face his father as he felt a nauseous pit form in his stomach... but he sucked in his fear, replaced by adrenaline, and stared down the Icon of Vainglory with a snarl. He felt a shudder go through his body as he breathed in heavily to control his own self at the mention of his dead siblings. He already knew that Sazak never gave a damn about them, but to hear it with such vitriol now struck the hammer home even further.

He unsheathed the sword he had been using before, its blue glow intensifying as he pointed it towards Sazak. "You recognize this? It was Belias' before you sent her to die. I'm gonna drive it through your heart, you WICKED FUCK."

He then charged forward, following Xager's lead, and intercepted Sazak before he could strike Xager, leading to his blade clashing with Sazak's at the very last moment sending a shockwave out from the sheer force of the impact. "It's you and me now, father." he spat as Sazak quickly shoved Azathor away. He quickly rebounded however as he moved in to attack again, intent on not giving Sazak a moment to rest.



He unleashed a flurry of strikes with his blade which forced Sazak to parry with ease every single strike before, again, shoving Azathor back with the air force of his zweihander and kicking him in the belly. Azathor quickly recovered yet again but this time unleashed a blue beam from Belias' sword which kept Sazak's attention on him as he simply extended a hand to block the beam and advanced towards him. Azathor gritted his teeth as he maintained the spell but was quickly overpowered as Sazak simply walked forward before grabbing his son and slamming him into the ground underneath. The force of the impact made a large crater and blew dust and dirt everywhere and knocked the wind out of Azathor.

Xager came in quickly yet again and managed to kick Sazak away from Azathor before helping the prince to his feet once again, leading to Azathor to twirl his weapon in anticipation before moving forward again, this time in unison with Xager for a united assault.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson stood his ground, fully convicted in his words even as the others were retreating to the portal. As Azathor and Xager charged in, he began to march forward with a wrathful intent, ready to join the fray even if it meant he'd be stuck down here for an eternity. "You stole those artifacts with conniving and scheming, you hardly ever take fights you know you'll lose. You are nothing but a sniveling coward, and I'm going to fucking knock you down a peg!" the hunter roared, about to charge in for a second time but Riberta grabbed him by the scruff of his collar.

Jerked backward again, the hunter struggled and flailed about as the hybrid unceremoniously dragged him and then began to toss him into the portal. "No, NO! LET ME KILL THAT FUCKING BASTARD!" he shouted angrily before he was shoved through the magical gateway.

 

[Infab]

The rest of the group quickly made their way through the portal, Riberta quickly snatching Hudson along to prevent him from joining Azathor and Xager in fighting Sazak. On the other side, it was quiet. Almost serene there. A light wind blew, rustling the leeves on the tree. But they couldn't stop to enjoy it.

They gathered themselves and quickly headed up the pathway towards the gate. The same path they had ventured down when they entered this hellish place. As they ventured towards the gate, there was a chaos far behind them. Sazak had made it through the portal, and was fighting Xager and Azathor. Determined to stop the group from leaving with Valeria.

And soon, the group arrived at the gate...and found that the Abyssal Gate Guardian stood still. Watching the pathway behind them. It was not occupied with Tariun, whom stood in the flesh nearby. The ascended demon smiled at them, happy to see that at least most of them had made it. "It is a pity that you were unable to recover the artifacts. We will continue to try and retrieve them ourselves. When we do, we will return them to the mortal realm where they rightly belong." she stated, as they neared. "I want to let you know that we found Venextos. He is alright now, and in our care...which is where those of you whom have been corrupted by the Abyss will remain should you be unable to cross the threshold of the gate. If you choose to allow us to help you."

She manifested a portal next to her, and a demon stepped forth. He looked like one of the pride demons they had fought before, but apparently was on the path to ascendancy. He looked among the group, and smiled. Tariun spoke again. "Please...if you would, hand the Abyssal artifacts you have in your possession to my friend here. Then, step before me so that I may see how far your corruption has progressed."

Suddenly, Leakhena heard Adriel's voice in her mind again. "Please, inform Tariun that I wish for her to keep my armor and trident. It should remain in the care of someone whom values what I created and the old ways of the Abyss, instead of locked away in a tomb. I do, however, gift my dagger to you. It is on my armor's waist, in the small of your back." said Adriel.

 

[K0mori]

"That's going to be a problem," Mariette remarked. "Even if I wanted to give this armor back, it's a part of me now. And obviously, going back to the mortal realm stopped being an option for me a long time ago. Cass," she said, redirecting her attention to the pureblood, "we've argued long enough about whether or not I belong in this place. I think it's pretty clear that I do. And so do you; you know it deep down, too. If you walk away now, and leave me here... what does that say about us?" Mariette eyed her in a way that made Cassandra uncomfortable. "Is our love real, or did you just use my feelings to help get you here? Because if that were the case," she explained, calmly, yet obviously containing a thread of jealous anger, "I don't quite know what I'd do."

 

[Breadman]

Please...if you would, hand the Abyssal artifacts you have in your possession to my friend here. Then, step before me so that I may see how far your corruption has progressed.

"I didn't think I would be relieved hearing you say that." Henderson walked over to the demon and handed him the hammer, but try as he might, he wouldn't let go. The demonic servant looked at him quizzically as the brute tried to peel his fingers off the handle. That's when the echo made his presence known again.

"Did you forget what I told you beast?" it cackled "You are not free from me."

"Get...out.." Henderson growled

"No." The mutant could feel his head turn towards Tarium "The hammer stays with the beast and the beast stays with the hammer. That's his punishment for robbing and desecrating my tomb." Now he realized it, he wasn't just in his head, but was taking physical control now. "If you intend to keep him here, I suggest he has a warden."

"Oh no you don't you bloody wanker!" Henderson's head snapped in the opposite direction, now facing Hudson "Oi! Hudson, you have a lot of pent up anger still? Come here mate!"

"What are you doing?" the echo spoke again with noticeable fear in it's voice

"Grab that sword of yours and take a bloody swing." He pointed towards his wrist with the other hand "Right here! Cut, smash through the bone! Put your back into it! it's like a log!"

"Don't you fucking dare!"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Please, inform Tariun that I wish for her to keep my armor and trident. It should remain in the care of someone whom values what I created and the old ways of the Abyss, instead of locked away in a tomb. I do, however, gift my dagger to you. It is on my armor's waist, in the small of your back."

"Oh... Well, alright then." she responds. She'd hoped she'd be able to keep the armor for a little longer, but the dagger's a nice gift. Though she's not ready to part with any of it just yet. She still has one last thing to say to Adriel. "But... will you ever return to us again? You went through my mind, didn't you? You know just how horrible the Abyss has become..." She sighs, and shakes her head. "We need you, Adriel. Our people need you now more than ever... If this keeps happening with tyrants rising and torturing and killing us all, I'm not sure we'll last another century."

 

[Dmaster]

The hunter was continually dragged the whole way to the gate, kicking and screaming obscenities as he was determined to kill Sazak with every fiber of his being. Eventually he started to calm down, his anger becoming a more reserved white-hot hatred that he kept beneath the surface, though he still fell on his knees at the Abyssal Gate regardless. "... A pity." was all he managed after Tariun so graciously greeted them. The surface was still in great danger, both with Sazak living and the artifacts still in Taranoch's possession. Though he was walking away with his life, he felt like an utter failure.

The group was being asked to turn in their artifacts, though he was now questioning just how tethered to them some members might be after their brief usage. Slowly he stood himself up, looking to the Tariun now that she was supposed to evaluate their corruption before drawing near them. At least, he would have before Henderson called to him, practically asking for him to cut his hand off after the mutant had been muttering something to himself. Hudson had seen enough demonic possessions in his lifetime to know what was going on, so he nodded his head quite simply. "Well, if I get to foil the plans of one more piece of demonic filth before getting out of here, that's better than nothing." the hunter replied, stepping toward Henderson as he held his sword above his head.

He didn't have to put much effort into the slice at all, the exceptionally light weapon cleaving through the air with a downward slice as it cleanly chopped apart the flesh and bone of Henderson's wrist. The hammer dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, and Hudson nodded again at the mutant before he flicked the blood off of the sword and sheathed it once more.

"Fine, you lot win. Let me go home."

 

[Breadman]

Henderson gritted his teeth as the sword cleaved through his wrist and bone. The demonic echo's voice screaming in his ears as Hudson did his work. Once the hammer dropped to the ground, he let out a sigh of relief. His healing abnormality already taking care of the stump's bleeding.

"There, the bloody thing is all yours." He notice that the hammer was absorbing the drops of blood and gore that splattered on it. Even now a hungry thing. "Don't suppose I can get me hand back."

 

[Infab]

"Is our love real, or did you just use my feelings to help get you here? Because if that were the case," she explained, calmly, yet obviously containing a thread of jealous anger, "I don't quite know what I'd do."

"...Why would you ask me something like that?" asked Cassandra, before her eyes shifted to the small face on the neck of her armor. "...Mariette, our love is real. That armor has changed you so much that its twisted your mind into thinking otherwise. It's continuously changed you ever since you put it on."

---
​

"Don't suppose I can get me hand back."

Tariun nodded. "You may. And if you wished to be free of the weapon...you simply could have asked Vincent to hit it with the gladius. It was a King's weapon, and an Icon's weapon is always overruled by a King's." The demon next to her reached down and pried the hand off the warhammer before tossing it back to Henderson.

---
​

"But... will you ever return to us again? You went through my mind, didn't you? You know just how horrible the Abyss has become..." She sighs, and shakes her head. "We need you, Adriel. Our people need you now more than ever... If this keeps happening with tyrants rising and torturing and killing us all, I'm not sure we'll last another century."

"...Leakhena, there will come a time when another being like me will appear. History tends to repeat itself from time to time. I am gone...my time in the Abyss ended a long time ago. But in order for the Kingdom to remain, you must help Tariun. Help put a just ruler back on the throne....and who knows? Perhaps a new Adriel may rise in the future to help bring order to the Kingdom once more." responded the voice. "I have hope...and that was all I had when I rose to power. Hope is a powerful thing."

 

[K0mori]

Mariette followed Cassandra's eyes and quickly covered the face on her armor's chest plate. "This armor is my servant; I'm in control... You're... You're just jealous, aren't you?" she snarled. "I've gotten stronger and faster. When Azgon was ripping me apart, my servant put me back together again. And where were you? Maybe you just can't bare sharing me... or maybe you can't take the thought of me being your equal! ...Or maybe you want my servant for your own purposes. Well, you want to take this armor off me so badly, why don't you try it!?"

At that moment, Mariette swung her sword at Cassandra so quickly that the latter barely had time to ready her own blade in defense, and the two crossed swords inches from Cass's nose. Mariette's eyes were empty, and she wore a vengeful grin, but most frightening of all, as the two were locked in this position, Cass could feel Mariette's newly-acquired strength bearing down on her, gradually overpowering her. As Cassandra struggled to push back, she felt her heels digging into the ground, and her posture buckling. Finally, Cass managed to shift her weight and turn out from beneath the blades, escaping from Mariette's attack. Another swing, she deflected, and then another, and she was continuously on the defensive.

 

[Infab]

Cassandra defended herself as best she could, struggling to avoid hitting Mariette. "Mariette! Stop this!" she managed to get out, before finding herself on the defensive again. And then she heard Tariun speak again. "Destroy the mask on the armor, Cassandra. It will revert to simple armor, and she can take it off." said the ascended demon, rather calmly. "Destroy the mask, and she can regain her sanity. If you destroy the mask, you destroy the servant within the armor. Break the link between Mariette and the servant."

Cassandra didn't want to hurt Mariette. In any way, shape, or form. And using the estoc came with that risk. But she would have to in order to fix Mariette's mind. So when Mariette swung at Cassandra once more, the pureblood used all of her might to deflect the blade before driving the point of her estoc squarely into the center of the tiny mask on the neck of the armor.