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DarkBlade77 Posted: 04-26-2003 , 09:37 PM

Ratio 4 Vanessa Abuser

Registered: May 2001
Location: Secret Boss Stage #1

Survivor X - Final Round

Behind the gateway lay layer upon later of steel, intermeshed in a strange pathway that led to a field of glowing light in the distance. Daisetsu walked down the corridor silently, shadowed by Jun, Dorrin, Kalten, and the others. The procession was swift, but Daisetsu spoke as they walked.

"...About now, the six of you that have been able to handle the energy link should be as powerful as the four of us. I stepped up the speed during the battle with the Five, and their defeat only pushed you up exponentially." His eyes glowed in the light.

"If you were wondering why the four of us combined forces in the first place, we all have our personal reasons. But the major factor is that our Auras are the four guardian spirits of the Four Nations. Suzaku, the Red Phoenix. Seiryu, the Blue Dragon. Genbu, the Green Dragon. Byakko, the White Tiger. Likely these four spirits exist in different times and ages as well, because the four are actually gods themselves."

He continued. "The four of us are their avatars--unlike most An'ven, a piece of these legendary beings' power was imparted upon our souls at birth, creating a direct link between them and us. Manifesting their true power was an impossibility, but as we got stronger, we were able to bring out stronger and stronger incarnations of the same Aura. I was the first to actually summon Suzaku in full visible form, one year ago when I fought Kashell."

He looked towards the gate again. "Your link with us has raised our compatibility with our guardian spirits considerably, and we will be able to bring out their true forms out soon. However, instead of perishing from inability to handle the power, we would become it, fusing with the powers that cursed us at birth. We will likely vanish from this world with the awakening, after expending our powers here. However, there's no indication of what exactly will happen."

Kalten grinned recklessly. "Whatever happens, I can't wait to roast that damned fake priest with Seiryu... He's got a lot to answer for."

Then a certain demon realized the reason why he had been refused a certain ninja's soul earlier--she wanted to hold on to it for as long as she could.

Daisetsu continued. "This battle is the end of it. The fate of us and our race will be decided here and now. Taking you from different dimensions and worlds to fight for us was hardly decent, but you're here, and you're much stronger for it. It's my selfishness that brought you here... and when this is over, Suzaku's arrogance will carry you back after we merge. Of course, this won't happen if we should fail, but to be honest, this way you're actually saving yourselves. There isn't anything stopping the Archbishop from extending his grasp to other worlds once he controls divinity."

The light came close, and Daisetsu's eyes chilled over, settling into a force several times more ruthless than his casual manner. "I doubt the majority of you will like how he plans to achieve this. Just be ready..."

They passed through the gateway of light, and their new surroundings came into view. The reaction was one of disbelief for a moment, then of horror for most.

"My god..."

"So many...."

"What the hell is this?"

The chamber was a sphere. Around it, thousands upon thousands of small orbs of light swirled in constant motion... but if one looked a particular orb of light directly, he or she would see a person, his ethereal body drifting among all the others. The symbol of one's soul.

Unfathomable amounts of human and An'ven spirits resided here, caught eternally in the loop.

Daisetsu looked away, muttering a curse under his breath before speaking. "This is the Collection."

"And how do you like it?"

The voice rasped out from across the spherical chamber, several feet above them. The man was enshrouded in several layers of white robing, so that none of his physical features could be seen. By his side was a beautiful young woman, with the same dark brown hair and eyes as Daisetsu himself, although hers were glassy and blank. She mindlessly floated next to the Archbishop in simple white robes herself, positioned near the center of the room.

"All these souls belong to me. The imbalance of spiritual energy in this world is about completed... Upon which I will recieve the ultimate power!"

The enrobed man beckoned. "Of course, like the fairytales mandate, you're all welcome to try and stop me. Come and fight me... Realize the futility of your efforts!"

As if on cue, Anko raised her hands to the air and shards of light wrapped themselves around her hands, her body engulfing itself in flame. Within moments her flame had manifested itself as blazing wings that sprouted from her body, the shards of light powerful blades that merged with her arms. She very much looked the picture of an avenging angel of lore.

Daisetsu unsheathed the Kusanagi Sword, and his body immediately took to the air as Suzaku's flaming persona superimposed itself on him.

Jun let out a long breath, and a cerulean Aura engulfed her, an enormous winged dragon bursting from her body as it settled to link itself to her. Her eyes blazing with her Aura, Jun leapt into the fray with kunai at the ready.

Dorrin raised his mace up, and the pocket dimension shook a bit as the White Tiger aura blazed out and fixed itself with his own body, the mace itself vanishing as Dorrin's bare hands blazed with the white aura of the Tiger. He slammed the ground, and the sheer force propelled him into the air with the others.

Kalten gestured violently, and his body crackled with the vivid blue electricity of his Aura as Seiryuu burst into existence, the long, winding dragon placing itself behind the archer as he literally blazed out towards the battle, ionizing the air around him as he went.

Conditions, set. Time, set. Players, set.

Let the battle for the destiny of the An'ven begin....


----------

First Phase

The Six Sponsors that the fate of this world depend on:

Dry31 - Testament(Guilty Gear)
San Draco - Shang Tsung w/ Li Mei's skeleton(Mortal Kombat)
Wayne - Mal'Ganis(WarCraft III)
Renmazuo - Alma Beoulve(Final Fantasy Tactics)
CarlyCheeese - Hisame Shizumaru(Samurai Shodown)
Krizak - Mint(Threads of Fate)

Every Sponsor, Sidekick, and Fallen has 2 P-Votes to cast this round. These votes will determine who maintains the link of power well enough through the first battle; then 3 will remain for the final battle.

Phase One Bosses - The Archbishop and the Maiden, Anko

Anko is utterly under the Archbishop's control, and this is nearly unshakable save for nothing short of a powerful, group telepathic effort to wake her up. Her powers stem from 'Instants' in time where your character is vunerable to attack, during which she will unleash steadily more powerful abilities and techniques. She can perform up to eleven Instants, the last of which being incredibly overbearing -- the Fallen Angel's Tear is an attack that fiercely disrupts mind, spirit, and body to the point of collapse.

The Archbishop himself will preside over the battle, ensheathing himself in a powerful mental and magical barrier. Again, combination attacks can break it, but then prepare yourself for a nasty ride--the Archbishop is a Holy/Dark Summoner, who can summon all manner of angelic and demonic minions to his aid within an instant. Like Ziomer, the Archbishop knows of all manners of destructive magic, but is also well-versed in supportive and restorative abilities. His psychic power is without peer, and if you leave your mind unguarded while fighting him, be prepared for the worst--after all, a man who is controlling another being's every breath and action while being able to cast magic and summon denizens of dark and light all at the same time must have an unfathomably powerful mind.


All votes are private. Email them to kokille0@cox.net, with 'Tournament Vote' in the subject line. Be sure to state your name with the votes.

Phase One ends at 2:00 PM CST, with voting ending at 1:30 PM.

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Daisuke7777 Posted: 04-26-2003 , 09:50 PM

K' -- KOF

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Ara? Oro? Eh?

I have a feeling this is going to be mass chaos and mayhem... Add "End of the world" to that list...

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Renmazuo Posted: 04-26-2003 , 10:59 PM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Canto VI + Noli Me Tangere + Far-Off, Golden Times


Were days that long, was grass so green
In seasons of youthful desire
Roaming o'er seas of aquamarine
Where westering suns drown in fire?
'Cross mountain, forest and river
I'd wander, carefree and bold
Never heeding the days to come,
When I'd wake up, slow and old.
Oh, how the silent summer noon
Warms dusty memories,
In an orchid, midst my dreams
'Neath verdant, shadeful trees.
Come visit me, you little ones
Hears stories, songs, and rhymes,
A roving warrior's saga
Of far-off, golden times.


- Brian Jacques


Daisetsu, Jun, Kalten, Dorrin. Though equal, Alma knew their experience far surpassed her own. The Red Phoenix, the Blue Dragon, the Green Dragon, the White Tiger- their avatars all incredibly powerful, fitting of the Auras within them. In fusing themselves with their spirits, they were willing to lay life and limb upon the line, just for the sake of beating this wicked man in white, and saving the heart he kept captive. They had the tools for the task set before them and knew how to use them, something Alma could only hope to do someday. Knowing the risks and preparing to face them with rakehell grins and determined gazes, and not taking a step back. What other could you call that than brave?

Alma watched them lead the charge into battle, for a moment unable to join them. Courage, valor, virtue, righteousness- whatever one could call it, it dwelled within them. She had seen their devotion before, on certain travels not quite so long ago. In Dorrin's eyes, the kind nature and quiet strength of Mustadio Bunanza. In Kalten's, the reckless and fearless power of Deruta the Idaten. In Jun's, the deadly grace and keen skill of Charene. And in Daisetsu, the calm but godlike wrath of Agrias Oaks, the Holy Knight. Already their auras clashed with the Archbishop's and Anko's, the shock of the collision enough to send Alma back a pace.

A thought occured to her. Suzaku, are you there?

Somewhat. I am tied between you and Daisetsu, child; best not keep me.

Don't worry about that. I want you to stay with him.

...you are generous, but you realize what you are allowing to happen.

I know. Alma looked over to her side just a bit, her eyes locking on a determined face there, cropped with white hair. But even if you leave, I'll not be alone. Go to Daisetsu- I don't want him to disappear. Do you hear me, Lord Suzaku? Keep them all safe- don't let them disappear. They will earn and enjoy the victory they bring!

You are a brave and kind soul, Alma Beoulve. I will leave some power behind so I can return, in case you have need of me- you will be safe, at least for the moment.

Alma nodded. In the next moment, she felt a vast surge of power leave her- enough for her to know Suzaku was now fully within the bright red aura around Daisetsu, locked in battle with the Archbishop. Alma swallowed, the magnitude of it all setting in for the first time. She stood in a chamber of souls- the "Collection"- facing down impossibly powerful enemies...as powerful as Altima seemed. Her meager tools were there- her holy white Healing Staff, her Elven Mantle, her Earth Clothes and her gleipnir strand, all adequate and strong protection. Within her, the knowledge of the Oracles and the Time Mages, of the Black and White Mages, of the Chemist and the Summoner...and of the Cleric. Her power had surged in the prior fight with Ziomer, and now she felt her strength reaching all-time highs- the wizards in Ramza's party couldn't hope to equal this power in five years of training.

Now the fate of this world, resting on her shoulders, and on the five beside her.

She recognized them- the little princess Mint, who with her plucky attitude cheered so many. Beside them, though, were the three darker men; Shang Tsung, the dread sorcerer; Mal'Ganis, the great demon lord; and Testament, the calm and deadly scythe-wielder who'd aided her so many times before. And there, next to her, Shizumaru Hisame.

...if only I knew what happened to him, though. She knew the face she looked at was Shizumaru's, but he was different- far different. Whatever had happened in those two rounds where she hadn't seen him had changed him direly- the white hair, the golden skin, the stripes running down that same flesh, and the wings that burst out of his back that shivered with pain. She would have never recognized him, had it not been for the sharp yet sad face that certainly belonged to Shizumaru, and no other.

They were a fine team, all the same. Testament himself was the first to come forward, a grudging glance at Shang Tsung indicating friction among the team already. "These two are pitiful as serpents in the gourd," he said, his eyes burning. "Let us test their strength..."

Shang Tsung chuckled, cracking his knuckles as he leapt forth. "I've survived countless 'Khans'- this will be no different!"

Alma grasped her staff, feeling a little better- confidence was at least some fraction of victory. She looked at the warped Shizumaru, his look pained yet eager and ready as he gripped both umbrella and nodachi, and felt a feeling that drowned even that sense of confidence. It was comfort.

Marquis Elmdor...you may not be here with me, but I will fight for your sake, and for everyone's. And when I fulfill this little promise to you, I will fulfill the greater one. Somehow...some way.

Alma reached over and grasped his shoulder. He looked at her as a flash of light from the battle cast over their faces, yet the smile he found on Alma's face was far brighter. She reached into her slightly torn shirt, and quickly pulled out something. It was a pouch, which she tucked gently into the flap of his shirt. Shizumaru blinked, but Alma shook her head, keeping the smile.

"When this is over, Shizumaru...come find me again." Alma's gaze softened, and again she squeezed his shoulder- the skin beneath felt strange, but only Shizumaru's body was that frail and yet that solid. "Marquis Elmdor gave that to me, to give to you...he said it was a 'connection.' I wish to see it, too. Find me...in your arms, you have all the right tools. Don't doubt yourself- you are one of the finest in the world!"

Alma turned again, taking up her staff as she faced their enemies. "Through my heart, I will protect you all! Sir Testament, Sir Mal'Ganis, Sir Tsung, Princess Mint, Sir Shizumaru- Lords Daisetsu, Jun, Kalten, Dorrin!"

And Elmdor, Teta, Ramza, Ovelia- Vincent, Vice, Mature, Yuffie, all of you with me in spirit!

"Per animam meam," Alma said, raising her staff high, "adsumate signo tuto uto care, unos pretiosos!"

The bubbles of MBarrier fell over her comrades, bracing them with protective auras against magic and blade, regenerating their flesh and binding their souls fast with self-revival and haste. As the bright auras settled over each of them, Alma took a defensive stance at the back, holding her staff ready to deliver any and all magical aid.

Are you there, Altima? Watch and learn- this is the truth that sets us free!

---

You ask me if the six are ready, my dearest angel of death? Patience. None know it more than you; just wait, my angel. Soon, I will let you taste of the paradise you offer. Just wait...and my Alma, this, too, shall pass.

Just wait.


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

Last edited by Renmazuo on 04-26-2003 at 11:03 PM

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Bowling Pin Posted: 04-26-2003 , 11:04 PM

The 24 Edit Team Av

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Harker Heights, TX, USA

Cue song: SSH - Ys 4 - The Dawn of Ys

"Well done Kyo and Allen! Our bodies may be beaten, but we still aided the rush down of the Five to penetrate the gate!" Air Man declared. "You must be very proud of yourselves!"

"Yeah, it was like, no..." Allen moved his right hand, from right to left, across his chest. "...problem at all. We owned those bitches!"

"Yeah, you owned them indeed, with your broken arm, fag."

"Kid, I oughta smack your lights out." Allen flexed in front of Vice & Mature, who were too busy anticipating the following fight.

"It's almost to die for," Vice declared.

"I might kneel over and bend my ass in anticipation." Mature replied.

"You just might," Vice responded, "because you're that much of a countrified ho."

"Yes, that's right, you slut." Mature said, licking Vice.

"Damn! I need a piece of that action!" Allen shouted.

WHAT THE FUCK?! We can't do a goddamn thing here! Fucking spirit links!

You're beating yourself up. The only thing we can do...is watch. Come on; let's go talk to the others. We should appreciate that we can make friends instead of having to fight.

SHUT UP! That isn't gonna help a thing! And I'm not gonna be a vapid, faded out image projection any more! I'M KYO KUSANAGI DAMMIT!


KID! You're the one that needs to shut the hell up!

The Hulk had long since been released by his bonds, but he seemed to be absent. He had, in fact, gone to a stored away chamber of Bruce's mind; the containment cells of the forbidden Hulks.

The Hulk lumbered down into a dark, earth-lined labyrinth, which at its centered, guarded the Guilt Hulk; a green behemoth which was the result of all of Bruce Banner's internal guilt. Opting to merely crush the walls around him than crawl through a maze, what the Hulk had suspected was true: the Guilt Hulk was released.

Hulk knew it.

The Guilt Hulk had all the while, during the fight with Miriko, freed itself and found a new target to latch onto; Kyo Kusanagi, whose great anger made him easy prey. Hiding undetected in the roof, it edged closer to the ground when he heard Kyo's ranting.

You know how many people'll die?! Because we couldn't do anything?! Because I wasn't as strong?! FUCK THAT! I'll never allow myself to be responsible for that tragedy!

The Guilt Hulk dropped down from the ceiling, surprising the Professor, Bruce, and Joe Fixit!

THE GUILT HULK?!

What the hell is he doing here?!

Silently, it ... devoured Kyo Kusanagi instantly, who went out screaming.

YOU BASTARD!

You two fight it! I'll have to hold on to our body for as long as I can!


The Guilt Hulk pounded on the Professor with his claws, and tossed him at the Gray Hulk. While they were both stunned on the ground, the Guilt Hulk took a whiff of the area; the Hulk was in the chamber, and the Hulk was who he wanted. Bruce had to reluctantly watch the Guilt Hulk descend the steps.

The Hulk stood visible, now, several miles, in between him and the Guilt Hulk.

HULK KNEW YOU'D TAKE KYO! BASTARD! GIVE HIM BACK!

Ugh. Was I really that weak?

KYO!

You stop that! I'm not really Kyo Kusanagi! I'm just...nothing more than his personality! Call me trash, call me refuse, call me an accident!
The Guilt Hulk began to sprint towards Hulk, and Hulk followed. But don't ever call me...Kyo!

LIES! YOU ARE KYO, DOWN TO THE HAIR ON YOUR SKIN!
The two Hulks began to run harder, both swiftly moving their massive arms.

Kyo Kusanagi was a hero who saved the world! I'm not Kyo Kusanagi; I'm just a test tube experiment!

Several years ago, the NESTS cartel took it into their hands to kidnap Kyo Kusanagi. Taking his blood, they produced many clones of him, who not only resembled him, but were almost perfect matches personality-wise.

HULK DOESN'T CARE! TO HULK, YOU ARE KYO KUSANAGI!

Only a year ago, the NESTS cartel found itself in a do-or-die position; if their leader Igniz was going to become a god, he was going to have to do so quickly.

The two Hulks were close enough to see their massive jaws, poised to rip eachother limb from limb.

Kyo Kusanagi has a rival named Iori Yagami...a student, Shingo Yabuki...another rival, named K'...good friends named Benimaru and Goro Daimon...a girlfriend that he loves with all of his heart, Yuki... I ask you, Hulk, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!

Igniz sent his agents Angel, K9999, Kula, and Foxy to locate a man named Bruce Banner; he had heard about Banner from rumors springing up about a man wanted, for his blood by another rival secret organization.

THEY'RE GHOSTS OF THE OLD KYO... BUT HULK ASK THE NEW KYO, WHO NOW WOULD YOU HE FOR?!

The NESTS agents found Bruce Banner running from them in a cornfield.

He would have escaped in the nick of time, if he did not stop to feed a stray dog his leftovers from his lunch at a diner.

I'll die...for the...

The Hulk grabbed the Guilt Hulk and quickly clapped him between his hands no less than five times before the Guilt Hulk grabbed his arms and twisted them.

AHHH!!!

The Hulk kneeled and gave the Guilt Hulk a massive headbutt, paralyzing it enough to give Hulk time to do a massive round house kick to his chin. The Guilt Hulk backed up, and dashed towards Hulk once again; this time, the Guilt Hulk spinkicked Hulk in the head in mid air, knocking Hulk hack down.

NO! HULK! How much longer can he keep this up?!

Ungh...where the hell is he?!
The Gray Hulk and the Professor finally got back up after the brutal knock down at the hands of the Guilt Hulk.

He's downstairs. With Hulk.

With Hulk?! I can almost imagine the pure chaos going down in there...

Can the imagination Prof, we gotta get the fuck down there now!


Hulk...I didn't want it to be like this! I never wanted to hurt you, Hulk! Shit...if only I was able to fight him off!

AHHHHH!!! YOUR HELPLESSNESS...HULK IS ANGRY!!! Infused by his anger, the Hulk bounced right back and began to pound the Guilt Hulk with more fierce punches, and began taking more and more damage.

How can I take back control?!

DO AS HULK DO! GET ANGRY! HULK SMASH!!! Hulk began to join his gigantic fists together and pound mercilously on the Guilt Hulk, again, and again. The Guilt Hulk let out a cry.

I can't save anyone...I don't have anyone to live for...I am not who I was meant to be...that REALLY pisses me the fuck off! Kyo tore his way out of the Guilt Hulk's weakened frame, ripping right through the monster.

...thanks Hulk. Kyo put his back against the wall and sat.

Hulk is welcome.

The Gray Hulk and the Professor got there just a minute too late for the action.

...you are some slow mother fuckers.

Hey, fuck you. Joe Fixit took out a cigar while the Professor cautiously put his ear to the ground.

More rumbling. ... I'm afraid we aren't out of this one yet.


Jack/Tony/Guile = Edit Team 2003

Sonic Writes Fanfics - Updated? The hell?
The Ansatsuken Kid - Episode 13!
Dan and Skullo - A m121 joint. Rarely updated, but still good.
3rd World Pimp - OGs.

Last edited by Bowling Pin on 04-27-2003 at 07:56 AM

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Daisuke7777 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 12:17 AM

K' -- KOF

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Ara? Oro? Eh?

K' was awestruck at what he faced before him. Through the gateway, he had found himself in an enormous structure housing interweaved layers of steel forming a twisted, complex path. The end of the pathway resulted in an area of luminous light, giving off a strange and unusual glow. The Lords and those who had survived the many, numerous trials of Daisetsu marched forward to the origin of illumination. Even the Fallen, such as himself, were trailing along the corridor. K' threw down the cigarette he had been smoking onto the steel platform and followed suit with the group. Sol had already left, leaving him behind, as did the young girl, Rydia.

Upon reaching the end of the walkway, the contestants found themselves in a large room, spherical in shape. "What the hell is this...?"

The odd glow had been emanating from orbs of swirling light that were in constant motion. K' took a closer look at one of the orbs and was slightly taken aback as he noticed several souls were drifting inside.

He watched as the masses of light were revolving around the room in an ellipitical pattern. In the center of the whirling orbs was a man and a woman levitating in the air. Several words were exchanged between the Lords and the two figures looming above the ground. The atmosphere became tense--Pressure and apphrehension amassed, building an unbearable amount of weight upon the shoulders of each contestant. Every one of them knew that this was it, that this was the final and foremost battle. Then, that burden, that weight upon the each man and woman was released; The Lords had discharged their avatars and complete chaos ensued...

Several people were hesitant, they stood as if they were in an ephemeral dream, wishing, hoping to wake up. K', however, was already set on his goal. Fire and immense heat materialized on his right hand as he stood, completely oblivious to everything except the Archbishop. He fabricated a small sphere of fire and kicked the flame, turning it into a projectile, towards the malevolent man. It collided into the conjurer and left no effect, not even a single scratch had been laid upon his body. The sorceror scowled gazing intently at the attacker and finally spoke, "Now.. You do not really think I'll perish that easily, do you? I'm not as weak as those incompetent fools you had fought previously, nor am I as imprudent." He paused. "Only those who have the potential to be God matter to me now, for they are the largest threat. Obviously, you are not one of them--I can tell you are a Fallen by your low spiritual energy," he said smugly. "I might as well keep you occupied with something else."

Seconds after the Archbishop had spoken, a shapeless black mist formed in front of K'. It began to take shape, turning into a being--something human. As it gradually turned into a compact figure, it took a fighting stance--It was almost eerily familiar. K''s eyes widened as the black mist finally solidified. What lay before him was an exact duplicate, an exact copy of himself.

"Let's see how you fair against someone who knows your very thoughts, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. In other words, I'd love to know how well you can fend off from your shadow-self." The Archbishop gave a sardonic smile as he said this.
-----

BAH! I got to sleep.... Sorry for the last few paragraphs--GUess I slacked off since I was in a rush to end this. ( Well, it really isn't finished yet... ^^;;; )

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San_Draco Posted: 04-27-2003 , 12:32 AM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

In which Shang Tsung and Li Mei begin to battle...

Shang Tsung leaped towards the so-called Archbishop, surprised at his own speed and strength. The souls... they have given me more power...

The sorcerer spun in the air, and kicked at the white-robed man. But the Archbishop merely raised his hand, and an invisible barrier interposed itself between the two mages.

Shang Tsung was knocked back, but quickly attacked again, firing a soul at his foe. As was to be expected, the religious man blocked the attack, but the green blur was enough for Shang Tsung to leap over the man, and he spun in mid-air, landing lightly on his feet. Another blast of magic, and another shield.

Shang Tsung was starting to get stymmied. His opponent seemed to be able to block all of his attacks, and unlike some of the other participants, Shang Tsung didn't have another form to draw power from.

Suddenly, he laughed. "Such a simple puzzle. Prepare yourself, bishop!" The sorcerer raised his hand, and some of the souls around him began to swirl and collect into one orb. Shang Tsung smiled at the bishop's face, and he pointed at the man.

"On my world, I would never have been able to do this. I've always wanted to, mind." With this, the sorcerer flung the entire orb of souls at the Archbishop, who desperately starting casting a counter-spell.

Just as the Orb was about to hit, it began streaming along both sides, much like water flows around a protruding rock. In the middle of this peace was the Archbishop, who's face, as always was inscrutable. As Shang Tsung's spell ended, the man raised his right hand, and fired a bolt of force at Shang Tsung.

Because the room was based on a circular design, there really wasn't a "wall" to break through, as there were no flat surfaces for Shang Tsung to impact. So, instead, he merely smacked against the wall, and slid to the floor.

Shang Tsung flipped back to his feet, and noticed that most of the others were staying back, either because they were still contemplating, or because they were afraid. But, the sorcerer didn't care.

The less that they interfere with my battle, the greater an opportunity for souls... Especially with Mal'Ganis and Testament here.

Then Shang Tsung snapped his fingers. "Why am I fighting you again, Archbishop?"

The veiled man in white laughed shortly. "Because I am going to bring about the endtimes, and you wish to avoid the cleansing. At least, I believe that is the standard answer given to your question."

The sorcerer nodded. "Indeed. But why am I fighting you?"

He clapped his hands. "Li Mei, go ahead and destroy him."

The skeleton offered a short bow, then jumped into the air, kicking on the way down. About one foot from the Archbishop's face, its foot locked on the same barrier as before.

Landing on the ground, the undead swung its halberd around, with the same result as its jumpkick. Backflipping, the undead launched its Sparkler, the ball of electricity also being divided and dissipated.

Shang Tsung gathered a soul in his hand. However, instead of flinging it at the Archbishop, he fed it into Li Mei's body. Instantly she strengthened and quickened, and she could feel the new power course through her. After a brief moment, she charged in again, kicking and swinging her halberd. But, after the brief flurry, not even a scratch was achieved.

The Archbishop shortly laughed. "The undead are no match against the power of the divine. Michael, warrior of the heavens, obliterate this abomination!"

Instantly, the room seemed to be filled with a white light, and a seemingly-angelic figure appeared from the sky, golden sword in hand. It slashed downwards...

...and Li Mei's halberd was severed. She looked at it, then at the Archbishop, and she assumed her Baji Quan style, and dashed forward again.

She punched, and the barrier seemed to give a little bit. A very little bit. Then the Archbishop pushed back, and Li Mei was sent flying. The skeleton got back up on its feet.

Shang Tsung gathered another soul in his hand. "Li Mei, destroy him!" He then flung the soul at her, and she was boosted yet again. But, whether it would be enough would soon be seen...
---

[OOC]And with that, I am done for the night. Keep in mind that I will have church tomorrow, which will likely cut into any writing time that I may have. :/[/OOC]

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 04-27-2003 , 12:42 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Aagh. My body just feels like total shit right now. --; (and I thought doctors were supposed to help treat you!) I'll be here tomorrow morning to post, when I can manage to concentrate without feeling like this. Yeesh. @_@;;


a lonely soul ____________________ moonlit skies
speaker of silence ________________ candlelit town
footsteps in the night _____________ eyes cast in gloom
utter reliance ____________________ a saddened frown

sweet serenity __________________ shielded by innocence
waits to be broken _______________ hidden by beauty
its mouth aghast ________________ the demon sleeps within
a demon hath spoken ____________ destroying naievte

~ hisame shizumaru, survivor x - oboeru mo ~

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Dry31 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 02:24 AM

Judge/Jury/Executioner

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

As Testament beheld the sights of this place, of this terrible "Collection", and of the white robed figures floating so serenely in the midst of this great desecration, his expression became more and more enraged.

So...this is the Archbishop. Sickening...his greed shines from within him, casting its vile touch on all things around him; not even the souls of the dead are safe! This filth seeks to become god and twist all things to his mad whims!

Testament started, ever so slowly, to walk towards the Archbishop.

"An evil such as this I cannot allow to continue. Sometimes humanity sickens me...willing to sacrifice each other by the thousands, drenching themselves in blood as a means to claw their way to their pitiful self-serving ends...but even humanity is not completely evil. But this...for attrocities such as this, there can be NO MERCY!! The blade of my scythe shall carve your flesh from your bones and send your black soul screaming into the deepest pits of HELL!"

And then the Gear manifested his scythe and attacked. He leapt at the Archbishop, the blade of his scythe transformed momentarily into a great bloody claw as he swung with all of his might...only to strike a wall of invisible light, mere feet from the Archbishop's body. For a moment, the wall seemed to bend ever so slightly, only to snap back, hurling Testament's attack away. The Archbishop laughs.

"Fool...did you think I would be so easily overcome? My barrier is proof against such feeble attacks. Now, begone...Shining Ray!"

From the Archbishop's hand, a massive blast of light erupts, going through the barrier with no resistance and blasting the Gear back to the ground. He swiftly rises again, though, and launches himself at the Archbishop's force field once more...

Last edited by Dry31 on 04-27-2003 at 02:35 AM

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Wayne Posted: 04-27-2003 , 02:27 AM

The Night Beckons...

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

In this entry....

-Due to yet again being unable to wax philosophical with another sponsor, I have turned to interior monologue. Those yearning for action should probably skip the first half.
-Only on Pay-Per-View... or here, heh... Mal'Ganis vs. Jun. Will true love conquer all?
-Not bloody likely.
-Important: Do not "P-vote" me. Just getting to the semis is reward enough. But I didn't join to win; and I know the other participants left still do. So, please; give the nod to someone who would appreciate it. I've had my time, and despite definitely not deserving to get this far, I do appreciate the support I've gotten. Thanks.

---

Mal'Ganis watched with carefully measured apathy as the "Lords"-- Kalten, amusingly, once more among them-- and his fellow pawns waded into battle. His dark eyes darted around the massive chamber, pushing mentally here and there; recoiling, with some surprise, at the amount of raw magical power the old man and "Anko" were radiating. He had personally only met a few beings with that sort of strength... and most had been quasi-deities themselves, such as Sargeras, and the Dragon-King Bahamut.

He watched "himself" join the combat at Jun's side, smiling at her, and she in turn; as together they struck at the Archbishop, Mal'Ganis feinting to the right and Jun circling around the left, working in tandem as the demon distracted his enemy with a Carrion Swarm, allowing Jun to focus Genbu's energy on the mage's barrier, weakening it. Shang Tsung, smirking as always, was hanging back, absorbing the soul-energy nearest him and comfortably watching his skeletal companion fight.

Mal'Ganis shook his head and walked silently back out through the last pair of massive doors Daisetsu had flung open, Portaling up another couple of floors to a better vantage point. He circled around the outside wall of the enormous room, mentally "pinging" Anko to ensure he was going the right way. After several tedious minutes he arrived at what he assumed was the wall exactly behind the dais the Archbishop was standing on, and tested it with his hand.

He slashed once with his claws, driving a deep gash through an outer layer of wood, then screeching loudly into a second sheet of metal. Mal'Ganis then sliced through it with a second swing, this one across the first one; and kicked open the weakened length of wall. Unsurprisingly no one had noticed save perhaps the mysterious pair, and they were far too busy to notice him.

He rested on a ledge, taking the first moment to relax since he left that pub in the city. He was tired now, and wounded; and after mentally reinforcing the illusory Mal'Ganis that was still fighting, leaned back against the shredded wall, seeking only to rest his eyes....

---

"Almost hard to believe you're a demon, you know that? You seem like a nice enough evil spirit, Mal'Ganis." The older human chuckled.

The Dreadlord, eight thousand years younger than he was now; smiled. "My superiors will be
terribly disappointed to hear your world is too well-protected for an invasion."

Kent, the Knight, laughed. "Send them my regards. ...so you're leaving again? Mat tells me that the Time Loop is supposed to cycle again in about three years... then, if we win, won't happen for another two thousand. Not like you'll be around for that, eh?"

"On the contrary, barring the unforseen, I'll be looking forward to it." the Dreadlord replied, dryly. "I'm nearly in my ninth millenia now. It staggers the mind just how boring immortality can be."

The human raised an eyebrow. "Really? You know that most of us would kill to be able to live forever?"

Mal'Ganis shrugged. "They can have it. Sure, realizing you have all eternity to chase women and bathe in the blood of your screaming victims... it's good for the first couple of centuries. But then...."

"I dunno, Mal. I'd love to chase tail for all time."

It was the demon's turn to laugh, albeit softly. "I'm sure you would. No... I feel as though I've seen everything, and done almost as much. It's almost maddening. Why do you suppose demons are so chaotic and unpredictable, and so eager to cause mayhem? Even succubi get tired of doing the same thing over and over again for countless years."

Kent slowly nodded, taking a seat in one of the padded wooden chairs in his study; and gestured for Mal'Ganis to do the same. "Well, what makes you keep going, then? I mean... it's not like you can just 'stop' being immortal, right?"

"On the contrary, it is exactly like that. I can sign away my powers and live and die as a mortal. Due to my... ah, 'unique' physiology, as a Nathrezim I have a left expectancy of perhaps three hundred years once I relinquish my powers. And then I will die."

"So why don't you just do that?"

Mal'Ganis frowned. "Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers? I am used to what I am. Three hundred years of misery, assuming I'm not 'killed,' seems riskier than centuries of monotony."

"So you're afraid."

That actually made the Nathrezim pause. "...in a sense, yes." he agreed, slowly. "I have grown accustomed to striking down the weak, opening portals, reading minds... without them I would be so weak...."

"Mortals can still do some amazing things," Kent chided, still smiling. "The other 'Light Warriors' and I are all magi now, and when we used to have trouble keeping ourselves from becoming chew-toys for Conerian wolves, we're now the most feared bad-a---s in Kannania. Pretty good deal, if you ask me."

"You do not know what living without meaning, but being forced to live all the same, is about," Mal'Ganis replied gloomily. "You can take joy in your simple pride, lust, and happiness; but in the end they ultimately die, just as you will. What's the point?"

"The point?" echoed the Knight, and now he was silent. Then, "...well, I suppose the 'meaning' of mortal life... is to enjoy it."

"Happiness again?" sneered Mal'Ganis; but the human shook his head.

"Not just being happy. There's more to it than that. It's... aw, I don't really know how to say it. But... well, reading a good book when the snow's thick outside. Curling up in bed with your beautiful Elvish wife. Playing with your kids, watching them grow up... and your friends, too. Growing together, learning together... fighting, dying, all for one and all that."

"So you speak of relaxation, love, pride, and comaraderie? These are things worth living for?"

He nodded. "I think so. I think... I think if I died now, I'd go as a happy man. I've seen my two daughters start to grow up. I've fought a lot of battles, done a lot of good things."

"But you would still be dead."

"...yeah, yes I would be. But I would've had a happy life behind me. That's what it's about, isn't it?"

Mal'Ganis shrugged, starting to get angry. "But you're
still dead, Sir Kent. You become dust once again. Your loved ones are left behind. History forgets you. And unless we somehow missed something and you do indeed enjoy an afterlife... you would be just as happy in paradise as if you had never been successful at all."

The Knight sighed, resting his head in his hands. "You're asking some really good questions, Mal. I... I dunno. I guess it comes down to this... I know I'm going to die. And my time's going to come, sooner rather than later. But I've found meaning in what I've done... I guess, because that's all I know."

"I guess." replied Mal'Ganis evenly, and his voice died away.

The two stared at each other in silence for some time. Then, finally, Kent rose, and placed a meaty hand on the demon's shoulder. "I can't even pretend to give you your answers. But... we mortals aren't all bad, just tryin' to find meaning in our short lives before we die. Just like not all demons are soul-sucking fiends who are destined to die before my
very shiny sword."

The Nathrezim shook off his friend's hand. "Am I to be content with this meaningless unbroken existence? You have nothing else to tell me about living?"

The Knight stared at him again, meeting Mal'Ganis's fierce, yet somehow empty; eyes. Then he nodded. "Yes. I'll tell you the secret."

"Hm?"

"...Mal'Ganis, my friend, you need a good woman."

"...."

"No, I'm serious. You need to fall in love. Realize what it's like to have a heart, to know someone cares for you. Your emotions don't work like mine do, and we're totally different guys when it comes to what's," he tapped his fiery red hair, near his temple, "Up here. But I think once that ol' black heart of yours starts beating for someone who might just die... you'll learn a lot more from that alone than twenty lifetimes of sages can teach you."

Mal'Ganis had not known then what to say, other than scoff; and bid his old friend farewell and good fortune against the Four Fiends of Elements while he made his report.


"As you can see, your people are now mine. I will now turn this city, household by household, until the flame of Life has been snuffed out... forever." - Mal'Ganis

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Wayne Posted: 04-27-2003 , 02:32 AM

The Night Beckons...

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Continued!

---

Now, near a decamillenia later, he finally remembered what that long-dead fool had told him.

Jun... his voice called out, echoing through the psychic morass around the Archbishop; and the exotic woman's head turned.

Mal... Ganis? Where are you? I thought you were--

Almost in reply, Mal'Ganis let his link to his Illusory form waver, and a blast of ruby light from the "fallen angel" burned it away, vanishing in blue smoke and mist.

Here, in the back. About two hundred souls richer.

Mal'Ganis!

Better me than him, would you say?

...still, Mal'Ganis, those are--

Souls of the long-dead. Don't you understand? Once I drain the energy within a soul it is gone, not held in suspended torment as these are. But I suppose that doesn't matter to you.

Mal-- ah, that hurt-- help us, please! We need your powers to try to wake up Anko!

The Archbishop's harlot? Let her die. Her fate does not concern me.

Mal'Ganis! She's Daisetsu's sister!

...so?


He felt the link with Jun waver, no doubt due to her distraction in defending herself against the constant barrage of beams of pure holy light from the "Archbishop." ...Mal'Ganis, Daisetsu is my friend, as is Anko. I can't leave them.

Jun.


One Instant froze in time. Jun paused, mouth open; unable to move; as Mal'Ganis slowly flew, using his powers to augment his wings; over to her. He made a mocking obeisance to her, taking her helpless hand and putting it on his armor, over where his heart would be.

Jun, do you love me?

...Mal'Ganis, I... I can't answer that....

It is a yes or no question, and a simple one.

...b-before... I may have said yes. But not now. What
are you, Mal'Ganis? The oni I thought you were? Callous, heartless, willing to watch an innocent woman die?!

Mal'Ganis's eyes seemed nearly to ignite with a sudden fire. Fool! What did you think I was?! I cannot change what I am. I need souls to survive, Jun. And I need powerful ones to defeat those who can destroy me; like Kil'Jaeden and his followers. My existence is more important than a few dead mortals.

Mal'Ganis... and... here I was... thinking you'd actually wanted to... change. Was it all just a lie? The letter, your words, when we were together... all a lie? Why?

...no, Jun.
his psychic voice lowered, and the Ninja found herself now able to act in the frozen slice of Time as well. ...no. An old friend told me that maybe 'love' would help me find meaning in my immortality. But I now know he was wrong. Your love couldn't help me... only make me as weak as you are.

Mal'Ganis....
Jun thought, taking her arm, and placing it to her breast. "You know that's not true. We mortals are capable of doing great things, both good and evil. My own family... ninja were once assassins, the worst dregs of life; but now look at us--"

"Benevolence to other mortals," Mal'Ganis hissed, "...is still meaningless. In time you will all die, and none of it will have mattered. And Jun...."

"Yes?" she asked, and Mal'Ganis could feel her heart beating.

"Is there one mortal here, that you summoned; you might call 'good?'"

She seemed taken aback at the question, but then nodded. "Yes, of course. There's Ky Kiske, a noble--"

"Mortal, Human. Motivated by revenge, jealousy, and anger; all the negative aspects of the human 'virtue' of honor, which he allegedly espouses. Killed several innocents in this series of battles alone." Mal'Ganis paused in his recitation. "What a choice." he mocked. "Next?"

The Ninja frowned, then nodded again. "...OK... how about Shizumaru? He's been a great fighter...." her voice trailed away as the Dreadlord shook his head; and she sighed. "Yes?"

"Mortal, Human-Demon. Motivated by a misplaced sense of duty and obligation. Young, rash, taken to poor choices in judgment. And of course possessing a malevolent spirit the sort of which rivals any Legion demon. Not adverse to killing, and is self-deluded to the extent he fights primarily with a nonlethal weapon. ...another fine choice."

"...well, then... I guess there's Jason? Chipp?"

"Former-- mortal, human. Causes widespread destruction with various alchemical techniques. Disregard for damaged property and life so long as the results are humorous to him. Attempting to engage in illicit relations with a succubus. Noted xenophile; attacked a child's fairytale figure. Latter-- mortal, human. Acts out of a mistaken sense of duty and obligation. Incredibly annoying sidekick mentality. Idiot. Seeks to impress you, and is in fact carefully calculating your measurements in his mind."

Jun reddened and spun around; sure enough, Chipp was focusing intently on her backside.

"So it would seem to me," Mal'Ganis sneered, starting to pace, "...that you have brought the absolute dregs of mortal society, a batch of misfits that are only good for fighting and breeding, and many have a distressing lack of skill with either or both. Jun," he said, voice softening, "...I really don't believe you picked the worst. Reality calls you, Lady Jun... what does it say?"

She looked down. "Mal'Ganis... not all mortals are as bad as you make us out to be. ...what about me?" she asked suddenly, but again Mal'Ganis shook his head.

"Mortal. Female An'ven. Warrior, killer. Credited with enemy slain in the course of her relatively short and talented life numbering in the hundreds. Uses speed-based powers to effectively immobolize and destroy. Somewhat vain; possesses nearly fifteen percent of all the cosmetics in her entire hometown. 35-26-34...."

"Mal'Ganis!" she cried; her red blush spreading.

"In any event," he snapped, eyes narrowing, and brightening, "...the time has come."

"For what?" she asked nervously, not liking the sudden change in his voice.

"Draw your knives, Lady Jun." he said flatly, extending his claws.

The ninja's eyes widened. "What?! Mal'Ganis... I... you know how I feel about you. And we have to deal with the Archbishop... I can't--"

"You will fight me," the demon stated icily, "Or you will die."

Mal'Ganis's voice was not a threat, nor even a command. It was a statement of fact that invited no dispute. And Jun, slowly, reluctantly; a mist clouding her eyes for only a moment it was blinked away; drew a pair of kunai, one in each hand.

The Nathrezim nodded and conjured his twinblade into his hands, spinning it around, deliberately shredding the top layer of expensive marble underneath his feet with the tip of the left blade.

"Mal'Ganis..." Jun tried again. "Why do you want to fight me? What will you gain?"

"It is simple. As Daisetsu said, each of us are now nearly a match for any of you. I must see if you are still Jun."

"Of course I'm still Jun." she replied, somewhat stunned. "Who else would I be?"

"That is not what I meant," replied Mal'Ganis coldly, giving his twinblade another experimental swish. "It is a simple test. If you defeat me, I will help you-- but only this once, and only if I can obtain the most powerful souls to use against those who want to kill me-- in this battle."

Her firm gaze softened. "Good. What if you win?"

His white hands tightened on the central grip of his weapon. "Then you will open your mind to me just once more."

Jun cocked an eyebrow, not expecting that reply. "OK... why?"

Mal'Ganis smiled. "You will become my thrall. You will still be 'you...' but your body and will will become mine. You will help me directly defeat Kil'Jaeden and his followers."

"So what you're saying," Jun said slowly, "...is you're calling me on my offer of my soul? I really will 'become yours?'"

"Body and soul," the demon smirked, but there was no humor in his voice.

The woman thought it over, then finally nodded. "I accept. And Mal'Ganis...?"

He shifted into an offensive stance, blade held out, preparing to take advantage of his incredible reach advantage. "Yes?"

"Yes."

He paused. "'Yes...' to what?"

For the last time before Jun replaced her mask on her face, she colored, and smiled. "To your first question."

Then her eyes narrowed in the sort of deadly focus that she had become famous for; and Mal'Ganis gave a final, faint smile. "Then I love you too. ...are you ready?"

She nodded. "As ready as I will ever be. ...for Anko," she whispered, crouching, leaning forward; preparing her legendarily-precise attack.

"For everything." Mal'Ganis replied in turn, preparing to meet her.

---

...

OK, well, so I'm sure y'all saw that one coming. *chuckles* I'll do my best to finish this in the morning, though I likely won't be able to make it... Kyo is of course free to write it; he knows how the fight is supposed to win (that is; Jun wins, of course; though it's a close fight); if I can write it myself, though; I'll try to. If I can, it'll be done by 8am or so Central, since I'll be in Church after that, and not be able to write before this Phase ends.

Hey... it's been a good run for Mal'Ganis; it really has. I only wish I could've done more with the other sponsors... I tried to tell a creative and off-the-beaten-path story, though; and I am proud that I never once Focused, or joined a pointless Boss-beatdown, or vote-dumped the Lords, etc. etc. Playing for fun > playing to win.

And before I forget, just in case I can't really post anything else... I'd like to dedicate this Mal'Ganis performance to my friends at RI. I really couldn't have done it without y'all.

Best wishes to the other five finalists. Good luck. *sends votes to Kyo/Darkblade*


"As you can see, your people are now mine. I will now turn this city, household by household, until the flame of Life has been snuffed out... forever." - Mal'Ganis

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Renmazuo Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:17 AM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Canto VI + Noli Me Tangere + Fallen Angel Tear



"Saaa! Lux crystallinus, da nobis vigorem! Venite Fairy!"

The Fairy eidolon's light streamed over the gathered fighters, restoring the wounds they had received from the Archbishop and Anko. Alma's power was nowhere near its limit, and the Cleric felt like things were starting to get more or less under control. It was an even fight, so far- every one of the Archbishop's deadly spells was met with her own Holy Magic, and Daisetsu, Jun, Dorrin, and Kalten were faring remarkably well. Shang Tsung and Testament and Mal'Ganis likewise brought their years of experience to the table, and Shizumaru and Mint focused their own unique skills on besting Anko. It was a hard fight, and the balance hung only by a matter of a thread- but Alma had faith in her colleagues.

As the Fairy departed, Alma set her sights again on Anko- such beauty warped into a cruel, angelic figure. It disturbed her, the way the blades seemed attached to her hands, the way the fire on her back burned as wings and the way her eyes glazed over in blind loyalty to the man in white. An angel; a Holy Angel. It hurt Alma's eyes to look upon her, and she felt the Healing Staff in her hand waver, as though it sensed something horribly wrong about this woman...

She is Daisetsu's sister...I cannot let her die! Alma rushed over as Shizumaru's nodachi clashed with one of the girl's twin blades- ironic, in that they were locked in such an intense battle to the death and yet she didn't want him to die, either. She didn't have to worry for the meantime, however; so long as the MBarrier spell was upon him, Shizumaru would not taste of death. Alma felt the room grow cold as the Archbishop fired off another spell- and Jun came crashing to the ground, gasping in pain.

"Jun!" Alma swerved over, panic flying through her stomach. She skidded to her knees at the kunoichi's side, but Jun was already back up, the huge green dragon seeming to lift her again. Jun's eyes burned with an intense azure aura, and she leapt again past Alma with her kunai raised. The Cleric winced, rising to her knees again as she watched Jun, and Dorrin, and Daisetsu, and Kalten.

Please don't give in...don't vanish. For my sake, please, you four- stay as yourselves...

"Alma-san! Down!"

Alma perked up at Shizumaru's voice, and followed his command, falling back down to all fours. Something heavy and sharp cut the air above her, and Alma looked back up when it had passed. It was Anko again, her great winged form swooping around the room in a circular attack. Her eyes, blank and expressionless, turned back to Alma as she swerved around. Her blades locked and made a sharp clang as she raised them above her head, swarming with power that enveloped her in the form of a white aura.

"You're going to die. I won't even leave a shell." A pretty, light voice, but without emotion. Anko's wings flared with heat so great that Alma felt the golden feather on her cheek grow cold, and then Anko was swooping at her again, in that one instant. The white-robed girl cried "Sixth Instant, Crushing God Blades!"

It was too fast for anyone else to intercept. She swooped forward, and her blades found the upraised Healing Staff- and Alma's eyes shot open as the swords seemed to dissipate and then reform around them. The Cleric screamed as the swords cut deep into her torso, ripping through her clothes and spilling her blood. A square-shaped cut lashed viciously over Alma's exposed stomach, and then the flats of the blades were slammed violently against her sternum. The girl's body was not used to taking such horrible blows, and was sent tumbling back until she hit the curved wall of the chamber. Anko swooped into the air above her, flicking blood from her swords, and gazed without care at the fallen Cleric.

Alma felt blood pooling under her quickly. The pain was intense, damning...she felt sizzling around the horizontal cut over her stomach, and she knew one of the blades had injected poison into her. Yet the strand of gleipnir, now pressed to her cheek as her hair fell over her face, coated her with a gracious amount of antibodies. That did not help the awful pain, though. Alma weakly put her staff against the ground, pushing up as she hugged her ribs. She was bleeding so much...

"Alma-san!" Shizumaru's voice, tight with rage and anger, pounded into her ears. Then she heard him shout again, his energy flaring loudly in the chamber. "Bakemono ga! Baiu Ensatsu Jiiin!" The whirring clang of blade against blade brought her head up, and through dim vision, Alma saw Shizumaru's nodachi cleaving against Anko's blades in a tornadic whirl. The angelic girl blocked nimbly, her wings carrying her back, but Shizumaru would not allow her to leave. His eyes burned with the wrath of hell, and his own wings flapped, driving him up into the air with her. He brought his upraised sword down in an overhead swipe, meeting her crossed blades, and then spun around for another blow. It, too, was blocked, and as they fought further, blades driving repeatedly and sending sparks into the air, there seemed to be no clear superior.

A...am I losing, already? Uumf...that last attack...

She felt something, then...as though some invisible hand passed over her stomach. The blood and pain and heat just...faded away. She frowned; it was like a regeneration spell suddenly taking effect at full blast. She hauled herself to her feet, suddenly feeling stronger- in fact, stronger than she'd felt even before the 'Crushing God Blades' took effect. Too much stronger, to the point where it was starting to disturb her.

Alma looked down at her stomach, lifting up the flap there, expecting to see scars-

"Ultimate Instant, Fallen Angel's Tear!"

...no...

Alma turned her head up, seeing Anko flying at her. The attack was unmistakable- her ultimate technique, an enormous wave of psionic power rushing forward as her beautiful face twisted into an avenging glare. Her swords twirled with black flame, the psionic blast too fast for Shizumaru to intercept or for Alma to block-

-and when it slammed into her, Alma's scream wrenched the door off of Hell.

The attack was beyond description. It felt like every cell in her body ruptured, like every blood vessel in her body was torn out. The pain even spread to her clothes, ripped apart in blood, and Alma stopped feeling everything below her waist. Her mind was hit next, all her memories and thoughts and prayers pooling together to where she could no longer distinguish what they were- and then they just began to hurt. Then the soul...that at the core of her body, that which the Bloody Angel chilled and the Red Phoenix warmed. It writhed within her, hit at full blast by the tear of a Fallen Angel. Alma's body was lifted up by the attack and thrown violently against the wall, her head cracking against it-

dying, im dying


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

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Renmazuo Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:22 AM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

-and then it was like falling into a dream. Alma felt as though some strong hands caught her, soothed the anger of the blow. Her head reeled to where she could no longer think, or speak, or live or die. It was pain all over, and yet in the arms that held her, it was like love. Her body felt embrace and stroke and pat and laughter and smile and caress and squeeze and kiss all in one, and the flutter of what could only be wings.

whats going on

Her head was yanked up again. Alma's blank eyes fixed upon Anko's exhausted figure, the white-robed angel looking at her with blank eyes...that slowly widened. No, more than that. That face twisted into pure terror, those eyes shook and quivered, and Alma saw everyone present look at her with an expression of awe...awe, and horror.

"Di mortis qui vitam capiunt, animas capiiiIIIITE!"

No...no, NO! NO! PLEASE!

"My Body. My Nice Body. My Perfect Body. I cannot let you die. I cannot let you feel the tears of a dying heaven. My beautiful Alma...my 'soul'- it is time for you to sleep. Place all your worries to me. The blood of six has spilled, the tear of an angel dropped, but worry not. Trust in me. I will make you a Queen of the Eclipse. Do you see, all of you? Do you see her bloody pulchritude, her anguish in her joy? Her body, broken for you...her blood, spilled for you...for these lost, precious An'ven. She has suffered much...now the task is left to me. Come out, my loyal servants- I shall prepare a banquet. Set the Throne of Skulls! Lift up the Black Cross Inverse, and with your fangs nail the Fallen Angel's wrists to its arms. Chaotic Soul, dwelling in the heart of ebony and crimson- awaken. Angry Devils in the Shadowheart- awaken. Lustful oni in the heart of a prince- awaken. My Dearest Angel of Death- awaken. Come, oh, come, oh, do not let this joy fade- I will prepare a banquet for you all. Yours shall be the Kingdom. You have but to bend the knee to me, to the Holiest of all Angels- to the Seraph of Seraphim, to the Bringer of Light- and I will give you sanctuary. Think it strange, that one such as I should play upon such words? Worry not. Your concerns, your fears, your nightmares- they are infinitesimal before my love. Place your trust in me; become my children; become my parents; become my friends; become my allies; become my lovers; become my followers; become my apostles. In this you may taste of the bread and the wine that I bring before you. Shh...resist not, for this is no temptation- it is promise. I, Bloody Angel Altima, will lead you to the gates of Heaven.

"In nomine Rex Altima, et Filius Ajora, et Angelus Cruentus...amen.
"

No! No! Don't do thiiiiaaaaaaaaiiiiiieeee!

With those words, she stepped out of Hell and into the Body. It seemed like soul upon soul streamed into Alma suddenly, the roar of a wild animal filling the chamber and ringing off its walls. A swirling vortex appeared over the badly wounded Cleric, and in that moment she seemed to light up, her wounds and clothes fading from view, a light outshining her own flesh. She went rigid before them all, and the charge of black electricity led to a full white charge. From that charge spewed countless phantoms, cackling on the wind, calling out names as they streamed into existence- "chaos", "zio", "tiger", "dragon", "fiend", "emperor", "ameki", "zalera." As the phantoms dissipated and the light cleared, however, the worst ghost of all shone into view.

It was Alma's body, though paler, gleaming with holy light. Her voluptuous body, as though an incriminating incarnation of lust, was garbed in a singlet of bloody leather. Its sleeves coursed down toned arms and was high in the front against her full breasts, a diamond cut in the middle to reveal her flat, tantalizing stomach. Her thighs were bare and bright and full, and she wore boots with winged reliefs that reached up to her knees, two blades stuck in either side of them.

And wings. Wings that coursed through her silver hair and down the back of her neck, mere miniatures compared to the white but batlike wings that stretched out from her strong back. They were rimmed in red- in blood- and reflected even more light upon her figure. Her face was exactly as Alma's, with red eyes and a beautiful, youthful face and smooth brow. She brought a clawed hand to her lips, kissing a finger slowly, as though to savor her own flesh.

An angel- a Holy Angel, a Seraph. A Bloody Angel.

Altima Bloody Angel turned her dreamy, wistful stare to Anko- and then smiled thinly.

"Fallen from the morn, angels like you and I must become demons," Altima purred, "but it all depends on how far we fall...doesn't it...Anko Fallen Angel..."

With those words, the Bloody Angel snatched the unholy daggers at her sides. The air stilled, chilled, and then displaced altogether as the Fallen Angel was beset by the rage of the Bloody Angel.

There was war in Heaven.

---

Altima, Bloody Angel, has resurfaced, and is on nobody's side, though at the moment she specifically wants to rend Anko apart. Alma is nowhere to be seen, leaving behind only a Zodiac Demon in her form to fight. Altima is nothing like Alma, being an Archdemon and all. She is immensely powerful, abnormally fast, and reacts in an instant- unlike the pushover she was in the game, this Altima has the 200% power effect that Alma has in being a surviving sponsor. Altima is well-versed in forbidden magic, and the Lucavi job command "Fear", which rips at her enemy's souls through status effects.

If you want to use her in your posts, by all means, but her personality isn't the 'bwahaha' of a villain- this is a demon out of hell. She's quiet and when she speaks, it's often to confuse you- she may even lead you on with seduction, regardless of your gender or who you are. She's quite the little spitfire. ^^

Cue music: Altima the Nice Body, FF Tactics. Oh yeah. XD

Story Note- by the way, the phantoms that have streamed out are basically messengers from Altima's realm (er, Hell). Altima is emitting a "pull" on all the demons possessing sponsors, fallen, and sidekicks in an attempt to bring them out. However, and I do mean this- it is entirely up to you if you want your inner demons to be brought out in incarnate form. It's sort of a story bonus to you guys if you want to take it. ^^


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

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Thirdtwin Posted: 04-27-2003 , 04:32 AM

Blade of Vengeance

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: That depends, of course, on where I am

"...whoa.

...we're shitted, aren't we..." muttered our favorite crackninja as he stared at the visage (well, maybe a bit "lower" than the visage) of our favorite bloody angel. "We're... real shitted, yeah. Yeah." Unaware that his nose was bleeding (call it a fitting fanfare for the 'true advent of <Altima> -The Nice Body-') he did a funny sort of neck/eye twitch of disbelief. Surely this couldn't be real--he had felt a disunity within her soul, as with Jun; but unlike Jun, the force within Alma ran counter to her intents (he had felt something like a larva feasting on the innards of an apple). As he swiftly realized, he had sensed much the same with Shizumaru from their first meeting--in fact, although he hadn't paid much attention to either at first, he realized swiftly that both had been afflicted...and both had now succumbed.

All in all, this was rather difficult for Chipp to take in.

Holy hell. Profane heaven. This is some sort of BOLL SHITE. Really, this was gonna be my moment; I was gonna run up in here and do some kind of damage, and attain Nirvana, and all kinds of nifty stuff.... but now I gotta contend with angels? Demons? Oni? Fugging TESTAMENT? Plus the priest from hell and Dai's mental-ass uber-powered sister? Shee~t. Of all the obstacles I could face for my own ascension--

Umm... Chipp, you weren't even in the running for godhood since we left Mithrik'en, when you got whompimated by those other ninja and lost the spiritual link.

...I knew that. I was just conveniently ignoring the fact.

I hope you weren't ignoring the fact that Shizu ain't quite Shizu anymore, or else you aren't worthy to be called even a beginner at the art of ninjutsu.

...Yeah, I noticed. Should have done something to remedy that fact. Just tally it up with the rest of my constant failures and sins and shit and God I'm a failure why me *sob*.

...you sure that bonk on the head didn't resolve all that angst you were experiencing earlier?

Come to think about it, it probably didn't.


And in his mind flashed by all his failures (or at least everything he considered a failure during the period of angst that I couldn't be bothered to write about). His parents dying. His "thug life". His addictions. His master's death. His multiple failures at vengeance. And now, his inability to protect Shizumaru from the demon within him. A cloud of black seemed to surround his skull, crushing it with heavy black chains. And cutting through that haze, once again, was that voice, taunting him with that jocular, golly isn't-this fun tone, mocking everything he had ever stood for, mocking his very existence with that simple question:

Have you ever really accomplished anything at all?

And presented with that question, at the edge of his wits, in a world far from his own, in more mortal danger than he could ever have imagined, his answer rose to his lips in a liquid rush--

...no.

...I see. Well, what the Zen are you gonna do about it? You just gonna stand there like a ponk? Or are you gonna do as I--err, he taught you?

...huh?

I have to lead you by the hand through everything, don't I? Didn't Tsuyoshi tell you that to tap into the true depths of Tsuyoshi-style Ninjutsu, you had to delve into the darkest parts of your soul and unleash the powers held within? To draw your fury, your hatred, even your sadness, and to will them into your blade, to let your darkness become your strength?

...

Oy vey. Look, kid, you need to learn how to listen bet--

I'M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE, DAMMIT!


And indeed he was--it was apparent from the get-go that something had begun to happen to him. Around his very being seemed to gather shadows, curling about him, caressing his body like... well, like he could imagine Altima's hands caressing his form with her light hands, her touch setting off--
(JUN I'M LOYAL TO JUN I BOUGHT SHIT FOR JUN I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT JUN REMOVE THEE FROM MY BRAIN FOUL ANGELDEMONTHINGAWHATSIS GRAAAAAAAAAAAhatredAAAAAAA--)
"--aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--" His power had to be increasing to levels he hadn't imagined before; he was screaming like an absolute nutcase at this point. Not to say he could actually contend much with any of the chosen, (and don't even think about Anko or the Archbishop), but the way his chakra began to visibly crackle about his taut, rigid form, his hands grasping each other, forming an intricate pattern which seemed to channel the forces building about him, while the blackness continued to gather about him--well, it was certainly something neat to look at. And every second, more force built around him, searing the air with the immense expenditure; his power kicked up notch by notch, until suddenly his head whipped back, as if from a powerful attack--

He fell silent. Of course, with the immense battle between the avatars and the man of God, you can't really blame anyone for not really noticing.

He rolled his neck. He stretched his arms, flicked them outward almost carelessly, then with more focus. Stretched out his left leg in a slow kick outward, spun slowly on his right heel. Threw out a few more kicks. Inhaled. Exhaled, with ponderous slowness. Lowered his leg. Adjusted his crescent blade with a sharp click. Opened his eyes.

It was done.

He was ready.

No one really cared.

***

"I accept. And Mal'Ganis...?"

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"'Yes...' to what?"

"To your first question."

"Then I love you too. ...are you ready?"

"As ready as I will ever be. ...for Anko,"

"For everything."

"YO JUN."

Jun did not so much as flick her eyes at the voice. Something hurtled through the air to her right; she shifted ever so slightly and caught the dagger (for indeed that was what Chipp had just hurled in her direction).

"What... what are you--"

"A present. Whup his ass." He found it surprisingly hard to keep his (sadness, rage, dejection... pick your emotion) down. "I'll be taking care of Shizu."

"Chipp, no! Your spirit hasn't been linked as long as his has--he's much stronger than you are--" The disapproval in her voice stung him--she sounded much like he imagined his mother used to sound-- but deeper than that seemed to float some measure of pity, and...worry. To the ears of a ninja, all these things were clear.

"I know. But, hell, I came on this ride to save your world. Looks like I ain't gonna be doing that much; I might as well try to save a soul." His fingers interlocked; his brow furrowed. "Besides, it's not like I haven't improved at all."

"Chipp, what--" Caught in the deadly dance with the demon, Jun could barely spare words, but the note of perplexity (and, underlying that, the same worry) was still clear to the ears of a ninja.

"You think I wasn't paying attention back in Mithrik'en?" A short spike in his chakra, and--"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Where once was one, there now stood five crackninja. "Now, I think it's time I "accomplished" something. Scuze meh." And he--they--toinged off.
---

As to what was just done... well, Chipp has himself achieved Shadow Mode. However, instead of Testament's mad rush of insanity, Chipp's training allows him to control the negativity in his soul, tapping into and harnessing it as he chooses. The ultimate effect is as Testament's, though--although with max Tension, his judgement is rather clouded (well, moreso than usual, although in a somewhat different manner), so his fighting skill may somewhat. This would have made more sense had I had an extra round to pull it off in--as of now, it seems rather pointless, but whatchagonnado.

Chipp Final Round, 1st Phase Status:
All votes exhausted
"Shadow Mode"
About to attack Ameki, kind of disregarding the rest of the crap


TT

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Soujiro Seta Posted: 04-27-2003 , 05:11 AM

The Silver Ogre

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Beyond Death

Will you protect
me when I’m wrecked?
I pretend you’re still alive.

Clear all your sins
get born again –
Just repeat a couple lines.



Act VI – Flame and Sin – I

She stood before him, lithe as the panther, body lit with a strange energy. She was Vice, the partner of Mature; one half of the duo of female assassins. And she stood there before him, wind blades seeming to course around her silently quivering body, reminding him of two other assassins, whose lives he could not save.

Celia…Lede…do you speak to me in this woman? Does she come to claim your rightful vengeance? I led you on the path to hell, replaced your souls with the minds of demons…did you hate me? Do you, even now? I cannot look at this woman, Vice, standing before me without wondering what each of you thought. Did that erase the times we spent together, the wamth of our bodies entwining as we shared the bedchamber? I wanted you to share my fate…because with you by my side, hell could never truly be its own name.

But I ask again…do you now judge me? Have you come for your due wrath?


She flung herself at him with an animal’s shriek, her arm slinging forward past its normal length. It grabbed him, slamming his body into the ground. He rolled away, avoiding a blade of wind that sliced close to his head, followed by another, and another…her kicks raged around him like a storm, their blue energy slashes carving gashes into his flesh by the pressure of the wind alone.

Her eyes…they were ‘gone’. Someone else’s eyes had replaced them; eyes that were not the rough yet refined assassin he’d seen over the last few days.

“Vice, what’s wrong with you!?” Elmdor drew the Chirijiraden, only in the nick of time for her hand to grab it, slamming the blade out of her path. Her hand shed blood upon touching the blade’s edge, slinging red spray everywhere as her arm arced out again in a slashlike wave.

This…this ‘thing’ is not human…it feels no pain, and has no heart.

Just. Like. You.


“Tormentor!” Elmdor cried out, his battle-worn form dashing forward. With a leap, he took to the air, scarlet cape fluttering in the air behind him. The Chirijiraden sheered the air beside Vice, whipping her short brown hair with its passing fury. The assassin lunged forward, a look of twisted hunger on her face. Her shoulder slammed into him, before he could react, sending him airborne once more. He twisted away, slashing to cover his vulnerability, but as he still hung in the air, he felt a grip of iron bite into his face.

Vice screamed devilishly in delight as she slung her arm over her head, smashing the Marquis face-first into the floor. “More power…more of it! Delicious, so sweet…the Riot of the Blood!” Elmdor’s ears strained to catch every one of her words that fell on them, rising to his feet clasping his sword tighter than ever before.

“Vice…I see now. You and the demon. I want to help you, but you will not let me.” He held the katana at the ready in front of him, blade’s path parting the image of her his eyes saw down the middle. “I can’t make the same decision twice, Vice. ‘Their’ memory won’t let me…it cries out to me, even now, taking your effigy for its own.”

“Vice…I’m going to lay you to rest now.” His voice was quiet, brimful of the warriors’ concentration he had mastered on the battlefield.

Kenki Bakuhatsu Nami Ryu….Nine Silver Wind Oni Flash!!! The calm around him exploded into a blazing fury. In this place, the chamber of souls, his ki – a gleaming siver – could be seen flaring like an oil-fed flame as he crushed the distance between himself and the woman – then seemed to disappear altogether.

“Orochi…!” Vice leered, staggering back, “feed the OUTRAGE!” Her right foot lashed out, sweeping with blinding speed into a blaze of kicks that were so fast, contrails of blue energy formed on their highest arcs. She felt the blades of wind sing against the sword of the enemy, nine flashes of an earthly blade against the bodily power of the great demon Orochi. “Yesssssss,” Vice’s voice seemed to mimic an orgasm of pleasure as her foot met flesh, ripping through Elmdor’s chest with a wild vengeance, blasting him backward with the force of a hurricane.

It was only then that, in that unlikely moment, he saw the gleaming power of the artificial angel, Anko, and her target.

Wandering souls shrieking for the end to draw nigh…how I wish to caress each of them, drink of their draught! And the six…her heartbeat – the ‘Bloody Angel’! Testament has unknowingly done me the honor of unlocking the ‘seal of feelings’, but still…

…the ‘seal of soul’ remains fast. I can control the mind, but I cannot exodus the vessel that carries my soul…!

Let me awaken, Mesdoram Elmdor! Let me blow my Silver Trumpet! Let me trample on the skulls of all men, so that this earth once again belongs only to the presence of Angels!

Answer the hearkens, Zodiac Brave! Without me, your legacy dies here, just like you!


“ALMAAAA~!” Elmdor’s eyes widened as he saw the blond-haired girl’s head snap back, violently assaulted by the screaming power of Anko’s ultimate attack. Her body raked across the floor of the extreme warzone, and Elmdor knew – had seen enough battles to know – it was an end, or very close to one. But in a brilliant blaze of light, like a light from the netherworld that radiated from the young girl’s broken body, he had closed his eyes to the second; to everything that stood before him.

And he had lifted his eyelids again to see the vision of true terror; a living angel, singlet as red as the bleeding moon, skin pale as a mausoleum’s marble. Her silvery hair shone ten times more radiant than his own; her eyes burned like a stillborn fire that swung in hell’s censer.

+ Continued +

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Soujiro Seta Posted: 04-27-2003 , 05:20 AM

The Silver Ogre

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Beyond Death

His ethereal vision was cut off by a swift kick to the side of the head, sending him reeling upward and to the left of the awakened Vice. His wrested snapped backward as Vice sharp chop ground into it, and he could feel the hope drain away as the Chirijiraden was knocked from his grasp, sliding away from him over the floor.

I won’t die here have a promise to keep so bloody I can’t go on she’ll kill me…but Alma I gave my word…

“It always bothered me, the way I meant to repay Ramza somehow, but I never got around to it. Or rather, I should say that I was too ‘busy’; too caught up in my noble-born duties to thank him properly. He probably never even got anything from saving my life.”

Now I know what it feels like to die again but why….why am I afraid this time? No…there is no room for fear no room for doubt on this battlefield of innumerable souls I will repay the last debt I owe I will give it give back to you Ramza the one you love and who loves you that shall be my last I have to give last to protect what I must and I will die a soldier’s death upon a grave of fireflies for though I deserve death the others do not! With this life less than life I will make something of that which is nothing I’ll carve out the blood of a THOUSAND!!


His body went rigid, bending back as pain greater than any he’d felt in his entire time of living wracked his body. It washed over him like a mighty rolling wave, and he no longer felt the pain of the strikes of Vice, or the wounds Testament had inflicted on him hours before. He screamed, clawing and clutching at his chest, bent over as though his body lay impaled upon some invisible javelin. Vice watched with morbid fascination as his solar plexus, just below the sternum, began to radiate an energy, a miasma so negative that her reverie was ended. With a final cry, like the dying scream exiting the lungs of a crucified man

a longsword, dripping with black blood, burst forth from the chest of the Silver Noble.

And a hand reached up to grip that sword.

“Forever Sin!” Elmdor marveled in horror at the atrocity that his hand now held; the same sword that had condemned him to eternal death and un-death, the same sword that stifled Zalera’s full control, and yet imprisoned the Angel of Death within his body. And now, that weapon so legendary that he had once used its negative power to slay an unkillable beast, rested in his hand once more.

Woe, woe, woe unto the firstborn and the sons of light! The final seal has been undone! The voice rang in Elmdor’s mind as the terror began to churn and move. Chained to the mortal vessel, but now the rebirth is at hand! At hand! Cry, children of the fallen star, for your crowns of gold in the new kingdom shall tarnish before your flesh! Sun darkens, moon turns to blood, and the stars fall from the sky! Signs and wonders appear in the heavens such as have never been seen since the beginning of the world, and all life quakes with FEAR! All the dead wish for ascension, all the living fear death, but we alone are forever, we the Lucavi! There is no force in heaven or earth that we do not know, nothing written in the books of time and space that we cannot divine! We will build the true everlasting kingdom…

…we will reign above heaven and earth for all eternity!

This, Mesdoram Elmdor, is the truth of the Bloody Angel, Altima, my Lord and King…and today, Altima lives AGAIN! Imbibe the souls, resurrection of the Bloody Angel! Your truth…has set us free!


The room darkened, even as the fighting and bloodletting continued, but the Archbishop glared down with shock and rage as souls began to rip away from their formation in the air, flaring down in beautiful contrails to enter the body of a silver-haired man. A dark aura covered the man for a moment, like a blanket of night, growing ever larger. Suddenly, like a black womb, it burst in blood, and a great demon stood where once the man had stood. Its flesh was the color of bloody carrion, like muscle under flayed skin, its wings purple as haggard veins. In the great skull-shape of its head, hollow sockets glared menacingly, whispers of damnation echoing from them.

The sickening claws of Zalera’s violet, veinous hand grasped the legendary negative blade that had kept it sealed away over the last few days with its sealing power alone. With a tremendous flap of his wings, the Lucavi Arch-Demon rose into the air, spreading itself out to full height.

“Behold! The immortal messenger who encircles the earth, leading all souls toward eternal sleep! O King of Kings, Zalera, the Angel of Death, has been reborn anew! Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and in fear and trembling stand!” The Forever Sin crackled in his hand as the crimson bone mouth seemed to agonizingly twist upward into a grin.

“Let the Feast of the Ascension begin!!!”

---

Legendary Sword ‘Forever Sin’ – Elmdor acquired this sword in the finale of the previous tournament he was in. There, he ‘drew out’ its power to deal a critical blow to the monster ‘Children of Terror’, but was imbued with a shard in his chest as a result of the sword breaking. It is from that shard that the sword regenerated itself, absorbing negativity all throughout the tournament from the souls of the living and dead alike. It is not an ‘evil’ sword, but contains extreme negative powers – negative emotions, thoughts, spiritual residues – it devours these willingly into itself. It is speculated by the Eternals that the Forever Sin was made as an object into which all life could cast its negative aspects, becoming holy beings. But that same power made the Forever Sin an awesomely powerful sword, able to create blades of negative energy that project from the sweep of the blade with each slash. There is no innocence it cannot destroy with its abomination of impurity.

Zodiac Demon ‘Lucavi’ – Zalera, the Angel of Death – finally, with the barriers preventing his full manifestation shattered, Zalera has completely replaced Elmdor. It’s difficult to accurately describe his form – look at my avatar – his true form, appearing now, is the one shown there (beside a size-equivalent sprite of Elmdor). He controls powerful Demonic magic, stronger than any sorcerer’s spells. His skills are both the Lucavi spells ‘Fear’, which cause death by ripping apart the souls of the enemy, and his own unique repotoire of spells, the ‘Ja Magic’, which contains powerful status effects and attacks powerful enough to lay the living to waste. He is above mortality, above the laws of the world; he is the Angel of Death.

Recommended Listening - Banquet of Transmigration (Vagrant Story Final Boss Battle - 1st Form)

Open game as you see fit, especially to Switchblade or Tenshi.

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Dry31 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 05:23 AM

Judge/Jury/Executioner

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Again and again, Testament attacked the Archbishop's shield, bloody scythe striking against wall of light each time. Nor was he alone in this...Tsung's undead minion was also attacking the barrier fiercely, while Tsung unleashed the occasional fireball or soul, and many of the weaker warriors were attacking as well. The Archbishop, for his part, was waging a virtual war against his attackers all by himself, summoning forth angels and devils, hurling out powerful bursts of magic, both light and dark. It appeared, at first, that neither side was able to make any progress. But if you were a sharp observer, it was possible to note that the radius of the Archbishop's shield was shrinking a bit more with each attack, and was now noticably smaller than it was at the start of the battle. Indeed, with every blow that struck it, the barrier seemed to become a little smaller, a liitle weaker, and bend a bit more when the next blow struck. It seemed that the Archbishop's barrier would soon be broken, if things continued on as they were going now.

Unfortunately for all concerned, possibly including the Archbishop, they didn't.

Amidst the carnage, the eruptions of fire and thunder and god knows what else, something happened. A girl screamed; from the corner of his eye, Testament saw that it was the girl, Alma. She was screaming, glowing with some kind of horrible tainted light; and then, she changed into something...else. Alma seemed to have become...a seraph. But there wasn't enough pity in the universe for someone who was stuck with this particular seraph as their guardian angel; there was an aura about her, an aura of blackest darkness. A cyclone of spirits exploded from her body, a spectral wind that seems to whisper a faint call to all who hear it. Zio and Testament both shudder as they hear that strange and evil call. Zio, changing to her human form, screams, a cry of madness and pain. Testament falls to his knees as he feels the screaming darkness within him, deeper than the blackest pits of hell, rise up once again. As he struggles to fight it off, he throws back his head and roars in rage as a cacophany of chaos echoes through his mind.

bloodshedkilldestroyburnshredHUMANSmust
KILLburnRIPFLESH
BLEEDBLEEDMAKETHEMALLBLEED
DEEPERANDDARKERTHANTHESEASOFHELL!!!


Testament's body is consumed by shadows as his inner darkness fills him. His eyes blazing with a hellish light, he turns to face Altima. For a moment, he seems indecisive; then, he seems to choose his course of action.

"Alma...I protected you once, because your innocence reminded me of...of Dizzy. That innocence is a treasure than I cannot allow to be defiled...I will do all I can to set you free!"

But before he can take action, a throaty voice speaks from behind him.

"Testament...stop right there."

Testament, surprised, spins around...and finds himself face to face with Zio. But this is not the Zio that has worked for him for so long...this Zio's body is black as midnight, with burning crimson eyes and blood-hued crimson bodypaint. The Gear's face takes on a suprised appearence at first, then changing to annoyance.

"This is not the time, Zio! I have a something I must do..."

Zio laughs, her voice a throaty purr so very different from her normal sweet voice.

"I don't think so, Testament. The Bloody Angel, Altima, has called out to me...I must answer her call. And I cannot let you interfere with her..."

"What?! Zio...do not defy me. You will obey the contract!"

"Haha...I don't think so. I have a higher calling now..."

"OBEY me! I summoned you into this plane and defeated you once before to bind you into my service...if I must do it again, I will."

Zio's expression darkens. With a swift backhanded motion, she hurls three bolts of crackling darkness, which smash into the floor before Testament's feet.

"You would DARE contend with Altima? You're a fool! Try if you wish, but you will NOT succeed!"

Testament's response is to leap forward with a backhanded scythe attack, aiming to smack Zio upside the head with the blunt ornament adorning his scythe and knock some sense into her. But Dark Zio nimbly evades, countering with a nasty slash. And so the battle begins, between the Summoner and his Summoned...

Last edited by Dry31 on 04-27-2003 at 08:03 AM

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Kellios Posted: 04-27-2003 , 06:07 AM

Ex-Turk

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Alone

*dies*

Oh my god, it's 7am X_______x;;

Anyways, Mindfucking at it's best. Enjoy

-*-*-*-*

Vincent’s mind shook as he entered the grand sphere, surrounded by bubbles of ‘souls’ and he felt as if he was in an underwater dream. Anko and the Archbishop stood, towering over the rest of the contestants. Each one looked marvelous in their clothing, and Vincent stared up at them, knowing that this was going to be fighting through hell and back.

Vincent un-holstered the Death Penalty, and aimed at the two; waiting for the right shot in hoping of doing damage. He watched the archbishop, smile over Anko like a mere toy, and the blood in Vincent’s body rushed a little, recalling the look on the archbishop’s face.

“I’m against it! Why experiment on humans?!”

Hojo gave me this look… as if nothing in the world could stop him from doing what he please. With Lucrecia. With the Project. With me.

“She and I are both scientists!” He retorted, looking over his test, which was messy with papers.

“I don’t approve of it! It is morally wrong, and you do not have the rights to play God!” I snarled to him, taking a step forward and leaning all my weight on my front foot.

I was furious. The man… no… the fiend in front of me stared at me with this look of pure arrogance.

“I do not?”

He said it as simply as that. Then he raised his right arm, and shot me.


Vincent snarled at the archbishop, raised his right hand a little higher at the man’s head, and fired off a round.

As soon as he fired, the archbishop brought up his head and stared down at Vincent, blocking the bullet with his palm, catching it in his hand, and tossing it away, all in one, fluid motion. He stared down at Vincent, and the two men glared at each other, déjà vu swept over Vincent, and he raised his arm to shoot another round into the archbishop, before he heard a scream that was like no other.

Vincent instantly turned his head, and say Alma, the cleric girl in the beginning rounds, screaming out a cry of nothing Vincent has ever heard before. Blood completely splattered her dress, and the look on her face was beyond agony. Vincent tried to run over and help Alma, but stopped dead in his tracks, his stomach lurched within him, and he frantically looked around to keep a hold on himself.

The body of Alma lifted up by a force Vincent could not see, and cracked into the wall, a sickening sound of bones breaking as she crumple to the ground. Alma’s head suddenly wrenched up, her eyes wide with pain and of death, and her body started to lift up from the ground. The cleric’s body was illuminated in the air, her wounds seemingly disappearing, and Vincent started at her with a shocked expression, not knowing what was happening to the blonde mage.

Before Vincent knew it, his whole body went completely white hot.

chaos, zio, tiger, dragon, fiend, emperor, ameki, zalera..

Vincent fell to his knees, loosing all of his air, everything around him turned into a blinding white. Vincent gasped, trying everything he could to figure out what was happening, to keep any sense of the world, but nothing Vincent wished for came true.

Vincent’s own body was engulfed in a blinding white light, and once the light dimmed, Chaos stood there instead, kneeling on one knee, and he opened his fierce blood red eyes with a grin.

Chaos stood up on his hind legs, and stretched his entire body out, flexing his wings to their nine foot spread, and he arched his back, feeling his bones fall into place with each crack, and he straighten himself up, watching as the battle field turned from a nightmare into hell.

Chaos looked over, and saw the body of Altima, and Chaos gave a head nod in her direction, acknowledging her presences, and she nodded back at him.

Altima… it is a pleasure.

Consider it mine.


The two demons gave each other deadly smiles, and Chaos scanned the area, through the bubbles of souls, and noticed the complete horror on the face of the other contestants. No one knew who was transforming into what demon, and everything from the look on the archbishop’s face to the look of a green haired woman beside Chaos made brought everything to light. Chaos scanned the area of floating souls, and saw a blonde woman on the other side of the sphere against the wall, and Chaos grinned.

Chaos extended his wings, and he leapt into flight, directing himself towards the direction of the blonde woman, and landed right in front of her, landing easily on his padded feet, and caught the three-eyed woman completely by surprise.

With the best grin Chaos could muster himself, he bowed in front of the three-eyed woman, “Miss Vectra... it is quite the pleasure.”

Completely taken back, Opera gave Chaos an apprehensive expression, cocking her head to the side to look at Chaos, “Uh....do I know you?”

“Perhaps…” The demon began, taking a look down the shirt of Opera before grinning, “But I think we both know that does not matter, not as long as you get back to your loved one in one piece, eh?”

Opera paled a little, and noticed Chaos’ unwanted stare. She quickly began to cover herself up, before replying to the demon, “I....how do you....well, I guess it's a natural assumption that I have people waiting for my return, isn't it?” She gave a nervous laugh, wishing the demon wouldn’t pay so much attention to her.

Noticing Opera’s dismay, he took a few steps towards her, and she matched him for each step back, her three eyes grew a shade wider than what they were before. Chaos couldn’t hold back his grin, “Have you enjoyed your time in this tournament, Miss Vectra? Surely, the last few rounds have been... tiresome, I could imagine. With all the later rounds and all, one could not help but feel... tired.”

A flush reached her face, and she tried looking away from the demon’s stare at her, “Er....right. It's been a long, grueling battle every step of the way during this thing.”

“Especially when the battles are so fierce, you cannot remember a thing from them.” A smile slowly crept onto Chaos’ face, and the color on Opera’s face began to fade.

“I....right. Sometimes things seem to....blend....can't always....” She trailed off, looking back up at the demon, not believing she what she was going through at that very moment.

Chaos didn’t bother resisting a chuckle, “Been near any alcohol, Miss Vectra? I know that's a nice pastime of yours.”

“Not that I....” Opera caught herself suddenly, and drew in a deep breath before continuing, “That....that is....no.”

Chaos laughed easily and drew in closer to her, ever so slightly and Chaos could seen the hairs on Opera’s skin raise, “Are you scared of me, Opera Vectra?”

“No, I'm just....” Opera darted her eyes everywhere around the room, and drew in another breath before matching the gaze back with Chaos, “Confused....”

Smirking, Chaos took a look over his shoulder at the battle with Anko and the archbishop, but not caring what happened in the final outcome. Chaos slowly turned his head back to the woman in front of him, the smirk rising on his face, “Confused? That sounds awfully familiar... I'm sure you are confused over many things right now, Miss Vectra. One of them perhaps being a teacher of yours...?”

Chaos nearly winked as he said it, and whatever color was left on Opera’s face just faded away, “How....what....you couldn't possibly....I...” She paused a moment, holding her breath in place, “...I don't even KNOW you! How do you....”

Chaos chuckled carelessly, and took another couple steps towards her, and Opera matched his steps, and the two of them both knew that they were close to the wall of the sphere, “Miss Vectra, no need to worry about that now.” Chaos began chuckling again, “All you are concerned about right now is your 'dear Ern,' am I right?”

Opera took another step back, her three eyes now completely wide with fear, and Chaos heard a hint of panic in her voice, “O-of course! But....damn it, tell me how you know that! I don't remem....”

Opera gasped, losing all breath from her lungs as she stared up at Chaos. He laughed, and looked down at her, baring the whites of his teeth as his lip twitched upwards, “Do you not remember what, Miss Vectra? Walking into a Fudge Shop, perhaps?”

Opera completely froze, her body rigid and the twitch on Chaos’ face grew.

“…You were there…?”

Chaos was beside himself, keeping the deadly smirk on his face, “A demon knows all, Miss Vectra. Tell me... is chocolate your thing? Have you tried it out with 'dear Ern'?” he chuckled, closing his eyes a moment, “Or is it just reserved to men you barely have known twelve hours?”

Opera lost all color she had regained on her face, and started to turn somewhat green. She remained silent, her eyes wide, watching Chaos’ every move.

Chaos stepped further, and now had Opera pressed right up against the wall of the sphere, and he grinned manically, “Chocolate ice cream, perhaps?”

“I....I....who are you? How do you know this? What do you know that I don't?”

Opera tried to keep her voice as steady as she possibly could, but failed. Chaos kept the grin plastered on his face, and lifted his left arm, and put his palm onto the wall just above where Opera’s head was, keeping his entire arm straight. He leaned in onto his arm, watching the fear on Opera’s face grow, “Did 'dear Ern' like his ice cream? Chocolate or strawberry? Or was he too busy in his study, or running away from you, Miss Vectra?”

A dangerous smirk crossed Chaos’ face, and opera went completely rigid, “What the hell would you know about him?” She stared Chaos in the eyes, “Or me? You don't know anything about me!”

The smirk grew wider, “Only that you will end up alone, Miss Vectra...?” Chaos let the smirk drop, and changed to a fake concern, “Surely now, you cannot under estimate me.”

Her eyes narrowed at Chaos, trying to muster all the courage she could find, “....You're full of it. You don't know one damn thing about me or where I'll end up, let alone who with.”

Snickering softly to himself, Chaos brought his face down to Opera’s, close enough that the two now breathed the same air. Chaos remarked softly, “What else do you recall from yesterday? Or the night before? Enlighten me, I am curious to know.”

She kept her eyes narrow, and she tightened her jaw at the demon towering over her, “That's none of your damn business. What the hell gives you the right to pry into my private life?”

Cackling, Chaos brought up his right hand to opera’s eyes, circling his calloused fingers in front of her face, and she watched them warily, “Are you scared of what could have happened?”

Opera tried to hide her emotions, but Chaos saw right through her, “I-I have nothing to be afraid of!”

-*-*-*-*

CONTINUED...


As I stand here today with the world as my witness, I pledge to you my undying and everlasting love. I will stand beside you as your partner, I will stand before you as your protector, And I will stand behind you as your solace. Please spend and end your life with me.

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Kellios Posted: 04-27-2003 , 06:11 AM

Ex-Turk

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Alone

“Well then…” Chaos brought the knuckle of his index finger to Opera’s cheek, brush it gently and everything inside Opera just froze up, “So why the stammer in your speech? The fear in your eyes? The shaking of your body and the rapid beat of your heart? What happened, Miss Vectra, that scares you so?”

Opera desperately tried to look like she was brave, that she was not completely losing herself to Chaos, but her voice gave herself away, “Look around us if you want the answer to that!” She said, her voice failing her, “This isn't the safest of places, you know! Even you must realize that!”

Chuckling, Chaos extended his right index finger, and traced the skin of Opera’s jawbone to her chin, and he could feel her shudder under his touch, “That is not what scares you, Miss Vectra.” Chaos smiled, a tiny growl escaping his throat, “Both you and I know that.”

“You know nothing. NOTHING.” She glared at Chaos, momentarily forgetting that he still had his finger on her face.

Chaos combined his index finger with his middle, and traced the contours of Opera’s chin, and down her throat, stopping in the middle, “I see.” He chuckled, feeling the vibration in Opera’s throat, “But what does a certain Vincent Valentine know?”

Opera started to tremble at Chaos’ touch, too frozen to move and too scared to push the demon away from her. Opera struggled to breath, her eyes darting all over Chaos, “He....he....that is....that's none of your business!” She regained her composure momentarily, “You don't know....you couldn't....”

Chaos looked at Opera’s throat. Her muscle curved around her neck, and Chaos could feel Opera trying to swallow the lump in her throat. He used the tips of his index and middle finger to trace down the rest of opera’s throat, stopping right at her voice box, where her collar bones met, “I can hear your heart beat from here...”

Opera’s eyes grew wide, and Chaos couldn’t help but chuckle. He looked directly up into Opera’s face, keeping his fingers in her neck, a grin forming back onto his lips, he added, “You enjoyed it, did you not?”

“Enjoyed what?” Opera replied coldly, “I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.”

Chaos traced his fingers back slowly, to where Opera’s neck and shoulder met, “Your lovely day with a certain man. Have you not noticed the rose in your hair?”

“My....the what?” Opera reached up with her right hand, swallowing another lump in her throat, and felt the flower in her hair, “Oh my....”

With shaking hands, Opera removed the flower from her hair, taking some strands of her own hair with it. She looked down at the flower, her hands shaking too much for her to have any control over herself, “How did I....what the?”

Chaos now switched to the knuckles of his index and middle finger, using the entire top of his two fingers to brush his way back up to Opera’s cheek, and he felt her shudder, the hair standing on end on her bare skin, “Now, Miss Vectra, do I know nothing, or a lot more of you than you originally thought?” Chaos snickered, and seemed to shake his head somewhat, “Would 'dear Ern' enjoy that flower in your hair? Or would a Vincent Valentine find it more attractive?”

Opera was now visibly shaking under Chaos’ touch, and she whimpered, “What do you know? Tell me what you know!” A choked sound escaped her throat, and she couldn’t stop shaking, “Why do you....how....”

Chaos brought his knuckles back down the curves of Opera’s throat, this time adding a slight more pressure into his hand, and smiled at her, “Close your eyes, and try real hard to remember yesterday and the night before. Enlighten me.”

Opera obeyed his command, her breath completely uneven and she gasped for air, trembling, “Why are you doing this....if you know that much about me, you must already know that I don't remember....anything.”

She started to make small sobbing noises, and Chaos was beside himself, flashing off a smile.

Chaos brought his knuckles back up to Opera’s cheek as slow as he could, and tipped her face up, as she kept her eyes closed, “What thrilled you more, Opera Vectra?” Chaos asked, “Your moments with 'dear Ern' or your moment with Vincent Valentine?”

Opera’s eyes shot open, and revealed that they were completely filled with tears, and had a fury Chaos has seen one too many times, “How dare you ask me that?!” She snapped at the demon, “What the hell makes you think you have the right?”

Chaos smiled, and opened his right hand entirely, bring his hand to the back of Opera’s neck, and cupped the bottom of her head, feeling her soft hair in between his finger tips, “I am asking you a simply question, Miss Vectra. No need to be so defensive....” Chaos’ smile grew, “…is it Vincent Valentine? Why the rage? Surely, your heart and mind are betraying you.”

“No....NO! That's not it at all!” Chaos noticed her breathing was faster, “You're wrong! You....you've overstepped your bounds! Prying into my private business....I don't even know you! You have no right!”

His lips curled upwards, and Chaos gently ruffled the back of Opera’s hair, “My, I never expected a woman such as yourself, who shows herself in such a.... glamorous fashion to be so defensive.”

If looks could kill, Chaos knew he would be dead thousands of times over. Opera growled at Chaos, and said in a dangerously low voice, “I'll dress however I damn well please. It's not up to you or anyone else.”

He moved his hand now, and cupped the side of Opera’s throat, his thumb right where her windpipe was, “I am sorry if I have offended you, Miss Vectra,” Chaos lowered his head closer to Opera’s now, and he whispered, “But, I think both you and I know what happened the night before last...”

“....Yes. Yes we do. I fought alongside the man you referred to earlier, Vincent Valentine, in a city that was under attack. And that's all.” She said, barely audible, “It has to be....”

Chaos smiled easily, “I meant after that, Miss Vectra. Do you remember waking up?”

Opera took in a sharp intake of breath, shuddering under his hand, “I....I'm not sure if I got any sleep, to be honest.”

Cackling, Chaos brought his own face back just a touch, and moved his right thumb onto Opera’s cheek, “And why is that?”

She took a hard swallow, another lump stuck in her throat, “Because....I think we may have been warped to the next location before we had the chance to get any rest.”

Chaos let the grin on his face shine, “Oh really?” he began, “I know the other contestants were warped in the morning... are you a special case, Miss Vectra, to have been warped at night?”

Opera involuntarily gasped, her entire body shaking awfully, “I....that is....I remember that we kept going until morning....f-fighting, that is!”

Chaos moved his thumb back onto Opera’s throat, and firmed his grip up the slightest, “Who were you fighting, Miss Vectra? Some lowly soldiers? A powerful noble? Behind an alley? Or a tree?”

She looked painfully ill, and her face was swept in a pale green, “....Soldiers. Snipers. On a city street. Littered with bodies.”

Chaos firmed his hand slightly tighter, applying most of the pressure on his thumb, which was placed in the middle of Opera’s throat, “All night long?”

Fear crept into all three eyes, “Yes. All night long.” Slightly braver, she spoke up again, looking Chaos directly in the eye, “Isn't that what I just said? If you can hear my heartbeat, then how did you miss what I said quite clearly a moment ago?”

She shot daggers at him with her glare, and Chaos snickered softly, applying more pressure to her throat, “You were not engaged with battle with Kashell? Surely, that is where all the other contestants were...”

She trembled slightly, replying to Chaos, “I....I don't know who this Kashell is, but I know I was not battling with him. I was out in the city with Vincent, battling.”

A moment paused before she tried to take a deep breath, but the grip Chaos had on her neck prevented her from doing so, “Let go of me, please.”

Chaos stared Opera directly in the eye, and did not let up the hold on her throat, “Daisetsu ordered all to meet him. Surely, you would not want to go against his wish...? Unless you were already 'involved' of course...”

Opera looked at Chaos with great fear, and she barely spoke up, fear encircling her entire body, “Sometimes....sometimes you can't avoid going against someone else's wishes. Sometimes, despite what you know you have to do....circumstances keep you from doing so.”

The dangerous smile returned to Chaos’ face, and the grip on Opera’s throat tightened, causing her to involuntarily gasp, “For your own interests, or others?”

Her eyes completely wide with fear, “Does....does it matter?” She began, struggling from air that Chaos was preventing her from, “We can't always control our situations, no matter what we do.”

Enough, Chaos!!

Feeling as though he was just knocked in the head from behind, Chaos let go on Opera’s throat, and stepped back away from the woman, his entire head spinning, everything turning upside-down, “Ugggggh…”

-*-*-*


As I stand here today with the world as my witness, I pledge to you my undying and everlasting love. I will stand beside you as your partner, I will stand before you as your protector, And I will stand behind you as your solace. Please spend and end your life with me.

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Wayne Posted: 04-27-2003 , 08:22 AM

The Night Beckons...

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

In this entry....

-Since I'm sure Kyo has more important things to write , here it is. I pulled an all-nighter to get this out (plus play some Master of Magic, heh) so don't expect too much.
-Aftermath of the battle; Mal'Ganis, wounded, holds up his end of the bargain.

---

Mal'Ganis's mental control was nearly flawless. The frozen Instant he and Jun were in seemed to exist outside of Time. He could see the other mortals in the chamber around him, now still; frozen in whatever pose they were in at the time... Alma screaming, Testament, the gear, frowning in concentration; Chipp a state somewhere between his own mortal fear and his desire to prove himself; his jaw set, but eyes weak.

"It is truly something, is it not?" Mal'Ganis murmured, waiting for Jun to make the first move.

"Your control is admirable," she replied, a half-second before her legs blurred into motion. "...but does it weaken you, having your mind maintain it?"

He stepped forward, parrying Jun's opening, weak; knife-slash with the flat of his right blade. "Not at all." With only a sharp breath he lunged, slashing toward Jun's legs; she backflipped easily over it, landing on her knuckles; handspringing back in the next fluid motion, kicking toward Mal'Ganis's jaw. The demon ducked, spinning into her to batter the ninja with his wings; but Jun, still on her hands; propelled herself upward, spinning around in the air to land on her feet, narrowly dodging the stiff wing attack.

Mal'Ganis nodded in approval, releasing one hand on the grip of his twinblade to project a Finger of Death at Jun, who closed her eyes, and let Genbu deflect the deadly ray. Red energy crackled against Jun's greenish-blue barrier, but the avatar won easily enough; and the spell faded. The Dreadlord nodded again and attacked, swiping toward the ninja's neck, forcing her to duck; and then delivering a sharp heel kick with his hooves to where she had to be-- Jun still managed to block, although she was pushed back eight feet, finally digging in to stop her slide backward on the smooth floor.

"First to you," she said, approvingly. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Indeed not."

"My turn now?"

"Go right ahead."

Jun smiled, then threw one of her kunai at Mal'Ganis; who casually tilted his head to the right, and the knife flew past. As he turned his head to watch it Jun struck with dazzling speed, striking Mal'Ganis in the gut with her knee, jumping around behind him to deliver a heelkick to the back of his head; but Mal'Ganis ducked the acrobatic attack and the followup axekick, raising his wings to slap aside the woman's descending leg. Jun, however; used the height of her spring to stomp hard onto the Dreadlord's back, who growled and swung around with his twinblade at Jun's legs; but she easily evaded.

For what was presumably dramatic effect she closed her eyes and chanted a few words in An'ven; before jumping-- now hovering-- in the air, gathering energy into herself. Almost before Mal'Ganis could prepare a defense her eyes flew open, launching a spray of hundreds of mystical kunai toward him, but the Nathrezim had seen this technique before; and was ready when he saw Jun prepare.

He raised his hands just as the first glittering projectiles neared....

And stopped. Seemingly one by one each knife halted in midair, some literal inches from their target. When the entire spray had thus stopped, Mal'Ganis leisurely took one, ignoring the magical spark it shot off at being touched, and then waved his hand; and every one shattered.

"You're too predictable, my love," he mocked, "...you should know better than to use techniques I've seen before."

Jun half-smiled, crouching forward. "I've seen most of your moves, too, Mal'Ganis."

But the Dreadlord shook his head. "That would be where you're mistaken, Lady Jun. You see... I deliberately hid my true strengths during the earlier fights. To reveal what I could do would be to betray a weakness to those who knew how to exploit it. Instead I ignored most of them... only fighting when I had to, and then using different weapons, psychic attacks... and so on. Jun... you will be the first mortal to see the true power of a Greater Nathrezim."

"Sounds like fun, Mal'Ganis." Smiling again, she tossed aside her kunai and carefully removed her ninja's mask.

"What is this?"

"If you're going to take this seriously, Mal'Ganis," she replied, voice as cold as his; "...then I will too."

---

Mal'Ganis the Desecrater jumped high toward Jun, feinting with a downward slash which Jun predictably sidestepped, seeming to vanish and reappear behind him; so fast did she move. She jabbed with her elbow toward Mal'Ganis's head, and the Nathrezim narrowly ducked; Jun cartwheeled over Mal'Ganis, landing cleanly in front of him; and struck him in the face with a surprise palm strike; and he staggered back in pain. The martial artist snapped a kick forward at her opponent's head; but Mal'Ganis sidestepped, reaching out with tremendous speed himself to grab her leg....

And missed completely as Jun hopped back on her left leg, dropping down in the same motion to sweep down Mal'Ganis; but he aggressively kicked her leg out of the way, aiming for the knee; and Jun barely managed to turn her sweep aside, sparing a potentially serious injury. As she rose she shot forward with a flurry of jabs toward Mal'Ganis, who stopped each one with his hands, though barely; the Dreadlord was agile, but couldn't hope to match Jun's speed. The martial artist darted around her foe again, but this time Mal'Ganis reached out with his leg to sweep her, and as Jun fell freed his right hand, grabbing her around the waist, and with a burst of strength flipped her straight up. The ninja flipped repeatedly through the air before finally landing on her feet; but Mal'Ganis had already recovered, and thrust forward with his twinblade, aiming for the back of Jun's neck before she could even stand....

"Point." he said softly, resting the tip of the right blade on the back of her neck; and she shivered at the feel of cold metal on heated skin.

"If you're keeping score, you should know that I'm technically up by three."

Mal'Ganis's right eye widened; again in the attempt to emulate raising an eyebrow. "When did that happen?"

"Oh, here and there, while you were trying to hit me. Do you want me to start pointing out each one?" she said, laughing quietly.

"No... no, this is no game, Jun."

She whirled around; and this time it was she who was angry. "You don't say? No, this isn't a game. This is a matter of life and death. I know what you're capable of, and you're holding back--"

"As are you--"

She stopped, shaking her head. "I didn't want to do this. I may be... some merciless killer," she snapped, recalling what Mal'Ganis had said earlier, "...but I only fight those who legitimately deserve it."

She darted forward, striking at Mal'Ganis; hitting faster than he could block, scoring a trio of direct shots on his torso and arms; then finishing the combination with a potent cyclone-style spin kick; but that Mal'Ganis evaded, striking at Jun's chest in turn; but she sidestepped, smashing his elbow with hers; and the Dreadlord winced in pain.

He sliced in an arc downward with his twinblade, a blow to, normally; bisect his opponent; but Jun dodged easily, actually jumping onto the grip with her astounding grace; and flipped backward, kicking Mal'Ganis in the back of his head with such force that, had he not dampened the shock with a surge of mental energy; it would likely have struck him down right there.

The Dreadlord, realizing he was bested at that point; unsummoned his twinblade, and extended his claws again. "Tell me. How much stronger does Genbu make you?"

She blinked. "...it's hard to say. Why?"

Mal'Ganis raised his left hand, levelling it at Jun's head. "Can you beat me without him?"

Her eyes widened. "I--"


"As you can see, your people are now mine. I will now turn this city, household by household, until the flame of Life has been snuffed out... forever." - Mal'Ganis

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Baka Posted: 04-27-2003 , 08:32 AM

Heaven or Hell?

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Just to say, I'm gonna leave Ky's story now - I feel that yesterday was a good enough conclusion. I'll write up an ending when it's all over. Good luck to the finalists!

PS: Stick around when it's all over, y'all. I have a little... something


Baka // Black Angel // Salva Nos

"I'm not good- looking enough to be party leader." - Robin Cook

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Wayne Posted: 04-27-2003 , 08:33 AM

The Night Beckons...

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Continued!

---

Twin rippling blasts of pure psychic energy tore from Mal'Ganis's hand, smashing into Jun. She screamed as the torrent washed over her; dampening her aura; wrenching Genbu away from her mind. She dropped to her knees, shuddering; as the Dreadlord finally allowed the current to fade.

"W-what," she gasped, "Have you done?!"

"Nothing... at least, nothing permanent. Once we are done here, the effects will fade, and you will have your beloved turtle-god back in your mind." His eyes narrowed. "That is, if you can defeat me without him."

Jun staggered back up to her feet, slowly shaking her head. "It... feels... so--"

"You've been relying on him, haven't you?"

The ninja bridled at that. "No! It's only that I'm used to calling on him in situations like these...."

"So in short," Mal'Ganis interrupted, "...you've been relying on him to fight for you. I did not bare my heart to a weakling hiding behind a demigod," he said, smirking, "...and I believe you have power enough to beat me."

Not now, though... she thought, and Mal'Ganis nodded. "You may be right. Hmm... now, that's odd. With my increased psychic power and you without Genbu... it seems you can't keep me out of your head any longer. Or is it because your legendary discipline is failing now?"

Jun scowled and dashed forward toward Mal'Ganis, punching once to feint, then launching into a flurry of kicks and punches... but Mal'Ganis parried every one lazily, and interrupted her martial arts clinic with a harsh backhand to her face; and though Jun began to dodge at the last moment to turn it into an advantage, as she usually could; she took nearly the full force of the slap, and fell back, stunned; as a faint trickle of blood appeared on her lip.

It's true, isn't it? Mal'Ganis thought to her, telekinetically jerking the ninja to her feet, then pushing her nearly twenty feet back into the steel-and-stone wall with a thought. You're no longer a match for me without your Avatar power.

Jun, shaking her head fiercely; called upon her aura; and, the crackling energy surrounding her, shimmering in the air like mirage; struck at the Dreadlord, using a sidekick with such speed and power it could conceivably have knocked him unconscious by itself.

The Dreadlord twisted to one side, grabbed Jun's leg, and whipped her around from his grip on her ankle; before releasing her, throwing her hard to the floor. She shook her head, dazed; and jumped back up to her feet, but Mal'Ganis blasted her back with a wave of pure psychic force, and Jun flew back, landing roughly on her side.

The Nathrezim stalked toward her. Are you simply not used to fighting this way? Or are you really this weak on your own?

The ninja flipped back up to her feet, but before she stood firm, Mal'Ganis lifted her off the ground with a psychic hand, holding her in midair. Answer me.

...I don't know, Mal'Ganis. I- I... I can't remember not having Genbu to rely on. He fought as a friend as much as some source of power... helping me, bolstering my skills... having him gone... it's like some void in my head.

That's exactly what it is, Jun. Are you aware that if I had wished I could have killed you now?

Jun closed her eyes and, with a cry; broke Mal'Ganis's telekinetic hold with her aura; and throw a kunai toward him to cover for a blindingly fast charge to take him down. But the Dreadlord flicked aside the dagger bare-handed and stopped Jun's flying jumpkick with a high leg check, grabbing her by the arm as she landed and throwing her to the ground again, judo-style. The martial artist rolled up and stood again, but when she stepped forward to attack Mal'Ganis inclined his head, and with that motion a concussive blast of superhot plasma exploded around Jun; creating an instant crater in the marble floor and leaving the ninja on her back, gasping for air.

It's over, Jun. Mal'Ganis pronounced, using another wave of psychic force to pull the woman up to her feet.

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head, falling to her knees. It took the Dreadlord a second to recognize her expression; she wore it for only a moment. But he, being a demon, was well-equipped to recognize fear.

She is afraid of me now. In this frozen gap, created by my mind; I've bested her. Yet... in any other place I would not have been able to seal away Genbu, and that marked the turning point in this battle....

"Jun," he called, as he walked over to her, and took her in his arms.

"M-mal...."

"...you win."

"What?" she asked weakly. "When... did I do that?"

He gently brushed back her dark hair with his left hand. "It will happen. Genbu spoke to me once I sealed him away from you, you know."

"Really?" she said quickly, starting to come around. "What did he say?"

The Dreadlord's iron visage softened, and he shook his head. "He told me you were holding back... because you didn't want to hurt me. Despite what I was doing to you."

"And...?"

"And then he told me just how much you were holding back."

She laughed at that, then coughed; and Mal'Ganis released her, wiping the blood off her lip. "So you're going to help me?"

The demon's stare hardened again. "Only if you help me, as you said. The souls are mine."

Jun nodded. "I accept. ...once... once you return us to normal time, Genbu will return?"

"Yes. We will stay wounded, of course, but the effect of the seal was dimensional... not temporal. It would take likely more energy than I have to do that in Reality."

"Mal'Ganis..." Jun began, and the demon nodded to her. "...thank you."

He shrugged. "What for?"

"For everything... I guess. But helping me realize that maybe I-- we-- have been relying on our powers too much. If we fight people like you who can disable them...."

"Adaptability is a fine mortal trait," Mal'Ganis said dryly. "I am sure you will cope. ...anyway," he added, offering Jun his clawed hand; and she placed hers in it. "Are you ready to return to 'Reality?'"

"We can't remain here forever, can we?" she asked, teasingly.

Well.... "No, I suppose not. Remember... you're about to be hit with a powerful Holy spell. Dodge to the left."

"Right."

He sighed. "No, Jun; to your left."

"I know that!"

"...and Jun?"

"Yes?"

"I do... care about you. I wanted you to know that."

"...I know."

"Jun?"

"...yes?"

"Remember. Just this once. And only because I need your help and the souls to defeat my enemies. I make no promises to you or your friends beyond that."

---

"Change of heart?" Shang Tsung asked silkily, carefully walking around the perimeter of the battleground; making his way to Mal'Ganis; who had, as he had agreed, was using his psionic powers to assist Jun in battling the Archbishop.

"Not really."

"Oh..." replied the Sorcerer, who vaguely waved toward Jun. "...henpecked, then?"

"Would you like to resume our duel from earlier?" Mal'Ganis hissed icily, and Shang Tsung gave his annoyingly-polite laugh.

"Ha, ha... well, perhaps, although not is not a very good time for us, is it? Tell me," he said, voice losing a touch of its smooth edge, "...what did she offer you?"

"The SOULS. What else?"

Tsung crossed his arms, nodding toward the Archbishop. "That is fine, however; I have already claimed the souls of the old man and, if need be, Anko." He glanced sidelong at Mal'Ganis. "...you've felt it too, have you not?"

The Dreadlord projected a Carrion Swarm at the Archbishop, a few of the scourge actually piercing through the layers of magical defense the cleric had erected; although they were too weak to hurt him noticeably. "The old mor-- yes, I have. He is radiating far too much magical power for any mortal, let alone one his age."

"Precisely," the nobleman replied. "Which, to the logical mind, leaves one conclusion. The 'Archbishop' is not such at all, and likely not even a mortal, though perhaps an extraordinary An'ven. In any event... his soul is mine."

Mal'Ganis shrugged. "I have claimed all the rest. Quantity over quality, I suppose; is how I will have to satisfy my hunger. But when there are so many, it seems fair enough."

"Then we are agreed?"

The Dreadlord finally nodded. "Agreed. 'Quantity over quality'... that was the plan originally, wasn't it?"

They shook hands. The Deadly Alliance lived anew.

But not for long.

Until we both get what we need, demon.

Fair enough.

Good luck.


"As you can see, your people are now mine. I will now turn this city, household by household, until the flame of Life has been snuffed out... forever." - Mal'Ganis

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 04-27-2003 , 10:22 AM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

Hisame Shizumaru - 6:1

"When this is over, Shizumaru... come find me again."

His wings beating to keep him aloft in the air, Shizumaru stared blankly at the sight beheld before him. Where once the young girl who had so kindly befriended him had fallen, gravely injured - blood staining the delicate dress she wore - now, it was the angel that she had been so fearful of. Right before him. His hand clenched around his umbrella, but no emotion registered in his heart; no thought in his mind -

"When this is over...

Nothing. His mind remained blank and devoid.

... Shizumaru...

"Ameki!!" the cry of Chipp Zanuff caught his attention, and he turned his head towards the American ninja. "You bastard, what did you do to Shizu-sensei?! Get out of his body!!" His heart filled with unsurmountable rage, he leapt at Shizumaru, hovering the air, still transfixed on Altima, focused on nothing else -

- so Chipp did get a bit of a shock to slam into the receiving end of the umbrella when he hadn't been expecting it. He fell to the floor, sputtering a string of curses, but when he turned up to target on the young man above him - he wasn't there to target. "Ameki, you piece of shit - when I get my hands on you, you'll feel every single bit of pain that you caused to Shizumaru-sensei when you changed his body!! I won't forgive you for it!" Finally, he spotted the demonic body, slowly drifting towards Altima. "Oh, no you don't, get back here - "

Shizumaru turned his eyes towards him.

"Gomen nasai."

Gently, he held out his hand, and Chipp was completely confused as to what he was doing - until he saw a bit of storm cloud gather above him inexplicably - beginning to rain, even. "What the fuck?! What in the name of Zen is going on here?!" He turned to Shizumaru angrily, pausing to stop every time a raindrop fell onto his face. "You - what did you do?? I know Shizumaru-sensei couldn'tve - "

"Ameki," the young man closed his eyes softly. "'Sweet rain spirit' is what the name means. Hisame Ameki... sweet rain spirit of the scarlet storm. His name is rather attractive in its own way... much more so than my own, ne? Mine is the name of a man of the sword..." he trailed off into his own musings, his gaze utterly locked on Altima. "My real name was Minazuki Kakunoshin, or so my dreams say. I suppose my mother thought I was to be an artist, by what that means..."

He fell silent again, and Chipp facepalmed, a veritable shower drenching his hair.

"... Ameki," Shizumaru murmured. "I certainly hear you; I am not ignoring you. Do you sense what is trying to draw you out - what has drawn Zalera, the Angel of Death, out of the Marquis Elmdor? It is pulling on your life, Ameki. She who stands before us... Altima..." His eyes continued to stare blankly as he caught himself in soliloquy. "The Bloody Angel. She fears it as much as I do you. She is not alone in such agony because of our parallel fears."

He was silent for the moment, seeing Altima and Anko do battle against one another, angel against angel. He watched quietly as the two dove at one another; the twin blades of Anko slashing furiously, while Altima's daggers countered calmly and accurately. Both were drifting as if feathers on wind, seamlessly. So much power fluctuated in the room, fueled forward by the duel in front of his eyes that stared blankly at them.

"When this is over, Shizumaru... come find me again."

Even though the fighting before him was breathtaking, he felt no fear because of it - perhaps, simply, because they were angels? Anko shot up into the air, propelled by her lovely wings, and took a nosedive toward Altima while crossing her blades in front of her - but Altima drifted out of the way soundlessly, and Anko's blades hit the ground. The angel, with her dead eyes, solemnly looked up at Altima, and with no change in countenance, threw open her arms and let her head loll backwards on her shoulders.

"Blood of the damned, assail thine enemy! Dreamless Slumber!!"

Bursts of light shot from Anko's body, and Altima's eyes narrowed in dissatisfaction. From those rays, thin, subtle streams of blood poured out - but they flew immediately to her outstretched palms, gathering into small orbs. The lights suddenly died out, and Anko's hands fell into a sort of dance, twisting and turning, balancing the orbs of blood between them until she snapped her fingers - the orbs exploded, and at the apogee of the burst, the droplets of blood stood suspended in midair until they all surrounded Altima, falling on her and burning the skin wherever it managed to hit. Altima muttered something (Shizumaru couldn't hear it), and covered herself with her wings - one draped in front, the other protecting her back. Quickly, she opened her wingspan, dissapating the drops of blood. A single droplet remained on her finger, and she observed it closely - before bringing the finger to her lips and taking a taste of that blood.

Shizumaru was able to hear Altima's whisper this time: "... sour."

He himself said nothing, though, lost in his own thoughts once again. Intruding on the battle would be rather futile - it was plainly obvious that Altima needed no serious help in handling Anko for the moment, and she would not be distracted from her fight. So for the time being, he did nothing.

Shizumaru -

Ameki, I know it hurts - her summon holds fast...

You could not imagine how painful it is. Please, just for a moment, to relieve the pain -

I cannot risk setting you free. Remember what happened with Kotetsu?

That was euthanasia; this is different.

... even so, I shall not -

Because you think that I would kill her? And in doing so, kill the soul of the girl you are so fond of? I'm not stupid; it really is not hard to figure out the way minds work. I am only asking for a brief moment, please, Shizumaru - I have to - it HURTS -

Ameki, no - no, I mustn't!!


He gripped his head in anguish, and his body curled up in pain. I will not relinquish to you now! I - I do not want to hurt her!!

"When this is over, Shizumaru... come find me again."


Shizumaru's jaw clenched under the stress of Ameki - wrenching his mind open, unlocking memories, sending surges of pain through him. The memories were not painful, but the rush at which they poured forth made him dizzy - and Ameki would poke at his soul just like a voodoo doll, hurting his body in the exact spots he touched - let me go free let me go let me go LET ME GO -

I will not let you hurt her, Ameki!!


In his fury, angry tears fell from his eyes. His grip on his umbrella, Kirisame, tightened further still, his wings beat furiously, and the eyes from which his tears fell from - they shone with a horrible malice and fire. His heart beat rapidly, intense with emotion, his breath was heavy and slow; his teeth were bared; all in the outrage he felt in the moment -

Alma-san, I will find you again!!

...

"When this is over, Shizumaru... come find me again."

"... come find me again."

"... find me again."

"... find me..."

"... me..."


--


a lonely soul ____________________ moonlit skies
speaker of silence ________________ candlelit town
footsteps in the night _____________ eyes cast in gloom
utter reliance ____________________ a saddened frown

sweet serenity __________________ shielded by innocence
waits to be broken _______________ hidden by beauty
its mouth aghast ________________ the demon sleeps within
a demon hath spoken ____________ destroying naievte

~ hisame shizumaru, survivor x - oboeru mo ~

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Thirdtwin Posted: 04-27-2003 , 11:41 AM

Blade of Vengeance

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: That depends, of course, on where I am

"...I'm being rained upon. RAINED upon. Of all the shit. Of getting my ass kicked by evil psycho ninjas, of having to take on evil psycho bitch twins and evil psycho psuedo-angels and other evil psycho things. Of having to contend with being transported, against my will, to another planet--a quite evil, psycho planet--to contend against several evil, psycho people for a once-in-a-lifetime chance, to lose that shit, to finally come to the end anyway, be forced to see my master claimed by evil psychoness and fail to do a thing--and the last challenge I face is to be rained upon. Of all the shit." Force crackled about him, for just an instant. "You know what, you little biznatch?" He gave the oni a vigorous thumbs-down; it didn't seem to notice. "SUCK! I'm unlocking my special shit for you!"

Chipp, wait, that might not be Ameki in control--

But I think we all know by now that Chipp isn't one to wait, don't we?

All five crackninja leaped in. All five were knocked back. Again, each attacking with an insane fury that the eye couldn't see
(slashthruststabSenshuupunchflipkickBetabradeRoman
cancelBankiMessaipalmstrikeelbowshurikenRomancance
lbackhandResshojumpkick--)
each deflected almost casually by the thing, even with that slightly distracted look on his face. In and out, the five swirling around the swordsman, a black tornado fighting with all his might against the scarlet storm.

And not doing a damn thing.

Of all the improvement I've made, is the difference that much, that he can tap me--all 5 of me--without even trying? This is gonna be an uphill battle... "You bastard, let the kid go NOW or I swear--"

CHIPP!

What, what? Dammit, I'm in the middle of forcefully purging Ameki from Shizu's body--

That's not Ameki in control you numbnuts--calm the HELL down!
(Chipp coiling his legs, about to rush back into the fray) Weren't you LISTENING to that weird psuedo-soliloquy shit he was doing?

So....lily... w-what?

Wow. You're a dumbass.

And you're a voice in my Buddha-damned head--

SHIZUMARU IS HOLDING AMEKI BACK YOU BRAINDEAD MENTAL CASE! And I don't think trying to whup his ass is helping any!

He....is?


MENTAL REWIND

quote:
Shizumaru turned his eyes towards him.

"Gomen nasai."


First of all, why the hell do you think he'd care enough to apologize for ramming his umbrella into you!? Come to that, if he's a demon, why didn't he try to gut you with his nodachi?

quote:
"Ameki," the young man closed his eyes softly. "'Sweet rain spirit' is what the name means. Hisame Ameki... sweet rain spirit of the scarlet storm. His name is rather attractive in its own way... much more so than my own, ne? Mine is the name of a man of the sword..." he trailed off into his own musings, his gaze utterly locked on Altima. "My real name was Minazuki Kakunoshin, or so my dreams say. I suppose my mother thought I was to be an artist, by what that means..."


Note the use of "he" and "his" when referring to Ameki--you do know how personal pronouns work, right? The implication, therefore, is that if he is referring to Ameki, it must not be Ameki at the helm.

Well, yeah, but--


quote:
"... Ameki," Shizumaru murmured. "I certainly hear you; I am not ignoring you. Do you sense what is trying to draw you out - what has drawn Zalera, the Angel of Death, out of the Marquis Elmdor? It is pulling on your life, Ameki. She who stands before us... Altima..." His eyes continued to stare blankly as he caught himself in soliloquy. "The Bloody Angel. She fears it as much as I do you. She is not alone in such agony because of our parallel fears."


Note that now he's addressing Ameki directly. Again, thanks to the prodigious use of pronouns, it becomes clear that IT IS NOT AMEKI holding the reins. If you had slowed your roll a bit, and not leaped at him right there--

I GET IT DEMMIT! But... then.... how do I help Shizu? What can I do?
Seeing him gripping his head, curling up, some shock seeming to ripple across his form, Chipp seethed (the rain still falling on his head). Even if it's not Ameki in control, he's hurting Shizu, but I can't just dive down his throat and rip the bastard out... Shizu's whole body was now in protest, the pain twisting and contorting him, wrenching tears from his eyes. Moans of anguish escaped his lips as he burned, resisting with all his effort--

--and then he opened his eyes. And the rage burning there was enough to dump a bucket of cold water on all Chipp's plans. He took maybe two steps back before arresting his movement--a ninja gives no ground--but that didn't stop his heart from racing.

Ummm... maybe I'll go fight Mr. Archbishop over there, he seems a little less dangerous...

Do you, like, have a deathwish or something?

No, but what can I do? I'm not gonna sit here and be useless! ....but... what can I...


Thus we find our favorite crackninja, for one of the few times in his life, totally paralyzed.

You can imagine how he hated it.

---

In case it's not clear, Chipp attacked while Shizu was soliloquating (prolly not a word) but before Ameki started stepping up his mental assault-toward the middle of Carly's post, this would be.


TT

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Krizak Posted: 04-27-2003 , 12:49 PM

The World Shall Be Mine!

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: East Heaven Kingdom Goal: WORLD DOMINATION!!!

Phase Six (Determination): The Wings of Change

It was as though Heaven and Hell were themselves at war within the Collection, the souls swirling across the walls becoming more and more chaotic as the battle raged on. Mint had joined in the battle that raged against the Archbishop, adding her spells to the cause of breaking the man's seemingly impenetrable barrier and using the demons and spirits he called forth to replenish her magic power when she ran low. But deep inside, past the battle that raged onwards, she was slowly cracking under the strain of everything that happening...

Shizumaru is that demon now, that 'Ameki'... and Alma turned into a angel, and I can get that, but why does she radiate such darkness? And other people are changing into other creatures, faster than I can keep up with, and it's all so crazy, and how am I suppose to stand against all this? I'm just a princess! I haven't got some sort of mystical energy powering me like they do...

But, you do, really.

What?
Mint had felt the voices of others in her mind enough times before to know that this wasn't another's thoughts; it was her own, but distorted, different.

You were infused with the very power of the Book of Cosmos, and yet you still do not tap it's power?

I use it's power all the time! It powers my greatest spells, but those spells aren't going to be enough here!

The power of your spells may not be great enough, but you still don't tap the full potential of the Book of Cosmos. The Book's true power, you should know... Why do they call your land the East Heaven Kingdom?

Because of the legend, that says that a long time ago, a great angel brought peace and serenity to the land. Food was plentiful, life was pleasant, and everybody was happy. Is there a point to this?
Even in her mind, Mint maintained a sarcastic tone as she said this. Do you have a point?

Where would such an angel come from? Did it just magically appear one day? Or was it, perhaps, an Aeon, who had gifted himself with wings and power to better serve his people? And wouldn't he place this power into an artifact, as all Aeons did?

The Book of Cosmos... You mean, with the power of Cosmos, I could become an angel myself, with enough power to stand up to the others?

Yes. Before, this would not have been possible, but now, between the power of Cosmos that lies within you, and the shards of Dewprism that you hold in your hands... You can unleash the true power of Atenacius, the Winged Aeon! This is your potential, why you were chosen for this!

...Alright, then. I had better not keep my potential waiting.


---

The entire exchange had taken only a moment of the battle, and when Mint came back to reality, she found herself about to be struck by a great beam of energy, it's power directed by the hands of the Archbishop. "Whoa! Purple, Wide, Mirror!" A silver barrier appeared in front of the young princess, it's mirror-like surface deflecting the beam back towards it's source. With a sound of crackling energy, the beam dissipated against the Archbishop's barrier, reducing it in size a little bit more.

The Archbishop's voice echoed through the chamber. "Fools! Do you really think you stand a chance against one such as me? The Heavens themselves bow before me as I approach, their power as nothing when compared to my own!"

Mint laughed. "The only reason anyone would bow to you is to deliver a swift punch to your groin, you old [expletive]! Your power is nothing, your reign is nothing, and soon you'll be nothing but a smear to wipe off my rings! You now face the power of the Aeons! White! Cosmic! Angelic!"

The red-haired princess fell to her knees, a cry of pain escaping her lips as two beams of brilliant white light erupted from her back. cutting through her vest to create symmetrical gaps in the material. As the light lowered in intensity, it began to form the shape of large angelic wings that covered Mint's back. With a final flash, they took form, white feathers gleaming in the darkness of the chamber. Slowly, Mint got to her feet, and looking around slowly, she smiled.

With a great flap of her wings, the young princess was airborne, her eyes wide with wonder and astonishment. I... I can't believe I'm flying... It's... it's... It's so cool! Searching around quickly, she saw the Archbishop's thrall Anko battling against an angel clad in blood red. The angel that Alma turned into... I can feel the darkness coursing from her being all the more now. She'll kill that girl, and her only crime is being under that [expletive]'s spell! I have to stop her!

Pulling out her rings, she dove down between the battling angels, calling out her spell as she flew. "White, Hyper, Divine Ray!" Beams of white energy fell from the ceiling and struck Anko and Altima, piercing their flesh and holding them still. A moment passed before the beams exploded with a great light, throwing the two angels apart and into opposing walls.

Mint looked at the damage she had caused with triumph, until she noticed that the two angels were now staring at her intently. Altima then spoke, her voice soft and yet audible even over the distance that seperated them... "Mint... now an Angel, though you do not yet understand what you have done to yourself... And you may never get the chance to..."

With that, both Bloody and Fallen Angel launched themselves towards Mint, intent on tearing her and each other into ribbons. And as they charged, the young princess could think of only one thing.

That wasn't the best idea I ever had, now was it?

---

New Spells Revealed!
Mirror
- Purple/Wide - A silver energy field appears in front of Mint for a few seconds, deflecting projectile attacks in random directions

Divine Ray - White/Hyper - Energy beams from the sky strike everything around Mint, using up a great deal of magical energy

Angelic - White/Cosmic - Mint grows angelic wings and gains major boosts in strength and speed, as well as the obvious ability to fly.

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Thirdtwin Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:04 PM

Blade of Vengeance

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: That depends, of course, on where I am

((I really should have played Vampire Chipp.))


TT

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San_Draco Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:22 PM

El Bruje Sale

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: The realm between the worlds...

In which Li Mei continues to combat...

The skeletal warrior continued her assault, spinning around and attacking again and again at the Archbishop's shield. But, the spell held strong, and Li Mei's attacks were meaningless.

She could feel some sort of... tugging, pulling, almost. The borrowed SOULS within her began seething. Her mortal prison ached with the effort of keeping her SOULS in her body, but she could not let go. Her master had commanded her to kill... Soul...

While his thrall was busy attacking, Shang Tsung lounged back, watching the battle unfold. After all, he thought to himself, it is by being uninvolved that new insights can be formed. And... there's quite a bit to be gained here...

There were quite a few more demons running around than Shang Tsung had expected. Mal'Ganis, of course, was offering his support. A bit grudgingly, though. Some white-haired bishonen had transformed into a demon. That is to be expected... Zio was getting into the battle. I wonder if she will 'break a nail' or not... A little cleric girl had apparently transformed into the epitome of evil, demonic power. Nothing out of the ordinary. And, of course, Shizumaru's new form was dealing out indescriminate damage. That's my work!

Shang Tsung laughed to himself. "Well well... it seems that my claim of the Archbishop's soul is well-secured indeed. Demon or mortal or avatar or whatever he may be, his soul shall be mine!"

Li Mei tried a more brutal move, using her Flying Fists to push into the shield, then spinning around with the Klock Kick, her long leg swiping downwards like a scythe blade. The shield bent even further... But didn't break.

Shang Tsung was slightly annoyed. "Well... It appears that Li Mei alone won't be enough to stop this 'Archbishop.' Let's see... who else is fighting?"

The answer, sadly, was no one. All of the others seemed to be busy with the girl. The sorcerer then adjusted his brown gloves. "In that case, I suppose I'll have to get my hands dirty, as well."

As the SOULS began moving away from him, Shang Tsung started collecting them again. Another blast. Another burst of energy. I need more power!

It was at this moment that the Archbishop fired a beam of light at Li Mei. The skeleton dodged, and Shang Tsung gathered a little more power to himself.

The beam went wide, heading towards a girl that Shang Tsung had seen earlier. A few more souls were gathered. Her eyes widened, and just in time, she murmered a spell, which launched the bolt back at the Archbishop. A few more SOULS.

Mal'Ganis, seeing Shang Tsung's plan, launched a Carrion Swarm, hundreds of vermin rushing out towards the shield. A few more SOULS.

Li Mei dashed forward, again using her Flying Fists to rapidly impact the shield. Shang Tsung, his spell ready, launched SOULS as a beam of energy, intersecting with the Archbishop's blast, and surrounded by the vermin.

In the midst of all this was Li Mei, her fists yet striking the shield. The shield held, bent, twisted... and shattered. The Archbishop's eyes widened, and Li Mei dashed in, leaping into the air and jumpkicking the Archbishop. He went flying, and Li Mei followed like the Furies themselves.

But the religious man was ready for her, and as she jumped again, he shouted, "Open your mind and receive the truth... Turn undead!"

Li Mei felt her body turn around, and she couldn't help herself as she began walking away. That is, until Shang Tsung stepped in. "Li Mei, kill him!"

Her body froze. She couldn't disobey her master, but at the same time, her body refused to do as she wanted. She was paralyzed, and in the time it took for the Archbishop's spell to wear off, he managed to recreate his shield again.

For a holy man, he seemed quite vindictive. "I am going to send you all to eternal torment, may your flesh rot and your worm never die!"

Last edited by San_Draco on 04-27-2003 at 01:28 PM

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Renmazuo Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:32 PM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Blah, I gotta go rent a tux (got asked to a prom). Hopefully won't take long- if I'm not back before the phase ends, you can write some more, Krizak, and I'll write out my end of what happens in the duel. ^^ Ciao!


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

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DarkBlade77 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:33 PM

Ratio 4 Vanessa Abuser

Registered: May 2001
Location: Secret Boss Stage #1

Voting is over, round extended to 3:00 PM CST.

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Luna Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:43 PM

Tetragene

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Energy Nede

God....oh god....someone please help me! Opera's skin was drenched in a cold sweat as Chaos held her captive, her heart hammering and her stomach wrenching. Summoning up all the courage left within her, she spoke to him again, though she could barely breathe. "Does....does it matter? We can't always control our situations, no matter what we do."

Please....oh please, Tria....anyone....get me out of this!

As if in answer to her prayer, Chaos abruptly let go of her, stumbling backwards as he clutched his head in pain. "Ugggh...." A low, agonized groan issued from his mouth, which had been grinning in twisted satisfaction only seconds earlier.

Oh god....thank you....whoever is responsible for this! Opera let her breath out, bringing a shaking hand to her throat where the demon had been gripping her. Her heart seemed to have migrated there, beating painfully fast as she took several gulping breaths, trying to regain her composure.

When Chaos gave no sign of resuming his torment of her, Opera gathered up her remaining bravery and spoke. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse. He didn't answer her, so she took a courageous step forward, feeling her strength return to her. "Not in the mood to torment me anymore? Got a headache?" Her tone became mocking, and she laughed coldly. "That line is as old as time."

Instead of answering, Chaos dropped to his knees on the floor. Before Opera could say another word, there was a white, blinding flash of light, and she instinctively threw her hands up to shield her eyes even as she closed them.

A few moments later, she opened them slightly to see what was going on, and saw something she didn't expect to see at all.

"...."

It was Vincent. But he didn't look as she last remembered seeing him....he was in a cold sweat, hacking his lungs out, seemingly oblivious to her. Opera's face went stark white, and her jaw dropped without her even realizing it.

"What....what the?" She took a few steps backward. "How...." Her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor.

Vincent didn't reply, just kept coughing, and brought his head to the ground in an attempt to muffle the sound. Opera's heart lurched painfully as she watched him, her entire body shaking visibly.

"....Vincent?" She managed, looking confused, concerned, and pained all at once. "What are you....what's wrong? And why...."

Vincent still didn't answer, but his coughing lessened a bit, and he wrapped his arms around his head, rocking slightly as he knelt on the floor.

"Vincent!" Opera's voice raised in pitch, filled with anguish. "Answer me! What is going on here? I don't....I....I don't understand any of this!" A strangled cry escaped her lips, and she pressed a hand briefly to them.

His coughing beginning to slow, Vincent at last managed a weak reply. "Opera...." His voice was more hoarse than hers had been after being nearly strangled by the demon, and her heart twisted painfully in her chest at the torment in it.

"Vincent, please...." Her voice was choked with raw emotion. "Tell me what's going on here. I don't get this....any of this...."

Sighing heavily, Vincent brought his head up to Opera, making eye contact, even as he continued to pant for air. "I....Chaos...." His voice trailed off as he began hacking again, his head dropping once more.

Confusion mingled with concern again in her eyes as she watched him. "Chaos? What...." She stared desperately at him, willing this to make some kind of sense, any sense at all. "Please tell me....tell me what just happened, what that was! It doesn't make sense!" I....I just don't....please talk to me....

Struggling visibly, Vincent managed to stop his coughing, but kept his head down. "Chaos is....a demon inside....of me...." He seemed to be forcing the words out.

Opera went very still. What? A WHAT? But....but....how....why....I.... "A....a what? Vincent, how....?" Her own voice sounded very far away all of a sudden, though the sound of Vincent's heavy panting seemed very close....too close, as the sound of it, of him in pain, made her want to throw up.

"Chaos put....Hojo....Lucrecia...." Gasping for breath, Vincent rolled over onto his back. Sweat was pouring down his face, and he looked tired....no, exhausted.

"Vincent!" Opera gasped. Still not trusting her legs to carry her, she instead crawled over to him, her face etched with deep concern and worry. "You're....you're not making any sense. And what happened to you, why are you like this?" Her own breathing was tense and ragged as she stared fearfully down at him. God oh god, please....I can't stand seeing this....please let him be all right....

Breathing heavily, Vincent looked up at Opera with half-lidded eyes. "Chaos is a demon that was put inside of me....by the scientist....Hojo...." he managed weakly.

Hojo....who is....and why would anyone do that to another living being? Is that even possible?! Opera stared almost blindly back at him, still not comprehending what he was telling her. "....Oh. I-I see. But...." She bit her lip, partly to stop it from trembling. "Why? Why did someone do that to you? And what happened to you right now?" Barely realizing what she was doing, she instinctively reached out her hand to touch his face.

"I...." Vincent closed his eyes as Opera's fingers touched his face. "....couldn't protect....she was happy...."

What? Who? WHO? Opera's hands trembled as she continued to stare at him. "Who are you talking about? I don't understand...."

"Opera....Chaos is my curse for not saving her...." His voice was filled with pain and resignation.

"Who, Vincent?" Opera was trying hard not to cry, her eyes burning with tears and her chest and throat aching from trying to hold them back. "Who?"

Bringing his hand up to where Opera's trembling one rested on his cheek, Vincent spoke again. "....Lucrecia....I...." His voice trailed off, sounding weaker and more anguished.

So that's why....why he was so horrified to find himself kissing me....it wasn't me at all....it was her....he thought he was betraying her, whoever she is. He's so filled with guilt....I still don't know what exactly happened to do this to him, but I don't need to. Oh god, Vincent....I'm so sorry. Opera squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, letting the tears fall at last. "Vincent, please....if you're too weak, don't try to talk....let me heal you...." If I can't do anything else, I at least can ease your physical suffering....let me do that much for you.

Vincent didn't answer, instead letting his hand fall from Opera's to the floor, still breathing heavily.

"Vincent?" Opera's voice rose an octave with panic. "Please....please be okay!" She let out a choked sob. "Oh god....I....just give me a moment, and I'll heal you!" She fumbled blindly for the Kaleidoscope, her vision blurred with the tears that continued to well up.

"Opera....I....I'm sorry...." Vincent's tone was one of deep regret, and it pained her further to hear it.

You didn't do a damn thing wrong! Don't speak to me as though you did! I don't care about the past.... Opera choked back another sob, the tears flowing freely down her pale cheeks. "No....no, you haven't done anything wrong...." Locating the Kaleidoscope, she switched to the proper setting at last, her fingers still shaking. "Here....here you go." She pulled the trigger, and the familiar green energy of the Healing Star streamed from the barrel of the energy rifle, washing over the both of them. There....you should be all right now....you better be, anyway....

As she let the Kaleidoscope clatter to the floor beside herself, she became aware that Vincent was breathing more evenly, and she turned to see him open his eyes and squint at her. "Thank you...." His voice was still hoarse and tinged with regret, but he sounded stronger now. Opera's lower lip trembled, feeling tears of relief prick at her eyes.

"It's....really....you're welcome." She drew a shuddering breath, then continued. "Don't, don't worry about it." She attempted vainly to smile.

Vincent closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "What did Chaos do to you....?"

Opera's breath caught in her throat at the question. How can I possibly tell....no, I have to. He needs the truth, no matter how painful, and I can't bring myself to keep it from him. Summoning up her nerve, she answered him, her voice shaking slightly. "He....he....just....talked. Tormented me. He kept asking me about you....about....us." A strangled sound escaped her lips involuntarily as her own words brought up all-too-familiar images. "About what I remember....and Ern....he seemed to know more than either of us do about....yesterday." She bowed her head, her shoulders shaking with barely contained emotion.

Vincent sighed, and reached out his hand towards her. "I apologize...."

Opera didn't move, just let him cover her hand with his. "How did he know what he did? Why was he here?" Why wouldn't he tell me anything I need to know?

"I do not know...." Sighing again, Vincent opened his eyes, looking tired.

Opera let out a small, barely audible cry. "The things he said....and knew....what if....what if he....if we...." She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

"Opera....he torments because he can....what he could say may not always be true...."

But what if it was? I.... Her shoulders shook again, more violently. "He seemed to know more than he let on, though....and what he insinuated...." A small sob escaped her, before she could hold it back. "Neither of us remember anything, you know that. He could very well have been telling the truth...."

And that's what scared me most about him.

Vincent slumped a little at her words, and closed his eyes once more. "I do not know how I can apologize enough...."

"Vincent, I...." Opera stopped to steady herself, taking a few breaths. That wasn't him saying those things....I know it. If I know nothing else, understand nothing else....I at least have this small consolation.

Taking another breath, she let herself speak at last. "It wasn't you saying those things, I know that....you didn't do anything wrong."

Please believe me, Vincent....don't torture yourself any more than you already do. You don't deserve that....

"Chaos took control....it is indeed my fault. I can never let him take control...." His voice was filled now with disgust and loathing, both emotions aimed at himself. A vicious pain stabbed into Opera's heart as she listened to it.

~*~ To be continued....~*~


Go to the light
Kuyashisa mo zenbu kizameru tsuyosa o daite
Ikutsu no yo ake mo koeteku
Watashi to iu arika mitsukeru tame....

Last edited by Luna on 04-27-2003 at 02:16 PM

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Luna Posted: 04-27-2003 , 01:48 PM

Tetragene

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Energy Nede

"But, Vincent...." She let her breath out, hardly aware that she'd been holding it. "It seems....like you were hurt. And if you were weakened that much, then....it's like I said to....him....we can't always control our situations."

Or even ourselves, sometimes....

Vincent's hand curled up around hers slightly. "But we should be able to."

Ideally, yes. But no matter how many shoulds we utter, the world just doesn't always work that way. Sometimes life just comes and messes up every little plan, no matter what we do. I'm finally realizing that fully now.

Opera trembled slightly as his hand tightened around hers, reminding her of feelings she'd been attempting to forget. Trying to ignore her pounding heart, she spoke to him again. "But we can't....we can't control people, or even what kind of situation we're going to be dumped into. We couldn't control the fact that we wound up here, could we? If we could always control our circumstances, we wouldn't have even met."

"...." Coughing once, Vincent turned his gaze to Opera's. "Has meeting me been that good of a thing....?" he asked quietly.

Opera met his gaze with tear-filled eyes. "Vincent....I...." She closed her eyes, breathing unevenly.

What do I say? How do I feel? He and I....there are so many things I still need to sort out....still so much pain and confusion inside me....I don't know what I'm going to do....and yet....I feel somehow that I needed this....needed to question myself. No matter how painful the answers....I needed to take stock of myself. And if I can help ease his pain somewhat, then it's all worth it....everything.

She opened her eyes again, looking directly into his. "Vincent, no matter what....I don't regret meeting you. Honestly." And she meant it.

His lips curling up ever so slightly, Vincent sat up, removing his hand from Opera's. "It has been memorable, Miss Vectra....one i will not forget easily."

Opera shook her head. "No....I won't either." She laughed weakly. "Ironic, really...."

Vincent looked back at her, not really understanding her words. "Ironic?"

Opera smiled shakily. "We have no memory of yesterday, yet we won't easily forget meeting each other?"

Funny how the universe works sometimes....

Vincent didn't bother holding back his smile this time. "....Thank you, Opera."

Opera let herself smile genuinely back at him, though her eyes were still filled with tears. "You're welcome, Vincent."

So....where do we go from here?

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Dry31 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 02:10 PM

Judge/Jury/Executioner

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

The battle between Testament and Dark Zio continued, every bit as fierce and bloody as the ones going on elsewhere. Dark Zio, though weaker in terms of raw physical strength, had a considerable advantage in terms of manueveribility...in addition, she knew all of Testament's moves. Testament tried a quick horizontal slash, only to have it blocked by Zio and countered with a low slice. The Gear saw it coming, though, and leapt over the black blade, shifting into Gravedigger before Zio could recover. The deranged succubus cried out in pain as the monstrous wave of blood cut into her, but before Testament could counter, she had recovered.

"Argh! Raven Talon!"

With a quick backhand blow, Zio sends three streaks of crackling black energy out at Testament...but the Gear is able to block the energy blasts, catching them on his scythe. Testament crouches, sliding forward with a low kick...but suddenly, Zio is behind him, slashing into Testament's back with her blade. Testament staggers forward, spinning around...just in time to Zio rushing forward, her hand glowing black as she tries to plunge it into Testament. The Gear is able to sidestep though...and before Zio is able to launch her next attack, Testament has grabbed her by the arm. Before she can get free or counter attack, Testament has started channeling spirits into her. Zio screams in pain as Testament's summons flow through her and back to Testament, a sort of feedback loop designed to blow a breaker, to force Zio to 'reset' as it were. Zio's scream escalates steadily; and as it reachs a crescendo, Zio's body suddenly flashes with a radiant white light for an instant...when the light has faded, Zio is back to her old self, and looking quite confused.

"Ooh, my head. Testament-sama? What...what...happened...?"

"...you were a bit out of control. Altima influenced you."

"I...yes...I remember. Testament-sama, I-I'm sorry!"

"I don't blame you, Zio. But we must stop Altima!"

"Yes, Testament-sama! She will pay for manipulating me!"

With that, Testament and Zio, once again on the same side, turn their attention to the Bloody Angel...

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Soujiro Seta Posted: 04-27-2003 , 02:21 PM

The Silver Ogre

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Beyond Death

Act VI – Flame and Sin – II

Zalera spun higher and higher in the cavernous room, carried on the fell wings that whispered death. He looked down, to where the Archbishop was locked in combat with the sorcerer Shang Tsung, their wills and their souls clashing against each other.

“Archbishop, you have set the table, and I shall gorge myself until I can eat no more!” He shouted from the skies swooping down toward where the men fought. Zalera lashed out with his arm, great fleshy violet claws raking hundreds of souls as he descended, absorbing them into himself. “These souls, and yours also, belong to Altima!”

“What are you doing!?” the Archbishop cried, anger twisting his face even as he projected a mighty beam of holy energy at Tsung. “I will destroy you as well, most-filthy demon!” His eyes lit in white as his right hand raised to the sky. “The ecstasy of apostasy! Holy Light~!” Radiant waves of holy light shot forth from his fingertips, screaming with pain toward Zalera.

“No…I think not.” Zalera turned his lipless grin upward, twisting it into an even more hideous sight. Both Shang Tsung and the Archbishop watched – the first in interest, the second in shock – as Zalera held up the dark sword in his hand-

-and the waves of pure holy energy bent around them, like a light in a giant gravitational distortion.

“It’s impossib- “ the Archbishop cried out; but he was taken unaware by the cunning hand of the sorcerer Shang Tsung. A flaming soul, lit at Tsung’s hand, smashed into the Archbishop’s barrier, weakening it even more.

Zalera raised his free hand to reveal a mouth set in his palm that did not cease to chant blasphemous words. After a moment, its voice rang out, high and screeching. “On the verge of death!…Nightmare!” A black miasma rushed towards the archbishop, roiling in darkness like the tentacles of a phantasmal beast.

“Eye of purity, pierce the heart of the world!” The Archbishop cried, forged to ignore the sneer of Shang Tsung, whose hands were glowing with the power of stolen souls. “Radiant Iris!” Forming what almost looked like a ninja’s seal with his hands, quickly manipulating his fingers ever faster, an iris of crackling white energy formed around him, pouring out a holy mist just as the Zalera’s spell rushed into range.

“You would do well not to forget about me!” Shang Tsung’s arms crackled with red energy as he tossed three flaming skulls, each blazing its way through the holy miasma, absorbing most of it completely. The Archbishop could do nothing as his field was cleared away and the Nightmare enshrouded his shield, wavering it with an extreme evil force. From the inside, the holy clergyman fell back, as the lifeless faces of countless An’Ven seemed to all look inward at him, pointing their fingers while uttering but one word…‘death’.

Shang Tsung only smiled in the darkness, beckoning more souls to him as if picking apples from a tree.

The Nightmare spell washed away like a wave of darkness, and in the breaking of the darkness, the Archbishop’s eyes widened as he saw the Angel of Death, Zalera, screaming toward him in the air. “C…come, Holy Lance!” A great spear of white formed in his hand and rocketed toward the crimson demon. Zalera ignored the crackling spear of energy as it whistled by him, piercing his side.

“Your holy powers are not enough for me!” Zalera laughed in a voice that sounded almost like singing. “Now, taste this, the sword of nightmares!” His arm reared back, the Forever Sin gleaming in the light of the millions of souls. “Know the Darkness and despair! Hellcry Wave!” The Forever Sin slammed with a floor-shaking impact into the energy shield of the Archbishop, radiating wave after wave of dark energy.

The eyes of both the clergyman and Shang Tsung grew wide, as a crack etched its way down the front of the force shield.

“Deliver us from evil!” The Archbishop screamed, his miter now knocked from his head, his hair bristling wildly with holy energy. “Repulsion!” A spherical field spread from his hands, sending Zalera flying back as the bubble expanded. With great flaps of his wings, Zalera steadied himself above the great din of chaos. He raised his grotesque hands before him, spreading them wide. His voice cried out, in its smooth tenor. “Suck away the spirits!” What appeared to be a great runic portal appeared before him, glowing with a pale light, “Seal!” At the completion of the incantation, the dim runes became bright, and the walls of the chamber erupted into activity, as hundreds, even thousands of souls were ripped from their places to the mouth of the demonic circle. Passing through the circle…and into the open mouth of Zalera.

“I have tasted the dead…and they are well!”

The portal died away as Zalera siphoned a few more An’Ven souls into his fang-lined mouth, empty eye sockets tingling with the infusion of energy. Then, another sight caught his eye.

Altima was being attacked…by a girl. A girl who only pretended to be an angel.

And a great wailing will arise in the land, such as had never been heard before!

“Flames from hell, gather and fire away!” Red energy seeped into Zalera’s hands, dancing between his long fingers. He held it there for a moment, at the apex of its gathering, then held his hand out to release the seething red ball like a swarm of deadly fireflies. “Flare 2!”

Red energy coursed around Mint, the mere heat of its passing causing welts to appear on her skin. And then, as if in a beautiful dance, all the energy coalesced around the young mage.

“Aaaaaa! Paa..PurpleWideMirror!” Mint gasped as the anti-magic field appeared in front of her.

But the flames did not reflect, did not dissipate.

The Mirror spell acted only as a buffer, as one of Zalera’s strongest offensive magics smothered Mint with a fire as blazing as a newborn star.

“Zalera…well met, my good and faithful friend.” Altima’s calm expression caused the great Lucavi to bow his skullish head. “As it is written, ‘as a man sows, so also shall he reap.’” She smiled for an instant, before her attention turned again to Mint and her hands glowed with extreme energy.

“It is also written in the book…” Zalera returned the smile, beginning to chant, “sow the wind, reap the whirlwind!”

---

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S-Chicken Boner Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:12 PM

Martian Successor

Registered: Feb 2003
Location:

Exclamation

A firey Hell surrounded Adol and Alec. And so the Archbishop approahced.

"I know why you two have come. Regardless, now you shall meet your demise at the hands of the -Ultimate Evil!-"

With a wave of his hands, a rip in the space-time continuim opened up and out of it emerged a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a Winger T-Shirt and clown pants.

The heroic duo stood in -SHOCK & AWE- of the horrific visage.

"Onna Ikaedih...si ti...si ti! Dog ym ho!" Alec said with all due ph33r.

And so Hidekai Anno laughed in his dark, evil, demonic tone.

"For seven years I have been sealed. But now is once again the time for me to rise and turn the world into a dank piss pit of my own design."

Adol rushed in to ***z but with an outstretch of Anno's hand, our hero was pushed backwards by the force of a cross-shaped explosion.

Suddenly, a section of the room (?) was encircled by fire. Adol was on the outside of it and couldn't get in.

"Now, the Late Sir Alec Guiness' Head. Without Adol and his 1337 Ramming Skillz, you are nothing! I will enjoy watching you DIE!"

Alec dodged another cross-shaped explosion and so began a chase-around the firey ring, because of such things.

Alec eventually paused and fired off eye lasers rapidly. But they were deflected as a cross-shaped lightsaber materialized in Anno's hand and was promptly spun.

Alec went in for a close-range offensive, jumping up and having a long and intense sword duel with Anno, using his stick.

Unfortunately, Anno blocked every shot.

Alec dropped to the floor to...umm...stick sweep him, but he was kicked away.

Alec thrusted his stick downwards to avoid hitting the fire. A grin appeared on his face afterwards.

"Hctib, elyts-obmoc repus! Tihs taht znwp annog m'I won! Retem obmoc ym pu tliub I!"

The screen darkened and a flash was seen from Alec as he started a furious onslaught of stick hits with blue shadows following behind him. Then, while in midair, he raised Anno with a barrage of eye-lasers. Hideaki's beastly screams of pain could be heard all throughout the land.

Finally, he went in for a forceful uppercut, knocking the evil anime director down in a bright flash of orangey-white light.

The firey ring disappated. Hideaki Anno though, did not.

He clambered up and then started a horrible, unfathomable chant.

"Deyortsed eb lliw ecnetsixe lla! Gnos Iemnim Nnyl a detrats sah eh! On ho!"

Adol immediately rushed in with his skillz. "Aaaah! The ***zage!" he cried demonically as he was ***zed again!

A portal opened up below Anno. With this, the evil anime animator/director outstrecthed both of his arms.

"Noisnemid-rehten live sih otni su llup ot gniyrt s'eh!" yelled Alec.

Suddenly, a voice cried out.

"You want the truth! You can't handle the truth! Show me the money!"

"Esiurc Mot!" Alec announced.

Tom Cruise jump-kicked Anno in the head, dropping him into the portal.

"As long as evil exists in the universe, I WILL NEVER DIE!" Anno screamed as the portal closed shut.


"So that's how you fooled them!" - Aeris Gainsborough, Final Fantasy VII

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Daisuke7777 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:17 PM

K' -- KOF

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Ara? Oro? Eh?

K' was hesitant to speak as he watched his own duplicate give a smirk, a grin he knew all too well. The mirror image of himself looked exactly alike, although with slight differences. The menacing, red eyes of the identical K' narrowed--It was vivacious and live with wickedness. K' took another step back and tried to regain his composure. 'How the hell did I get myself in this mess?'

The replica gave another cruel looking smile as he readied his Kusanagi. Flames burst from the man's hand and a shadowy coal black shade of fire formed. He glared at K' directly, taunting him. K''s expression hardened as he returned the gaze back to his opponent. He augmented his already ablazing hand until the flames were nearly engulfing his entire arm, preparing himself to duel the Archbishop's imitation of himself. Both men took a fighting stance and proceeded to rush forward toward each other.

'Might as well start strong.' K' thought to himself.

He thrust his fiery arm towards the duplicate and hit nothing but air. The duplicate had vanished, seconds before K' had reached him. Before K' could even scan his surroundings, a forceful blow knocked him down on the ground. K''s hurriedly regained his breath and immediately stood up, only to get struck again in the rib with a swift kick. The duplicate took advantage and executed an uppercut as K' staggered backwards. Black flames licked across K''s face as he flew upwards--He landed on the ground with a deafening thud that echoed in the room. The replica yawned. "Is that all you've got?"

K' stood upwards, repositioning himself. "Well, fuck, I had to give you a couple free blows before I kicked your ass. After all, I'm quite a generous man." He retorted back sarcastically.

The clone snarled and aimed a flaming projectile towards K'. The impact of the attack left smoke hanging in the air. "Speak for yourself, I was trying to spare you a couple more minutes," The replica said thinking he had won.

"I think it's the other way around," a voice echoed behind him. "You haven't forgot about my teleportation ability, have you?" K' snickered.

The duplicate spun around and hastily charged forward again.

"Tsk tsk, you're too careless."

K' dodged his replica as he missed by several inches and grabbed his arms. Interlocking his arm with those of his duplicate, he struck him with his knee. The duplicate faltered and fell to the ground coughing, trying to regain his breath. K' pulled the mirror image of himself forcefully up from the ground and did the same flying uppercut that had been dealt to him. His clone was propelled upwards. K' soared above in the air until he was level with his opponent, following up with an attack with his elbow. The clone was potentially thrown back down to the solid concrete ground in an awkward position. The figure landed headfirst, and K' heard a sickening crack as it hit the ground. "Well.. That was a bit too easy." K' said almost disappointingly.

His clone disapated, turning into the black mist again. It gradually vanished until nothing was left. K' shrugged and left the area seeking another fight.

=======

Yeah.. this is the only thing I can think of that describes this post. :P I'm not good when I'm pressed with time Oh well, guess I have to learn to write "in the spur of the moment" if I want to ever survive these next tourneys..

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DarkBlade77 Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:28 PM

Ratio 4 Vanessa Abuser

Registered: May 2001
Location: Secret Boss Stage #1

Anko did not scream as Altima's talons dug into her, but merely responded by blasting the Bloody Angel away with a cross-shaped, burning double slash with her arms, her eyes blank as she gathered more light unto herself--

--And then Daisetsu was with her, his arms interlocking with hers, his flame contesting with hers as he locked both his and her arms together and blasted off into higher space. She struggled against him, but his will was unrelenting; they continued to soar together through the air, an angel and a phoenix intertwined in a dance that predated either's existence. Even as she could not resist Daisetsu's strong grip nor overcome the flames of Suzaku, her brother whispered into her ear. It was throbbing with emotion--a combination of desperation and sadness.

"Wake up... Anko. Jitsumai... Open your eyes for me... please..."

"It's useless! She is under my thrall!" The Archbishop laughed coarsely, but the laugh did not sound even vaguely human.

Suddenly, the chamber began to resonate with an intensely white light, and an insurmountable source power could be felt at the edges of the room, dispersing the souls to where they rightfully belonged. The Archbishop looked at the source of the light while everyone else was blinded by it, and laughed.

"Hehehe...ahahaha...IT IS TIME! The imbalance of souls in this world has drawn my ultimate prize into my trap! This is not the energies of some lesser god like Suzaku! This is the one I have been waiting for...that we have waited aeons to control..."

"The hell are you?!" Kalten focused for a moment, and then Seiryuu roared as his next arrow exploded into an enormous beam of sapphire radiance that struck the final blow--it destroyed the Archbishop's shield with a feeling of permenance.

The figure enshrouded in white robes paused for a moment, then gestured towards Kalten. The light around him darkened to the point of what one would call an abyss, and the effect vanished a moment afterwards, leaving the archer gasping for breath, Seiryuu equally affected by the attack.

The Archbishop then raised his arms. Anko was immediately flung from Daisetsu's grasp, and floated into the middle of the room, her powers fading, her eyes still blank.

"There is a reason why I did not kill this girl off while the chance remained in my hands, Daisetsu! She is the only Maiden left in this world! The only female with the potential to channel the energies of ultimate power within her body! And now that very source of power comes unto her...!"

Directly on cue, the light behind the Archbishop burst out in suprise for a moment, then was forcibly dragged into the room by a dark force, the streams of black lightning holding the light power in check as it was forced to stream into Anko's body. Her eyes shone with the supressed radiance, and beams of intense power shot out everywhere.

He continued, the light playing down around his robed form. "This dimension, 'Twilight's Call', is a trap dimension built to force any presence that dares mystical entry into the soul of a person here! I have used it many a time to trap unsupecting souls unto my Collection... but the purpose of my Collection, generations upon generations of souls taken to create a powerful spiritual imbalance in this world, was my lure for the one being that cannot be defeated, not in this world or any other! For I have baited none other than the mother of all, the Creator! The Creator has fallen into my trap, and she is mine for the taking!"

The room immediately darkened as the Archbishop flew next to Anko as she was recieving the Creator's power, both parties unable to stop the transfer. Daisetsu reached out helplessly towards his sister, his Aura bursting out even hotter than it had been moments ago as he directed a catastrophic pillar of flame directly at the white-robed being. However, the Archbishop gestured, and the flame was readily dispersed.

"Damn... Who are you, to have set these events in motion?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?!? ANSWER ME!!!" Daisetsu screamed, halfway from hysteria, the rest from open fear.

The archbishop pulled back his cowled hood, and everyone was shocked at the outcome. Instead of a human head or face, or even a demonic one, the Archbishop's head was nothing but a swirling black votex, a portal into nothingness.

"I have gone by many names, stripling. But I believe that the name most familiar to everyone here... would be the Void. I am a direct manifestation of the Void's will, and the Void desires the Creator's power!"

With that, the robes fluttered to the ground as pure darkness poured out of every sleeve. The darkness rushed into Anko's body right before the light finished, and both forces of radiance vanished from the room. The body floated limp in midair, but everyone could feel the incredible raw power building there.

Daisetsu pounded the surface he was standing on, tears streaming off his face. "Anko...no...I couldn't stop it..."

A form stood over him, and he was broken out of his daze by a backhand to the face. More hurt from shock than physical pain, he looked up--

--It was Dorrin. "Idiot, we don't have much time! Don't you remember what we have to do if the 'shadow of humanity' attains the power of a god?"

Daisetsu closed his eyes and regained his focus. That's right... in my haste, I forgot our last chance... His eyes snapped open. "Allright! The Guardians, form around her!"

He did not even feel himself move--he was there, postitioned in formation with Jun and the rest around the double-possessed Anko. Their faces all looked bleak, and he imagined that his felt the same.

"Well... it's been nice knowing you all." He was met with equal stares of respect. "Ready... Ikuzo, Suzaku!"

"Byakko."

"Genbu!"

"Seiryuu..."

The three remaining candidates watched with awe as the Avatars let their Auras overcome their physical forms, their bodies becoming eclipsed by the true forms of the Four Gods of the An'ven. Beams of red-gold, off-white, cerulean, and sapphire energies formed a link between them, and then hammered into the reborn Creator. Anko screamed, but the scream was not hers--she awoke with a tremendous burst of energy, blinding most and shoving the Avatars away. However, the links of power remained. Then Daisetsu's voice rang out in the air.

The three of you who can still maintain the link, come to us! You're the last hope we have!

Surely enough, Shizumaru, Testament, and Altima were drawn to the explosion of light, and vanished from the room along with the Avatars and the possessed Creator. Cracks formed on the outside of the spherical room, and the souls began pouring in, moaning with anger as they desired to wreak vengance on the living who had imprisoned them. Altered by the power of the Void, they transformed into dark warriors and monsters themselves, screaming with indisrciminate rage as they attacked those remaining.

-------

Phase Two - The End of Infinity

The Four Gods, the three remaining candidates for godhood, and the the Void Creation are all hurtling towards the center of the universe at light-speed through space and time. One the newly-born Void Creation reaches the apex of the universe, it will carry out the Void's eternal will to reduce all to nothingess, forever. Since it is unable to perform this with the Four Gods restricting its power at the moment, it is up to the three left to strike the finishing blow--

xxxxxxDry31 - Testament(Guilty Gear)
xxxxSan Draco - Shang Tsung w/ Li Mei's skeleton(Mortal Kombat)
xWayne - Mal'Ganis(WarCraft III)
xxxxxRenmazuo - Alma Beoulve(Final Fantasy Tactics)
xxxxxxCarlyCheeese - Hisame Shizumaru(Samurai Shodown)

xxxxKrizak - Mint(Threads of Fate)

The Void Creation needs go without description. Even with the fullest of it's powers restrained, it controls the power of a full-fledged God, and can use its power as such. However, the three of you left are dangerously close to godhood yourselves, and together... Can you defeat the embodiment of light and darkness?

Everyone gets one V-Vote to decide the Survivor of this competition. Email the votes to kokille0@cox.net, as stated before.

The Final Round ends at 10:00 PM CST. Voting ends at 9:30.

Last edited by DarkBlade77 on 04-27-2003 at 03:48 PM

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CarlyCheeese Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:53 PM

Scarlet Rain Silence

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Feudal Japan

... damn.

I've but one thing to say:

...


"Let's all go into the Void!"


*giggles*


a lonely soul ____________________ moonlit skies
speaker of silence ________________ candlelit town
footsteps in the night _____________ eyes cast in gloom
utter reliance ____________________ a saddened frown

sweet serenity __________________ shielded by innocence
waits to be broken _______________ hidden by beauty
its mouth aghast ________________ the demon sleeps within
a demon hath spoken ____________ destroying naievte

~ hisame shizumaru, survivor x - oboeru mo ~

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m121akuma Posted: 04-27-2003 , 03:55 PM

t3h 3v1l av: Part 2

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Southfield, MI. Bitches.

Dan: AW SHEIT!!!!!

With eyes locked on the spectacle around him in horror, he saw the souls gathered around the room reform...into something terrible. Suddenly, the dimension around him was filled with monsters and demons of all kinds, too horrible and horrific to describe. Some snarled like a demonic hellhound, others shrieked with the unholy sound of a thousand men dying at once. But the most terrifying of all were those that made no sound at all, merely staring into the eyes of their victims, searching their souls, bringing agony and suffering with but a glance. This was worse than any hell in any plane of existance, and Dan Hibiki was trapped in it.

Dan: Yo Joe! Tingle? Falcon? Anyone?!!?

There was nothing. No response at all from the darkness. There was no sign of anyone from within the unholy hoard. Suddenly, a look of determination formed upon the young pimps face. He threw his coat to the ground, letting it slowly float to the earth beneath him. He lifted his hat from his head, slowly feeling his pimply powers released from his body.

Dan: This is it. I guess I'll never see Detroit again...I'll be with you soon, father.

He chucked his hat at a nearby demon, decapitating it cleanly with the brim. He held his cane in front of him, spinning it.

Dan: C'mon BITCHES!! You won't take this soul so easily!!!


Southfield Board of Education: Prepared to be Schooled

quote:
Originally posted by Starhammer
SRK.com is the new evercrack. All we need is some Idiot to kill someone and blame SRK.com for it, and its status will be irreversible.

-Starhammer-


---Team Southfield Website---

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Soujiro Seta Posted: 04-27-2003 , 04:36 PM

The Silver Ogre

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Beyond Death

“He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:39

Act VI – Flame and Sin – III

The Forever Sin tore hungrily through the demonic horde, reducing them to ash as Zalera consumed the souls. The portal was spewing a tangible blackness, and in the midst of the chamber, the souls wailed from within the walls, flying out to assume the form of the hosts of the netherworld.

“Yes, fill me more! While the Bloody Angel enters the heart of all reality and claims the power, I shall have dominion over life and death!” His wings stretched out over his back as energy coalesced in his hand.

Yes, that’s the way. How do you like an annoying presence in the back of your mind?

What?...Out! Out of me forever, human one! From here on, the road to eternity is mine!

Enough, Zalera. Enough of death, of reaving the souls of the innocent, enough of control!

Give me back what you took from me, Zalera! Give me back my life!


Never.

My death!

Break in fear, my servant…

My everything!


Zalera clutched his head, weaving back and forth erratically in the sky. “Not possible….not! The advent of the –Bloody Angel- is nigh!” Body wracked with strange seizures, the Angel of Death sailed to the side, slamming into the bodies of demons, who cut at his purple wings with their sharp talons. “A human mind is not….gaaaaaaaaah!” He impacted the ground with the tremendous force generated by his large body, carving up the floor as he dug in with his nails to stop his slide.

‘Samurai’…taken from the same kanji as ‘to wait’ – to wait upon someone, to serve them, even unto death. You and I, Zalera…we are not so dissimilar. Perhaps that is what drew you to me – we are both ‘samurai’ in spirit.

But I have responsibility now…responsibility that takes precedence over that wish I made to ‘not die’. This is the last life in me, and even now, with the Forever Sin reborn, I feel its taint creeping over me. However…

…to the last, I will defend! I will become the shield of these people!


Where it lay cold, in a dark corner of the gargantuan room, the Chirijiraden began to move. It rattled slightly at first, then more, blue flames starting to encircle the blade. Its clattering then grew fierce, raising the katana off the floor. It shot like a lance toward the occupied Lucavi, cleaving downward into its skull like a shining fang.In a blaze of light, Zalera’s demonic body seemed to be consumed, the only visible thing the sword of shining blue fire, the Chirijiraden.

A voice, lower now than before, resonated from the silvery light, hovering in the air. He was clad in crimson Eastern armor, a noble bearing on his brow and a keen discerning look in his scarlet eyes. His silver hair washed over his back, extending from the base of the lacquered helm that crowned his head. In his left hand, he held the legendary negative sword, Forever Sin. His right hand reached up, grasping the handle of the Chirijiraden, even as flames danced around the blade.

“As it is written, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword!”

Elmdor descended to the ground like an angel, both swords swept out in his extended hand like the body remnants of wings. He held up both blades in a ready stance. The advent was upon him, and the time to act was now.

He was now, for perhaps the first time, truly the man he wanted to be.

---

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Velious Posted: 04-27-2003 , 04:44 PM

Mukki

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Wherever there are hot and sweaty men...

Carly - Hey, it was an amusing idea at the time

XDDDDDDDDDDDD


Hast thou lain the Jabberwonk?

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Renmazuo Posted: 04-27-2003 , 05:43 PM

Cute Widdle Cleric Girl

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Graveyard of Airships

Canto VI + Noli Me Tangere + Crecendo


Do you feel it, Alma? This is where I was born. This perfect blue...this all-encompassing azure. This is speed beyond even lightspeed- this is what it feels like to be God. An hour to you, a millenium to mankind...a millenium in your eyes, the blink of a newborn. Time has no power here, nor do the summoned entities...nor the status ailments, nor the concoctions of man. Here, it is only this- light and dark wage war. It is beyond death. It is everything and nothing; it is life and oblivion; it is you and I. And here, where all life began, the fates will converge. The Phoenix will make its final choice- final rebirth...or final death.

Nothingness, oblivion...there is no purpose to this, Void. The ultimate death lies not in nothing, but in the nurturing, tormenting black fire of Hell.


Amidst the great blue tunnel of lightspeed, the final battle was joined. As they warped through time and space, the tunnel bared the most beautiful secrets of the universe. They shot past stars, past comets, past asteroids- past things that mankind could never grasp or imagine. And then, they passed worlds- whole worlds hidden beyond the twinkle of starlight and the black curtain of space. The sound was unlike anything ever heard, and yet its tones were oddly nostalgic- like the echo of a harp, playing in the vast tunnel of space. It was a sound the Void Creation itself could not drown out, even as its damning fingers reached out for the gathered warriors.

Testament and Shizumaru had given their all in the prior fight, breaking past their own limits for the sake of ridding the world of this dark, final enemy. The angelic Mint and mystical Shang Tsung had stayed behind, along with the Dreadlord Mal'Ganis, for the sake of besting the souls breaking free. Now it was up to the Four Gods and the two young warriors to deal with the Void- the Anti-Life, the Beast of Judgment.

Altima hovered with them. The Holy Angel's chilling beauty was frozen in the vesture of a smile, her fine body coursing with the same aura of power that ran through Testament and Shizumaru. She felt her power brimming, like a chalice filled with the dark crimson rivers of life she so desired. Nearly twice her power- she felt she could challenge the Archangels, the Holy Seraphs themselves. Again, Altima was as a Child of God- an Ultimate Power. Ultimate Power. Set free by truth, rising above Hell, Earth, and Heaven, her Wings as broad and wide as the sky itself. This power, so close to what the few masters of Hell could dream of.

Altima Bloody Angel...Altima Holy Angel...Altima Holy God. The Lord Altima. It has a nice ring to it. Yes...they will sing songs of the triumph to take place here.

"And so we join," Altima said, her elegant body- what a beautiful body Alma had, and to give it to her, oh!- raising in the great tunnel of blue light. The Void was before her, in the form of that possessed girl. She would waste no more time. The Angel of Death was finishing her work, back in the realm of the An'ven. Her ally, Chaos, was out to play. The demons within her Chosen were unleashed. Now she had to do this- to best this final, this foolish final creature, the Void.

The Holy Angel brought herself forward, raising her arms as her wings carried her forward in a dance of light. Her wicked, curved swords were there again, their black blades the very same that had pierced Ajora's flesh after his death. Now they would hew blood from oblivion. Altima rushed forward, her laughter echoing throughout the chamber, like music over the harp that could faintly be heard.

Is that you playing, Alma? Sing for me, my love, my Body, my dearest Apostle. Sing for me, my Perfect Body- I will Dance to your music...

The Four Gods were binding the Void fast. Altima shot forward ahead of Shizumaru and Testament, her wings giving an unearthly "whoosh" through the tunnel. In space, in the universe, there was no air, and yet a cold wind followed Altima's crimson heels. The Holy Angel slammed into the Void Creation, the one named 'Anko'. Her blades roughly shoved in wet, horrifying stabs against Anko's soft flesh, punching against the energy shield that bound her. The Void Anko could only scream in pain, a scream like none that had ever escaped human lips. Altima's red eyes widened in mirthless glee as she stabbed at Anko again, puncturing only so much of the energy shield but pouring all her might into it. Her power streamed against Anko's, like warring currents, neither of which backed down but were driven back only by the force of their collision.

Altima still moved forward, her power raging to dangerous heights. Had the tunnel not already been strained by the powers raging within, it would have cracked from the sudden aura that broke free of Altima's flesh- the red vapor of death. The Bloody Angel screamed her fury and her joy in a sonic wave that hammered Anko's crying figure, the dueling energies ripping at both entities' essences. Tears in the rocketing vortex caused by the fighters' high-speed rush began to appear, and it was as though whole worlds were looking into a war. As it had before, the war in heaven continued...

Then Altima's hand shot out and grabbed Anko's, and the Holy Angel pulled herself forward to stare wildly into the captive girl's face. Anko's blank eyes, filled with the darkness of the Void, fixed on Altima's surging red pupils. The Holy Angel giggled girlishly, her bladed wings curling until they latched onto Anko's sides. It was a revolting picture and yet one of unearthly beauty as the Holy Angel bound herself to the Void Creation- as Hell bound itself to Oblivion.

"Slaughter brings about hatred, and hatred brings about slaughter," Altima said, her body coursing with new energy in the form of a dark green aura. "It takes a sinful being to turn that cycle to one's own side! Ponite multas animas malas! GRAND CROSS!"

The Grand Cross came. Altima swung Anko's hands out in the form of a crucifix, and the Bloody Angel screamed as something punched through her own chest. It was a cross of pure energy, of black fire and green smoke. It rammed through Altima's own flesh, and then crushed itself against Anko's robed stomach. Both screamed until the lightspeed tunnel groaned with strain, the harp skipping a stroke. The howls of a thousand demons went up in the air as the Grand Cross injected them all into Anko's aura, pummeling her mind, her body, and her soul with the same energy that had released Altima. It was the Bloody Angel's equivalent of the Fallen Angel's Tear, an even match for her winged rival. With a charge, the energy detonated, besetting the screaming Void Creation with the literal force of darkness. The aura would have driven mere mortals mad with pain and sorrow until they bit at their own veins, but the Void retaliated quickly. It poured the blackness of oblivion back against the Holy Angel, ramming her back across the tunnel. Altima and the Void Creation went flying as both Grand Cross and Grand Unholy collided. The Void screamed louder...but Altima's yells died into mad giggles.

"This is it! Father Morningstar, this is it!" Altima said, swooning as though in the throes of love, tears of joy streaming from her eyes. "This is the way to fight, by the Blood! For the love of a thousand legions of Hell, Anko, Void, whatever thy name may be- give me more! Make me scream! Make me scream!"


"Virtus in cordibus tranquillibus floret. Iustitia est mecum. Per animam meam, cave. Cave."

-- Sponsoring Alma Beoulve, Survivor X.

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